And Again... I'm Just Saying

I'm having a brain fart. Ever had one? If you have to ask wtf is a brain fart then move to the back of the bus.... it might be terminal! LOL
Is it just me ?
Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with the BS going down all around us that I just want to crawl up in a cave somewhere and hibernate until it all goes away. Trouble is.... It's not gonna go away and I don't have my ducks in a row. I'm trying but....I'm just not there.

Things are spiraling out of control in this country and the brakelines have been cut. We are on a train that is derailing as you read this. There seems to be no stopping . And so I drag myself up offa my personal pity pot, wipe my sniveling nose and my sorry a$$, and make it through another day... another week... another month.

I'm still "dealing" out of our preps and I HATE IT! I feel like every day that we burn thru our food storage we are taking three steps back. I want to be able to move one step forward again.

If the swine flu "epidemic" happens as they propose,it will be even worse. I have drawn a line in the sand. I work in Food Service. If there is a mandatory Flu vaccination I am sure that all people associated in the business willl be made to show proof of vaccination or not be allowed to work in the public. Ain't gonna happen here. I refuse to take those shots. Not going to happen. Never. They will drag me kicking and fighting to the very end. I would rather die on my feet than be subjected to begging on my knees for some scraps in a FEMA camp. The DH and I have discussed this more than a few times and we are in agreement here.

OK I know this is a rather bleak post and I almost didn't post it.
I just wanted to let those of you who get like this once in awhile know....it's normal. We should be depressed about the state of our nation. It is a sad thing to watch our country spiral down the toilet. We all have to just stay the course and fight the good fight. It ain't over till its over. Right?
The rant in my head is so much better than the rant on this post! I am just sometimes "consumed" with all that I read and the things I see going on around me.

Hey ... I'm just sayin....

Sheldon Anderson- Wake up Sheeple

Color me weird but I thought this guy was funny!

Sunday Doings

I slept in this morning! I didn't get up till 7:30. I have finally gotten used to the new hours. I'm working 6am-2pm and I am really liking the "extra" time I seem to have now. Made some tea and toast for breakfast out on the patio.

Then it was out to the lower garden. It's time around here to get ready for the fall garden. So we pulled up all non-productive plants. The beans, the peas, most of the squash, the cantaloupe, corn, and the weeds. We even ended up pulling up all but one of the tomato plants as they were burnt badly.

There is still okra down there and some jalapeno's ( 6) , and two squash plants that are still producing. DH got it all tilled up and fertilized and raked out.
The pepper plants were loaded so we picked them and I put up two pints of pickled peppers. There were quite a few that were a bit "overripe" so I cut them in half and put them in the dehydrator. I am going to make jalapeno powder from them. It ought to go good in beans n such. I figured I better do these outside just in case it got a little "smelly"

I also went up to the other garden and picked a bunch of basil and sage and have them drying out in the sun. My buddy Rubies told me that she does hers in the dehydrator at 95 degrees so I figured that with the 100+ temps outside I would let nature do this one for me!

Tonite for dinner we are going to have a fried food festival! LOL We hardly EVER eat fried foods but tonite will be an exception. We have a little bit of alot of stuff that we need to use but not enough to actually "put up". So for tonites lineup there will be okra, squash, zucchini, green tomato's, homemade steakfingers and fresh bread. All fried cept for the bread of course. We are going to do it out on the patio with the burner we use for canning. (I can outside~ it is Texas after all)

And how was your Sunday?

We had a major loss this last week. Our calico mama kitty herein known as KerryKitty disappeared and we have not been able to locate her. I know I talked about her several months ago and how she came to be with us. But for those that don't know... I've try to do an abreviated version.

We were at a gathering of friends to memorialize the passing of our friend Kerry one week to the day that he passed. He had a beautiful austrailan shepard (Boots) that had a thing for chasing cats. It was the end of the evening and we were helping his wife put things away and just sharing some downtime after a very stressful week. We hear Boots chasing something and a meowwwwing, so we raced over to access the damage. One big dog holding a lil bitty calico in his mouth! I got the kitty away and the poor thing was covered in (thank gawd) doggy drool. I took it over to DH and asked him "What are we gonna do with it?" He smiled and said "I guess we are gonna call it Kerry"

LOL I guess that wasn't so "abreviated" as I thought!

Anyway, back to the beginning of this post. We have no idea what happened to her....she's just gone. I am truly hoping that someone just thought she needed a home and took her with them. I don't wanna share the other thoughts that have passed through my mind. I know everyone has had this happen at one point or another. It still sucks.
We have decided to keep one of her litter. We call her possum. Don't ask, you would have to see her to understand! She's the one looking at ya in the above pic! We still have one more kitty to find a home for or she will end up with us as well. Honestly, I just hope we can find a home for her sister. I'm still trying!

Hmmmm....

This is a Must Watch! Sometimes it is amusing to watch a snake squirm a bit. Too bad Grayson's time ran out. I'm thinking he could have really had some fun.

Some things that make you go Hmmm.....

Kerry

I lost my best friend last August. I should say our best friend as he and DH were really tight. He would have been 54 today. So we came together this evening and celebrated his life and the day of his birth. He was always quite proud that Man walked on the moon on his birthday....always thought that was cool....so did I.
We both were into country music and the history behind songs and such. Who recorded it first, which made more money, who covered a song and made it better. Music.
Not just the music...but the artists and their stories and all. I play guitar and sing a little bit and have always been a fan. Kerry tested my "knowledge". I will actually admit that I didn't know that Freddy Fender was the lead singer in The Texas Tornado's. ( I lost twenty bucks and a six pack on that bet)
The man couldn't sing a lick or play any instrument. He did however have a vast amount of knowledge about music and the people who brought it to us. We used to have a running Jeopardy game thing going on. When a song would come on.....usually something obscure..... we would bait one another till one of us got the answer right. Lot's of fun and something I never ever thought I would look back on as a "memory". Funny how life deals ya twists and turns. So tonite, I raise a glass to my friend, and say...... Happy Birthday My Friend!

(oh and Willie DID do that song first!)

Willie For President

Now here's one I just had to share! Willie For President!!

The Experiment

Since loosing my job, I find myself thankful that we started prepping. We have very limited resources now but I'm back to work. It will continue to be a little tight,until my checks start coming in regularly. That should be in another 3 weeks. Which brings me back around to food storage! (My Favorite Topic!) I've not been able to continue onward with preps for now. Funny how weird that makes me feel. I keep thinking I am getting behind the curve and it's not a feeling I like. But things will get back on track!

We have been totally reliant on our food storage since unemployment bashed me in the face. (Here's where I WON'T bash my ex-employer , even though I could. I'm pretty sure she is aware of this blog , and some of the IP addresses look suspiciously like hers. Suffice it to say that I, unlike some, do not want to stoop to that level.)

Now back to the reason I decided to share my adventures in testing our food storage. Since we are on a forced break from actively prepping, I decided we might as well use this time in our lives to "Test" the waters. I wanted to see where the holes in our food preps might be. We have been using only our preps for the last 4 weeks and will continue to do so until the money is regular again. I have made two concessions in this. Milk and eggs. I DO have powdered milk and use it for cooking and recently for cereal. I just happen to LOVE milk and I decided that I will continue to buy it until

a) we can't anymore due to shortages in the food supply
b) we find a way to raise our own goats or cows
c) find a local source

Eggs are another thing. We have no place to raise chickens. I sorely wish we did. Hopefully some day! The old couple that own the park we live in raise chickens and alot of the time she has eggs for sale. Not always but most of the time. We kind of barter with them with veggies out of the garden. Barters not exactly the right word but it works like this. DH takes her veggies out of the garden which she loves. She is in her 90's and gets excited over a fresh tomato like a 6 year old and candy! So when we go to buy eggs....she won't take money for them.

I am happy to report that I am learning a few things during all this. I can see where my powdered milk needs to be stepped up. I have plenty for this "experiment" but not enough for longer term if we can no longer buy milk in the future. Flour is another concern. Again, plenty to get us through this, but not nearly close to even 6 months. Thats a BIG hole which we will certainly be working on in the future. Since I started making bread a few months ago we plow through it. (Sidenote... I have not bought one single loaf of bread since then!)
One of the things I found myself thinking in all this is that I want to focus more on growing herbs. I've piddled around with herbs but never got too serious. I need to change that. That is a renewable source that will continue to produce long after all the herbs in my cabinet are gone.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I feel like we have a good grasp on our food preps. We are headed in the right direction and have been gathering the "right" foods for us. I believe in storing what you eat and eating what you store. And now I KNOW it's the right way for us. We have not even noticed a difference in our meals. Isn't that AMAZING!!!
And so, other than a couple of obvious areas to work on, we are heading in the correct direction. LOL now I just can hardly wait to start prepping again. It becomes a lifestyle, or did for me. First thing I have planned is to replace what we have used. (of course)

Oh and on another subject, I want to give a shout out to my Mom!! That woman is so totally amazing. I received another note in the mailbox saying I had a package in the office. (Sound familiar?) I was blown away when I opened the box. My mom purchaced (and off my site-bless her twice) The Heirloom Organics Seed Vault! I LOVE YOU MOM!

Roller Babies

Too Cute~

Mangled reading- give it a try!

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

Thanks Patrice

Hot Summer Days

Not much going on around the homefront. The garden's are both slowing down. We are still getting some squash and the peppers are still comming on. Looks like another round of canning squash by Sunday. It's a good thing we like squash!! I need to count again but I think we have put up right at 45 quarts so far.
The peas are still blooming so I am hoping for another round. I picked a3 1/2 gallon bucket of them earlier this week and they are now residing in the freezer. I'm thinking the corn is about a week from being on my plate too!

The tomato's took a hard hit with all this heat. I was able to can 14 pints from the spring fling and am hoping they will kick it up a notch this fall. They did last year. Just in case they don't though I started some seeds yesterday. Beefsteak and Roma's. I also started some cauliflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts.
It's hard to believe that it is already time to start getting ready for the fall planting. Especially since it has been over 100 degree's for days and no relief in sight. Nor has there been any rain. There is no way we could be gardening this year if we did not water daily.

The kitties are eating solid food now. They are so funny to watch as they learn new things. We have found one a home. I think we have found homes for two more. I hope so as that would only leave two more homes to find.

The senate today blocked the Bill to Audit the Fed. Obama wants a second stimulus bill. The journalist who filed the lawsuit over the flu pandemic has been fired. Unemployment is still rising. Honduran protesters are being killed. The Chinese people are rioting again. The Pope is calling for world political authority to manage the global economy. The WHO has all but guaranteed there will be a flu outbreak this fall.
What, you didn't hear any of this today?
Tons of things going on around the world and what do we get force fed? Michael Jackson. It makes me want to rip my hair out. Every TV channel is carrying it. Why all the focus on a pediofile when our world is crumbling? Disgusting , just disgusting.

An old farmer's advice

• Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
• Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
• Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
• Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
• Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
• Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
• It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You cannot unsay a cruel word.
• Every path has a few puddles.
• When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
• The best sermons are lived, not preached.
• Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
• Don't judge folks by their relatives.
• Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
• Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
• Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.
• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
• Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
• The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
• Always drink upstream from the herd.
• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
• Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
• If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
• Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
• Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Thanks to Patrice over at Rural Revolution for this one!

News RoundUp

Breathe In, Breathe out

Well it didn't take as long as I thought it would to find another job. Still food service but I took a different direction this time. It should be interesting but I won't be able to start until the 13th! And then at least another two weeks before a paycheck.

I was stressing about all this until HerbalPagen left an encouraging comment on my last post.( Thanks again for the kind words)I had to sit back and reconsider. She is absolutely right.

We live frugally. In the last few years we have cut our bills down to essentials. Like lot rent,electricity,phone,vehicle insurance and internet. Hey, don't laugh!! I'm going to keep my internet connection up till TPB shut it down. It is our main source of information and entertainment! Besides, how would I post??? LOL

We have a garden. We have been diligently canning, drying, and freezing EVERYTHING that we aren't eating fresh out of the dirt. There has been a whole lot less sharing with the neighbors this year over last. Not that we don't give veggies to folks...just have been more focused on preserving them for a later date.

I have been working on our food storage for almost a year now. We ain't gonna go hungry in a months time. And until we get the cash flow back to normal we will get by. We always do!!

And so once again it seems that a positive approach is the only approach.
DH has told me for years that I am a pessimist. And so I have been working on optimism in the face of the situations we find ourselves in. Both situations in my own life and the current state of our country. Something I have noticed since we started this journey towards self reliance, is that the more positive I feel ,the more positive things become.