Hiking, Mushrooms, and Garden Blooms

Some of our time off and away included taking advantage of the amazing sunny weather.  I say amazing, really it has rained so much this spring/summer, so when the sun is out it feels incredible!

When it rains like it has, sometimes three inches at a shot, the weather stays a little chillier and apparently it's perfect for mushrooms!  So on our latest hike I couldn't help but marvel at all the mushrooms that aren't normally there.  Some small, some huge.  Some yellow, orange, brown, or white. 

It really boggles my mind that they seem to pop out of no where.  And yes, I snuck in a slug picture.  It was as big as a twinkie.  Ok, a little smaller than a twinkie... but not a normal thing we would see on a July hike in New York.

Hiking also means time with Katie.  She loves the outdoors!  Sammy (the pup) is almost ready and cleared for hiking, but has one last round of shots to go.  This may be one of our last hikes as a family of three. 

Just look at that big grin!

We have a spot that we typically go to.  It's close, it's a decent hike at some where between six and eight miles, and it's interesting!  It also has lots of big rocks to climb on and marvel at.  Rocks that were dropped by glaciers a long long time ago.  Rocks that are fun to pose on for pictures or use as a table to eat a picnic lunch.

Did you know that rocks dropped by glaciers are called erratics?  --now you might be able to say you learned something today :)

Yes, we're goof balls.  Dontcha, love it?

And this has to be one of my new favorite snaps of Katie!  Smiling ear to ear, big pink tongue, and you can see all those leaves and moss bits in her coat.  Yup.  This is a classic Katie shot!

I also have a lot going on garden-wise! 

The bee balm has been blooming and attracting humming birds.  We have one particular male humming bird that seems to have claimed the garden as his.  I have yet to get a picture of him, but he's beautiful with a bright red spot under his chin. 

This is just one of the many bunches of the flower that I have through out the gardens.  This is my favorite one since it has all three colors... red, fuchsia, and purple.  The purple is just starting to come and only one of the flowers is open.  The fuchsia or pink are the shorter stems next to the tall bright red ones.  I really feel like it's summer when these are in full bloom!

The veggie garden is also doing really well.  We have been enjoying lettuce (romaine and simpson), the sugar snap peas are just about ready, and tomatoes are forming by the handfuls.

My surprise this morning was to see how many cucumbers have popped up!  I mean literally last weekend I had a lot of flowers, and this morning I see four cucumbers --YUM!

Rounding out the list, the strawberries are still forming and ripening, but each time I get close to having a few I think the chipmunks are getting them first.  Sigh.  Some for them, hopefully some for me! 

And that last picture on the bottom right are the jalapenos.  With the cold and rain, I didn't think the hot peppers would work out at all.  But, I have been happy to see the little plant plugging along.  It flowered and sure enough... here come lots of peppers.  I couldn't be happier!

And last, but certainly not least... a few other flowers are beginning their show.  The hosta (two top purple flowers), the yarrow (pink one), and the daisies.  I really do love this time of year!! 

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan