My parents live in coastal NC (Wilmington), since around 1996. I used to visit once a year (I live in SLC, Utah), and have developed an odd fixation on pine cones, after walking the hills (Bonneville Shoreline trails area) often during the 00s. They’re small-ish (think beef Kibbeh, or a large Falafel ball), here, in Utah, and good for kicking around–to keep it ‘in play’ while you’re walking, as long as possible. I don’t have a car, and probably should play soccer.
I end up collecting these random (small) pine cones, and setting them on various perches around my living space (no idea why) - anyhow, whenever I used to visit my folks in NC I’d be amazed by these nearly football-sized (scales open) pine cones–all over the neighborhood.
While walking down to work (on the U of U campus), I came across a rather large one (for a Utah pine cone), about the size (as it appears) of the one in yams’ photo. I gave it to my co-worker, and he set it on a high perch in his office, and when we moved our office, the pine cone came along. He seems to appreciate it. He likes to place them on car bumpers, on cars parked in the various lots around campus.
Apologies for the long-winded response… I had to relate that story I guess. Maybe it’s an unnatural fixation.
