WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

Speaking of March …

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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Well, it’s March and we turned over the calendar page. I still don’t know if the weather authorities proclaimed that March arrived like a lion or a lamb – unbelievably, not a single person mentioned this proverb in conjunction with March 1^st.

I can tell you that in my corner of the world, today there was no wintry precip, the roads were clear and dry, as was the Park perimeter path, so it doesn’t get any better than that for Winter in Southeast Michigan. Sure it was cold – low 20s and a wind chill too, but the sun was out – pure bliss!

I was happy to get to Council Point Park this morning. I had really worried about my little furry friends, even though I was there last Friday and Saturday and gave them lots of peanuts, but I’d not been back in nearly a week. I worried my little pals would be hungry since the number of walkers toting peanuts has dwindled during the Winter months and the ground remains frozen solid.

I took the camera, but didn’t pull it out of my zippered vest. It was really cold and I just wanted to make sure I made the rounds and got as many squirrels fed as possible before I needed to head home and start work.

I am delinquent in posting. It’s unusual for me to let an entire week pass by without a peep, er … a post, but I figured any post would be a weather whine about the daily trudge outside, as opposed to a delightful walk at the Park, like I had this morning, so I remained silent. First, it was the Bomb Cyclone Sunday, then some strong winds hung around for Monday. It was slick with flurries on Tuesday, then we awoke to two inches of snow on Wednesday. Yesterday it was slick from the snow on sidewalks and streets. Really?!?! The weather has been a drag to be honest and snow is on the way tonight and Sunday, then we’re in the deep freeze with wind chills below zero next week. Along with everyone else, I am Winter weary.

As Winter wanes, there will be countless memes on social media about recipes for “Groundhog Helper” or similar groundhog dishes. Today the weatherman explained what happened to our promised El Nino … I’m happy for that, because I’ve been wondering about it myself since late September when we had a hard freeze.

In a nutshell, the El Nino didn’t have enough oomph to sustain a mild Winter, so we had the usual wintry conditions. Well, could we have El Nino next year, since we missed out this time?

Speaking of nutshells …

I have stayed away from the grocery store – in fact I’ve not been to Meijer since January 10^th I stock up on pantry items all Fall so I don’t have to be traipsing around in the ice and snow in the dead of Winter. Actually, I have intended to get some refrigerated food several times, but, with the endless freezing rain events and gusty winds, the weatherman warned of power outages, so I was reluctant to stock up on too much perishable food. I lost a fridge full of food last June when an overloaded electrical grid left us with no power for nearly a day.

So, food-wise it was all good for me, but, um … I was horrified to realize last weekend that I was about to run out of peanuts. The weather was already crummy, with more bad weather on the horizon, so I started rationing peanuts, doling out much-smaller portions for the porch pals. I visibly cringed as I placed that meager offering at the front stoop, imagining what was going through their heads when it was so cold and snowy. I made my “dropping” then hustled outside to run the car after suiting and booting up. Sadly, the peanuts were already gone, shells littering the porch, but my furry friends remained nearby, as if to say “so when will part two be arriving please?” I was chagrined to have dropped the ball on my little friends who give me such joy in the dead of Winter, a rather joyless and gloomy time of year. Even the two jays gave their disapproval by staring me down from the neighbor’s tree and uttering screech after screech in an effort to intimidate me. (Have you seen their beaks? I was a little intimidated by them.) Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal perched on the barberry bush and tried to send a telepathic message about their peanuts. Obviously the squirrels had scurried off before the cardinals had their share. I made my apologies and then the pair of cardinals was pretty vocal with their tweets. Okay, I succumbed and went back into the house, peeling off my boots and grabbing a few more precious peanuts ‘til I could get to the grocery store. I hated being “peanut shamed” on my own front porch!

So, I intended to go this morning to replenish their treats. I could not bear to look those sad faces – what a sucker for sad eyes I am. I looked outside – a gorgeous sunrise, clear streets … sigh. How I wanted a walk. So, could I get to Meijer, grab a half-dozen bags of peanuts, head to the Park, dump out some peanuts there and make it back before work? And squeak in a little walk too? Then I remembered squirreling away a package of peanuts that couldn’t fit in the Rubbermaid container – whew! My walk was salvaged and I took half the bag with me and will hold the rest in reserve for the porch pals – it will be good weather in a few days and I’ll stock up then.

The collection of critters with their reproachful looks reminded me a little of a younger version of myself. I’d come home from grade school and Mom would give me some cookies and milk to tide me over until dinner. On the days she baked cookies, if some of them broke while moving them from the cookie sheet to the counter top, I’d get “bonus cookies” on my plate that day. She didn’t bake cookies every day, but I didn’t necessarily understand that fact, as I can remember looking at the plate, then over at Mom, puzzled where the “bonus cookies” were and wondering if I should be so bold and brazen to ask.

Speaking of bonuses …

Well, there was a bonus at the Park this morning. No, not the squirrels who climbed down from their trees and came racing over – they made me smile, especially Parker, as it had been a while since I visited with him. The perimeter path had been plowed – that was a first! In the nearly six years I’ve walked there, the paths have never been plowed, though I understand they used to do it back in the day. The parking lot was a little treacherous from all the ice, but the paths were clear as a bell. That was a real bonus for me.

Another bonus was chatting with a fellow walker who arrived as I was ready to go. He always feeds the squirrels and told me there is a new walker who is feeding them as well. The new guy is enamored with the squirrels and brings big bags of peanuts for them. So no more angst about my furry pals at the Park.

I added three miles to my total today – I am now at a whopping 103 miles (165 kilometers)!

[Lion and lamb photos are from Pixabay]

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged nature, walk, walking, Winter | 54 Comments

Friday Frivolity.

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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I’m channeling Summery thoughts!

So today I registered for my first 5K of 2019.

I could have entitled this post “Great Expectations” because in 2018 I registered, and paid for, four 5Ks, but, because of funky weather on race day, I only participated in one … yup, count ‘em – one. And the one walk/run I did participate in, I kept glancing at the sky the entire time I was walking. I thought I could reach up and touch those low-hanging dark clouds. I remarked to a few others “do you think we’re gonna get rained on?” “Nah” was their answer. Well, to their credit, we finished the event, got our lanyard with a medal on it for crossing the finish line, just as the sky opened up. I waited under cover while watching the awards ceremony and downing a bottle of water, then finally ventured to the car in the pouring rain.

This year I’ll register for the same 5K events, but with a different mindset, because back on January 1^st, when producing my list of New Year’s resolutions, I decided to be like fellow bloggers/runners Laurie and AJ, who run, rain or shine, and even in the snow. So, why shouldn’t I be more adaptable as well? After all, I have set a walking goal of 1,242 miles (2000 km) for 2019. Last year I bowed out of participation at prepaid 5K events, as well as dozens of rainy mornings, as I decided to stay on the inside looking out. (As to the torrential rainy mornings … I may need to tweak my mindset a tad as I go along.) Though I might like to think I’m made of sugar, I’m not … so yes, I will try to roll with this weather, so this year, before the 5K season begins, I’m getting waterproof shoes and a rain suit … no more wet weather for ducks causing me to duck out!

Meanwhile the threat of torrential rains and thunderstorms is on the horizon for tomorrow, and we are part of this “Bombogenesis” or “bomb cyclone” weather event. The thought of Sunday’s 50-60 mph winds takes me way out of my comfort zone.

Finally, after 4 or 5 weeks, I made a weekday trip to the Park.

This morning I thought I’d “hoof it” to Council Point Park. I made a short bop around the neighborhood yesterday, but figured I’d head to my favorite nature nook today.

It’s been many weeks since I went to the Park on a weekday, and I was surprised to see how early the sun was up – so when did that happen? It kind of snuck up on me to be honest. I’ve been stuck in a different mode, a non-walking mode, on the weekdays and really paid no attention to the sun’s earlier arrival.

I reached out and left some peanuts for my porch pals, then suited up with a half-bag of peanuts in tow to visit my Park pals.

I wanted to run the car before walking to the Park, and, I came around the corner of the house just in time to see the fox squirrel up on the brick ledge. He was wearing a look that I could only identify as “oops, I’m busted, huh?” A month ago he could not fit on that ledge, but he’s lost some of his girth, so he easily scurried along. A pile of shells remained on the porch begging the question: did he share any of the peanuts with Grady or the birds?

I put more peanuts out in case the rest of the crowd slept in.

Enroute to the Park, I was continually sidestepping large patches of glare ice on the sidewalks, so I finally just walked in the street where it was clear. Along the way I checked the progress of the Snowdrops, those seemingly fragile flowers I showed you in last Saturday’s post. Surprisingly, the snow and freezing rain had not smooshed them and they were resilient, with their tender green shoots and tiny white blooms.

I heard a robin singing and this time I saw the robin. The other day, I just identified the birdsong. That red-breasted bird was sitting on a chimney cap, and I could see its beak moving as it sang on its high perch, a flawless blue sky in the background.

I would see five more robins before I reached the Park!

I like this cartoon I saw on Twitter the other day …

Robin Redbreast

At the Park, the parking lot was an ice rink in a few spots and the sun was so unbelievably strong that I had to use my arm, not just my hand, to shield my eyes so I could cross the parking lot and get on the perimeter path without sliding on a patch of ice.

So there I was … walking along, treading on the grass way more than the pathway, due to glare ice, and there was not a squirrel in sight. Where was Parker and the rest of the welcoming committee today? I even jiggled the bag to announce my presence, just in case their hearing was better than their eyesight this morning. Still no takers.

But a male and female cardinal, high up in a tree, saw me. A series of identifiable and distinctive tweets caused me to look up and there they were, sitting pretty in a plum tree. As I approached the tree, they both came to the lowest branch, clearly intent on grabbing up a peanut or two. I didn’t drag out the camera as it was zippered inside my vest, under my coat, but tossed out some nuts for them. I stepped aside and they both landed on the pathway – yup, I should have had the camera handy. There will be other Kodak moments once the weather gets better.

I only walked the one loop due to the patches of ice and finally three squirrels spotted me and came racing over, so I opened the bag and spread peanuts on the path. I left the Park after watching them happily noshing away and I’d barely touched the peanuts I’d toted along.

Animal antics.

Squirrels are always guaranteed to give you a smile with their cute antics as you know from my many posts about them.

The squirrels are a foe, and not a friend to some people though. In fact, I remember the first year we moved here, my father ordered tulip bulbs from Holland. He planted them in the Fall and in the Spring, when he did the initial yard cleanup, he found chewed-up bulbs all over the yard. Not a single bulb bloomed. He was furious and blamed the squirrels after seeing a few of them chomping on bulbs which they were holding in their front paws.

Another one who is not smiling about the cute squirrels is my boss. His “check engine light” came on yesterday while driving. He went to the dealership for a look-see and was told there were forty vehicles ahead of his. We have more damage than usual from this erratic Winter’s freeze/thaw cycle and massive potholes have emerged. The tire-eating potholes are not all as big as this car-eating pothole in nearby Hamtramck, Michigan that was featured on WXYZ’s social media site.

pothole1

The ragged roads are indeed taking their toll on drivers while making tire companies and tow truck drivers rich. My boss had to get a rental car and leave his vehicle there to be diagnosed. The verdict was a small animal, most likely a squirrel, had chewed the electrical wires and the electrical system needed to be repaired. Needless to say, he is not as enamored with squirrels as I am.

Animals have a knack for getting on your last nerve sometimes, much as you might protest they don’t. The animals who frequent my backyard aren’t getting into much mischief these days, but the same cannot be said for my friend Carol’s backyard critters.

Yesterday she posted these pictures of her view from a window at her house which is near a woodsy area. Carol counted 17 deer altogether. They make themselves at home in the backyard, and often raid the bird feeder – they were behaving themselves in these photos, and merely nibbling on a patch of grass, but they love to chew on her flowers and bushes and are especially fond of her Summer berries.

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I often tuck away quotes that I like, and this one sure fits today’s post to a “T”:

“Animals are born who they are, accept it, and that is that. They live with greater peace than people do.” ― Gregory Maguire

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ice, nature, Squirrels, walk, walking, Winter | 93 Comments

Tuesday Musings.

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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Tomorrow morning we will endure still another Winter wallop … Mother Nature is showing us who is boss.

While my walking regimen was going great at the beginning of the year, having walked 50 miles (80 km) as of January 12^th, the progression has not been so wonderful since then. As of today, I’ve only walked 90 miles (144 km) so far in 2019 and I’m lagging way behind the miles I’ve driven (139) (233 km). That hasn’t happened in a long time.

So what is this walker to do? We have freezing rain coming tomorrow morning, sure to gum up everything – sigh. I’ve lost track how many ice storms we’ve had this year.

It was a marvelous morn for a moonwalk.

Monday morning was beautiful, albeit cold. The sun kept trying to pop through the gray clouds and that made the light layer of snow glisten.

So, before I marred that pristine snow by walking through it, I decided to see what animals and birds have been lurking around. I figured that even if I was not making tracks, I might as well see what tracks I’d find around the ol’ homestead.

I’d put peanuts on the porch already, so I had hoped to get a few outside pictures of my furry and/or feathered friends taking their peanuts. I suited up and was out within ten minutes of dropping those peanuts, and, while I didn’t ring a dinner bell or anything, they were all gone, just the shells remained.

Well, the furry and feathered friends were “working the porch” pretty quickly. From studying the tracks, it appears they were probably pacing down the side of the house …

… and across the driveway …

… while waiting on that slacker Linda to produce their breakfast.

I had the camera all ready, but, so much for those missed shots.

What happens in the backyard, stays in the backyard.

Camera in hand, I headed to the backyard, my heavy snow boots leaving their own tracks in the snow.

I’ve had these Khombu snow boots for decades. The toasty-warm, fur-lined interiors kept my tootsies warm when waiting on the bus and their heavy soles keep me upright in slick and snowy situations. Sadly, I noticed they are starting to crack after all these years.

I did a round robin in the backyard – so who has been visiting?

There were delicate bird tracks etched in the snow on the patio, likely belonging to the sparrows who nestle together on the back windowsills, protected from the wind and precip by the patio roof. I wonder how they determine the pecking order of who gets those primo sleeping spots?

The bird tracks photos were not clear enough to use in this post, but what was clear, was birdsong … a robin’s cheery notes suddenly appeared in the still morning. I looked around for that songbird, but could not find him or her. The song made me happy, though it is very far from a Spring or Summer day. I watched the frosty vapors coming from my mouth as I tried to whistle back.

I also heard a blue jay so I left some peanuts on top of the boxwood bush, hoping to lure that beautiful bird down so I could get a picture.

But there would be no photo op with that beautiful blue jay. I suppose the deal breaker was that I had to step away first, because this morning’s trip to the yard yielded lots of empty peanut shells atop the boxwood bush.

I got a few pictures of the moonset … the dregs of that beautiful Snow moon.

I tried to take some photos of the moon in the night sky, but the reflection from the glass on the storm door messed up the photo. It was a beautiful big moon to gaze at and remember all those years ago when I was a little nipper and believed the moon was made of cheese.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged nature, snow, walk, walking, Winter | 50 Comments

No flurries, no worries ….

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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… or so I thought.

I was excited to head out this morning. The moon and stars seemed to be in alignment … no snow, ice, bitter cold, freezing rain or wind to contend with … a win-win situation, or so it would seem.

I walked out the door and there were a few flurries alighting on my nose, then my coat sleeve. I didn’t think much about those snowflakes, as all the weather forecasters said the next snow event would be Sunday afternoon.

I decided to walk to Council Point Park in case it was icy there, so I at least got two miles to and from the Park, and whatever else I could glean on the perimeter path feeding the squirrels. Though it was clear as a bell, I still wore my lug-soled hiking boots – who knew what condition the path would be in?

By the time I arrived at the Park, the snowflakes were really twinkling down, so much so that I flipped my hood up. That wasn’t good as it blocked my peripheral vision – how was I going to thwart any more squirrels crashing into each other in their zeal for peanuts?

I scurried under the pavilion and got the camera out, intending to only use it under the roof, that is, if I could lure the squirrels to see me in a spot where it was dry and snow-free. It worked for a couple of my furry pals, who either took their peanut to the tree …

… or climbed to the picnic table, where you’ll note the lovely frozen Creek in the background.

It stopped snowing, so I left the pavilion to dole out peanuts and make my apologies for my long absence to any squirrels who crossed my path.

The Creek was frozen over in some spots, and solid ice in others. Looking down through the bare branches I could see the frozen banks, yet water flowed freely down the center of the Creek.

Around the bend, a wooden dock was solidly embedded in the ice.

The geese were honking their heads off this morning. I could hear them just as soon as I stepped onto the perimeter path. But it wasn’t the usual “hey we’re coming in for a landing, so move away!” I don’t know what the problem was, but they were arguing with one other and the voices and noises escalated and carried down the Creek’s narrow passageway. Yes, you read that right. When they are agitated with one another, their honking reaches a crescendo and the arguing parties all honk at the same time and sometimes doing a back-and-forth between one another. It’s so loud you can’t hear yourself think. I stepped over to the Creek banks and stood there watching them.

Since the bushes and trees are bare, it’s kind of hard to try to hide behind them so the geese don’t see me and paddle away, but this bunch was so engrossed in their honking, they were oblivious to me.

Every so often one goose would chase another one from behind, and its long neck would stretch out horizontally, aiming at its feathered backside and then stabbing it with its bill. That incited a mini-riot wherein the targeted goose would rise out of the water and flap its wings.

They were making such a commotion that the other geese stopped to watch.

Even the ducks were in awe at this uncouth behavior.

I made my way around the entire loop without so much as a twinkling snowflake, and then the snowflakes started up again. The header photo shows the snow twinkling down on the bench.

As you know I’ve highlighted a few of the memorial trees in the Park and I have similarly written a post on a memorial tree planted for Erica Megan Sharick, who passed away at just 21 years old.

In the Springtime, the tree is full of white blossoms with yellow tulips underneath. Click here to see Erica’s tree in the Springtime.

Today I noticed there was something new under Erica’s tree, no doubt placed there for the recent Valentine’s Day holiday.

Snow was already starting to stick on the memorial stone.

Just a hint of a breeze stirred the gossamer angel and it began to twirl around.

Fly high and sleep with the angels Erica.

The snow flurries picked up in intensity, blowing horizontally for a time and the massive flakes began to glom together making it slick on the path. It sure is hard to get traction in my walking regimen if there is no traction on the paths that I must travel on foot. I decided to cut my walk short and head home.

I put the camera away and with my head bent down, hurried to the pavilion area where I dumped out the rest of my peanuts on the picnic tables. I noticed someone had left four painted rocks on four different tabletops. I took photos of them, then when I got online, posted that I had found them on the “Downriver Rocks” Facebook site, a site where painted rock creators and collectors convene.

Walking home, the snow was swirling and collecting on the sidewalks and streets. Despite wearing hiking boots, I slid a few times. I paused under cover of a large fir tree to take a photo of the newly bare wood left by a branch that must’ve broken off during our recent windstorm.

I also stopped to take pictures of these Snowdrops … the first new growth in 2018. Well these flowers were aptly named as I noticed snow had settled down among the tender shoots.

Seeing the Snowdrops, I wondered if Spring is all that far off? “Bring on Spring soon” I muttered as I peeled off my snow-encrusted clothes.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged geese, nature, Park, Squirrels, walk, walking, Winter | 41 Comments

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell …

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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… the roses, as that old cliché tells us.

But, for my furry friends … it is all about the peanuts.

I feel badly I’ve not been to Council Point Park since last Sunday following my two River treks. In essence, I’ve been two-timin’ Parker, since I began sharin’ the love with Grady.

maybe

But, this week’s horrid ice storm, which left every inch of concrete coated in ice, had me rethinking any trips to the Park, or anywhere else for that matter. The ice event was treacherous, but breathtaking, as the trees and bushes shimmered, their bare branches encased in ice. I enjoyed the view through the front storm door window. I couldn’t have ventured out, even if I wanted to, as the freezing rain sealed my screen door shut. And when I did head out the door, that snow was just as slick, though it was a better bet to trudge through it, rather than on ice. I heard the crunch-crunch as my heavy boots plunged through the icy snow while I made my way to the garage to run the car, then back. We had a brief warm-up yesterday and the sun came out – yay! It melted most of the ice and today’s brisk breeze dried everything up … the wintry mess is all gone for a couple of days, until the snow returns late Sunday.

This furry fellow is so cute and cuddly looking.

Thursday morning was still slick and dangerous with glare ice galore. I opened the screen door and laid peanuts on the porch and the brick ledge, then tucked five more in my pocket for the opposite end of the ledge for when I went outside. I caught a glimpse of Grady watching me from the tree across the street as I doled out his breakfast. Next I saw him descend that tall tree and race across the street. As he headed up the driveway, his paws were skidding this way and that – wouldn’t you’d have thought his claws would act like ice cleats? I went and grabbed the camera to get some pictures of Grady through the glass.

Usually, I toss out the peanuts, then shut the door and head downstairs to grab my coat and boots to go outside. But instead, I surprised Grady by staying there at the door.

He was alone and paused on the porch steps where his eyes lit up just like a kid in a candy shop when he saw the extra peanuts I gave him for Valentine’s Day.

cutie

I realized Grady didn’t know what to make of my appearance there, but I swear I could hear the gears clicking in his brain. He was thinking “well that looks like Linda, but where are her feet?” [Hidden behind the door.] Or “Linda always wears a black hat – what is brown on Linda’s head?” [Hair.] “Why is Linda staring at me like that? [Because I want to take some pictures of you to share in a blog post.]

Grady continued to study me, perplexed why I didn’t close the door, but instead I continued to watch HIS every move.

on the porch1

He paused on the porch momentarily, deciding whether or not he should risk his life in case I reached out the door and grabbed him and pulled him indoors. [It is tempting sometimes because you’re so cute Grady.]

Part of what endears me to him is that he is so tiny that he hops and jumps to move along quickly.

hopping

He is such a timid little soul and I know he wanted those peanuts so badly he could just taste them. I talked to him through the door and said “go ahead Grady – I’m not going to hurt you!” He gave me one more look, almost like a lamb being led to slaughter, then finally made a dash to the corner of the porch, under the stoop, where I pile the peanuts so the squirrels and birds are protected from any swooping hawks. He was also out of my range of vision so I had to wait until he emerged in the middle of the porch again, where he dragged out a mess of peanuts.

on the porch

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Well he didn’t stay put for more than a second, then dashed over and grabbed a couple of peanuts and ate those on the porch steps.

running down the steps

He then decided since he had quite a pile of peanuts, and no one to share them with, why not hide a few?

So how did that work out Grady?

His first stop was the neighbor’s tree, where he paused, with a peanut in his mouth, but where was he going to put it?

on the tree

Soon he began beating a path, grabbing a peanut, then running, mostly hopping, down the driveway, his little paws persistently going out from under him on the ice.

running up the steps

Grady does get an “A” for effort though, as he inspected all his favorite digging sites around the front yard, and the neighbor’s property [well, they’ll like me a lot won’t they?]

digging1

digging2

digging3

Grady even ran across the street to a spot by “his tree” but no go. Finally, he determined the ground was frozen. I suspect he was a loss where to hide those peanuts, so he tucked them here and there into the snow.

Or he figured he would just go ahead and eat them as Linda will give him more tomorrow. [Cute and smart!]

driveway

I think the weather will be better than originally predicted and the streets and sidewalks are clear after that warm spurt yesterday. I might have even done a short walk this morning but the wind was gusting from 20 to 30 miles (32-48 km) an hour and I didn’t want to roll along like a tumbleweed.

Tomorrow I’ll get down to the Park and lavish some attention and treats on Parker and his buddies. Thankfully he lives a mile from the ‘hood and won’t find out about “The Other Squirrel”.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Gray Squirrels, ice, nature, snow, Squirrels, walk, walking, Winter | 48 Comments

My heart’s desire.

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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This is a selfie of me, your roving reporter, about to head out the door. I’ve got my coat on, even a snazzy beret, but no footwear, er … paw wear. Hmm – decision, decisions. Do I wear shoes, snow boots, or ice cleats – what weather havoc did Mother Nature wreak today?

Our weather here in Southeast Michigan has been unbearable … snowy and blowy, or icey and dicey, for a solid month now. This morning the weatherman said “folks, don’t believe a word the Groundhog told you – we have another two weeks before things relax a bit.” Grrr to the Groundhog, who likely needs new glasses. While I’m grateful for the spurts of good weather the past several weekends, giving me a chance to get down to the Park, or explore other venues, I’m eager to get back to my walking regimen full time. I am sure my Park squirrels are scratching their heads, (and no it isn’t just lice or fleas), wondering why the Peanut Lady abandons them during the work week.

While my heart’s desire is better weather, your wish may be chocolate, so this bear is bearing bonbons for Valentine’s Day!

The picture above is from an American Greetings Valentine’s Day card and features this vintage American bear, manufactured by the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, circa 1906, and is part of the Yenke Collection. Through the years I collected teddy bears too, though none of them were antique or vintage bears. I gave this greeting card to my mom one year because she was born on Valentine’s Day – she would have turned 93 today.

Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ll leave you with this wonderful quote:

Dr. Seuss quote

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Teddy Bears, Valentine's Day, vintage, walk, walking | 45 Comments

It’s my 6th “blogiversary” today!

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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It was a cold and snowy day when my fingers flew over the keyboard to create and launch that initial labor of love. I just went back and did a word count and that first post was 2,195 words. Well, brevity has never been my strongpoint as my regular followers will attest to.

In many ways this blog has been a present I have given myself. It is a gift that keeps on giving because it is a daily affirmation that yes, other people out there in the world share the same little joys as me, and furthermore that they enjoy reading about them.

Six years – where did the time go? happy anniversary

I like things easy and uncomplicated these days.

As I have grown older, I’ve come to realize that it is the small delights in my life that give me the most pleasure. My world suddenly became much smaller when I got laid off, then eventually hired back, but working from home. While I enjoy my at-home gig, I was eager to get out into the world and leave the confines of the kitchen where I work at the table. But query … how does one get out and explore and still adhere to a business work schedule?

So, I began a walking regimen in 2011 to get some exercise, after I realized, except for gardening, I wasn’t walking many steps a day and my job was too sedentary.

My friend Marge encouraged me to start a blog to write about what I saw in my daily treks around the ‘hood, but the earliest posts were devoid of pictures and there was only so much you could write about pounding the concrete sidewalks and streets.

Luckily, I discovered Council Point Park in 2013, a few months after beginning my blog. I would go on to discover other parks along the way, but, I keep returning here because it always feels like home.

Small delights.

Very few people know that it was my dream to become a veterinarian because of my love for animals. But my grades weren’t good enough in math and science, so I abandoned that dream the first year of college. I liked working on the college newspaper, as well as the camaraderie of the news staff. So I switched gears and writing became my focus instead.

For me, getting out and walking in a natural environment sets the tone for the day. There is a spring in my step, a lightness in my heart … it is very real. A foray into nature for me is like stepping back in time … I was seven or eight years old, running through the meadow with my friends, dipping our jam jars into a creek to get pollywogs. These were the simple delights of childhood. So enjoying the goodness of nature brings out the kid in me. That’s a good thing because the harshness of day-to-day living is a real kick in the pants sometimes, isn’t it?

I am happy to read your comments when I write about the antics of Parker or Grady, the “aws” over pictures of baby robins taking their first flight, or a sly cardinal that swooped down and grabbed a peanut from the trail, a duck trying to wrangle a wiggling fish … and there are your oohs and aahs over beautiful sights like crashing waves at Lake Erie Metropark or icy boulders along the boardwalk at the Detroit River. I’m so happy to share these treks with you.

Small indulgences.

Everyone needs to have a few indulgences. Like Dave’s Killer Bread toasted, with a pat of real butter and slathered with chunky peanut butter is one for me. Or those instant cappuccinos – a little bit of heaven in a big mug. And my latest find, is Pepperidge Farm’s new “Farmhouse Thin & Crispy Toffee Milk Chocolate Cookies” … it is not so good I discovered these when I’m not walking every day.

pepperidge farm cookies

But, indulgences aren’t just about food and drinks … after years of snapping off the radio when there was too much gabbing, loud and obnoxious commercials and songs I didn’t know anymore, I have discovered a new radio station. It’s a delight to be able to sing the songs I know by heart for decades, even if I can’t a carry a tune. These songs transport me to my 20s and me walking around with my headphones clapped tightly over my ears. I’d be working in the yard, or doing chores in the house, singing away at the top of my lungs – I couldn’t carry a tune then either. Finally, I can turn off the all-news station more often because the state of the world gives me no great joy … too often it’s a world full of pettiness, hate and divisiveness.

Good things come in small packages.

And then there are small treasures like Parker and Grady and their assorted pals.

This morning I walked outside, grumbling about the snow as I opened the screen door, knowing tonight’s freezing rain and wintry precip event will certainly gum up the roads and the pathway for the short-term. I turned the corner and there was Grady, up on the ledge munching away, while a male and female cardinal were noshing a peanut apiece on the porch. I kicked myself for not having the camera with me.

Yesterday at the Park, two squirrels, running from opposite sides of the trail, collided into each other, sending the smaller one bouncing against my shin. It was like a cartoon scene as if his eyes should be Xs and stars would appear around his head. My sweatpants were heavy so he had a soft cushion, but since he looked a little dazed and confused, I bent down and asked “are you alright?” Five minutes later he was bopping around and eating peanuts.

This past year has been the most fun since I began the blog. I’ve enjoyed sharing my tales from the trail – the critter encounters, especially. I’ve enjoyed interacting with each of you as we’ve laughed at the squirrels’ antics, or oohed and aahed over photos of baby robins when they took their first flight. We’ve smiled at goose drama while hissing and honking at their mate, as well as their fierce love for their young ones. Truthfully, these geese, for all their histrionics, are faithful to their mates for life, and, though their goslings may be bigger than they are, the geese parents protect their offspring against us mere mortals with a fierce love that will stop you in your tracks.

Walking and blogging are the best things I’ve ever done for myself, and, as fellow bloggers, I know you understand that passion … thank you for sharing your passion with me as well.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Blogging, Blogiversary, nature, walk, walking | 96 Comments

Shiver on the River.

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Linda Schaub

Well, I wish I could say I coined this title, but “Shiver on the River” is an annual event held the first Saturday in February here in Southeast Michigan. Its purpose is to lure people to the Detroit River to explore beautiful Belle Isle in the Winter.

I had planned to go to Lake Erie Metropark today, but the weather forecast called for snow and sleet this afternoon and I didn’t want to get caught there if the precip started earlier, so I found a venue closer to home. I set my sights on Bishop Park in Wyandotte, John Dingell Park in Ecorse and then to my regular stomping grounds, Council Point Park, to round out my day. It was not sunny like yesterday and a gray and gloomy sky prevailed.

Bishop Park was my first stop.

I wanted to check out the frozen Detroit River and that sight (above) sure didn’t disappoint.

I worked in downtown Detroit for many years and I must say that I never ventured down to the River’s edge during the Winter. But, even from high up in an office building, the big freeze was impressive.

It was even more impressive at ground level! As I strolled along the boardwalk, I marveled at that bulked-up ice. I’m sure this thick ice formed during our Polar Vortex, and, despite a few balmy days, it has remained rock solid.

There were no seagulls and I have to say that is the first time I’ve been to Bishop Park and not heard the screech of seagulls, who are an integral part of this riverfront. I must admit I kind of missed them. They are always good for a picture as they pose nicely and don’t need treats to entice them to stay put.

Overhead, the Canada geese were buzzing back and forth over Bishop Park. They kept landing in one area, where they congregated and stalked around the pier like they owned the joint, making it virtually impossible for me to pass them.

As a general rule, I usually just sidestep the geese when walking past them, but the cacophony of honks and hisses told me I was not going to venture anywhere near them today. Besides, what if I walked on this scenic pier and they blocked my only way back? It was really cold along the waterfront with the wind clipping along and I would not want to be held hostage by a group of geese, even if they are from Canada like me.

I saw a small break in the ice under the pier and one goose was holding court with the ducks.

With limited places to walk on the boardwalk, I turned around to head back to the car. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a huge dark object in one of the trees in Bishop Park. I figured it was a squirrel’s nest, but then it moved. I put the camera down and took a look with my naked eye and realized it was a bald eagle. I was ecstatic. I took at least a dozen photos of him, trying to get a good profile shot. I got two, including one showing how his feathers were ruffled by that brisk breeze.

John D. Dingell Park was next on my agenda.

I’ve been to this park several times. My first visit was about a year ago after I heard chatter at Council Point Park about how the bald eagles from uninhabited Mud Island fly down from their nests in the tall trees to fish from the ice floes. I went that weekend and yes I saw them. I took some photos from far away, then I returned a few weeks later with binoculars to check the eagles out again. I understand that photographers and birders line up along the pavilion every February, the coldest month of the year and when the ice floes are most prevalent, for a glimpse at these regal birds.

So, on the heels of seeing the eagle at Bishop Park, would I see some eagles sitting on ice floes and dining on fish? I sure hoped so.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw the flag at half-staff flapping in the breeze. The flag’s status honors the memory of former Congressman John D. Dingell, who passed away last Thursday at age 92. He was the longest-serving member of Congress (59 years) and represented the district where I live. This park, formerly known as Ecorse Park, bears his name.

I noticed a few people sitting in their cars, binoculars trained on the tall trees at Mud Island, which is just across the channel from this park. However, no photographers or birders were standing there. It was still early though and very cold. I asked a gentleman if any eagles had been sighted and was told there were twelve there yesterday, but none so far today.

I thanked him and went down to the boardwalk to see what was happening on the icy-cold water. Interestingly, the Detroit River is not frozen solid here. That is because the nearby plant churns out a lot of steam and hot liquid runs into the water, keeping it flowing freely, making it a draw for local waterfowl. In the distance, far away from the pavilion, thick ice could be seen, and occasionally thin ice floes would lazily drift by, making tinkling noises, much like ice cubes in a glass. The waterfowl were plentiful and they seemed unfazed by the chunks of ice that floated past them.

The many Mute swans were gorgeous and I looked for the pair of Trumpeter swans which went overhead as I was walking from the car, but couldn’t locate them.

The geese and ducks were skittish while I was around, some of them taking flight as I stood on the pavilion’s overlook area.

I laughed out loud at this pair of geese, where one fractious goose was in hissing mode and didn’t mind his manners with what may have been his mate … what a shame, with this being Valentine’s Day week and all.

There were Canada geese galore, a few herons … all companionably swimming alongside the ducks and swans. It looks like a day at the beach here doesn’t it?

There must have been hundreds of ducks, mostly mallards, but also canvasbacks. I’ve seen photos of canvasbacks on Dingell Park’s Facebook site and had hoped to get a look at some. The males are striking, mostly white plumage with dark markings and a light brown head. I took some photos, but the canvasbacks were grouped together near a faraway ice floe and the pictures were not clear, so I didn’t include them.

There were icy ledges where some of the ducks grouped together. Just looking at them made me cold and I wondered if their webbed feet were warmer on the ice or paddling around in the cold water? Neither of those choices seemed like a good option to me.

Well there were a few bald eagles and they kept their distance from the ice floes, deciding to stay up in the trees. I saw two eagles and they flew to their perches, following one another. When the second eagle joined the first one, it made a loud chirping noise.

In late December I wrote a post about how Harry the Heron showed up every day to fish, and my amazement at seeing the seagulls floating in the Creek like ducks. I learned that the shad were running. Shad are small feeder fish and that’s why the seagulls were buzzing around overhead and sitting on the surface of the Creek.

Well, the shad were running down at the Detroit River as well. I saw geese, herons and ducks grabbing up those wiggly fish and downing them. While the heron usually swallows his fish whole, it’s not such an easy task if you’re a duck.

I watched in amusement as a female mallard grabbed a shad, and tried her best to wrangle that fish to enjoy it while a wistful male mallard looked on. Ask me if she shared her fish with the drake – nope. She twirled that squirming fish this way and that in her bill, and at one time dropped it into the water, but quickly recovered her prize with a look of pure delight. Believe it or not, I came home with about twenty pictures of the ordeal from start to finish and reluctantly winnowed the photos down to seven for this slideshow.

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I left Dingell Park after spending an hour there, and had spent a good hour at Bishop Park too. I was freezing, despite layering up well – my fingers were the worst to be honest.

Last stop – Council Point Park.

I couldn’t resist going to my favorite stomping grounds which is a little over a mile away from Dingell Park. I decided to walk two loops giving me four miles today and feed the squirrels as well, since we have a week of ugly weather ahead. The snow and freezing rain has already begun and we’ll have another round of that wintry precip tomorrow night. Old Man Winter has worn out his welcome with me.

I’ve made this a squirrel-free post, but I do have a tale to tell later about their antics today, which left me smiling and shaking my head.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Detroit River, ducks, Eagles, ice, nature, River, swans, walk, walking, Winter | 65 Comments

Squirrels, sunshine and Saturday bliss.

Posted on February 9, 2019 by Linda Schaub

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We couldn’t have asked for a brighter or more beautiful Saturday, despite the fact that it was only 13 degrees F (-10C) with a “real feel” of -5 degrees F (-20C) and it was windy to boot. I bundled up in multiple layers, and, with a brand-new bag of peanuts in hand, I set out for the Park. I figured that Thursday’s rain and mild temps had wiped out the ¼ inch of ice we got the day before, but I wore my hiking boots anyway and was pleased to find I didn’t need them and I got four miles walked today.

Before I left, I tried to get a photo op with Grady and his friend, but I was surprised they didn’t show up … maybe they sleep in on Saturdays. So much for that idea. No worries … one or both had stopped by, as evidenced by a trail of peanut shells and redskin chaff they left behind.

I drove to Council Point Park to give the car a run and surprisingly the parking lot was empty. No diehard walkers today? So, for the first hour I was there, I had the Park to myself … oh, and about 15 or 20 squirrels too.

Unlike the warmer weather, when Parker meets me in the parking lot, or the beginning of the trail, there was no welcoming committee this morning. I thought to myself “well, you’ve stayed away since last Sunday and they probably thought you abandoned them.”

Well banish that thought as the first furry friend, came bounding over to see me moments later. It was none other than Parker, who planted his little body in front of me and looked up as if to say “so, don’t hold back – where are my peanuts?”

For Parker, it’s peanuts first, THEN a photo op and that’s because I’ve indulged him since day one. But this morning, I got my photo of him taken before he could protest.

Today, there was no carting away of peanuts to hide as he was clearly aware the ground was too frozen to find any long-buried nuts or other treasures squirreled away, long before this deep freeze set in. About the only place the squirrels could hide peanuts now would be in the large area of mulch that is under the playground equipment in the center of the Park. I wonder if any of them thought of that?

I gave Parker his treats and I knew he would be in peanut nirvana. I was carrying a plastic bag on my arm to reach in for peanuts, so I shook it, guaranteed to stir the senses of each and every squirrel who might have missed “The Peanut Lady” as she started on the trail.

I had to laugh, as rattling that bag of peanuts did the trick, and soon at least ten squirrels were beating a path across the soccer field to see me. I now know that squirrels may have better hearing than eyesight.

The bitter cold temperature and a stiff wind made it difficult to dispense peanuts while trying to take pictures. I had on gloves with liners and they kept getting caught in the camera strap, and jockeying around the bag and keeping it away from all the ground-level shots, while feeding my furry friends was difficult. I came home with lots of shots of squirrels missing tails and snouts.

These squirrels were chasing one another in this tall tree, two silhouettes on the bare branches against a flawless blue sky.

They saw me and quickly began their long descent to ground level. Watching them almost made me dizzy as their sharp claws expertly carried them down the bark.

They arrived at the base of the tree, then came racing over as they skidded to a stop and both eyed the pile of nuts placed near my feet. I was hoping for a photo op of the pair cozying up to my boots, but that didn’t happen. They each ate a few nuts, then took a few “to go” … only “to go” didn’t work out so well, when one squirrel tried to bury a peanut …

… and quickly realized the ground was too frozen to do that task. Note the sheepish look on his face, as he wondered if anyone was watching him. Priceless!

These same two squirrels paused a few moments together, and I got this shot.

Then they scurried back up the tree to munch contentedly.

By now, the word was out that I was packing peanuts and every squirrel on site was in close proximity.

It was so quiet at the Park that I could hear those squirrels cracking the peanuts with their teeth. Most of them ate on the ground …

… but others preferred to munch atop a tree branch.

This past two weeks of harsh weather has taken its toll on the Park. Even the bushes that line the perimeter path have been stripped of their bright-colored berries, no doubt by the birds or squirrels foraging for precious morsels of food.

The Creek was frozen over completely, and, unlike last week when a small, ice-free area near the storm drain permitted the mallards to paddle around freely, today the area was barren and completely devoid of any waterfowl. Traces of snow that fell last night stayed on top of some of the icy surface.

I didn’t even see a single bird flitting around the trees. How I wish we could fast forward two months when the call of the Red-Winged Blackbird would echo through the reeds and phragmites, tender green leaves would be unfurling and tendrils of ground cover would slowly be filling in the bare spots beneath the trees and bushes. The ducks would be quacking and the geese would be honking as Spring begins in earnest at Council Point Park.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged nature, Park, Squirrels, walk, walking, Winter | 21 Comments

Friday Frivolity.

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Linda Schaub

friday

Mother Nature has been a bit of a drama queen lately.

Perhaps my favorite meteorologist, Paul Gross, said it best in the first line of today’s forecast:

DETROIT – Last night’s cold front sure created some weather whiplash.

He’s right … it has been two weeks of wacky weather where the temps have been up, then down, then up again … just as erratic as the stock market sometimes.

In the span of a couple of days, we have experienced a 70-degree weather turnaround and just last night we dropped 30 degrees in a matter of hours, with howling winds that whooshed like those that whisked Dorothy and Toto to Kansas. We’ve endured snow squalls and freezing rain that coated the trees and non-grassy surfaces resulting in tons of accidents and power outages. And, when nothing has been falling from the sky, the wind was gusting at 30-40 miles per hour. Are you sure you got that forecast right Mr. Groundhog?

I’ve slipped way behind in my walking efforts, just managing one walk on each of the past two weekends and I hope to remedy those statistics tomorrow, although a quick glance at Accuweather online tells me snow will start up in 55 minutes – sigh.

I’m a weather worrier for sure, so I am happy I trekked to Council Point Park last Sunday and fed the furry fellows.

Grab and go and swoop and swipe.

There’s a lot of grabbing and going and swooping and swiping happening in the ‘hood these days. Hanging around the house has enabled me to witness such goings-on. I’ve not been to the Park since last Sunday, due to the wacky weather and Monday I ran errands as I wasn’t sure how long that ice storm would mess up the roads.

I still have my little porch pals, Grady and his friend, who continue to visit daily, and, if I’m not out there early enough to their liking … well, they decide to plant themselves on the porch to wait on me. One day I just know I’ll get a knock on the door wondering where I am. Yup, sometimes they make me feel like a slacker. I usually wait until I’m dressed, except for my coat and boots, before wiggling my hand out the front door to make a “dropping”. If I peer through the peephole before opening the door, (if the screen door isn’t frosted up), I’ll find this dynamic duo pacing on the porch steps. They are wearing the same pained expression that you have, as you keep looking out the door for your pizza delivery guy, imagining him lost in the ‘hood and all that glorious melty cheese dotted with pepperoni just congealing all over the box. Yup, it’s that same look.

I’ll be watching you.

Grady the Gray Squirrel has trained me well … I just put some peanuts on the porch, a couple on the brick ledge outside the front door and another few on the far ledge. Okay, I’m a quick study. I watched you while I was warming up the car in the driveway a weeks ago. I didn’t miss a beat, and neither did you, as you climbed up the wall lickedy-spilt, then danced along the edge with that prized peanut to nosh on it at the other end of the ledge. Now I make a SPD, a/k/a “a secret peanut drop” just for you, because the other squirrel is too fat to climb up there.

So, Grady’s got the world by the tail doesn’t he? He eats his fill on the porch, politely leaves a few peanuts for his pal, then he hones in on the rest of his cache at his leisure. What Grady doesn’t know is that there are others that covet those peanuts, and I might just have to clue him in on what I have observed while hanging around outside the house, rather than pounding the pavement on my walks.

A female cardinal and a blue jay were similarly trolling for peanuts. This morning, as I placed the peanuts on the opposite side of the ledge, the female cardinal hurriedly flew past my head and began a flurry of tweets in the big bush where she has her nest. I guess she was saying “hurry, I’m hungry!” Meanwhile, in my neighbor’s tree, a hungry blue jay, sitting on a tree branch that threatened to topple him in the raucous wind, similarly eyed those peanuts, calling out that well-known and recognizable screech, a noise that the wind carried from his beak to my ears. I moved faster, feeling a little intimidated by these two.

Grady dear – in deference to you, since you’re so darn cute, I put more peanuts out for them and YOU too, because life is tough and “if you snooze, you lose” so don’t forget that!

I know I was cold walking around outside, my hood pulled over my hat and huddled down in my jacket, mittened hands stuffed in my pockets. I was checking for missing shingles and looking for trouble, but not wanting to find any. Nothing was amiss, despite a noise that woke me up from that wind. I was mindful of those poor birds braving the elements with just their feathers to protect them, so yes, I dug a little deeper into my coat pocket to retrieve the Ziploc bag of peanuts and gifted everyone … a round of peanuts for all!

I left bread for the birds last week during the Polar Vortex. I always have a package of tortillas on hand in case I run out of bread – they have a very long shelf life. Well I didn’t run out of bread but the tortillas were past the expiration date, but still okay, so I tore them up for the birds because I pitied them during the Polar Vortex. Every morning I could hear sparrows huddled together on the back window ledges, their faint tweets in the still early morn– well, my heart just melted. One small problem though. Those tortilla tidbits froze to the snow as soon as I scattered them and they were so pale laying on the snow and snow-laden bushes, no birds discovered them. I don’t blame them – obviously they would like rustic bread, preferably a darker type, like pumpernickel, that they can see in the snow. I have to find a new kind of bread myself because Meijer grocery store no longer carries my favorite “Dave’s Killer Bread” and all other rustic-type breads just pale in comparison to it.

So the birds ignored the tortilla tidbits and I grumbled every time I saw it, as I figured I’d have to scoop it up come Spring, but alas, when the snow melted, the squirrels ate it. Thanks guys!

I’ll leave you with this quote: “All life has just one home, the earth, and we as the dominant species must take care of it.” – Dr. D.D. Sheldrick