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Mushroom Identification I am rather new to the field of mycology so when I find an unfamiliar mushrooms, I do serious research on them before preparing them for a gourmet meal. I have hunted morel mushrooms for years and they are easy to identify. I only recently discovered many more mushrooms growing wild in our area are delicious to eat. In my research, I have also discovered “toxic” is a relative term. Some sources use the term toxic to mean it will kill a person in short order. Any thing else that will make a person mildly to severely ill is referred to as a mild gastric irritant. I would prefer a more standard classification that would group any mushroom that is going to make a person sick as “Do Not Eat.” That way, a person would know if they eat something on the Do Not Eat list, they are going to be sick, somewhere between mildly nauseated and dead. I will just skip these ones.

The mushrooms I forage can not be easily confused with something with varying degrees of toxicity.

These include puffballs, chicken of the woods, golden and pearl oysters as well as the common morel. Last week, my son told me about some mushrooms growing along one of the (Outdoors cont’d on pg 2)

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checked their section on look-alikes and found a picture that looked exactly like the mushrooms we had. The common name for them

large groups. This was definitely a large group. trails in the woods. He My source said, the was not sure what they toxicity level of Jacks were but took a picture is not high. If a person and said there were a mistakenly eats them, lot of them. they will vomit My immedifor four to six ate thoughts hours. To me, were that he that seems had found fairly toxic and the mother something lode of chanI will do my terelles. best to avoid.

Chanterelle They may mushrooms not kill you, are highly but for four to sought after six hours you as they are might wish one of the you were. best tasting One mushrooms other interestaround. They ing feature of are used jack-o-lantern extensively mushrooms in French is they are cooking and supposedly pair well with bioluminessteaks or cent. At times, about anythey will glow thing else a in the dark person can bright enough think of to put to read by. At with them. I was excited is jack-o-lantern. There a stage in their growth at the possible find. My are many similarities cycle, they will put off a wife and I immediately between jack-o-lanterns blue-white light to atwent out to find them. and chanterelles. The tract insects. Since we From a discolor is similar though found this to be a curitance, we spotted the generally more orange ous adaptation for a large clusters of mush- in jacks. The shape is mushroom, my wife and rooms growing on and very close, but chanI waited until after dark near a dead oak tree. terelles are generally to check it out. Our glow On closer inspection, smaller. To me neither of in the dark mushrooms they did not look exactly these made a definitive were not glowing. Either like chanterelles are confirmation one way this was not the right supposed to. I picked a or the other. A person time in their life cycle or few and headed back would have to have the source of my inforto the house to do more each side by side to mation was not entirely research. My reference compare color and size. accurate, as in vomitmaterial confirmed that The difference that con- ing for six hours show these delicious lookfirmed my suspicion was a mushroom to be only ing mushrooms were that chanterelles grow mildly toxic. not the much sought in small clusters while after chanterelles. I jack-o-lanterns grow in

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call a lesion. A biopsy revealed that the lesion was neuroendocrine carcinoma. I was referred to the University of Iowa Hospital. In the interim between the referral and my appointment, Ginnie and I started drinking aronia

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mendation was three infusions, three weeks Cancer! apart, followed by another PET Scan.

Curt Swarm, Empty Nest I had my first infusion, and it went well.

It’s been a rough year.

The infusion center at At the age of 76, in less the U of I is impressive. than 12 months, I have There are 40 infusion had prostate issues, stations, and the staff neutreats you like royalty. I ropathy was a little sick after the in my first infusion, but nothing legs, a serious. The swollen heart lymph nodes in my neck paceare reducing in size and maker, lesions disappeared. and Ginnie and I now, are continuing to drink cancer. aronia juice daily, in Yep. I the hope that the juice, feel like which is high in antioxia worn dants and anti-inflamout old matories, will work with Ford the immunotherapy. truck— They may counteract. fix or We’ll see. repair I recently particidaily. pated in an art contest Thank and reception for Louisa God County in Morning Sun. for There was a mixed megood juice every morning that dia painting that I really mechanics, I mean docfarmer friends gave us. liked, titled “Self Portrait tors.

Lo-and-behold, by the at End of Treatment” by Cancer was the time we got to U of I, Judith Costello. I made furthest thing from my the lesion disappeared. up my mind that if I sold mind. Cancer was one of my sculptures something other people The doctors, and they are brilliant, were a that I had in the conhad. There wasn’t much little taken aback, but test, I would buy the self cancer in my family, they forged on.

After portrait. Well, I sold a so it wasn’t a hot topic sculpture, “Myrtle the around the Sunday din- biopsies and two PET (Positron Emission ToTurtle,” so I approached ner table. In fact, I was Judith with the under the someoffer to buy. She what laughable readily accepted belief that canand we had a cer was the renice chat about sult of a troubled cancer treatment mind, i.e., people and recovery. who were full of She asked me resentments and how long it took spite got cancer. for my infusions.

You know the I told her 15 minspiel, “It serves utes. She said him right. He hers took five led a life of evil hours. She also and dirty deeds. had radiation in Cancer ate him addition to chemo up!” therapy, followed 35 years by immunotherago, I gave up, mography) Scans, their apy, like I was doing. out of necessity, alcoShe’s fully recovered hol, tobacco and mood diagnosis was Merkel Cell Carcinoma, caused now, and doing well. altering substances. I

by UV rays (sunlight) on I have her self exercise daily, try to my scalp, that spread portrait hanging in the keep my weight under into the lymph nodes spot where I meditate control, and practice in my neck.

Two-inand say my morning a good Christian life. a-million people have prayers (the toilet, if All of this combined, I Merkel Cell Carcinoma. you must know), asking thought, should pretty much ensure a long and Lucky me. (Everything for healing for me and others. I find her self healthy life. My life may happens for a reason.)

Their recommended portrait inspiring. We still be long and healthy. treatment was infuwill whip this cancer I dunno. My cancer, at sions of a new immunotogether.

Stage 3, is relatively mitherapy drug, Keytruda, I appreciate all nor compared to some that boosts the body’s the prayers I have reof the more serious immune system to fight ceived from friends and cases. cancer cells. Of course, strangers alike. Also, in The cancer there can be side efcase you’re wondering, started in my scalp, a fects.

Their recomdrinking is not an option. red splotch the doctors

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Field of Sheep Centuries ago, a Lyon ancestor of Melissa’s was gifted a large area of land between two hillsides in Scotland, for his support of William the Conqueror.

Today this is know as Glen Lyon and it is classic Scotland.

where sheep are grazing.

During our stay at the Fortingall Hotel, we met the staff: Richard is from London, Sandie is from Glen Lyon is a beautiful South Africa, and the chef, place. At the head of the Jozef, is from Slovakia.

Glen is a large lake. Loch Nearing the end of the Lyon, feeds the River Lyon season, the staff had time as it flows through the to relax, enjoying casual valley between two ranges conversation with us. with a lush, green valley in between. Near the edge “What kind of things do of Glen Lyon is the vilyou write about,” Jozef lage of Fortingall; a small asked me. village of restored homes, a farm, a church, and a “I write about real life hotel. Next to the church experiences: things I’ve is a famous yew tree. The done, people I meet, tree is said to be 5,000 places we’ve visited, and years old. things I see,” I replied.

“Some people tell me that Legend is told that Pon‘I see things,’ but I don’t tius Pilate (who presided see any more than everyat the final trial of Jesus one else - maybe I just and gave the order for his see it differently; from a crucifixion) was born in different perspective.” the area and played under this tree as a boy.

“What do you mean,” Jozef asked. I motioned My wife and I stayed at for him to join me at the the hotel bearing the front door. namesake of the small village of Fortingall.

We stood together on the top step. “Look in front of A small, very narrow road you and tell me what you separates the hotel from see, Jozef,” I said to my plush green pastures new friend.

“I see the beautiful hillside beyond the pasture of lambs,” Jozef replied.

“What do you see?”

“I see the same things as you,” I answered. “But I noticed most of the sheep are white, and just a few are black.” Then I said to Jozef, “In America, a black sheep is metaphorically someone who is different, they stand out from their peers, but not necessarily in a good way. A black sheep is independent, often rebellious and does things their own way without consideration to what is traditional or ‘the norm,’ and their actions often bring shame or embarrassment upon a family or a village, thus making them ‘the black sheep.’”

The pavement has a lot of potholes and the sides are often broken off with deep ruts and edges so jagged, they could easily cut a car tire.”

“I see that too,“ Jozef said sarcastically. “Remember, I drive this road most days.” We shared a good laugh about that.

“You see, Jozef, people will see what they’re looking for,” I said.

Some people would drive down this lane cussing the pavement; complaining about the narrow path so much so, that they never notice that beautiful hillside, let alone the sheep in the pasture. They only see the potholes; I have to ask, is that what they’re looking for.”

“It means the same thing in my country,” Jozef said.

“But how do you see this view differently?”

Jozef nodded in agreement. “Have you become used to the roads yet,” he asked.

“I don’t think the white sheep know they’re white, and the black sheep don’t know they’re black. They are just a herd of sheep living together in a field; feasting side by side on the rich, green grass.

What if people lived like that?”

“I’m having a blast driving,” I said. “But y’all drive on the wrong side of the road, ya know.”

“I’ve heard that,” Jozef laughed.

“Obviously the roads are narrow, and demand the driver’s close attention,” I Jozef looked at me and said, “The potholes, brosmiled with understanding. ken pavement, and ruts “What else do you see.” could cause a blown tire, damage to the vehicle, or “I see a one-track road worse yet, an accident; I so narrow that two cars already had a motorhome cannot pass until they try to remove my mirror.” come to a passing place. We shared another laugh

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about that, as I’d already told Jozef that story.

“But the challenging road conditions offer a great deal of opportunity,” I said.

“An opportunity to cooperate with other drivers, especially yielding at the passing places. We could choose to butt heads, demanding our passage and clogging the roads, slowing everyone down.”

I went on to say, “Not far down this road, there’s a narrow blind corner turning sharply to the right.

Some would see that as a potential place for a collision, and it very well could be. But I see it as an exciting opportunity to explore what lies on the road ahead. New places to go, things to see, people to meet. How exciting is that blind corner?”

I pondered my thoughts for a moment. “Before visiting Scotland, I was told about the one lane roads, with two way traffic.

It would seem an impossible situation, from an Americans point of view, but the Scots have been safely traveling these same roads for hundreds of years.”

I started to laugh. “Do you suppose the Scots learned to share the road from the sheep sharing the fields?” Maybe America needs more sheep farmers.

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