Yesterday was an Aunt Harriette visiting day. She's a wee bit more fragile, but still getting around on her own two legs, which is not bad for 97! After taking her to lunch, we stopped by the Mushroom Woods. We were not disappointed.

Entalomas are fragrant mushrooms that vary from choice to poisonous. Only the choice ones become invaded by another fungus, which gives them an unmistakeable and unique appearance, which means we get to eat them.

They fry up to have a meaty texture and flavor. They go well in hot dishes calling for hamburger. They also dry well. When in season, they are abundant.

From bottom clockwise: aborted entaloma, grifola fondrosa or Hen of the Woods, chanterelle.

I spotted the Hen of the Woods as we were walking out. It looked like a large, gray pine cone without any pines nearby... It seems our favorite mushrooms all grow on oaks, except those that do not. The chanterelle appeared in an area we rarely traverse, but I spied a different cluster of mushrooms and had to investigate. Chanterelles smell of ripe apricots. The one I found was a single, and already old. But beautiful. The Hen of the Woods was tender and delicious. We had it for dinner. The entalomas we cleaned and put in the dehydrator, which took up the rest of our day. Today we are back to building winter shelter for our increased flocks.