Hmm. I should probably start doing these posts in advance and setting them to publish automatically.
*proceeds to not do that thing*
In typical Ohio manner, the weather can’t make up its mind this week. Temperatures are fluctuating enough to give me a near-constant headache and we’ve had a lot of rain plus some mighty wind. I did manage to find some time when it was just gross and cold instead of actually raining, though, and decided to take a walk along a nearby lake.
Unsurprisingly, not too many people were out, so I had the trail to myself. I really enjoy walking along the water. I like bodies of water; I love how dynamic the surface is, and I like the sound of it, and I like the smell of it.
I also like the wildlife!
People weren’t too interested in the lousy weather but the ducks sure were. I took an embarrassingly large amount of pictures of ducks. That’s one way I know I’m over 40 — I never really cared too much about birds but I suddenly find enjoyment in them. Look at these pretty friends!
I’m resisting the urge to start re-learning how to identify them, however.
My dad was a science teacher for many years, and he and my mom coached a lot of Pennsylvania Envirothon teams. Obviously I was on the teams when I was old enough but I also, you know, lived with my dad. There were always a pair of binoculars and some wildlife identification books in the van, and we’d often get mini lessons identifying birds, fish, trees, and flowers. I remember at least one time when he stopped the van on the side of the road and wouldn’t keep going until we identified a certain tree.
If I recall correctly, it was a sycamore.
I’m not going to fall back into the identifying hobby, but I am going to continue being out in nature! Of course, I also like interesting manmade stuff, like this fascinating house. I think having a lighthouse on your place when you live right next to a lake is an amazing choice. I don’t actually know if it’s functioning, but I hope it is.
I’m also a big fan of this gazebo, which is spacious and a good place to shelter from frankly should have been expected rain, and always makes me think of The Sound of Music.
It also makes me think of Eric and the Dread Gazebo which is a quick but important read.
Most (but not all) of my walk was spent listening to this excellent sermon by Erin Moon.
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