outer_divide | [video] Sunday Afternoon, Week 43

[ Helga Hufflepuff is finding the communicators to be an incredibly useful tool. She finds it a bit like addressing a classroom, almost. Much more manageable than a magic mirror and less messy than an owl. However, she does have the translate feature on. There is bound to be a language barrier of some kind when one is from the distant past. ]

Hello. For those that I have yet to meet, my name is Helga Hufflepuff.

[ She is currently seated by a wide but shallow stream and a large rock that the water has made mostly flat. She has the communicator set up on a flat rock a foot away so that it might capture her movements. There is a knife, a small reed basket filled with purple and tawny colored stalks. There is also a two pieces of white cloth on the rock, one looks used. Helga does not have a table but this will suit her purposes nicely. ]

This...

[ She holds up a lilac colored mushroom. ]

Is a bluestalk mushroom. It is commonly found in forests and you may eat it, however, I do caution against eating it uncooked. It can disagree with one's stomach.

[ Yes, this is a bit of a lesson but there is a purpose. ]

I am surprised to find them here. However, I must urge a bit of caution when picking this mushroom. To begin with, it looks similar to other, more deadly mushrooms. Bluestalks have a sweet, almost floral fragrance. More mature specimens, will be darker in color.

[ She shows one. ]

Their cap will be flatter. Lighter colors and a more conical shape cap indicate a much younger mushroom. I have not found that age makes a difference in taste.

Until you are very certain about what mushrooms you have harvested, you will want to check its pattern. Parchment is best but clothe will work as well. Cut the mushroom in half and press into the cloth. You must leave it for several hours, I find it best to leave it overnight. Do not worry about the edibility. This short time will not effect it.

[ Helga picks up the white piece of cloth and moves it closer to her. She spreads it to ensure that it is flat before picking up her knife.She slices a mushroom in half and presses it into the fabric. ]

I have done one ahead of time to show you that a bluestalk mushroom's pattern will be almost white in color to varying shades of pink.

[ She reaches for the second piece of fabric and holds it up to display the spore pattern. ]

If the pattern is any other color, do not eat it! That is not a bluestalk and you will be extremely regretful. However, it is entirely possible that you found a mushroom that produces a very lovely green dye.

[ A silver-lining that is not poison, Helga has found it.

She puts aside the cloth and mushrooms before addressing the communicator properly. ]

I do not wish to boast but in my time, I was something of a merchant and a teacher. I know quite a bit on the subject of herbology and what I wish to propose now is something of a trade. Your knowledge for mine. This place is new. I need to know more about the native animals and plantlife that make up this world. Herbology is not my only skill. I can heal. I can mend.

[ She smiles. ]

Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It sounds fascinating. When can she grow one and when can she eat it? ]

Do they grow here?

They do. They have tomatoes at the market but I'm not sure where you'd get the plants.

If they sell these tomatoes in the market, I can get the seeds myself I believe.

[ It is time consuming and it might be messy (Helga has never seen a tomato) but she is certain she can do that. But onto more important things... ]

Have you cooked with them before?

I have, yeah. Though the ones I've used to cook weren't fresh, they were from cans. With fresh tomatoes I just put them in a salad.

What were you able to make with preserved tomatoes?

((OOC: Did you know? There is a food timeline website for salads?))

Let's see, stuffed pepper soup, Swiss steak, and tomato sauce for pastas.

[ooc: oh, interesting! i see salads go back to roman times.

[ To be honest, even if Christine does not want to teach Helga how to cook with tomatoes Helga will still offer to teach Christine. ]

Will you teach me how to make them?

(( OOC: Yup. This site is amazing. ))

Sure! Though if you've never had them before, you should probably only eat a little bit to make sure it agrees with you first.

That sounds reasonable. When would you like to begin?

Oh, let's see... how 'bout this weekend? I don't work then.

That would be lovely. Where shall you like to meet?

Depends. D'you want me to show you cooking with tomatoes first, or would you rather teach me about herbs first?

I am agreeable to both.

[ But instead of this turning into a conversation where they both defer to each other's preference, Helga makes a decision. ]

I shall bring you over a small spearmint plant to attend to. They grow well in pots.

Oh, that sounds great! I'll bet it'll make the apartment smell nice.

Yes, I can teach you how to dry them if you don't already. I sometimes like to add some to my bath.

[ It is nice and relaxing. ]

That must feel great after a long day, huh?

Yes, it does. There are many uses for mint. It makes a wonderful tea for soothing a sour stomach.

That's definitely a remedy I've used in the past. Well, I look forward to seeing you. I'll send you my address through text, all right?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Sure! Thank you too. Talk to you later.

Yes. Good-bye.

[ Helga is slightly awkward at signing off. ]

((OOC: Handwave??

[ooc: handwave!]