Just a Little Gem

Piper and I were walking at a nearby historical site and spotted a few of these little gems hidden among the new grass and dry leaves. 

Even thought this picture was taken a couple weeks ago, I figured I needed to post it so BetsyLee could get her mushroom fix. :)

I made a nice pan of crispy fried morels to enjoy with my sister for an appetizer before dinner. Only fresh morels are good for that particular purpose. When we have an abundance, we dry and freeze them for other culinary adventures, but I look forward to a pan or two of crispy ones when we're fortunate enough to find some. 

Looney Tunes

While the days are starting to get warm, nights are still fairly chilly, so I keep the window open to cool things off. There's something so nice about the fresh air wafting through the room when I'm sleeping (except, of course, when the skunks walk by with their distinctive perfume). 

As a bonus to the (usually) fresh air, Piper and I have been awakened by the pre-dawn call of loons from across the bay. It's a perfect prelude to an early morning walk. 

We typically don't see them, since they're way on the other side of the water, but we occasionally get a glimpse when we're walking along one of the other nearby lakes, which is where these pictures were taken. 

Bald is Beautiful

These pictures were taken a couple weeks ago, when the trees were just beginning to put on their summertime finery. 

On the hillside behind my sister's house is a favorite perch for the eagles to survey their territory. 

When Piper and I take our early morning walks, we frequently see them gliding overhead, looking for hapless fish, squirrels or rabbits as they hunt for something to feed their youngsters. 

This handsome pair must have a nest nearby, since they are in the neighborhood almost every day. 

Now that the leaves are on the trees, it's impossible to get a good picture, since they're hidden by the foliage, but they can still see all the hunting possibilities. They do have the eagle eyes, after all! 

Oh, Deer!

Piper and I discovered this little sweetheart hidden in the grass very close to the road along which we were walking a couple mornings ago. 

It did an excellent job of staying put and hardly twitching a muscle, in spite of Piper's interest. I told Piper to leave it, took a quick picture and kept walking, so we wouldn't disturb it. I think I might need to lecture its mother about leaving her youngster quite so close to the road - there were much better places nearby to park the baby while she went to find her breakfast. 

Piper remembered where it had been and took me by the same spot the next morning. Needless to say, she was disappointed the interesting and unusual creature was no longer there. 

A Puzzling Solution...

Here's the original puzzle picture again, so you don't have to back up to the last post to see if you can find what's hidden in it. 

If you click on the image, it will enlarge and you can poke around the bigger version for a closer look. 

Fairly close to the middle, sitting on a little branch next to a clump of grass is this tiny little creature. 

It's about the size of a quarter, as you can see by the size of the grass blades behind it. I'm not sure why I even saw it, but something about seeing the that roundish shape on the long stick in my peripheral vision snagged my attention and made me look again. Isn't it a cutie? Piper wasn't sure what the big deal was, but she waited patiently while I knelt down on the trail and took some photos. 

A Puzzling Post

I haven't posted in quite a while. It's been a rough winter, but I'm hoping for a more promising spring and I'll try to be better about showing up to report on small adventures. :)

So, here's a little puzzle to start things off. 

Piper and I were walking in the wetlands and something caught my eye as we were going along our way. 

Can you see it? 

A Notice from a Cute Observer

This handsome red-bellied woodpecker has been coming around to the bountiful banister of treats. Peanuts are a particular favorite with him (and many other birds). He was a late nestling last summer and my sister has been watching him figure things out for quite a while. 

He's definitely out of his awkward adolescent phase and has come into his own. These guys are favorites around here and it's especially fun when one becomes a regular visitor. I hope he finds a sweetheart and sets up housekeeping close by.

(Check out the lovely blush on his breast and cheeks.)

And the notice? Spring is coming! Things are looking up! (I know - I just couldn't resist!)

20

I was reflecting this morning that today would have marked the 20th anniversary of my reopening Stampeaz. We almost made it to that milestone! I had some fun things planned for celebrating the day that won't happen now, but that's okay. Many wonderful things happened along the way. 

I met some of the most wonderful and amazing people because of Stampeaz - both in person and online and I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I appreciate all of you. Sharing the adventures of art, carving, letterboxing and the quest for a better carving material  enriched my life. 

Thank you!

The Great Frozen Tundra

 No, it isn't really the frozen tundra, but it looks and feels a little bit like it! 

This sweet vole ventured out of its comfy burrow under the cedar roots to grab a sunflower seed. It would peek out, find a seed and dart back to safety again. 

This one had to tunnel under the snow to get to the seed stash beside Madame Cardinal! 

The bay has frozen over and the snow covered ice does make it look like a great expanse of frozen tundra. Tonight the wind came up and scoured some of the snow off and it's beginning to resemble a giant skating rink (people actually do skate across to the island). 

Windy, Wintry Wonders

It's been extremely cold, windy and snowy around here lately (just about everywhere else, too!). 

My sister feeds the birds in the back of the house and along the banister of the front porch. The wind blew so hard all the mealworms and peanuts blew off the rail, but this enterprising little nuthatch found a tasty mealworm to fly off with. 

When it's this cold, the squirrels usually stay curled up in their nests, but one intrepid black squirrel ventured out for some sunflower seeds. It looks really cold, doesn't it? 

The wind and chill caused frost to rim birds' eyes, making them look like they were wearing white mascara. 

But they're absolutely beautiful sheltering in the snow covered cedar. We're looking at Christmas card scenes every day! 

More Meandering Mushroom Memories

As promised, here are a few more mushroom pictures from before the fire. 

I always love the fall fungus walks, because the woods smell like mushrooms and earth - and there's magic in the air. 

Newly blooming mushrooms peek out from the ground to tease the eye. 

Bigger, bolder specimens add more color and texture to the forest floor and I can imagine wee folk sheltering from the rain under their spreading caps. 

Lacy fungus adorn tree trunks like Elizabethan ruff collars. 

And there are occasional growths of stadium seating for tiny fair folk to sit and watch the moonlight dancing!

Flights of fancy often overtake me when I let myself imagine what might go on just beyond our ability to sense it. :)

Mushroom Meandering Memories

I finally finished the latest round of loss list paperwork after the house fire (the deadline was Monday and they sent me additions as late as Saturday afternoon!). 
 

I thought it might be a good opportunity to step back in time and ignore the blowing snow and fire cleaning for a few minutes to celebrate an autumnal mushroom walk Piper and I took before all the excitement began. The bear's head tooth on the decaying fallen tree behind Piper was one of the main reasons for the excursion. They're delicious! 

My mushroom books are all in the pile of things they are trying to clean, deodorize and reclaim (fingers crossed) so I'm missing my reference books and haven't done any identification work. 

There were different textures, colors and growth habits everywhere. 

I thought these (whatever they might be) were particularly interesting It looked like the emerging fungus was being parasitized by a different fungus. These were blooming on the ground near the base of trees and stumps. 

I will post more of these in a day or so. It was a lovely walk with lots to see - and I hope it's a nice break from the cold, wind and snow.  

 

It's Cold Outside!

The wind has been blowing so hard that there is no longer any snow piled up on the branches, but I thought I would post a few pictures taken before it was all blown away into big drifts. It's really not that nice for a walk outside and Piper and I are both going a little bit stir crazy!

So, we watch the birds and squirrels. This goldfinch is taking advantage of the banister banquet, getting a beak full of snow along with the sunflower seeds. 

The doves lined up overlooking the banquet table to make careful plans before gliding in for a treat. 

I think they're pretty framed by snow and branches. They have such warm, rosy brown feathers. 

Happy New Year!

Things have been chaotic around here, as you might imagine! Some things, however, don't change. 

I'm still watching the birds, but from the bountiful banister buffet at my sister's house and walks around her neighborhood with Piper. 

I hope 2026 is as delightful as this titmouse enjoying the fattest peanut it could find along the rail. 

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous year! 

And I'll try to be a little better about posting from time to time! :)