Damn folks talk a good game an then….

I started with Alt-Markets, I just hoped to get the ball rolling and someone would pick it up and run with it. No such luck. Dammit! I don’t blame folks much, it’s tough to take on extra responsibility, when most of us are doing our best just to keep making the payments and keeping your head above water.
   Well the fools will just have to learn better about putting an Army E6 in charge of the barter colony. With any luck I’ll get fired. I joke but all survival always comes down to logistics. Do you have food, fuel, sanitation to maintain operations? Be it staying in your home or bugging out. It’s not your guns that save you, guns only protect what you have. It’s the water, food, fuel for cooking that saves your life. Guns only protect your logistical support.
I don’t want to be a leader! I know many folks that would be better than me in leading. But they aren’t stepping into those positions. Unfortunately you maybe stuck with me. It’s kinda easy right now and I expect things to get worse, not better. Unless you step your game you will end up with folks that welcome the Apocalypse as a way to gain power. I want you to search yourself and if not you who?

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Paul’s case lot SALE ! Fueling the RV and Bacon!!!

   Paul’s Market is a local chain of grocery stores here in SW Idaho. They have survived Wal-mart and Albertsons when those stores put a lot of stores out of business. They buy locally, in fact give you the name of the farms they get the food from and have a good product at a good price. It’s the kind of store that still has butchers that hand cut and grind meat to order and I really like that they know me and are happy to go that extra step to help a shopper.
   Anyhoo, they are having a case lot sale and I get to restock and stock up on many items. It’s strange that I haven’t bought TP for at least 6 months perhaps longer. Perfect timing I get to stock up again at a good price. One of the biggest advantages of prepping is you buy the sales and loss-leaders. It seems to kick in at that magical “6 month” point of readiness. You really start buying for the future rather than today and it saves you a ton of money shopping. I’ll also be getting some evaporated milk, canned veggies, 2 cases of ramen noodle and other odds and ends.

   On the bacon, that was quite a nice surprise. I’ve refilled my gas cans at a small town gas station that offers real gas no ethanol mixed in. Though the gas is a bit more expensive it will cut down on my Sta-bil costs and it is better fuel. I paid with cash this time and walked into the store and roamed around just to see what they had on hand and the prices. That’s when I found the bacon at $2.79 a pound and locally made! I bought just over a pound just to try it out and it’s pretty darn good. Needless to say on my fuel run to top off the RV I’ll be picking up at least 5# and canning it.

If you are out and about it never hurts to stop in small town shops and restaurants and get a feel for things. Plus I guess I’m still a small town girl at heart. I like a little store where I can get propane, gas, ammo, liquor and food all in one stop. Who knows while everyone is rushing to wallyworld these little shops might be a good backup for your shopping and you will want to develop a relationship with them. Especially if they get most of the stuff they sell from local producers.

What is going on?

There has been a bit of chatter by the Tinfoil hat brigade of which I’m a member, of an event happening the 27th of Sept. 2011. I’m not sure anything will happen but….
Think of this as a test of your preps

1. Where is your BOB and is it ready?
2. How much gas is in your vehicle and do you have cash on hand to top off? Maybe a couple of extra cans of  fuel?
3. Important papers and pics are the copied on paper and on a jump drive?
4. If it is a terrorist attack like a “dirty bomb” do you have enough plastic sheeting or garbage bags to seal off windows and doorways? A decon station for family/friends that may show up?
5. Where is your Duct tape?    LOL
6. 1st aid kits, additional meds and basic hygene supplies.  I myself am low on TP (right now) but I do have back up options already bought.

TSHF and TEOWAKI will not announce themselves. Just think of this as a Bug in test with a few hours notice. I know it will be a busy morning for me getting things into place I’ve been thinking about doing. If it doesn’t happen well I will have gotten a few things done that needed doing. If the system blows up, well I’m ready as I can be.

The Fed want’s to know what you are saying about it.

he Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, which in a Request for Proposals filed to companies that are Fed vendors, is requesting the creation of a “Social Listening Platform” whose function is to “gather data from various social media outlets and news sources.” It will “monitor billions of conversations and generate text analytics based on predefined criteria.” The Fed’s desired product should be able to “determine the sentiment [ED:LOL] of a speaker or writer with respect to some topic or document”… “The solution must be able to gather data from the primary social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Forums and YouTube. It should also be able to aggregate data from various media outlets such as: CNN, WSJ, Factiva etc.” Most importantly, the “Listening Platform” should be able to “Handle crisis situations, Continuously monitor conversations, and Identify and reach out to key bloggers and influencers.” Said otherwise, the Fed has just entered the counterespionage era and will be monitoring everything written about it anywhere in the world. After all, why ask others to snitch for you and anger everyone as Obama found out the hard way, when you can pay others to create the supreme FIATtack Watch^TM using money you yourself can print in unlimited amounts. And once the Internet is completely “transparent”, the Fed will next focus on telephone conversations, and finally will simply bug each and every otherwise “private” location in the world. Because very soon saying that “printing money is treason” will be treason, and such terrorist thoughts must be pre-crimed before they even occur.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/here-comes-fiattackwatch-bernanke-goes-watergate-prepares-eavesdrop-everything-mentioning-fed

Let’s give them what the want!

    You got to say we know exactly how those beltway folks feel about “Flyover country”. Let’s see how they feel when food can’t get to market? Back east and on the left coast because of regulations.I say give the Greens and the EPA what they want on rolling black and brownouts for power. Don’t upgrade your power stations. I’m ready with alternate power, are you? Do you have food stored? I hope at least 3 weeks worth I’ve been doing this Blog for a year and if you only have 3 weeks worth of food and all you need. I am very dissappointed.
    What are you waiting for permission? to simply protect your family from starving? Basic medical care?  If not not now when? If you haven’t stored long term food you need to get HOT now sparky.  What is the price of coffee? Beef, bacon? did you go through this last Spring and thought veggies were cheap? Hell the Feds flooded farmland to save a town, that had no industry of any sort. I don’t want to be mean about the folks in Cairo, Ill but farmland was more important than their homes. Homes produce nothing but taxes . Farmland produces food, we we can’t have that, Monsanto needs to wipe out the small farmer.
    I used to think the politicians were simply dumb about cause and effect. Not anymore if they were just inept they would hit on a program or 2 that would help folks simply by accident. No there is a plan, I think fascism or a corporate feudalism is the plan.
  

Natural Allies and ramblings

     I’m feeling it coming, I think we are getting closer to the end game. I certainly hope I am wrong and the PTBs can stretch it out a little longer. I know in the prepper and survival folks tend towards independence and going it  alone. I don’t blame them, we’ve been ridiculed, called names and had our sanity question every time we try to explain why and how we do what we do. As a group I think we tend to be conservative, Libertarians or Constitutionalists at least that my impression.
       But I’ve seen a quite a few folks that share the idea of being left alone. Very into living “green” or self-sustainable lives. These aren’t the limousine liberals that tell everyone else how to live, then jet to Cancun for the latest climate conference. But folks that practice what they preach.  I’ve learned tons at several of the green sites about solar power, composting, greenhouses, gardens and critters. These folks can be a natural ally to preppers and survivalists.
    I know I was terrible about breaking folks into different camps of Us vs. Them. I hope I can see now the things we agree on and share in common rather than the differences. But I’m still learning and not perfect. I think when we break free of those mental boxes we put ourselves and others in we find we do want the same basic things. Perhaps how that is accomplished is different. 
    I can’t say I’m independent as I’d like to be as I’m on SSD and get a little military disability pay from the Feds. I don’t think of this as an “entitlement”. I paid into the system for over 20 years. I’ve not taken food stamps, but I did get my home insulated via the state. Before Obama’s “Cash for caulkers” happened and got a little extra insulation added to the house. What’s scary is it looks like Assets will be counted again for Food stamps next month. That means a lot of formerly middle class folks will fall off the rolls or have to sell off more items to keep getting food stamps. Our food pantries have been wiped out and have little food coming in at today’s prices it’s all you can do just to keep yourself from visiting the pantry.
     A major advantage is I got debt free except for my home and a small monthly payment I make to my parents when they saved my bacon when I got so sick. My medical was also covered by VA because of my service. So I didn’t have huge medical bills for all the testing and time in the Extended care unit of my local VA. I’ve worked to get as small as possible on living costs and I still have a few items I could give up in hard times. I got the Dish” Family plan” they don’t even offer it any more. What’s nice they haven’t tried to jack my rates. If they do kill it, I’ll simply cancel the plan. I’m not under contract so cost to cancel. I use Magic jack for home phone at $20.00 per year. No it’s not perfect, I get some echo on some calls. But for that price I’m willing to put up with a little less than perfect. Mom insisted on the family plan for me an my sister because of health issues. We are both paying off the phones Dad got added.  We were  each given a limit of 300 min. per month. I use about 30 minute maybe an hour, sister uses about 300+ so it works out.
      I suppose my whole idea is get outside of the box you have placed yourself and others in. Look for what you share in common and not what makes you different. Get out of the box of is a “good life” from the PTBs and define your own “Good Life”.   I’m not there yet, I’m still looking for a little property out in the high desert where I can keep some critters and go off grid. At least for a getaway spot for mine and Mom’s RV.
    Amazon.com is having a great deal on solar panels with free shipping on the little 20 watt I’m starting with for my system. Yes, it’s small, I’m hoping to power my RV to start and move up to home power. It’s also free power after the first investment and the 20 watt I’m looking at is only $78.00 and free shipping.
    

A little music from Adele

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Please support this gal if you like her music

You have no right to consume the food you produce!

http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2011/9/15/wi-judge-to-zinniker-ftcldf-no-fundamental-right-to-own-a-co.html

“no, Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to own and use a dairy cow or a dairy herd;”
“no, Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to consume the milk from their own cow;”
“no, Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to produce and consume the foods of their choice…”
(source)   http://www.foodrenegade.com/your-choice-of-food-fundamental-right/

I would like this judge to explain if I don’t own my body or the fruits of my labor who does? 

I will not abide this illeagal ruling. They are pushing so hard that becoming a criminal is the only option. These fools don’t realize that the are creating contempt for this law, and this will create contempt for all laws.

Still working on the RV…..

     I got the german matress up in the overhead bunk. I think it’s going to work out great as it didn’t seem to sit as high as I thought it might. In fact it almost looks like it belongs there, and while it’s not as wide as the bunk is it will suit me fine and I’ll have space for a small tv to ride up there as well. I got my pillows and sheets already in and washed up my quilt and comforter and they are ready to go. I filled up 2 gas cans with “real” gas no ethanol added. It’s about 9 cents a gallon more expensive but it’s worth it not to deal with ethanol. I’ll be doing a major fuel run at the end of the month to top off both RV gas tanks and the propane tank. It’s nice to know that my RV will supply my oven and fridge for at least 10 days of use in the event of a grid down situation. Once I get the 20 watt solar panel tied in and a small inverter or 2, I should be pretty well set for minimal power to charge batteries and keep the fridge running.
      I’m changing my bucket setup for the RV and going to an easy open buckets rather than the normal seal buckets. I’m sealing the food already and the bucket is more for vermin protection and ease of moving and storage. I have to buy a heavy duty can opener. I managed to break 2 of the cheap dollar store ones I had gotten. I ‘m not the strongest person in the world so it was quite a shock. Oh I still had my Letherman and could have opened the cans but I want a nice heavy duty opener if SHTF. I’ve always had trouble using the P-38 can opener with my hand strength and while the are a great little opener,  I’ll keep my Letherman as the ultimate back up (EDC) and buy a good can opener for the RV.
     Still a few more things to get:

1. Replacement filters and spark plugs for both the RV and generator.
2. A few more basic tools, wrenches and sockets I can carry on the RV full time
3. Need a new grill for the Hibachi. 
4. Baking pans
5. Extra tarp since the awning is broken. Shade and catching rain water. 

All in all we managed as a family but I’ve been prepping for awhile and I should have done better on my mobile/Bugout preps. I developed a bunker mentality of staying home and preping exclusively with that mentality and I need to be more flexible. What if my camping trip had been a bug out situation? I would have had a plenty to eat but my water and sleeping accommodations were terrible. If you store freeze dried or dried goods you must have access to good water or a way to make water good. A sprouting  jar/trays and seeds for sprouting might be good to add, so you have some fresh veggies.
    

Lessons learned camping and wow, Solar panels have really dropped in cost!

Lessons learned on this trip:

1. Good sleep is critical for me. My CIDP rages and flares if I don’t get good rest. Solution is a good solid mattress from Germany for the overhead bunk instead of the foam. 
2. Always take notes and write stuff down of need to haves and want to haves. I did good on most items but 1st aid was a little lacking and I screwed up on comfy sleep pillows.(extra pens, note pads and pencils)
3. Know your BOV: I lost all my water by not knowing which way to turn a valve. The RV site had fresh water so I could take on water but I/you may not have that option. Have backups of all critical items. I had an extra 2 gallons of water that got me through and bleach to purify water if needed. Today I added a ceramic water filter as a back up. I did have access to water out of a resevoir.
4. Awning is toast on the RV.  That’s okay it’s a bit dated, but instead of getting another awning I’m looking at an attachable cabana/tent. It’s about the same price as a new awning and I gain at least another 49 sq. ft. of living area. The critters will love it as well!
5. Pressure cooker and pans: If you store beans and brown rice a pressure cooker is critical for saving fuel and cooking fast. There were 3 different groups down there and no one had real baking dishes for muffins, cakes or loves of bread. We managed but it would be better to have at least foil pans if not regular baking pans. Mom did have muffin cups on hand, LOL.
6. Clean up: Extra paper towels, cleaners for your home away from home that will work with fiberglass and plastics.
7. Pets: Clean up after your critters, I can buy doggie doo bags 50 for a dollar. I think my family was the only ones picking up after our pets. Sure the poo will eventually break down, but not over a weekend or a month of folks having 2-3 dogs all doing animal thing. Simple consideration is all I ask. Plus in SHTF scenario you need a way to get rid of all poo. Think about it now and how you will deal with it.

I’ve been looking at the prices of solar panels for a couple of years.  Recently the costs have really dropped. I found several nice 2nd generation panels from 10-20 watts going for $45-$90.00 and the price per watt is getting pretty reasonable. I’ve been looking to augment my RV power since it has a DC fridge and freezer and while it’s small it could be critical in a grid down situation and it’s a good place to start my off-grid power.
I also like that I can buy components as money becomes availible rather than a huge investment all at once.  I’m looking a 20 watt panel for $82.00 to start for the RV + a charger controller and the RV already has batteries and the DC wiring, lights and other stuff done. Next big purchase would be batteries and I think I’ll go with the gel packed, as they are sealed, no maintenence and no out gassing.