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Enjoyable photos, as usual. My favorite this time is Annie dashing through the snow!

Glad you could get your doctor's appointment over and done while you are still home. Those exams are always so unpleasant.

Is Constance doing okay?

There's been an uncharacteristically warm spell of weather here, so I've been doing as much as I can outdoors. Since Golly was taken, I'm really nervous about letting the poultry out of their runs. But, it's been up to 60 degrees lately, and I can see how eager the chickens are to scratch around and to take dirt baths. So, I let them out when I'm cleaning coops and replacing faulty -- or just plain annoying -- latches.

It doesn't take long to scoop out the chicken coops, but the duck shelter is gross and nasty. I probably always put it off too long because I greatly dislike cleaning it, which make the task even worse, I know.

Six hens live in a coop next door to Gussie's pen, and they love to run over and scratch through the bedding in her house, which actually makes it much easier for me to clean later.

Gussie, who clearly is larger than any and all of them, races away because, while she will herd ducks, she's terrified of chickens. It's a weird dynamic.

The baby pool and the little stock tank are getting plenty of action as all the waterfowl splash and spin around in the water. Of course, the warm weather is about to end; there are snow showers predicted for tomorrow.

I'm still planning to get goslings this spring so Gussie won't be alone. With Golly gone, Gussie seems resigned to having me as a companion. She is the most pigeon-toed goose I've ever seen, and if she even suspects I have some shredded lettuce (her favorite winter treat!), she launches herself toward me at full speed. Sometimes, it looks as if her feet are going to touch each other as she runs.

No matter what goslings I get, I'm going to have to have a larger goose shelter. Mine was built for two geese. And, I have to hope that Gussie really likes babies. I'll keep the little old shelter in case she would prefer a private apartment.

I just remembered that you once asked if I knew shorthand. I do not. But in my many years of working for newspapers, I kind of developed my own system and sometimes find myself lapsing back into it when I have to hand write anything. It helps, but often, my handwriting is still nearly impossible to decipher -- which can be especially frustrating at the store when I'm not sure what I meant to buy!! Sometimes, all I can make out is the first letter. :(

I bet time is really racing along for you. How many days before you leave? Have you finished with your memorization?
 
After a week of pleasant, fairly warm weather we were treated this morning to large snowflakes falling gently from the sky. It later turned to rain, and the day became dreary. At least the snow was pretty while it lasted!

I don't remember much of this week. All the days were the same, except for Friday, February 20th, which date I shall remember for a long time. It is the day I signed my enlistment papers and swore into the United States Coast Guard.

I woke up that morning at five even though my alarm wasn't set till six, and just lay in bed thinking over everything. It's been a long journey...anyway my sister and I drove down to the recruiting office and I spent two hours signing papers. Then the Chief in charge swore me in and everybody clapped. I wasn't nervous but a bit flustered because I wasn't expecting an audience!

Afterwards we visited the US Marine Corps Museum in Quantico. They've updated a few of the exhibits since we last went, especially that of the Iraq/Afghanistan war. It was all really interesting.
Enjoyable photos, as usual. My favorite this time is Annie dashing through the snow!
Thank you! It's hard to get decent action photos.
Is Constance doing okay?
She's doing better, now that I went and bought her some individual cans of food at $1.00 a piece! Apparently she takes offense at eating the same food every day. I have to switch it up. Her cough has diminished, but her eyesight and even smell is definitely failing and she sleeps at least 95% of the day.
So, I let them out when I'm cleaning coops and replacing faulty -- or just plain annoying -- latches.
What kind did you replace them with? I like hasps and carabiners, except the carabiners are always getting misplaced.
Of course, the warm weather is about to end; there are snow showers predicted for tomorrow.
Hope you didn't get too much snow!
No matter what goslings I get, I'm going to have to have a larger goose shelter. Mine was built for two geese. And, I have to hope that Gussie really likes babies. I'll keep the little old shelter in case she would prefer a private apartment.
What kind do you plan on getting? If I ever got geese again, I think I would like to try Toulouse.
I bet time is really racing along for you. How many days before you leave? Have you finished with your memorization?
I have just fifty days now. I was doing well with studying and had finally memorized the Helmsman, but the recruiter provided me with a little booklet that contains more information...therefore, more memorizing :)!

A lot of pictures this week:

Eva
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Eva and Annie
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Hope and Faith
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Annie
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The finished contract, an inch thick
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Taking the oath
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Looking out on the Potomac in Leesylvania
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Train crossing the Potomac - if only it was one of the old steam engines!
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F4U Corsair
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Tank
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Staged scene
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Most decorated Marine in history: Lt Gen. William "Chesty" Puller
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The Chapel at the Museum
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The Museum as seen through the trees
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Snowing today
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Cardinal
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Bluejay
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