From: riburr@shentel.net   
      
   Scouted areas in the National Forest that almost always have something   
   to offer, but found almost nothing.  Various Polypores were expanded and   
   rubbery from all the rain.  Perhaps a few more days will allow more   
   mushrooms to present themselves.   
      
   I'd grown rather depressed by the lack of finding anything worthwhile.   
   I was headed back to the car, and had to cross a small stream.  Fallen   
   leaves obscured the surface of the water, and I was stepping on the   
   stones to keep my feet dry.  The last stone, near the bank, flipped as I   
   stepped on it, and down I went.  I had my camera in one hand and tripod   
   in the other, so there was no way to brace my fall.  The stream was   
   shallow, so I only got wet on my left side.  But, the camera was safe   
   and dry.   
      
   I gathered my wits and thought... Maybe the mushroom spirits don't want   
   me to leave?  I look around more carefully and saw some gilled mushrooms   
   growing on a nearby log; the only gilled mushrooms I'd seen all day.   
   They appeared to be Galerina autumnalis, or something similar, which is   
   a mushroom we should all have respect for.  The area was boggy and damp,   
   and since I was already wet, I decided to kneel, then lay down on the   
   damp soil to get a picture; See:   
   http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1779759589&size=l   
      
   http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1780613942&size=l   
      
   I also saw some fresh Lycoperdon puffballs, but didn't harvest any.  I'm   
   going out again tomorrow.  If I don't find anything else, I'll settle   
   for some small puffballs.  Might try mashing them with a little olive   
   oil, spices and garlic, heating them in the microwave, chill and eat   
   over crackers...  Maybe.  Just a thought.  If it turns out good, I'll   
   make a larger batch with lemon juice, so it'll keep for a while.   
      
      
      
   --   
   I can tell your future just look what's in your hand...   
      
   - Robert Hunter   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)