My daughter started off the New Year by colliding with a young bull moose who was in the roadway. Fortunately, she and the kids were not injured but the moose died in the collision. Her Ford Explorer sustained considerable damage with a broken radiator, destroyed headlight assembly, a very crinkled hood, and the windshield is a shattered mess. There was also a bit of damage to the roof. She was headed to Seward to spend the week with a friend and was about 90 miles from home.

I know I have written before about the moose hazards especially during the winter. Another daughter wrecked her car last month on her way to work while attempting to miss another moose. Her vehicle sustained several hundred dollars in damage, too. We have had a lot of snow this year and the moose find walking on the roadways much easier than walking elsewhere. We also have less than 6 hours of daylight so most driving is done when it is very dark. Cars can be fixed or replaced, people can’t be replaced and we don’t want them to be hurt either.

Tonight it is to get fairly cold as it is projected to be between -25 and -30 with a high tomorrow of -3 degrees F. I think I may need to get my winter coat out again as this cold spell is expected to last for much of the week. Most of the state is experiencing this cold spell, too, just after going through blizzards and lots of snowfall. It has been like that this winter. It goes from moderate and snowy to the deep freeze with frigid temps.

The seed catalogs are beginning to arrive. It is so nice to sit and dream of a garden for this summer although it will be almost 5 more months until we can plant outside. Even with all the rain and cool temperatures of last summer, most things grew well and we are looking forward to expanding the garden this summer. I am only interested in using organic seeds and preferably heritage seeds. So, I am delighted as I study each catalog.

Tonight’s dinner was so good. I fixed elk patties; a rice pilaf with onions, Italian seasoning, and chopped, fresh spinach added at the end; steamed broccoli sprinkled with nutritional yeast; and a big salad with broccoli sprouts and salad sprouts and an olive oil and flaxseed oil and herb dressing. The sprouts were finished and greened up today and sure makes the salad extra healthy.

Shadeaux is growing rapidly and is so full of energy it is almost comical. I bought a big bag of specialty papers that are supposed to help train a puppy to use them instead of piddling in other places. She thinks it is great fun to grab the papers and race through the house with the bulk of the paper floating behind her, much as a kite. I have had to anchor them down, so she just plays tug of war with them. It isn’t a total waste, however, because she has used them for the intended purpose a few times. With the temperatures being so cold or in blizzard conditions, I hesitate to put her outside more than a few times a day. She has been successful outside about a third of the time. My husband and I had forgotten how long it takes to train a puppy, but, I am sure someday she will have it all figured out and the weather will be nicer too.

Well, this is about all for tonight. Hope you are off to a really great new year. Till next time………………