Finding Gold.

It was 58 degrees today in Portland. As soon as I finished my workday - I could NOT wait to get to the forest. Remember what I said about the fact that if I make the effort to go - the forest pays? I literally hit gold today. I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY LUCK!

I spotted some fairy parachute mushrooms growing low to the ground on a fallen tree that was covered in moss on the forest floor. I got down on my knees to get the photo and discovered even more mushrooms than I had not seen initially, growing on the end of the fallen tree and moved to shoot those as well when I wondered if there were even more around the back side? the side not visible at all from the trail. And look what I found!

This little gold ceramic gnome staring back at me!!! At first I thought it must be a geocache of some sort. I picked it up and inspected it - nope - not a geocache - no secret compartment or anything. Just a little gold gnome, just for me to find! I looked around as if I was on Candid Camera (OMG I'm old!) and put the little guy back in his hiding spot. What a fortuitous find that I could not help but think of my friend, Karen's word of the year last year: CURIOUS!!! I do not know how to NOT be curious! Of course I am always looking for mushrooms, moss, lichen and such - but never did I ever expect to find a little gold gnome waiting for me. What a joyful thing to do - I hope the person who put him there did so with as much glee as I had finding him.

Maybe my golden gnome foraging friend will bring me luck in 2024.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!