Summer’s here and we’re all giddy!

Summer officially made its debut at 11:54 a.m. here in Southeast Michigan with a bright and beautiful morning. After countless gray, gloomy and often rainy days, the bright orb in the sky was worth taking note, as “The Detroit Free Press” Tweeted out: “BREAKING NEWS: It’s not raining!” to the delight of many followers:

So, what do you associate with the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year? Fun in the sun?

Originally we had a rainy forecast for the weekend, but this morning the weatherman was like the Town Crier, happy to report that the rain and storms will stay at bay until late Sunday night. That’s cause for celebration and we can break out the shorts and flip-flops for sure and people will likely open their pools.

But, if you don’t have a pool, it’s best to head down to the ol’ swimming hole, like our geese families did. I saw two different families this week at Council Point Park. They were hitting the beach, er ... the Creek for a little swim.

I saw this family parked at the side of the perimeter path, just long enough for me to get a few shots of them as they soon headed down the slope and into the water.

I walked along the perimeter path, and, when I reached the south side of the Park, there were the geese, coming around the corner near the twisted tree, so I ran to find a clearer spot to view them.

Look at the neat line they formed after Mama or Papa Goose and they never strayed out of that queue, except for one gosling who decided to try diving for his breakfast. He couldn’t quite implement that move and, after two tries, and toppling over each time while his parents and siblings watched, he finally gave up. P.S. - I've got to believe they picked up a few stray goslings along the way as these weren't all their own!

Finally, the "signal caller" a/k/a Mama Goose, had her goslings regroup and they tried the diving lessons again.

The following day, I spotted a different family of geese at the cement ledge that covers the storm drain. I have often stood here to take pictures and it is also the ledge where Harry the Heron studies the water for fish, but you can see how the water has risen in the Creek and now sloshes over the ledge. All the walkers are commenting on the high water level here.

On that morning it was windy and the cottonwood seed puffs were drafting around everywhere, and, as you can see, many of them floated over the water and landed daintily, just like mini cotton balls, glomming onto the surface of the Creek.

This is the first family of goslings, and, at a glance, now it is difficult to tell them apart from the parents. They have their adult plumage now and also some features like black beaks and feet. Even their wings appear to be fully developed.

Mama Goose was standing on the cement ledge, deciding whether or not to take a dip, or just preen awhile. Papa Goose was in his sentry stance, watching over his offspring. The goslings often just plop down, either in the middle of the perimeter path, or on the grass. I guess it’s a tough life downing all that grass and taking swimming lessons with your folks and all.

I hope the nice weather is here to stay for awhile ... this is the first time we have had three days in a row of good weather since April 1st – 3rd.