Hermit's Guests

The other evening, the nothing Catholic hermit espied a family of mother and six young trailing up and down and all around the paths of the Mary Gardens here at Agnus Dei Hermitage.

The little ones would bob their heads and toddle between perennials, stopping to glimpse a shrub or weeping tree; the mother followed three or four feet behind.

As soon as nothing stepped to the patio door with camera in hand, the mother signaled the young and soon the family of ducklings took the full staircase--then selected the stone steps leading right down to Lake Immaculata.

Just that quickly, and off into the waters, paddling with mother duck very much in the lead on this get-away. Nothing snapped to at least catch their escape. Within minutes, they returned to the stone "beach", and checked out the cattails and lily pads. Looking for bugs, perhaps?

Guests don't have to be the two-legged, word-verbal variety.

Nothing still laughs at how the duck family investigated the Mary Gardens of Agnus Dei. This week, should they decide to return, there are more trees to enjoy, as well as additional coneflowers to sniff. A good hermit would not frighten off guests, would it? Now, about that mole....