DSCN8278, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

Our little friends the cygnets are starting to look more like their parents. They should start getting feathers soon. They're nearly as big as the geese now!

Here's one with mama, so you have a sense of scale:



There were a couple people feeding the birds crackers (despite the numerous signs asking them not to), so Mrs Prissy came out of the water and over to me. When she found I had nothing to eat, she hissed and tried to bite me! Ungrateful bird, after I've made her famous!

Then Mr Prissy started flapping around and hissing in the water, and I saw ominous bubbles rising from the deep. I think the snapper tried to eat him! He'd be quite the meal, I'm sure.

I'm surprised the snapper didn't move a few yards toward shore, where there was plenty of waterfowl for the taking:



I'm glad he didn't, though; there were ducklings amongst the geese and swans.



This has been a week of dealing with Mercury retrograde fallout. Numerous people are on vacation, making it even harder to track down and fix problems. Layout day has been a challenge, as has getting customers to call me back. The last one did, a few minutes ago. With an hour to go before I leave. Nothing like waiting until the very last minute!

I decided not to go to the Gem & Fossil show this weekend. Nobody was responding when I asked if anyone wanted to go with me, and I asked myself why I was going. I go every year, and yeah, it's cool, but it usually gives me a headache from all the stones and a backache from the cement floor. I don't need to look at shinies; I need to go for a walk in the woods. So I gave my tickets to a coworker who's never been to the show, and she was excited about it. That felt much nicer than going to another show where I can't buy anything anyway. :)

DSCN7809, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I went to visit my babies today. Still three of them, thank goodness. The parents seemed much more relaxed this time, even swimming over to me so I could see the little guys. They're getting big! They're about twice the size they were when I first saw them. I did miss them while I was away.

It was weird being back at work. In a couple of days, it'll feel like I never went away. I hate that feeling.

It's also a little depressing how much earlier it gets dark here than at camp. It stays light there until after 9:30. That was rather nice. 400 miles west makes a lot of difference!

...and then there were three, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I went down to visit the Prissy Swan family, and was saddened to find there are only three cygnets now. One of them is missing, but I don't know how or why. I'm hoping that it's just because someone took one, and not because one got killed. There are rumors of a snapping turtle in the pond (and we know there are snappers in these parts, as evidenced by the babies we found out back). The parents were extra watchful, and even mama tried to bite me a couple of times (and she's usually mostly oblivious to me). Who can blame them?

I do hope the rest of them make it. They are awfully darling. I know this is why they have multiple babies, and nature can be cruel, but it's so sad. I feel like they're part of the family.

fuzz heads, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

At last, sunshine! I love how it makes the little fluffballs glow. Mummy and Daddy were taking the tykes out for a walk on the lawn, and they let me get quite close. The babies kept running into mummy's shade, so it was hard to get a pic of them all in the sun (and pointing in my direction). This one was my favorite, just for the pose.

I promise I won't be all-cygnets-all-the-time, but I am a little taken with them. I feel like a proud auntie. *g*

So of course I went back down to the park at lunch, and took a bunch more pictures. Also, I took movies. Watch how these cute little critters follow their mummy around, and one hitches a ride! :D

mama and babies, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

The eggs have hatched! We have cygnets! I stopped at the park this morning to check, and the proud family was swimming around. OMG, they are the cutest things ever! They're the color of pussy willows. Mama and Papa didn't hassle me at all; I believe they were showing them off to me. *g*



Squee!