Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: Spring


by 15 Comments

Sarah and gang

Hey there, it’s me, Penny!

Once again I’m jumping online late at night while my mom snores over there on the sofa. She says if I want to write I should go get my own blog, but I say why do that when she’s already done all the groundwork?

This is mom’s garden. It might be the reason she’s snoring on the sofa.

Hey! Did you guys know I have a niece? I sure do! Her name is Sarah and she lives with my Mama S, the lady that delivered me and my four sisters two and a half years ago. My dog mom, Vivian, and her best friend Olivia live there too.

That’s me on the left, Sarah standing in back, my dog mom Vivian next and then Olivia.

She’s almost one year old and I love her so much. Last month my mom and dad took me up to Mama S’s house for a playdate with Sarah who is a bundle of energy.

Sarah loves to chase me, but I’m FAST! She’ll never catch me, no siree!

All four of us dogs and the three adult people went into the big fenced in back yard to play. Mama S had a bright orange tennis ball that Vivian and Olivia get very excited over.

Throw the ball!!!

She’d fling that ball toward the back of the yard and all four of us would chase after it, a few of us (not me) barking wildly the entire time.

Somebody get that ball!

I never once got the ball, it was mostly Olivia who did the ball handling, but sometimes one of the other two would get a chance to take it back to Mama S so she’d throw it again.

It’s a race back to Mama S!

And then we’d be off again!

Get it!

My mom and dad laughed at us a lot. Mom was busy taking pictures too of course.

A passel of shelties.

Mostly Sarah and I just ran and ran and ran. She loves to chase me and between you and me I could beat her but I let her get close once in awhile.

Sarah and Oliva the ball handler.

Then when she gets almost to my tail I take off again.

Nope, Sarah, you’re not going to get me!

We were both worn out when my folks said it was time to go home, but man, what a wonderful time we all had!

She’s gaining on me!

I’m just the luckiest sheltie girl in the whole world! I hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as we all enjoyed playing!

You’ve got snacks…right Mama S?

Signing off now to dream of running in a big yard, your athlete girl Penny.

Hey! Sarah got the ball!


by 29 Comments

At last, the little birds

I took myself out to Kensington, a favorite park for bird photography, on Easter Sunday morning because I figured it would be empty.

There appears to be a lack of breakfast servers this morning, lady! – Mrs. Red Winged

And, in some ways, it was. There were no families enjoying barbecue, and no busloads of school kids enjoying a field trip.

No one was feeding the little birds.

We’ve been waiting for you! – Mr. Red Winged

But photographers? Oh yea, photographers with their long, heavy lenses are not going to let a beautiful spring morning get lost in a holiday!

My royal self does not come down just because you have food, madam. – Red Headed Woodpecker

Still I bet most of us out there that morning managed to get at least a few (dozen) great shots.

We’ll get our own meal, thank you. – TWO Red Headed Woodpeckers!

And long ago, on a previous post I promised I’d show you more birds.

I am not too proud to accept a free peanut! — Nuthatch in flight

So here you go. I’ll try to limit this to some of my most favorite from that early morning walk in the woods a month ago.

Excuse me, if everyone else has had enough, I’d like to approach the hand. — Titmouse

But it’s hard. I have so many favorites.

I’m a little shy, but I’d really like a bit of breakfast, lady! — Chickadee

As I study each of these I’m transported back to that cool morning, surrounded by hungry birds, the deer watching from further back in the trees, the squirrels hurrying so as not to be left out.

Thanks lady! Sometimes we get overlooked cause we can’t fly. — Black Squirrel

The chipmunks hoarding, the sunlight shifting.

I’d like a little more please! — Chipmunk

It’s always a magical time at Kensington, no matter what part of the park you visit.

Too busy to eat, I’m building my future family a new home! — Mrs. Red Belly

But if you want to experience wildlife in a more intimate manner, get there in the morning on a weekday before the crowds and walk the trails at the Nature Center.

It’s the interior decorating that takes the most thought.

Or early on a holiday morning. That works too.

You got to really get in there for the deep spring cleaning required prior to babies’ arrival!

So tell me, which image is YOUR favorite?

I’ll ponder that question. — Sandhill Crane


by 19 Comments

The eyes have it

When you’re walking in the woods do you ever feel you’re being watched?

A sea monster stranded on the forest floor.

Depending on which woods I’m in, I definitely do. There’s always a bird or two hoping for a snack.

Singing for his supper.

But it’s not the birds I’m talking about. It’s the others that hang out in the woods. They’re always silently watching.

Easter morning when I was walking in Kensington’s woods I deliberately walked to the trails in the back of the park, just to see who was watching me.

I see you, lady!

And, as usual, there were the usual suspects.

I’ll take a peanut if you have one to spare, lady.

Some of which I’ve shared with you today.

A walnut disguised as an owl.


by 14 Comments

Who’s hungry?

Well, I am, for one. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, and it’s mid-morning on a beautiful day here in Michigan. Lots of garden stuff to do. Places to be. People to see.

Early morning light through spring skunk cabbage.

But I’d rather be here with you.

Remember when I was out at the heron rookery in Kensington Park on Easter Sunday morning? You didn’t think I’d just leave the park after seeing the herons, did you?

Did you???

A busy neighborhood.

Well of course not.

When I could finally pry myself away from those big nests I went for a walk through the woods. And as soon as I was off the boardwalk I heard this cardinal just singing his heart out and enjoying the morning light at the very top of a tree.

Will sing for food.

Of course when he spotted me, perhaps the first automated bird feeder to arrive that morning, he shot right down to a branch directly in front of me.

Right at eye level.

You DID bring breakfast, didn’t you?

Now cardinals don’t generally come down to my hand to eat, though one did many years ago. But I think this one might have if I hadn’t accidently dropped some seed on the ground.

He was very interested in that.

What? You dropped my breakfast?

So was Mrs. Red Winged Blackbird.

I see an opportunity here.

And so was this squirrel.

I can be faster than all of you!

And this chipmunk.

But my cheeks can hold more seed than any of yours!

In the end I dropped some more for all of them and went on my way.

I remember that some of you have requested more bird pictures. Well of course I have some. Coming right up.


by 21 Comments

Bird spring

I was looking at my most recent posts and realize that almost all of them revolve around birds. Even Penny has noticed my obsession.

Kensington Metro Park rookery, as viewed from the boardwalk.

But I can’t help it. They’re so beautiful, and interesting, and entertaining. I could watch them all day.

Reflecting on her anticipated brood.

Wait!

Sometimes I do watch them all day! Like Easter Sunday when I went out to Kensington on my own. I figured it wouldn’t be busy because everybody else would be getting ready for church or family dinners or both.

There’s more than just the rookery to look at, lady!

I was wrong. There were plenty of people, mostly photographers, out there. But we all work around each other and it’s fine.

Outta my way, I’ve got places to go!

I started out walking on the boardwalk near the heron rookery, an island with huge trees filled with heron nests. Every year the heron couples choose a nest and then have a set of little herons there.

It’s fascinating to watch.

Ready for takeoff!

Easter Sunday there was much heron coming and going as the couples updated their fixer-uppers in order to make them meet current esthetics. They definitely favor wood floors over carpet.

This couple appears to be going with a new build v.s. a fixer upper.

I spent a long time out there on the boardwalk watching all the work being done, and then I wandered back into the woods to see what else might be around.

This guy was snapping sticks off the tree, tossing them aside and snapping another until he found the one he wanted, then he flew back to the rookery with his prize.

Stay tuned.

Being a homeowner is so much work!


by 23 Comments

Mini adventure

Last week a friend and I decided we needed an adventure, but neither of us had time for a long, fully planned and packed adventure.

From across the river on a grey day.

But I have been feeling a keen need to find something amazing to photograph, something outside my own home and local parks. My friend had explored a colorful place, several weeks ago, just an hour north of us.

I asked her to take me there.

From the road along side the silos.

I mean — Saginaw Michigan just screams adventure. Right?

Of course right!

Ripples of color.

Saginaw is near the Shiawasee National Wildlife Refuge where you’ve all hiked with me to see pelicans and eagles and sandhill cranes.

My personal favorite.

Saginaw is not far from the Chippewa Nature Center where I’ve brought you along to find stunning color in the fall.

Can’t go wrong with birds.

Saginaw isn’t even far from Midland Michigan and it’s Dow Gardens complete with a walk in the tree canopy. You’ve been with me there too, at least a couple times.

The colors, all vibrant and saturated just go together.

But this time we went to visit the Saginaw Shine Bright Mural Project.

I liked the industrial grey edges surrounding the art, and the nondescript truck parked below.

And let me tell you, this place satisfied all my photography cravings in one big ole splat of gorgeous color.

A person sat playing music and reading.

Though I don’t know that it’s a location I’d want to explore alone, and certainly not at night, it was fun to spend a bit of time there with someone else who appreciated the art. It’s huge and it’s bright and it will definitely make you smile.

Paint spills artfully.

No matter the angle you view it from, whether you sit in your car and admire it from across the river or get all up close and personal, it’s well worth the visit.

All angles.

And on the way home we stopped for a barn.

I liked the red car trying to camouflage itself in front of the barn.

Of course.


by 27 Comments

Orange you glad…

Most years the orioles arrive at my feeder around May 5. Hummingbirds too. But a friend of mine, living about an hour west of me, had an oriole on her feeder Easter Sunday!

So I put my feeder up a few days ago and Friday evening, during an hours long torrential downpour, my first oriole visited! I wasn’t sure I saw him, –it was getting dark and the rain was coming down in sheets.

I didn’t get a photo.

But the next morning, after I went out and emptied the water from his feeder and filled it up with grape jelly, he showed up!

He was still skittish and I got no images, but I stayed very still, holding Penny tight, and watched him eat his fill.

And late in the afternoon, as I stood across the room, I saw him again. My camera was within reach and I got these images, focus soft, but capturing the joy I felt to see him here.

And guess what? Later in the evening I realized there are TWO of them here! They chased each other around the beach tree which acts as the landing area for all birds visiting our feeders.

I can’t wait to set the camera on it’s tripod and use a remote shutter release. We’ll see what we shall see.

And today the hummingbird feeder goes up. If the orioles are here, the hummingbirds are too.