Thanks for getting some more to share. I am throwing my hat in with the Armillaria from whoever said that yesterday(veil and white spores), I'll do some digging tonight though as I am not familiar with this part of the world.
This is making me get very close to finally buying a Spyderco. I have enjoyed the cheap waters of fake 110 Buck knife knock offs from pawn shops too long. I can make my Microtech fantastic Uncle proud for once.
Thankfully he is just being a ding dong standing on uneven ground, keeping watch for squirrels. Your dad is right about ubiquitous as I just walked the woods again and they popped up everywhere.
That is a ghost pipe. He is not a mushroom but a parasitic plant. Just recently people started losing it over ghost pipe tincture, I have been in the woods all my life and had not heard people doing anything with them.
I was just talking to my uncle about those spectacular QVC knife shows. I have fond memories of watching them in a hotel room as a youngin while traveling on vacation with my brother. Thanks for keeping up the good fight and sharing these for all of us to see.
If you don't mind me asking where were you fishing, geographically speaking. We have the fantastically named horny creek chub around me but I have not caught one that large.
What is your recipe?