Hey Pack. We are finally nearing the end of our hay baling for the year. I am still somewhat hopeful that maybe we could get another cut in one field by the end of October … maybe.
Our tribe has been over most of the week working on hat cutting, raking, baling, and storing as well as putting up more wood for the winter. When cutting up one tree we accidentally evicted a king snake from its home. I am happy to have king snakes around because they eat venomous snakes and are great mousers.
Ohio is home to three venomous snakes – two different types of rattlesnakes and copperheads. Two of the three venomous snakes live in my region.Some idiot sitting in an office somewhere decided a few years ago to release one of the two types of venomous snakes into the Experimental Forest because their numbers were dwindling. Thanks a whole lot for that misguided decision – insert major sarcasm here.
Some idiot sitting in an office somewhere decided a few years ago to release one of the two types of venomous snakes into the Experimental Forest because their numbers were dwindling. Thanks a whole lot for that misguided decision – insert major sarcasm here.
I do not mind snakes, unless they are venomous. We have more than enough potentially deadly snakes in my little slice of Appalachia – we do not need imports! ODNR experts insist water moccasins (cottonmouth snakes) do not exist in Ohio.
I beg to differ, and not just because that one scene in Lonesome Dove of the group crossing the river and disturbing an entire nest of these nasty snakes gave me nightmares for weeks.
Although I agree with the good folks at ODNR that water moccasins may not be native to the Buckeye State, too many people who know snakes really well, have spotted them.
Just like when an alligator was found in a pond near Cincinnati a few years ago and when wild animals of all sorts were running near roads in Zanesville a couple or so years ago, cottonmouth snakes were probably exotic pets that were both simply and cruelly turned loose when they were no longer wanted.
While I am on the topic of snakes, I am starting to wonder if St. Patrick came around our way when no one noticed and led nearly all of the snakes away. With the exception of the king snake I mentioned above, maybe three tiny ringneck snakes, and one common water snake, I have not seen a snake on our land all year. Many others in our county have had the same experience.
A lack of snakes leads to a whole lot more mice to deal with out in the country. I dislike mice to an enormous degree, and appreciate the snakes we usually see on our farm road, porch, and in so many other places, keeping their population numbers down.
In other preps this week, I made some DIY all natural oil lamps, and invited my former Marine nephew over to teach a military martial arts class.
This Week’s Questions
- Have you noticed a lack of snakes where you live?
- Have you included trapping and cooking snakes as a part of your survival plan?
- What type of off grid emergency lighting is included in your prepping plan.
- What did you do to prep this week?
This Week’s Questions
1. Have you noticed a lack of snakes where you live? I haven’t seen one since we moved here in 1995.
2. Have you included trapping and cooking snakes as a part of your survival plan? Nope (see #1) but I have before.
3. What type of off grid emergency lighting is included in your prepping plan. We have a little of everything including domes through the garage roof.
4. What did you do to prep this week?
Filling and sealing food buckets; additional organizing in the storage area.
Additional education classes start this week. DW is now busy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings. I am it Monday AM, Tuesday AM, and Thursday night. Schedule is filling up fast.
Getting started with a group of LMI’s “near here” (it is Montana, close is relative). Just a “meet and greet”, so we’ll see where it goes. Already have a second meeting with another couple for next week.
Started the winterization of the travel trailer.
Gun Show weekend: Friday we sold enough to cover all weekend’s expenses!
Received: Movie; water bottle; M-Loc Sling mounts;
JP, The only good snake in my book is a dead snake. But then again I live in Florida. I may travel your way next summer. I have a cousin in Billings who I want to visit.
Keep us posted. TOP had my email, so we can go that way. Billings is a couple of hours from us, but who knows (they do have some snakes in around Billings – but most are in Missoula and Helena).
Wow, that is a long time to go without seeing a snake! Any chatter at the gun show about the goofball Beto’s gun grabbing pledge?
Tara:
Not a peep. Seems he does not have a following up here.
JP & Tara,
Seriously? Does he have a real following anywhere?
You mean seeing him do ”Regular Guy” things like a dental visit or <strong<”Manly” things like changing a tire doesn’t win you over? LOL
As for any guns I may or may not have, he is welcome to come and try to take them; but, I suspect there will be a line, or maybe two lines (a gauntlet) to overcome first.
1 & 2- New England does have snakes but most likely are Garter, Hognose, and Milk snakes. Our only poisonous snake is the Eastern Diamondback Rattler but these are confined to Tiverton and Little Compton, RI.
3- Battery powered flashlights, lanterns, and candles. We have a few oil lamps as a DEEP EMERGENCY stash.
4- I went by a local gun store and bought a police trade in Glock 17. He had no “preban” standard mags so I told him to keep the 10 rounder. I bought a couple from an online friend. I’ll find more. The gun was refurbished a bit and very clean. It was a great deal at just over $300. I do like these. I may buy a couple more.
I’ve been buying PM’s in low denominations of junk silver again. Looking at more gold too. Bought some Mormon “basic four” in quantity too.
Planning a solo trip to Tennessee next month for more recon. Also buying more FD foods while there. Maybe I’ll catch up with Babycatcher and family.
How was Mrs. Overwatch’s trip to TN? I was busy moving a friend so couldnt stop to say hi. Sorry bout that!
She loves Tennessee. She did the tourist thing around pigeon Forge.
Ooh, yes! Give me a holler!
Babycatcher & Overwatch,
We’re looking forward to your (Overwatch) move down there and a potential meetup next spring. It’s only about a 6 hour trip, mostly on I-75, so quite doable.
Wicked!!! Can’t wait, TOP!
Me too! Part of our renovations is so we can have people over! Guess what? You’re included!
Me Three!!!! Can’t wait.
You know you’re on the list too!
If it is a 6 hour trip for TOP it is probably about five for me! You will definitely be close enough to Prepper Camp to make it an annual pilgrimage – and should!
Tara,
Google shows 6 hours +/- 10 minutes door to door for you and 6 hours 15 minutes for me, with most of the time for both of us spent southbound on I-75.
Prepper Camp is 3 hours, 40 minutes & 142 miles for babycatcher and 8 hours & 320 miles for me
I did my low-carb grocery shopping this week. Added a little to my stash as usual. Did some weekly cooking.
The Ex gave her blown-over papaya tree to our son and he replanted it by his place, along with a second smaller tree that did not blow-over. He loves papaya. The Ex is pickling most of the unripe papaya. She got 30 fruits off the bigger tree and left a few of the smaller ones on it to see what happens. Papaya trees are pretty amazing. From seed to edible fruit, 9-11 months growth. Very sensitive to cold weather and drought, however. The tree only lives about 4-5 years but can grow as tall as 30-feet if conditions are good. The tree that fell over was only two-years old and was about 12 feet tall.
Didn’t do a lot for prepping this week. Watching the tropical storm forecasts. All the doom and gloom about TS Humberto seems to have been wasted. It is turning northward sooner than originally predicted, and will angled out into the Atlantic as a hurricane. It should not affect the US except for some rain along the Florida coast, although the northern Bahamas got some more rain that they didn’t need. Bermuda may get affected too, There are a couple of tropical systems way out in the Atlantic yet that bear watching. One formed up suddenly last night just southwest of Florida and its track shows it heading across the Gulf of Mexico towards Texas. The Gulf is warm enough that this system might turn into something more serious than a rainmaker.
My apartment building had something wrong with the fire alarm system, so the repair guy was over tracking that down (successfully). But he had to set off the alarm a couple of times for long periods. My poor granddaughter was over when the alarm went off the first time (I had warned her it was possible, and she knows what fire alarms are for). She went absolutely rigid and started screaming in terror. I took the poor thing outside on the balcony where it was a lot quieter and she settled down. She was still crying a little when she asked me, sniffling, “Are the other people safe?” I thought that was pretty mature for a not quite three-year-old girl to be concerned about other people like that while she was still terrified herself. One of my downstairs neighbors was sitting out on his patio and I pointed him out to her, and she seemed relieved. Wonderful kid. 😊 I think I’ll keep her.
Tara’s questions
1. Have you noticed a lack of snakes where you live?
Not really. While we have some venomous snakes here in Florida, the most commonly seen are non-venomous.
2. Have you included trapping and cooking snakes as a part of your survival plan?
No. But if necessary, it could be.
3. What type of off grid emergency lighting is included in your prepping plan.
Flashlights and lanterns with rechargeable and alkaline batteries. Also candles.
4. What did you do to prep this week?
See above
You have a very bright, and a loving little grand daughter, very blessed indeed.
Picked up a box full of old bent but ok used candles. Going to melt them and reuse the wicks in new candles in glass containers. Mostly small drinking glasses from yardsales.
Picked enough green beans and Cherokee wax beans to can a few pints. May can a few pints of yellow squash as well. Not much from the garden this year. Couldn’t plant till the first week of June and first frost usually arrives by late September. Pick just enough corn to have it with dinner tonight. More ready soon. Probably just eat some every day for a little while. It’s just a tiny spot. Picked almost a dozen 3-4 inch across tomatoes. It looks to be a few days till more are ready. Might can a pint of tomatoes with the green beans and yellow squash. They can all pressure together Monday. I’ll be gone all day this Sunday. A friend just called, she and her son want a few yellow squash. We’ve been eating them nearly every day for a few weeks now. I may take her 4 ears of corn as well.
I bought more pasta mix meal sides. They keep well. I put them in 5 gallon fiber barrels with wooden tops. Use them as side tables in the living room. I cycle through them to keep newer food on hand. With a bit is meat and veggies added or on the side they make good meals. To nights meal is a large piece of chicken breast, cook it in a large skillet cut up and lightly brown pieces with restaurant style chicken bullion paste. Then prepare cornbread stuffing over it. On the side boil 4 small fresh ears of corn, drain, lightly butter and salt. 1 medium yellow squash cut in 1/8th inch slices steamed with a few green beans, lightly salted and a bit of real butter. Large meal but its our only meal today. Too busy!
I have canned chicken and canned veggies. So I can almost duplicate the meals from our cache. Simple good food. Quick and easy after a days work. Its hard to stand long at a time right now so I look for easy to prepare meals. I do miss an oven but we may soon have a better stove. I’ll enjoy that.
It’s raining and power is off on the commercial line to the well. My solar is on and we have lights in the midst of our dark community. I really sacrificed to get the solar. We’re the first in the area. Others are now asking about it. I love it. Winds decimated the first array. Insurance only paid $3,000 but I saved for nearly a year and did without electricity. Now it’s ground mounted and much larger with slightly more battery power. I’d like to add even more battery back up.
We must have gotten your snakes cause we got more than you can shake a stick at sunny Komradfornia. We got a bunch of rattlers for some reason.
They’ve got on the pioneers bandwagon… “Head west young man…” 🙂
I have a few totes full of cheap solar lights from Dollar Tree to use with and in place of flashlights as part of our off grid light prepping.
Tara,
I also have a few of those; but, our Dollar Tree hasn’t had them for a while.
Most of them contain 1 or more AA NiMH batteries the can be removed, and used to power other things.
Placing them back in to units and putting them in the sun during the day allows the batteries to be charged, so if you don’t use them for light, they can act as solar battery chargers.
Zulu,
I threw some papaya rinds in the compost. I cook. My dh takes stuff out to the compost. He doesn’t always look to see what’s up. He came back in the house (this is a few years ago) and said we had a six foot papaya tree growing out of the compost. I walked out there. Sure enough. A big ass tree. Living further north, we had a freeze before the fruit ripened. But, dang, papaya grow quickly. You might try growing moringa. They grow from seed even faster than papaya. I have not done the research myself but the leaves are supposed to be high in protein. They sell moringa leaves at the local “hippie” veggie store.
Bam Bam,
Growing out of a compost pile, that’s how my Ex got her papaya trees. She’d keep them if she wasn’t selling the house. No room to plant them at her condo. Our son loves papaya, so he took both trees and replanted them at his place. So far they seem to be taking root OK.
Zulu 3-6 & Bam Bam,
That instant tree thing happens here all of the time with black walnuts. The trees drop prodigious numbers of the green nuts, that then turn into brown dye laden projectiles for the mower if not picked up; but, those that we miss and don’t get ground up sprout into trees the next spring. They can grow to 6-8 feet in a few years; but, then take a decade to be large enough to be useful for wood, or to start eating kites & antennas.
I don’t think I would like your constant heat and humidity or the hurricane prep; but, it would be nice to be able to grow some of the plants you can grow down there.
Question 1, 48 years ago my place was overrun with snakes (rattlesnakes and moccasins) and they were everywhere on the farm. Even though I am surrounded by pine woods it has been years since I have seen one around here.
Question 2, Can’t eat what you can’t find.
Question 3, I have several oil lamps, candles and flashlights.
Question 4, I was prepped out from the hurricane so took the week off. We did take the granddaughter out in the boat on Wednesday and then to the beach on Thursday so that was all the exertion I could stand.
Daddio7,
Perhaps all of those released Pythons & Boas came over from the Glades and ate them. LOL
My irrational fear of water moccasins will not go away even though they are not supposed to be in Ohio. Your comments and others by the pack increase my wonder of what is happening to all the snakes. I found a dead garter snake on our farm road yesterday, No signs of being run over or attacked, looked completely healthy and alive but was just as dead as dead can get. It was really weird.
There is nothing irrational about fearing water moccasins. Our property backs up to woods and a creek. This is Florida. I have had water moccasins crawl between the screen and the windows in our home. My dh said, “Oh, if it can get in, it can get out.” I do not often put my foot down and demand my husband take action. But I did that time. I told him if he didn’t take care of the situation I would take a shotgun and blow out the whole window. Then I asked him if he wanted to deal with the snake or replace the window. (We have four cats and a dog. The cats were fascinated by the creepy-crawler in the window.) He went out and removed the screen and killed the water moccasin. I am typically a very mild mannered person. But I don’t like snakes.
Bam Bam,
I used to live near Lake Crescent and a creek that flowed into it. A neighbor lived along the creek and his back deck was inundated by moccasins. Every time he saw one, he shotgunned it. I would periodically hear the shots. He told me he was averaging a 25-round box of shot-shells a month and I believed it.
Tara,
Irrational fears will not go away simply because they are, well irrational.
My DW can take on a charging bull; but, put her in a room with a field mouse and she freaks, although it is getting a little better, and she can now dispose of one instead of calling me, after one of the cats sends it to field mouse heaven.
As a child I had an irrational fear of heights, except when climbing trees.
Later in life I overcame the fear by confronting it. Rock climbing, rappelling, and sky diving allowed me to experience it safely and overcome my irrational fears. I now ”safely” climb towers & ladders with no problem; but, still approach the edge of the roof on a tall building with care. Since most fears are inbred, like snakes, and heights, we only need to rid ourselves of the irrational part.
I’m not saying you should go find a snake and confront it; but, taking that deep breath, and being ultra observant in your woods and around water, may help you overcome the irrational part of the experience.
What’s happening to the snakes is the same thing happening to many other wild creatures, primarily, habitat destruction. While it may not be as bad in your area of Ohio, if you look around many areas of most states, you will see strip malls and subdivisions where there once were farm fields and wooded land.
In some ways I don’t blame the owners, often farmers who bust their butts 24/7 365 for selling out, especially when $1000-1500 per acre farmland can often go for 5 or 10 times that amount to a developer, especially with road frontage.
I’ve sometimes heard city folk complain that when they visited their raw property before building on it, they would see deer, and rabbits, and other wildlife, that now seems to be gone. They don’t realize that the act of bulldozing, construction, and planting that large lawn (that needs to be mowed) is part of the problem. When picking up sticks and building a brush pile I’ll tell people to leave it stacked in some obscure corner of the property to make shelter for rabbits and such; but, all too often they’ll burn it, all part of the problem.
Of course if they are good managers, and plant a garden, when the rabbits and deer come over to feast, they complain about that also. LOL
How did it look healthy AND alive when it was dead? LOL
Critters like that can die from many causes, like being run over, causing internal injuries with no external signs of the trauma.
It’s just that basic circle of life stuff.
Puppy has done it……he has done a back flip chasing a new tennis ball that hit the ground and bounced higher than he expected. What a ninja dog……..LOL He’s scary, so big and agile too.
Electrical
Bought another 4 pack of AAA rechargeable batteries.
Security
Bought 500 rnds of .223 55grn
Load 30 rnd mags
Organized support equipment.
Food
Bought and froze a lot of meat.
Made 4lbs of jerky
Freeze dried beans, tomatoes an Zucchini. ( I love Zucchini chips lightly salted)
Thor’s questions:
1. What do you think about Be to saying he’s coming for your ARs & AKs?
2.Do you think people would follow a law that violates the Constitution and turn in their guns
3. Do you feel our country is WROL as Innocent people are harassed or prosecuted for not doing anything wrong, while people who are guilty as sin walk free?
4. Do you think the price of gas will go up after the attack on Saudi’s oil facility?
5. Do you think Yemen will suffer a major retribution for the attack?
Tara’s questions:
1.Have you noticed a lack of snakes where you live?
2.Have you included trapping and cooking snakes as a part of your survival plan?
3.What type of off grid emergency lighting is included in your prepping plan.
1. Yes, I’ve only seen a corn snake this year.
2. Only if need be.,.
3. Rechargeable batteries, rechargeable flashlights, candles, kerosene lamps, propane lamps, solar power, gas generator.
Here is an interesting video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xMNqmCB9diw
Thor’s questions:
1. What do you think about Be to saying he’s coming for your ARs & AKs?
He’s a fool and as qualified to be president as the nail clipping I just trimmed off my big toe.
2.Do you think people would follow a law that violates the Constitution and turn in their guns
Some will, many will not.
3. Do you feel our country is WROL as Innocent people are harassed or prosecuted for not doing anything wrong, while people who are guilty as sin walk free?
It depends on the jurisdiction. Some places are run by socialists and they have no problems jacking innocent people up and ignoring crimes committed by their fellow travelers.
4. Do you think the price of gas will go up after the attack on Saudi’s oil facility?
Hard to say. It really shouldn’t as the place only processes 5% of the world’s supply.
5. Do you think Yemen will suffer a major retribution for the attack?
You can bet your paycheck on that happening.
Z36, since the Yemen rebels are Iranian backed, do you think Saudi may do the same back to Iran with drones?
Thor1,
I don’t think so unless the US gives them a go ahead. Yemen can only do so much back to Saudi. Although Iran, if they directly attacked Saudi Arabia, might have a US problem to deal with. Iran being the egotistical theological narcissists they are, may feel obligated to directly counterattack Saudi if Saudi attacked them directly, regardless of what the US and others may do to them.
I don’t think Trump is ready to do anything nasty to Iran – yet. The US needs Iran to be very blatant with a direct attack that wasn’t provoked, or obviously provoked, by the US or an ally. Something like when Iraq invaded Kuwait.
Zulu,
The U.S. is reporting that the attack came from Iran. They reported that it wasn’t a drone. It was a missile attack. This may be true. It may not be true. I don’t know.
Bam Bam,
A missile attack direct from Iran is a clear act of war. A drone from “rebels” in Yemen is not. At this point, Israel is getting along fairly well with Saudi Arabia and they are looking for excuses to drop bombs directly on Iran. Iran has been using their proxies in Syria and Yemen to attack Saudi, Israel, and Iraq. There are Iranian troops in Syria, supposedly as advisors, but we (unfortunately) know how that goes. Israel is enjoying killing them occasionally, as are we.
As an aside: Have you noticed that Russia hasn’t been making a lot of noise over our involvement in Syria since their “mercenary” force attacked a US/Iraqi base and had their asses handed to them?
Iran makes a lot of noise but they know that most of the other Middle Eastern countries do not like them for several reasons. One of which is that Iranians are generally Shiites, while the other countries are mostly Sunni. Another reason is Iranians are not Arabs, they’re Persians and Arabs have really long memories when it comes to hatred of cruel conquerors. Thirdly, Iranians are being general assholes in the area. Iran is pushing the limits and one day they will cross the line and all of those countries will let Israel and the US do what they want to do to Iran, and probably help, not just allow overflights. 1990-91 all over again, just a new enemy.
Bam Bam,
This could be just simple semantics and both could be true.
For instance the MQ-9 Reaper (AKA Predator B) can carry hellfire missiles, so an attack by this platform could be construed and reported as either a drone&/or a missile attack or both, keeping in mind that many doing the reporting are either ignorant or have their own agenda.
These same people blasted the president for putting John Bolton (a supposed warmonger on his national security team) and then blasted him again for the dismissal of the same guy.
You always need to look at the entire picture and the context.
Also, unless drones are used as the weapons and crashed into things, they are likely only the platform carrying the weapons system, like a missile or gun. Oops, I actually meant a kinetic projectile system. LOL
TOP,
I would think that if you used a remotely controlled air vehicle as the weapon system itself, e.g., crashing the whole thing into the target, that would technically be a cruise missile.
If the remotely controlled air vehicle carried rockets, bombs, or missiles (like the US MQ-9, etc), to launch or drop on a target and there is an intent for the vehicle to return to base, that would be (ta-da), a drone.
Zulu 3-6,
I think another reason is that Iran is run by a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship who well understands that they are Persians and long for the day when like the Persia of old, they once again rule the region, even though that was back in the 4th through 6th centuries and should be left to the historians.
It’s more likely to get them crushed.
Zulu 3-6,
Note my added bold above. You are thinking technically with no agenda and some knowledge of the systems.
I agree; but, once again you are reporting facts with some knowledge and no agenda, and from what I see in the MSM, facts are often missing or misunderstood, and the agenda and its spin can sometimes be subtle when inferred or interjected into reporting.
TOP,
Sadly only too true.
Thor1,
Perhaps; but, the Saudi’s have US made F-16’s and US trained pilots, so they may not need drones, except to counter AA batteries on the first strike.
The Iranians did have some US made fighters during the Shah of Iran’s rein; but, without replacement parts, I understand those to be permanently grounded.
Z36, I say we Veto Beto… LOL
1- The skinny little meth head can try
2-Not this old Infantry sergeant
3- It’s definitely a two tier system. As George Carlin said “It’s a big country club. And you ain’t in it!”
4- We’re getting very little oil from the Mideast now thanks to DJT. We won’t be affected by their lunacy.
5- If they vaporized Yemen tomorrow, I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass. Maybe it’ll lead to a major war but I doubt it.
Overwatch, I thought he was a crack head…..LOL
Lmao
Thor’s questions:
1. What do you think about Be to saying he’s coming for your ARs & AKs?
I love it, since the Dems can no longer deny their intentions. Robert Francis O’rourke is a 46 year old child and pompous ass who will now get more air time than he ever imagined. Whoever runs against trump, you can be sure that any mention of gun safety legislation will involve commercials featuring his stunt. The other Dems must be secretly mortified.
2. Do you think people would follow a law that violates the Constitution and turn in their guns
Some will; but, I suspect most will not and since the gun owning civilian population far outnumbers the politicians and law enforcement, things could get really bad, really fast. As for me, I have some guns with paper and many without, so there are only a few who know if or what I have.
3. Do you feel our country is WROL as Innocent people are harassed or prosecuted for not doing anything wrong, while people who are guilty as sin walk free?
Not quite WROL; but, more EROL (Excessive Rule Of Law). Recall that in 2014, Eric Garner died in New York after Daniel Pantaleo, an NYPD) officer put him in a chokehold while arresting him. His crime was selling loose cigarettes. I don’t blame the officer; but, do blame the stupid law.
OTOH, keep in mind that McCabe’s appeal was denied and he could finally be in deep doo doo.
4. Do you think the price of gas will go up after the attack on Saudi’s oil facility?
No. We still produce more domestic petroleum products than the rest of the world; however, if any of the Dems get their way, that will all stop and we’ll all start driving electric cars powered by magic, pixie dust, and fairy farts or perhaps harnessed to unicorns when the batteries get low.
5. Do you think Yemen will suffer a major retribution for the attack?
It’s hard to say, since while they think they know where the drone strikes originated, there may be other actors (Iran?) backing Yemen’s Houthi rebels who also need to be taught a lesson. I find this all interesting since Aramco (the Saudi Arabian American oil Company) has just made its intentions for an IPO for a portion (up to 5%) of the company that may have a total value of $2,000,000,000,000.00. This could be the largest IPO of all time.
All, this is the REAL reason why Democrats want the guns.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aJh7Ye1Qvc8
Thor1:
1 & 2: The Dem’s seem to be in a contest on who can spew out the most outragious comments. They are so obviously so self-centered that they are divorcing themselves from reality. They are also not thinking their decisions through to their ultimate conclusion, stopping short when the get to their “desired” end without any negative reaction from the majority of the population that does not agree with their decisions. As a result a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt, directly or indirectly.
3 & 4: I seem to have missed this attack. I’ll have to look into it.
JP, I’m hearing the Pentagon parking lot is filling up. You know what that means……Bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran……
Thor1,
I don’t think the Pentagon parking lot filling is out of the ordinary, since a lot of people work there; but, when the Pentagon and the West Wing start ordering lots of pizzas at 3:00 AM, it’s time to pay attention.
Or so I’ve been told. LOL
Yep, both my grandfathers worked there. Tis true.
In other words, the Dems don’t want the middle class to understand that they will be on the hook for paying for all this crap.
Bam Bam:
Well, the elite and wealthy are funding their campaigns. Their target voter is the young and the socially dependent and can’t pay. Kind of leaves the middle class to pay for the cleanup. Hope they wake up and figure it out.
don’t have any ars or aks, never did, closest i ever got were sks’s or mini 14s and i “sold” then to “someguy” up on the “rez”. rez is generally lawless and most laws are unenforcable without a fedaral case. state law not applicable up there, regardless of it being true or not its unprovable where they went, they are just not anywhere near my place.
maybe some would, but i would not, i know how to make guns and ammo, if they took mine it would take about a day till i had another.
to an extent
no idea and it doesn’t really phase me, i upgraded to a diesel tractor so i can make biodiesel if i need to
no idea
Thor,
I have been training my GSD in German. He gets the regular commands: sitz (sit), platz (plank your magic twinkie), steh (stand), bleib (stay), kommen hier mach snell (come quickly). Today I taught him a new command. Hol den mutterficker–said while pointing to something he should attack. He learned the phrase immediately. I filled one of his dog toys with his favorite treats and made him sit, down and stay. Then I placed the treat-laden toy 10 feet away and gave the new command. The Wolffeman attacked the toy with gusto. Later that day my husband worked to learn how to say the command. I reloaded the Wolffeman’s treat toy, so my dh could command the dog. After a few minutes my dh kind of got the command right. He made the command and Wolffe attacked the treat-toy. My husband was really impressed. Then he asked me what exactly the command was. LOL “Get that mother-pucker”. My dh spit out his dinner laughing. We don’t really use such language.
Tara’s Qs: Have you noticed a lack of snakes where you live? Im not sure how many were here before we came, so have no basis for comparison. We’ve seen corn, black racers, and pygmy rattlers here, but not in several years. I kill all the mice so theres no incentive to hang around.
Have you included trapping and cooking snakes as a part of your survival plan?nope, only in desperation.
What type of off grid emergency lighting is included in your prepping plan. Candles, oil lamps, battery powered and Solar.
What did you do to prep this week? Started the bathroom remodel, demo’d last week, this week ordered and bought everything to replace the master bath tub/shower with a larger shower only, new countertops & tile floors in Master, Hall bath and Laundry room , and bullnose (tile) baseboards, and new toilet in Hall bath, and new towel racks and faucets inMaster. Its going from Rose to white marble, with medium gray grout. Cabinets are staying, solid oak.
Sounds like your bathroom remodel will be really nice!
We will send pics or a link to see them, if you like
WIDTPTW Current Upcoming Posting
Hi Tara, Dan, & all,
There are indeed three venomous snakes in Ohio, the Eastern timber rattler, northern copperhead, and the Eastern massasauga rattlesnake; but, I have never seen any of these in the wild. This is possibly because they tend to avoid humans, and will only bite if startled or cornered. In the mountains of western PA, those same species exist and with all of the time I spent in the woods growing up there, I only saw a Copperhead once and a Timber Rattler twice.
I’ve worked with ODNR DOW (Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife) for 28 years as a volunteer Outdoor Skills Instructor, and they don’t actually say that they don’t exist, just that they are not native. It’s probably similar to pythons & boas in the Florida Everglades.
Also if you make enough noise as you travel and don’t reach into holes without looking first, the likelihood of being bitten is very low.
Tara’s Questions
1. Have you noticed a lack of snakes where you live?
We rarely see snakes; but, that is in part because if you go about your normal business and make some noise, they will head away from you, since most snakes are actually rather shy creatures. We do occasionally see water snakes along the creek or garter snakes moving ahead of us in the fields, often I suspect hunting for field mice.
2. Have you included trapping and cooking snakes as a part of your survival plan?
We have not planned for snakes specifically; but, our creek has fish, and the surrounding properties have a variety of wildlife, all of which could be candidates for the pot should we need the food. We have traps & snares and I know how to construct things like figure-4 deadfalls if we really got desperate.
3. What type of off grid emergency lighting is included in your prepping plan.
Oh where do I start? LOL From lowest to highest tech we have
• Candles and candle lanterns
• Kerosene or lamp oil fueled Hurricane Lanterns
• Kerosene or lamp oil fueled Aladdin mantle lanterns
• Coleman mantle lanterns
• Older style LED flashlights and lanterns.
• New super bright LED flashlights and lanterns like the Atomic Beam Lantern and its inexpensive knockoffs.
• Free Flashlight / Area Lights from Harbor Freight
• LED Headlamps
We have plenty of fuel for the combustion based lamps and numerous batteries, mostly rechargeable for the other lights.
• Solar powered super bright LED motion activated security flood lights at several points outside.
• LED bulbs connected the the UPS units that run much of our electronics
• LyfeLite self recharging LED light bulbs.
• A whole house generator with plenty of fuel and consumables.
While this may seem like overkill, I have lived rural for most of my life, and when it gets dark out here, it’s really almost a new definition of dark for many, and much of this equipment was collected over a nearly 45 year period, long before we even dreamed of owning that generator and tank farm.
4. What did you do to prep this week?
See below.
TOP’s question
1. Did you watch the Democrat Debate & if so:
• Who won?
• Who lost?
2. Is our society doomed?
• https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=13704
• https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=12112
• Or do we still stand a chance of pulling out before the crash?
• https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=13691
• https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=13689
3. Are you a member of a terrorist organization? It turns out that many of us may be?
• https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=13690
This week we acquired and did the following.
1. BLACK was over and we finished cutting and stacking the black walnut tree cut down last week, plus more from a dead mulberry tree. We will each end up with about 1/3 to ½ cord of wood.
2. We finally started using our Instant Pot to cook a 4 pound chuck roast with good success. As I ate the meat with a side of mashed potatoes & Au Jus (since I was too lazy to make proper gravy) I thought briefly of Cory Booker who is a Vegan and understand not only what he is missing; but, perhaps why his ideas are so odd. The brain needs real food.
3. Attended a local Hamfest. I picked up a few electronic odds & ends that will be useful in my Junque bin for future projects. My $5.00 admission will also support another great local radio club and another $5.00 spent on lunch supports the local Boy Scout troop that was providing lunch.
4. Listened to some of the hurricane nets; but, realistically cannot offer any assistance from here at least for now.
5. Received an order of Amateur Radio components from DX-Engineering fOr use in rebuilding my antenna that was eaten a while back by a tree. Once repaired this will allow communications with all surrounding counties with no relaying repeaters
• Coaxial Cable, 75 feet, 400MAX (LMR-400 Equivalent), Low-Loss, 10 AWG Stranded, 50 Ohm, Dual Shield, Polyethylene Type III Jacket, PL-259 Ends
• Pack of 6: Solder Type Coaxial Connectors, PL-259, UHF Male, Silver Plated Brass, PTFE (Teflon) Dielectric. These are the good ones.
6. Picked up a NIB JetStream JTB-3 dual band antenna from a fellow ham, to replace the Comet GP-3 eaten by the tree that along with the coaxial cable in #5 will get me back on the air for this radio.
7. Received a Halter a Z500 Vented Computer Monitor Stand from woot.com to aid in decluttering my ham shack and lab.
8. A quart of real maple syrup and 10 pieces of maple sugar candy from the local farm market.
9. Added ”The Ashley Book of Knots”</strong & ”Thou Shalt Knot” By Clifford W. Ashley to my pdf library
TOP’s questions:
TOP’s question
1. Did you watch the Democrat Debate & if so:
• Who won?
• Who lost?
I don’t watch those debates. I don’t need to hear those communists declare their intent to destroy my country to know what they want to do. I have more important things to do with my time, like pick out belly button lint.
2. Is our society doomed?
Too early to be certain. It sure doesn’t look good.
3. Are you a member of a terrorist organization? It turns out that many of us may be?
If you refer to the horrible NRA, then I am indeed a member of a terrorist organization. A life member, in fact.
Zulu 3-6,
I haven’t seen it all yet; but, it has been DVR’d and I’ve seen snippets covered on the news. Some of this stuff is so radical that even the MSM has been covering it.
Circular Firing Squad indeed!!
I agree; but, do see some glimmers of hope outside of the metro areas.
Inside, they may just freeze in the dark.
I was a 25 years life member until recently when I upgraded to Endowment life.
No real extra benefits; but, I did get a framable document and a nice Jacket I’ll be using for my patches.
Top’s questions:
1. Who lost the Democrats. They looked like total morons or inept to run a paper route or lemonade stand.
Who won, the American gun owners, we are now confirmed of what Dems really want.
2. Yes, if Dems get elected in 2020….civil war will be inevitable.
3. I am the NRA.
Thor1,
You of course meant I am the NRA. and I vote.
Top, no thats my initials….
November Robert Alpha… LOL
Thor1,
OK, Didn’t know you were a new member, since that phrase ” I am the NRA. and I vote.” was an old bumper sticker. Remember those?
Top, been a member for many years and the Mrs. Too……
I’m a card carrying terrorist member….LOL
What hamfest was that? I think Chattanooga is coming up soon. We wont be going, tho.
Babycatcher,
It was a local one in Findlay, about 50 miles to my north. While it’s not HAMVENTION, it’s a pretty good one for the local folks, also drawing people from Michigan, Western PA and eastern Indiana.
A good up and coming one was the one held @ DX Engineering on August 10th in Talmage. They of course are a premier provider of all things Amateur Radio, and where I just purchased some good coax and some connectors to get my new antenna set up and running.
This was their first year and admission & flea market setup on their concrete / asphalt parking and track area was free of charge.
The store was open and they had some specials and a lot of new open box items at good discounts.
There was a food truck and some close local restaurants.
I picked up a Signal Link for $70.00 after purchasing my first one retail for $120.00. A friend who was with us picked up the last open box Signal Link just before closing, marked down to $60.00.
We talked with the staff and since this first one was well attended and drew people from all of the surrounding states; they are planning on doing another again next year. It was about 140 miles and 2+ hours from my location; but, was well worth the trip.
I suspect that as a large hem radio business, they are writing off the whole event as an advertising expense; but, it was fun and we all benefited from it.
I’m not sure that it would be worthwhile for you; but, even the infamous HAMVENTION has scaled back a bit since moving to Xenia from Dayton.
The Hara arena in Dayton was a great venue; but, in the 30+years I attended HAMVENTION it got worse and worse every year, until they finally had to move the event.
The May 27 tornado outbreak pretty much destroyed what was left of the building, and while I hadn’t been there in years, it still makes some of us a bit sad, since we have a lot of great memories attending that venue and it’s thousands of international attendees.
Saudi loosing 1/2 of their oil processing capability or 5.7 million barrels a day, will be making some changes here. Wonder how much? World crude 17% jump and west Texas a 15% jump in the first few hours.
It isn’t just gas or diesel prices because so very many products incorporate oil in some way. Plastics, carpeting and more that sure don’t look like oil..
Clergylady,
I own several oil & oil related stocks, so they may actually fair rather well. One oil related company I own went bankrupt with the low prices, so this could be good for some of us with investments in the oil patch.
Most of the non fuel related petrochemicals for plastics and pharmaceuticals have a long lead time and quite a lot of inventory, and are things we don’t usually consume on a daily basis like carpeting, so this short term blip will not likely affect those derivative markets.
We filled our propane at the lowest price we’ve paid in years and have at least a year’s supply on hand, so we only need to be concerned with gasoline prices and our budget can easily handle the estimated 10-25 cents per gallon increase, on top of Ohio’s additional 10.5 cent gasoline tax, with the total now at 28 cents per gallon.
Since our closest shopping is 6 miles one way and real shopping like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Kroger, Aldi’s, and others around 15 miles we already make lists and plan our trips for best use of the time and gas, so while it’s a PITA, this is unlikely to affect our lifestyle much, if at all.
I just spent a couple of hours getting my upstairs shelves, all organized and brought down all the 2019, food which was only cereal. My main pantry, is fine just because I’m in it at least two times a day, my Lazy Susan, is getting low so I will be putting any 2019 in the lazy Susan, from my pantry, I’ll start a list for my pantry to keep up while I shop. I have to pick my grapes, I will dehydrate most of them. Cut my old raspberries canes, out and going to put my plants to put into the green house. I’ve started getting my house ready for fall it’s nice to start changing over to Fall now.
Question. 1 &2 No and Oh gosh No…
Question 3 We have a few different options for lights, candles are my favorite, hubby is an electrical contractor, so he has all our lighting down.
mom of three,
You may say that now; but, next up. Changing over to Winter!!!!
Years ago I love skiing, cross country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling and even winter camping; however, at my current age, the best thing about winter is being retired so I can stay indoors by the fire. LOL
Picked up a box full of old bent but ok used candles. Going to melt them and reuse the wicks in new candles in glass containers. Mostly small drinking glasses from yardsales.
Picked enough green beans and Cherokee wax beans to can a few pints. May can a few pints of yellow squash as well. Not much from the garden this year. Couldn’t plant till the first week of June and first frost usually arrives by late September. Pick just enough corn to have it with dinner tonight. More ready soon. Probably just eat some every day for a little while. It’s just a tiny spot. Picked almost a dozen 3-4 inch across tomatoes. It looks to be a few days till more are ready. Might can a pint of tomatoes with the green beans and yellow squash. They can all pressure together Monday. I’ll be gone all day this Sunday. A friend just called, she and her son want a few yellow squash. We’ve been eating them nearly every day for a few weeks now. I may take her 4 ears of corn as well.
I bought more pasta mix meal sides. They keep well. I put them in 5 gallon fiber barrels with wooden tops. Use them as side tables in the living room. I cycle through them to keep newer food on hand. With a bit is meat and veggies added or on the side they make good meals. To nights meal is a large piece of chicken breast, cook it in a large skillet cut up and lightly brown pieces with restaurant style chicken bullion paste. Then prepare cornbread stuffing over it. On the side boil 4 small fresh ears of corn, drain, lightly butter and salt. 1 medium yellow squash cut in 1/8th inch slices steamed with a few green beans, lightly salted and a bit of real butter. Large meal but its our only meal today. Too busy!
I have canned chicken and canned veggies. So I can almost duplicate the meals from our cache. Simple good food. Quick and easy after a days work. Its hard to stand long at a time right now so I look for easy to prepare meals. I do miss an oven but we may soon have a better stove. I’ll enjoy that.
It’s raining and power is off on the commercial line to the well. My solar is on and we have lights in the midst of our dark community. I really sacrificed to get the solar. We’re the first in the area. Others are now asking about it. I love it. Winds decimated the first array. Insurance only paid $3,000 but I saved for nearly a year and did without electricity. Now it’s ground mounted and much larger with slightly more battery power. I’d like to add even more battery back up.
Clergylady,
I used to make candles and sold some; but, we avoided using glass, since it is breakable. What works well are milk cartons (remember them?), since they are a heavy cardboard with a wax (or plastic) coating, so they peel off easily when removing the molds. We purchase both orange juice and the DW’s LACTAID milk from Aldi’s in these old style cartons that can be used as molds to make large candles, or cut up and assembled into your own molds.
You can also make your own wicks by soaking cotton butchers cord in brine and then drying it. Larger wicks can be made by braiding the cord after it’s dry.
I still have at least a hundred pounds of paraffin blocks and will turn some into candles as a winter project
That sounds like our situation where we haven’t even gotten squash or corn this year and only a few smallish tomatoes. These wet springs have really been hard on all agriculture; but, at least I’m not trying to make a living with it like some of the local farmers.
I know a few friends who do something similar. An LDS friends stacks cases of #10 cans (6 per case on top of each other and covers with a towel or blanket to use as a work table. Hide in plain sight.
We also use those Knorr pasta sides, since they keep nearly forever in those Mylar packages and are perfect for a quick meal, as are the Bear Creek soup mixes.
We’ve used small scale solar for quite a while with battery chargers and some outdoor lighting. We have a backup generator and are just starting to experiment with large scale solar.
In some ways we all sacrifice to live this more prepared lifestyle.
While we’ve never done without real necessities, we have different priorities than most, and are better for it,
Our whole house generator and propane tank farm set us back a total of about $12,000.00 over a 20 year period; but, we’re never without power and the propane we use for all heating & cooking, cost us only $1.09 per gallon with about 7 cents of that cost in sales tax. Our recent summer fill was 1423 gallons, and that accounts for all heating, cooking, and generator operation for the past year. Once you’ve paid off the systems, they make life overall less expensive and more secure.
Since we’re just now experimenting with large scale solar, what we’ve done for battery backup up to now, are purchase computer UPS units when on sale. They contain a battery charger, batteries, and an inverter and operate as a self contained, stand alone system.
We have one on each satellite receiver and TV (2 total) as well as each of the computers (4 total) and a large one for my ham radio equipment.
We also have lamps with LED bulbs plugged into a few so those lamps don’t even flicker on a power interruption.
From my perspective, managing and maintaining a lot of smaller battery banks is overall easier than one large one; but, that’s an individual choice we must all make.
Snakes… Used to have a lot of prarrie rattles on my property when I got it in 1981. There was an old hand dug well on a neighboring property that was writhing with snakes. When a new owner fill the well with dirt it really cut down how many we see here. I saw one sunning in my back yard this year. First on in 3 or 4 years. I have cats to keep the rat and mice population under control as they love the grain we have for the ducks and chickens, and pellets for the rabbits. I feed a dozen cats and kittens. Excess cats find new homes around the neighborhood or feed predators here. Cats are good hunters and snakes don’t like cats. Kittens are cute.
PS. I have eaten rattle snake. I’d have to be hungry but it’s ok. I just dropped one in a campfire and ate it later.
Clergylady,
I too have eaten rattle snake.
I was about 15 or 16 at Boy Scout camp in the Appalachian mountains of western PA, wearing the classic shorts and knee socks when one struck at me and our small group. It missed; but, boy scouts with hand axes on their belts, looking for something to do, made short work of the critter, first pinning its head down with a long stick.
We cut off the head and then field dressed (peeled and gutted) it and roasted the carcass on a stick over a fire.
The head was then carefully placed into the fire.
As I recall, it did actually taste a lot like chicken. LOL
Good Evening Folks,
Busy day for me as I went to a family reunion today. Lots of hard work, eating all that food & dessert, but someone has to do it.
On to Tara’s questions, haven’t seen snakes in awhile, which is ok by me. Went camping couple weeks ago, and coyotes seem to be a problem in the area now. Have tried rattlesnake, but like most, I’d have to deal with trapping and eating snakes if and when it came down to it! I have lots of alternative light sources I could use if/when needed.
Did do much prepping this week. Been pressure washing house and deck. Painted deck. Took a load of trash to dump, and have done some fall decorating. Now if the weather would just cool a little bit (and humidity go away, it would feel more like fall). Painting kitchen and. Dining room and about to have carpet taken up, and have hardwoods redone.
Have a great week everyone. Stay safe!
HI to all Pack Members.
Re: Tara’s Q’s. We do not have a lack of snakes, not issue in this county. We have seen non poison ones here, but nothing poison in our location now.. 4 miles away in area with ponds and lakes, water in every direction there are 2 kinds of Rattlers, copperheads and cotton mouth…. copperheads and cottonmouth are aggressive and territorial in certain seasons. Several lakes have heavy infestations of large specimens, which would make good big steak, once skinned and cut crosswise across the back, kinda like pork chops…Tastes like chicken…(ate some 34 years ago, was hungry., soaked in vinegar and salt,battered,deep fried..).When a large- 2.5-4 inch diameter snake is cut this way it is less noticeable for the squemish.
One ONCE tried to prevent us from crossing a roadbed about 24 ft wide. We tried to go to far side and leave him be, but he would have none of it, it put our animals in jeopardy, was a bad decision. He did not succeed.
We do not have any active plan to TRAP any snake. It is in fact illegal to kill any snake in our state unless your life or your animals are in danger. Making a snake mad taints the meat, so any snake we need for meat will be taken from as great a distance as is possible with any devise we are using.
Lighting. have candles, coal oil lamps , oil and kerosene, battery powered lamps,and flashlights, few solar lights that are rechargeable.several tools to light all of the above.
We did a rotation of several boxes of goods this week. a variety of foods and a few seed have been ordered for some dual use medicinal and food herbs. Things we did not have on this property but desire. Have begun with the deep clean of chicken run, after hauling 2 loads of pine sawdust.
Native grasses crabgrass and fescue,12-18 inches high cut and have been raking and drying and putting away for use as hay this winter for small animals. With this being first year for rabbits, hard to evaluate how much we need. We should have at least one more cutting.Has not rained so will need to finish this chore tomoro evening. We have a couple more options we need to check for deep winter dry forage… so still working on evaluation of other options for “free foods” ( non commercial)options.. Anything unfit for animals will make it’s way into new compost. Sage grass will also be harvested for nesting material for the chickens/run, after frost
Have done a check on sweetpotatoes. increased watering on those as many small tubers are present… removed enough for a taste test after they are properly seasoned. The rabbits are slowly accepting the sweetpotatoes vines/extra leaves as good feed,( rule is to not pull any more than 1/3 leaf material. They sure love the wild lettuce, which is almost depleted.
Anonamo Also
Do you actually have coal oil for the lamps?
I was just wondering, since they only sell kerosene around here, which is of course the same product refined from liquid petroleum instead of cannel coal.
Your term could also just be a local colloquialism for that type of lamp.
Enquiring minds want to know. LOL
TOP, It is a local expression for the type of lamp. I have some kerosene, some labeled “Lamp oil” ‘s and another oil that is different,..,not food grade.(plus a small amount of old ,unused,cooking oils reserved for lamp use). Does not come in labeled jug bought some time back,from station,w/ crank dispenser—??? Your guess is good as mine. could be either,Does not mtter to me as long as it burns to make light….I do not mix fuels. Lamps are full.
Anonamo Also,
That’s what I figured. I’ve been using these kinds of lamps for more than 50 years and heard them called: ”Coal Oil”, “Kerosene”, “Hurricane”, and just plain, “Oil lamps”.
They are OK; but, I really prefer the Aladdin mantle lamps, that use the same fuels, and are a lot brighter, similar to their newer Coleman cousins.
That other oil like the lamp oil could be paraffin oil or mineral oil, since any oil can be burned for light and heat.
That is probably Kerosene with its yellow tint from the sulfur in it, since the newer version of Kerosene, called K1 is the same oil with the sulfur filtered out to allow it to burn cleaner.
I agree with not really caring, except kerosene with the sulfur can have an odor and makes some people ill.
I can mix some fuels; but, you need to know their volatility and not mix the wrong ones, so it’s best not to mix without knowing and understanding that information.
For instance putting lamp oil in a pressurized Coleman mantle lantern will not work, while putting Coleman (unleaded gasoline with no ethanol) fuel in a wick type lantern can be a fire or explosion hazard.
-i have a wagon a uncleaned wheat for seed. i think i’m going to grab a few short buckets, with OP’s help. and put them away for sstorage, before i clean and treat it.
– just came back from western PA, looking at bred angus crosses. we may take a few in for trade.
-new tractor may arrive today. i’m thinking, we will start cutting the next round of hay today also. ohio should expect mostly 2 cuttings of alfalfa . grass hay, maybe you can squeeze in 3. ohio will have a severa hay and corn shortage this year.
– be sure to watch this vidio and be advised. look into 80%’s , the ballons going to pop soon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnIUnlC7UE
-starting to think about picking up a new sleeping bag, probably going to be a wiggies 20 or 30 degree.
-changed the needle bearing and sprocket for chain saw and greased the needle. i need another few gas line spares.
-picked up some rough cut oak for a hay wagon from the amish.
-helped OP cut a walnut down. just been busy
1 i hate snakes. i don’t mess with snakes. i’m sure we have plenty of snakes , i do see gartners. for the most part . we don’t have poisonous snakes in central ohio. if i do see a snake. it is made dead.
i have noticed increased grass hoppers numbers. like alot. when mowing hay. flies and horse flies and i think the drone flies are way down. i did see the mass migration of dragon flies. a few days ago.
2 nope, no mess with snek.
3 candles a few oil lanterns. i just picked up a bees wax mold, in the shape of a skep. i have my beloved coleman gas light. so i need to get more mantles and white gas.
BLACK,
As always let me know what you need; but, you might want to at least clean it before packing in buckets.
I knew you were going and will be interested in hearing about the trip.
I know. By now we would have normally had a lot of sweet corn dropped off by the BIL and the nephew and although I haven’t looked at their fields, most are looking pretty sad.
I think the ball is going nowhere, since the people trying to drop it are in a circular firing squad and should they win, will I suspect simply be ignored.
I was going to suggest you look at the MMSS instead of the Wiggy’s; but, my source for them seems to have only a few components left and not the entire kit. I have two complete sets and they are pretty great.
I need to go through some of that for babycatcher and then we need to split it up to dry for firewood.
If you don’t have one of the atomic bean lanterns, let me know since I have extras and you can have one. My last batch was from Aldi’s lollygag aisle where I got 2 for $10.00. They run for quite a while on 3 AA batteries.
I think someone needs to Photoshop Democrats wearing RED COATS…..LOL
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DtYBfEdybSY
Californian conservatives, you need to get one of these….
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jhxbL-bPPPA
That would be funny.
Arthritis and tendonitis in one shoulder has resulted in a new restriction for work and a change in one long term idea. The tendonitis may or may not go away but the arthritis is here to stay so long term travel in a bus or trailer probably isn’t going to happen.
Spent Saturday morning helping to direct travel during a local festival parade. The number of people who insisted that they drive down a closed barricaded street was sad. Our major potential disaster will be earthquake/tsunami and I can see people surviving only to die because they can’t follow simple directions.
Realtor wants to take pictures on Wednesday so have to get busy.
Hi everyone,
Worked OT yesterday, took a sinus pill and slept in today… Boy, times flys…
Not much prepping this week.
Received Elderberries, waterBob, Melaleuca products (I love their stuff), new sneakers.
WM – toothpaste, cat food, cat litter, Ninja food processing system on clearance, adjustable bungee cords, foam window cleaner to try out.
Kroger – 2 boxes of my favorite cracker… Trisket Rosemary and Olive Oil, and original with sea salt (lip smacking good with slices of colby cheese), bottled coca-cola, lunchables, colby cheese and a few other items.
Searching for another vehicle. Really need a smaller SUV of some sort since we do get snow sometimes. Prefer Toyota or Honda, but they are higher priced for a good reason. My car’s transmission is on it’s last leg. At 190,000 miles, and at the cost of $3000 for one from a wrecked vehicle that has low mileage, it’s not worth it. It also time for new struts, rotors, brakes, probably calipers and other “wheel” things and it looks like it just started leaking a little oil. Tires are not that old… Want to find a car I can pay cash for… We will see, and it certainly won’t be new. Cars are outrageously priced.
Working on making refrigerator “pickles” today with zucchini, yellow squash and onions. Will be bartering some later in the month.
Have a great week everyone. Prayers for healing, unspoken requests, for The President, his family, and for America.
Hi All,
I hope everyone is doing well. This week I helped to organize humanitarian aid to Abaco. I have a friend who has chartered a boat to bring supplies to folks in need. Our effort made the local paper. My friend is planning several additional trips to Abaco. I have started a toy/school supply drive. I really feel happiest when I am helping others. I am in a position to have my college and the whole community to help. I just need to coordinate.
1 nope, if anything i have seen a hugeincrease in them, unfortunatly they are all garter snakes, and a very rare milk snake, thats all we got up north
2 considered it but they are too small to be bothering with, probably could if i really had to
3 already live off grid, lots of solar power, but alsohave kerosine lampsand lots of candles as backup
4 sold a little firewood, had more lumber milled, bought 600 rounds of ammo, and 100 lbs of groceries (rode to town with heavy pack on while biking, got 130lbs of stuff, ammo was 30lbs, pack was 3 feet wide with all the extra bags on it, also wore 5lb weight on each foot and a 2.5 lb weight on each wrist, got a 20lb weighted vest for walking, i am in better shape than most and outperform the amish when working alongside them when it comes to endurance). picked up $300 worth of chicken feed, getting cattle ready to goto auction for this week. otherwise not much done. running low on funds, going to try building 2 hunting blind shelter type sheds to sell, rode out to the wifi hotspot today to list a diferent shed for sale on craigslist. also experimenting with powdered whip cream, its a powdered thing at the menonte store, been picking lots of apples and wanted whip cream but have no refrigeration, making pies. the whipped topping is made to be used with milk but i am using powdered milk. probably making another pie today, have over 100 heavily loaded apple trees, and got a 4 point buck eating the drops every morning with a group of does, morning sun blinds them from seeing me come from the cabin and they are upwind of me, i get within 50 feet walking casually and they still don’t notice me because of the sun. just waiting for season to start it will be so easy.
nemo setos questions
have you looked into shelf stable luxuries like whip cream?
have you establised any fruit trees?
do you have a good fitness routine or considered ways to make any regular chore more of a workout to stay in shape?
Nemoseto,
I could have probably kept pace with you 30-40 years ago; but, certainly not now.
Back then I walked to the local grocery with a rucksack or frame pack and often had people ask me if I had a car. I did; but, used the trip for exercise, often to the confusion of those asking. It also saved fuel as well as wear & tear on the vehicle.
Nemoseto’s questions
1. have you looked into shelf stable luxuries like whip cream?
Not whipped cream; but, I will be. We do have powdered peanut butter and some kinds of hard chocolate; but, I prefer things like maple syrup on and in everything, so I can make my own.
2. have you establised any fruit trees?
Yes; but, they are not doing well and the old ones are finally tapped out. We still have berries, some crab apples, and sugar maple trees to tap.
3. do you have a good fitness routine or considered ways to make any regular chore more of a workout to stay in shape?
At my age everything physical is a chore. LOL I do however have dumbbells I work with to exhaustion every even day of the month and since my office is upstairs (14 steps) I’m up and down those many times per day. We also go to the local wellness center (gym) a few times per week.
My biggest weakness is my arm strength that I’m working hard to get back. That month in the hospital back in Jan-Fed 2015 took its toll on my arms more than anything and I’m still recovering.
nemo setos questions
have you looked into shelf stable luxuries like whip cream? Yep. After the basics we branched out into spices, sauces, redi-whip, M&M’s, syrup, …
have you establised any fruit trees? No.
do you have a good fitness routine or considered ways to make any regular chore more of a workout to stay in shape? No.
Nem’s questions:
1.have you looked into shelf stable luxuries like whip cream? Freeze dried fruit, canned cheese and butter.
2.have you establised any fruit trees? Apple, pear,peach,plum,nectarine, avocado and lemon.
3.do you have a good fitness routine or considered ways to make any regular chore more of a workout to stay in shape? Definitely, cross training ,weight lifting, pushups, pull ups, heavy bag and speed bag , ab machine, treadmill, exercise bike and real bike, walking and playing with puppy, stair stepper, hiking,chopping wood.
Nem,don’t over do but remember, more reps light weight for lean muscle. Heavier weights fewer reps for growing muscle.
Also, milk and whey protein immediately after workouts.
Preacher type curls are best for focussing on biceps. Pushups are great for chest biceps and even losing weight, believe it or not.
Pretty dead quite on the home front. Working on getting the Church Fall Festival ready to go in October followed by the Trick or Treat village later in October and then the Christmas parade in December. All involve working on games and getting huge amounts of candy to give our as prizes and to toss at people at we walk in the parade. Found a great deal on Amazon for 31 pounds of individually wrapper peppermints for 93 dollars with free shipping. That will come in week after next.
This weekend we are driving down to Jacksonville to catch a cruise ship out of JaxPort on Monday for a 5 day cruise to Nassau and Cade’s Cove. Those places were missed by the storm but Grand Bahamas is really sad. Seems if they had anything stored up it got blown away. Anyway, we are off on a much needed week long vacation away from the office, phones and work in general.
Sad thing is they won’t let me take an HF rig on board the ship. I could string some long wires or dipoles and work the world with a floating QTH, but guess that won’t be happening.
Hope yall all have a good and safe week. It is still hotter than blue blazes here in Georgia with very little to no rain in sight.
Keep praying, keep prepping, keep smiling so everyone wonders what you are up to.
Hi Cliff. Like that last phrase:
Keep praying, keep prepping, keep smiling so everyone wonders what you’re up to. 🙂
Have a wonderful trip.
LOL
https://assets.infowars.com/2019/09/262452_image.jpg
Did you hear about the AR & AK gun sales up and if you use promotion # BETO you get a discount?
I realize that, at least in prepper circles, product expiration dates are somewhat debatable, but I can tell you, check the dates on your cooking oil, especially canola oil. I had a friend over for dinner Saturday night and made fried chicken livers, which we both love, and to me they definitely tasted “off” (though she raved, but then I expect she would). Turns out the canola oil I used was about six months out of date. Found another bottle in the pantry that was also out of date and smelled “off.” I have a third bottle that is still within date range, so will try to use it up as soon as possible. Maybe refrigeration or freezing would extend the life. No adverse effects other than the usual, ahem, gastric flux I get when eating fried food, but the flavor was definitely not up to par.
TwoShoes,
I also love chicken liver (and gizzards) and beef liver when cooked appropriately with onions.
That’s why we only store oils in the pantry in cool weather, so it will depend a little on where you live.
Long term we store unprocessed oils like olive in the freezer and store all cooking oils in the fridge, especially after opening. Once opened and allowing air (oxygen) into the container, the oil will begin to oxidize and eventually turn rancid.
You can however, use even stale or rancid oil for fuel, in at least a jar candle for lighting and a little heat.