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Quick Health Update: I had my doctor’s appointment last week and the doctor explained the reasoning for them wanting an MRI. No surprises – they want to verify the cause: cancer? cyst? blunt trauma? bacterial infection? Based on the cause then they will direct treatment. I am waiting on a call to have either an MRI scheduled in Lewiston, Maine which is a very open MRI that I should not have a problem with, or more local in Bangor where I will be sedated.

Should get a call early this week.

On a positive note, I feel like my enlarged spleen has shrunk to some extent over the last week. I simply do not feel it like I was and have had zero pain. So – it’s a positive change.

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There’s something I can’t help myself from buying every time I walk into Walmart. It’s not the best but I feel like I can’t have too much and the price is decent. These are small so I keep them in a few places in my truck, in shooting bags, kits, etc. It’s become a habit now.

What am I talking about? Rem-oil!

I’ve got a few dozen of these little bottles of Rem Oil and just keep picking them up. Speaking of gun oil I’ve been working on creating my own concoction for firearm lubrication. Will be testing once the weather gets a little better. The reality is gun oil is insanely expensive. Calculate the price per gallon.

Even Rem Oil is like $160 a gallon. Nuts!!

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This year we are putting in quite a few galvanized raised beds in the garden. We’ve ordered a combination of 4′, 6′, and 8′ versions. So, looking forward to seeing the results of using these. They are 12″ deep so plenty of root-growing space. We’ll be putting together a combination of compost and what is locally called “SuperSoil” which is delivered in truckload quantities. Several weeks before we put anything in the ground.

The last order I placed for the 6′ versions should be arriving later this week. Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://amzn.to/43jW1DC

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We regularly purchase canned meat as the vast majority of our long-term food stores are low in protein. Over the years I’ve heard of Keystone canned meats. I’ve lived in a few places over the years and although I may have missed them I’ve yet to see them on the shelf. Maybe eventually I’ll find a good source as they seem to be an excellent choice to add to the pantry.

What canned meats do we store now? There are various brands, however, we focus on canned chicken and beef. I’ve got some SPAM and the different flavors they offer. I recently saw some ham, chicken, and turkey in mylar pouches. These have an extended shelf life and would be great in a bug-out bag or survival kit.

Now that I’m thinking about it – now would be a good time to step it up a notch.

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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.

Rourke

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The other night I headed out in the evening to run a couple of errands and saw an owl sitting in a tree along the driveway. Absolutely beautiful creature and the photo just doesn’t do it justice.

I sat in my truck and watched this owl for about 10 minutes. I moved along to complete what I set out to do. The owl sat on that branch and continued to wait for its prey.

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I received the fantastic photo below. Someone bought a bunch of the Sawyer Mini Water Filter Bucket Conversion Kits. These were taken to a village in Kenya that struggles daily to find clean water. These bucket conversion kits were hooked up and now the village and its inhabitants can drink clean water and live a much healthier life.

I told the woman who ordered the bucket kits from me that I’d donate some on their next trip.

While the vast majority of us have an unlimited supply of clean water where we live, hearing of these situations can hit home and reminds us that if modern services go down we may be in the same situation as those in that village.

Multiple contingencies to acquire clean water are a priority in any preparedness system.

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I watched a good amount of coverage in the Fani Willis disqualification hearings. What was extremely clear is the number of people in public service – especially in large cities – that are not remotely close to being qualified to be in their position. These people obtain positions of authority and power due to the color of their skin and the ability to perform favors.

This is the state of government today. Pathetic.

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Over the past few days, the temp here in Maine rose upwards of 50 degrees. This is abnormally high and has many out buying gardening supplies. I felt the urge myself to start doing a few things out on the homestead, but, I realize that even in early March there is a lot of Winter left here in Maine. We could get a foot of snow next week. Never know.

Oh……well, here we go……

OK – the long-range forecast is suggesting upwards of 8″+ in a week.

We’ll see.

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There are countless people out there who have purchased ARs chambered in .223/5.56mm and fail to understand the true capability of the weapon. I’ve said many times before I sight my AR’s in at 50 yards. This makes a 50-yard zero and also a 225-yard zero – give or take. Barrel length and specific load certainly make a difference. I’ll also say that I do not see me targeting beyond 100-150 yards. If a target is well beyond that it is likely not a threat based on my personal geographic area.

This makes things fairly simple as an AR zeroed at 50 yards is mostly spot on at any range I may target.

An inch high or an inch low isn’t going to make any difference.

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I had put together an AR-10 in .308 Winchester several months ago. It needs a magnified optic as well as open sights. Well, I picked up these open sights and so far they seem solid. What I look for with AR sights are a rugged peep sight in the rear that flips out of the way and a rugged post in the front that also flips out of they. Metal is preferred, however, I have some polymer Magpul versions on a few of my rifles.

Check them out here – – – > LINK TO AWESOME AR SIGHTS HERE

These seem like they will work just fine. I’ll report back once I have more experience with them.

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The insanity continues…….

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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.

Rourke

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Sharpening an ax with a puck stone is a practical skill for any woodsman. “Puck Stone”? Well – that’s what I call them due to their similar size compared to a hockey puck. Over the past several months I have chopped a lot of wood and sharpened my ax several times. A bit strange at first as it was a new skill. What’s that saying? Practice makes perfect? I don’t know about perfect but what follows is my method for sharpening an ax with a puck stone.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you effectively sharpen your ax:

Materials Needed:

1. Ax
2. Puck stone (also known as a sharpening puck)
3. Honing oil or water (depending on the type of puck stone)
4. Towel or cloth

Step 1: Clean the Ax Wipe off any dirt or debris from the ax blade using a towel or cloth. A clean surface makes the sharpening process more efficient.

Step 2: Choose the Right Puck Stone Select a puck stone appropriate for ax sharpening. Some stones require water for lubrication, while others use honing oil. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific puck stone.

Step 3: Lubricate the Puck Stone If using a water stone, soak it in water for the recommended time. If using an oil stone, apply a few drops of honing oil to the stone’s surface.

Step 4: Secure the Ax Place the ax on a stable surface, such as a workbench or a stump, with the blade securely held in place. This ensures stability during the sharpening process.

Step 5: Determine the Ax Bevel Angle Identify the existing bevel angle of your ax blade. Most axes have a bevel angle between 20 and 30 degrees. Match the angle when sharpening to maintain the original edge.

Step 6: Start Sharpening Hold the puck stone with one hand and the ax handle with the other. Place the puck stone on the ax blade at the determined bevel angle. Move the puck stone in a circular or figure-eight motion across the entire blade. Apply consistent pressure. Be aware if your hand comes in contact with the blade you can be cut. Be careful!!!!

Step 7: Work on Both Sides Alternate between sides regularly to ensure an even edge. Continue sharpening until you feel a slight burr on the opposite side of the blade.

Step 8: Remove the Burr Switch to the other side of the ax and repeat the sharpening process until a burr forms. Then, remove the burr by lightly honing the blade’s edge on the puck stone.

Step 9: Test the Sharpness Carefully feel the edge with your fingertips to check for sharpness. If it feels sharp and smooth, you’ve successfully sharpened your ax.

Step 10: Clean the Ax Again Wipe off any metal particles or residue from the ax blade using a cloth. This ensures a clean tool for future use.

There is no need to sharpen an ax until you can shave with it. Well – that might be a stretch. In fact, a razor-sharp ax is typically more brittle and will dull faster than an ax with a strong, sharp edge. Regularly sharpening your ax will keep it functioning the way it should and save you swings.

Less swings are good, right?

Rourke

Seeds are at the Dollar Tree now – 4 packs for $1.00. Over the years I’ve used these seeds many times with no issues. Many varieties are heirlooms. When I lived down South early April was when I began putting seeds in the ground. Here in Maine, there are a few crops that can be planted in mid-April but the majority will have to wait until May.

So much work to do and very much. looking forward to it. Establishing a maximum-producing garden is a huge priority for our preparedness system.

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I watched the first episode of the new Walking Dead series – The Ones Who Live. I’me really impressed. It had me wanting more and when I went to the episodes to watch the next one on the AMC app – NOTHING!! I’m guessing I’ll have to wait until next week.
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Newest Printable Digital Guide – Available Now

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Anyone ever tried Turkey SPAM?

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The national debt is almost at $34.5 trillion, we continue to send millions of dollars to Ukraine and Israel, ignore the Southern border, target political opponents via a corrupt criminal justice system, overtax citizens, and mothers are now called “birthing parents”.

The insanity continues.

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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.

Rourke

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Hello all! Hope everyone’s week has started off well. Tonight it’s going to drop to around 6 degrees here in Maine. It’s been a very easy winter as far as snow goes. Currently, the forecast is calling for some snow on Friday and Saturday but a lot can happen between now and then.

We shall see.

I recently picked up a partial cord of wood from https://www.youtube.com/@woodtimesinthe207

I didn’t need the wood, but, like ammunition, if you have a wood stove you simply can’t have too much. I’m so glad I connected with “207” as he’s a great guy and provides a fantastic product. All the wood I got tested out at between 10-14% moisture and was extremely uniform in size. I’m going to reach out to pick up another load soon.

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Maine Prepper Girl and I enjoy going to antique shops and estate sales. At a recent estate sale, I came across an old Coleman lantern pictured above. It mounts atop a standard 1-pound propane canister and shines extremely bright. As part of our grid-down preps and combined with redundancy with battery-operated lanterns and candles it alone can light up the entire cabin.

I ended up ordering two more identical lanterns off eBay and picked up a bunch of the mantels for them. Over the coming summer, we will stock up on 1-pound propane cannisters for the following winter. Now – these are not only winter items. Light is needed all times of the year.

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Communication is a part of preparedness that is largely overlooked, but, at the same time over emphasized. Yeah, doesn’t make sense I know. The bottom line is I place a great emphasis on “local” communications. I’m talking short-range. From our property, I’d like to set up a communications system that can reach out close to a 5-mile diameter. This means from one side to another – 10 miles total. I own a GMRS repeater that has NOT been installed. I have a 2-meter base station and need to mount an antenna as high as possible to reach mobile units as far as possible.

Come Spring there is a lot of work to do. November 2024 is our target date to get so much accomplished – and to be as ready as possible for what may await us.
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My local Tractor Supply just got in a huge variety of plants, and seeds, and is getting set up for baby chicks. MPG and I are planning to get a chicken coop and caging in an area for them. We are looking at adding additional blueberry bushes and also planting several apple trees.

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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.

Rourke

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Here in Maine as I type this it’s around 24 degrees and there is still quite a bit of winter left. At any time we could get a foot or snow – give or take. With this being the case many of the local businesses are beginning to stock Spring supplies such as gardening and canning goods. Even the local Dollar Tree has gotten in the game and has seeds – 4/$1.00.

Heirloom, non-GMO seeds are available even at the Dollar Tree for the cheap. Simply look at the individual seed varieties and verify.  Want a list of commonly available heirloom seeds? I created THIS LIST several years ago and you can use it to save some money.

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Continuing with the “gardening” talk there is so much to do here on the homestead. Maine Prepper Girl and I have a long list of things to accomplish and add to the property. Chickens is a huge priority that we failed to get last year. This year? Absolutely and it’s right around the corner. The garden was mediocre at best in 2023 and will be completely revamped this year. I spent nearly 20 years gardening in South Carolina and new the land and seasons extremely well. Here in Maine? We are learning.

Raised beds and container gardening are becoming a larger part of our efforts. The reason is simple: We can control the garden and spend less time tending to weeds. As Maine Prepper Girl and I both work full-time (for now) this is a big advantage.

So many plans to make the property as self-sufficient as possible. 2024 is such an important year as we both believe some extremely difficult times are close at hand. Producing our own food is just one part of our plans for the homestead and being able to deal with what the future holds.

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I posted this video recently on a couple of social media platforms and decided to share the Youtube version here as I know some do not have Instagram among others: got hot chocolate?

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So a bit of a change here on 1776 – I’m going to start scheduling all posts for 5 pm Eastern Standard Time. Why? Well…..the research says most people simply don’t have the time during the day to focus on frivolous information and content as most are working and only have a few minutes here and there. While I certainly think what I say is much more important than anything you may deal with at work(even if it is related to nuclear secrets and brain surgery) posting in the evening is supposed to provide the maximum opportunity for people to check out my magnificent words.

Anyways……something like that.

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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.

Rourke

“Life happens” is a frequent saying and is very true. My publishing schedule has been anything but consistent. Good intentions mean nothing. I’m working on that. I changed jobs a few months ago and my commute to and from work is much more than I expected. 1 hour to get there each morning, and around 1.5 hours to get home depending on traffic and weather. As you can imagine during a snowstorm everything slows. A couple of weeks ago I spent over 2 hours getting home during one such storm.

It is what it is and I’m thankful to have this job as the region doesn’t have a great demand for my professional expertise.

So – It’s time to get back on track, especially with the shitstorm going on all around us. If there was ever a time for you and I to be in contact more often it’s now. One thing I would ask of all of you if you could: When I publish something that is of interest – please share it with friends, family, and like-minded people. I’m doing my best to spread the word about preparedness and self-reliance across numerous social media platforms. I could use all the help I can get. Thx.

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During a recent trip to Walmart, I saw they were bringing out all the Springtime supplies. Kinda crazy to do that here as we have a lot of winter left. They have displays of seeds, seed starting kits, outdoor tools, and lots of canning supplies. I had seen someone I follow on YouTube report that their local Walmarts has an above-average amount of canning supplies scattered throughout the store. She thought that Walmart was predicting a large influx of people who were going to get into canning that normally were not involved in the activity.

At my own local Walmart, they have a couple of end-caps of canning jars, and the main area where they normally keep canning supplies is maxed out. Does this suggest that the upper management team at Walmart knows there is going to be severe economic trouble and that supplies will be in high demand?

I think they simply monitor and see trends in product demands. Canning and gardening are on an upward trend. It makes sense they would increase the supply level they have in the store to meet an increased demand from consumers.

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A recent trip to Sam’s Club showed that 25-pound bags of rice are available for $12.98. While this is a 30% increase from just a few years ago it still represents what is the most affordable means to store calories.

If you have not secured a substantial food supply NOW is the time to do so.

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I’d written about our woodstove several months ago and the issue with it smoking more than we thought it should. Well, over the past several weeks we’ve fine-tuned the operation and now have no problem. In fact, this thing is absolutely fantastic in keeping the cabin toasty even in sub-zero temperatures.

We use propane for most of our heating, however, when the temps drop in the low 20s and below the woodstove is called in to handle the heating responsibilities.

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Stay safe all and please…..keep preparing.

Rourke