It has been a unusual winter here in the Northwest this year so far – warmer than usual temperatures, so that the moisture that came our way plentifully in December settled mostly as rain rather than snow. When finally, two feet accumulated on the ground I pulled the trigger – full of anxiety since that was also the first time out in the snow since I insured my right foot. Stomping through the woods towards our favorite spot – Todd Lake – felt so exhilarating and even though I could feel my ankle at every step it was not to a point that it became worrisome. So much light! Sunshine, white snow and a few flurried clouds in the sky. And as the distance covered grew, so grew my confidence. At the end there was a tired happiness and determination to check out also my other winter sport disciplines –

Do you have those? I don’t have those either but if I did, there is a local heating and cooling company that advertises their ability to fulfill those. That is really good to know and in fact hard to forget since the spot airs on local radio pretty persistently.

When we grew up kale and leeks were winter vegetables. While there are others these two could literally be left outside in the frost, kale in particular turns brown and becomes the ingredient of brown kale, a dish that is only served after the first frost occurs. Have you ever wondered if animals also have a seasonal food cycle? Upon some thought it is clear, that the plants they might eat are not always available – perhaps except for grass, which was at least by my estimation the prime source of nutrition for deer and elk. We have long learned that any flowers and nice looking (and perhaps also good tasting) plants are in danger all season long. Hence, we put chicken-wire cages around them all the time. We learned that lesson the hard way or better said by having to replace many plants multiple times. That learning path includes