for lack of anything else besides work going on....

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talk about service

this mother duck and her ducklings stole the 'most photogenic' title when i was at the association stock pond a few days ago, but these others were also very interesting, and the parents of these two ducklings were working very hard:

i didn't realize what they were doing until i watched them more closely. the two adults were diving to the bottom of the pond and picking up worms? grass? bugs? i'm not sure what they had in their beaks when they came back up, but time and again they surfaced and dutifully fed their ducklings.

and they'd hand off the food and down they went again, while the ducklings just sat there like they were entitled.

see?

do you suppose each adult had an assigned duckling to make sure they both got the same amount?

do they do this all day long? or do the adults finally say enough? do the ducklings ever refuse the food?

after sitting there several minutes snapping pictures, they showed no signs of stopping. and i bet if i went out there again this morning, they'd probably still be there in the same routine! it's a curious world, that world of ducks.

survey of 3s

on sunday my coworker and friend heather posted a 'survey of three' on her blog, double h photography, and tagged me to be a part of it, so here's my version of answers:

3 names i go by:
1. Christine Lynn - from my parents. explanation: 'christine' is spelled the german way, so it's spelled with an 'e' on the end, but pronounced 'christina.' now you know. :-)
2. Kikki - this is all my brother nathan calls me, a nickname that began way back when he wasn't old enough to say my name, and it stuck. now a few of his friends back in iowa only know me as kikki, and several of my friends call me that.
3. Keeks - a shortened version of kikki, which began in college. used less often now that the ex-him is out of my life, but several, including friend kat in new york city, of kitty in the city, still call me keeks.

3 places i've been: (i love going places, do i only get to list three?)
1. Prince Edward Island, Canada - a fun trip with my mom and sister, because the only reason we went was because we wanted to see the island. and i got to see new england, which was different.
2. Las Cruces, New Mexico - another fun, last-minute trip where i flew from st. paul, minn down to el paso, texas to visit my good friend holly, who spent a semester at new mexico state. another interesting trip, because otherwise i'd have no reason to see that part of the country.
3. Alberta, Canada - a trip taken many years ago with my aunt diana, uncle mitch and cousins jeremiah and emily, who were all moving to a town near calgary. got to hike the canadian rockies, visit some caves, see lake louise and tour calgary. now i just need to get back up there for the stampede!

3 favorite drinks:
1. 20 oz hazelnut latte - it's what i always order when i buy coffee. it's dependable, and not too sweet, no matter what coffee shop i walk into.
2. Pendleton whiskey and Sprite Zero, chock full of ice - a new favorite, since i discovered Sprite Zero doesn't taste like diet soda.
3. Coffee with a little bit of milk - best enjoyed several mugs in a row on saturday morning

3 jobs i've had:
1. Linden Dining Center - food service, in college, at the dorm building known as linden, across the courtyard from the building in which i lived. i liked working in linden. the university closed it down in consolidation after my first year.
2. Jet's personal exerciser - a big black horse i rode and trained for a woman in ames. he was a nut, but i really liked that horse. i took him a lot of places.
3. Highland Park Community Church - the Casper church were i worked part-time for two years. i really liked it, because it was a good way to get to know everyone involved in the church. but, i'm really grateful to have my weekends back.

3 tv shows i watch: (well.... it's been a long time.... i can't remember the last time i watched tv, or had time to)
1. 30 Rock - i did watch all three (or four?) seasons in short order on the 'watch instantly' option of netflix. i like tina fey.
2. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - with guy fieri on food network, it's one that i like to catch if i'm on the road in a hotel room for the roundup. he has a great personality for tv, and i always try to remember the places i should stop when i'm around the country, but i never do.
3. Funniest Home Videos - they're always on, and they always crack me up

3 favorite retro tv shows:
1. ?
2. ?
3. i had enough trouble coming up with current tv shows

3 favorite dishes: (again, only three?)
1. Snow Pea Stir-Fry - snow peas, mushrooms, slivered almonds, soy sauce, corn starch. all sauteed together and happy. it's easy and delicious.
2. a big fat bowl of ice cream with chocolate chunks (on a hot summer evening, while flipping through a magazine)
3. Kicked-Up Tuna Melts - Emeril Lagasse's doctored up tuna melts. tuna, black olives, red onion, pepper, capers, lemon juice, etc. can't beat them. under the broiler with thick slices of white cheese. then i eat most of the whole bowl of leftovers before it hits the fridge.

3 things to which i'm looking forward: (only three? this is tough. i'm going to cheat)
1. meeteetse ranch rodeo this weekend - wish us luck!
2. wind river pack trip - second annual trip packing with my sister for several days in the mountains
3. a visit from the parents - to see my new house!
4. meeteetse labor day rodeo - was a good time last year, expecting no less this time around.
5. finding out if my mares are bred - i think jazz might be showing a little. it's either that, or that there's just a lot of grass this year
6. decorating my new house for christmas! (yes, i'm already making plans and know where the tree will go)

3 people i'm tagging:
1. Holly, of Musings
2. Kat, of Kitty in the City
3. Carrie, my mother (make a facebook note! :-) )