Still walkin’ my socks off …

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Today’s all-day rain gives me a brief respite from walkin’ my socks off to reach my goal. But, I managed to get 12 miles/19 kilometers done over the weekend – 8 miles/12 kilometers more to get ‘er done and reach my goal. Yesterday the wind was very blustery, and, just like one day earlier in the week, the winds were calm when I left the house, but kicked up mightily just a half-hour after I arrived. The weatherman also promised a sunny Sunday – I was outside over three hours and the sun must’ve slept in.

I’ve been thinking about Christmas stockings since deciding on this title for today’s post. Over the years, Christmas stockings have played a big part in the holiday ambiance for me …

… Like having a Christmas stocking when I was a little nipper.

On Christmas Eve, I dutifully left my stocking next to Santa’s milk and cookies so he wouldn’t forget to fill it (hint, hint). My parents loaded it up with goodies to keep me occupied so they could sleep in on Christmas morning, and, after I was sound asleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in my head, the sock would magically appear at the end of my bed. I was told (warned) that when I woke up, to just get my sock and let Mommy and Daddy sleep in since it was a holiday. I always got an orange and an apple in the toe and only on Christmas, Easter and Halloween did my parents allow hard candy, so I could always count on a candy cane and perhaps a Pez dispenser and candy for inside it. I always got some chocolate wrapped in gold foil that looked like gold coins. Chocolate was the exception as to candy – I don’t know why that was?

My parents never knew my grandmother had a stash of Laura Secord “humbugs”, those yummy brown-striped hard candies, that she always kept in a little tin in her apron pocket. Sometimes she had a crinkly cellophane bag of peppermint balls that looked like mothballs – she would tell me to go outside to eat it as it smelled so strong and you couldn’t bite it, but had to wait for the candy ball to dissolve and “we don’t want to give away our secret, right?” The stocking candy was a treat because our Christmas candy set out in dishes around the living room had no appeal to steal one or two. Those hard candies were shaped like presents and had gooey stuff inside them … now if they had been Smarties (like American M&Ms) … well they would have been worth swiping.

Since the orange and apple were boring, they would be put aside, so I’d hone in on the treats and explore my sock. There would be crayons and a coloring book, maybe a jar of bubble soap and a bubble wand, or jacks, or a Slinky, even some Silly Putty to make stretchy faces out of my favorite comic-book characters in the funny papers …

… and, when I was really young, there were always a Golden Book or two.

My favorite stocking stuffers were new Barbie clothes, either bought at the store, or outfits that my mom would knit while I was at school. Here is a photo of Mom and me posing on Christmas Day when I got my first Barbie and a case for her clothes and accessories. (Please no comments on my hairdo which looked like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket because my mom made me sleep on pincurls on Christmas Eve – ugh.) I’d say this photo was taken around 1963.

Life sure was fun back in the day. I don’t know why I still don’t have that Christmas stocking, because I’ve hung onto many treasures from my childhood. I’m a “saver” not a “thrower” so that is why when folks say “do you use a treadmill all Winter?” my answer is “I’d love one, but where would I put it?”

The socks of Christmas Past.

When I decided to incorporate some memories about Christmas stockings into this “Still walkin’ my socks off …” miles-tally post, I actually went downstairs to root around in a few of the red Rubbermaid tubs with green lids where Christmas decorations we gathered through the years are stored; these festive-looking tubs have remained unopened for ten years. I knew I had saved some felt stockings and sure enough I had.

In fact, there was a treasure trove of red-felt Christmas stockings – some were brand new.

I saved stockings from work as well (pictured above and below). I always made up socks with little gifts for my bosses through the years. I filled those Christmas stockings with fun little things I’d pick up for a song and some goodies as well. I found one for both Robb and me downstairs.

My boss usually sends me pictures of how he decorates the office since he took over that chore after I stopped working on site in 2009. I packed away some of the socks with our office Christmas decorations. So, he hangs one sock outside my office door …

… and another paired up with his in the lobby.

Spreading cheer, whether chocolates or cookies, was something I did for all the holidays at work when we still worked at the Firm prior to leaving on our own on January 31, 2003. My mom and I used to make up something fun for the staff members on all the holidays and Christmas was no exception. Usually it was a big gingerbread man in a bag with curling ribbon and a Christmas message, but several times we made up these mini stockings.

I had to use initials as some names were too long to fit up top. I’d decorate all the socks over Thanksgiving, in between decorating here at home. I’d have socks laying all over the floor while the glitter dried, then we stuffed them with chocolates and a mini candy cane. I always had to have extra socks on hand in case someone quit, or got sick, and a temp came in their place. That happened a few times. Then, two days before Christmas, I would arrive earlier than usual and creep around, leaving treats or stockings at each desk before anyone arrived. One year I did a poem modeled after “The Night Before Christmas” using all the names of the staff personnel. This was before we had internet access at work, so I had to go buy the book, as I did not remember the whole poem, having not heard it since I was very young. I typed it up and xeroxed it onto Christmas paper.

Thanks to the rain I had a walking respite, so I could finish this longish post I started last night. Onward and upward for finishing up, but for now, perhaps I’ll play with this Silly Putty that beckoned me to buy it at Meijer a few weeks ago before I have to start work. 🙂

P.S. – Don’t forget to hang up your sock!!!

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Please do not leave me behind in the dust!

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Since we continue creeping toward year end, and, while I was hoping to bulk up some walking miles, I headed to historical Heritage Park the weekend before last. Yep, I had my ducks in a row as I had high hopes of getting about six miles in, even though it was very cold and my fingers felt like ice within fifteen minutes. I ended up ditching the flip-top finger gloves, in favor of warmer polar fleece gloves, which kept my fingers toasty. So, I tucked the camera away for a while, but not before I visited the mallards at Coan Lake.

These beauties were gathered in a group – it looked like duck soup.

The brisk breeze was blowing across the lake and I sought relief from that wind inside the covered bridge to warm up a little, wondering how my feathered friends brave the elements day after day. All too soon I will visit this venue and find the ducks huddled together on an ice floe.

From my perch on the bridge, I had a bird’s eye view of the mallards.

I thought I was pretty smart, since I was out of the wind and the ducks didn’t scatter to the wind like they usually do. I hid behind the wooden cross-buck decor and I had the bridge to myself … heck, it appeared I had the whole village to myself, though I could see a few walkers on the track across the way.

These two mallards were content to cruise and snooze, paddling along effortlessly, but shutting their eyes. I don’t know where the sentry duck was – whenever you see ducks snoozing on shore, or on a log, there is always one of their brethren watching over them. Maybe this was just a quick catnap, er … ducknap.

Here’s a few more mallards with their mates (or best buds … they didn’t tell me).

And because there always has to be a drama queen amongst the masses, one drake was chasing the other drakes around in the water.

They were already irritated by the cold, so it didn’t take long before a lot of quacking ensued – so much for a peaceful afternoon.

Everything was settled quickly, however, and the rabble-rouser went on his merry way. But, as a parting shot to the crowd, he flapped his wings to show who was the boss (in his mind anyway).

I’m crowing a little too, as slowly I am whittling my remaining steps down and now have just 30 more miles/48 kilometers to reach my goal. Just like the female mallard in the image up at the very top, I won’t be left behind in the dust. I’ll keep my ducks in a row. Onward and upward!

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The mirror doesn’t lie.

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Linda Schaub

I rushed home after walking for over four hours … no it wasn’t that second cup of coffee I had before I set out later than usual, as I awaited the thermometer to nudge higher than 27 degrees F/-2 C. Evidently that thermometer was going nowhere, but I was, so I set out anyway, in a down coat and my warmest clothes.

No, I rushed inside to peer at the mirror. I wanted to check my image to see if the words “Peanut Lady” were emblazoned on my forehead.

Yes, I know I was going to give the tales of my furry-tailed friends a little rest as the holiday season was coming up, but I feel I must share this story.

Last Saturday was gray and gloomy and the weatherman warned of rain or snow showers late in the day – I knew I had plenty of time to take the car for a long run, and myself for a long walk. I decided to split my day into two trips: three miles at Council Point Park, then three miles at Elizabeth Park in Trenton. It was still raptor migration season until the end of November, and, although I made a trip to that venue the beginning of the month, and failed to see any of the many hawks or eagles that migrate overhead, I thought I’d give it another try.

I was happy the Grosse Ile free bridge had opened after a week of mechanical issues which deemed it unsafe, leaving traffic backed up for miles on East Jefferson, (the exact location of Elizabeth Park), as they queued up to access the $5.00 round trip toll bridge, the only other means to get on/off the island. Here are a couple of shots of that free bridge taken from Elizabeth Park.

I did not take any photos at Council Point Park as I was there just to feed my furry and feathered pals and get a quick, three-mile walk done. From the looks of the sky I didn’t plan on taking many photos at Elizabeth Park either.

That was, until I stepped out of my car.

Around Elizabeth Park is a perimeter road where you drive very slowly to avoid the ducks and geese who cross without giving a second thought to vehicles.

They even have a “duck crossing” sign as a hint you must pay attention.

I saw a lot of mallards right after crossing the vehicle bridge to the park, so I quickly pulled over to just inside the park entrance.

I hopped out of the car and since I didn’t finish off the bag of peanuts at Council Point Park, I decided to tote some along in case I saw some furry or feathered friends, especially my little squirrel pal who hangs out at the big bridge which is pictured above – he fancies himself the guardian of the gates.

All of a sudden, squirrels were coming out of the woodwork.

But, before I could even reach into the car and grab the tote bag that contained the peanuts, at least a dozen squirrels surrounded the car – okay, what was going on?? They could not have smelled the peanuts that were still inside the bag, inside the car. Did I look like Elizabeth Park’s Peanut Lady? I don’t know, but there they were … Fox squirrels, black squirrels and gray squirrels, all clamoring for peanuts.

They thought “we knew she had a kindly face and was a sucker for squirrels.”

I thought “well at least I don’t have to carry that bag of peanuts with me so my hands are free to take pictures – hope I don’t run into the other little guy.”

My camera came out in a flash and I got a few shots, which were not the greatest since the grass and leaves were brown and most of the squirrels were as well. Here’s five of them.

But the blah landscape and brown squirrels didn’t stop a trio of women walkers from videotaping the scene. The women are seen approaching us in the photo below.

These women saw this crowd of squirrels crowding me off the sidewalk (no, I was not complaining) and from across the road, I saw phones raised and videos being taken while they shouted across the street “well, how cute is this?!” The video went on for a minute or two and I asked if I had “Peanut Lady” on my forehead because that is what people call me at Council Point Park. They laughed and said the scene could be a Christmas card.

I wish I could have shown the entire dozen of squirrels but they did not want to do a group shot.

You’ll notice in these pictures, the Elizabeth Park squirrels are just as inquisitive (no, make that nosy) as their Council Point Park counterparts.

Hmm – it seems they are just as chubby too.

I excused myself from the walkers and my furry friends who were by then in a feeding frenzy, to walk down to the water to see the ducks.

This duck had a huge smile for me, no doubt having witnessed the goodies fed to the squirrels, it assumed I was toting duck treats … nope, I was just there for a few photos, before starting on my walk.

Well that smile was wiped right off Mr. Mallard’s face when he saw my hands were empty.

I sure can’t blame these guys for hanging out along the shore given the cold temps.

Only one brave dabbling duck here … he was having a look-see first before plunging into the water.

Even though I just meandered along, the geese were on the move, goose-stepping through the leaves and grateful to find a patch of grass that was both leaf-free and snow free, so as to graze without limitation, even though there were still a few piles of snow around Elizabeth Park and lots of mud along the way as well.

What geese weren’t grazing on grass, their brethren were hanging out at the bird feeder area, hoping to catch what the squirrels missed under the feeders. Kindly souls put out four big bird feeders and a suet feeder as soon as the temps get colder and they keep this “feeding station” stocked all Winter.

The small birds scattered to the wind as they were timid, so all I got was a woodpecker’s picture in this shot. He or she was drilling into the tree after feasting on some suet.

Here’s a close-up of the feeders.

I saw this chickadee who left in a huff when I approached the feeding station.

So the mirror never lies and neither does the pedometer … as of yesterday’s jaunt, at month end, I have just 45 miles/72 km to reach my final goal of 1,242 miles/2,000 kilometers. Today is looking nasty weather-wise, but we’ll see.

Onward and upward.

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How to tackle Turkey Day.

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Here in the Detroit, Michigan area, three items are synonymous with Thanksgiving Day: America’s Thanksgiving Parade down Woodward Avenue, a Detroit Lions football game (every year since 1934) and turkey with all the trimmings … and done in that order.

In my daily travels through the ‘hood, I began to see a lot of scarecrows crowding into front gardens before the petunias even quit blooming. I always get a kick out of their smiling faces, so I’ve been collecting photos of them, knowing one day I’d have enough to do a Thanksgiving post, so here goes.

Tackling Turkey Day.

When you’re dealing with scarecrows, perhaps “tackling” is a tacky word to use – after all, they’re not football players, so a big tackle could easily take out a limb, or a head … if you’re a scarecrow that is. After all, they’re just stuffed with straw as you know from the many scarecrows impaled on a bamboo pole (ouch) that appear in homeowners’ harvest décor this time of year.

And, speaking of stuffing …

Besides spending the day with family or friends, the best is yet to come at dinnertime. But, whoa – wait a minute! The Thanksgiving Day feast is more than just enjoying that turkey. There is a ton of prep work first … and it’s more than simply calculating how long to cook that big bird, because first you have to stuff it.

Gee – perhaps “stuffing” is a poor choice of words to be throwing around in this Turkey Day post. Yes, how uncouth, because, after all, our flopsy-mopsy friends are stuffed. Their innards are straw, their arms and legs are raffia – even their hair is some type of straw. So, perhaps a better choice of words for that seasoned moist bread that is inside the turkey and/or piled high in your grandma’s bone china dish, would be to use the word “dressing” so as not to slight our scarecrow pals. A fun fact is that south of the Mason-Dixon line and in Canada, they call it “dressing” not stuffing … which brings me to another topic.

Dressing up for Turkey Day.

Many jokes are made about wearing loose-fitting clothing for the Thanksgiving feast – do you do this? Our scarecrow friends don’t have such worries … heck, a flimsy dress with nothing on beneath it (oops) sure takes care of the tight-fitting clothes dilemma. No wonder she is smiling. 🙂

And, BTW, just like these two scarecrow gals, sometimes those designer dresses look similar, but it’s okay if someone shows up with your exact same outfit, but a different-colored hat and pinafore, because scarecrows don’t have angst like humans do about such things. (All scarecrows shop at Michael’s craft stores.)

The guy scarecrows really luck out – they wear pants secured with a rope belt that unties after that second piece of pie, like these two; check out the easy-peasy belts below. It’s all good … (except for being impaled on that pesky pole).

Hail, hail … the gang’s all here!

Grandma’s there waiting at the front door with sloppy kisses and open arms. She’s a hugger like most Grandmas.

As the relatives arrive for dinner, bringing appetites (but no flowers, wine or candy) …

… some of them will be seated at the kiddies’ table.

The rest are at the main table – hopefully everyone brought their best manners and left their political views at home.

Someone’s bound to tell a bad joke about how sloppily Grandpa carves the bird and it’s an OMG moment as everyone gasps and is left speechless.

And of course Grandpa cops a real attitude after that.

This guy is eyeing the sweet potato pie … (despite saying his lips are sealed to any dessert as he must watch his boyish figure). He says this same line every year … ho hum.

When dinner and dessert are over, and the last dribbles of gravy have been dabbed from their flour sack faces, Frank grabs his fiddle and bow and asks (wait for it) …

… if anyone is up to dancin’ to “Turkey in the Straw”?? (Groan)

I hear those scarecrows do a mean two-step!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

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Bountiful harvest.

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Sweets for the sweets (I’m included here too) …

It is a time for sharing the love and the food, or, in this case, the apples. Another Fall ritual, just like the mini pumpkins, is that I dispense apples to my furry friends. Michigan is a big apple producer (900 million pounds, give or take a million), so once Fall rolls along, apples are fairly cheap at Meijer. It is then I take advantage of the sales and get a bag for me … and a bag for my friends.

While walking around the produce section, I decided to get a second treat for myself, after reading a detailed description of a harvest dinner attended by fellow blogger Joni. One of the treats set beside each person’s plate was a huge candy apple. I have never had a candy apple, as my parents drilled into my head at an early age, that candy = cavities and I was only allowed to have the occasional hard candy. What my parents never knew is that my grandmother always buried wrapped Laura Secord candy treats in her apron pocket and they were thrust into my hand when my parents weren’t looking. So a candy apple treat, with its colorful candy that encased the apple, was a definite no-no for me. But I’ve had plenty of caramel apples, before and after having braces on my teeth. My mindset when I saw the display of caramel apples next to the healthful apples was “why not?” Then, if you are going to have caramel apples, might as well kick it up a notch and get the variety with chocolate chips and peanuts on them if you’re going to splurge on calories. Just brush your teeth afterward … old habits never die.

It was a gorgeous day for late October and I stopped to take a photo of the trees which, coincidentally, were the exact same color as those Rome apples.

Although I was wearing my “Peanut Lady” hat, I toted along the bag of apples. I was eager to offload the apples first – they were heavy. I left a few here on the picnic table for the squirrels and the birds. As an enticement, there had to be a few peanuts. I did this on a weekday morning, so I did not have time to stick around for three hours to get cute poses munching on apples. I do have some cute photos from last year of the squirrels smiling while enjoying their apples – you can click here if you’d like to view that post. Guess they liked the Jonathan apples better. 🙂

The view of the peak colors at the Park was worth a shot to show off those pretty leaves.

I supposed the squirrels and birds would have glommed onto an apple pie more readily – how thoughtless of me not to bring one! When we first moved here from Canada, I remember going to a restaurant with my parents and my mom glanced at the dessert selection. She said “apple pie à la mode … fancy that, these Americans don’t put cheese on their pie?” She was aghast. Apple pie with a slice of Black Diamond cheddar cheese was the only way I ever ate apple pie that Mom baked … and warm pie and melted cheese. Wow! I like my apples with a chunk of cheddar alongside them. (No, I did not bring along cheddar wedges for the Park furry and feathered pals.)

Hmm – if a thought bubble appeared over this sparrow’s head it would read “I hope Linda brought birdseed for us too and quits catering only to the squirrels, blue jays and cardinals.”

Well they checked the apples out … would they pass muster?

It appears there was some dissension in the ranks. Looks like somebody was about to get outta Dodge! The picture is kind of dark as it is under the pavilion roof, but you get the gist of the angry sparrow and one about to take flight – the others are nonchalant.

I continued on my good will journey, dispensing apples and taking a load off my arm, which had the tote bag with the remaining apples swinging on it … try carrying a tote bag with apples, a Ziploc bag with peanuts and the camera … I need another hand to get it all done with ease.

Aah – the special, custom-made memorial plaque, shows a tribute to a nature lover, like myself, thus a perfect spot to place these treats.

It wasn’t long before a squirrel came over to investigate and give the apple the sniff test.

Obviously he or she preferred peanuts, and though the apple may have some worth, peanuts rule in this Park.

I had a multitude of squirrel and Park photos taken so far this Fall and my picture folders were groaning with photos, separated into future posts, and I have finally reached the end of my Autumn Park photos. While I will always carry along the camera, I likely won’t be dragging it out as often on my walks, though I hope to capture more antics of my furry and feathered pals in the snow in the coming months, likely on weekends, when I have more time.

As we near our Thanksgiving holiday, I hope that your harvest is bountiful, your table will be laden with holiday fare and you’ll be surrounded by those you love.

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Tranquil Trek.

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Linda Schaub

It was the proverbial calm before the storm, the day before our Veterans Day record-setting snow event. All the local meteorologists had been predicting the Arctic chill and several inches of snow for days. But, in the end, their models and predictions were way out of whack, as we would get 8.8 inches/22 cms of snow before the sun got up on Tuesday morning.

I knew I would not make it back to my favorite nature nook for many days due to the snowfall, then the brutal cold which would inevitably bring ice. Yes, I know the drill, it is the same every Winter … wait, we were nowhere close to the calendar date of Winter, but as that saying goes, Mother Nature didn’t get the memo.

I took a brand-new bag of peanuts with me as I had to compensate for my future absences. I doled them out along the way to squirrels, jays and cardinals, a few of which you’ll see later in this post.

It was still a little early on that Sunday morning, as I knew that later on I would have many leaves to rake and bag before the onslaught of snow that would arrive in less than twenty-four hours. Nevertheless, I spent almost three hours at the Park – it was just THEM and ME.

It was perhaps the most tranquil trek I’ve ever experienced at Council Point Park. It was so quiet, I could hear the crack as peanut shells were split open and fell away, landing on the pathway. Even the Blue Jay was not the usual town crier to announce that nuts had arrived and to get here ASAP. This is because I had spread plenty for everyone, encouraging them to “eat up, as you may not see the whites of my eyes for a little while.” Perhaps they understood, because no peanuts were carted off or buried, but simply enjoyed right on the spot.

‘Round and ‘round the pathway I went, multiple times, making sure no one was left out and I even dribbled a few peanuts along the picnic tables in the pavilion area for those squirrels who might have slept in. It was then I saw it – the new graffiti on the picnic table, which I featured up top and two more images are below:

There is lots of graffiti in the Park … it is a fact of life these days. In fact, I strategically placed the peanuts over a few words I did not want to show up in the picture above. I usually try not to capture the images in my photos, but sometimes the graffiti makes the contrast of colorful writing versus a nature setting just a little more interesting, so I allow those colorful scribbles and scrawls to be part of the picture:

While you could ooh and aah and wax poetic about the beauty in nature, sometimes the photos need no words either.

Join me on my tranquil trek – I believe you know the cast of characters already, except this little gray squirrel who stepped over to nosh on some nuts with the others:

The ducks were unusually quiet, not a quack from their corner:

The geese paddled about near the mallards or grazed silently:

They decided to take a walk but the leader was a bit conflicted which way to go:

Even Harry the Heron was subdued, as he studied the water for fish and even permitted a few photo ops without making that awful screeching noise and disappearing down the passageway:

You know I can’t help myself – I’ve included a few nut-lovin’ pals:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Hymns for Little Children, ~Cecil F. Alexander, 1848

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Stubby a/k/a Chubby.

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Linda Schaub

One week from today is Thanksgiving and you know you’ll have that bird on the brain up until that day.

You’ll get up with the chickens, because that plump Butterball turkey has been thawing out. You’ve consulted the instructions a few times, since that turkey isn’t going to be cooking itself.

And then there are the sides and the desserts to prepare – a lot of work for people to just wipe their mouths and then go shopping (if they are so inclined). Did you know the average American will consume 3,000 calories for Thanksgiving dinner alone? Gulp!

Better hunt for the fat pants – you’re gonna need ‘em.

A season of gobbling began with Halloween, then on to Turkey Day.

Now begins a season of indulgence … treats at home, work – everywhere you turn, there are treats to behold. What should you resist? What should you eat? Decisions, decisions – perhaps you’re still on a sugar high from all the leftover Halloween candy. We had such horrid weather Halloween night that not too many kids, nor parents, were traipsing around the neighborhood for a few measly Snickers bars or mini packets of M&Ms. Well, you didn’t want them to go stale, right?

There is fast food to be gobbled up after shop-’til-you-drop days on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday – a burger and fries scarfed down while scrolling endlessly through Amazon’s list of sales.

Don’t gobble ’til you wobble or you’ll look like my furry friend above.

You remember Stubby – I first introduced you to him in June of 2018. The day I “met” this little guy, I wondered about that bobbed tail – now it has a shock of white on the end of it. A few days later I had just left a few peanuts on the path by the pavilion area and he lunged to eat those treats, just as a Cooper’s Hawk saw this squirrel as his meal ticket. To my horror, I made Stubby a sitting duck and the hawk aimed right for Stubby, who, evidently had eyes at the back of his head, (just like your mom or your elementary school teachers), and he made a run for it … he didn’t even stop to take a peanut “to go” … he ran under one of the picnic tables in the pavilion and the Cooper’s Hawk, a bit red-faced, made a U-turn and went back to sit on the fence and sulk. I took its photo, albeit blurry – that big bird was no doubt angry, but Stubby’s life was saved. It’s easy to find Stubby, for obvious reasons … he, like Parker, is always front and center when I arrive at the Park.

Lest you think that Stubby got his new moniker of “Chubby” from me feeding him treats like the adult-sized “Nutter Butters”:

… well that would be a misnomer, because those peanutty biscuits were my contribution to the birds, those sparrows that sit and watch my every move, wondering “when will Linda will bring treats for us?”

Well, just like the squirrels are piggy at your backyard feeder, Stubby made it a point to misappropriate the Nutter Butters for himself. Poor birdies. It looks like Stubby had second thoughts about stuffing his face with that Nutter Butter, but eventually threw caution to the wind and ate it in front of the sparrows. That’s not cool Stubby.

Stubby may look roly-poly now, but it is not all my doing! Mother Nature has helped out by providing Stubby, just like the other chubby squirrels, with an added layer of fat and thicker fur, to thwart the Winter cold. I am not only picking on Stubby; here are some of his brethren:

Can you pinch an inch of fat? Looks like this pudgy peanut pal can:

So as we near closer to a day of turkey with the trimmings and slices of pumpkin pie with generous dollops of whipped cream, kindly remember your jeans and how painful tight pants can be when you can’t breathe in ’em. Or maybe just print out a picture of this guy below?

[Butterball pictures courtesy of Pinterest]

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Sunday sojourn at Council Point Park.

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Sunday morning I stayed home, finishing up my post about having a Plan B in place. In between writing, loading photos and proofreading, I kept bopping over to the online weather site to see how many degrees above freezing it was. I was being prudent about the ice which was still in our street and on City sidewalks. Yay – finally it was “go time” so …

… I published my post and suited up, hopefully for a long walk at Council Point Park. Due to the fractious weather, I’d been absent for a solid week from my favorite nature nook.

Even though it was much milder than it had been in many days, I was toting along a few things to ensure I would not be slippin’ and slidin’ once I reached my destination. Into a large tote bag, I tucked a pair of heavy-duty ice cleats (a/k/a “crampons”), my flip-top finger gloves and peanuts (of course). Just for good measure, I donned my hiking boots with the thick treads – only then, I figured I was good to go.

I wasn’t going to take the car as I really wanted to get a long walk in, and, after getting past my street, which was still slick with ice, the more I walked along, the more confident I became. Finally, there were long patches of bare cement allowing me to take my regular, long strides instead of just baby steps. As mentioned, just a handful of days before, my driveway and sidewalks were treacherous with glare ice.

As I walked down Pagel Avenue, I was keenly aware of the impact that snow had made on the neighborhood. Pumpkins, now with freezer burn, were covered with snow. Scarecrows, some listing to one side, had bedraggled-looking “hair” where snow had settled into straw braids or pigtails. Snow had also collected in the upturned brims of some scarecrows’ felt hats. The sun was slowly melting that snow, so leaves, buried in the frozen crystals for nearly a week and now uncovered, had a faintly musty smell. Some trees were still full of leaves, vibrant in the sun, where others had dropped their leaves in colorful piles on the whitened ground. The sun had melted mounds of snow that had collected in birdbaths and now sloshed over the sides. A starling took advantage of that icy, clear water and was splashing around. Brrrrr. Icicles were dripping down on the City-issued plastic garbage and recycle cans, making a drumming noise as I walked past each house in the ‘hood and melted snow was gurgling loudly as it found its way to the sewer grate.

What a pleasant surprise!

After wending my way through the neighborhood and giving wide berth to the muddy construction area encompassing a few blocks, I finally arrived at the Park. I began my trudge across the large parking lot which had been plowed and heavily salted. When I got to the pavilion area, I was happy to find no snow on the path as far as I could see! Evidently the City took care of plowing the path for the walkers. There was a bicyclist coming off the first looped path and I said “I’m so surprised to see they plowed it for us!” and he smiled back and shouted “me too!”

So … no initiation of my ice cleats this time and the sun was out in full force, so I was going to be toting them along on my arm. I soon realized I didn’t need the insulated gloves or heavy parka either.

Belatedly I looked down at the path and shook my head. After a week of wearing high boots and a pair of my mom’s heavy wool pants tucked into them, and, because I was in such a hurry to get out, I forgot those petite-sized pants were going to look even shorter with these hiking boots. Oops!

I set out on the path and saw so many trees here still had leaves .

Just the occasional soft icy patches were still in place, not enough to deter a walk, or a bike ride – this was mostly where the Creek runs parallel to the walking path.

Peanut bliss and furry pals along the way.

I didn’t have to search too long for my peanut pals … they came scrambling down to ground level and I got a few pictures of them. Here are some shots of Parker and Midnight and an unknown furry friend, who evidently cannot read the signs that state no domestic animals are allowed in the Park.

What else did I see on my Sunday stroll?

Though the bulk of the snow had melted, the white landscape seemed to enhance the natural beauty on and along the trail.

This memorial park bench is not for sitting – it has been warped for years.
Last Tuesday and Wednesday were brutally cold, so it was no surprise that the Ecorse Creek was still frozen over. No ducks, geese or herons were around as they had forgotten their ice skates.
This huge leaf looks kind of forlorn in the snow doesn’t it?
These red maples were still full of leaves in stark contrast to this middle tree which was totally bare.
Does anyone know what type of bush has seeds like this? Another walker showed them to me and I said I would ask around. A reverse Google search did not yield the answer.

A good time was had by all – mission accomplished!

It was time to leave … my mission was accomplished. I counted noses and fed my furry friends – the Blue Jays were subdued and did not try to steal peanuts from the squirrels. The squirrels ate their treats and didn’t bother to bury them, likely because they were unsuccessful digging up anything from the frozen ground and 8.8 inches/22 cms of snow last week. After a five-mile jaunt at the Park, I still had another mile to walk to get home. These Canada Geese soared overhead as I was leaving. I racked up seven miles (11 km) on my pedometer altogether before I wrapped my hands around a mug of coffee – it was a good day! As of this morning, I still have 97 more miles (156 km) to meet my goal and 43 more days to get it done.

P.S. – I want to give a shout out to Hampton Farms. These are the only brand of peanuts I buy for my Park and porch furry and feathered friends. They are “people peanuts” and I buy the variety that are jumbo and unsalted. I sent a few photos of the squirrels chowing down on their peanuts and they offered to send me some peanuts. I declined, because I sent the photos for fun and it was not necessary, but they sent them anyway with this nice note. Thank you again!!

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Always have a Plan B!

Posted on November 17, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Fall sure was fleeting; in fact it seems that if you blinked you missed it, thanks to a bully named Winter that intruded mightily. It seems like just yesterday I was melting away in the hot and humid temps …

… and just like (snapping fingers) we plunged into the deep freeze. Check out my neighbor’s thermometer earlier this week, and …

… his icicles. Yikes! Those are lethal. Also note the squirrels’ nests in the bare trees a few backyards away.

Happily we hit the freezing mark yesterday and will creep up to 36F/0C today – woo hoo!

I am a notorious weather worrier, no matter the season, and I like to plan ahead. Since I’m no fan of Winter driving, having taken the bus for decades when I worked in downtown Detroit thus never honed my Winter driving skills, I try to take care of all my errands before the snow flies. It’s unlikely you’ll see me slippin’ and slidin’ in my buggy on a Winter day as it is tucked inside the garage. I am more likely to venture out on two feet than four wheels.

Also, as long-time followers are aware, I am like the squirrels who gather their nut treasures to sock away for the long Winter ahead, as I spend several days every October, scurrying around gathering pantry items to have on hand until Spring’s arrival – yes, that many months in advance. It is an annual chore, but unless I’ve forgotten anything, I just pick up refrigerated food and some produce on good weather days until April. My mom did this ritual for years too. That doesn’t mean I will embrace the Winter – that is far from the truth. I despise this season and am not happy that this snow and brutal cold have left walking conditions icy and dicey.

But, all was not lost as I have a Plan B because I have many more miles to meet my goal and this is no time to be a slacker – four days off this week was a long enough respite. More on my Plan B later.

Be prepared!

Not to toot my own horn, but ever since I was young, I was always thinking ahead, even before “forward thinking” became vogue. Perhaps that was a quality instilled in me by Mom, or maybe those years I was a Brownie. Yep, I was a card-carrying Brownie until my membership was cut short after we moved here from Canada in July 1966. This photo was taken in the Spring of ’66 – I was a Sprite, which was our Brownie pack Circle Group emblem.

Because I am a “saver” and not a “thrower” I still have my Brownie record and membership card that I carried in my pouch on my belt as part of the uniform – those treasures were embedded in a scrapbook of childhood memories that my mom collected for me. No I didn’t save the uniform, nor that spiffy beret where my Sprite emblem was sewn on.

Check out the motto on the card, which I have enlarged and highlighted below.

Planning ahead doesn’t ALWAYS work out so great though.

On a beautiful October day I was packing peanuts and my camera and headed off for a long trek at Council Point Park. As I pulled into the parking lot, so did the truck with the crew of grass cutters. Well that was a bummer, as the bold and brazen squirrels and usually fearless jays disappeared into their respective nests once the roar of the lawn cutting machines invaded their territory.

Well, that was a boring walk as I dodged those men in their machines and had zero interaction with the Council Point Park critters; so how was I going to let them know I was thinking of them? The squirrels were still intense with burying their nuts for Winter, so I made “droppings” around the Park, where the lawn cutters would not go near and they still got their treats, to be enjoyed after I left.

And for good measure, I left a passel of nuts on the picnic tables in the pavilion area.

The Call of the Wild.

At the beginning of October, Grady the Gray Squirrel appeared out of the blue. He is a savvy squirrel who might have rebuffed me in the Summertime, but as the days grew shorter and cooler, he remembered his ol’ benefactor from last Winter and started showing up when I returned from my walks, sitting on haunches near the porch and swishing his tail furiously. I was willing to give Grady and his friends a peanut or two on the porch – I delighted in seeing the cardinals, jays, and black and gray squirrels gather on my porch throughout last Winter. Then, you may recall, a large Fox Squirrel came along and was piggy, sitting on the peanuts and chasing the other squirrels away and into the street. So, I decided to give this venture another try. Over a few days I got Grady to follow me into the backyard to feed him there. It worked – he was a quick learner as you read in this recent post.

Fast forward a few weeks and I was out in the backyard and very dismayed to find scat all around the grass. I do not have a dog and I do have a fenced-in yard, so when I got inside, I sent a message to my neighbor:

“I may not have ever had a cat, nor do I have a cat now, so why do I have cat poop all over my backyard? I have a fence, so unless a dog climbed the fence, it is a cat – why can’t it poop in the garden like other cats (not that I want that either)!? No words!”

His response was immediate: “yes, we have two cats going between our yards, and a raccoon – a big one!” Whereupon he proceeded to describe the size of its derriere.

“Wait … what?!” I fired back at the speed of sound.

It seems that as of October 30th, the date of our messages, there were two black cats roaming about, and not just for Halloween … plus a huge raccoon. We don’t live in a rural area either.

That didn’t make my day. I next Googled “do raccoons eat peanuts?” Grady finished them off right away, but I had to cover my bases. Yes, they like peanuts. Well, that figured, so I had to re-educate Grady that breakfast would now be served on the front porch like last year. That little squirrel caught on quickly, as did the jays, cardinals and sparrows. The sparrows?

The furry and feathered critters fight for first dibs as soon as soon as the peanuts hit the porch and cement ledge. We don’t need a dinner bell at this house.

Of course a rogue Fox Squirrel interjected himself into the scenario, just like last year:

When this Fox Squirrel is not monopolizing the treats, he, like Grady, his much-smaller counterpart, awaits The Peanut Lady to open the door and tender peanuts. Then they each scramble down from their respective trees where they were peering out of their nests. I watch the scenario from the living room through the screen door, either by zooming in with the camera, or sometimes with the binoculars. The gentle tweet of the male and female Northern Cardinals in the barberry bush tells me they, too, are in standby mode. They will fly onto the cement ledge and hop along daintily to reach the peanuts. The Blue Jay, high up in the maple tree, now stripped bare of its leaves, is revealed as he anxiously awaits me to line up the peanuts on the cement ledge for an easy-peasy fly-by. The screech of the Jay alerts friends and family where he is and peanut delivery is imminent so get here ASAP!

There is a gentle twitter as sparrows line up on the ledge, their tiny brown bodies angled to zoom down onto the porch. Surprisingly the sparrows, are in tune with this routine too. While I stood there shivering on the city sidewalk, trying to get some outside shots of the munch bunch, I saw a sparrow fly down from the ledge and grab a petite peanut in the shell from the porch. First he analyzed his capabilities versus this peanut in the shell …

… “Me too” is what he decided and picked one out just his size and off he went. That’ll feed him and the wife and kids too. Who knew sparrows could crack open peanuts and eat ’em? Unless of course he returned to the nest and his mate said “really Sam – you need a nutcracker for that!”

Unfortunately, this time the bigger birds stayed at bay, reluctant to gather while I stood there with the camera in tow and with freezing fingers I might add. Oh, we watched each other warily, but they waited for me to go into the house … my job was done there and they were eager to dispense with me. I get no respect sometimes, but there will be other photo ops as time marches on. This week’s premature brutal cold and record snowfall sounded the death knell for foraging by my little friends for awhile, and likely until next Spring in my opinion.

I have invoked Plan B for walking.

The past two days I headed a few blocks over to Memorial Park to walk. There is no pathway, it is merely walking laps around the equivalent of three City blocks. The snow has melted a bit due to the sun, so I am not tromping through 8.8 inches/22.3 cms of snow. However, ice still plagues the parking lot, so I am only walking on the grass for now.

The park is divided into two sections, one where the memorial area and bandshell are located (one city block) …

… and the other side of the cross street, which is a small playground and a large grassy area encompassing two city blocks.

It is a little boring, but works to rack up the steps – I did three miles Friday; four miles Saturday. The squirrels at Memorial Park see me, freak out a little and head up the nearest tree because, with the exception of special events like concerts, parades and Cruisin’ Downriver in the Spring and Summer, they don’t see many humans and likely see me as an intrusion in their territory and lives. Maybe I ought to take peanuts? Nope, I’m not starting that routine in a third venue! I will head back to Council Point Park as soon as the ice melts, hopefully today.

[Snoopy’s Plan B courtesy of Pinterest]

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Friday Frivolity.

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Linda Schaub

After a wacky week of weather, today everyone collectively cheers “TGIF!” I am sure the drivers who dealt with three or four white-knuckled and treacherous commutes, in as many days, are glad to just stay hunkered down at home for the weekend.

Finally, the brutal Arctic Blast has subsided and the snow machine has stopped which is all good.

But glancing out the window, or merely stepping outside to trudge to the garage to start the car, or knock those spindly icicles to the ground, I must remind myself the season is Fall, not Winter. I am a wee bit conflicted as I see snow everywhere, yet the leaves are still fluttering to the ground, littering up that not-so-pristine snow. It is a sight to behold, like gigantic polka-dots or a connect-the-dots game gone wild! Will the snow melt to rake up those lingering leaves before our last yard waste pickup Thanksgiving week?

Strip tease, er … Strip trees!!

Mother Nature wreaked havoc on our Autumn with incessant winds, cutting short the time for leaf peepin’ and admiration. Those trees did a strip tease of sorts, shaking off those vibrant-colored leaves, letting them drop slowly, eventually ending up bare and shivering in the cold.

I watched over the course of about ten days’ time as the trees, which wore cloaks of gorgeous Fall colors …

… quickly dropped their leaves onto the ground.

At first it was a few leaves scattered here and there …

… and then at a fast and furious pace.

I loathed the locust tree we had for many years. It dropped little leaves and stringy things all over the driveway and sidewalk – everything got tracked into the house. Seeing this locust tree brings it all back to me. 🙂

This maple WAS so exquisite … going, going, gone.

When all was said and done, many of the dazzling trees were bare …

… and the squirrels’ nests were suddenly exposed and big enough to show up on Google maps.

It’s all part of this annual trek as we inch from Fall toward Winter. Speaking of treks, I’m hoping to visit this very spot, Council Point Park, on the weekend, if the ice has melted in the ‘hood.

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