Today I reached a tracking milestone...a very dear friend, at the request of her husband, mailed me a package of Missouri scat to ID...coyote...lots of cottontail rabbit hair...somehow I feel like this is a great honor. I really am a bad #** tracker chick!
You may have seen the crazy western Washington weather on the news. The sun was out today, but last week was just insane. Four snow days, a rally unusual ice storm (not in my neighborhood, but close), rain, wind and many people with no power...It was wonderful! Of course, the longest stretch I was without power was 22 hours from just past midnight Thursday night/Friday morning to 10 pm Friday night...and it wasn't bad.
Linda's Special Storm Survival Tips:
- When the power is on, keep the cell phone and Kindle plugged in so they will work when the power is out.
- Keep a pan of water simmering on the stove so that when the power does go out you can make tea.
- Books...old fashioned, but they work when you've ignored the first rule. E-readers are good, too...can't have too many books.
- You can knit by book light.
- White wool long johns, hunter orange knit hats, hot pink and purple wool slippers and blue fuzzy gloves are a perfectly respectable ensemble for lounging around the house when the lights are out. The cat doesn't care.
- Cheese and crackers and freeze dried peas (straight from the can, dry and crispy) make a nice meal in a pinch. Particularly if you paid attention to the second rule.
- The cat is perfectly happy to keep your feet warm in a pinch - you know, when she's cold enough to cuddle.
- You will be just fine without TV and Internet. Really.
- Be kind to the people who want to rescue you from the solitude...but don't let them succeed - unless you want to be rescued.
- Snow tracking is fun!
- So is birdwatching from the window.
- When the power goes out and you pack your freezer with snow, just give the birds the bread crumbs you had frozen for meatloaf.
- Give thanks for the people out in the storm who work so hard to get the power back on for you.
My Favorite Fiction Authors and Books
- Suzanne Arruda- the Jade del Cameron mysteries: "The Mark of the Lion" "Stalking Ivory", "The Serpent's Daughter", "The Leopard's Prey" and "The Golden Cheetah"
- Ken Goddard - "Balefire" and others
- Stephen White - the Dr. Alan Gregory books are all great. "Kill Me" is my favorite.
- Harlan Coben - anything he writes is great
- Elizabeth Peters - Amelia Peabody mysteries
My Favorite Nonfiction Authors and Books
- "Coyote's Guide to Connecting With Nature" by Jon Young, Ellen Haas and Evan McGown- 2nd edition coming soon!
- Gavin De Becker - "The Gift of Fear"
- "Deep Survival" by Laurence Gonzales- the best survival book I've ever read! Not a how-to, its more of a who does,and why.
- Candice Millard - "The River of Doubt -Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey"
- Anything that starts with "Peterson's Field Guide To..."
- Tom Brown, Jr. - "The Tracker" and others
- Mark Elbroch - "Mammal Tracks and Sign" and "Animal Skulls"
