If you listened to the news or read a newspaper last week, you are aware that terrible weather devastated parts of the southeast. Communities were leveled. Lives were lost. But true to southern form, the folks in towns nearby and not so nearby have rallied together and are trying to repair the physical damage those storms caused. The emotional damage will take much longer to repair but I have to say that the strong sense of community and compassion I find here will make a huge difference in the recovery process. That must provide great comfort to those who lost so much.

I have lived in parts of the country where tornadoes happen with some regularity and I have even lived through a couple but I had forgotten so much about what you need to do to increase your chances of surviving a storm of this magnitude. In case you don't know here are a few of just the basic things you need to do:

Get to the lowest place in your house. A basement is best but if you don't have one, go to an interior part of your house away from windows.

Cover yourself with blankets, towels, whatever. I remember hearing that getting under a mattress is a good thing but as the weather channel fellow said "if you need to take cover now, forget the mattress, you don't have time for that."

Don't try to outrun a tornado, you probably can't. If you are in a car, get out of it and get to low ground, lie flat and hold on.

I now have a box of the things I know we'll need stored away in, what we hope, is our safest interior room. I have a first aid kit, portable radio, water, flashlight, some tools, always have my cell phone with me, a little cash, towels and blankets and a spare leash for our dog.

Okay, I know it is sounding a lot like life in earthquake country. It is, actually, a lot like that. But, you know, there really isn't any totally safe place on this planet so being prepared is probably a good thing no matter where you are.

For those of us spared the brunt of the storms, life is already getting very spring-like. After the rain and a few days of very cold temperatures, it is light jacket weather again and daffodils, crocuses, and magnolias are bursting forth. I'm sure winter is not finished with us yet but I like this change.

It reminds me of a great cookie recipe I used to make for picnics and hikes up at Cooper's Rock in Mortgantown, WV. This would have been just the type of weather for an outing like that.

Gosh that is one beautiful spot.

Anyway here's that recipe. Enjoy.

Half-cup Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 honey
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon each baking powder and cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup each of chocolate chips, walnuts, coconut, raisins, granola

Beat the butter, peanut butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in the eggs, honey, milk and vanilla.

In another bowl, stir together the chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, raisins, granola, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt.

Combine the two bowls stirring well until totally mixed.

Drop by teaspoon on lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Recipe makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Bailey catching a bit of a rest during a short hike on a hot day. Sorry but Bailey got no cookies. Chocolate is deadly for dogs.