September Mystery Trip - Part 5

Today we are out at the cross country ski trails. I know, it's a bit early for skiing... but we're not here to ski.... we are here to explore the woods for mushrooms!

Kind of spooky woods I have to say.

First find of the day... BAD mushroom. Cute but deadly.

There are a few spooky trails along here... probably old logging tracks...

And here... here we have the prize... the King Bolete... sooooo goood according to Gramma.

I hope we find more...

I see some!

After maybe half an hour we had quite the bag full...

Well... actually three bags full!

And someone got bear wet kneeling in the moss... and it wasn't Gramma.

Gramma did think to bring a snack... some almond marzipan crescents. Oh YUM!

That was fun! Now we just have to find our way out of here...

Follow me!

Whew... we made it back out in one piece.

And more snacks... I think they got my memo about the "no picnic" day earlier.

Now we just have to clean them.

And sautee them in some butter...

They sure smell yummy.

And then put them aside to freeze them... at least we're going to try that. Gramma is keeping some to eat fresh later but... there are way too many. She can make mushroom soup later.

And... fresh apple pie as a surprise! Did I mention I am a lucky bear?

September Mystery Trip - Part 4

Hello... today we are going for a little hike...

How did they know I was in the area? I why do people need warning??

Oh look!! It's a Shaggy-Mane mushroom... they are so cute.

Except when they get older and inky at the bottom.

But we found some young ones...

No idea what these are...

But this one looks like a Giant Puffball...

Gramma cut off the oogie bits... let's see what else we can find.

Ummm... bear poopies... and NOT mine! Keep an eye out...

Cute mushrooms but no idea what they are either.

Maybe Oyster mushrooms... maybe not... best to leave them alone then.

Hey... do you hear that? Sounds like an owl??

heh-heh... fooled you! Not a real owl... a tree owl!

There was quite a debate about these... are they Honey mushrooms or not. I like the name of them! Gramma wasn't sure. Mama was even less sure sooo... I won't get to taste them.

Back home... I can smell something... and it's not mushrooms... sniff sniff... it's.. it's...

Salmon!!!

Ooohhhh... a real salmon... yum.

Gramma's beary good at filleting and cooking salmon.

 And... voila... salmon with beans and tomatoes from Gramma's garden. I am such a lucky bear! I wish I could send some to Jerry & Ben....

September Mystery Trip - Part 3

Hello again. More adventures... Right now we are going down to a little tiny kettle lake (formed when the glaciers retreated an left a chunk of ice in the outwash plain... but you probably didn't need to know that!).

These lakes are small, circular (roughly) and beary deep!

I would add beary beautiful too.

That reflection is amazing.

Hmm... now if someone would swim out there and get that swing to shore...

 Next up... our best option for seeing salmon!

I hope there's salmon... I hope there's salmon... I hope there's salmon...

Salmon???

Salmon!!!! I'm off!

All I need to do is jump in the water and swipe away with my claws and I'll have one.

Or maybe not... that one looks pretty moth-eaten. And Mama says that when they're red, they're not good to eat. Sigh.

I'll leave them for this time...

I see picnic tables... where's the picnic?

Apparently someone forgot to pack a picnic... sigh, the hired help around here...

Another dead salmon... so sad.

We went further up the salmon creek but... it's too fast here.

I was so hoping to get my picture taken with a big salmon.

But this is NOT what I had in mind!! Grumble...