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


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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