Tuesday 20 August 2013

Return to wheels.

Yes folks, by an intricate network of cousins (one of the benefits of living all of one's life in the same place) the farmer eventually managed to open the farm gate and drive his car out, locking the gate again behind him.

So yesterday saw us traversing Wensleydale through to Sedbergh to meet our God-daughter for lunch.   It was a lovely drive, as it always is, and it was also good to see her again.

Now we are home and back to normal.   Today there is second-cut silage grass to cut and already the farmer has gone out with his grass cutter on the back of his tractor to get on with the job. Luckily it is only the meadows which are cut for silage and not the pastures (here the sheep and cattle graze all Summer) because this year, as you will see from the photograph, there is a very special crop emerging.   This is the first time for many years that we have had more than one or two mushrooms, but this year we are getting a good handful every morning.   And they are delicious.

If you have never tasted a wild field mushroom then you don't know what you are missing.   It makes you never want to eat the rubbish you buy in boxes at the supermarket again.

They are mysterious things mushrooms; for years they don't put in an appearance and then suddenly one year they pop up everywhere.   It is probably a combination of last year's very wet Summer and this year's very warm July.   Whatever the reason, we shall enjoy them while we can.   Cold roast ham, runner beans from the garden and a mushroom omelette each for lunch methinks.

Enjoy your day.

To end on an amusing note.  We were told of a young lady who wants to go into veterinary work when she leaves school and has enrolled on a course at a zoo to learn about animal management.  It is a fortnight's course - yesterday - Day 1 - was 'the management of stick insects'.   The final day is' the management of lions, tigers and elephants.'

13 comments:

Cro Magnon said...

Lucky you! We won't have mushrooms for quite a while yet; too dry, too hot.

Tom Stephenson said...

I have spent several years searching a spot where I once saw two type of wild mushroom sprout up, but they just don't seem to march to the same drum-beat as the rest of the flora and fauna.

Reader Wil said...

One of my daughters is a vegetarian and loves mushrooms, so do I. But I'd rather buy them then pick them in the wood or field, as I am afraid that they are poisonous. A mushroom omelette sounds delicious! Bon apetit!
Wil, ABCW Team

shadypinesqltr said...

I have vivid memories of my Granddad taking us mushrooming one very misty morning in Co. Durham about 60 years ago. I had trouble differentiating between mushrooms and cow patties! To this day, I become nauseous at the smell of mushrooms being sauted in butter.

Locations of coveted patches of morel mushrooms here in Michigan are kept secret by locals!
Always enjoy your blog.
Joan

Irene said...

Mushrooms are high in protein and good for a vegetarian to eat. I do see them growing wild around here, but I don't know anything about them, so I don't pick them. The more exotic ones in the store are so expensive! Too dear for me to buy.

mrsnesbitt said...

We had a puff ball a few years ago and it was absolutely delicious. I agree with what you say about the supermarket mushrooms Pat!

Heather said...

That young student's course seems to cover just about everything! Presumably small pets and farm animals are tucked in between day 1 and the final day.
Glad you got the car back. The very thought of eating field mushrooms makes my mouth water. I remember a year when there were so many we couldn't pick them all and took a basket full to all the neighbours to see if they would like some.

Robin Mac said...

I love wild mushrooms. When I was a child our family would go out picking them on the common - the best ones always grew under a VERY prickly bush called galvanised burr, but it was amazing the way we managed to harvest them even so! Cheers

angryparsnip said...

Lucky you.
Farmer got the car out and you found mushrooms. I love Mushrooms omelets.
Daughter just made her marinated grilled mushrooms last night, so good.

cheers, parsnip

Crafty Green Poet said...

I love wild field mushrooms, by far the tastiest mushrooms!

I like the sound of that zoo management course!

Hildred said...

Oh, a mushroom omelet - no more pondering over what to have for supper!!! |Love mushrooms but don't know enough about them to gather wild ones.

Anonymous said...

One of life's small delights for me is mushrooms on toast with a pot of tea, reading the Sunday papers.
I gathered mushrooms as a child but we are told not too these days- sprays, trespassing and identification issues.
I guess if you know your own land intimately its such a bonus afforded to too few of us these days in the cemented suburbs, off to buy our mushies from the supermarket. I can only imagine how lovely a big fresh mushroom or two would be! Enjoyed your post Pat.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Remember to look this year Tom - it is just the best year for mushrooms.

Thanks to all of you for joining in.