Can A Person Have Too Many Knives?

Knife Addiction?

I think it's a serious question - Can a person have too many knives? This past weekend I attended a gun show and you would think I would have been more interested in the guns. No, not me, I drooled over the knives.

I stopped at every single vendor that was selling knives. It didn't matter if they were the cheap ones or the expensive ones - handmade or manufactured - I looked at them all. Full tang, half tang, drop point, clip point - daggers, folders, fixed blade, I thought I was in heaven.

Now the funny part about my trip to the gun show, is what I wore. It was supposed to be warm and sunny but it ended up being chilly so I had to pull a few things from my B.O.B to stay warm. Sorry, no pictures because I don't do selfies and well, I'm not ready to show my pretty little face on here yet. Maybe one day.

I wore a nice little dress that was black and white with a paisley design.  Since it got cold, I put on some black leggings and....my hunting boots. It gets even better though - I put on my US Desert Storm Night Camouflage Parka Jacket. Man, did I get some stares.

For my jewelry, I had a A G Russell neck knife, I had a Kershaw knife clipped to my underwear, I had a Benchmade folder in my pocket, attached to my little carry purse I had an antique sterling silver knife and I had a boot knife, oh and on a key chain I had a tiny decorative knife with mother of pearl on it and in another pocket I had a Spyderco.

Hello, my name is Prepper Principles, and I am a knife-a-holic.

But, get this, once the knife dealers really knew that I didn't just carry but I could talk the talk - just like the guys - I was able to get my hands on some really cool knives at deeply discounted prices that I normally could never afford. Even with my Pinky issues I feel I picked out a few good winners.

I can't even tell you how many knives I have in my car, and yes, some are more collector knives and decorations but most are functional. I just don't get rid of them. If I think about it, I've only ever sold 3 of my knives - the rest I keep. Two knives were more like kitchen knives and I really didn't care about them and the other knife I donated to charity auction for a friend battling cancer. Other than that, I keep them all.

Is there a group for knife hoarders LOL!

I Am Not Ready For An EMP or Losing My Phone

Phone Panic

If you are following me on Twitter (@prepprinciples), then you know that a few days ago that I posted about losing my phone.

I was in a panic. No, seriously, I will admit it.

I thought I was going to hyperventilate. I was running around the house looking for it like a mad woman. Throwing things around, not out of anger, but you know tossing a sweatshirt out of the way moving magazines around.

Retracing my steps, I checked the bathroom, refrigerator, mailbox, washing machine - OH GOD DID I WASH IT??

This here girl was starting to go into full on panic mode - over a phone!

I posted on Twitter that I lost my phone, as if anyone following me could help me find it!

I checked under my chair, in coat pockets, on the desk, on my dresser, in my dresser drawers.

Then it hit me - what in the world was I going to do if an EMP hit and there were no cell phones.

Chill out, I told myself.

I sat back down and did some work on my computer. And then I decided it was time to go do some yard work and realized my headphones were still in my car.

Guess where I found my phone?

Sitting on the seat of my car.

Lesson Learned - Don't panic, not even over a misplaced phone. It gave me some things I need to work on and prepare for, a list that always seems to grow instead of getting smaller.

Patting Myself On the Back - I Fixed It!

Push Mower Madness

I am not mechanically inclined but I've managed to actually fix a few things that would have cost me if I called a repair person. Yes, I failed at the attempt to fix generators, but I successfully repaired my dryer last year. So, when my handy dandy self propelled craftsman mower wouldn't start I thought about the pros and cons of me fixing it and decided to go for it. Why? Because the mower was given to me for free and I felt more comfortable fixing one that I didn't pay anything for than fixing one that I paid money for, does that make sense?

Step 1

Internet research for videos, manual and any trouble shooting information I could find and read it.

Step 2

Make sure I had the correct size tools.

Step 3

Make sure someone had 911 programmed into their phone just in case. :)

Step 4

Diagnose the issue. Spark plugs were good, that was easy to check. Now that I knew the 'ol sparkies were working I had to move on to removing the filter to see if it was clogged. That had a little spider web or something in it and it all cleaned up nicely.

I got out some gasoline and poured directly on to the carburetor area after watching a video about 10 times on how to do this without catching the mower or myself on fire. Stepping back to the handle I pulled the chord and it fired up and shut off immediately. In my book that's a great sign. I checked the little primer button and it didn't seem to be building up resistance.

Ahh ha! There is a leak somewhere!  I tore every little thing off that mower that I could. I took the gas line off and verified there were no leaks in it. Then I had to check the carburetor and it was dry as a bone. The float was stuck. But, the gasket that seals the carburetor was damaged and wasn't sealing correctly. I found my "leak".

Step 5

You know that idea about prepping and always being prepared for everything? Yeah, well guess what? I did not prepare for a mower break down and didn't have any extra gaskets on hand. Sigh. Unfortunately, no stores in my area carry this handy little gasket and I had to order it. I ordered the gasket, actually, I ordered 4. One to replace it with, a 2nd one just in case I broke the 1st one and needed a back up and two more to store for later use.

Step 6

Gasket arrives and I remove the bad gasket and replace with the new one.

Step 7

Start up my handy dandy self-propelled craftsman push mower and start mowing!

I'm so excited that I did it! But, valuable lesson learned. Everything and I mean everything needs to have a back-up plan. I've certainly got a lot of prepping to do, how about you?

Prepping is Dangerous

A Mishap In Prepping

*Warning if you don't like feet, don't look at the picture*

I told you things could be exciting around here.

So I had a little mishap while prepping. I thought I could repair some generators that I picked up at flea markets. Yeah, I've been fighting this battle of  "I can do everything syndrome". I am not too mechanically inclined but I can handle some things. I once replaced a carburetor on a 1966 Mustang. Man, I miss that car.

Anyway, I've finally admitted defeat. After watching YouTube videos, reading manuals and seeking advice from a local small engine repair guy I decided I would just take one of them to him and see if he could fix it for me. This was a real blow to my ego. You see, when I first went to him for advice he gave me the "you're a girl" look. I dislike that look and it really pisses me off. Honestly part of the reason I'm taking it to him is because I just don't have the time to tinker with it any more. I've kept two for myself to fix later.

So I was loading, or should I say, trying to load it into my mode of transportation and even with the help of my offspring, I lost my grip. It had started to rain, just a light rain and there were dark clouds looming, the wind was blowing and lightening could be seen in the distance.

My strong and handy teenager tried without success to keep it from falling. I actually yelled "MOVE" so it wouldn't get us both. And as it came falling down on top of my foot, I heard the crunch.

This isn't my first mishap, it won't be my last - but wow, is prepping dangerous and painful. Of course can you imagine how painful being unprepared could be?

Thankfully I'm prepared for my mishaps. I already have a foot boot, from previous mishap of dropping a 6 pack of soda on my foot and I have crutches from another mishap ages ago.

Maybe I'm trying to tackle too much on my own, I don't know, but I can't stop prepping just because I have mishaps.

*Caution Ugly Foot Picture Below*

I Will Miss My Weed Eater When SHTF

What activity will you stop and miss when SHTF?

Have you ever thought about what activity you will stop doing when SHTF? The reasons why you will stop doing it and if you will miss it?

I will miss my weed eater and weed eating. Now you must think that is absolutely crazy. But I will miss the smell of the grass, the vibrations, the smell of the gas and the whole idea of cutting away the old over grown grass and weeds to make room for the new growth.

Now why would I give this up? I can think of many reasons.

First of all, who is really going to care if my lawn is manicured post SHTF. That is even if I Bug In. Really, I don't think my neighbors will care and forget about any Homeowner's Association fines for not having that perfectly manicured lawn. Seriously, please let someone come to me and complain about my lawn post-SHTF!

Second, there will be more important things to do - water, food, shelter. Activities such as purifying water, hunting, fishing, gardening and preparing food will take up most of the day. Maintaining a safe shelter will also be very important.

Third, why would I waste an important commodity like gas on using a weed eater? Gas will be needed for vehicles for escape or urgent and necessary travel only. Gas will also be a commodity that needs protected and can be traded for more pressing items.

And finally, even if I did decide to waste gas on a weed eater, why would I want a manicured lawn for someone to see and know that the shelter is inhabited. This is a serious security issue. There are risks involved either way; but I'd rather someone think my shelter is uninhabited then know it is inhabited. And what about the noise those weed eaters make.  Even worse, someone hear the noise of the weed eater while I'm using it? It's not like I could put a silencer on it, or could I?

There are other activities that I know I will give up, but now that it's spring time and I just finished my first round of whacking those weeds!

Who Doesn't Love A Good Bonfire?

Starting Bonfires

Starting a fire or a bonfire can be difficult. But not if you have the correct tools. I've been trying to teach myself how to start fires without matches and it has not gone so well.  I need more practice.

It's funny how fire can attract people.  I started the bonfire and neighbors joined in and we sat around the fire until around 3 am.

This is very important to remember. 

In a SHTF situation, starting a fire can invite unwanted guests. It's important that you build small contained fires that can't be seen from miles away. The wind can carry the smell of smoke, flames can be seen and smoke and ash travel.

I had a lot of brush to burn and downed trees from this winter. My fire pit is huge! About 10 Feet long and 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep at one end.  Go big or go home!

I'm going to put some of the ash in my compost pile and I read somewhere that if sprinkled around a garden bed it can be used as a natural pest deterrent. I'll let you know if that really works or not.

Unfortunately, I was not successful in starting the fire without a match so to speak.  I used a road flare.  I'm thinking of keeping a few road flares in my B.O.B.

What do you use to start safely start a fire?  Do you dig a pit so it can't be as easily seen?

Time to Get Back To Gardening

My family had massive gardens. I'm talking enough that we fed our entire community. People would arrive in their pick up trucks and when they left the bed was full.  Everyone worked in it and everyone benefited from it. I miss those days. My dad was the master gardener. I did not appreciate it as a kid and really didn't garden once I moved away from home. Maybe a few tomato plants here and there. I think when I was married we only ever had one garden. SMH

I miss it and guess what I am going to do?

I'm going to tackle gardening again - my way.

Thank goodness I didn't plant anything yet. It actually snowed again where I am at and I hope that was the last of Old Man Winter.  My pallet garden starts this weekend.

I will be posting a few updates here and everything I learn will be documented and put out for everyone to use and learn as well.

Now, just so you know, I'm the person that can not drive a zero turn mower. I have a lot of mishaps so this should be very entertaining for me and for you to read about.

If you have any tips for me; please let me know.

My first project is a Potato Pallet.

I'm excited to pass on what my dad taught me; let's just hope I'm not too old to remember everything.

My Family Does Not Like My BOB

How do you deal with family members that aren't supportive of your prepping activities? That's what I'd like to know; seriously what do you? I have received more "eye rolls", shrugs and offhand comments than I care to mention. Is this what all Preppers face? It's as if we have the plague, ha!

Recently, I went on a day trip to another relatives house a few hours away. My parental unit, my offspring and I left early in the morning. I'm the navigator because honestly, my parental unit sucks at navigation and this allows me to take notes, watch for landmarks, unmarked back roads and just get a general idea of the area.

We left exactly on schedule because of my planning. (Patting self on back.) I had the car packed and ready to go and everyone up and moving early enough to take of the personal hygiene needs, SSSSB (Shit, Shower, Shave, Shampoo, Brush Teeth)

Driving down the highway I hear my parental unit say "Did you have to bring THAT?"  "That" is my B.O.B. Why yes, yes I did need to bring it. And it's a very good thing I brought it.

Why?

Because the GPS on all of our phones did not work correctly. None of the available online map services pulled up the address we needed. Now we knew the basic direction and knew the town we needed to be near, but we didn't know the complexity of the back roads, the lefts at the fork and the right at the stop sign to get to the exact location.

Guess what I had in my B.O.B.?

A good ol' fashioned map of the area that I just so happened to print the night before! Woo Hoo, jumps around does a happy dance and gives the parental unit the "yeah, I told you so look".

Now let me ask you this?

What are you going to do if an EMP is detonated?

My parental unit may just start appreciating my prepping ways a little more now.

I'm Not a Lumberjack

Well Prepper Community, it seems I've managed to survive a new challenge and make a few mistakes along the way. It's always entertaining around here - especially when I get my hands on a chain saw. This winter has been particularly rough on my property. I have a lot of downed trees or trees that snapped off at the top and I needed to start clearing them before they cause any issues for my summer activities or fall hunting season. It's better to take care of them now before it get's too hot.

I perused a few other Prepper sites, learned about proper use of a chain saw, watched a few videos and well went for it with full enthusiasm.

For this round of tree tackling, I only focused on the ones that snapped or were already down. Oh, and one leaner. I have not tree wrangled the ones that need to be taken down before they fall. I needed experience handling a chainsaw first. I must say, chainsaws can feel very heavy after a couple hours and this morning I can almost still feel the vibrations; I've got jelly arms!


The tree below had snapped about midway down the trunk in the wind and it was a dangler. I was concerned that when I cut it that it would sway and whack me in the head. I think I did pretty good. It fell exactly where I wanted it to without hitting the other trees!

I wasn't so good with the cut on this tree. I don't think I gave myself enough rest between cutting one tree to the next. My arms got tired. I was just so excited from the last successful cut that I just kept moving. And now I have to figure out how to get the stump out or cut it down to the ground. Oh, well lesson learned.

But this is where I really screwed up. I was taking down a tree that had snapped in half and I also took out two good small trees with it. Not good!

Things I Learned:

1. I am not a lumberjack!
2. I really should have had help.
3. Give myself a break.
4. Cutting angle is very important.
5. I love the smell of sawdust.

Up Next, I have to tackle this tree!

Yep, the one that is sideways into the other trees. I might just leave it there. If I do tackle it, I'll be sure to let you know.

What to do with it now?

1. Rent a chipper and make my own mulch?
2. Cut the trees trunks shorter and make a Horticulture Bed?
3. My offspring wants us to build a bunker LOL
4. What else can I do?

My Pinky is Too Short! Now How Do You Plan For That?

Okay all my Prepper friends, I have a serious issue. My pinky is too short. Yeah, you read correctly, my pinky finger is too short.


The pinky finger should be at the joint to your ring finger. Mine is not. Mine is below the joint. I'm a freak of nature. LOL!


Why is this an issue you, ask?


It makes my grip on knives uncomfortable and I can't find a good EDC or Utility knife that I feel comfortable holding. And most handles on the tactical knives are too big for me to grasp. I know you're shaking your head and laughing at my dilemma but this is a serious matter to me.


I have been adapting and overcoming and saving up to have a custom made knife just for me.


I can't believe there aren't very many custom knife makers who specialize in knives for women. Think about it we have pink and purple guns *rolling eyes*. No, I don't want a cheap pink or purple knife; I just want a man's knife for a woman.

A good skinner knife for hunting, yes, I hunt and a really good EDC knife. The ZT0560 was okay, but it's a manual open knife and I prefer auto assist knives. But that's just my opinion. The jimping on the back was a little rough for me and it didn't have the serrated top. I like serrated tops for my EDC. I felt lucky that I was able to try it out thanks to a friend who owned one.

Another friend had the Emerson Super Roadhouse and it is just amazing but too long for me. I really loved this tactical knife though. Man it was sharp and he had been using it for a while. But, again, too big for my small hands and short pinky.

On of my favorite knives to carry is my Kershaw Sapphire. Love this knife for quick tasks, but I couldn't use it all the time because there's really no jimping and no grip. The handle is so smooth but it's very sharp and reliable.

I think my dream knife would be to find one like the Winkler II Utility knife.  Now there is heaven.  LOL!  I wonder what my chances are of getting him to make me a knife?  Oh maybe I should work on that, want to help me out?

So now you know, my pinky is too short, I'm a freak of nature and I really do love knives, really I do. One of my other favorites is this AG Russell that I carry around my neck every where I go.

As you can tell, I'm not loyal to one brand. I just want to find a good EDC, Utility and Tactical knife that fits these little hands of mine and accommodates a short pinky finger.

From Diaper Bag to B.O.B

Okay parents, some of you may have misgivings about “prepping” or heard that it’s crazy. I’m here to tell you that it’s not. Parents, you carried a diaper bag that had everything you needed to care for your infant, right? So, why wouldn't you want to continue that concept for you and your family? Carrying a BOB, Bug Out Bag, in your car and having one ready to go in your house is no different and can be a life saver.

Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between the two.

Diaper Bag                                                                          BOB

Formula, Food & Snacks                                                       Water, Food & Snacks

Change of clothes including diapers                                        Change of Clothes

Medicine/First Aid Supplies                                                    Medicine/First Aid Supplies

Blanket                                                                                 Blanket

Toys                                                                                     Tools

Wow, you carried a BOB for how long and didn't even know it?

Just think about how you would handle the following situations for a few minutes before you continue reading:

Break-in, house fire, tornado, flood, hurricane and riots just to name a few. They could all happen.

I’m sure you think you can just pick up the phone, dial 911 and someone will come to the rescue, right? Are you sure about that? What are your average police & fire response times in your area? How often do you read your local news to see what tragedy has occurred and thought “that’s so sad?” What makes you and your family so special that none of those things can happen to you?

Look, I've been there; I know exactly what you are thinking. I’m ready for anything. You prepare for the wonderful events that happen in life, why not prepare for those moments that are not so wonderful. It's not about being a pessimist, you weren't pessimistic when you carried a diaper bag around, you were just prepared. You weren't paranoid that your baby might end up with a fever or get sick while traveling, you were just prepared.

Prepping is thinking about all the worst case scenarios and having a plan of action. After all being prepared to take care of those you love is the most important thing, or you wouldn't have carried around that diaper bag so long. One thing about carrying a BOB, they are cooler than any Diaper Bag out there on the market!

Prepping isn't so crazy after all is it?

Don't worry, I'll post what to put in your B.O.B soon.

Confessions of A Former Sheeple

Well, I admit it. I’m a former Sheeple turned Prepper. I lived carelessly and oblivious to what was going on in the world around me and I hope by sharing my story that other Sheeple will see the light. If I can learn, if I can open my eyes, if I can go from following blindly & blissfully along  to being aware then I hope others can as well.

I don’t think there is one thing that triggered this change; it was many some of which I will share and some which are very personal that may come out over time.

9/11 was the start of it, at least I believe so, but it could have started sooner and I just didn't realize it or wasn't aware of it yet. Looking back a little more in my own history, it was probably my dad who planted the seeds a long time to grow. Just like many Americans I watched, I cried, I wondered how this could happen. I mean really, how could this happen? It’s not about the conspiracy theories for me or the fact that it happened. It was what I heard afterwards. People immediately started pointing and blaming. It’s the governments fault,  it's the airlines fault, the list could go on forever. HELLO?? Who votes these people into office that you are blaming? Who gives the power to the government and the big corporations?

Yet there were other stories of courage.  Flight 93, and the passengers that tried to stop it.I started to wonder what it took for them to try and stop it. What courage it must have taken, what would it take for all of us to stand up against wrongs. But, I kept living life, never preparing for anything. As a matter of fact my motto was “I plan to make no plans”. Yep, you are cringing aren't you? My only plan was to not make any plans – none, at all.

I didn't save for a rainy day. I didn't lock my doors. I didn't stock up on food in case there was a big storm. Nothing – please don’t hate me; I just didn't know any better.

And then I forgot about it for a while until Hurricane Katrina. Again, how could this happen? People on the streets dying, looting, shootings, rapes – people trapped with no food or water. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

And then something started to click, as the government was blamed for “lack of response” and “lack of preparedness”, I thought about how unprepared the people themselves were and how I would react. Talk about getting hit in the head with a brick; but it still didn't click. Why? Because my life was just fine and it happened there to them and not to me.

Denial and fear of thinking about what could happen is dangerous. Add to the mix that the government promises to do better and make changes that you believe and soon you forget again.

Yes, I’m a little hard headed.  It takes a while for me to learn. But thankfully, the seeds were planted. I started paying more attention to what was going on around me. Not globally but locally. My town couldn't even plow roads and I was stuck in my house for over a week. People were quick to blame everyone and everything else over the smallest situations. There was no individual accountability for anything.  Then I had someone try and attack me in my own driveway and it took 10 minutes for police to respond.

And that was the last straw!

It started with wanting to protect myself.  I won’t be forced to rely on anyone ever again. I won't sit for 10 minutes cowering waiting to be saved EVER AGAIN!

If you are an experienced Prepper reading this, thank you and please stick around and share your tips and tricks. I have a LOT of catching up to do, don't I? And if you're a sheeple, someone who follows along blissfully and you think it can't happen to you, I'm here not tell you that you're wrong but to ask you, isn't your life worth more than waiting around and doing nothing to prepare?

Just look through the news, every day isolated & localized SHTF scenarios are playing out in small towns everywhere. It may not have happened to you, but could you handle it if it does?

Knife Injury

PREFACE

A couple of weeks ago my teenager was trying to repair a holster that's used for Airsoft tournaments. I've taught the wonderful offspring how to properly handle a knife, what to use a knife for etc. but you know kids, they have to learn some lessons on their own.

THE SILENT SCREAM

While I was busy writing, offspring walks calmly up to me with a look of  "I'm okay but not okay" look and holding my best white towel around a finger. Soaking through was a nice red substance. Yes, it was blood. I could tell by looking into the eyes of my CCFT that terror and panic was about to seep through into tears, screams or fainting.

ACT 1 DIALOGUE

"I cut myself."

"Let me see."

"No mom, it's bad"

"What did you do?"

"I cut myself"

"Obviously, but how?"

"Well, you know that knife you got me for my birthday, I was using it to fix something." Notice the lack of disclosure as to what was being fixed.

(Oh great, I think to myself, this is my fault.)

"Let me see"

INJURY INSPECTION

I remove the towel and offspring turns head and averts eyes away from the injury. Blood pretty quickly soaks around towel and we walk to the bathroom to get a better look and grab the first aid kit. Upon inspection it's a cut at a slight angle above the middle knuckle of the pointer finger and goes straight through and I mean I could see bone and it was kind of a dangler but it wasn't. It was like the tip of the knife went straight through the center and slightly to the outside of the finger. Three thoughts race through my head.

Holy Shit
Cool
Holy Shit

ACT 2 DIALOGUE

"Hold this around and put pressure to stop the bleeding, does it hurt?"

"No, it doesn't hurt."

Touching the tip of the finger I ask "Can you feel this?

"Kind of, am I going to lose my finger?"
.
"No but, you are going to lose the knife"

"Keep pressure on it, hold it above your heart, do you feel like you're going to faint?"

"No, you're such a dork mom."

"Hey now, who's the one that cut their finger?"

"Let me check your pulse."

"Mom, seriously?"

"Yes,"

Pulse and breathing good, damn this thing is a bleeder.

"Hey, can I stitch this up for you?"

"No, you're not a professional."

"Okay, let's go get it put back together."

I grab a frogtog and get it wet to have something cool and damp. I put it around the finger and off we go to the ER. 

STITCHED

Skipping through the boring details of the ER trip, offspring's finger was successfully sewn and has healed quite nicely. Before I was a prepper, I would have cried, panicked, dialed 911 and basically freaked out. I know what I did may not seem that great to you, but to me it was a good feeling not to panic, not to be afraid and to know that my efforts to prep have made a difference in my life.

Yes, I took the knife away and still carry it in my pocket. :)

I'd like to thank the Prepper community for everything they share. So glad I find it.