New Blog Posts:

Monday, April 23, 2007

Feeding the Ducks

Sometimes when we have nothing better to do and just feel like stretching our legs, we go out and take a walk. Some of Durham's many attractions are the various hiking trails that provide us variety in scenery and keeps us from getting bored. Sometimes we just walk around our neighborhood but sometimes when the mood strikes us, we go to the Duke Gardens which is just a couple of miles from our house. We started going to this garden when the children were smaller because it is pretty secure, away from busy streets, and we can let them run loose. They can run ahead of us, climb trees, find hideouts, all within our sight with no worries of them getting too far ahead or lost. Many a times we've brought a picnic blanket and just lolled around on the lawns or napped under trees.

One of the girls' favorite activity during these walks is to feed the ducks. The girls never fail to clean out the kitchen of stale bread for the ducks before we leave the house. I remember one snowy day a couple of years ago when we had been housebound without power for a few days due to an ice storm. We were all suffering cabin fever and needed to get out for some air. At the first opportunity to get out of the house, this garden is where they wanted to head to, to check on the ducks. We trekked through icy trails and broken tree limbs to this pond just so they can feed their ducks. You see, they don't worry about the ducks too much when the weather is nice as they practically get overfed from all the other children bringing them bread crumbs. It's when the weather gets cold and uncertain that the girls want to make sure they have enough to eat.

Click here to see more photos of our walk through the garden.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice to read about Duke Gardens

HiPnCooLMoMMa said...

it's so beautiful there...nakaka relax ang atmosphere...i loved the flowers in your "walk in the park" ... ganda

Mec said...

your girls are so sweet... mjs take after Mom no? :)

Anonymous said...

Here naman my kids feed the camel w/ lettuce leaves...hehehe.

JMom said...

hi ash!

Hi hipncoolmomma, it really is relaxing. We enjoy spending quiet afternoons here.

Hi mec, ah, syempre when it comes to their sweetness, sa akin mana. When they're pmsing then mana sila sa ama. haha!

Hi ann, haha! ang galing ng camels ha. Sound so exotic. I know my girls will totally enjoy that too. Well, up until the camel drools on their hands. haha!

Anonymous said...

you're lucky to have a "secret garden" sounding place there, with nature at its best. such a bonding treat. how i wish we have something similar here in the heart of the quezon city. oh well, we have the quezon memorial circle, where we can take a walk, ride bikes, etc. (am glad it is still well maintained.

and it's sweltering HOT now here!

Anonymous said...

Wow! You are fortunate to have places like these nearby. Dito sa Manila, kleangan mong maghanap mabuti or go out of town pa to enjoy places like that. Such a fun place to pass time.

Anonymous said...

What thoughtful girls you have...
Duke Gardens must be a pretty park. Buti ka pa, you have a nice and safe place for walking and picnics. We don't have parks in Manila as nice as the ones in Baguio, so those are what i miss. Well, there are parks in Manila but with the heat, we don't often stay long.
I have photos taken in a park of my girls feeding ducks too. :)

Francesca said...

nature trips is much more rewarding and refreshing than going to malls. Enjoy na tipid pa!

Anonymous said...

That is nice! I also like feeding the ducks when I chance to pass by on them

Ebb Tide said...

Hi! Your post about the ducks brings back old memories. Our family used to live in a place called Hidden Lake. We had a huge lake in our backyard. When we had lots of stale bread, we feed the ducks. Our family will never forget those happy days.