What a week.
Congress continued to debate gun control measures – none of which would have prevented the Orlando terrorist attack to begin with. This entire gun control debate and the influx of citizens speaking in favor of action toward gun restrictions really shows a problem. It’s a problem with a low information populace and one which has lost the historical understanding of the US Constitution and what has made this country great.
It’s a real shame.
There continues to be a growing number of people who believe if Hillary wins in November that will be the tipping point. They believe that the best course of action will be to go “gray”. Basically they will go underground and blend in with everyone else. Maybe they cancel their Facebook account – the very same one which they promoted Patriotism and Conservative beliefs. Maybe they take down the American flag hanging outside their house. Most certainly the “Don’t Tread on Me” sticker will be removed from the car. Blending in and not attracting any attention to themselves would be the norm. Possibly take action in a different manner to support their Constitutional and Liberty-minded beliefs? Maybe.
I’m going off on a tangent here.
Beyond the gun control talk – Brexit happened and both US and foreign stock markets took a dive. Financial markets are waiting in anticipation for Monday to see what will happen. I suspect we are in for a bumpy ride as other countries look to exit the EU.
My preps this week:
- Took advantage of some local area sales and special coupons and stocked up on 5.56, 9mm, 22LR, and magazines.
- Downloaded a variety of preparedness-related magazines off the internet.
- Bought some spare AR buffer spring detent springs and detents. Those things can go flying!!
- Picked up another Pocket Fisherman. These things are awesome and perfect for use in a kayak or small boat.
- Just received back my Century Arms RAS47. It had to be sent back to the factory for repair(front sight cantered). Went and sighted it in. Love this thing.
- Working on a budget for the next year. Critical thing to get financial house in order.
I think that is about it.
So – what have you done this past week?
JR
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This week in prepping – bought from a neighbor, who is retiring and downsizing, a Honda Power 2000W Portable Generator $500 brand new, sealed in original box!!! Runs great. He threw in a case of oil he bought for it and 2 5 gallon cans. Picked up 223, 9mm, .22 and some .22 WMR.
Just thinking out loud here, how could any thinking person even consider Hillary……..
– I’ve answered my own question, they aren’t thinking!!! Keep Looking UP
Awesome deal JBernDrApt on that Hinda. WOuld love to have one of them.
Question? I put some gas in and ran it until almost empty. Gas treated with Sta-Bil. Anyone have experience, should I run it dry? leave some in it? Any recommendations?
Got lucky Rourke – he was standing staring in his garage, I walked over and he said he was retiring this month and selling and needing to downsize. I said you keeping the generator, he said thought he’d sell it. I offered, he accepted. At the right place at the right time!
That’s a neck of a deal for a Honda genny. I find it works best if you fill the tank up with gas mixed with Sea Foam stabilizer, run it for a minute (to fill the lines with stabilized gas) and then top the tank off with more Sea Foam (if you think it’s not going to be used for some time). Doing this helps prevent moisture from forming inside the tank and lines (especially helpful if you live in a area where temperature and humidity fluctuates often). Doing this also keeps the system ready for use at a moment’s notice. Good luck.
Thanks, I’ll give it a try.
Did a lot of topping off Fri even/Sat of gas/propane after market adjustments. Added to the personal hygiene shelf – deodorant, razor blades, soap bars, stuff to make homemade laundry detergent, picked up some 10% permethrin solution from TSC to make flea/tick spray instead of paying $$ for retail stuff, another sawyer mini filter, assembled a basic carbon water filter from spare parts at work to use on outside faucet to fill bottles or potable water barrels (lately have had very strong chlorine and a pink tinge to city water) quickly, rescued a 6qt dutch oven and two 25ft drinking water hoses from neighbors trash, ordered a Edge Pro Apex clone knife sharpener. Then had to replant the bush beans, sugar peas and beets – tried using seed from 2011 and less then 1/8th actually sprouted. The summer & butter nut squash sprouted fine. Looking to put the 308 CETME on the market to trade toward a AR pistol or carbine this coming week.
Good week jh! Your list has my brain working as I recently filled several propane tanks but have 3 left which need to be filled/exchanged. Will take care of it today. Thanks for the reminder!
I’ve wanted to put together my own water filter as you described. Need to get on that.
Thanks for the info on the seed.
JH, a tad pricy but we use Frontline on the little dogs and Seresto collars for the big dogs. Of course the wife has proclaimed we live in the flea and tick capitol of the universe and sadly chronic wasting disease is in almost all of the deer and elk – and. ’tis true about us living in that great flea and tick nexus.
If you purchase an AR pistol, have a look at the 100 round Beta magazines. Awesome awesome with the pistol.
We have turnips by the thousands this year. I really got carried away. Turnips and cabbage – reminds me of East Germany back in the bad ole days. Peasants love these two staples for their long growing season. The DDR reeked of turnip and cabbage.
PR
JH, I remember reading ALAS BABYLON when it was a new release. In this book, the central character discovers his grandfather’s (or perhaps father’s) straight razor and can finally shave. I latched onto both my grandfather’s and father’s straight razors when they died. I have the grandfather’s strop but really need to buy one new. I’ve tried using the razors and after looking like I clashed with a Wilkinson sword fighter, finally learned the best technique is a warm and moist beard fresh from the shower. The only safety razors we stock now are for surgical use (to remove hair adjacent to a wound) and even a straight razor would do the same.
Continuing in the tonsorial vein, I have stocked several sets of quality barber scissors along with tortoise shell combs, and a set of nickel plated hand powered hair clippers (from the DDR no less).
Of knife sharpener devices we have no end. Ceramic to Arkansas hard stones, rotary water bath, and even a long belt stationary sander (useful for the removal method of knife making). Of this genre, Burr King are the best.
Our squash are growing like weeds as well.
PR
I never thought of grooming to that extent! I am going to look into barber shears, etc.
This week, obtained a Lan Cay bayonet, and a surplus USMC current issue Ontario. The Marine bayonet is really nice.
Also obtained a C-More sight for about half price.
We, too, have to look at our household budgeting. Our pup had surgery this week to the tune of 4200,00. It looks like the next step is going to be chemo or radiation, maybe both. it will not be cheap, and it will definitely be tilting the bullets/beans/cancer scale a bit.
I almost forgot…. scored a slightly used tiny gerber tool for under 5.00 shipped, and an old carbons steel Old Timer dual bladed folding hunter for 20 clams shipped. I have wanted one of those forever. it will make a good lower-profile large knife.
Sorry to hear about your dog. I would spare no expense on mine – they are family.
Thanks for the kind words. We are pretty much of the same frame of mind. We lost our girl sheltie 2 years ago this week, and literally not a day passes that I do not think of her. I’d give a hell of a lot to have had one more day with Fuji.
Similar situation, but this time we know the end is in sight, and maybe can do something about it.
IJ, we are doggy so I share your concerns with the pup – and your pocketbook.
This year our young Rhodesian Ridgeback was either hit by a car or ran afoul of one of the new bear traps. It came home with a rear leg dangling. Too many thousands later and trip after trip to the orthopedic vet, it had a steel plate in its leg and an awesome scar. No sooner than the Ridgie was getting around well following surgery, then did one of our beagles tangle with it. For the first time, the wife proclaimed she saw the fur fly (literally and figuratively). Off to the vet we went again with a beagle rapidly bleeding our from multiple wounds. Both beagle and Ridgie are doing well today, better than my pocketbook for sure.
I often comment that our beagles have the heart of a lion in the body of a mouse – and it is strange to see such a little dog facing off with a bull.
Aren’t we blessed to live in a country where our dogs have better medical care than most people?
Blessings to you and your pup.
PR
Thanks, PR!
A Ridgeback had been my first choice. We went Sheltie, as we wanted a pack of dogs, they had to be Nikki liftable, and all fit in the jeep at the same time. Three shelties seemed more logical than 2-3 Ridgebacks.
Now that we are contemplating repopulating, a ridgeback may make it’s way into our livestock.
IJ, I’ve loved a lot of dogs over the years and have had Ridgies for at least a dozen. Big and goofy they are and generally loyal to one person to the point of being a shadow. For protection work, I favor Dobies (of which I’ve had a few including a Companion Dog which is like a PhD in the doggie world) and Malinos.
Three Ridgies might be a bit much in a Jeep but they can leap in with ease – no lifting required. Like Dobies, they are one of the few big breeds that can keep up when riding horseback.
Shelties are sure clever dogs. I suppose Nikki is you wife?
We have a couple of bird dogs as well (a Lewellyn Setter and a German Shorthair). The shorthair and Ridgie will hunt together and often bring home whole deer. I think the Shorthair runs them down and the Ridgie goes for the kill. I wouldn’t want to be chased by that pair of efficient killers. That Shorthair is so fast and surprisingly a good guard dog, quick to let me know if anything different happens around the place.
One of our dogs is part black Lab and part Pit Bull. It showed up at the ranch house in Texas one day having voted with its feet to live somewhere else. That animal is a natural guard dog. It instinctively nips at the bull and horses if they crowd in too close and watches everything with suspicion.
Dogs are a lot like people. Their experiences with other people and other dogs often set an attitude for life. People (and dogs) treated with love and respect, almost always turn out better than those who learn fear and hurt.
PR
PR,
Do you think that a Ridgeback would get along/do well with shelties/ they are basic miniature collies, bred for agility competition, herding, and guard duties.
Yes, Nikki is the Wife. Our concern size-wise was if we could lift them if they were wounded/injured. My parents had a black lab, and Nikki could lift him, but it was an iffy thing.
We bring our dogs everywhere, and I literally mean everywhere. The store, the library, shopping, vacation, camping, training, even to the annual NRA conventions. We no longer do anything/go anywhere that is not pet friendly.
In the past 10 years, they have never been boarded, or watched by another person (with the exception of the vet)
Thanks for that, PR.
Fuji, who we lost 2 years ago, we had cremated. She is on what was once a bookshelf, next to my chair in the livingroom, along with her harness, pictures, and some ribbons. That way, I only need to turn my head to see her.
Goemon’s usual resting spot is on the floor, between that shelf and my seat.
I think this is hitting us hard because these are our first dogs. We do not have kids, so they are as close as we will get.
We included them in all of our prepping plans. They each have bug-out vests, and hiking vests. We are even looking into body armor, gas masks/suits, and assault harnesses.
Thank you for that, PR.
IJ, If you raised the Ridgie as a pup with Shelties it would be more accepting. The Beagle that tangled with our Ridgie was just too big for his fur and both were male. Ridgies have huge heads and one bite took in the Beagles head, neck, and down to the ribs. The canine teeth joined penetrating from the neck to behind a front leg. If it had shaken the Beagle like most do with prey, that would have been finis. The two tolerate one another now, barely – and I’m careful with feeding, keeping them separate and when going in and out of confined spaces such as doorways, etc. Ridgies are really just 100# puppies and very oral wanting to take my hand in its mouth just to slobber on it. That Dobie I had would take me by the hand to show me what it wanted but the Ridgies just slobber. We keep 500-700# of dry dog food on hand for our dogs and could flood a low area to plant rice in an emergency (dry food is often high in rice). PR
by your name i take it you are in Indiana, if so, university of Nashville vet school is one of the best in the world ranks with Washington State University (WSU) vet school. WSU gave us 5 years of quality life for our Rott who was given 3 months because of lymph cancer. i drove from Tacoma WA to Pullman once a week (Fri) for his chemo for one year. total cost from WSU was 1500.00, which would not of even gotten us in the door at any vet office other than the one who found the cancer he recommended WSU vet school found out while he was getting chemo that WSU and Nashville Vet school share staff and students for training.
best of luck, and in my prayers
Thanks for the encouragement!
We are definitely doing either the chemo or radiation; I do not know enough yet to make an informed decision. After reading your post, I am leaning towards the chemo.
My name is actually a reference to my SASS alias, and our cosplay. We cosplay as Indiana Jones and Marion. The dogs dress up as the angels of death released at the end of ‘Raiders’.
Thus, Indiana Joe.
We also cosplay as Dr. Grant and Elie from Jurassic Park, with the shelties in velocirapter costumes.
Worked on the garden. It has become so dry here. Will have to irrigate if we go much longer without relief.
From rumblings in the fed world, there appears to be a serious disconnect on the travel list – no firearms purchase movement. The rumor is that a search of the travel list automatically causes the firearms purchase list to be queried. If this is so, such a move is but a tactic to remove Fourth Amendment protections as a refusal under No Fly does not trigger court review. Worse it is almost impossible for someone on the list to determine why they are so banned.
Any serving fed know if this is true?
Last rumor, anyone heard that Hillary is considering Obama for a Supreme Court Justice?
PR
PR – First – I have heard the rumors that Clinton would consider Obama for Supreme Court. I don’t think he would be interested but who knows? Although he will not be President I suspect he is not going away.
My garden is pretty destroyed but I am still getting tomatoes. The corn is growing however I am not seeing any actual cobs. Watermelon is growing and crawling all over the place.
I’ve heard the rumor about Hillary and Obama also. Two things make it likely in my mind. A) Obama is rumored to be planning on staying in the Washington area after he leaves the shambles of the Oval Office, B) His endorsement of Hillary, considering the animosity between the two families, may have been bought by the offer to fill the vacancy on the court.
Just an additional thought on Obama on the Supreme Court.
Hillary for president (and plan on 8 years) causing mayhem in the country and the ultimate spoiler sitting on the bench of the Supreme Court. Now that’s just downright scary.
I put in a drip irrigation system this year. Glad I did. Here in the northwest corner of SC we seem to be blessed or cursed with a drought very often. This year, the lakes are already receding and the soil is dry really deep. Had to dig a post hole yesterday and almost had to pour water in the hole to get the soil out it was so dry even at a 2 ft. depth. At any rate, the drip system really works. My cabbage are toping out over 8 pounds. Everything else is coming in better than I could ever imagine. Running an experiment with wheat. Broad cast some early on but with the drought, it is pretty well stunted. I’ll try winter wheat later this year.
Still toying with clearing some land and planting pasture for goats. Haven’t gotten the wife on board with that at all in a very big way. She seems to have a penchant for naming all the live stock. And you know what than means for harvesting.
Oren, a last comment from me before I head out the door. We still name our animals but awfully generic, Billy the goat, Emma the Nubian, Red (hen), we even have a Blue (dog) ….
One of my better projects when leaving Texas was to cut down a JD seed drill to six feet wide. Great for small monocultures and can be pulled behind horse, side-by-side, or tractor. A band of wheat sure draws the wildlife.
I’d put those goats hard to work clearing that land.
Oh, the wild blackberrys are turning ripe everywhere on the mountain. We will start harvesting soon for if we don’t the birds, deer, and bear will have a bounteous feast.
PR
Dry canned 28 pints of rice and 20 pints of beans, 10 quarts egg noodles. First time dry canningturned out pretty good, everthing sealed.
Mostly spent the week with the 3 1/2 year old grand daughter. We picked blueberries, spent some time in the garden, watched the bees work aid played. Hoping and praying that all of the grand children will enjoy the homesteading lifestyle.
Spent most of Saturday working in the garden, pulling weeds, adding leaf mulch to the potatoes.
This is our 8th year of gardening organically. Every year I learn more and more about what not to do! All of our plants are heirloom, so saving seed for next year is a very big part of our planning.
Adding supers to the bee hives this week and building a new compost bin.
Disappointed with Academy Sports deciding to hide their black guns, but picked up a brick of .22s from them anyway.
Paid off another debt. Hating spending the cash but sometimes meeting a goal is painful.
Grip taped a few toys. I really like this product.
http://guntape.com/index.html
Walking more and have lost a few pounds. Don’t tell southerprepper1 that one of his videos provided a little push.
No prepping this week, but I did receive my camping stove from Roarke’s last giveaway. We haven’t tried it yet, but so far I love it! Of some concern is the fact that it ships from China, and the instructions that came with it are only in Chinese. However, anyone who can put together a 5-piece puzzle won’t have any trouble with it. It’s very sturdy and stable, and the sharp parts are sharp. It also comes in a molle-style case with straps and loops that’ll make it convenient to fasten to pretty much anything. GearBest was in touch by e-mail from start to finish, and I’ve promised to give them a review once we actually try it.
I bought one of the sawyer adapter kits a couple of weeks ago got 2 more 5 gallon buckets from Zips and a Ruger BMX 25 for 28 dollars total including tax thought it was over priced but only 1 dollar apiece for the buckets so what the hell contacted Ruger to make sure they fixed the spring system heard problems of them in the past why not keep it loaded right? anyways law abiding citizens who wish to own AR15 type of weapons must know a couple of more of these shootings and America must take a look at stronger background controls I for one has no problem with this Cole
It’s that type of thinking Cole that leads to government overreach and the rights of law abiding citizens being taken away. I know you know this. If you are willing to give up your rights due to the criminal actions of others – everyone will lose those rights – except for the criminal as they ignore the law.
We have loved and lost many pets through the years-some to old age-some to illness. Everyone needs to do what their heart tells them.Having worked as a Vet. Assistant for many years and as a farmer and hospice worker (people) I can say that I have always opted to say no to chemo and radiation .(unless the radiation is palliative to help shrink a tumor for pain) . These treatments ruin has the quality of life .We have preferred to have our final days with our pets be happy and pain free . My heart goes out to you Indiana Joe.I always put myself in the animals place and I would not want to be weakened from chemo or radiation unless there was a 90 % chance of cure-which is extremely rare.
My husband was given 6 months toa live after a cancer diagnosis and he chose to not have chemo or radiation. He has lived 9 and a half years-beating the odds -he did have a healing at a prayer service.
This week for prepping I taught my grand children how to prune, how to plant greens beans
and pumpkins .We harvested our fresh lettuce..We picked strawberries and made sb
shortcake and cupcakes.Hay was harvested from our fields with barter from a local farmer.( we used to do it all ourselves)
We all need to speak up and stand tall and be proud Americans.If Britain can change and be courageous than so can those of us who are real patriots. We must defeat Hillary. Obama might like to
pardon her but I am hoping that she is arrested soon.
I agree PR Frontline is very effective against fleas and ticks. Please make sure all your animals are up to date on rabies vaccinations because if the grid goes down rabies will be a
huge issue. Lightning
Howdy, Lightning!
You touched upon a concern of ours: quality of life. If you saw Goemon now, mere days after the operation, you’d think he was well. He has none of the side effects we were told would occur. None. Other than the cone and the shaved area on his belly (which you cannot see readily) he looks and acts fine.
He did not even ‘act’ sick before the operation. We found the tumor while grooming him, accidentally. He had not changed behavior-wise in any way.
They said that the cancer (microscopic bits of it) could/would/did spread from the lymph nodes before their removal, and the chemo/radiation would be needed to combat that.
Thank you for the encouragement. I will pray for both you and your husband.
IJ,
As a doggy being, I’ve seen too many leave my life. I once had a black Lab and Dobie raised from pups that after long lives both had the cancer. I called the big animal vet we used and he met us at the ranch. The wife took the Dobie for a last walk (the Lab wouldn’t leave the house much and had cataracts to the point of blindness) while I lifted the old heavy Lab on the pickup tailgate. I petted the old guy while the vet put him to sleep and then stopped his heart. The Dobie jumped up on the tailgate thinking it was going for a ride (well it was in a way). I petted her as she went to sleep. With tears running down my face I told the vet that I’d seen people put down that evoked less emotion. Likely these dogs were better than those people, the vet who knew me well remarked. He got into his vehicle and drove away – and never sent a bill. We had a small orchard near an old tractor barn that was used for a doggie graveyard. My two fine friends were buried side by side in the company of other loyal friends of their species. It is so very sad but such is the way of the world and some fine day the worms have their appointment with us as well.
I’ve always liked a stanza from Tennyson’s THE MAY QUEEN:
“All in the wild March-morning I heard the angels call,—
It was when the moon was setting, and the dark was over all;
The trees began to whisper, and the wind began to roll,
and in the wild March-morning, I heard them call my soul.”
PR
IJ….we swallowed hard and sighed deeply after reading the thread about your companion as well as everyone else’s well loved friends. Almost 20 years ago our 5year old cocker developed lymphoma that our vet sent us to the Ia.State Veterinary School to treat. Monthly trips for a year with 3 different protocols extended our time with him…would do it again. Until the last few days of his life, he never acted as if he was in pain or was suffering. He was an athlete to the end. But then he stopped eating and stayed in bed, not even wanting to go out. That was our sign to help him move on to what comes next. Never an easy choice to treat cancer, never an easy choice to hold them as the vet helps shorten their suffering, and as Lightening says, i don’t know that chemo/radiation is what i would choose for myself. Pray you can move forward with no doubt in your heart when choices need made. The loss of our last boy is still fresh-just 2 months back after 14 full years….bad heart we couldn’t fix. They are family for sure……..
Joyce, some years ago, the wife rescued a white Lab mix from a city pound. The dog had an upside down smiley face on its cage – meaning it was to be killed the next day. It was a wonderful dog and loved balls to the point of silliness. Having seen the Dobie and black Lab euthanized, she told me that would never happen again. The white lab mix had a good life with us for almost 20 years. It expired in the bedroom and in a lot of pain. It joined a line of others, in our orchard doggie graveyard – and with its favorite ball alongside.
Sometimes it is easier for both human and dog to have the vet do the dirty work. As a rancher, I have shot dozens of horses, usually with broken legs and sadly even dogs that mean stupid people drop off in the country thinking they will just survive (they don’t), and all sorts of animals. I’ve hunted most of my life and with few exceptions, have eaten or given to others for food everything killed. These days, I go out of my way to avoid killing a bug.
It is always hard deciding when to put a relative in hospice and when to call the vet, but responsible people always do what God gives them the light to see.
PR
Thank you, Joyce. Goemon and I appreciate the encouragement and advice. He is sitting right here to my left, as I type this.
Our companions trust us beyond understanding….i loved and held him while his favorite-my husband-was the last thing his eyes looked on in this life……i hope to be so well loved when my earthly life is done
Indiana Joe…revisited this thread today…i often do check out the related 4 posts at the bottom of John’s articles but this one is one of my special bookmarked posts i was re-reading. We are still without a companion/sidekick at this point due to knowing it will most likely be the last we ever choose…want to get it right and the convenience of the freedom to just go has been a good respite. Came close with a bloodhound rescue i loved but even though he was a wonderful personality, he had more energy than i could train down to manageable with his previous history. We will keep looking…
Don’t know that you will ever see this but still thought to ask, (and have wondered many times,) how is your dear Goeman? And have you added a companion to your number? Have included you all in petitions to the Father more than once. It has been a while since i have seen you comment and hope you and Nikki are well.
Will check back to see if you have been notified of a new comment, then hopefully responded.
Stop to rest but don’t quit…
What was the procedure on returning your Century Arms RAS47? Was it under warranty? I need to send one back for the same problem.
I went on their website and filled out a form for return. I recieved and email and took it to the shop where I bought it and they sent it back for me. Took about two weeks total.
Ok, Thanks
Century has a rep for selling cheap weapons made of mismatched parts. I once ordered two FALs from Century; only one worked.
PR
Almost missed this one
Added to my ballistic hoard a great deal in all areas..
Added 4 part GI Sleep system .. ACU Digital and bivy in sac
Added 1000 Nicore led light with strobe (yo do NOT want to look at that when it goes off)
Added a Holographic sight…
added food …
70% done on new quail enclosure ..
not a bad week