Four Freaky Fungus Fingers Fotos

Day 34 (bonus edition): What do corals, teeth and clubs have in common? They are all families of fungi, and they were well-represented in the Longmire Campground today. This seems to be an exceptional year for pursuing mycological wonders here in the Pacific Northwe't. I only wish I knew more about the species I am observing.

What The Heck Is Going On Here?

Day 34: The first thing that happened to me when I got to work this morning was that our Chief of Interpretation grabbed me before I even had my jacket off and presented me with a rubber-stamp crow which she had been charged to deliver by the Superintendent's wife. Then I found a holey envelope (interdepartmental envelope) in the office inbox addressed to me with some of the crow napkins left over from the Pumpkin Pie Social last night. Then I got home and there's this enormous PEACH PIE in a box with a novel called "Raven's Secret" addressed to "Crow" sitting on the trunk of my car, and no clue who left it there. What the heck is going on here?

Frog Watcher

Day 34: One of the main attractions in Eatonville's Smallwood Park is a man-made pond approximately half an acre in size. This tiny pothole of water is stocked annually and is designated "Fishing for juveniles only." The wording makes me laugh. I've always wondered what type of bait is required to catch a ten-year old. In any event, the little pond usually gets fished out in the few weeks following Opening Day, but when the human anglers disappear, the real experts move in. Heron doesn't care if he catches a fine rainbow or a scrawny frog as long as it satisfies his hunger. I don't think this bird was having much luck, or perhaps he knew something I didn't. He certainly didn't want to give up his spot on the bank as I edged my way closer. His attention was on something, to be sure. I clicked my tongue and made squeaking noises to entice him to look up, but only succeeded when I quacked like a duck. He gave me a disdainful glare and returned to his task, only flying away when I got within about twenty feet.

Mountain Magic

Day 33: The first real snow has fallen at Longmire, and the upper Mountain shows far less rock than it did two weeks ago. Winter is making its descent from the summit, threading its fingers into the valleys, covering the ridgelines, sharpening the bite of wild river waters. Yet for all that, some deciduous trees hold valiantly to their leaves, not ready to consign exclusive reign of the forests to the evergreens; but theirs is a repeating phase of history, a battle lost. I feel a kinship with them as I walk the campground road, my hands burning with the nip of cold and my Vibram soles slipping on the ice. Were it not for a woolly cap, my ears might turn color and drop at the next passing breeze. Here at the Mountain's foot, Autumn is no more than a fortnight of transitional weather, like the passage of Man through the golden prime 'twixt youth and age.

Birdseed Isn't Just For Birds

Day 32: Put away the Cheez-its, Wheat Thins and Ry-Krisp and join me for some birdseed! Millet crackers are delicious, especially when slathered with real butter. It's been a while since I made crackers, and home-baked can't be beat.

The recipe for these nutty delights comes from Linda Foust and Tony Husch's cookbook, "Crackers!" It is out of print, but can occasionally be found through Amazon or your local used book dealer.

You will need
1/4 cup whole millet
1/2 cup millet flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
5/8 cup (1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp.) milk
1 Tbsp. honey

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Stir together the millet, flours and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Warm the milk and honey in a small saucepan and add it to the flour mixture, blending to form a dough which holds together in a ball. If necessary, you may add a little more milk.

Divide the dough into two portions and roll out on a floured surface. You want it to be thin (no more than 1/8 inch, or approximately as thick as the diameter of a millet grain). Cut out circles with a cookie cutter and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick each cracker three times with a fork.

Bake for 10 minutes, then turn crackers over and bake for an additional 8-12 minutes or until medium brown. Serve with butter and enjoy!

Low Maintenance, Huge Rewards

Day 31: Although my potted-plant collection holds some rather exotic species (Sarracenia and several rare varieties of Hoya specifically), the good old Zygocactus is one of my favorites. It gives amazing rewards in exchange for casual care, and several of my plants have been with me for over thirty years. I keep them pruned to fit pots four to siz inches in diameter, taking slips as the parent stem becomes rough and woody. As these so-called "Christmas cacti" readjust from the conditions which force them to bloom during December, their flowering period transitions to early or mid-November at this latitude, dependent on hours of exposure to sun. My plants are happiest in the cooler back bedroom where they have a southerly exposure and are set back a foot or so from the window occupying a dedicated shelf. When flowering begins, I transfer the pots to the living room where they can be admired.

Pholiota

Day 30: Without microscopic examination, Pholiota squarrosa and Pholiota squarrosoides cannot be differentiated reliably, and although both varieties were once believed to be edible and may be cited as such in older field guides, it is now known that these mushrooms can cause severe abdominal distress and vomiting, especially if consumed with alcohol. Also known as the Shaggy Pholiota, they are relatively uncommon outside deciduous forest. These specimens were located at the edge of Longmire Meadow in Mount Rainier National Park near a stand of young alders.