We are having some gorgeous sunny weather this week, it's cold and it's WINDY, but the sun is brilliant and beautiful. The last time I drove to Multnomah Falls I noticed that the Tundra Swans had returned to Mirror Lake by Rooster Rock State Park. Yesterday we had to go to the post office in Corbett, so I grabbed my camera and we headed out to try to get some photos of the swans. This is the view of Mt. Hood from Corbett, the school roof is in the bottom right of the photo and is where our grandson is in kindergarten.
Then we drove down on I-84 and pulled over on the shoulder and tried to get a good photo of the swans. The huge rock bluff you see is where Vista House resides. You can see the viaduct at the top where the road goes around the building. See the white specks? Those are swans!
They stop here every year on their migration south and dine on the leaves, stems and tubers of aquatic plants in shallow water.
They were way across the lake and these photos are not clear, but you get the idea of them, they seemed to stay in pairs which is sweet.
See how the wind is whipping the lake into waves? Brrrr!
My lens focused on the branches.. :-)
We are off for our Thanksgiving shopping today! We need to buy fresh yams and Russet potatoes, celery, fresh cranberries, parsley, lemons and oranges and rolls! We also have to pick up our fresh turkey, approx. 24 lbs! I can't wait to put the leaves in the table and spread my tablecloth and set the table with my turkey dishes and silverware. My next post will be après Thanksgiving. I'll have some fun photos!
For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving, have a FABULOUS day full of giving thanks, spending time with loved ones, and having a wonderful meal! For those of you who don't celebrate the day, please go ahead and give thanks for all you have. I'm so glad you're my friends and readers! You are one of the big things I will be giving thanks for - the friends I've made right here in blog-land.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
That's a lot of swans. I love to watch swans, geese, ducks, any kind of water bird. Have a good shopping trip and a wonderful Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos Teresa, one of the things to be thankful for is the gorgeous place you live. Hugs ot you and have a wonderful day, I think we are all pretty thankful for you too.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Stunning photos, Teresa!! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, xoRobin
ReplyDeleteThey are really big swans Teresa and brr it does look very chilly. Enjoy your family thanksgiving..you are making my mouth water re the food. We should indeed all be thankful, life is good x
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful photos, Teresa! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHelen x
Beautiful photos Teresa. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Hugs Anne x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful as always my dear friend. One of the things I will be giving thanks for are my friends here in blogland and you are one of the most special. Thank you for being part of my life.
ReplyDeleteAll of our kids are sick, both Montana kids and Portland kids, so now I'm not sure who will actually be here. We may have a 22 pound turkey for the two of us! Oh my!
Happy thanksgiving my friend.
Blessings,
Betsy
I love swans. When I worked at St. Francis they always had swans on the sulfur springs. The swans are still there. They mate for life, they allow their little ones to ride on their backs and they are very, very protective of their young. The nuns would have the gardeners put up the big sign warning people to stay away from the birds because they can do some real damage to humans who invade their territory. We use to go out to the picnic tables for our lunch time break and here they would come, looking for bread crumbs. Basically we dreaded that, kinda fearful of their presence, and tried to ignore them. They have a swift hitting motion with their strong necks and beaks if they feel threatened. Each early summer the nuns would call over to Senator Gillmore's and have them come and remove the young ones that were big enough to remove from the parent birds. Gillmores had swans too on their huge pond, but they were somehow involved with transporting the live birds to other places to live. Evidently the area where they were born was just too small. There were also mallard ducks living on the pond too. There was a stream that went all the way over to Whirlpool Park, owned by Whirlpool Corporation and the swans would get over there. The park use to have to call the nuns and tell them to come after their swans, lol.
ReplyDelete(((HUGS))) Susanne :)
Hi Teresa ... My wish is for you and your beautiful family to have a very happy Thanksgiving. I am very thankful for you and my other blog-land friends too. xox
ReplyDeletePS meant to say those pictures are great - such a rugged area. The one of Vista House perched way up there was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour, Teresa...a path I want to investigate one day. We had swans who swam around the cove of the Hudson River where we lived and also in the nearby Esopus Creek near us. Adult swans are amazingly BIG and I had a great deal of respect (fear :) of them, while still admiring their beauty. One day when we had hiked down to the River were some swans were congregating, one of them took off and flew over our heads. The sound they made reminded me of an accordian!
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy Thanksgiving :) I am thankful for much, including our friendship!
Blessings to you and yours,
Gracie xx
Wow-so many! I would have LOVED to see all those beautiful swans in person!
ReplyDeleteI am still getting food for our Thanksgiving too--I thought I was done after time in 2 grocery stores, but alas no:)
Wishing you a very blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving!
Blessings, AImee
I'm also so very thankful that I have you as a great friend my dear Teresa. Have a wonderful thanksgiving with your family. 🍂
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa, WOW you live in a beautiful place!!! I think Thanksgiving should be an international holiday!!! It's such a wonderful holiday!!! Enjoy your shopping and can't wait for your next post!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your loved ones!!! Have a happy week!!!
ReplyDeleteLove
AMarie
The swans are gorgeous, Teresa! Thank you so much for the photos. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
What a lovely area you live in...thank you for sharing. May your Thanksgiving be blessed in everyway my friend. xox
ReplyDeleteNo thanks giving in Oz but love it anyway. Always love visiting here Teresa!!
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