wild mushrooms

[StephenX]

For those who know me, you know I like to forage for wild mushrooms for the table. There are two rules for this. Number 1, be a 100% sure of the species you have. Number 2, try a little bit to determine that you do not have a individual allergy to the mushroom you are thinking about eating. Example, the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, is a favorite of mine. Yet, every year, several people die from eating them. The other night a friend called me at 10:30 at night. Usually I do not answer the phone that late; but that night I did. Good thing I did. My friend told me he had found a mess of chanterelles. I asked him were they yellow, red, blue or black. He answered orange (there are no orange chanterelles). I asked him how big they were and where he found them. After hearing his answers I surmised he had some Omphalotus (Jack-o-lanterns) and told him they were poisonous. He waited until I went over to his house the next day. Sure enough they were what I thought they were. He called his picking partner to warn him; but the fool had already eaten some; and fed them to his two sons. They had all suffered projectile vomiting and his sons were in the hospital. The lesson to this story is that mushroom hunting is a most dangerous outdoor activity. One must know what they are doing. I find great satisfaction in picking wild mushrooms; but it is no hobby for fools.

[Reesacat]

Praise God your friend called you and you answered the phone!

[Samurai]

#1- Very cool that you were able to help.
#2- Where the heck have you been?

[StephenX]

Follow up. Everyone is okay. Jack-o-lanterns are not as poisonous as amanitas or galerinas. Hopefully they learned a lesson. Akita mani yo!
p.s., I was in Texas for three weeks. Plus, I am, by nature a loner. I go through times of being, not anti, but non-social. Woods' rats can be like that. I appreciate my friends on this site. Best group I've ever been allowed to join. Wakan tanka nichi un, mita kholapi

[Maurya]

Welcome back home from your visit in Texas!

[Reesacat]

I thought you might be out traveling or boating....say hello to your beautiful wife for us!

[bmc65]

Welcome back Stephen. Where (in) TX. I still have roots there. Also thanks for the post.

[mellowsong]

Welcome back StephenX and so happy you were around to advise and help!

[StephenX]

Welcome back Stephen. Where is TX. I still have roots there. Also thanks for the post.

I assume you mean "where in Texas?" My in-laws live in Lakeside (just west of Lake Worth) and Paradise. Just read a great book called The Texian Iliad by Stephen Hardin. It's a history of the Texas revolution. Santa Anna was a major jerk (I'm being polite here); and Sam Houston had to be the luckiest man in the world. David Crockett didn't like "Davy"; and he ruined his political career in Tennessee because he wouldn't agree to Andrew Jackson's evil treatment of the eastern Indian tribes.

[bmc65]

Yep meant in as opposed to is. Luckily my geography isn't that bad lol.Thanks for the touch of hx by the way.

[highlander]

David Crockett ... ruined his political career in Tennessee because he wouldn't agree to Andrew Jackson's evil treatment of the eastern Indian tribes.

Jackson was an evil POS. Makes my skin crawl every time I hear someone speak of him with admiration. Doing one or two decent things can't white wash what he did to the Indians.