This is what tranquility looks like.

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Linda Schaub

For those of us old enough to have lived through, and been mindful of, the tragedy of September 11, 2001, I am sure as that day unfolded, each of us believed there could never be another event that would similarly impact our collective lives. I know that most folks will never forget that fateful day, and the anniversary date stirs up many images that we wish we could unsee.

But then 2020 came along … a new year, a new decade, full of hope and promise, until the words “Coronavirus” and “COVID-19” became our new nemesis. And here we are, immersed in this pandemic for six months and still unsure of what lies ahead.

In a way, it’s just as scary as that sunny, late Summer morn 19 years ago today.

If I may offer a few moments of zen …

Today’s post is about beauty and peace, but not at a large park along a waterway, or on a woodsy trail. This time I stepped into a prayer garden. It was a muggy morning with overcast skies that threatened rain, thus I didn’t want to stray too far from home.

Just a few days before, I was walking back from the Park and stopped to chat with Joe, a follower of my blog and neighbor from the next block over. Joe was doing some yardwork. After we discussed current events and the sad demise of the big Willow tree at Buckingham Park, which venue we both frequented as kids, our conversation turned to photography.

I first met Joe in Autumn 2018 at Council Point Park where we were both focusing (literally) on the same tree which was ablaze in shades of red and gold. Parker was also part of the photo-taking experience that morning as he danced around our feet. After a brief introduction and comments on this beautiful tree, I mentioned my blog and Joe told me about his photo site, so we exchanged e-mail addresses to take a peek at each other’s labor of love. Later that day some beautiful photos of that tree, Harry the Heron and a very handsome Parker appeared in my e-mail inbox.

In our most-recent conversation, Joe asked if I ever visited Christ the Good Shepherd Church’s prayer garden. I told him I’d not visited in a few years, likely since I last went to give blood donations. He encouraged me to go saying “stop by sometime; it is really beautiful.”

So, at Joe’s suggestion, I found myself in this prayer garden, a solitary figure basking in the beauty of the perennials and reading some of the bricks placed along the garden in memory of loved ones.

Come along as we meander through this garden, enjoy the beauty and the peace; then a parting thought.


The pandemic, just like 9/11, has left us weary and wary of everything. I will leave you with this quote:

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” —Dalai Lama

Posted in event, nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , , , | 46 Comments

Back to School – NOT! #Wordless Wednesday #No in-seat learning here! #Street photography

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #Wordless Wednesday, Street Photography, walk, walking | Tagged , , , | 43 Comments

So, what’s YOUR guilty food pleasure?

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Linda Schaub

It’s Labor Day … and our collective mindset is that it is the end of Summer, even if hot and sticky days persist long into October.

A week of September has already passed – sigh. Leaves have begun subtly turning color and fluttering to the ground. The grocery store shelves are brimming with pumpkin-flavored everything, harvest décor and lots of jewel-tone mums. It feels like Summer is on the wane and Fall is just around the corner.

Back in the day, Labor Day used to mean Summer’s carefree times of flip flops and firefly collections were over and it was back to the grind for students the following day. It also meant breaking out that year’s snazzy school supplies and finally getting to wear your brand-new duds (even if you’d likely end up with blisters from your Mary Janes). Well, school is looking a whole lot different this year with suggestions that students refrain from donning their PJs for online learning!

I hope you’ll indulge yourself, maybe kick back a bit on this Labor Day and enjoy some of Summer’s fun fare like corn on the cob, or those tasty home-grown tomatoes, or something sumptous on the grill. Don’t forget the S’Mores, because who doesn’t enjoy a sweet treat sometimes?

Peanut Bliss.

The squirrels have a sweet tooth just like most of us do. While I don’t indulge them often with sweet treats, they do love Nutter Butters. I buy the “mini” version of these sandwich cookies which are tasty, peanut-flavored wafers with a generous smear of peanut butter in between. I love ‘em too.

So, last Sunday, the sun was shining and it was FINALLY cooler with no humidity, so I filled a large Ziploc bag with peanuts, toted along a cup of Nutter Butter Bites …

… and spent the next three hours walking along the perimeter path, doling out treats and taking pictures of the cookie kids at my favorite stomping grounds, Council Point Park.

I believe I see quite a few smiles of peanut pal appreciation in the photos below. I am sure you will agree.

Happy Labor Day!

Posted in holiday, Labor Day, nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , , | 66 Comments

Walk the walk!

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Linda Schaub

Labor Day weekend has a special significance for me … at least since 2011. On the Friday before the long holiday, September 2, 2011, I began my walking regimen.

I dusted off a pair of walking shoes that had reposed in the basement since my last (and failed) attempt at walking on a daily basis for exercise. Yep, I bought those shoes, wore them a couple of times, had good intentions, but never followed through.

But since I had begun working from home in 2011 and sitting in one spot all day long, I knew I had to get out and stretch my legs – it was time to begin walking in earnest.

“Don’t talk the talk unless you can walk the walk!” – Proverb

It was a sickening hot day to begin walking … you know, the kind of morning where you step outside and it feels like you’re in a locale that Jimmy Buffett might sing about. I almost turned back, but then I remembered that gardening season was beginning to wane and I sure wasn’t getting much exercise walking around the house and down the hall.

So … a fitness routine was launched and that first walk on September 2, 2011 would be the impetus to begin a blog about walking two years later, as well as a renewed interest in photography two years after I began Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy.

I’d say that staying on course that first day of my walk was one of the best gifts I’ve ever given myself. So yes … I followed through on that proverb.

That initial trek was just one long block, in part due to the muggy morning, but also I didn’t want to overdo it and risk shin splints. Gradually I increased my walking steps each day, adding more streets and City blocks along the way. The Winter of 2011-2012 was mild, much like last year’s wonderful Winter, so I was able to walk most days of the season. I was proud of my daily 2 ½ mile jaunt to the footbridge on Emmons Boulevard and back.

I’m now up to five miles most days in the late Spring and Summer … that is, if I don’t dilly-dally in the morning and get out the door in a timely fashion. I try for six or seven miles each day of the weekend when I do longer treks. I can’t fathom how many miles I’ve walked at Council Point Park, which I discovered in 2013, but suffice it to say more miles have been walked there than anywhere else.

I have walked 870 miles/1,400 kilometers so far in 2020 and need to reach 1,255 miles/2,020 kilometers by year end. Whew! I must put my nose to the grindstone and keep my feet on the perimeter path, like my furry friend Parker who is featured in these two photos.

Wherever your treks take you this long holiday weekend, whether they are motoring miles, nautical miles, or if they will be footsteps on a nature path like I will choose to do, please stay safe.

Posted in holiday, nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , | 62 Comments

Cone zones!! #Wordless Wednesday #Coneflowers and Construction cones/barrels

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #Wordless Wednesday, nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , , , | 24 Comments

Happy Feet!

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Linda Schaub

My blog has been full of a lot of geese and ducks the past few weeks. That means there’s a whole lotta waddlin’ and goose-steppin’ going on … now that the Canada Geese are back at Council Point Park, there’s a whole lotta sidesteppin’ on the perimeter path … goose droppings, the bane of every walker’s existence, happens when geese, not walkers, rule the pathway.

I’m not waddling nor goose-stepping; no, I’m merely racking up the miles with my feet. And, my feet are happy as a slew of good weather days this month allowed me to add lots of miles to my tally … now there’s merely four more months to reach my goal of 1,255 miles/2,020 kilometers this year. Fingers crossed there is good weather on the horizon.

Recently, I bopped by Elizabeth Park on the way home from Lake Erie Metropark.

The squirrels were plentiful and begging as usual – at this venue, unlike the Metroparks, it is permissible to feed them. They are emboldened by the many treats that people toss to them from their car, or walkers who pack peanuts and feed them along the circular path that goes around this island park. Here’s a squirrel on alert and scoping me out to see what I have for him/her.

This is the only park that I frequent where I can see the colorful Mallard Hybrids and White Pekins (one is pictured above). This post includes a small collection of those ducks, who, like the squirrels, are friendly and apt to wander over to greet you and look for tasty treats you might be offering.

You may recall the last time I was here at Elizabeth Park, a White Pekin duck was gobbling up goodies from someone’s hand … like you and me, who can resist M&M cookies? Talk about a lucky duck!

Posted in nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

The scene was green at Lake Erie Metropark.

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Linda Schaub

This post is about a trek taken at Lake Erie Metropark in late June. I figured I’d better get this picture-laden post published soon, as I’ve made a couple of trips to this venue since then to see the water lotuses, so I will be doing a separate post soon on those lovely and delicate flowers .

This is such a huge Metropark, (1,607 acres), and there is a lot to see. In the three years I’ve been going here, I am sure I have still not explored every corner of this park. I’ve mentioned our wacky weather this year, and, as I write this post, usually by late August, the grass is brown and crispy and it seems you can hear your footsteps when you walk on it. We had our sunniest June ever on record here in Southeast Michigan, but when we had rain, it was the torrential, think-about-building-an-ark kind of rain. Unfortunately, the Cherry Hill Marsh Trail has been flooded throughout 2019 and 2020.

On this day, it seemed as though everything was a bright-green color. Last year the boathouse (pictured above) was repainted from turquoise to this pale, pea-green hue.

I stopped to say “hi” to Luc, the resident bald eagle and had to step across a wooden pallet that was a makeshift walkway to traverse the mud in order to get to the overlook where the boat house sits. This overlook gives you a nice view of the marsh.

I saw no ducks which are usually paddling around the marsh, but I did see extensive green pond scum.

Since the Cherry Island Trail was muddy with pools of water, I decided on a trail that was further inland. Yes, this would do just fine. No worries about social distancing since it appeared I was by myself on this trail and thus spent about an hour before I saw another human.

But, just in case I forgot myself, there were plenty of signs describing the distance of six feet apart.

I walked along the overlook as I headed to the boat launch site. My head swiveled around looking for a sign of life … wildlife that is. I said to myself “where are the Herons, Egrets, Geese and Swans?” I guess I spoke to quickly as I next heard the unmistakable screech of a Great Blue Heron, who likely heard my mutterings and left the marsh without further adieu. You can see him zipping by in this shot below, though I had barely enough time to focus on him after hearing his horribly screechy noise.

I continued through the marsh, pausing to take photos of more green slimy algae that had settled onto the water’s surface …

… but here, the water was clearer, chock full of frog-bit and lime-green pond lily leaves.

In the middle of the marsh, sticking out of the still-dormant bulrushes, was this dead tree, which looked like some type of weird sculpture.

Along the wooden overlook, there was a slight breeze and the fuzz was flying … the poplar tree fuzz that is. If those white wisps were not airborne, they had glommed together in a pile. Below, the cottony fibers likely snagged on a rough piece of wood on the walkway.

I headed down to the boat launch area, hoping to see a Seagull or two perching on a buoy – it is always a good photo op when they stand there, swaying ever so slightly on the huge green buoy. The seagulls watch the fishermen to see if they might snag a meal when those guys (or gals) look away for a minute. Those wily gulls probably know what this sign says, so they have to work hard for their meals and be sneaky to snag a fish from a fisherman’s bucket or boat. 🙂

No food-snatching Seagulls and the buoys were all rocking gently with no visitors atop them, so no photo ops there, save getting a shot of the raggedy-looking rope that is tied to a post from the makeshift fence around the perimeter of the parking lot.

Adjacent to the boat launch area is the opposite end of the Cherry Island Marsh Trail.

I checked it out to see if it was dry or muddy here, but it wasn’t too promising from what I could see as puddles and pools of water were just a few yards from the start point of the trail.

It was a great morning, notwithstanding those muddy spots. On the way back to the car, I saw a group of splashing Mallards along the way. You can read about that portion of this trek here in case you missed it.

Soon I will be writing about the water lotuses at this park – stay tuned!

Posted in nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , | 89 Comments

We are splooting! #Wordless Wednesday #The heat makes us squirrelly!

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #Wordless Wednesday, nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , , | 43 Comments

Feelin’ ducky …

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Linda Schaub

Back in May I lamented about how another Spring would be passing me by without a duckling sighting. I must have whined long and loud enough that suddenly it seemed that every time I turned around I saw ducklings, either on land or in the water.

So, can there ever be too much cuteness in the world?

Granted, these are not the “mini-me” fuzzy-wuzzy ducklings I’ve shown in prior posts, but I was struck how identical they were as each was a mirror image of Mama Mallard. I was able to get close up to this little family by first taking a few handfuls of dried oatmeal to lure them near.

But I guess my offerings fell flat and didn’t appeal to them much, as the ducklings wandered over and walked away. Mama Mallard didn’t give it a second glance. I had heard oatmeal was a nice treat for ducks and I enjoy it for breakfast every day, so I littered the grass for nothing. Oh well, next time I guess I have to stop at the feed and grain store and get some corn.

The ducklings did not stray far from Mama’s watchful eye …

… and she had their rapt attention. After waddling over to the water’s edge, they plopped in for a short swim in Coan Lake.

Mama Mallard is proud of her brood – they were quick learners!

I had these photos from Heritage Park tucked away since early June, since it seemed like my blog was chock full of either ducks or geese during the month of May when Council Point Park was shut down and I ventured to other larger parks every weekend.

Posted in nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

So, what’s the buzz around Council Point Park these days?

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Linda Schaub

Summer is zipping by much too quickly – I can’t believe August is nearly over!

Wednesday I celebrated my 1,500th post since I began blogging on February 11, 2013. That is a lot of words I’ve written! Many of those posts have been the Wordless Wednesday feature I’ve been doing since March 11th this year. I really enjoy doing Wordless Wednesday, as I have amassed a ton of photos in 2020 and sometimes a narrative isn’t needed to accompany them.

I decided that the topic for post #1,501 just HAD to be about Council Point Park. I’m sure if I took the time to go through this blog, that two/thirds of the posts revolve around my favorite nature nook. Hmm – I wonder how many posts are about squirrels?

This is a roundup of photos taken at Council Point Park in August.

The ambiance is almost back to pre-shutdown mode on May 1st, but something is definitely amiss. Council Point Park is experiencing the “new normal” just like the rest of us. I don’t know most of the people I pass on the trail these days. There are many bicyclists and joggers now, even a few rollerbladers. Of course there was Mike, a Park fixture for a long time, who passed away back in February. His presence is sorely missed and not just by the squirrels. There were walkers whom I passed on the trail on an everyday basis for years and they never returned to this Park once the weather began to warm up in April. I’m not all that sure if their decision is COVID-19 related. I don’t dwell on this “new normal” a lot because I usually walk alone anyway, but their absence from a place they enjoyed is a puzzle to me. You know how I stewed and fretted during the one-month shutdown. I had to return as this place has become a big part of my day.

I chitchat with fellow walkers, husband and wife Arnie and Carol, from time to time. I told Arnie I am curious as to why the squirrels began to hide their peanuts once the Park re-opened on June 2nd. Nut-gathering usually begins in late August/early September. Were our furry friends afraid the walkers who feed them would go missing once again? Do they have a sixth sense that a wicked Winter is on the horizon? I have duly noted the squirrels’ actions and would love a naturalist to tell me the answer. I have noticed many trends the last seven years I’ve walked at this Park. Like the squirrels are always on the perimeter path – they are ever-present. Not any more … so, is it too hot, are they lazy, or are they foraging for natural food? Some days there are a passel of them; the next day one or none. Arnie seems to think the latter reason – they are foraging for natural food. There are humans who pick the wild mulberries, so all that is left are the soft green pine cones and wormy apples …

… or so I thought.

Mystery squirrel treats – are they better than peanuts?

I was walking on the path one day when a squirrel was moving about noisily up in a nearby tree. I put some peanuts on my palm and asked him if he was coming down to get them. He never even stole a glance at me, but continued rustling around in the leaves. Feeling a bit rebuffed, I noted that he had something green and large clenched in his teeth. He must not have been one of the “regulars” because when I moved in for a better look, he freaked out and dropped a large object onto the ground.

I looked at it thinking “so what do we have here?” It was the size and color of a lime and when I startled this squirrel, he dropped not one, but two, of these green items to the ground.

He was too scared to come down and retrieve them and cowered above in the treetop while watching me. He made the strange distress call that squirrels make sometimes. “Was I stressing him out?” I assured him I was not going to eat them but he should come down and get them before someone swiped them. He remained in the tree and I took a picture first so I could Google reverse image … or in the alternative ask you what these green objects are?

I stepped back and watched as the squirrel slowly made his/her descent to ground level, but in backing up, I saw something in my peripheral vision. Well, look at this. A huge wasp nest with lots of wasps darting in and out and buzzing around. Well you never saw anyone move as fast as me as I jumped back out of the way …

… but not before Your Roving Reporter took a few pictures of course.

I took my shots, but instead of wisely getting the heck out of Dodge, I stayed, fascinated with that wasp nest. I had never seen one before, but finally I tore myself away to remain unscathed by wasp bites. A few days later, a Facebook friend of mine posted a photo of the exact same type of paper nest hanging off the side of her house. I had some Great Black Wasps last year and they tunneled into a small opening above the screen door. It was a dry and comfy place to live until a smidgeon of caulking took care of that opening and it was “home sweet home” no more. The relatives hung around for a few days, then left to pester someone else.

What’s hopping and bopping along the trail these days?

The baby bunnies are fattening up. They are adorable and not afraid of humans as they munch contentedly on clover or grass. They are very photogenic, especially when the sun’s rays make their pink ears translucent. This baby posed nicely, only three or four feet away from the perimeter path.

The larger bunnies, however, are more wary and nibble on grass with one eye always toward the humans.

There are also “buns” on the bunny trail.

Did you see the squirrel? He stopped in his tracks as she rolled along. 🙂

“Exercise” is the word of the day as a contingent of cross-country runners has been showing up almost daily, huffing and puffing as they leave me in the dust.

We have a resident fisherman (and it’s not Harry who is still at large). I do hope he knows to throw what he caught back into the water.

A painted rock made me smile, but I left it there.

Flowers, weeds and leaves.

I’m disappointed that I have seen just one Goldfinch this year … I heard it singing away, but it was too far away at the top of a tree to get a photo of it. I’d love to see one of these vibrant birds sitting on a tall thistle like I’ve seen and taken photos of in the past.

The thistles are plentiful this year.

Did you know there are 20 different types of native thistle in the U.S.? I only know a few of them.

I follow a blogger from Wild Birds Unlimited on Twitter. A recent post was about thistles and showed Canada Thistle a/k/a Creeping Thistle. Well I identified with that photo and description right away as I remember we called them “Santa Clauses” when I was growing up. We made wishes on them, then blew them into the air to send them on their way. I see them at the Park every year. Each fluffy piece is attached to a small seed – look at this plant and you know lots more thistles will appear next year. I sure am glad I’m not weeding these in the garden.

Speaking of weeds, unbelievably I’m still seeing yellow dandelions this late in the Summer at the Park. There they are defiantly standing tall, willing the bunnies to nibble on them, but these days the bunnies prefer clover or grass, so they hop right past them. Since the Park was closed all of May, I missed taking photos of the sea of yellow, then spent dandelions.

Dandelions are not the only yellow item in the grass … the Poplar leaves are already littering the path.

I’ve seen a few flowers, but not many.

The teasels are plentiful as well.

The Milkweed leaves have been chomped on, likely by Monarch caterpillars, but I often bend down to see if I find one of those caterpillars, but no luck. A woman used to gather Milkweed leaves at this plant and around the Park to feed her hungry Monarch caterpillars at home, but I’ve not seen her this year. These Milkweeds and the others have not flowered yet.

What have we here?

Recently I did a Wordless Wednesday post about a train with extensive graffiti on it. Graffiti finds itself all over the Park too, from the markings you saw next to where the angler was aiming for a fish (above) to the twisted tree, as you see below. The squirrel seems a bit befuddled does he not? Nature versus man ain’t always pretty.

Well, life goes on … the hot weather continues and the sparrow still sits at the water fountain hoping by some miracle, the water will come gushing forth …

… while the turtle balances preciously on the edge of the cement ledge, content to languish in the Summer sun.

As the days get shorter and we creep toward Fall and Winter, I’ll savor each walk as it sets the tone for the day and provides endless fodder for this forum.

I’ll leave you with this quote:

“Nature is loved by what is best in us.” ~~Ralph Waldo Emerson
 

Posted in nature, walk, walking | Tagged , , , | 77 Comments