I’m back, but …

… they’re gone! The geese that is. More about them later.

After an angst-ridden ten days, give or take a day or two, I think I’m fairly caught up here on WordPress and other social media, and things are back to normal, so I’ll take a stab at posting my usual shtick, hopefully absent a rundown of mishaps, going forward.  I’m still typing with nine fingers, but thanks to some TLC and a lot of prayers, I think my finger looks much better six days after smashing it in the garage door panel.  The top actually looks and feels worse than the fingertip pad and it’s still a bit colorful looking – you might even say it looks red, white and blue!

I had taken a slew of photos about three weeks ago and divvied them up to share in posts, then stuff happened.  All the commotion and details as a result of the garage door debacle, left me fizzed and a bit frazzled and I decided that it is no fun “adulting” with little time to play.  I tried not to miss any walks and for convenience sake, since I was missing the car a good chunk of the time, I did most of my steps at Council Point Park. 

And, speaking of my favorite nature nook, the past week or so has been a little like “Dullsville” – the heat has caused everyone to lose their pep and stay up in their respective trees.  Today, I even took Nutter Butters as a treat for the holiday for my furry pals, but only three squirrels timidly ventured down to ground level, so I just gave them peanuts only.  I’ll save their cookies for cooler weather.  I didn’t see Parker the last few days and am a little worried about him – perhaps he just strayed to the ‘hood where the pickin’s might be better since none of the berry bushes at the Park are ripe yet.  A few squirrels were laying sprawled out beneath a tree, or on the pathway, their fuzzy tails stretched out behind them and four legs akimbo.  I’ve seen them do this before when it is hot and humid like it was today.  We are expecting a storm early evening so I’m trying to get this post done before it arrives.

It’s not only the squirrels MIA, but the Cardinals and Red-Winged Blackbirds weren’t popping down to the pathway either.  Harry the Heron has been missing for over a month and there was nary a swan, nor even a mallard, as I meandered along.

The only news of note came from the Creek where the carp are chasing one another out of the water and doing belly flops on the surface.  I couldn’t see them as the bushes are all leafed out, but I know the origin of the big splashes.  Happily, I finally heard Jeremiah, the big ol’ bullfrog that sounds off all Summer as I walk along the perimeter path.  That’s good news as I thought he might have been a goner after our brutal Winter.

While I miss the “regulars” along the walking path, the most noticeable absence lately is the Canada geese, whether they are ambling across the pathway, or gathering at the swimmin’ hole.

Who can resist this side-eye of the gander while his mate does the neck arch when they are perturbed by passersby ogling them?

Or the steely gaze I got for intruding on their respite at the cement landing where you see how the water sloshes over the top?

Bye, bye … gotta fly (or maybe not?)

Though the goslings aren’t ready to fledge, the geese and their offspring left Council Point Park this past week.  They’ve not been around for a week now, and, though their presence is missed, it sure was easier to walk on the perimeter path without stepping around fresh goose poop!

Every June and July the adult Canada geese moult.  They begin to lose their flight feathers in May – these photos show just a few of their large feathers I have seen sticking out of the grass the past couple of weeks, so I knew it was just a matter of time before they departed.  It has been that way every year since I began walking at this venue in 2013.

So, during this time, the geese must find a safe haven away from land predators while they cannot fly and this safe haven will be a body of water.  The geese families have evidently taken a water route to a place where they are safe since the goslings were not equipped to fly yet.

Additionally, this may surprise you, but Council Point Park, just like many other parks or golf courses, do not necessarily embrace the ambiance of the Canada geese during the Summer months.  There are soccer fields, baseball diamonds, inline skating, a playground and picnicking at the pavilion area … and don’t forget the walking path.  The geese sometimes act like they own the turf and get quite antagonistic toward anyone who gets in their way.  So, once the geese and their little families have left, the rest of the Summer the Park grass is sprayed with a non-toxic grape seed concentrate.  Even when the geese are able to fly again, they’ll descend onto the grass, but they don’t like the taste of it, so they go elsewhere to graze.  By the way, this is all approved by the Department of Natural Resources.  The goose repellent contains methyl anthranilate, a chemical that is found naturally in grape juice and gives grape bubblegum its flavor.  Come September, when the kids are back in school and the days are getting shorter, the spraying will cease and the geese will be welcomed back to graze as much as they want.  By then we won’t be able to tell the parents from their offspring!  There are Canada geese at larger parks where they have access to graze from the shoreline, though with all the lakeshore flooding that Michigan has right now, hopefully they will be okay during their transition period.

About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and in 2013 I decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things seen on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, so my blog is peppered with folks I meet or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post. I respect and appreciate nature and my interactions with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. I retired in March 2024 after a career in the legal field. I was a legal secretary for almost 45 years, primarily working in downtown Detroit, then working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I would like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met, shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy. I hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
This entry was posted in nature, walk and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

104 Responses to I’m back, but …

  1. I feel sorry for the poor geese (with the spray thing). Brother!

    Our exterior doors arrived and they have painting flaws and one of them will not close well enough to be locked. So, we have frustrating door problems now too, unfortunately. (They, the door people, are going to make things right, they say.)

    Did you read what i wrote to you in my latest blog about trying MSM for alleviating allergy problems? It is a natural antioxidant and works great for joint problems too! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • lindasschaub says:

      Hi Tom – I was amazed to hear that the DNR does that to the geese – their natural habitat is the Creek which has been there a lot longer than the Park (established in 1994) – they stray to the grass inside the walking loops. Just today I was speaking with a fellow walker who has been coming to the Park since he was a kid, long before it was a “formal park” – he and friends played in the Creek (it was clean then), I’m sure the Canada geese were mingling with the kids/adults who were there without incident. All contractor issues become a pain unfortunately.

      Sorry to hear about your doors – Glad they are going to make it right for you – that is promising anyway.

      I will look at your comment now. I shut down to eat something and just got back.
      We are having more storms tonight. I had allergy shots for 20 years and my allergist was retiring and said “you can stop the shots as you are okay, no hayfever, dust, mold issues now.” The new doctor had no Saturdays or evening hours, strictly 9:00 to 5:00, four days/week necessitating me to miss work once/month. So I stopped and 9 years later, the allergies came back with a vengeance!

      Like

    • Prior... says:

      Tom – you are right – it helps immune system too! And kills stuff.
      I try and do one yearly- MSM cleanse – buy the powder and take it for ten days (start with three teaspoons per day – one teaspoon 3x) and increase the amount on days 5, 6, and 7 to take it every few hours) then ease into the finally three days – it is great!
      Currently take one MSM capsule per night for immune system

      Liked by 2 people

      • I take four 1,000mg of MSM daily, year-round, mostly for arthritis. Also great for arthritis is Double Strength Theracurmin and/or CurQfen (from Swanson vitamins). 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      • lindasschaub says:

        Well I will definitely try this – right now I am trying to figure out what happened to my ankles and feet and it has to be the heat yesterday. I went to bed early – there were storms expected, but I was worried as my ankles and feet were very swollen, and I returned from walking yesterday and took off my socks – no marks on my lower legs and about one hour later, red blotches on both legs in the ankle area – especially the right leg which was worse.  I noticed swelling of ankles before recently, but then, and now, no pain and not hot.  Not cellulitis which my mom had for years. I elevated legs on two pillows to sleep, staying home this morning and drinking lots of water and elevating legs all day as best I can.  The weather is horrid and I would have walked just at a grocery store or mall today as it is 79 “real feel” already and high humidity of 89 degrees, and a heat advisory from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  I personally believe it is too much sitting  – sitting for work and blogging, and despite my walking, and cutting out salt it is still not good.  In fact I have cut out iodized salt and sea salt is in my canned soups or crackers (stopped eating bread as salty even though my BP is 122/66), and Googling around and learned that is not good either. It is very difficult anymore to the right thing healthwise, I am going to drink a lot of water today and elevate my legs as much as possible – hopefully that does the trick and tomorrow it is better.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        Something a dr told my grandmother was that after any time she goes out to put her feet up for a few minutes. My mum adopted that practice. No clue if it does or doesn’t help anything

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I’m going to tryh that right now after I log off – I am concerned a little to be honest and I feel all the sitting is not good, and I’ve already messed up my arm being at the computer too many hours and noot moving, The walking is probably good, but doesn’t count in the big scheme of things if you are immobile the rest of day – sigh. Thanks for your advice Eliza.

        Like

      • Eliza says:

        I hope when you see this you’ve raised your feet for a bit. How is it?

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I think it is about the same but the swelling in my ankles has gone down. I have slogged down at least 10 big glasses of water. I feel like I am waterlogged. I am on here a little longer, than going to shut down and pull the plug to our thunderstorms (again) … the heat spike is causing some ugly weather.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        Were your feet okay this time?

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Thanks for asking Eliza – they are not as swollen as I’ve gone to bed early three nights in a row (later tonight as I left later for walking and worked in the house purposely so I did not sit down) … I think all that elevation and staying away from the computer helped a lot – the test comes tomorrow … back to work, but I’m going to try and stand up – I elevated my laptop higher yesterday to help me stand up more – not ideal, but I’ll try it. The red marks are starting to fade too – they were worrisome a little.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        Can you get a doctor to look at it? I wonder if there are any creams that may help….
        If staying away from the computer helps, you can use a laptop with your feet up?

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I need to get a regular general practitioner doctor – because I am healthy (and eat pretty healthy … or so I thought) I have not had a physical in many years. I know I have to do that and just put it off. I was not as “good” yesterday, sat and wrote this long post today and I was out on a walk later and doing housework, but then sat another 4 hours later in the day – I have to do better than that today though.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        Keep your legs up whilst you write?
        So when are you making an appointment for a full physical?

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        It was hard and I have been fidgeting all day to be honest – I did one leg at a time for 1/2 hour, then got up and walked around. It is a hard stool and was pressing into the backs of my heels and I don’t think a pillow would help. I do need to do that and before bad weather and see if I wait too long and need to go back in six months, I don’t want to make it in Winter. I don’t like driving in ice/snow – I go when it is clear out only – I’m like a little old lady. I took the bus for over 30 years so never honed my Winter driving skills. I don’t mind walking in Winter, but don’t want to walk on ice, snow is okay, ice is not – too many chances to fall and break something. The bus – well, I took the bus for decades and now my friend who still takes the bus, tells me there are bedbugs – no, don’t want to bring bedbugs home. I’m still dwelling on it and going to try to make some tweaks and adjustments with my behavior first … then go. I’m going to sign off here by 8:30-9:00 p.m. even though I’ll be behind in Reader – I will not try to finish up Reader every night anymore as it was really making me here a full 12 hours – 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. I know I did it to myself Eliza.

        Like

      • Eliza says:

        It’s good to be online less. It doesn’t make a difference if you did it to yourself or not. Now you have to deal with it and you will.
        Can you ask for a home visit?
        I’m sitting at work now – my student is revising so I have nothing to do. Which I like for now.
        Love, light and glitter

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Yes it is and I have given some thought as to what you mentioned about sitting up as in bed, with one of those tables that slides over the bed edge and you p;ut the laptop on it. That’s an idea too – I don’t want to get hopelessly behind here and I feel right now that I can’t post my own posts if I can’t take the time to read others’ posts as that is not fair. I will get my balance and see march on. I had hoped to catch up more in Reader yesterday but on the phone with my boss and he had some things to do – I thought I had more time as he got acclimated. I went to bed at 9:00 p.m. last night – I was going to bed after 11:00 and then up by 4:30 a.m. – 5:00 a.m. I really don’t want to see a doctor right now as I think he may send me for tests if I say what happened last week. Today, the marks are barely visible and my ankles are normal… again, I did do it to myself, just like sitting for hours on end and holding my arm the same way – I still cannot raise my hands above my head and doing my hair is a real pain. But, I did not really realize the harm of sitting endless hours until it was too late. Enjoy your break right now while your student is working hard. Put YOUR feet up … or maybe not? Love, light and glitter back at you and thank you for caring Eliza.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        You don’t need to read others posts. I don’t agree with that. You can post your own and skip mine out and, you can read others once a week, or on one day a week you read a few posts. Your work does come first and your health comes first, and you come first always…..
        I really want you to go to a doctor and get those tests 😦 though it’s completely your life and you know what works for you best…….
        Love, light and glitter
        I hope today is a peaceful day
        (((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Well now I am reading this and I had some spare time at work today and went to Reader – decided I could have written my post and added the pics and finalized it tonight, but felt badly as I was 2 1/2 days behind. I didn’t finish in Reader and then I got busy the end of the day and had to stay late. Tomorrow night we are having a storm, possibly raucous, maybe severe – this is not confirmed because it depends on how hot it gets on Wednesday. We had coolish weather and normally seasonal weather for two days and tomorrow will be hot, humid and if the storm begins in the heat, it will be worse. So tomorrow maybe no blog post either. No, I hate to skip anyone’s posts, including yours, because I know how much effort goes in writing them or for the photographers, for taking photos, etc. But, like you said, I don’t have to catch up every single night – that was what I did before. Before I interacted with anyone, I often did 4-5 posts a week, but they only had one picture too and were much shorter.

        Thank you for caring – I will go to a doctor, and get a complete physical, but hesitating as I want to get everything normal – I don’t want to go on any medication. Always in the back of my mind is my mom with all her meds which counteracted with other meds and it became a whirlwind with her – prescription pills all the time and really only the Motrin was any benefit (for pain) (800 strength which eventually ate a hole in her colon and she died of sepsis from a perforated colon). I must find a doctor and get a baseline physical – I do have to take better care of me.
        Thanks for the love, light and glitter and thinking of me.
        (((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        Not everyone holds of medication. Yeah, getting loads of different medications is, well it’s not stupid exactly, just, yeah….

        You know, you don’t have to wait until you catch up on your reader before posting, if you do that, you’ll never get to catch up. You can post and then catch up. Or even write a couple of short posts instead of a long one. Because depends on who interacts with you on your blog, a lot of people would want to see your posts even if you haven’t read theirs (I know I would).
        Happy Wednesday! I hope it doesn’t get too hot today and that the storms stay at bay

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I know meds are necessary for many things – I do “get” that and not just for chronic pain or illness, but my reluctance stems from watching my mom and how the doctors treated and interacted with her – one doc out of many got my approval. It was like a mill … see the doc, get pills, take the pills, see the doc – a viscious circle and my mom never came out ahead. I did all the comments and then it got late – my legs and ankles look great and it is a tradeoff, but I think a good one Eliza. Thank you for making me see the light. I will do a post tonight, even a short one, unless the storm lingers – we have spiked up in the heat again – ugh and it’s quite humid and already a “real feel” of 82 F (27 C) but off I will go anyway – I am pushing myself to get those miles in and meet my goal despite all the stupidsetbacks. Let me know how you do with your bag today, okay? Thanks for pushing me to do my stuff which is still sitting in my mind and now “out there” – take care.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        ((hugs))
        Looking forward…
        I have to post the pictures of my bag. We sewed the inner pockets today and we’ll just make it a lot smaller. I think we’re really close to completion…….. I was exhausted! It was 1.5 hours of concentration on the machine.

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        That’s good – you will be glad to be done with it. I used to like to sew as I told you. For me, it was a necessity as they never made clothes in “tall sizes” back then and I always looked like my clothes belonged to my little sister. 🙂

        Like

      • Eliza says:

        Would you go back to sewing?

        Like

      • lindasschaub says:

        No, as the sewing machine is in a piece of furniture, and matching chair, in the basement and has boxes and other stuff on top of it. It’s not been oiled since my last project around 1982.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Eliza says:

        Oiled? I didn’t know machines had to be oiled…. oh well 😦

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Yup, you should just to keep it running smoothly and nothing dries up inside the machine. But if you do it, make sure you keep some old material and run the machine back and forth as the oil will seep into the places where the thread goes and it will make the thread oily. Here is a link that tells what to do and you can buy sewing machine oil in a fabric store – it is a small bottle and long “neck” to get into all the spaces.
        https://www.wikihow.com/Oil-a-Sewing-Machine

        Like

      • It is difficult to do the right thing healthwise these days. I was looking at soft gluten-free taco-like pizza shells as a possible thing i could eat today but saw they were laden with baking powder and all kinds of weird preservative chemicals. If mold can’t eat it, i don’t want it sitting in my stomach!

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        It sure is Tom and I follow a healthy diet and my main problem is sitting too much, yes I walk, but … the rest of the day I sit. I don’t want to take a blogging break, but I realize that I cannot keep up with my own posts and in Reader every day like I was – -too much sitting, so I will just be behind in Reader and less posts for me and try to keep moving more. I was much more active before the blogging really took off in late 2017. Now I am sitting at least 12 hours a day which is not healthy. It is sickening hot this morning: 75 degrees, real feel of 82 and 90% humidity. Not my cup of tea at all!

        Like

  2. AJ says:

    That’s really neat they have found a natural spray that works. Geese are a big problem at our local parks!

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Let me pour some methyl anthranilate on the DNR family’s food and see how they like it. 🙂

    I hope that they get the doors right. I hope that they replace the one crappy-stained one with a whole new door. I don’t think that i want it merely touched-up; touching it up, i think, will not really work. We paid a lot for these doors!

    You might want the try the MSM. The body makes it naturally, or gets it naturally from fresh foods, but as we age we lose the ability to do that!
    You also might want to try Googling other natural ways to combat allergies. 🙂
    I was, when i was young, getting shots for allergies; then my allergy-doctor said, “These shots for allergies are largely a waste of time; they really can’t cover everything, allergen-wise.”

    Liked by 2 people

    • lindasschaub says:

      Yes, I agree with you Tom – that is their natural habitat. They will go to larger venues while they are without their flight feathers so they can take cover in the water should a land predator threaten them while they cannot fly. It takes about 8 weeks until they can fly again and the goslings were not ready to fledge, except perhaps the first family, so they likely all traveled via the water to their safe haven.

      When I stopped the allergy shots after 20 years when my allergist retired and said I didn’t need them, when the allergies returned 9 years later, I had the needle sensitivity test and it was the same dust, mold, chlorophyll, but instead of Summer hayfever, ragweek allergies, I now had allergies to Spring new growth –
      the trees leafing out, the abundance of long and lush grass in Spring before the heat and sun has dried it to a crisp like is happening here right now – in the spanse of 10 days we have gone from nice green grass to almost brown grass.

      I know my neighbor had multiple issues with Lowes, whether it was their own contractors and subcontractors. They pulled a permit at the City without me signing off with an original signature to take down the chain-link fence between our houses – I did not authorize it. No one told or asked me about thefence. The City never checked. Down came the fence and I told her Lowes owed me for a new fence or she did and she was very snarky about it so I went to the City. The City inspector said “ya, WE messed up, but your shed is on the easement – just sayin’.” I said the shed was put up by my father in 1966 and never an issue before … so I replaced the chain-link fence at my expense and a few years later the shed blew over and fell apart in a 39 mph windstorm.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Prior... says:

    How interesting to hear about the grape seed concentrate and methyl substance – wow – great natural idea to them allow them to come back later

    Liked by 2 people

  5. John says:

    Beautiful pictures Linda😊 I have not shoot any birds in the nature yet, but hopa I will tomorrow when my holiday begin. I took only 2 weeks and have 4 more weeks to take.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. I think they all showed up here! They were everywhere yesterday when I was out with my client.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. The Count Gustaf says:

    THE GEESE ARE ADORABLE LINDA! !! Hehehe

    Liked by 2 people

    • lindasschaub says:

      Glad you liked them Count! They are gone but you are back!

      Liked by 1 person

      • The Count Gustaf says:

        Yes hehe wrote a little something

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I will be back to catch up later – I am behind bigtime after smashing my finger in the garage door a week ago today – I have now mastered the 9-finger typing though. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • The Count Gustaf says:

        Oh my ! How did that happen

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Well, I will give you the abridged version Count. Two weeks ago today, I heard a loud noise that was in the house while I was working here at the kitchen table (I work from home). I ran downstairs – nothing. Ran outside and looked at gutters and awnings – nothing collapsed – whew. Next day I went in the garage to get the car and was planning a nice walk at a park far from here. Garage door would not open. Called for service and many hours later, he arrived, and he had to pry it open, and one of the two springs had come off the cable that raises/lowers the door had come off, hit the ceiling of the garage, hit the car, then bounced against the garage door. He put on a new spring and cautioned the spring would soon be obsolete, so think of getting a new garage door in the short term. So, I ordered a new door to be installed the following Tuesday. He showed me how to pull it down and lock it (quite different than the other one I’d been using 35 years) and when I got my car back from the bump shop, it was 90 degrees F (32 C) and the handyman was on the roof, and I was distracted and pulled the car into the garage, shut the garage door, trapping my finger in between the panels. The new door has no gaps in the panels – the other one did and I am tall and always pulled it up/down using the panel gaps. I caught my finger a week ago today – you can see the pictures in this post I did the next day: https://lindaschaubblog.net/2019/06/29/x-marks-the-spot/

        It looks 100% better than it did there but my nail is still really numb and I hope I don’t lose it – I feel lucky I did not break anything (as far as I know, I did not go to the doctor since I could bend the knuckle and straighten my finger). I feel a little dumb, however, I shut it this way for 35+ years, plus he had oiled the track well and the door came down very quickly and shut my finger in between, so I’ve been typing with 9 fingers since then while it heals.

        Like

  8. I’m glad your finger is better and that you were able to get caught up.

    Liked by 2 people

    • lindasschaub says:

      Thanks Anne – I still have another day’s worth to catch up on – you were up early today. I will try to catch up today if possible – another stormy afternoon, possibly bad weather due to a heat spike to 91 and a heat advisory all day today til 10:00 p.m.

      Like

  9. Rebecca says:

    I’m glad to hear that your fingers are healing. I’ve been there and done that, and know that it’s no fun. I guess food is more plentiful for the squirrels and birds right now. I’m sure by fall they will once again be more appreciative of handouts.

    Liked by 2 people

    • lindasschaub says:

      I am glad to hear I am not the only one who did this. I am glad it does not feel like it did one week ago today. That does make sense that they can forage for natural foods and I saw a gray squirrel the next block over munching a leaf – never have seen that before. Wait til the mulberries ripen – there are many bushes and some walkers pick them, but the woodchucks and squirrels also like them too. Before seeing the woodchuck in the tree, I did not know that they climbed trees/bushes.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Rebecca says:

        Interesting about the woodchuck climbing trees. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen one out in nature.

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I was watching the Creek through the camera last year to take a picture of the large carp chasing one another, and was crouched beside a mulberry bush. All of a sudden in the corner of my eye, I saw a big brownish object and I turned to see a woodchuck on the branch right next to me munching mulberries. He looked scared to see me but just moved to a different branch and continued munching. I thought they only were on the ground – it really surprised me!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Laurie says:

    So happy your finger is getting better. Your “regulars” must be on summer break. Maybe they are on vacation. Thanks for the chemistry lesson. I enjoyed reading about the goose repellant! Glad they are spraying with a non-toxic substance.

    Liked by 2 people

    • lindasschaub says:

      Yes me too Laurie – glad to give you, the former chemistry teacher, a little lesson. I always ask questions, but dropped the ball yesterday when I saw people plucking blooms off a tree and stuffing them into a bag. It was a flowering tree and I should asked, but I saw some pictures someone had drawn and propped up by a tree and checked it out. Another walker told me he asked and they said they use it to make tea –
      he should have asked more questions. 🙂 When I returned they were gone. Last year I asked the woman why she was plucking leaves – they were milkweed for her monarch caterpillars. Hope your weather is good while on your family vacation out East. We have a heat advisory from 10 to 10 today and at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. it was already 79 degree “Real Feel” outside.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Laurie says:

        When I did science fair with the kids, some of them did monarch butterfly studies. I always had them pick tons of milkweed leaves to put in the freezer so the butterflies would have something to eat while they were caterpillars.

        We did have great weather on the Cape. Very conducive to running!

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        The monarch caterpillars chomp through the milkweed like crazy – my neighbor and I had a milkweed plant set-up with caterpillars we got at an art fair – we kept running out of milk weed and had to get someone with a Monarch Waystation and a backyard full of milkweed to help us out! Glad your weather was great and you got lots of running in, a win-win getaway for a family vacation.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Laurie says:

        They do go through milkweed quickly, don’t they? Your monarch project sounds cool! I am glad you found someone to help you with it.

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Yes, she raises Monarchs and releases them in her yard – she is so devoted that her family is big on camping and if she has pupas that look almost ready for the butterfly to emerge, they takes them out of the terrarium and into a small carry “tube” and that’s so she can release them when they are ready – otherwise they’d be in the terrarium and couldn’t get out. I saw a monarch caterpillar today – there is much milkweed in the Park, so going to watch for more of them. It was pretty big. It was a fun project – we enjoyed doing it.

        Like

  11. Eliza says:

    (((((Hugs)))))
    I’m sure you miss them. I should go to our park to see if they’re there.
    I hope your weekend is relaxing
    Any plans?
    Love light and glitter

    Liked by 1 person

    • lindasschaub says:

      I’m going to plan on walking tomorrow – it will be warm, but not as oppressive. I took off today, and it is just so hot today Eliza We have a heat advisory here as the “real feel” has gotten to 92 F (33 C) with a “real feel” of 99 F (37 C) right now. I thought I’d check e-mail for work and catch up a bit, then we have some thunderstorms late afternoon – the weather is unbelievable this entire year. Sunday is supposed to be a nice weather day, cooler and sunny – I’ll go to a different park I think – how about you Eliza, any plans?

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Shelley says:

    Yay – welcome back! I’m glad you can type with 9 fingers! I agree with you on walking free from the goose chasing and goose poop. I did not know that about the spraying, I just thought they moved on to different areas naturally. Very interesting post – lots of cool tidbits of interesting facts and fun bullfrog hopping humor. Thank you for sharing, I learned something new! I hope you continue to heal. And that July gets better and better with time.

    Liked by 1 person

    • lindasschaub says:

      Glad you liked it Shelley – I always ask questions when DNR is there taking water samples or doing routine inspections, so that is how I found out about the spray to ward off the geese. I messed up yesterday as two people were collecting blossoms from a tree at the Park. I was nosy, but saw two pieces of artwork sitting under two other trees, so went there first. A fellow walker said they collected blossoms for tea. I wish I had asked so I knew what type of tea. I took a photo close up and will try to research or post a pic and ask others, That bullfrog is out there every morning and I missed him – can’t believe it took til July to hear him. This Winter the DNR said, after seeing all the dead shad in any small body of water, that possibly the crayfish, turtles and frogs may not survive the Winter.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. I’m sorry to hear about your legs, Linda! I would think that eating fresh and unprocessed food would help with fluid retention. Another thing would be compression stockings. They do feel hot in the summer, but can help keeping things flowing. They would also be good to wear while “at work at your desk”. As to allergies, mine come and go but I’ve never treated them with anything other than maybe nettle capsules. A number of people I know have had good luck taking them. I’m sure there’s information on the subject online. I’ve also heard that some eat a little local honeybee pollen, which can be gotten at farmers markets.
    I hope your issues resolve and that the weather improves! 🙋

    Liked by 1 person

    • lindasschaub says:

      Hi Sabine – someone else suggested the compression stocking and I am going to look into them. My mom used them for years for edema in her legs. The odd thing is that everything I eat as to canned vegetables is sodium free and I have switched to soups with sea salt, crackers with sea salt instead of bread (since they quit carrying my Dave’s Bread, I just went to the low-sodium Triscuits instead). But I have noticed ankle and foot swelling – because I am healthy (forget the arm which I did to myself being here too many yours and I am sure that sitting here too many hours has likely caused this issue as well), I am a healthy person. I am astounded by this, and the wine-colored blotches were worrisome as well. I have been elevating it very high and walking around the house, getting things done and just stopped for a break here. I did not walk today because of it and also because when I got up this morning, on the 5:00 a.m. news it was already a “real feel” of 79. We have a couple of rounds of storms tonight, so I’m going to go to Reader briefly then pull the plug and not sit the rest of the evening. I’ll take advantage of the weekend to do likewise. You and Tom and Yvette made suggestions about the allergies – I discontinued once when the allergist was going to retire, and the allergies returned with a vengeance, but it would be worth it to me to try other options.

      Liked by 1 person

      • If I were you, I’d probably call my doctor about the legs. The discoloration doesn’t sound good! Most offices have an after hour number to talk to a nurse. There is another bread called Ezekiel, made from sprouted grains and at least one of them is sodium free. You’d find it in the freezer. It’s very tasty and contains no flour! Just the sprouted grains. Take it easy, Linda!

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        You know I looked for the Ezekiel bread and didn’t realize it was in the freezer section – that is why I could not find it I guess. Thanks Sabine – I do not have a regular doctor, though I do have a doctor associated with my Obamacare but have never gone to see anyone yet since I’ve been on it. Despite my arm issue, finger and this, I am never sick, so this has thrown me for a loop, but it does not surprise me as I know the arm issue and this is the result of not enough moving around- since blogging, I am spending at least another 6 hours a day sitting at the computer. Before it was just my 6 hours a day for work. You cannot sit for 10-11 hours in a row and little movement, plus in the morning another hour without issues. I feel I have done this to myself and simply must limit my time online – hard to do but will have to do it and going to start the exercise bike again – get the blood flowing. I went to bed at 8:00 p.m. and legs elevated until 5:00 a.m. today – no swelling now and will do housework all day but pop on her later. I have to tell myself I cannot do posts, acknowledge comments and keep up in Reader totally on an everyday basis … just do it in moderation, much as I don’t want to change my habits.
        Thank you for your concern Sabine. It is very hot out this morning – 75 degrees, real feel of 82 and 90% humidity … will take the car for a run and a short walk on the shady side of the Park.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Joni says:

        That is concerned, but good that the swelling went away with elevated rest.

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Yes, it is concerning, but I decided if any changes, I’d go to the doctor – don’t have one except the recommended place from my health insurance – I suspect it is too many hours of sitting and that is the problem. Shelley and a few others recommended compression stockings during the day and I will get some, but first more moving around.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Joni says:

        It’s hard to move around more when you work on the computer for a living as well as a hobby!

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I must do better though – I was pretty good until yesterday, I sat more hours yesterday, but I also went out and walked and did housework so I was moving around, but I sat about 8 hours yesterday so I have to improve on that. But just standing at the computer would be as bad as sitting and using it – have to move around at the same time. That will take some doing.

        Like

      • Wow! Glad your legs are better! I’m sure that you will find the right balance for yourself. Linda! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Well the maroon-colored marks are still there on both legs Sabine, but there is no pain and they are not hot and I am going to make an effort to not sit as much. I also had a thought today that Thursday, I had brand-new Thorlo walking socks on – the short, to the ankle style. I had ordered new ones last year at the end of the Summer because they had a good sale – I normally wear regular crew socks which are not so heavy in the least. The Thorlo socks are padded under the tongue and at the heel and in the toes – just maybe with swelling, it was too much material in my shoes? I went back to my other style this morning. I have been standing this afternoon, for almost four hours, trying to catch up in Reader and finally have caught up – I have stood and after each post I read and commented on, I walked around the kitchen or to the front room, or did squats, for better circulation. I walked this morning and it was horribly hot and humid, but I walked just under five miles. I’m going to do some things in the house now – we are having a heavy thunderstorm early evening so I wanted to catch up here a little. If no storms I’ll aim to get a post in, but doubt it unless the bad weather blows over. We had rain 3X yesterday (afternoon and two thunderstorms overnight) and already had rain this afternoon.. Our tomorrow was to be totally gorgeous and after the cold front, less humidity and cooler and I just heard still another storm in my county for tomorrow, maybe mid-day. I hope they are wrong, but I still have Council Point Park. I have to find the right balance – that is the most important thing Sabine.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sounds like you’re investigating the leg issues. Good luck and good health! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Thanks Sabine – I don’t want to take any chances and I believe I did this to myself and need to learn to push away from the chair and be more active – apparently five miles every day and six miles on weekend or holiday days. and any walking around the house, albeit a small house, have little or no bearing when you are sitting down all day long – interesting isn’t it?

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda, I once read an article that stated that sitting is just as bad for our health as smoking! 😬 I know I need to be more active too!

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        I have heard that before Sabine and that is why I have worried for a while about it – but it didn’t get me up and away from the computer until Thursday when I saw the red blotches – they are fading now but I’ve gone to bed at 8:00 p.m. three nights in a row and elevated my legs – tonight I am much later as I walked later and did housework to stay on my feet and not sit down. I am going to try the exercise bike again – I put it aside when I started walking and used to do it in the Winter time with ice and snow and abandoned that as well. The real test comes tomorrow with back to work again! I put my laptop up higher so I can stand at the same time – okay for reading and responding here on WordPress, but for work, maybe not as workable of an option.

        Liked by 1 person

      • There are some cool height-adjustable workstations available. My husband got one years ago when they closed his office and moved people home. He got a interesting stool he could “sit” on, but it was high and therefore not like sitting on a regular chair.

        Liked by 1 person

      • lindasschaub says:

        Two people I know have moved to standing desks – one, a fellow blogger who also works from home; and another, my friend who is in grad school and same age as me, who was finding all the sitting time at the computer too much. (Even though she’d been a legal secretary as long as me, 35 years, almost 40 years). I know they have those flexible tilt stools for the standing desks, all designed to give you more flexibility and posture. I just looked at one online tonight after seeing it on Bob and Brad (a couple of physical therapists) who have a Facebook, Twitter and website. That was their favorite chair and it really was high and tilted forward!

        Liked by 1 person

  14. AnnMarie R stevens says:

    Dear Miss Linda………………………………….we have had about 30 geese and about 30 ducks at our apartment large pond……………………….Mr. and Mrs. Meany (goose) I’m sure only allow extended family members to come back to their native pond……………….so we have quite a few fowls around

    Liked by 1 person

    • lindasschaub says:

      Ann Marie – You are lucky that the geese have not gone, so you still have something to enjoy at your pond this Summer. And I’m guessing they don’t spray there to keep them away – I like that Mr. and Mrs, Meany make decisions on whom they should exclude at “their pond”. 🙂

      Like

  15. Joni says:

    I wish they would spray that grape seed repellent on the park near me! There are so many geese there it’s crazy.

    Liked by 1 person

    • lindasschaub says:

      Another blogger from B.C. is a runner and she said the same thing – her brother works for the City so she is going to show him this info to see if they are interested. Pouring now. So much for late afternoon and catching up here. I don’t have my favorites – will check out Accuweather – miss bopping around to my favorite sites.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I am glad your finger is healing and you are back out in nature 😘

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Sandra J says:

    I had never heard of this spray until you mentioned it. Not sure if they do it around here. They probably do. It is fun going backward in your post, you are talking about how hot it is and I am sitting here with the heat on. But yet your words remind me of the feeling of summer heat. You forget that feeling in the midst of winter.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda Schaub says:

      I was chatting with a woman DNR rep one day. She had stopped and was taking water samples at the Creek and asked if I knew if the adult geese and their goslings were gone. She explained about the spraying of the grape extract once they had left with their goslings and likely they go by water, as they begin to lose their flight feathers so must go somewhere safe but where they can access land at the same time to graze (without flying). They go down to the Detroit River and paddle/float down to Elizabeth Park along the Detroit River. I also learned that the grape spray is used on golf courses to keep the geese away and it is humane – they detest the grape taste. You can buy it at stores like Lowes for people who live in lakefront properties. It is nice to know that warm weather is on the horizon and it is not Fall and headed into Winter.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Sandra J says:

        The park I walk to here in town must not use it. The geese hang out there all summer, it has a small pond with an island in the middle. And a sidewalk that goes around the pond. Which is full of goose poop all year. But, I don’t mind, I just walk around it. They have to go somewhere.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:

        I agree with you Sandra … there are people who are afraid of them. They hiss and I have some hissing goose pictures taken Saturday where the goose went ballistic on the other goose and kept hissing at it. But walkers don’t like them – you simply sidestep around them, especially when they have their goslings with them. There is always goose poop in the Park except the months they are gone – I find myself walking around it just like you and checking my shoes before I get into the car if I drove that day.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sandra J says:

        Because we are walking out in nature, it just can’t be all clean and void of wildlife, then it would not be nature. Maybe in the big city like New York, I wonder if they have birds at that big park in the middle of the city. I am not interested in going to that city at all. I know you said you were there. I don’t like being surrounded by that many people or buildings. Just thinking about it is to much for me.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:

        Yes, it has to be a natural setting and not just created or it is not the same – I agree with you. I am trying to think how natural looking Central Park was – I was there for an event through school many years ago and my fellow classmates and I took a horse and buggy ride through the park. I think people jog there – the blind Supreme Court Judge (Richard Bernstein) was there on vacation and was jogging in the Park when he was hit by a bicycle and took a long time to recuperate (and had to stay in NY) as a result of it.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sandra J says:

        I guess you have to from there to like living there. We met an uber driver when in Florida who was from NY, he had been in Florida for 2 years, but they don’t like it and miss NY and are planning on moving back. He was telling us how expensive it is to live in NY though, the property takes are very high and apartments are smaller then our RV, I just can’t imaging living in a city that big.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:

        New Yorkers are not the friendliest people either – not nice to generalize but they are kind of self-absorbed and rude. And it is expensive. A client’s daughter went there for a career in art/illustrating/fashion … she went to school here in Michigan, but got a job there and had a very small apartment – one room which was kitchen, living room and had to function as the bedroom since she had a pull-down bed. I forgot how much he said she paid for it – it was just incredibly expensive. I think most people right in the City do not have vehicles though and just take public transportation, so they save on cars, insurance and gas … still wouldn’t cover the price of an apartment.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Sandra J says:

        I don’t think I could handle going on a subway. It seems like your days would end up being so monotonous. And always inside, from home to subway to work. But, I imagine some people enjoy it or they would not be there. How different we all are.

        Liked by 1 person

      • Linda Schaub says:

        I know and some people take the train – as long as a one-hour train ride so they can live in the suburbs rather than in New York or Washington. That’s not for me either Sandra.

        Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.