I was all set up to write a post yesterday and I only remembered once I was in bed! Can't believe I forgot. of course, now I can't remember what I was going to write about. Well, maybe it was just a moan about the heat and humidity and the bitey flies that are making an appearance. Sigh. I'm actually not going to do any (more) moaning about that for now. 

Yesterday, we didn't go out. I didn't go far at all. It was rather dreary first thing but as soon as the drizzle stopped, I went out for a walk at a place not too far away. It was lovely and quiet. It was a rather nice walk before it got too hot. I like walking there as, at this time of year, there are some lovely wildflowers growing. I took some pics with my camera and a few with my phone. I'd really like to label a few of them and maybe make a photo book. I have wildflower books, but to be honest, sometimes I can't tell what the flower is from their photos! 

Admittedly, my phone photos aren't the greatest, but I'm hoping the camera pics come out a bit better

The top one is Bergamot, the next two are Coneflowers and the next is Milkweed. I love Milkweed. The lifecycle of the plant is just amazing. I might have to do a post on just that!

The bottom photo is one of the ponds that I walked around. The place I walked is Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. 

The pic below is what made me smile for the day. As you walk in they do have a notice that tells you the coyotes are just decoys. Makes me wonder whether anyone reported them thinking they were real! It made me laugh that this swan was not at all bothered by the 'predator'. 

How was your weekend? 

Rain Again

Well, the computer seems to be doing okay, but it also seems that when it does its upgrades things seem to slow down. I think I'll have to save for another. Of course this happens just after I used some of my saved money for a plane ticket to visit daughter next month. Still, I'd rather visit her!

The weekend wasn't too bad. Saturday was absolutely gorgeous. You never would have believed it was late October. Sunday was looking a bit iffy so we adjusted our plans and took a walk somewhere else rather than where we had decided to go. Luckily it stayed dry until we got home in the afternoon. Now the rain has settled in and we're under a flood watch again for the next couple of days. I'm going to go do the food shopping, tidying up and then I'm going to sort out photos to add to the albums that are coming along nicely. I might even finish my shawl! Only a few inches to go lol.

A couple of photos from yesterday. We had to walk up some sand dunes, but the view at the top was worth it. I hope everyone has a good start to their week!

Rained Out!

What a weekend it's been! Yesterday when I woke up we had no television, no internet and no land line phone. Normally I wouldn't care so much (though I admit to missing at least the internet!) but Saturdays are my day to Skype with Mum. I couldn't ring her (the only reason I have the landline) as we don't have international calling on our mobile phones and, although I could send an email from my phone, I wasn't sure she would read it. We have different phone plans and lucky my hubby has unlimited data so I downloaded Skype on his phone and managed to talk with Mum! Phew.

Sunday is our normal day for walking. We set off in the car in the rain hoping we could get above the rain but unfortunately it followed us. We only managed a mile and a half as we were absolutely drenched.

We stopped at the Block House which is in Muskegon State Park. There's a great view from the top of the hill. I imagine on a clear day you can see for miles. Today, not so much. Quite windy too! Apparently the original building was built in the 1930s by federally funded workers in a make-work project during the great depression. In 1962 it was vandalised and burnt down and was rebuilt in 1964. 

Not sure if this was a part that was burnt down.

Our little walk was very hilly considering it was supposed to be an easy walk. I think we might have got on the wrong path!

I did see a group of four deer but I wasn't quick enough to snap a photo! The park was pretty deserted this week. We saw a group of about five people looking for Morel mushrooms.

This was the only fungus I saw! I think we'll be back and try the walk again but not for a couple of weeks. Next weekend we're off to visit daughter in Minnesota.

Top of the world....

We went on a lovely walk on Sunday. It was a 5 mile loop around the Muskegon State Park. Our walk took us through woods, up hills and above Lake Michigan on top of the sand dunes. The walk was pretty tough in places - thank goodness for hiking sticks - but the views were well worth the trek! We did well getting the difficult part of the loop over first.

There was a lovely bench placed right at the top of the ridge. We were almost at the edge of the dune and looking over. Fantastic view!

You can see the lighthouses in the distance. They are on the other side of the channel. It took us 30 minutes to drive to them!

Lots and lots of sand dunes.

And a steady, up and down, walk along a local lake back to the car park. There's another, easier loop in this park that we plan to do next Sunday if the weather is good.

Sunday Walk

It was raining when we started out yesterday, but the park we were going to was over a couple of hours drive away so we headed out anyway. We drove through drizzle then full out rain that ended in a heavy fog. By the time we arrived at Ludington State Park only the fog remained. You could see a little blue sky through the fog so we decided it would probably burn off as the temperature heated up a little. We've been to Ludington State Park a couple of times before but we've only ever done the walk to the Lighthouse. It's one of my favourite lighthouses. HERE are some photos from one of those trips.

This time we went on a walk around the lakes - Lost Lake and Hamlin lake. It was really, really beautiful. This has to be one of my favourite walks so far. The shores of the lakes are just beautiful. The walk through the woods really stunning. It was an easy walk until we reached the Ridge Walk and then it was up, up and up some more! Well worth it though. Here are a few photos.

We're camping there for a night in September after I get back from England though I'm sure we'll make another trip up before then. We did stop by Lake Michigan (as it is in the park too).

The snow/sand drifting fences were still up

But they were starting to get ready for the summer season! I bet it won't be long until the barriers are removed.

Sunday Walk

Back to rain this morning but yesterday was a glorious day - warm and sunny, no clouds in the skies at all. We went for a walk at a State Park we haven't been to before - Grand Mere park. We knew it was going to be hilly as it is surrounded by sand dunes. I took a deep breath and decided to go for it. I like a nice walk (as you might be able to tell from my Sunday posts) but I don't particularly like hills. My bad ankle doesn't like hills either, especially those covered with sand. Hubby bought me some hiking sticks for Christmas and they really do help with the stability.

It wasn't a particularly long walk but mostly uphill!

Lovely walk along the lake before heading back up!

A stack of cairns on the beach. I did add one to the very top stack.

We took a different way back. It was supposed to lead to the nature trail. Still hilly. I let my hubby have a head start (ha ha). We hadn't taken that way to begin with as the beginning of the path was flooded. We saw a family wading through the muddy water in bare feet. Shudder. Not that adventurous!

Yup. Flooded! We managed to find a path on higher ground and walked that way.

Not a lot growing yet, but a butterfly! Surely that is a sign of Spring.

Because the walk wasn't that long we decided to go back to another park we've visited before but that's a story for another day. I think I'll save that one for Five on Friday. I thought on this one husband was going to break something and I was going to be stuck halfway up/down a sand dune! Yikes.

Sunday Walk (and back to rain again on Monday!)

Monday has the rain coming again and forecast for most of the week. It was a dry weekend though so we had to get out and about. We walked four miles on Saturday and yesterday we walked five and a quarter miles.

We revisited Hoffmaster State Park that we popped into last week when it was raining. This week the sun was shining when we arrived but still chilly!

It looks really pretty. There weren't too many people around though I imagine in the summer season the beach is packed. It is certainly very beautiful.

There is a trail that says it is a mile walk so we tried that one out first. Either we took a wrong turn or they were lying as it turned out to be 1.75 miles. Quite an up and down path.

With lots of trees roots to trip over!

After finishing that walk we decided to check out some more of the paths. There are quite a few. They weren't very clearly marked though and we got turned around several times. There were quite a few hills again.

We got so turned around we ended up walking up a massive hill - yes, really massive - more like a dirt covered sand dune.

We got to the top only to realise that there was no way down unless we wanted to go down the sand dune. Nope. So we had to turn around and walk all the way back down and find where we should have turned on the trail. That explains why the walk turned into a 5.25 mile walk! Phew. Glad to be home again but had fun walking while it wasn't raining!

Sunday Walk (part one)

Woke up bright and early this morning - actually hubby woke up bright and early. I stumbled out of bed half asleep a little later - expecting sunshine. Not. It was cloudy and overcast. Not at all what I was expecting. I thought perhaps the weatherman had forgotten what the sun looked like again. We bundled up in our long undies anyway and headed out for our walk. Despite being cold and dull it was an improvement over the rain from yesterday.

First we headed off to Saugatuck Dunes State Park. The name should give a hint as to the terrain we were walking in.

Trees, trees and more trees.

When we came out of the trees there it was! Blue sky and some sunshine.

We took a nice walk along the beach and looked for a place to walk up again.

Definitely not this one! Some of the dune climbs are quite steep and I'm not in shape.

This one at least looked a little easier. It wasn't a bad walk. I think it will be really pretty in the Spring and Summer though getting up and down the hills will be a lot sweatier in the heat!

We ventured on to another State Park and a scenic detour after this, but I'll leave that for tomorrow.  We saw a really cute little fellow hiding out at the lighthouse! Can't wait to share the photos.

Cold Sunday Walk

Brrr...it's a cold one today -2C and it is currently almost three in the afternoon. It was a lot colder this morning but we bundled up and went for a walk anyway. My foot has been bothering me a bit all week so we decided to walk somewhere relatively flat so we headed off to a county park my friend had told me about.

There wasn't a lot to photograph - no ice or snow, nothing growing. I did end up seeing a couple of interesting looking trees. I think I've been on Facebook too much as I am seeing faces in the trees. I can almost imagine them coming alive and having a conversation.

Can you see the face with the eye, nose and mouth?

Here's another.

Heard some knocking up in the trees - a sign of the woodpecker.

Could see evidence of them about.

I imagine this walkway will be quite beautiful in the summer when the trees are thick with growth.

Only splashes of colour around.

With a promise of more to come!