Soggy walk leads to beautiful discovery

After our fish last night we took a little stroll in the rain to the nearby Parker Mill Park.

It was nice to get out of the house and just take in spring with all of its musty smelling, slippery surfaced green glory!

We saw some Jack-in-the-Pulpits, Michigan Orchids and many other little bits of nature that one would not expect to see in the city.

Take a look!

I like this angle, it makes me feel like these little plants are much bigger than they really are.

Needless to say it was a welcomed escape.

Hope you enjoyed.

-J

Soggy little walk

The seasons of Michigan are both unique and diverse. This spring we have seen a great example of this. This area has had a few days in the 60's followed by a weekend covered in snow. We have had bright days with temps in the single digits and mellow days which facilitate a lust for summer.

Today, however, the weather is the best that Michigan Springs have to offer: the temp is around 40, the air is humid, and a gentle, steady rain is falling just enough to keep most people hunkered down indoors.

These types of days are the best to take a walk in. At home one of my favorite places for a spring rain hike is the Spirit of the Woods Nature Area. The canopy of the trees keeps you sheltered while allowing you to hear the rain coming down.

Now that we are in Ann Arbor though, I have grown to favor the Parker Mill Park area which abuts the Huron River.

Today I had Chelsea drop me off at Gallup Park and began walking East toward Parker Mill.

As expected, the trail was empty, most people are either at work or just didn't find merit in venturing out in such weather.

While I originally thought that such a walk would be a poor choice as I should be studying for finals, I remembered that I have hours and hours of audio podcasts and audio files focusing on the main topics covered in my courses; no brainer! Enjoying the outdoors while learning about Contracts? AWESOME!

The much needed break from studying and interaction with people provided to be the break that I needed.

Though I did not see any people on the walk I did run into my fair share of animals.

I guess that you could say that rainy days as this are truly fowl weather!

I guess it it easy to hangout in the rain when you have such sweet rain jackets as these feathered dudes have!

-J

A Sunday snow trip

We awoke early Sunday morning and trodded out the door and down the road to Parker Mill Park.

This park provides beauty year-round. It offers boardwalk hiking through a typically Michigan marsh, and single-track jogging and biking trails.

There is also a nice creek that runs through the park.

This was a great way to recharge my batteries for the upcoming hectic week of midterms. I think that we will be making a trip to Barton Dam this coming weekend to celebrate the ending of midterms!

I think that this spring I am going to use Parker Mill as a place to practice slacklining. Since I have never done it this seems like a quiet, and safe place to learn with looking like a spectacle!

Time to get a little more studying done!

Oh yeah, I have an extension, in photos, of this little hike over at: http://natureshotz.blogspot.com/
Check it out please!

Have a great Sunny Day!

-J

12/12 Snowday Extravaganza!

Good blustery afternoon one and all. We have had quite the Sunday-Funday so far!

It started around 6 this morning. I awoke and cracked my copy of The Living Great Lakes. I am only 20 some pages in, but I can tell that this is going to be my kind of book. I like knowing all of the towns and places mentioned in the book, makes me feel at home.

Upon looking outside I noticed that we had received quite a bit of snow overnight, much to my excitement.

Chelsea and I suited up, and headed out for a quick grocery trip. Being out early is a definite advantage when living in the city. Though you have to brave the roads without plows you do get to experience stores without the dirty midday hordes, and believe me, beating the crowds around here is a must.

When we returned with our batch of groceries and made a great lunch-fest!

Delightful Cheese Panini's 

Soups!

SURPRISE OREO!

Lunch-fest was filling indeed. With our bellies full we settled in for an afternoon film, which you ask?

The Office Overtime! It is a collection of shorts from the group at the Office! Pretty good, especially the music videos!

After the Office we were enticed by the continually falling snow. Something about the first big one. We chose Parker Mill Park, it is close and not usually too busy. Follow the link and you will see the park in the summer time. Parker Mill has many great trails and viewpoints of the Huron River.

It is equally pretty in the winter:

Part of the original Parker Settlement.

We did not get to get too far down the trails, but getting out only a little is much better than not getting out at all hey! It was a nice brisk walk in blowing sleet conditions.

Calvin was waiting for us when we returned home. I assumed by his greeting that he wanted to check out this snow stuff, so:

Needless to say he was not too excited. Sorry for the misreading of your thoughts Calvin :)

Now it is time for an oven pizza and Sherlock Holmes!

Hope you are enjoying this massive storm. Stay warm and safe,

-J