… but I got into the “W” column for a change. The online weather forecast predicted snow showers, and even squalls, for 8:00 a.m. and again at 10:00 a.m. – so, I wondered “will it be too slick to get to the Park, or, … will I get caught in heavy snow while there, or walking home?” Clearly, timing was key, and the weatherman kept saying “the squalls are coming” as I was tapping my foot, as it took forever to get light enough to venture out. As of now, no snow ever arrived – the weather is just crazy!
The strangest thing happened early this morning. I dreamed that the alarm went off and the dream was so vivid that I actually got up, walked down the hall, turned on the kitchen light and put the radio on to catch up with the news and weather … (it’s always about the weather with me as you know, especially as I head into the home stretch toward my walking goal). I never glanced at any clock after I got up, but, what I did hear were the voices of the overnight newscaster and traffic reporter. Puzzled, and still half-asleep, I glanced at the stove clock and it was 2:58 a.m.! Shaking my head, I shut everything off and went back down the hall for a few more hours of shuteye.
When I was ready to go, I packed my pockets with lots of peanuts and headed out. The wind was blowing and rustling the rest of the dead leaves, which are brown and crisp and still hang precariously on slim stems, wiggling with each whisper of wind. It sure felt colder than just 34 degrees!
The squirrels were plentiful and eager to glom onto some peanuts. The walkers were few. I believe we have lost some of our “regulars” who are now resorting to mall walking or treadmills. One walker stopped me to ask if I’d seen any coyotes this morning; apparently there are five coyotes now. They have been spotted at the business across the Ecorse Creek at their pump station. I asked how they got over there from the Park since there is no footbridge – “they swim across” was the answer. I said “coyotes swim?” and as soon as those words left my mouth, I realized it was probably a dumb question – of course, if dogs can paddle and coyotes are considered wild dogs, then obviously they “coyote paddle” across the Creek. I Googled when I got online and the “National Geographic” site says coyotes are good swimmers. I know more about coyotes than I really ever cared to know and I wish they’d leave this area. People have reported them jumping the fence and hanging out in a schoolyard in the local crime forum.
I tried counting noses at the Park, but, with the exception of Stubby with his half-tail, all the squirrels, even Parker, are looking alike with their rolls and heavy fur coats while waddling along the perimeter path and begging for peanuts.
A few days ago I took down the cheery Fall wreath as it stopped feeling and looking like Fall after that third bout of nuisance snow. Those frosty crystals slickened up the streets, but it melted by afternoon. Monday we had freezing fog and black ice and there were tons of accidents so I stayed put. We are having very cold weather for Thanksgiving Day – the daytime high will be flirting with the freezing mark. It will make for a brisk walk for sure on Turkey Day.
I missed the guy who volunteers for “Meals on Wheels” this morning. I see him two or three times a week as both he and I wend our respective ways down Pagel Avenue. He has a burgundy van and two dogs who station themselves at the car door windows – they guard the hot breakfasts safely packed inside the van and bark at anyone who passes by, including me, even though their owner tells them it’s okay. This man always wears a big smile, waves and we exchange pleasantries. Often the smell of breakfast wafts through the air long after he has moved on to the next senior’s house bringing goodwill and goodies.
It is a good thing we are soon moving into the Christmas holiday season since I’ve exhausted my scarecrow and harvest décor photos. I do like scarecrows and can’t resist snapping photos of their always-happy faces.
I heard this morning that 54 million folks will travel 50 miles or more to see family and loved ones, or, perhaps even just have a four-day getaway. I will be traveling significantly less than 50 miles in my car tomorrow, but hope to be putting at least six miles on my feet!
Best wishes and blessings for your Thanksgiving Day holiday!
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Here’s hoping you get your 6 miles in tomorrow! I hope the weather cooperates. We are not traveling far, either. We will go to my son’s house, which is about 10 miles away. He’s doing all the cooking, except for the pies, which I already made.
I enjoyed reading about your Meals on Wheels man, since I am also a MOW driver. It’s the best volunteer job I ever had.
Happy Thanksgiving, Linda!
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That’s nice you don’t have to go far Laurie. And you only had to make the pies – you did your duty for the whole meal for years no doubt.
This Meals on Wheels man is so friendly and his dogs “guard” the meals and always bark when I walk by the van wherever he is stopped. You’d think they would know me by now. He always says “oh be quiet – she’s okay” or something similar. That’s nice that you volunteer your time to do this. They had a little story on the radio today about local Ford workers who always take the day before Thanksgiving to help pack the senior’s meals for MOW – there are 6,000 meals delivered in the Detroit area and they were packing the boxes to get them ready. They didn’t elaborate, so not sure if they have the turkey dinner in and refrigerated then heated tomorrow in microwaves before the MOW drivers head out or everything is ready and they put the hot food in tomorrow before delivering the meals … but 6,000 dinners were being readied for the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well Laurie!
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That’s amazing. Out little Meals on Wheels does meals for about 60 people. Each person gets one hot meal and a bagged lunch. My hubby helped me with my route today, so I got done in record time! 🙂
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That was nice of your hubby and maybe he’ll get a route of his own after he retires? I was amazed how many people were getting Meals on Wheels here. I didn’t know they delivered two meals at one time. I wasn’t sure how it worked. I imagine I see the gentleman delivering just for my City only … it always smells good when I walk by. That is a very satisfying way to volunteer your time Laurie. My friend Ann Marie will be 76 on December 5th and she retired from being an elementary school teacher just about three years ago. Before she was a teacher, she was a nun. Ann Marie works in a soup kitchen in Detroit every Monday and teaches Sunday School plus volunteers at a nursing home. She leaves me in the dust – she is very full of energy!
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I think each Meals on Wheels chapter is unique. Ours here in Lititz is completely volunteer-run. Recipients pay $5 per day if they can afford it. If they can’t afford it, they don’t have to pay. I think it is much more likely that hubby will help me with my route than get a route of his own.
Your friend Anne Marie sounds amazing! Bless her!
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I just looked at our City info as I thought it was all volunteer and it is. They say it is $3.00 for a nutritional hot lunch five days a week. If the recipients can’t pay, they still deliver food to them. They don’t mention breakfast, so I wonder if this guy is delivering an early lunch to them? It is a hot meal as you can smell the food (smells wonderful). You’ll get done with your route much earlier then with hubby along. Ann Marie is incredible and she never ceases to amaze me and she also teaches Sunday school plus, her and her husband moved to an apartment three years ago as he was having health problems and it was difficult going up the porch steps to get into the house, so they moved to an apartment. There are many Hindu people in that apartment building, so she was teaching the residents there how to speak English and even taught the kids English who were not yet enrolled in pre-school or kindergarten. She goes out and brushes the snow off all the cars in the carport and shovels paths to everyone’s car so they don’t have to worry about falling. The apartment is one of several apartment complexes and they are one of the last places that are plowed in the parking lot, so Ann Marie makes it easier for them. She also walks about 4 miles every morning except Sunday.
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So what’s with all the photos of politicians? No squirrels!
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I am saving them for tomorrow Fred, but … shhhh, don’t tell anyone. It will be an all-squirrels post! (If you can stand it.)
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I love to read your posts. The way you write makes my mind fly to that place you are describing. I picture every detail, the scarecrows, the snow, the regular walkers and people feeding the squirrels. Best wishes to you too, Linda. And happy Thanksgiving Holiday!
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Thanks Martha – I try to be as descriptive as possible so you feel like you are tagging along with me. I just remembered I forgot to mention that there is already ice on the path and on three occasions I had to walk on the snowy grass to not wipe out on the glare ice – grrrr. It’s way too early for this weather. I have always liked scarecrows and had accumulated a few harvest pictures and figured I’d better share them today before the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thank you Martha – best wishes to you as well. I will look forward to seeing how you will celebrate Thanksgiving … traditional style or “messy meal style”. 🙂
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Linda
A different sort of post but very engaging. Sorry about the weather and its vagaries. Keep safe- don’t slip.
Can you identify the real Parker now?
Happy American Thanksgiving!
Susie
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Hi Susie – I will do a post about squirrels today … you will laugh. It was slick at the Park yesterday and hoping not so today … very very cold her today so I will be bundled up. Parker still greets me at the main entrance but they are all so chubby, they all look alike now. 🙂 Thank you for your well wishes … I have to walk six miles so I can justify my dinner.
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Miss Linda………………………you made me laugh to hear that you got up sleep walking and went to the kitchen and turned on the radio for the weather report……………………..I couldn’t walk this morning because I had to take my husband to the doctors…………………..but it was slippery in some spots just trying to get to the car………………………I do like scarecrows too with their smiling faces too……………………..they were nice pics of the pumpkins too…………………………ALL the stores are into Christmas now I even saw a decorated Christmas tree at the doctors office
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I don’t know why I did that waking up without the alarm – first time to do that Ann Marie … then I didn’t fall asleep right away, much as I would have liked to. It was slick on the perimeter path as well – three places, near the Creek, and it was glare ice and I had to walk on the snowy grass, but better than no walk, and it will get worse down there the further into Winter we go … oh ya, it’s not Winter for another month yet. Exasperating isn’t it? I have always liked scarecrows and the pics of the pumpkins are from Emmons Boulevard and the inflatable turkey was on Pagel. Happy Thanksgiving to you – you are busy this morning at the soup kitchen giving out warm food and a smile because you are YOU. I am happy to call you my friend.
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Hoping you have a superb Thanksgiving, Linda! Like i mentioned in my blog (to your reply) I stocked a lot of sunflower and safflower seeds at my mother-in-law’s squirrel feeder today! The squirrels will be super thankful tomorrow! 🙂
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I like watching their faces when they get something out of the ordinary … I saw that with the walnuts and with the suet as well … something they could sink their teeth into. I have bought some sunflower seeds to treat them at Christmas if I am able to get down there … hopefully no big snow, etc. Your mother-in-law and squirrels will enjoy the treats you left – she to view them, and they who will be smacking their little lips in appreciation. I hope my post later today will make you LOL. 🙂
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Hope you have a great holiday!
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Happy Thanksgiving Linda! I hope your weather cooperates with your walk today. I’ll venture out in a bit and sprinkle some sunflower seeds around for the squirrels today! Lovely post! 😊
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Thanks Sabine and they’ll love you for it. I treated my squirrels at the Park as well. We had a very cold, but blustery day … fine with me as I just bundled up and did not have to deal with any precipitation. A little sun would have been super, but I was just happy to be out and get my 6 miles in. Glad you liked this post … today’s is all about squirrels at the “dinner table” … 🙂
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Just blustery rain here and no squirrels. 😊
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Well that’s just plain ugly for Thanksgiving Day – good thing you had that beautiful day the other day Sabine. We have more snow coming Monday and this time it looks like it will stick around unfortunately.
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I have done that before where I have woke up at 2 am or so and thought it was morning. I can’t vividly recall actually getting ready, but I think I went to the bathroom about to get ready before I realized what time it was! Alsoo- love your scarecrows! so fun. Hope you had a nice thanksgiving, Linda!
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It was strange indeed to be waking up and being on auto-pilot when I didn’t need to be! It was a quiet but nice Thanksgiving – hope your meal turned out well Mackenzie!
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