A Surprise in the Woods

Phallus impedicus, common stinkhorn photo in the woods

‘Shamelessly phallic’, Phallus impedicus is not for the delicately dispositioned wanderer. We were having a wee daunder with Rosie in the woods, Malcolm off-piste fungi-finding, when he called me over…

He let me ‘find’ it for myself – the unmistakable stinkhorn!

Phallus Impedicus clear photo portrait

Emerging from an equally reminicent ‘egg’ (or ‘witch’s egg’), the stinkhorn’s bell-shaped head is covered in an olive, foul smelling goo. I’ve heard the stench described as ‘eye-watering’, but it probably loses it’s pungency throughout the day. Our individual was only faintly fragrant. There were a fair few flies drawn to it though! The rotten-flesh odour attracts them, and their little feet get covered in the spore-laden goo, which they then spread about the place, as flies tend to do.

Stink horn egg - close up photo

The egg, when all white and prior to ‘hatching’ is apparently edible, if not very tasty. And an aphrodisiac. We had a wee look about but didn’t see any others (with no intention of trying them out, I hasten to add)! There was a fair layer of leaf litter and we didn’t find any others.

Impressive stink horn reaching for the sky - photo

There’s no doubting the common stinkhorn is an impressive specimen! Keep your eyes peeled if you go down to the woods today!

A Year in the Life of Rosie

Rescue saluki cross, Rosie enjoying the sunshine in her colourful chair

We adopted our rescue doggo, Rosie three years ago today. She was either two or three when we first got her, so she’s either five or six today! Given her wild spirit, though a lot ‘tamer’ than she was, we’ve decided that she’s five (going on two)!

Remember remember the 5th of November

The day Rosie became our new family member

It is fair to say that she has calmed down a fair bit (in three years!). But, bearing in mind she can not (not ever) be off the lead, last week she leapt straight over Malcolm’s head out the back of the van in hot pursuit of a cat. So you couldn’t yet call her ‘completely calm’, though she certainly practises a lot of it…

And we know that what ever you practise you will get good at!

Long nose doggo sleeping

Rescue long doggo, Rosie resting, a grid of photos

The Purple Chair

(Can you spot the ‘deliberate’ double photo? Answer at the end!)

Almost as much as resting, Rosie loves being out and about:Rescue saluki cross out and about - A collage of images with friends (yay – she now has a few!):

keeping cool:

posing…Rosie saluki cross posing

and playing:Rescue saluki cross playing

She can’t help being born with a long nose; she is very nosey and loves investigating:

exploring:…

Hill walking with rescue saluki…

Rescue Saluki cross long dog exploring

and splooshing around in puddles:Rescue saluki cooling off in a big puddle

She keeps us entertained and on our toes –

with her funny ears…Rescue saluki Rosie ears

and very long nose:

Drawing - Rosie in graphite - and a very long nose

Some silly moments and another daft pose:Grid of photos with rescue long doggo Rosie

Daft doggo diggingDaft doggo digging!
Comfy? Long dog in Ikea chairComfy girl?
Long dog chin restChin rests and a spot of proof reading!
RAC long doggo - such a good helperShe’s such a helpful girl…
Long dog jigsawRosie jigsaw!
Home Sweet Home - Rescue saluki in front of posh castle hotelHome Sweet Home!

A wee video of her having a run (no lead!) at the rescue paddock:

…and as a ‘reward’ –  if you made it to the bottom of the page… Two of our favourite photos-to-make-you-smile from the last year with our silly rescue Rosie long doggo:

Silly sausage long dog Rosies face!

Daft long doggo photo - Rosies tongue

Happy 5th or 6th ‘birth’day Rosie!

Did you spot the ‘deliberate’ double photo?
A: It’s in the ‘Rosie posing collection’ and ‘another few moments’!