Devils Hop Yard- Family mushroom fun

Maybe its because we all grew up together in a time and place when being outdoors was the norm. 

We don't view being outdoors as a scary place filled with bugs, spiders, snakes and things to be afraid of.

We embrace it and try to take time to immerse ourselves in it.

I love hiking and exploring with my family.

Its not all about rushing through the walk.

We stop and explore..uncover..go off the beaten path.

Last week Sickstas, brothers and their spouses- (whom also share our passion for nature) met at Devils Hop Yard

For some autumn leaf peeping..

Exploring..

Sage and Sickstas two puglets joined us..

We all had a picnic lunch..

Wandered around the picnic area

I took a few photos..

reflections..

I wasn't the only one taking photos this beautiful day…

Over the bridge…

time to explore some more..

We all have the mushroom bug..

Looking for edibles and appreciating the shapes and sizes of them all.

Most go unidentified.

Old puffballs full of spores..

I believe these are gem studded puffballs..

Barb has the best find of the day

Lions mane..Nice edible!

Some huge old Reishi mushrooms..

Can you guess what this is?

Leave your guess in comments below..

Turkey tails..

We all took a bit off to chew as we hiked.

A huge cache of puffballs..

We poked at them to see them spore out..

smoke..

More unidentified mushrooms..

I know I have a few mushroom experts that read this..

Please comment if you know what this is.

thanks..

Sicksta Lori takes more photos than I do.

She should have a blog.. don't you think?

Little Brown mushroom

You never know what you might find in a forest..

Brother John found this spider and threw it at us girls trying to scare us..

We aren't afraid of spiders..

Sicksta Tink goes to pet it!

Some odd fungi..

This looks similar to Reshi..

Family exploring the woods..we leave the path..

Barbs eye catches what looks like lace coming out of this tree trunk..

Amanita species..

Heart…

The path ends at a waterfall..

We split up and take different paths to the falls.

Brother John and I climb up a steep wall to the top of the falls..

I spot these beautiful berries and grab a few photos..

Sicksta Lori..have you identified these yet?

Wood and rusty bolts..

I walk to the overlook..

I see the falls..

and walk down to them to take a few photos..

Brother stays at the top..

See him?

there he is..

It was wonderful sharing this day and exploring with my family..

More eyes.. more things to see..

Lets do this again!

Well…next year…

because we are currently in Homey…headed west..

Oregon or Bust!