“Take away the miseries and you take away some folks’ reason for living.” – Toni Cade Bambara
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Keeping a Dog Yard Green
We have a back yard that is about 3000 square-feet of Kentucky Bluegrass. And, we have had between 7 and 10 dogs over the past 11 years and their outdoor area is the back yard. Many people have asked me, over the years, how I keep such a beautiful green yard with the pressure of a lot of dogs living on it. Here is what I do…
Posted under: Dog Stuff • Stuff You Gotta Know! • by Rick on 08/03/2005 at 11:33 AM
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Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Novice Mycophagist #3 “The Oyster Tree”
Last year, while walking our southern property at Sand Creek Park, I found a dead, fallen Aspen tree that had a few oyster mushrooms growing on it. It was mid-August, I think, and the mushrooms were well beyond their prime. So, I made a mental note to check the tree, which I dubbed “Oyster Tree” (I have a habit of naming things on the land—there is Picnic Rock, Bart’s Creek, Dick the Tree, and so forth), the next year.
We spent four days at the cabin in late July and on the second day we hiked to Oyster Tree.
Posted under: Cabin News • Mushroom Articles • by Rick on 08/02/2005 at 05:44 PM
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Friday, July 22, 2005
Novice Mycophagist #2 “To Eat or Not to Eat”
Even though we spent 10 days at the cabin over the 4th of July week, it just wasn’t enough! So, we were back up there again the following weekend. We arrived in late afternoon on Thursday, and shortly after arriving we had a real downpour. Lightning, thunder, rain and hail. Altogether about 2/3 of an inch in less than an hour. The moisture was really needed. It was the first precipation in many weeks. The temperatures had been running in the high 80’s and low 90’s and it was getting really dry.
Of course, one of our first thoughts was “mushrooms!”.
On Friday morning, early, we took the dogs “around”. That is what we call our walk on the trail to the beaver pond and back—“around”. It was cool and wet and wonderful.
Posted under: Mushroom Articles • by Rick on 07/22/2005 at 02:55 PM
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Thursday, July 21, 2005
Recipe Site Upgrade
I’ve significantly upgraded the recipe site. The recipe search capabilities are much improved as is the user interface. Check it out by clicking on “Our Favorite Recipes” in the links on the right-hand side of the page. Site membership is still required to view recipes.
Rick
Posted under: Stuff You Gotta Know! • Food and Cooking • by Rick on 07/21/2005 at 10:28 PM
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Monday, July 18, 2005
Novice Mycophagist #1
I’m calling this series of articles “Novice Mycophagist” because first, I’m a novice at all things to do with mushrooms. Second, one of the reasons I am so interested in mushrooms is to eat them. However, as I’ve become more familiar with mushrooms, I’ve developed an interest in finding them, photographing them, and generally learning more about them, even when they are not edible.
There may be few things more dangerous than a novice mycophagist. After all, there are plenty of poisonous mushrooms out there, and you typically don’t want a novice sorting the good from the bad. But, everyone must start somewhere. I’ve been seeking out and identifying mushrooms for a couple of years. I’ve joined the Colorado Mycological Society and try to attend their meetings. I’ve got a half dozen reliable books for identifying mushrooms. And, I’ve actually been confident enough to eat a few mushrooms I’ve found. Still, I think the classification of “novice” fits—and may fit for the rest of my life. (No joke intended.)
Posted under: Mushroom Articles • by Rick on 07/18/2005 at 08:12 AM
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