Morel Harvest

Here's the hunting crew getting ready to climb and cling to the mountain like goats in the wild. My ability to hunt was drastically hindered with little Isadora on my back, but her hybrid songs and impromtu lyrics were plenty entertaining.  Our forest service employee guide (Lindsay Dear) who had printed burn maps and had haunting whispers of bounty dutifully led the way and found the first cluster of mighty morels. It's funny to watch the fever grow in the pack until we all spot our own delicious morsels that bloom from the forest floor in rich, ashy soil under willow and aspen trees protected by the tall ponderosas. You have to catch them in the light just perfectly (the photo below features three if you can find 'em). It's amazing how mother nature camoflauges the fungi.

I was impressed how long Ashton lasted, as once Poppie gets going, there is no stopping him. He dreams about finding morels throughout the month of May, and once we're finally in the vacinity he won't stop until we have morels spilling from every container we have. Below Ashton features one of the oddly brainish shrooms, which she fondly used as a thumb cap.

Here is the master at work....Mrs. Lindsay Briedenthal crouched low to the earth. Below Jake is in the distance, while Ashton makes a mudd and ash "birthday cake" in the foreground.

"Look Mama." 

Nice. Thank goodness for an abundant supply of baby wipes in the car. 

That's my "coal miner's daughter." 

Here we are on Douglas Street savoring the moment after back-to-back morel meals. 

Matthew found a few "family clusters" in the forest. I told him it was an omen, but he chuckled it off. By the end of the trip Ashton willingly gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, whereas the day before she was hiding from the tall, bearded beast smiling a hello down at her. 

Maybe he'll be converted to our side of 30 something soon.

Another case of "morel thumb".

A little prayerful pose of thanks over our harvest......

while Izzi helps Poppie put up the morels for future evenings. 

I'm glad Ms. Isadora loves the mighty morels too, as they will always be part of our May adventures.  We're lucky to have such a grand harvest this year.  The last few years have been slim to none, and the thriving patches out there are stalked religiously this time of year. I'm glad there is enough to go around, as I fear someday there won't be.