For a couple of weeks the birds have been acting like it’s spring. Now the trees are getting in on the act.

For a couple of weeks the birds have been acting like it’s spring. Now the trees are getting in on the act.
Most days I walk the dog right at the end of cocktail hour, which this time of the year is right at sunset.
Ashley and I have been figuring out how the dog should be walked, in order to get her enough exercise that she isn’t a pest, and to make sure that she doesn’t have “accidents” in the house. Here’s how things seem to be shaping up:
The Fourth Walk doesn’t always happen, if she doesn’t seem to need to go out before our main meal of the day, so some days we’re already down to six walks per day. (We were doing about eight walks per day for the first several weeks, as anything less led to peeing or pooping in the house.)
Longer term, I’m hoping to get down to about four walks: First walk, Long walk of the morning, Long walk of the afternoon, and Just before bedtime.
Wish me luck.
Although we’re doing slightly fewer walks, we’re probably walking longer distances—I’m averaging a full 8 miles per day last week and this week.
One of the many advantages of living here at Winfield Village is that we have a dog park!
My brain wants me to get up when it starts getting light outside. Works great most of year—I wake up between 5:30 and 6:30. When sunrise doesn’t happen until after 7:00, my brain decides something has gone wrong, and wakes me up at 4:30. Not convenient.
This handsome fellow was hanging out right outside our front window, vibrating the tip of his tail as if he had a rattle. East-Central Illinois.
@alongsidewild A fox snake?