A Wonderfully Wild Nature Walk

 Yesterday was a wonderful day, weather wise.  I think it climbed up to 68 degrees with plenty of sun in the afternoon.   A perfect day to do a little walking around on the outside.

Unfortunately, I have been battling the sniffles for the last couple of days.   And today...  It has really hit me hard!  No energy!  Pain in the joints!  Sinus headache!   You name it...   I'm even beginning the sneezing and coughing part.   I thought I would be ok, since Dave and Yuan have been dealing with it for over two weeks now.   I felt fine!  Until yesterday. 

But thankfully,  it had not fully hit me yesterday and had enough energy to take a walk out in the great outdoors.   Besides!   The Mushrooms are supposed to be in season.  (Morels...  I hate Morels!  But that is pretty much what it out this time of year.)    

To clarify:  I love to eat morels... Just finding them is so frustrating!  Because other people hunt them and find them better than I can....

I have only found "one" Morel here in Kenosha. (EVER!   And that was last year...)  I was talking with another mushroom hunter at the Clubhouse and he told me that unless you know someone with private land,  you are going to have a hard time finding them.   Especially since all of the Elm and Ash trees are gone.  Not that that keeps me from trying... 

I continue to go out and have a look.  If nothing else, it is an excuse to get outside and have a purpose.   Plus!   There are a couple of other mushrooms out there that I may get lucky and add to my basket.   The Birch Oyster and the Dryad Saddle.   

I have been having a bit of luck with the Dryad Saddle lately.   The key for those is finding them before they get Super big and tough!  Get them young, and they are chewy without the texture of leather.   

That being said,  they are still not the "best" mushroom out there.  But, in desperate times,   I pick them and bring them home, just so I can say I was somewhat successful. ( And Dave eats them...)  

I checked out a different place from my normal search areas.   Hawthorne Hallow!   It is a place with an Observatory in the middle of a field.   I hear they have star gazing events now and then throughout the summer. Perhaps one of these days, I will check it out if I'm still awake after sundown.

Otherwise, they have a few trails and flower gardens you can hike and explore.  The property borders the Pike River and has several cute bridges and stone walkways crossing the river.  And while I was technically looking for mushrooms, that did not stop me from capturing several photos of the flora and fauna.   

Turkey Tail.. Old, but pretty!

I am always fascinated by the Tiger Beetle.   The Shiny Green color and fast movement always captures me.   I also saw a Mourning Cloak butterfly... Who was taunting me with his wing flexes.   I had to shoot him several dozen times to finally get him with his wings open.  

My favorite Robin nest finally had her eggs hatch!   I snapped a few pics and was looking forward to seeing her again today,  but when I returned to the nest this afternoon,   the chicks were gone.   I had a feeling that being that low to the ground would eventually be a danger.   My guess is that a raccoon or Opossum  stopped in for a snack.  Sad,   But that is nature...

My hope is that it is still early enough for her to have a second brood.   And this time,  set the next up a tad bit higher. 

Speaking of all things God designed:   I found this interesting seed pod on the beach.  Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the spines on the outer case are slightly bent into a hook.... for grabbing!  ( In this case, my sock!)    How impossible it must be that a plant,  with no intelligent design or designer, came up with a unique feature for its seeds to grab on to creatures to be dispersed!  "Evolution" must have had a LONG, LONG,  TIME.... to come up with that strategy.  

I have also been trying to fly kites while the spring winds blow.   When the wind is supposed to be above 8 mph, I head to the beach to see if I can get one of my kites air borne.  I have not been very successful....

First,  my kites keep breaking!   So I ended up buying a cheap one from Walmart.   And those guys fly.. but the wind has been either too soft or too hard. ( Like Goldie Locks!)  At one point,  the wind grabbed my kite before I could tie it to the string and it blew it into Lake Michigan!  ("Wave"   Goodbye unused kite....)  

Even today, the wind has been "so-so" as far as consistency.   They said it was supposed to get up to 11 mph. but those are only gusts.    And forget me attempting the Stunt Kite. 

Ah.... The "Stunt Kite"   About as worthless as hunting for Morels in Kenosha.   In other words:   The secret eludes me!  Where are the Morels?   How do you fly a Stunt Kite?   Where are the Instructions on Google?  

Actually, there are LOTS of instructions on google.   And Many of them are USELESS!   And the specific thing that I am looking for evades me. ( Namely:  How do you attach the kite to the string so it works properly?)  My stunt kite simply spins out of control because I think the loops were not attached properly at the factory. That being said, I have been experimenting with trial and error every day trying to get the thing figured out.  And those are only the days where the wind is cooperating.  

Then again,  that is part of the fun of a hobby.    I used to have it down to a science several years ago.   I have since forgotten all of that knowledge ( because... your brain has the tendency to forget things if it does not do it often enough....)   And I have since lost my Computer that had the best webpage saved in my favorites!   (  Thus,  Proving you can't even count on a computer!)   

One of the cool things about the kite flying is that it gets me to the beach.  Without Cheryl, the beach just does not seem to be as much fun when you are alone.   ( And down right frustrating when you have an uncooperative kite to deal with....) You would think that the sound of the waves crashing on the shore would bring you a sense of peace and harmony when you visit the big lake.    But honestly,   being alone in a zen-like place as that makes you want to share it with someone.  Your Friends.  Your Family.   Even your Dog!  Experiences are better when they are shared with others.  

That is why I never complain whenever Cheryl visits and drags me down to the beach to hunt for "Treasures!"  (Bits of beach glass, drift wood, rocks,  Shells... etc )   The walk might seem far;   The weather might seem harsh;   And the Time might zoom by at record speed....  But it is always worth it.  

I'm hoping I get to feeling better soon.  This week should be prime time for the mushrooms I can not seem to find   But that will not keep me from trying....  And I actually like Sunlight!    It beats being stuck in the basement with a warm beverage trying to stay warm under a blanket.  I can actually hear the wind picking up again!   I doubt I will go back out there again today, but it is tempting.  I'll save my energy and try to beat this cold so I can get out for the weekend.   Because time is short!  And every second counts.