Godfrey is a Chinese gander (that’s a male goose for the uninitiated). When we got him a few months ago, he was two years old and he didn’t have a name so I just called him Godfrey because he looked like a Godfrey. He was quiet, semi-tame and rather majestic. Soon after, we began to accumulate a few goslings and Godfrey has now changed from a gander who ate from my hand to a biting, hissing Godzilla – but only when I approach his goslings. Yes, he seems to think they are his own offspring and his protectiveness of them is incredible.
It was rather beautiful with the first gosling as Godfrey bent over and nudged Pearl and made this soft, keening noise from deep inside his rather long throat. I thought, how sweet, so brought our new duckling, Zaruma, out to meet him but, even though at two weeks of age, Pearl and Zaruma were almost identical, Godfrey spat it (literally) with Zaruma, then king-hit him with one of his massive wings whilst caressing Pearl with his other wing.
Yeah, you definitely need to be a goose if you want Godfrey’s affection!
jmgoyder 
I didn’t know that about Godfrey. I knew he was slightly crazy about protecting his ‘ladies’ but I didn’t realise he was a gentle soul up until they arrived. Bless him.
At last I’m meeting the birds – some of paradise and some of hell!
Annie
Yes, God bless Godfrey – I think!
dont think mum will be coming over to visit you any time soon with all these birds…especially if Godfrey is a godzilla and spits and king hits! she will be terrified!
I think she should meet Godfrey – it might be cathartic!
He’ll get over it Julie…
Okay, if you say so; after all, you’re the one who introduced me to the idea of geese!
Congrats, and please accept this Award !!
Never again will I allow five days to pass without checking my blog, reading the blogs that I follow, and commenting on those reads ! Yesterday was consumed with email check-offs, so lesson learned! I finally reached the point at which I had to resign myself to the fact that it was not going to be possible to read all of those great posts that were waiting for me, and I’m all the poorer for it. I know I missed some good stuff, there, and if I missed yours, I’m sorry !
So, here is my list of 15 blogs which I nominate for the Versatile Blogger Award: (If you’re subscribed to my blog, you’ll get a copy of this; otherwise, I’ll track you down and let you know.)
http://thetaleofmyheart.com
http://onmysquare.com
http://MemoryBearsbyBonnie.com
http://LoveisTheAnswer.com
http://VeehCirra.com
http://Terry'sLittleCorner.com
http://SpiritLightstheWay.com
http://FindingLifeinaDeath.com
http://InnerDialect.com
http://ShadesofBlueandGreen.com
http://GrowingYoungerEachDay.com
http://Thewuc.com
http://RedSeaPoetry.com
http://jannatwrites.com
http://jmgoyder.com
Congratulations to all of the above bloggers! I have enjoyed your blogs tremendously, and I look forward to reading many, many more! Thanks, as well, to The Creative Juicer (http://thecreativejuicer.wordpress.com) for very generously bestowing this Award on me (http://thoughtstomull.wordpress.com) !!
The rules to be followed when accepting the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Nominate and inform 15 fellow bloggers.
3. Share 7 random things about yourself.
4. Add the Versatile Blogger Award pic on your blog post.
The third part is both the easiest and the most difficult! I can certainly think of 7 random things about myself, but the difficulty is in knowing what you’d be interested in knowing! So, I’ll just shoot from the hip, here, in no particular order of importance:
1. I’ve been a hospice nurse for the past 18 years.
2. I’m currently unemployed, while my spine is being revamped. So if anyone knows of a spare spine lying idly around, please let me know!
3. I know that the life force goes far beyond the very limited physical construct of the 5 scientifically acknowledged senses.
4. I don’t know how many senses we have, but I believe it’s something close to infinite.
5. I agree with my brother, who says that trying to figure out this infinite world, from a finite perspective, is like a goldfish trying to figure out that he is in a bowl, filled with water from a faucet, which is in a room, which is in a house, which sits on a foundation; etc. You get the picture.
6. My philosophy is, basically, be here now. Or do the best you can! Have you ever had a moment that wasn’t in the Now? (Sometimes I fight that one, but it never changes!)
7. I think I’ve lived many lives before and will live many lives hence, but interestingly, I think that time is an illusion, constructed to fit into a finite consciousness.
8. (This is a bonus random fact about me): I love my family beyond words!
9. (Double bonus random fact about me): I have a tri-color rough collie named Matthew. We all love him.
So, I think that’s about it! I mean, there’s more, but that’s where I’ll leave it. Everyone have a wonderful day, and congratulations to the newest recipients of The Versatile Blogger Award !!
Well this is an unexpected honour! Your rules are a little complicated for my birdbrain but will do my best over next day or so! Can’t wait to check out the other blogs – thanks!