I was late getting to work this morning. I left with plenty of time to pick up a Tim Horton's coffee, and have a leisurely drive to put the day, and the week, into perspective. I headed out the driveway, admiring the bright yellow daffodils that look so perky and cheerful, and feeling pretty proud of myself for actually remembering to plant them last fall!
As I came to the first bend in our driveway, I also noticed a bunch of little pinecones sitting straight up on the edge of the road? That's weird - so of course, I pulled over for a closer look, and Eureka!! Not pinecones at all, but a whole little herd of morels! We have spent many hours to little or no avail, combing the meadows of our area looking for what is thought (by many gourmands) to be the best edible mushroom that grows wild in eastern Ontario and western Quebec. And here!! Right here in my own backyard, there's a flock of them!
They're pretty easily identified. They look like little conehead brains and are hollow on the inside.
There are blonde, brown, and grey versions (just like my own personal hair stages). It's antithesis, the False Morel is poisonous, doesn't have a fully attached cap, is black and slimy, and has white frothy stuff inside the stem. Everything about the False Morel says, "don't eat me".
I was pretty excited and called John to come with a bag and help pick them - which he did. So, guess what's for dinner tonight? It made for a memorable morning.
And it made me late. Thus, when I pulled into the parking lot of the arena where my office is located,
I had completely forgotten that we have visitors in town today.
Not everyday an elephant takes my parking space - but she's 38 years old, and gentle, and she can have it for as long as she wants. She is sharing it with a few of her friends too.
Awww. They're very cute, and while I don't generally advocate for live animal circuses, I do know that these animals are well cared for and loved by their trainers and keepers. Our Animal By Law Enforcement Officer checks to make sure they are being properly tended - as does every other ABEO in Canada, wherever the Circus visits.
The big questions, of course, always revolve around the poop - as in "Who's going to scoop the poop?" and "What do you do with elephant poop, or pony poop?" and "Can I purchase the poop?", and of course that favourite question that inquisitive minds just need to know, "How big is elephant poop?"
Imagine! All this, and it's not even noon yet.
