Outdoor Delights

Today's hike through the woods and weeds was a good one. The weather couldn't be more perfect if I had ordered it myself.

I got pooped on by a bird, perching on a branch overhead. Which was a kind of nature's revenge, I guess, for waking and scaring off a deer. The deer seemed hesitant to leave the area. I wondered if it was just because I had woken her, or if she had recently birthed a fawn nearby. I wandered the area for a bit, though to find a fawn in those dried-leaf, sun-dappled woods would have been next to impossible anyway. That's when the bird decided to christen me - urging me to move on, which I did.

I hauled an old copper basin out and hid it by the road for later pick-up. It probably won't get me much, but along with the other copper items I have gathered, it may pay for a breakfast at The Galley this weekend in St. Ignace.

The golden rod is in full bloom right now, and I was able to wade through a few patches of it down by Black Creek. It's one of those poetic things you always imagining yourself doing in a long flowing gown, when in reality, your legs would be scratched to pieces if you were to try it. Jeans and hiking boots worked just fine, turns out.

I also discovered that turkey vultures are very allured or annoyed by someone lying in an open grassy field, practicing grass-whistling techniques. It probably didn't help that my red shirt was crumpled up on the grass beside me. I probably looked and sounded like a dying animal of sorts. There were probably about 7 of them circling above me. I imagine they were rather disappointed to see me get up and walk away. I had a pretty good laugh over that one.

Nothing is really blooming yet in the woods themselves. A few violets are making an early go of it, but nothing else, really. There was a light green frail vine-type thing growing all-over the ground. It was kind of wispy and looked as if it would be very good to eat. Also - no morel mushrooms.

The sky is so blue and so perfect today. I think maybe I'll take my sewing machine out on to the deck and work on the fabric for the pergola out there. May as well enjoy every minute of the day.