Colin and I always take a weekend trip for our anniversary. This year, we almost ruled it out due to my back problems. But instead we decided to take a weekend at a cabin close to home.

We had an awesome time at the cozy little cabin in the woods north of Mount Rainier. The fall colors were beautiful.

On Saturday, we took a couple of short hikes to look at and photograph the tons and tons of mushrooms that were out. Then we spent pretty much the rest of the weekend just sitting around in the cabin cooking, playing games, feeling the baby kick, reading about Week 23, identifying mushrooms, and taking several hours to vote. And Colin brought us two fancy boxes of delicious chocolates, which we’ve been slowly savoring. It was just nice to be away from our normal routines and having a whole weekend dedicated to enjoying time together. Undoubtedly our last such trip without baby :).

Mammals

  • Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii) (hopefully we didn’t run one of them over)

Birds

  • House wren (Troglodytes aedon)

  • Raven

Mushrooms

  • Agaricus sp.
  • Chrysomphalina aurantiaca (aka Omphalina luteicolor)
  • Clavulina cristata
  • Clitocybe subsquamosa (now Infundibulicybe squamosa. who knew?)
  • Clitocybe spp.
  • Coprinus comatus

  • Cortinarius spp.
  • Crepidotus sp.
  • Cystoderma fallax
  • Cystoderma sp.

  • Floccularia albolanaripes

  • Galerina sp.
  • Gomphidius subroseus
  • Gymnopilus sapineus grp.
  • Gyromitra infula

  • Hygrocybe conica

  • Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca

  • Hygrophorus bakerensis
  • Inocybe albadisca
  • Inocybe lilacina
  • Inocybe pudica
  • Inocybe spp.

  • Laccaria bicolor
  • Laccaria lacata
  • Laccaria sp. (probably a very faded amethysteo-occidentalis)

  • Lactarius deliciosus

  • Lactarius luculentus
  • Lactarius pseudomucidus
  • Lepiota magnispora


  • Lepista nuda
  • Mitrula abietis

  • Mycena adonis

  • Mycena aurantiidisca
  • Mycena pura
  • Mycena spp.
  • Oligoporus caesius
  • Pholiota astragalina
  • Pholiota sp.
  • Pseudohydnum gelatinosum
  • Russula bicolor
  • Russula brevipes
  • Russula laurocerasi
  • Russula nigricans grp.

  • Russula rosacea


  • Russula spp.
  • Stropharia ambigua

  • Suillus caerulescens
  • Xerocomus zelleri (aka Boletus zelleri)

Plants

  • Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
  • Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
  • Hemlock
  • Cottonwood
  • Alder
  • Vine maple
  • Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa)
  • Sword Fern