INTO THE WOODS

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All of you who are city peeps have the advantage of theater, activity, shops, and great restaurants. Sometimes that sounds attractive, I must admit. But, when it comes right down to it, I like living on the edge of the sticks because we have access to free food. And food scrounging makes for a fun weekend. Last Saturday we went into the woods with friends. Fortunately, we didn't encounter the big, bad wolf or (more likely) a bear or (even more likely) hunters. We did find a field full or huckleberry bushes and some chanterelle mushrooms. Yum! Wild huckleberries make the best pies on the planet. They also make wonderful jam, coffee cake and liquor. (Try adapting the blackberry cordial recipe from "Small Change".) Mushroom hunting is like Easter Egg hunting for grown-ups. No, now that I think about it, at the price of those things in the store, well, it's more like panning for gold. Even better than the money savings is the time in the great outdoors, a chance to be with friends, and the memories made. That's priceless. Mushroom season is right now, so if you do live near woods this is the time to go hunting. (Check out the various on-line sites to be sure you know what you're looking for. Even better, if you have a friend like my buddy Kimberly who is a expert on the 'shroom, take a guided expedition to make sure you're not picking something that will make you sick. God's bounty is everywhere. Let's enjoy it!