On Sunday we set out in a light rain to our best chanterelle spot in the coast range. We found that someone else had been there first and the mushrooms are (so far) not as abundant as last year, but we still managed to fill a three-gallon bucket in about two hours. I forgot my camera that day, but I do have a picture of me sauteing them in preparation for freezing. So far we have had a chanterelle pizza (Ebba) and frittata (Liz), and we have enough left for at least two more meals.
On Monday I was formally tested to determine if I have a honey bee allergy (I do), and today I got my first “immunotherapy” injections of purified bee venom. Over the next twelve weeks they will steadily increase the dose until they are injecting the equivalent of 2 stings. The idea is that repeated exposure increases the number of good (IgG) antibodies to balance out the bad (IgE) antibodies that cause an allergic response.
Yesterday I dug our sweet potatoes, and I was somewhat disappointed that the beautiful plants didn’t produce more tubers. All in all we got 11 pounds of four varieties. Our best-yielding variety, Ivis White Cream, is also the best-tasting sweet potato I have eaten.
Today I replaced my worn Subaru tires with top-rated Hankook H727s and drove up Marys Peak to try them out and watch the sunset/moonrise. The clouds didn’t cooperate, but they did create plenty of interesting formations as they formed on the north side of the peak, drifted over the summit, and dissipated on the south side. As I hiked down in a darkening fog, coyotes started howling nearby and a medium-sized owl circled once over my head. Despite the paved road and the antennas on top, Marys Peak still feels like a wild place.
Sun peeks through the clouds over Table Mountain in the distance
With the weather forecast to be drier and clearer this weekend, I may have more chances to catch a bright sunset from 4000 feet.