I was happy to hear we would have two nice days for our weekend, with just a bit of rain late Sunday afternoon to mar the great forecast. The weatherman said we’d hit 65 degrees F (18 C) today. “Right” I thought and scoffed at that notion.
It was gray and gloomy when I headed out and already 42 F (5 C). I am not in “Spring mode” yet, so I wore a Winter coat, hat and gloves. Over the course of the last week, I debated on trying a new park, or two, but I figured the landscape is so boring now, all the parks look alike and I’d wait until things greened up a little more. So, I went to one of the old standbys.
Destination: Elizabeth Park.
I like Elizabeth Park – it’s got a great perimeter path around the entire park, plus you can stroll along the boardwalk, or cross any of the ornamental bridges to the other side. There are usually ducks and geese around for a photo op.
Well it was just “Dullsville” at first …
I parked the car, then paused to see if the squirrel, who has assumed the role of guardian of the gates at the vehicle bridge, was hanging out there – no squirrel, he must have slept in.
I headed to the boardwalk and there were no walkers there, just a handful of fisherman. The boaters were already in full force up and down the Detroit River.
This morning, the usually scenic park was dull and drab looking. The sky was a gloomy gray and it was a little murky too.
The only color to speak of was the pale yellow willow trees.
And maybe those straw-colored dead reeds along the way as well.
When I first began this blog in 2013, it was to memorialize my walks … the posts were always just a single long or short paragraph, a one-word title and occasionally, I’d put one photo up top. Very occasionally. So, my blog has evolved into a narrative that accompanies a lot of photos. As I walked along, nothing was happening, so I put the camera back into its pouch. From the looks of it, I surmised I might be hearkening back to my early post days … no pictures and nothing much to write about.
And then I saw it … the lamp post that you see up top. What in the world happened to it? It was slightly askew.
Well, from that point on, a series of odd happenings just morphed into today’s blog post.
It seemed that every critter I saw today either was wearing a silly look, or doing something out of the ordinary. I know it was not just my imagination running away with me.
“Hey, whatcha lookin’ at?”
The kiddie pool. It’s probably three inches deep, just a flooded area, but don’t tell them that.
Of course we have to include a little squirrel and goose madness as well.
“Nope, no nuts up here (unless of course you want to count me)!”
“Don’t mind me, I’m just looking for a little breakfast.”
“Thanks for the treat – how ’bout a smile?”
Wait, there was more …
“Been looking for worms in all the wrong places.”
“I need a big stretch to get the kinks out.”
And then there was another lamp post that was askew … these two lamp posts were adorned with a scarf. Now why would that be? One scarf may have gotten tangled up there in the wind … but two lamp posts, each with its own scarf?
What the well-dressed lamp post is wearing this season.
I’ve heard of “tie a yellow ribbon ‘around the old oak tree” but this is really different.
The age-old question … “if a tree falls in the forest ….”
The flag on this pleasure boat says “Don’t Give Up The Ship!”
I noticed the trees – even they were askew … check out this twisted tree.
There’s tea with a twist … and here’s a tree with a twist.
Then I stopped to take photos of four trees that were listing to one side.
I completed the first trek around Elizabeth Park, and it was beginning to get warm – I mean really warm! I unzipped my coat, then my vest. I was ecstatic to see the car and seize the opportunity to have a “Spring Fling” and ditch the hat, gloves and coat – ahh, much better!
On the second go-around, a little more activity was going on ….
I passed by the area where the kindly souls feed the critters. I have written about this phenomenon before and I think it is great. If I lived closer, I’d contribute to this venture as well. Someone has put up feeders and suet holders in and around a small tree and they keep them filled all Winter. Our Winter was brutal and the Spring thus far has been cold and chilly, so these kind folks have continued with their good deeds.
The woodpecker wants to know what kind of bird has a long fuzzy tail?
“Gee, I wonder if anyone will notice me if I hide behind this bird feeder?”
Not only do people keep the birds in birdseed, but other folks stop by with peanuts and treats as you see below. I saw some bread chunks and it appears today’s “treat of the day” was Cheetos and they were quite a hit with one squirrel.
“Oh – Cheetos, my favorite!”
“Hey Bud – save a Cheeto for me, okay?”
The water level was very high in the canal and the geese and ducks were having a ball splashing around. A pair of white Pekin ducks and a Mallard Hybrid decided to stay on land. The trio’s actions just gave me a grin.
“Two’s company, three’s a crowd. Let’s ditch the speckled guy okay?”
“Ain’t we a fun-loving group?”
I passed by these seagull sentries near the big bridge:
“How’s this for a primo lookout point?”
“The coast is clear, but keep watching your side Sam – never mind looking at me!”
Two treks around the entire Park and I felt I could have walked more except it was too warm and I was still overdressed. People were arriving at this park in shirtsleeves and shorts … I jumped in the car and put the A/C on to cool off, so that little bit of silliness just went hand-in-hand with the rest of the day.
P.S. – we did reach 65 degrees as predicted.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
You certainly got some of your miles in today, Linda. Good for you! I loved reading your captions. You put words into the critters’ mouths, which I enjoy. Some days everything just seems a little bit “off”. Friday must have been that day for you. The Cheetos that the squirrel likes and the cardinal covets are actually my guilty pleasure too. Even though I try to eat healthy (especially now), I LOVE Cheetos. I guess it will be a long time until I can sneak a Cheeto again!
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Thanks Laurie – glad you enjoyed this post. I found out it was my browser not allowing me to do the captions … I really wanted them for this post as I had so many funny pictures of the critters. I like doing that as well – something different and fun. Cheetos are a favorite for their crunch. I gave up salty snacks a long time ago for Lent and didn’t go back, but started buying Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Cheddar Goldfish again – I cannot keep them in the house. I got the large box and kept pouring out more and more … a few handfuls here, or there …. had to put my foot down … no more Goldfish in the house. I loved Cheetos … I am bad with those white cheddar Cheez-its. Don’t buy them, but that is no fun at all to withhold everything that is a treat.
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So true! We need to treat ourselves every once in a while!
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Linda
I enjoyed reading the captions. I am glad you saw the food put out for the critters by kindly souls. That park has a lot of good people visiting there. Glad you got two rounds and got pretty warm too. Next time you go, there will be a lot of green to see. The lamp posts were adorned with scarves which both looked alike.Someone had a sense of humour?
Cheetos, I have seen birds and squirrels eat these before. I had despaired of seeing a butterfly in these parts but last week I saw a big one in my own garden. I am glad I did. I thought the heat does not allow for butterflies.
Some of those pictures are downright funny. Thanks for the laughs, Linda. Maybe you need to create a regular feature called ” Linda’s laughs”.
Susie
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Glad you liked it Susie – I am happy I could create captions again. I switched the browser on my computer – it was the browser that was not allowing me to create captions and I really wanted to do it for these pictures since some would be funny, so I researched a little what to do. I have been having trouble with Chrome browser for my e-mail … I think it became corrupt perhaps. Our butterflies won’t be here for a while yet – when we have more heat. What type of butterfly did you see Susie? I had a butterfly garden but awhile ago – had it for several years but lost all my perennials and butterfly bushes in a Polar Vortex – I did not replant them again. I liked that butterfly garden – very relaxing. I had some flat stones for the butterflies to rest on and sun themselves. And, you could do this … put out flat pans … I used earthenware, like you have for clay pot saucers. Fill them with sand, moisten the sand and the butterflies will come to sip the water from the sand. Keep it moist all the time … it is called a “puddling dish”… it will draw butterflies like a magnet. I like that idea – make a separate blog … in fact, I was going to say at the beginning or end of this post that “Slightly Askew” would be a funny name for a blog and it would typify how I am sometimes. 🙂
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I love how so many people take care of the critters!
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That is so nice Diane. I only started going to that Park again in 2017. I had been there many years ago with my parents so didn’t go again for decades. I like that people do that too. It’s just a small tree, and loaded up … someone had just been there as all the feeders and suet were loaded – the birds and squirrels were feasting!
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Miss Linda………………………………..when i went for a walk on Saturday…………………I too was dressed way to warm…………………………it’s hard to know what to wear when you go out…………………it makes me feel better that there are others like you who are caring for all of the ducks and squirrels and birds……………………….
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It was not all that warm this morning Ann Marie and gray and gloomy … I knew I was going down near the water … I stopped at Dingell Park too before I came home – nothing there to see today. I like that those people are taking care of the animals there … they used to have a big picnic table there but it was gone. The first time I was there, I watched a couple break up two big boules and those birds and squirrels went crazy for it. That’s why the next time I went I took a baguette. There is still nothing for them to forage yet … I think the ground is still frozen.
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That was fun! especially the captions, and the I loved that angry looking Robin. Do you add the captions in WordPress through Edit, or are you adding the caption before you import the picture into WP?
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Thanks Joni – I like that it worked this time (changed browsers and it worked like a charm). You upload your photos to Media, and where it says edit, there are several fields, go into the “caption field” and if you find a mistake or want to change the text, you can edit the blue area where the text is when it is in ‘draft” … I am not even going to make it to Reader tonight.
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Ok – that’s what I’ve been doing if I add a caption.
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I know it worked for me one other time, then I had two fails. I was going to contact the Happiness Engineers, then, because I’ve been having issues with my e-mail with Chrome and switched to Opera, I tried that Opera browser and bingo, it was Chrome … must be corrupt and I have to uninstall it, but copy my favorites first. I THOUGHT that could be a chore for this afternoon … ha ha. It is 7:05 p.m. and I’m just reading comments and now 2 days behind in Reader. I just finished a post which I thought would be short and easy since I picked the pics yesterday, but it took longer than I thought and I was walking for hours today and taking photos. It got to 72 (22C) today, first time since October 12th above the 70s. but
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I just followed Shelley’s blog Quaint Revival and couldn’t read it because of a long column on the left hand side with icons for various things like FB, Twitter etc. It’s right over the print. And she suggested it might be Chrome causing the problem? It was a beautiful day, first weekend it’s really felt like spring this year.
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I think it is because she hosts her own blog? I have had trouble commenting on it sometimes – like the other day about the dog. I tried twice to post and so I told her. I should try and post the comment again because I have switched to Opera browser … things are going better. I am about to go to Reader, two days not there – I likely will not finish tonight.
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I will try another browser another night. Another blogger who switched to self-hosting, posts on WP but does not have a comment icon at all, (one of the dangers of self-hosting as you can’t participate) but at least Shelley has a comment option on hers. I get a long list of icons on the left hand side of hers, which obscures the text, but I will try Firefox another night. Really enjoyed your blog today! Great pictures and commentary!
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I follow someone else too and can’t remember who it is and I think they haven’t posted in awhile. I was able to make a comment on her Saturday post, but sometimes I have to go back to the “Reader” area to do it. I have to have Internet Explorer for work, but only use it for work as it crashes from time to time and/or it freezes. I figured you might enjoy today’s post as we have discussed some of those things in the past. I am glad you liked the pictures and commentary. I took a ton of pictures yesterday (today too but will have to sort through them later in the week).
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I loved your photos and captions. I wore a light windbreaker this morning and left it on Marla’s post. Our temps went into the low 70s.
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Thanks Anne – I was going to reference your leaving your windbreaker at Marla’s in my post, but just said I put it in the car, which I did and was glad to reach the car … had to walk entire perimeter of the park first … by the time I finished at the park it was 60 degrees. We are getting to 72 on Monday – that is crazy and the next day the high will be 48.
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You’re right, this made me smile.
The scarfs are super interesting, I found them strange – surprise surprise.
I love the close ups!! They all let you get so close to them today….
I’m so glad you had warm weather, at last. I hope it begins to really warm up soon…
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I told you that it might give you a grin Eliza … I was right. I don’t “get” the scarves to be honest … and you can tell, especially from the picture up top, that these lamp posts are tall, so someone is standing on another person’s shoulders, or taking a ladder in to do it. It is harmless mischief I guess – hopefully they would not catch on fire. The critter expressions sometimes are really funny – the looks they give each other, not to mention me … just incredible. We are warm today – same temp as yesterday, but rain this afternoon and 72 F (22 C) tomorrow, but, ,,, wait for it … an inch (2.5 cm) of snow on Wednesday into Thursday. Enjoy the rest of your birthday celebration #1 … it is a good excuse to eat cake and ice cream.
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Gosh, more snow??? Here it sometimes hails or flash snows, but that’s usual for the city of 4 seasons a day.
I really wish they’d have done them to all the posts… maybe they only marked the tilted ones though.
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Hopefully just a small amount – and it is very warm today … today was above average, on Tuesday, below average. We’ve had roller-coaster temps for about 18 months now.
I don’t understand why they put the scarves on them?
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To warm them up in the winter?
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Now there’s an idea. 🙂 I wonder if I wrote to them and asked if they would answer and say why?
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You can try 🙂
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Its definitely looking greener!
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The warmth was a surprise after such a brutally cold, long Winter, BUT, I hope we don’t regress too much Michael… the weatherman said we might get an inch (2.5 cm) of snow Wednesday into Thursday.
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Ok maybe the week after itll be lovely lol.
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And we were 72 F (22C) today – how nice after our brutally cold Winter.
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Your photo of the bridge over not troubled water is beautiful. How’d that bag [?] get up on that well-dressed lamppost to begin with? Does the lamppost have a stylist? 😉
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Thanks Ally. Elizabeth Park is very beautiful and that bridge is about a century old. Wait ’til you see it when the willow tree is completely leafed out. Just gorgeous. There are two smaller bridges, identical in their architecture, with willow trees nearby. People go to this big bridge for wedding, prom and homecoming pictures. Late last Fall I was there when a whole wedding party had assembled … the bride had a beautiful gown with rhinestones and the sun glinting on them is what I saw first, then the wedding party. She wore a white fur stole. Huge wedding party and I watched the photographer working with them, and I took a few shots as well. Heritage Park with its covered bridge in the historical village is also a popular place for such shots. I thought it was a bag too when I saw the first adorned post, then an identical bag on a different post, later on down the Boardwalk, so I was puzzled too. Who knew that lamp posts would be stylin’?
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Linda – first bridge photo is stunning. I think the lamp posts and scarves? are a secret code. Hopefully, you’ll decipher for us and keep us posted!
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Thanks Kim – such a beautiful park and they have two smaller, near identical bridges, all built almost a century ago. lt is a hoppin’ place for wedding, prom and homecoming pictures. I’d really like to know the significance of these scarves … to mark them for repair perhaps … hmmm, a simple string around the base would suffice. I will let you know what I find out – next time I visit Elizabeth Park, hopefully it is greener.
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You described a perfect party in the park for a warm spring day! I adore the photos and the captions, you’re such a funny person, I love your sense of humor. I can’t believe you turned on the AC!!!!! Hope your walk today was as fun and warm as yesterday!! 🙂
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Thank you Shelley – it ended up being a fun day and initially I thought it was going to be pretty dull. I discovered the Opera browser worked … the Chrome browser must have issues, so I could put captions. After today, I might have to say my blog is humor … just had two funny posts in a row. 🙂
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Yes, it was fun. I’m thinking that WP was playing around in the background with browsers or something? How frustrating. LOL – run with the humor. You ARE funny!!!
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Variety is the spice of life … or so they say. At least the weather is something to smile about for a change, so I’ll carry on and try to bulk up some miles (in the short term anyway).
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You got that right! :-)!!
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Your photo captions made me giggle 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed them Sarah … sometimes the looks that animals or birds give, or their antics, just make my day. This was a perfect way to showcase them. 🙂
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The photograph of the bridge is gorgeous! You captured the mood of the weather perfectly in it. I’m happy to hear that it’s warming up in your area too. Happy Sunday, Linda! 🙂
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Thanks Sabine – this is a beautiful bridge, about a century old and there are two smaller identical bridges further down. The park is protective of these old historical bridges – they recently refurbished them, but won’t use salt or anything on the steps to crumble the bridge. The wrought iron railings make beautiful shadows on a sunny day. It was very murky yesterday morning. We reached 72 today, the first time in the 70s since October 12th! Hope you enjoyed your Sunday as well.
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I’m glad to hear that these bridges are protected! Lucky you for having a sunny and warm day. You’ve earned it! We’ve had nothing but rain for days and it’s supposed to stay this way for the rest of the week. But that didn’t put a damper on my day! 😉
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Yes they are very protective of this park’s historical portions. It was given to the City of Trenton as a gift from the Slocum Family descendants many years ago under the condition that the streets be named after a family member (their mother) “Elizabeth” so the park is named for her as are the three bridges and the vehicular bridge. The street around is called “Slocum Street” and the park is actually an island and connected to the City of Trenton. When the willows are fully in bloom, they will be gorgeous against that historic bridge … each of the three bridges have a huge willow tree nearby. Our weather was beautiful but uncharacteristic for early April. We have rain now – I was concerned the heat spiking to 72 would cause bad weather, but it was fine. It seems we cannot have a “normal” temperature anymore – we’re always deviating from the norm. I cannot recall the weatherman saying “a seasonal weather day” no matter the season.
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Linda, you amaze me in your knowledge of local history! Our weather seems skewed too, but not nearly as extreme as where you are.
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Thanks Sabine – this park is pretty well known Downriver (which is a collection of all the local communities, and where I live) … there is also a monument to the park as well. In fact I took a picture of it yesterday as I thought there was nothing going on and had nowhere to put it in yesterday’s or today’s post. It also has a beautiful marina here too. I am hoping our weather settles down soon and we don’t have a repeat of last Summer (9 weekends of rain, followed by intense heat for most of the Summer).
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May the weather turn nice for you! The park sounds beautiful. I hope we all get a pleasant summer!
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I hope so too Sabine – I’m going to sign up for a few more 5K walks this week – last year rain prohibited me from participating in them. This touch of Spring/Summer has sure felt good. I’m grateful we are not in this latest blizzard weather, and will remain unscathed except for a little wintry precip. Hope your rain lets up and you can out for a hike or a bike adventure.
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I’m glad the latest storm missed you! I’ll be happy when the yard dries up a little so that I can start working in it! I don’t like to ride my bike here at home because of all the traffic!
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Hopefully all your plants don’t get wet feet out there Sabine. I’m hearing that parts of the Midwest now will get 1-2 feet of snow tomorrow night. Yikes! Yes, that makes sense you wouldn’t be driving around town as you said the traffic was bad there. Bad enough being in a vehicle. It is not safe to ride a bike in town here either – better to do it at a park or rural trail. My boss was riding from home to work (9 miles each way) and someone hit him so he stopped doing that and starting going to Belle Isle which is about a mile from the office and he would leave the office and go straight there and ride 20+ miles and ride back. The traffic was so bad he now drives there and back and rides around the island. It is Distracted Driving Month here in Michigan. I forgot the incidence level of accidents per month – it is scary.
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We’re on a hill and never have standing water. The ground just gets really saturated after it’s rained a lot.
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Lucky you since you said that you get so much rain in your state. You saw what happened in these parks where it looks like a pond as the water has nowhere to go, especially when the ground was still so frozen. The water level at the storm drain at Council Point Park is almost to the top after the ice melted and all the rain we’ve had. I pity the people who are still dealing with flooding issues from this last bomb cyclone and now will face another one beginning tonight.
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I’ll just be happy when the rain stops and the sun returns!
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It sounds dreary indeed. I had a coworker years ago that lived in Seattle and said it was rare to have a sunny day, always overcast and raining.
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We do have the most beautiful summers though!
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The rain helps produce those beautiful flowers you showed us in your blog posts … it is all worth it in the end!
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Yes it is! 🌷
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That picture of the bridge is mesmerizing! Someone needs to make that into a painting.
Lol- “I need a big stretch to get the kinks out”. Too funny.
Hmm that lamp-post really is struggling isn’t it?!
Thanks for sharing all the cute little critters!!! Glad the weather is finally getting better for ya!
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Thank you – glad you liked that picture Mackenzie … several people have commented on it and when I took the shot I hoped it would come out reasonably well since it was murky out. That reflection on the water is what made the picture – I love to see reflections on the water. There are two similar, but smaller, bridges in this park and they are at other ends of the canal. The Detroit River is in the background. Many photographers come here with wedding parties, and it is a popular spot before Homecoming or Prom. I think we may have turned a corner weatherwise, notwithstanding the wintry precip that is coming tomorrow evening. It will be short-lived, unlike others in the Midwest who will endure a blizzard – hopefully it misses your family members in Ohio.
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The reflection is soo beautiful- I say it came out more than reasonably well!
I just heard about this supposed Blizzard- so crazy– I had to check the date- April & A Blizzard?! I bet it will be contending for a record!
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I will bet you are right! I’m hearing 1 to 2 feet in places like Minnesota or Wisconsin – unbelievable!
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So nuts!! I just saw more about it on the news this morning!
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We are lucking out thankfully.
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Sounds like an interesting walk in the park that really brought a smile to my face . Thanks for sharing such a descriptive post about your day. I love the idea of the scarf wearing lamp posts 😁.
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It seemed that the farther along I got on this walk, the stranger the morning was … I really didn’t understand the scarf wearing lamp post either Zena. Glad you enjoyed this descriptive post and the funny/strange pictures.
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