Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Cowboy's Handkerchief

(+ 18 insets above in notes!) I have been arguing with myself until this moment where this picture should go: "W is for Wonderful White" or "M is for Magnificent Mushrooms". But M just HAS to be for Mushrooms, right?! Yes, I have many pictures of mushrooms, but this one stands out from all the rest. So, with this upload, the matter is finally settled! These mushrooms are called Ivory Waxy Caps, but they are also known by the name "Cowboy's Handkerchief" because the droplets and moisture you see are actually slime that oozes from this fungus to keeps it hydrated and also serves as a deterrant to any wildlife which might be considering these mushrooms for a meal. I hope that I never encounter a handkerchief used by a cowboy. *shudder* Explored on March 29, 2014. Highest placement, #1.

Our lower forest has two different areas. One area is more open and lets in much more light. The other part is darker and stays wetter, and thus, is a haven for mushrooms! As I was walking around one day, I looked down and discovered a whole colony of beautiful white mushrooms growing up through the fallen leaves. This one was about 1/2 an inch tall! :)

On another quiet hunt for little mushroom fairies, I happened upon this darling couple, standing near the edge of the woods, whispering quietly together and enjoying the cool, moist day. As they cuddled close with obvious affection, I got this picture as one kissed the other on the head, and I heard him say to her, "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." ~ Aristotle Explored (Flickr) on December 22, 2012. Highest position: #26.

3 more pictures and a note above ! :) I woke up to the sound of rain pattering on the windows and drumming on the roof and I couldn't help but smile. We aren't having a very wet Fall this year, and with the decreased humidity and moisture, there haven't been many mushrooms so far. Of course I've found plenty, but that's only because I know where to look. Honestly, I should be tripping over them at this point. However, the rain during the night and this morning surely helped move things along, and I was excited to find out what had popped up! As soon as the rain dwindled to a light drizzle, I bounced out of the house without any dogs to worry about, and you'd better believe I had my macro flash with me! :D I went to the lower forest where it's darker and full of moisture, and started looking around...it didn't take long before I found one...two...three...BUNCHES of mushrooms! Large ones like I've photographed recently, and extremely tiny ones, and then, I noticed something flash from under a leaf. Pulling the leaf aside, I found THIS glistening beauty, glowing white and radiant! I was able to position the camera just right, and to my utter happiness, I was able to adjust the exposure of the flash so that this white mushroom wasn't blown out! For me, using a flash has been EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING in the past for light/bright objects because they are so easy to over-expose. But now I'm able to do exposure compensation with confidence and darn if it didn't work just right!! I had time to practice this morning and experimented with the flash, without the flash, and I also used the shutter speed mode (TV) just to test. If I want to make a picture that isn't low-key but still has this dof, I'd need to use a tripod, which I didn't have. In any event, when I got home and looked at my pictures, I was overjoyed by this one!! :D William Henry "Bill" Cosby Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at the hungry i in San Francisco and various other clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own sitcom, The Bill Cosby Show. He was one of the major performers on the children's television series The Electric Company during its first two seasons, and created the educational cartoon comedy series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, about a group of young friends growing up in the city. Cosby also acted in a number of films. Wikipedia: Bill Cosby Explored on November 13, 2013. Highest placement, page 4.