WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

Takin’ a walk on the wild(flower) side.

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Linda Schaub

July 20th was still another sweltering, sauna-like day in the Summer of 2024. Two days later, WORLDWIDE, the former high temperature record was smashed.

I’m not only a weather worrier, but daily, before heading out, I consult multiple online weather sites, in addition to my trusty AM all-news radio station. My agenda that day was visiting Sterling State Park, a venue that is a 60-mile (96 km) roundtrip from home and I wanted to get there early to beat the heat.

I intended to do a marsh meander along the 3.6 mile (5.6 km) Sterling Marsh Trail, then walk the beach shoreline. Allowing for picture-taking, this would be a three-hour hike before heading home.

That was the plan anyway – I did NOT, on that sweltering Saturday, plan on getting lost … more about that debacle later.

I began at the trailhead …

… then crossed over the bridge that leads to the pavilion.

Along the pathway, various wildflowers were blooming profusely.

I stopped to get some photos of two butter-colored butterflies flitting about the Purple Loosestrife and tiny wildflowers. You may remember these beauties from a Wordless Wednesday post.

This was my first time seeing these dainty butterflies and later I had to research to ID them. And even then, why would they be named like this – they look almost identical to me. Cloudless Sulphur versus Clouded Sulfur – hmm.

Ahead was the pavilion, which roof provided a respite from the sun and already-searing temps. Shading my eyes I peered down the steep hill to see if there were any waterfowl, which would determine whether or not I went down to the shoreline. It was unusual to see the marsh devoid of any waterfowl.

While there were many American Lotus leaves in the marsh, it was still a little early for the Lotuses to be in bloom, despite the tropical-feeling temps. There are four parks in Michigan where these non-native plants can be found. Lake Erie Metropark claims the prize of best viewing; they have two large Lotus beds, about two and five acres, respectively. The Lotuses at this park are also worth a trip in August to view them.

On that day, however, Purple Loosestrife, not Lotuses ruled the marsh shoreline.

As I started to turn away and step onto the perimeter trail, I noticed an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly alighting on a Milkweed plant, so I ended up going down the steep hill anyway.

That perfect butterfly is the featured image; here are a few more shots of it and the Common Milkweed plant it is sitting on. I believe this is a Milkweed Beetle.

Incredibly, I was only about fifteen minutes into my morning meander and I’d already seen three butterflies. While that might not seem like many, our butterfly population continues to diminish thanks to global warming, habitat loss and overuse of insecticides in agriculture. We have lost one-quarter of our butterflies here in Michigan and across the U.S. the last 20 years. So these pretty and delicate creatures are always a delight to see.

A trip-and-fall event will happen if you daydream while walking.

I’ve only been to this state park a handful of times and this is mostly because its asphalt-paved perimeter trail is a trip hazard. As you can see here, there are ruts and tree roots that buckle the pathway – it’s especially difficult in Fall when leaves cover over the ruts and crevices, so I usually walk alongside the trail whenever possible.

The park even warns you about the trail.

But, there is good and bad news in that regard because Sterling State Park is in the process of repairing these trip hazards. The Sterling Marsh Trail is closed through the end of June for tree root removal and fresh asphalt surfacing.

I passed the observation tower and no, I was not game to climb it, even though it might give me a nice panoramic view of the marsh.

I went to an wooden overlook and settled for that perspective instead. I had to concede that without waterfowl to gawk at, the Hunt Club Marsh was a bit boring.

Soon my meander became a trudge, after I somehow took a wrong turn. Suddenly I heard vehicles whooshing by, yet I didn’t see any, so I walked a little more, then spied a worker in a golf-cart park vehicle and learned I was walking toward the City of Monroe alongside the I-75 expressway. Oops! He said I had to walk about a mile to return to the Sterling Marsh Trail.

So that was an unwelcome detour on a warm, no … make that hot … day.

Making lemonade from lemons.

I would have welcomed a tall glass of icy-cold lemonade, but instead I was lucky to discover a small, albeit green-and-goo-laden pond that produced a few photo ops – yay!

I spotted these turtles on a log.

They must have been sunning for a while as their shells were partially dry.

And, to use another well-worn phrase, while I personally may have not had MY ducks in a row, I saw these fine feathered friends lined up on a log near the pond. These Mallards were in eclipse phase meaning they were molting and while awaiting their full plumage, the males and females looked alike.

Very meticulously, these ducks were using the gooey, green slime from the marsh water to refresh their feathers.

Now, while you may say “eww” to this ritual, look how pretty they are, posing nicely for me as I photographed them. 🙂

The last leg of my walk was in full sun, along the South, then North Lagoons. This trail runs parallel to both lagoons and is so narrow and in such disrepair that two people are not able to easily pass one another. This park’s Facebook post promises erosion control and shoreline stabilization are part of the remediation process this Spring/early Summer. I may be encouraged to walk there more.

I glanced at my pedometer and I’d walked over five miles already. In my heart I knew I would be skipping the trip to the beach.

Just then twittering noises made me swivel my head upward and I saw these birds, seemingly vying for a place at the very top of this swag.

Last week, fellow blogger and avid birder Donna and I were commenting on a bird I identified incorrectly in last week’s post. She offered to help me identify any birds I was stumped on. These birds were a mystery to me – were they Eastern Kingbirds or Bank Swallows? Donna knew right away – they were Tree Swallows (immature birds in the first pic and most likely their mother, in the foreground, had joined them in the second pic). Thanks Donna!

Finally, I crossed back over the bridge – the end of this walk was in sight and was I “fresh as a _____ …

… daisy” … well, perhaps not!

Mother Nature nurtures best!

Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge this week is “Favorite Flowers” – well, wildflowers are my personal choice.

Once upon a time I was a gardener, with a butterfly garden, fragrant and delicate roses and annuals. Was it beautiful? Yes, but it was a lot of work keeping those flowers free from bugs, slugs and blackspot. There was endless deadheading, pruning, fertilizing and watering. I began to resent the hours toiling out there once I began walking and then blogging, then a wicked Polar Vortex wiped out most of the backward plants in the Winter of 2013-2014.

Now, as I stroll through the Metroparks and other marshy venues, I see flowers flourishing everywhere, relying not on any gardener’s TLC, but just the TLC Mother Nature provides.

I embrace Spring when “Spring Beauties” arrive. They are the tiny pastel flowers that carpet the base of tree trunks in early Spring. They bring joy to my Winter-weary soul, just like the first Red-winged Blackbird’s call in early March.

From wild Black-eyed Susans to Swamp Roses, Lotuses to Pond Lilies – they return each year, sans human intervention. Common Milkweed lures butterflies. Even the Goldenrod that thrives in late Summer is a welcome contribution by Mother Nature, nurtured with sun rays and rain – it does not get any simpler than that.

Tell me Mother Nature doesn’t do a good job here with her wildflowers …

… or here …

… or here.

Or, any of the pretty flowers I showed you from this walk.

Sure, no one is there to deadhead the spent petals, but the pollinators are not particular.

Be giddy for Spring as Mother Nature rolls out all the colors for you!

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Photo Challenge, nature, Sterling State Park, walk, walking, wildflowers | 64 Comments

Prancing and posing. #Wordless Wednesday #What pose is best Linda – left, right, or a little flair?

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, nature, Ring-billed Seagull, walk | 57 Comments

When you encounter a snag in your nature walk.

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Linda Schaub

As those ever-present hot, humid August days wore on, once again I found myself at Lake Erie Metropark. Enroute to this venue, I mused that even I may be a bit “marshed out” as the appeal of the Lotus beds held less allure than the first glimpse of them in late July.

I knew I was overdressed as soon as I stepped out of the car; it was already 72 F/22C. There were no clothes I could ditch – perhaps the sunhat? I thought twice about that idea as it was already sunny, so I plunked it on my head and set off.

Sight and hearing – my most valuable senses that day.

Every walk does not yield a Bambi encounter, nor the chance to view a Mama Goose tenderly nuzzling the eggs of her unborn goslings, so, all too often I take many photos that I eventually reject as boring as better photo ops emerge later in that walk.

In the parking lot near the Marshlands Museum, there is a Grow Zone.

Here, I often find bees or butterflies and, if I’m lucky, I’ll see a Goldfinch nibbling on wildflower seeds. So, patiently I paused and perused … no tiny creatures, until, as if on cue, a dainty Viceroy alighted on the grow sign’s wooden post.

I stepped back and zoomed in to avoid having it flit off.

Well surely it could have perched on a more eye-pleasing spot, rather than wood drenched with bird droppings. But there it was, the stark beauty of that Viceroy in contrast to its background.

I chatted with Luc, the resident bald eagle, as I approached his wooden enclosure. He was molting and looked disheveled and was disgruntled as well – no welcoming chirp for me. There were no waterfowl in the marsh near the boathouse, so I headed to the Cherry Island Nature Trail.

It was quiet as I walked along, my head swiveling as I passed the familiar marsh scenes where I usually find Herons, Egrets, or at the very least Mallards and Canada Geese. Nope, nothing made me raise the camera to take a shot, so I looked toward the sky. I have photographed the stand of long-dead trees in the past, but today they appeared stark and somehow out of place in the bright blue sky. I snapped a photo of them which you see as the featured image.

There are a lot of dead trees in this park and I often wonder why they aren’t removed? The resident beaver(s) can only destroy so many trees – perhaps the beavers should strive to aim bigger?

An Eastern Kingbird and a Red-winged Blackbird perched on dead tree branches.

At the boat launch, I searched in vain for a Ring-billed Seagull or two, but the gulls were not where the buoys were and I came up empty.

The boat launch area was surprisingly devoid of boaters and/or anglers.

Suddenly I saw the first humans of the day, a man and a woman. In an excited voice, the man asked me “did you hear that ratchet-like noise?” “Um, no – sorry” was my reply. Well, apparently I had just missed a Kingfisher that finished a fish dinner in mid-flight. He said he had photographed that agile bird as the woman watched through her binoculars. Like some birders I encounter on nature trails, the man was eager to share his sighting and beckoned me to see the image on his camera. “Well that was a bummer” I said and added “now if only I hadn’t stopped to take pictures of the dead trees!”

All three of us laughed and we chatted a little more. I learned they were married retirees and we amiably exchanged favorite venues for nature walks and decided this park’s birds were smarter than us, choosing to stay amidst the trees’ cool leaves, except to venture out for a quick snack, unlike we three, each with beads of sweat on our respective brows.

I said “nice meeting you” and started to leave when suddenly there was movement in the trees and, in an instant, simultaneously the woman peered through her binoculars as the man started focusing his camera. Me, the budding birder saw nothing. Excitedly he asked “do you see it – the Cedar Waxwing – it’s there in the snag?!”

Staring ahead I saw nothing, but that was not my only problem … hmm, what the heck was a “snag” and I sure didn’t want to ask. They were nice folks, so politely I raised my camera, focused on nothing in particular and hoped for more direction. He was clicking away, so I thought I’d best click too – I didn’t want to be rude after all. The man turned around and asked if I saw it and I sheepishly said “well, I’m not sure.” White lies work well in these instances, right? So the couple stood on either side of a bush, bending the branches so I could lean into it to see that elusive bird … he pointed excitedly again, “in the snag, that dead tree – see it?!” (Aha – so a snag is a dead tree. Who knew? I surely didn’t.)

Finally I saw that elusive bird and clicked the shutter button and cried out “got it” rather exuberantly. But I knew it would be blurry and sure enough there was no discernible Cedar Waxwing on that camera card.

I left the couple and continued on my way. At the marsh overlook my protestations about a “dud walk” suddenly turned to admiration for this pair of beautiful birds, a Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret, their stark beauty, surrounded by an abundance of not-ready-for-primetime-yet Lotuses. The huge green leaves covered most of the surface of the marsh, with no flower eruptions in this area yet.

Here is the Great Egret …

… and his buddy, the Great Blue Heron. You are able to see the long feathers of its breeding plumage in these photos.

The simple and stark beauty of these Lotus blooms in a separate Lotus patch, which I had seemed to tire of earlier were not lost on me either.

Nor were the occasional Pond Lilies, also simply stunning.

I finished crossing the overlook with its Phragmites reeds blowing slightly in a sudden welcome breeze and …

… arrived just in time to spot a Barn Swallow flitting from atop a Phragmites.

I finished up this August 22nd walk, noting the pretty, but invasive, Purple Loosestrife growing in this dead tree cavity, a pop of color in still another dead tree.

There was a splash of color from these wild Black-eyed Susans.

Someone, not me, had picked one flower and placed it on the park bench, which made for this simple shot.

Who doesn’t find beauty in flowers, especially wildflowers? This artist of beautiful sunflowers and beyond tells it like it is:

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. -Vincent Van Gogh

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Stark.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, birds, nature, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Photo Challenge, birds, nature, walk, walking | 51 Comments

Slowly warming up after an argument. #Wordless Wednesday #Um, whose fault was it ‘cuz I forgot?

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, Mallard Ducks, nature, walk, walking | 47 Comments

“Despite the forecast …

Posted on February 23, 2025 by Linda Schaub

… live like it’s Spring” ~ Lilly Pulitzer

I need an oversized broom as I am in a hurry to whisk February away and welcome in March.

This is the time of year I begin to dream of long and leisurely walks sans boots, hats, scarves and gloves, especially that first day when I leave the house in a jacket without all those cold-weather trappings, then return home with that jacket looped around my waist. I look forward to watching the blah landscape come to life, with the early blooming flowers poking their heads up through the still-moist earth. Gorgeous flowering trees will be a treat for Winter-weary eyes and the scent in the air will be fresh as newly cut lawns and recent rains stir my senses.

Aah, a girl can dream ….

In conjunction with losing all the layers and all the above delights, I always wonder what memories that first long walk, or any long walk, will bring in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Time travelin’ back to Spring’s first long meander.

On that warmish, sunny day, I decided it would be a three-park stroll for me. I mused it would feel like I was finally really and truly retired. The first two weeks of freedom from wearing a watch had been filled with temperamental weather like high winds, lots of rain, or temps not conducive for long walks … or even short walks.

But, on April 15, 2024, all was well and I gleaned five miles (eight kms) of steps from visiting three parks. It was 49F/9.4C when I left the house, but 70F/21C by the time I returned home that day.

First there was a quick stop at the Park …

The first leg of my journey was at Council Point Park, still in its glory, before the huge amphibious bulldozer had yet to wreak havoc on the Ecorse Creek shoreline. I was on the lookout for goslings and found none, but breathing in deeply, I enjoyed the fresh smells of Mother Earth awakening from Winter’s dormancy. The Spring Beauty wildflowers were clustered beneath trees, the grass was long and lush and the dandelions dotting the landscape had the geese digging in with great gusto. I took no photos that day, just stopping long enough for a one-mile walk and to feed my Park pals.

Hoping to hear/see Spring Peepers, I headed to Humbug Marsh.

I had great confidence in finding a chorus of tiny frogs singing for potential mates at Humbug Marsh. We had an abundance of rain so I assumed the Vernal Pool within the Old Growth Forest would be filled with water – after all, the sign at the Pool touted this habitat for Spring Peepers.

I slipped on a pair of boots because I knew it would be muddy from the recent rains, but that was a wasted effort since I neither saw nor heard a single frog! I clomped over to the Monguagon Delta walkway which was similarly still. How can this renowned wildlife refuge be devoid of waterfowl on such a pretty day? I couldn’t even scare up an egret or heron at the Delta, let alone a goose, duck or even a seagull. Once again, I didn’t even pull out the camera to take a photo.

Next was a favorite old standby, lovely Elizabeth Park.

I headed there mostly in search of gosling photo ops. In the Springtime, if you want to see goslings, this 162-acre park is THE place to find them. I am not exaggerating when I say there are hundreds of Canada Geese roaming about this island venue.

I parked the car near the Canal and was greeted by the sound of a Northern Flicker. He/she was loud, likely looking down and thinking “surely you see me – the leaves aren’t out yet!” But nope – no luck finding the Flicker. What I did see as I tilted my head up to the sky was a tree dripping in blossoms that you see in the header image.

As I meandered along, morning morphed into mid-afternoon and my wish was granted when the air was filled with a chorus of singing frogs. Believe it or not, the frogs were not in the marshy Canal water, a logical place for them to be, but instead were half-submerged in the many rain-filled low areas of Elizabeth Park. Occasionally they would pop their head out of the water and sing away or wear a disgruntled look like this guy or gal.

I was amazed how their throats would swell while “singing” reminding me of a kid blowing bubbles with bubble gum.

Mesmerized, I took at least 50 photos of them, a few which I shared in a Wordless Wednesday post last year in which I mistakenly labeled them as “Spring Peepers” but later learned from fellow blogger Laurie they were just very vocal frogs. 😊

Back to my quest for goslings …

After that delightful diversion, still in search of goslings, I strolled along the Canal and only saw adult Geese, so where were all those Mamas sitting on a nest or tending to goslings? They were all out of my view I guessed.

Even this tiny island in the Canal had no inhabitants yet – it is a favorite secluded spot for Canada Geese families to raise their young. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the lovely Willows on that island.

In the distance a lone kayaker paddled in the Canal.

Near the vehicle bridge …

… the bright green grass contrasted with the still-bare trees.

A few Canada geese paddled around, but there were no goslings here.

I crossed over the big bridge …

… noting the bulb in the lamp post was still a half-bubble off level.

Along the boardwalk, I really wasn’t having much fun …

… but perhaps an angler was – the ratio of fishing rods to humans was off: three rods, one human.

I saw my first boater of this young season …

I remembered to turn around and get a glimpse of the Gordie Howe Bridge. I would return later in the Summer to get photos once it was officially joined in the middle of the Detroit River.

Not much green to be seen around the stairsteps that went up to the circular drive …

… but dandelions provided some cheerful color along the boardwalk.

There were no pop-up visits on the 1,300-foot boardwalk by the resident groundhog which often scurries from its burrow to waylay walkers that might tender treats. Whew, good thing as I forgot to bring treats for his/her roly-poly self. In the distance I saw the Grosse Ile Free Bridge.

So, with all the time in the world at my disposal, I began meandering all the way to that bridge. Would those elusive geese families be lurking around there?

The smell of freshly cut grass wafted through the air, but I didn’t see or hear mowing equipment – maybe they were on a lunch break.

I was astounded at the number of dead trees …

… and, from the looks of it, some had already been cut down.

It looks like this tree was rotted through and through.

Along the way, I saw dandelions galore.

A solitary Canada Goose was marching through this dandelion patch, occasionally munching a few. Turning around, the goose tilted its head as if to say “this is my territory lady – you’d better have a good reason to be here and not steal any of my food!” Then it went back to eating grass and dandelions, oblivious to the noise at the busy intersection.

Well geese are always cantankerous, even more so with their goslings in tow, so I gave this bird wide berth and continued walking. From the corner of the Grosse Ile Parkway and West Jefferson I saw this ghost bike. It’s been there for several years and I pass it each time I travel along West Jefferson Avenue in Trenton to the parks I frequent in that area.

The ghost bicycles are found around the world and an all-white bicycle is placed at the nearest sign or pole where a bicyclist lost their life. Sometimes a small memorial plaque is left at or near the bike as well. In this case, it was a 68-year-old man riding his bike on Jefferson Avenue, near the Grosse Ile Parkway and he was struck by a minivan. In this case, it appears someone put the bike against the pole and spray painted it there. Often people just buy the bike already painted white, or paint it and chain it to the pole/sign.

The traffic was busy, even in the early afternoon, so I had to wait a while to get the photos from afar.

I started walking back to the main part of Elizabeth Park, the areas you are so familiar with, like the big bridge or the boardwalk.

Patience is a virtue.

The expression “finding the gold at the end of the rainbow” was true that day. But, instead of a pot of gold coins, there was a huddle of goslings. The goslings were different ages though – three young ones and two were older. Oddly enough, there was just one Mama, who was likely babysitting, er “goslingsitting” that day.

If you look for something long enough, you might just find it.

Being a gosling is a tough life … eat, relax, snooze and swim.

The older goslings left, either bored with me, or to find their Mama.

Me … I tootled off too, happy for all the steps taken on my first long walk of 2024.

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Fresh.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Spring, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Spring, walk, walking | 56 Comments

Meet the Quality Control Crew. #Wordless Wednesday #Peanut perusers testing peanuts for freshness and weight!

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, Blue Jays, nature | 38 Comments

February made me shiver …

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Linda Schaub

… with every footstep I did quiver.

Bad ice on the doorstep,

I couldn’t take one more step.

Well, you “get” it, especially those of you that have been dealing with multiple snow/ice storms. Here in Southeast Michigan, round after round of freezing rain, or snow, high winds, a Polar Vortex or two – Mother Nature, you frost me off!

And, speaking of being frosted off, I touted the predicting abilities of Woody the Woodchuck over Punxsutawney Phil in my Groundhog Day post. Woody must have had an off day. I suggest she lie low until Spring arrives!

Somehow the shortest month of the year has become the longest month and it is only half over. My 2025 walking regimen has been almost non-existent. I’ve only been to Council Point Park eleven times this year, a new record low for me. Most of February my driveway was like a skating rink. I used a ten-pound canister of ice-melt pellets to ensure my safe passage along the sidewalk to the garage to run the car.

When some of the driveway ice eventually melted, I still didn’t attempt walking to my favorite nature venue as the two-mile, figure-eight walking path is never plowed, resulting in icy ruts. I usually walk on the snowy grass, but after these last two major dumps of snow this week, first from Winter Storm Iliana Wednesday night, then from Winter Storm Jett this weekend, it may be a while ‘til I return again.

However, I was grateful to get to Council Point Park this past Wednesday. I waited until late afternoon when temps finally climbed above freezing, then I drove there, stayed on the snowy grass and stepped gingerly on the walking path to get to my usual dropping spots. I saw two birds, a female Cardinal, who got extra treats for showing up and she flew down to the ground while I was still there. I also saw a Northern Mockingbird, which was not singing, but perched on a bare Maple tree. Not a single squirrel! As a general rule, in Winter all the critters, furry and feathered, usually forage in the morning, then go up to their respective nests to tuck in until the next day, so I didn’t bother to bring a camera. So they had some surprise treats, which hopefully were not under the snow.

I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this frosty morning, but pickin’s were slim. I usually go to the Park, but had to use the backyard this year. We have a Cooper’s Hawk in the ‘hood, so the House Sparrows and Juncos have been infrequent visitors this year. I submitted five birds, same which went airborne after I entered the backyard with my snow shovel.

Stepping back a month ago.

This walk at Council Point Park was taken Friday, January 17^th. I took a ton of photos that day, some which I’ve already shared in this post about feeding the birds (and squirrels).

It was a frosty day and the Mitten State was on the cusp of that Siberian Polar Vortex, but the sun was out – yay for that. The wind was blowing around 25 mph and the walking path was sure NOT inviting. Sure, snow was packed down, but it was icy too.

The parking lot was salted and plowed (as seen below), but why, if the perimeter path is snowy or ice-covered and treacherous? There are no activities at this park in the Winter months.

Yes, without a shadow of a doubt I DESPISE Winter!

I love the long shadows of Winter though. They make for fun and unusual-looking shots. I am already tall (5’9”) but the sun’s angle at mid-day when I took this picture made me look like “Long Tall Sally”. My wavy-looking legs are because I was wearing heavy, sherpa-lined pants and my tall boots pushed them up. I look lopsided and listing to the left due to my critter food bag hanging off my shoulder to take the photo. 🙂

Shadows gave this tree an eerie look with its bare branches displayed on the snowy ground.

In my dozen years of walking at this venue, I know which trees drop their leaves early and which trees have leaves that linger, crumpled and withered, wiggling on spindly stems all Winter. These leaves are “marcescent” which is a term I learned from fellow blogger/walker Barbara Rodgers’ woodsy meanders in North Carolina. It was windy that day and the leaves were rustling in the wind.

Is there anything more desolate than a park bench in the snow? This is the new park bench that replaced the one that was mangled by the destruction last year.

This picnic table will likely not see any action for many months.

The snow gave a pristine look to the shoreline destroyed by heavy machinery last May. Mounds of snow gave a fresh look to the new-normal landscape, but since the shoreline was so bumpy due to all the tree removal and some still-existing stumps, I didn’t dare stray to the edge, lest I fall over.

It was looking a bit bleak here; I wonder if anyone has missed their basketball yet?

As I strolled the shoreline, some ice was beginning to thaw, but snow still covered other areas where the ice was thicker.

The snow did not cover this graffiti, only one of two pops of color I saw that day on my walk.

There was a myriad of animal tracks crossing the snow-covered Creek. I recalled one Winter when I was watching a heron with much trepidation as it tried to traverse the icy Creek. I held my breath, worried it would slip and fall, perhaps breaking one of its spindly legs. There was no snow and it made it – whew! This is that post if you’d like to see the photos of Harry the Heron.

I took photos of some of the animal tracks hoping to identify them through Google Images but I had no luck, so I omitted them.

Last year after the woodsy shoreline area on the opposite side of the Creek was obliterated, there were multiple sightings of coyotes and deer. I mused if either of these critters had crossed the Creek, it might present a photo opportunity, but there were only birds and squirrels present that day.

Does this Eastern Gray Squirrel look like it could use a cup of hot chocolate more than some peanuts? What a sad and Winter-weary look my furry friend was wearing.

I took this picture of the fir tree that resembled the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. You may recall the person that planted it, had placed a solitary red bulb on it at Christmastime. Yes, “less is more” as the expression goes and since then folks have added more decorations.

After trudging around once, it was time to head home. I paused at one of my usual drop-off points, near a memorial tree at the entrance/exit of the Park. Someone placed a poinsettia plant there in early December and it was tipped over 99.9% of the time. The black squirrel who usually hangs out near this tree saw me, but instead of racing over to greet me, it ran up the tree.

This poor baby looked so cold and the gusty winds made its tail lean to the right.

Oddly enough, I needed to coax it down, as if it was wondering “is it worth my while to leave my comfy spot Linda?

Likely the smell of the peanuts that were in my palm lured him down more than any sweet-talk.

I placed a little pile of peanuts beneath the tree once my furry friend was at ground level and it came over and munched happily, double dipping with two peanuts in his mouth, then posing near the poinsettia.

I stepped back and whirled around because I had one more non-nature shot I needed to take.

Tomorrow is Presidents’ Day …

Well, first it was “American Pie” … now it is cherry pie.

If you’re so inclined, it’s the day that you can indulge guilt-free in cherry pie or cherry cordial … for the cause of course. The cause is ‘cuz President George Washington and his wife Martha grew cherries on their Mount Vernon estate and are known for their fondness of “Cherry Bounce” (cherries mixed with brandy).

As to presidents, past or present, you’ll read no political commentary by me here in this forum, except for this mention of Pat Paulsen, (1928 – 1997), a comic who ran for President five times between 1968 and 1996, as a satirical protest against the lack of choices in American politics. (Stat sourced from: Encyclopedia.com).

This city, which was incorporated in 1925, one century ago, has a plaque in City Hall commemorating Paulsen’s visit to Michigan where he kicked off his 1996 Presidential run at Council Point Park . (Um, what did we do before Google?)

Council Point Park, which was established in 1994, named its pavilion after Pat Paulsen.

These were big doin’s back in the day!

Today I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: Frosty.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Seasons, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Squirrels, walk, walking, Winter | 59 Comments

Bee nice or buzz off! #Wordless Wednesday

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, Bees, nature | 48 Comments

RED-dy, Set, Go!!

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Linda Schaub

**A heart-shaped message on a memorial tree at BASF Park.**

This week we go all out for the color red and hearts. Not only is it National Heart Month, but it is the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, the holiday when chocolate abounds, chubby cupids are flitting about and a dozen of red roses will make your significant other’s heart go pitter-patter. Today I’m going to be sharing the love across the miles with all of you, but, instead of a box of decadent chocolates, or a dozen red roses, I’m going to celebrate a dozen years of writing my blog and sharing the love here. Why? Why not? After all, a little self-love is good for the soul, right?

“Every new walk is like a box of chocolates …

… You never know what you’ll get.” ~ Forrest Gump

***Valentine’s Day card from my greeting card collection.***

This blog began on a cold, snowy weekend, with my first post publishing on February 11, 2013. My good friend and neighbor, Marge Aubin, nudged me into starting a blog as a way of memorializing my daily walking regimen which I began in 2011, the first year I started working from home. Even though our office was very small, I conceded that when I worked on site I got more exercise than parking myself in front of the computer here at the house. Yes, I tended to my butterfly garden every morning, but that really wasn’t heart-smart exercise and I know all about being heart smart since my beloved maternal grandmother and seven of her eight siblings died from heart disease and my mother had a heart arrhythmia. Even 14 years ago, the slogan “sitting is the new smoking” made me take notice, so I began my walking regimen that year. I now have an annual goal of over 1,250 miles. Along the way I also gave up red meat, fried food and fast food, so I hope to be around a long time. 🙂

This labor of love, a/k/a my blog, includes the word “whimsy” and, while I try to fulfill that portion of the title, often in my Wordless Wednesday posts, this blog’s roots were not nature-related, at least not until discovering Council Point Park in 2013. Thereafter my blog morphed into a nature blog, with many more words and photos than ever before. So, to celebrate this week’s 12^th “blogiversary” I’m sharing the love with highlights of my four personal favorites, all warm-and-fuzzy-feeling posts.

Dear Heart.

Because Valentine’s Day is drawing near, I must mention Parker, my favorite Council Point Park squirrel, who long ago wormed his way into my heart and can do no wrong (even though he is a little rascal most of the time).

Here’s the backstory of this post. On a lark, I bought a package of heart-shaped sugar cookies to take to the Park with me. Yep, I realize walnuts or mixed nuts would have been more nutritious, but I thought it would be a fun treat for them and perhaps lead to a photo op. On February 2, 2020, I laid several along a picnic table for the squirrels to peruse, but it was only Parker who came a’callin’.

I even positioned the cookies and peanuts (an extra incentive) near some graffiti …

… then stood, camera at the ready, as Parker first did a sniff test, then picked up the heart-shaped cookie and, as if on cue, holding the cookie in his paws, red sugar side toward me, he began chomping on the cookie. I got a series of shots and he looked at me as it to say “Linda, did I do okay – am I dismissed now?”

I put the camera away and off he went with his half-eaten cookie to bury it.

You can click here for the link to that post and its fun photos/captions.

Enamored by this dear, er … deer encounter.

My next-favorite post was a trip to Lake Erie Metropark on July 31, 2021. Whenever visiting this venue, especially in Spring and Summer, I’m on the lookout for babies, because, after all, who doesn’t like to see photos of babies? After searching for hours for deer and fawns without any sightings, I was driving out of the park and suddenly saw a flash of brown – it was a Mama deer with a fawn by her side. I know my heart melted. I couldn’t find and pull into a parking space fast enough. I hopped out of the car, grabbed my camera from the fanny pack lest they got spooked and took off. But, to my surprise, just as I neared them, Mama deer loped away and I heard a big splash in the marsh. I figured she went for a drink, or to nibble on some Lotus leaves, but she was swimming! I was gobsmacked that she left her baby with me, a stranger! Well she needn’t have worried about l’il ol’ me, as I was infatuated with that fawn and it wasn’t scared of me in the least. It grazed for a bit, scoped me out a few times and posed very nicely, all the while as I was cooing and whispering enDEERments to that baby.

After what seemed like an eternity and about 50 shots later, Mama Deer returned, refreshed from her marsh swim and from afar she beckoned her little one to follow her. Perhaps it was my imagination, but her offspring seemed reluctant to go, but obediently it tootled off after Mama …

… while “wagging” its tail …

… and, yes, it even looked back at me as if to say goodbye.

I’m sure I floated home, very anxious to see those photos.

Here is the link to that Wordless Wednesday post if you’d like to see it.

An Eggs-tra Special Experience.

Another one of my magical Kodak nature moments was embedded into my Mother’s Day 2022 post which included a series of shots taken over the course of several weeks in Heritage Park, another favorite walking venue. Those who have followed me for a while know that every April I go to this venue to seek out Mama Goose, a Canada goose that nests in the rocky boulders next to the covered bridge.

While it wouldn’t seem to be the comfiest place to nest for 25-30 days, evidently the Missus feels safe here and her mate “patrols” nearby Coan Lake to ensure no walkers or dogs get near her. After going to Heritage Park several times, in anticipation of seeing newly hatched goslings, my trip on Easter Sunday 2022 (April 17^th) was the most memorable.

I was the only one at the park that morning and Mama Goose didn’t see me. From where I stood on the covered bridge and out of her sight, I watched her rise off the nest, something she rarely does. She didn’t leave the nest to eat or drink, but instead nudged those large, cream-colored eggs …

… then proceeded to pluck downy feathers from her body, letting then drift slowly into the nest and over the eggs.

I felt so special witnessing this, a magical moment for me.

I returned a few times to ensure I saw Mama and her goslings …

… and that series of photos of Mama and her brood became my nod to Mother’s Day 2022.

Here is that post with many more photos if you’d like to see it.

Sometimes the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Although those nature encounters and others have been very fulfilling, my last favorite post is one I wrote about my mom, combining a little of that aforementioned whimsy and some poignancy as well. It was for Mother’s Day 2019, about my mom who passed away in January 2010. Mom will be on my mind more than usual this week because her birthday was on Valentine’s Day.

My original intent for this post was to merely acknowledge Mother’s Day showing two cherished photos of Mom and me, the first photo taken the day she brought me home from the hospital …

… and our last picture together taken by our dental hygienist when we had our respective appointments and I parked the car next to her brand-new Corvette. Barb asked me to take a photo of her and her “baby” and she responded in kind, snapping a photo of Mom and her “baby” and mailed it to us.

But, after finishing up this short post, before I hit “publish” I knew there was more to share with you, so I decided to dip into the digitized photo album pics and soon tons of memories, some funny, some poignant, evolved into another favorite post.

There are lots of vintage photos in that post (both Mom’s …

… and mine) …

… and in this post I got personal about Mom’s childhood and beyond, including some insight into why I rarely mention my father.

Here is the link to that blog post if you’d like to see it.

So, while a dozen red roses may well be the norm in this Valentine’s Day week, will this pretty, rosy-red Hibiscus from Emily Frank Gardens suffice instead?