Fall at Midland City Forest

Midland City Forest

'Sup, players.

So Kris has been harpin' on me lately to go take the kids out to check out fall leaves, seeing how they're comin' in pretty 'flamboyant' right now.  She wanted to go driving down some rural road up north, or walk around somewhere, and finally determined we were going to take the kids - and the dog - up to Midland City Forest to check out the changing foliage.

And then she decided I was going to take my new camera and take some pictures of the kids.

And then Ella invited herself along.

And that's how we ended up with today's blog post, folks.

I'm not going to bother captioning a bunch of these - they basically speak for themselves.  We parked, walked about a mile into the forest, then turned around because I had to leave by 12:15pm.  See, my good friend Trevor - an old buddy of mine from high school - was practically raised by his grandmother during our high school days, and she recently passed away.  I had to be at the memorial service in Clare, which started at 1pm today, which explains why a.) we were only there for, like, a half an hour, and b.) why I'm dressed up in a suit for these pictures.

So yeah, here's some pictures of my family walking around the woods, with Watson and Ella in tow, and with Yours Truly rocking a suit.

Enjoy.

I'd like to try running these paths at some point, but it's always so awkward when you bump into people on these trails.  Plus I don't have the paths memorized yet, so I'd have to stop at every one of these map things in order to assess where I'm at.  Honestly, I'll probably just run on my treadmill at home.  Where I can watch Netflix and not get lost or have to engage in awkward small talk with passersby.

Having the time of her life.

The answer is 'no.'  No, they never stopped running.

Kris asked if she could take my picture, more or less to make fun of me for being dressed so ridiculously out-of-place in Midland City Forest.  I guess you don't see many guys in full suits strolling around the woods.  Whatever.

Who got to walk the dog next was always hotly-contested.

That's Kris.  Picking up Watson's shit.  You're damn right I needed a picture of this.

Striking a pose.  Always have to be ready for the camera in this family.

When the dog ultimately dies I may have to frame this one and give to Alayna - these two are pretty close.

Once and awhile we came across these giant mud patches we'd have to walk around - we've gotten a crap-load of rain around here lately.  Not the kind of thing I was wanting to walk through in a suit and dress shoes, I can tell you that much.

Some creepy-ass tree.

Alayna requested her picture taken on top of this hill along the side of the pathway.  Whatever you say, kid.

Taking a break.

How is it that Abby's the one who's not messing this picture up?  She's usually the toughest one to photograph these days.

Of course you always have to get yourself a few of these. . .

Trail markers of some kind.  I don't know, I don't know how to read these things.

At the first bridge.  We had to wait a couple minutes for a family - with a far-less impressive camera, mind you - to wrap up taking their lack-luster pictures.

The dog never sat still for long.

Heading back towards the car, after about a half an hour or so.  We more or less walked to the bridge, snapped some pics, then started back.  I was running short on time, but Kris wanted to hang out on the trails with the kids (and dog) a little longer.

Alayna took this picture of the two of us, hence the bizarre framing job.  I took off right after this was taken, as I was going hard-pressed in order to make it to Clare in time to catch the memorial service's start time (I ended up walking in ten minutes into the service, but was able to grab a seat in the back without having my tardiness noticed.)

After I left, Kris snapped a few selfies.  Of course.

One last picture on their way out.

- Brian

We Get It, Leaves...

Seriously.

Perhaps I'm spoiled from my eight years of Florida residency, perhaps I'm just being a good ol' fashioned 'Grumpy Pants,' who knows.  But I'm just going to come right out and say it. . .

I'm done with Fall.

I get the appeal, I do.  The cool, crisp air, the pumpkin beer, the pumpkin carving, the pumpkin spice invasion of every facet of our consumer society. . . it makes sense.  Fall is swell.

From a distance.  Like, when you're looking at other peoples' pictures from across the country.

I used to enjoy the changing colors of Fall, and I did this year, too. . . for the first month.  It was nostalgic, and it was cool seeing the girls' reaction to seeing leaves fall through the air.

But then reality set in, and I realized - in horror - that I would have to start cleaning up after Mother Nature in the same manner as I clean up after Watson while taking him out for walk.  Just more frequently.

Mother Nature, as it would seem, won't stop shitting in my yard.

Check it out. . .

Hough Manor (for now)

A view of our side yard (we're renting a corner lot, so it's a shitload more leaves to rake up this time of year.)

The Cannonball decided she'd help me with the raking this afternoon. . .

The Detroit Lions finally put an end to their atrocious losing streak this season. . . thank God.  After a couple hours raking I took a short beer-and-Lions break.

Kris and Abby had originally decided to rake up the side yard, but the pile never quite made it to the curb. . .

. . . somewhere along the line Kris relented and began piling up all the dead leaves into a pile for the kids. 

When you've spent your entire existence in a swampy, urban sprawl - without seasonal changes of any kind - this sort of thing is a pretty big deal.

 

No, I didn't use a leaf blower.  I used a rake.  And my muscles.

. . . and the kids 'helped.'

Raking leaves the first time?  That was cool.  The second time (less than a week later, probably)?  Okay.  The third, fourth time?  No.  Hell no, Mother Nature.  It's no longer cool.  I don't care how much you want to dress it up in sweaters, knee-high boots and Infinity Scarves, Mother Nature is still a seasonal skank who can no longer control her bodily functions, and I'm funned out with her.

The kids lose steam. . .

Bath time at the Hough House. 

Watson sportin' the Honolulu Blue

New neighborhood tourist attraction (this is our side yard.)

Abby and her classroom beau, Jackson

Guess which kid's having fun helping out the parents with yard work?

COWABUNGA

Hopefully Old Man Winter is a little more considerate.  I mean, what could he possibly dump in my yard that I'd have to worry about.

Right, guys?

- Brian