This morning, unlike the past few days when the sun made a triumphant return, the sky was dark and dreary. Mother Nature kept the rain at bay, so it was good walking weather. I was unlacing my shoes after a four-mile trip, when that pitter patter of drops, originally predicted for morning drive time, finally began and the rain hasn’t let up since.
When it rains nonstop like that, people usually remark that it is “lovely weather for ducks” and I guess that’s true, if you like cold water running over your head and down your back, i.e. “like water off a duck’s back” … well, I guess it is an acquired taste.
But, there was no water, nor waterfowl, this morning when I crossed the footbridge because the Ecorse Creek has finally frozen over. Of course, it is nothing like this time last year when every body of water was frozen solid with many inches of ice. Perhaps by now, the ice-covered water of the winding Creek has broken up or become slushy from that rain pelting down all day. But, it was a sad event, nonetheless, to walk across the bridge and catch a glimpse of a mere still life painting, with a scene completely devoid of ducks. No quacking or splashing. No mischievous mallards frolicking with their friends in the murky water, preening themselves or just gracefully gliding in pairs down the center of that skinny stream. It can’t be as easy as a duck “takes to water” if the water is frozen. Hopefully, they will return before Spring.
The first year I walked at Council Point Park, I would peer at the ducks in that branch of the Ecorse Creek daily. As the days got colder, I then enjoyed watching those mallards, who began congregating beneath or near a storm drain for warmth. That year was the first of two successive wicked Winters and suddenly … poof … all the ducks just vanished by December 2013. Until the weather finally got too difficult to walk at the Park, I continued to tote bread to toss into the water and faithfully looked for them every time I wandered past “Duck Landing”, as I termed the cement precipice that sat atop the storm drain. That is where I would stand, the camera in one hand, and a bag of crumbed-up bread in the other, but the ducks were gone for good. I guess they packed up for a warmer climate, those “lucky ducks”!
I have included a photo that I took when I visited the River’s Edge Marina back on Christmas Day. It was a favorite haunt of mine all Summer, coming a close second to my happy place – that nature nook called Council Point Park. It looks a little deserted as the boats are gone from their slips and the bare trees don’t make much of a scenic backdrop for the train as it hurries by.
But the ducks didn’t mind … they barely gave me a passing glance as they were just paddling furiously while the rest of the world was rolling along busy Biddle Avenue.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
You captured in words the exact duck happens at the marina on that dreary morning. I sure didn’t need to look out the window to see what mother nature had in store for us.Thanks for the visual. Your feet are running up the miles for the new year.
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Marge – my feet have already logged as many miles as the car in this still-new year. I’d have never gotten that many miles in for the car in a “normal Winter” but the weather was nice plus Robb was out on vacation this week. Who knows what is in store for Sunday as to the weather forecast which sometimes sounds ominous and sometimes not. Glad you liked the post. I took many pics of the ducks at the marina on Christmas day. Have one up close of the ducks and will use that in the next few weeks. Right now, there is not much to take pics of – the holiday decor which has graced lawns and houses in some fashion since Labor Day is now gone – the occasional valentines only. Even at the Park, the bare trees don’t do much for a picture, except show off squirrels’ nests.
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linda…………………I’m sure you didn’t go walking today…………………….it was 9 degrees this morning when I got up…………………..how is little Buddy doing?…………………..its not real warm by Digger’s cage but he’s doing very well…………..guess what……………….I said to him ………this afternoon………………”baby, its cold outside………………about 10 min. later I heard him say …..”baby, its cold outside….he’s really talking a lot lately…………………..
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Hi Ann Marie – No, I didn’t walk Monday morning because of the ice and snow and didn’t walk today neither. In fact, despite getting those hiking boots with the lug soles, the ice is so bad around my house, that I’d be worried about walking right now. I wouldn’t have been adverse to walking in just snow, but this ice is not nice. Monday when I shoveled, I decided to leave snow covering the ice at the side of the house as it was slippery – other places it was icy, but more like a washboard, so okay to walk in my high boots with the lug soles. It was blustery and cold this morning and I think we had at least 3 inches. I was happy with the Winter so far, but now … not so much. That is a cute story about Digger and I will share it on my blog today. Buddy is doing well, but I’ve left him sleeping in the other room, all bundled up til later the past three days. It is cold in the kitchen despite the thermostat being set at 77. I thought it was the thermal windows finally just no good any more as they must be 40 years old, but a friend of mine mentioned the same problem at her mom’s house and said it was the insulation between the walls. I had a plumber here a few years ago, told him about the draft, and he suggested back then it might be insulation and he and his father had blown-in insulation put into their homes and it made a difference. Worried it might smell though and bother Buddy’s lungs. But it is cold – he is so happy when I bring him out with me. 🙂
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