Author Archives: makielb

On Thursday we went to the Leonard Preserve in SW Washtenaw County. We were looking for butterflies and interesting plants. We managed to find a few, but the trail map is not very useful. Pearl Crescent, Monarch and Clouded sulpher were among the butterflies that we found. Eastern Wood Pewee. By noon we headed homeContinue reading “Leonard Preserve and a bad storm”

Sometimes while out walking, I think about reading or writing. I recently read The Immortality Virus. This dystopian story takes place some 500 years in the future after an man-made virus was released in 2050. While at the time people thought that it was an influenza pandemic, which killed millions of people, it was actuallyContinue reading “Musing about books”

I just don’t understand non-morning people. Happy hour means a lot of eating and drinking. And a good IPA is worth it! I can remember driving and watching women put on makeup. At least there were phones in cars back then. So, where should they try Trump? Well, this explains a lot. Science, the lonelyContinue reading “Monday evening humor”

Went downtown this morning to meet Mike and Linda for breakfast. All of the trash from the past three days is being cleared after another highly successful Art Fair. But we were going to Zola for breakfast. As is typical Zola had it’s own wall of art, which is always interesting. After breakfast Susan andContinue reading “Day after Art Fair – 2023”

The heat from western North America is drifting east and should be in Michigan by Monday. Today it’s already 80F, but by Monday it will be in the 90sF. So how is the garden doing? The kale and green beans are growing like weeds. We have been eating fresh kale for weeks. And I amContinue reading “The garden is enjoying the heat”

Today we spent a beautiful morning at the Ann Arbor Art Fair which rambles throughout downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan campus. There was no lack of diversity in art. I’ll have to admit that I am drawn to realistic animal art. Hey! It’s a realistic dragon. A whimsical library. This photo reallyContinue reading “Ann Arbor Art Fair 2023”

It was a beautiful morning, full of promise. But a Whitefish Point the promise is more exciting than just a promise. From minute to minute the skies can go from dark to cloudless. A freighter with Ontario in the distance. We went into town for lunch. No, TJ’s hasn’t reopened. In fact it’s been closedContinue reading “Today’s color is purple”

Now there’s somebody who knows how to separate them permently. Here’s not how to separate church and state. Unless you’re a member of the ultra-conservative supreme court. Ah, the dilemma. The “howlers” enforcing the dilemma. I am so glad to not be teaching and grading papers these days. When all of the stars line upContinue reading “Some Monday humor”

After raining for the better part of two days it was cool and clear this morning. We walked to the “hawk deck” at Whitefish Point then came home. The little clouds moved out as the temperature warmed from 61F. By the time we got home most of the clouds had cleared and the temperature wasContinue reading “After the rain in the north”

On our way north to Whitefish Point we stopped near Moran in hopes of finding some late blooming Showy ladies-slippers. We were not disappointed. We visited the Owls Roost where the owl banders light for moths at night. “White” moths dominated the roost. But there were a few others. Here’s Susan photographing one of theContinue reading “Another orchid and some moths”