On this...I shall pass for now.

  Growing up and following Granddad around as he worked, I learned many things.  He taught me woodworking when others thought I was too young, instructed me on how to properly groom a dog and made sure I knew enough edible wild plants to survive if I ever became stranded somewhere.  All of these things have come in handy over the years and I always think of how I was one fortunate youngster to have such a dutiful grandfather.  I still love to tinker in the workshop and can brush a dog with the best of them.  That wildcrafting has to be my favorite lesson, however.  Finding free food is always good...sort of....

  While out with the old dog this morning, Mark and I came across a fallen branch that was covered with a fungus called Tree Ear.  While this stuff may be rather disgusting in appearance and even more so in texture, it is edible.  No, I have not tried it since I do find it rather unappetizing in appearance and it is supposedly rather tasteless.  Still, if I ever become lost in the woods, I will feast!  This stuff is everywhere especially during rainy weather.

  Another strange thing about the Tree Ear is that, for years and years, folks believed that it had healing powers for earache.  The idea was "plants that look like body parts can be used to heal that body part."  Maybe?  An elderly lady who lived down the road from us once told me that it was great.  "Wash some Tree Ear.  Put it in hot milk and let it steep for a couple of hours. Add some garlic and soap and let sit again.  Warm it up again and then take it out and strain it.  Wrap the warm mushroom in a handkerchief and place it on your ear.  It will make the earache go away almost instantly."  Do what??  Several questions here.  Why milk?  Why garlic?  Why soap?  What kind of soap?  How does it work?  Answers...."Milk makes it sweet.  Garlic helps heal. Why not soap? Any old soap.  It just does."   She was quite adamant that this actually worked but I never even think about trying it when I get an earache.  Perhaps I should but, then again, she was a rather quirky old lady and may have just been making this up on the fly.

  The Tree Ear fungus remained on the broken branch with all of its sliminess.  Thankfully, I had no problems with my ears today so I was not inclined to follow this home remedy.  I did check and found it is edible, however...good to know...I guess.