Of course there has to be fungi, slime molds, alligators, rocks, fishies, rain, picnic, and fishing involved.
I went out early to find my fungi friends and admire slime molds. Yeah, I am strange but I love the beautiful world of the odd things in the forest.
Coral Slime Mold...finger for perspective.
It is called Shotgun Fungi/ Shotgun Slime Mold/ Artillery Fungus/ Hat Throwing Fungus... this particular kind grows on Equine Manure.
I know, gross, but kind of cool.
The spores can be ejected up to 18 feet.
What it looks like from a distance. What can I say?...
It is so cool and weird at the same time.
This rainy humid weather is awful for so many things. However, it delights me to scrounge around the forest and look for bizarre things.
Not so bizarre is finding Oyster Mushrooms and bringing them home for a side dish.
Wednesday was fishing day.
Getting Rich to the table was an extra human effort since he can barely walk. But Steve and I got him there. Rich did catch a Bullfish.
Ewww, he tossed it back. Here he is wearing a clear poncho as there was a light rain. He son took it off because it wasn't bothersome.
This is the ME minifig and Charlie....
You never know what to expect at the river!
Be Careful!
Steve is now used to my Lego Antics. When we got Rich to another spot, we really had to struggle to get him through some loose rocks.
This was a good spot and they had a lot of fun watching the turtles try to take the worms.
Rich did catch a fish!
There was a lot of laughter for that.
Here was my Lego scenario for the trek through the loose rocks.
Life in Hospice can be interesting and bittersweet.
One knows that time is probably short. However it is also a time to shine with friends and family.
I don't know how to explain it. But this time has been more joyful. Pain is managed, and our main goal is comfort and doing things for the patient. Rich looks forward to the times Steve shows up and things happen.
Our Grand daughter Ariel will come for the holiday weekend and stay over. She wants to cook another supper for us and just hang out.
I wonder what we may do next week? Rich was really tired out from this fishing trip and it took him a full day of naps to recover. However, he is looking forward to the next adventure.
I am learning alot about the weird and special world of fungi!!! You see things I never even imagined in nature. It's educational and fun and interesting!!! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteYour hospice experience is everything it should be. I know with my family members my biggest concern was pain management. Sometimes it is bittersweet when the person is sleeping a lot, but I think personal comfort is so important. I also think the acceptance - which I know is so so painful does help with the process. You aren't frantic with "what else can we do". You can stop and enjoy (well not always enjoy" the moment. Live in the moment, maybe :)
The fishing trips are fabulous. Steve is the best friend ever and this is the best therapy for Rich, too. The memories will be so wonderful for all three of you. The enjoyment, the peacefulness, the challenges and the successes. Just wonderful.
And how sweet that Ariel is coming back. I know Rich enjoys the visits and I know you do, too. It's one day at a time and you are doing so well.
You are doing a beautiful job. Yes, hospice can be comforting and even humorous. Your fungi friends and that forest are stunning. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteIt does me good to see you folk making these little outings and doing what you can to wring as much as you can out of life.
ReplyDeleteA walk in the forest to find fungi sounds like about as enjoyable a pastime as I can imagine. I have done it many times myself. Nothing odd about that!
ReplyDeleteOF COURSE you have a minifig Rich! One of my art instructors LOVES to draw fungi. I don't think it's wet enough here in dry Alberta for us to have slime mold, but what do I know? Except for maybe snow mold, I know we have that by the end of winter.
ReplyDeleteIt just generally needs rain and humidity and of course something to mold on!
DeleteGreat colorful gooey finds! Your Lego creations are spot on. It is wonderful that Rich has renewed interest to go out and about, even with it's challenges. Perhaps reconsider the free access WI mobility chairs. You are wise to feel the joy.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what that is...
DeleteThey are the really great non-profit that offers track mobility chairs, so that outdoor loving people with mobility loss are still able to enjoy being active in nature (ex. hunting/fishing whatever).
Deletehttps://www.accessabilitywi.org/
Gotcha, I checked it out.
DeleteYou have shown me so much I never knew existed, so please keep on doing what you do. Steve is a wonderful friend.
ReplyDelete