Spring cleaning, er … preening #Wordless Wednesday #Dunk, drip, pick, flap, fluff –n- go!

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and in 2013 I decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things seen on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, so my blog is peppered with folks I meet or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post. I respect and appreciate nature and my interactions with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. I retired in March 2024 after a career in the legal field. I was a legal secretary for almost 45 years, primarily working in downtown Detroit, then working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I would like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met, shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy. I hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
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65 Responses to Spring cleaning, er … preening #Wordless Wednesday #Dunk, drip, pick, flap, fluff –n- go!

  1. Anne says:
    March 23, 2022 at 5:03 am

    Beautiful photographs.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. bekitschig says:
    March 23, 2022 at 8:42 am

    Sigh. Are you going far a hattrick? 🙂 At least the distance seems fine!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Tofino Photography says:
    March 23, 2022 at 9:27 am

    Great shots Linda and good study!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. trumstravels says:
    March 23, 2022 at 11:17 am

    Great shots Linda! It always makes me feel cold when I see them in the cold water haha, I know they are protected but still ….

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 23, 2022 at 8:50 pm

      Thanks Susan – glad you liked them! We were both lucky recently to get up-close shots of the swan in similar positions, flapping its wings and fluffed out. I feel badly too – those poor feet standing on the ice floes, not to mention paddling in the icy-cold water.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Laurie says:
    March 23, 2022 at 11:33 am

    The swan is giving himself a spring cleaning just in time for mating season! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Anne Mehrling says:
    March 23, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    Your title is catchy, and I love your photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Pam Lazos says:
    March 23, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    A sunny spring day!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. AnnMarie R stevens says:
    March 23, 2022 at 4:56 pm

    Miss Linda………………………….I love the close up pictures of the beautiful swan…………………thanks……………….we haven’t seen any swans in awhile at our pond……………….

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 23, 2022 at 8:56 pm

      Thanks Ann Marie, glad you liked them. I wonder if your swans from the pond went to the River for the Winter? There were a lot of swans down there that day.

      Like

  11. peggy says:
    March 24, 2022 at 6:15 am

    Such a busy time for this swan – trying to keep those feathers clean.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 24, 2022 at 8:23 pm

      Yes – it has a lot of territory to cover with all those white feathers. 🙂 How did you fare with the tornado Peggy? Did you end up going to your daughter’s house in the “Fraidy Hole?” I was thinking of you when I heard the news reports yesterday.

      Liked by 1 person

      • peggy says:
        March 25, 2022 at 6:28 am

        Arkansas lucked out. The storms stayed in Louisianna and did not head North until they passed us – then they went into Mississippi. Felt sorry for the states East of us.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        March 25, 2022 at 6:28 pm

        I’m happy for you and your family Peggy and yes, I feel sorry for those folks too. The pictures of the aftermath were so sad. There was a video circulating on Twitter yesterday. It was a man in a red pick-up truck. He was driving during the tornado and debris was scattered everywhere on the road, in the air … he flipped over in his truck and then the truck righted itself and he just kept driving – pretty amazing. I’d have been hysterical.

        Liked by 1 person

      • peggy says:
        March 25, 2022 at 6:46 pm

        Yes I saw the video of that red truck in the tornado. The man in the truck was only 16 years old. He was very shook up after that incident.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        March 25, 2022 at 7:01 pm

        I didn’t see a story with the video – just that chilling video. Glad he was okay and can see why was shook up. It must have been terrifying. Thank goodness he was in a large truck – wouldn’t have had a prayer in a car.

        Liked by 1 person

      • peggy says:
        March 26, 2022 at 6:26 am

        The truck landed on the driver’s side and messed that whole side of the truck up. The teenager only had scrapes and bruises on his left arm. Very lucky.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        March 26, 2022 at 10:41 pm

        Wow – they didn’t say that on the video info. He sure was lucky Peggy. He must have been wearing a seatbelt which saved his life.

        Liked by 2 people

  12. Ally Bean says:
    March 24, 2022 at 12:40 pm

    Nice. Such a tidy swan, determined.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 24, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      Thanks Ally – watching waterfowl bath time is a long-drawn-out process, especially with swans. You want to help them finish it off with a towel or a little dusting powder and a big puff like they used years ago.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Sandra J says:
    March 24, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    Great photos Linda, such pretty birds.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 24, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      Thanks Sandra – yes they are so pretty, especially after bath time. It always amazes me how they have such beige-colored necks and the rest of them is bright-white.

      Like

  14. Zazzy says:
    March 24, 2022 at 8:33 pm

    They are so beautiful and you take such lovely photos! I think I may have a small touch of ocd as I really want to wash their necks and heads.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Barbara Rodgers says:
    March 26, 2022 at 7:39 am

    Nothing quite like a good spring preening! Now we know what a swan goes through to look so fine in the last picture. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Priti says:
    March 27, 2022 at 7:50 am

    Wonderful 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Joni says:
    March 27, 2022 at 7:14 pm

    Great shots Linda! They are magnificent birds, dirty or clean!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 27, 2022 at 8:08 pm

      Thank you Joni – you’re so right, they were bright-white (except for the dirty necks) to begin with – I am amazed how large they are when out of the water. It’s always a treat to see swans and their beauty.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Shelley@QuaintRevival.com says:
    March 28, 2022 at 7:55 am

    Gorgeous birds. Way to watch long enough to catch some fun shots of them. If only they could clean their necks too! 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  19. indianeskitchen says:
    March 29, 2022 at 8:58 pm

    Stunning pictures Linda!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. singlikewildflowers says:
    March 30, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    You’ve been lucky with the swans this season! Beautiful shots.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:
      March 30, 2022 at 9:49 pm

      Thanks Esther – now I’m done with swans for a while. I had a lot of swan photos recently. I wish the next time I post about swans would be with cygnets on the Mama’s back.

      Like

      • singlikewildflowers says:
        March 30, 2022 at 9:52 pm

        Looking forward to the next animal you’ll show us. Parker must be getting ready for his spring photos.
        We have squirrels in our park by our house; kiddos and I were thinking maybe we should feed them too, like peanuts and seeds. Can’t do walnuts since Elliot is allergic to tree nuts. Should I just leave them by the tree? We’d really like to see them eat it but we’re scared of them too. Mixed feelings here.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        March 30, 2022 at 9:58 pm

        You can just leave them by the tree – that’s what I do now that the hawks are overhead. They found them quickly and now when they see me either come over to beg from me or head over under the tree – they like sunflower seeds too and you’ll get some birds that way too. I get a woodpecker, jays, cardinals with the peanuts and they also all eat the sunflower seeds, plus the cute chickadees are always coming over for sunflower seeds.

        Like

      • singlikewildflowers says:
        March 30, 2022 at 10:00 pm

        We will try! Birds are out in a fury these days with the warmer weather. Must make a Target trip soon. Last year we hung pieces of banana in tree branches. It was mediocre success with the birds. Maybe better luck this spring now that kids are older and they are more careful and patient.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        March 30, 2022 at 10:03 pm

        Yes, it’s nesting season too. I’ve seen a ton of robins bopping around – others have said the same thing … lots of robins. A fellow blogger had a post that she and her two young grandsons made peanut butter pine cones for the birds and squirrels. The put peanut butter on the pinecone edges and the birds and squirrels ate it off.

        Like

      • singlikewildflowers says:
        April 2, 2022 at 2:59 am

        We also tried the pinecone experiment with peanut butter a few years ago, but not much luck. Do you think squirrels and birds like rolled oats? We threw some by the grass and no luck.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        April 3, 2022 at 6:00 pm

        I never tried it but I know a fellow blogger made them with her grandsons and hung them on trees – they were a big hit … maybe the Pennsylvania birds are not as picky as the California birds? I have never given rolled oats to the squirrels and birds but tried it for the ducks after you did it but no luck but it might have gone into the grass blades too. Next time maybe I’ll try the cement to lay the pile of rolled oats on.

        Like

      • singlikewildflowers says:
        April 5, 2022 at 2:44 am

        Ducks enjoy rolled oats and steel cut oats, but the birds no. I think the oats probably landed in the grass blades. For some reason, I think birds have super sonic powers to find them and when they don’t, I get discouraged. Nature noob. lol
        Maybe I’ll try the peanut butter pinecones again. It was a big, sticky mess. We should wear plastic gloves to smear it on or else we’ll smell like peanut butter for days.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:
        April 5, 2022 at 8:26 pm

        Wild Birds Unlimited stores sell Bark Butter – you smear it on a piece of wood or a log and birds and squirrels come running. That stuff is expensive so I would use plain old peanut butter and it should work just as fine and forget the pinecones, smear some on a tree with the plastic gloves. Years ago, it was after New Years and my mom and I had some of those little party rye and pumpernickel breads at the holidays and she said “let’s put peanut butter on the rye bread and make little sandwiches for the squirrels (in the yard).” It was freezing out, so it sounded like a good idea – I laid all these little sandwiches on the low evergreen bushes. The next day I went out and they had evidently lickd all the peanut butter off and thrown the bread slices around the yard … an idea better left in our mind, than implemented. 🙂

        Like

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