tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10177206106980185882013-03-03T11:00:40.672-08:00Prepare Now Newsletter Prepnow.usArticles on Preparedness...Self Reliant and Frugal Living...Foraging...Gear Reviews...Food Storage...Books...Cooking...Doctrines of Preparedness from an LDS Perspective...Current Events...Northern California Happenings...Bushcraft...and More!!...Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-77303588149733142502013-02-26T16:11:00.003-08:002013-02-26T16:11:40.471-08:002013-02-26T16:11:40.471-08:00Free Nature Awareness/Plant ID/Survival Skills Etc...Walk This Saturday!!<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Late notice...but I thought there might be a few on here who might want to know about this...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">March 2nd at 9am-Noon</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The corner of Oak Avenue and Baldwin Dam Rd. 7000 Baldwin Dam Road</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">All ages welcome</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The City of Folsom asked me to write up short write-ups for 50 markers that were placed along the Hinkle Creek Nature trail. The point of the self guided tour is to get people to slow down and think about the natural world around them and some exercises to aid that journey. I thought it would be fun to print up a handful of sheets to be distributed among whomever shows up and to walk with the group to see if the things I wrote up are understood and enjoyed! I'll be on the walk and will be happy to answer any questions about native plants...survival skills...anything I wrote...etc! ! I expect there will be some other knowledgeable people on the walk as well who can also answer questions. People can walk at their own pace making it an hour walk or 3 hours...whatever! I'll even leave marker printouts (maybe 2) at the trailhead for late comers. The walk is a mile loop with some hills and requires moderate physical health. We'll do it rain or shine.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">If you would like to see the write ups go to...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=213951570928968624269.0004be9fe0b86c2765e6e&msa=0&ll=38.694956,-121.184446&spn=0.006146,0.013711" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1361923242436_26827" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #2862c5; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; outline: 0px;" target="_blank">https://maps. google.com/ maps/ms?msid= 2139515709289686 24269.0004be9fe0 b86c2765e6e&msa= 0&ll=38.694956, -121.184446&spn= 0.006146, 0.013711</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">If you have questions let me know...</span>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-5666653205834378932012-03-01T21:13:00.000-08:002012-03-01T21:13:24.709-08:002012-03-01T21:13:24.709-08:00Costco Cheese...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sJEjaW1z24/T1BUr70a-5I/AAAAAAAAAi8/AdRY60siRL8/s1600/cheddar_cheese-9382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--sJEjaW1z24/T1BUr70a-5I/AAAAAAAAAi8/AdRY60siRL8/s320/cheddar_cheese-9382.jpg" width="320" /></a>So...I've never gotten over being annoyed that I am made to show my card when I go into a Costco...and then that they check my cart on the way out. It always has come off a little too <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQfdSBq7flw">"papers please"</a> for me. But the various great deals that can be had on bulk items have helped me to grit my teeth through that annoyance...and as a result I regularly shop there.<br />
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Two increasing Costco trends have been buying my business.<br />
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1. They are stocking more and more organic foods. Their prices for a block of organic cheddar cheese beat the pants off of all competition in town.<br />
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2. They are promoting preparedness items regularly. Something I highly recommend you consider...if you are hoping to have cheese if you find yourself one day unable to purchase it from a store (due to a myriad of circumstances)...is to check out <a href="http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11544067&search=cheese&Mo=14&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=cheese&Ntt=cheese&No=14&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1">this deal currently available from Costco as I type this</a>. This price is substantially less than anywhere else I have seen. With a shelf life of up to 20 years...and reportedly excellent taste it sounds great to me. Read the specs and reviews for more info and to be sold one way or the other!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-90073358618071207002011-10-12T21:03:00.000-07:002011-10-12T21:05:00.494-07:002011-10-12T21:05:00.494-07:00Bow Drill Fire Making Class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx3YvPT0Bq8/TpZhRnFdqUI/AAAAAAAAAiY/BnefyZhcIGU/s1600/Bow+Drill+Fire+Making+Class+Flyer+1+on+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="405" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx3YvPT0Bq8/TpZhRnFdqUI/AAAAAAAAAiY/BnefyZhcIGU/s640/Bow+Drill+Fire+Making+Class+Flyer+1+on+page.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
So...this is fairly short notice...but I've put together a bow drill class two Saturdays out on October 22nd. This class is going to be about as in depth as one can be. Extensive plant ID...collection of materials...making kits to take home...and practice. It's a $40 class and it will be worth every penny as I save you hours and hours of frustration trying to figure it out on your own! (I speak from experience!) Click on the above flyer for info...and make sure you do contact me if you want to reserve a spot.Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-29161592649105871202011-09-30T09:47:00.000-07:002011-09-30T09:47:36.836-07:002011-09-30T09:47:36.836-07:00Ron Hood Dies...In case you hadn't heard...Ron Hood recently passed away. Though I never personally met him...I consider him one of my greatest mentors in wilderness skills as I have repeatedly watched so many of his videos...and followed his teachings. In my mind...this is a great loss to the preparedness community...as he surely had so much more to teach. Thankfully his wife will continue his work and his many writings...tools...and videos are still available. Clips of his videos are found on youtube and you can also purchase his work at his site <a href="http://survival.com/">survival.com</a>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-81184840918427058472011-07-30T20:00:00.000-07:002011-10-12T21:32:47.647-07:002011-10-12T21:32:47.647-07:00Drilling Without Electricity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YH76PeRFSII/TjS7VGxtGtI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/_DIKNfwEBtQ/s1600/719IDXLDTDS._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YH76PeRFSII/TjS7VGxtGtI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/_DIKNfwEBtQ/s320/719IDXLDTDS._AA1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I love my cordless Dewalt hand drill. It is so handy to be able to quickly screw in loose screws and drill holes. But it...like so many other conveniences we currently enjoy...runs on electricity. I...like many of you believe that a plethora of circumstances could interrupt the infrastructure of our nation where we could find ourselves without electricity for very extended periods of time. Or even on a more personal level...we may not be able to afford electricity in a hyperinflation situation...or other such situation.<br />
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Unless you have invested in those solar panels and charging system...or have some other means to charge your electric drill...you may be dead in the water to drill anything in a timely manner. Which may not seem like a big deal...until you actually need to do it!<br />
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If you were to take a walk through grandpas carpentry shop back in the day you likely would have seen some hand crank contraption used to drill. It might have been in a "U" shape...or a type that used a corkscrew...or maybe an "egg beater" style. If you are lucky you might pick one of those up at a garage sale. Many of them were really well made and will work as well for you as it did for grandpa.<br />
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I picked up a kind of "modern" version of grandpas that is an "egg beater" style. It is fairly inexpensive and seems pretty durable...with it's metal on metal gears...and does a good job of making holes. It also has good reviews on Amazon. It's made by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schroeder-Hand-Drill-4-Inch-Capacity/dp/B000JRDLVY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312078558&sr=8-1">Schroeder</a>...whom I assume is a company formed by that kid who played piano on "Peanuts" after his music career didn't pan out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tah8jgJVCfk/TjTD5cDzIBI/AAAAAAAAAiU/L35123xsnbs/s1600/Schroeder_Piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tah8jgJVCfk/TjTD5cDzIBI/AAAAAAAAAiU/L35123xsnbs/s200/Schroeder_Piano.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It is also a great tool to teach carpentry to younger children. While I would be quite wary of putting a big drill in a childs hand...this one I could practically leave a child unattended with and not have to worry.Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-42908852517903066392011-07-13T22:23:00.000-07:002011-07-13T22:23:23.497-07:002011-07-13T22:23:23.497-07:00Brain-tanning Workshop (Potentially)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9nvs_XWMuY/Th58mNdQDCI/AAAAAAAAAiM/NJCHbMd1Z3E/s1600/51Y6BJ9E6CL._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9nvs_XWMuY/Th58mNdQDCI/AAAAAAAAAiM/NJCHbMd1Z3E/s320/51Y6BJ9E6CL._SS500_.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">A friend of mine named Adam is trying to organize a class...bringing Tamara Wilder out to the Sacramento area to do a brain-tanning workshop. She is the co-author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buckskin-Ancient-Braintanning-Steven-Edholm/dp/0965496554/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310620673&sr=8-1">"Buckskin The ancient art of brain-tanning"</a>...which many consider to be THE book on the subject.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">This skill allows for the possessor of the knowledge to be able to make an incredibly useful and durable material from a variety of animals skins.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">It should be $250ish for the tanning workshop...and maybe $100ish for an animal processing workshop.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">If you have interest in attending please contact Adam at...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">adamkfowler@gmail.com</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"> </span>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-66868119665552999522011-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:002011-06-06T21:31:00.482-07:002011-06-06T21:31:00.482-07:00Debris Hut...Apart from being an author of a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Survival-Handbook-Primitive-Short-Term/dp/0071484671/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307161950&sr=8-1">Wilderness Survival book</a>...Michael Pewtherer has a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/michaelpewtherer">handful of videos on youtube</a>. I really like the videos...and think he's pretty cool too. One of these days I'll be interested to check out his book. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kixucs0zkx4&feature=related">Here is a great training he did on a method of making a debris hut.</a> The most cozy looking debris hut I've ever seen. It's in two parts. The sort of hut you would want to know how to make to survive...or just be more comfortable in the wilderness. Enjoy!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-28212741422435802132011-06-03T21:30:00.000-07:002011-06-03T21:30:55.032-07:002011-06-03T21:30:55.032-07:00One Second After...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXDd2FSLstM/Temv8y5xClI/AAAAAAAAAh4/Ay4fT7SZyCo/s1600/one_second_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dXDd2FSLstM/Temv8y5xClI/AAAAAAAAAh4/Ay4fT7SZyCo/s320/one_second_after.jpg" width="320" /></a>My <a href="http://find.saclibrarycatalog.org/iii/encore/search?formids=target&lang=eng&suite=def&reservedids=lang%2Csuite&submitmode=&submitname=&target=one+second+after">local public library</a> has a variety of audiobooks available for download. I read a lot...and like the idea of being able to "read" from time to time without the effort involved with having to concentrate on the pages of a book. And free from the library suits me well.<br />
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I went ahead and listened to a book called "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Second-After-William-Forstchen/dp/0765356864/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307160008&sr=8-1">One Second After</a>". I won't attempt to rehash the plot...other than to say that it is a about a small town dealing with the effects of an EMP. Read more on the Amazon page if you want more details than that.<br />
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It was a grim story. A coarse life that could one day be our reality. While some preparedness types may spend their energies dickering over the plausibility of every scenario in such a book...for me the value is how it gets me thinking about what I would do if faced with similar situations...and how I would want to be prepared for such times. It reminded me that it would be good to have a sling on my shotgun!<br />
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The book is loaded with moral conundrums regarding a parents desire to take care of self and family...and the difficulties one faces trying to balance that with taking care of a community that is also very needy. Such a book serves as a slap in the face...to wake us up from our complacency and ingratitude for the blessings we currently enjoy.<br />
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Be warned that just like in real life...this book has some ugly characters saying and doing ugly things. It also has people that show themselves to be selfless and good...people we all ought to aspire to be like.<br />
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I also want to mention that the man who read the audiobook was incredible! He made the voices of little girls...old southern men...gruff talking tough guys...etc. I wouldn't be surprised if he had 100 different characters to make up a voice for in the course of the book! Excellent job.<br />
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This is a book that I will remember.Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-26677282367806728142011-05-24T09:05:00.000-07:002011-05-24T09:05:18.130-07:002011-05-24T09:05:18.130-07:00Another Angle on Car Kits...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIxiTUqFtsY/TdsF2_x_VzI/AAAAAAAAAh0/kDnIOcC5-98/s1600/2005-jeep-liberty-thule-450-crossroad-lb58-bars-atlantis-1600-silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MIxiTUqFtsY/TdsF2_x_VzI/AAAAAAAAAh0/kDnIOcC5-98/s320/2005-jeep-liberty-thule-450-crossroad-lb58-bars-atlantis-1600-silver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Being prepared for whatever may come seems to be made up of two things. Knowledge and stuff. <i><u>Knowledge</u></i> is the how to make something edible with a bucket of wheat....<i><u>stuff</u></i> is the bucket of wheat. Of course...baring you don't take a nasty blow to the head or contract "old timers"...your knowledge will go with you wherever you go. Nice and light...easily packed in your brain.<br />
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</div><div><i>Stuff</i> on the other hand has to be kept somewhere. And the challenge is to have it accessible when the need arises. If we all never left our homes...then having all of our supplies kept at our home would work out great. But...mobile as we are...having stashes of "stuff" in other places is wise.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One of the places that preparedness types generally advocate having emergency supplies is in a persons car...and I think wisely so. Especially as so many of us spend so much time driving around. The challenge is deciding what to put in your car. There are minimalist kits...that basically just have some water...some snacks...medical supplies...a knife...etc. Tiny things that could be stashed under a seat of a car. The downside is that you may leave out some valuable gear that could prove useful in an emergency.<br />
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Then on the other extreme you could put enough gear in your car to comfortably go camping. The challenge with packing comprehensively is that...especially with a growing family...you may not have room to function from day to day! Where will you put the groceries!!<br />
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</div><div>Something to consider...is to get one of those roof cargo carriers and stash your gear overhead...out of sight out of mind. Instead of just having it on the roof for a weekend trip...you could just have it up there all the time. If you pay attention you will notice that lots of people do just leave them on top of their cars. A few points about overhead cargo carriers...<br />
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1. Many of them are super streamlined and don't require being taken off before pulling into a garage. <br />
2. Many have good locks on them to keep your gear relatively safe. If theft is a fear...you might put your less expensive gear in it.<br />
3. They are often on craigslist available for half their price new.<br />
4. Probably the most popular brands in my area are Yakima and <a href="http://www.thule.com/">Thule</a>. Sears has also made one for a long time called x-cargo.<br />
5. There are ways to mount these to even the smallest of cars...or cars without any sort of rack system. You may have to consult with a place like REI to figure out what you need.<br />
6. The cargo carriers come in a plethora of sizes. Some are designed to just hold a few pairs of skis...while I've seen others that hold 21 cubic feet!<br />
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If you opt to do this...understand that this could be for major emergencies...all the way down to having a long sleeve sweater on an unexpected chilly night...or a stash of diapers when they are sorely needed...or whatever else your imagination can think of. The End.</div>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-994373589001166542011-05-23T09:23:00.000-07:002011-05-23T16:18:56.787-07:002011-05-23T16:18:56.787-07:00Iron Age Forging...<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">No....not foraging. Forging!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I took this <a href="http://www.steinercollege.edu/files/pdf/hw/Handcrafts%20Conference%202011.pdf">week long class with Ruskin Mill</a> last year and had a wonderful time. We went down to the creek and dug up a bunch of clay...mixed it with some sand...and made forges directly on the ground...using materials that could be found most anywhere. Then we forged a variety of useful and beautiful items out of pieces of a junk car. As I type this...the knife I'm wearing on my belt I forged out of a cars suspension spring! I also designed the handle and carved it out of scandinavian birch...which looks quite lovely when oiled up.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We also covered some friction fire with bow drill...and how to make charcoal from raw materials.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What I really took away from the class was an increased sense of self reliance...that I can put together a forge with found materials...and shape metal into a variety of shapes as needed. Plus it was fun!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Arian Leljak who teaches the class is also a great teacher. Very patient and yet intense...and not one to settle for poor work..for himself or his students. If you live in my area and are able to attend you will not be disappointed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For the bulk of you who do not live in my area...perhaps you could seek out someone to teach you this skill. Yet one more valuable skill to add to your preparedness bag.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-48449069420586653842011-04-05T21:04:00.000-07:002011-04-05T21:07:23.076-07:002011-04-05T21:07:23.076-07:00SPACE AGE HEAT!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFefZKXDQng/TZvm9H1g7tI/AAAAAAAAAhk/_CdVe6LXroQ/s1600/Small_Heater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFefZKXDQng/TZvm9H1g7tI/AAAAAAAAAhk/_CdVe6LXroQ/s320/Small_Heater.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>You know those <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HeatMax-Hot-Hands-Handwarmer-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293435049&sr=8-1">little hand warmers that have been around for years</a> that are rubbed together and then a chemical reaction happens inside? Pretty cool. Especially to the person stuck out in the cold with numb hands! When put in that position...what a treat it is to stick one's hands into a warm pocket...or to rub it on another cold body part!! While these warmers may be seen as just a way to increase some comfort...it is also possible that having a heat source like this could save one from getting frostbite in a pinch. There are people that would tell you that it did just that for them.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Despite their preparedness value...I don't have any of these in my emergency bags. Why? Well...because I believe the word of <a href="http://www.preparemyfamily.com/">Jim Phillips</a> who says they have a very limited shelf life. Something like having a battery that is losing its charge just sitting in storage...until one day they won't work at all. If a person doesn't have a regularly scheduled regiment of going through their emergency bags to make sure that all of their supplies are still good...then they may one day find that they will have just as much luck getting heat from rubbing a tea bag between their hands!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I am also reluctant to purchase preparedness items with one time use. I love items that I don't have to worry about running out. That is why I have been such a big advocate of the Sawyer water filters that back flush and can be used theoretically indefinitely (as I know many of you are too...as we bought so many!!)</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now...thanks to the miracles of science...or perhaps black magic...there are hand warmers that can be used and reused!!! They are plastic bags filled with a benign product called sodium acetate. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV_0C8AMUtA">There are now a ton of videos on youtube describing how they work.</a> Watch those videos to learn more.<br />
<br />
If you go looking for companies selling them...you will find that there are a growing number of distributors...the warmers come in all different shapes and sizes...and that the prices are all over the place. Generally you are going to get the best deal by purchasing them in bulk. I purchased 100 from a seller on Ebay named <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com/newcat619/">Newcat619</a> who sold me them for $2 each (including shipping) which was as good a deal as I could find. Even better than buying direct from China. (You know...the country that manufactures most everything for the US). Newcat619 sells "Heatinaclick" which is a more name-brandy sort of version of the product. Featured on the "Today Show" and that sort of thing.<br />
<br />
I have also heard that people have found these warmers at the "Dollar Tree"...though I have never confirmed that.<br />
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I have sent these with my children to school on chilly days...then they bring them home...we boil them up...set them out to cool...and they are ready for the next chilly day! We purchased enough for all of our emergency bags...some for daily use...a few to give away...and a few to accidently lose!<br />
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A great product to consider for your preps!<br />
<br />
Oh...PS...you can find videos of people on Youtube showing you how to make your own. You can actually go on EBAY and find people selling sodium acetate so you can make your own warmers. Personally...I'd rather just purchase them done...but to each their own!</div>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-7378011689938813792011-04-04T20:28:00.000-07:002011-04-04T20:28:55.805-07:002011-04-04T20:28:55.805-07:00US Mormons Preparing...and Rising LDS Canning Center Costs...<div><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110402/us_nm/us_japan_mormons">A front page story today talked about how the Mormons and being "spurned" by what they have seen in Japan to increase their "survival" preparations</a>. I hope they do! Hopefully they can still afford to get together the things they will need for their families...as well as have some to share/barter in times of distress.</div><div><br />
</div>I have thought for sometime now...how seemingly artificially the canning centers prices are. Well...a new price list was passed onto me...and the prices are <u>drastically</u> going up!! An average increase of 19.71%! Quick oats went up 61.93%!! It's going to cost a lot more to stock up on the basics. Just a taste of how food and other commodities prices can jump up overnight. <div><br />
</div><div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; display: table; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="257">Black Beans</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="86">$13.20</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="86">$16.80</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="86">27.27%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1301972873_1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Pinto Beans</span></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$17.45</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$18.55</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">6.30%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">White Beans</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$12.55</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$16.00</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">27.49%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Dry Milk, Nonfat</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$41.65</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$47.20</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">13.33%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1301972873_2" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">White Rice</span></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$10.00</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$13.85</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">38.50%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Sugar</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$17.35</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$21.15</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">21.90%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">White Wheat</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$7.65</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$11.45</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">49.67%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Apple Slices</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$60.45</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$72.55</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">20.02%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Carrots</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$57.65</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$66.40</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">15.18%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1301972873_3" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Macaroni</span></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$16.50</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$20.25</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">22.73%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Quick <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1301972873_4" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Oats</span></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$9.85</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$15.95</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">61.93%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Regular Oats</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$9.85</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$15.35</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">55.84%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Dry Onions</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$76.30</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$88.20</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">15.60%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Potato Flakes</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$30.90</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$33.30</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">7.77%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Spaghetti</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$19.95</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$23.85</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">19.55%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="18" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1301972873_5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Refried Beans</span></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$28.60</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$35.90</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">25.52%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Hot Cocoa Mix</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$33.50</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$38.95</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">16.27%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="2" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">White Flour</td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$10.30</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$13.30</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">29.13%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" colspan="3" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Fruit Drink Mix</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$27.75</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$31.30</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">12.79%</td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td></tr>
<tr style="display: table-row; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; vertical-align: inherit;"><td align="LEFT" height="17" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="LEFT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /></td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$501.45</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">$600.30</td><td align="RIGHT" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">19.71%<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-22508348971942659112011-02-26T09:35:00.000-08:002011-02-26T09:35:31.811-08:002011-02-26T09:35:31.811-08:002nd Annual Buckeye Gathering...<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--ZRvkdEA5cA/TWk5M_kfzUI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Fl0Uf6PRUaw/s1600/2010photoalbum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--ZRvkdEA5cA/TWk5M_kfzUI/AAAAAAAAAhc/Fl0Uf6PRUaw/s1600/2010photoalbum.jpg" /></a>The native peoples that inhabited (and still inhabit) California (and a host of other places) were not the misled hands off nature conservationists that exist today...nor were they on the other extreme stripping the earth of its resources. They were the ultimate managers of the land...thankfully using what they needed and tending resources to be there for the future. Hundreds and hundreds of years of observation and trial and error imbued their peoples with a knowledge of how to use the lands resources...not just to survive...but to thrive. While our land has but a shadow of the resources that once existed here...we can still use what is left of that knowledge...to increase our awareness of the natural world and how to use and not abuse it.<br />
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It's hard to describe...but there is something that is just so satisfying about going for a nature walk and noticing a game trail...or collecting materials and weaving a useful basket...or seeing a mushroom growing and collecting it for lunch...or starting a fire using just sticks...of hearing a bird song and knowing what it might be talking about. It is a path to really understanding and appreciating the works of the Great Creator. A path of true self reliance...not dependent on gadgets and manmade materials as so many of us are today.<br />
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While much of the knowledge of the native peoples has been lost as they have died...and as successive generations have become westernized...it is wonderful that there are still groups that are working to keep such knowledge alive. I went to the first annual Buckeye last year and had a life changing experience. It's a family friendly environment...with classes running ALL DAY from top notch instructors. A week long camping trip hanging out with really nice and smelly earthy folks wearing buckskins! (just keeping it real!) <a href="http://www.buckeyegathering.net/joomla/">To learn more and to register...visit their site.</a> I hope to see you there!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-4893832973749796612011-02-24T21:16:00.000-08:002011-02-24T21:18:09.406-08:002011-02-24T21:18:09.406-08:00Preserving Important Documents...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHILvSuP7V0/TWcko1isewI/AAAAAAAAAhY/4GHySHWgtOw/s1600/21v2zC6%252ByVL._AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHILvSuP7V0/TWcko1isewI/AAAAAAAAAhY/4GHySHWgtOw/s1600/21v2zC6%252ByVL._AA300_.jpg" /></a><br />
I've heard the question asked many times..."If your home was on fire...your family was all safe outside...and you could only take out 3 things before the house burned down...what would they be"? It seems that most people that respond to this sincerely (after joking about big screen TV's)...generally mention things that would be difficult or impossible to replace...like photographs...sentimental items like stuffed animals...home movies...important documents...and so on. I am left to wonder...if someone were really to try to collect those things to get the door REALLY fast....how long it would take to collect all those things? Photographs are likely hung in frames...or on a computer...or in a plethora of photo albums. Home videos might be scattered through the home on old VHS tapes...on tiny tapes...or on computers. Important documents like birth and marriage certificates...property info...and others may also be in disarray. Without the luxury of time...one might have a really difficult time collecting all of the items on their list. I also wonder if they would physically be able to carry those items?<br />
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While there are a myriad of valuables where only the original will suffice (like a stuffed animal)...a great many of those irreplaceable items can be shrunk down and stored digitally. Even a tiny keychain sized 16gb flash drive like the one pictured above can hold upwards of 14k photographs!! 16gb might be enough to hold every important document you own! You might just stay on the curb and watch your home burn if everything you felt you needed was on a flash drive in your pocket. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Xporter-Boost-Flash-PEF16GUSB/dp/B000W1RV0Y/ref=pd_sim_e_2">The Patriot xporter flash drive is nice too because it is fast...has great reviews...and may withstand weathering like going through a washing machine.</a><br />
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I am by no means a computer tech. Of course there are all kinds of opinions from tech to tech as to which brands are best...and which document back-up methods are best. Some people like to back files up on DVD's. Some like to back files up onto <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Elements-Desktop-External/dp/B002QEBMCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298610060&sr=8-1">portable external hard drives</a>. (Which may be necessary for people with lots of home videos and other large files) Some people are now even paying for back-up services that use off-site hard drives.<br />
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Now as far as how to do it. If you are computer illiterate...you may either have to learn how and pick up some equipment (like a scanner)...or pay someone else to do your work for you. <a href="http://www.jumpstartmypc.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/30/hurricane-preparedness-scanning-and-saving-important-documents/">Here is a site that discusses some of the "how"</a>. When it comes to archiving old home video and audio...there are services out there that will take your old reel to reel and make it into a format you can enjoy without all kinds of defunct equipment and make it ready to be put onto run out the door. <a href="http://spicerackproductions.com/">A good friend of mine does that work and could help you tremendously...his name is Judd.</a><br />
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Whatever methods you choose...it is wise to get them all collected now and stored digitally...so that when and if the day comes that you have to leave your home in a hurry...you have it ready to go!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-4886208401121711332010-12-17T20:27:00.000-08:002010-12-17T20:28:48.734-08:002010-12-17T20:28:48.734-08:00Preparedness Frisbees and Ponchos for Teens at Christmas!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TQw4CpXM2eI/AAAAAAAAAhE/EExNhPsY2cg/s1600/51M3FHn%252BmOL._AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TQw4CpXM2eI/AAAAAAAAAhE/EExNhPsY2cg/s1600/51M3FHn%252BmOL._AA300_.jpg" /></a>Just a couple of thoughts that have been running around in my mind.<br />
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One area of preparedness that I think is often overlooked when a person is putting together emergency plans...is a way to have fun. If you wind up confined to your home....or an evacuee facing a long term camping situation...what a boon it would be to have something fun to do! A simple deck of cards...a doll for a child...a tennis ball...etc...could really brighten spirits...and help to pass the time.<br />
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Personally...I love throwing a frisbee! I am admittedly a bit of a frisbee snob...and find lesser quality frisbees to be more aggravating than enjoyable. I like the heavier frisbees made for ultimate frisbee. The good ones fly long and true. Of course you can't go wrong with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discraft-175-Ultimate-Frisbee-Ultra-Star/dp/B001I3X4HE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292645766&sr=8-1">discraft frisbee</a>....the official disc of the Ultimate Players Association! Frisbees also serve a double purpose in that they can be used as a plate!<br />
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Next topic...<br />
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I teach an early morning religion class to high school kids. I have noticed that not a single one of them ever wears a rain jacket!! It could be pouring rain...and they will be wearing sweats. That may be fine if they are indoors all day...but what if they get stuck outside. I guess there is a sense of security that there will always be a shelter available somewhere and a place to get warm. Perhaps a good stocking stuffer...or at least something to stick in their backpack is one of those cheap dollar store fold up ponchos. They might look at you funny...but they may well appreciate it when the day comes that they need it.<br />
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Perhaps your shopping is already done. If it isn't...you might consider getting some of what people need and hopefully want...things like preparedness frisbees and ponchos...the things that will help sustain those you care for through crisis!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-30748116838120562242010-12-05T09:47:00.000-08:002010-12-05T10:30:09.740-08:002010-12-05T10:30:09.740-08:00Handgun Training...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TPvP5rVtUrI/AAAAAAAAAhA/C07W-u2igQk/s1600/handgun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TPvP5rVtUrI/AAAAAAAAAhA/C07W-u2igQk/s320/handgun.jpg" width="320" /></a>People have seen too many movies...and think that they can just pick up a gun and become dirty Harry when they need to. A reality is that becoming proficient with a gun takes practice...and a knowledge of fundamentals. <a href="http://t.livingsocial.com/track/523506446-08eb678244e254043efeaa49c2aec385?url=http%3A%2F%2Flivingsocial.com%2Fdeals%2F15696%3Fref%3Demail-jp%26rpi%3D2637321">Here is a course</a> that is being offered locally (Rocklin) that my wife and I will be attending to hone these skills...for a screamin' deal! A 6-8 hour course with shooting range practice for $87!!!!! Regularly $175.<br />
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The deal ends tomorrow...I believe before 6am.<br />
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Nothing says "I love you" more for Christmas than the gift of teaching your loved ones to defend themselves!<br />
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<a href="http://preparenownewsletter.blogspot.com/2009/01/doctrines-of-self-and-family-defense.html">You might also revisit this article if you need some motivation.</a>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-10487204381295576332010-11-14T12:12:00.000-08:002010-11-14T20:58:41.200-08:002010-11-14T20:58:41.200-08:00Is the future optimistic...or pessimistic...the answer is...YES!!!<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TLJFOxyk8UI/AAAAAAAAAgs/aKtOoWzxEu8/s1600/macbeth_brujas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TLJFOxyk8UI/AAAAAAAAAgs/aKtOoWzxEu8/s320/macbeth_brujas1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Perhaps you have noticed that I haven't been super active with the blog in a while. My lack of posts is due largely to my being called back to teach a daily early morning religion class called "seminary". With how demanding such a task is...in order to do a good job I have had to change much of my course of thought and think less about how to stay alive eating bugs...and more about how to help a group of youth stay spiritually alive!<br />
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Despite my lack of posting...I am pleased to see that the readership continues to grow! I hope that people will continue to read some of the past articles and find information that will help them to prepare. I have started an additional 30 or so topics all in varying stages of completion. As I find time to put the finishing touches on them...they will be posted! Thank you for reading.<br />
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<b>Now the article...</b><br />
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As the wicked Macbeth knocks on the witches door. A witch...sensing his evil presence proclaims..."By the pricking of my thumbs...something wicked this way comes".</div><div><br />
</div><div>While our thumbs may not prick...and we don't expect Shakespeare's Macbeth to arrive at our door...a great many people of discernment...sense that evil times...times of great hardship are around the corner.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One needn't consult a necromancer to see "<a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=cac5605ff590c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">that there is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed</a>"...when the news of the day is filled with ample signs of the degeneration of our society and how the life that we now live will more than likely change overnight. Economies fail...as do crops...wars start...shipping is interrupted...natural disasters...plagues...infrastructure failures...etc...etc...all these things can happen overnight. While it may pain us to dwell on the precariousness of our situation...the honest realize that we do truly walk on thin ice every day of our lives.</div><div><br />
</div><div>In addition to the news...people of Christian faith also have the words of Christ and prophets that paint a picture of some dire circumstances prior to the Saviors return. Christians do not have to wonder if "if" these things will happen...they know they "will" happen. While many of the signs that were foretold are around us...we know that we now only see the tip of the iceberg with regards to the troubles that are to come to mankind. Troubles that will serve to turn man to God...or deny Him.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Those that are awake are being given time to prepare...and are grateful for each successive day that allows for them to hone another skill...amass more desired supplies...and of course get themselves spiritually sound. And of course we aren't left in the dark as to what we are preparing for...as a merciful God has also given us much information about how to be prepared and what to be prepared for.<br />
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A person...awakened to an understanding of impending peril could get pretty gloomy. Stressed out. Full of anxiety. Full of grief for lost hope for a bright and cheerful life in the future. Some who get in this funk will fall out of public life. Some stop talking to their kids about "When you grow up you could be a..." believing that their child will in reality not have such opportunities but will instead be scavenging for food in a post apocalyptic world! Some will say that it is just better to not even have kids with the world the way it is going. Like Eeyore they walk around spreading 'sunshine' saying things like..."No use planting flowers...they're just going to be destroying in the nuclear blast..." <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yFSpml8oSw">Real life Debbie Downers.</a><br />
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While I don't want to spend a lot of time getting into all of the doctrinal points...I do want to remind people that the trials that are to come are spoken of as "great and dreadful". So often the dreadful overpowers our memory that it will be great too! So if asked if the future is optimistic or pessimistic...I'd say that the answer is YES!! It will be hard. It will try us more than we have been tried. It may even dispatch us and those we love to meet our God earlier than we anticipate. Or we may find that we are offered deliverance from many of the trials. Whatever may be our lot...we should live our lives happy and grateful for whatever situation we may be in. And if it seems that there is no end to the darkness...we must remember that after the storm comes the rainbow...and the righteous win in the end!<br />
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I often think about how wonderful the earth will be in the <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=12e11f7962d43210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD">millennium (The period after the destructions and return of Christ)</a>. The shackles of oppressive government gone...the earth cleaned of unrighteousness. I think I'd like to become a better surfer...learn some musical instruments...and work on the arts...and of course delve into trying to understand the many mysteries that will be revealed in those days!<br />
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Here are some quotes I recommend reading slowly and pondering...that can shape how we feel about impending drama...</div><div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14pt;">“We must have faith in the future </span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14pt;">regardless of the ultimate eventualities. There could be no greater calamity in this world than the calamity of sitting down and waiting for calamity.<i> We must not let the things which we can't do keep us from doing the things we can do . . .</i> The future will always be better for those who are best prepared.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Elder Richard L. Evans</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">(Church News, June 25, 1988, p. 2).</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I recall a reported statement, attributed, as I remember it, to President Wilford Woodruff. Some of the brethren of his time are said to have approached him … and to have inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be—when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt;">‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow—but I am still planting cherry trees!</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">’ ”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana; font-size: small; line-height: 15px;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1913065661">(Richard L. Evans </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana; font-size: small; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=50c4be335dc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=88021b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD#footnote1">Conference Report, April 1950, 105.)</a></span><br />
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</span></div></div><div><a href="http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/1999/holland_patricia.htm">From a talk by Patricia Holland</a> (wife of the Apostle Jeffrey Holland)...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><div style="text-indent: 3em;">Not long ago we experienced the worst windstorm Bountiful has seen in several decades. The wind on the freeway was gauged at 113 miles an hour. Coming out of our canyon, it seemed even more than that. Just as I was hearing news reports of semi trucks—twenty of them—being blown over on the roadside, I looked out my lovely back window down toward our creek, and I saw one of our large trees go down with a crash. Another smaller one followed almost immediately.</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><br />
</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;">For a moment, I confess I was truly fearful. For an instant, I thought of Kosovo and Littleton, Colorado, of our own Family History Library, and even the great bug-a-boo of the year Y2K. The wind became even more furious, and it was very loud. I am a little embarrassed to say it, but I was scared.</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><br />
</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;">It was very early in the morning as the worst of this was happening, and Jeff was just leaving for the office. I said to him, "Do you think this is the end? Is it all over—or about to be?" I whispered. My husband, who has deep faith and endless optimism, took me in his arms and said, "No, but wouldn't it be wonderful if it were? Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christ really did come and his children really were ready for him? Wouldn't it be terrific if evil was finally conquered, once and for all, and the Savior of the world came down in the midst of the New Jerusalem to wipe away <i>every</i> tear from <i>every</i> eye? Yes," my husband said, "in lots of ways I wish it were the end, but it's not. It is just a stiff windstorm in Bountiful. We have got more work to do." So, he kissed me and drove off to work, with trees falling and rafters rattling.</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><br />
</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;">Now, I was probably imagining it, but I thought I could hear him whistling a few bars of "Master, the Tempest Is Raging," especially that lovely closing refrain: "Peace, be still; peace, be still" (<i>Hymns</i> [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985], no. 105).</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6769">And from Neal A. Maxwell...</a></div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-indent: 3em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px;"></span></div>"Being settled in his soul, he has a serenity even in the midst of war and tumult. If he lives, he lives unto the Lord, if he dies, he dies unto the Lord, just as President Brigham Young said:<br />
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<i>I say to the brethren who are leaving home . . . when you pray for your families . . . you must feel--if they live, all right; if they die, all right; if I die, all right; if I live, all right; for we are the Lords' and we shall soon meet again. </i>[<i>Journal of Discourses</i>6:273]<br />
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The true believer can read the depressing signs of the times without being depressed because he has a particularized and "perfect brightness of hope" (2 Ne. 31:20). He knows that "Christ will lift [us] up" (Mor. 9:25). He does not naively depend on mortal rulers, assemblies, congresses, or parliaments to lift him up, though he is genuinely grateful for any true success by these. Rather, he has the precious perspective of Joseph Smith who observed:<br />
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<i>The laws of men may guarantee to a people protection in the honorable pursuits of this life, and the temporal happiness arising from a protection against unjust insults and injuries; and when this is said, all is said, that can be in truth, of the power, extent, and influence of the laws of men, exclusive of the laws of God.</i> [<i>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,</i> (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972) p. 50]<br />
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Besides, the true believer knows that in the awful winding-up scenes human deterioration will be finally and decisively and mercifully met by divine intervention. He understands, therefore, that in such conditions the sooner he renounces the world, the sooner he can help to save some souls in it."<br />
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</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;">The future is bright and dark. Lets be ready for both!</span><br />
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</div></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></div></div></span></span></div>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-23914790077654381692010-09-23T16:00:00.000-07:002010-09-23T16:00:03.476-07:002010-09-23T16:00:03.476-07:00Using Less Saves Money...No Duh...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TJrW5zdAA2I/AAAAAAAAAgg/GD2TO7V_E-Y/s1600/2_0_Aktuell_691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TJrW5zdAA2I/AAAAAAAAAgg/GD2TO7V_E-Y/s320/2_0_Aktuell_691.jpg" /></a></div>I'm always grossed out by the portion of toothpaste that is used in toothpaste ads. Of course such ads are put out by people selling toothpaste...who desire that you would put a monstrous glob of toothpaste on your brush...and proceed to burn through piles of toothpaste tubes and have to buy more.<br />
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Hopefully we know that putting toothpaste dripping off of your brush is not necessary for clean teeth. One could use a tenth of that amount and still obtain clean teeth and fresh breath.<br />
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I'm not sure if many adults use that much toothpaste...but a lot of kids sure do. They come to my home...and I watch in amazement as they pile their toothbrushes up...brush for a few moments and then spit a big clump of blue toothpaste in the sink to dry.<br />
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Follow these same children around and you will see them pump six pumps of soap on their hands to clean moderately dirty hands...or they will spin at the toilet paper roll like they are playing "The Price is Right" so they can use a giant wad of toilet paper to wipe a little pee-pee!<br />
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Of course...children aren't the only ones guilty of such waste. Many of these wasteful habits carry into adulthood. In a time when so many people are pinching every penny they have...one way to free up some money is to use less. Seriously. I bet most people could cut many of their monthly expenses in half...just by consciously controlling their portions.<br />
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How much toothpaste do you really need to clean your teeth?<br />
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How many squares of toilet paper does it really take to do the job?<br />
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How much soap will clean your hands? Shouldn't you buy those foam soap dispensers that stretch your soap out forever?!<br />
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Could you put your lunch sandwiches in a reusable container instead of using ziploc bags every day?<br />
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How about using a terry towel instead of paper towels?<br />
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I am not trying to make you into the stingy police of your households...but just to know that curbing your own waste and lovingly encouraging your family to follow suit could keep some cash in your pocket!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-72903789616786936682010-09-06T17:28:00.000-07:002010-09-06T17:28:42.304-07:002010-09-06T17:28:42.304-07:00Modern...Pioneer...Primitive...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TIVv3QGl7WI/AAAAAAAAAgY/v84esuhYqxk/s1600/image_preview.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TIVv3QGl7WI/AAAAAAAAAgY/v84esuhYqxk/s320/image_preview.jpeg" /></a>I've never really seen this articulated anywhere before...but it seems to me that as I work on my being prepared for whatever may come...that my preparations fall into 3 basic categories. Modern...pioneer...or primitive. Each have their pro's and their con's. But all are important to a well rounded preparedness plan.<br />
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Here is how I would define them...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Modern prepping</span></b> makes use of the latest gadgetry and technology. The goretex's...the high tech filters...the synthetic fibers that wisk sweat away...amazing metals to make knives out of that can bend without breaking and still keep a good edge...etc. Awesome! Science and capitalism have brought us some amazing things that can greatly enhance our preparations. It is remarkable how so many things have become lighter and stronger and smaller making them easier to pack and transport. The potential downsides that I see to modern prepping are...<br />
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1. Many people purchase the latest and greatest gadget out there...which gives some level of peace of mind...but then they never actually practice using it. Will they know what to do when an emergency happens?<br />
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2. A lot of these gadgets are really expensive. With the increasing stranglehold on the average families finances...it is may be hard to amass the "stuff". Go to REI and tell me I'm wrong!<br />
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3. I fear that strictly modern preppers will come to rely upon their gadgets too much. What if they end up separated from their gadgets when disaster strikes?!<br />
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4. I also think that it is possible to when using these gadgets...to separate yourself from the experience of the natural world. We can end up like those people who try to experience Yosemite on a sanitized and aloof tour bus...viewing deer through plate glass...instead of getting down and dirty in nature and really gaining a better understanding of what is going on.<br />
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5. A lot of modern gadgets rely upon electricity. With the likelihood that a natural or manmade disaster could take out the grid long term...unless someone has a way to generate their own electricity...they will have a lot of non-working junk.<br />
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(Tip. You know...there are lots of high tech preparedness gear items that can be picked up for a song on craigslist...and at local thrift stores. People that never camp and clear out their closets...or they buy the latest and greatest and want to get rid of last years model. If you can stomach being seen in last years Marmot sleeping bag...this might be a good choice to save a buck).<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Pioneer prepping</span></b> involves looking to those that lived before electricity came into the picture. How did people wash their clothing before washing machines? How did they stay warm indoors? How did they live without running water? etc..etc..etc... Basically all of those things that that the pioneers used to make life easier and more comfortable. It involves lot's of hand crank contraptions (see picture!) that work with some elbow grease. A lifestyle that stresses frugality and makes use of means provided.<br />
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The good news is that a lot of the tools used by the pioneers are still available and generally are less expensive than their electric brothers. One can actually find vintage pieces that are so well made...that they will work for you just as they did your great grandma. There are even companies like <a href="http://www.lehmans.com/store/catalog?Args=">Lehmans</a> that specialize in reproductions and improved versions of those tools.<br />
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Downsides...well...not many I can think of. I will say that...<br />
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1. It still can rely on having "stuff". <br />
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2. A lot of items in this category can be big and heavy duty. This can be just fine if your staying in place...but not if you need to carry it somewhere!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Primitive prepping</span></b> makes use of the technology that nature provides. With knowledge and practice...given the proper resources...one can learn to provide all of the necessities of life with their own two hands. This...as I see it...is the ultimate of self reliance. Knowing the natural world so well...that you can make use of it's bounty to provide.<br />
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Downsides...<br />
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1. To solely rely upon primitive skills for long term survival could be really rough...and for most unrealistic. Most people do not have the skill sets to find and make use of all of the calories they would need to stay alive. Most don't have all of the skillsets that would help them not to just survive...but to flourish. It seems much more plausible to survive if there were a small group of knowledgeable people working together. Don't forget that America has been raped of many of it's natural resources that helped the natives of this land survive. Rivers overflowing with fish...acre upon acre of oaks...neatly tended fields with edible roots. Accounts of preoccupation America paint a very different picture of the landscape than the one we now live in.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Examples of Modern...Pioneer...Primitive....</span></b><br />
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Electric mill...hand crank mill...mortar and pestle...<br />
Lighter...flint and steel...friction fire (sticks rubbed together)<br />
Trail mix...pemmican...some seeds in a satchel...<br />
Goretex jacket...wool jacket...twisted rabbit skin blanket...<br />
Freeze dried food...dehydrated food...smoked<br />
Nylon tent...canvas wall tent...structure built from sticks and debris...<br />
GPS...compass...natural landmarks<br />
Washing machine...tub and scrubbers...river and rocks...<br />
Hybrid seed...heirloom seed...tending the wild...<br />
Irish spring...lye soap...soaproot<br />
Traveling in a car...with handcarts...on foot...<br />
Flashlight...kerosene lantern...torch...<br />
Toilet paper...a rag...a leaf...<br />
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I don't intend to throw out my nice insulated jacket anytime soon and try to kill enough rabbits to make a blanket to stay warm! I appreciate my jacket too much!<br />
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I also don't intend to do my weekly bread baking milling my wheat with my hand crank mill...when I also have an electric one as well. But hey...when the electricity is out...I know full well how to use the hand crank models...and if I get separated from that...well...I'll go and find a mortar and pestle to grind my grains!<br />
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Making use of the knowledge and tools of all three of these preparedness areas will help a person to be prepared much more than just studying one. It provides a the peace of mind that comes with having a plan A...B...and C.Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-54346425473683279932010-08-28T21:20:00.000-07:002010-08-28T21:20:10.753-07:002010-08-28T21:20:10.753-07:00Buckeye Gathering 2011...Hey friends. This past May I went to what was to me...a life shaping event. The first annual Buckeye Gathering. A week long experience being submerged in an intense hands on study of primitive technology. I drank up every moment. The food was healthy and tasty...the music was incredible...I made great friends...the instructors were high quality. It doesn't get better!<br />
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What is taught are "survival skills" of the highest degree. Getting everything you may need from the natural world. No gadgets necessary. A person at buckeye is learning to live basically as the Native Americans did and some other indigenous cultures still do.<br />
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I have had many people ask me questions about this event. I want to give you a heads up well in advance...as they have set things in motion for the next one May of 2011. With advanced planning...perhaps you can make plans to get off of work...and get the money together. The cost for early registration is $300!!! Thats for a week of all day instruction...and they feed you two meals a day!!! That is cheap.<br />
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So you know...I should be teaching a class on oil extraction from acorns...and maybe something else on Oak tree ID. We'll see.<br />
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<a href="http://www.buckeyegathering.net/Register_.html">Here is the link to their site.</a><br />
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Hope to see you there!<br />
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PS...People out of state...or out of the country...might do well to poke around and see if something like this is offered near where you live...Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-56514189253385130042010-08-21T12:33:00.000-07:002010-08-21T12:33:18.696-07:002010-08-21T12:33:18.696-07:00Investing in Food...For several years now I have seen articles speaking of how various factors are pointing towards a time when there will be increased food shortages across the globe. While food shortages may seem to the general public as something that only happens in countries that have names that are hard to pronounce...far removed from the cushy US...we more than likely will find out in the not too distant future how we are not above such challenges.<br />
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<a href="http://www.oneradionetwork.com/health_-_articles/diet_and_nutrition_-_articles/usda_reports_food_shortages%3a_wall_street_%27caught_off_guard%27_by_severity_201008081818/">Here is an article that makes such sobering predictions.</a><br />
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My favorite line from the article...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">"You don’t have to be an End Times survivalist to believe that storing food is pragmatic. Everyone with expendable cash can and should design a good food storage and rotation system and buy bulk food as an investment -- in addition to creating self-sufficiency."</span>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-86407638578815505702010-08-13T12:44:00.000-07:002010-08-13T17:19:39.491-07:002010-08-13T17:19:39.491-07:00The Government in Your Garden...<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TGXg4javptI/AAAAAAAAAgA/vQ4MxbPHZOA/s1600/Traditional-Vegetable-Garden-Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TGXg4javptI/AAAAAAAAAgA/vQ4MxbPHZOA/s320/Traditional-Vegetable-Garden-Picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'd venture to guess that only a small fraction of US citizens have ever read a bill before it became law. And who can blame them. The bills are often ridiculously long and steeped in mind numbing and confusing legalese. We're far too busy making <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ex/5/14#14">bricks for Pharoah</a> and<a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=9a1cd2b9ae76b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD"> <span id="goog_2037148669"></span>attending circuses</a> to try to wrap our head around such an intentionally convoluted mess. <br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A bill might have a fluffy...cute name like..."SB 2345 The happy fun make your life great act". When in reality...hidden deep in the legalese...is wording designed to have Americans give up their right of habeas corpus and be tried by military tribunals...or some other such nonsense.</div><br />
But...one asks....isn't this sort of thing what our elected representatives are supposed to protect us from?!!<br />
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</div><div>Sure we believe in a representative government...but it's quite obvious that many or most of those that supposedly represent the citizens...really represent whatever will put cash in their pockets...grow the welfare state...get them reelected...etc. Many of these representatives...good intentioned but misinformed...grossly negligent...or conspiring and evil...push these bills through and ultimately they may become the unconstitutional "law" of the land.<br />
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What is also sickening is that many of these representatives <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdT0RNYoFfM">never have a chance to...or don't bother to read the bills they are voting on </a>!!<br />
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As a result...our freedoms dim with each successive year...month...and day as we...like a collective Gulliver have the <a href="http://www.jaredstory.com/constitution_prophecy.html">strings of tyranny</a> placed over us. Many of the politicians will continue to <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=e82b2ee01e31c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">lull us with hollow promises</a>...and encourage us to go back to sleep...while others are becoming <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1NYLnQxLNA">brazenly open about their corruption as they believe that the people are too docile to ever do anything to really challenge them</a>.<br />
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Here is a bill...that I am hearing about from time to time....that has the appearance of being ridiculously intrusive and corrupt.<br />
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It is called <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-510">SB510</a> "The food safety modernization act".<br />
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Well...don't you want for your food to be "safe" and don't you want to be "Modern"?!! What kind of crazy would be against safety and want to be a backwards outdated hillbilly in opposition to modernization!!?<br />
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Opponents of this bill say that it will (among other things) make it...<br />
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<dt><center><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1046808569">Illegal To Grow, Share,<br />
Trade, Sell Homegrown Food</a></b></center></dt><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<dt><center><b><a href="http://rense.com/general91/dehe.htm">SB S510 Will Allow Government To Put You In Jail ....</a></b></center></dt><br />
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<br />
<br />
The government telling you how you can grow...what you can grow...etc!!!!<br />
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There are also people saying that there are ties to Monsanto...which is the devil.<br />
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To many...the notion that the government would ever come into your backyard and try to control what you grow may sound like some far fetched Orwellian plot. That is...until someone shows up at your home with a clip board "just doing their job" to make sure that you are abiding the "law"...or you are found guilty of growing non-approved broccoli...and of course must therefore face the consequences!<br />
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So I'd recommend contacting your representatives...letting others know about it...and basically doing whatever becometh a concerned citizen.</div>Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-69035699243867272122010-07-25T18:50:00.000-07:002010-07-26T21:47:22.605-07:002010-07-26T21:47:22.605-07:00An Ember a Day...and a class invite...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEz0Vh_EA3I/AAAAAAAAAfo/GWVvzMJyASc/s1600/08_hand_drill_452.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEz0Vh_EA3I/AAAAAAAAAfo/GWVvzMJyASc/s320/08_hand_drill_452.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498037895849837426" /></a><br />"Why don't you just use a lighter or some matches?"...I am asked almost every time someone watches me attempt to make and ember using the hand drill or bow drill methods of fire starting.<br /><br />Well...it's hard to explain. Perhaps the wonder that inside of a few dried sticks lies a glowing ember that can be coaxed out and transformed into a fire to cook my food and keep me warm...just never wears out. Perhaps it is just a weird way for me to live out my boyhood pyromaniac tendencies I never realized. Or maybe it is the intensely deep satisfaction that comes with knowing how to make a fire with no gadgets of any sort...the ultimate of self reliance. Maybe I just need to get this one more survival skill checked off my macho survival guy checklist. It could be the exhibitionist in me that enjoys people looking at me like I'm some sort of magician. Or perhaps it is born out of an inner desire to shed the trappings of "modern" society and grow a greater kinship not only with the people that lived where I do in generations past...but also with a multitude of world cultures that have started fires the same way for 1,000s of years.<br /><br />Whatever it is...I am compelled to master it.<br /><br />In my quest to become proficient with the hand drill method of friction fire I have been attempting to make an "ember a day". I have collected spindles and hearth boards of various local plants...and daily spend a little time learning what variations work best for me...and which end in failure. And I'll tell you...I do fail a lot. Not all woods will work. Sometimes I just don't have the stamina to get the heat generated. Sometimes my spindle is too bent and it walks all over making the process difficult. I learn from each failure and success. <br /><br />I generally work at it until my hands feel as if they will blister...and then I stop. By the next day...they are toughened up and will be ready for another go. If I fail to make an ember with the hand drill...and my hands are just to hammered to continue...I often just bring out the bow drill set...which I can make fire almost 100% of the time with...and call it a night.<br /><br />If you have no idea what I am talking about...go to youtube.com and put in "hand drill fire" and "bow drill fire" and watch some videos.<br /><br />CLASS INVITATION<br /><br />If this sounds like something you would be interested in learning more about...<br /><br />I will be doing a class on friction fire next month. It will be in two parts. We will go for a relatively short walk and I will help the class to identify some of the best plants for making fire. We will go over selection of woods and preparation of the materials for fire making. Then we will find a shady spot and try our hands at twirling up some embers...and making those into fires.<br /><br />When - Saturday August 21st from 8am-10am. <br />Where - Hinkle Creek Nature Center at 7000 Baldwin Dam Rd. just below Lew Howard Park in Folsom CA.<br />Cost - $10 (That's the lot's of people have no job super special price!!)<br />Bring - Sun hat, water, pocket knife, a fire making attitude.<br /><br />If you would like to come or have questions email me at stephenenix@yahoo.comStephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-81153351489399191302010-07-20T18:25:00.000-07:002010-07-20T19:46:23.553-07:002010-07-20T19:46:23.553-07:00My 3 Favorite Knives for Survival...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEZRBkvwFdI/AAAAAAAAAfY/0xxhJ4SV_zo/s1600/4137yrapdOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEZRBkvwFdI/AAAAAAAAAfY/0xxhJ4SV_zo/s320/4137yrapdOL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496169482737948114" /></a><br /><br />A knives importance in a survival situation cannot be underestimated.<br /><br />It is the tool that can fabricate most anything that you might need...to prepare food...defend yourself...and so on...<br /><br />I agree with Ron Hood of survival.com that if I had to choose <span style="font-weight:bold;">one</span> knife to have with me in a survival situation...I would have a swiss army knife. As I said in another recent article...I like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Trekker-Classic-Knife/dp/B000VY4OJS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1279676650&sr=8-1">Swiss Army Trekker</a>. Here is why...<br /><br />1. It is a longer length than what you might expect a "standard" swiss army knife to be...which makes it easier for me to grip...and the blades and other implements longer.<br /><br />2. I despise having to pull out twenty tools to find the one that I want! The Trekker has the tools I use most. A knife...saw...and awl...without all the extras. Oh...and the very important tweezers! Can't tell you how often I get splinters.<br /><br />3. My biggest heartburn with Swiss army has been that when the implements in the knife get gummed up at all...it can take remarkable fingernail strength to open the knife. The trekker has a "one handed" open model that allows for the blade to open with a large thumb loop.<br /><br />If I could choose <span style="font-weight:bold;">two</span> knives to take into a survival situation...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEZQKXkn-oI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/UI9Q127JTSY/s1600/21dr9tY2jTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEZQKXkn-oI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/UI9Q127JTSY/s320/21dr9tY2jTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496168534308813442" /></a><br />I would want the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK2-Campanion-Fixed/dp/B001N1DPDE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1279676085&sr=8-3">Ka-Bar Becker BK2</a>. Here's why...<br /><br />1. It has a heavier weight that allows for you to chop at branches. Like having a mini axe on your hip.<br /><br />2. It is as thick as a pry bar which makes for effective batoning of wood. (Splitting of wood) This thickness makes it a virtually indestructible knife. No worries about abusing it.<br /><br />3. It is not a cumbersome mini-sword like so many other knives made for similar purposes.<br /><br />4. Though it may feel cumbersome...especially after carving with smaller knives...it is capable of doing various carving tasks.<br /><br />If you wear it on your belt...be prepared to have people stop you and say "Holy Cow! What kind of knife is that!"...as most folks aren't used to such a heavy utility knife.<br /><br />If I could choose a <span style="font-weight:bold;">third knife</span> I would have a simple <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcTvuBwuqhw">Mora clipper knife</a>. I have the carbon steel 840mg. (military green) Here is why...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEZdZSHxbEI/AAAAAAAAAfg/zz9Y6_huGTU/s1600/f860mg.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TEZdZSHxbEI/AAAAAAAAAfg/zz9Y6_huGTU/s320/f860mg.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496183084194819138" /></a><br />1. I just love carving with it. It just feels good in my hand...and glides through wood. <br /><br />2. It has a clearly laid bevel that beginners can easily sharpen. The carbon steel blade version has stayed sharp for me for a long time.<br /><br />3. It weighs very little.<br /><br />4. It is a tried and true effective bushcraft knife.<br /><br />5. Not that this has any bearing on it's actual utility...but I also appreciate how inexpensive it is!<br /><br />Knives are largely a thing of preference. What works best for one...may not be the best for another. Post any knife recommendations in the comments... Thanks!Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1017720610698018588.post-43794863687867643042010-07-11T08:25:00.000-07:002010-07-11T14:24:17.637-07:002010-07-11T14:24:17.637-07:00Accumulating Jars for Canning...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TDnzo8TlkDI/AAAAAAAAAfI/mhfIYIVwpWQ/s1600/classico-sauce.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cEcQt1nHroE/TDnzo8TlkDI/AAAAAAAAAfI/mhfIYIVwpWQ/s320/classico-sauce.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492689105263628338" /></a><br />I was chatting with a man who has taught canning techniques for longer than I've been alive. He works at a big canning supply factory in Oakland CA. Without any provocation on my part he went into a lengthy speech about all of the trouble our nation is in...how quickly a disaster could change our lives...and the importance of storing food and supplies. He sounded a lot like me!<br /><br />His belief was that next to having food stored...one should have supplies to store more food. Of course the hope with home production is that one can produce more fruits and veggies at home than what the family consumes...enabling excess food to be put away for the future!<br /><br />He talked about steel suppliers and issues he was having getting in the raw materials to make the lids for the jars. He talked about how the price for the jars and lids had gone up...and he expected them to go drastically up again. He felt like the public should be running to the stores and cleaning the shelves of all canning supplies...while they still can.<br /><br />After our conversation I have stocked up on some canning supplies here and there. Here is what we have done.<br /><br />Although we do have a pressure cooker...most of our canning is done in a good ole' <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-11102-Home-Canning-Kit/dp/B001DITLL2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1278864407&sr=8-2">ball home canner</a>. I recommend it as a great way to get into canning. It even comes with a canning book that many consider to be like a canning bible.<br /><br />Both Walmart and Lowes carry canning supplies. From time to time...and when the price is right...I pick up a flat of jars with lids and a few of the little boxes of extra canning lids.<br /><br />A great way to accumulate some jars is to purchase products that come in canning jars. While most jars aren't standard canning sizes that will fit canning lids...there are some companies out there that do use standard canning sized jars. Classico spaghetti sauces come in Mason jars. You can tell because it actually reads "Atlas Mason" in big print on the side of the jar. I have also seen Walmarts "Good Value" brand come in Mason jars. Specifically...I know that their peach chipotle salsa comes in a Mason jar. To reuse the jar...simply remove the label...and run it through your dishwasher. Then set it aside until you go to can...and use it as you would any other canning jar.<br /><br />Please read the comments.Stephen and Lovell Nixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02516277832203748252noreply@blogger.com3