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Much Ado About a Mute Swan: Part 16

Modified on May 20, 2010 at 6:08 PM

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MUCH ADO ABOUT ABOUT A MUTE SWAN: PART 16

“Some Teenagers Attempted to Shoot Prince”

Luckily they didn’t succeed…

They entered at sunset from my neighbor’s property. My neighbors are very kind and trusting people and they let people access the lake from their land, even though it’s a private lake owned by the homeowner’s association and open only to residents of the community.

Local teenagers from outside the lake community have sometimes taken advantage of my neighbor’s kindness, and more times than not, vandalized property or left beer or soda cans.

But the most harmful case of trespassing occurred just after sunset last night. Some young teenage boys entered the property at sunset with what appeared to be a BB gun. These boys managed to take a few shots at Prince before some homeowners on the lake heard the shots and chased the boys away. No one was able to catch them or get a good look at them since it happened under the cover of darkness and the boys were fast. They disappeared into a nearby, heavily-wooded forest.

Prince hadn’t been hit with a bullet as these weren’t very skillful shooters, and we can Thank God for that. But, he sure was frightened, nonetheless. I’m sure it was very confusing for him to be shot at by the same species who normally cares for him and feeds him.

When I found out about this incident, I was beside myself with anger. I had already lost one swan, and heard the news I couldn’t replace that one swan, and then almost lost the remaining swan with whom I have developed a deep and on-going bond. In a word, I was furious!!!!

No one knows who these boys might have been and but we know they weren’t from the neighborhood. In that case, they could have been from anywhere.

Fortunately, many of the homeowners who have waterfront property are retired or stay-at-home moms and they keep a very close watch on the lake all day long. There are a few others who patrol the neighborhood on foot daily. Thank goodness we have a very good neighborhood watch system in place here.

And there’s something I haven’t mentioned about Prince yet before. He too is his own neighborhood watch, only he doesn’t watch for burglars, or patrol for prowlers, nope, Prince’s specialty is nabbing Canadian Geese.

We have a big problem with Canada Geese in Washington State. They take over small and large lakes alike. Their populations are so large, and their droppings are so polluting, that the city has to routinely close Lake Washington beaches in the summers. The waters become toxic Canada Geese poop-dumps and people become ill if they swim or even play at those beaches.

In addition to causing water-bourne illness, these geese are very agressive. My husband and I used to take the kids to a small lake park in Puyallup that had nature trails around the lake. Inevitably large flocks of Canada Geese had taken roost up there, and they would enter the nature trails and attack people. Now, even though I have been chased by Canada Geese, I consider them more of an annoyance than a menace. The worst thing they can do to an adult is peck. But, they could potentially harm small children.

Then in enters Prince Charming to the picture. You see, Prince Charming is charming to everyone EXCEPT Canada Geese. Mute Swans and Canada Geese are natural enemies, and since the Mute Swan is much larger and stronger, the Mute Swan wins the territory over the Canada Goose any day.

And if a mute swan has established territory, he chases off any Canada Geese who want to enter. Prince patrols our small 11 acres lake and keeps it goose-free and pristine. We don’t have to worry about the lake being polluted by goose droppings in the summers thanks to Prince. And therefore, many families swim in the lake during the summers and have BBQs at the lakeside cabana. It’s quite beautiful.

My neighbor Bill’s main drive to get the swan bill passed was two-fold. Sure, he and his wife love Prince just like the rest of us, but he, along with many other homeowners, is more concerned about keeping Canada Geese OFF the lake. And the only way to do that is to keep a mute swan ON the lake. Bill says that if Prince passes away and we have no swans, the Canada Geese will take over the lake and ruin its pristine state.

But Prince, in and of himself, is still my first priority. To me, he is much more than a watch-dog for the lake. He is my friend, my companion when I am sad. Sometimes he even makes me laugh with his strange expressions and cocks of his head. Other times he makes me laugh out loud when he takes his huge webbed foot and scratches his head with it. He looks just like a dog with feathers. In fact, Prince may as well be a dog with feathers for how loyal and loving he is.

Prince, we are not giving up on you, buddy.

(Stay tuned for part 17)

– Sarah Polyakov

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Posted By Sarah Polyakov
on June 6, 2010 at 9:02 AM
Filed Under: Home Life
Tagged With: mute swan, mute swans, Prince, swans

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! Iโ€™m Sarah-Jean. Iโ€™m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

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๐•Š๐•’๐•ฃ๐•’๐•™ | Fashionable Homemaker & Large Family Life
This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

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I asked him if he could stay 12 for one more year but he didnโ€™t like that idea. ๐Ÿ˜’ Was worth a shot, right? 

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Being a mom is hard. Being a mom and trying to sta Being a mom is hard. Being a mom and trying to stay healthy and fit is harder. ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿฅต

Luckily, there are holistic wellness products that can help make the motherhood journey easier!

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What truly sets Lost Empire Herbs apart is their extensive collective knowledge, derived from years of hands-on experience, unwavering commitment, and a willingness to explore new horizons. Driven by a genuine desire to enhance lives, they made a resolute decision to make the benefits of these exceptional herbs accessible to a wider audience. 

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Story Land in Glen NH is a great way to make some beautiful summer memories with your family! If you live in the New England area, definitely plan a visit before summer slips through your fingers, mama! โ˜€๏ธ ๐Ÿ–๏ธ 

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Looking for something fun to do in New Hampshire t Looking for something fun to do in New Hampshire this summer? Living Shores Aquarium in Glen NH is an indoor walk through adventure that allows your whole family to discover the wonders of the ocean year-round. 

The aquarium includes interactive tide pools, exhibits, and tons of immersive activities. See otters, touch sting rays and nibble fish, interact with tropical birds and so much more. They even have axolotls and sharks! There is so much to see. We spent over 3 hours exploring the exhibits! And of course we had to stop in the amazing gift shop before we left. Donโ€™t miss it! 

Living Shores is a fun, interactive environment that is perfect for the whole family! If youโ€™re going to visit the White Mountains this summer, definitely make time to stop at @livingshoresnh! ๐Ÿ  ๐ŸŸ ๐Ÿฆ€ 

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This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

Thankful that @homedepot has great prices so we could finally afford to do this home reno project! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hereisourhomeschool #motherhoodthroughinstagram
My first born son turned 13 years old today. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ My first born son turned 13 years old today. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

Somebody hold me. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

I asked him if he could stay 12 for one more year but he didnโ€™t like that idea. ๐Ÿ˜’ Was worth a shot, right? 

Scroll for the outtakes ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

This kid blows me away daily and makes me so proud to be his mom. I donโ€™t have enough words to describe how much I love this child. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Drop a comment and wish this boy a happy birthday! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‚ 

#homeschoollife #homeschoolfamily #momlife #momlifeunfiltered #momlifeunplugged
Being a mom is hard. Being a mom and trying to sta Being a mom is hard. Being a mom and trying to stay healthy and fit is harder. ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿฅต

Luckily, there are holistic wellness products that can help make the motherhood journey easier!

Lost Empire Herbs stands out as a remarkable family venture led by three health-conscious brothers who share a profound dedication to a wholesome, active lifestyle. 

Their journey began with a modest kitchen table and the introduction of pine pollen, but it has since evolved into something truly remarkable, exceeding all expectations.๐Ÿ˜ฑ

What truly sets Lost Empire Herbs apart is their extensive collective knowledge, derived from years of hands-on experience, unwavering commitment, and a willingness to explore new horizons. Driven by a genuine desire to enhance lives, they made a resolute decision to make the benefits of these exceptional herbs accessible to a wider audience. 

Their primary focus revolves around offering hormonal support, a vital consideration given the prevalence of endocrine-disrupting compounds in today's world, although their scope extends beyond this singular realm. ๐ŸŒฑ 

I'm genuinely enthused about the prospect of trying out their products, eagerly anticipating the chance to personally experience the transformative effects of these wellness herbs. The brothers' evident passion and expertise have left me intrigued and eager to embark on a journey towards total wellness, guided by the offerings of Lost Empire Herbs.

@lostempireherbs #lostempireherbs #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticwellness #holisticlifestyle #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodthroughinstagram #unleashthepowerofnature #rootingforyourhealth #hormonehealth @apexdropofficial
Slow down a little and visit @storylandnh !! It s Slow down a little and visit @storylandnh !!

It seems like summer is almost over and youโ€™re probably scrambling to get all the things done on your bucket list. But donโ€™t forget to slow down and have some fun with your kids this summer!!

Story Land in Glen NH is a great way to make some beautiful summer memories with your family! If you live in the New England area, definitely plan a visit before summer slips through your fingers, mama! โ˜€๏ธ ๐Ÿ–๏ธ 

LIKE + SHARE if you needed this reminder to slow down and have fun! 

#motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodjourney #momlifeunfiltered #motherhoodrising #motherhoodthroughinstagram
Looking for something fun to do in New Hampshire t Looking for something fun to do in New Hampshire this summer? Living Shores Aquarium in Glen NH is an indoor walk through adventure that allows your whole family to discover the wonders of the ocean year-round. 

The aquarium includes interactive tide pools, exhibits, and tons of immersive activities. See otters, touch sting rays and nibble fish, interact with tropical birds and so much more. They even have axolotls and sharks! There is so much to see. We spent over 3 hours exploring the exhibits! And of course we had to stop in the amazing gift shop before we left. Donโ€™t miss it! 

Living Shores is a fun, interactive environment that is perfect for the whole family! If youโ€™re going to visit the White Mountains this summer, definitely make time to stop at @livingshoresnh! ๐Ÿ  ๐ŸŸ ๐Ÿฆ€ 

COMMENT and tell me which part your kiddos would like the best! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

 #familytime #motherhoodunplugged #momlifeunfiltered #whitemountains #familygoals #familyfriendly
Donโ€™t be fooled. You donโ€™t need the perfect br Donโ€™t be fooled. You donโ€™t need the perfect branch to hang a swing in your yard. All you need is a tree and Slackers Build A Branch!

I got mine from @bolderplay! ๐Ÿฅณ

Would this product solve a common problem for you too?! Comment and let me know! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

Motherhood is hard. Sometimes cool products make it easier! ๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

#motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising #momlifebelike #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodjourney
Youโ€™re so exhausted you feel like youโ€™re gonna Youโ€™re so exhausted you feel like youโ€™re gonna die, but thenโ€ฆ
.
.
.
.
.
.
SURPRISE!!
.
.
You canโ€™t fall asleep!!!!!
.
.
.
Oh the joys of motherhood! Anyone else relate?!! ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿฅฑ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ˜ณ

#momhumor #honestmom #parentinghumor #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodrising
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