Wildlife & Thunderstorms

It's a popcorn kind of day. The sort where I wish I had a cold so I would have an excuse to lie in bed all day, watch movies, and listen to the glorious thunderstorm outside. Instead I've been job-hunting and article-reading online.
I was leaning on the railing of our second-story porch a little while ago, just enjoying the gentle rain and rolling thunder, when suddenly I saw something run across the path from the lake to the bushes. My first thought was "rat!", but I had to know for sure, so I ran inside, grabbed my tennis shoes* and headed out in the rain. Wouldn't you know it, I saw the little creature again! This time he nearly flew back across the path in a panic to the lake-side bushes he started at. A Google search confirmed that he wasn't a rat but a "vole". Still, I am glad I live high above him on the second floor.
The wildlife in my neighborhood is not limited to voles, but also includes a variety of doves (who like to coo in the early morning), ducks (who patrol in their highly territorial cliques), and turtles (who like to eat the baby ducks). I met my newest neighbor yesterday, a teeny, solitary duckling. Either the ducks her just lay a few eggs, or all the babies are quickly killed (by turtles or local cats) because I never see more than a couple ducklings at a time. I'm rooting for this little guy and hoping the turtles don't get him. While I was out investigating the vole issue, I wandered over to where I last saw the duckling. His mother was doing a great job camouflaging them both in the brush, but he gave it away by "peep peeping". All the ducks are enjoying the weather today. I am too. 
 Now I am damp, making tea, and wishing I had a cold so I could climb in bed and watch black and white movies for the rest of the afternoon.

*Note: Do you say "Tennis Shoes"

       "Ten-niss Shoes"

        "Ten-niz Shoes" or

        "Ten-na Shoes"

I'm a "tenna shoe" type myself. I think it's a yankee thing.