I was sure I had found puffballs (Calvatia and Lycoperdon) on yesterday’s hike.

I followed my own rules of identification and edibility. Last night I compared the characteristics of mushrooms with my field guides, notes and reliable sources. Finally, a couple of hours after dinner, I cooked and ate a small piece of what I know is edible.

This morning I ate two more pieces and if I’m still feeling well, lunch will be a sautéed mushroom omelet.

Once again, I have to thank “Wildman” Steve Brill for personally encouraging me to apply my mushroom picking skills and for posting detailed information on his website.

In the field, I collected small mushrooms growing from buried and decaying logs. They were soft and when I cut them open, their inner flesh remained white. That was enough to put them in paper bags and take them home. Once I got them out again, I compared their qualities and shapes with my field guides and the “Wildman” website.

He knew that the worst case scenario is that the poisonous resemblance would cause digestive problems, but not death. He also knew that they turn black inside for a while after you open them.

Once I was sure I had pear-shaped puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme), I looked up recipes. “Wildman” suggests a simple preparation, because the flavor of the mushroom is delicate, despite the strong aroma.

Yesterday was one of those rare days of perfect weather. Since a storm was brewing, I took advantage of the time to take a long walk. I saw a red tailed hawk, fresh coyote feces, nearly tripped over a doe and her fawn, and even found a small mushroom chicken and some wild summer greens.

The painted turtles were back on the log; recent rain has cleaned the vegetation from the surface of the lake. Going for a little hike today before the forecast tropical storm hits.

If the weather forecasts are accurate (torrential rains followed by warm sunny days), the conditions will be perfect for the fungi to spread their spores. With any luck, I will be in the right place at the right time to continue my studies.