Well, well, well…things are getting boring around here. Apparently I need to add some fodder to this blog. The temperatures in this part of the country are starting to climb — although the sun has yet to make an appearance. I’m not altogether sure how this is possible. My latest theory is that there is some secret vent from the earth’s core that opens on the midwest to create spring…and sometimes summer. Or maybe it’s just the university dairy. Maybe the gas from the cows is significantly increasing and bringing about spring warmth. I hope the tax on cow flatulence (in order to decrease global warming) is never imposed, as this will greatly shorten an already brief summer out here.
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In other news, when it has not been cloudy for cloudiness’ sake, we have had rain! Everyday! This is fine. Because of this, the morels are growing rapidly and Pawel and I found small bunches of them while we were out on the trails yesterday.
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Morels thrill my soul. Spotting one in the leaves, sticks and growth on the forest floor is like spotting treasure. If I was a pirate (and I would LOVE to be a pirate), I would think I had found “X marks the spot” when I saw a patch of morels, and I would never dig further to find the treasure chest. (Well…maybe I would.)
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We picked 7 morels yesterday — the first of our season. We left four behind because it helps them to grow back every year. This is a slightly blurry picture of my first morel this year! Can’t wait to look for more….
Yay for spring! I MISS spring in Michigan. I’ve been thinking about you all day because we started our garden. I keep thinking about how pretty your half of the garden was last year, compared to my mud and weed heap. I suppose I was otherwise disposed.
Yeah. Otherwise disposed would sum it up. =o) Pawel and I just went out again yesterday and got a LOT of morels. And in MI, the real morel season isn’t even supposed to be in full stride until the middle of MAY! I love how God timed our leaving to let us get morels. I prayed for that!
What is a morel?
A morel is a mushroom I just learned about last year (wish I’d known about them the first year I was here!). They come out in spring and, from what I’ve read, seems they are only around for a few weeks. I think they only grow in rainy places that are cool. So Gallup is out, unfortunately. Anyway, they are the BEST mushrooms I’ve ever had in my life. They have amazing flavor. As dumb as this sounds, they remind me of chicken. When they come out up here, everyone picks them — a lot of people sell them to the grocery stores and they go (in the stores) for around $20 to $30/pound!!!! Yowza. We cut them up and fry them with onions. So good.
I just have to add — we see people’s cars stopped alongside the road where there are woods, gone picking morels. It made me laugh because it reminded me of NM when you see cars pulled off the road picking pinons.
Finding the things unique to each area we’ve lived has been awesome.
Oh — and speaking of that… I have to say that there ARE other mushrooms I’ve eaten that are amazingly tasty, and those are the ones that are commonly gathered in the woods in Poland. They are RICH tasting, and you can’t eat much. I love those, too.
It’s funny to me how good mushrooms are almost like meat, and regular farmed mushrooms are kind of like nothing unless you add lots of salt and butter and stuff.
I’m so excited that one of us finally put up a new post! Didn’t you just have a grand time?! Didn’t you just relish the taste in each and every bite?!
You bet!
I miss you!!
I wish that I could have gone with you on the hiking adventure to find the treasure.
I agree that we need to keep whatever it is that makes this great lakes area finally thaw out. fart away little cows! Katie you make me laugh. I am glad that you finally posted again.
I wish I’d seen this back in April so I could have commented on it at the time and not NOW when no one will ever see my comment. It’s all about me. And morels. I have morels, too. I don’t smoke or vote democrat.