This month's theme provided me with what I thought was a great idea. Survival of the fittest sort of thing, you know? Then came the awesome websites I found to help me articulate ways in which one could survive on the run. I thought it would be gold. Cue the oncoming freight train that is writer's block. *headdesk* What happened next though... that is where our tale begins.
You know Hogwarts' motto right? Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus. That is to say, Never tickle a sleeping dragon. I firmly believe that I am only alive today to serve as a warning to all of you to never underestimate these powerful words. They hold so much wisdom, believe you me.
It started out a day just like any other here at Hogwarts in the fall---overcast and a bit on the gloomy side. The winds had picked up overnight and there were stray branches and leaves on the ground everywhere you looked. I went out to get some air in order to find a fresh perspective on life. I was starting to feel as if I had been trapped in a box (No! Not a recipe box. What made you think that? ) for months and wanted to find a new muse. What should I stumble upon that fateful morning but our dearest Dragon, napping under a tree by the Black Lake.
KITTEN, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO GO WAKE HER UP. DO IT! TICKLE HER! IT'LL BE FUN,
called out the pesky and rambunctious voice in my head. The very same voice that, until that day, had never steered me wrong. Let's be honest here. It definitely sounds like fun, right? So I did what any fun-loving prankster would do. I crept over towards her tree, picking up a stray branch from the ground as I slunk by. Are you starting to get the picture now?
I probably looked like something one had just taken off the grill when all was said and done. The blasted erm... lovely and amazingly kind and forgiving Dragon had set me on fire! Oh, how it burned! I flew out of there faster than a Thestral after fresh blood. But what was I to do? Where was I to go? I'd have to lie low for a while, but I hadn't any supplies but my wand.
Foraging for Food in the Wild
Who would have guessed that my research for the monthly recipebox would come in handy in real life? Hiding from our beloved Dragon for a few weeks was definitely in order, I have far too many things I need to do in this life before I leave it. So the hunt to properly identify some edible plants began.
For example, did you know what to look for in order to determine if a plant is edible or toxic? I sure didn't. The sites above suggest being on the safe side if you don't know for certain if a plant is edible. If the plant has spines, fine hairs, or thorns? Don't eat it. If it has a three-leaved growth pattern? Don't touch it. If it has a bitter or soapy taste? It may be too late by then, but stop eating it. *cough*
Prefer something with a bit more 'meat' to it? Apparently desperate times really DO call for desperate measures as several Muggles have found that one can eat insects when hiding out in the wild. Just remember that insects have six ( 6 ) legs as you'll want to avoid eating arachnids who have eight ( 8 ) and myriapoda who have many legs like centipedes. The Muggles also go on to state that one should avoid eating hairy insects, venomous ones, and ones with bright colors. They have a whole lot of other information available (that I don't want to know how or why they figured it out) but if you'll excuse me... I can hear the murderous thunderous footsteps of the lovely dragon now.
#KittenontheRun, #RoughTimes, #SaveMeNow
Stay tuned for next month's offering, one never knows where it will come from!