The Launch

During the harsh Chicago winters, Oasis is stored in dry dock at a marina in Waukegan harbor; in late spring we gather for our traditional harbor launch, then we sail Oasis to her slip at Northpoint Marina in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois.

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One activity that's a particular favorite among the crew is the ceremonial pitch-n-fetch. As Oasis pulls away from the dock, the crew pitches a fender into the water, leaving the person remaining on the dock (Cynthia) to rescue it with a boat hook.

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Pictured here with Dick is Rick Miller (a good friend of Sanctuary Pond), relaxing on Oasis' fly bridge just before the launch.

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It's Clifton's Birthday Today

Clifton is also a resident of Sanctuary Pond and today he makes his debut appearance on this blog. Chique, our mascot, was also on hand to celebrate Clifton's birthday. It has now become a tradition to have your birthday picture taken with Chique.

Memorial Day

This is how we spent our Memorial Day:

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Fran found time to clock some miles on her pedaler..

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Dick went to the local nursery to pick out some Early Girl tomato plants. He's shown here with a spade in hand and the Early Girls secure in their cedar barrels.

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Charlie visited the Animal ER as a consequence of aggressive grooming by his handler. To thwart any legal action brought forward by PETA bloggers who might happen to stumble upon our blog, the handler/groomer shall remain anonymous. Charlie is resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery!

Shoes

"How should we spend our economic stimulus money?" has been a topic that has weighed heavily on our minds lately. So, this weekend we decided that the best way to help our economy recover from the recent sluggishness was to buy new shoes. Check them out!

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Dick's new Nike Air shoes

Fran's new Crocs

Little Limpy

Earlier on this blog, we reported on a little gosling that sported a very severe limp. His right leg appeared to be bent upwards and sideways, so he limped.
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Good news to report now, little "Limpy" appears to have made a complete recovery. He/she scoots around and swims just as well as the others. We can't even tell them apart; they are all very lively. The adults pay very close attention to the little ones, and never let them out of their sight.

Happy Birthday

We celebrated Dick's birthday today with a cake (fresh strawberries w/buttercream frosting) from his favorite bakery. He is pictured here with the Sanctuary Pond mascot - Chique (pronounced "Chick.")

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Do you think they have the same barber?

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Also sharing the spotlight (and the cake) with Dick and Fran is Chique.

Mother's Day Visitors

Keith and Deb stopped by for a Mother's Day visit. As you can see, the Tina Crabapple is in full bloom. The perfect backdrop to a wonderful photo on a very special day.

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Keith and Deb weren't the only ones who stopped by to wish Fran a "Happy Mother's Day." Peep and Creep just couldn't resist; they wanted to take part in all of the fun. Hey, no ducklings yet?

The First Batch of Little Ones

The four little goslings are already swimming - and they're just two days old. They won't let us get too close now, but we'll soon earn their trust. Hopefully, we can get better close-ups. The goslings are yellow and fluffy, and they hop around along the edge of the pond like jumping beans.

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We’ve just observed that one of the four goslings has a severe limp. His right leg is bent sideways, and unable to sustain weight when he walks, so he limps. This must account for why he appears to be hopping – poor little guy! He lags behind the others when they’re on shore, but while once in the water he swims as well as the others. He favors his dad, while the others stay close to mom.

The Laudress' Helper

One of Fran's favorite chores is doing the laundry, especially Dick's blue jeans. She considers laundry as proven therapy for any housekeeper. But what could be more fun than having a helper. Look who's helping Fran with the laundry. Can you spot Charlie?