Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Seasons: December 2007
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The Rains Came and Chanterelles Emerged
Walks through the forests always give me pleasure. The four seasons have their own distinct characteristics, the trees and the landscape go through changes that make them interesting. The woods smell different. Looking down on the valley from up high on Skyline one cannot but feel good about living here in the San Francisco Bay Area. The organization that deserves our praise for protecting lands from developers is Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District. Without it the hills would be full of pink, pseudo-Mediterranean palaces.
© Musafir
© Musafir
A few days back Arani Sinha and I went walking in the woods and found chanterelles -- enough to share with friends. The conditions are ideal and there will be more for us to gather in the next two months. We treat the grounds with respect; we don't sell.
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MROSD The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's purpose is to purchase, permanently protect, and restore lands forming a regional open space greenbelt, preserve unspoiled wilderness, wildlife habitat, watershed, viewshed, and fragile ecosystems, and provide opportunities for low-intensity recreation and environmental education. |
For foragers of wild mushrooms the late fall and winter months can be rewarding. Last year I came across the first chanterelles in mid-November. This year, there was hardly any rain in November; the ground remained dry and hard. Chanterelles were not to be found. Then in December the rains came; rain followed by sunny days. Christmas Day was unusually bright and clear. JHL and I enjoyed our traditional walk in the afternoon.
© Musafir
© MusafirA few days back Arani Sinha and I went walking in the woods and found chanterelles -- enough to share with friends. The conditions are ideal and there will be more for us to gather in the next two months. We treat the grounds with respect; we don't sell.
Ancient Music
Winter is icummen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm.
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
An ague hath my ham.
Freezeth river, turneth liver,
Damn you, sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm,
So 'gainst the winter's balm.
Sing goddamm, damm, sing Goddamm.
Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.
-- Ezra Pound (1885-1972)
Winter is icummen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm.
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
An ague hath my ham.
Freezeth river, turneth liver,
Damn you, sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm,
So 'gainst the winter's balm.
Sing goddamm, damm, sing Goddamm.
Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM.
-- Ezra Pound (1885-1972)
