The-Atlantic-thefemalesurvivalist

The neighbors gave my family a trampoline. Eight of the hooks had ripped off, so a huge gap was preventing the trampoline from being safe. They gave us five straps with corresponding metal triangles, and all eight of the springs to hook it back on, should we be able to sew the hooks on.

Well, armed with a stout needle, some eight pound test fishing line, and much determination, I managed to get the thing back in working order. I also found three round metal rings to replace the missing triangular metal things and cut some spare web strapping off an old piece of gear.

The grand kids love it. No throwing this trampoline out. Its still got some good years left.

I think we all can learn survival skills like sewing and basic repair by practicing on daily needs.

For some reason I can't seem to post a reply to my own blog. Hey, Google, please let me comment.

Thanks Arsenius for the link, the comments, and the moral support about me leaving the crazy dorm life of my seasonal job at the Grand Tetons.

http://ajournalofselfsufficiency.blogspot.com

Thanks Bala for enjoying the post on alternative cooking.

I've resorted to posting a thank you here, and once home in Georgia, I promise to get serious help on why I can't reply on my own page.

Humm, weird.

So, looking forward to some Real panning for gold in my secret place. Looking forward to cooking various forms of focaccia for my friends. I posted the recipe at my other blog today.

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

When I'm hiking a trail, especially alone in Griz country, I stay alert and examine the signs of bear traffic.

This log has clear signs of a bear ripping a hole into one end of it, looking for grubs. Sense it appeared fresh, and a griz and her cubs had been sighted nearby, I simply took some photos and turned around to hike another place. No need for confrontation where I would most likely lose.


I decided that three room mates, and the housing manager or security's habit of knocking and entering our dorm room with the master key whether we answered the door or not was not working for me.
In spite of loving my job, the living situation was not sustainable, so I left the Grand Tetons, went to Yellowstone to visit friends, then visit family and will head home soon.

To all things there is a season, and a time and purpose under heaven.--Ecc.

In the end you find, no one wins, and the race is only with yourself. So take the path of your own choosing, and be not dismayed if no one leads or follows.--a favorite quote of mine.

A friend turned me onto Kindle at http://Amazon.com

She wrote two books about Yellowstone and showed me how I could download kindle free for my pc and then have books delivered directly to my computer. I can then read them at will and keep them forever on my hard drive. No worries about clutter, post office fees, or delivery charges.

Betsy E. Judson wrote Visit Yellowstone Park, A Bison Led Tour of the Geyser Basin, and Volume two, A Bison -Led Tour Along the Yellowstone River.

Both have photos on every page of wildlife, flowers, and gorgeous scenery. She tells the story in rhyming verse with a large vocabulary. I was amazed at how well it read aloud because she uses words for the educated person.

"Now Bart's spindly legs, all sinewy muscles
Spin a three sixty and propel as he hustles
Up ancient trails, and through wildlife mazes
that run through forest marked by buffalo blazes"
on page 4 of volume two with accompanying photo is an example of the artful method Betsy uses.

Check out Kindle for Pcs if you get a chance.
Yellowstone National Bison Led Geyser E-Book by Betsy E. Judson

While catching up on some of my favorite blogs, among them
http://thesurvivalistblog.net I read the post on surviving a bout of diarrhea. The woman who wrote the guest post is a registered nurse. Very informational about the body's system of purging via elimination. I know I've used Imodium on my long distance hikes for quick relief, without really analyzing how I got the symptoms. It always seemed to occur immediately after a town day of eating lots of ice cream, hamburgers and greasy stuff. I chalked it up to too much rich food after a week of lean rationing.

I found this link which describes how to make an electrolyte solution at home:
http://rehydrate.org/solutions/homemade.htm

The Brat diet is a very effective, safe and inexpensive way to deal with diarrhea. Bananas, rice, applesauce and dry toast make up the easy treatment. Plenty of clean water, with the salts and sugars described in the rehydrate.org website,  are also inexpensive additions to the plan.

Its important to stay healthy so our bodies can heal themselves in many situations.

While hiking off a gravel road, near Pioneer Creek, a friend and I came across these bones. At first, we were sure the resident grizzlies had done the work.

Two streams run down the steep forested slopes, giving bears good cover while waiting for the unsuspecting prey.


So many bones, scattered over a large area seemed awfully weird, though, and somehow, even after hiking up the hill and recreating a possible hunt and kill scenario, it was just too many bones.


Then, we walked beside a large evergreen tree. Leaning against it were five lodge pole pines, tied at the top. One only needs to bring in a canvas and the tepee would be complete.

These bones, with part of a horn sawed off, now tell a different story, one perhaps of poaching.

The moral of this exercise is that with a few new details, the complete picture changes.
I've learned to hold back opinions until all the facts, if possible, can be known.

This thigh bone looks fresh and very delicious to a carnivore. I talked to the wild things that be while hiking though there. I do have bear spray.


The trail had patches of snow which became thicker and less traveled the nearer I got to Two Oceans. North bound around the Lake had no signs of travel, while the south side showed a few prints, which also turned back. I can access Two Ocean Lake Trail via another route another day. Hopefully this other route may have thawed along the shore.

I chose other trails  to continue my 12 mile day, knowing the thickening clouds could bring snow and rain. The more I hike these trails, the shorter they seem, until after work a five mile hike is easy.

Flowers bloom, sage brush and willows line the trail. The pine smells are wonderful.
Horse smell is a potent as well. Learning the specific smells helps me navigate and assess how close to the lodge I am.
On my lunch break I sat beneath a spruce tree. The two men on horse back never even noticed me. Wearing stealth colors allows me to blend into the scenery.