Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Oh, oh, we’re all talking about snow and ice! And so many months of it still to come! Guess I’d better get my walk in soon because it looks like snow here, too. Yesterday was gorgeous and sunny and I got a good walk in. It’s sad when there are no gardens to look at or beautiful trees. But I do like the bushes with all the berries for birds and I can see the nests for owls. And the geese flying overhead. I’d better get dressed and get walking!
Oh, I forgot, we did our civic duty yesterday and fed the neighbor’s goldfish! I even took a picture to text to the 4 yr old owner so he could see that his pet was getting along swimmingly!

It was a bit slick in a few places today, I was very careful going down my driveway with the dogs today! We walked 2 miles.
My big surprise was a small flock of snow geese coming over the lake and heading south during our walk today! I think this is the first time I have ever seen and heard a flock of them! Very pretty. Higher pitched than Canadian geese.

@becsbuddy, So glad you got your walk in and that you noticed the nests for owls. With trees bare, I can now count squirrel and bird nests nestled in the branches on my walks. Highest count for one tree, fruitless mulberry, is 7.

And really proud of you for doing your "civic duty" by feeding the neighbor's goldfish!!! lol

True story: when my daughter and family moved from Evanston, IL to Boulder, CO, their goldfish, "Fishy" made the trip with them, along with photos, and is now 2 Years old with his own little "following" with pics on a group 'net page. Can't believe that little guy is still swimming...I had several during childhood and none made it longer than a 1-3 months? before kicking the bucket! Bet the little 4yr old owner will give you at least a cyber hug when he returns home.

Ah, I would imagine those geese were greeting you with hope for 2021!! You painted a serene picture for us who didn’t have that experience.
Thank you.

My walks continue, I find that I have to first relax my shoulders as I hit the colder temps. Once I do that I am just joyful that I can still endure these temps at my age, and definitely feel more alive once I get inside my cozy, warm home. Today will bring snow, oh well, it is Minnesota!

I like their call, too. And they don't go very far South - we have seen them on open water in Kansas when we headed in January a few times. Isn't it amazing what we can see even on a winter walk?
@becsbuddy - Sometimes my grandson and I count the squirrel nests in the oak trees around here. Our best find so far - 7 in one tree - we call it the "squirrel condo"
Sue

@sueinmn
I’ve never seen a squirrels nest that I recognized as such anyway. I think we have mostly grey ground squirrels I enjoy watching the squirrels and chipmunks scurrying about. When I used to visit my grandparents, Fluffy the squirrel would come for his walnuts which my grandmother insisted be cracked. I had a picture of him/her sitting at the table eating with us. He was one of the family. Sadly Fluffy got electrocuted on a power line. I’ll walk along the creek today and look for a tree dwelling squirrel, provided I’m not arrested as being drunk or at least appearing that way. I have been having extremely major falling and balance issues recently.
I can’t go out walking yet because it’s freezing cold here in sunny California. Like living in Antarctica. l’ll go later when the hypothermia risk diminishes. I don’t know how you people survive back there.
Take care & stay warm,
Jake

@sueinmn It’s freezing out and we did get snow, but I’ll try a walk on the grass. Love checking out the squirrels nests. I always wonder how they stay on the tree tops when we have such fierce winds. And the owl’s nests will be more interesting when the owls move in in March. They are very large and attract quite a crowd! Well, sun is out so I’ll go brave the temperatures!

@wisco50 We have Canadian geese that overwinter at the timber mill ponds. Since that is just over the creek from us, they often take off and fly a circle over us and settle back down. In the Spring they have a nesting area nearby, and the whole flock goes walking down past our house, middle of the road, proudly showing off their babies.

This morning it is a bit chilly, in the 20s with a cold brittle sun. The spider web on the deck is frosted over. Intrepid birds are out picking through the sparse lawn. Our cat is documenting their movements for us with play-by-play little cries, from the warmth and safety of her windowsill perch. Yesterday my walking was loading a cord of wood in to our utility trailer with my husband. A rickety old wheelbarrow helped get the hardwood from a stack, but the soft wood we loaded at the end, was a hand-off. Since it was just at sunset, we left it for today to start off-loading and stacking at home. It seemed fitting that moonrise helped light the way, as the mill barn had no lighting.
Ginger

I am about to leave the house to go snowshoeing in the woods with my dog. The woods always puts me in a peaceful place. Enjoy today

Oh I am so sorry to hear you are having major falling and balancing issues. I am sure you probably do exercises to help with balance. I went through a long period of falling and went head first down on a marble floor. I really looked like a freak with most of my face covered in bruises; however, I realize I was fortunate in this fall and others that I did not break anything. Please be careful!

We have mostly grey squirrels, but recently saw a red one. And then, twice we have spotted a white squirrel. We had these a long time ago, but I am afraid they make easy prey for the hawks or owls. We are hoping this one stays around for a long time. My husband puts out dried corn cobs for the squirrels in hopes that they will leave the bird seed and suet for the birds. We did not hear the Canada geese leave this fall. Not sure why, for one can hear their honking and we love to watch them leaving for warmer climates. We have a house basically in the woods with eight acres. There are lots of critters that pass through, some welcome, some not. We were thrilled to see a turkey with eight chicks this fall. They appear from time to time. Of course, we have deer and they seem to feast on everything my husband tries to grow. They ate every one of the mums' blooms (about 24). We won't plant those anymore! Raccoons, groundhogs, opossums, and coyotes appear. One morning, I let our dog out and through my bleary eyes saw a coyote about a foot behind our 22-pound rescue dog. I did not take the time to pick up the bat we keep by the porch door, but instead ran screaming toward the coyote and it ran up the hill. Our beloved dog chased it into the woods! Yikes! He thinks he is bigger than he is and I was extremely worried until Simon came down the hill.

I am amazed at many of the determined folks who walk in cold temperatures. We had snain (snow and rain) today, and now the tree branches are glistening with frozen drops. I think the temperatures are going to be better in a few days. I need to pick up some prescriptions, but will wait for the thaw. I could ask the pharmacy to deliver, but they would never find us.

Take care and stay well! @joybringer1