Tag Archives: park
Walktober
I was going to take you on a walk somewhere exotic. Far from here. Somewhere different. I had maps out and was studying locations. But then I discussed it with the dog. Katie said she wanted to show you her little park. And Katie, being a princess, is used to getting what she wants. So come along while Katie and I show you the local park where you can often find us on a pretty weekend afternoon.
The park is not very big, but it has a lovely pond where you sometimes see people fishing. Today we had it all to ourselves. Katie likes to pose near the blue water. If there are treats involved of course. (You can click on the photos to see more detail.)
See? This is my pond!
It was a pretty afternoon, getting late in the day, stretching our shadows as we made our way to the back of the park where they mow a path around the perimeter.
Enjoying a warm October afternoon.
The sun also made the milkweed seeds glow as a stiff wind began to pull at the silky strands.
Soft.
My favorite part of the park are these golden trees at the very back. I always love the way they show against the sky, whether the sky is blue like today or stone grey as fall acquiesces to winter.
Gold in the sky.
The mowed path is just about a mile and Katie and I work a little bit on her distracted recall. It’s an important skill to have; she comes running even when distracted by good smells if I call her sharply.
I love to run & I get treats too! Win win!
She loves this game, because she knows the faster she gets to me the sooner she gets a bit of cheese. This automatic reaction is necessary in an emergency and we work on it a little every time we’re in the park.
We keep wandering, and pass another pond, filled with wildlife. I saw two kingfishers chase each other from the top of a tree near us off across the pond. No photo of that, but it was fun to see and hear. Across this pond, filled with ducks and other waterbirds you can see the township offices including the library.
See the library way over there?
I feel lucky we have such a wonderful natural place surrounding our library. You can sit inside and read while enjoying the lovely views through big windows. It’s one of my favorite places.
We’re lucky to have a place where we can walk among wetlands and towering trees in all seasons, in all sorts of weather.
Fall just makes a person smile.
Every time we’re there we find something beautiful. Just look at the trees shine across the big field of tall grass.
Up in the front of the park are four softball diamonds. Katie likes to walk around them too.
This big green area is fun to explore too!
You never know when someone might have dropped something good there. Always looking, that’s my girl.
Thanks for coming along on our Walktober! And thanks to Robin too who coordinates the posts from all of our walks. Katie and I wouldn’t have gotten out today without her motivation. And we had such a good time!
We hope you did too!
Another perfect day at my park!
Wordless Wednesday
My mama owed me
Katie here! I think it’s been a bazillion years since mama has let me write on her blog! That’s because she went away for a hundred million days and I had to go to doggie camp. She thinks it’s a doggie camp but it’s not like real camping and I should know! We don’t get to sleep in tents or sit around the campfire singing Kumbaya. Mama is just fooling herself.
Peep’s mom, Peep and me!
But I digress. Mama owed me big time for that long camp stay and so she set up a play date for me and Peep!
Meet my friend Peep!
You remember Peep, right? She’s a Swedish Vallhund and she and I like to go on long walks in the woods. We let our mamas come along too. Mostly because they drive better than us. And because they have treats.
Did someone say treats?
So anyway, we went to the park that Peep’s mom showed us last fall! My mama and I have been going there a lot, and we wanted to show Peep the trail we’ve been walking on. It is really pretty right now with all the fallen leaves!
Strolling along enjoying the fall colors.
We had a beautiful day, sunny and pretty warm, but not too warm, you know what I mean? Too warm is not good, because a princess (like me) doesn’t want to sweat in front of her subjects. If I, the princess, get too warm then everyone is going to have to deal with me, and it’s not pretty I tell you!
Mama kept trying to get a picture of the two of us together but we weren’t very interested in sitting nicely beside each other. We like each other and all, but it seemed like a waste of a good day in the woods to sit there quietly when there was so much stuff to smell!
This is silly.
But finally we sat sort of near each other. Then my mama called “COME!” and I took off running toward her.
Coming mama!
Notice how good Peep is? She didn’t move a muscle because it wasn’t HER mom that called!
You’ve got cheese…right?
I just kept going toward my mama cause I knew I’d get a treat (and I had seen her cut up that cheese before we left, I haven’t had cheese in a really long time and I wanted to get to her before Peep found out she had anything good!).
TREATS!!!
Then Peep’s mom called and Peep got to run over there for a treat too! We are both very good girls, and nobody tries to grab anyone’s treat.
Got anything good mom?
We had a really awesome time and we got to walk a very long way. I personally think our mamas were lost, but they’ll never admit it. We didn’t care, that just meant we got more time in the woods. We had fun running around.
Running off some extra treats.
I’m pretty sure Peep is sleeping now….I know I’m going to take a little nap myself. When we got home I had to get brushed some more…I guess I had a few hundred burs in my fur. I was good about that too, even when my mama said stuff like “oh dear” and “I’m getting the sissors” I didn’t worry too much. It’s all worth it just to have time in the woods with my mama and Peep and her mom.
Stylin
I hope we get to do it again, but it’s probably not going to be until next spring cause it’s hunting season around here now. I look a lot like a deer don’t you know. A very fashionable deer, but a deer none the less. So we’ll probably stick to my little park for awhile.
I think I should invite Peep over to do my park, don’t you?
Peep ….a very good girlfriend!
Porcupine Mountains
So much to show you, so little time! Friday we spent in the Porcupine Mountains. I’ll wait while you go check a map to figure out where that is. (Elevator music now playing.)
Foot bridge over the Presque Isle River
OK. So now you know they are on the very western part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, over by the Wisconsin border, but up along the coast of Lake Superior. What? You didn’t know Michigan had an Upper Peninsula? That’s another blog; for now I’ll leave it to you to do your research.
Patiently waiting…
The Porcupine Mountains are truly beautiful and desolate all at the same time. We spent a long time wandering the trails beside the Presque Isle River. It flows from the mountains and into Lake Superior….
The river meets the lake.
…over a series of waterfalls.
A man and his dog enjoy the view.
We hiked way up to the third in that series, through deep woods, over hill and across crevices …
In the woods.
…and through swamps.
Walking the plank.
It was wonderful. Not all of the trails were as strenuous. There’s something for everyone at the Porkies.
Just a walk in the park.
Thirty-three miles away but still in the park is Lake of the Clouds. Can you tell how it gets it’s name?
Clouds reflected.
The road climbs up and up and up and finally there you are, high above a beautiful reflective lake.
We were there in the morning so we had to wait for the sun to come up and out from behind some clouds…
And then the sun came out.
…but when it did the trees were spectacular even though it’s past peak leaf watching season.
Fantastic views.
There are many trails in the Porcupine Mountains. In fact you can hike from the Presque Isle River all the way over to the Lake of the Clouds along the edge of Lake Superior if you like.
Grazing.
That would take us about 15 weeks, but you could probably do it in less time if you train. It’s getting to be late fall now, you’ve got all winter to get in shape for a spring hike. Up here spring should arrive sometime the end of June.
Yep lots of time.
You get ready. I’ll wait here.
What’s your favorite part of the weekend?
Friday night, snug at home, out of work clothes and into something more comfortable, putting the badge up on the shelf where it lurks until Monday morning. That’s my favorite part of the weekend, when hours spill out into the future, nothing quite set in stone, potential for adventure or rest hiding just out of site, yes that’s my favorite part of the weekend.
Or Saturday early morning waking up automatically at 5:55 a.m. glancing at the clock and sighing because you know that alarm is going to shriek in five minutes and then you realize it’s Saturday and you don’t have to listen to that obnoxious sound and you turn over and snuggle back into the warm blankets and soft pillow, now that’s my favorite part of the weekend.
Maybe it’s at 6:05 a.m. when your sheltie-girl sighs and stands up and shakes and you know any semblance of sleep is over because she drops a kiss on your face and then stares at you while softly whimpering until you give up feigning sleep and gather her up and head out into the day. Yea, that’s pretty sweet too.
But don’t forget the sheltie adventure planned for some time in the next two days; a hike through the woods on a beautiful fall day, or a romp in the backyard with her Frisbee, can’t beat that, surely that is the favorite time of any weekend?
This weekend we have company coming on Sunday. Katie says she thinks, for this weekend anyway, that is going to be her favorite part of the weekend. She’s resting up now in anticipation.
So, what’s the best part of your weekend? Inquiring minds (and shelties) want to know.
Wordless Wednesday – or I think I ate a bug.
We now return to our regularly scheduled blog
Katie here.
Things have been kinda strange at our house. For one dad’s been missing in action. I guess he was just down South enjoying himself at the lake, but I wasn’t sure and it was a bit worrisome. Then my mama has been having my best, most favorite teacher in the whole world come and take me out at lunch time. I really like that but usually when that happens it’s cause my dad is missing, so it’s a mixed bag. When my dad comes home my teacher lady goes missing! It’s all just so hard for me to figure out.
And then, did I tell you, the most horrible thing of all happened right in the middle of all the crazy comings and going! I had to go to doggie camp! For 6 whole days! Rumor has it that my mama went down South too to hang out with my dad at the lake. I ask you, don’t you think I’d like to go to the lake once in awhile? OK, so I don’t like to get my feet wet. Whatever.
So when my mama picked me up from jail…um…camp…I was real excited to see her and then I made her feel really bad by sleeping up next to her all the time making sure part of me was touching part of her. All. The. Time. So when it finally got to be the weekend she took me to a different park and we did some exploring. I even pulled her way down this big hill.
I’m a mountain climbing doggy!
I didn’t make her go back up it though, we walked back to the car along the creek. We had fun, but it was only one adventure in a really really long time. And right after that we had a big storm, and all my barking didn’t make it go away fast enough and there was a big lightening bang and guess what? It fried the modem thingy, whatever that is, and the big TV! So mama didn’t have a computer or TV for more than a week! All she had was her phone and she wouldn’t let me write a blog on that!
I just knew all my peeps would be worried, so when dad fixed the computer tonight I got right on line. I wanted all of you to be able to sleep tonight. I know it’s a big weight off of my shoulders, so I think I’ll just go to bed now myself.
Happy almost Monday to you all! Mama doesn’t seem happy that it’s Monday tomorrow. But I am, cause I’ll have my dad all to myself!
Night night!
Another weekend, another park
Isn’t this a cool place?
Katie here. You know how I got my Mama to promise to take me on an adventure every weekend? Well this past weekend it was getting to be Sunday afternoon and still no adventure! I stomped my perfect little feet and tossed my beautiful curly locks but all she did was put me outside in my pen.
WELL!
I was having none of that! An afternoon in my pen is not an adventure! I made myself a general pest and eventually Mama said “OK little one, let’s go walk in the woods.” It was about time! But she picked one of my favorite activities so I forgave her for being so tardy.
Which way should we go?
We went to the Holly Recreation Area and walked on a path through the woods that we’ve never explored before. It was awesome. We need to take Peep exploring on that path sometime soon! We did have to go up a big hill.
You sure you want to go way up there Mama?
But I didn’t have any problem with that.
Well let’s get going then!
Mama was very patient and waited for me to check stuff out.
What’s in here?
Some of the path was through the woods with big trees. The mosquitoes weren’t too bad and Mama was wishing she’d come earlier in the day, because we had to turn around before I wanted to since it was getting dark.
Fun times!
We’re definitely going back. And I hope it’s soon!
But I’m still not getting my feet wet.
Adventures! And more adventures!
Katie here. Hey! Did you know I got to go camping with my mama? A lot? I bet you saw it on Facebook. I swear, she needs to get me my own page, she’s always letting the cat out of the bag on that thing. And I hate cats! All cats should stay in the bag, I’m sure there’s a law about that somewhere.
Another of my favorite parks!
So anyway, today I got her to take me to a park, because daddy said she owed me cause she went to work this morning and Saturday’s are supposed to be about me! I used to go to school and everything and now she says I’m ‘retired’ whatever that means so I don’t get to do anything! You believe me, right? That I’m a poor abused ignored dog? They never feed me and I have to stay at home all the time. You should probably send help.
Oh. You don’t believe that? Well it was worth a shot.
Soaking up a little shade on my walk today.
So today I made my mama feel guilty and she took me to a big park nearby. We walked down the bike path and I was very good, didn’t bark at any bikes or cars or anything. OK. One car that was hauling a noisy trailer…but really who could resist barking at that!
Not worried about that bike in back of me.
But I bet what you really want to hear about is the camping my mama and I did a couple of weeks ago! We went to a real park and I got to sleep in my tent for two nights! There were lots of kids there and mostly I sat in our camp site and watched them go around and around and around the campground on their bikes and scooters. And I did not bark at any of them! Not even once!
Watching the kids go by.
The best part of our camping trip was when my friend Peep came to visit and we went on a long walk through the woods. Actually Peep and I don’t care particularly if the other one is there, we just like that when our mamas get together we get to go on long walks!
Peep and me.
Sometimes one or the other of us finds a particularly good smell and then the other one of us will go check it out, but mostly we walk our own walk. We’re very good together because we pretty much ignore each other. Mostly Peep went ahead and I brought up the rear. I like to take really long sniffs of stuff you know. Plus I have this big heavy coat to drag around.
Anyway, mama and I had a really good time. She read a bunch of books over the weekend and I got to go on a bunch of walks. Sometimes we walked on trails in the woods and sometimes we walked around the campground. Lots of people said I was pretty. And cute. And really good. Cause I am.
We went on lots of trails.
The mosquitoes weren’t as bad as our last big adventure, but there were still enough that sometimes we retreated to the tent. That was OK, just meant another nap. Naps are a very important part of camping. I take my napping responsibilities very seriously.
zzzzzzz
The weekend was perfect!
Then last weekend mama and I camped out three nights in a row in the backyard! The moon was full and she didn’t put the rain fly up and we got to sleep under it and stars. It was wonderful! I only barked once when that mama deer snorted at us. It was her fault for waking us up anyway. A dog has to to what a dog has to do. Right?
What’s out there?!
So all in all I guess my mama really does love me. And yes my daddy loves me too, he feeds me right on schedule and sometimes early if I make my sad dog eyes at him. And I get to go on adventures almost every weekend. So I guess my life’s not so bad, but don’t tell them I said so, OK? I like to keep them feeling guilty.
I get more treats that way.
Love,
Katie (The Adventuring Sheltie-girl)
This is our little secret!
Change Is Hard 