A Year in the Forest

  We had the first hard freeze of the season and consequently I wore long pants for the first time all season.  Sigh it has to happen.  Not much to report.  The freeze did not change much and I spent most of the time clearing a new path.

  The forest was damp and the air cool this morning.  I took the opportunity to go off the beaten path and look at some other areas.  I am not sure why but the bird activity was really ramped u, they were flitting around and bathing in puddles everywhere.  I did find one thing I have been looking for – more of the deer carcass from a few days ago.  I also found some fresh puffball mushrooms that I picked and we had or supper.

  The forest is different today.  Yesterday and overnight we received over an inch of rain.  That was not enough to get the ground good and wet but it did bring down some more leaves and change the tenor of the forest.  I did find a couple of mushrooms which was a welcome change after the last week.  And one that I found was another Maitake, one of my favorite mushrooms.  It was only about two pounds but big enough to provide mushrooms for a few days.  I took time to pick up some chestnuts and a paw-paw and eat them while on my walk.

Forest looks much the same today.  Still dry.

  Dry day in the forest.  Leaves are falling more every day.  I heard the deer snort at me and saw the squirrels playing in the leaves.