Early morning walks and Jews Ears

Over the past week or so I've been getting up a bit earlier than usual so that I have time to take Nelson out for a walk before I head off to work. At this time of year its still dark at almost 8am so its been lovely seeing the sun rise as I near the top of Nell Hill to the Ridgeway.

On Tuesday it was a lovely fine and bright morning and on my way back I walked back down the edge of the valley where many of the Hawthorn and Elder bushes are. By chance I noticed that the rotting branches of the Elders were absolutely covered in Jews Ear fungi. Quite why they are Jew's Ears I am unsure, but they really do look like ears. I picked a good jeans pocket full and have used some in an omelette and some more in a Chilli I made tonight. They are a bit chewy but full of flavour, and reminiscent of those mushrooms you get in Chinese food...

I gave some to Mabel to take in to school as they really do look just like real ears.

And just because I love this picture, here's Mabel and Millie looking up information about them on my laptop computer.