Earlier this week, I was working from home, when the doorbell rang. I happened to be on a video call at the time.
(Actually, I was chatting with the Heart of the Matter podcast people on my lunch break. They asked me to be a guest again, which means either they really like me, or they’re desperate for guests and scraping the bottom of the barrel.)
“Do you need to get the door?” Wynne asked.
“Nope,” I replied. “It’s probably Brian, our neighbor, dropping off mushrooms.”
Turns out it was Brian, our neighbor, dropping off mushrooms. Did I call it or what?
Brian is a fun guy who is really into fungi. He often brings us mushrooms he has scavenged from the woods. He’s not a mycologist, but he’s been picking wild mushrooms his whole life and knows his shit. I trust him. After all, I can count on zero hands the number of times I have died after eating mushrooms he has given us.
He also drops off jars of fresh jam, like the strawberry jalapeño he gave me a few weeks ago (delicious!). In return, we’ve given him fresh peaches and baked goods, like cookies. Which we did not pick from a forest, but rather, cooked in our oven. The sentiment is the same though.
Pro tip: when buying a house, choose one with neighbors who bring you tasty treats. Location is everything.
Earlier this spring, Brian even pointed out morels that were growing right in our own backyard. If you’re at all into mushrooms, you know how much of a delicacy fresh morels are. We would have had no idea they were there if not for his keen eye. The guy has some sort of mushroom radar, I tell you. He’s even offered to take us foraging and show us some of his secret spots. Score!
I happened to be grilling some boneless chicken thighs for teriyaki rice bowls that evening and planned on topping them with zucchini, onions, and mushrooms cooked on my Foreman Grill, through the suggestion of a friend who had read my blog post. Instead of the boring white button mushrooms I’d bought from the grocery store, I used those golden oysters, which were much more flavorful.
(Cooking the veggies on the Foreman Grill worked like a charm BTW. They cooked quickly, had a nice char on both sides, and were crispy, like they just came off a hibachi. I’ll definitely do this again.)
We had a bit of a scare this morning. After I stepped out of the shower, Tara called me over to the kitchen. She had her ear pressed to the wall, which is kind of an odd thing to do unless you’re in a hotel room and there are moaning noises coming from the adjoining room.
(What? You wouldn’t do the same?!)
“Do you hear that?” my wife asked.
That happened to be a buzzing and ticking noise coming from the electrical outlet in the wall next to the stove, and I most certainly did hear it. Two possibilities leapt to mind: a bomb, or a nest of angry hornets. Neither were good. I had no idea whether to call an exterminator or the bomb squad…
…but finally settled on an electrician, because the internet suggested a third alternative: loose wiring. Which could potentially lead to an electrical fire. Whew! What a relief!
Within 20 minutes, an electrician was at the front door. Now that is service! We’ve had these guys out a couple of times before and they are always prompt, friendly, and efficient. The solution was simple: the electrician simply replaced the outlet. Said it’s a common problem in older GFCIs and while it technically could cause a fire, that was unlikely – but better safe than sorry. In the interest of killing three birds with one stone, I also had him replace another outlet in the bathroom that had a loose connection and give me a quote on installing a patio outlet for my Traeger. Turns out the price is surprisingly reasonable, so I might just have him do that.
Last week was pretty hot and humid ’round these parts, but this week, the weather has done a complete 180. It’s actually chilly. I even wore a hoodie on my morning walk. Haven’t done that in months. And I know we’re not done with summer yet – it’s going to warm up again next week – but this (and the fact that it’s still dark(ish) at 5 a.m. now) is a great reminder that fall isn’t that far off.
Bring. It. On.
With temperatures only forecast to reach the low 70s tomorrow, we’ve decided to hit up the Wisconsin State Fair. I’ve been to plenty of county fairs, but never a state fair. I’m excited! (And yes, you can expect a full recap in a few days.)
Do your neighbors bring you goodies? Ever been to a state fair? What activity are you looking forward to most before summer ends?
Mark My Words 
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