Country File

[Heedless Horseman]

Fungi. I am a bit late in this, as season almost over... but they can be fascinating. When in garden last week, there were at least half a dozen different species. Although I do have a very good photo identifcation book, I am not bothered enough to try to I.D them... and prefer to let them be. rather than uprooting for examination.
They tend to come and go with years. Of the species that I do know... we used to have Shaggy Ink Caps... but not many now... think there was a clump. Until a few years ago, we never had Fly Agaric... last year several... this year only a couple of small ones. Last year there were a couple of Big, un-i.D'd things... dinner plate size... until 'Builder's Lads' kicked them about!  
Not a Fungi Forager... frankly, I wouldn't... but they can give you an "Ooh... what's that?" pleasure... especially the various smaller ones.  

Ps: I do not  know what 'Magic Mushrooms' are and never tried. But some teen mates found some... and one 'thought the trees were coming to get him'!... so jumped into the river! (Luckily, shallow!).  

[FierceKitty]

Only if you walked on them 

Look more carefully at the quotation. Feet are a lesser concern, honestly.

[Techno II]

Have seen oodles of the wee 'magic mushrooms' in our fields....I DO know what they look like !
Wouldn't touch ANY sort of fungi....unless I bought it from a supermarket.

When my very good friend, Eddie, lived over the road.....600 yards away....he'd pick 'proper ' mushrooms from his fields, which were the size of dinner plates.

I wouldn't have cooked, and eaten those.....even though I know Eddie knew what he was talking about.

Cheers - Phil.

(Hasn't happened for a good few years.....but 'hippies' used used to invade the common... The other side of our little valley.... Hundreds of acres.....and collect 'shrooms' in carrier bags.)

[Heedless Horseman]

'When my very good friend, Eddie, lived over the road.....600 yards away....he'd pick 'proper ' mushrooms from his fields, which were the size of dinner plates.
I wouldn't have cooked, and eaten those.....even though I know Eddie knew what he was talking about.'

On The Farm, before my time, Granda used to pick the BIG 'Horse Mushrooms' from fields and sell them to Hotel Chefs on his swill run...they couldn't get enough! Don't see the attraction, myself.
I can't tell the different taste 'nuances' between edible Mushrooms... but, then, I prefer them fried Black in butter and put loads of salt & pepper on stuff!
When Ma used to get 'Field Mushrooms' from my uncle, she used to soak in salty water for a while... in case they had any maggots!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

As Pratchett said:
"All mushrooms are edible, once!"

[Techno II]

True !! 

Cheers - Phil.

[Heedless Horseman]

Vaguely heard a chainsaw this morning... then, ring at doorbell. It was the 'Little Old Guy', back again...  no contact since January! He has had very bad 'family matters' so ok.
He had already piled up a mound of  branches and brack. I could not be bothered to apply for permit to tip a van load at local council site... and they don't like 'jobbing gardeners' anyway... so accepted that his local dump would charge £140 for a Transit Van load and let him get on with his chainsaw antics. Don't think he's a liar, though permanently short of cash!    Work did need doing!

But £140 for a Transit Van of Garden Waste? A BIG skip would take 30+ of such loads! So, 'somebody' is raking in the money! 

[Heedless Horseman]

A visitor at the door announced with excitement, that he had just seen a Fox!  
One tends to forget that 'Toon' dwellers may not see them. 
We have had two or three regulars every night through successive generations... right up to back door.   

[Steve J]

We saw a fox on our road every night pretty much. I just wish it would catch the damned grey squirrel that's visiting our garden several times a day .

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Saw a kingfisher yesterday, flitting down the canal near me. Just stunning. Then it flew back and was basically showing off!

[Techno II]

Excellent, Will.

Only ever seen one of those, and that was back in Notts.
Here, the little stream over the road is way too narrow for there to be any interest for a Kingfisher.

Keith...you can keep the foxes.

The chickens have got enough problems with the polecats.

Cheers - Phil

[Heedless Horseman]

Have seen Kingfisher in local Park 'river'... but just a Blue 'flash'!
Wonder what speed they would be going at... if 'scaled up' to 'Fast Jet'? Bet Birds would 'Top Gun' anything that we could build!   

Except for 'Woodies'... would never get off the ground! 

[Steve J]

Yep, the fly so fast that I've only ever seen glimpses of them, which is a shame as they are such stunning birds.

[sultanbev]

Kingfishers - have only seen them once in town, but got a full half hour watching one at the Eric Morcambe hide earlier this year, and several spots at the river next to Brockholes during the summer.

[Heedless Horseman]

Remembrance Sunday. Garden, Sunshine on the leaves which have fully 'turned'... gorgeous but sad... so many saplings 'need to go'.
Reminds me of a family tale... well, it has a 'nice ring'...
Great Grandfather, a Joiner by trade, shipped out to Canada in the 20s looking for work... and leaving wife and adult sons at home.
It did not pan out... but on return, he brought his wife a present.
A 'Trunk full of Gold'!
Not cash... but Leaves from the Canadian Fall!

Sounds like he was a Good bloke.

[Steve J]

The up and down weather continues here, with the poor spring bulbs not knowing whether they are coming or going, as I've got crocuses coming up and the first sign of some daffodils by the look of it.

[Heedless Horseman]

Northumberland. Snowdrops probably about to pop up shoot tips, but still leaf covered. Hedgehogs still about. No frosts, yet... BUT... a 'Wind Warning' RED'  for tonight! Worrying, as it is a North Wind. Too many overgrown trees which have adapted to 'Westerlies' from which we have some shelter. I do not mind Blizzards or Downpours or Thunderstorms... but I HATE High Winds! 

[Steve J]

Our son saw a hedgehog whilst out on walk this afternoon. Really they should have been hibernating by now.

[FierceKitty]

Your son hibernates? Well, OK, I remember that British winter....

[Ithoriel]

Pft! British winter? I spent a substantial part of my teen years hibernating