Author Topic: What did you do today to prep... (Read 5780188 times)

Stwood · « **Reply #25860 on:** June 16, 2019, 08:44:03 AM »

Tidied up the garden tilling.
Mowed the grass/weeds between the elderberry transplants.
Set another hen

Knecht · « **Reply #25861 on:** June 16, 2019, 09:16:23 PM »

Hey guys, I don't post much lately. Still busy with the new house and various other stuff. Not much prepping, though with the new things done in house, I always think of ways to improve it for such situations or to create some hideout spots.
Since I can't afford a weed-whacker now, I'm getting better with good old scythe, so at least one new skill. I mean, I used it many times before, but now I'm having my own that I'm tuning to my height and style. Also getting better at peening it to sharpness. Still not achieving the ease of movement and effectiveness of experienced old users, but I'm getting there.
Planting some tomatos, mainly just trying out what can be grown here.
Searching our new property in full grow now, I'm glad to see we have enough plantain and several other herbs, also discovered we have wild lettuce (historically known as "poor man's opium") and I'm studying possible uses of it. Currently making tincture of chopped stems and blossoms in vodka. From what I've read, this plant can be very useful as mild painkiller and such. But sure, so can the vodka itself.

Stwood · « **Reply #25862 on:** June 17, 2019, 08:35:43 AM »

Sounds interesting Knecth. Sounds like you are enjoying your property.
Keep us posted.

ChEng · « **Reply #25863 on:** June 19, 2019, 07:55:08 PM »

Not today, but a few days ago, I completed two emergency bags (one for the Mrs., and one for me) and put them into the trunk of the car. Each has a three-day set of clothes, a small blanket (to supplement the larger ones already in the car,) a towel and a toiletry kit.
I also started getting together a medicine kit. When I first got put on blood pressure medicine, I complained to my doctor that I forgot my medicine once, or twice, a week. He surprised me by saying that that little forgetting was great! So, I have been taking one morning dose and one evening dose of all of my meds and putting them into those little Ezy-Dose zip-lock bags from Walmart. In seven weeks, I will have a full week's worth of emergency medicine. I'll start swiping some of my wife's meds also.

Redman · « **Reply #25864 on:** June 23, 2019, 06:04:37 AM »

Picked up a few items at the grocery store this morning to add to the storeroom.

Stwood · « **Reply #25865 on:** June 23, 2019, 07:46:05 AM »

Some rearranging in the storeroom. Stuff, buckets that are stacked on the floor on the east side of the storeroom. That's where I plan on building the next, stage 4, set of shelves.

Knecht · « **Reply #25866 on:** July 02, 2019, 09:31:46 AM »

Practicing my scything skill...hit a big hidden stump yesterday and broke the shaft, so I got a metal shaft today, will see how that works.

Redman · « **Reply #25867 on:** July 03, 2019, 05:34:24 AM »

Picked up some cans of kipper snacks at Dollar Tree for the storeroom and BOB.

Stwood · « **Reply #25868 on:** July 07, 2019, 08:33:47 AM »

Got in 9 more #10 cans of Augason LT supplies from Amazon. They were the same price as Wallys this time. So I used the amazon store card and get another 5% off.

Trouble with the shipment though. UPS pulls up and unloads 2 boxes. One box had *8* cans

in it. Bottom has been retaped along the way and broke open again.

So I get it in and 4 cans are bent, where the top/bottoms meet the sides. I figure when a can is bent there, the crimped seal is compromised.
So I get on chat with them and get 4 replacements coming.

When will their packers learn that you cannot put that kind of weight into a standard, lightweight box.

. Probably never??

Redman · « **Reply #25869 on:** July 08, 2019, 04:19:34 AM »

Quote from: Stwood on July 07, 2019, 08:33:47 AM

When will their packers learn that you cannot put that kind of weight into a standard, lightweight box. . Probably never??

Yes. My last shipment was my Fire Stick and an air filter for the riding mower. Stacked into one end of a 9 x 9 x 18 box crammed with air pillows and bubble pack the top and bottom bulging from the stacked items.

Yesterday I canned 7 quart jars of pork for stew etc.

Stwood · « **Reply #25870 on:** July 08, 2019, 06:16:11 AM »

Quote from: Redman on July 08, 2019, 04:19:34 AM

Yesterday I canned 7 quart jars of pork for stew etc.

Knecht · « **Reply #25871 on:** July 09, 2019, 07:35:55 AM »

Received my order of firewood...20m3 of spruce logs. Nice pile...will be a good practice for my chainsaw skills, not to mention wedging and splitting it. It should make a decent firewood stash for the winter. Spruce is very cheap now, as we have an epidemy of bark beetle here and many trees have to be taken down to prevent further spreading. I'm sad to see so many woods gone, but that's the only option if we don't want to lose them all. At least it makes for very cheap firewood. I also plan to keep some of the largest logs unsplit, to use them for various tasks (anvil block, splitting block etc; I'll likely also use some to make various bowl-shaped blocks for forming sheet metal - a friend should visit me later in the summer and teach me how to make plate armor. That's more about my self-employment and hobby than survival, but on the other hand, once you get skilled in making plate armor, you can make pretty much any hollow metal items you need.

Greekman · « **Reply #25872 on:** July 09, 2019, 12:15:28 PM »

Today I made two breakthroughs in knife sharpening.

First i understood why I could not a good edge with the Lansky sharpening system. Despite working and working there was always a shinny hair line on the edge. I now know this is because the rod flex down and grind a never ending secondary edge on a big angle.

Secondly I now can get a knife very sharp with the 1000 grit stone and a strop. Now shaving sharp but very functional.

Stwood · « **Reply #25873 on:** July 11, 2019, 05:03:35 PM »

Ordered more noodles for the storeroom.

Less than .20 package, hard to resist.
I'll donate more of these to the food pantry in town.

Bradbn4 · « **Reply #25874 on:** July 13, 2019, 08:24:58 PM »

I just went thru my rechargeable AAA/AA and gave them a fresh topping off.

I had found a cheap solar panel it to play with last night...when I figured out it would be a nice today...all sold out. It was a 100 watt setup that could be pressed into use as a simple emergency recharge station.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Nature-Power-100-Watt-High-Power-Complete-Solar-Kit-50111/303026135

For me I think the key to keep it simple and get a easel setup to plop it into the sun.

I just picked up a bunch of replacement sharping belts for my knife sharpener. It works and keeps a good edge on some of my cheap pocket knifes and kitchen knifes.

I have had this for a few years, it works...it can be quite harsh on the finish of some of my kitchen knifes...but perfect for that old EDC you don't have time to use a wet stone. At the time I bought the sharpener the cost was under $90 dollars with extra sanding belts.

https://www.worksharptools.com/ken-onion-edition-knife-tool-sharpener.html

Redman · « **Reply #25875 on:** July 17, 2019, 04:12:19 AM »

Canned navy beans yesterday. Processed 19 pint jars, 2 didn't seal. I suspect that the seal area on the lids is not as wide as it once was and that if not almost perfectly centered on the jars the seal will fail.

My Amazon order of ramen noodles showed up. Stwood put me onto these, I ordered 2 boxes of 48 pkg. I'll keep one and take one to a local food pantry.

Stwood · « **Reply #25876 on:** July 17, 2019, 08:59:02 AM »

Kewl beans on the canning

.
The shrinking seal, are those Ball lids?
The rest of my noodles should show today for the storeroom, and the food pantry in town.

Redman · « **Reply #25877 on:** July 17, 2019, 09:14:00 AM »

Quote from: Stwood on July 17, 2019, 08:59:02 AM

Kewl beans on the canning .
The shrinking seal, are those Ball lids?
The rest of my noodles should show today for the storeroom, and the food pantry in town.

Kerr lids but maybe the only difference is the name printed on them. Still got 12 boxes of Kerr lids.

Stwood · « **Reply #25878 on:** July 17, 2019, 09:18:07 AM »

I'll look mine over. I have very few Kerr's. They used to be top notch.

Redman · « **Reply #25879 on:** July 17, 2019, 09:32:15 AM »

I'm wondering if there will be anymore lids or jars marked Kerr.

Well maybe so I just look at Wally's website and see both.

Stwood · « **Reply #25880 on:** July 17, 2019, 12:54:42 PM »

No id'er. Jarden owns all of them now I think.
Seems I read they bought someone (Golden Harvest??) then shut those down.
Dollar General carried that brand. I'll try and remember to look next time I'm there.
Walmart still has their MainStays (china?) brand, but I won't buy those, especially the lids.

Redman · « **Reply #25881 on:** July 17, 2019, 02:34:07 PM »

Mainstays, yeah the plastic tops but not the jars or metal lids.

Stwood · « **Reply #25882 on:** July 17, 2019, 04:02:50 PM »

Wife canned 16 pints of pureed maters and peppers (combo) and one water in there as there was room.
One didn't seal. It boiled over so I'd say it was too full.
I've been picking the garden, and about a half dozen

--->horn worms.
Jap beetles are in full force on the pole beans.

Always something.....

Stwood · « **Reply #25883 on:** July 19, 2019, 08:44:56 AM »

Yesterday

Green beans
Peppers
Maters

Oops.............wrong thread.

Town run for some supplies

Knecht · « **Reply #25884 on:** July 19, 2019, 10:28:35 AM »

Cutting firewood...will likely save some of my logs to practice hewing and traditional carpentry.

Redman · « **Reply #25885 on:** July 22, 2019, 04:59:53 AM »

Canned 23 pints jars of potatoes yesterday.

Stwood · « **Reply #25886 on:** July 22, 2019, 08:43:01 AM »

Stwood · « **Reply #25887 on:** July 22, 2019, 08:44:07 AM »

Quote from: Knecht on July 19, 2019, 10:28:35 AM

Cutting firewood...will likely save some of my logs to practice hewing and traditional carpentry.

That would be a warm job here, this time of the year

Stwood · « **Reply #25888 on:** July 22, 2019, 06:28:02 PM »

Canned 7 quarts of stew.
10 pints of green beans.
2 pints of carrots.
6 pints of water to fill the canner.

Redman · « **Reply #25889 on:** July 23, 2019, 03:08:04 AM »

Quote from: Stwood on July 22, 2019, 06:28:02 PM

Canned 7 quarts of stew.
10 pints of green beans.
2 pints of carrots.
6 pints of water to fill the canner.

Yeah canning water, I've done that. Put a used lid on the jar, it seals.

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Author Topic: What did you do today to prep... (Read 5780188 times)