Love and marriage among the tires?

TWO tires in the Parade Grounds today, but over in one of the fields, not in the middle of the place. B thinks someone might be collecting them for football practice. He's seen pictures of football players practicing by leaping down a row of tires. Well, that would be a nice, useful way to recycle trash. Will update as it happens (or not).

Speaking of love: egret and duck are friends! They were hanging out on a log in the lake today, just enjoying the scenery. I thought of Owen and Mzee, the real life hippopotamus and turtle who became a very unusual pair of friends (check out the book if you don't know about it). So I wonder if the egret and the duck will really be friends, or are just sharing a convenient spot for the day. Will update.

We met a wood artiste along the Lullwater today, checking out various beautiful pieces of old trees that line the pathway. Talked with him a bit, as he pointed out the beautiful lines of the grains of the wood that revealed themselves as the downed wood aged. Such beautiful curves and lines! Amazing how many times we walk through that area, and have never stopped to see that beauty. I know that I've stopped to make those observations when we've been hiking in the Wilderness are of the Adirondacks, but not so much in Prospect Park. Note to self: must be more aware of the macrocosm in the microcosm.

Cygnets grooming themselves for a long time this morning. I got right next to them, and they were to busy to be disturbed. Chewy, however, was very disturbed and wouldn't get close. And speaking of swans, we saw Tony, who told us what really happened to the Lone Swan (aka Grandpa), last seen in the fall, on the grass, eating everything within reach. A woman named Mary Beth, a FIDO stalwart, also saw him, and saw him being attacked by some kids throwing sticks and stones at him. She went close enough to pick up the swan. VERY unusual, and a sign of ill health. She took him to a local vet, who said that Lone Swan had diseased feet and was not in good shape. The good news: Lone Swan recovered, and is now living at a Wildlife Refuge Center, and not dead as we thought. Can't believe how happy I felt hearing this news. It takes a lot of goodhearted people to care for wildlife in a city park, and I'm glad they're all out there doing it.