Subtle Signs

Last year at this time I was whining about the massive amounts of snow and/or ice we had been blessed with throughout the winter season.  It seemed like I was never ceasing to yearn for the warmth and signs of spring.  This year has thus far been the exact opposite.  While so many others are getting themselves covered with a white winter blanket and at times a little more, we have not had any moisture for the entire season. 

I do not miss the snow that much, as last year I did get my fill of it.  Yet a nice quiet snow fall would be nice as long as it happened on a weekend and I did not have to be anywhere else.  A nice pot of warm stew simmering in the stove with fresh bread in the oven.  A rich cup of dark Irish tea with honey.  Sounds sort of nice actually.

We have had some cold temperatures yet even there they have been few.  Today was 64 and tomorrow it is to be in the 70s.  With the dryness and the high winds, wildfires have been our biggest worry as of late. 

Even my birds seem to not need me as much as they usually do during this winter.  I have not bought near as much seed as I normally do.  I have even seen signs that make me think they may be thinking about pairing up for mating. 

While messing around in the yard today I stumbled across something I found quite different for the middle of winter.  A couple of small stands of mushroom.  Granted they were nestled in a nice bed of dry leaves as if to shelter them from the coldness if it did drop below a comfortable temperature. 

One group almost looked as if the fairies had been out enjoying them leaving odd almost rune like symbols carved into them.  A sign of an early spring perhaps?  I do not know.  It is only a little under 8 weeks away from officially starting.  The days are beginning to lengthen once again as well. 

Have you seen any signs that spring may be close at hand?  Or has old man winter decided to lengthen his visit with you just a bit longer. 

The Beauty of Fungus

To say the word Fungus... one immediately goes to thinking of nasty... gross... things that you do not want to be touching.. Yet to me, when I hear this word I immediatly think of mushrooms, toadstools, and such.  This time of year they pop out all over our yards..... Fairy rings can be seen popping up before the time of the full moon in hopes that the wee folk will come and play amongst them. 

At my blog The Picture As Janie Sees It I often post my photography I have take or the nature that surrounds me.  This year I was lucky to have plenty.  Fungus or Shrooms as I like to call them were in abundance.  I am amazed at how they can not be seen at one moment then you turn around and there they are.  For any of you who have ever hunted Morels you know exactly what I am talking about.  For those of you who haven't you are missing a treat.  Morels are a safe wild mushroom that grows in abundance in wooded areas in early spring.  The perfect time to go hunting.... when a oak leaf is the size of a squirrels ear.  Or in early April. 

Although I strongly suggest that if you do not know what you are doing.... don't... Many Shrooms are poisonous and without proper identification can be a severe health hazard.  Yet still even if you can not partake of this delicacy that nature has, you can still marvel at its beauty and its manner of sneaking up on us when we least expect them.  Next time you see a shroom peeking its head out of the grass waiting for that perfect moment to spring itself into existance.  Allow it the priviledge of doing just that.  And pay attention to when it finally does emerge.  you may be surprised by the beauty you discover in a gross little thing we call "fungus".