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   My home office has a great view. My desk is in front of a large window looking out across the lawn, to the lake and across the water up the open hillside to the timber beyond. The only problem I have is it is frequently a distraction from the work I need to accomplish. I am not saying calculating payroll taxes is not exciting, but glancing outside and seeing a herd of deer or flock of turkeys can distract from the fascinating work at hand.

   This morning, there were about a hundred geese and six trumpeter swans on the lake outside of my window. The wind is blowing from the north, so they were all bunched up by the dam. If we ate geese, it would have been a good morning to go goose hunting. A person could sneak up the back side of the dam, pop over the top, and shoot their limit. Instead, they spent several hours swimming around and occasionally walking up the dam to eat some grass. Eventually, they all took off at once, swinging by the house as they left. A short time later, the swans lined up, started bobbing their heads, and took flight together. They headed north, into the wind, gaining altitude as they headed to a nearby cornfield to eat during the day. They will be back tonight near sundown.

   A short time later, three bald eagles flew in, a mature one landing in a small tree on the island and two juveniles landed on the remains of a beaver house at the edge of the island. I am not sure what they were doing but they were fun to watch. I did not see them eating anything so they may have just stopped by for a drink and to argue with each other. After a while, they flew up and glided around the area for a while before disappearing over the hill.

   Billie, the office dog, has his couch near the double doors going out to the downstairs patio. From his couch, with his chin on the armrest, he can watch for anything I might miss if I become distracted by work. Deer on the far side of the lake coming out of the woods will cause him to stand up and watch closely. He lets me know there are deer out there and I need to keep track of them. If the deer come into his yard, he is immediately at the door, needing to be let out to chase them. He receives great satisfaction from chasing them away. He proudly comes back to tell me all about it and resumes his watchdog position on the couch.

   Jag is the upstairs back-up watch dog. He guards the farm from his position in his recliner on the upstairs porch. If we are invaded by anything from a squirrel to the UPS man, Jags response is to sit in his chair and bark. This alerts Billie to the fact he needs to come outside and take care of the problem. I then must let Billie out to chase off whatever needs chasing and let him back in to recline on his couch after he has worked out whatever was stressing Jag. It is only one more distraction from work.

   Between the wildlife and the watch dogs, I do manage to get my work done most days. The distractions are usually the best part of the workday.

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