The Latest From the Foothills

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.