Short and chilled this week! Yes, chilling, because that’s what you do on the laid back West Coast. That, and it’s been very, very cold out here for the start of December. Not Alberta cold, but certainly chilly.
I was on a field trip with a wrapped up and excited grade 5/6 class yesterday, out on the trail searching for mushrooms. Students had enjoyed a presentation about fungi, listening to a local scientist enthuse about the (for most mushrooms) symbiotic relationship mushrooms have with trees, and the wonderful array of mushrooms that can be found in the immediate rainforest area. Puffball, jelly, truffle – no luck, wrong season – bracket, gilled, veined, morel, bird nest, orange peel, blue chanterelle, we looked high and low (mostly low) for many amazing mushrooms. Students were so engrossed in the search, they forgot just how cold it was. Maybe because they were engrossed in the very best classroom…

It’s not all mushroom mayhem for this fun guy. Earlier in the week I had to drive over to Port Alberni for a committee, and this time I messed up the timing and got caught in a long construction delay. How did I get this wrong? I realized parts of the Ucluelet Small Craft Harbour had a thin layer of ice and couldn’t help myself stopping, barely 30 seconds after setting off, to snap a shot or two on the phone. Yes, I mistimed the traffic, but when I made it through, thinking I’d be the last to arrive, I was the first person there. The morel (oh no) of this story? There isn’t one, just an excuse for a bad pun.

The photos this week are from the early morning stop. The anchor and bench picture is of one of my favourite places to sit and drink coffee, but it’ll be a while before we’re sat back there in warmer weather, chilling.
A short post – trying to keep it cool – thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!
PS Is it fungi or funghi?
fungi or fungi?….not sure but I do know why the mushroom was invited to the party…he was a fun guy.
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Oh yes! Thanks, Mike, and I hope you’ve been having a fun weekend!
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Wonderful photos–thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for stopping by!
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Have to thank you again for helping our younger ones get attuned to the magical and sometimes “punny” realm of nature and its fungi. Really good work, PC. And the photos do a fine job of capturing the mix of chilly air and brilliant overtones of light!
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Thanks, Walt! Apologies for the poor puns – as you know, puns appeal to the young ones (well, they grimace then smile at my attempts) and word play is to be encouraged, along with outdoor play.
I hope you’ve had an enjoyable weekend!
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you should be warmer now Adam! I had trouble getting out of a warm bed to start the fire.
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Yup, looks like warmer and wetter! It was a great sunny snap, and I see you got out to visit your feathered friends – loved the dunlins, what a sight.
Enjoy your weekend – stay dry!
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thanks Adam!
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Love the photos! Great post once again.
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Thanks, Margaret – hope all is well with you!
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Excellent shots.
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Thank you!
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Wonderful photos! The beautiful harbor looks like the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee, chill and ponder bad puns. Enjoyed the bad pun, reading about the kids outdoor classroom adventure and Mike’s mushroom joke. Just in case you’ve missed any football news while out enjoying the laid back West Coast, Man Utd has moved ahead of Everton before their Monday Night Football match against Watford.
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Thank you! Yup, Mike left a good ‘un there…
Hmm, the Premier League was interesting this weekend. A City stumble, Spurs and Arsenal closing the gap and Liverpool top (and MUFC temporarily leapfrogging Everton?!) – often, the team leading going into the New Year wins the league, but maybe there’ll be more teams in the race. Sadly, neither Man U nor Everton, they’ll be scrapping for 6th or 7th and the outside chance of a European place…
I hope you’ve had a good weekend!
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Love the photos, PC. Makes me want to take a crisp morning walk!
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This post made me smile PC. Still, I can’t help thinking of your most recent post and Scout missing. I pray she turns up soon.
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