Spring | Change Is Hard

March 20, 2016
by dawnkinster 20 Comments

Park times two!

Katie here!

HEY! Did you all have a wonderful weekend? I sure did! My mama took me to my park yesterday AND today! OK. She doesn’t get credit for thinking of it all on her own today. A friend messaged her and suggested we meet them over at my park and I have to say mama got me in the car and over there in ten minutes! She can be efficient when she wants to be, my mama, but if it wasn’t for that friend I’d have been inside this boring house all day! Thank you Aunt Karen!

But I digress.

Let me tell you about my adventures! Mama says yesterday was cold, because it was the last day of winter. I guess winter is supposed to be cold. I, personally, thought it was perfect.

Mama likes these two trees. I don’t know why.

I trotted right along at a brisk pace because I was feeling terrific! I told mama to stop dawdling and taking pictures of stuff, even of me, because I had things to sniff and places to pee on.

When we first got to the park mama heard the cranes making a bunch of noise at the back of the park. We figured we’d come upon them when we got back there, but we didn’t see them. When we got to the place furthest away from the car mama heard the cranes up at the front of the park. She told me she figured they were dancing a jig around the car laughing at us.

She was wrong.

When we got out of the woods and close to the softball fields we topped a little hill and guess what? THERE THEY WERE just on the other side of the hill. Like 10 feet away from us! They were just as surprised as we were. Mama grabbed my leash extra hard but I had no intention of getting anywhere near these giant birds.

They squawked a bunch but didn’t leave…just continued to voice their displeasure at me being in what I guess they consider their park, and then they casually walked down the hill and over to the softball field. Mama’s picture isn’t very good, she was trying to hang on to me and take the picture and she couldn’t see in the viewfinder whether she even got the birds in the shot.

Those are bigger than ME mama!

She did, but you have to really look. You can click on the photo and make it bigger and maybe you can see them.

Then today my friend Deuce had his mom contact my mama so we could go on a walk together. I think he likes me, but I told him I had a boyfriend already. Deuce is fine just being friends, cause he’s a good guy. I didn’t sit too close to him so that my boyfriend Reilly the Cowspot Dog doesn’t get jealous.

Close…but not TOO close.

Then our mamas called us and we raced to them. Well. Deuce raced. I sort of sauntered. As befitting a princess and all.

I let him win. I’m a good park hostess.

Deuce loves to run. Mama took a bunch of pictures of him and I wasn’t even jealous. I was having too good a time showing Deuce my park.

Deuce can fly!

I had fun this afternoon even though it was warmer today and I was slower than Deuce. After all I am 9, and Deuce is a much younger guy. I bet he didn’t even need to take a nap when he got home. Me? I went straight to sleep on my princess pile of pillows after mama brushed the burs out of my fur. I blame the burs on her, she’s supposed to watch out for things like that and she failed miserably. She was too busy talking to Aunt Karen. I’m not going to tip her this time, as she didn’t earn it at all.

So hard to get good help these days you know.

Beautiful me.

March 16, 2016
by dawnkinster 22 Comments

Wordless Wednesday

March 15, 2016
by dawnkinster 26 Comments

A little X-rated crane romance

Flying over the neighborhood.

I wondered over the weekend how the heron rookery was doing down at Kensington Park. I figured heron couples should be shopping for their condo units about now, so I headed down there Monday morning. I was right. Looks like quite a few of the condo nests have been spoken for. There were a lot of herons coming and going, landing on nests, some being shooed off. There were lots of couples, too, standing together on their chosen new homes.

Waiting for the newborns.

I wonder if the same herons come back year after year. And if so, do they chose the same nest each year? While I was watching all their activity I heard the sandhill cranes commence to squawking. I turned around and through a fringe of brush I saw one flying low straight toward me.

Can you see him? I know it’s a him…you will too.

He pulled up and landed on the road, just on the other side of some redtwig dogwood shrubs, about 10 yards away from me. He looked right, left, at me, then left again. Then he began to walk quite aggressively down the road. He was in a hurry.

Got important things to do.

That’s when I noticed her. The other half of his pair. The girl of his dreams. The woman who had, until moments before been standing with him on the other side of the bay looking for lunch. She showed him a little wing. Such a flirt.

Hey there good looking.

He didn’t have to be invited twice.

Didn’t even look to see if there were any cars coming.

I was so surprised I just kept clicking with no consideration for their privacy. After all, if they cared about that they should have got a room.

Quick! Someone’s coming!

And then it was done.

How about a date next Friday night?

Instantly they were just another couple, walking together down the road. And miraculously right toward me! Right about then I registered that I’d been hearing soft grunting noises below me. I glanced down from my spot on the boardwalk. There was a Canadian goose wanting his share of attention. Probably begging for a treat, though I had nothing to give him, and the signs clearly say not to feed the wildlife.

Got anything good up there lady?

So I turned my attention back to the cranes. Down the embankment they came, through the redtwig dogwoods, and into the lake, perhaps three feet from me and my camera.

Care for a little snack?

They casually waded along in the shallow water, sipping a bit of water here, testing a bit of greenery there. Talking quietly between themselves. Unafraid of me and my clicking camera. Ignoring the world, lost in their love.

I love you too sweetheart.

I have other things to show you from Monday’s walk in the woods, but they will have to wait for a future blog. But certainly spring is here, in the wetlands and hills and woods of Southern Michigan. And I think we all wish the happy couple the best in the coming months as they await their little one.

Snack time

February 6, 2016
by dawnkinster 22 Comments

I don’t understand advertisements

Spring fashion.

Superbowl Sunday is tomorrow. If you’re not in the US that probably doesn’t mean anything, but trust me, it’s a big deal. Even if you’re not into football it’s a big deal, the culmination of our football season supposedly between the two best teams of the season.

And then there are the advertisements.

Advertisers are paying $5 million for a 30 second ad to run during the game. Superbowl ads have gotten more and more creative over the years until now they are as much a draw to watch as the game itself. This year they’re already showing us bits and pieces of some of them, though many people want to wait until game day to see them for the first time. Sort of like the groom waiting until the wedding day to see the bride in her dress.

Brighten up any kitchen.

But even before the Superbowl I’ve begun to notice I don’t understand today’s television ads. For example, right now there’s some guy with a drum and cymbals strapped on his back, playing them with a line attached to his stomping foot while he’s also playing an accordion and singing (I guess it’s singing) something about how he loves to eat ‘pepperona.’ I had to see it several times to figure out he is advertising pepperoni that goes on pizza.

It’s obnoxious.

And there’s the two guys at the gym, each doing bicep curls, wearing tight shorts. As they banter the guy on the left gets more and more buff, curling more and more weight. I have no idea what they are selling.

It’s gross.

Equally annoying is an ad with a macho guy with some sort of wolf dog on the left v.s. a girly guy in golden light on the right. They are hawking cough drops.

I don’t know why.

Summer sport.

I hope with $5 million spent on each 30 second Superbowl advertisement that they make more sense, are less awkward, and certainly less obnoxious. And that it’s at least clear what they are selling.

I hope you all enjoy the game. Or whatever else you’re planning on doing with your Sunday.

(Photos on today’s blog are leftover mall ‘vibrant’ shots that didn’t make the cut. After all, everything there is meant to sell something too.)

Sweet.

January 22, 2016
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

WordPress Photo Challenge: Optimistic

I’m feeling pretty lucky to be living up here in Michigan right now, as the blizzard Jonah is bearing down on the south and east. So far this winter has pretty much passed us by. Sure we’ve got a tiny bit of snow on the ground. And it has been cold for a couple of weeks, but this winter is nothing like the last two evil and nasty winters we all suffered through.

Still, this week’s photo challenge is all about looking forward from the middle of the long winter. What makes us feel hopeful that we’re headed toward warmer weather? What keeps us going when we’re tired of shoveling, scraping frost off windshields, bundling up, driving on treacherous roads?

Stopping for a quick visit at Matthaei Conservatory always lifts my winter blues. It’s tropical inside with lush green trees and flowering plants. And in the back is the dry hot air of a desert complete with intriguing desert plant life. For a little while you can lose yourself in another place. A warm place.

I always like to stop and visit a huge rotating pot full of colorful plants. The plants are changed with the seasons, but the best part of this exhibit is the kaleidoscope that transforms the colors in the pot into changeable art. I took this image through the eye of the kaleidoscope. As the pot of plants rotates the image changes.

Spring in the eyepiece.

It’s magic and always makes me smile. And smiling in winter? Well, that’s the first step on the road to optimism.

See other optimistic responses at the original link above. It’s early…so I haven’t picked out any favorites yet. But optimism is such a wonderful concept, they’re all bound to be great.

Another view…just turn the pot.

June 13, 2015
by dawnkinster 31 Comments

Define retirement

Dogwood in morning.

Two weeks into retirement and I find myself continually confused. In a good way.

I don’t wear a watch and since I’m not sitting at my desk with a computer monitor and phone, both declaring the time, I have no idea as the day progresses what time it is.

Turns out it doesn’t matter.

I go to bed when I’m sleepy and Katie-girl gets me up in the morning when she’s not, generally earlier than I’d wake on my own. But that’s no problem, we go about her business and then go back to bed. Or not.

It really doesn’t matter.

Peony in pink.

I don’t know what day it is either. I suppose that will become more of a problem when I schedule appointments or volunteer for something. Or set a deadline for a some project.

But at the moment it doesn’t matter.

Predictably, the good intentions I had for retirement — going out for a walk every morning, spending an hour a day weeding flower beds hasn’t materialized. It’s rained you know.

Excuses, excuses.

Damp poppy

But the good news is that in retirement there’s always another morning. Nothing has to get done today, there’s time tomorrow. And the next tomorrow.

Which still surprises me. And leads to naps in the middle of the day.

The definition of retirement turns out to be time.

What a luxury.

Clematis center

June 8, 2015
by dawnkinster 25 Comments

Epic, windy, wet adventure

Our beautiful campsite!

Katie here. Mama says I’m monopolizing her blog but what’s she got to talk about anyway now that she’s retired? Right? Of course I’m right. I’m a princess.

So anyway, last January mama reserved a campsite for this weekend right on the shore of Lake Michigan! It’s about five hours from home and I have to say I was an excellent traveler. I didn’t bark at her once the whole way up there!

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

First there was the planning and the packing and the loading of the car. I was afraid she might forget to take me so I stuck really close to her.

Don’t forget me mama!

She didn’t forget me but she did forget my bed! GEEZE mama! She must be getting old. That’s OK…I figured I’d just sleep on hers.

This is for me – – right?

Our campsite was really beautiful, right on the shore. Friday afternoon mama took me for a walk along the sand by the waves. I did not like it. Not one bit.

Not getting any closer than this mama!

The only water I want anything to do with is the water in my bowl and it doesn’t make scarey noises like those waves did!

Since all mama’s romantic notions of walking me on the beach were dashed we went into town. This was more like it! I went up and down the steps of the marina no problem. (Mama is beginning to realize I’m scamming her about not doing steps at home.)

Buy me one of these mama!

I even went out on the floating docks at the marina, and the boats were rocking and squeaking and the docks were moving and I was OK with it. Mostly.

I guess I’m more of a city kid than a beach bum. But I did like my tent! Every night my mama made a campfire and settled in to read her book next to it and every night I went over and pawed at the tent door. Cause I wanted to go to bed already. Mama just sighed and we went to bed.

Mama made me a bed out of her pillows.

Because a princess always gets what she wants. Don’t you know. And every morning I got my mama up around 5:00, because even though we were on vacation I didn’t shirk my responsibilities.

Time to get up mama!

Do you know that people in campgrounds don’t get up that early? That was cool, we had the whole place to ourselves. We tiptoed down the road and I did my jobs and then we tiptoed back and went back to bed. It worked out great

We had two evenings of beautiful sunsets. Mama made me go back out on the beach to see those. It was OK, I was sort of getting used to the waves.

Friday night

And in the end whatever makes mama happy makes me happy.

We were supposed to be there three nights, but there were thunderstorms coming. The clouds were low and heavy on Sunday morning. Mama began to worry.

Mama used the ‘dramatic’ button on the camera to show you the clouds better.

She talked to dad on the phone and decided we’d leave early. Of course we had to go into town to use the phone and by the time we got back it was raining. Mama packed up the car as fast as she could.

Hurry up mama!

Everything was soggy. Even me!

Can’t we stay mama?

We were sad to leave a day early, but we are very happy that we got to go at all!

On the way home we stopped at a little park and I got to walk on a bridge over the Au Sable River.

Still raining.

Mama says she used to canoe on this river when she was a little girl. It made her smile. And I found her a beautiful flower along the river too! Cause I love my mama.

Along the river.

We had a wonderful time, but I’m glad to be home. I missed my dad a lot. Plus it was cold, and I don’t like cold so much. And then there were those waves. And the sand. And the mud. I got wet. I wasn’t that thrilled about the campfire either. Hmmmm…..maybe camping in the back yard isn’t all that bad!

Anyway…I guess that’s all for now from your friend Katie – camper extraordinaire.

Kind of.

Don’t like sand in my fur mama!

June 5, 2015
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Norwood’s star

Norwood’s star reminds us how wonderful the world is.

Katie here.

You remember when I told you about Norwood last March? He and his mom Debi used to go out every day for a run or a walk and they shared it with all of us. Norwood was a very cool dog who had to go to the Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly and way too soon. Mama always called him “Dude” cause he was so cool.

Photo of Dude by Debi his mom.

Well anyway, Norwood is now a bright star way up in the sky. His mom made a lot of his friends their own stars and asked us to put them up near our favorite trails, cause he loved to run with his mom on trails through the woods and parks. We got our star in the mail a couple of weeks ago. It’s been sitting on the counter where mama looked at it every day, deciding where it should be hung.

I said it was a no brainer mama! It has to go in my park!

So Wednesday we went over to my park to have a private memorial for Norwood. Just my mama and me. Mama told me I couldn’t call him Dude that afternoon, cause I needed to be respectful. So I called him Mr. Dude instead.

We found a perfect spot, in a grove of cottonwood trees, where the gentle wind in the leaves makes a soothing sound, almost like waves on a beach. We tucked it back into the trees a little bit, so Mr. Dude will have shade but still be able to watch the people and dogs that pass by on their walks.

Do you see Mr. Dude’s star above me?

There was a little breeze and Mr. Dude’s star rocked gently. Sometimes the sun would make it glow, sometimes it hid among the leaves.

We stood quiet a little bit and sent a prayer up to Mr. Dude to watch over his mom and the new puppy Seager. Then Mama arranged for some songbirds to do a musical number and we walked slowly back toward the car.

Mama let me sniff as much as I wanted, no hurry she said. And then a beautiful Monarch butterfly flew by and fluttered for a little bit right in front of mama’s face. She says she thinks Mr. Dude sent it to say thank you. You’re welcome Mr. Dude! Sure was pretty. And then the best thing of all! A flock of ceder waxwings flew in formation right overhead! Mama said that Mr. Dude had a perfect ending to his memorial — his very own fly over!

All in all it was a beautiful memorial to our friend Norwood. Thanks to his mom for sending us the star. People are putting their NorStars up in parks across the country. If you see one on any of your adventures think of Mr. Dude.

Norwood–the dog that touched hearts around the world. And made us all smile.