There are aspects of winter that Michiganders can count on. Snow. Cold. Ice. Grey days. Days so bright and beautiful they fill you with awe. These are givens. There are also surprises. Early this winter, for example, as the dog and I set out on a morning walk, we noticed two Vs of birds… Continue reading Winter Surprises
Month: February 2022
Thaw-Freeze, Spring, and Sunshine
It has been exceedingly slippery around here lately. We seem to have the freeze-thaw cycle backwards. We finally had the January thaw this month, but then we had freeze. And snow. So, the first layer on the sidewalks is ice–bumpy, hard to walk on, and slick. Walking on it, because dog, requires concentration and… Continue reading Thaw-Freeze, Spring, and Sunshine
Sturgeon Hunt, 2022
My sister Carol and her husband Paul were present for the entirety of Michigan’s 2022 sturgeon fishing season. The season takes place only at Black Lake, once a year, and this year lasted thirty-six minutes. It began at 8:00 a.m. and ended when the sixth sturgeon was on the ice at 8:36 a.m. … Continue reading Sturgeon Hunt, 2022
Recreational Use
At the condominium association near us, Traver Creek forms a pond. By the pond is a sign that says, NO RECREATIONAL USE. The dog and I frequently stroll through the area and, up till now, the sign has done its work: people have stayed off the pond. This winter, there must have been a scofflaw–it… Continue reading Recreational Use