Well as I'm sure you can tell Miss Maddie's Swan Song lasted all of two weeks and then I came to realize I had friends to visit and tales to tell... so somewhere amidst the other enjoyable pastimes I was pursuing I could find time to post and leave comments on others' blogs. After all, is this not a community of women with similar values, shared passions and unrelenting dreams?
And now for the tale...
The precious pair of swans (that I wrote of before) that mate for life have yielded 4 cygnets (what baby swans are called). Always under the watchful eye of one of the parents their soft grey to buff down and awkward toddling about has granted them the name of the ugly duckling. It takes a full year for the feathers to completely turn to white.
A male is referred to as a cob and the female a pen. She has an important role in history for her flight feathers were fashioned into writing instruments originally called a pen quill... later a quill pen.
I wonder how many feathers were destined to carry the ink that graced the pages of her manuscripts as Jane Austen brought 'Pride and Prejudice' to life.
All the swans of Europe can trace their lineage to the Royal Swannery of England. 'Birds Royal' was the beautiful creatures' title as only Kings and Queens (or a few favoured subjects) could keep them.
May this day find you cozy in your nest and dreaming of the beauty that surrounds you...
17 comments:
Susan, What a beautiful post!
I'm so glad that you have decided to stay a part of our community! You would have been immensely missed!
Beautiful....beautiful swan photos..they are so graceful..and I do not in any way feel they are ugly when they are young!
Hugs,
Doreen
Oh how elegant, and of course it goes without saying that you chose my favorite performers for Pride and Prejudice. I'm in love with Matthew MacFadyen's rendition of Mr. Darcy.
Christine ~ Zwee!!!!!!!!!
Ooooohhhh and awwwwhhhh from both the Bird and her Pen ;-)
Lovely story and the photo is magnificent.... National Geographic missed an opportunity with you behind the camera!
xoxo
Karen
Dear Miss Maddie,
I'm so glad that you took your little Swan Song retreat. When we feel thus, we need to feel thus, and it's wise of you, that you did it.
But of course, I'm more than glad to see that you've found that you wish to cease your little Swan Song leaving, now. -clapping hands- -drum roll, please- -pop the Champagne cork- Miss Maddie is back! :-))))))))
And with a sweet tale to tell, and sweet musings, also.
Oh I'm so glad that you decided to come back to us, on a more regular basis.
Gentle hugs,
Aunt Amelia
Miss Maddie, wonderful post. I love swans. I didn't know they all hail back to the English court! That is my education morsel for the day. Thank you~ I love Jane Austen too... wish she had lived long enough to give us more. (:
I'm glad you're staying. I never knew that female swans were called pens- hence, our writing instruments. Beautiful photo of the mother and her cygnets, too.
As always your post has touched my heart. Swans are so graceful and elegant. I thank you for the information provided about swans as I had never heard this before. As for Jane Austen, I love all of her books (and the Keira Knightly version of P&P is my favorite:). It is always so nice to chat with others in blogland who share the same interests:)
Blessings,
Kim
Susan - do you have an original Izannah dress?
Dixie
Hi Susan, I too am glad you are going to continue to post, I just started to read your and blog and really did not wait until fall. Julie
P.S. I had two beautiful swans living next door to me for the last couple of years and we loved it. But my neighbors decided to move and took them with them. Its very quite here now and I really do miss them. They truly are BEAUtiful creatures.
That is soooo funny that you have asked for a "Pardon" for your "Swan Song"....I just happened to see if you were here and you were..and I think it's great that you haven't left the planet.
I enjoyed your story as well.....plus I didn't know the name of "baby swans." So if you had resigned to go away...I'd know nothing of "Cygnets."
Now I do.....
Always something good to learn on these blogs I say.
Be blessed,
Joyce
Interesting...
Good morning Susan ~ so glad you didn't stay gone for long!
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the giveaway.
I linked to your lovely blog and post.
Aunt Amelia
Susan...I am so pleased you have come back with your tales to tell...you really do have the most delightful blog, you have such a way with words.
Thank you for your visit...and yes JoJo's blue hair was just the finishing touch, it looked great!!! And a great concert too!!!
Dreaming of the beauty that surrounds you...lovely, lovely words Susan, and made me stop to think of just that!!!
That was beautiful! I never knew those were the names for swans... very interesting. Thank you for enlightening me!
I'm glad you didn't bid farewell to blogland- you have a wonderful blog!
Made my day to find you here, again, floating with the swans... for you are a joy Miss Maddie, and I love your song of beauty... XO
Susan... I am absolutely in love with your whole blog! Your photography is breath taking - your writing touches the soul. However you discovered mine, which lead me to yours ... I'm delighted!
Thank you for stopping by my blog via Norway! I'm loving your blog already, so glad that you found me which led me to yours.
Swans are such elegant creatures and loyal too. By the way those adorable little cats in your side bar photos completely grabbed my attention ... delightful.
Jeanne
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