Summer in southeast Michigan is moving right along, judging by the fruits that are ripening near us. Michigan. The Dexter Blueberry Farm reports its berries ready for picking. White mulberries are already getting hard to spot on the tree by the Argo Cascades. They’re been edible for over a month now, and my friend Sue… Continue reading Dopamine Dressing
Author: Nancy J. Moncrieff
Corgi Races
Last Saturday, I hit the county fairgrounds for the Saline Celtic Festival. Bagpipes skirled, Irish dancers whirled, spinners spun. There were highland games, weaving and knitting demonstrations, and, incongruously, an exhibition of exotic animals such as komodo dragons, which are native to Indonesia. Because it was a largely-rainy day, I attended just two events, giving… Continue reading Corgi Races
Understandings
Rascal and I have been walking earlier in the day, when the world is cooler. He is generally not in favor of getting up early, but he can’t tell time. If the sun’s up, it’s all good. The cloud cover was so heavy yesterday morning, however, that the system failed. When I was ready to… Continue reading Understandings
Smoke and Water
Shortly after rising, one day this week, I looked out a window and stopped breathing, mid-breath. Something awful had happened to my vision. Try as I might—and I tried mightily—I couldn’t focus on anything in the back yard. A minute later, it dawned on me that I could focus fine on what was in the… Continue reading Smoke and Water
Along the Sidewalks
The trumpet vine growing up the utility pole at Georgetown and Yorktown is starting to bloom, which is a real treat for birds, bees, and people. The trunk—and, yes, I do mean trunk—of the vine is approximately as big around as the utility pole itself. The foliage is so thick that it hides untold numbers… Continue reading Along the Sidewalks
Walking Grand Rapids
Janice and I went on an adventure this week. We drove a couple hours to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and walked and walked and walked. Our first stop was the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a hundred and fifty-eight acres of luscious plantings and monumental art. I’d been to the conservatory there a number… Continue reading Walking Grand Rapids
Smoke and Laughter
Parts of Canada are on fire. That, all by itself, is terrible news for our neighbor to the north. Even worse, smoke from the wildfires is affecting life on Earth, making the air hard to see through and hard to breathe. Californians are familiar with these problems. So are people in the Rockies. Those planning… Continue reading Smoke and Laughter
Smells and Scents
Our skunk is back. We can tell it’s the same skunk, because it’s a bit of an outlier when it comes to color. It’s not so much black with a white stripe as it is white with a black stripe, with the white extending right up the sides of the tail. Except, the white parts… Continue reading Smells and Scents
Lucky Us
Southeastern Michigan’s weather, this spring, is still figuring out what it’s doing. We’re at the tail end of May, and Dave Rexroth issued another freeze warning on Wednesday. The flowers have loved the spring. Magnolia blossoms in this area usually last a couple days. This year, they’re lingering so long on the trees that not… Continue reading Lucky Us
Cat Show
Ann Arborites had a host of events to choose from last Saturday. Birding enthusiasts, from beginners on up, could help take a census of birds in the county as part of the annual International Migratory Bird Count. The Ann Arbor Dog Training Club offered agility trials. The Anthony Wayne Cat Fanciers presented its Annual Allbreed… Continue reading Cat Show