You probably read my less than conventional Walktober a few days ago. I enjoyed seeing all those birds and sharing them with you.

But yesterday I was running errands and the sun was out and the sky was blue and the color in the trees was ….well…very Walktober-ish.

So I’ve decided to show you around my neighborhood and yard on this beautiful October day.

We have had some spectacular days here in lower Michigan and it would be a shame if you didn’t get to enjoy it all with me.

I drove around a few country blocks first, those tree lined dirt roads are always quintessentially Michigan fall, especially if you happen to run into (not literally) a horse.

Then I went to Katie’s park, because from the road, which is quite a bit higher than the parking lot, I could see the hills across the way were showing off their gold and rust oak trees.

I figured there would be a spot in the park that would look out across the wetlands and showcase the hill.

Turns out there wasn’t a view of the hills as I should have known because Katie and I have walked that trail hundreds of times.

So since I was there I walked the trail anyway, with her in my heart, remembering all the things she loved about being out there. I thought I’d just walk a little bit of it, didn’t think I’d go all the way out to her viewing platform because my heart was hurting too much.
But I did.

She was definitely there with me.

And on the way back to the parking lot I walked up to the road and shot that hillside that had lured me to the park in the first place.

Back at home as the sun was going down I got the last shot of my last 2026 Walktober.

This one turned out to be for Katie, my girl who will forever be at her park and in my heart.

October 22, 2026 at 12:41 pm
Lovely – both the nostalgia and the beautiful fall colors.
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October 22, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Our colors are super beautiful this year. That’s why I couldn’t NOT post about them!
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October 22, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Then and now, love and beauty, always. 🧡 🍁🍂
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October 22, 2026 at 1:38 pm
So true.
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October 22, 2026 at 2:16 pm
You took some spectacular pictures my friend. I am glad you took your time for capturing a few fall beauties.
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October 22, 2026 at 3:56 pm
So sad and beautiful!
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October 22, 2026 at 10:25 pm
It’s been such a treat to see the colorful leaves again after two years of no-color leaves and them falling off the trees brown and brittle in late November. We sure have had a lot of wonderful weather the last week or so and it’s supposed to last another four or five days.
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October 23, 2026 at 12:07 pm
Lovely Fall photos. My favorites are the last two. 💕
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October 23, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Doggone it, now my eyes are leaking. What gorgeous scenery … and your memories of Katie bring back my memories of Dallas. How many Walktobers those two participated in! We’re blessed to have new fur-buddies to share our days with, but golly, we still miss the ones who traveled the roads and byways with us before, don’t we?
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October 25, 2026 at 8:55 am
Gorgeous photos Dawn. I’m sorry it was bittersweet for you.
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October 26, 2026 at 6:46 am
Beautiful colors, a real walktober. Awww Katie, I feel the same with my 2 that are gone so long, but I still choke when speaking of them ❤
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October 27, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Beautiful, Dawn. ♥ Sending love and hugs. I’m missing Izzy and Bella a lot lately, and as I was typing up the Walktober round-up, I found myself missing Katie, too, even though we’d never met. She was always a big part of Walktober.
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October 29, 2026 at 2:20 am
A beautiful tribute to Katie. The fall colours are amazing.
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October 30, 2026 at 9:04 am
What a sweet little bluebird! You live in such a beautiful part of the country.
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October 30, 2026 at 10:14 am
I thought it was cute that she showed up as soon as I got out of the car. Maybe it was Katie.
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October 31, 2026 at 6:52 am
It’s so nice that you have a special place where you can go be with Katie. She always looked so beautiful against all the fall colors.
Hugs.
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