Mushrooms and votes

After a rainy week, there is a lot of mushrooming to do.  I found Elm Oysters, Shaggy Mane, Luminous Chanterelle, winter Chanterelle, Hedgehogs and Honey mushrooms this past weekend.  

I am dehydrating the Elm Oysters at 150 F for 12 hours.  Also, I am attempting to make a spawn from the stems of the mushrooms to inoculate logs for future mushroom harvesting.  I am using coffee grounds and zip lock bags.  I nestle the stems in the grounds and every day I open the bag to let oxygen in. I checked on the stems today (after 3 days) there is fuzzy mycelium growing in the bag. Later I can promote the growth of the mycelium by transferring it to straw that has been sterilized or wood chips. I am excited! or into wooden dowels that can be inserted in logs and sealed with wax. 

Elm Oysters

 I also found flying squirrels in our wood stove.  They were running up the stove pipe but couldn't get out through the chimney.  Unfortunately, there were three other ones that died trapped.  They were small with a grey fuzzy coat, huge eyes, long whiskers and a rectangular shaped tail.

Went to visit Buckwheat and Scout, Che Che's babies. They are happy and healthy. Donkey has not had her babies yet. We are waiting very anxiously for their arrival. 

Always, save the best for last.