We’re giving Midweek Moment a miss this week as Monique’s been flat-out at work. I thought I’d bring you some photos anyway, in the hope they’ll brighten your day as they did mine.

Some weeks I find it hard to squeeze in the time for photography, especially when deadlines loom with work and writing, or my family has a bunch of commitments.

It’s especially hard at this time of year, when I’m tired and just want to flop and rest. I’m running out of creative ideas and I don’t have the energy to think up new ones.

This week, the weather’s not helped either—it’s been stormy and cold, and I haven’t wanted to leave the house.

However, the other day I forced myself to pull out my camera and head down to the lake with the dogs. I was rewarded with a magnificent sight! The water was filled with swans and ducks and coots and their families.

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I watched this family for ages—the young paddling around and about their mother, feeding as they went, but never straying too far. Meanwhile, their mother kept a watchful eye, calling them back if they drifted too far. Much like human families.

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Mostly, they were feeding—ducking under the water in search of food, emerging with their beaks stuffed with weeds.

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I fell in love with them. Especially the cygnets.

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I was tempted to bring them home—I had a couple of big pockets in my coat. Just for a little while. They could have swum in the pool.

My kids would have told me off*, but been secretly thrilled, I know it. The dogs would have been salivating, though. And the cygnets’ mother would have been bereft. I don’t think the Ranger would have been too pleased, either.

So, I left them in peace and went home, once again enraptured by nature and grateful at having it so close.

*The kids said they would not have told me off.

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As Monique’s work with Serenity Press takes off, we may not be able to bring you a regular Midweek Moment. Nevertheless, we shall do our best to bring you as many photos as we can, when we can!