Sunday, October 18, 2009

Camo the Chicken



Dinah sent me this picture today of her little chick named Camo, short for Camouflage, though I don't get the reference. This silky chick has an amazing head puff and is show quality. She has two other chicks. Who doesn't keep chickens at college? (and a horse, two goats and two guinea pigs.) I never had a pet when I was in college. deprived.

Yesterday we took a long hike up a mountain to around 12,000 feet. We passed through snow and pine forests, but it was a warm, pretty day. I finally saw a big horned sheep but unfortunately it was dead by the side of the trail.

When we got to the top we wandered around looking for that perfect lunch spot. We weren't at the top of the mountain, but at the end of the trail, and it was pretty level. There was supposed to be a great view which we never quite found. But we did find two nice stumps to sit on, enjoyed our lunch, and then discovered we'd gotten all turned around and really didn't know where we were. Our footprints in the snow were melting and losing direction.

It was scary, briefly. Have you ever been lost in the woods? It's not a good feeling. I had a compass but I'm still figuring out how it can be my friend. Anyway, we found our way back before too long. I checked in my hiking book back in the car to see what I'd done wrong. The author wrote, "when you reach the top, go around the corner." GO AROUND THE CORNER? That's no direction. Anyway, back in the house again. Heard a rifle go off a little while ago, but not too close.

9 comments:

Linda Davick said...

It turned really cold here yesterday--I had to run out to TJ Maxx and find something warm to wear. I bought a jacket that looks a lot like Camo.

I easily get lost anywhere--getting lost in the woods would be terrifying.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Aww- that's a cute chicken.
I was reading about silkies online the other day and wishing my yard was bigger (and safer) so I could have some.
Plus my old school landlord would flip if I told him I kept chickens on his property!
The book Deep Survival has a fascinating chapter on how people trick themselves into getting lost.
This link has an excerpt from it (Bending the Map).

Mean Jean said...

Those random gun shots are so unsettling.

Sally said...

Linda, I bet you look even cuter than camo.

Namo, sikies need so little space and are so darling. Read the wikipedia entry on them. Gonna read the lost and found link in am, as I feel pretty lost tonight.

Mean Jean, the shot came from our neighbor's land, and the man and wife are a bit contentious! Hate the sound.

A couple of days ago I came out of Subway Sandwich with my 1/2 of a veggie delite and saw an elk head in the truck bed next to our car. Not exactly cheery. Not that I have the inner strenth to be a veggie delite.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Looks like I botched the original link about getting lost...
...let me try that again...
Bending the Map

Sally said...

Namowal, I read the chapter you linked to and it was fascinating. I'd also never read a book in google form before. Do you use that much?

stray said...

I see book excerpts when Google search produces links to them.... only some of the pages are displayed, but it's helpful to see snippets of pertinent info you're searching for.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Hi Sally,
Actually, I only found that excerpt through a search engine. Lucky for me, the chapter I was looking for was available.
I do like the expression "bending the map." The guy gets clue after clue that he may be going the wrong way- yet bends his perception of the map to conform to the notion that he's on track.
Makes me wonder what other notions I'm mistakenly bending...

Sally said...

Actually two pages were intentionally missing from the chapter, or maybe I read on into the next chapter. It was unsettling to read, and I like the term "bending the map" too.