My love of mushrooms began when my kids were very young.
I was a tired mommy whose husband worked six days a week. He left for work at noon and didn’t get home until midnight. We shared a car, and we were so poor back then. That didn’t leave me very many options for relaxation or entertainment. It was a lonely and depressing time.
One morning, I went outside and right in front of my door grew the most beautiful mushroom I had ever seen. The colors were amazing, and the mushroom was large and majestic looking. I grabbed my camera and took a picture.
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It was a good thing I did, because the next morning, it was gone. I never saw a mushroom like that again. But it had served its purpose. It reminded me of the beauty God had created and it made me feel seen and loved.
The photos of that mushroom have had a spot in our family album ever since and my kids have all heard the story of the magic mushroom that God sent to cheer up a tired and crabby mom.
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As a result, my kids have had their own relationships with mushrooms. My eldest daughter loves those red mushrooms with tiny white spots. One year, she found some growing in (of all places) a parking lot! She managed to capture the moment.
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My middle daughter’s young son loves mushrooms! He wants them on his pizza and thinks having them sautéed in butter is about the best thing ever.
My son has grown his own mushrooms (in his apartment) and he loves to cook with the bizarre varieties he finds on his travels.
PC: Ann Kirsten
Fall is a great time for mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. After a lot of rainfall, there tends to be a lot of mushroom activity. In my yard alone, I probably have five different varieties. I’m not an expert and would never attempt to eat any of them, but I love their cute shapes.
So, when I heard of a craft that turns mandarin orange peels into mushrooms, I was entranced. A $2.99 sale at my grocery store on oranges sealed the deal. I had to try it.
Here are the easy steps.
Ingredients:
- Mandarin oranges
- Cinnamon sticks or twigs
- Hot glue gun or craft glue
- Sharp knife
Directions:
Cut your mandarins in half. I found it easy to cut just into the peel and leave the mandarin whole.
Carefully slide your thumb under the peel and scoop out the orange sections. Eat them, of course!
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Place them on a baking sheet on a crumpled-up ball of foil. This allows them to keep their shape. If you’re planning on hanging them, poke two holes in the top with a skewer.
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Bake them in a 200 degree oven, flipping them every 30-45 minutes until they are dry. Start with the caps facing up or the tops will flatten.
When they are dry, thread a loop on the top through the two holes you poked with a skewer (if you’re planning to hang them).
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Glue a cinnamon stick or a twig onto the underside of the “cap”. You can use your foil to hold the stems in place while they dry.
That’s it! Use them in centerpieces, as ornaments (string a thread through the top with a needle) or attach them to a wreath.
PC: Ann Kirsten
Although there is no mention of mushrooms in the Bible, their vast underground network (covering 2% of the earth) reminds me of how God covers us even though we can’t see Him.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) says:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
I have never forgotten the gift of that beautiful mushroom that blessed an overwhelmed momma when she felt forgotten. I will continue to search out the many blessings that surround me every day to show me that I am loved.
If you want to plan a lesson around mushrooms, these books are fun:
PC: Ann Kirsten
- Gustav is Missing! By Andrea Zuill (the pictures in this one are adorable).
- A Better Best Friend. By Olivier Tallec
- The Lonely Toadstool. By Kristin Culpepper
- Mushrooms Know. By Kallie George
*NOTE: Never touch or eat a mushroom unless you are an expert!
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