Landscaping and Mushrooms

The Blundins' yard was beginning to take shape. The landscape was curved away from the house to prevent water damage. We pulled the overgrown ivy, raked the leaves, and filled in the long pipeline trough picking out the large rocks and roots. We then cut roots in the yard so that Jeff and Keith could dump dirt with the backhoe. Keith Johnson used a wild looking machine, which I’ve never seen and don’t know the name of, to evenly spread the dirt without packing it down. It had at least eight wheels, a two segmented body in order to bend easily, and a long metal roller in front with what looked like large bolts sticking out. With Jeff maneuvering the backhoe and Keith driving the wild dirt-spreading machine, they flew through the yard in a matter of minutes. I don't even want to imagine how long (and how many broken parts) it would take if Thomas and I were using the vehicles.

During break back in the shop, Jeff brought out fried mushrooms his wife had gathered and cooked the night before. They were called morel mushrooms which are easily confused with the toxic and potentially deadly mushrooms, the false morels. But, as far as I know, these were morel mushrooms and they were absolutely delicious served warm with a perfect batter crust, as they were.