Hunting and Gathering

If a tree falls in the Forrest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? I don't know. What I do know is that delicious mushrooms litter the Forrest floor. They make for quite a find if you know where to look.

Last weekend Andrea and I, along with Justin, Kaitlin, and her dad Todd, went mushroom hunting in the near by woods. We got up early Sunday morning and headed out just in time to see the sunrise. It was a brisk 40 degrees when we arrived at our hunting grounds. We were prepared though, with multiple layers we were ready to battle the elements. With Knife and brush in hand we set out down the hill. The prey that day were Chanterelles. Like fleshy orange flowers, they rise up from the soft Forrest floor. The good thing about Chanterelles are that no other fungi really look like them, so you can pick them with confidence. The tricky thing about them is that they like to hide. There camouflage skills were no match for our desire to find them. With in an hour our so our buckets were growing heavy with our finds.

This was the first time Andrea and I had gone mushroom hunting but we're already planning our next hunting trip. There is nothing better than being out in the woods alone with friends enjoying nature. Plus the excitement you feel when you find a big mushroom patch just can't be found any where else.

Here is Andrea showing of her fungi finds.




Isn't she beautiful when she smiles. As you can see Chanterelles are not small mushrooms. Some we found were almost two hands wide.


We found so many that we had to dry them for storage.

You would be surprised at how long it takes to dry mushrooms. This was an all day process.

We have been trying all sorts of new recipes in an attempt to use up
all the fresh mushrooms. Mushrooms gravy, fungi fritters, and mushroom leek soup are the most memorable. However my all time favorite is mushrooms sauteed with butter and onions.

And the final product!

Now history shows us that 90% of you reading this will think that it's a little weird to go pick mushrooms in the Forrest. Some of you may even be worried about poisoning. Well if that's you, all I can say is your missing out. With a little research it's easy to tell the good fungi from the bad.
It's even easier if you go with someone who has been before. Soon you will be on your way enjoying delicous mushrooms. Best of all their free, which is always fine by me.

We hope everyone has a good October and can't wait to see everyone
at Christmas.

Kids Zone at the Corvallis Fall Festival

This year I volunteered on the committee for the Corvallis Fall Festival (September 25-26, 2010). We've been planning since March. I got to be part of the Kids Art Zone. It was a lot of work, but so fun. The Fall Festival is the biggest festival in town and the artists that come are amazing. The Kids Zone helps nurture the young creative spirit. There's even a kids vendor zone, where little budding artists can sell their hand made goods. And then there are the activities kids can do.

We had Spin Art machines (so classic!). Greg fixed them up so kids could spin paint on paper and we had frames there for them. It was only 50¢ for with out a frame, and $1 with a frame. Kids could also miniature golf all day long for 50¢. And then, there were the free activities provided. Journal making out of recycled paper and materials, lantern making (I totally made one), wood block sculptures, card making, materials to just go to town with, pinwheels (promoting wind energy- Blue Sky donated the activity), hair braiding and styling - yes you heard that right- on mannequin heads, names written in different languages, and there was more but you get the idea.

Next year is going to be even better! You know, I have to say that I always wondered how these festivals were put together..and now that I'm a part of it all, I know that it is truly an amazing thing. So many people volunteer, come together, work together without even knowing each other, just to make this amazing event happen where anyone can come out and have a great day.

Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure:

Above: Me, Amy, Caron and Sarah- all of my co-chairs on the committee.
They are amazing women!

Above: My pretty lantern I learned to make.
Seriously, I think some of the parents had just as much, if not more, fun making stuff!

Above: Kids Zone under the tent.

Above: The Kids Stage- these little dancers were so dang cute!

Above: The kid vendors selling their goods.

Above: Wood block sculptures!

Above: Some of our volunteers busy at work cutting paper.

Last but not least, me, Greg and Chad.
I'm so glad Chad and my Dad came to see us on Sunday. :)

PS. For those of my readers (most of you) who have children, I would be especially interested to know what you, as parents, like and don't like about activities provided for your kids. Also, any thing that you would especially like to see at such events, would be very helpful in our planning. Thanks!!!