Jelly Ear and Witch Hazel

What a lovely time we had last night. Our neighbours had invited everyone in the street so it was a great gathering. Luckily their house is perfectly set up for a crowd. Of the 13 households invited 11 were there. 

Last night's jollity resulted in a lazy start this morning. We went up the road to Dunblane where our friends host a new year walk and lunch. The walk was curtailed by the weather forecast which wasn't actually bad at all. Lunch was four soups:

Cock-a-leekie
Moroccan chickpea 
Roasted red pepper and tomato
Split pea and ham

five desserts:
Key lime pie
Pavlova
Sticky toffee
Lemon posset 
Brownies 
and a cheese board. Counting our hosts there were 13 of us and three dogs. A late arrival, just as we were leaving, was their youngest granddaughter,  her mum and another dog. Great company, a good walk and marvellous food. 

I spotted the jelly ear fungus in Laighhills Park in Dunblane and the witch hazel across the road from our friends' house. 

I'm becoming worryingly fascinated by fungus. Do I have space for another project?