Give Me Shade

Am thankful for the freedom to walk my neighborhood early as the sun comes up, and again when it sets.

We are experiencing warm temps, not boiling like elsewhere in the world, so am thankful for that too.

However, there are no clouds, and the sun is intense, so I hide from the heat and sun by being outside when it's most pleasant.

Am inside snuggling with cats, listening to audiobooks with earbuds, and drinking tea for the rest of the day.

😹

A few new-to-me kitties seen:

This cat wasn't bothered by me at all.

The cat under the car was friendly, then ran off to hide.

No worries, little one, you do what you need to do.

This tuxedo was in our backyard, and Da Boyz downstairs and Henry upstairs were in a tizzy.

Have not seen this cat before, and this image to taken AFTER I'd told it to move along.

He'd turned and left, then came back again once I was inside!

Cheeky.

Let's Hop!

Shadowy Woodchuck

Please Mr. Punxsutawney Phil...

Some of us have had quite enough of winter.

From Wikipedia:

Common names for the groundhog include chuck, wood-chuck, groundpig, whistle-pig, whistler, thickwood badger, Canada marmot, monax, moonack, weenusk, red monk, land beaver and, among French Canadians in eastern Canada, siffleux.

EDIT: He saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.

Boo Hiss!

🌷

Let's Hop!

Free Sample Returned

Now that it's officially winter, let's break out some giggles:

😹😹😹

Selfie snapped at 10:03 AM Eastern, the official Winter Solstice time

.

The wind chill was a single digit, but the sun was out, and a smile to start this most horrendous of seasons seemed a positively negative way to step forward.

And yes, that scarf was wrapped around my face for the duration of my time outside.

👌🏻

Owl Be Seeing You...

Last Friday, my brother and I went on an Owl Hoot!

At Lake Saint Clair MetroPark, in Harrison Township, Michigan, we attended a brief lecture about native owl species, then wrapped ourselves in hats, scarves, thick coats and boots to traverse the trails in the dark.

Our MetroPark guides had recorded Screech and Great Horned Owl calls, which were played here and there within the forested area.

Not only did a Great Horned Owl return our calls, but we could see him 'way up in the treetop!

It was nighttime, so there wasn't much to photograph, except the stuffed owls on display:

Screech Owl

Barred Owl

Snowy Owl

See?  My wee camera wasn't a match for the darkness!

AND THEN!

Saturday, I went on a Autumn Color Walk at Tenhave Woods in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Due to lots of rain and cold (the snow didn't hit until Monday...), our seasonal color is mostly gone, but walking around with knowledgeable tree, bird, and fungus experts from The Royal Oak Nature Society was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.

Interesting leaves

Witch Hazel blooms

Although pretty, these berries are from an invasive non-Michigan plant that will be pulled out in the spring.

I enjoy this park, which is less than two miles from my office.
I visit often on my lunch breaks.

Here's a jigsaw puzzle!

We have another owl event this Saturday, where we will visit living owls at Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan.

We are fortunate to have such resources nearby.

Farewell, Sunny

Angel Sunny, now at The Rainbow Bridge.

Colehaus Cats lost Sunny recently.  

Please stop on over at their blog or FB page, and let her humans know that you care.