WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

My deer … er, dear friend Carol and I were “chatting” very early this morning about a myriad of items via Facebook.  We both signed off with the intent of walking on a peaceful Sunday morn, Carol in the picturesque village and woodsy setting of Honeoye Falls, New York, and, me down at my favorite nature nook, Council Point Park.  Carol signed off with “Walk your socks off!” and that sendoff kind of tickled me.  I made my mind up that Mother Nature was not going to deny me a walk this morning, so I took along an umbrella, however, one look at the sky and those low black clouds drifting by so quickly, no doubt pushed along by the 25-30 mph winds, made me question my resolve.  But, I took the car, and off we went, with nary a raindrop to fall on either of us.

But, the walking sure was tough with a few windy gusts threatening to knock me off balance just a little.  The wind was literally stripping the leaves off the trees and bushes, sending those leaves into a colorful frenetic dance as they dipped and swirled along the path.  A quick glance at the swaying trees and those falling leaves may have resembled a raw Fall day, but, unbelievably it was 74 degrees when I left the house.

I only managed to walk a measly three miles, and, though the temps were pleasing, those frequent gusts of wind made me feel as though I had wings on my feet, or, at the very least, my billowing clothes may have made me resemble a windsock!

[Image by Nitanever from Pixabay]

Who didn’t enjoy the story of  “Bambi” when growing up?  I loved that book and the movie too.  Come to think of it, there never seemed to be a shortage of wonderful animal stories and movies when I was a youngster.

I’ve never outgrown my love of animals, and every so often I’ll crack open one of my worn and dog-eared pocketbooks in the series written by British country vet James Herriott about his life’s work with animals, just because it will give me a smile.

I don’t remember if the good doctor treated any deer in his practice, but he was a country vet and so he might have fixed up a few cloven-hoofed critters, besides cows, in his day.

I know I’ve used this photo before in one of my earlier blog posts around deer hunting time.  The picture was taken at Algonquin Park in Northern Canada, when I was six years old.  I’d probably get just as big of a kick feeding a deer today as I did back in 1962.

On most of my excursions to Council Point Park, I’m sure to find some water fowl, songbirds, a passel of squirrels, even a line of turtles flipping into the water or sunning themselves on a half-submerged log.  Then, there are the occasional oddball sightings like gophers, herons and mute swans.  Last month I saw a raccoon, but that was a first, and, apparently it was the last time for that raccoon as I’ve not seen it since.

When I first began walking at the Park in 2013, I was speaking with an avid runner named Todd, who told me he had been running at the Park every weekend for over a decade, and he described the wide variety of critters he had glimpsed at that venue, among them a coyote, and a red fox.  I told him I’d be sure to always have a camera on hand to capture an image of them.  Coyotes and red fox have not appeared yet, but I am hopeful.

The latest unusual critter at or around Council Point Park is a deer.  On the local crime reports on Facebook, (which often report accidents as well as crimes), there have been four different deer sightings in and around our city, including down at Council Point Park.  Sadly, all four now have a dearly departed status after they appeared out of nowhere, and then sprung across busy Dix Highway and/or Fort Street.  There was a deer last Summer near my street, and last week, another one lost its life, just two blocks away.  Believe me, I do not live in a rural area, but now have to keep my eyes peeled for deer as I tool along Fort Street while I give the car a run, and also every time I walk.  At Council Point Park, while there are an abundance of bushes and trees along the Ecorse Creek, that venue is not what one would define as a densely wooded area.  So, I don’t know the reason for all the deer frequenting the Downriver area these days, but hopefully if I see one, it is in a natural setting and not in danger on a busy highway, because that would break my heart for sure.  Deer coming out of the woodwork, not the woods, is both a scary and sad situation.

On a lighter note, I’ve wanted to incorporate these photos that my friend Carol posted on her Facebook page back in April, into a blog post, and today I am going to do so.  Carol lives in Honeoye Falls, New York and her backyard is on the fringe of a wooded area.  She gets lots of woodland critters, including deer.

She looked out her window one day to see one deer eyeing the bird feeder …

… and then, the next minute that deer decided to “go for it” while a “friend” patiently waited its turn in the background.  The baffle, designed to keep the squirrels from clambering up the pole to feast on the bird seed, didn’t deter the deer one bit and Carol’s quip accompanying the post was “we have a visitor making herself (?) at home in the back of the yard.”

A little later, Carol took a photo of a deer having a little nap after eating all that bird seed, and commented “there were three more sitting in the shade under the trees between my yard and the neighbor’s.”  It might have been delightful the first time Carol saw the deer gathering in her backyard, but after they repeatedly stripped her berry bushes in record time, the beautiful deer in the idyllic setting became a little less enjoyable.

Today, since it was a weekend and there was no reason to scurry home, I would have liked a long, leisurely walk, but five minutes after I set out, it started to rain … likely tomorrow’s walk will also be spoiled by Mother Nature who has now worn out her welcome with the rain.

[Image from WikimediaImages on Pixabay]

I believe the phrase “when it rains, it pours” aptly describes our weather this past week; first, we’ve not had significant rain in weeks, and now it is arriving too frequently and rather annoyingly so.  The phrase “when it rains, it pours” also may be a proverb that defines all these natural disasters that have sadly hogged our news headlines for weeks now.  To me, it seems that each of the natural disasters is more horrific and devastating than the last one, and, I am sure the Red Cross is at a loss how to cope with so many homeless people, and the poor relief workers and first responders are just plain weary.

Here in Michigan, we have only had to contend with rain and that is a blessing, and, sometimes I think, though I complain about the high heat and humidity or the ice and snow, we’ve really got it good here in the mitten state.

Today was Friday the 13^th and I ventured out, glad to be sprung from the house after that two-day sogfest, and I was happy to get my morning walk in.  But first, I peered out the front door to ensure there were no ladders, nor black cats (not even Halloween decorations of black felines) and only then, did I deem it safe to head out.  All I saw on  my quick look-see to also determine “coat or no coat” was a gloomy-looking, very gray sky.

I headed down to Council Point Park and the grass was glistening from the rampage of rain and the asphalt was still splotchy from the precip and tree drips and splatters.  Leaves were everywhere, clinging to the wet spots, as well as my walking shoes.  There were just a handful of walkers on the path, and I figured the squirrels were probably anxious to see me start on the trail since they missed their treats the past two days, but they were nowhere to be found – hmm, perhaps they are already cocooning in their nests high up in the trees on this damp and dreary day.

I got four miles logged in today, the round trip there, plus one entire trip around the Park.  That late arrival of the sun and somewhat gloomy morning had me dashing out the door later, so that meant one less mile walked.  Yup, the days are getting so much shorter and I’m already looking forward to the time change on November 5^th.

I was happy to arrive home unscathed by any mischief from Friday the 13^th , only to find out our computer system was down once I tried to log in.  It’s been down all day and I fear those Friday the 13^th gremlins, or someone else, has put an evil spell on our system … we are nearing Halloween after all.

[Image by Kerbstone on Pixabay]

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada and Columbus Day here in the U.S.

While I am Canadian, I’m not having a Thanksgiving feast today, but I am still feeling thankful nonetheless.  I must admit I have had better years than this past twelve months, but, on a positive note, I always count my blessings for my friends and especially for my good health.  I’ve never taken my health for granted because I watched my mom suffer for many years, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, the result of a childhood accident.  This past July 11^th marked the 80th anniversary of that fateful day.  Mom spent four years in the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and had over forty orthopedic operations over the course of her lifetime, all resulting from a split-second decision to run across the street from between two parked cars at age eleven.

Over the years, I would see people walking along Fort Street as I was waiting for the bus to go downtown to work, and I’d often remark to my mom that “one day I am going to have a walking regimen like those folks … probably when I’m retired” and her response always was “you have two healthy legs, so why wait … just start now.”

Well, I took my good old sweet time before I started walking regularly at Labor Day 2011, and, now walking has become more than just a means of staying healthy and getting exercise but is a joyous way to begin my day.  I love the good feeling that comes with having the ability to get out and walk every morning, the camaraderie with other walkers, communing with nature at Council Point Park and then writing about it.

I am mindful of the shorter days and feel a little sad as I know those walks will dwindle, but I am hopeful for a mild Winter like the last two have been.

My eventual goal this year was to supersede my 2016 walking miles and this morning I crossed that threshold.  It would have happened yesterday, but that rain on Friday put a damper on the morning walk.  So, there are 83 more days until yearend – dare I set another goal, or do I just revel in whatever miles I have walked by December 31, 2017 and be grateful for that final tally?  I believe the latter will be my plan going forward.  I have been pushing myself to get five miles a day walked since Labor Day, and that last five miles this morning pushed me to the milestone of 755 miles walked so far in 2017, one more mile than the previous year.

Onward and upward!

[Image by John Hain on Pixabay]

Fall is my favorite season of the year, even though it is the gateway to the colder weather which I don’t really mind, but the ice and snow which I absolutely detest.  Among my favorite Fall things are the harvest décor, the beautiful colors and even the crackling of the leaves as you scuff through them on the sidewalk.

Once Labor Day has passed, most of the art fairs and outdoor concerts have been replaced with harvest craft fairs, trips to the cider mill and pumpkin patch, or stopping by farmers markets to get their best offerings of homegrown fruits and veggies.

Since our house has always been a country/Early American theme, we used to hit several craft shows for harvest and holiday décor each Fall.  The local churches, Crystal Gardens Banquet Center and Henry Ford Community College had some great craft fairs and we got many country holiday collectibles through the years.

When it came to scouting out those tasty beefsteak tomatoes and other Fall veggies or fruits, my mom and I used to take a Sunday drive to Kurtzals’ Farms, which, back in the day was just a large, flat wagon parked out on the corner of Sibley and Inkster Roads. That wooden wagon was loaded with a bounty of produce and big bouquets of sunflowers, all which you could buy for a song.  We also tried to get out to Apple Charlies for donuts and cider at least once each Fall.

Nowadays, since the Lincoln Park Farmers Market is so close, you can get the flavors of the growing season every Sunday from June through October.  Today, after I did my laps at Council Point Park, I decided to stop by the market, and it happened to be the Harvest Festival today.  The market was infused with a real Fall feeling.  In this lot at the corner of Southfield and Fort was harvest décor to enhance your landscape, plus a corn roast and pumpkin painting for the kids.  They had beautiful mums in all colors, corn stalks and pumpkins, crafts, plus their usual produce and sweet treats like honey, jam, jellies and baked goods, all hauled in and displayed by local farmers and creative vendors.

After that trip to the Harvest Festival, perhaps now I’m convinced that Fall is finally hovering out there within reach after all.

Three things spoke to me today that reminded me it was indeed Fall, despite these sultry Summer-like temps.  For sure, you don’t need to be clad in flannels like this scarecrow above.

First, here at the house, it felt like it should be Fall because Flame came for their annual furnace check this morning.  I had to crank the heat up high so the tech could do his diagnostic tests to ensure everything was running smoothly.  Unfortunately, this left the house feeling like an oven, and, by the time he was finished, it was 78 degrees.  Whew!  Then, it was later than usual when I stepped outside to leave for my walk and the humidity and temps were high (but still cooler than in the house thankfully); so, what happened to those cooler temps from Wednesday and Thursday?  I guess I should not complain because, after yesterday’s sogfest, it was just nice to get out for a walk.

Before I left, I got a fresh pack of peanuts and headed over to the fridge to grab a few apples from the fruit bin.  I had put those “bad apples” aside after I discovered three or four that had some questionable holes in them.  I was at Meijer earlier this week and they had ten varieties of Michigan apples on sale for $0.59 a pound.  People were loading up on apples in paper tote bags.  I usually inspect the apples as I’m placing them into the tote bag, but I was chitchatting with a woman, who, like me, was stopped at the McIntosh bin.  She was hefting quite a few totes of apples into her shopping cart and said “I just love the Fall and the smell of apples baking in the house, don’t you?”  I told her I was not much of a baker but vividly recalled the delightful aroma of my mom’s apple pie wafting through the house when I’d come home from school or work on a chilly day, and it would make me hungry as soon as I stepped through the door.

Next, this woman told me about her busy agenda for baking this weekend, all which included some type of apple treat, so I amiably said “I’ll be over if you give me your address.”  For a moment, I think she took me seriously, so I quickly added “just kidding of course!”  She asked what I was doing with my apples and I said “having them sliced up with a chunk of cheddar” and, though that sounded a little lame, that is how I enjoy apples most.  When I feel like treating myself, I get the Honeycrisp apples which are so sweet they taste like candy to me.  I read the other day there are 7,500 varieties of apples in the world, and, if you tried a new kind each day, it would take 20 years to try them all!

Unfortunately, I was so busy discussing the virtue of apples in baked goodies that I missed some worm holes in those apples, so I figured I’d gift the critters at the Park with some nice rosy macs.  The squirrels sure do enjoy those apples from the tree that is along the perimeter path, even if they are wormy or raggedy looking.  High up in the tree, they’ll devour an apple pretty quickly, then they toss what they can’t finish down to the ground.  Many times I’ve walked underneath or near that apple tree and been pelted by the apple core or a half-eaten McIntosh apple from above.  I’ve also seen the gopher scurrying by me, his teeth grasping onto an apple as he makes a beeline to his burrow.  I set out each apple next to some peanuts when a squirrel ambled up near me, but, just like a kid who prefers dessert to his main meal, they preferred the peanuts over the apple.

The last item that reminded me of Fall today is the annual “Backyard Brawl”  and the radio hype about this rivalry between our top Michigan college football teams has been intense the past few days.  As I walked through the neighborhoods I saw the usual yard ornaments or flags proclaiming that family’s favorite Michigan football team.  The Fall is not complete without this annual ritual between the Wolverines …

… and the Spartans.

I got five miles done and was glad I flipped on the A/C before departing on my walk on this Fall day which felt like mid-Summer.

The jury’s still out on whether it is Summer or Fall.

Getting dressed is becoming a real challenge these days and I don’t always get it right.

These roller-coaster temperatures remind me of the story of “Goldilocks and The Three Bears” and how she tasted the bears’ bowls of porridge – “too hot” or “too cold” or “just right” is what she declared, as she sampled each successive bowl.  During my morning walk last Saturday I was “too cold” and could have used another layer; on Sunday I was “just right” and yesterday and today I was way “too hot” and needed to remove a layer.  Shucking off your coat or hoodie is one thing, but when you’re only wearing a sweatshirt and you get really warm, well then you have a problem.

But, weather-wise it’s been a great run of dry weather and it’s helped me amp up the walking miles for my year-end goal.  We’re on the cusp of a few rainy days, which we certainly need, but it will put a damper on any walking.  I’ll just keep my fingers crossed the rain is later in the day, or even better, overnight.

But, I am a realist, and we sure do need that rain.  When I worked in the yard over the weekend, the garden was extremely dry.  I ended up hand-watering the entire front and backyard gardens because the earth was so parched.  In an effort to be creative and add a little Fall flair to the front yard, I got a cute girl scarecrow and tried pushing that scarecrow’s stake into the front garden, only to find that dirt was hard as a rock, even after watering.

Well, the weather folks have been using that “D” word  a/k/a “drought” for a while, but that sharp, pointed stake, which could not even put a dent in the earth, confirmed what Paul Gross, my favorite weatherman, has been preaching about for at least six weeks now.

But, I was determined this perky farm girl with the denim dress and cute straw pigtails would grace the front yard, so I figured I’d prop that scarecrow in the corner between two bushes.  Patiently, I arranged her this way and that, then stood back to see how she looked.  Her one arm was at an awkward angle, so I gave it a tug, and next thing I knew, her entire straw-filled arm fell off.  Oops!  I tried some quick surgery to tuck the arm back into place but it was a lame effort and she looked a little lopsided.  So much for harvest décor.  I’ll just keep admiring everyone else’s front yard decorations, like this cute scarecrow which I pass every day enroute to Council Point Park.

This hot weather may convince you that Summer is still flourishing, but it belies the fact that Fall is here calendar wise.  The days are really getting shorter all of a sudden and many leaves are fluttering down.  The musty smell from the ever-growing carpet of dead leaves in the bushy areas of the Park was filling my nostrils as I walked on the perimeter path on this humid morning.

The squirrels are savvy and know this weather is a fluke, and thus are still scrambling over for their daily share of peanuts, some to enjoy within my view, and the rest are carted off to squirrel away for leaner times.

The perimeter path was crowded this morning, with many walkers and runners enjoying these unseasonable Fall temps.  Most of us were carrying our coats or hoodies, or had them looped around our waists, since it was chilly when we left home, but once Mr. Sun takes a notion to shine at full strength, Mother Earth heats up quickly.

I added another five miles to my tally on this absolutely beautiful Autumn day.

And hello Post #1,000 on this WordPress blog.

Today was another beautiful Fall day and it kicked off the month of October.

We were so lucky to enjoy a perfect weekend-weather day, and once again I was eager to get on my way and down to the Park to walk, then it was an afternoon of pulling weeds and taming bushes with “whiskers” or unruly branches.  Sadly, that yardwork was long overdue, and the weather was absolutely perfect to do anything outside, and to enjoy the sunshine.

Meanwhile, Fall has really permeated the Park!!

Between the crumpled-up leaves on the perimeter path and hints of color beginning to infiltrate so many of the trees, it appears that Fall finally means business.

Every time I visit Council Point Park there seem to be more trees sporting shades of red, orange and yellow, and it is very picturesque looking.

My favorite season of the month is Fall, even though I know by the end of October the days will be so much shorter that long walks at the Park will have to be relegated to the weekends, so I hope the good weather will continue each weekend as we progress through the month of October.

In the meantime, I will make the most of each sunny day and keep racking up the miles toward my goal  I am now at 720 miles walked for the calendar year 2017, with 35 miles left to meet my goal.

And, racking up the miles with my feet is one thing, but I’ve also racked up the posts on my blog, so that today is the 1,000^th post since I began this blog on February 11, 2013.  That is a monumental feat for me.

Onward and upward to my goal.

I’ll leave you with this quote:

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

What a gorgeous day!  I could not wait to get out and enjoy the beautiful morning … not too hot, not too cold, (well, okay … maybe a tad chilly and breezy) and the sun was shining brightly.

I headed down to Council Point Park and joined a slew of other walkers and runners, also eager to enjoy their walk in this little nature nook.

“Nature nook” was an apt description this morning.

The squirrels were out foraging for food as I happened along, and I had that usual warm feeling when they come running up to me.  I’m such a softie, especially with my favorite little squirrel that plunks himself onto the blue bench and then scrambles over to see me as I approach him.  I stopped and took out the Ziploc bag and put a peanut near my foot and scattered another four or five nearby where he could see them.  His face lit up and he contently munched on a peanut, taking his time, secure in the fact that the rest of the stash was his for the taking.

But … not so fast my little pal, because a Blue Jay was screeching loudly, from a nearby tree and flew down onto the perimeter path, clearly ready to cry foul about why he was excluded in these treats, which he no doubt was eying from his high perch.  I reached back into the bag and quickly tossed a few peanuts in the direction of the jay, hoping to thwart an argument over what each critter though was rightfully theirs.  The jay quickly gobbled up a peanut and took another “to go” so no conflicts arose.

Next up was the gopher.  I was busy chatting with another walker, and there he was, running just as fast as his roly-poly body could take him with a rosy-looking apple clenched between his teeth.  He saw us and ran into the bush and vanished.  Unlike last time, when he saw me and quickly popped into his burrow, his hidey-hole was not nearby, so he had to have a Plan “B”.

On my second trip around the entire perimeter path, I passed a gaggle of Canada Geese who were grazing in the nearby baseball diamond.  One goose stood apart from the rest and was honking loudly.  For every honk uttered by this goose, across the Park and around the bend at the nearby Ecorse Creek came a response.  In the still of the morning, in a wooded area secluded from traffic and only the fog horns or the occasional train to interrupt the peaceful morning, the back-and-forth honking was quite intense, and really piqued my interest.  The entire time I was walking in that area, there was this little tête-à-tête going on between Goose #1 and Goose #2.  It was as if they had their own secret language between them, yet, neither made a move to join the other.  As I neared the cement landing, the honking got louder, so I then wondered if the goose in the Creek was injured, so I went to investigate.  Slowly, I inched down the steep grassy slope to the cement landing to have a look.  I discovered a pair of geese who were gliding compatibly down the middle of the creek, one was honking its head off and the other was silent.  The honking continued on the other side, then suddenly it stopped and the signal caller must have given the sign and the whole flock took to the air.  The pair from the Creek glanced up, saw their friends and took off as well bringing up the rear with another straggler, as seen above.  I was shooting blindly as the sun was in my eyes, so I was surprised I even got the pictures featured today.

It was momentary mayhem as the geese exited the Park, and with the incessant honking by the pair of geese finally stilled, and mercifully, the jay’s screeching ceased, the Park was restored to the peace and solitude on a Saturday morning that is the norm.

Be careful what you wish for.  That sticky heat and humidity was becoming a drag, and, for everyone who wished for cooler temps, well … they are here.  All of a sudden it seems like the real Fall has arrived, so it is finally appropriate to don flannels, sip cider and chomp on cinnamon-sugar donuts.

When I left the house this morning it was 52 degrees.  I added some layers but they weren’t enough to keep that chilly air at bay, so I was grateful for every turn in the perimeter path that took me out of the shady areas and into the full sun to help warm me up.

Shortly after Labor Day, the first signs of Fall emerged as people hauled out their harvest décor, and simultaneously, the grocery store amped up the sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice Fall flavors.

It used to be we just associated Fall with apples – the sweet smell of apple pie bubbling in the oven, bobbing for them at Halloween parties, or enjoying those wonderful caramel apples, especially those that go by the moniker of “Affy Tapples”.  How wonderful those crispy apples with the caramel coating studded with crunchy peanut chunks taste.  Or, if you prefer a DIY project, produce bins are overflowing with apples and a display of those ooey-gooey, cellophane-wrapped Kraft caramels are always nearby.  Manufacturers made it even easier to make your own caramel apples by offering caramel wraps.

But now, it seems the caramel craze has taken a backseat to this pumpkin spice drink and food frenzy.  Not only is it frappés and lattes that are infused with pumpkin spice, but, every year it seems there are new pumpkin-flavored treats enticing us with their descriptive and colorful packaging.  Not to be outdone by other sweet pumpkin treats, I noticed Nature Valley Granola Bars has succumbed as well and created their own pumpkin seasonal favorite, and, even Pop- Tarts has risen to the occasion with a pumpkin pie flavored toaster pastry.  All were displayed prominently on my last trip to Meijer.

Pumpkin has even infiltrated more breakfast foods with Pumpkin Spice Life cereal and Pumpkin Spice Cheerios which were touted on the endcap at my Meijer store.  When I was a kid we only had regular Cheerios.  They were bite-sized oat  “Os” that tasted kind of blah, but they were good for you.  Now, Cheerios crowds out the other breakfast cereals with a whopping 15 different flavors.

I saw a sign for Meijer’s own brand of ice cream called “Purple Cow” which had a featured flavor of pumpkin pie – pumpkin flavored ice cream with pumpkin pie chip pieces.

There’s certainly something for everyone, eh?

I don’t recall all the hoopla with seasonal cereals, bagels, cream cheese and sweet treats around Christmastime .  I guess one can’t have eggnog- or peppermint-flavored cereal and sweet treats, or perhaps I missed those seasonal goodies on the store shelves.  Maybe someone should invent fruitcake-flavored cereal.  I know I have poured egg nog on cereal and it is pretty tasty.  Well, if you are going to enjoy Fall, might as well be a Fall foodie and go for it with gusto.

I’ll bet that after that long hot spell, the folks that decorated their homes while the weather was still chilly at Labor Day, may be in for a rude awakening with their gourd displays.  Those pumpkins gracing their porches might have turned to mush inside and become pureed just like the Libby’s canned pumpkin you use for your Thanksgiving pie.

I enjoyed this cool and beautiful Fall morning by walking five miles, and, once I finally warmed up, I hated to end my walk and go into the house.  The Autumn allure is just beginning and there is a beautiful weekend promised for us as well.