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.