All Things Prepping, Simple Living, Back to the Basics [Survival Today, an on going thread]

vanity | 2/26/18 | CottonBall

[CottonBall]

No, you didn’t go overboard. Share whatever you want here. sounds like you’re going through some frustrating times, and those things need to be talked about. Sometimes I find the solution by talking about things like that.

why is it I’m hearing about more and more adult children that are acting more like children than adults? It certainly seems like the country is falling apart. We had to do the same thing, we left our son some crumbs as you say :-) with the bulk of estate going to charities for now. He hasn’t shown himself to be very responsible yet. I’ve seen young adults that inherit a lot of money and it ruins their lives. Their weak work ethics disappear altogether. And they never really get on their own 2 feet. So when he turns around, then I’ll change my will. Sadly though, I don’t have anyone else to leave things to or to be the executor.

and how this relates to survival – my neighbors are older folks with good knowledge of the ways of the past. The problem is we will need younger folks with strong bodies. And few of them that I see have strong work ethic‘s. They are entitled and lazy and it’s going to be difficult if those of the ones we have to depend on. Most will be waiting for the government to help them…

[CottonBall]

California is beautiful. No doubt about that. It’s sad liberals and illegals have ruined such a beautiful place.

I don’t remember the times you speak of, when areas weren’t so heavily populated. It sounds ideal. I think it’s sad to think of so many areas being so overpopulated, with all the inherent problems.

[CottonBall]

“cobbler” What an adorable word. Wouldn’t that be cute to put down as an occupation on a form? It certainly is the lost art. It would be difficult for someone to be able to figure out how to do that on their own, as well as fixing watches.

[Mears]

““cobbler” What an adorable word.”

---

My grandkids,all young adults,probably wouldn’t even know what it means anymore than they would know what to do in a car if you told them to roll down the window.

.

[CottonBall]

Or dial a phone. ;)

[Aliska]

I hated LA as a teen. San Francisco was nice to visit then and when my ex was in the service. Not now.

We were in Sonoma County which was much less populated then. Around SF and San Rafael and to the south and east, a different story.

You didn't see what I chopped off. Amazing we have such similar predicaments. I wondered if letting so many from the country immediately south was karma because they still have a tradition of taking care of their elderly but as they become more Americanized and move up the economic ladder, and work hard and play hard, well I know one who went to a nursing home as her two daughters I never thought to try to find out why they didn't take care of their mother. One is on disability and said her mother paid for two abortions for her and I think one for her sister. An anomaly I think.

My aunt got mad at me and told my mother she wasn't going to leave me anything because I smoked. My father didn't like it either. And I didn't hide it. Toward the end, it was $5 a day which is horrible. But I did quit. And seldom look back. So thankful I'm free from it. A priest to thank. Said if I could make it two weeks, I could kick it.

But I guess she changed her mind. I didn't particularly deserve it. I might post some of the rest which will clear some of it up the next day or two.

Thank you for being so nice about everything. And most of all, a good listener.

There were lots of parts of CA that weren't so great. That desert route to LA was horrid, got heat stroke on that trip when I was about 12, felt like I was going to die. Overheated in the low humidity and dehydrated.

And Disneyland no longer has any appeal. That place on Fisherman's Wharf where I first tried swordfish was still going a few years ago. Wonderful place. Wouldn't be affordable now. Just remembered while reviewing. Tarantino's. (sp?) Beautiful view. White tablecloths. Mom started buying frozen swordfish after that. But it doesn't seem as good now for some reason. On the rare occasion it's available, fairly often, usually previously frozen which would be fine with me. Different waters or something.

My kids took a trip out with their brother. I almost asked to go along to see some of the places we lived but decided no particular reason, car kind of crowded and might cramp their style a little.

[V K Lee]

Or unlocking a car door, from the outside. True story (so I’m told) Woman standing beside car asking if anyone might carry her to convenience store. Batteries in her car ‘keys’ had died and unable to unlock door.

We become rapidly acclimated to the small conveniences used each day and totally lose ourselves in the new methods, expecting them to always be there for us. And those SMART phones. Attempt to remember the phone numbers of the people close to you (parents, sister, best friend) Few of us would be able to repeat these unless we ‘checked our phone’
We rely on devices for that which we should know.

CottonBall - it’s doubtful most children even know what a dial is. We no longer have these on most phones, TV has lost their old dial. Radio dial is seldom used with stations coded and a button pressed. Ranges have buttons and perhaps a dial seldom used.

[CottonBall]

that’s true about dials. Yet we still say “turn the channel”. Or maybe just i do.

[CottonBall]

I remember my grandma talking about ice boxes long after they were gone. Old habits!

Yes life will be a surprise to many if/when TSHTF. I was just talking to a neighbor here - the holler didn’t get electricity until after WWII and wasn’t paved until the 60’s. His dad married someone from the next holler over because they rarely got to town to meet people. He said his grandparents didn’t even notice the depression, because their life didn’t change at all. They always grew and raised everything they needed, and bought things only occasionally.

[V K Lee]

My GM would call it an ice box as well, even though it was an Admiral. And the range was a gas ‘stove’ She lived in a home heated with a gas furnace, window unit a/c, osculating fans. This was before Central H/A was ever seen in a home yet found in public places (theaters, stores, etc)

Her sewing machine was non electric, having a pedal on which she placed her feet, rocking the pedal to operate the machine needle needed to stitch. Remember it to be a Singer, but not certain if correct. My aunt got that machine upon the death of GM.

GM never drove. GD was always the one who navigated the old Pontiac. When he died, she relied on others to taxi her until she eventually took her exam and passed the test for driver’s license. Even then, feeling uncomfortable about driving. Loved that old Pontiac with the Lighted Chief hood ornament. But it was the devil to drive. No power steering YIKES! How she managed to turn the wheel in her aged condition. She wasn’t frail but must have had her limitations.

[Mears]

“Or unlocking a car door, from the outside. True story (so I’m told) Woman standing beside car asking if anyone might carry her to convenience store. Batteries in her car ‘keys’ had died and unable to unlock door.”

---

I had a friend who was as stupid-——we had lunch and were approaching her car and it wouldn’t open with the remote and she almost cried——how was she going to get home-——I told her to use the key,just like the old days.

I then said it was probably the battery,she said that she didn’t know there was a battery, I asked her if she thought that there was a little Gremlin inside to make her door open.

She said,”What’s a Gremlin?”

I gave up.

.

[V K Lee]

Perhaps if you had told her a little green man was the real power behind that remote, she might relate a little easier.

Hearing stories such as these gives us insight as to why one might burn down his home while attempting to kill a varmint or two. Common Sense is no longer common. Actually, it is very Uncommon.

[Professional Engineer]

Unfortunately, my first aid prepping is just a hodgepodge of items thrown together. Things I find at the store and think I could use. I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into it. I do have some fish anabiotic’s, but the last time I bought them was sometime ago, so it might be time to upgrade the stock.

I found Skinny Medic's youtube channel a few months ago. He goes into detail about what to put into a various kits and why. He also has a online store for some of it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/SkinnyMedic/featured

https://medicalgearoutfitters.com

[CottonBall]

TY, at this point I just need someone to tell me who get, LOL!

I’ve enjoyed learning about food storage and preparation, gardening and saving seeds and natural fertilizers/pesticides, homemade cleaners, fish antibiotics and even water purification....that reminds me, I have to find some more sodium hypochlorite. I think that’s what it was...

But my curiosity has waned when it comes to first aid. I’ll just copy what others have done ;) One sister is a nurse and another a neurologist. They apparently received all the medical interest in the family, because I chose engineering instead - no blood, limited human contact, and lots of calculations and computers. That’s my comfort zone! In fact, one of my favorite things about prepping is the organization - spreadsheets of what I have, organizing and rotating it, for some strange reason I enjoy that part of it a lot.

So I’ll follow the skinny medic...can you trust a skinny medic, though? I guess it was a skinny cook, lol!

[CottonBall]

calcium hypochlorite - If anyone has a cheap source, let me know! Are used to get bags of it from Walmart, but their percentages seem to be a lot lower now.

[Jamestown1630]

I happened to learn today about Hannah Hauxwell, an English lady who lived a very harsh, solitary life as a small farmer in the Pennines, and about whom several documentaries were made over decades. She died just early this year.

I’m sure a lot of people knew about her; but I didn’t. I was so moved by her natural grace and ‘class’; her love for her home, hills, streams, and her animals; and her simple but deep wisdom, that I wanted to share it with the prepper-minded folks on FR. It seems to me that underneath, a certain *character* is actually the greater part of being a prepper in the first place.

I was especially touched by her insistence, on her one visit to London, that she believed that she - in her simple, isolated life - was far less lonely than many of the people she observed in the great City.

If you have time to watch these documentaries, they are well worth it; there are others, and news stories, especially since her death on January 30 of this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4XNv0QGwdA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQlzanYABg

[CottonBall]

What an amazing lady! I hadn’t heard of her before this. She shows we don’t have to be perfect at it - the way her animals didn’t listen to her, LOL!

[CottonBall]

This is your ping to the All Things Prepping, Simple Living, Back to the Basics Thread

Check in to see what is new! See JT’s post #376 (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3635476/posts?page=376#376) about Hannah Hauxwell, an English lady who lived a very harsh, solitary life as a small farmer in the Pennines. She posted some videos that really shows the isolation and the ruggedness of what she dealt with.

This is an ONGOING thread, meaning drop in when you want and chat. There is no one topic or story, but ongoing sharing with prepper friends.

If you want off/on this list, just let me know.

[CottonBall]

Yesterday, I got ready to plant some peas and lettuce. Well, I'm hoping the lettuce will pop up on its own, since I planted some Romaine and Black Simpson in the same spots and let them go to seed. It's worked well in the past, but last year I moved all the lettuces around to put them in a better location. So whether they come back or not is unknown.

I plant my peas the way the locals here told me about - just find some branches in the forest that are about 3-4' tall and stick them in the ground for the peas to vine up. It works great! I hate dealing with trellis' (trelli?) because I have to ask for help, not being very strong and all. But after a rain, I can deal with the branches.

You can click on the pic for a bigger rendition.

It's hard to tell, but I put them in a 3-sided shape, so I can put romaine on one side and black simpson in the center square. And cilantro on the edges.

Do you have any handy short-cuts or old-fashioned methods to share, about anything - gardening, cooking, cleaning, animals, etc?

[CottonBall]

Today, I did one of my favorite hobbies - saved money!!! And made something yummy. a twofer ;)

I found some hot dog buns at 50 cents a package, and bought 8, knowing what I’d do with them. And it wasn’t to gorge on chili cheese dogs (although that sounds pretty good right now).

I found hot dog or hamburger buns make the best homemade croutons. They are light and don’t get too dense so I have to worry about fillings. And the flavor is really good, without overpowering whatever you are having them with.

Italian Croutons

1/4 butter, melted
1/4 cup EVOO
3 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
8 oz hot dog or hamburger buns, cut into 1/2”-3/4” cubes

In a bowl, combine the butter, olive oil, seasoning, and garlic. PPut the bread cubes in a large bowl, and drizzle with the butter mixture, and toss to coat. Place single layer on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 250-275 for about 2 hours, stirring halfway. You can bake at 325 for about 40 minutes, but they do get pretty browned.
cornbread croutons- 300 for 40 minutes. LUV this one too.

I got 4 HUGE bags of croutons (ok, not a quantitative amount but....it was the hot dog bag filled about 3/4 of the way, then I put them in a zip top freezer bag, and they last for months in the basement)