...on Father's Special Day........

On this Father's Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share a "father anecdote."  My father was an avid hunter.  He began hunting at a very early age as a way of contributing to the family meals and socializing with friends who were also hunters.  In the off-hunting season, one of the things he worked to create (when he was not doing farm chores, working at the local dairy, or going to school, ) were duck decoys.  These hand made ducks were carved wood.  They usually had a screw-eye on the front of the breast to attach a heavy string with a weight on the bottom to anchor the ducks in place in the water.  They usually had a rudder-shaped steel weight running along the belly to help stabilize each in choppy water.  Each duck was hand painted and most resembled male mallards.

Mallard decoy hand carved and used many, many times - notice the wound to the head behind the bill and at 4 o'clock to the eye.

I am lucky enough to have a couple of these.  At one time, we had more than a dozen.  Decoys have changed tremendously since my dad made this beauty, but from start to finish, this was a labor of love for him.  Even when I look at the wooden blanks now available for the decoy assembler, they do not resemble a real duck in the way these do - of course, I am bias. 

Duck bill and head of the hand made duck decoy.

I think it is fabulous that LEGO is getting on board with animal representations - one of which includes the male mallard.  Pieces have been designed specifically for this representation  (such as the bill,) but it still looks like a LEGO creation at it's core!

LEGO mallard male.

There are some obvious differences between the two when placed side by side -

A mallard comparison.....

Size is the most obvious difference that you see right up front!  The decoy really floats and the LEGO model is not designed to be a floater.  I think the eyes on the LEGO duck are endearing and help him look cute.  Notice how small the eyes are on the decoy.  Beak color is very different, as well, and more accurate on the decoy.  Although not visible on the decoy, orange feet are appropriate for both.

Today it's a father ducks day!

What I love about the LEGO set is that the father duck is the one leading the baby ducks.  Although it is unfortunate that the mother duck is not a part of the set, I think it is very interesting that LEGO has decided the father is the one to feature with the offspring.

Thanks to LEGO for recognizing the important role fathers play in the lives of their children and Happy Father's Day to fathers everywhere.