I love learning the word that describes word patterns.

We use METONYMY when we substitute the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the person, place or thing itself.

When I say I like to read Hiaasen, I am substituting the author for the collection of books he has written.

When someone says a Smokey Bear is on the road – they typically mean a state trooper.

Here are some other familiar phrases using metonymy:

Fifty head of cattle – “head” singular is used to refer to the herd
Digging your own grave – causing yourself trouble
Blowing your own horn – bragging about your accomplishments

I was surprised to find Glatt Kosher Bison stew meat in a local supermarket.

An Israeli woman once explained to me that in order to be certified Glatt Kosher, the animal has to live a natural life and it must not have any injuries, deformities or diseaes in any muscle or organ. I figure these animals are likely grass fed. I cannot imagine factory-farmed bison. But I could be wrong.

I’ve adapted my venison acorn stew recipe:

A fellow writer turned me on to this website. It is a perfect place to network and to discover all kinds of resources. I posted an essay on that site the other day. I’m feeling quite affirmed by the feedback.

I’ve struggled to ensure that any content I put on this site educates, informs and entertains my readers. I try to be mindful when I make a political comment. That said -

I was listening to Gore Vidal on NPR. He said: I was born in a republic, now I live in a homeland.

I wish I had that skill with words.

Vitamin C for free.

After the wild roses have lost their blooms, these bright red berries are a terrific autumn trail snack. They contain more Vitamin C than citrus fruit, and are rich in Vitamins A, D and E.

They can be harvested fresh and dried or frozen; you can even pick dried berries or frozen berries from the bush in the dead of winter and use them in a variety of wild food recipes. Here are a few:

I was inspired by Seth Zuckerman‘s efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Americans tend to live a high carb life when it comes to our driving habits, our use of electricity and a number of other seemingly normal daily habits. But when you think about how we live compared to the rest of the world, it’s easy to see how wasteful we are. I find it humbling and a bit embarrassing.

Americans produce 122 pounds of carbon dioxide per person per day – YIKES!

By comparison citizens in most other developed nations produce about 24 pounds of carbon dioxide per person per day. Get way out into the back country and folks live in a way that produces 9 pounds of carbon dioxide per person per day.

Why is this important?

At 5:30 AM the waning harvest moon is so bright that I could see well enough to jot down a note in my Moleskin.

At first light – the trees shift from silhouettes to beeches, birches and maples. The quality of the light is odd, since the moon is far from setting.

I get to a shelter on a scenic vista as a bright orange sun ascends, blotting out the moon’s light. The reds, ambers and yellows glow. Chipmunks sing as the sun rises and I wish I could stay here for days, if not weeks.

There’s a handwritten note inside the shelter – neat printing on the back of a pretzel box advising backpackers to put their food in the available container. Bears come by between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM searching for food, because of careless backpackers. Don’t feed them. If they get closer than 20 feet, make noise, if they grab your pack, look for it in the morning.

I really want to camp out now. I wonder if one of the bears is the individual I saw in May. I need more woods time. I miss my hammock and the shelter I lived in.

This is a recipe for the mushroom Laetiporous sulphureous, commonly called chicken of the woods or sulphur shelf.

The thin edges of this mushroom are tender and can be saut�ed, steamed or baked in liquid.

The thick part of the mushroom is a challenge. To me it has the texture of overcooked poultry. I did find a way to prepare the thick part that works just fine.

This year every chicken mushroom I found was huge. The perfect rosette weighed at least six pounds.

Be sure to cook all parts of the mushroom within 48 hours and freeze what you don’t use.

In 2004 I was a staff writer for a trade newsletter and first became aware that it was possible to run a business using a laptop as the main business computer. The news rocked my world. You mean I could hike and work and not have to choose between the two? Well almost.

It’s leaf season and I would rather be hiking than tending to business. It wouldn’t be an issue, but I need better phone communication and better Internet access if I’m going to be in business while on the trail or off the grid.

So here I am, as the sun sinks lower in the cloudless sky and the bright yellow maples turn to amber, having spent the day hiking with the computer. Now I remember why I typically hike with an old fashioned notebook and pen.

Leaf Season is always a surprise. This year it’s warm and sunny. I’ve also been caught in a blizzard in early October.

Nineteen years ago I set out for a camping trip in leaf season and woke to find a
snow-laden bough hanging dangerously over my tent.

New York’s Hudson Valley
typically does not get a foot of snow in early October. I had the supplies I
needed to get back home safely, but that adventure motivated me to learn more
about survival. What if I had been caught
in a winter storm and unable to get out?

In a situation like this, protecting yourself from wind and moisture is critical. Here are a few tips:

Yvonne Perry hosts Writers in the Sky Podcast, offering writers an opportunity to showcase their work and educators the opportunity to download content to further knowledge.

Click on this link to listen in. You must have iTunes software loaded on your computer. You can download the
software at no cost on http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.