At Home: Books, Birds, Buddies and Grandboys!

I'm having a hard time getting my brain around the season. It's almost June and summer will be here before we know it and yet spring seems oddly erratic -- cold or rainy one day (or two or three), then a short burst of warm, and back to cold. Stormier than usual. The sun was out today and we tried to plant flowers at the cemetery but so many trees were down, we couldn't get to the grave. That's a story for another day. On a cheerier note, things have greened-up a lot! I'm sure you all delight when you have the chance after winter to see what is my favorite color combo come to life -- chartreuse against a blue sky! And now, there is more green!

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Still catching up on pre-storm activities and there were some good times. One such day was celebrating friend Kate's birthday with a road trip to IKEA and a stop at my favorite Italian grocery in Livonia/Northville for lunch.

At Home: Cyclists, Lizzie and Springtime at the Ditch

The trees are past their peak, and by the as I post this, storm damage is being cleaned up and our world is  covered in beautiful, deep green foliage. I've already seen new goose families. But I'm taking a look back as I catch up on "real life."

A couple weeks before the storm, Rick and his buddy Nino took off for a tandem bike hike into Ohio -- about 350 miles of riding on (mostly) lovely (albeit windy) spring days. 

Postcards from the Lake: Lake Life

So, what is life like at the lake in the summer? In a word, wonderful.

There are too many adjectives from which to choose -- fun, relaxing, delicious, joyful, mesmerizing, calming. Life at the lake comes with its own soundtrack, one that combines the sound of waves on the water or wind through the pines, with the mellow sounds of classical guitar and the sounds of birds, both in the water and in the trees. There is definitely an abundance of critters.

A Fruitless Search and The Goslings Swim!

I'll start with a pretty photo! One of my favorite blooms, the allium is short lived but so fabulous while it lasts! 

Rick and I joined the many others in the world trying to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights last week. I had visions of taking marvelously splashy photos of pinks, purples and greens in the dark night sky. I would do watercolors of them all. Ah, the stuff dreams are made of. 

Mother Goose has Hatched -- And Other News

Here's some fun news for Mother's Day! Spring has kicked in "for real" these days. On Friday, I got a double whammy of it when I first visited the nursery center and later saw a "nursery" of a different kind -- that of our friend Mother Goose!

And guess what! There aren't four babies. And, as some of you thought, there aren't five.

Springtime at the Ditch

Every time I visit the Ditch, the trees are greener and more filled out and there are more lily pads on the water. A few of the flowering trees remain, but not, I think, much longer.

Mother Goose is still sitting and still being carefully guarded.

Catar-action and It's Triplets!

Well, cataract surgery, part one, took place this week. My friend Kate took me to the surgery and  friend Jan to the follow-up appointment after. (Rick is on a bike hike from Nashville to Tupelo, MS, on the Natchez Trace with his friend, Nino.) 

I went in my email to sort through comments on the last post (the Tornado post) and somehow I deleted all of them. Note to self. Do not go NEAR the delete button when the eye that can read a computer screen is covered by a patch. I'm sorry, gang. If you asked a significant question, ask again and otherwise, thank you so much for commenting and sharing your memories on that post.

Before the surgery, our weather took a turn for the really-terrific so I headed back to the Ditch. I was surprised and delighted to see the return of Ellie the Egret.

Harry's Back and the Geese are Nesting

There has been a lot of gloomy weather here and truth be told, my walking legs haven't been up to par of late. But on a rare sunny day I knew I had to check out the Ditch and see what was happening. The first thing that hit me were the wispy splashes of green that screamed "Yes, spring really IS coming!"

That was followed by a burst of white blossoms. Not all the trees are in flower but this one was leading the pack.

The geese were out in full force and no matter where one looks, it is likely you'll see a nest or a goose or maybe both.

A Few Kinds of Critters!

The Memorial Day weekend and the time leading up to it brought a couple of species of critters into our lives. First, it's time for new life down at the Ditch. When I saw a marvelous photo by our neighborhood nature photographer, I knew I'd better get down there before all the babies grew up! And I wasn't disappointed!

Postcards From the Lake: A Few Birds

It seems to be feast or famine for spotting birds here this summer. Most of the songbirds are high in the trees and the water birds, while my favorites to view and rarely tire of, do get redundant!

Mother Goose

The goslings have arrived and the nests all appear empty at the Ditch. Mother Goose is tending her babies!

And, it should be noted, the Father Goose is right at hand, ready to spit or advance on anyone that might be a threat!

Waking Up at the Ditch

The Ditch is still pretty much a symphony of muted colors and fairly quiet. I think most of the ducks have gone down-under, tending their nests; the new growth of grasses is yet to be visible and the trees still bare.

But there is definitely some life going on! And more than a little bit of beauty!

Postcards from the Lake: The Nightly Show

Summer evenings in Northern Michigan are long ones. It can be as late as 10:30 at night and there is still a bit -- just a bit -- of light remaining. The clouds, if there are any, and much of the sky is close to inky black but there's just a hint of light remaining.

Shortly before that -- sometimes as early as eight when the sun is still hot, more often as dusk moves in -- a stately sight occurs. I'm not even sure the correct word to use -- parade sounds too jolly. Flotilla, too naval. But one begins to see, far out on the water, the vague shapes of seven or eight Canada Geese, bobbing gently on the water.  They are majestic.

Seven or eight? Not by half. Within minutes, and from different directions, they are joined by dozens more of their elegant friends, forming a line so long, my camera lens can't capture it.

"Surely, you jest," you might say. "Dozens? Really?"

Really.

This occurrence has happened nightly since we have been here. One night I counted seventy-six; the next, eighty-eight. And to be honest, I probably missed more than a few as they blocked each other as they floated along.

 

Most of them end up on our neighbor's beach and lawn with its rich grass. Some find something worth eating on ours. Others just lay still or float in the shallows. And then, after quite a long awhile ashore, as if some unheard but powerful command was issued, they set out again.

Where they go, I don't know.

I just know that I've come to look so forward to it, that on one of those nights when it got to be late and there was no sign of them, I was worried. Then, in the dark, I heard a bit of honking. They were there.

And all was well.

Defending Our Families, Defending Our Turf

Long ago I was talking with a friend about teenagers (especially those of the challenging kind!) and he sagely said, "You don't mess with Mama Bear." So true.

I remember being a kid and while my parents tried to teach me to fight my own battles, I can remember one time when my Mom had to step in. I felt safe and secure, knowing she had my back. I always knew they both had my back and that meant a great deal.

The other day I was at the Ditch, shortly after I'd been seeing a number of new babies, both ducks and goslings. I think some were still on the nest. All of a sudden there was a great commotion.

Two geese were flying and fighting with each other, chasing in mid-air, amidst a racket that would wake the dead.

There was great flapping of wings and honking. The birds would glide what seemed like many feet along the smooth water, turn around and go after each other again.

I'm not sure what might have happened but my guess is Goose A got a little too close to Goose B's nest and Papa Goose decided to take him on.  It was fascinating to watch them. And eventually, Goose A backed off. Another crisis averted.

Lately I've been wondering, who has our backs? Certainly not those telling us to go back to "normal" when there is still great danger in doing so.

I believe it's the docs and nurses, healthcare workers in all fields, the scientists, the grocery people, the postal workers, the teachers, the sanitation folk, and so many more who have been there for us during this mess. And will be.

It's the parents who are doing double duty, working from home while teaching or tending their children. It's those food bank workers who are making sure those who need the services have access. It is the people who help keep us fed, healthy and safe.

Governments come and go and I hope this one goes soon. But the people who have your back -- they're golden. It's up to us to protect them, as they protect us.

Please wear your mask and keep your distance, no matter what people say about things lightening up. There is a reason that it may be (and I emphasize the "may") -- and that is because people in large part have been doing their part -- taking care.

They help us be safe.

Please don't stop.

Checking In on the Ditch Goslings

Time for a little bit of fluff! And a walk down to the Ditch!

I took these a week or so ago. I suspect by now, my goslings are more dark than light, fluffy yellow!

Things are greening up well -- even more so than in this photo by now.

There were some beautiful birds. I never seem to get a good photo of the Red-winged blackbird but this one actually seemed to pose and the lighting was perfect!

The grackle was quite handsome, too, with the sun reflecting off his wings.

Well, here are Jim and Suzanne with their brood. (How do I know? Four babies, instead of seven!)

I first saw them on one side of the pond, chowing down.

I love how Mom sticks close!

I continued my walk, spotting a beautiful robin...

...and this little fellow, who seemed like he was just stopping for a chat!

When I got around to the other side of the pond, the geese had moved over there and were swimming near the rocks.

It seemed like a good time to get out of the water, so up we go, rock climbing!

Who knows what you'll find?

I look forward to my next visit but I'll miss seeing them as fluff balls as they grow into young adults.

Like Toddlers.