Our neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day dinner was cancelled. We’d only been homebound a few days, but that was enough to remind me that I must get outside and get moving if I am to maintain anything close to a sunny disposition. So I headed out for a park with paved trails to avoid the mud. But I drove slowly on the way, keeping my eye open for anything that might enchant me. Just a day before, two swans had trumpeted as they flew right over me – surely an invitation to follow them!
![swan across field](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600223-2-swan-across-field-1024x768.jpg)
A dot of white at the edge of a pond far across a field of corn stubble caught my eye and insisted I pull over. I hoped whoever owned the field wouldn’t mind as I trekked through the mud I’d thought to avoid. (Footnote- we are now friends!)
![swan and goose](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600183-2-swan-and-goose-1024x911.jpg)
The pictures I got were well worth the muddy boots. The swan was so busy preening and shaking her feathers that she didn’t seem to notice me.
![geese in love](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600319-3-geese-in-love-1024x1011.jpg)
She put on such a show that I almost missed a loving moment between geese a few yards from her. I’m always thrilled to capture one of those!
![swans resting](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600363-3-swans-resting-1024x596.jpg)
When I arrived at the park, Oh, my goodness! Swans! There must have been fifty. A resting spot on their migration. What a sight.
![swans, geese, ducks](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600417-2-swans-socializing-1024x394.jpg)
Lots of chatting with geese and ducks. What stories were told?
![eagle](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600386-2-eagle-at-tips-of-trees-1024x552.jpg)
Above them, an eagle circled over her nest high in a tree. As Mom used to say, early spring may be gray, but you can see so much more before the leaves come out.
![tree over water](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600425-2-tree-over-water-1024x686.jpg)
I sat on a tree over open water – a perfect place to reflect. Summer really is coming!
![swan feather](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600491-2-swan-feather-1024x768.jpg)
When the clouds thickened over the setting sun and the wind picked up, I started back toward the parking lot, but was stopped by a feather. Was it from a swan, or Mom?
Back in my car, classical music poured out to lift my spirits even higher as I came upon pastoral scenes.
![horse and cow](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600623-2-horse-cow-1024x766.jpg)
Fuzzy friends nibbled on the first spring greens.
![syruping](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600553-2-syruping-768x1024.jpg)
Elderly maples donated their sweet sap.
![sleepy fields](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600560-2-sleepy-field-1024x768.jpg)
Sleepy fields lay ready to spring to life.
I felt . . . exhilaration. I really hadn’t felt deprived of anything at home, but there was so much more out here – open space, crisp air, critters, and freedom. Places to stretch my legs, eyes, and mind.
![swan hanging head](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600312-2-swan-pout-1024x917.jpg)
We can close our eyes and hang our heads. Or . . .
![swan preens](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600339-2-swan-preening-1024x922.jpg)
We can preen some of those corners we’ve been meaning to get to, and . . .
![swan spreads wings](https://1d18c7.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/P2600241-2-swan-stretch-1024x693.jpg)
find new ways and places to spread our wings.