walk | Change Is Hard

July 16, 2016
by dawnkinster 12 Comments

Brooklyn!

I’ve seen first hand that more than one tree grows in Brooklyn. We’re here visiting friends and taking in a bit of city life.

Brooklyn after a storm.

During our first day we visited The New York City Transportation Museum here in Brooklyn. It has old buses and subway cars that kids can climb around and sit in.

Watch out world! I’m driving the bus!

Oh yea. Adults can too.

We saw subway cars from as far back as 1912…

The seats had more padding in 1612!

..up through 1961…

Mid-century modern.

…and today. The today picture I took while riding on the actual subway out to Coney Island and back.

2016…last night. But the museum had one from 2010 that looked just like this one.

After the museum we went for a walk along pretty tree lined streets, admiring the brownstones.

Beautiful old homes.

It’s fun to imagine what it’s like to live in one. But our friend made a good point. She said it was romantic to think about living in a house that old…but if she was going to spend that much money she’d want her new home to be brand new. These houses sell for millions each. Hard to fathom.

Someone suggested we see Coney Island. So that evening we hopped on a subway and went out to explore. Can’t beat a boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean in July.

Fun stuff.

And the amusement park had some really cool rides. Oh, you ask…which ones did we ride?

Tempting…but crazy.

Well..none actually. I’m pretty sure I’m at the age where anything remotely like this is going to make my sick. Well, not entirely sure, but sure enough to not want to risk it.

We walked out on the pier instead, watched people crabbing and fishing. And then we walked along the boardwalk for a long way.

Reflecting.

It seemed like a perfect end to a very nice day. But boy did all that walking wear us out! Especially when we had to climb all these stairs at the Barkley Center to exit the subway on our way home!

Gotta get my flights of stairs in every day. Sigh.

We were pretty tired. And sore. But will we take it easy tomorrow?

What do you think?

Peaceful evening along the Atlantic.

July 3, 2016
by dawnkinster 26 Comments

Adventure – Day 1

I’m home now. It feels kind of comfortable here. And warm, not to mention dry. Still…the memories of five days in the woods remain. Want to see a little bit?

The first day and night was spent with a friend at Pigeon River State Forest Campground. It turns out there are several campgrounds there, each of them small, many remote. We chose to stay one night at Round Lake which has ten sites. Only one other site was occupied. We had this beautiful place pretty much to ourselves.

Our campsite among the ferns on the shore of a small lake.

Pigeon River is in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, about thirteen miles east of the very small town of Vanderbuilt. A couple of the campgrounds are set up for horse people, so if you love riding your horse through the woods, this might be the perfect place for you!

But I guess you’d like to take a tour, right? We did just that, taking a walk on what we thought was a trail marked on our map. We were very careful to pay attention to where we were, given we both have a propensity to lose track of things when we’re busy talking and catching up.

Turns out this wasn’t the trail at all.

We enjoyed beautiful blue skies and tall trees and soft ferns and lots and lots of wildflowers.

Indian paintbrush and daisies.

We even made a new friend while we were admiring an iris. As we hovered over the purple beauty at the side of a swampy ditch we heard a low growl. Startled we looked closer. Turns out we had ventured into the territory of this guy.

This is MY place ladies!

We moved on, enjoying the sunshine on the bright green ferns…

Just beyond the trees the sun made the ferns glow lime green.

…and the towering pine trees.

Tall trees made us feel tiny.

I bet you didn’t know there’s a herd of elk living in the region! I didn’t either. But our map (and the park ranger) pointed out a few places they like to hang out, especially at dusk. So as the sun got lower we jumped in the car and went ‘elk hunting.’

It was good we had a map. The roads back there are primarily unmarked dirt one lane tracks. We weren’t always on the road we thought we were on, but we could generally keep going in the direction we intended. Good thing we had a compass though because it was very easy to get turned around in the deep woods.

Wonder where this road goes?

We laughed as we sorted out our directions, heading to a place on the map that had an elk image. “You know, just because they put an elk on the map doesn’t mean they’re going to be waiting right there for us.” “This is probably a wild goose chase.” “I don’t think we’re actually on the right road.” “What are the odds we even see any?”

We came upon a break in the tall trees – a large open meadow. My friend said “You’d think this would be the kind of place they’d hang out.” as we both turned to look out the right side of the car.

And there, at the back of the meadow, were three of them.

They stared at us. We stared back. “You have the long lens! Quick get the shot!” she said to me. “I can’t figure out how to roll the window down!” I replied in a panic. (It was her car.) Somehow she got the window down, I got the camera up, and this is what we saw:

What you looking at ladies?

Seeing the elk was the highlight of the first day of my adventure. But we also enjoyed building a fire and sitting around it talking. I loved the way the trees turned into art as night overtook us.

Navy trees surround the lake.

A serenade of frogs woke us early, and after a night sleeping under the stars we enjoyed watching the sun touch the tips of the trees above us while we were still snug in our tent. It was a gorgeous new morning.

Good morning!

The lake mirrored the blue sky. We spent some time just sitting and enjoying the peace and beauty.

Round Lake.

We sat and listened to nature all around us. The frogs. The birds. The wind in the trees. And we commented that all of this would continue after we were gone. That when we were stressed by life we could remember Round Lake and smile.

I loved this visitor’s shadow.

Peace at Round Lake. Definitely a good start to my adventure. Day two coming up!

The zen of a campfire.

April 21, 2016
by dawnkinster 22 Comments

April showers

HI!!!!

Katie here! It’s raining today and I’m bored so I thought I’d share some of my latest adventures with you. Cause I figure you’re bored too and why not share!

Mama says I shouldn’t be sad that it’s raining. We haven’t had any in a long time, and besides, she says, it’s not SNOW! Good point mama. Of course I sort of like snow so I guess I wouldn’t have minded if we got some to play in. Mama, on the other hand, does not want to see any more of that white stuff till next Christmas!

Anyway.

I’ve been to lots of parks lately. Mama is home all the time and we get to go go go! I love that. I think mama does too, though maybe not quite as much as me. Cause she doesn’t get treats at the park, not being a princess and all.

I’ve been over to my park quite a bit already this month. It still doesn’t look like spring over there, but at least the snow is gone. There aren’t any leaves yet, but after this rain I bet things begin to bud out!

This is my majestic look.

It’s been a bit wet with all the snow melt, and windy, but I don’t mind. I even walked through a puddle at the back of the park this year! Mama was surprised; she usually has to carry me through that part of the trail every spring. I guess I’m growing up and taking on more responsibility now that I’m almost ten.

Art in my park!

Did you know they are advertising the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) at my park? There are these big pictures with notes about the artist there! My mama reads them all to me but she says I can’t go to the DIA because I’m a dog. Seems unfair. I mean, why put art in my park if I can’t go?

One day at my park I didn’t feel like walking all the way around, so I took my mama over to the library and we walked around there. And you know what I accidentally did?

Uh, she’s on to me!

I walked down this long line of stairs! Without thinking! I forgot that I don’t do stairs! Now my mama is sure that I’ve been scamming her all these years when I made her carry me up and down.

And one time, over by one of the ponds mama thought she’d take a photo of the two of us enjoying my park. But she never did get the hang of setting the camera up. Most of the shots looked like this.

Mama doesn’t move fast enough.

I’ve also spent lots of time at home in my own pretty yard. Mama is getting worried that she’s already behind on the weeding, but I think the flowers are beautiful just the way they are.

I look good in blue, don’t you think?

AND…best news of all! Mama and I got to go camping in the back yard two nights in a row! I was very very good and only barked a little (OK a lot the first night and only a little the second night) at the snorting deer that trespassed on our camp site around two a.m. each night. The second night I slept all night and never even moved around on my princess pillow!

This is MY tent and MY stuff. Mama takes care of it for me.

Of course I got mama up at 5:15 a.m. each morning but she doesn’t seem to mind now that she doesn’t have to go to work anymore. I love camping! She says we’re going to a real campground in May and another one somewhere up north in June! I can not wait!

And you know what else? Last night I got to go for a wonderful walk with my pal Deuce and his mom at his park! It’s in a town and there’s a creek that runs through it and there’s ducks and lots of people and oh! The wonderful smells!

Deuce and me at his park!

I could hardly lift my nose from the ground anywhere, it was heaven! I walked a mile and a half and wasn’t even tired. I didn’t want to leave! Deuce was a real good host and showed me all the best spots to sniff. And his mom was so patient and let me sniff as long as I wanted. Even my own mama was pretty indulgent about it all.

I’ve been having the best time this spring so I guess it’s OK there’s one day of rain. I could probably use the rest anyway. I’m sure mama has more adventures up her sleeve, and I need to be ready!

Signing off now,

Katie.

PS: I got a little damp this morning.

The wet dog look.

February 16, 2016
by dawnkinster 28 Comments

The same but different

A lonely day at the lake.

Twenty-eight degrees F (-2.22 C) here, and a slight frozen mist hanging in the air; seems perfect to go for a nature walk around a lake. So I drove out to my favorite park again. You know, the one that was full of activity and bright sunshine the last time I was there.

Not so much sun or activity today. It felt melancholy, lonely, damp. Few people were out, though there were more than I expected at the back of the park on the far side of the lake.

Someone is watching me.

And there were birds. As I took my first step on the nature path I could already hear the chickadees calling, and soon they were circling my head. They expect a treat. I left them a few seeds on the railing of the first bridge and moved along. It was too cold to stand still, arm outstretched to feed them individually.

Incoming!

I was thinking about why I was lugging my camera. Before I left the house I debated not bringing it, considered the advantages of taking a walk in nature without it. But then I realized if I did that there would be something amazing and I’d regret not having it.

What you lookin at lady?

So early in the walk, with fingers already getting cold, I thought about all the pictures I already had, filed away in my archives. Pictures of this park, these birds, most under better light and conditions than I was facing today. So why was I still watching for something interesting?

Anything good up here?

People have asked me….”what do you do with all those photos?” I don’t necessarily do anything with them, except share a few of them here with you, or with family. If I’m at a family event I might turn the best of them into a book for my siblings to remember our time together. But only a few of them ever end up in anything I share.

Most of the time I just flip through them and remember.

Because, you see, I can remember what it felt like to stand where I stood when I took almost every one. The way the light was, the temperature of the air, unique smells and sounds, why I was out there, the shots I missed when I got the one I’m staring at now. The photos in my archives take me right back to the adventures I experienced when I took them.

OK, we can share.

I think it’s probably a lot like playing music. It’s more fun to be the player than the listener. Perhaps it’s more fun being the photographer than the one looking at the results. For me, it’s all about the hunt; sometimes for something specific that I have in mind, but more often the fun of finding an opportunity to catch something surprising or pretty, or arty or just cool.

Eastern bluebird scout

So on today’s cold walk along the mist shrouded lake I didn’t find lots of great photos, but I found enough to make me smile. And really that’s enough to make cold feet and tingly fingers worthwhile.

Peek-a-boo

Even if no one else ever sees the majority of them.

Serenity

January 30, 2016
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Walk in the woods

Camouflaged Katie

An advantage of being retired is that I can go for a walk in the middle of a weekday and I don’t have to fit it into my lunch hour. Katie enjoys my freedom too because she gets to go along. Yesterday though it was cold and windy we had sun, something we’ve all been missing, so Katie and I headed out to a recreation area where we could walk among tall trees where the wind was less bitter. (Click on any photo to see it larger and with more detail.)

No one else was out there. Poor working fools.

We walked a trail we’ve traveled often, though it’s different each time we visit. On this trip we had bright blue skies, brilliant white snow and enough breeze to make the trees creak. Other than the trees it was quiet.

Lots of coming and going.

Plenty of animals had been out since Thursday afternoon’s light snow. The tracks I found most interesting were those of what might have been a dog except there were no corresponding human prints. Sometimes the ‘dog’ tracks were headed the same way we were, and other sections of the trail showed him headed the other way. His prints were about half again as big as Katie’s.

Katie's print is on the left., next to the 'dog' print.

Katie’s print on the right, next to the ‘dog’ print.

Sometimes his prints intersected those of a rabbit. Or smaller things like mice or moles.

Intersection

We also ran across smaller tracks, with a walking pattern that was more linear…more like I imagine a cat might make.

Cat walk?

All of this evidence of another world made me realize these woods were home to a community that we hardly ever see. After all the people go home these forest dwellers come out and search for food. There’s a whole world right here among the tall trees that we never notice as we walk our dogs, that we’d never notice if it weren’t for the thin coating of fresh snow.

I wondered where all those animals were napping while we were walking and began to wonder if the ‘wolf’ (as I’d begun to think of the one who made the ‘dog’ tracks) was watching us as we moved through his forest. I wondered if the rabbit got away, and what the deer had found to eat. I marveled at all the tiny tracks, picturing little rodents scurrying, always across the path, from one little tunnel to another, never down the trail like the larger deer and rabbits walked.

What’s up there mama?

The trees creaked, the sun shone, Katie ran ahead and then urged me to move along faster. We had a great time, she and I. And as we left I thanked the animals for sharing their home with us.

Another great day of retirement.

We’re just visiting.

December 30, 2015
by dawnkinster 19 Comments

Winter showed up

Beautiful snowy day on the Lake.

I was hoping we’d slide right past the snow and ice of a true winter…slide quietly into spring while skipping all the angst of blizzards and ice storms and shovels and extra coats and hats. And boots.

Most of you know I’m up in northern Michigan visiting a friend’s cat. It’s been relatively warm here too, but Monday night while I was sleeping about 10 inches of snow silently fell.

And I have to admit it sure is pretty.

Come on a walk with me!

Today, on the advice of Heather I went in search of a Clay Cliffs, a nature preserve not far from where I’m staying. The roads weren’t great and I was a little worried, but I found the parking lot and it was plowed so I pulled in. My mistake was not looking at the map in the parking lot before I was drawn down the path and into the dark pine trees covered in beautiful white snow.

Someone else had been there, perhaps yesterday, perhaps earlier today, and I followed the footsteps into the woods. More than once I said out loud into the stillness of snow covered trees “Well, snowshoes would have been good.”

Nature’s patterns attracted my attention.

I can tell you walking in snow is a lot slower than walking on a dry path. And walking in snow while taking pictures is even slower. After awhile I began to wonder if the footsteps I was following were actually walking on a path. There were no trail markers. Occasionally I saw dog prints along with boots. Were the footprints merely following a dog as it explored? Or was it someone that knew these paths?

Are you sure this is the way?

I didn’t know.

Eventually (ok, maybe only 1/2 a mile into the walk) I came to this sign. Should I take the field and forest loop? What if it just connected to another loop? What had that map at the beginning said?

Which way should I go?

I didn’t know.

I decided to take it for a bit and then come back to the original loop that I hoped would fit the definition of a loop and end back at the car. The field and forest loop went almost straight up a big hill.

I wasn’t cold by the time I got to the top and found a huge field stretched out in front of me. I thought I’d go to the next marker which happened to be near a bench where I might rest.

A nice place to sit…in summer.

If it weren’t covered in snow.

Still, the path lead further across the field. I noticed all the footsteps already in the snow were now going in the opposite way and eventually this began to bother me. I didn’t know where this path led, or why all the boot tracks were coming toward me. When I got to the other side of the big field I turned around.

I walked way over there before I turned around.

If there wasn’t so much snow to trudge through, and if the sky wasn’t so dark I think I would have kept going, but my fear was that I’d end up having to back track to find the car and I’d already walked a long way. (Not so long once I looked at the map, but it felt long!)

Pretty birch and snow.

So I worked my way back down the big hill and continued on my way. Turns out the car wasn’t that far away. And when I studied the map I saw I was within about a 1/2 mile from the destination I wanted to find.

Should have looked at this map first. I went clockwise on the green loop and then all the way across the field, then turned around,

Should have looked at this map first. I went clockwise on the green loop and then all the way across the field, before I turned around and then finished the green loop back.

So now that I know there are only two loops I think I’ll go back and make it all the way over to the lake. Even if there is still snow to slog through.

More winter texture and pattern.

Because there likely will be. Once winter arrives up here it’s not going to leave any time soon.

Snow on spruce

December 20, 2015
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Take that walk

I won’t lie. It’s easier to go for a walk every day when the temperatures are warm and the sun is shining. It’s hard to get outside when it’s cold and wet — the kind of day when you tuck your fingers up inside your coat sleeves and your chin down under your collar. On those days the world seems to be shades of dreary brown and spring seems a distant dream.

Drippy

But if you force yourself out there you might just find a few fun, maybe even colorful, things to keep your mind occupied long enough for your fingers to warm up.

Come along with me on a walk somewhere in the chilly Midwest. At first everything seems sort of grey. Or brown. Damp. But keep your eyes peeled. You never know what you might find.

Dreary

For example, park employees have been building a raised walkway. Don’t you wonder where it goes? Are you in a hurry? Because if not we could go check it out.

Wonder where this goes?

This is a brand new walk, put here just in the past day or so. Turns out someone else has already been walking on it. Isn’t that cute? Little raccoon feet! (Click on this photo to see the footprints more clearly!)

Tiny little feet.

It doesn’t look like the walkway is quite finished. But it’s kind of pretty back here.

Someday we’ll explore on the other side.

Back on the damp pathway you have to notice the cool reflections in the puddles.

Woodsy reflections.

And since it’s not raining anymore you can throw back your hood, untuck your chin and notice the color that is everywhere back in the woods.

Green is everywhere if you look.

And the textures on the trees.

Added texture.

This sign always makes me smile. Keep right.

Which way should I go?

But the path clearly heads to the left.

Even in dreary, misty weather this pond is pretty, tucked back into the trees. Wonder what lives there?

Pond tucked back behind the trees.

And look at this! At about eye level is the latest remodeling of the local pilated woodpecker.

New bird condo in the making.

I guess this wasn’t such a dreary walk after all!

So tell us, what will you see when you head out the door today?

A walk starts with one step.

December 18, 2015
by dawnkinster 25 Comments

Foggy reflections

We are careening toward the end of the year, no stopping it, can’t even slow it down. People are crazily trying to get everything done in time, working toward their perfect holiday. Stores are open 24 hours and many folks are losing sleep. Cooking themselves into a stupor. Exhausted.

Me? Not so much. The few gifts I needed to send are sent. The cards were in the mail last week. I think I’m done.

Foggy horse barn

I wonder if I’m missing something by avoiding the stores and malls. Avoiding the frenzy. I guess I could go shopping for nothing in particular just to experience the ‘holiday joy,’ listen to the music, look at decorations. People watch.

But I don’t think so.

I’m participating in a challenge with some of my runner women friends. We have committed to walking or running at least one mile every day, starting Thanksgiving Day and ending New Years Day. So far I haven’t broken the streak and I find I like being outside a bit every day.

Waiting for snow

We had a streak of foggy mornings recently. It’s been unseasonably warm here, with only one snowstorm now long since gone. It’s peaceful to walk in the fog.

So my gift to you this holiday season is a reminder to take a bit of time off from the craziness that is your life and take a little walk. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to actually go anywhere. Just get yourself outside and breath, a little bit every day, between now and the New Year.

And have a wonderful holiday with your families.

Gift for the birds

December 6, 2015
by dawnkinster 18 Comments

Walking in a winter wonderland

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

November 12, 2015
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

Not trucks

It’s a grey day mama.

I want to write about something that doesn’t have anything to do with trucks. I feel like I’ve been immersed in truck issues for such a long time that there’s no way out. And in reality that’s true, there is no way out, I know I’m in that fight for the long haul. But sometimes I need to think about, do something, different. To let that truck stuff go for a little bit.

Trouble is today, when I came up for air, the weather outside was frightful. We’ve had a wind advisory all day with gusts up to 50 miles per hour. And rain. Plus it’s cold, and I don’t really like being cold. So Katie-girl and I have spent an entire day inside thinking about things we could be doing but not doing many of them.

It’s not as though I don’t have a long list of things I should do. Starting with cleaning. And organizing. And cooking. Not to mention practicing; the next community band concert is December 1, only a few very short weeks away. But I have only managed to nap today.

We weren’t raised in my family to be nappers so I’m struggling with the thought that I could spend an entire day in a chair watching the rain hit the windows, the light, what little of it there is, move across the yard, checking Facebook and email, reading blog entries. Falling asleep reading a book.

Morning light before the storm.

I want to write about something that doesn’t have anything to do with trucks. Something colorful and vibrant. Happy. But I seem to be in some sort of grey funk that matches the weather. Even Katie-girl seems to understand and gives up asking me to play after a little while. She’s asleep at my feet at the moment.

Tomorrow. Well tomorrow I will get myself up and go for a walk. After that perhaps I’ll write something that doesn’t have anything to do with trucks.

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

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