We almost went home – no one came, except a spot of rain. We tried and liked the butternut soup, with a little kick. Then a car, and before you could say Squash, we had a gaggle of friends huddling around the fire, firing on all cylinders with ideas.
Emily had located amongst her bookshelf of friends, an old companion, not seen these many years, ‘Squash, myth, story and recipe’ written by an Italian (naturally). In here we found our unexpected adventure: Squash Fritters. With luck Armoral had bought in some peeled Butternut Squash, which we grated.
But first we had to do some work. While some drew the array of squash, some walked very slowly, head down, looking at the earth to get our eye in for spotting the fruiting body of fungi beginning to appear after all the rain. ‘Is it edible?’ was the repeated question. Not recommended I said, or Probably, Andrew said.
- Peeling Oysterling aka soft slipper
- False Turkey tail
- Birch Polypore
- Russula aurea – aka brittle gill
- White fiber cap – aka earthy inocybe
- Jelly ear – aka jews ear
- common laccaria – aka the Deceiver
- Spring web cap
- Flat Oysterling
- Wrinkled coral – aka Clavulina Rugosa
Emily/Edith found this one, which we got very excited about as it looks just like the one Neil Mahler found in Holton Hall Park in 2013, and called Candelabra Coral Clavicorona Pyxidata Fungi, not seen since 1896 (as defined by Kew where Neil sent off the sample to) The only known image of it below.
I will write to Neil and send him our photo. The hive eyes worked so well, and when otherwise would I allow myself the time to dally, eyes down in such a way, and see what I walked passed?
Kally bought in her condenced Rosehip which we heated on the fire with a guess of suggar. Each of us had a spoon of it, to boost our vitamin C. Yum. Earthy. Not unpleasent.
Armoral and Em, using Kally’s assortment of home made ink (acorn, alder, blackberry ec) captured the essence of squash on a piece of paper – Em using the feather end of a feather to paint in the colour. Works of art they are.
Who needs Nutmeg and Saffron, when you have a camp fire, a spot of olive oil and butter? The Squash fritters were delicious, let’s do them again next week.
Finally news came through that Serena, in the Norfolk and Norwich, was doing ok post procedure, and we all wrote to her a veritable Deliquescent of a message.
That evening, the dogs and I walked down the track and behold – witnessed the northern lights.
Kinda Elders in the woods 