Thursday, February 12, 2009

Another freak windstorm


Yet another freak windstorm passed through here yesterday as you can see by the picture to the left. That WAS the 8x16 carport that I left up over the winter for storage. I had 18" stakes every 2 feet along the frame on both sides, but they didn't do a thing. I was going to pick it all up today, but it stayed just as windy and got bitter cold for a few hours before warming back up. I'll have to clean it up tomorrow after I finish a few things at my folks place. I suppose it could have been worse, nothing broke the glass on the dehydrator. Now I just have to make room in the garage for all of it so I can get it out of the yard. I planned on taking it apart to cut down and make the chicken run, but I didn't quite have THIS kind of disassembly in mind! lol

Monday, February 9, 2009

My Answers

Basic Questions About You
1-What is the biggest goal of your lifestyle?-to be as self sufficient as possible
2-When did you start this lifestyle? around 9 years ago
3-What was your main motivation? We were both tired of paying too much for things we could grow/raise/ make for ourselves
4-Did you have any previous experience in anything you're doing now? Yes, gardening and outdoor skills. Lisa knew almost all the rest
5-Does your spouse/signifiacant other (if you have one) share the same ideas? Definitly, she pushes ME to go for new things
6-Do your friends and family understand and support these choices? What about your kids? Family-some support us, some think we're odd. Kids-don't get it at all
7-How happy are you with your achievements so far? Very
8-Are you more of a gardener, homesteader, prepper, health concience, "green"' or a combination of several? I'd say all of the above
9-Has this change of lifestyle affected your personality? Oh yea, i'm wayyy more laid back now
10-Has it changed your view of your life before? Of course, I see all the time and money wasted
11-What about how you view others that don't understand it or naysay? Well...I used to be really negative with people, now I try to talk and get ideas in their heads.
12-If you could convince someone to live the way you do in ONE sentance, what would you say? I ask people what they do with all the time they DON'T spend taking care of themselves...that usually gets them thinking

Other Questions-
1-How large is your vegetable garden? 45x60 veggies, 8x24 and 6x12 strawberries, 4x32 grapes, 4x24 and 2x48 blackberries
2-Do you grow any fruits, and what and how many? see above
3-Do you have any animals and what are they? (other than pets) Yep, 9 laying hens, 2 rabbits, and 3 new chicks
4-Do you can/dehydrate/freeze/store your own produce? yes, yes, yes, and yes
5-Do you work with mainly power tools or hand tools in your gardens and others? (wood cutting, splitting, tiller vs. broadfork etc...) I prefer hand tools. I like the feeling of being tired when something is done, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment
6-Do you compost? yep
7-Do you recycle?uh-huh
8-Do you consider yourself energy consience? (conserving to save $) Oh yea, definitly
9-Do you make any of your own household cleaners? almost all
10-Do you make your own bread? Lisa does-almost 6 months now with no store-bought bread
11- If in an emergency situation, are you able to not leave home for a week? How about a month? A year?? Not quite a year, but working on it
12-Are you tired of answering questions yet? naaaaa, I wrote 'em
13-If you prep, what do you consider to be your most useful tool/items-A good knife and a 22 rifle
14-Are you able to heat your home without gas or fuel oil? unfortunately no, just with camp heaters
15-Are you able to cook without gas or electricity? on camp stoves, yes, and also outside on a stone grill
16-Again, if in an emercency situation, could you live in the wild or out of a tent? ( camping,hunt/fish, cook,etc.) Yep, used to do that all of the time when I was younger
17-Have you ever practiced your prep skills? (turning off main power for a day or 2) How did you do? (this can include a power outage due to weather as a test) Yes, during a power outage and a few test runs here by killing the main breaker
18-Do you have the knowledge & skills (plus tools) to hunt and fish for food? Since I was old enough to walk
19-If you don't prep, why not?
20-Do you or can you sew your own clothes and make your own bedding? I can sew a little, but mostly thats Lisa's department
21-Can you field dress a deer, drink a coffee, smoke a cigarette, make a cell phone call, light a fire, AND answer all of my annoying questions at the same time? lol thanks for playing! Dammit, I just got deer blood on my keyboard and dropped my phone in the fire.........at least my coffee is still sorta-kinda warm even though I left my cup on some snow after I spilled half of it on my last 4 smokes.

Chris's poll & questioneere


I know I'm asking a lot from you folks, but I designed a bit of a poll/questionere for all of 'ya. Reading everyone's polls and responses has gotten me thinking about everyone, what they do, who they are, and what they stand for. (ok so maybe I'm stuck at home on my first day of layoff and bored) It's a bit long, 33 questions in all, but I just wanted some insight on everyone that may respond. I'll repeat this on another post with all of my answers, just for comparison. Thanks to anyone that responds!

Chris


Basic Questions About You
1-What is the biggest goal of your lifestyle?

2-When did you start this lifestyle?

3-What was your main motivation?

4-Did you have any previous experience in anything you're doing now?

5-Does your spouse/signifiacant other (if you have one) share the same ideas?

6-Do your friends and family understand and support these choices? What about your kids?

7-How happy are you with your achievements so far?

8-Are you more of a gardener, homesteader, prepper, health concience, "green"' or a combination of several?

9-Has this change of lifestyle affected your personality?

10-Has it changed your view of your life before?

11-What about how you view others that don't understand it or naysay?

12-If you could convince someone to live the way you do in ONE sentance, what would you say?


Other Questions-

1-How large is your vegetable garden?

2-Do you grow any fruits, and what and how many?

3-Do you have any animals and what are they? (other than pets)

4-Do you can/dehydrate/freeze/store your own produce?

5-Do you work with mainly power tools or hand tools in your gardens and others? (wood cutting, splitting, tiller vs. broadfork etc...)

6-Do you compost?

7-Do you recycle?

8-Do you consider yourself energy consience? (conserving to save $)

9-Do you make any of your own household cleaners?

10-Do you make your own bread?

11- If in an emergency situation, are you able to not leave home for a week? How about a month? A year??

12-Are you tired of answering questions yet?

13-If you prep, what do you consider to be your most useful tool/items

14-Are you able to heat your home without gas or fuel oil?

15-Are you able to cook without gas or electricity?

16-Again, if in an emercency situation, could you live in the wild or out of a tent? ( camping,hunt/fish, cook,etc.)

17-Have you ever practiced your prep skills? (turning off main power for a day or 2) How did you do? (this can include a power outage due to weather as a test)

18-Do you have the knowledge & skills (plus tools) to hunt and fish for food?

19-If you don't prep, why not?

20-Do you or can you sew your own clothes and make your own bedding?

21-Can you field dress a deer, drink a coffee, smoke a cigarette, make a cell phone call, light a fire, AND answer all of my annoying questions at the same time? lol thanks for playing!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

3 hot chicks in a box

Earlier I was on the way to visit my friend Jim, and decided to stop at Tammie's and drop off some eggs. Apparantly my timing was perfect, and she had just came in with the chicks. We talked a while and I drove back home with 3 little Americauna chicks in a box. 5 minutes later and they were in the brooder with food, water, and Lisa's hands ready to welcome them home, LOL. The temp inside the brooder is holding steady at around 92, and they're chirping and eating like crazy.... how can ya not love baby chicks???



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