Sadly, the sun is back to rising later again, as those morning daylight minutes we gained after the time change earlier this month, are slowly giving way to a later sunrise.

But, on sunny mornings, like yesterday and today, I was able to hustle out of the house early and get down to Council Point Park, thus gleaning more steps, an extra loop in fact, to add to my tally.  As you know, it is all about the year-end goal these days, and, I know I am racing, not only against time, with a little over a month until year end, but also against the ice and snow, which I hope stay away a little longer.  Today, the weatherman declared our 67-degree temperature a fluke, but still promised no wintry conditions will arrive for at least a week or two.

So … walk, walk, walk.  That’s my mantra.

In my entire life I couldn’t fathom walking 1,000 miles in one year, so, I hope I can achieve this feat with my feet.  My friend Evelyn suggested I bronze my walking shoes if I make it to 1,000 miles by year end.

Beautiful late Fall days like today are to be savored.  More of the regular walkers returned to Council Point Park this morning, no doubt lured by the warmer temperatures and the sunny day.

As I was enjoying the beautiful morning, my little squirrel came scampering over just as fast as his four legs could carry him, shortly after my arrival at the outskirts of the Park.  I cut across the parking lot as I always do, whether I arrive on foot, or by car.  So, while walking through the parking lot, he must have been watching me from the pavilion area, because in a heartbeat he was there, first parking his little body right next to my shoes, then impatiently dancing around me in circles while I hurried to open the Ziploc bag to dole out some treats for him.  He reminded me of a little kid with these antics, as if to say “what is taking you so long?”

So, I’ve decided to name this little squirrel “Parker” which is a definite improvement over referring to him as “the squirrel f/k/a the Pagel Avenue squirrel, who now lives at Council Point Park” … as friendly as he is, next I’ll see if will respond when called by name.

On my first trip around the perimeter path, a flash of brown caught my eye as I glanced between the now-bare branches of the bushes and trees that line the path next to the Ecorse Creek.  Then I saw some rapid movement in the water,   Suddenly I realized I was looking at a big muskrat who was mingling with the mallards.  He sure was “feelin’ the love” because, there they were – neither species being intimidated by the other, all enjoying a morning dip in the cold Ecorse Creek.

I stopped to watch them for a few minutes and saw the muskrat climb out of the water, with its fur wet and slicked back from the morning swim.  Slowly, it climbed onto one of the many half-sunken logs to share that space companionably with a few ducks.  Usually, those partially submerged trees are reserved for the turtles when basking in the Summer sun, or, the mallards all year around for preening and/or sleeping on one foot, with a downy head neatly tucked under a wing.

As I watched this mismatched group huddled together, I decided all was right with the world – the world on the surface of the Ecorse Creek at Council Point Park anyway.  Too bad the rest of the world does not get along as well as the muskrat and the mallards.

This warmish sunny day was the talk of the town today.  I would have preferred to walk this afternoon in those 67-degree temps, but this morning’s trek was delightful too.