Lincoln, Horsies, and Duckies..

What happened? All of a sudden it’s that dreaded Monday again..has anybody figured out where that time goes? please let me know..

The Flutters put in a pretty busy first part of the weekend. After attending the event in Leonardtown Thursday night, we went out to Sotterley Plantation to hear the first lecture in their Summer Lecture program. It was given by Dr. Craig Symonds, who currently is a (Naval) history professor at the Naval Academy. His speech was entitled “Abraham Lincoln and the Navy”, and was built around three incidents in the war involving the Navy, and how Lincoln personally influenced them. That’s a poor description of a fascinating talk that ran for over an hour. The man never looked at a note, had only a few slides (mostly pictures) and recounted dates, places, with ease. He spoke with such ease, worked in a few humorous stories and anecdotes. Very impressive speaker. And in the Q&A that followed, he answered every question with in depth knowledge, more dates, etc. A really great evening. Those lectures are great. and free...

After the program, we opted to NOT go to the concurrent First Friday in Leonardtown because it was a bit late, and frankly First Friday is beginning to have a “been there done that” feel to it. Anyway, we ended up at the Dry Dock for a light snack (bistro mussels for me, and a Margherita Pizza for MFO) and an adult beverage(s). Good food.

Then Saturday, I spent the morning at the Chapel at Historic St. Mary’s City, answering questions and telling about the history of the place, although I really can’t say I had any characters. One person said he was the 12th generation of one of the captains of the Ark or the Dove. As the historian at the City often quips, “if all the people who say their relatives came over on the ships really did, the boats would have sunk”.

In the afternoon, we got Dressed For the Derby, and drove back out to Sotterley and the annual Hospice Kentucky Derby Party. I made a prediction to MFO that there would be more hats this year due to the influence of “the wedding”, and I was correct. Big floppy ones, feathers, bows, quite fun. They do pose a little problem if you want to say hello to somebody wearing one with a buss on the cheek, as you kind of have to duck under the brim or feathers.. Expressions catered the event, and did a pretty good job. They bowed to the Derby with Kentucky Burgoo, pimento spread (my recipe is much better, sorry) and I think maybe lemon squares although I missed those. They had only beef at the carvery station, and I didn’t see any Henry Bain Sauce. Tisk, tisk… Mint Juleps were available, and after the first couple it was “just give me the damn bourbon on the rocks”. Good fun.

Sunday

Yesterday we celebrated Mother’s Day by cleaning off the screened in back porch which accumulated dirt and pollen all winter. Task isn't fun, but when it's done the benefit is that cocktails out there are very pleasant. So after our hard day’s work, the deck furniture is off the porch and on the pool deck, awaiting the uncovering of the gray lagoon.

And, we are not the only ones awaiting the uncovering of the pool. Capistrano has its swallows, Hawk Point has its Buzzards, and we have “The Mallards”. Like clockwork the creatures appear out of the sky, plopping into the back yard, just waiting for their personal watering hole (and bathroom) to open. Meanwhile they gather around under the bird feeders, rooting up the grass for missed seeds (they have no shame) and generally make a mess of things. And then the annual ritual ensues.

From their point of view it runs something like this:

Ahh, this seed is good, although a refreshing dip would be nice.
Oops, here comes the human idiot out of the house screaming and waving his arms in the air like a fool. Think he’s trying to fly?
Okay, we’ll waddle over here to the edge of the hill and if he gets any closer……
Drat, he is, so we have to take to wing, and then go sit in the river for a bit until he goes in the house.

This gets repeated several times a day for most of the summer, with the only change after the pool is open that there is a ten minute washing off the pool deck portion after their visit, if you get my drift. Ahhhh, the joys of pool ownership.

Indeed ducks DO NOT

DFD