Mushroom Hunting

I finally had a very special guest come visit me and have dinner with us...Gerard! Yes, a few weeks ago I invited Susanna and Sergi with their little package to come over and supper with us. He, of course was the light of the party and the girls were enchanted by him as he was passed from arms to arms, never shedding a tear or protesting. He a woman's man. I can see it already...

The following day, it was my turn to be treated to something out of the ordinary...a very special someone surprised me with a homemade chocolate cake, laced with chocolate syrup and fresh raspberries! For those of you who know me well, this is the way to win your way to my heart. I have posted the pictures so you can let your mouth water and envy my luck...kidding, envy not necessary.


Then, oh and then, I did something completely out of the ordinary. I finally went mushroom hunting! Yes, in Catalunya and other parts of Europe, people have a true interest in mushroom hunting, picking whatever you want to call it. Turns out, Oriol is a pro at it and he wanted to be the first one to introduce me to this very special Autumn event. And so we grabbed some bags, Mollie and headed to the mountains!

So, what is this all about, you ask? Well, let me explain. It is about going out into nature. About looking for the perfect mossy forest and digging deep under ferns and bushes, having your hair tangle in the thorns and ivy that decorate the autumn forest. Stopping to listen to the leaves fall from trees and crunch under Mollie's paws.


Pulling wet, slimy mushrooms from the cold dirt. Witnessing ivy and its intricate mathematics wrap around a cut tree

Seeing colors and smelling freshness, clean, unspoiled air and taking it all in. Photographing nature up close




Hoping that your children and mine, our grandchildren and all the children will get a chance to see this at one point in their lives. That perhaps we'll get serious about taking care of the earth so it can continue to generate and grow, not disappear. Finding violet mushrooms and deciding to leave them behind because they are just too lovely to pull out.

Finishing the cool afternoon rummaging around and laying on the cold wet earth to take it all in. Swinging on the same swing Oriol used to swing on as a child and finally going home, full to cook the earth you've picked and eating it, with a smile on your face and more than one thought on your mind about the state of us.