For Squirrel Appreciation Day - My Squirrel Friends at the University of Michigan.

Over the past few years, I have spent a fair amount of time photographing the campus pets at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). These squirrels are all over campus and are a wonderful distraction. Every day, I try to get out for a walk, feed the squirrels and get some pictures. Even yesterday, I had a very close encounter as this squirrel was climbing my pants.



They are such a wonderful distraction and respite during my day.  Even if I have been having a lousy day (all too often of late), these little guys cheer me up.  They are sweet, lovable, cute, and have been a fixture on campus for a really long time.  That might be one of the best ways that I feel connected to Michigan.  I am carrying forward a legacy that started years and years ago.   In fact, I found this postcard in my travels through Western Maryland years ago.  This was from around 100 years ago.  So it is nice every so often to share an experience with someone three or four generations earlier.



So I am try to work on this as a print book - maybe this will be the year it gets done. I have a lot of good pictures that I took this year with my new camera that I need to get into this mix. These are mostly the original version of the A-Z picture book (from November 2011). I think I have better ones for C (core) and K (knot) and maybe L (leg).  Lots of choices!

If you have some time, here are lots of pictures to see all of my pictures.  Here are all my photos of squirrels at the University of Michigan (there are a lot).  Here is the slideshow:



Here goes...Let me know what you think by sending me email to cseeman@umich.edu or contact me via twitter at @cseeman

A is for America

B is for Berries

C is for Core

D is for Dining

E is for Exhausted

F is for Fighter

G is for Green

H is for Hungry

I is for Ivy

J is for Jump

K is for Knot

L is for Leaves

M is for Mumms

N is for Nuts

O is for Overhead

P is for Pink

Q is for Quick

R is for Running

S is for Snow

T is for Tail

U is for Upright

V is for Velocity

W is for White

X Marks the spot

Y is for Yawning

Z is for ZZZZZ

Challenge of the Yukon WXYZ Detroit - Old Time Radio

Life in the snow, January 5, 2014 in Saline, Michigan.

While Detroit will always be known as the Motor City, we have another think that we can celebrate.  WXYZ was the original radio home for many series including the Lone Ranger, and the Green Hornet.  One of the series I like is very appropriate for today.

Challenge of the Yukon was a long running series that emanated from WXYZ in Detroit.  The series told the story of Sergeant William Preston of the North-West Mounted Police as they thwarted crime in the Yukon.  Sergeant Preston was accompanied by his trusted dog King.  While King was no Flapjack, I assume he did OK.



The series includes both 15 and 30 minute episodes as Sergeant Preston and his wonder-dog King battle wrong-doers in the late 1890s.  It is a good series with pretty good stories.  It definitely fits the bill on a nasty winter day.  Then again, maybe we should think of something in warmer climates!

Here are some links so you can enjoy this series from the comfort of your own home:

• Challenge of the Yukon (episodes at the Internet Archive)
• Wikipedia Entry on the series
• NPR remembrance of the series (Daniel Pinkwater)

Here are some episodes to catch:

• August 23, 1947 - Revenge of Steve Carlton (not the Hall of Fame Pitcher)
• September 22, 1948 - Icebound
• August 24, 1949 - The Yellow Kitten
• January 18, 1950 - The Long Trail