Swan Patrol (Again)

Long-time Tartan Ink friends know I love swans.

Some of you may recall a post I did about a favorite swan awhile ago.  I’d spotted him on my daily bicycle tour as he was trying to cross a road.  Loving animals as I do, I stopped to help him, making sure no cars zoomed around the nearby curve.

This morning I chanced to play swan patrol again.

This time for an entire swan family!

When I took Em into my little back garden, I was astounded to see a swan pair and six babies (called cygnets) in the road behind my garden.

And they weren’t just crossing the road.  They’d made themselves comfy right in the middle of it.

Of course, this worried me.  There is another, much busier, road near the one behind my garden.  And it was that road they needed to cross to reach the safety of the pond they’d clearly left.

As the roads around here have lots of curves, I was – again – determined to keep away any unsuspecting drivers approaching in cars.  Not wanting Em to frighten the swans, I hurried him in the house and dashed back outside.

In that time, the nr. one swan and four of the babies were already crossing the busier road..

And wouldn’t you know, I heard approaching cars!

Needless to say, I did my ‘swan patrol act’ again and stood in the center of the road, waving my arms to warn the drivers.

It worked!

They slowed and stopped.  Swan number one and the four cygnets reached safety..

But swan number two and two more wee darlings were still on the wrong side of the road!

Here they come..

And there they go…

Off to join the rest of the family..

(look among the base of the palm trees to see the other swans)

You can imagine I was very relieved to see them cross the road safely.  The smiles of the waiting drivers said they were glad, too.

Here they are where they belong, back in the water..

As I stepped out of the road (and the cars moved on), so did the swan family..

Aren’t they beautiful?

And please join me in wishing that they stay on the safe side of the road in the future!

I’m just glad that, as last time, Em and I happened to be out at the right moment.  Of course, I don’t believe in coincidence, so I think Devorgilla may have had something to do with the timing.

Either way, all’s well that ends well..

Enjoy your Sunday.  And above all…

As always, please be kind to animals.

Thanks!

Shout-Out for Kate Angell: Get her Super-Hot Rogues for 99 cents! (Time Sensitive)

It’s the weekend!  Prime reading time.

So I’m delighted to let you know that my dear friend, Kate Angell, is running a special 99 cent bargain deal for her bestselling sports romances about the baseball hotties, Richmond Rogues.

From now through May 20th, she’s offering Squeeze Play, Curveball, Strike Zone, Sliding Home, and the novella
Ho-Humbug-Ho for 99 cents each!

Kate is more than just a friend to me, she’s also my go-to author when I have time to pleasure read.

I love her books.

They’re fun, light-hearted romances with great characters and wonderful settings that whisk you right into the story.  Kate does atmosphere just as I like it.  Her stories always ‘take you there.’

Her more recent series, the Barefoot William books, are set in the delightfully whimsical Florida beach town of Barefoot William.  If you’re in the mood for sun, sand, surf, and summer, these are the books for you.  Not to mention super-hot heroes and sympathetic heroines you’d love to have as your best friend.

Another thing I really love about Kate’s books is that they all have the most wonderful animal characters.  I want them all!  They’re that real-seeming and so very special.

So if you’re looking for some great weekend reads and love a bargain, I hope you’ll grab Kate’s 99 cent titles.

She’s also running a $25.00 Amazon e-card giveaway to celebrate her recent Barefoot William release, No Strings Attached.

For giveaway details, click here.

If you enter, please tell Kate you came via Tartan Ink.  Thanks!

***

Because it’s the weekend and we’re talking digital books, here’s a clever funny..

Isn’t that cute?

The times, they are a-changing!

Enjoy your weekend and may all your reads be great ones.

Friday Funny ~ ‘Work It Kitty’

Laughter is good for the soul, as the saying goes.

It’s true, too.

Life is too short to go about grim-faced and growling.  No matter how rough a day comes at us, it’s important to find something – anything – to bring a smile or chuckle.

These exercising kitties do that..

**Please note – if you’re at work, there’s music.

Aren’t they precious?

They bring an important message, too.  Just as we must keep ourselves fit and healthy, it’s vital to do the same for our pets.  More so, because they depend on us to feed them properly.  And to care for their health needs.

Even if can’t enlist your kitty in this exercise class, be sure they receive lots of quality play and activity.  A good, sensible diet.  You’ll be rewarded with a healthy, happy pet.

Years of love and devotion.  (and, hey, the longer we have them, the better, right?)

To learn more about the video and tips for feline health, click Work It Kitty.

Bottom line: have fun, love life, smile lots, and as always…

Please be kind to animals.

Thanks!

Texas: Our Hearts Are With You

Today’s post was a funny one and I’ve rescheduled it for tomorrow.

Today, the tea room is silent so we can send love, prayers, caring thoughts, and support, to the Fort Worth area and everyone affected by last night’s terrible tornadoes.

It seems disrespectful to post anything humorous on a day when so many lives have been shattered or lost.

If you’re a Tartan Ink regular and live in Texas, please know we’re all thinking of you.  I did once live in this area and remember Granbury well.  Especially its beautiful courthouse.  Above all, I remember the big-heartedness of Texans and how they welcomed me in the years I was privileged to call their great state my home.

I’m heartsick to see the horrific images on the news.

Texas Tarts (and other Tartan Ink friends), please check in, if you can.  Everyone would surely be relieved to know you’re okay.

Especially you, Karen C.  (I know this is your corner of Texas) 

Speaking of Karen C, she kindly sent me a link to her local newspaper.  They have a map showing the tornado track through Karen’s hometown and also a slew of damage photos.

To take a look, click here.

Regular blogging resumes tomorrow.

For today, please send all good thoughts and strength to Texas.

Thanks!

***

**Edited to remind everyone that now is a great time to donate (blood or money) to the Red Cross.

Many thanks to Ashley (A. C. Cockerill) for mentioning in comments that the Red Cross really needs support right now, especially because of the great need posed by the recent West, TX explosion tragedy.

So, Everyone…

The Red Cross needs our help.  If you’d like to donate, click here to see where you can do so.  The link will also show you how to donate funds if you prefer.

Such disasters also put animals in dire need.  Supporting the Humane Society is a great way to help them.

To donate to the Humane Society, click here.

Thanks so much!

Magick, Magick, Everywhere

Anyone who visits the tea room regularly surely knows that I believe in magic.  Or magick, the spelling of choice by many who follow the Old Ways.  The idea is that ‘magic’ refers to hat tricks and suchlike, while the ‘k’ spelling indicates true magic.

Either way, this is one of my credos..

And I believe I happened upon a bit of magick on the beach recently.

Indeed, I think Devorgilla was there again.

My reason for believing so is pretty solid.  I have evidence!

The evening I came across this latest magick was close to Beltane.  It was also sunset, a ‘between time’ which is conductive to whimsical goings-on.  Those two factors (Beltane and twilight) stack the cards in old Dev’s favor, wouldn’t you say?

I’ll let you decide.

Take a peek at what greeted me as I stepped onto the beach..

Now look closer (the picture will enlarge if you click on it)…

Do you see what makes the driftwood tree so special?  So magical?

Someone tied seashells to the branches, making it a clootie tree.

Clootie is Scottish for a strip of cloth.  In olden times, ‘clooties’ were tied to trees next to sacred wells or springs.  Such sites were places of pilgrimage and believed to possess powerful healing and bestow blessings on those leaving a bit of cloth fastened to the tree.

Originally, a person’s wish was granted by a goddess or nature spirit.  In later centuries, a Christian saint did the honors.

I’m pretty sure Devorgilla is behind this clootie tree..

To see what a Celtic clootie tree looks like, click here.

To learn about a well-known clootie well at Culloden, click here.

You can imagine that it made my Beltane even more special to find a ‘clootie tree’ on the beach.  Even if the clooties were seashells.  I’ll be visiting the seashell tree later today.

At sundown, of course.

Sure wish you could join me.  As is, look for magick in your own world.  It’s there, I promise.

Look Who Crept In The Tea Room

It’s Monday, no one’s favorite day, so I decided to stop by to bring you a special message.

Could I please have your attention?

Miz Sue-Ellen is very busy with George, her keyboard, but she knows lots of folks like bugging others on Monday.

So I’m here to remind you not to let other people tell you who you’re supposed to be.  Or how you’re supposed to do things.  Only you know that.  Your way might be different than theirs, but that doesn’t make it wrong.  Individuality is what makes us all so special.

Imagine how boring the world would be if all kitties were the same color and breed.  It’s our wonderful variety and each kitty’s unique charm that makes us such Internet stars.

Remember that, especially on Mondays when other people start swelling their chests and shaking fingers.

Be yourself always.

Stand tall.  Hey, if I can, so can you!

Now bring on the world.  We’re ready and prepared.

Above all, as Miz Sue-Ellen likes to say, please be kind to animals.  My buddies and I thank you.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all from Sue-Ellen and myself!

This was taken this morning on our walk around the bog. 

The rain of the last few days is really bringing out the leaves.

 

We have three families of geese at the bog this year. We also have a pair that do not have little ones.

 

This is one of the ones that does not have a family.  It got to close to one of the families and got chased off.

So enjoy the simple things in this day and the love of all you care for.