So the traditional Yiddish saying goes. And for collectors of Merry Mushrooms, the casual act of picking up our favorite fungi is now a full-blown hobby.

As a habit, I would buy Merry Mushrooms as I found them, rarely giving the price a second thought. But I always wondered just how many of these mushrooms are there? About this time last year, in April 2020, I embarked to make a list of all the Merry Mushrooms to help me collect them all. That list became the book, A Collector's Guide to Merry Mushrooms. I figured maybe other collectors might find it useful, too.

Over the past year, I've watched in disbelief as my casual collectable became super desirable but in low supply, the economic formula for skyrocketing prices. For many, this habit is now a hobby. For me, I've spent money beyond just buying Merry Mushrooms. I've spent money on this website, printing drafts of my book, ordering proofs, a laptop and ergonomic mouse, social media ads, display materials for my collection. Definitely a hobby, wouldn't you say?

At work the other day, I found myself thinking about my Merry Mushrooms collection. Yes, it was quiet and no, I don't work as an orthopedic surgeon or firefighter, something that requires intense concentration.

I realized the last thing I found in the wild was the knife from the carving set in late summer 2020. And before that, a set of four 9oz. drinking glasses at Antiques on Pierce in Milwaukee, over two years ago. At the time, I almost passed the glasses up because I felt they were priced too high, at what I remember around $30. Luckily, my husband asked his loving refrain, "Is this something you're going to wish you bought? Are you going to mention it every time we come here if you don't?"

​So, it was super exciting to find THIS listed on Facebook Marketplace for $20!