Bike Ride In Pella

 After the visit with Cheryl's Fam, Cheryl mentioned we should visit those cool trails we discovered...This time with our BIKES!   So, today,  We packed up the Bikes and headed to the Dutch Trail that skirts the reservoir. 

I'm not sure what we expected out of it, other than an exploritory mission.   We ended up biking 20 miles!  ( 10 miles out and back)   It was 80 degrees, sunny and humid.   What were we thinking?!?!

I guess we wanted our money's worth after traveling that distance.   I can't imagine driving for an hour and a half only to bike three miles or so.  And we can always use the exercise, so over all, it was a good thing. 

Along the way, there were plenty of sights to behold.   Plenty of Mushroom and Flowers.  More than I can show here.   But basically the usual suspects for this time of year. ( Oysters, Boletes, Large Fawn Mushrooms! and More!) 

There were also a bunch of colorful animals...  Birds and insects to marvel over.   Butterflies and Dogbane Beetles, along with Baltimore orioles and Blue herons.  Quite the nature lovers fantasy.

Cheryl started to get a little hungry, so after a few Mulberries, we headed back and headed to Pella for some water and food.  It was a pleasant outing by and large.   Too bad it is just a little further than our comfort zone.   But Cheryl says that if she begins training for a Marathon later, we can come back out here and run a few of the long raining runs.   I'm looking forward to it. 

Had I been more prepared, I may have harvested a few of those Mushrooms for later.  But the Dehydrator just finished drying the Boletes from Yesterday.   And I was not considering riding my bike 20 miles with a bag of fragile Mushrooms slung around my back.   The Main Take away is that the Mushrooms appear to be out now and we just have to head to the Coralville woods.   A closer hunting place.

After yesterday, I'll try to keep this post shorter. After all,  a bunch of pictures is not very exciting.  the Volksweg Trail was fun though.  And I would highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the area.  Thanks for stopping in.

This Weather Is For The Mushrooms!

 I wasn't planning on Blogging today.. Until.....   Boletus Campestris made an appearance!   I found several in our back yard.  They were obviously fresh because I just went scouted the yard yesterday for Chanterelles. It has been drizzling ever since we got home and I thought: " This seems like the perfect Bolete conditions.   They like the rain, pop up fast, and will begin to decay if they are not harvested immediately.   So I dug out the Mushroom Basket and headed for the Neighbor's yard. 

The neighbor had just recently moved out.  And a New Neighbor is moving in Today!   What better way to introduce myself than over the topic of Mushrooms.  ( Everyone wants to talk about Mushrooms.... Right?) But first!  Let's see if there are any popping up in their front yard. 

Well,  I was blown away!   Mushrooms Galore!  And not only the Boletes!  There were LOTS of Small brown and white Mushrooms. ( not edible or readily identifiable)  But I was after the Red and Yellow ones.   I could not get a good picture of that first wave, because my Camera was completely out of juice! ( figures!)  But eventually, there were so many I had to make a second trip.  The Basket was completely overflowing!

I grabbed my fully charged camera and headed back over there.   I talked with the new neighbor briefly, just long enough to make them doubt their decision to move to a small town in Iowa. ( What?  Everyone thinks all mushrooms are Poisonous? Weird.) I didn't get the impression that I should not harvest the "poisonous" mushrooms from their yard, so I went back out front.  I again filled the Basket with another round of Field Boletes.  

Back home, Cheryl helped me clean and process them for the Dehydrator.  These guys usually dry up quick, but they are fully saturated with water from the rain.   It could take a little longer than planned.  As it is, they tend to get mushy if they are handled too much.  And the Dehydrator is completely full now, with several cookie sheets filled with additional mushrooms waiting for their turn. I'm hoping we can get them fully dried by tonight.  And perhaps we should make a plan to go out and look for the Penny Bun Boletes in the Coralville Dam Forest area in the near future. 

I love the Field Bolete.   Besides being cute and fun to find, they taste like creme cheese when you cook them fresh.  And if you dry them, they taste like an earthy, cheddar-y cheese.  We have never found this many,  even compared to last year. ( where we found a LOT over the Summer) Two full baskets full of just the Field Boletes is something to be very satisfied with.   I think we will have enough for Cheryl to make a Mushroom Torte now.  Who needs those stupid Morals? Chanterelles are next. ( Hopefully) and we definitely want to find some Lobsters, Wood ear, and Penny Buns along the way.   Now, it is time to take a page from the "Cat Play Book" and chill out in the dry cool apartment. ( Cool temps, but so humid it causes you to sweat continuously. )   Hope everyone is enjoying the great outdoors while you can.  And even when it rain, there is something out there to find, enjoy and appreciate.   Thanks for stopping in.

Weekend With The "Folks."

Cheryl's Mom and Dad came  over for a Visit this weekend.   Traveling from Michigan is a "once a Year" affair, so we tried to make the most of things.   Cheryl had the entire visit planned out!  With A few moments of "Spontaneity" in the vent we found something that was off the beaten path.   So we packed up the Gang in their Subie... and headed to Pella. 

Cheryl comes from a long line of overly proud Dutch people.... On her Mom's Side of the Family.   Yes,  The Winters Side of the family enjoys being Dutch. ( I can understand a little pride in your Genetic soup called "heritage".)  I enjoy being "Swedish"  even if I know nothing about the culture, nor do I speak the language.  Perhaps it is the Romance of the unknown that we take pride in.    Who knows?   Bottom line,  Iowa has Dutch People and Dutch Stuff!  And we were going there for some Dutch Culture!

I like Pella. Especially during the Tulip time, but it was fun  visiting during the Summer a few years ago.  There were Old Cars and a fun crowd of folks having a good time.   I also enjoy the Windmills, Glockenspiel. ( even though we missed the show by 5 minutes...) And the Shops.  I think Cheryl's Mom enjoyed the event as well.  The Women went into the cute shops while the Guys talked "Guy Stuff" ( War, cars, politics,  etc...) Overall, it was fun. 

We stopped into a place to have a bite of "Dutch Food". Something Pella is not immediately obvious for.   The several times Cheryl and I have been here, we could not find a restaurant to visit that was not a  chain or "convenience store food." But Cheryl did a search and found this place that bragged having the "Tulip Burger.  Complete with Gouda Cheese, and Bologna slice on top of a burger.. with all the fixings.  Including an Egg! Of course I had to get that... for science and research into the mind of the Dutch People. I was a little surprised that the Folks did not feel equally as adventurous.   Then again, they may have known something I did not!  ( Like don't eat the experimental Dutch Food!) 

But it was good.   Similar to a "Garbage Grinder" burger we had in Alaska all those years ago.   Overall, I would visit again and try something new on the menu.   (Like the "Dutch Mess!" Mashed potatoes, boiled eggs, bacon, and leaf lettuce.  It sounds similar to The Dandelion Green Salad I have been eating all Spring!  Without the Vinegar or Dandelion greens.)  

We then headed to The Red Rock lake for a bit of a walk and nature watching.   Nice trails, and we even located a few Golden Oyster Mushrooms that were still fresh.  Unfortunately, they were too tall in the tree, and we had nothing to carry them in.  Perhaps later we will return with the bikes and some proper Mushroom hunting equipment.  

Cheryl and Mom went to the shore while me and the "Old Man" hung out on the benches.   The weather was overcast, but heated up quick enough when the sun peaked through.   The humidity was enough to overheat you if you exerted yourself too much.  Best to conserve energy while you could. 

By the time we got back home, the parents were wiped out!  ( Cheryl's plan had succeeded!)  we ate a couple of  Hotdogs with all the fixin's and  exchanged some parting gifts.  All while exchanging stories and news and other chit chat about the moments we have been apart.  In all, Playing catch up with conversation and coffee was just the thing.   ( I would have offered beer, but they both looked very tired.  And the Coffee was Decaffeinated  already!)  

They left this morning, and are probably in Michigan now as I write this.   Cheryl and I are taking a much needed break, from Baking, chalking, soap making. ( Ok, Cheryl is currently making some soap.  And I just finished making some chalk sticks with a new mold. But I assure you, we are doing it in the most relaxed and casual way. )  

Next week in the Upcoming 4th of July Celebration!  We have plans for racing and farmer's Market Research.  I normally do not wear my Patriotism on my sleeve, but this year, I really want to go all out.   Maybe because I don't hate America, as everyone in the news would have you believe.  By the Way,  It appears very FEW people in Iowa dislike America either.  So what better time to Show our Stars and Stripes!  And eat Hotdogs and Run Marathons. ( or half marathons...) Also, with all the rain that has been being dumped on us, we will have to set aside a few days for foraging.  OUr Neighbors blessed us with some Black Raspberries already!  And tell us the Kewash trail has many more ready for the pickin'!  Mushrooms are coming out as well, but I will have to save that for a different blog post, as this one is getting too long already.   Hope everyone is having  great weekend so far.   And We hope the Folks enjoyed their trip to Pella and Iowa.  I'm sure it will make Michigan feel like home again when they get back.   Thanks for stopping in.

Home Instead Of Farmer's Market.

 It is supposed to rain today.   Supposed to!  Right at 5 pm.... when the Farmer's Market starts.   It was totally dry yesterday...  But Today: 83 % chance of Rain.. Followed by 91% chance of THUNDERSTORMS!  With HAIL!  So.  We decided to take a break from Farmer's Market.   Of course only AFTER Cheryl spent the last three days baking stuff.   

But it feels right.   It currently is sunny and warm.  A few clouds in the distance, but nothing threatening.  I figured Mother Nature would taunt us in this way.  But there was much to be done here at home,  with The In-Laws approaching for a visit and all. 

Well, we need the rain.  For Mushrooms!  Of course.   And the plants could use some as well.   And all of the People from Washington ran like Chicken Little last time it began to sprinkle, so there was plenty of evidence that the rain would sabotage the event for today.  Still, it makes us a little indignant when the weather turns out to be less than accurate. 

Yesterday,  I spent the day harvesting Mulberries.   I noted them down at the park moments before a serious storm blew through.  Unfortunately, the wind must caused many of the overly ripe ones to fall off, because there seemed like there were fewer  the next day.   But, I went down and picked as many as I could

I spread out a tarp and shook the branches.   Faster method!  But it also has the down side of adding unwanted sticks, unripened fruit, and bugs! It only took an hour or so to get about 10+ lbs, but it took another hour to sort threw them.  In the end, I had to toss about 1/3 of my stash.  But at least the berries I did gather were ripe, clean, and bug free!  ( And they taste better when they are fully ripe. 

Tomorrow will be final clean up day so we will appear to look well groomed, clean, and "successful" for the parents ( in-law) It's all a ruse, of course!  But why not try to look better rather than looking like un-kept slobs with no self direction?   I would hope they would appreciate the effort.  

And besides,  there are things around the apartment that we have been neglecting ever since we have been working on soap and baking.   I spent the day re-caulking the Bathtub/shower.  It tends to have a mildew build up over time, and because the mildew is behind the caulking, it never really cleans up fully.  Well today, I dug out all the old sealant and scraped everything down to the paint ( as best I could.)  and then resealed it up with new caulk.   I also touched up some spots with mildew resistant paint.  I want to eventually replace the three walls around the tub.  It may require a permission slip from the Landlords.  But if we offer to pay, I'm sure they may grant approval. 

Cheryl has been cleaning and sorting and sifting threw stuff we don't need,  things we need, but only sometimes, and stuff we need but have no place for it.   Basically, we are clearing out the shop and putting everything in the shed.  Out of sight, out of mind.. Right?   Cheryl makes soap, baking labels, and organizes receipts.   I make Origami, Bubbles, Repair bikes, and make and store Chalk.   The spare room is a Very busy ( and cluttered!) place.   So sifting out the madness  and chaos can take an entire  day.  Good thing we didn't go to that Farmer's Market today! 

The June "Buck Moon"?   Maybe? 

I was vindicated just two days ago, when the rain exploded on us while the sun was still shining.  I had put off chalking in the park for fear of rain, and the forecast eventually pulled through.  I'm hoping it will again, with rain and thunder reassuring us of the correct decision.  It is rare we make the right decision at all!  So having our choices affirmed is somehow more gratifying than having never known if what we did was right or not.  I'm beginning to ramble, so I better call it for now.   Cheryl's folks will be here tomorrow, so we only have less than 24 hours to finish up our clean up plans.   Thanks for stopping in.