Summer, which took so long to finally arrive, suddenly seems like it is zipping by. Just like sand sifting through your toes at the beach, or funneling through an hourglass, it seems that after Independence Day has passed, the realization that we are slowly creeping toward Fall and Winter is evident. Ever so subtly, the sun is rising later and going to bed earlier. I’ve already heard mention of back-to-school sales! I don’t know why we keep plowing through our life at such a hectic pace, but I really don’t like it. Unfortunately, our brief respite of cooler weather has passed, leaving heat and humidity in its wake, so surely the steamy temps will slow our pace a little.
Today was Friday the 13th? Did you bravely venture out? Did you ensure you packed a rabbit’s foot or a good luck token, just in case some evil crossed your path? Today was the second and last Friday the 13th for this year, the first having fallen on April 13th. A little trivia for you: today’s Friday the 13th fell exactly 13 weeks after April 13th.
Speaking of the number 13, it was one month ago today, the 13th of June, when I saw the large snapping turtle digging a hole to lay her eggs at Council Point Park. I’ve researched when the baby turtles would emerge, and it will be 80-90 days from June 13th (September 1st – September 11th). Each time I walk at the Park, I always glance over at that spot of dirt in the grass which covers those incubating turtle eggs. Mama snapping turtle did a good job camouflaging that hole. She smoothed it over before she walked away, her job done. If I hadn’t watched her with fellow Park walkers that morning, I wouldn’t be any the wiser that all those turtle eggs are underground.
We’ve had so many extremely hot days since those turtle eggs were laid, and, each time I walk by, I think of still another miracle of nature, the hot sun baking the earth, all the while incubating those embryos until the day the “big hatch” happens. I sure hope I’m on the perimeter path to witness those hatchlings emerging from their underground nursery, then making an uncharacteristic dash to the Ecorse Creek, approximately 20 feet away.
It seems like I’m always hurrying and scurrying around, and seldom indulging in the leisurely pace of a turtle. I know that description fits me many days, especially if I have indulged in too much “me time” on weekends, then I’ll pay the price by scrambling around to get things done during the workweek. There never seems to be enough time to just breathe. But the weekend is upon us and Friday the 13th is almost over … the next one is September 2019!
Even the youngsters have way too much going on in their lives. When I saw this artwork on a driveway enroute to the Park, I decided I must take some photos. The chalk art drawings have been scarce this Summer; usually I’ve featured many chalk artists by mid-July.
For this pastel sidewalk art, I pondered on how to get the best angle to include all the drawings – it wasn’t easy! This chalk artist really went to town! The driveway was covered with drawings. But, it was not until I got home and studied one of the cement driveway segments, that I noticed the words “Love You Little Sissy” and the piece of worn-down blue chalk near the flower outline.
Artwork frozen in time … so, what happened to the artist? Did this little nipper run into the house for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich … or a nap, and just abandon the project? Was he or she writing a tender note to a younger sister? You’ll have to fill in the blanks because no family members were outside to ask.
So, … back to the topic of numbers. I finally passed the 500-mile mark today. I’ve trekked 503 miles so far this year, but I was two weeks late in achieving mileage over 500. I had strived to reach 525 miles, or at least half of my ultimate goal, by June 30th but fell short of reaching those miles due to the endless rainy days, mostly weekends, we had in the Spring. It is always my goal to have walked at least half of my final goal miles when the year is half over.
I had better get cracking!
For the time being, I am buoyed by my local meteorologist’s news. He advised that the Climate Prediction Center says we’re in for a milder and drier Winter this year in the Great Lakes thanks to the prediction of an El Nino Winter. You’ll get no complaints from me after hearing that news.
Onward and upward!
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Dear “Onward and Upward”……………………………………that;s kind of spooky about Friday the 13th in July coming 13 weeks from April the 13th……………………………….well I’m part of the sidewalk writers and drawers still……………………….we have some little kids who live in the next building apartments and I like to leave them messages when I go on my morning walks
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And, I heard on the radio that April 13th on Good Friday was 26 weeks (13 + 13 weeks) from the last 2017 Friday the 13th. I remember you like writing messages and responding to them Ann Marie. There have not been too many messages this year so far. I blame that on all the rain, then the heat. I’ll bet the kids like those little messages from you.
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Good for you for keeping up with your goals (you are allowed to give yourself a little break due to weather)! Despite what the calendar says, summer doesn’t really get going (weather-wise) in our area until August. We often get our warmest days in September, and sometimes October.
I really look forward to “seeing” the turtle hatching through your pictures and description.
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Janis – for 2017 my goal was one more mile than 2016, which was just 755 and I ended up walking so many more miles more (295). The weather has really wreaked havoc with the walking and I am happy to see we’ll have a better Winter this year. Your heat must be horrible in the warmest months, but more welcome than snow! I hope I am there to see the turtles as well.
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The Lindy 500. Congratulations!
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I love that Anne – next year I will borrow that phrase and attribute it to you!
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You may have it as your own. No reference necessary.
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Thanks Anne – I will tuck it away … it would be great to make it by the real Indy 500 … maybe I have to safe that for when I’m retired.
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Congratulations on crossing the 500 mile mark- maybe you can do more in the second half and still reach your target overall for the year.
Glad the days are getting shorter, ever so subtly- it shows that even here the days must get shorter and the summer must bid goodbye. A milder winter – good news for the Lakes folks but not so for us- what will we do with our warm woolens? Is woolens spelt with one or two l s?
“Love you sissy” was a great message.
Thanks Linda for giving us the update about the turtle eggs- I wish you would see them making the rush to the lake.
Susie
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Thanks Susie – I hope the weather improves here for the second half of the year so I can indeed make that goal. In 2016 I did 754 miles, so only wanted to beat that goal by one mile in 2017, but the weather was good up through mid-December and I had so many frustrations here at the house with contractors, messes, etc., I think I was stomping out my frustrations and walking more. I was going to reach 1,050 blog posts by year end, so decided to match that in miles walked. But then I knew it would be a tough goal to beat this year. I hope to, if Mother Nature cooperates. Here are some of the things that went wrong with the house the second half of the year … I told myself I would take this Summer easy after last year. I’d walk, then come home and clean up messes: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2018/01/01/happy-new-year-3/
I know it will be a blessing for you to have cooler weather … I had to look up woolen too … had I just typed it, maybe not, but you start to wonder when you see a word sometimes. It is one “l” … this is why the English language is so difficult to learn. There are rules, and other rules, and words with double meanings and I commend anyone who learns a second language, especially English. I learned more about English grammar when I studied French, but having not used French for anything in forty years I would not admit I studied French throughout college.
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Linda
I am so thankful that you are there for me as a blog friend for now and maybe a real friend, if I come your way sometime in life.
Things are better at home and work now. Each day is different. A normal today might not be the normal tomorrow. Nothing is predictable. I wish I had the targets you had in life, like making so many miles or blog posts. I think these are good goals for me to adopt.
Being from where you are, French may be as much a familiar language as English, maybe. I have heard that parts of Canada, French is an official language. And that is a great observation- you know more of the rules of your parent tongue when you study another language in depth, for you can see patterns or dissimilarities and know your native language that much the better.
Susie
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I am happy to be just a few mouse clicks away Susie for when you have the time to interact. It is becoming one of the nicest things about blogging – meeting new friends, sometimes nearby, sometimes miles and miles away. I did set some lofty goals this year and hope to make it.
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I read about your goals and they are achievable and I commend you for making them. I have no goals really- just wanting a change from what I am and being a semblance of what I was perhaps when I was younger.
Blogging really does bring closeness between people at a physical distance.
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I have to get back to what I was like when younger too Susie. I was a little more adventurous, but then crime was not as bad as it is now – life as we knew it back 20 years ago, I don’t believe will ever happen again. Often I say the world moves too fast and I would like to step off it. It is incredible to be communicating with people all over the world. It reminds me of my first pen pal I had in elementary or middle school. He was Korean and very nice and learned a lot about his culture.
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500 + miles well done for reaching your goal. It would be lovely to see the turtles have hatched I expect they go under a the cover of darkness.
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Thanks Andy … I hope to make my final goal as well, if weather permits. We’ve had that awful heat that the U.K. has … you may have had it even worse than us. I just was checking “The Weather Channel” and saw a video of a man in the U.K. whose foot got stuck in a patch of tar on the street and he had to be rescued.
I was happy walking over 1,000 miles last year, but look at this guy that I spotlighted in my 12/31/17 post … 6,000 miles trekked through Europe. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/michigan-man-walks-6000mile-trail-across-europe_
I suspect you are right and the turtles will hatch overnight …I’ll just be able to see the open hole from where they “escaped” and maybe shells inside that hole.
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As always so many delights in your BLOG! I loved how you weaved our lives busy with the slow of a turtle. Further, I so enjoyed hearing about the snapping 🐢 turtles. I hope you get to see them emerge. I love reading how You see the worlds beauty Linda. Thank You for sharing!!
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I am glad you are enjoying the posts Ms. Lucky Duck as much as I am creating them. I have enclosed the original story of the turtle digging the hole for you to read: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2018/06/15/the-last-school-bell-til-fall-rang-today/
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As always leaves me intrigued and curious to hear more.
Beautifully written Linda!! Thank You for sharing. Hearing about the details of your life and walking path friends makes me happy!!!😉
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Thanks for saying that Ms. Lucky Duck – I am glad you are enjoying these posts. I do enjoy walking in the Park – it clears my head and I enjoy the interaction as well.
I think you will like today’s post, another Park and I was hoping for some pictures to use for Christmas cards, but they did not come out as well as I expected – next time maybe. I like to pick some nature pictures and turn them into a collage and make Christmas cards with them on Shutterfly. I use a small excerpt of the poem “All Things Bright and Beautiful” in the Christmas card … it is a lovely poem, have you read it? The James Herriot series of novels about his being a country veterinarian in rural England uses different lines from the poem for his various book titles. I loved his books and if you’ve never read them, I’m sure you would like them as well. Here is the poem:
All Things Bright and Beautiful…
Submitted By: NMlady
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
To gather every day.
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.
Author: Cecil F. Alexander, Hymns for Little Children, 1848
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Beautiful Poem Linda!!
You are such a thoughtful and observant person. What do/did you do for a living?
I was a ESOL Teacher for K-5 in 4 different elementary buildings. I adored them all!!!
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Thanks Jennifer – I am a legal secretary for an a labor attorney (for management, not union) and I’ve been a legal secretary since 1980. I have a good friend, Ann Marie, whom I met while walking in the Park about five years ago and she had just retired from teaching elementary school for many years. I had to Google ESOL to find out what that acronym meant. I’ve heard the phrase, never seen the acronym. Ann Marie has been retired since age 70, but she is still a “teacher” at heart and often helps teach English to people in her apartment building, even the children there … you would like her.
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This year’s weather has caused havoc with a lot of plans. I am trying to enjoy the summer (which took a long time coming) but as you say, it will be gone before we know it. Our weather is up and down right now — a few days in the 90s, then a few in the 80s. Overall, it’s just good to be alive and healthy.
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I am grateful that we will have a milder Winter since I feel cheated out of a Spring and the Summer has been nothing special. It seems inconceivable to me how quickly everything turned brown and crispy when we had weekend after weekend of heavy rains and rain sometimes three days in a row, which hampered walking. We have the same – 90 Friday, today and tomorrow, a bad storm Monday to break the heat, then back to nice weather for a few days.
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All went well here yesterday. 🙂 Thank you very much!
Glad to hear you’re making the grade. It sorta sounds like you’re just walking to school. Turtle slow is me walking to my car after work. People run like rabbits right past me. But, hey! I bet I beat them home.
Cute sidewalk art there! Always makes me smile, and sometimes sigh…time flies, yepperz.
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I had a series of little house annoyances that have cropped up – three in fact beginning yesterday. I am soured on all that and one at a time is bad enough, without three in a row, and beginning late Friday the 13th.
I love this sidewalk art too Uncle Tree – makes me smile. It has been scarce, likely due to either rain or high heat. Some of the kids use spray chalk and it lasts through the rain – amazing!
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It’s cool that you have wild turtles, but what are they doing during the winter?
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Hi John – the turtles burrow into the sand or silt in the bottom of the ponds and rivers and go into a torpor state. Amazingly, if the turtle eggs are not ready to hatch, then they stay underground until Spring!
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Sweet sidewalk/driveway artwork! 🙂
I’m so glad that we may have a mild winter! I sure hope so! The last few winters have been brutal!
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I love those chalk drawings too – makes my day to encounter them on my walk. I hope it is a mild El Nino Winter. One local weatherman is very into climate change and participates in all these nationwide seminars and posted it as “breaking news” the other day – I am rejoicing.
https://www.clickondetroit.com/weather/el-nino-expected-to-develop-could-dramatically-impact-winter-in-metro-detroit
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Beautiful poem Linda!! And I love your peaceful Christmas card idea. Fabulous!!!
Ill look into the books — and Ill be watching in the meantime.
Thank You for sharing the poem. BEAUTIFUL!!!
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I am glad you enjoyed it Ms. Lucky Duck. I usually just take a few sentences and put it in the Christmas card. I don’t send many cards and I store my photos on the http://www.Shutterfly.com website and they have many deals for cards and other gifts to make from your photos. Often the deals are free, just paying postage and handling. So I usually do this every year.
Here is a Christmas card I did on Shutterfly back in 2014, but in this case it was my dog Peppy and the photo would have been taken 50 years ago. If you click on the photo it is larger and easier to read.
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Oh Linda I love it!! It all blends together so nicely.
I also found the background on the Christmas 🎄 Tree really interesting!! Why were your hands instantly blacked if you touched the branch??
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I glad you liked it Ms. Lucky Duck – the aluminum makes your hands black. If you have an aluminum door and you wash it, the cleaning rag will be black from the aluminum and I don’t know why. The aluminum from the tree parts would rub off on your hands and make them black everywhere the tree parts touched them.
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Interesting!! I’m not sure I have ever encountered a aluminum door. Hmmmm.
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I don’t think you see them as much now – more screen doors are white I think now? Even handling the screens on the windows would make black marks but the Christmas tree parts left your hands with this black stuff and I don’t think they had vinyl gloves in those days. My hands are very sensitive and I use vinyl gloves for handling any chemicals, cleaning etc. Otherwise my hands get red and chapped and would crack and bleed … so I always slip on vinyl gloves to eliminate it.
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That’s interesting—I remember at my Grandma’s touching screens and getting black on my hands. I thought it was just dust that blew from their farm fields.
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Yes, that was the aluminum rubbing off, and my mom used to have me clean the screens on the screen door with soap and water and it is unbelievable how much dirt accumulates on them. (I am not so diligent with housekeeping now that my mom is no longer here.) She looks down and shudders every so often. 🙂
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Mine too!!!
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🙂
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do you ever check your pedometer?Meaning walk exactly a mile & see what your pedometer would say?
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Summer is flying by way too quickly! On Friday the 13th, I walked to my annual doctor’s check-up and had blood drawn. Nothing crazy or unfortunate happened. 13 is actually my favorite number and the number on my jersey when I played volleyball back in Belgium.
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Yesterday I heard on the weather forecast that Summer has reached its midpoint (meteorologically speaking) … we have had two or three heat waves and it felt like Summer has been going on for months! (And I like Summer because I am an avid walker.)
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