My mother-in-law spent her early years in a small town called New Pine Creek. It straddles the border between Oregon and California, and it can see some heavy winters. She often told the story about the winter Goose Lake froze so quickly that it trapped geese–froze their feet to the surface before they could escape.
Every time she told that story, people laughed.
“Not possible.”
I have to admit I was skeptical, but she was an honest person, so I accepted her story as the truth. Well, and she was my husband’s mother.
When I found this video about geese who were frozen in a pond and held it up as evidence, that still wasn’t enough for some naysayers.
“Ponds are shallow and it’s possible for them to freeze quickly. Lakes are deep, and that couldn’t happen on one of them.”
Ah ah, research to the rescue! I discovered that Goose Lake has a very shallow edge, so my mother-in-law’s story from her childhood, was quite possibly true.
Want a little heart-warming video about a very cold goose? Here you go!
The UnTomato Report
Tomatoes in May? Not Quite, but my roses aren’t too shabby this year. One reason is that we mended the fence and the deer haven’t feasted on them. 1 for the gardener. 0 for the deer.
Are you a member of The Insecure Writers Group Book Club? No? I’m shocked. 200 of us are. Join up and get in on the discussion of our first book this month,
"Poor Goosie, Goosie," That man in the kayak had the right idea of going out and saving him. Reminds me…when am I going to get a chance and go ice fishing? The one thing in Minnesota I haven't done yet.
The roses are gorgeous. I bet the deer look at them longingly. My son's tomatoes growing. No tomatoes yet. He planted them for me because he doesn't like tomatoes. I will enjoy them. Have a great week. Interesting about the geese.
I've heard of this frozen geese story in a novel, but I don't know if I can remember which one. Maybe Fried Green Tomatoes? I think the story continued and the geese flew away carrying the lake with them and resettled the whole she-bang somewhere else.
The roses are beautiful. Our deer ate all but one of our tulips this year. It was red and lovely while it lasted.
That's a great story about the geese! Glad you were able to prove it happens. For the record, I'd believe my mother-in-law, too. She did give birth to the most terrific man ever, after all.
Your roses are gorgeous! Always a plus when we win over the wandering deer. My hubby has the green thumb in the family, and I'm much too lazy when it comes to being able to keep up with flowers that need attention. Tulips are my favorites not only for their beauty, but because they come up whether I'm attentive or not, haha.
Ooh your roses are lovely!! And I'm so glad that video had a happy ending. I don't get people laughing about your mother-in-law's story. I would have believed her!
So glad he was rescued!
Love your roses, beautiful!
Send some of those tomatoes my way, when they're ready! Please!!!
That's crazy! I guess it's a testament to how quickly life can change, even while we're watching.
I've heard of geese getting frozen in lakes too, but I am from Canada. 🙂 Beautiful roses. My lilacs have gone, but I have some pink and white flowers blooming. Not sure what they are, but they're pretty!
Can't watch the video because my laptop is lagging something horribly! I'll come back later to watch. But your roses are gorgeous. Bet they smell wonderful.
Your roses ARE pretty. In Missouri weather changes so fast and water can freeze super fast, so I get the geese story.
Such a story. I liked reading this.
Poor geese! It isn't easy being a critter in the winter.
Your roses look lovely!
That was such a heart-warming story I'm still in tears!
Way to be a supportive DIL. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Interesting story! I can see where some would be skeptical, but I could see it happening. Your roses are lovely! They make a great stand in for the tomato report. 🙂
What beautiful roses. Our plants are doing so well due to unsettled weather – mainly the frosts. Where is summer?
So so sad about the geese and any animal that gets harmed. Your video was inspiring!
Beautiful flowers Lee. My garden is just beginning to sprout.
Wow, gorgeous roses! I'd be happy if mine turn out half as beautiful.
Isn't there a fable about geese getting frozen to a lake and then flying away with it? I know I've read that somewhere.
I want to know if someone was able to rescue the geese. Because if not, I'll be having some nightmares…
The ones in video were very much alive and well. The ones my mother-in-law reported were probably eaten by predators. Sorry.
Oh wow, you're roses look great! Love it!
I'm truly enjoying them this year.
Did they harvest a goose or two for their Christmas dinner? I haven't joined the IWSG nor have I looked at my tomatoes since arriving back home this afternoon (they are at a community farm as this community doesn't allow "vegetable gardens" in the yard).
Come and join us. Just for fun. As to the goose for dinner. . . maybe.
Beautiful roses! So glad you are keeping the deer from them. 🙂
The geese getting frozen to the lake does sound crazy- but it seems there are some crazy things that are true!
~Jess
Hi, Jess.
Love the crazy stories.
Those roses are terrific. I gave up planting anything in my backyard. The deer beat me. Some years they even eat the hosta down to its roots.
They eat anything. I planted ceanothus thinking they'd surely not nibble on that. Wrong.
You are a good gardener! Love your roses.
Hi Kelly. Thanks.
You are a good researcher and a good gardener. 🙂
Love research. It's easier than writing.
Those poor geese. I am so glad that some, at least, were saved. And now have a new worry to add to my ever-lengthening list.
Love your roses. And hope the tomatoes follow suit. Quickly.
Don't worry. There are rescuers out there.
Bless those folks for saving the geese.
Your roses looks beautiful. Mine are having a banner year too.
Have a great one, Lee.
I think it's the weather that has cooperated to give us these beauties. Congratulations.
I had no idea it was possible for geese to get stuck like that!
Beautiful roses!
I never know where I'm going to learn knew stuff! My mother-in-law and some unbelievers led me to this.
Reminds me of the story told in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes about the lake freezing and the geese (or ducks) flying away and taking the lake with them. lol
Thanks for adding something about the book club to your post! 😀
I really enjoy stories like that. I was a Paul Bunyan fan when I was a kid. Guess I'm still a PB fan and a kid, too!
our roses have started blooming too now, irises are slowly finishing their flowering session!
Go flowers!
The video was wonderful, that goose in the blanket. ❤ Those roses are beautiful. Hooray for the gardener.
Wasn't that something. Poor thing. But it all turned out to be good.
Beautiful roses! The deer here are a little too assertive in their rose-eating, but we do have one rose that's more of thorny bush that they seem to avoid.
Wonderful video! I'm glad that someone rescued that goose.
They're the most assertive during rutting season. That's when the fences come down.
I still need to plant my tomatoes.
My poor roses. One died over the winter and two are being threatened by the new puppy. Evidently, she loves to eat thorns and rose roots.
Puppies are often harder on things than deer are. Good luck.
Love your roses. I have a tomato report–I just planted mine and most of my other vegetables. Going to start on the flowers this week. It'll be a few weeks at least before my roses start blooming.
Hurray! Thanks for supplying the tomato report this week. Show us your roses when they come in.
Pretty roses! The flowers are just starting to bloom here because March and April got pretty cold this year.
Our temps are all over the place. We had 90s one week and are now in the 60s. My plants are confused, but then so am I.
Hi, Cheryl Lee!
There's a special place in heaven for people like the ones who rescued those geese on the frozen pond. Like other skeptics, I never thought it possible for fowl to get their legs stuck in the ice, never even imagined such a thing happening, but seeing is believing.
Your roses are beautiful. They look good enough to eat! 🙂
Have a super week, dear friend C-Lee!
It is a bit of a stretch to imagine geese caught in ice, but predators must have a field day when it happens. Glad these two were saved. I'm loving my roses this year.
Maybe the geese getting frozen in the water works on a similar principle to frogs in boiling water: Neither notices the precariousness of the situation until it's too late. The video is indisputable evidence that it could happen.
I tried growing tomatoes once. It was easier to just buy them in the store. The tomato plants looked robust, but nary a usable tomato came from them.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I hadn't thought of the that comparison, but it sure could be true. You're right about the ease of the store-bought. I think I love a challenge, plus tending tomatoes give's my writer head a rest.
Ah that made me tear up.
Me too!
The poor geese! But strange things do happen. I do have one tomato. One of the plants I've been keeping indoors up until now, has one cute cherry tomato. Wonder if it will hold when it goes outside this week.
I have a real battle to get tomatoes where I live. They are really temperature sensitive. Good luck with your guy. Put something around its roots if your night time temps go down low.
The story your mother in law used to tell obviously had an impact on her as it was something she didn’t forget. Nice then to see the rescue of these two geese, it’s a reminder of all the good people out there.
I enjoyed seeing the roses but missed the tomatoes! 🙂
I never forgot her story, so this has been a nice way to finally prove her right to the world. I'll be sure to do the tomato report next week.
Poor geese indeed. She sure wasn't telling any tall tales there.
I like a good ending in a story!
Poor geese.
Our tomato plants have about a dozen tomatoes forming on them now.
Ouch! Now I'm jealous.
Hi Lee – sorry about the un-tomatoes … so glad the geese were free … and funny story – so often true as you found out.
Love the quote – 'the earth laughs in flowers' … cheers Hilary
I'm still chanting over my plants. There are nice blossoms, so where there are flowers there's hope!
Your story is not the first time I've heard of that happening. But to know someone who saw it… that's kind of cool. That poor goose. Looked like it's belly got frozen to the ice. And it took a hammer to break it free!
That one was lucky. He wound up wrapped in a blankie and snuggled by a good human.
I guess she wasn't lying about those frozen geese. Glad the ones in the video had a happy ending.
The truth will finally out!