Wonders of a Fall Day

Our back yard is quite the busy place, the last few weeks.  Herds of birds occupy it in turns.  Starlings and grackles feed there, periodically.  We’re just as glad they don’t stay and roost, as the collective nouns for the critters, deservedly, are a filth of starlings and a plague of grackles.  The birds are… Continue reading Wonders of a Fall Day

Halloween

Our friend Rhonda says the first day she can see her breath in the fall is a highlight of her year.  She finds it exhilarating.  She must be one contented person, today.  She popped immediately to mind, this morning, when I realized I could see the dog’s breath.  If he noticed, or cared about it… Continue reading Halloween

Autumn Glow

We dined on the back patio of the Sidetrack yesterday evening, for what will most likely be the last time this year, this being the end of October and all, despite the fact that yesterday’s high temperature was in the high seventies.  So far, the seasons of 2023 have been winter, spring, summer, fall, summer,… Continue reading Autumn Glow

Suddenly Spectacular

     “Please tell the girl who saw the purple tree that now it’s time to look for pink ones,” I texted our daughter, who teaches elementary school music.  One of her young charges showed up with clear evidence of having been crying, recently, and this was not a child given to tears.  It seemed the… Continue reading Suddenly Spectacular

Early Coat Weather

     In the checkout line at Busch’s with my husband, recently, I realized that I had, as usual, left our grocery tote bags in the trunk of the car.  I dashed for the parking lot to get them, holding my arms to my chest as I hustled, as the store was cold enough that I… Continue reading Early Coat Weather

Little Pleasures

Curled up with my knitting, one day this week, I got to thinking about life’s little pleasures.  Making something lovely is one of mine.  How about the people dear to me—what are some of the pleasing aspects of life for them?      I started with my serene friend Pat.  She said, “You can’t ask me… Continue reading Little Pleasures

It’s Official

Wednesday morning, as the dog and I strolled down Georgetown, a group of small brown birds came swirling into a nearby treetop.  The sun was low in the sky and the birds were, as per normal when some critter catches my eye, backlit.  Still, we stopped so I could watch them for a while.  They… Continue reading It’s Official

September Pivot

The weather in Michigan has made the September pivot from summer to fall.  Nighttime temperatures have slipped into the forties.  Grabbing a fleece seems like a good idea on morning walks.  A fleece sometimes seems like a good idea in the house as well.  And harvests are coming in.      The neighbors around the corner… Continue reading September Pivot

Walking the Bridges

At ten o’clock on Labor Day morning, my friend Pat and I joined about thirty other people outside the Freighthouse in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town for a walking tour of the city’s bridges.  Our host, amateur historian Stefan Szumko, told us the walk was part of Ypsi’s bicentennial celebration, but I hope he repeats the walk,… Continue reading Walking the Bridges