Moss Collecting

The dogs and I went for another nice walk at Hiawatha Park today.  The weather was gorgeous; sunny and cool.  I picked a LOT of moss, and this time I found some really cool mosses and lichens.  I even found some with elf cups in them.  We had a big wind storm a few weeks ago, and some trees were down, so I was able to get some branches with moss and different kinds of lichen too.  I bought more jars, and big tupperware containers to store the moss.

I'd be in great shape if I picked moss every day, lol.  I bent over so much it was like walking and doing toe touches at the same time.  Man, is my back sore now.

We came out of the bush just before sunset.  As I drove home, the sun started to set.  It was so beautiful that I walked the dogs again, at the Marina, just to enjoy the light.   I love the light just as the sun starts to go down; it seems golden.  Then the sky turned orange and pink.  I wish I would have brought my camera.  I'll post a picture I took a few days ago, of the Marina at sunset.

Black Bear in a Jar

Here's my little bear, coming out of his cave in the morning.  I think he wants to do some fishing ;-0.

Another view, showing jar.  

Side view.

I couldn't resist putting the moose jar behind him so it looks like there's a moose around the corner.

I put my "Bridge over Bubbled Water" jar behind, to add colour.

Other side view, with Bridge over Bubbled Water jar in background.

I had fun with this jar.  So far, this shape jar seems to hold the moisture in the best.  I had to take the lid off to air it out. 

Spiders phobia and Forest in a Jar

For weeks, I've been collecting bits of moss and lichen while out on my jaunts.  I wanted to try a moss terrarium, similar to the ones that are on Etsy. 
Yesterday I haunted the aisles of the Dollar Store and came home with more glass jars than I'll ever need.  Today I decided to spread everything out on my kitchen table, so I could start.

I chose a round jar, and was just about finished when a huge black spider climbed out of the moss container next to me.  I don't have a photo of the spider (I was too busy leaping up and screaming to snap a shot), but here's a picture of the moss container (taken BEFORE the spider emerged!):

 After I calmed down enough (which means I was still terrified but able to think...a little), I trapped the spider in a big coffee can and tossed the can outside.  Here's a photo of the can outside. The spider is hiding under the paper towel:

Here's my first moss jar, which I'm torn between calling "Forest in a Jar", or "Moose in a Jar".

Today's Walk at Hiawatha Park

Look at the weird circles on this photo; they don't show up on any of the ones I took before or after this one.

I love the foliage.

Ben leading the way back to the main path.

Back on the main path.

It was getting dark by the time we got off the trails.

The dogs and I went for another nice walk at Hiawatha park today.  Unfortunately, the main gate was closed, so we couldn't go down to the lake and falls.  We went to the 4 km trail instead.  I left the main path in search of moss and lichen, and had to rely on little Ben to guide me back tot he main path.  I wasn't sure if he could or not, because he's never done it before.  Usually that was Annie's job.  Ben didn't let me down, though.  I said, "Ben, where's the truck," and he headed off  through the woods and I followed him until we came back to the main path.  Mac could probably do it too, but he has to be on leash because he goes ballistic when he sees other dogs, and he just follows my lead when he's on leash.

Weird orb like circles appear on one of these photos, and I don't know why.  The don't appear on any of the other photos, which were taken seconds before and after.

I found some nice moss and lichen, as well as some pine cones.  I'm going to make some mini moss terrariums.  I don't know why, but I LOVE moss.  I'd carpet my entire yard in moss if I could.  Heck, I'd carpet my house in moss if I could, lol.