Quiet Walk Before the Snow

Yesterday, before the predicted snow storm, I took a walk. It was a very quiet walk as I was the only one at the park when I started.

However, first, let’s start this post how I’ve decided to start all the Winter Wednesday posts with the weather.

The Weather

Well, they (the collective weather people/television meteorologists) were right. Kansas City did only get the far north edge of the storm. It started raining around 9 last night and sometime in the overnight changed to snow. We woke up to snow and a snow day off school for J. However, the roads seem to have already improved and it’s 33 degrees as G heads off to the college campus. Snow is already blowing/dripping/melting from the trees.

My Walk Before The Storm

I debated if I wanted to go for quite a bit yesterday but finally around 3 in the afternoon, I just went ahead and got in the car. Many thanks to G for this who pushed me a bit saying if you don’t go, you know you’re going to regret it.

Winter buds on small trees always give a bit of hope.

This land area was full of water last time. I think the barrenness is related to work they are doing by the newly added playground area. The overnight snow should melt and fill it again, I hope.

I still found spots of partially frozen water.

And though the photo is a bit blurry, there were also occasionally welcome pops of color among the browns of the grasses and grays of the day. 

Gray skies and chilly air

I felt the oncoming storm on the chill in the air. Saw the gray skies and very few birds.

Some of the trees looked to be dancing though the stillness that precedes most storms also sat upon the air.

The trees kept me company on my quiet, lonely walk.

I always take time to stop and check out the “all you need is love” tree. The silver bobble looks heart shape from a distance. 

I Actually Enjoy Walking Alone

While it’s always nice to have a friend to walk with you, I love to go at my own pace. Stop and examine the trees. Listen to the nature around me. Things that get lost in the natural conversation of walking with a partner. As I started to walk by the small pond pictured above, I heard a sound I’d not heard before at this particular park.

Immediately, I turned and walked back to peer into the forested area.

However, my barred owl was too deep in the wooded area to spot. Here is a youtube video (not mine, I just listened from the path) to let you share in the sounds I heard:

Rounding The Corner

As rounded the corner of the path, far from the hoot owl I couldn’t see, I did stumble upon one industrious woodpecker in a small grove of young trees.

The chill in the air continued to grow and my hands were getting colder despite my gloves. So I made one last stop to check for any more brave little birds:

With none to be found, I ended my lonely walk and returned to my car now joined by another in the parking lot. Hopefully, that person enjoyed their quiet lonely walk as much as I enjoyed mine.

And this morning, the trees here at home were all dressed in white:

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day 25/365