SOME STICKS DO. (19/01/15)

I have had a busy, gloriously sunny morning, I took the dogs a wander at first light and whilst watching Saturn set lost the little devils. It was about –8^oC and for some reason the colder it is the better they can sniff. While I awaited their return from Deer annoying I noticed a strange growth on a twig. It looked like a fungus but not like any fungus I had seen. It tasted slightly bitter but didn’t smell of anything but Marlboro. The dogs wandered back, clean for once. I had a second breakfast whilst they had their first.

It was time to drive the thirty mile round trip to Inverness to stock up. I had my list and couple of messages and Ally asked for my mobile number in case he had forgotten anything. I had to stop twice on the way to answer the phone and once in Tesco to write down messages from strangers. It took ages.They expected them delivering so they could pay me. I had to explain the van is quite big, I hadn’t a clue where they lived or who they are and that I would put their groceries in separate bags with the receipt and Ally would bring them round later and collect the money. It took forever at the checkout. Putting six lots of messages through on different receipts, charging plastic bags to the right list but the young lass working the till must be used to it. She never batted a false eyelash. I hope I got it right. I doubt I did. I have a list when I shop but still forget something. Today it was yoghurt and shower gel, it’s too cold to shower and I can live without yoghurt so no worries.

I arrived back. Dumped the messages with Donald and asked him to phone Ally Mcgruer to sort out who had what. Ally must know who he gave my number to and the packet of tampons must limit his choices.

I headed out with the Macro lens, flash bracket. and a couple of strobes. I wanted this fungi.

     Here it is at about 12mm or half an inch tall.  Okay I am a Muppet but it can look much more hairy.

   See. It’s gruesome sorry, I meant grown some.

    I would like to time laps this growing. It seems to grow on fallen Silver Birch branches. It grows single filaments. Does anyone know what causes this? These are measured in length 3” or 75mm.

I was fascinated. I accepted it might be boring so I took a red gel down with me.

     Here it is. Some sticks do it and some sticks don’t.

I would love to know how it happens. These, though far form straight out of camera were double strobe lit. They are a foot on the X-axis.

Have fun this week.