Seasonal Memories
Along about now, my mother would commence fall cleaning. As I recall, it took a lot of elbow grease.
To usher in the new season, we’d wash windows, take down screens and put up storm windows, rake leaves, flip mattresses, replace summer rugs with winter ones, change slipcovers, put away white shoes, purses, and dresses, and pull out coats and blankets.
At the farm recently, we took on a few activities, that come with cooler weather in the Ozarks.
Time to Stalk the Wild Mushrooms
No, these are not pompoms, they’re Hen-of-the-Woods mushrooms from our farm.
“Hens” are most often found around the base of white oaks and bur oaks. The name comes from their feathery look, that resembles a sitting hen.
“Hens” in a row awaiting their turn in the skillet. Preparation is a bit labor intensive, but Robin has a mushroom brush that helps to remove the dirt before washing and chopping the tasty fungi.
Mushrooms sautéed with butter, onions, garlic, and wine and topped with parmesan cheese and parsley.
Rather than make coleslaw from a big head of cabbage, I turned to a warmer dish: Southern Fried Cabbage.
It’s Also Wood Chopping Time
This is the way we once chopped wood, as Russ often did.
This year my friend, Robert, brought over his wood splitter, that makes quick work of a tree log.
Time to Enjoy the First Split Wood
Ahh. . . the first fire of the season always feels the best.
The words above the fireplace are Irish (Gaelic) and translate: “Don’t Let the Fire Go Out.”
