"Three Billy Goats Gruff"

In this case, only two.  :-)

(See http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0122e.html for three rather dark versions of the folk tale.)

I had taken an early train to visit Robin for the day (check her blog for awesome close-ups, far better than any pics I took), and our first stop was at Reid's Dairy, where they have a little "sanctuary."

They have two resident goats, plus a miscellany of ducks, geese and turtles.

 

 

 

Robin noted that we actually spent 45 minutes there, snapping pics, but it seemed like only a few minutes to me. I'd love to have something like this, accessible, in our city, but I suppose if we did I'd constantly be there and would never get my errands done!

There was a fresh "crop" of ducklings, so adorable!

 

 

 

 

And plenty of geese, too. Actually, there seemed to be two flocks, one on each side of the little bridge, and when the one group got too close to the other, lots of hissing ensued.

 The second flock coming up to pick at the seed that had been put down for them.

There were about a dozen turtles too, on the far side of the pond. We moved around very quietly, but even so, only two (probably the oldest adults) stayed above the water and seemed unfazed about our presence. Several others did come back up after some time, but they seemed warier of the proximity of humans.

 

 

 

 

 

What fun! I really could have just hung out there all day.  :-)

Value Village was calling, however, so off we went. We ended up visiting three awesome thrift stores--I bought a few tops, but it was Robin who had fabulous luck with her great finds.

After lunch she took me to see their new house in a nearby community just west of their current location. Closing isn't until the third week of August, so of course we only drove by and paused to view it. It's a really nice neighbourhood, and they'll be able to keep an eye on the comings and goings of the mayor, who lives across the street from their new home. (Fabulous landscaping on his property, I will add.) I suggest they cosy up to him and his family; you never know when you might need some political clout.  :-D 

It really was a wonderful day for me, not a "small" pleasure at all but a very large one, and I thank Robin very much for all her chauffeur service and for entertaining me for the entire day. I hope to be able to do it again, perhaps after they've settled into their new home!

Peace.