Walk In The Park: Wonders and wonders

darn...

The story of yesterday's walk disappeared in draft. I suspect a tired writer hit "delete" instead of "edit." The rewrite will likely leave out some moments, but it cannot be helped.

The walk was a delight. Cool at the start and, as we were early, it did not grow hot (and we did not grow tired and cranky). The heat only found us as we were near safe in the shade of our yard.

The lady of the beautiful flowering yard was out for her paper as we passed by.

Towards the bottom of the steep hill (before our turn into the park), movement drew our eyes to the right. The creek that runs through the park passes under our street and flows off to the south towards a later conflux with the Leon River. In the high grass and weeds along the banks stood a small doe. She saw us too and then moved down into the creek bed.

This was a day that became cooler in the park and cooler still along the dirt road. It must be a combination of diminishing concrete/asphalt that would normally hold the heat, no blanket of clouds to provide insulation, the proximity of the cooling water of the Leon, and shade.

I don't care why it was cool, I just enjoyed the oasis that was once Hander land. And I think of how they must have loved it and felt blessed by it - as I do.

Having already seen one deer we were confident that others waited in the meadows. We were not disappointed by the empty first meadow as we quickly saw a huge doe standing at the edge of the road/woods in the far meadow. We walked slowly and deliberately towards her. She stood unstartled and appeared to be moving to graze in the meadow. Walking to within fifty feet of her we wondered how close she would allow when a cicada near us started its piercing cry. The doe turned and dashed into the woods.

We dawdled a bit on the way home, checking the drying seeds and noting the few flowers stubbornly continuing to bloom - sunflowers, verbena (blooming almost from first of spring to this oven of summer), iron weed...and the clematis...

At the top of the steep hill were three (THREE!) grey cats - one lounging, one hiding in the high grass, and one perched on the fire hydrant. Of course, on a day of wonders, there was no camera in my pocket.

We watched two yellow/green breasted birds chasing and fluttering across our street (I have no idea what, exactly, they were).

Today was another matter. We started late. It was already hot and the glowing sun, full-over the tree line seemed to be laughing at us as we moved along.

The pups were distracted by everything - smells and bugs and each other. It was a constant battle to untangle the leads, keep them out of the street, and move forward.

Heat = cranky for me. And I was. Uncooperative dogs did not help.

The only respite from my mood came on the dirt road. As we walked towards the spot where we saw the large doe yesterday we spied her again, although today she was on the road between the meadows. She wasted no time before crashing into the woods. And today, as we walked, we could clearly hear the movements of large animals in the brush and brambles and woody areas on both sides of the road. The pups noticed the noise - stopping and pointing at the snapping twigs, crunching grass and general crashing noises to our right and left.

We noticed long trails of small hand-like tracks in the dust of the road. We choose to think they are raccoon tracks rather than possum or skunk. There are so many creatures in these woods.

Only a pair of cardinals could be seen in a clearing in the brush. We have watched these cardinals on many walks. They often fly back and forth across the road as we walk along. Today the female flew to a cedar a few feet from my shoulder. She perched for some time watching us. I wonder where they are nesting. It must be close.

We continued the frustrating tangling and untangling of leashes/starting and stopping of walkers (and tripping of the unwary) most of the way home.

[There was a camera in pocket today. It captured the creations of some of the weavers/web makers. This summer of creepy crawlies is weird and wonderful, if not entirely beautiful.]