Easter Sunday morning was picture-perfect, so after a quick stop to walk one mile and feed the critters at my favorite nature nook, I headed straight to Heritage Park. As I crossed the parking lot, there was an unusual sight, so I quickly unzipped my coat pocket to grab the camera.
Here’s the church, here’s the steeple …
… and here was a Canada Goose cozying up to the steeple atop the 140-year old West Mound Church which is part of the historical section of Heritage Park. Restoration efforts continue at this church after a devastating fire gutted most of the interior on November 2, 2020.
I took a few photos of that loosey-goosey who seemed to ponder its next move …
… before taking the plunge and flying down to the top of a nearby Porta Potty, placed there for the restoration workers. I decided NOT to take that photo.
I continued on my trek toward Coan Lake. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll recognize the Little Red Schoolhouse and Waterwheel located within the picturesque historical village area at Heritage Park.
And you’ll likely recognize this familiar face too.
Mama’s got a brand-new nest location.
Do you remember how Mama Goose settled into the boulders that line each side of the covered bridge to await the birth of her goslings? She had nested in the same spot in 2021 and 2022, but not this year. She is on the other side of the bridge …
… similarly tucked into the big rocks, her nest and eggs hidden by her body. Mama and her unborn goslings are also protected by her mate, who was patrolling the area while paddling nearby.
I stopped to chat about the gorgeous morning and Mama’s uncomfortable nesting locale with Mikey who was walking her dog Dixie. She was on her way to meet a fellow walker, whom I also met later in my walk, Larry and his dog, an affectionate Husky named Leo. These two pals and their pooches walk every day at Heritage Park.
The sun made Coan Lake extra sparkly and I loved seeing the Mallards and Canada Geese snoozing and even the turtles basking in the sun and unusual warmth. After a long stretch of cold, torrential rain and wicked winds, I am sure the waterfowl and turtles here at Heritage Park were happy to enjoy the sun’s rays.
Several of the ducks decided the wooden overlook beat the grassy slopes near the seawall, so they were chillin’ on the deck floor or railings.
A lookout goose monitored my actions, ever-watchful to ensure no humans intruded on his kin. How dare we interrupt their peace and tranquility!
Our April weather has been like a tale of two seasons, (as well as two wardrobes), bopping between unusually cold temps to the far end of the spectrum, when we broke a few records last week with record-setting heat. Tonight we may get snow flurries. Talk about weather whiplash, but, having lived in Michigan for nearly 57 years, I know enough not to ditch the Winter duds for a while yet.
I needed an infusion of flowers in my morning meander.
I walked over to the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. I follow the Gardens on Facebook, so was aware the volunteers had been busy cleaning out flower beds the past week. Unlike Easter Sunday 2022 when I took photos of the many Springy flowers planted in pots around the Conservatory, (which is a one-third scale replica of the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory on Belle Isle in Detroit), all those pots and planters were still bare, but I knew I could rely on Mother Nature’s handiwork to get my Spring flower fix and a few pics. Yes, Spring has sprung!
Patience is a virtue: “Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Here are a few of those early bloomers.
This was a Magnolia tree at the Petting Farm.
The leaves on the many Maples throughout Heritage Park were just beginning to open, so, weather permitting, I’ll head back here in the next week as Spring further unfurls and to check out Mama Goose and her offspring.
As I headed to the car, I saw a trio of Lavender Guinea Fowl, apparently bored with their own digs, were roaming around the Hand Train Station and nearby caboose and box car. Another walker, equally fascinated with them as me had them cornered on the Train Station porch. Here is one of those Guinea Fowl marching along the seawall and a shot of the reflection from West Mound Church in the background.
This was the first of many trips I will make to this beautiful venue in 2023.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
What a great day you had in nature. You captured some wonderful photos. I liked that goose on the church roof. He must of known it was Easter. So glad your had such good weather to enjoy your day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Easter Sunday was gorgeous Peggy, the first day of this warm spell that lasted a week. This morning I all woke up to 30 degrees colder than yesterday morning, plus snow showers and more snow flurries or showers overnight. This is one of my favorite parks to visit. I hope the flowering trees didn’t come out like all ours in the neighborhood and then frost kills off those pretty blossoms prematurely like happened a few years ago. My ornamental tree had not leafed out yet – it got frost burn that same year and all the leaves turned brown for the rest of the season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, our trees were in full bloom weeks ago and zap – a cold spell and everthing was gone.
LikeLike
Mother Nature is sure showing everyone who is boss this year, from the two strings of tornadoes a few weeks ago to this weather whiplash we’re dealing with now.
LikeLike
I can see why you enjoy that park so much! I love seeing all the springy photos. It’s fun to read what you look for each time you go. You’re so wise not to ditch the winter clothes until Spring finally wins the battle over winter. We have 6 inches of snow and a blizzard this morning. I hope it loses steam before it heads your way!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I am clicking “like” for your comment about the venue and those springy flowers, but I wish I could “dislike” for the 6 inches of snow and blizzard conditions. Just when the rest of the snow melted, you got slammed again. Well we usually do get your “leftovers” – I had to go for allergy shot this morning and it was a a snow-rain mix and it’s been doing that all day and overnight too. The Upper Peninsula got some snow and I think blizzard warnings. We are back to 80 for one day only – Thursday. Weather whiplash!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We got 6 inches, some places near us got 12 inches. Half of it melted by the end of the day, but it’s still mostly white when I look out the window. SIGH … I’d take temps in the 80s again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snow and Winter are getting very old for you Shelley! We’ll have 80 for one day, then rain and cold temps for three days … no snow in that forecast, but only 50 during the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed, but the snow cover helped turn the grass under it a beautiful green as the snow melts away. I think we’ve gotten to the end of the snow season. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
I noticed the grass (and weeds) really greened up the last few days, despite it being so cold. All that snow moisture must really make your grass thrive. Unbelievably the hummingbirds are in Michigan already – just barely though. They’ll enjoy tomorrow’s 80 degrees, then will need someone to let them sleep inside as we have cold temps and wintry precip over the next three days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the green is so nice to see. Oh, those poor hummingbirds are in for a shock with the cold coming. We had thunderstorms for 5 hours straight…needless to say, it didn’t make for a peaceful night of sleep. The snow is melted though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Five hours straight of thunderstorms is terrible – was this the tail end of that line of bad weather that went thru Kansas and Oklahoma last night? Glad your snow melted. We didn’t get to 80 last night and now have several days of rain, Saturday an all-day/all-night rain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure, maybe. It was so loud we couldn’t sleep.
We are glad that we didn’t have storms last night and the snow is gone for now.
I hope if the storm heads your way it isn’t as long and loud as ours was!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was okay here last night, but rained today – got out this morning, despite their prediction of an all-day rain, but tomorrow IS an all-day rain and chilly and rain maybe mixed with snow showers Sunday morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I keep hoping that these April showers are bringing the May flowers and the pleasant weather we desperately want to appear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard this morning we are exceptionally cool through the end of April – do we now have “in like a lamb, out like a lion” for April too?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that may be the case! Burr…!
We have to promise each other that we won’t complain when it’s hot this summer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will promise, though I whined when we had the hot spell. Today the ants rolled out … in my room mostly, but a few in the other two rooms where they show up. Trying to sort pics taken today for upcoming posts between squishing ants. The rain or cold I guess brought them in, although this is usually when they show up … saw a few last week. Ugh! Have to get out the Terro bait traps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dang ants. The Flickers have been busy in our yard eating the ants. We haven’t seen any in the house yet. The spray that we bought last year worked really well to stop them in their tracks.
I hope you get ahead of them so they don’t bug you all summer long!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need a Flicker or two here at the house! So far, they are not in the kitchen … just one in the kitchen the other day, a few in the bathroom, but lots in the bedroom. Hmm – I forgot about the spray I bought last year – three cans of “Ortho Home Defense Max Ant. Roach and Spider” spray. I signed up for TruGreen perimeter spray for bugs – first time to do that, but wanted to get rid of the ants in a bad way. So I signed up in early March, a month later, starting to get the ants and no service even scheduled, let alone applied, so called and cancelled it. When I contracted with them, the sales person I dealt with on the phone recommended the above spray and said “once the perimeter is sprayed, expect an influx of spiders, centipedes and ants, but just the one time, so get this spray.” Got off the phone and hopped onto Amazon and I bought three cans of it – paranoid I would have a massive invasion. Not used it yet – but I know where one can is. I bought two cans, then thought about the “invasion” and the next day ordered another can. You are laughing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL – yes, I’m laughing, Linda! You are armoured and ready for the ants to invade! Go get ’em!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially since once again I forgot I had something … totally forgot about the spray. I’m nervous about putting anything out, even the bait tray, but especially the spray, even though I have no animals here. We had spray for years, first for carpenter ants, then we got a new pest service as Orkin was not getting rid of them despite having three trees cut down and removing the bark in the perimeter gardens. So we went to a natural pest control (marigold dust) and it worked. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We use this and it works great. You do need paper towels to wipe up the ants after they walk through it. We use it in the house and the cats stay away and don’t seem affected by it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow – that’s good to know the cats aren’t affected by it. I was sprayed for years downstairs and in the garage for centipedes and spiders. It was a strong Diazinon spray applied by a pest control. It worked – dead spiders and centipedes but I really didn’t like having the spray applied. He would walk all over the place with his shoes that walked thru the people’s yards then come into the basement and garage – I had to move everything away from the wall downstairs and in the garage. But no ants in those days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Supposedly, they like the damp, moist, leaves and yard waste to thrive around the perimeter of houses. I hope you find the best solution that works!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well that might be the problem – there is mulch under my room and bathroom, the other is river rocks. I was feeling happy about the kitchen being ant free and found two on the table this afternoon. I was not happy to see that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The mulch should probably go… not that you’re interested in a yard project! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we had the Carpenter Ants, Orkin told us to not only get rid of the trees, but to get rid of Redwood bark nuggets. I had the mini bark and I don’t even know if that is available now but I had to pull it all out and they sprayed and he said just to use Cedar mulch going forward as it repels bugs – ha! I also have all-house insulation with something in the paper mache-like stuff that repels bugs – ha! Thank goodness the 2 X 4 beams were Wolmanized so they did NOT have to go. The bark was bad enough. At one time I thought about using the rubber mulch. It is cost prohibitive though and yes, you don’t have to top it off every year or so, but if you have trees around, you have to pick the leaves out as a blower would pick up the mulch. It’s all a pain. In my next life, I’ll just have grass (the kind you mow, not the kind you smoke).
LikeLiked by 1 person
You must just have a spot that ants & other bugs love to invade. You’ve done your research and are doing the best you can to keep them away!
LOL on the grass comment 🤣😎😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
So picturesque!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is Pam, especially in Springtime!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing the beauty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed it Pam. The Spring awakening is a great experience in a four-season state.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The wildlife was enjoying the sunshine for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, enjoying a little snooze in the sun. If you get to this park early enough, all the ducks are usually lined up along the grassy shoreline sleeping. The turtles are always a treat to see when they’re sunbathing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pictures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Anne – glad you enjoyed them!
LikeLike
AAhhh….spring! I am glad to see it finally made it to your neck of the woods and that your Easter morning was beautiful.
I didn’t know that Canada geese would nest in a pile of rocks! Or land on top of a building. Thanks for enlightening me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spring was here for a week and today it was 30 degrees colder than yesterday with snow showers – we are having some more snow tonight, but since it was in the 80s all last week, it won’t be sticking to the roads – crazy weather!
Laurie, I had no idea Canada Geese would nest in a pile of boulders either – it can’t be comfy, but then last year I tracked the Mama on the nest, off the nest and I got to see the eggs, then with her goslings. It was a Mother’s Day post and you must have been traveling and missed it – here it is if you’d like to see it. I saw the goose eggs on Easter Day. In the decade I’ve been walking at Council Point Park, I’ve seen plenty of goslings, but never a goose on a nest – I don’t know where they hide as the wooded areas are not dense.
https://lindaschaubblog.net/2022/05/08/mothers-day-2022/
LikeLike
I like the turtle ramp. It looks like a miniature boat launch. As for the goose who kicked off your post, maybe West Mound should hire him. He’d probably do a better job summoning parishioners than the steeple bells do. The church could name him Lionel.. or Richie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those turtles like that ramp too Dave – on any Summer day, they crowd onto it to sunbathe. At the Waterwheel there are rocks placed in Coan Lake and the turtles all climb on there to sunbathe – both spots are primo real estate for those turtles! I’ve never seen a goose up there on the roof so that was a surprise to see and up so close to the steeple too. You’re right, that goose may lure potential parishioners better than the steeple – I love the goose names! 🙂
LikeLike
Love seeing all the spring flowers and that goose on top of the church is a perfect photo. Just don’t see that every day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those flowers were so Springy looking after all the blah landscape we have been looking. I guess the Canada Goose took a peek at your post about the Heron on a roof and decided to give it a try – my goose did not make a a good weathervane like your heron did though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous, as always! Bet you’re happy to see spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jessica – yes, Spring was great, but we zoomed into Summer-like temps and today we had snow showers and a real feel in the 20s. It was the 80s just a day or two ago. At least the snow didn’t stick. Mother Nature sure is moody these days!
LikeLike
Wonderful all photos. Nice photography. Nature love photos. Beautiful blooming picture. Very interesting you sharing Easter Sunday morning. Un born Gosling are also procteted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked the photos Raj. It was a beautiful weather day for Easter, especially appreciated after the month of March which was filled with torrential rain, winds and cold. Mama Goose rarely leaves the nest and it’s just for a few minutes – the eggs need her, as we went from Summer temps to Winter temps in one day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miss Linda………………..your whole Easter blog seeped with peaceful nature……………….I’ve never known mama goose to nest in the big rocks…………………….and I’ve never seen a lavender Guinea Fowl before………..interesting
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an exceptionally peaceful day at Heritage Park Ann Marie and I am glad I was able to capture some of that peaceful feeling with the photos. I know Heritage Park is a favorite place to walk and visit for you as well. I saw the Mama Goose there two years ago and last year in the same place as 2021 (the boulders to the left of the bridge if you are walking toward the log cabin and waterwheel). This year, she is on the other side – I wonder why? The lavender Guinea Fowl live at the Petting Farm and the two people I was chatting with (Mikey and Larry) told me those birds routinely go under the fence and roam at the historical area, same as the chickens. I’ve been going to this Park about 9-10 years and until last year I never saw guinea fowl or chickens there!
LikeLike
Turtles! Ducks are wonderful and all that, but seeing turtles sunning seems unique to me. Your Easter looks like it was delightful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a very peaceful Easter Sunday Ally. The turtles are funny because if they’re on a log or a ramp like the park has made them here, they line up nose to tail, bigger ones up front, smaller ones at the back. I imagine they line up by pecking order perhaps? The goose on the church roof by the steeple was one of the things that made the day so extraordinary as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This place that you frequent is my favorite! The red school house photo charms me. What fun to happen by when loosey-goosey decided to drop on top for a little church time. Great photo!
Glad your weather enhanced your visit there that day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like this park TD and I go there often in the Summer months. It is always so peaceful and I like that little red school house and it looks so perfect on the edge of Coan Lake, especially when it casts reflections on the water. That loosey-goosey enjoying a little church time made me look twice to see if I was seeing things. 🙂 It was such a beautiful day which kicked off a week of very warm and sunny days which ended abruptly late last night – today we had a wind chill in the 20s!
LikeLike
I wonder if the wildlife and birds find this weather disorientating? The sudden increase to summer 80 and then the drop to 30 today! What must they be thinking of Mother Nature!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking the wildlife and birds must be as horrified as we are. This weather makes no sense at all, then 80 degrees for Thursday, then three days of cold and rainy weather. I hope the goslings did not hatch yet – poor babies. She must be pretty cold sitting there in the boulders with that 20-degree windchill we had this morning. The poor Magnolia trees just bloomed and the frost will likely zap those blossoms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not every day one sees a Canada goose perched on the roof of a church! How wonderful! Mama Goose must have her reasons for picking that spot for her nest — I hope it works out for her and that Papa Goose keeps her safe. It seems like all the creatures and spring blooms were delighting in the sunshine that day. ☀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I whipped that camera out of my coat pocket so quickly Barbara! I was afraid that Canada goose would fly away or fly down before I got a chance to take a photo. That was a first for me. Not what you would expect to see on top of a church, on Easter Sunday yet. On this side of the covered bridge, it is a smaller part of Coan Lake – I don’t know why the bridge isn’t right smack in the middle of the water, so maybe there were less people gawking at her (like me). Papa Goose saw me taking pictures and paddled right over to protect her and his unborn goslings. Our wind chill was in the 20s this morning and same for tomorrow morning – I hope she is still sitting on those eggs keeping them warm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear Papa Goose is doing his job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed – he gave me a dirty look even though I was a respectable distance away!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those guinea fowl are really cute, I don’t think we have them here? My crocuses were up and looked so lovely and now they are gone. Our weather has been crazy too, 26 Celsius and sunny and the next day it’s 6 Celsius and rain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never saw the guinea fowl before last year when someone said they escaped from the petting farm which is on the outskirts of Heritage Park. Then, I was at Heritage Park a few weeks later and saw chickens running around the Botanical Gardens. I never saw those “escapees” before. I was talking with the two people walking their dogs and they said it is not unusual that they go under the fence and wander around the park. Interestingly, the guinea fowl are kept by some farmers as pets because if they see a predator they will squawk very loudly to not only scare off the predator, but alert the critters and the farmer that there is trouble. We had a “real feel” of 20 F/-6C this morning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol that’s pretty cute that those little birds with scare off other critters with their screaming! It is very cold here today, it’s literally mitten and touque weather, I can’t believe we were wearing shorts on Sunday and riding our bikes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought that was cute too! Yesterday I was under-dressed when I went out to walk; today I went back in my storm coat, hat and gloves and was too warm before I came home. We have the one hot day tomorrow (80F/26C) then back to cold and maybe wintry precip off/on for three days. Crazy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly was a beautiful day and week that followed. You got some great pictures on Easter. Love the goose on the church.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you’re right Ruth, Easter Sunday kicked off a wonderful weather week. Thank you – glad you liked the pictures and that goose on the church was a first for me. Made me smile and I whipped the camera out of my pocket so fast in case it flew away! Did you have to take the chicks back home after it got so cold? It’s nice on Thursday, back to 80, then cold and rainy again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, the chicks are doing well at the farm. They are mostly feathered out and also cuddle together is the straw if necessary to keep warm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good – I was still thinking of them like when we first saw them, so tiny. They grew in leaps and bounds, like the goslings. One day they’re balls of yellow fluff and then they’re big feet and canoe-shaped bodies and a lot of attitude!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do tend to mature quickly which is good because even though they are adorable as chicks they won’t start laying eggs until fully mature – usually about 18 weeks with this breed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They grow up pretty quickly at that rate, so they had better enjoy their “chick” youth before they have to get busy!
LikeLike
A beautiful venue indeed! Glad to see the Guinea Fowl make an appearance. They are such interesting birds to watch and hear. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoy going here Rebecca. I was happy to see those Guinea Fowl running around again and this one running by itself along the seawall gave me a perfect opportunity to get a couple of shots. It was silent, maybe because it was alone?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: More than Coffee Book by Lauren Scott & Priorhouse Interview – priorhouse blog
Thank you for the additional mention Yvette. I have enjoyed reading the posts about the other interviewees.
LikeLike
Pingback: More than Coffee Interview with Yvette at Priorhouse – Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott
Your opening shot of the pastel pink flowers caught my eye, as did everything in your post which works so well with my Sunday Stills color challenge (white and pastels) this month, Linda. I took the liberty of adding this post to my round-up. A nice way to spend an Easter Sunday. We were on the road driving to Northern Utah after gawking open-mouthed at the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon NP all weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for doing that Terri – I appreciate it. Those early bloomers were so pretty on Easter morning so it was difficult to choose which one to use as my header image, so I’m glad I chose the pink Hyacinths. It was such a peaceful morning. Well you sent me scurrying to Google to see what hoodoos were … I was thinking some type of mountain-climbing, cloven-footed creature with huge horns. What a surprise I got! Those hoodoos are so unique! I’d be gawking at them too. I can’t believe the difference in size – I pulled up an article that said they range from the size of a human, to a 10-story building. I’ve not traveled thru that part of the U.S. but would love to do so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos of spring in Michigan! I cannot get enough of budding and blooming trees this time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you JP – I feel the same way. It’s beautiful walking through the neighborhood as all the trees burst into bloom from our record heat wave last week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
great post – spring delight
and….more fun sayings and quips –
🙂
espeically liked that title –
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Yvette – it was so peaceful that morning and this song (title) came to mind immediately. Glad you like the quips – it keeps the walk narratives from becoming monotonous. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person