21. In the woods

Tiny mushrooms

I see the mycelium as the Earth’s natural Internet, a consciousness with which we might be able to communicate.  Through cross-species interfacing, we may one day exchange information with these sentient cellular networks.  Because these externalized neurological nets sense any impression upon them, from footsteps to falling tree branches, they could relay enormous amounts of data regarding the movements of all organisms through the landscape.

~ Paul Stamets

Another misty, gray day.

While out for my walk in the chilly mist today I thought of all kinds of good topics for a blog post.  As soon as I sat down to write, poof!  The topics disappeared.  It must be magic, the way that happens.  My mind is better than any magician when it comes to making things disappear.

In case you’re wondering what you’re looking at in this image, it is a bird nest lined with plastic.

I spent most of my outdoor time in the woods this morning.  Now that the leaves are down and the undergrowth seems to have disappeared (except for the thorny things, of course), there is a lot to be seen.  Some of it good.  Some of it not so good.  I wonder about the birds using plastic to line a nest.  I suppose it provides some waterproofing.  Birds do appear to be opportunists.

This is a good time of year to pick up trash now that the plants have died back and exposed it.  You would think with all the cleaning up we’ve done, there wouldn’t be much trash left to pick up.  You would be wrong, I’m sorry to say.  There is still plenty of cleaning up to do.  Whoever trashed the place did a thorough job of it, and I suspect we’ll be picking up trash for at least a decade.

Popping up.

I was surprised to find mushrooms popping up all over the woods.  I thought it might be too cold, but the woods are warmer than the open meadows and marshes so perhaps they’ll continue to pop up for a little while longer.

Showing the way.

The tiny mushrooms pictured above (and in the first image) were growing in the middle of a deer trail, marching along as if showing the way.

Hiding in the shadows.

I’m not sure how I noticed them, they are so small.

Mushrooms aren’t the only things popping up out of the ground.

It’s Coors Light can season.  I’m not sure how many we’ve picked up since we moved to the ranch.  Far too many.  They keep materializing after a good rain or a super high tide, coming up from under the pine needles in the forest or revealed in the marshes when the grasses die back.

Prettier than a Coors Light can.

We had a mouse in the house yesterday.  It might still be in the house today, but I doubt it.  The cats would be on alert if that were the case.  I know it was here because Bella caught it, and proudly held her head up to me with the mouse’s tail sticking out the side of her mouth.  Then she let it go so she could torture play with it.

Lined up inside the tree bark.

The problem with Bella is that she’s not the fastest cat in the house.  Izzy is, and Izzy doesn’t play with her mice.  She goes for the kill.  Unfortunately, Bella would not let Izzy near the mouse.  When Bella let it go, that was it.  The mouse had found its freedom.

Coming out.

It hid in the sofa for a while, until M and I scared it out.  Bella caught it again, ran down the hall with it, brought it back to the living room and let it go.  Again.  *sigh*  I opened the patio doors enough that the mouse could save its own life by escaping during the next round of shaking up the sofa.  I think it took the hint.  If it was still here, I’d know by how the cats are acting.  Their current nonchalance means it must have made the dash for freedom and succeeded.

Holly berries.

Thank you for visiting today, and joining me on another ramble around the woods.  I’m hoping the clouds will part for sunset.  Sunset is at 4:43 PM.  Is it me or has it been stuck at 4:43 for a while?  Nope, it isn’t just me.  I went back to look at a few old posts, and on December 1 it was at 4:43.  On November 24 it was at 4:45 PM.  Things must be slowing down a bit before the solstice.

I’ll meet you on the dock, if you’re willing to brave the chill and the damp.  I’ll bring some hot tea to keep us warm, and maybe Mother Nature will reward us with a lovely sunset.  If not, we can at least enjoy the tea and chat a bit.

It’s drippy out there.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

Mossy.

Today’s joys:  Finding mushrooms and moss in the woods (we don’t have a lot of moss; I’m not sure why); the gentle mist softening the landscape; the Kingfisher chattering and swooping around the lagoon; celebrating three weeks of good, healthful living.