One of the joys of living in the country is taking walks with my dog. We have three dogs but our yellow lab is the one who loves to walk. When she walks, she does not chase critters and she rarely puts her nose to the ground. She simply walks. She will greet other walkers then move on. And it astounded me that when a fellow dog walker offered her a treat, she refused it. She wanted to walk. Labs are rather single-minded.
We walk in a local, county park. Unfortunately, the country roads where we live are rather busy and it is safer for us to walk in the park. Walking in the same areas gives me the chance to notice seasonal changes. I especially like this time between summer and autumn. It is quieter on our walks. The ducks, geese, and swans on the lake are much more docile. The visiting songbirds have headed south. Since this is not mating season, the chirping of the local chickadees and blue jays signify scuffles and warnings rather than songs of love. I noticed a white egret in a wetland the last few days. It will be making its way south shortly.
We come across a snake sunning itself on the warmer dirt path. It looks like a stick and my dog walks right over it. I hear the rustling of chipmunks and squirrels in the undergrowth.
The leaves have not yet changed but the wildflowers give us late season color. The grey, overcast days of winter are not yet upon us here in Michigan, so we can still enjoy the sunny, clear blue skies of summer without the heat and humidity.
A cold front blew through last night so our highs will be in the 60s and the lows in the 40s for the next week. Our yellow lab thinks this is perfect weather for a walk in the country. I tend to agree with her.
