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Outdoors
Unlimited
By Cy Hampson

~The recent. snow: and ‘low
temperatures. provided “an. ex-
cellent opportunity for outdoor
photographers to sally. forth. in
search of interesting tracks and
the stories which they often tell.

Our photo today features the

tracks of the very handsome deer-
mousey ‘the most
distributed. mouse in’ North
America. It is found across North
America from coast to coast and
from the Gulf of Mexico to the
tree limit in the north,-as well as
on many of our coastal islands.

It. is a slender, “long-limbed

species, brownish-grev above.and °

white below. with large ears and
eves. and long. twitching
whiskers. :

It-has a gentle disposition and
rarely bites. when handled. Deer-
mice are largely nocturnal in their
habits. 7 os
In--our:. picture, the larger

depressions to the right of centre.

are. ‘breathing holes,: the frost

crystals on the edges telling us.

that the mouse spent considerable

time almost. immediately below.
Where it was protected from the) ~
cold by the insulating layer of -
“soft snow above. :

Careful. painstaking. sinidy of

“these. and. other. small. rodents”

which are active during long cold

on winters-has clearly demonstrated :
Fe that many of them have: been able

rane
Henn -
MS. be

widely

these small mammals. ‘are
decimated. ‘by. the freezing
lemperatures.... During. winter,

they tend to:live in the leaf litter
on the surface of the » earth

_beneath the snow.

“In our picture, too, we notice
that. the deermouse has ‘made at

least two trips to the cinquefoil

plant in the upper left in search of
the rich seeds which it provides.
The: mouse. probably. took some
of them below the snow for con-
sumption. or storage.. Deermice
live largely upon. seeds, grasses,
berries and insects.

Notice the tracks along: the
bottom of our photo: The deer-

mouse is a leaper-and has. been.

travelling from left to right. The

larger pair-of tracks. at the front:

of each set were made by the hind
feet! This means that the strong,

well-muscled hind’ feet have pass- .

ed. around:the front feet. and
come. down ahead of them: This

gives ‘the: deermouse. a: ‘longer

stride and greater speed.
The front feet have been plac-

ed either:close together or in: the

same track, one after the other.

This facilitates the hind feet pass-
ing around. the front ones and

conserves energy...
In another spotin the Ww oods,

Mary and |. found a snow burrow
in’ which a ‘ruffed ‘grouse. had
Pe spent the: night snug:and warm.

Wes also . -obsery dias: ‘northern.
shrike pick offa “meadow: vole in
ras field, leaving the entire’
story ‘imprinted. in the snow. The

be

~ pair tracks of. the little vole

One of the qualities that] enjoy about myself i is thar T* m éfficient:
ol have lots of energy, a reasonably active mind and | geta bang out of
“planning and getting things done. I pay my bills promptly. Already

Em organizing. the, next. load for’ the: reeyeling team,

> managers: mvastar.

AS: a time

With such a sterling i image 10. protect, | hate lo. bias very stibtic aiid

cunning about: how) procrastinate. -

. creative, even’ inspired, in¢ihods of putting offetasks: Ires ally don’ { want

10 do.

“Last. “wweek- I. pledged” lo ‘file all the papers on my. desk. Loor-

het ated myself into the office complete with hat tea and soft iis “

“and worked: with ceaseless dedication for an hour,

At the end of thal time i had reorganized athe books on all the

Cera
“over vone indulges

ing process Is that siexeningly| amiliar ret
CT seer EAN supposed Olena

find: the

co “shelves, ‘dusted, thrown out the junk, cleaned the window and. vacume
med the rug.” The papers of course, remained untouched, buel felt.»
othar ld really DONE: something! 1 ways so delighted: by: the results, that
Tstiecessfully ignored the filing for several more days,

iy there are more ordinary. ways: we procrastinating, Not”.
TR AUTVINg 10, be elegant, about We vommon thread in pee
unt, S| shauld Pd bebe ee

's trail:

tomorrow.’ oe
Hasek dcioediory: lables” on. i Ourselves such’ as lazy ¢ or: wethout :

Lately. |" ve. identified some -

ay hoingichoras that chants:

“suddenly came to an abrupt: snd te

as the shrike dived and Anatctied . off with its meals.

E t feathers. in. the:
rounded ° “wings and. tail left: aoe
~ compelling pattern. in the show i as. oo

found ; an otter. slide! What
“these. playful fellow

foreots a I ds. it

- willpower alters nothing. Before you try to. make any change i in the

“habit of procrastinating, take some time to. wonder what your honest... -
reasons are for delaying doing what your have promised yourself that A

: you would,

_ Since’ you -can. db this ‘in ‘otal: privacy, 20. beyend the ‘usual

‘*BUTS’’, Don’task Why. Ask: “What Stops. me from y.20 >

Perhaps you may discover: that you've pledged: yourself to do:
: something more to ‘please someone else than bee ause cue fell a.ge-:

; nuine commitment 10 the aclivity.

-Maybe you just couldn’t say no toa suggestion, or ‘you felt backed.

Sh into an unwanted obligation.

What stops: you from: procecding. is ‘that you don't want todo

whatever it is you agreed to, even if that agreement was with yourself.

Another set. of barriers that. may be blocking you: is that familiar. iL
“combination: of wanting. to. stay. safe and comfortable while; Aidily, :

avoiding confusion and anxiety.

io Tf you seriously enquire eof yourself, you may come to appreciate
me that: you’ re afraid.to take arisk,.(o look inept, to leave yourself open.

10 criticism by others or by your.own harshest reviewer, yourself’,

af may be very painful for you to dare to learn somes hing. new, or cee

lo depend on others fo teach you.
You-may.be blocked by anxiety at meeting Strange neoplent or by a
fear of getting hurt either physically or psychologically.;Some people

are prevented from branching out because they are afraid io ve Spon:

» taneous and tohavefun, 3

: anger and depression. -

An your private wondetings you may find ihipediinenis’ very ‘chs ap

: “sonal. and unique to you and your, sensitivities and, experiences.
Whatever you learn in the provess can be valuable inv helping. yourself.
ue change and expand, if that's what you choase tadas is)
~Here-are some ideas: that your an experiment: with and tailor for’

PeCmouse documentary:

smoothing and j icing: x the: ‘surface: a

; the shrike Sande ‘and then ‘flew es
for.an ever Swifter’ run next time

And along “Bazan: Bay, we.

must: ‘have
“had, shooshing down the’ slope,

. Newton Crossroads r
finding of

~ (For me this could be a clean-desk with Papers filed properly). Close.

mentof the whole. yee

‘Higher hurdles are feelings. of hopelessness “despair, isolation, “SE “issue is how? “you use: what: you ‘have: inside: yoursell, right, now: to.

“cultivate your own: potential,

People,
Happenings,
- Things

Cy Hansen Fhoto =

Victoria airpo! te
male goshawk

a dead cattle egret ina ~

Pe SChOOse: Soi wrod suindion habit that you: would tO:¢ hange:
now. Write down your goal - the result that you would like to achieve

-your eyes. and see. in your ‘mind the result you want. Focus on: seeing
yourself in that situation, feeling comfortable ond. satisfied with your. me
success. :

°Make the most. "or the’ ciithusiasi aud | commitment’ that you. feel

—in thinking about your’ ‘achievement. Write, down for: yourself. all the:

ideas and feelings that’ you are. experiencing. | Put» these snotes.
somewhere obvious: where’ you ‘can reread them,” Teview: them and. aoe
regain the y igor and excitement you Originally felt. <0. ‘
*Plan out what you want to do...Mentally divide the. task: into eae
smaller subsections. If it helps, write them down for. yo ourself, Decide ae

ine what order you want, 10 © proceed. Stari ¢ al the: beg ginning and start.
“small,

“alge your mental: powers to foresee your success: swith each Sear: .

*Bealertto the First s signs that you’ re delaying, or as ly was, geting ee

: sidetracked,

“Ree ognize each slep of your trip loward: your “Gal. ‘Focus on

making the. present: Positive, Stop, hobbling yourself. feliving: thors

COMINES, ©
-oBe firm. and supportive with Jourselt:
own best friend, i

Persist in working on n wha you: want to change L earning is cated:

As if you renily are your

without bumps. and delays,

‘The issue is not how. you. compare e yoursel 10 someone else," The:

“Recognize | your” OWN: resources. and with conscious: discipline S
foster res ‘spel band compassion for yourself, ie :

Pat Humphrey
Pat I tumphrey, MSW, Is a