Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Winter Mushrooms



Winter has arrived. It was a lovely sunny day today up here in the mountains. What a way to welcome winter by cooking a green chicken curry from scratch. I have just joined a women's cooking circle and I have met some wonderful ladies. We are from all ages (12-70 years) and different backgrounds, and we all come together to share our knowledge of food and cooking. We all had a go at pounding the ingredients to make the green curry paste with the mortar and pestle. It smelled so delicious as we were making and cooking it - and we get to eat it.... and this is a free group . Meanwhile, Lou was happily making playdough from scratch with the mobile minder (child care worker) in the next room.



Afterwards, Lou and I went to the park for a play and we came across these amazing mushrooms. They were so beautiful. I was amazed that they got to grow so big and flawless. There were a few that looked like some snails had eaten them.


I don't know what they are called but I was blown away by their beauty and their size. I don't think I have ever seen mushrooms so big in real life. Some of them were the size of a bread and butter plate.



Here is one next to my shoe to show how big it was.





I warned Lou not to touch them but he couldn't resist jumping over them....:)




24 comments:

karisma said...

Wow they look awesome. I wonder what they are? We have a book somewhere around here, will have to see if I can find them.

The cooking circle sounds like fun! Tomorrow I am having a little circle of my own...one guess as to what will be going on! LOL Hugs xoxox

karisma said...

Or google is good....

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric

Apparently it is poisonous.

Louise said...

Wow what amazing mushrooms, did you look for fairies, I am sure they would be there, lol.

Your cooking circle sounds wonderful, so does your curry.

Anne said...

Thanks Karisma...:)

I had a feeling being bright red they would of been poisonous.

But they where amazing to look at.

Donna said...

A womens cooking circle - what a wonderful and amazing thing to be part of! Love the mushrooms.

Appleshoe said...

Amanita muscaria; my favorite mushroom. They are very beautiful; however they are also highly poisonous. Mostly you will get very sick or hallucinate, but sometimes they can be deadly. I made a waldorf doll to look like she was dressed as one of these and named her Amanita.

Nicole Vangen said...

How magical - I never seen anything like them - well in photographs that is.

A cooking circle - that sounds wonderful. Enjoy.

Namaste, Nicole

Unknown said...

I found one of these mushies last autumn under a pine tree. Your find is magical ! I am sure the elves and fairies were flitting around somewhere nearby! And cooking circle?how does it work? Love your shoes!

Stacy said...

I don't know what the technical difference is but those mushrooms definitely look like toadstools to me!

Toria said...

Yep definitely the fly agaric toadstool. We get them down here at Springwood as well, around pine trees in the golf course.

Apparently the spores came out here with pine trees when they were imported, they have a symbiotic relationship with pines. Probably the only thing that will grow near pines :-).

The cooking circle sounds great fun.

softearthart said...

I love mushrooms. these are wonderful cheers Marie

Alicia said...

Gorgeous, I wish they'd grow in our neck of the woods!

Leanne said...

So beautiful...and amazing to see them for real.

Ariella said...

oh my goodness! too precious and beautiful!

taisa said...

These are amazing. They don't grow here, though I wish they did! Did you spot any fairies?

Lovely World said...

Hello! Thank you for visiting my blog. You have a beautiful blog populated by cute children. These mushrooms are amazing - it almost seems someone was trying to play a trick by leaving them in the park (perhaps a fairy?!). I also love the idea of your cooking circle.

Cloudia said...

magical post.

I long to cook after reading it. Here on the boat it's all very minimal...



Aloha from Waikiki, buralliAnne

Comfort Spiral

Cadi said...

Beautiful fly agarics! I've never seen so many in one spot.

Amber said...

That is beautiful, out of this world. We are heading your way in a few weeks..any tips on where to find these babies???
xxx

karen said...

your cooking group sounds realy great. I cant beleive those mushrooms, their beautiful! ive only ever seen white mushrooms in real life

Lynne said...

The cooking group sounds great!

Those mushrooms (toadstools?) are really pretty but I'm sure they're also really poisonous! I'm glad you warned Little Lou not to touch them.

* * said...

Oh, wow! These photos are incredible!
How lucky to have found such magic!

Mette (Mettuska) said...

Yes, Amanita muscaria :) We have those here, too.

Sherrin said...

You found some too! And yes! It is amazing how big some of them grow. Great pics.