The Last Day Of School And A Walk In The Park.

 Today was the last day at Shoreland for the School year.  Yuan will be heading back to China tomorrow afternoon.   I'm kind of glad I was not there today.   From the sound of it,  the last day was all tests and the last HOUR was Physical Science!   I can only imagine what kind of Zoo the classroom would have been like.  

But while the Shoreland Teachers were staying on top of that craziness,  I was out walking in the forest, looking for Mushrooms and anything else I could find that might be blog worthy.   Even in the rain,  there is a sense of peace you can find no where else.   

Although the mushrooms have taken a break with all of the raining that has been going on,  I did manage to find something of interest.  A Scarlet Tanager! 

I have only seen one other one in my life.   In Michigan!   And it was so brief and sudden and STRIKING!  That we would head to that location for weeks afterwards trying to catch another glimpse of one. 

  I never happened. 

But today,   while deep in the forest of Parkside,  I saw this one.   And I managed to get about a dozen pics of him.   The only problem was that my Zoom was not enough for a fully detailed pic.  Just like those times back in Iowa when I would attempt to capture the Indigo Bunting.  (Another striking bird!)  At least there were several places where we could count on a sighting of the Bunting.  I don't know anything about the habitat of the Scarlet Tanager.

In addition to the bird,  I had several deer sightings.   In the rain, it is surprising just how calm the deer are.   I was impressed that they let me get that close to them.   

Deer are not that surprising in the Midwest.  (Unless they have antlers...) And I certainly have been able to get my share of closeups in the past.   But I always enjoy talking to them and having a visit when I'm on a nature walk.  And I'm sure with all of the foot traffic and dog walkers out there, the deer have learned o keep calm and out of sight in plain sight!  Most people will simply pass on by. 

Tomorrow, I have been invited onto the Big lake for a fishing trip with Dave's friend.  (Who has a big boat.)  It will be an early rise tomorrow, with a chilly bit of rain predicted.   Hopefully,  this last little cold snap before summer will keep the fish in the shallows and hungry!   We shall wish for some luck.

And then there is the "Goodbye" to Yuan.   It seems rather uneventful that he should just pack up and leave for China so suddenly.   Then again,   we can't take him out for "Old Fashions" like we did with Kyle.   I did take him out to Culver's yesterday for a butter burger and some Frozen Custard.  ( He loves Ice cream!)  

Then again,  perhaps he does not like large parties and saying long goodbyes.   (Who really does? Anyway.)  So tomorrow will be a big day for Dave.  And early Morning Fishing trip and then a drive to Chicago to drop off Yuan.  And Driving to Chicago is so much fun on a Friday....

At the very least, I will volunteer to clean any fish we happen to catch.   (That IS an optimistic take on it....  We will have to actually catch something for me to be able to be useful.)  As for now, the best I can do is get a good night's sleep and prep for tomorrow.   Hopefully I will be able to get some sleep instead of thinking about all of the excitement of being back on the big lake.  That means an early bed time...  Because when it comes to sleep, every second counts.