May Day Surprise

Today it is a cold, rainy, damp day, but I had to go out, as I had to take my dad to Plymouth for his pacemaker check this morning. As we were driving from my parents house to get to the highway,  I saw a pair of swans swimming with their 9 baby Cygnets in a cranberry bog ditch. I didn't have time to stop then to try and take photos, but I hoped the swans would be there and still be near the road on our way home.

On the way home, I was excited to see the swans were still at the bog and close to the road. I stopped, parked the car, grabbed my camera, and got out of the car to take pictures. Of course my camera batteries died  as I tried snapping my first photo. Drats!!   I had to run back to the car to put in new batteries in the camera. Then I climbed back down the banking near the bog to get closer to take my photos. I didn't dare get too close as I didn't want to scare the swans, or have the male come after me to attack.  As I was snapping pictures the rain really started to come down. I was drenched by the time I got back to the car, but happy that I did get some photos.
    the male (left) kept an eye on me the whole time I was snapping photos. In the photos you can see watercress growing in the bog ditches. The male swans back foot is out of the water and every now and again he would put that big, black foot back in the water to paddle along to keep up with the others.

Most of the 9 babies were grey, but a few were white.                          I always keep my old digital camera in the glove box, but that camera only has a 4 x zoom and I never can get really good close up photos, which is frustrating.                                                                                                                       I have to take my dad to Plymouth again tomorrow to a doctors appointment in Plymouth, as his bronchitis still hasn't cleared up yet.  I plan on bringing a different camera.
I hope you enjoyed the swan photos. I loved seeing the little ones today. So darn cute!!! Spring is such a wonderful time of year.

 

Happy May Day! I can remember as a child making a May Basket, and then filling it with flowers from the garden with my mom and aunt. We would then go to a friend or relatives house, ring the doorbell and run to hide. When the door was opened we would then come out and wish whomever a Happy May Day and stay for a short visit.

I have pictures of my late mother in law that were taken at the 2 room (2nd and 3rd grade) South Middleboro School . In the photo Marjorie had on a crown and was dancing around a May Pole with other class members, but she had been crowned Queen of the May by her teacher. I don't think many celebrate May Day anymore.

That same teacher was long retired, but she use to volunteer at that same school when my oldest son was in the 3rd grade. She gave my son the old May Day photos that she had taken. She also gave him a  small, wooden box to take home to me  that held recipes in my husbands grandmothers handwriting. Tom's grandmother loved to cook, and that teacher was newly married at the time so she shared recipes with her. That wooden box with recipes are treasured in my kitchen.

Elaine