Monday, May 28, 2012

So you wanna honor Vets? Open your wallets!

Okay so it's a 3 day weekend. Okay, so I've spent most of it catching up around the farm. Okay, so most of us are gonna fire up the grill and party with family this weekend.

Just like Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Columbus Day most of society just sees it as a 3 day weekend, forgets the meaning behind it.

Well this weekend is not just a 3 day weekend, or time to catch up outside work. It's Memorial Day!
Time to honor those that have served in our armed forces and gave their lives so that we have the freedoms and others have the freedoms that allow them to have a 3 day weekend!

What better way to honor them but by taking care of their fellow brothers and sisters in the service?

The Homesteading Neophyte is hosting a blogathon later this month. While she hasn't opened up for pledges yet, it is a great cause that honors our service members. Pets2svets gives service animals to disabled soldiers. The Grey Knight's son in law (a active duty Marine) has just received a service dog to help with his injuries received in Afghanistan.

So this weekend earmark some money for this blogathon. Walk the walk instead of just talking the talk!
Blogathon for Pets2svets!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

DNS Attack?

I have tried to bring up survival blog several times in the last 12 hours. Keep getting a DNS. Of course dumb ass me didnt write down the number of the ip like JR says all the time. Is anyone else getting this? Does anyone have the number?

Friday, May 18, 2012

Blogathon : Note from Bear

A Homesteading Neophyte is holding a blogathon next month for PetsS2Vets.
The concept as I gather is that she blogs every 30 minutes for 24 hours, holds raffles for donated prizes and others donate money to the organization to support her staying awake all night.

Note from Bear:

If my people hadn't taken me in, I could have very easily become a shelter pet. My lady owner is hoping to train me (ick more training! can't I just play!) to work as a search and rescue dog or a therapy dog. She also tells me that her and the Grey Knight have kids in the military, one of which is being forciably seperated from the Marines for a injury he got in some wierd place named after a dog (Afghanstan). So this charity is certainly a worthy one!

Red Barn Farm has donated a box for this blogathon. Check out the blogathon details here....Homesteading Neophyte's Blogathon

Check out our donation here and please consider pledging a few dollars to help this cause..Our Gift Box

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Fire in my Soul

I know that I haven't posted a update since we came back from vacation. We especially I came back from vacation with a fire in my soul when it comes to preparing.

I don't know if it was the sheer sense of accomplishment in being able to bring back 5 lbs of catfish fillets, and 3 nice healthy sized bass. Not to mention learning the skill of skinning and cleaning a fish.
I'm not sure if it was saving found seeds including paw paws, or putting up a nice mason jar full of file (sassafrass leaves used to season gumbo).

We came back and threw ourselves into preparing the garden and weeding and planting more veggies. Looked into several local classes to learn skills. Another thing that I realized when on vacation is that I need more range time on weapons. I'm not sure if just the sight of a 12 guage shot gun being held by a 100 lb woman is gonna scare them dead. I was proud of myself, I haven't fired a gun since I was probably 10. The 30-30 scared the hell out of me but I put on my big girl panties and fired it anyway. Hell of a recoil!

Bear came back much better trained from doggie boot camp but the grooming there was horrible! We had to cut alot of the large mats out of his fur. Is a shame since he's such a pretty dog normally.

One of the highlights of the trip for me (besides fishing every day and actually catching fish!) will sound strange. The campground hosts (federal employees) were a husband and wife team. They have a sweet deal. They camp there for free for 8 months of the year and the feds pay them plus provide a camper. The 2 of them were also preppers! In talking with them, the subject of trapping specically squirrel trapping came up. He told us how easy it was to trap them using number 1 traps and peanut butter. Simply nail the trap to a tree and bait with peanut butter.
So I'm now the proud owner of 6 number 1 traps and 2 number 3 traps. Can't use them in this backwards state , but I have them if the shit hits.

Meanwhile the gardens continue to grow and the herbs are in full harvest state. Put up a full tray of oregano yesterday, sage currently is in the dryer. Chamomile needs to be next.

Friday, May 11, 2012

We are back!

Just a quick note to say we are back, tons to do outside to catch up. Isn't that always the case with vacations!

This was a working vacation for us with everyday (except travel days) spent fishing and foraging. We both came away feeling more confident of our skills.

Bear comes home tomorrow and I must get a ton of stuff done before that, will post more later with pictures to follow.