Orcas

I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of seeing Orcas, in the wild, from my very own town!

 

and in the water and on the rocks beneath us, so many seals hoping not to become lunch!

 

 

A Surprise Whale

We often head to this beach when we hear reports of a gray whale, but this evening, we just wanted a nice walk with a water view when we were surprised by the sounds of a whale blow! It was  breathtaking experience. 

 

 

Silk Moth

We found this beautiful Silk Moth wrapped in a spider's web on our back porch the other morning. We carefully unwrapped him, and brought him in to rest for the day, and were rewarded with the amazing sight of him flying away at sundown! 

A weekend ramble

Autumn Adventuring

Colorful Insects

I was sure my pioneer loving girly would enjoy the Pioneer tour, but we found she was more interested in the flowers and colorful insects she found between the cabins! 

Woodpeckers

For many years, the only woodpecker to visit our yard was the Northern Flicker. 

 

 

We got many of them, but only Flickers. 

But...this year we have added the Pileated Woodpecker!

And Hairy Woodpecker to our regular visitors, and we are so pleased!

Female Oak Treehopper

We found a male nymph a couple years ago, and watched him transform into an adult, but this was our first time finding a female. 

October

Growing Oyster Mushrooms

I have been wanting to grow mushrooms for a couple years, but had never made it past the research stage. My sweet husband bought me this kit awhile back, and now I am hooked! 

The kit did not work for me according to the directions on the box, or the website. After a month of spraying multiple times a day in the plastic, and nothing happening, I removed the block from the package and stuck it in a bowl of filtered water, and stuck it in the cabinet under my sink.  Finally, a little more than a week later I had babies! 

Then the next day, they were bigger!

and then bigger! 

and bigger

and even bigger

 

And then they were ready to eat!
After all the hard work and babying them, I almost didn't want to eat them. But we did, and they were delicious.

We had never had oyster mushrooms before,  and while they are not our favorite mushroom, we will continue to enjoy them. 

 I forgot to get a photo after they were cooked, but I can't wait to attempt another crop!