(no subject)

[calissa]

Here's a shot of more of the Fly Agaric I saw last month. It gives a better idea of how many of them there were and how big they can get, the way they change shape.

This week's volunteer shift started off a bit more lively with two calls coming in as soon as I switched on -- one possible juvenile quail found on the outskirts of the city centre (apparently there's native quail that live there!), and one Australian magpie caught in a shopping mall. The busy start is in contrast to how shifts have been mostly going lately... as well as life more generally.

Locally, the snow has remained on the hills. It's unusual for it to linger like this. Generally, it tends to be there for a day, then melt the next day, before returning in a week or however long. It has probably been facilitated by some grey weather. But today we got back to our classic winter weather: crystal blue sky, sunshine and utterly freezing. The snow has been pretty to look at, but I'm glad to have finally got some washing dry (like a decreasing proportion of the Australian population, we only line dry and don't possess a clothes dryer).

Lots of bits and pieces continue to get cancelled due to various people coming down with illnesses of various sorts. I was supposed to be running an RPG on Saturday that has been cancelled. I admit I'm a little disappointed, but the quieter weekends have been rather lovely. My reading has been flagging a bit lately and I have a pile of library books due back soon, so I might bundle up on the couch with the dogs.

Tomorrow night, my sweetheart is out with friends, so I signed up for another, longer volunteer shift. I had thought I'd do some RPG prep in that time, but with that cancelled I'm especially glad for the shift, since I think it will help combat any loneliness that might sneak in.

Comments

[starlightmagpie]

Thank you for sharing that photo. Love those mushrooms. I like fungi of all kinds, but I'll admit there's something a little extra special about seeing these particular ones. What trees do they grow on with you? Are they native to Aus or another dodgy import?

*snugs* Hope things perk up a bit for you soon.

[calissa]

These mushrooms are growing under a stand of pin oaks (though there's one amongst them that I'm almost sure is a different kind of oak, but haven't quite managed to identify what sort). The pin oaks are introduced, being native to eastern and central US. They also seem fond of popping up Death Cap mushrooms, though they're not as reliable about it as the English oak.

*hugs* Thank you! I'm doing pretty well (and am very glad to hear from you).

[starlightmagpie]

Oh, that's interesting. Fly agaric likes birch and pine trees here, light soils and heathland, quite different to where our death caps tend to pop up. The world is a wide and wondrous place :)

[calissa]

Fly agaric likes birch and pine trees here, light soils and heathland,

Huh. Well, there's a stand of casuarina close by (which are rather like pine trees), but our soil is generally heavy clay and that spot in particular can get quite wet. Seems weird.

The world is a wide and wondrous place :)

That it most certainly is.

[onewhitecrow]

Slepnir's foooooaaaaaam! I love fungi in general but fly agaric is so great, thank you so much for showing us.

Well done for helping save a lost magpie and maybe a quail, too, that is a very useful thing to be doing not to feel lonley. If things are slow there maybe your RPG would need handouts? You could make those whilst waiting, maybe, they'd be easily dropped when a call came in (unless that's not how it works at all, in which case don't listen to me...).

[calissa]

fly agaric is so great, thank you so much for showing us.

My pleasure! There really is something magical about them.

Unfortunately, the RPG was cancelled due to illness and an impending wedding, but that's a good suggestion for next time.

[onewhitecrow]

Besides being a fast way to the Upper World? (I suppose whether that's magical depends on one's definition of 'magic', though...)

Oh, I thought you meant it was just cancelled one time rather than in general, I'm sorry to hear that. More time for all those books, at least! Mind not to stress yourself out with deadlines, though - you don't have to earn time to just be an alive animal at rest.