summer | Change Is Hard

July 22, 2024
by dawnkinster 36 Comments

Finally!

Hey everybody, it’s me, Penny!

*Mom thought this mossy part of the woods was pretty. I think I made it prettier.*

Guess what? Mom finally took me to my park! She’s always saying we’re going to go to a park, or have an adventure and then stuff happens and I end up lolling around the house all day.

*Mom thought the light was pretty too. I thought better about climbing up there to be included in the image.*

Why the closest thing to an adventure around here is sleeping out back in her tent. Which I’m not at all sure I like yet.

Mom says to give it time, but geeze, Dad’s sleeping in air conditioning, on a bed. I don’t know why I have to be out there in the steaming warm night, sleeping on the ground with scary sounds just outside my window with Mom, just because she’s crazy.

Anyway.

Mom’s been working on this photo challenge, which has something to do with four seasons and she takes me along when she’s doing that.

*This is a pretty spot, Mom, will it work for your project?*

I like going to the woods now. In the beginning when I was just a baby I was sort of scared of the big trees, especially if the wind was blowing and there were all sorts of noises and leaves blowing around and stuff.

But now I’m a big girl, and I’ve figured out there are really cool smells out there in the woods! So today when Mom said we were going to go to my park (yes I have a park now that is named after me!), I got all excited.

It’s not very far away and we got there early in the morning when it would still be relatively cool. Mom unloaded me and off we went, my nose to the ground and Mom trailing along behind.

*The very first picture mom stopped to take this morning.*

But before we got to the top of the first hill Mom pulled me up and said we had to go home and look for something called bug spray. Mom said she was an idiot for not thinking of that sooner and no way was she going any further swatting at clouds of mosquitoes.

*Mom! It’s really buggy here! Hurry up and take your picture!*

I was a bit upset, but back in the car I went and we drove home where mom sprayed herself liberally and then used a doggie bug spray on my back and tummy, and put some in her hand and rubbed it on my face and ears.

Then off to the park (again!) we went! I was a little confused, but trotted right off, nose to the ground. We went up and down hills and through meadows and past wildflowers and ripening berries.

*Mom asked me if I wanted a berry but I said no thanks. I’ll stick with treats.*

Mom stopped for a lot of pictures that were not me and I was OK with that, as long as I got my fair share of photographic attention.

Because those come with treats, you know.

*Mom was bending over to give me a treat after I posed for her, and her camera took a bunch of pictures of me all on it’s own as I was rushing in to get my reward. It made Mom laugh.*

Anyway by the time we headed back to the car mom was sweating through her cloths and I was pretty warm too. It was only 73 F, (22.7C) but it felt a lot hotter!

*Slow and steady up the hills, that’s the way Mom and I do it.*

Mom made sure I got lots of drinks. All I had to do was look at her and she pulled my water right out of her pack. She carries more stuff for me than for her when we go on adventures! That’s cause I tip well.

Mom said I did really good this morning following directions while she got her summer shots for her challenge. She says she’s not showing those to you yet..she still has to get fall, and then she’ll tell you all about it.

*Mom thinks this is her favorite image from this adventure.*

Mom and I are an artistic team, and I’m an excellent model. I personally think she should set me up with a 401K and vacation days. It seems only fair as I’m doing all the work.

*I stop at this stump and sniff it every time we go down this hill. It’s where all the boys leave me pee-mail. I never stop at it on the way back up the hill*, *cause* *that would be redundant*.

What do you think? You can leave me your opinions and suggestions in the comments. And just for the record, I get more comments on my posts than any that mom writes. Just more evidence of my value as an employee. Maybe I should negotiate for health insurance too.

July 16, 2024
by dawnkinster 29 Comments

Youngster has a lot to learn

Oh…you thought this would be about Penny? Well…it is true she has a lot to learn. But so does her mom.

*The view from my chair. Is that a very large hummingbird?*

But no, this isn’t about her. This time anyway.

*“Maybe there’s something good under here.”*

No it’s about birds, which I guess is my second most frequent type of post.

But the young birds are visiting now and some of them missed the memo about which feeder is meant for them.

On the other hand, it’s possible this young male was just making a point that we shouldn’t be segregationists, even with our bird feeders.

*“I think there was a tasty ant right here yesterday.”*

Regardless of what he was thinking, or not thinking more likely, I hope he got something sweet to eat!

*“Hey lady. I’d like to return this to the chef and order a little suet, please?”*

July 10, 2024
by dawnkinster 39 Comments

Wordless Wednesday

July 8, 2024
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Abundance

It’s that time of year again, when everything seems to be blooming all at once.

Though May is my favorite month, full of promise and hope of a bountiful summer, July runs a close second just because it’s the middle of summer.

I took a wander around the yard today and realized just how much stuff in my gardens was blooming.

On a warm sunny day with big white puffy clouds everything looks perfect.

And I realize I love being retired so that I can take a leisurely walk around the yard and discover blooms hiding among the foliage.

Stuff, that in the old days of working long hours far from home, I would have missed, only noticing spent blossoms way too late.

So today I savor my freedom and the beauty of a warm summer day. And I’m sharing it all with you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the mini tour of my gardens. Have a wonderful day in your part of the world!

July 2, 2024
by dawnkinster 33 Comments

Another boyfriend?

Hi everybody! It’s me, Penny!

You know there are three boy dogs in my neighborhood that walk by my driveway almost every day. Personally I think they do that just to catch a glimpse of beautiful me.

*These are a couple of my neighborhood boyfriends.*

And I have had a couple playdates with Lance, a very handsome sheltie-boy who is about six months older than me. I think he likes me too.

*I’m kinda sweet on my boyfriend, Lance, too.*

And just this week mom arranged for me to meet Levi, a four year old sheltie who lives about an hour away from me.

*This is my boyfriend Levi! Isn’t he a handsome boy?*

Levi and I met at a fenced in dog playground in his neighborhood. The moms picked the coolest day of the week because, as you know, shelties are always wearing a heavy coat.

At first Levi and I weren’t sure about each other. He wasn’t sure he wanted me in his territory, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be there either. He’s a lot bigger than me!

*He can’t catch me! Well, he wasn’t really trying to catch me…*

In fact mom said this is the first time I looked small!

*Something smells good under here. Plus there’s shade.*

But eventually, when mom broke out the frissbee we started to have some fun. Levi just loved my frissbee and I chased him while he chased it.

After a little bit of running around we settled in a corner where there was some shade. Even at 68 degrees it was pretty hot. While the moms were talking I’d sort of peek around from behind mom’s legs and get Levi’s attention.

Then I’d race off and hide behind the slide and just dare him to chase me. Yep, I pretended I didn’t want to play and then I’d egg him on. I’m very skilled at being a tease.

We didn’t run around too much, because of the heat, but we’re going to get together again when it’s cooler outside.

When we meet again we’ll be more comfortable, cause we’ll already know each other. Levi’s mom says he went home and took a nap. I went home and bugged my parents for the rest of the day.

I guess I got a little wound up.

*Thanks, Levi, for inviting me to play at your park!*

Talk later, your most alluring sheltie-girl, ruler of all boy dogs…

Penny.

June 28, 2024
by dawnkinster 16 Comments

Camping heat wave

We had some really hot weather up here in Michigan and it seemed to last forever. Of course it didn’t last forever, but for my two nights of camping at a local state park the heat hung heavily in the air even late into the night.

*Even though it was hot I enjoyed a fire each evening.*

I hadn’t camped at this park for a few years, not since Katie and I camped there and struggled with noisy kids partying all night just a few sites away.

This time it was much more quiet. I was in my favorite site at this campground, full shade, with lots of privacy. I went there specifically to watch the birds that hang out in the trees surrounding the site, many of which I don’t see at home around my feeders.

*My app Merlin says this is a wood thrush. I don’t think we have wood thrushes in Michigan.*

And I went to give Penny an opportunity to see a campground for the very first time. Her dad brought her over in the evenings and we sat around and talked.

*“I’m a little anxious, mom. And it’s hot out here!”*

She sat around and observed. Everything.

I didn’t ask her to get into the tent for a number of reasons, one it was too hot inside the tent, and two she isn’t really happy in the tent yet.

*“Mom, do you have any treats over there?”*

But she did get to watch people and dogs and kids walk by and begin to realize she didn’t have to bark at everyone.

It wasn’t easy for her. Watching dogs walk by, listening to noisy trucks as they hauled trailers past our site was hard.

*“Dad? Those kids on bikes need to be herded!”*

But little kids on bikes? Now that deserves a big bark, mom!

We still have a lot of work to do, it was all new to her. But I can see potential.

*“OK mom, that was interesting, I’m going back to my air conditioning now!”*

There are, of course, a lot of memories at my favorite site, memories of camping with my Katie-girl. And I think she was there with me last week.

*My girl used to use this leash to wander the site when we camped together so long ago.*

I miss her so much, even while little Miss Penny is bouncing around distracting me. Penny says that’s OK and I appreciate her giving me some grace.

*Hey Katie-girl, I know you were there.*

On my last day at site 16, just before I started packing up and while I was feeling sad and missing Katie, a female cardinal arrived. She hopped around, up on the picnic table, underneath it, across the parking pad, always keeping an eye on me.

*“Hey Lady! Don’t feel sad, she’s right there in your heart!”*

I kind of think Katie sent her. She made me smile, just like Penny does, who, I’m sure, was also sent by Katie.

*I don’t know what this bird is, but it’s pretty!*

There’s lots of summer left. I hope I get to take Penny to another campground before the end of the season.

*“Just remember lady, you’re never alone!”*

And I figure by next summer she just might be ready for a real adventure, even if it’s camping in our own backyard.

See you later, site 16. *Penny and I will be back!*

June 15, 2024
by dawnkinster 13 Comments

Lucky to play

This morning I got to play music with some of the members of the Clarkston Community Band at our local Farmers’ Market. It was opening day at the market and the weather was perfect. Sunny and in the 70s with, at the beginning, no breeze to blow music around.

OK, so we were sight reading most of the music. And OK, we didn’t have all the instruments of a full band. And yes, we did dissolve into giggles in the middle of one piece of music we had optimistically thought we could pull off when it became obvious we weren’t going to make it to the end even remotely together.

But hey, people stopped to listen, the Disney songs were a big hit with the little kids, and we got to spend a few more hours playing together at the end of our season.

You just can’t beat live music outside in the sunshine. I’d say it was a win for us and a win for people shopping the market on a beautiful Saturday morning.

June 9, 2024
by dawnkinster 26 Comments

Musical exhale

It was busy around here last week. A steady stream of contractors and appointments filled our days. I had a rehearsal on Tuesday night and a concert on Friday evening. Husband had places to be and people to see too.

The calendar (paper, and hanging on a bulletin board in the back hall) daily squares looked black with scribbled appointments.

Friday was particularly bad for me. I thought I was on edge because of the pending concert. There’s always things to worry about when a concert looms. Would we come in together on that one tricky entrance. Would we all end together, or were we supposed to fade out on that other difficult piece.

Friday we had two contractors working on things inside the house and two contractors working on stuff out in the yard. None of it went exactly as planned and I was stressed.

*Friday was the last day of school and the students left messages in chalk on the sidewalk outside.*

Even our concert venue was causing stress. We’d been booked at the local Jr. High which has a fine auditorium and where we’ve played many times. But at the last minute the school system told us we couldn’t perform there, as the school was going to be renovated, beginning on the very night we were to play!

We told them we only needed 2 hours, but we got bumped anyway.

Our director, a retired middle school band director, got us approved to play at the middle school’s cafetorium. Yep. A cafeteria with a stage, probably similar to where most of us ate lunch growing up. I hadn’t played in a cafeteria since I was in 7th grade.

It didn’t feel promising.

But our group is resilient, and in the end it wasn’t half bad. The stage was acceptable, the dusty blue velvet curtain made a pretty OK band shell, the custodians had the lunch tables put away and 200 chairs set out.

And our audience showed up.

*Our intrepid leader, retired Clarkston band director, Ms. Roland.*

Most importantly, after my long week, it was cathartic to sit in the middle of a group of musicians and hear the music swell around me. Of course I lost my place a couple times when I was listening instead of concentrating. Or when I was letting my neck muscles relax and forgot to count.

But last night I listened to the recording and I’m pretty sure no one will be able to tell that one third clarinet didn’t play all her notes.

*Our guest conductor, Dr. Klena from Oakland University.*

Our concert was titled “Three Women and a Podium” and was filled with music composed by women. I was proud to be a part of that, and I enjoyed playing under the baton of each of our three wonderfully talented conductors.

*Our Associate Conductor, Ms. Scheu, Director of Bands at Oakland Christian School.*

On the drive home after the concert, the sun set in a most spectacular way. I stopped in a parking lot to watch. I thought about the week and the evening and the fact that I didn’t play everything.

And I decided I was happy with what I did play and I was very grateful that I could, finally, exhale.

I hope you all find your best way to let the stress of everyday life fall off your shoulders.

And if you’re somewhere nearby some of the Clarkston Community Band musician will be playing next Saturday at the opening of the Clarkston Farmers’ Market. I hope to see you there!

School’s out, the Farmers’ Market is open – – it’s officially summer!

May 30, 2024
by dawnkinster 36 Comments

Of iris and hungry birds

Earlier this week I felt the need to be in the woods, so I grabbed my camera and my new lens and went out early to see what I could see.

Near the park entrance it seemed obvious that Mrs. Osprey didn’t want her picture taken as she sat low in her nest so I moved along.

Gotta respect a mother’s wishes.

“*I haven’t showered in days and it’s early in the morning. Give me a break!*“

As I walked toward the nature center and the beginning of the trails I realized I hadn’t thought to bring the birds anything to eat.

Well, I thought, they’d have to get over it.

I hadn’t taken into account I was the first car in the parking lot and that it had been raining for two days so people hadn’t visited these hungry birds in awhile. I was instantly attacked by an angry mob of red winged blackbirds as I rounded the corner. I heard their wings first and then felt one bounce off my head. Then another. They were everywhere.

I thought I was in a movie, and not in a good way.

“*Look lady, hand over the seed and nobody gets hurt.*“

I swatted some of them away and moved faster down the trail, blackbirds following closely.

I had managed to get out into the marsh, with only a few blackbirds circling my head, when I heard a Baltimore oriole singing his heart out.

He seemed to be celebrating the sun as he sang in the morning light.

*Then he moved out into the sunshine to show off.*

As he sat there singing he began to preen, as if he was singing in the shower.

“*Just need to get that little bit of leftover gnat out of my armpit…”*

He was fun to watch and the blackbirds got bored and headed back up the trail to wait for their next victim. They could only hope that person wasn’t such an airhead.

Though the blackbirds had given up, other birds had not. A little titmouse quietly asked if it was true, that there was no food.

I felt bad, but I had to tell him the truth. I had forgotten his breakfast. I was amazed at how quickly he abandoned me, once he realized I was a waste of time.

I wandered off to look for other pretty things to photograph. I figured it probably wouldn’t be a bird kind of day given I was a bird feeder failure.

I felt lucky that the iris was in bloom and so very beautiful.

But while I was focused on the iris, my eyes glued to the viewfinder trying to get just the right composition, I heard wings again. And again I felt something largish bounce off the top of my head.

The male red-bellied woodpecker was miffed that I wasn’t offering anything to eat. And he wasn’t afraid to tell me off either.

I told him I was sorry, but I didn’t bring anything. And I went back to photographing the iris.

*There were the obvious yellow iris, but also these delicate, smaller, purple blooms as well.*

Off to the right of me I heard a big uproar. Turns out Mrs. Red-bellied wasn’t happy either.

*“Hey Mr! Get to work and bring home some bacon or this relationship is over!”*

I wasn’t sure if she was mad at me for forgetting or him for being a bad provider. Either way she wasn’t getting anything to eat. He jumped to and got to work finding her something…anything!

*“Now where did I store that fat ant from last fall?”*

He looked everywhere.

How about some nice lichen, sweetie?

*“This might be a nice change of pace from the stuff the lady usually brings.”*

In between his forages for something natural to feed his demanding wife (who kept on complaining. Loudly.) he’d come back and dive bomb me for being such a disappointment. I kept looking for pretty things to photograph.

He followed me almost all the way around a big loop, complaining and doing flybys. Eventually I moved out of his range and settled into a more peaceful walk.

Of course most of the other inhabitants of the woods were equally stressed by my lack of responsibility. I promised them I would never ever forget to bring their snacks again.