Postcards From the Lake -- Hello, September

So, here we are. Early September. Time to start packing up. Summer is over, and though we will return to the cottage two or three more times, we have to admit, summer is over. 

Postcards from the Lake: Art Camp's Special Visitor!

My friend Kate and I began our annual "art camp" holiday at the lake this week. For those who aren't familiar, there is no scheduled program. It's just the two of us, creating our own art, sometimes sharing a technique or video, and spending the rest of the time walking, reading, watching a video, maybe (if the weather is right) swimming. 

We kicked it off by getting some provisions at the farmer's market -- cherries, peaches and blueberries are hitting their stride and fabulous!

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!

My Buddy Harry the Heron (And Bunny 17)

I couldn't resist sharing a few photos from my most recent Ditch walk. I couldn't have been more lucky.

Postcards from the Lake: Birds of Up-North Michigan

As we come close to wrapping up the 2022 series of Postcards from the Lake, I thought I'd take another look at some of my favorite birds from the past few months. I never did get a photo of the blue jays that loved the bird feeder neighbor Jim made, but I was lucky in catching (albeit a tad fuzzy) my friendly chickadee.

Postcards from the Lake: Not Quite the Last Hurrah

It's only mid-September, not quite the last hurrah at the lake. But you can feel it in the air. Days are cooler; nights are much cooler. Quite often, the mornings find the lake mirror-calm, reflecting the treeline on the other side and the quiet fishing boats, a far cry from the noisy jet skis of summer. Sometimes it is too cool or windy to paint on the porch, all the better to curl up with a book or needlefelting project, with an extra layer of fleece, hoping for an early visit from Harry North.

Postcards from the Lake: Quiet Mornings, Loud Cat

I'm back at the lake, finally! And look who welcomed me back! 

Rick will join me for an extended time when he wraps up his annual Dalmac bike ride (Lansing, MI to Mackinac City, 100 miles a day). He's captaining a tandem with his friend Nino, pedaling behind. (Or not, as the case may be!) This early September is lovely and I wanted to be here sooner but life got in the way. You just have to fly with the birds and go with the flow.

Postcards from the Lake: Art Camp - The Nature

In my last Art Camp post I mentioned that we had an unexpected guest during our time north. Life is good when you look out the porch window and see this.

Harry the Heron appears to have an up-north cousin, aka Harry North. And he was pretty stunning.

A Walk in the Hood

Within the past two weeks we have jumped 45 degrees in temperature! From covering the newly purchased and planted plants at night to requiring sunscreen for a walk, it is -- in many ways -- a typical Michigan spring. That is, a day or two of sunny and 70, then 88 and sticky! It also means there is a good deal of action at the ditch, not the least of which was the buzzing of Harry by a red-winged blackbird!

 

The Critters are Out and Having Quite a Time!

We haven't been down to the ditch for a bit so I thought I'd fill you in on life with some of my favorite critters! Mother Goose has been sitting on her next now for a couple of weeks. I expect goslings soon!

There are several "families," they seem to travel in pairs, and (I assume the male) continually taking offense at any potential interloper. 

The redwing black birds in force and singing their song endlessly! I've yet to see the cedar wax wings I love but I'm sure they'll be there soon.

We are lucky to have cardinals year round here. They're one of my favorites!

I'm assuming someone planted daffodils here and there -- they don't seem to grow by themselves.

Here's a question for some of my blog friends who are more nature experts than I. Any ideas what this netted structure with the yellow pieces beside it (not enclosed) might be? It's the first year I've ever seen it. It's gone now, so whatever its purpose, it seems to be over.

I'm not sure what this is all about, but it appears to be a relatively well attended memorial, there year round for the past year or two. 

Across from the pond is the neighborhood golf course. If you look closely you can see quite the gathering of geese. I'm sure the golfers just love this!

The squirrels seem busier than ever! This one was checking me out as I was taking my walk.

That bright forsythia in the background makes me smile!

And speaking of forsythia, here's what might be a last look, Most is getting it's green leaves now. I'll miss this cheery bush which always heralds the beginning of spring.

We haven't seen as many redbuds this year. They're a favorite of mine and when I do see one, it's cause for rejoicing!

Things are greening up. It's definitely spring, despite a chill that has come in over the past week. But my sure sign of spring has appeared.

Harry the Heron is back!

And he's hungry!

Harry is clearly an expert fisher-bird!

 I've been told he has been back for a bit.

But in my world, it isn't thoroughly spring until I've seen my Big Bird myself!

Pretty soon the foliage at the ditch will fill in, the grasses become tall and the leaves thick. It may be harder to see some of the birds or onto the island where the deer live.

But for now? I'll take it! 

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A Week at Home: Harry and Ellie

Visits to the lake will soon be coming to an end and I fear that when I'm home, visits to Harry the Heron and Ellie the Egret will come to an end soon as well. But they are worth celebrating while we can.

So, first I grab a mask. I love my little mask station in the kitchen. It's easy to pull a clean one in a hurry. (I also have them hanging on the door knob, rear view mirror, in my purse.... no excuses.) Today, I pick this one. It says "I wear a mask to make sure I'm alive to vote on November 3." (Although hopefully I'll be voting more like mid-October.)

 Ellie was in her element, gracefully looking for fish in the pond. She's very deliberate but when she has luck, she's quick!

Then, she's just as likely to fly to another spot... and try her luck there!

Harry, too, is a cautious stalker. He's as likely to hunt frogs as fish and I've seen him dig out both from the ponds. Today, his luck seems a little less fruitful. Is that sadness in those sharp eyes?

And off he goes.

I love watching him fly.

I'll miss these two as off they go. Seasons. They go so fast these days.

New Pals at the Ditch

It takes me awhile to catch up on things. Posts. Comments. Cleaning the house. These are photos from last week at the Ditch! There were new friends and old.

I've seen loads of runners and dog walkers and a couple of photographers. They often have spotted things I've not seen.

Photographer Karen was the one who found this nest.

It is empty now but it was quite the chirp fest on the day we were there.

The robins are out in force. I don't know what it is about my neighborhood that makes it a haven for robins, but I always see dozens between here and the ditch -- enough distance to know they aren't the same one!

I do know there are two herons, though. This Harry was perched on a birdhouse in the middle of the pond for two rounds of Ditch-walking (and who knows, maybe more!)

This one was at the far south pond.

But not for long!

You know that when I see the deer on the island, I feel like it is a special gift. This day was no different.

This little bun had a dilemma. He was trying to cross the pond divide from one walkway to another. It's only about three feet but he was just a little guy.

He went back and forth, trying to figure it out.

Finally, he took a giant leap.  He almost fell in the water but managed to hang onto the side for dear life and climb his way out of the other side.

As soon as he made it, he ran off and joined what look like another juvenile and a slightly larger rabbit -- maybe Mom? I would have loved a shot of the three of them together!

The squirrels were having a ball, too. This guy was little. I'm not sure if he was just a small squirrel or another juvenile.

 It was fun to see the Duckles again. I think there are two families. These little guys were out for a swim.

We'll follow these little guys for a bit. Meanwhile, in the words of Harry or his friend...

Gotta fly!