Welcome to the first weekly challenge for One Step at a Time. For this adventure, I didn’t stray too far from home. The Deer Run Trail at Kensington Metropark is an easy 1.5 mile hike on a natural surface. Along the way, I was guided in the right direction by a fellow walker, a sandhill crane (pictured below).
Join in on this challenge by posting a link and/or pingback on the comments below. Guidelines for the challenge can be found here.
All photos are my own. ©Pepper Tron/Heavens Sunshine
No usage allowed in any form without my written consent.
38 responses to “One Step at a Time #1”
Wonderful photos, Pepper! How lucky you were to have a Sandhill Crane guiding the way.
Thanks, Egidio. I was very grateful for the Sandhill Crane’s help. I might have gotten completely lost without it. 😉
Here’s my entry: https://throughbrazilianeyes.com/early-spring-pollinators/
This is a great idea for a challenge.
Such a gorgeous place for walking and so lovely to see the sandhill cranes! ❤️ Our contribution for your lovely new challenge is here: https://tranature.com/2026/03/18/wordless-wednesday-a-relaxing-stroll/
Xenia, thanks so much for linking this beautiful stroll to the challenge. I absolutely love your images. 👏
Wow, a fun hike and new challenge, Pepper! I’ll add today’s flower hour link Wednesday! Love the sandhill crane!
Thank you very much, Terri. 😊
Here is my link, Pepper. This will be fun, and I bet you are going to be busy!
https://secondwindleisure.com/2026/03/17/flower-hour-22-relaxing-beside-desert-greens/
Yay! Thank you so much, Terri. I don’t mind busy at all. 😁
Kensington Metropark looks inviting to walk in, even with the landscape so barren this time of year. The Sandhill Crane looks like it is strolling along too. 🙂 We had a pair at Lake Erie Metropark for several years, always hanging out in the same area, but last year I only saw them once or twice in the Spring, so they must have relocated to a larger park. I asked other people, but they had not seen them either. I hope they return.
Pepper, now that I know any hike/walk will work for this Challenge, I will add the link to my post on Sunday when I post. Here it is Downtown Wyandotte in September 2025:
https://lindaschaubblog.net/2026/03/15/mixin-and-minglin-on-the-cusp-of-fall/
So glad you added your link because I love your photos. 👏
Thank you Pepper! I know right now it is blah with the landscape, so I always have some walks from last year tucked away to use to tide me over.
That is great planning.
Thank you Pepper. Last Summer I didn’t get to as many parks for long walks with the camera as I normally would have . I used to post at different times, but now that I have a set schedule of Sundays and Wednesdays, I want to ensure I don’t run out of photos.
I’ve considered having a set schedule as well. Seems like an easier way to post consistently.
I used to post three or four times a week years ago, but once I started Wordless Wednesday I decided on just two days a week. I switched to publishing late on Sunday night a year or so ago. I shut my computer and I am not tempted to stay up later, especially in the Summer when I get up earlier. Several followers live on the West Coast. You participate in photo challenges. I did not do any until Terri asked me to join her Sunday Stills in the Fall of 2023. I had only done Wordless Wednesday before that.
I understand. We all need a break from blogging occasionally.
In the beginning I never used photos, then I went to photos I got off Pixabay, or a company called “Dollar Photo” so I could whip out a short post, search for a photo and it was easier. That was before I had 25 pictures in each post. 🙂
Wow! You’ve had quite the evolution. I really enjoy your posts. 😉
Thank you Pepper – my earliest posts, I thought I’d do something unique, but it fell kind of flat. A one-word title, a one-paragraph story and no pictures. I have thought of just deleting them, but I just leave them there to look back. 🙂
Oh, that sounds interesting! I think most of us had a hard time getting started. Is it okay if I go scroll through some of your early posts?
I also used pictures for holiday scenes/memories posts from a woman photographer on Pixabay named Jill Wellington. She used to take pictures of holiday villages, like you put out on a tabletop, or hot chocolate with peppermint sticks or big marshmallows, fun holiday pics for every holidays. Her pictures were festive looking.
I never knew she was from Saginaw, Michigan. She was a TV news reporter that retired and her husband bought her a DSLR for a retirement present. She got interested in photography, especially portrait photography and made a second career from it. I followed her on Facebook and wrote her a message how I used her photos and sent her the posts. She thanked me and encouraged me to still use her posts, but start using my own photos and sent me her blog because that is how she started taking pics, for her blog.
I don’t know if she still does her blog or not. She now has four grandchildren, so most of her photos she posts on Facebook are about her grandchildren. She is now into watercolor painting as well, so she has a lot of her paintings on there as well. Talk about evolving!
Sure, you will not find much in those old posts believe me! I had one follower, my next-door neighbor that wanted me to start a blog and I only did it to make her happy. It was not my intention to start a blog. 🙂 The first four and one-half years, I had just a handful of e-mail subscribers only, then someone on WP discovered my blog and things took off a little after that.
I looked up Jill and she is a wonderful photographer.
I think so too Pepper. Jill buys 1950s props and clothing to use in a series of photos she calls “Vintage Val”. The woman (Val) is her friend – they are often seasonal shoots and very clever.
That is a great idea! 😉
Yes, she has a lot of fun with her Vintage Val pics and they are often used for vintage publications or stories. She usually shares on Facebook when people choose them off Pixabay.
Great looking trail and I love your surprise companion, Pepper!!
Here’s my post for the challenge:
https://bayphotosbydonna.com/2026/03/17/leave-nothing-but-footprints-1-battle-creek-cypress-swamp/
Thanks so much for taking part in the challenge, Donna. Your photos as wonderful (of course) and I love the cardinal. Have a great day. 😁
Thank you, Pepper, you too!
Lovely spot and cool fellow walker!
I agree! The sandhill cranes are everywhere at this park. There are also several blue herons starting to build their nests not too far away. 😉
Such a lovely blog! God bless you.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, Cale. So glad you found my site. Have a wonderful day.
You’re most welcome, and thank you!
Here is my response to the prompt:
https://frankhubeny.blog/2026/03/16/views-of-south-beach/
Thanks so much for taking part in the challenge, Frank. Enjoyed the blue skies and warmth from your views of South Beach. Have a great day. 😉
What a great companion to have along!
Yes, it was! That is one of the best parts about Kensington Metropark. So many birds of all kinds. everywhere. It is a great spot for birders. 😊