Monday 13 February 2017

Swanning around with my feathery friend

Down at the ponds I regularly visit the swan pair. I have shown them in some of my previous posts but recently I noticed that Mrs Swan appears to have flown away again. I'm not worried as she has come and gone in the past and even appeared with their 2 nearly fully grown cygnets last year.
What I have noticed is how friendly he has become. Now I say he but of course who am I to know which one has gone on holiday? For the purposes of this post I shall call him a he 😄

He has become quite tame and when you call to him he comes over.


I was also most surprised to hear that he makes a sort of low honking sound....I always thought that swans were mute? He most certainly isn't.
 Far from the old wives' tale about them flapping wings and breaking arms ( have you ever honestly known anyone who that has happened to?)
 he is really friendly.

"Good morning Jane" (or at least  I think he said that to me) "would you like me to pose for some photos."

He even showed me the drops of water on his gorgeous feathers

He took a bow
 and then off he sailed again


I thought his gorgeous feathers deserved to feature on my challenge card...a CAS Valentine's card I have made for Dotty's tearooms, which has sold well. The image is a digi from the Graphic Fairy. The stamped sentiment is an old Simon's Says stamp. The die cuts are Memory Box and Whimsy.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;



Memory Box It's all about love;clean and simple the stitched frame and heart are both MB

Simon Says Stamp Monday young at heart

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday cute

Craft Heaven 3/3 love is all around

                             Uniko anything goes I have also gone for the optional love twist.
                                                        

Paper creator love is in the air  

Creative Moments anything goes

Deep Ocean hearts

 Ribbon Girl 1/3 any card

Happy Little stampers anything goes with a die

Allsorts 1/3 hearts and/or flowers

Pile it On 1/3 Hearts on fire


Tomorrow is the Day of Love and yes I am a soppy romantic, I make no apologies for it. I am meeting my Hb when he finishes work, for a meal and we will be also celebrating 37 years of the day we got engaged. Gosh where did those years go...I'm still only 20 something aren't I?  Also in the context of celebrations I thought you would all like to know that my dear friend Karen's Mum is making a slow but steady improvement. She defied all the predictions at the hospital and hung on to life. Such wonderful news. Karen and I would like to thank for you all the lovely good wishes you left on my post last week.

Enjoy the new week ahead, the sunshine is back here this morning after such a cold, dreary weekend's weather. I'm taking some more cards down to Dotty's later and I will say hello to Mr Swan as I pass.

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all you kind, supportive comments.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

22 comments:

  1. Gorgeous card! Love your coloring, this is a very original work! Thanks for joining us this week on Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! barbara

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  2. What a beautiful creature...and no I've never heard of anyone having their arm broken, they're big birds and deserve respect but what nonsense! I think its a male, its all to do with the black bit of their beak, the males is larger, of course there isn't a another one there to compare but it does look big.
    Love your card, very vintage.
    Enjoy your day tomorrow, I'm not the worlds biggest romantic but we will mark the day. :)
    V x
    P.S. Only in my 20's too! ;)

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  3. Such a sweet card, Jane. Thank you for joining us at Noor!Design UK challenges and Deep Ocean Challenges.
    Hugs, Karina
    DT member Noor!Design UK
    Owner Deep Ocean Challenges

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  4. Jane those swans are gorgeous! I love the photo when he sailed away, just so special. Love your card, have a Romantic dinner with your honey. I'm a romantic also. Happy ❤ Day, xoRobin

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  5. Lovely and very different card Jane...just perfect. Those swans are so elegant and beautiful and your card reflects that. Enjoy your valentines Day!

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  6. I love this Jane, a fabulous and unusual card, and your swan was magnificent. I'm so pleased your friends mum is getting better. Sorry it's such a quick visit but I'm still on a borrowed laptop! Have a great week. Sue xx

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  7. Love your card from the feather and ink well to the bright colour of the little girl. Glad Mr. Swan is sweet as many are not but no matter, they are beautiful! Happy Valentine's Day and wishing you a great day tomorrow eve. Glad to hear about your friend's mom.

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  8. Oh my goodness, Jane.. I'm so jealous that you got to be that close to a swan! The swans I see here in the gorge are so far away from me! It was neat to see so close to the pretty white feathers. Your card is gorgeous! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  9. Wow, this was such an uplifting post Jane! I just adore your story about the swan and all the amazing photos that go with it. Such a beautiful creature and how lucky are you to have made friends with one! Love the water drops on his back. I'm always amazed at how water resistant they are!!

    Your card is just lovely. Fabulous image, and that feather die cut was the perfect choice for the little bottle of ink!! Sending wishes to you for a Happy Valentine's Day! Sounds like you have a fabulous day planned out, do enjoy!

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  10. Your pictures are wonderful. I think Mr. Swan might have been looking for food and believe me, if little ones had been there, Swans can be very aggressive. They do protect their young.
    Your card is really gorgeous and I think it is really neat to have somewhere that is a good place to sell your cards. The Tea Room looks like the perfect little store.
    Sandy xx

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  11. Happy Valentine's Day dear Jane!
    Thanks for the beautiful pictures and your card is as sweet as it is beautiful!
    Sending you big Hugs across the pond~

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  12. What a gorgeous card, such a pretty design.
    Thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog.
    Hugs,
    Caryn xxx

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  13. Thanks for joining Allsorts challenge with this great entry, good luck.
    Happy crafting
    Tracy x

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  14. Fabulous and lovely card.
    Thank you for sharing over at Allsorts;-))m

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  15. Fun image on your card, love the feather and ink, the swans look lovely. Thanks for joining us at Uniko

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  16. What a lovely story about your inspiration for this card. Thanks for sharing it with us at HLS. :)

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  17. Beautiful card! Thanks for join us at Creative Moments this time, good luck and hope to see you next time, hugs Beatriz dt

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  18. What a fabulous vintage image and brilliant colouring. A great take on our love theme at Uniko this month and thanks for playing along in the challenge. Sarah

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  19. What a cute Valentine! I love that image.Thanks for sharing at Happy Little Stampers...so happy you joined us!

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  20. Swans are magnificent - but I'm wary, because they can also be pretty vicious in my experience. Love the quill included with that adorable vintage image - great card.
    Alison x

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  21. I love that this card feels so vintagy - is that a word? LOL! Your pictures are stunning as well! Thanks for joining us at Noor! Design UK for the February's "Have a Heart" challenge! Hugs!

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  22. Love the vintage look of the image and beautifully made card. Thanks for joining in on the Uniko challenge & my apologies for my late comment. Hugs Bev x

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Jane x