Who's to Know

 what twist of fate will ultimately prompt me to post another blog tale.  It appears that a weekend spent with all of my diminutive actors and the Little Actress might provide the twist.  It was verging on two weeks ago that the HM and I hosted our offspring for a long weekend at a mountain house owned by an Amish man.  This owner is an acquaintance of the HM.  "I've got a house in the mountains," this chap told the HM, "that I rent out  to groups.  I've got only ONE weekend left that is still open for the taking." (My parenthesis: not exactly "taking"...as in, there's a reasonable charge.) 

The HM and I swooped in on the deal.  Ergo, our offspring all took COVID tests prior to traveling to this spot, came up with across-the-board negatives, then went to this mountain house for Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend.  

We had a marvelous time (speaking for myself only, Reader Dear, but surmising it was a mutual sentiment).  Considering this property is Amish-owned, you may suppose it lacked amenities.  You may be quite mistaken, Surmiser Dear! Even though the ample in-ground swimming pool was closed for the season, there was plenty to keep us occupied. 

First Son-in-Law, who truly knows mushrooms, led us all on an interesting Mushroom Expedition.  

Following which, he cooked some up with butter for our eating pleasure.

Just a note of caution, Viewer Dear: One should not go picking toadstools willy-nilly and consuming them.   Without the advice of a mushroom expert, one is liable to find oneself pushing up daisies/mushrooms of one's own! (Aarrgh, Dear Reader, no frowning at Yours Truly.  It wasn't I who made up that old euphemism!)

 

Instead: eat these, wild Shitakes, Blewits, and hmm, what was the name of that other one, the mother lode?!:

At this house in the mountains, one thing was clear: If we'd, for some bizarre or frightful reason*, been suddenly thrown into Hunter-Gatherer mode in order to survive, we'd have been in luck!  The taxidermied deer heads, bears, raccoon, pheasant, and turkey scattered about the living space**  did gave proof that the "hunting" part of the equation would likely supply us with some tasty entrees to supplement our gathered plants and fungi.***

*I've got to confess, all the reasons I've imagined would be frightful! 

**A little creepy, until accustomed to, the full-sized bear standing near the kitchen table. 

*** Likely to be problematic, prior to mustering up some weapons, or otherwise persuading the wily wildlife we were truly higher on the food chain! 

(To Be Continued...oh, yes)