The end of the year was…complicated, mostly due to my father nearly dying of a heart attack. (He’s doing quite well now.) I wasn’t really a functional human being, but I did get my camera out a couple times.

November:

The first of the winter succulents to bloom: a species of Madagascar aloe.

Pink and white aloe blossoms closeup    Aloe succulent in bloom, seen from above

Various wild mushrooms/toadstools growing out in the field.

Closeup of small golden mushroom amid grassCloseup of small golden mushroom amid grassCloseup of large and small golden mushroom amid grassCloseup of small golden mushrooms clustered amid grass

December:

The return of the mushrooms/toadstools, a larger species this time, thoroughly dusted with frost.

Mushroom amid grass, everything crusted in frostMushroom and grass crusted with frost, with mushroom gills visible

Fallen cottonwood leaves got similar embellishments.

Cottonwood leaf on bare ground, lined with frost

Published by Joyce Sully

Joyce Sully believes in magic and dragons and ghosts, but is not convinced her next-door neighbors are real. So she writes stories. Really, what else could she do?