Tag Archives: nature

summer is back.

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with temps in the 90s late in september

this kinder has it right

or perhaps it never left?

“i haven’t had the time to plan returning to the scene because I haven’t left it.”

-mick jagger

big chill.

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i actually have dated someone who fit this same description.

 

 

 

credits: central press, getty images, mental floss

september tries.

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“september tries its best to have us forget summer. “

-bernard williams

leslie woods park, ann arbor, michigan, usa

(now deep into the 90’s of the 160 parks adventure)

landslide.

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i parked along a beautiful winding road

walked a few hundred feet

 to find this unmarked path

winding its way in switchbacks

all the way up to the top of this park

with natural steps made of roots and branches

and proceeded to climb

in my new shoes

1/2 size larger than the 1st pair that i’d worn out

now a size 6 1/2 instead of a solid 6

it was my first time out in them

and quickly found that

i was not yet used to the extra bit of shoe

suddenly it felt like i was walking in

giant slippery clown shoes or snorkel flippers

it was awkward

i kept kicking things

lots of near misses

almost tripping over things

until i finally really tripped on a large tree root

way up high

and found myself sliding

all the way back down to the bottom of the hill

like a scene from an old spaghetti western

i’m sure i yelled out something

and

stopping again right back where i’d started

near the beautiful road

where a cyclist happened to be riding by

who stopped to see if i was okay

 just a bit dusty and surprised really

 i stood up once more

and used my giant paddle feet to climb again

this time making it all the way to the top and into the park

none the worse for wear

and i am happy that i was not hiking in the grand canyon.

“here at the fountain’s sliding foot, / or at some fruit tree’s mossy root, /

casting the body’s vest aside, / my soul into the boughs does glide.”
 

-andrew marvell

kuebler langford park, ann arbor, mi, usa

 

one september.

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one september morning 

i went to a place beyond dawn

s source of sweetness that flows

and is never less. 

i have been shown

a beauty that would confuse both worlds. 

-rumi

 

 

reflection of the sky and trees in the huron river

gallup park, ann arbor, mi, usa

 

land as community.

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 a beautiful morning walk

sharing earhart park with this lovely creature

an evening spent at the first and second sister lakes in dolph nature area

“when we begin to see land as a community to which we belong, 

we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

– aldo leopold

*i’ve now walked 60 of the ann arbor parks,

(all of the way through the letter ‘e’), only 100ish more to go-

i hope to have found and walked all of them by halloween, october 31

as i look forward to the beauty to be found in the change of seasons.

behold the world in pause.

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shirley in her camp i.d. picture

have you seen this face?

once again

i am reminded

why

i love my community website

 with all its sincere and heartfelt

eccentric charm

this time

there’s a notice about a turtle

who has ‘run away’ from camp

i have to wonder

could there be a slower animal

other than maybe a snail

to have made the great escape?

did anyone else know about turtle camp

or have i been living a sheltered life?

do you think she was homesick

or

just didn’t want to take part

in the arts ‘n crafts or talent night?

NEWSLETTER QUERY:

R.H. – 1 day ago

if you see this turtle, please phone — (see picture above)

Our turtle Shirley has escaped once again from turtle camp on J. Road, near V. Ave. She should be wearing a piece of blue duct tape on the back of her shell. She’s very friendly. She may have gotten pretty far – last time, she got to near J. Road and R. Road. before she was found.

Please call ——- (land line) if found. Or text ——-. Thank you!

Reward offered.

Probably will have lit out in the exact same direction as before.

RESPONSES:

W. H. – 1 day ago
I hope that neuroscientist didn’t get her for his experiments.

M. H. -1d ago
Oh my goodness we’ll keep our eyes out! (I read this and thought – oh my goodness, another person who sends their turtle to camp?! And then realized it was you!)

UPDATE:

as of today

shirley is still on the lam. 

“take a walk with a turtle. and behold the world in pause.”

-bruce feiler

magic place.

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Magic Place

see the mermaid bathing in her pool,
as fairies scamper through the woods.

-jack horne







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*still walking the 150 parks, 
into the b parks on the list now
more beautiful discoveries every day
shot above taken in bird hills park, ann arbor

crows.

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interrupted a meeting in the park today
wonder what they’re planning…
“never a good sign, he thought, when the crows showed up.”
-justin cronin

parks – a

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and so –

my ann arbor parks walk (150+) has begun

here are the ‘a’s

#1 – Allmendinger Park

 old school merry go round, in neighborhood in town, near the stadium, got really lost walking home from there and doubled my walk, picnic spots with grills, volleyball, old trees, basketball, tennis, baseball diamonds, ice skating in winter

– 8 acres

#2 – arbor hills nature area

between neighborhoods, ponds, loud frogs, birds, picnic spots in sweeping expanses under trees, wooded trails, scared a woman when i emerged from the woods who was shocked that i had found it

– 6 acres

#3 –  Arbor Oaks

neighborhood park, basketball, open pergolas, open fields, picnic area, pirate themed playground, rain garden, baseball, i was the only person there on the day i visited

-8 acres

#4 –  Argo Nature Area

– unpaved trails with beautiful views of the river, livery with canoes/kayak/paddle board rentals,  river cascades, long, narrow park, large variety of trees, wildflowers, very quiet in the woods

-22 acres 

and onward……many more to follow

“i believe that there is a subtle magnetism in nature,

which, if we unconsciously yield to it,

will direct us aright.”

―henry david thoreau