.
Tag Archives: winter
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.
WordPress Photo Challenge: Trio
We got the first snow of the season yesterday. It came on the heels of record breaking heat and a wonderful extended fall. Yesterday it snowed steadily all day; the skies grey, the snow coming down relentlessly for hours. This morning I measured 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) of wet heavy snow covering everything, but the skies are brilliant blue and our world is stunning.
I had planned on driving out into the country to find something of three to photograph for the challenge this week. Something that would represent trio. But while I was shoveling the driveway I happened to glance up, and saw, against the bright blue sky, three roof lines all outlined in snow.
I couldn’t resist.
Three roofs, two triangles.
And once I saw the image on a screen I recognized another couple of trios in the shapes of triangles.
It wasn’t the shot I thought I was going to get. But something about the symmetry, the clean lines, the simple fact of three, something about all that makes me smile.
I hope you smile too.
You can see other representations of ‘trio’ at the original WordPress post, or catch a couple of my favorites here, here and here.
Look around. Where are the trios in your life? Care to share? Post your photos on your blog, and link back to the WordPress challenge. I look forward to seeing what you find!
We’ve been junco’d
There are these little birds that show up around here when winter is upon us. They’re cute, but I’m never happy to see them.
Hello hello! I’m HERE!
I’m always sad when they show up because they are definitive proof that summer is gone and that we’re facing the long dark months of winter. Yesterday the juncos arrived.
Right here under your nose!
I’m just not ready.
web photo
I’m impatient
Katie here.
Psst! Listen up!
You know, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. My parents need to stay home and pay attention to me. Sometimes I don’t even know why I put up with them, other than they give me supper. Which I guess is a pretty good reason to stick around. But frankly I think I deserve a lot more attention, and since they’ve been home from Washington DC I’ve been making my point.
Loudly. And often.
They are busy all the time and I just want to play. Mama and Dad keep asking each other if they brought the wrong sheltie home from camp, cause I’m a lot more vocal than I used to be. Well. That’s because they are ignoring me! What’s a princess to do?
Good catch!
So I tell them off regularly, and then when they tell me to go lie down I bring them a toy. Yesterday my dad threw my pink elephant for me a lot until I put it over on the other side of the room. I get to decide when it’s time to stop playing, not them. Right? You all have the same kind of rules don’t you?
Got it!
I even got my mama to get out my tunnel yesterday and I sort of played “PIGGY IN THE TUNNEL!” with her. But not really. I’d either bring her the piggy but run outside the tunnel, or run through it and not bring the piggy out. She tried to play the game with my cow, and my lambie, my elfie, my pinkie, and my squirrel, but she should know you can’t play “PIGGY IN THE TUNNEL!” with anything except a piggy! Geeze mama!
Sometimes you embarrass me.
Anyway, my mama says that I am at least sleeping until a little later in the morning some of the time. She is not sure how that ‘fall back’ thing with the clock is going to work out this weekend though. She’s pretty sure shelties do not ‘fall back.’
Get it!
I think I have almost gotten my folks back into sheltie-shape now. They’ve been home a week and they are talking about maybe taking me to the park if the wind dies down and the sun comes out. My mama is a wimp. She says she already doesn’t like winter. Yesterday it was only 42F (5.55C) and very windy so we came back inside very fast whenever I made them take me out.
Which I did regularly because I was bored.
Mine!
A sheltie-girl has to do what she has to do….right? If they caught on faster that I need a lot of attention I wouldn’t have to parade them out in the cold so often. I think it’s pretty obvious, but I guess they are a little slow. Meanwhile, now that I’ve got them up and about I probably need to go catch a nap so that I’m ready for them when they think they’re going to sit down and read.
After all, I’m an anti-reading dog, and I’m always on duty.
Happy girl.
WordPress photo challenge: Off-Season
Do you know what these are?
Deep in the basement these wait for their season; one filled with snow drifts and cold. But that’s a long way away. I hope.
You can see other interpretations of off-season at the original post. Or check out a couple of my favorites here, here and here.
Waiting
Friends and family south of us are sharing photos of flowers and trees blooming. It’s a full out celebrations of spring down there. It snowed again here this morning; not a blizzard but enough for us to realize winter still has us held hostage.
Remnants of last year
Katie and I explored the yard today, checking for signs of life. She sniffed for spring while I pulled some grass from the perennial bed, felt the wet earth between my fingers, plucked a seed head from last year’s bee balm and crumbled it. The aroma of last summer’s blossoms was faint but distinctive.
Deep beneath the winter debris of leaves and mulch are tucked the beginning of this season’s sedum. And over by the fence hidden under last year’s ornamental grass is the bright green of poppy foliage.
Hope emerges
I wondered. Could it be that back behind the house there might be a surprise waiting? It’s Easter today, and yes it snowed. But look at the solitary snowdrop we found hiding behind the house.
Proof blooms
It’s snow of a different kind and proof winter is relinquishing it’s hold. So much hope manifested in such a tiny blossom. Spring has begun.
Even here.
Pre-poppy
Mall walking
I hate to think I’m old enough to enjoy mall walking. Have you ever tried it? In the middle of a Michigan winter (or a Michigan spring apparently) I can walk as many miles as I want, inside, with pretty things to look at, carpet and hardwood under my feet, upbeat music playing and no rain or snow falling on my head. Perfect!
I had pictures all set for this blog, taken on my camera this morning. But I can’t figure out how to download them so you’ll just have to imagine. It won’t be that difficult, a mall is a mall, right? Ours happens to be built in a racetrack oval, so if you walk around the outside edges including the halls out to the exterior doors you’ll do a mile each revolution. Did I mention how perfect this is?
There’s a regular crowd at the mall early, long before the stores open and the shoppers arrive. They hang their coats on the long line of rentable strollers and head off. Some move fast, some move slower. There’s a man who shuffles, head down, leaning heavily on his cane, but he’s there every single time I’ve been there. There are women in pairs, talking away as they racewalk, groups of guys talking just as much, moving fast, and lots of individuals as well, arms pumping, shoes slapping the miles away.
And there is one couple I always look for. They move at a medium steady pace. He wears a big floppy hat, her hair is pulled back in a pony tail, and their hands are always connected. I’ve seen them around town too. In the summer as I drive to work I’ll see them out on the sidewalks of the village, hands clasped, moving out before the summer heat descends. We even saw them one Sunday afternoon at a play in Detroit years ago. The man noticed me and nodded hello, I smiled back.
A month or so ago I saw him walking at the mall alone. He had his hat on, which is what always catches my eye, but his head was down, he wasn’t looking at anyone. And he was moving fast. Just a fluke I thought. But I was worried.
The next weekend there he was again, alone, head down, cruising around the mall. We were going opposite directions and I almost turned around to catch up and ask him why he was walking alone. But I decided I didn’t want to intrude. But now I was really worried.
Then two weeks went by and he wasn’t at the mall at all. It didn’t feel right, and I felt sad, sure that something terrible had happened.
This morning I was thinking about him and his wife as I started my walk. Half way around I saw the hat first, then the clasped hands. They were there. Together. I had the biggest grin on my face as we met going in opposite directions. He raised his other hand in acknowledgement, and I said Good Morning!
The rest of my two loop walk felt really good. He’ll never know how worried I was, but I bet I’m not the only one that is glad they’re back in the routine.
Funny how a little mall walking makes you feel so good. Pretty soon it will be warm enough to walk outside and I’ll be glad to be out in the fresh air again. But I’ll miss seeing and waving to my regulars out at the mall.
I hope they’re all there again next winter; especially the hand holding couple from the village.
They make me believe in happily ever after.
Winged signs of hope
About this time every year I get so tired of it all. Tired of the snow and cold and slush and wind and dark and…well…those of you that have ever lived up this way know. I looked back at the blog for a few years and guess what? Regardless of how easy or difficult the winter was, about this time of year I’m just over it and I start searching for signs that winter is over and spring has moved into my little part of the world. Now I can’t guarantee that this winter is over, but here are a few things I’ve seen or heard in the past two days that might give us all a little hope.
Friday evening as I got home and went inside to gather Katie for our trek to the mailbox there was the sound of a robin singing somewhere near. The light was bad but I searched the tops of trees and found a dark roundish bit of shadow that I believe was Mr. Robin. This winter I spotted a robin at our bird bath, looking decidedly disgruntled with the snow. Maybe yesterday’s was the same one, just a little happier.
Cold and hungry in January
This morning as Katie and I were out in the predawn darkness I heard a sound up in the neighbor’s oak trees that I’ve never heard before. I couldn’t place it, and each time I looked toward the sound (which was coming from multiple trees) all I could see was a blue jay. Couldn’t be, I thought, and went on my way. This afternoon I went online and looked for some video of blue jay sounds. Listen to the first few seconds of this. Did you know blue jays make this sound? I sure didn’t. I wonder if it’s something they do in the spring?
Later in the morning as I drove to work a sandhill crane flew overhead. Just one, which made me a little sad — I hope the spouse is somewhere near in a nest. Still, it’s good to know at least one has come back for the summer.
And then the absolutely positively sure fired proof it’s spring – when I got home from work this afternoon the red winged blackbirds were decimating my bird feeders.
Hungry!
I hadn’t even heard them yet this year, and that’s usually my first sign. But there they were, a whole flock of them hungrily scratching at the ground under the feeder. They seemed a bit frantic. These birds eat so much so fast that sometimes in the fall I stop filling the feeder until after they’ve left for the season as the rest of my birds can’t get near it to eat. But they are a sure sign it’s spring, so today, in appreciation, I’m filling it back up just for them.
And for this guy.
Also hungry
