It was a back-to-work Monday for most of us. How quickly the Easter holiday was over! My boss was driving back from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula today and told me they had nine inches of snow over the weekend. My retort was that if I had visited up there, I’d have to stay until it melted – he understood as he knows I am a Winter weenie when it comes to driving in the snow.
It was only 24 degrees when I left the house this morning. I left earlier since the sun was up and shining brightly, so that gave me time to get in a five-mile walk. I was scrambling around to leave earlier and forgot to wear my convertible mitts with the fingerless gloves and wore my regular gloves instead. It was so bitter cold at the Park that I swore I’d leave the camera in its case, zippered inside my vest and under my coat, to keep my hands warm and get some extra steps in. But when a Kodak moment presented itself, I had to stop, cast off the gloves and let my hands freeze. They felt numb as I was trying to get a few shots of this sleeping duck, while Parker and his impatient pals were dancing around my feet waiting on peanuts.
I decided to walk three loops, all on them on the “scenic side” of the Park. The first time around, a sleepy drake had his head tucked under his wing. He was huddled down asleep like a log as that expression goes. He looked comfy catching some ZZZZZs, but I couldn’t tell if he was “sawing wood” as I didn’t get that close to him.
Then, I made some loud clicking noises with my tongue and he opened one eye and looked in my direction to check me out, but barely stirred. That peeking duck is the picture you see above.
The next lap around, he was awake and gave me a sideways glance.
Usually, once the ducks that are lined up on the partially submerged log catch sight of me, they slip right into the water and paddle for their lives just to escape this hulking human.
On the third, and last, go-around, the drake was standing up on one leg gazing into space. I guess he was deciding whether to take a dip in the cold Creek water. Personally, I’d vote for another round of ZZZZZs if it were me. On this 2nd day of April, it is as difficult to jump out of the cozy bed as it was on February 2nd!
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Wow 5 Miles! You’re ambitious!:)
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This time of year, if it’s sunny, I can get out earlier on a weekday. Full disclosure: I work from home, so I have some leeway.
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Ah so that’s how you do it. I’m going back to my morning runs this week, but I only have a half hour:(
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Yes, I got laid off back in 2009 and when hired back it was not full time and I was not going to go downtown (Detroit) for a half-day so started working from home and have done so ever since. So you are like me, if it is sunny, you can get out earlier in the morning and make the most of it – we’ve had so many dull and dreary days after the time chance, I lost some walking time. I try to do at least four miles a day, more if my boss is out in the morning.
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Oh I’d love to work from home- don’t want 21 children invading my condo though😂
I hope the weather co-operates so you can get out!
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Tomorrow is a washout for sure and colder end of the week. I am disciplined about working from home, though I’ve taken casual to the extreme … I like to be comfortable. I think it would kill me to put on pumps and pantyhose now.
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Ugh I was just thinking I have no excuse to not wear some skirts and dresses to work now that the weather is getting better. Have to still be appropriate for sitting on the floor however
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I feel badly sometimes because I used to love to dress up for work, accessories, clothes back in the day. I see those items in the closet and feel badly, but after nearly 9 years, it would be hard to go back to a real office. I have several pair of polar fleece jammies and that is my work outfit in Winter … warm and cozy and stylin’ with my moccasins. No, you’re better off with pants for sitting on the floor – you get off the hook for getting into skirts and dresses, except for long skirts. I have my long skirts that I used to wear with flat boots. On a busy day at work, they were the epitome of comfort.
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I miss my long skirts:(
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I loved long skirts and boots or flats — gave me a break from high heels … I am tall (5′ 9″ tall) so I didn’t really need to be taller in those heels.
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Lol I’m glad incredibly short but sill don’t worry about wearing heels
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Very nice Mallard Duck shots! 🙂
I’m glad i’m retired!
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Thanks Tom – I was pleasantly surprised to see the photo on the screen and confirm that yes indeed he was a “Peeking Duck” and looking at me from where he had his head tucked under his wing. Usually they bolt when I get near. Once I can lose this heavy red coat, and blend into the background, perhaps they won’t disappear so readily!
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It sure looks like a Mallard to me! Peeking duck!… i sure hope it’s not the kind they torture and eat!
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No, it was peeking at me thus a “Peeking Duck” … I was just doing a play on words. Only you and another blogger, Uncle Tree, noticed that I put that.
I hate hearing the stories of how that delicacy is prepared. You are absolutely correct about the torture. When you see the videos in the news about how animals/fowl are raised or sent to slaughter, it makes me cringe. Years ago I remember one such video showing how Pilgrim Farms torture their chickens … throwing the live chickens against the wall or onto the floor. I know I never bought that brand again. Likewise when I see videos of cows, pigs in cages or pens that they have no room to even turn around. That is so wrong.
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Miss Linda…………………….I enjoyed the waking up of that Mallard…………………..and I;m still picturing Parker jumping at your feet……………………..in that still bitter cold April weather
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I’m glad you liked those pictures Ann Marie – I know you didn’t walk Monday as it is soup kitchen day, but it was a bit colder than the last few days you and I walked – absolutely freezing with no gloves, but it was worth it to take the pictures of that mallard. He looked at me by peeking over his wing – so cute. Buddy would do that too; he didn’t want to miss anything but would be so tired. The first day I got him, about two hours after I brought him home, he put his head under his wing, and went to sleep. I figured the excitement of coming to his new home and leaving the pet shop wore him out, but the next night, same time (around 7:00 p.m.) he did the same thing, and I figured out that the pet shop closed every night at 7:00 p.m. and they would have turned out the lights and closed the store for the night. I guess Buddy was used to that … I was able to break him out of the habit but it took a week or so. Weatherman says another ten days of bitter cold weather.
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Ms. Linda,
Kudos to you for the early morning walk of 5 K. Wish I were that dedicated. Most of my day hovers around 3500 steps and that can easily be 750 steps when I choose to huddle up on my day job chair. I force these steps by walking the corridors of the university I work in.
The green colour of his coat – so shiny and clean. Love the photos and his one legged stance, debating on whether he needs to make a speech or take a plunge.
I used to love being at home, when I “semi-retired” 5 years back but now work full time again.
What I loved most was not to have to deal with traffic or where a honest work ethic was discouraged. ( Can you imagine there are places in the world where hard work is penalised)
Are you a freelance writer ?
Susie
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Susie – I cannot believe I walked 1,050 miles last year. Every year I try to walk at least one more mile than the previous year. In 2016, I walked 754 miles, so my goal was only 755. But we had a mild Winter the beginning of 2017, so I was able to log quite a few miles in January through March. After I got to 755 miles, I thought “I’ve got more time before year end – I should set another goal.” So I kept setting new goals and meeting them. I hope to best my 2017 goal, but we had a cold and snowy Winter plus a lot of ice in the Winter months – I don’t like walking in the snow or ice so I’m a little behind with the walking: 175 miles so far.
I do have to admit I love working from home. When my boss and I left the law firm on February 1, 2003, we went to a small office, just us, and that was quite a difference from what I was used to. I was often alone as my boss was out of the office. Then working from home was really a difference … I do like it and am regimented. It would be hard for me to think of being in a regular office after 15 years.
I don’t like to drive in heavy traffic, nor the expressway and especially don’t like driving in snow/ice. This is because I worked in downtown Detroit for decades and got the bus at the end of my street, so the car stayed in the garage all the time, so I never got much experience driving in Winter weather. I agree with you regarding the work ethic. When we were still at the Firm, my boss was considered the busiest attorney in that Firm. He is a management labor attorney – he was in every weekend, stayed late and took work home all the time. I was busy with him all the time, until the recession, then business slowed down dramatically. It is very different working for a sole practitioner, because you do not have another person to rely on if you’re out on vacation/personal day, etc. – I’ve gotten used to this, but it is an adjustment. Today I had issues remoting into work and was on the phone with our computer guy troubleshooting from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. … it is different than calling the Firm computer guy … I am totally in agreement with you regarding the work ethnic.
No, I am not a freelance writer. I was never able to find a job after college to use my degree.
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Looks like you have a wonderful place to walk!
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It is such a treasure at Council Point Park. The beauty of this little nature nook is that it is smack dab in the middle of the City. The walking path is two loops – looks like a Figure 8 and each loop is approximately 1 mile but the Park itself is spread out over 27 acres, and runs alongside the Ecorse Creek. The water is not the clearest in the world, despite how sparkly and shimmery it looks in the pictures. But it is full of geese, ducks, swans and herons. And there are many songbirds as well – it’s a real treat in the morning to walk in a peaceful place and listen to the bird calls. In the Winter the City does not clear the pathways, so I’m only able to walk if the path is clear ice and snow-free, especially the dreaded black ice.
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Like you, I enjoy my walks in the park. Unlike you, I am not an early riser. I should really make that a goal now that the NE Ohio weather might warm up a bit. Good mallard captures.
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I am an early riser because I work from home and so I do my walking in the morning before I start work. I rarely go for a walk after work, though I should start doing that if I miss a morning walk due to rain. Today we had rain all day and currently it is a torrential rain out there. I don’t like walking when it is too hot or humid, so I appreciate the cool air in the morning then. I enjoy the peaceful atmosphere at the Park before it gets crowded. The woodpeckers and birdsong plus the geese and ducks with their noises are such a nice way to begin the day.
Glad you liked the mallard shots – I froze my fingers to get those pictures. I bought a pair of convertible mittens/fingerless gloves, but my fingers are still cold most of the time and I’m going to look at another option for next Winter like Isotoner gloves which would cover more of my hands/fingers, plus the wool gloves have pilled and don’t want fibers in my camera.
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Can’t say I’ve ever seen a duck stand on one foot.
Then again, can’t say I’ve ever eaten Peeking Duck, either. 😉
Nice walk, swell shots, Linda. Made me smile. Cheerz, UT
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I’ve never seen a duck stand on one foot either Uncle Tree – in fact, I thought that this was a triple-good find for these shots, so I was willing to freeze my fingers and hands to take those pictures. I’ve seen waterfowl and my canaries sleep on one foot – they tuck the other one under their body and you can’t see it, but I’ve never seen them standing like that when they are awake and gazing out like that. Glad you enjoyed the pictures.
I’ve never had that dish either – you’re the only one who noticed that reference re: the peeking duck. 🙂
We are having a torrential rain and thunder right now.
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Yeah, I can’t get past the **5** miles!! You’re amazing, girl!!!
Love the duck’s iridescent green head! Great photos!
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Thanks Ellie – I try to walk four miles daily and, in the Summer sometimes five if it is not too hot and humid. On the weekends I try for five miles a day too. I want to beat last year’s total miles walked (1,050) … I have a long way to go.
That was sheer luck that I was able to get close enough to see him peering at me out of one eye. I like the ducks at the Park. They are very social with each other, unlike the geese that like to pick fights with one another for no reason. The next thing you know, one of them is hissing at the other one or flapping their wings. They do that at the walkers too, especially after they have their goslings. They are very protective of them. They will block the pathway and the walkers have to dodge them and go on the grass. I was at another park a few weeks ago, before you started following me. There are lots of pictures in this post, but check out the last four. I was standing there and the two geese had a lover’s quarrel or something. I was lucky and got a shot of the one hissing at the other one. The four pictures were taken in the course of perhaps a minute. Volatile personalities those geese!
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OMG those geese sure are assertive… aggressive, even! Fantastic pictures! You could work for National Geographic – if it still exists!
Re your mileage – I think you are truly amazing!!! I’m telling the Guinness Book of Records about you. Good for you!
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Thank you Ellie – that was lucky that day. I was standing there and taking their picture standing so companionably next to each other, when the one just went off on the other one. Raised one wing and would have flapped his (or her) wings, but the other goose was standing too close. And the hissing pink tongue. They do that to the walkers in the Spring. After the goslings are old enough to fly, the DNR comes and sprays the grass with a natural substance made from grape concentrate – the geese don’t like it and so they won’t come there to graze. The walkers complain because the geese monopolize the path, terrorize them and make a big mess, so they spray there for most of the Summer months. The geese still come there though but land in the water during some of this time period. (The rest of the time they lose their flying feathers when they molt, so they don’t fly at all.)
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Clever and useful idea, that benign spray!
Geese sure aren’t “man’s best friend,” that’s for sure.
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Right you are and it is more humane than shooting them which is what some large golf courses in the northern ‘burbs do. They also have sharpshooters for the overabundance of deer in the same northern suburbs.
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😢
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