Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Around the neighborhood

16 Comments

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

In my neighborhood, just down the street.

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.

One of my favorite fields in all seasons.

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

Crabapples, reminding me of July’s cherries.

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.

One of my favorite country roads.

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.

I pulled over and let them go by me.

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.

She met me as soon as I got out of the car at Katie’s park.

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

Bittersweet. Which was how I was feeling on my walk in Katie’s park.

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.

Next year’s milkweed.

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.

The view from one of Katie’s favorite spots in her park.

She was definitely there with me.

I always used to set her up under these big trees for a photo.

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.

Author: dawnkinster

I'm a long time banker having worked in banks since the age of 17. I took a break when I turned 50 and went back to school. I graduated right when the economy took a turn for the worst and after a year of library work found myself unemployed. I was lucky that my previous bank employer wanted me back. So here I am again, a long time banker. Change is hard.

16 thoughts on “Around the neighborhood”

  1. Lovely – both the nostalgia and the beautiful fall colors.

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  2. Then and now, love and beauty, always. 🧡 🍁🍂

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  3. You took some spectacular pictures my friend. I am glad you took your time for capturing a few fall beauties.

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  4. 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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  5. Lovely Fall photos. My favorites are the last two. 💕

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  6. 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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  7. Gorgeous photos Dawn. I’m sorry it was bittersweet for you.

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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. A beautiful tribute to Katie. The fall colours are amazing.

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  11. What a sweet little bluebird! You live in such a beautiful part of the country.

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  12. 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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