Knife Safety: Lessons in Attentiveness from a Teen-Aged Girl

Safety is key in almost everything you do, especially in bushcraft and survival. So is attentiveness. I learned those lessons as a teenager. (That was last year. If you don't believe me, ask my 21-year-old daughter. She will attest to it!) If your attentiveness fails, it is very likely your safety is compromised, and 16-year-old girls are easily distracted, especially by 16-year-old boys.

There are all kinds of rules for knife safety and whittling. Keep your knife sharp. Face the blade away from you. Take it slow and steady. 

Watch what you are doing should be high on that list. Maybe my dad thought it was so obvious it didn't need saying. I was his first (and only) daughter, so he didn't have the prior experience with raising teen-aged girls. 

Not the knife in question,
but this is one of my favorites now.

Both my parents grew up camping and generally being outdoors, so it was important that my brother and I had a similar childhood, right down to the whittling lessons. Gifted with a new pocket knife, I couldn't wait to impress my dad with natural talent at anything considered a "boy thing." I was big into the "anything a boy can do, I can do better" movement for a brief time. Then I realized there were more fun things to do with boys. (I might still be into this a little. I love the outdoors, guns, knives, and muscle cars. Also, high heels, Coach purses, make-up, and Eyeore.)

Which brings us back around to pay attention to the knife, not the boy.

The whole family was camping in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. There were a few other families in neighboring campsites. I'm fairly certain anyway. I'd been a bit fixated on the cute boy one campsite over so I wouldn't swear to anything in court. We were sitting around the camp fire when I decided to put the new pocket knife through its paces. Yes, I was trying to impress him. I didn't know if knife skills were what boys were looking for, but hey, it was worth a try.

Knife and stick in hand, I started whittling away, then I caught his eye. It might have been the knife that caught his eye, but I like my version better. Cue the smiles, embarrassed glances, hair flips, and Murphy's Law. I had flipped around the knife to trim off a small branch (I know, I broke another rule.) and the knife jumped on the tiny knot and right into the knuckle of my thumb.

The ensuing commotion was a sight to behold. I screamed, my mother screamed, my father yelled, my brother laughed. I lost track of the cute boy when my mother whisked me off to the station wagon to patch up my thumb.

Mom had plenty of experience patching up my brother, so she had the wound closed up pretty quickly. The ER doc was sufficiently impressed that he didn't even undo it and sent me off to nurse my wounded pride. I never did get to meet the boy.

To this day, despite mom's best ministrations, I have a 1/2 inch scar on my thumb to remind me of two things: Always point the blade away from you and pay attention to your knife, not the boy in the next campsite. 

Planning My Indoor Herb Garden

One of my orchids. I know it isn't an
herb, but I don't have pics of those.

I love to grow things. Flowers (orchids and African violets are my favorites), house plants (philodendrons have taken over part of my living room), herbs (I once grew a basil plant into a small tree) - if it is green, I'll try to grow it. If I had access to an outdoor garden, I'd grow my own fruits and vegetables too.

Every year, I grow as many herbs as possible in my small condo. I have large northeast-facing windows and great light, so plants do quite well. I always plant a few staples, but try to mix it up a bit and try something new every year. The newbies are still up for debate. I haven't 100% decided yet.

The Staples

Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Parsley
Basil

These are my favorite herbs and I use them a lot. I'm going to experiment with new uses aside from cooking for the staples this year. I'd really like to get more self-sufficient when it comes to remedies, teas, and such. Well, except for the basil. I usually consume all of that making pesto!

The Newbies

Lemon Balm
Spearmint
Arugula (Rocket)
Bay laurel

I usually plant some form of mint every year, but this year I'm planting two. I want to use the lemon balm for tea. I'll cook quite a bit with spearmint. It blends well with basil. I eat arugula almost every day in some form, so I might as well grow my own. The bay laurel is one I've wanted for a very long time.

I might have room for a few more since I have an additional plant stand this year. Any suggestions?

Will Whoever is Praying for Snow Please Stop Now?

I have cabin fever grumpies. It has been bitterly cold in Virginia the last couple of weeks and my ability to get outdoors for any length of time has been severely hampered. Okay, I've been out twice today to shovel sidewalks and shovel out my car, but I really don't think that counts. It wasn't fun. It was an awful lot like work.

How Mother Nature says "Stay Home!" (The snow
got heavier and we have about 8"-9".)

Yes, I have winter coats and long underwear. They are perfectly good for a normal mid-Atlantic winter. You remember those? The ones where are low temperature didn't really drop below 25F/-3C or so?  I think if I am going to keep up the hiking, I need to kit out Montana style for the winters. I'd like to be able to get out even if the conditions are a bit frigid, but WHY ARE THEY FRIGID IN VIRGINIA?

But alas, that is not to be right now. I'm going nowhere. I even had a nice, indoor activity planned for today and Mother Nature said no to that too. Our department of transportation and the neighborhood plow guy just weren't moving quick enough to keep up with the storm. The roads are a no-go since I don't have all-wheel drive. So much for shooting today. Harumph.

I can't do much about the car since it isn't paid off yet and it's primary job is to get me to the train so I can go to work. AWD isn't normally necessary.  I can start accumulating warmer clothes though, so that is a task to complete between now and next winter.

And yes, 12 hours later, it is still snowing. It is supposed to turn to sleet at some point, but that is just worse. I wanna go out and play!

Short Girl Buschraft Tool Review - The *gasp*Bear Grylls*gasp* Multi-Tool

The flashlight, multi-tool, sheath, and fire steel. The paracord
is my addition to hook/carry the smaller tools since the
sheath is so awful.

I know as soon as you mention Bear Grylls, many bushcrafters, survivalists, and preppers scoff. Mention his line of Gerber tools and noses start to curl. I received one of the Bear Grylls Gerber multi-tool sets for Christmas. It has the flashlight, a multi-tool, and fire steel. (Yes, I see the noses turning. Chill.)

I actually quite like the multi-tool, but lets knock the little stuff out first. The flashlight is a flashlight. It's small and fits in my purse if I want it to. It's bright and it works. The fire steel also works just like it should. It makes nice, big sparks. Perfectly good. Okay, on to the big stuff.

Next to my thumb is the piece
that warps and makes it
difficult to get the tool free.

What Stinks 

The sheath. My previous comments on rigid. plastic cases still stand. They are uncomfortable on curvy women. This case is particularly bad though. The way the rubber strap attaches to the sheath warps the plastic sheath so that the tool is virtually impossible to get out. I had to pry the tool out one time after I left it in for a few days and cut my finger on the plastic. I can barely get the tool out with two hands when it isn't on my belt, let alone one-handed when it is on my belt. I can't quite get into words how much I hate this plastic sheath. It sucks. I'm looking for a new canvas one to use. Until then, the tool goes in my bag. It's a bit on the big side to be comfy in my pocket.

What is Great

The tool. Gerber makes great multi-tools, whether they have the Bear Grylls name on the side or not. I really don't care whose name is on it. I like it because it works for me. My hand is smaller than a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone. Tip of my fingers to the heel of my hand: 5.75 inches / 14.6 cm. Tiny. Most multi-tools are a little hard to hold onto. Gerber added a rubberized coating to this multi-tool to add a non-slip grip to the tool. That and they had to splash the Bear Grylls orange/gray all over the thing. It is easy to spot when you drop it.

That non-slip grip means that even if the tool is a bit too large for my hand, I can hold onto it. It makes the tool usable for people with small hands and like other Gerber multi-tools, it is very useful. I've used it around the house when I haven't wanted to get my tool box out. (Yes, I have a tool box. No, it isn't pink. Yes, it includes power tools and I know how to use them properly!) I've used it outdoors and it has done everything I asked of it thus far. I've not tried to cut down a tree or split firewood. That's not what it is for. Among other small tasks, I've snipped plants, fixed a bathroom cupboard door, and cut paracord. Like I said before, Gerber makes good multi-tools.

The Summary

If you can get past the Bear Grylls name on the side, this is a great multi-tool, especially if you an benefit from the non-slip grip. It is the only full-sized multi-tool I've handled that I don't struggle to hold onto. Toss the sheath into the trash though. It's beyond worthless. Really disappointed in Gerber for that one.  Overall, it passes the short girl usability test.

What Were They Thinking and Why Aren't They Moving?

I frequently wonder what goes through other people's minds in emergencies. "What the hell were they thinking?" is one of my favorite questions. I know what's in my own head. (Don't ask. You don't want to know.) I am pretty good to have around in an emergency though. I am calm, I make decisions, and I look out for other people.

Then I wonder why people aren't prepared for emergencies. I work in Washington, DC. (Thank goodness, I don't have to live there.) The odds of something happening are pretty good, even if it is just a fire drill in the building. It boggles my mind when people don't actually get off their butts and leave when the alarm goes off as it did on Monday. We get notified of drills, so outside of those, if the alarm goes off it is probably something.

The alarm went off, I walked out of our meeting, changed into my winter boots, grabbed my purse, phone, and get-home bag and was ready to head out in about 90 seconds. We were allowed back in about 15 minutes later, but the alarm went off again withing moments and by this time, I'd packed up my laptop and was ready to head home. (Left the get-home bag because it was a building-only event.)

During our evacuation, I watched several women in high heels trying to negotiate stairs and dirty alleys. They couldn't find their keys or their phones. I would have shaken my head in dismay if I hadn't been trying to herd the pregnant co-worker out the door. ("No, you don't need to stop at the restroom. There is smoke in the hall and the building might be on fire. You can pee at the McDonalds across the street." I know, I'm mean.)

For the record, nothing was on fire. The motor of a power tool used by a construction crew on another floor set off the alarm. My pregnant co-worker made it to McDonalds to use the restroom just fine. That really isn't the point though. In an emergency, you need to be ready to go and you need to GO. Have sensible walking shoes you can slip on. Keep all your crap together. That's what purses are for, after all. Most of all, don't stop at the damned bathroom if the building might be on fire.

Of course, the upside of the evacuation was that our office musters outside a bar around the corner from our building. (Yes, we were outside the bar...temporarily.)

Is There a Height Requirement for Bushcraft & Survival?

I want to know if endeavor like those roller coasters at Disney World that say "You cannot ride this ride unless you are taller than this line" because I don't reach all of those lines. God stopped when I was perfect. I don't know what took y'all so long.

When it comes to bushcraft/survival, I'm not in a big hurry to accumulate a lot of gear. I want to get the right stuff and spread out the expense a bit. It took visiting multiple stores and an all day shopping trip to find a pair of hiking boots in my size. I would love to find a backpack that isn't taller than I am.

I know a lot of outdoor gear manufacturers and retailers are targeting women now. REI has an entire campaign around women in the outdoors. Yet, they still seem to think that all women are 5'6"/167 cm and built like Kate Moss. (Just FYI, no normal woman is built like her.) Some of us are short (I stopped at 5'/152 cm). We have hips and boobs. Some of us have more than others. That means straps can't always fall in the same places as a guy and need to adjust differently to accommodate the girls.

The handle is perfect.
The sheath, not so much.

 I found a Morakniv Companion knife that I really like. (Thanks +Chris Swanda / @ChrisSwanda!).  It will work quite well for now, but I imagine I will have to do some serious shopping around when I need anything more heavy duty. I have a hard time finding knives with handles that I can grip properly. Probably shouldn't have a blade go flying out of my hand 'cause I can't hang onto it. Seems like a bad idea anyway.

(Yes, I did get a pink knife. I wanted purple, but they didn't have purple. Instead, I picked pink so that if I hated it, I could send the knife to one of the two guys who recommended it and it would be PINK. Also, if I lose it in the grass or woods, it will be easy to find. And as Tim MacWelch / @timmacwelch pointed out, guys won't steal it.)

Oh yeah, knife makers, women have curves. Belt attachments that don't have a little bit of slack in them make tools and knives stick out from our hips and poke us in the waist. Rigid, plastic sheaths for knives and multitools get hung up on stuff because they don't lay flat on curvy surfaces. I made a paracord lanyard for my knife and I'll wear it around my neck a la Mors Kochanski when it is annoying me on my belt.

I know there is a lot of gear for which size doesn't matter. (Really, I mean it this time.) It seems like for the critical things, where safety and comfort truly matter, it is. (Okay, maybe it does matter.) I won't care if my sleeping bag is a foot too long. I do care that my backpack doesn't end around my knees.

As I try different products, I'll keep the short girls updated!

Just in Case You Forgot DC was Built on a Swamp - Huntley Meadows

It was a rough weekend, so I decided it would be a good time to knock off one of the shorter hikes in my book, AMC's Best Day Hikes Near Washington, D.C. Even a short , three-mile hike turns around my mood. It is nice that Best Day Hikes has hikes a variety of lengths and difficulty levels. You can choose what you are up to handling given your ability and mood.

Frozen swamps

Huntley Meadows is a wetlands preserve in the heart of Hybla Valley in Alexandria. It's really smack in the middle of the suburbs, but the real beauty of it is that it doesn't feel like it. Once you walk back into the wetlands, you feel isolated, even if there are always a lot of other hikers and joggers. The dog and I walked about 3 miles of the trails.

It is hard to see in this photo, but there is much more vegetation
in the fenced area where deer can't consume it all.

It is a very nice forest, but Huntley Meadows, like so many other forests in this area, is suffering due to an explosion in the deer herds. Huntley Meadows is doing an interesting experiment . Deer have caused a significant amount of deforestation in Fairfax County parks. With no natural predators and no hunting in populous areas, there is nothing to keep their population in check and the deer are eating every thing in sight. The Parks Authority is fencing off selected areas of the park to see how long it would take to re-forest devastated areas. The difference between the fenced and unfenced areas is startling.

It is a not-so-subtle reminder that this area used to be a lot of swamp land. (Foreign diplomats used to get hazard pay for being stationed in DC.) I didn't stray far off the maintained trails because while I don't mind a little mud, I prefer not to be calf deep in it.

Wild onions. Yum!

This time, I did a lot of snooping for interesting plants. I am sure there will be a lot more come spring, but I found a few green ones I recognized and a few I am identifying. (No, I'm not posting the pics until I ID the plants. I'll do my own homework. Until I get stumped.)

One negative: A portion of the trail is boardwalk around the wetlands and the park doesn't allow dogs on that part of the trail. I was very annoyed about that. Sasha the Dog and I ended up doing a lot of doubling back. It upped the mileage, but not the exploration. I'm not much of a fan of trails I can't take my dog on with me. She's my hiking buddy. (Okay, she's not real useful and pees on every tree, but she is cute and she keeps me company.)

I am not sure if I will go back to walk the trails I didn't get to walk because I couldn't take Sasha, but I might when more plants green up this spring. I suppose it depends on my mood.

Just a neat stump