Sharing some Shopping plans..

It’s dreary Saturday in October.. raining a bit today so I’m spending some much-needed time online looking for items for organizing, gardening, and such around the house.  replanting for spring planting already, it’s never too early.  There are also the animals to take care of and I’m ALWAYS looking for ways to reduce feed costs, make the animal areas better and so forth.

The first item I’m looking at is this Garden Leaf & Waste Bags

Here’s a link to the ones I’m considering

http://amzn.to/2ekFmY1

Why these?  That part is easy.  Re-usable!  I plan to use these to clear away the old garden plants and dump those into the chicken area this week to get picked over for veggies that didn’t quite ge ripe and greens. After that these won’t get put away.. I’ll be collecting all the leaves from my maple trees in them.  This will be winter munchies for my rabbits.  They don’t get a TON of leaves every day since that wouldn’t be healthy and they eat them like they are potato chips.  But a handful now and then for them to play in and munch on will keep them VERY happy for the no growing seasons her in NY!

The next thing I’m looking at is this 4 tier greenhouse REPLACEMENT COVER.

Here’s a link in case you’re in need of one too

http://amzn.to/2dYfwgN

This isn’t the entire greenhouse, I already have that, this is the cover.  Mine ripped a few years ago and while I’ve “fixed” it, it’s just not the same.  Let me tell you, it’s the best price I’ve seen on Amazon for this and it’s REALLY going to let me gt some of those harder plants started come January.  That means I cn get into canning earlier and get more food put back so I’m spending less money during the off growing months, which when you come right down to it,  SAVING MONEY means more in my pocket for other things!

The next item I’m looking at is the Parachute Camping Hammock wit Mosquito Net

Here it is:

http://amzn.to/2ejam9D

This one is going into Backpacks, which we use for hiking, camping and keep packed as bug out bags.

It’s all well and good to have a quick tent and bags, but if you don’t HAVE to sleep on the ground, why do it?  I think these are small and light enough to work out perfectly during the warmer months, and these will keep us up off the ground and bug bite free!  Both can be very important in an emergency situation, who wants to be miserable covered in bites when you’re already going through a rough time?

Next up on my new shopping list is this Portable Collapsible Multifunctional Folding Outdoor Basin Bucket

Here’s a link to it:

http://amzn.to/2dTQewA

While those plastic collapsible water bottles are fine, I’ve found they seem leave a LOT to be desired.  So I’ve moved up JUST A BIT from that to these.  They collapse down flat and can carry more water than those plastic things.  They can also be used to wash dishes in as a sink of sorts.

Those are my top picked for Bug out Bags and Hiking/camping gear, but these items also fit into my shopping agenda

Hammock Straps – Extra Strong, Long, Heavy Duty & Lightweight

Here’s a link of course:

http://amzn.to/2e9xMA9

These I’ll using in the back yard.  Since I’m not planning to bug out but more to bug in, having these around can be very handy, just using them in the summer around my big old trees to laze about on hot days in my hammocks is a great idea for the family.  I like the idea of stronger straps when I’m not worrying about carrying things around.

Backseat Car Organizer is next.

Here’s a link:

http://amzn.to/2dYkk6b

This one os going in my car.  I’ll be putting things like first aid items, fire starting items, small trade items and just random stuff I’m not going to want to dig through my car emergency get home bag for so if I need them people won’t see that I actually have a larger get home bag available.  You never know what kind of situation you might find yourself in, and with things organized in this you could put extra stuff you might need into your pockets before having to take off from the car if necessary!

My last item is for around the house and personally…Expandable 50FT Garden Water Hose

Here’s a link:

http://amzn.to/2ecaada

 

Just because I think I need more hoses but they take up WAY too much space, so for the garden I’ll be getting this, it’s small and tucks away the end of the season without taking up nearly as much space as my rolled up regular garden hoses, this is going to free up space out in the garage for other things, possibly dry food storage!

Hoses might become a necessity if something SHTF wise because I’ll be needing to move water from my sources to where I can use it and carrying it.. just isn’t going to be a “want” to do thing if I can use hoses it will make things faster and easier

So.. thanks for joining me on my shopping adventure today, I hope it gives you some useful ideas!

Check Your Shop Your Way account for FREE points today or over the next few days!

I JUST checked my account and I had 7,000 FREE Shop Your Way points..

I went ahead and ordered ANOTHER  case of these canning Jars…. I just can’t resist a deal for these.  His Self only got 3,000 points and since you need to spend $10 to get the free shipping we’ll just stop at the store and pick up some canning lids!

I had a few 117 points leftover after my last oder a few days ago so my total was ONLY $3.97 with FREE SHIPPING!

I am soooooooooooo ready for an awesome gardening year, I’ll be able to put away LOTS of food into storage …. JUST IN CASE….

If you don’t have an account yet….

Here’s the link to sign up for your OWN account
http://syw.co/1sK8mga
AND then use THIS link below to get FREE shipping on orders $10+ for 6 MONTHS PLUS $3 in FREE Points MONTHLY for those 6 Months!
http://tinyurl.com/l6rr8b2

E-Readers for off the Grid

One of the items I’m thinking I need a few more of are the Cheaper brands of e-readers.  I currently have an Aluratex brand e-reader I was given by my wonderful family for Christmas a few years back.  It’s a very SIMPLE one, black & white.  However since it will read PDFs I can take a web page or article and copy it to CUTEPDF creator and save it as a file.  Since I would be needing INFORMATION and not bells and whistles that come with all the latest and greatest e-readers, I can go less expensive by buying second hand when I find them.  Or older models as mine is.

This allows me to save anything I THINK might become valuable to know in a SHTF situation without having to actually memorize every tiny little thing.   I can also store things in subjects on SD cards taped to a listing of WHAT is on that card, saving time later from having to go through 100 different cards to find my information.

I haven’t checked out the Kindle stand alone readers yet, but I do know you can’t copy, save or print to other media with these, and I want my information stored in as many ways as possible.

CLICK HERE to see specs..

• Supports PDF (Adobe Digital Edition DRM/non-DRM), TXT, FB2, EPUB (Adobe Digital Edition DRM/non-DRM), MOBI (non-DRM only)
• Supports BMP, JPG, GIF, animated GIF picture format
• Includes 2GB SD Card and 100 free eBooks

What I like about this is that in an off-grid situation it will charge through a USB port making almost any small solar charger good!

I keep several SD cards PACKED FULL of valuable information.

I do also backup everything I save as PDFs etc to DVDs, as we know.. SD cards can and do go bad every now and then, and having things in multiple formats is always a wise idea!

MANY UPDATES – The Flood, The Rabbits and His Self

Flooding Update….

This is week 4 since the flood.  STILL no water, STILL no power.  I’ve had several electrician/plumbers in and they have all PROMISED me quotes… not a single written quote has been e-mailed, snail mailed or personally delivered.  I have filled out the paperwork dealing with the offered NY State program for financial help to flood victims.  They SAID they will call within 72 hours to set up an apt for their inspection.  We will see.  My primary issue is MOLD and Mildew in the crawl spaces I can’t access.  This is the second year of my basement being flooded, and the neighbors have all had similar issues.  They have lived in this area all their lives and say it’s NEVER been like this till recently.  I’m seeing a trend ofr the future I’m not sure I want to be involved in.  Climate change IS happening.  Whether you believe it’s caused by global warming, or whether it’s just a cycle of the earth is irrelevant.. It’s happening.    This planet is 4 BILLION years old….. we are foolish to think we can do any truly lasting damage to anything but OURSELVES.  The system will hybernate, clean and reset with some deeply buried long frozen single cell germ…… enough on my thoughts for that subject.

Rabbits Update…

2 of the 3 rabbits I bred kindled.  China (The Cali?New Zealand mix skipped.  I’m fairly sure it was a failed breed, either they didn’t get the job done (I didn’t watch, tho usually I do) or the buck is deficient.  He’s an older buck, so I’m fairly sure its the buck since China has regularly had 8 – 10 kits in each litter.  Sparkles, the lop, kindled and then .. ignored her kits.  She had them on the wire and didn’t even attempt to make a nest.  She was a happy successful mom with her 2 other litters, so I will call this a flike and give her one more breeding attempt before I retire her.  She’s only 2 so she should have 2 more years of breeding time.  The rex doe had 6 kits.  All 6 have made it even tho we were in the 100s and I wasn’t able to do what I usually do and bring mom and the kits inside under a fan, having no power.  I’ll get some pixs up later.  The kits aren’t out of the woods as far as I’m concerned until they are about 2 weeks old.

I’m selling the Oldest buck and doe at the next animal auction this comming Saturday.  I believe I will offer up the 2 small brown mutt rabbits on one of my facebook lists.  They are very sweet and they will be a smaller rabbit, so more pet material than meat.  They are very soft and cuddly, but need more human contact than we will give them if they are going to be pets.

Of the 4 New Zealands I picked up at auction, I have 2 left.  1 buck and 1 doe.  They are starting to look like “teen” type bunnies.. all legs and ears LOL.

Next Saturday I will be doing another Breeding.

• Ebony & Lil Prince
• Chocolate and the other Rex Doe

I’m hoping to pick up a Lop Buck still and a New Zealand Buck that’s breeding age on Saturday.

Update on His Self’s condition…

I’m a little worried about His Self.  He’s not bouncing back at all from his hospital stay.  He’s on 2 meds and 8 different vitamins.  All Perscription.  He’s always tired, he has no strength and he’s still losing weight.   Last Dr. Visit they told him if he doesn’t drink one drop between now and January 1st, they can get him in fora liver transplant.  He hasn’t had a single sip.. not even mentioned drinking.. whined alot about not being able to eat bacon anymore… but never once about alcohol.  I’m concerned for his health, but I find it hard to dig up any true sympathy for his plight.  It’s the emotional detachment I’ve had to make to continue to live wit him.  It’s entirely possible that he has cost me my humanity… I feel no empathy for him.. and that is after all what makes us different from the animals.

Freebies received 6/23 – 7/12

Having a flood and very limited power has kind of slowed things down on the net for me, however, here’s an update of the freebies I’ve been getting.  I was going to add links, but I haven’t reinstalled my portable hard drive (It’s in my bag of “stuff I MUST take in evacuation” on the kitchen table and we won’t be unpacking that until we get things back into working order).

2 Toyota Tumblers – these were (purchased off HSN for $0.00 with $0 shipping

Nectreese samples (not sure how I got 2.. and $ off coupons

Schiff Move Free Omega  and $5 coupon

Packet of coupons from my local store Price Chopper .. I get these from having an updated shoppers card.

Always samples and coupons, I kinda like the cute litle bag they sent will probably change out the goodies inside for something more age appropriate for the grandbaby who is 9.

Atkins starter kit.  Came with 3 full size snack bars, and 2 getting started booklets, plus 3 – $1 coupon off various Atkins items.

 

2 Sample single packs of Emergen C vitamin C drinks.  Coupon for $1 off any Emergen C item.

Eventually I will get things back to Normal and be able to add the links to these items to the pages as hey are available.  This blog isn’t really devoted to couponing and freebie, it’s just part of what I do to save money and be less dependent on the outside mass market world.  The Mugs, Nuctreese, Atkins bars and EmergenC Will probably end up in my stockpiles for future emergency situations like the aftermath of the flooding which i’m dealing with now.  THIS TIME we have red cross and such… but what if… the bridge below me had been washed out like the bridge above and no one could get through for a few weeks…. instead of just days….

Update…

Electrician finally got to us on the list (now keep in mind I called Monday July 1st….. took him till the 9th to give us an visit and tomorrow we SHOULD have an estimate… THEN he said 2 weeks or so till the work is done.. 2 WEEKS????

He says,, furnace is DEAD.. yea we expected that, but it’s NOT the PRIORITY… e can work on that in august/september… THAT is not going back in the basement.. it’s gonna be pellet or wood.. or ANYTHING but fuel oil…. SO.. Shallow Well Pump (priced them… like $300 or so), Hot water Tank.. again $300 or so, knew that cuz we just frikken bought the destroyed one   UNEXPECTED … there is apparently something called “cloth wrapped wire” in about 1/2 my house.. this got wet.. at least SOME if not ALL will have to be replaced.. and the flood rubbed something against the big thick wire that runs from the line down your house to the meter and then down to the boxes… and it has bare wires will HAVE to be replaced as well… and then of course there’s the boxes… NOT looking good to me so far and I haven’t heard a price at all yet…….

Still waiting on the list for volunteers for clean up… I can’t do it myself.  Need the basement and the yard done… tho we have collected up 99.9% of the stuff in the yard.

While the water has seeped back into the ground (dirt floor basement) we have mud like crazy down there… and it’s soooooooooo HUMID that NOTHING is drying… I keep going through all the food stuffs inside the house on a daily basis… things are growing mold at an incredible rate with 75%+ humidity and 85 degree temps every day.  I get 2 days max out of a loaf of bread before it has to go…

The chinchillas usually get their cage wiped down about 2 times a week…they are rodents so they can get quite stinky if you don’t… no water to do it… I’m going to haul some water from a local spring for cleaning… I can’t stand the idea of things just sitting there…

Got a new filter for the shop vac.. will be vacuuming tomorrow come hell or high water.. trying to get an OUTDOOR cage repaired for the mom bunny and 2 babies indoors right now. Need them out out out…

Time.. I never seem to have enough TIME… of course there’s only 1 of me… His Self isn’t in ANY shape to help… good enough shape to consistently piss me off tho…

So… looking at this from a “learning experience” perspective….

• I need a hand pump on the well.
• I need to get my rain water capture set up ASAP.
• EVERYTHING needs to be stored in plastic tubs.
• I need more Solar Yard Lights.
• I need more Rechargable Batteries.
• I need a solar battery charger.
• Bottled water tastes like plastic EWW
• Humidity is an ENEMY.

Selective Technology Addiction

I’m online hours and hours during the day.  I’m online far more than the average person actually.  The internet is incorporated into so many facets of my life, that honestly my computer is ON 24/7.  This doesn’t mean I sit at my computer 24/7 LOL.  That’s a whole different level of addiction than what I have.

I live in the middle of No Where NY.  I don’t subscribe to cable TV of any kind.  I have a 54 inch flat screen TV that to be honest gets turn on for only 2 reasons.. the Grand baby is here and it’s dark and we can’t play outside or.. maybe once a month I might watch a DVD on my own.  I get my news INSTANTLY delivered when *I* want it, no waiting for the mainstream media’s set programming times.  My “TV” time is 90% You Tube Prepper channels (which I picked out for myself), and the rest a mix of various things that interest ME, not programming someone ELSE wants to force on me.

Similar with the cell phone.  I do OWN 1.. actually I OWN 2.  1 I have time on.. it’s old as dirt, no internet access, no qwerty keyboard, no camera.. no bells bings or whistles.  It does get text messages, but I will read but not send texts.  I rarely receive incomming calls.  It’s more for emergency purposes.  My other cell phone currently has no time on it.  However it has internet ability, a camera and a qwerty keyboard.  I live in one of the rare “no service” areas that are left, so both phones are turned off unless I’m out someplace.  I don’t see myself ever needing to own a “smart phone”.

Power tool technology.. whew.. Not my area of expertise.  I am currently in the process of clearing out my 3 bay garage for several reason, one of them is a work shop.  I have unopened boxes of power tools LOL.  Most are fairly easy to use items, drills, drill press, miter saw, scroll saw etc.  I have many SMALL projects I want to do, so getting the shop set up is kind of important on my list, other things on the list depend on me getting that done first.

Most of my technology is … small items.  My ebook reader (I’m an avid reader), Sanyo MP3 player,  JVC Everio Camcorder, Kodak EZshare camera.. that kind of stuff.  These are things that a small portable solar panel could recharge/run.  I do DESPERATELY need to get a portable DVD player.  I have been thinking about SHTF and all the stuff I DO NOT know how to do…and really, right now my life is very chaotic so finding extra time to learn these skills is not an option.   For example, currently I DO NOT know how to make soap from potash and animal fat, I also do not have the time RIGHT NOW to learn this skill.  I MAY need it in the future.  A few GOOD instructonal step by step videos tucked away for my own personal use in a DVD library, and should something happen where technology goes down.. I will still have ACCESS to these and the ABILITY to learn that skill.  Think about all the instructional videos you’ve watched.  Would you remember everything?  What about measurements?  Times?  Tips and Tricks?  I have a small paper library, but I am also working on a huge instructional video library.  I consider it the same as not having all your food storage items tucked into one place.. Technically.  I fell that for every place you stash rations you should also have a set of books.

Solar power.  I want to go totally off grid.  Keeping my current level of power consumption AND being “Off Grid” …. really not an option.  I just don’t have $25,000 – $40,000 for that.  HOWEVER, I can do a “mini” off grid set up for a couple HUNDRED dollars instead of THOUSANDS.  I’d like to be able to run my fridge and 2 freezers.  That’s it for NECESSITY.  Technically I could break down to just the house fridge/freezer if I had to.  I’m not stressed over my well pump, I’ll be putting a hand pump for that asap, however I live in an area where underground springs within 2 minutes walking distance are ABUNDANT and the water from them is potable.  I also live a few hundred feet from a creek that has no “dry season” for water for anything I don’t need to worry about potability with (laundry, toilet flushing etc.. ).  I’m not stressed over lighting… I have candles, solar yard walk lights, etc etc etc.  SO my power consumption TRUE necessity is very low.

One technology I DO need to work on is HEAT.  Not getting MORE technology, getting LESS.. I need to go retro in this area and install a wood stove.  Truely I’d like to do a combination of wood and bio fuel stoves.  Corn, seems to me at least, to be the most sustainable of the choices.  I live in NY, I usually don’t turn my furnace on until November 1st.  I use Kero until then if we need heat, however, passive solar heat panels can replace Kero.  Passive solar heat pannels will also reduce the amount of bio fuel you’d need even during a January Freeze.  Passive Solar panels use zero power.  They are solar ovens to cook the air for your house 🙂

Do YOU have a SELECTIVE technology addiction?  Or are you thinking you need every single thing you currently use for the rest of your life?

Changes

Since 2012 there have been a lot of changes in the house here.  The boys have grown and moved on with their lives, while they are still close by, they are busy with their new families 🙂  It seems to me that while they have moved out, my job as mom still isn’t quite as “retired” as I thought it was going to be.. HEH

His Self –  you’ll get to know more about him as we go along, but I’m going to give “the lay of the land” so to speak so you can appreciate “the full picture”.  Anyways, His Self and I used to be together as a couple.  We’re talking 17 years here…  Over the last few years (3 and mostly due to his increasingly MASSIVE vodka consumption) we have grown apart.  Now while we share the same home, we have separate rooms and we’re just friends and room mates.  I’m not going to go into a rant about alcoholism, but I will say this to you.  1/2 gallon of Vodka a day WILL make you utterly unable to do anything, it will also physically wreck you.  There is nothing in the world that can stop someone who becomes addicted to alcohol and refuses to seek help.  You can cry, scream, threaten, drag them kicking and screaming to rehab, but if THEY don’t want help…   The old saying is “You can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink” is so very true.  The physical devastation to his body, well all I’m going to say there is that in the last month, he’s not doing very well, and REFUSES to see a Dr. as of today.  More on this to come in the future I’m sure…

Apart from dealing with His Self, one of the biggest hurdles for ME it seems is going to be getting the yard under some kind of control.  Last year I had 2 boys and 10 of their friends that made that part of life a no brainer, I didn’t even have to think about it, they would asses the condition, acquire the tools and proceed to “knock it out” as they put it.  This year, however, besides it raining almost every day, the person who used to loan us the lawn equipment doesn’t have it.  I’m perfectly capable of mowing a lawn (I would think) of course someone will have to show me how to operate lawn maintenance equipment.

One thing you’re going to find out about me is that I have NO IDEA what to do with “power tools”.  Until this year, that was totally unnecessary information for me.  I’m a totally dedicated computer geek.  BIG CHANGE coming…..  Non power tools, NO PROBLEM.. I need to plug something in.. it suddenly becomes my worst nightmare.

Some of my biggest hurdles are acquiring tools to “do the job”.   Financially, I just don’t have ANY extra funds.  None, Zero, Zip.  His Self used to be the main bread earner, and as I stated above, things have changed.  The home we bought is located in a TINY Upstate NY ummm… town (there’s like MAYBE 30 houses – 10 owned by Amish, zero stores, zero food places, zero gas stations).  The closest gas stations and stores are 10 miles away.  My closest Wal Mart is a 30 minute drive, my closest Target is an hour.  My computer skills are what have made it possible to pay the bills, since there are VERY few job opportunities within a reasonable commute, and I have application in at ALL the places available.  I considered selling the house and moving, but nothing sells here… not a single home has been bought or sold in the area since I moved here and plenty have been up for sale for YEARS.

On the UP side.  The only DEBT I have is my home.  I have no credit card bills, I have no car payment (crossing my fingers because my car could use some work), I have enough FOOD that I could not grocery shop for 6 months (I’m an AVID couponer), I raise meat rabbits and I have Amish that love to barter.  I DO have other skills, I make jewelry and I’m crafty as hell.  I also have drive, goals and ambition.

So… goals.  I like this subject.

Goal #1  I NEED to either refinance (not really an option to be honest) or Pay off my house by May 2014 when the balance of my loan becomes due (something His Self set up, he was VERY good at real estate).  I owe $25,000.  Owner is holding the Mortgage.  DEFAULT is NOT an option.  His Self put everything into MY name alone.   His Self is as I said, not helpful at this point in his life, so I will be doing this completely alone.  $25,000 in 11 months, AND still manage to have my bills paid.  Impossible?  Well, here’s my take on life.  NOTHING is impossible.  I don’t “quit”.  Which means I need to acquire some kind of WORKABLE PLAN or PLANS.  I’m not afraid of work, and if I have to “work” 16 hours a day every day to accomplish this goal, then that’s what I will be doing.

Which brings me to Goal #2.  In the last 5 years, my garage has been COMPLETELY taken over by kids moving in and out and my mother passing ans the family deciding I would be acquiring all her earthly goods (personally.. I’d rather have my mom back).  We’re talking a garage that can hold 3 cars, packed with “stuff”.  Most people would look at that and groan at the job ahead of them.  Me?  OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!  See Goal #1.  I’m going to take a picture today of my garage.  Then I’m going to start going through boxes.  Do I have.. potentially.. enough items inside that garage to pay off this house?  We’re talking $25,000… that’s 25,000 – $1 items, or 5000 – $5 items, or 2,500 – $10 items.  There IS only one way to find out.. right?

Goal #3…. my jungle of a yard.  I really MUST do SOMETHING about this, not nearly as important and #1 or #2, but it’s necessary for me to deal with.  Fortunately, my son was here yesterday and he is going to see what HE can do about a temporary solution (getting the grass cut for this week).

Well.. the sun is up…  I’m gong to go outside and open the garage door….. and start.