The Heart of Nature

The rains have brought out the mushrooms ... and the critters that eat them.

I just love it when they leave their hearts behind!!!

Dad Update: Dad has been in the hospital since Thursday, when he suffered a stroke. He is still unable to speak, swallow, or move his right arm.

He is being transferred to the VA Hospital this morning - which is where he wants to be.

When I visited this morning (before his transfer), I noticed a marked improvement in his demeanor. When I asked him if he was happy to be going to the VA, he reached over, grabbed my hand and kissed it. I had to blink away happy tears ...

Dad will never be the same, and I don't know how much time he has left.

But so far, we have been granted just a little longer with this amazing man who has meant so much ... and touched so many hearts.

Eaten Mushroom Heart

I was waiting for mom to get out of the dentist's office
when something under the pine tree caught my eye.
A raggedy mushroom, eaten by unseen critters ...

Whose "good taste" - made an unfinished heart!

Mushroom Heart

I was walking down the road, checking out what appeared to be a car crashed (click here to see what I found) over the lip of the canyon ... when I found this mushroom heart.

It was nestled between tire tracks and muddy footprints ... but it survived!

Another life lesson?

Mushroom Heart

I was out in the woods taking pictures of the many mushrooms I found.
They sure are prolific this time of year!
I had to stop in my tracks, though, when I came across this one.

It had curled itself into a heart!