Spring took forever to get going. It was as if Winter begrudged Spring’s arrival – talk about pushback! We had fits and starts, cold and hot, rainy, windy – overall a crummy Spring. I loathe Winter, but a gentle launch into Springtime would have been preferable.
At times, Spring weather was so cold, I did not swap my hat for my bare head, nor shuck my jacket, until late April, for a two-day heat wave, then back to warm clothing again. Such is the ever-changing weather in the Mitten State and beyond as we deal with climate change.
We’ve all heard the phrase “Summertime and the living is easy” and, while it is a little premature, calendar-wise, to call it “Summer” here in Southeast Michigan, now that we’re in June, we continue to deal with the roller coaster ride of erratic weather. Memorial Day was scorching hot and humid, then a cold front with 60 mph winds rolled through and suddenly it was jacket weather.
Mother Nature sure is conflicted sometimes, but aren’t we all?
And, although I said I would NOT complain about the sultry weather, that hot and humid spell had me whining a little anyway. Sure, it’s not only uncomfortable, but brings volatile weather like the recent EF3 tornado with 150 mph winds in Gaylord, Michigan, a small town 250 miles from me. We’re already hearing predictions of three months of hot and sticky conditions which will cause rolling blackouts all Summer.
This writer wishes to return to Summertime like when I was a young’un …. simpler times and simpler weather.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Then May arrived and finally we had an entire week without rain – Mother’s Day weekend looked to be picture-perfect weather. I was ecstatic to get out to enjoy some of the larger shoreline parks, maybe even navigate the Cherry Island Trail at Lake Erie Metropark without sinking into the oozing mud on the rustic portion of that trail.
But, that was not to be. My car was still in the shop for the long-awaited A/C fix for May 7th and 8th and the following equally beautiful weekend as well.
After two long weeks, when I finally had the car again, severe weather, the dregs of the aforementioned Gaylord tornado, left dark brooding clouds, sudden dramatic downpours, whooshing winds and warnings by the weather folks to be mindful of the sky and severe weather conditions all weekend. So I stuck close to home once again. I finally got to multiple large parks over the long holiday weekend and the camera was clicking as I racked up 19 miles walked in three days.
During that long stretch with no wheels, I found myself returning to my roots, er … routes in the ‘hood, those streets I regularly traveled on foot early in my walking regimen before I discovered Council Point Park in 2013 and once I discovered this little nature nook it has become my go-spot ever since.
When Council Point Park closed the month of May 2020 due to rising COVID cases in our City, I was forced to return to the ‘hood, but truth be told, I visited the Park three times weekly to leave peanuts for my furry and feathered friends. During this time, the only vehicle entrance was barricaded and bright-yellow caution tape was strung from trees to poles. However, it was and is, easy to gain access to the Park simply by stepping onto the grounds. I walked along River Drive across from the Park and saw a lone bicyclist on the perimeter path a couple of times, so I figured that yes, I should similarly sneak into the Park to do a short walk and deposit treats for my pals. One time I encountered a pair of firemen removing the caution tape at the pavilion area just as I arrived. “Great!” I exclaimed and without missing a beat I asked “are we allowed to walk here again?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a few squirrels had been alerted to my arrival and were approaching the pavilion. “No” he replied, “we’re removing the caution tape as it is flying all over and we’re worried it will blow into the Creek and harm the waterfowl.” “Oh” I said, then politely told them I’d been making a mad dash three times a week to feed the critters and opened my bag to show them and pointed to Parker, et al who were poised politely, ready to grab a peanut. Well I admit I took a chance divulging why I showed up today and admitting to past practice. I explained that the circle of squirrels and birds that were lurking around us would be disappointed if didn’t leave some treats, so sweetly I asked “will it bother you if I make my usual drop?” One fireman smiled and the other put his hands over his eyes and said “I see nothing!”
There’s still a few issues at the Park, though not COVID related.
Ticks and avian flu … these two words have infiltrated my walking regimen.
I am a bleeding heart. I’m also a person who will no longer have pets as the grief over losing them is just too much to bear. I’ve thus “adopted” my Park pals and have become attached to those little critters. So, as I step onto the trail, I say a silent prayer I will finish those laps without seeing a hawk swoop down to snatch one of my furry friends. When I arrive, I scan the trees and trail for signs of Parker, who is sure to scramble down for a meet and greet after seeing me, the Peanut Lady, the bag of peanuts. I don’t always see him, but I feel better when he be-bops over as precocious as ever. So I tread carefully along the path these days, coming to a standstill and then I may look up, down and around before dumping out any treats to ensure no hawks are lurking about.
During the month of May, with geese and goslings galore, I find myself constantly doing a “poop check” of the ridges in the soles of my heavy walking shoes. But, I have to do a sock and pants check too – this is before I come into the house to ensure no ticks are hanging onto my clothing as we have a tick infestation. Sheesh!
There’s always a ruckus at the three spots at the Park where I make my “drops” of peanuts and seeds to my furry and feathered friends. Those critters are smart (and hungry) because as soon as they see me walking to the pavilion area (my first stop), they come out of the woodwork. The Blue Jays used to at least wait until I got to the next stop at “The Safe Haven Tree” a Weeping Mulberry tree, so named by me as its long and leafy branches tickle the ground and form a fortress of sorts where the squirrels and birds can dine without fear of a hawk swooping down.
The third spot had been a tree stump and fallen log surrounded by brush, perfect to leave treats on that side of the Park, but now it is overgrown with weeds and I’m uneasy about traipsing through there, even in Winter. So I leave a heap of peanuts and sunflower seeds on the path near that spot, sometimes stopping to take a few photos and remind them to “watch your backs and be careful of the hawks!” I know they don’t know what I’m telling them, but it eases my mind that I at least sounded the warning alarm. I hope that scattering sunflower seeds will not encourage the avian flu. I think it’s okay as the critters gather and quickly disperse. This is a typical morning at this third spot:
I took a ton of Spring pictures around Council Point Park – some more of my favorites are below.
On Mother’s Day weekend, three geese families, debuted their goslings and they were different ages. How could I tell? You’d be surprised how quickly goslings grow in just a few days’ time. You’ll see for yourself – next Monday’s post will feature those sweet babies.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Parks looking fabulous! Still amazes me how plump those squirrels are…
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Yes, the grass is so lush and the trees all in blossom Michael – very nice right now as we’ve had lots of rain, so it kept everything fresh looking. The squirrels probably still have their Winter layer of fat (or they are eating too many peanuts from The Peanut Lady). 🙂
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Nature is always out there waiting for us to enjoy,.I agree those baby geese grow up far too fast. Fed corn to a family of geese last year on the pond across the fence. I got to watch them daily until they all flew away.
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I don’t see them every day Peggy, because they’re in the water or hiding somewhere in the Park, but when I saw them last, the oldest goslings are getting black tail feathers and are as big as their parents. They were hissing at me and look a little prehistoric looking to me. 🙂 The parents are starting to lose big feathers, their flight feathers – I see them around the Park, so they will all take off soon to stay somewhere until all their new feathers come in.
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Roots and routes. Fun!
I laughed at the reaction of the firemen. Lovely story.
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Thanks Anne – I felt like I was “busted” since I was already walking up to the pavilion and squirrels and a few birds were making a beeline over to where I put down the nuts – I couldn’t just walk away, so I ‘fessed up. The firemen were funny and had a good sense of humor about it. I got to know the bicyclist pretty well that Summer. Joe was laid off from his job teaching music at a local university, so he was giving video guitar lessons. He fed the squirrels too and would hop off his bike and feed them peanuts. He stopped riding his bike at Thanksgiving 2020 after reaching his goal of 1,000 miles and said he was calling it quits for the year. I’ve not seen him since, so he must be working again. I was going to mention that story too, but the post was already so long.
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That’s an interesting postscript.
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I probably should have included it. I have never seen Joe on weekends or holidays which surprises me. He never walked, always rode his bike from home, then around the perimeter path and home. He fed the squirrels and birds at his home too, so was accustomed to feeding them there. He had been in a band when he was younger – I’d say he was in his mid-to-late 30s.
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Joe sounds like an interesting character.
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Yes, he was was and I searched for the post that I mentioned him in and I had taken a picture of him on his bike (from the back as he drove away) – his goal was 3,000 miles on his bike. I think I said 1,000. That’s a lot of miles from March through November 30th. He was not going to ride the bike in the snow – some people do.
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19 miles in a weekend? That is awesome and should help your yearly total. Your horde of followers is amazing. I would love to see all the critters come out to see the Peanut Lady when you first step into the park. I was glad to read that the firemen looked the other way so you could feed your fieinds.
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Yes, I needed those miles for my yearly total Laurie. We are having a slew of rainy mornings again this week and stormy weather again. The squirrels and the birds, chickadees and jays are savvy. They know the first stop, so meet me there, fill up a little, then race to the second spot as well. The Safe Haven Tree has leafed out so they don’t always see the peanuts and sunflower seeds right away if they miss me making the drop. I used to like feeding them along the trail and they’d run up to me, but it’s not good with the hawks lurking about. The older walker Arnie told me last Summer he saw a hawk grab a squirrel off the path not far from where he was walking. I always have my tote bag in my hand when I get there, so I don’t take pictures until I offload peanuts and seeds at the three spots and then I can sling it over my shoulder and have my hands free to take photos The firemen were really cool about it. Good thing as I was already walking up to the pavilion when they got there and I had no choice but to ‘fess up why I was there..
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How could anyone deny you bringing food to the critters? We’ve had our share of crazy weather too this year and I fear this may be the new norm.
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I agree Kate – who can resist when you see them? And I was always diligent about giving them peanuts for years before so I didn’t want to stop – you know from feeding your outside critters that they come to depend on it to supplement what they can forage. I heard last week that carbon dioxide levels are pointing toward erratic and volatile weather down the line which is beyond worrisome.
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You’re becoming a resident of the Park yourself Linda! I can see them putting a statue up of you! Of course it’ll dispense peanuts for your friends!
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That would be a fun statue wouldn’t it Wayne … I’d have them teach Parker as he seems to be the smartest one of the bunch. 🙂
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then Parker can be the official Statue guardian!
They just need to jump on your toe and a peanut will be dispensed!
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That sounds perfect Wayne – I was thinking about that dispensing idea … how nice if I could do that for Winter for my critters. They have it for dog food, but you know someone would steal it from the get go. A human drop it is until my Peanut Lady statue goes up. 🙂
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Firemen are the best lol ! Glad he “didn’t see you”. The red headed woodpeckers are fabulous!
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I think I gave them their laugh for the day – that was in the early days of the pandemic and the Park was closed the entire month of May. Yes, he put his hand over his eyes and was grinning at the same time. The bicyclist who rode daily was named Joe and he was new to the Park and after it opened again, I learned he had lost his job and was riding there daily and had made a goal. I also learned he was taking peanuts for the squirrels – I didn’t know that and pictured them starving to death on the trail. 🙂 (They, of course, act like they’ve haven’t eaten in days when they see me and come running.) That woodpecker, the only one in the Park, is so funny, because he will be drilling away in his favorite tree, then fly over. I hear his funny noise he makes before he lands on the ground. I had some chickadee pics too but they were too small to use.
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Haha squirrels always act like they are starving for sure!
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Yes – I think their Mamas teach them how to beg and stand up on their haunches so they can see you coming (and you can see them, sometimes difficult in the snow).
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What wonderful photos Linda. I love the woodpecker, but my favorite has to be the cottontail. It’s too bad some of those geese weren’t ducks. Ducks are tick eaters. Geese are not.
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Thanks Ruth – glad you liked them. So many photogenic things at Council Point Park and I had to save the goslings for next week as I have so many pics of the three families. I really like that woodpecker – he is the only Red-bellied at this Park and there is one Downy here as well. He leaves his tree and flies over to the ground – he sometimes does this at the Safe Haven Tree too. I didn’t know that ducks were tick eaters – that is good to know. There are not as many ducks as geese here at this Park and I haven’t seen them around, so I’m guessing they are sitting on nests.
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Very nice park. So wonderful greenery. Beautiful birds. So nice written you. Amazing discrib spring . I like.
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Thank you Rajkkhoja – Spring is always nice here in Michigan as we gt the four seasons, though the four seasons are not as neatly defined as they once were – climate change has taken its toll and we have very strange weather now. But Winter took so long to leave and a very cold Spring, so seeing all the colors at the Park and the birds and squirrels lingering on the path is very peaceful to me. Glad you liked this post.
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Way to keep on persevering to enjoy the final arrival of Spring. I love that the police looked the other way so you could make the delivery! 🤣 Great photos as always. I love your sense of humor and that little gal fishing is SO adorable. I could just hear you asking and her reporting that she caught a fish too. 😍🥰😎
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Our Winter was not even as terrible as yours was Shelley, but those first hints of green, that Redbud tree, the violets and Spring Beauties were all nice to see. Yes, I decided to ask if it was okay, while opening my bag of peanuts and with squirrels and birds gathering like I was Snow White. 🙂 They were good guys and looked the other way. I never told that story publicly before in this blog and my blog is carried in the local newspaper (though I’ve not looked at my stats for a while, but last time I looked there were no hits from that publication landing here). That little gal fishing was so cute – all bundled up as it was cold. Not sure if Jacob is her dad or uncle – he looks pretty young to me, but yes, I had to include her in this Spring vibes post and yes, I did ask that question and she told me right away – she was proud of catching a fish – wish I had a pic of her with it.
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I tend to think that we’ve both been dealt weird weather for the last few years.
I’m with you in loving the Redbud trees (which we don’t have here, but my daughter does south of us), the violets, and maybe we have Spring Beauties – we have more of the Lilacs to greet us in the spring. I just love the pops of colors – gets me motivated for the summer.
I think you’re safe to tell your story. The animals you treated are worth it!
That little girl probably told everyone she was a star – “A lady came up and asked me questions and she took my photo…!” You made her day.
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They had a huge and gorgeous Redbud tree at the Park in an area the geese take their goslings when they are very young. The goose families all congregate with their young and that was a good spot for pictures next to the tree. I don’t know why they cut it down – it was healthy. I held off that story for two years – it was funny and they were so good humored about it. That little girl was sweet and I’ve not seen her since that day. She was taking everything in – made me smile and yes, I’ll bet she felt like a star and I was the paparazzi. 🙂
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All good stuff that makes for a superb blog post!
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oh my gosh, that woodpecker looks adorable! I have never seen them on the ground. Your photos always make me want to grab my camera and go stalking through our local park… lol or maybe just share the million and 1 photos I have already taken!
What a cracking shot of the rabbit, bolting! 🙂
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That woodpecker is fun to watch Ari. His favorite spot is drilling into a tall tree – I hear him almost as soon as I start on the trail. He sees me and blitzes on over and waits until the squirrels are gone and then flies down. This time, the squirrels did not arrive right away, so he had the treats to himself. 🙂 The rabbits are all over the Park right now since the dandelions are gone and we have clover – the bunnies love clover and are not spooked by humans when clover is around. That day he took off pretty fast when he saw me, flashing that powder puff tail of his. Glad you want to get out and take pictures too – these were all taken with a compact digital that I carry with me. Wait til you start sorting all those pics from your park visits and recent family visits. I thought I’d never get done sorting and organizing into upcoming posts. Whew!
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Awww I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard a woodpecker actually drilling at a tree. What a lovely sight that must be.
We have hardly had any squirrels around in the last few years. I miss them, they are always so cheeky. We do see the odd wild rabbit and there is a house on our way to Belfast with a massive lawn that often has a colony of wild rabbits on it 🙂
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They are pretty loud Ari, especially in the morning when it is quiet in the Park, or even in the neighborhood. I have to learn how to do videos on the camera. I don’t have a smartphone as I really don’t use a cellphone that much, just to keep on me while walking, so I ust have a flip phone. I need the landline for work, so perhaps I’ll get one after I am retired.
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I prefer my camera to my phone camera. I hope you do learn to do videos on your camera, would be awesome to see a video of mr woodpecker rat-a-tat-tatting on a tree 🙂
Honestly, I stayed away from smartphones for years think I ended up caving in 2016. But I hate it, if I didnt need it for family contact (my parents are big on using WhatsApp) and for business I would be happy without it.
I can already feel myself becoming addicted to it, always reaching for it. It’s horrid
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I told myself I’d get one when I no longer needed the landline but it is becoming so that smart phones are becoming a necessity. I told myself I could do all those functions from a computer, but I have been proven wrong for thinking that way. I do need to hunker down with the camera and learn how to use it off the automatic settings as well as doing the videos. I bought a SIM card with a lot of memory on it so I could shoot video; now to implement the idea. The woodpecker would be a good assignment!
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I was the same, I avoided smartphones because I prefer to use a monitor with my laptop and do all things on that. A big screen and easier for typing with a keyboard
Then they started making it so certain things you could only do on a phone. Certain apps that wouldn’t let you use a computer to use them. *sigh*
Will look forward to seeing a woodpecker video some time 😉
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My same feeling Ari, as I often text from the computer to my boss or the computer guy but I have never texted from my phone. And without a QWERTY keyboard, it would take forever to send a text message from a flip phone. Yes the apps not downloadable on a computer is a pain sometimes.
I have to hone my video skills for the camera and then look for a woodpecker. A fellow blogger uses a GoPro a lot to capture wildlife in motion and it works wonderful, even has his voice like using a smartphone video feature.
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What a great post Linda! A bit of everything – the Firemen story, the variety of pics, I loved the woodpecker ones – I’m surprised they would come down to the peanuts – and the cottontail was perfect. We are having the same tick infestation here too – it seems to be particularly bad this year according to the paper – makes you want to stay on pavement.
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Thank you Joni – glad you liked this post. It was fun to put together as I had so many pictures of the Park plus I have the goslings who debuted on Mother’s Day weekend … I had to hold them over to next week as the post was already long. That is the first time I went public with the Firemen story – there was no trespassing and I had squirrels ready to pounce on their treats like I was Snow White doling out goodies, so decided I would ask permission since they were right in the pavilion area with me. 🙂 They were very nice. That Cottontail bolted in a half-second. The woodpecker has good eyesight and flies down when he sees me. I will wear shorts here at this Park in the extreme heat and check my socks and legs, but at bigger parks, with rustic trails, I’ll wear long pants even in the hot weather.
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How in the world can you walk that much and still discover all these beautiful critters Linda? You definitely have an eye for them. How many miles do you have so far?
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Thank you Diane! I am lucky at Council Point Park and there are sometimes critters like Jays that go too fast for me. Or Chickadees. I have some cute pics of the new goslings – there were three families but too many photos to put in this post too. As of today, I have 526 miles – whew! The rain is putting a damper on walking – that’s for sure.
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Wow you have really been moving lady!
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I have to make up for lost time when the weather is/will be crummy!!
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So many wonderful spring colors and animals, I love the woodpecker picking up a snack as well 🙂
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Spring after a Michigan weather and a too-long and too-cold and miserable Spring were sure welcome. That is Rex and he is pretty funny. He is up drilling for grubs in his favorite tree and then sees me putting out nuts and seeds and makes a beeline over for breakfast. 🙂
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This park looks like such a good place to walk. I love your photos of the peanuts and who gets to them. Survival of the fittest? Or the noisiest maybe!
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Ally, I was lucky to find this park, just by accident, back in 2013. It is much more enjoyable to walk here than in the neighborhood … so much more to see and peaceful. It is always fun to watch who heads down or over to feast on peanuts and sunflower seeds. The woodpecker is mindful of the squirrels but is brazen around the other birds and is known to linger a while. I think size determines the pecking order at the pile – at least that is how Rex, the Red-bellied Woodpecker looks at it. I have never seen a woodpecker horizontal before I started leaving food on the pathway and under the tree.
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Oh I enjoyed this post and my top photo was the one of the walker with line of pink shirt and the red bud tree!
Such a great shot Linda!!
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And cheers to adopting the park pals – good idea and has many benefits
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☀️😊☀️
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I started to caption that girl as “pretty in pink” with that narrow band of color hanging below her hoodie. Pink is perfect for Spring time isn’t it Yvette. Yes, the Park has so many benefits – not just walking, but a chance to just relax in a peaceful venue and watch those spoiled-silly squirrels.
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☀️😊🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
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Springtime looks wonderful where you are, Linda! I enjoyed seeing all the dandelions! It’s nice to see that they aren’t getting spayed since so many critters love them. Spring has been odd here this year, with tons of rain and cooler than normal temps. That however makes the flowers bloom longer.
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When Spring finally erupts in full bloom, it is beautiful (not to mention welcome) here in Southeast Michigan Sabine. This Park with all its dandelions is so colorful. I took some pictures of the goslings dining on the dandelions – they love them! We had two evenings this week of torrential rain. That will keep the grass green, as will the cool temps. It only got to 70 today – perfect weather for me and I’m not the only one loving those cooler temps and sunny skies. We are back to 90 by mid-week unfortunately. We had green, lush grass all Summer last year from all of the rain.
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19 miles in three days — fantastic! With the weather you’ve been getting it makes sense to get as many miles as you can when the getting is good. 🙂 Love those chubby squirrels munching on their treats. What great firemen you encountered, who were willing to look the other way in the name of kindness. 💙
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That weather was perfect Barbara, so it is like the expression “make hay while the sun shines.” We had a great weather day today, so you will likely have a good Sunday weather-wise, but tomorrow back to rain. I’m not looking forward to 95 degrees on Wednesday though.
Those squirrels are so cute and sometimes I think I detect a smile, so had to add that to the caption. 🙂 That was nice of the firemen and as I arrived at the pavilion area the same time as they walked up, I felt I had to offer up an excuse, since there were signs not to enter due to the COVID lockdown. They were nice to look the other way – that was kind of them. I think the squirrels and a few birds surrounding us during the conversation might have prompted them to do this. At least they knew my purpose for being there was real.
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We had a gorgeous Saturday and it looks like the rain will hold off until this afternoon (Sunday) so we can get to the farmers market this morning. Your rain is coming a little sooner than they originally thought. I’m sure you looked harmless to the firemen! Not the sort of person looking for trouble. 😉
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Our farm market in this city and the neighboring cities opened this weekend. It was humid this morning, a precursor for the bad weather tomorrow night. Not looking forward to that at all – severe weather and lots of trees and flash flooding = disaster with trees toppling over. We had 21 severe weather days in 2021. I like having the weather radio, but when it goes off, it just makes me all the more apprehensive about what is on the way. I think the firemen thought I looked like Snow White feeding her forest friends. 🙂
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We had 4 tropical systems and that tornado in November. Not much compared to your 21 severe weather days!
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Climate change is nothing to sneeze at is it? I’m a Nervous Nellie as this system was supposed to be here at 6:00, then 8:00 and now after 10:00, maybe even into the overnight. I hope it fizzles out – right now at Chicago O’Hare Airport, the winds are gusting at 84 mph. We are getting high winds, hail, torrential rain and a possible tornado. Usually severe weather lessens once the sun goes down.
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What a lovely bunch of photos in a very pretty park! I love your critter friends and I hope that they follow your warnings to avoid the hawks. Also, to avoid the ticks would be a good warning to heed. We are having tick issues as well, I hear. I hate ticks.
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I am so happy to have found this park Zazzy and I am sorry I spent a year and a half walking in the neighborhood when I could have been walking here, in a park which is also right next to a residential block. I cringe when I see those hawks circling overhead. Last year I got the pictures of a huge hawk sitting up high on a fence watching the Park, likely scoping out squirrels. I liked feeding the squirrels on the path as I walked along, but I don’t like making them sitting ducks, so I make the three drops. I’ve not been bitten, but am checking for them. We had a local weatherman about 20 years ago, maybe longer and he was up in northern Michigan and was bitten by a deer tick, got Lyme Disease. It was left untreated for too long as he just thought he was tired from work and other things. He was fairly young, maybe early 30s at the time. Anyway, it became so debilitating, he could not even get out of bed in the morning. He lost his job. He did an interview with one of the daily newspapers shortly afterward to tell people to be careful any time they are out in the woods and beware of ticks.
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I love cardinals and I love redbud trees. But I have enough dandelions in my own lawn, thankyouverymuch.
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Ha ha – the cardinals and redbuds are the finer things Spring has to offer. I’ve got quite a few not-so-dandy dandelions. Years ago I used to pull each one out by hand with a knife and now I just mow and go … what remains I tell myself that the bees and butterflies need sustenance. 🙂
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