Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: park


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The best, fun, most extraordinary day

This is all for me!

This is all for me!


Katie here. I know, I know. You just heard from me at Thanksgiving, right? But I have to tell you about the wonderful day I had with my mama yesterday! And heck, she’s still sleeping, so I figure I get to blog as much as I want. She’ll never know.

So anyway, mama said some guys were coming to work on the house and it was going to be noisy and she figured I would just make it nosier and stress everyone out so she told my daddy that she was taking me to the park.

All day!

Of course my daddy was up early and whenever that happens I usually end up at the groomer or the kennel or the vet, so I was very nervous and tried to skulk away to hide in the bedroom where no one would think to look for me. But mama told me not to worry and put me in my car.

Going for a walk.

Going for a walk.

Well I was still worried so I remained very still and very quiet as she drove all over running errands. We did stop at my park but it was just for a moment and only to let me do my business because mama knows I always do all my business there right away. Then she put me back in the car without walking all the way around!

I was upset!

And I was right! We went to the groomer! How could you mama?! OK, it was just to get my nails clipped and I got to sit on mama’s lap and I got a treat, and my favorite girl was there to do it, so it wasn’t all that bad, but I told my mama off when we got back in the car anyway.

I love this time of year!

I love this time of year!

So to make it up to me mama took me to a park I’ve never been to before that is over on the groomer’s side of town. No one was there! We got to walk through the woods and play in the deep oak leaves.

Get the ball mama!

Get the ball mama!

And there was a fenced in space where some other doggie left three tennis balls. I got so excited when I saw those! Mama threw them for me and I ran and ran and ran and spun around in excitement. I never actually touched the tennis balls (they might have boy cooties) but I’d race out to where the ball landed and then spin in circles. It was so much fun, especially since that made my mama have to go get the ball to throw it for me again.

Run mama, run!

Run mama, run!

And do you know what we did next? We went back to my park! I couldn’t believe it when we got there and mama got me out of the car! A second park in the same day! Boy oh boy! I was sooooo happy I grinned almost the whole way around the park.

But about three quarters of the way around I sat down and smiled at my mama. It was time for a rest. So we did! Mama didn’t tell me to ‘lets go’ or anything. She said it was a big day and it was OK for me to rest. But then I saw a chipmunk and we were off again! I can always count on chipmunks to revive me!

Got any treats mama?

Got any treats mama?

When we finally got home late in the afternoon guess what? There weren’t any men working on my house and daddy said they are coming today instead.

Mama was not happy.

She says she doesn’t know how she can top yesterday and keep me busy all day again. I told her I was up for anything, especially if it involves walks and rides and parks and treats.

I could just run all day!

I could just run all day!

Yesterday was my favorite kind of day. Whatcha going to do with me today mama?

I'll pose once mama.

I’ll pose once mama.


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Walking in a winter wonderland

Extraordinary morning.

Extraordinary morning.

You think it’s easy to go for a walk every day? Sure. What’s a little daily walk to a retired person? Well that’s what I said too, and why I agreed to join my fellow Michigan Connectors in a challenge to walk (or run, but really? RUN?) at least one mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Years Day.

I like to walk. I enjoy almost all of almost every walk I’ve ever been on. But it’s still hard. I wake up every day and think “Where am I going to walk today?” And I’ve figured out I need to get the walk done early in the day, before the rest of the world interferes and the day gets away from me.

A frosty walk.

A frosty walk.

My favorite walks are those when I have enough time to drive to one of our parks and walk through the woods. In fact I had a lovely almost two mile walk early in the morning just a few days ago. The images in this post are from that magical morning in a county park not far from where I live.

Blue skies above the marsh.

Blue skies above the marsh.

There’s lots to do at this park. A small playground complete with climbing wall for little kids. An eight mile bike path that winds through wetlands and deep woods. A water pad for summers. Even a chain link maze.

Holiday colors.

Holiday colors.

For the winter there’s a sledding hill and a toboggan run. And tucked way in the back is a nature area with a path through tall trees and marshland.

Hill waiting for snow.

Hill waiting for snow.

I saw no cars anywhere in the park when I arrived – I had the whole place to myself. The sun was glinting off frost tinged grass, brush and leaves.

It was magical.

From days past.

From days past.

Half way along the nature trail another trail branched off. It is called the ‘farm trail’ and at the base of it were a couple of antique farming implements. That morning the frost had touched the rusted metal and the result was beautiful. I spent a long time taking shots of bits and parts of frosty rust, totally ruining my split times.

As if time was important to a retired person.

Frosty.

Frosty.

A lesson to this retired person. No matter what the weather if you get outside and walk a mile you’re going to find something, maybe a lot of things, worth the walk. With or without the camera.

Puddle art.

Puddle art.

I know I’m lucky to have the time to take these walks. And I’m lucky to belong to a group of women who hold health and fitness high on their lists of important things. They challenge me to stick with it, even when I don’t want to.

Which is why I’m having a blast walking in a winter wonderland.

On top of the world.

On top of the world.


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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Anything that flies from birds to airplanes

I enjoy wandering in the woods looking for birds to photograph and I love sitting in my backyard doing the same. I even like to hang out in my living room and catch them at my feeders, so you’d think a bird would be the perfect choice for Cee’s latest black and white photo challenge. On the other hand I love to fly, so a cool photo of a plane would work too, and I think I have a couple plane shots in my archives.

Still.

What I enjoy most about photo challenges is the hunt for something to represent each new challenge. If I can I like to head out with a specific idea or two, head out for a mini road trip to see what there is to see, to see if I can capture what I have in mind. Or something else equally compelling.

And I like to come up with something different. Interesting. Maybe even unexpected.

Imported Photos 03556 edited cropped black and white

For this challenge, I decided not to do a bird or a plane. Instead I chose our United States flag, flying above my local library in a blustery wind. It was flapping and folding back on itself. It was also raining so I only grabbed a couple shots. I liked this one when I saw it on the camera. I like it even better when I saw it in black and white.

Thank you Cee, for getting me out into the world on a wet, cold, blustery day. And for making me look at the world for potential black and white images.

It’s always a pleasure.


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Katie’s pretty good weekend

Katie here!

Wasn’t it a beautiful weekend? We had sunshine and I got to be outside in my pen a bunch! I love sitting out guarding my backyard against those pesky squirrels. OK, sometimes I fall asleep for a few brief moments, but trust me, if anything tries to cross my backyard I’m alert instantly!

Not napping. Just resting my eyes.

Not napping. Just resting my eyes.

And you know what else? On Saturday my mama took me to my park! It was so much fun! It was only 44 degrees out (6.66 C) and I was a completely different dog than the last time we went! No laying down in the shade for me! Oh no. I trotted around that park at high speed, stopping to sniff on occasion, but mostly trotting along happy to keep my mama sprinting. (Revenge is sweet, right?) She kept making me stop so she could take pictures of stuff. Stuff that was not me! Who would do that? I mean I am the most photogenic thing around, right?

Afternoon reflections.

Afternoon reflections.

Well OK, I concede that the park was pretty that day even though the sun was mostly under clouds. No one else was out there and mama let me walk along without her some of the time while she took pictures. I figured we’d make record time on the almost one mile around the park, which was good because the sun was starting to go down and we didn’t want to be there after dark.

The light is going.

The light is going.

So I’m hurrying her along and we’re almost back at the car when suddenly the sun comes out! And you know what my mama did? She started taking pictures of me! Cause she said that the low late afternoon sun made my fur really pretty. What do you think?

Yes I know. I'm beautiful.

Yes I know. I’m beautiful.

I think she was right. I sat and stood for her just like a good model for awhile, and then I reminded her that I hadn’t had my supper yet, and a super model demands to be paid. My preference for payment is in treats, but since she didn’t bring any I figured it was within my rights to demand we go home and get supper. I’m sure you agree.

I'm hungry mama!

I’m hungry mama!

So we head toward the car and guess what? There were four deer coming into my park!

They're infringing on my park!

They’re infringing on my park!

Well! I knew I had to defend my mama and my park so I barked and barked and barked and barked and they wandered off into the meadow toward my pond. I took care of them! They were too afraid to come toward us. Now I knew I deserved my dinner!

I took care of them mama!

I took care of them mama!

So off we went back to my house. When we got there I noticed that there was a great sunset that we would have seen if we had stayed at the park. Oh well. That’s the price you have to pay when you’re working with a super model. Am I right?

Pretty.

Missed it!.


It was a perfect weekend. I know I complain about my folks a lot, but this weekend they really came through and let me do a lot of fun stuff. I’m definitely going to need to take a nap now, in order to rest up for tomorrow. I hear it’s going to be another pretty day.

I think another park is in my future.

I can't wait!

I can’t wait!


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I’m impatient

Katie here.

Psst! Listen up!

Psst! Listen up!


You know, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. My parents need to stay home and pay attention to me. Sometimes I don’t even know why I put up with them, other than they give me supper. Which I guess is a pretty good reason to stick around. But frankly I think I deserve a lot more attention, and since they’ve been home from Washington DC I’ve been making my point.

Loudly. And often.

They are busy all the time and I just want to play. Mama and Dad keep asking each other if they brought the wrong sheltie home from camp, cause I’m a lot more vocal than I used to be. Well. That’s because they are ignoring me! What’s a princess to do?

Good catch!

Good catch!

So I tell them off regularly, and then when they tell me to go lie down I bring them a toy. Yesterday my dad threw my pink elephant for me a lot until I put it over on the other side of the room. I get to decide when it’s time to stop playing, not them. Right? You all have the same kind of rules don’t you?

Got it!

Got it!

I even got my mama to get out my tunnel yesterday and I sort of played “PIGGY IN THE TUNNEL!” with her. But not really. I’d either bring her the piggy but run outside the tunnel, or run through it and not bring the piggy out. She tried to play the game with my cow, and my lambie, my elfie, my pinkie, and my squirrel, but she should know you can’t play “PIGGY IN THE TUNNEL!” with anything except a piggy! Geeze mama!

Sometimes you embarrass me.

Anyway, my mama says that I am at least sleeping until a little later in the morning some of the time. She is not sure how that ‘fall back’ thing with the clock is going to work out this weekend though. She’s pretty sure shelties do not ‘fall back.’

Get it!

Get it!


I think I have almost gotten my folks back into sheltie-shape now. They’ve been home a week and they are talking about maybe taking me to the park if the wind dies down and the sun comes out. My mama is a wimp. She says she already doesn’t like winter. Yesterday it was only 42F (5.55C) and very windy so we came back inside very fast whenever I made them take me out.

Which I did regularly because I was bored.

Mine!

Mine!

A sheltie-girl has to do what she has to do….right? If they caught on faster that I need a lot of attention I wouldn’t have to parade them out in the cold so often. I think it’s pretty obvious, but I guess they are a little slow. Meanwhile, now that I’ve got them up and about I probably need to go catch a nap so that I’m ready for them when they think they’re going to sit down and read.

After all, I’m an anti-reading dog, and I’m always on duty.

Happy girl.

Happy girl.


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Walktober

Sunday afternoon stroll.

Sunday afternoon stroll.


Robin over at breezes at dawn challenges us each October to take a walk and then share it with all of you. Here it is October 25 and I haven’t shared a walk with anyone yet. It’s not that I haven’t been walking; certainly we walked a gazillion miles on our Canadian trip and another gazillion in DC last week. I just didn’t do all that with Walktober in mind.

So this morning I headed out into the October sunlight and visited one of my favorite places – the place where I always find something beautiful to photograph – Kensington Metro Park. My plan was to head out on the nature trails and see what I could see, but I was sucked into the incredible beauty along the bike path that circles the main lake so I stopped and walked there for awhile.

Right next to the parking lot was a family of sandhill cranes. Mama and Papa are on the left, this year’s child is on the right. They seemed unaffected by all the people snapping their photo. I think they will be on their way south very soon.

Family of three.

Family of three.

I love fall colors reflected in water and I wasn’t disappointed today. This shot was actually the reason I pulled over and parked earlier than I had planned. It’s a little bay area, with picnic tables under big oak trees.

I've had a picnic lunch out on this little spit of land in warmer days.

I’ve had a picnic lunch out on this little spit of land in warmer days.

I used to run on the bike path every weekend, around the beautiful lake. As I walked today I was remembering other times, running with friends, running alone, things I’ve seen on these hills and curves from many years of visiting this beautiful park.

Willow and water.

Willow and water.

Along the path I came across some bittersweet. I know it’s invasive, but it’s something my mom used to like to decorate with in fall and I don’t see it very often these days. As the weather cools the orange berries split and fold back, showing a yellowish center. Mom used to dry it and tuck it along the fireplace mantle. I always think of her when I find a bit of it on my wanderings.

Orange berry memories.

Orange berry memories.

I headed over to the nature trails to see what I might find. The sun was warm on my face and I was enjoyed being in the woods listening to the birds, watching chickadees and nuthatches flit about.

Nuthatch stops for a fleeting moment to say hi.

Nuthatch stops for a fleeting moment to say hi.

There were lots and lots of chipmunks running around in the dry leaves. They always sound so much bigger scrambling around under those leaves than they really are. I stopped and watched three of them chase each other around.

If I stay still you can't see me. Right?

If I stay still you can’t see me. Right?

The nature trail led through the woods and then opened up into a pretty little meadow with a couple of surprise maple trees still in full color.

A surprise punch of color.

A surprise punch of color.

I’m always happy when I see a bit of color that stands out.

Most of the maples are done, and now it's the oak trees' time to shine.

Most of the maples are done, and now it’s the oak trees’ time to shine.

This park has an amazing array of wildlife habitats, you can walk in rolling hills or around the lake or near wetlands. Everywhere you look there is something beautiful. No matter what time of year you visit.

More cranes out in the marsh.

More cranes out in the marsh.

New vignettes will catch your eye each time you walk through the park. It’s best to always have your camera handy.

Two trees.

Two trees.

This was the perfect place to visit after our busy week in Washington DC. I am grateful to Robin for suggesting Walktober. Just like last year I’m thinking I need to do a Walkovember next month.

A good spot for contemplation.

A good spot for contemplation.


Care to join me?

Last of the maple color.

Last of the maple color.


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Play date!

Peep and me meeting this morning at the park.

Peep and me meeting this morning at the park.


Katie here! Guess what? Remember when I told you that my mama was gone all the time, and then she took me to the kennel and left me there? I was thinking maybe she didn’t love me anymore or something. But today she proved she loved me cause she took me for a long walk in the woods. And even better we got to do it with my friend Peep and her mom!

Peep and I had so much fun! We especially liked foiling all our mamas’ attempts to get cute pictures of the two of us together. We talked about it before we set out on the trail and decided one or the other of us would always turn away when either of them pointed a camera at us.

Got our plan down. Onward!

Got our plan down. Onward!

It worked great.

They hardly got any good pictures of us together while we went on our long walk. After awhile they just gave up. Score one for the dogs!

What's over there?

What’s over there?

We got to walk through the beautiful woods on a very pretty day. And it was cooler too, only in the 50s (10s in Celsius) which I like a whole lot better than the hot summer days when my coat is just so hot!

Want to come to the park with me next time?

Want to come to the park with me next time?

Most of the time I got to be off leash, though when we got near a road my mama put my leash back on cause you know I like to chase cars. There wasn’t anyone else out there though, it was wonderful. The whole place was just for us!

This is my good friend Peep!

This is my good friend Peep!

Peep and I decided that once we got back to the beach we’d let the moms take pictures of us sitting together, as long as they didn’t make us sit too close.

We did this for the moms.

We did this for the moms.

We like each other and all, but we still like our own personal space, you know?

So then after we posed for them my mama was talking to Peep’s mom about calling us so she could get pictures of us running to her, and I heard her say ‘call’ and figured that was good enough, so I took off for her, leaving poor Peep in the dust.

Coming mama!

Coming mama!

Peep says the only reason I got ahead of her was because I cheated. I think it’s my due as a princess.

Either way we had a wonderful time out there in the park for a couple of hours. When we got home mama had to comb out my furs to get all the bits of leaves and stickers out of me. I was sort of a mess. But I’m a good girl and stood quietly on my table till she was done cleaning out my armpits.

Then I took a nap. Cause that’s what a princess does after a big day. I heard mama and Peep’s mom talking about when we can go again before hunting season. I’m pretty sure we’re going to get one more long walk together soon.

Wait up!

Wait up!

I hope so. Cause Peep and I are champion walkers in the woods kind of dogs. Plus we look good doing it.

Don’t you agree?

Yep. Will pose for food.

Yep. Will pose for food.