A few minutes in nature is a worthy prescription for enduring what ails you.
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Turtles sunbathing in the pond at Greenfield Park
Whether you run, walk, bike, or drive along the Root River or Honeycreek Parkway, there's a good chance you will spot deer. Sometimes even a few at a time. They are often seen coming from the wooded areas of the parks, too. A week ago I watched as five of them, one after the other, crossed the road on the parkway in West Allis. I didn't have my camera at the time (of course!). But I did have it with me another day when I caught a glimpse of a deer near the banks of the river near the same spot. Wherever your favorite local nature spot is, whether your backyard, your neighborhood park, or one of our local nature preserves or state parks, encounters with our wild residents can bring a sense of wonder to your world. They've certainly brought plenty of it to mine. Shown Below: A selection of some of the wildlife I've been lucky to encounter.
I've been feeling a bit off this year. Struggling to find inspiration, to find cheer. Some personal losses and struggles have made it trickier to look forward with a positive attitude. And, although the winter wasn't exactly harsh this year, the limbo between winter and spring seems prolonged to me. But that's probably just my narrow point of view.
There is a sparkling jewel
Adorning a winter barren tree Behind a bench in Kinsey Park Ensconced with the names Of best friends engraved on a plaque I imagine they used to meet here Talk about life Good days, bad days Watching red squirrels scurrying over branches Robins and woodpeckers calling nearby Someone hung this hummingbird jewel In the tree behind the bench A memorial of sorts I look for it often when I come here Today I came to walk Serenaded by spring sounds As bluejays, cardinals and chickadees Sang from the woods I'm thinking of those I have lost Just this week, my sister And I listen for the birdsong And look for the hummingbird jewel For signs there is still life being lived To assure myself she is out there In the great beyond, having a brilliant day Free of pain and suffering Yes, the hummingbird is still here Thankfully, sparkling in the sunlight Through the branches A tribute to the best of friends 3-12-25 Kimberly Mackowski The Wisconsin State Park system is 125 years old in 2025. That's reason to celebrate! Get yourself a yearly park pass for your vehicle, and make plans to enjoy our state parks, state forests, recreation areas, and state trails all year long. If you're feeling a bit of cabin fever this winter, there are some great events coming up in the parks and nature preserves that can combat that seasonal restlessness. Check out this list, and take some time to visit the events calendar to find even more opportunities to get out and enjoy our natural spaces.
I came down with a long-lasting cold the weekend after Thanksgiving. It hung around for a good three weeks. I had recovered, just enough, to take a walk in the snow on Christmas Day, but family festivities were out for me this year. I usually come down with something after the holidays, so I guess I got a jump on it this time around. Thems the breaks, right? And now it's January, 2025, and I'm already struggling with the seasonal blues. January, in my experience, is always rough. So, I'm going to try something different, and take a look back at some of the highlights of 2024, and conjure up some positive vibes.
OTHER NOTABLES TheParkNextDoor celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024. To commemorate it, I started publishing a quarterly magazine based on blogs and features of the website, and more. So far, first issues for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter have been issued. As well as a special best of the blog compilation. They can all be found on the website, under The Magazine tab. These publications are all free to read online. And they can be downloaded to your tablet or computer as well.
We talked a bit about other things he enjoyed on the walk - sharing photos with the other photographers, learning about the fungus that grows on fallen trees, sitting on a tree stump that looks kind of like a chair. He enjoyed the StoryWalk, which is an ongoing, and changing feature at the FEC along the Community Spur trail. Partway through the walk, the batteries ran out on his camera (we've all been there). So, he switched to using his mom's phone camera. He took it in stride, and got some amazing photos. He also shared a couple photo tips: 1) Set the phone on the ground, facing straight ahead, for a low to the ground style photo. 2) Lay your phone flat on the ground, facing up, beneath a tall tree, to get a cool photo of a tree against the sky. Finally, here's a gallery of some of Karson's photos from the walk. Enjoy!
I'd call this first photo walk a success. I want to thank the FEC for partnering with me on this event, and everyone who joined us. I hope everyone enjoyed it. I certainly did. If you've never done a photo walk, I'd encourage you to get out on the trail and enjoy a photo walk of your own, with family, or friends. It's a great mix of art and nature. And a peaceful way enjoy an afternoon in the forest. ~ Kimberly
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AuthorA nature lover, bird watcher, wildlife fan, amateur photographer, humane gardener, traveler, and singer of songs. I've been keeping closer to home these days, and truly discovering the beauty that lies in TheParkNextDoor. Archives
May 2025
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