It’s been a long time, since I could make that proclamation, and, I’m betting, given our near drought-like conditions, no one was shouting that children’s chant “rain, rain, go away – come again another day!”

First, we had that torrential downpour yesterday – I don’t recall any predictions for that rainfall. A few raindrops on the roof, then next, it was coming down in buckets and must’ve lasted an hour at least.

This morning, the alarm went off, and I heard the pitter patter of rain on the patio roof. Great! Maybe the lawn won’t be crunchy any more. That rain stopped long enough for me to take a spin in the car, walk four miles, then it returned. Now it is raining and rumbling outside again.

On my walk this morning, there were puddles galore. I watched many birds enjoying a bath right out in the street … have they no shame??? Some thirsty squirrels were lapping up water that had pooled in low places on sidewalks, or, they joined the birds at the muddy puddles for a long drink.

When I left the house, it was kind of windy, and it sure felt good, but, one glance at the sky told me that rain was on the way – the sky was an ugly mottled gray and dark clouds were brooding. I picked up the pace a bit to get my full four miles walked.

The humidity was off the charts, and, as I passed the large home with the seven majestic pine trees at Riverside Drive, I could smell the fresh scent of the long needles, still moist from the recent rain. The pine cones are plentiful on this tree, and, there must be a hundred that have already fallen off and are on top of a bed of dry, brown pine needles that have collected beneath that big tree. I often see squirrels poking around at those pine cones, and, they looked as if they were playing tiddlywinks with them, as they bounced them here or there. But, those squirrels are actually eating the pine cones. If you watch carefully, you’ll see them gnawing away at the hard exterior of the cone, then nibbling at the soft pine nuts inside. I guess the peanut supply from their benefactors is now running low.

Finally, I saw a sign of life as I crossed the footbridge this morning. As usual, I peered into the dirty water as I crossed over the Ecorse Creek. The torrential rains were obviously beneficial to more than just our crispy lawns and bedraggled-looking porch pots and hanging baskets, because the greenish pond scum had drifted off and that slimy substance was now lapping up on the Creek banks. There were nibbles at the surface, but you really couldn’t see into the dirty brown water, so the nibbles were from an undetermined origin. But, I plainly heard a bullfrog that had staked out a spot nearby at the water’s edge. I heard him calling out to no one in particular, then soon a huge splash occurred and it was silent again.

With today’s post I’m including this picture of a backyard garden I pass on Ferris every day. This homeowner likes frogs – two are in the garden, but I really like ol’ Peg Leg better.

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About Linda Schaub

This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each and every post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things I see on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, and so my blog is peppered with folks I meet, or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post that day. I respect and appreciate nature and my interaction with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. My career has been in the legal field and I have been a legal secretary for four decades, primarily working in downtown Detroit, and now working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in print journalism in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met and shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing once again in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy – hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub

Thanks Marge – I always look in their yard as I go past that cross street. I had a horizontal picture that featured more of the rose garden, but this picture showed off the peg leg frog better. It was cool when I left after taking the car for a spin, but walking fast and in the humidity, it got pretty hot, pretty quickly.

Ann Marie – you should see that Creek water … I’ve watched it every day this week as it has gotten just as bad as before … green stuff everywhere, and no frogs today – no little turtles or fish nipping at the water’s surface and no ducks and geese either. I like that tall frog ornament – he makes the yard look so festive.