Pathfinding

 OK, so we go from another March snowstorm to this: 65 degree weather. So much for the two snowmen, as this is what was left from them the next day (above).
Kids playing with new lasso golf toy, below. Yes, it was that warm.

I had read an article in the local paper about a group that was holding a hike on "Daylight Savings Day". The Jackson Pathfinders promote and maintain hiking trails throughout this Ocean County community. So on Sunday afternoon we found ourselves in the middle of a gorgeous park taking a nice hike with the boys.

 The area that we hiked through had once been the state's largest quail reserve but has since switched over to a state tree nursery. It also housed a "Sugar Shack" where maple syrup was harvested and processed (I can't believe I didn't take a picture), a bee hive community, and -- hold onto your seats--- :

 Oh yes, they grow SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS here!!!!
Jim was over the moon.
They order the spores from some place in PA and then veeeryyy carefully plant them into these logs. They water them or something and hope that they grow the fungi.

 Based on what the guides told us, it was not Sandy that did the most damage in the past few years in this area... it was Hurricane Irene. Displaced trail rocks, shifting creek boundaries... But I'm pretty sure that the tree above was from the Sandy destruction. You just don't get over seeing these ruined trees with the entire root system exposed. We discussed how most of the trees do actually have roots that grow out (rather than down), although it seems that evergreen trees are an exception.

And here you have yourself an enormous, tactile representation of the great Garden State!

We are very excited to come back and experience the Project Learning Trail again. Now that we know it is so close to home, we'll be hanging out/running/exploring around here more often!