Year round Nigel Slater discussion thread Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello, all and welcome to this lovely space for our continued chats.

A bit of background for anyone not familiar with this topic:

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong usually takes place here between November and February each year (the Christmas Chronicles being a book written by Nigel Slater full of winter recipes and anecdotes) It's been running for a few years, and the contributors have collectively decided it would be nice to have it running all year round.

So here it is. It is a place to appreciate all things Nigel-esque. Think seasonal food and recipes, enjoyment of nature, gardening, appreciation of the weather, and sharing of news and small moments of joy. It's a calm, cosy space for gentle chat and merriment so pull up a deckchair, grab a drink and relax.

A very hearty welcome to friends new and old!

Morning all!

I've woken up with a thought this morning. When this thread gets to 40 pages, I'm going to make another one. I'd love the continued chat to go on all year round as I feel it's become a rather safe space among friends.

The other thread will run alongside for specific CC chat, and this one will be kept going for our usual generic musings.

Hope that suits everyone OK. I just like the idea that this thread is still here for us. No pressure to post or check in as always. Just here like an old friend at the end of the telephone if you need them.

<end of rambling>

2 degrees here. 2! Where did that come from? Candles are lit, pot of tea made. The wind is howling outside so its going to be a very cold one at the market this morming.

Also, here's a photo of Mr Darcy right now getting in on DD's Halloween Decor.

Very Autumnal!

That’s a wonderful idea @RainbowZebraWarrior.
I am now hankering after a proper magazine, rather than an e-version, after seeing your bonus good food!
No beautiful flower pictures here sadly, but I have been seeing plenty of mushrooms while out in our local park. I think honey mushrooms and ink caps?

Morning! I really like that idea of having a part 3 of this thread sooner rather than later @RainbowZebraWarrior

I really like the idea of a part 3 too for our chats. It’s lovely how the Christmas thread has taken off but this place is also a safe and lovely space, particularly at times of need of loveliness.

Our dear dog is very ill. We are off to the emergency vets again soon.

@mummysandwich Generally to be 100% certain (especially if for eating) you need to be able to see gills, stalk and spore pattern and know what the habitat is, but I'd be very surprised if those weren't honey mushrooms or Armilliaria

They range between a mink fawn and yellow-brown. Usually slightly sticky or slimy to the touch when moist, and can be conical or convex and both can be centrally depressed, dependent on age and type. The stalk (stipe) may or may not have a ring depending on type.
The really important bit is all Armarillaria have a white spore print* and none of them have what's called a volva or widened cup at the bottom of the stalk.
It's really important because the pointedly named Funeral Bell** quite often grows nearby. It's usually obviously different but not always and does get mistaken. Simple ID is it has a brown spore pattern.
General rule of thumb - don't eat raw, (inc dogs) for many, if the area's coniferous, cook thoroughly, if deciduous, you can get away with more gentle cooking. They dry well, can be ground to powder and and are quite a good thickener.They're a tree and soil parasite and can be freely gathered.

The white one's are Shaggy Inkcaps or Judges Wig. They're very distinct. The whole cap deliquesces ('melts') soon after they're mature, which makes good artists ink, but important to leave some in situ as that's also how they spore. Generally only young should be taken and leave enough to keep the colony going. If they're becoming mature, the bottom will be separating from the stalk and taking on a pinky purple hue. Only take at that point if they can be cooked fast, or you actually want them to deliquesce.

@Bimblesalong 😔I'm so sorry, fingers crossed.

@RainbowZebraWarrior No idea if I'll manage to post on two threads, but if you have the energy to run both, it sounds like a nice thing for everyone else, but do make sure you take breaks if/when needed.

• Most funeral Bells are quite distinctively bell shaped, but some can flatten with age. All of these are actually specific varieties or stages of the Funeral Bell or Gallerina, which mimic Honey Mushrooms, quite often grow amongst them, and are highly poisonous. Their spore print is a range of rusty brown to dark browns

      Apart from the one at the bottom - a simply and aptly named killer Death  .  .         Cap.  **The Death cap's spores are white.

Post is showing with the bottom cut off. The bottom picture is of a highly poisonous Death Cap. The spore pattern is white.

Ooh thank you for this. There's a tree stump near me with masses of them; and I've been wondering what they were!

Hello lovely Nigel friends. You “knew” our boy as I shared lots of pictures of him. He died this morning, a very beloved old chap and my strength during my cancer treatment. We were so lucky to have had him.

Thank you @EphemeraleEudemoniathat was very interesting. Although I’m a big mushroom fan, I don’t think I could ever bring myself to try eating a self-foraged mushroom but I did read that the honey mushrooms are delicious (after careful preparation). The dog luckily shows no interest in them at all, just likes to photobomb!

edited to add - just saw your update @bimblesalongand very very sorry to hear about your lovely boy.

So sorry to hear about your lovely dog @Bimblesalong

It really hurts
He was lucky to have you as his family.

So sorry to hear about your beautiful boy @Bimblesalong sending a very gentle hug to you

Oh I am so so sorry @Bimblesalong . He had a great life with you x

So sorry @Bimblesalong, thinking of you and your lovely boy.

So sorry to hear about your lovely boy @Bimblesalong

@Bimblesalong I'm so very sorry..The pain is the price of love.
Thinking of you.

So sorry to hear about your gorgeous boy @Bimblesalong💐💐

So sorry to hear about your gorgeous boy @Bimblesalong .

I think it's a great Idea to have both threads @RainbowZebraWarrior , providing it is not too much for you. This is such a relaxed, warm and friendly corner of Mumsnet.

@mummysandwich I love the photo bombingdog!

@Bimblesalong I'm sorry to hear about your dog, may he rest in peace.

@EphemeraleEudemonia love your fungi knowledge. I went out on a fungus hunt the other day with a group led by a local ecologist who is so knowledgeable, a real inspiration.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I'd like to keep this thread going too, I know I only post intermittently but I do keep up and find it very calming in what has turned out to be a tricky time for my family with elderly parents and bereavements. Thank you for all the time you put in on the threads

Happy to find everyone still on here - I had migrated to the read along thread the minute it was up and running, but found the rate of posting a bit hard to keep up with (and slightly too Christmassy for October if I'm honest, though I know that's the point). As a result I almost missed @Bimblesalong's sad news - in fact I'd been over on the other thread thinking how wonderful it was that all she had to contend with was a kitchen upheaval this year. I'd also missed @SheherazadesSpringNonsense's dahlia update, not to mention all the marvellous mushrooms and Mr Darcy in his halloween habitat. I shall be reading along of course, but waiting to see who stays the course after the initial flurry of interest so I can actually keep up. I enjoy the gentle pace on here.

Forgot to post my pics from my pre-Halloween stroll round Père Lachaise yesterday afternoon in the soft autumnal light after the hour change. Always atmospheric at this time of year.

@LillianGishi agree I want Halloweeny autumnal pouncing atm not Christmassy. It’s my birthday next month then after that’s out of the way then I’m more in Christmas mode

I love autumnal France.

Thanks, all. Troubles come not in single spies, etc!

Our builders are halfway through ripping out the kitchen. I’ve claimed sanctuary in my VN garden room.

Some lovely piccies - I wonder if our local patch of fly agaric is up again- must check.

It will be worth it @Bimblesalong , as I said before I think, we had our kitchen done 4 years ago and I appreciate it every day, it is SO much better.