Cats, dogs, leaves, fungi

Charlie sits on the porch bench and surveys his domain. 

Eleanor takes a nap in the sun next to the old garage.

Our neighbors got Eleanor for the purpose of getting their garage and workshop rid of mice. She is spayed and has had her shots.

Eleanor prefers to hunt in my two sheds, sleep in the piles of hay, and annoy Charlie. Such is a cat's life. With her around, some of the varmints seemed to have moved on. 

My neighbor puts out cat food for her and she still seems to prefer our place although we do see her trekking back up the hill once in a while. On hot days I put water out in a few spots for her so she doesn't have to climb the stock tank and take a drink.

Charlie has decided that since Eleanor will run if he chases her, she is good game. He will never catch her, but he sure tries.

Eleanor is definitely not a house cat and she won't let humans get too close either. However, she seems to be doing just fine.

We had extremely dense fog yesterday morning. When Charlie and I went for a walk in the forest to look for colors in the leaves, we found this:

A huge 'Flush' of Chicken of the woods that was very fresh. I was able to pick about 4 lbs of them and I texted Olive to see if she wanted some. 

I made a supper of Chicken Fried Chicken of the Woods, rice, and a salad with Nasturtiums on them.

It was delicious! 

We did find some leaf color in the woods and I hope to get out and look for some more [leaves and fungi!] today.

In the photo below with the Maple Leaf, there are some dried up Oyster mushrooms--not good to eat or pick in this condition. But I was still rather surprised to find them.

The afternoon sunlight really popped the colors in this slippery elm tree. However, a quick thunderstorm moved in ...

and we had to run for cover!

The winds blew, the thunder roared and the leaves from the trees swirled!

Slow motion video clip of 26 seconds.

I'm looking forward to a quiet Sunday of processing carrots and Chicken of the Woods to make mushroom stock for winter soups.

Just do it

I admit it. I am a 10 year old trapped in a 66 year old body. 

It has taken me years to admit that. I'm just a kid at heart. Truly I am.

In public and private I have to be responsible as I am hubby's Fiduciary and his CareGiver. CareGiver with bold letters. I won't bore you with what I have to do for him each day.

However, I have found a few things that allow me to maintain sanity in an insane world where stress seems to be lurking in our lives every moment.

I leave the stupid phone at home or stuff it in a backpack but leave it on Do Not Disturb. Then I wander around the pastures and the woods near by.

Last year about this time, I decided to take a tripod into the woods and dress up and do a forest glamor thing. I wanted to look like a wild gypsy in the forest dancing carefree.

You can see that here: Into the Woods.

This year, I was thinking more along the lines of how much fun we used to have playing in the leaves as kids.

The tripod and camera came with me. The shot above is me walking along a cow trail in my neighbor's pasture where I walk often. 

I'm not so great at doing portraits, especially those of myself. I'm not a model and I am weatherworn. At this point I no longer care.

I want to enjoy myself and feel free which was exactly what happened when I got into the Maple Forest.

I simply tossed leaves into the air and had a good time. No one was there to even hear me laugh.

But man did it feel wonderful.

And no, I did not come home with hordes of wood ticks either.

I came home feeling pleased and smiling. There is just something fun about play.

If you notice that I am wearing two different colored gloves, you are right. I buy a pack of those cheap stretchy ones each year and keep them in my back packs. I often lose one or another and then just grab whatever. No need to match!