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Tuesday, September 22

ABC Wednesday....J

Jo, my gorgeous boy!



“When the goose honk high, fair weather; when the goose honks low, foul weather”


Jo is male, a gander. He is a goose, about 15 years old. He is not viscious, but he is a good guard. He honks when he hears the motorbike, he can distinguish the sound of ours, possibly because it is a Honda and he knows his japanese bikes. He also knows the sound of our cars and always greets us with a honk!

The picture you see in my profile is not Jo, but one of his former loves, Peggy. This was an oil painting I did one day when Peggy decided to pose for me outside the kitchen window. I had never used oils before and was finding it difficult. When she stood there I knew it was something I could paint as I knew the subject so well, unlike the flowers in the text book I was following. No sooner had I finished, Peggy walked away. I did not add anything more to the picture, I felt I had captured her just right...the big blue eyes always staring through the window and the long orange beak. Jo was named after Jon's grandad. Peggy, after Jon's grandma and Dolly after my nana. Sadly Peggy and Dolly are no longer with us and Jo is a widower. He leads a very content life, his eyesight isn't too good as he has cateracts so he is familiar with the garden and paddock. He dislikes the church bells and honks away when they are rung on a Sunday.

Anything I have missed out, please shout up and myself or Jo will answer any further questions.

40 comments:

  1. Love this post about Jo your faithful gander. Terrific pictures too.
    I can't believe I am the first to post after you.
    Have a great week.

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  2. You must have a lively place - honk-honk! :-)

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  3. What a great post! Love your pictures! How fun!

    Enjoy your week!

    Sylvia

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  4. beautiful photo and post!The photo is like a painting!

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  5. I took a gander at your joyous picture; nice.

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  6. I love that painting! Absolutely beautiful

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  7. Jo sounds like a good watchgoose. Must be nice to have him honk for yoyu.
    Beautiful painting.

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  8. Amazing that the goose recognizes the sounds of your car and bike. Just goes to show how smart animals are.

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  9. A beautiful photo, has a very clean and gentle feel about it to me.

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  10. What a beautiful story! And a beautiful goose, that Jo is.

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  11. Always such a joy to read of your everyday tales. The image is just so delicate too. I'm with everyone simply beautiful both.

    Linky is down. Can't sign in.

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  12. Hi Denise,
    Great to see Jo again I love sweans and esspecially because its my name-mate, Yehhh JoAnn is my name and we celebrate "Jarig"and More J's , come see my blog:)

    JoAnn/Holland

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  13. What a lovely picture! My daughter kept geese, but one of them became demanding, following her around the yard snapping at her legs, so she got rid of them all. Your goose looks much more amenable.

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  14. Beautiful picture of a beautiful creature!

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  15. That is a gorgeous photo and what a pose!Stop by Flamblogger and see my new painting of Flamborough.

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  16. gorgeous shot & your painting came out wonderfully for never having used oils before, wow!

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  17. Jo is absolutely beautiful! What a stylish pose this guy has! You captured him so well...gorgeous photograph.

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  18. that indeed is a superb painting! a perfect portrait!
    may jo live many more healthy honking years!

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  19. Hi Denise, Just a bit slow in catching up with the fact your blog had moved! YOu know I'm absolutely with you in your love of geese. My 3 are very dear to me & I hope they live to the grand of age that Jo has. Your painting is beautiful! Will be up in the Skipton area later this year - anywhere near you?

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  20. Great post of letter 'J ':)
    Thanks & have a nice day.

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  21. Loved the description of the family. Poor Jo!

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  22. Isn't he gorgeous? Beautiful photo, too! I'm guessing this is a typical pose?

    I had no idea how long geese would live for, so you've educated me today. Since he has cataracts, I assume he's an old fella. I bet he's had a long and very contented life with you!

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  23. What a handsome fellow! And a wonderful photo, as well. I enjoyed the poem by Whitman on your last post--spending time with animals certainly helps one to forget the cares of the world.

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  24. Jo is such a cute goose!!! They say gooses are better than dogs when guarding a house!

    I'm back to BAC, hope to stay long this time! :O)

    Kisses from Nydia.

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  25. What a pretty goose. I had a goose and a gander when I lived in Belgium, they were my bodyguards :-))

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  26. Jo seems to be a dear friend.
    He is a gorgeous goose too!
    Happy ABC Wednesday...it is a joy each week to visit everyone. I look forward to Wednesday.
    Thank you!
    Sherry

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  27. What a gorgeous bird. I'd always heard that geese were marvellous guards and would love to have a gaggle but there's no room here . . . sigh . . .
    Jo sounds very loyal and faithful. Do all geese have blue eyes?

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  28. Jo the gander, funny to have a gentle nature. When we were young, our geese and ganders used to snap at us. May be we didn't feed them enpugh.

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  29. I did not know that they could live to 15 years old. He is a beauty.

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  30. You are lucky to have these wonderful pets in your life. Jo is gorgeous and amazing how he can tell the different sounds of the bikes, etc.
    Ya gotta luv all gods creatures...big & small! :)

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  31. What a wonderful photo of Jo! He is very handsome. Have been following your blog for some time.

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  32. His feathers look soft like a white satin and such a beautiful contrast to the orange beaks.He is a perfect one. Am glad you shared his snap..thank you.

    Pass on a gentle pat from my side. Hello Jo.

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Thank you for your comments, always nice to know somebody has taken the time to let me know what they think.