Monday, October 31, 2011

God be with you

Just sitting here, having my pancakes and peanut butter, and coffee, thinking about the day ahead. Carol and I already had a plan of action for the day, but was just thinking (which is dangerous), of what we were doing, when I asked myself,"Self, what does God want me to do today?" Have you ever done that? We all have such busy lives. Even in retirement it seems we are busier than ever. We are sometimes so busy that we forget to do the one all important thing every day. Turn your day over to Him everyday before you leave the house. He likes to be invited into our lives. He doesn't mind helping us go about our daily routines. Today as we we work on our little sleeping cabin, He will be right there beside us. As we are down on our hands and knees, He is right there with us to help us back up because the knees hurt so bad. He is there on the ladder with me to tell me not to stand on the top rung. (I should know that anyway, but you know how it is!) He will do these things daily, but we need to ask Him into our lives. Just remember He is the Teacher, the Comforter. He will always be there for us when we fall, but we have to be there for Him also.
To end this I would ask any who read this to stop right now, take a moment as I am and turn your day over to Him. You will feel much better during the day knowing that His strength is with you. God Bless all. Have a safe Halloween.----johnnyb

Sunday, October 30, 2011

From the Middle of Somewhere

Not a lot going on in our small part of the world, in the middle of somewhere. Just been nice fall weather the past few days. We have had heavy frost the past few mornings. Yesterday we looked at the wood cookstove that we have acquired. Made some measurements to make sure it will fit into our sleeping cabin. Everything checks out ok, so I can install the door. I had the door framed, but didn't want to go any farther in case we would have to install a larger door. Had other things I needed to do, but just was not in the mood. Watched a couple of football games, checked out the inside of my eyelids, and called it good. One of my teams won,(go Huskers) and one lost. Oklahoma came to play yesterday. Oh well 7-1 isn't a bad record.
Friday nite I went to our Grandson's football game. They are undefeated. If they can get past next week against a team that they have already defeated, they will be well on their way to the championship game. But there are still some good opponents to get by yet.
Keep the faith and may God Bless all who these words may touch.---johnnyb

Thursday, October 27, 2011

word of the day

Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.--johnnyb

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Beast and the Beauty

35 degrees and a little moisture, maybe a white flake occasionally. Just one of those days where I feel like my get-up-and-go, got-up-and-went! Not supposed to get much snow, but I'm not in the mood for any. More west in Colorado. I think winter is getting a foot hold.
We have been doing a few projects the past few days. Carol worked on the raised beds some more. I have been gathering up old old lumber from the tear-down house for use in the garden. We need to check around the railroad tracks for some more old ties. We used up all we had collected. Just hope we can control the weeds better. Also been working in the cabin. Had to get more siding, so I can get the walls completed. We dug up some parsnips, and a few potatoes that were still in the ground. Made a good meal. We will deep mulch the parsnips and gather as we need them over the winter. What is left we will pull in the spring and can. We won't need to plant any next year as we still have some from a couple of years back. Just checked the temp. Heat wave. Up to 39 degrees F.
I've been reading of the Feds test of the EAS on 11-9-2011. Matt has a good post and comments on his site, and I just decided to do a little more reading on the subject.I guess it just alarms me that something like this is possible. I realize why the system was developed. One form or another has been in place since the old Conelrad system we grew up with during the early Cold War years. The weather service uses The system to put out alerts. We monitor weather radio during the severe weather months. the system wasn't used during 9-11, Oklahoma bombing or other emergency situations. Why now? It is just to convenient for those in power to be able to shut down all airwaves for their own benefit. That is my problem and thoughts to the situation. Scaaaary!!!!!!!
The sunsets have been really awesome lately. I like to include them occasionally just as a reminder of the beauty of God's work. I would liked to have been able to observe the Northern Lights. Haven't heard of any reports around here. We didn't look, so if they were it is our own fault for not seeing them.
Thought for today from Dr Seuss--"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."--God Bless All--johnnyb



Monday, October 24, 2011

Nothing in particular, everything in general

What beautiful weather we are having. 70's & 80's daytime, 40's nite-time. Won't last. Wednesday's high only supposed to be in the 40's, but maybe some moisture. We need it. The problem is that this time of year it could be in the form of freezing drizzle or snow. And that sucks big time. We got quite a bit done around the yard and garden in preparation form next year. We are putting raised beds. Hoping to try and control the weeds better. When we bought this place two years ago, it was nothing more than a weed patch. It has been a fight. The lawn is getting better. We have seeded in more this year and will do more next year. We built a little fence around some of the flower beds to keep the dogs from trying to excavate. If there is any loose dirt they seem to think it is fair game for digging! We used some lathe that I took out of then old house I am tearing down. It looks rustic, which is what we were aiming for. No pics until it is done. Today I have to get some more siding from the old house to finish the walls in our little sleeping cabin area. Just about done with the mudding on the sheetrock. It is getting closer. Watched some football Saturday. Hope everybody's favorite team won, but then I guess someone has to lose. We listened to our grandson's high school game Friday nite. It was away, so we couldn't attend. They won their district play-offs, undefeated 9-0. They start the state play-offs this Friday at home, so we will be able to watch, weather permitting.
The picture is of one of my cold winter day projects. Can't play golf worth a darn, so I decided to carve little faces into the golf balls. Did have more, but got rid of them. They are kind of a mood thing. The face is sometimes a reflection of my mood at the time.
God Bless All---johnnyb

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Wednesday Ramblings

Chilly morning. Around 32 degrees. Started the pellet stove this morning. Bit of a chill in the house. Should warm into the middle 50's today. Farmers are getting their corn picked. We could use a little moisture. Just so it comes in the form of rain and not snow, which can happen now.
We got the sheet rock on the ceiling in the cabin this past week-end. As soon as we get a couple of other projects done, we will get the taping and muding done. Then paint. We are finally on the downhill end of the project. We have to have it finished by the first of December as there will be some pheasant hunters using it. It has been a fun project.
Heard from a woman who's grandparents lived in this house years ago. She was happy to see the pictures of what we had done to the place. She said her grandparents would be happy with what we had done. I told her about this blog and she passed it on to her sister and cousin, so Kimberly, Gwen, and Dawn, if you read this, welcome to the site.
The community is greatly saddened by the senseless killing of the young man last week-end. It touches so many people, and the effects will be felt for a long time. There is a lot of "why" going around. What goes through a person's mind to do something like this. I guess you have to be there and in their shoes to know! And the consequences. Is it worth it? I guess this goes deeper into the human mind than I am qualified to delve.
I see where doomsday prophet Harold Camping is at it again. Friday might be the day. Damn and I just paid all the bills!---Later--johnnyb

Monday, October 17, 2011

Why?

Sad weekend for our area. A 22 y/o was shot and killed Saturday nite. Details are sketchy. Have heard details, but until I find out more they are only rumors. Happened in my home town, which is about 15 miles away. My heart and prayers go out to the families of those involved. Such a senseless thing. Later--johnny b

Saturday, October 15, 2011

what next

I heard a story news yesterday about a lady who was having a get-together a the local Olive Garden. She had an American Flag she was going to put on the table. The hostess informed her that no flags or banners were permitted. When management was approached, the said they did not want any flags or banners because it might upset some people. Now this was the American Flag, Old Glory. What is wrong with this picture. The last I looked it was still called the United States of America. Probably 99.99999999% of the people were American citizens. If the flag offends them, then they are citizens of the wrong country! If they are visiting tourists from another country, it should not offend them. If it does, move on. What is happening in this great country? We should be able to display our national flag anytime or anywhere. The flagpoles should be stowed sometime where the sun don't shine, if you get my drift. If I were to visit a foreign country, I would expect to see the flag of that country being flown where-ever it was deemed needed.
In the words of Earl Pitts--Wake up Uhmerika. Something needs to be done before we lose everything that is dear to us--johnnyb

Friday, October 14, 2011

The middle of somewhere

Our 6-y/o grandson had heard someone refer our place as in the middle of nowhere. I told him that the middle of nowhere was over the hill to the west. This was the middle of somewhere. So he always refers to our place as that. when he asks about something, he will always ask if that is how we do it in the middle of somewhere!
I thought I would tell a little about our little "middle of somewhere". This community was started late 1800's. At one time it was a thriving community. Banks, hotels, stores,etc. As happened in a lot of small towns of that era, it gradually dwindled. By the 1960's there was not a lot left. School, grocery was about all. I am not sure when everything was completely boarded up. School closed in the 70's. All that was left was a grain elevator. Now there are about 9 people that live in what was the town. Most houses have been torn down, but a few still remain. We don't have anybody next to us, so it is kind of like living in the country. We have about 3 1/2 of the old city lots. About 3/4 of an acre. There is a cornfield 50 feet behind our property. The old school house sits north of our house. Was built in the late 1930's. Was a good solid rock building. Inside has been trashed by the owners. The house next to us is vacant and run-down. People that own it grew up in it, and come every few weeks to mow and clean up. The house south of that where turkeys roost on the fence is owned by a person from another state who uses it as a get-away and hunting lodge. He has put the house back to as original as possible from pictures that were in the house. Our house was pretty run down when we bought it. I think there are pictures on the older posts.
The second picture is from late 1800's. The school in the left hand side of the pic was torn down when the new one was built. The church is gone and our house sits next to the church. The large rock homes and shed in the middle of the pic are still standing. The roofs and floors have caved in. There is a pic of the south house in my June 8, 2011 post. They were pretty fancy in their day.
The other pics were early 1900's. No cars anyway.
As I said before we enjoy it here. It is peaceful, nobody bothers us. We have room for a large garden. Hope to add chickens next year. Closest town is about 15 miles away. Wallyworld in another town about 20 miles away. We are not isolated completely, just in "the middle of somewhere!"
God Bless all--johnnyb


Thursday, October 13, 2011

Crispy morn



Nippy 34F degrees this morning. Probably frost in the lower areas. But it is calm and quiet. We had more wind yesterday. Getting real tired of it.
We got our tested and new glasses ordered. Will be nice to get them. My eyes have changed some, but not as much as I had expected. I think my biggest problem is that the glasses are so scratched up I can't see good through them. Carol's eyes had changed more. Glasses should be here in a week or so.
The wild turkeys are running around outside the fence. As you can see one roosted on the fence last nite. They are driving the dogs crazier. They don't bark much at them. I think they haven't quite figured out what they are. There are about 30 turkeys that range around our place. We see them 2 or 3 times a day. The other pic is an early morning moon over NW Kansas cornfield.
We bought groceries and stocked up on some extras. Gradually getting stocked on some essentials. Upped our supply of ammo. Most we can get locally. I have some 7.65X53mm coming next month then I will be set. Need to check black powder supplies, but think they are ok.
Quote for today-"Everyone who got where they had to begin where they were."--Pope John Paul II.
God Bless all--johnnyb

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Welcome

Welcome to Mad Dog and Englishman, and Dani. Thanks for hitting the follow button. It is interesting to see what is going on in other parts of the world (South Africa)and what they are doing to with their lives. I encourage new followers to also check out my blog list. There are some really good people there that I consider good friends even though we have never met in person. Check'em out.
Still been working on the cabin. will get some sheetrock this week finish the ceiling. Didn't get to pick up the wood cook stove Saturday as planned. Roads too muddy. Some areas had a lot of rain. Up to 7.5 inches. We had 1.2. Was a good gentle rain.
Carol and I are going to the eye doc today. Been over 3 years. Our glasses have out lived their usefulness, or else our arms have shrunk. At least that is the excuse I use for my spelling in these blogs!
Daughter and one grandson here for the weekend. Always fun to have the kids around. Wish I had the energy of the 6-year old; well maybe just a little of it. I don't think my 65-y/o body could handle too much of it. The pic was kind of cute--The "kids" lazing around!
Quote for today--"A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove you don't need it."--Bob Hope.
God Bless all who read this and may God touch your hearts today even if you don't think you need it!---johnnyb


G

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Rainy Saturday


Nice gentle rain all night. Well needed moisture. Nice after the wind and dirt of earlier in the week. The pic was the storm brewing last nite. God's power at work. Be a good day to do some reading, and watch some football. We are supposed to go pick up the wood stove today, but that may be iffy. Roads may be a little mucky. We will see come afternoon. We are real anxious to get it.
I read a book this week, One Second After, by William Forstchen. Very thought provoking. Brings back the question of just how prepared can we be. I know we are not prepared enough. MDR hit on this subject recently. We can only do what we can and make the most of it. Every month we try to get something extra. A little here and a little there. I guess that's about all we can do.
A lot of survival would depend on working together as a group, large or small. Combining skills would be important. It seems that most of my blogger friends have various skills that would come in handy. There is a lot of the old hands on skills that are just not around any more. How many people could build a steam engine if needed, or repair and run an old one? Blacksmithing, horse-shoeing to name a few. Things are too dependent on the computer age. Even farming is computerized. When I was growing up on the farm, it was all mechanical. We planted because it was time. We irrigated because it was time, and we harvested because it was time. We didn't depend on some guy in a white pick-up with an ATV in the back and a computer in the seat telling us when to do it. Dad learned it from his Dad, and his dad learned it from his dad, and so on. We have gotten to far away from the basics.
I spent most of my life as an electrician. Wiring and maintenance, and electric motor repair. I worked in Emergency Medical Services for a time. I have always done everything myself if it is possible. (I don't do windows). We have bought and completely remodeled 2 houses ourselves. Did it all except duct work and carpet. Did the other flooring myself. I am not tooting my whistle here. My point is that there is a lot of people do not know how to do the small necessary, common sense things that would be a necessity for survival. That will create some of the civil unrest. Those that don't have will want what others have for sure.
Enough for today. Kind of rambled on. Hope it made sense.
Quote for today--"A man always has two reasons for doing anything--a good reason and the real reason."--J.P. Morgan
Have a good one and God Bless all.--johnnyb

Friday, October 7, 2011

Calm

Calm at last. Or at least for the moment. The wind started blowing on Tuesday and did not let up until last night. Finally some storms went through that stopped it for now. Sustaining winds in the 60-70 MPH range at times. For the most part they were in the 40-60 range. Gets on a persons nerves after a while.
Did more dehydrating this week. More tomatoes. Carol made apple butter and apple juice. A friend has a wood cook stove she wants to barter for. Will pick it up tomorrow. It will go in our sleeping cabin that is in the process. Picked up some pallets yesterday while in town. Will get more later. We have ideas for future projects.
Quote for today--"If you can't return a favor, pass it on".--Louise Brown.
God bless all--johnnyb

Monday, October 3, 2011

A brokers advice

Received this from a friend and wanted to pass it on:

A Broker's Advice

Thought I'd pass along some advice my broker gave me today.

I called my stockbroker this morning & asked him what I should be investing in as I feel interest rates are going to be rising as they did during the late 70's early 80's. So I told him I thought we ought to be looking to getting out of bonds & looking for a safe haven to invest. Should we move to precious metals, foreign currency or what?

This is what he said: "If Obama is in office much longer, canned goods, water and ammunition are your best bet." ---johnnyb

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Flowers

Some pics of the mums on the side of our house. These are the largest we have ever grown. Colors are very bright also. God should smile at these.
I want to welcome Tanya @Lovely Greeens to th site. I am sometimes a little slack at welcoming viewers, so I welcome all. If I have forgotten, I apologize.
Thought from Mother Teresa---"Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier."---God Bless all--johnnyb

Canning day

Had a light frost Friday. Pulled everything up in the garden. Had a lot of green tomatoes. Yesterday we canned green tomato chutney, green tomato pickles, and rhubarb chutney. It will taste good later on. We have apples to do something with, and squash in the freeze that we will can. Froze it during the summer when we didn't want to heat up the house. Also dehydrating some chives, Had a pretty good batch for only two plants. Have some other herbs to put up also.
Now that we have had a light frost it is turning back into almost summer again. In the 80's and 90's again this week.
Quote for the day--"Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you will die today."--James Dean
God Bless all and may all your prayers be answered. Just remember all prayers are answered. Not in just the way we want them to be answered.---johnnyb

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Recipe of the day

While going through a recipe book called Recipes and Stories of Early Day Settlers we came across the following from a Civil War Vet:

I recall a fellow worked for me saying of all the wild meat he ever skunk was the sweetest meat. Now I was willin' to take his word form it, without proven' it. Me, I couldn't get past the idea to try it. I reckon they ain't no reason why skunk meat shouldn't be as good as any.
Skin clean, remove scent glands under front and hind legs. Put in strong salt water and boil about 20 minutes or so. Drain off this here water, add fresh and seasons: pepper, bay leaves and sage. Steam till tender. Larpen' good eatin'. Baked sweet tater and wild greens go good with yer skunk.


There you go--recipe of the day. Enjoy and God Bless--johnnyb