Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Dauby

Dauby died yesterday on New Year's Day.  She was 18 years old.

We think she knew that it was her time.  This is one of the last photos taken of her.  It was December 30th when we got our 12 inches of snow. 
After dad finished snowblowing that day, he came to this end of our pond, where mom and Molly took this picture, and he chopped a waterway from this point for more than 100 feet to the other end of the pond where the waterfowl get fed and where there is a bubbler to keep a portion of the pond defrosted so that the birds have open water to swim in and for their protection.
All of the waterfowl followed dad as he chopped a path through the thin ice for them - all except Dauby.    She stayed all by herself at night and the mallards hung out with her during the day.  Dad continued to bring her food but she wouldn't budge.

Yesterday, on January 1st in the early afternoon, dad and mom threw the canoe into the frozen pond and cornered Dauby and brought her to dad's workshop and they started a fire in the fireplace so she could warm up and eat.  Dauby was not in good shape. Dad stayed with her and talked to her and loved her. He never left her and around 8 last night, she died.   She knew that she was loved.

Dauby loved the camera and the camera loved her.
Angel Maggie knew Dauby for her entire life.  This picture was taken in January 2007.
 And this one in July of '09.
 This one was taken in the autumn of 2009.
 And these next 2 were taken in October 2012


Fly high and free, Dauby.  You will be missed for a very long time.

We love you,
Dad, mom, Mitch and Molly

56 comments:

  1. I'm glad she was able to spend her final moments by the fire, surrounded by love. What a magnificent swan and such a long life. The queen of the pond. Miss Maggie will be there to greet her.

    Kisses,
    Dexter

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  2. Oh yes -

    That Dexter knows his stuff!

    Angel Maggie will be there and I'm sure Angel Dauby will honk the wishes woo sent her off with -

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  3. Dauby was beautiful ...and so lucky she had your parents to look after her. Rest in peace, Dauby ...

    Your pal, Pip

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  4. Dauby had a good life, she was very beautiful. I'm sure Maggie was waiting to greet her and hear all the news.

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  5. Oh my, I am so sorry to hear about Dauby. I know she was thankful and grateful fir the life she had with ya'll.

    Puddles

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  6. Rest in peace, beautiful Dauby. She surely knows she was loved.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  7. What a long and wonderful life Darby had and she was indeed beautiful and just look at the gorgeous photos you have here. Who will be the queen of the pond now? Maybe a nice Aussie black swan will be in the future....hmmm actually I don't think I have ever seen any black ones here in the USA

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  8. Oh kind of your peeps. We are touched reading your post today. Fly over the rainbow bridge Dauby.
    Best wishes Molly

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  9. I am so sorry to hear this....R.I.P. Dauby....until we meet again....

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  10. We hate to hear this - Dauby was so gorgeous.

    XOXO
    Lilly, Piper, Celti and Ivy

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  11. Dauby was such a beautiful swan. She was lucky to live with all of you.

    Cindy

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  12. We're so sorry to hear this. Dauby was very beautiful and had a wonderful life with you!

    Thor and Jack

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  13. I am so sorry about Dauby...such a beautiful soul. She was very lucky to have care and love in her final moments and throughout her life.

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  14. What a beautiful girl! Thanks for sharing her with us. How very sweet that she had warm conversation and companionship in her final hours.

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  15. We are so sorry to read this about Dauby. She was a lucky girl to have had such a caring family..

    Molly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie

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  16. We're very sorry to learn about Dauby. What a magnificent tribute - it underscores how much she was loved.

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  17. We are SO sorry that Dauby had to leave. BUTT what a wonderful thingy your dad did to Ease the Way.

    Fly FREE and HIGH Dauby.

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  18. Oh, no! We're so sorry to hear about Dauby! She was so beautiful, so graceful! And now she is young once again!
    It's very touching that she was surrounded by such love!!!
    Play bows,
    Zim

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  19. Dauby is just as pretty as an angel. Thoughts to you, the pack, and her fine feathered pond friends.

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  20. We are so sorry for your loss... She was truly the epitome of beauty! Purrs

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  21. So sorry about Miss Dauby. Fly free pretty girl. :)

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  22. We are so sad to read about Miss Dauby. My goodness what a very long life she had.....never knew that birds could live so long. She was a beautiful bird....such a long graceful neck. Bet her and Maggie are playing together at the Rainbow Bridge. Happy New Year ta ya all !

    Dewey Dewster here....

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  23. Dauby you were a beautiful mute...you were so graceful and elegant. I'm sure angel Maggie greeted you with a big pawslap. Much sympathy to all of you.....we love you.

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  24. We're so sorry to hear this.
    The pictures of Dauby are so beautiful.

    Nice woooh
    Sally

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  25. We are so very sorry. RIP Dauby?

    Love Ruby & Penny

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  26. Magical. Thank God for people who light fires for ageing Swans.

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  27. Oh no, we are so sorry for your loss but so glad she was with family when she went. What a long love life full of love.

    Oink oink,
    Katie and Coccolino the mini pig

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  28. Dauby was beautiful. Fly free sweet Dauby
    Benny & Lily

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  29. Woof! Woof! 18 years old, Dauby had a beautiful life. Golden LOVE. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

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  30. We are so sorry to hear about Dauby! She was beautiful.
    Lotsa Licks
    Casper Bear

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  31. So sorry to hear this, glad Dauby had a lovely last few hours, i'm sure shes watching over youse all now<3
    Love Milo :)

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  32. So very to hear Dauby has left us. But it sure was nice that she felt warm and loved when it was her time to go.

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  33. We're so sorry about Dauby. Our Mom loved looking at her pictures. She was very beautiful and we'll all miss her.
    Morgan, Sebastian and the Porties

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  34. Sweet Dreams Dauby - Wings of love carry forever in hearts♥♥

    Very sorry - I am sure Angel Maggie is there to greet you♥

    Holding tight in prayers and thoughts♥

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  35. Dauby was beautiful and I am sure she was so relieved to spend the last hours of her life, safe and warm with your family. She is free now in a beautiful pond across the rainbow bridge


    Loveys Sasha

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  36. Oh, that is the saddest, sweetest story. Dauby sure was a beautiful girl. I'm sorry for your loss. Butts, I'm glad she had a wonderful transition to the Rainbow Bridge. And, cousin Angel Maggie will be there to give her snuggles, and welcome her across.
    {{{{hugs}}}}

    Kisses,
    Ruby

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  37. We are very sorry to hear about poor Dauby. She sure was beautiful and we're sure was was a spoiled beauty too!

    Peace to you
    Julie and Violet

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  38. We loved all your prior posts and pictures of Dauby. Thanks for sharing her with all of us.
    RIP, pretty Dauby.

    Wyatt and family

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  39. I'm so sorry... and so sad. Dauby was so gloriously gorgeous, and you took such wonderful photos of her.

    I'm glad that Dauby knew that she was loved. Your family is so full of love.

    May she fly free and high.

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  40. This makes us very sad...we are so very sorry to hear about Dauby. We are sure that Angel Maggie was there to guide her way. May she rest in peace sweet Dauby.
    xoxo Chloe and LadyBug

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  41. That's so sad. She is beautiful. That was very kind of your dad to bring her in where she could be warm and stay with her. Rest in peace, Dauby.
    from Hannah and Nancy.

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  42. I am so sorry.
    Dauby had the best home ever. She knew how much you loved her....
    She is at a very special place right now at the Rainbow Bridge,,
    As you remember Dauby- we will too.
    love
    tweedles

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  43. What sad news. We're sorry for your loss...we know how much Dauby meant to all of you...especially your dad.

    Wirey love,

    Jake and Just Harry

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  44. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about Dauby. You must miss her so much. But it's a comfort to know she had a good life and that she died in the company of people who loved her and cared for her.

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  45. Dauby was beautiful! So sad to see her go and so good that she was with you guys every minute. It's nice to be loved and to love. Bye bye beautiful Dauby.

    Stu

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  46. So sad, fly free dear Dauby you were loved so much
    George x

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  47. RIP Dauby. You were beautiful and gave great joy to our eyes.

    Love from,
    BabyRD, Hootie, Mommy & Daddy

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  48. So, so sad! Such a beautiful swan. Fly high Dauby! Ros and Osar

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  49. Oh that is sad to here about Dauby. Living her life on the pond Dauby made it a more beautiful place by her presence. Her spirit will always be there.
    Sweet William The Scot

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  50. We are so sorry to read about Dauby. We could tell that she is loved by you all.

    Angel Maggie will be there to greet her and show her the ropes in heaven.

    Love -

    Hershey and Kaci

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  51. We were so sorry to hear about Dauby.

    Thinking of you all,
    Clive, Murray and family

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  52. Dauby got a very special send off from all of you on her flight over the Bridge. Such loving care you gave her.

    Love to all of you,
    The Roo Family

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  53. I'm so sad to hear about Dauby's passing on the New Year. She'll be remembered for so long I know. Thank you for sharing beautiful Dauby through the shots. She was breathtaking..

    She must be frolicking with Maggie right now.

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  54. Very sorry your old friend Dauby has passed away. It was so sweet of your dad to go through all that so she could spend her last hours being warm and loved.

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