Tuesday

I took a walk over the highway overpass today, into Mary Beth Doyle Nature Preserve, down the nature trail. I took a trail I hadn't before, and apparently every day is a new adventure (!). Today they were doing a controlled burning, it was really interesting. I've heard of these things, but I've never been in the midst of one.

From a distance I see a smoke cloud rising and I assume someone is burning leaves, when I started walking into the woods I saw yellow suited people walking around, and at the same time I saw the smoke was actually rising from in the trees. I thought maybe there was a forest fire, but they were actually lighting the fire and controlling the flames.

The trail I took today drew me straight from my 'hood to Packard where I was across the street from Cobblestone Farm, the historic farm  and park house in Ann Arbor. The house was locked up today, but they have a little animal farm where I saw tiny, sturdy horses, chickens, goats, pigs (I've never been so close to a pig) and a funny little squirrel in the midst of it all. I don't usually see squirrels around other animals, so that was pretty interesting, and made me chuckle.

While admiring the animals I met a man who was also socializing with the barn mammals and he told me to come to his church, or his house.

The Ann Arbor Parks have a lot to offer including fitness classes, a swimming pool, an indoor and outdoor ice skating rink and all kinds of fun days at these places. I need to sign up for the email list.

In addition to this walk, I cooked dinner, and I made meatballs for the first time. I didn't eat them because I prefer not to eat meat unless I know the animals were treated well and unnecessary chemicals. So I didn't, but I learned a new cooking technique.

That's about it!