Change Is Hard

February 21, 2026
by dawnkinster 6 Comments

Announcement

We interrupt our tour of magical Kensington to announce that spring has officially arrived here in Southeastern Michigan. OK, it’s 30 degrees out with a stiff wind and snow lightly falling.

But it’s spring. Trust me on this.

Wait. That’s the wrong image. One moment please…

…try now…

What? You don’t see anything? How about now?

Well yes, that IS a goldfinch who MIGHT have a yellow feather showing, but no, what about the big black blob? What do you see?

Maybe this is better?

Yes! It is indeed our very first red-winged blackbird scout of the season! Give that bird a gold medal, he’s arrived early and the weather is clearly not in his favor. In fact we had a hail storm only two days ago. I hope he managed to avoid it.

I saw him for the first time on Thursday (day before yesterday), but I was on the phone and not close to my camera. I got a very poor image of him with the phone. But I shared it extensively with my bird friends here. Almost all of them had seen one in their yards that day too!

Yesterday (Friday) he stopped by again. The images in this post are from Friday’s visit.

I had filled all six feeders for him in the hopes he’d eat something. It was a very windy day and he was very hesitant. He slowly worked his way out from the safety of the middle of the beech tree, watching all the other birds eating. Clearly he was interested.

And then he made his move.

I hope he’s here to stay. I haven’t even heard the distinctive red-winged blackbird call yet. But I hope he starts calling in all of his friends so we know he is more than a fluke!

And I’m glad we were able to give him some food and water if he’s headed further north. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if he stops by again.

Happy Spring everybody!

Edit: He’s here right now, eating at the flat feeder! So maybe he’s really going to stick around!

February 19, 2026
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

It’s been a long time, Kensington

Last week I jumped at the chance to visit Kensington on one of our only blue sky days. It had been a long time, and I was hoping the birds were hungry even though I got out there a little later in the day than I like. But, instead of me telling you about it, let me just show you. You know it’s all about the birds….right?

*A sandhill crane sunbathing and not wanting to be disturbed.* *So I didn’t get close. A long lens helps.*

*I found the red-headed woodpecker at his usual corner. Wonder if there’s going to be a nest in there this spring?*

*Meanwhile the little birds were definitely hungry. This is a titmouse. They are so cheeky.*

*A bluejay keeps a careful watch for any spillage.*

*I did spend a lot of time with my hand out hoping to entice the bluejay or the woodpeckers down for brunch.*

*The male downy woodpecker was interested…but uncertain.*

*The squirrel enthusiastically enjoyed his treat.*

*And watching it all is a male red-belly woodpecker. Who really wants a snack but doesn’t want to get too close.*

*Though he works his way down from the tree to get a little closer, keeping his eye on me.*

*Meanwhile the little birds fly in and out, grabbing snacks on the go.*

*And right next to the path, last year’s young sandhill crane is poking around in the mud of a stream.*

*Under the watchful eye of mom and dad. They were both just a bit further up the stream. And they knew exactly where I was.*

*The red-belly supervises it all, including me, from his safe place.*

*Brunch continues with a titmouse grabbing a shelled peanut.*

*Now there was a bit of a traffic jam. Notice the chickadee wing shadow on the downy woodpecker’s chest.*

*The woodpecker won, but the chickadee will be back, see him behind the woodpecker?*

*The red-belly is happy with his score.*

*But wait! Who is this? A FEMALE red-belly waits for a snack of her own.*

*The chickadee tells her off, he’s been displaced once too often already.*

*But it’s time for me to leave all this drama behind. I move on, leaving seed on the path for everyone to share.*

Will I see any more birds on the rest of my walk. Well…of course…but they were birds of a different feather. They’ll show up in this blog soon I’m sure. They’re kind of pushy.

Wordless Wednesday

February 18, 2026 by dawnkinster 25 Comments

February 12, 2026
by dawnkinster 27 Comments

All grown up

Mom says she posted one of my baby pictures yesterday. She says it was from my very first day home, when I was a tiny little thing. Yesterday was my gotcha day, I’ve lived here three whole years now!

*I needed a nap once I came home, it was all so overwhelming.*

I sure remember that first winter. There was so much snow! Of course I was a lot shorter than. My Auntie Beth and my folks made a snowman for me.

*I thought snow was meant to be played in, not posed in. Sheesh.*

I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit next to it. And I didn’t know about getting treats for posing yet. But eventually I sat…for an instant…so mom could get a picture.

*What is this ‘sit’ of which you speak?*

This year there’s a lot of snow too, and guess what? Mom made a snowman for me yesterday! She said we had to act fast, though, cause it was so warm the snowman’s nose and eyes kept falling out while I was posing!

*Whatever, mom. The treats better be good, this snow is cold!*

Now days I know all about the treat system so I had no problem sitting in the snow for a little while, knowing there was something good coming my way as soon as mom was done.

*Last chance, mom, this snow=boy is a melting!*

I’m a lot bigger now…but mom made this snowman bigger too. That’s ok, the sun has already shrunk that ole snowman down to size!

Talk later,

Your snow-queen, Penny.

Wordless Wednesday – Gottcha Day February 11, 2023

February 11, 2026 by dawnkinster 22 Comments

February 10, 2026
by dawnkinster 16 Comments

Gordie Howe Bridge

There’s a new bridge in town, almost completed, and completely beautiful. Begun in 2018, the Gordie Howe bridge is set to open early this year. And now there’s a stumbling block, brought up by an ever petulant President Trump.

He says the bridge can’t open until “Canada treats us with fairness and respect.”

A few facts:

The bridge’s groundbreaking in 2018 was during Trumps first term. If he had a problem with the plan or the process it would have been a good time to bring up whatever his grievances are back then.

And perhaps he’s forgotten that the Canadians paid for the bridge. Every bit of it, between 5 and 6 Canadian billion. And then they gave the US 50% ownership. How much more fairness and respect can we ask for?

The bridge construction has provided jobs to both US and Canadian workers. It will provide multiple lanes to move commerce between the two countries, saving US and Canadian truck drivers hours of delay currently experienced at the Ambassador and Bluewater bridges.

It seems to me that Trump is just mad because Michigan has a Democratic governor, and he’s forgotten the state as a whole voted for him in 2024. More than half of the voting Michiganders voted for him, and yet he has no respect for his base here.

Delaying the bridge opening will effect the anticipated increase in warehousing and logistic jobs in the Detroit and Windsor areas. That means it’s going to cost potential jobs. Jobs for some of the people that voted for him.

Trump is acting like a 6th grade bully.

There are plenty of other Trump atrocities I could write about. But this one is right here in my state, would delay or delete all the positive things that we anticipated from the opening of this bridge, and symbolizes how connections, years in the making, can be broken in a few short sentences.

My apologies to Canada.

February 9, 2026
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

Cold birds

It’s been cold here. Really cold. Mornings are often close to 0F if not below. (-17C)

My backyard birds need extra food to survive, and they’re eating about 40 pounds of oiler seeds a week. Not to mention the big bag of peanuts in the shell, and the 10 pounds of shelled peanuts and the 20 pound of niger seed.

I don’t think they travel far from my yard. When I’m out there filling the 6 feeders and one suet cage they chirp and flutter in nearby shrubs and trees. Maybe they’re discussing the menu. Probably more likely they’re wondering why I’m so slow.

*Waiting impatiently for his favorite feeder to be filled.*

Before I’m even back in the house they’re already swooping down to see what fresh treats I’ve left them. Sometimes I stand against the house, under the eves, and wait to see who shows up. I’ sure they know I’m there, but they can’t wait to grab a snack. If it’s not to windy and cold I’ll stand there awhile, enjoying the sound of their wings and their gentle chirping to each other.

*A titmouse on alert, looking for the biggest peanut to snag.*

During the winter months, when they’re so hungry and not busy raising a family, they seem to all get along. I have 5 pair of cardinals that will eat side by side on the railing where I spread seed in the worst weather, so that everyone can eat at the same time and no one has to wait.

In the spring and summer the cardinals will chase each other out of what they seem to feel is their own territory. You won’t find them eating together when they’re setting up households and struggling under new parent responsibilities.

The titmouse is the bravest of the birds. They’re usually the first to arrive when the feeders are newly filled. They’ll even come hop around the shrub nearest me as I pour seed on the railing. They are not afraid and they pick the biggest peanuts in shells every time. The peanuts are almost as big as their heads. They are very proud to get the prize seed before the big bluejays show up.

*A puffed up shy junco waiting for the lady to go inside.*

The chickadees are right behind the titmice, making a lot of noise to announce their arrival. They like a particular feeder and often flit back and forth between the shelter of the shrubs and the safe, caged, feeder.

*A fat little goldfinch getting frustrated at the wait for lunch.*

And I have a band of 7 bluejays that send a scout first who will announce when it’s safe. Then the rest of them swoop in, scaring, for a moment, the little birds. But soon they and the littles are all eating together.

*Mourning doves taking an apres meal nap in the empty, heated, birdbath.*

But if, suddenly, all the birds disappear it’s important to look around. Because sometimes the reason they’ve all hidden is this guy.

*Standing on one foot while warming the other on a cold morning.*

I’ve seen him attack a huge thorny barberry bush where the little birds like to hide, trying to get lunch. So far I haven’t seen him suceed at that. The little birds fly out and he’s tangled up in the thorns.

On the day I shot his image last week, it was close to zero out. He was, at first, standing on one foot and keeping the other warm up under his feathers. But he eventually put two feet firmly on the feeder hook and surveyed the yard for quite awhile before he flew off into the woods to look for an easier meal.

So there you go, some of my cold birds, most puffed up to conserve heat. This week it might get up into the 40s (4 C)…for one day anyway. I expect the birds will be sunbathing in relief.

February 6, 2026
by dawnkinster 25 Comments

Hey! Does anyone remember ME?

I think it’s been about a thousand weeks in dog years since you’ve seen anything written by me! Mom keeps saying the world is bigger than me. But seriously. Does anyone believe that?

Anyway I thought I’d bring you up to date on what I’ve been doing. Which is pretty much always the same. Beg for supper beginning at 3:00 p.m. (sooner if I think my parents aren’t wearing watches).

Continue to beg until Mom gives in at 3:50.

Ask to go out. Eat snow instead of doing my job. Ask to go in.

Ask to go out to inspect my yard. Or bark at the neighbors. Whichever comes first.

*Initiating my early morning alarm in case anyone isn’t up yet.*

Sometimes I ask to go out very early in the morning. Sometimes mom is glad because she would have missed the sunrise.

Mostly she is not glad. Did I mention barking?

*Mom calls this her artsy image, titled “Dog in Snow.”*

She also has been taking me to school. She seems to need the stimulation and mind expanding exercise. I go along to supervise.

*I got extra treats to sit on this little stool that matched my leash.*

We took a short little class where I got lots of treats. I liked the treats part.

*I can do this, mom, if you just stay out of the way.*

We are back to doing Rally classes now that the holidays are over. Mom forgot to go the first week. She turned into a slacker without a schedule while we were out of school.

While we were there mom noticed the pretty photo opportunity, left from the last trial the week before. I wasn’t entered because mom says we are not ready.

*It’s a winter wonderland! Just like our backyard!*

I don’t know, mom, when are we going to be ready? I ask to go down to my basement every day and sometimes we do, just to practice our obedience. And get treats.

*This one is easy, mom, just don’t turn too close to the cone. Leave room for me!*

Mom says sometimes she thinks we’re ready and then I do something silly and she rethinks. There’s another trial in March. She thinks maybe she should try again.

*I think I’ve got it mom. You just have to trust me.*

But…will I be willing to work without treats in the ring? Mom’s been working on that…but she says I’m not reliable yet. Geeze mom, I’m only 3. Have you ever met a reliable 3 year old anything?

Other than school we’ve been playing in the snow. It snows all the time. The snow banks are bigger than me! Even the snow in my back yard is up to my shoulders.

I told mom I wasn’t going to run around and chase snowballs when the snow was that deep. Other dogs’ parents dig them a trail in the backyard to run around on. I suggested that to my mom. She looked at me and then we went inside.

I guess that’s not happening.

So let’s see…school….snow….supper. Yep, those are the three most important things going on in my life right now. The 3 S’s.

*And naps. Sleep, starting with S of course, is important!*

I hope you are all enjoying your winter. Mom says we could do with some sunshine so I reminded her of this day when the sun came out. She had forgotten. Sometimes the sun comes out here.