Congratulations Mumma Swan .... your cute, wobbly, little ball of fluff has arrived. YAY !!

Today there was a blue bowl of water, and some cabbage leaves right next to Mumma Swan.
They were left, undoubtedly, by the kind lady who we think lives across the road from Mumma Swan's nest.  

We stayed and I took photos for just a couple of minutes. Mumma Swan seemed extra alert and a bit on edge, even flipping her beak at a passing bird.

I slowly circled, didn't get as close as I usually do.  Then, just as I walked off, I turned back for one last look.... oh boy, am I glad I did.  Mumma Swan slowly rose up and proudly showed off her baby to us ....

Two pictures was all she allowed!  First a bundle of fluff, then....

.... a wobbly, bobbly little head poked up.

We were thrilled to bits!!!


Faithful Duck was still by her side.....

with a very happy gleam in the eye!

We left this lovely little family, with a happy gleam in OUR eyes.  

Mumma Swan, her sweet little Fluffy Cygnet and Faithful Duck.

Our addiction!

Red arrow = our addiction

Ahhhhhh

Someone just couldn't wait

Oh my goodness, that coffee creamy taste - so wicked!

Help... have we the strength to walk past this place of temptation today ?

A 'full of pictures' Mumma Swan Update

Following on from Sunday's update - here's the missing pictures.  I kind of got carried away with the joy of being able to upload them, so there are lots.  I'll keep words to a minimum.

The usual scene, Mumma Swan, Faithful Duck and the red arrow shows Dad Swan having a swim

She's got her eye on me, but allows me to come up real close.

Soon-to-be-Dad has a swagger in his walk.

He and Mumma Swan exchange a few honks. He's just making sure I'm not annoying her I guess.

Satisfied that all was well, and that he wasn't needed for nest duty, Dad Swan swims off.

Mumma Swan then started to fling her neck around... this way and that.

Stood up and flung her neck underneath and moved the egg with her beak.

Here's an enlargement of the previous photo.

Then another quick movement which revealed the egg even further. 

Enlargement of previous photo.  One beautiful egg.
Isn't her neck flexible! 

She then busied herself pulling up more pieces of nesting material around herself.

Guess it's the same as when we humans would be in our last throes of pregnancy and have the insane need to clean the entire house and re-arrange the nursery for the thousandth time, eh!!

Ah, nesting [happy sigh].... I remember it well  :D)

We're due to go to Lakes on Wednesday again, so, naturally will be checking up on our swan then and, of course, will be shouting it from the rooftops if there's any news.  Cheerio and thanks for your interest... it's beaut sharing this with all of you.  Getting very excited now :D)

A pictureless update on Mumma Swan and her egg

Hi everyone, I've been trying to post an update since Friday.  For some reason, I'm unable to upload photos, which has been a pain.  In fact, if I see this message:

An error occurred while saving

one more time I shall .....  ah well, enough of that - we've all been there eh!!

I've given up, temporarily, and decided to paint the pictures with words instead.

We did a quick check on Mumma Swan on 13th August , after the floods in the area had subsided.  All was well, the waterline had risen but her nest only received minimal damage. I'd added some of those photos to the sidebar back then.

On Friday, we went back again. There wasn't the anticipated hatching (can't be too far off now, surely!!), but were really happy to see that all was well.  She was in her usual spot, with Faithful Duck alongside and, this time, another swan (perhaps Dad?) swimming nearby.

I walked quite close to her - just a couple of paces away.  Dad Swan wandered over.  I backed off!  They exchanged some honks and off he swan.  Just checking in and casting a cautious eye at me.

We were about to go when I noticed her start to sweep her head from side to side in a way I'd never seen before.  I started clicking and caught two shots (thank goodness I'd left the camera in 'multi-shot' mode) of her start to stand up then ... quick as a wink, put her long neck underneath and move her egg.  I've enlarged those two shots and the egg is quite visible.  Wonderful!

I shall post these photos as soon as I can.   In the meantime, am off to enjoy the rest of our Sunday  - you enjoy yours too.  Cheerio!

Froggie has fallen... madly... deeply...

(Oh dear, I only meant it as a joke)

Link to previous Froggie With Attitude Adventures

Mumma Swan Update (Part 3)... no hatchings yet, but we checked on her in the rainstorm

I didn't intend to post about Mumma Swan again until I had some news of hatchings, however, our hearts went out to her after yesterday.

We woke up to rain bucketing down.  MD asked if I'd like to go for a drive to Lakes to check on our swan. You know the answer to that....

Lakes Entrance was looking wild and grey yesterday

Here's Mumma.... still sitting.
She'd gathered larger sticks around her nest since we last checked two days previously.
She just kept flicking her neck to get the rain off - a hopeless exercise yesterday!

A momentary break in the rain - perhaps a sleep now.

No, back down pelted the rain (perhaps you can see it against the boat)
Faithful Duck is by her side again

We went and dried out in our favourite cafe (photo taken on a previous sunny visit) with a coffee.    Indulged in our, also favourite, particularly scrumptious coffee eclaire.  Must take a photo of it one day, but it sort of gets eaten before I even think of taking one!
Oh dear, it's a tough gig being retired ;-)

Our drive home.
Some would say we're crazy for going out in weather like that.
Well, at least we're crazy together.... makes for an interesting life ;-)

A few more bits of this n thats.... Vicki's new book, Renovations, Cows, Turnips, My Liquid Brekkies and other such things.

Author Vicki Tyley is a long-time blogfriend and, as you've seen on my sidebar, I'm a great fan of her gripping mystery and suspense stories. She's just released another book Fatal Liaison which is an absolute ripper.

Even though I'm not a writer, I can still imagine the sometimes long, hair-pulling hours that authors must put in to create a story. I appreciate that, and get a kick out of sharing the news of when I've had a good read.  I love to add my 2 cents' worth in my own particular style of review,  so here goes:

The lives of two strangers, Greg Jenkins and Megan Brighton, become inextricably entangled when they each sign up for a dinner dating agency. Greg's reason for joining has nothing to do with looking for love.  His recently divorced sister Sam has disappeared and Greg is convinced that Dinner for Twelve, or at least one of its clients, may be responsible.  Neither is Megan looking for love....

Vicki has unleashed another compelling story, chock-a-block full of just the right mix of ingredients that we've come to expect from her stylish hand. 

A simmering mystery that erupts into highly charged emotions combining with dramatic and sometimes confronting encounters, all cleverly  woven with an intriguing psychological twist. 

Vicki's editing is seamless. Her words flow with an ease that is pure delight to read.  

Her main characters, Greg and Megan,  have heart and warmth.  I was nail-bitingly, lip-chewingly, carried along not wanting to leave their sides all throughout their harrowing journey. 

My Rating:  Forget the "X" Factor... There's now the "Tyley" Factor

*****

Our Renovations

We've decided to finish the renovations that we started some
5 years' ago.  Had a few years' break in between.
Here's MD making a start on getting the wallpaper off.
We gave ourselves a weekend break... oh, and Monday as well.
We're off shopping today and tomorrow.... um ;-)

We're taking a tea break from the renovations here.
It's a tough job all right .... but someones got to do it!!

Here is our regular King Parrot visitor to our verandah.
He's so friendly and gentle.

He sometimes allows a female to join him on the rail, but really prefers to have us to himself.
We had to stop feeding him there because he would jump on to the cane chair and
look into the lounge at us, requesting food.  If we didn't come out straight away, he'd
start chewing on the chair!
He's quite used to the fact now, that he doesn't get food from us at the verandah
anymore, but still likes to drop in to say hello.

*****

Cows and turnips

Snapped this on our way through to check on Mumma Swan at Lakes Entrance.
The cows were happily chomping on the turnips but ran like scaredy cats when I
walked over to photograph them.

*****

My liquid brekkies

I mentioned my liquid brekkies last year in a post.  I still occasionally have them.
I vary the ingredients quite a bit.  This one has a raw egg, sesame seeds, crushed linseeds,  soy milk,
banana, honey and a good few shakes of cinnamon. 

Oh Yum.... truly!

*****

We loved this one ... it must be such a hard day at 'The Office'

*****

A beautiful sight

Finally, I shall end with the rainbow we saw on our way back from Lakes.
Just lovely!  I have always admired Linda's (Life on a Colorado Farm) rainbows and now I've been able to capture my own!

*****

Thank you for rolling down the page with me (ha ha, that sounds a bit weird.... but you know what I mean). 

I think I'll have a little break from posting  (EXCEPT of course, for a Mumma Swan Update)  while I catch up on my visits to everyones' blogs and read the posts I've missed. There are so many delightful blogspots to visit, I don't seem to get around to as many,  as much as I'd like to.   So that's what I shall be doing for the next little while. 

Froggie has been making a few noises, so perhaps he may hop in a bit later on ;-)  

Cheerio for now and keep well and safe everyone!

Mumma Swan Update (Part 2)... another visitor!

"Hi guys... 'sup?"

"Great day. Wotcha doin'?
Hey? Didja see the size of that pelican's belly?
Big gob on it too.
Cool, this is a great hangout!
I'm starvin!
Got some grub?
You guys don't say much do youse...."

(If ducks had teeth, I'm sure he'd be gritting his right about now!)

"That's it .... I've had it..... that flamin'   itchy, scratchy, noisy seagull just HAD to pick this particular spot...."

".... now it's woken Mumma with it's sqwarking and scratching ... perhaps if I move, it'll take the hint"

"... heh heh, Mumma's taking care of it, seeing it off.  

Ahhhhh, bliss, now I can get back to sitting. 

We'll get these eggs hatched Mumma.  I'm with you all the way."

"ZZZZZZZZZZZ........ZZZZZZZZZZZ........ZZZZZZZZZZZ.........ZZZZZZZZZZZ"

~ We'll pay Mumma another visit soon ~