Well, I don’t know about you, but I have really enjoyed this recent spate of cooler, September-like weather, especially, since we all know that these cooler temps are not a precursor to Fall and Winter – not yet anyway. The fact that the longer days and warmer weather will languish for another ten weeks or more, makes the cooler mornings even more delightful.

It seems that the month of June has slipped right through my fingers. Those several rainy mornings, the siege of contractors and their messy aftermath, plus errands to “fix” the chaos and clutter in the basement and garage, have sorely interrupted my walking regimen.

Thankfully, the end was finally in sight yesterday when I got the A/C fixed in my car, plus I received an “Atta girl” from the mechanics when they noted how much I’ve driven the car since I last had in the shop. I grinned, then grimaced and said I was neck-in-neck with my walking miles right now and I had to fix that quickly and make miles on two feet, not four tires.

The shop vac and filters, cleaning supplies aplenty, plus a few quarts of cement and wall paint have been assembled and ready to put into action when I tackle the basement, once I return from walking on Saturday morning.

Having dispensed with everything and everyone on the to-do list, I was ready to get back into the walking regimen on a regular basis … and pronto. I actually started back in earnest last Saturday, but today was the first day without a mental checklist of things to do and I could focus on just enjoying the walk.

I slipped on a light coat to thwart the goosebumps, then stepped out early to head down to Council Point Park to enjoy the cool air, and the peaceful setting along the perimeter path.

A songbird or two called out to me; their pleasant trilling was a treat to my ears.

The plentiful pond lilies floated lazily atop the murky Creek water. Every so often a small fish would pop up for air, tiny bubbles appearing on the calm water, and it would disturb those lily pads momentarily.  But absent were my larger feathered friends, so there was no reason to grab the camera for a photo opportunity since the turtles weren’t sunning themselves and the squirrels once again were nowhere to be found.

So, there might have been goosebumps at the Park but no geese … so, what’s the deal?

On my recent trips to the Park, there was not a single goose to be found. I figured the DNR had sprayed the grass with goose deterrent to keep the gaggles of geese, who often graze there, at bay. But, over the weekend I heard a rep from the DNR on WWJ.  The subject of the story was complaints about the geese feasting on their lawns or gathering near waterfront properties.  She stated the geese sightings are scarce since geese molt in June and early July.  They have lost their flight feathers, thus they cannot fly.

So, where do all those geese go until they get all their feathers back?

They’re not walking around in the Park, nor are they gliding down the middle of the Creek.

Another one of life’s great mysteries I guess.

I’m sharing a picture of a goose that got in my face a few weeks ago at Council Point Park.

Going forward, it sounds as though Mother Nature might be as cantankerous as this gander was, since she is sending another heat wave our way – ugh.

Soon those goosebumps, just like the geese, will be long gone.