PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Saturday 7 July 2012

Romance and Rainbows

My walks with Toby are gradually becoming shorter, he's not as young as he used to be.  We often take a stroll down to the watermill and then up the hill to Claythorpe.    This does have one advantage - I becoming more familiar with the birds there.

I am becoming familiar with the strutting cockerel, and the parading peacocks.








The lonely swan...who has spent so many months on her own in the mill chase pool....





...swimming here ...












dabbling there...





always elegant, always alone




...now has a friend...







Could this be the start of a fine romance?



Tonight there was a double rainbow - it ended in "our" barley field....
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34 comments:

  1. Jane and Chris7 July 2012 at 21:59

    Oh, lovely! The swan has a friend!
    A double rainbow too....a great day.
    Jane x

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:06

      Hello Jane, Yes, at long last she has a friend - I thought you would like to know. I'll keep you posted.

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  2. Joanne Noragon7 July 2012 at 22:16

    Two swans--double the grace. Double rainbow. A great walk.

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:09

      Hello Joanne, Toby and I keep fitting our walks in and around the rain, sloshing through soggy fields! Seeing a sight like that makes it all so worth while.

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  3. Bonnie7 July 2012 at 22:20

    Such a pretty stroll. So happy to see the swan now has a buddy. Love it all! Bonnie

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:10

      Hello Bonnie, I'm so pleased for the swan and it certainly made for a wonderful surprise during a very soggy walk.

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  4. Ms Sparrow7 July 2012 at 22:48

    It's always sad to see animals that are usually in flocks or herds having to be alone. I'm so happy to see the swan has a companion.
    I hope once your rainy weather clears up that Toby will be able to get around better.

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:13

      Hello Ms Sparrow, I think it is all the damp and rain which is affecting him - he still expects to be taken out, no matter what. I was really happy today because he met two of his doggy friends and he was able to have a romp around with them, no sign of leg problems then. It was great to see him being a 'puppy' for a few minutes.

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  5. Susan7 July 2012 at 23:07

    We had one swan on our pond in Connecticut--called him Baby Huey! He swam with all the geese we had, but I felt sorry he didn't have a mate--hopefully he's found love like your pair. What a wonderful story in photographs as you stroll down the lane. XOXO

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:17

      Hello Susan, That short lane is always full of interest. It is perhaps three or four hundred yards long and there is a fish farm, the watermill and wildfowl gardens, the children's woodland play area, the river and the mill chase, a farmyard with incredibly beautiful old buildings, sheep, an old railway station...which makes it all sound very busy - but because we live on the edge of nowhere, it is incredibly peaceful!! xx

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  6. Deb7 July 2012 at 23:26

    Nice to see the swan won't be lonely now.

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:19

      Hello Deb, Welcome! It was wonderful to see the pair of them, I wasn't expecting it at all.

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  7. Little Home In The Country8 July 2012 at 02:34

    Such gorgeous scenery and a lovely graceful pair :)

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:20

      Hello Little Home in the Country, They are very graceful, although I am always happy to be safely out of reach on a bridge!

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  8. Cro Magnon8 July 2012 at 05:25

    One of the worst 'bites' ever ever had was from a Swan. I was only about 5 at the time, and have been slightly wary of them since. Even so, I adore Swans; especially the black ones.

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:22

      Hello Cro, Ouch, that must have been nasty, I have heard they can do some real damage. Luckily, my vantage point is from the bridge, so I feel quite safe!

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  9. Cheryl8 July 2012 at 09:09

    I am sure Toby has a lot of life left in him yet :)

    I adore swans......when I saw the lone swan I felt a little sad, they belong in pairs.
    It was a most beautiful end to this post......I am sure love is in the air.

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:25

      Hello Cheryl, I'm so pleased you like a bit of romance too! I couldn't resist. It is difficult watching my faithful companion struggle, but as you said - he has a lot of life in him yet!

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  10. Unknown8 July 2012 at 10:34

    wasn't that rainbow incredible... I think you'll actually find it ended in our field... went out to chase it but the end kept moving... no pot of gold for me alas!

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    1. Elaine8 July 2012 at 11:27

      Hello Dom, It was beautiful - of course the reason you couldn't find the end of the rainbow was because you were looking in the wrong place and in the wrong village! We have the spot marked and we'll be digging later.xx

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  11. Maggie8 July 2012 at 11:28

    Lovely photos, Elaine. So glad the swan has a friend :) Maggie xx

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 07:54

      Hello Maggie, I was so pleased to find she has a companion of her own kind at last!

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  12. Roan8 July 2012 at 13:56

    Such a beautiful place to walk. My dog, Willie, has too many aches and pains to go for long walks anymore. I miss walking with him. Swans are always so elegant. I'm glad this one has a friend.

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 08:01

      Hello Roan, It is so sad when they become less able to walk far - in his head Toby is still a young pup - his body tells him a different story. If I want to do a long walk I have to pretend I am doing something else - weeding the vegetables, or the like, and then quietly slip away when he isn't watching! When I get home I get treated to some very reproachful looks!

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  13. Amy Burzese8 July 2012 at 15:09

    You have such lovely places to walk!

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 08:03

      Hello Amy, I am constantly amazed at how beautiful the area really is, it is so easy to drive through and not have an inkling of the true beauty here.

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  14. Moving with Mitchell8 July 2012 at 17:11

    No double rainbows here. (I suppose it would have to rain for starters.) But I have magical/mystical memories of double rainbows. So happy about the swan. I look forward to seeing the signets when and if that time comes around.

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 08:04

      Hello Mitch, I have my fingers crossed about that one - it would be a real bonus if that were to happen. I'll keep you posted.

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  15. EG CameraGirl8 July 2012 at 23:30

    How magical to have a rainbow end in your own barley field. I hope you dug for the pot of gold that was surely there!

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 08:05

      Hello EG CameraGirl, I was really surprised to be able to see it so clearly. It has done little but rain for weeks, but rest assured I'll be out there investigating at the earliest opportunity!!

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  16. Meggie9 July 2012 at 11:22

    Hello Elaine....It does my heart good to see the swan has a new found friend....love must be blooming!

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 18:23

      Hello Meggie, I do hope so, they certainly seemed very comfortable in one another's company. I would love to be able to report that they have some young, in due course!

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  17. Green Dragonette9 July 2012 at 18:22

    Hi Elaine,

    Lovely to read your post-as always!

    Will be up in your neck of the woods next weekend as I will be attending a cookery course on Summer Preserves and Fruit Liquor making at The Artisan School Of Cookery at Welbeck-I’ll be thinking of you as I drive over the border and up England!! Do hope the weather is kind to us next weekend!

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    1. Elaine9 July 2012 at 18:42

      Hello Green Dragonette, I have just been having a quick read of their website - what a wonderful range of courses. Your course sounds wonderful, I hope some of what you learn will trickle through to your blog! If only it were a little closer I would have popped along and said a very quick "hello" to you. Fingers are crossed for the weather.

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