What does the goose say?

It has been a while since we have blogged here. We have a good reason, as usual.

Also, as usual, it rhymes with “We were dizzy.”

Evie likes to take Winnie out into the pasture to throw corn to the chickens. It is a beautiful sight to watch, because the chickens all come flocking around to peck up the grain and since Winnie cannot throw it very far, they end up in a crowd right around her. She loves it of course.

Evie is supposed to keep the geese from picking on Winnie, but sometimes she forgets what she is doing and wanders off to do something else. On one such occasion I looked over to see Winnie alone in the pasture with the four geese, who are all about her size, especially the two big ganders.

Not to worry, though. Winnie was chasing them! She would run forward a few steps, and then crouch down and spread out her little arms and hiss at them (around her pacifier which is apparently more effective than you would think.)

The geese would hiss back and waddle a little further away, so she would come up and chase after them again.

She is so proud of herself!

There was a bit of a setback when Daddy came up to see what was going on and distracted her. As soon as she turned her back that big came running up and nipped her arm. Daddy came running up too, and kicked the gander in the head. Winnie cried for a little bit, but then she jumped back down and chased those geese all around the field.

The next day when Mommy brought the kids out to do chores, there she was…

At it again, chasing those geese all around the pasture.

I suppose when you are the youngest, the shortest and the smallest, you cannot afford to be timid.

Or as Shakespeare might say, “Though she be but little, she is fierce!”

On the whole, though, it is probably a good thing that we have geese. They are mean, and anti-social, and snobby. They are also bullies. They act big and tough, but they really don’t have any ability to do any serious damage. They only weigh about 20Lbs max, they have no teeth, no claws, no hooves, no real natural weapons. They survive by noise and intimidation. Sure, they can nip you, and it hurts a bit, but they won’t actually damage you. The kids can practice not being intimidated, building confidence, standing their ground even when they feel fear; the first step on the long road to being courageous.