Happy New Year!

What would a New Year's Day celebration be without a sojourn into the woods, seeking the elusive edible mushroom?   And, so it was that I set out about 1:00 PM on Wednesday, my basket on my left arm, my lucky walking stick in my right hand, and a smile upon my face.  I was convinced that this year's annual trek was going to be extraordinary. 

Just imagine:  it's January 1st on the southern Oregon coast known for its winter storms.  Yet, today the temperature is a balmy 62 degrees, there's so little wind that it doesn't even register on our weather station, and the fallen leaves on the walking path are so dry and crunchy that my presence is loudly announced to any critters inhabiting the refuge.  What a change from the usual New Year's Day foray!

I returned to the house about 2 hours later with a respectable collection of picture perfect chanterelles and hedgehogs.  Steven and I had long ago decided that only the most perfect specimens would be placed in our mushroom baskets and today was no exception.  The semi-dehydrated mushrooms (including a cauliflower) were left on the forest floor to share their spores with future generations.  Frankly, I'm still shaking my head at encountering so many semi-dehydrated mushrooms.  When was there ever a winter when the mushrooms literally dried up in the ground?

We found this graceful sulfur shelf near the gate. 

Returning to the house, I was greeted with an incredible number of hummingbirds who've chosen the refuge as their winter home.  These days it's not infrequent for us to have in excess of 12-15 hummers at both the upstairs and downstairs feeders.  In fact, Steven is using a gallon of sugar water to refill the feeders every other day, just like in the summertime.  Amazing and a little scary because we know that they should probably be in a nice, guaranteed warm climate at this time, some place far south of here.  But, that’s not the choice that these brave little souls made.  They chose to brighten up the space surrounding Mary and Steven’s home and to make our lives a little cheerier with the presence.  Thank you, sweet hummers!  

Then, of course, there are the ever present and energetic Oregon Juncos.  What a pleasure they are to have in the landscape, so full of enthusiasm for whatever the day brings.  Regulars at our seed feeders, they are easier to take care of than the hummers, and we make a point to supplement their winter diet with lots of peanut butter and suet. 

I’m keeping an eye on the planter box on the East side of the house where there are a number of daffodil bulbs.  Interestingly, their leafless stems have been popping up out of the soil over the past week or so, some reaching a good 4-5 inches high.  I’m curious to see what affect the cold snap that we had a couple of weeks ago will have on them!  I know what I’d do if our places were changed:  I’d pull my pretty little green stem back into the soil and take a long winter’s nap!

But, instead, I'm starting to test the recipes submitted in our annual Recipe Contest.  In fact, we're dedicating this collection of New Year's Day mushrooms to using when we prepare the entries for taste testing.  Deadline for entries is January 14th - there's still time for you to add your original recipe.  We'll be looking for it!