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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Hand Held Dual Band Radio

I finally got us one of these - Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver (Black). Now I need to figure out how to program it!

That is what I will spend the afternoon doing. I have a bunch of Youtube videos saved to watch and hope that will help.

This seems like it is going to be a nice little radio. Very nice built. I like how it feels and it has great sound.

After I get it programmed I will make a video of it. Let you all know how good it is. 

Camping Cookbook

Camping Cookbook: 26 Camping Recipes That Make Cooking Outdoors So Easy... Anyone Can Do It (Rory's Meat Kitchen) was a free kindle book when this post was written.

 Imagine this for a second... You're sitting around the campfire with your friends/family. You smell nothing but the fresh air of the outdoors, that amazing pine smell, birds chirping, the leaves blowing in the wind, and you've got your favorite camp grill in front of you (or camp fire for those of you who prefer the old-fashioned way).

You grab your favorite recipe out of your great new camping recipe book, that you downloaded for a great price, and get cooking. Everyone's laughing, having the time of their life and you're the new favorite go-to camper. Sounds like a good time?


Some of the recipes that you'll find in this book are:

- FRESHLY CAUGHT TROUT
- A TASTE OF TUNISIA
- PIZZA IN THE PAN
- ALL IN ONE BREAKFAST
- ZUCCHINI IN THE PAN
- TASTY TURKEY ITALIAN WRAPS
- CHRISTMAS, SMOKED STYLE
- CAMPING CLASSIC – THE BURGER
- CAMPER’S CLASSIC DOG

And these are just a few that are included in this summers camping cookbook.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Preparing For a Widespread Disaster


There are at least seven global or widespread disasters that seem likely to occur at sometime in the future. A large asteroid hitting the earth is one of those seven. It is generally accepted by scientists that asteroids have struck the earth in the past causing widespread damage. It is believed that asteroids will continue to collide with the earth every now and then. Maybe every sixty million years a big one comes along that is large enough to have a global effect on survival of earth's living things. The chances of such an event happening in a particular person's lifetime are tiny. But that tiny chance is there.

It is unpleasant to consider such terrible things. But the best attitude, it seems to me, is to ignore, to a very large extent, the unpleasant feelings that the topic causes. That allows a person to consider what might be done to increase the chances of surviving a disaster. No way can a person be fully prepared. And since we cannot know just what is going to take place, it may be an exercise in futility. But you never know, simple basic preparations could bring you through some calamity.

And why not take the attitude that your efforts and interest in such preparation is something to feel good about. Those efforts can be fun and interesting. The topic certainly grabs my attention better than a Hollywood movie. By doing what I can to become prepared, I am doing something that could dramatically make my life much more pleasant should I be involved in a catastrophe. Disaster preparedness is an interesting and enjoyable hobby that could pay off big-time. Knowing that all the benefits of modern life are not necessarily a given, is a reason for enjoying them more.
The seven possible widespread or global disasters:

1). Very large volcanic eruptions. Hugh volumes of gas and dust could spread around the globe. There is some evidence that these have occurred before. Doesn't that mean that it could happen again?

2). An epidemic. There was the flu epidemic of 1918 that killed 30 million people worldwide. There was the plague that killed about one fourth of Europe's population in the Dark Ages. Viruses and germs are known to mutate and change. They may become resistant to vaccines and medications, become more deadly, and become more contagious. Viruses and other pathogens cold mutate into virulent forms that could spread rapidly around the world by people using air travel.

3). Crop failures due to plant diseases, climate change, or ozone depletion.

4). Climate changes including global warming and the effects that might come with it such as extreme heat, drought, and severe storms.

5). Nuclear war.

6). Terrorist act which could bring about widespread effects. If, for instance, a nuclear device was detonated in Washington, D.C. and another wiped out Wall Street, the effects could be unpredictable and could include economic depression, anarchy, shortages of consumer goods, and war.

7). Something unexpected. A disaster could be caused by a completely unknown event. It is unreasonable to think we are smart enough to be aware of all threats that could bring catastrophe.
There are many other plausible scenarios for widespread catastrophes. These include such things as a large solar flare that shoots out radiation and charged particles toward the earth; an object such as a black hole passing close to the earth; and a technology accident such as a genetically modified organism being released into the environment.

In recent years vast quantities of methane gas have been discovered on the sea floor where the water is very deep and in places where the water is very cold. It is believed that global warming or earthquakes could cause the methane to be released perhaps suddenly and in massive quantities. Methane is explosive and could displace oxygen causing suffocation.

Below are some things you can do to be better prepared for emergencies.

Store food and water: About a gallon of water a day per person is a reasonable goal. How many days worth is anybody's guess - you have to use your own judgment about what is practical for you. Know where to get water if your standby supply runs out. Water of unknown purity should be boiled at least 3 minutes to kill any pathogens. If boiling is not possible add 16 drops or 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach per gallon and let stand at least 30 minutes. Smell the water. If it does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the process. Use bleach that contains nothing else other than water and 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Bleach is most effective for killing bacteria but is not effective against parasitic organisms.

Choose long storage food such as canned goods, dry food such as nuts, seeds, beans, and grain products in plastic or glass containers. Most dried beans will need to be soaked and cooked before eating. Examples of dried beans that can be eaten after soaking and without cooking include split peas, mung beans, lentils and black-eyed peas. Wheat and corn can also be soaked and eaten without cooking. Peanut butter and vegetable oil are good choices because they are calorie rich, long keeping and require no preparation. Canned meat provides protein and requires no cooking. A multi vitamin will help with adequate vitamin requirements.

Keeping warm: The colder the climate where you live, the more important this is if the electrical power fails or you are forced to leave your home. Have enough heavy clothing and blankets in your home to keep you warm. Have ready to go to put in your car such as in a garbage bag: at least two changes of clothing that will keep you warm, a sleeping bag or a couple of blankets, gloves, knit hat, and sturdy shoes.

First aid kit: The most important items may be soap for washing a wound, an antiseptic ointment, and bandaging.

Tools and supplies for short-term emergencies: Flashlight and batteries, candles, matches, can opener, soap, battery-powered radio and batteries, face mask for filtering the air you breath,
Tools and supplies for long term emergencies: all of the items above for short-term emergencies plus the food items listed above plus: long lasting led flashlight, wind-up flashlight, wind-up radio, unscented 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite bleach for purifying water, sturdy knife and sharpener, salt, grain grinder, food storage containers, shovel, blankets, rifle and ammunition.
Tools and supplies for your car: gallon of drinking water, blanket, extra clothes (sweatshirt, long underwear, boots, socks, gloves, hat), compass, rain gear, battery-powered radio and batteries, long storage and light-weight food, maps, siphon (20 feet plastic tubing, 1/2 inch diameter), gas can, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, portable light. Long-term and extras: bleach for purifying water, shorts or swimsuit, tube tent (or 10 by 10 tarp, cord), ground moisture barrier, closed cell foam sleeping pad, sleeping bag, insect repellant, sunglasses, sunscreen, soap, knife, backpack, duct tape, cord (i.e., seine twine, parachute cord, masons' twine).

Have a short-term plan: Discuss with your family how everyone will get home if their usual transportation is not available. If the phone systems are operating, one person could remain at home to take and relay messages. Have a place in mind in case you need to relocate to a different geographic area. Plan how to get there and what you will take along. If you believe you are not enough prepared, decide how to become so.

Stay informed: Have at least a battery operated am/fm radio with extra batteries. A wind-up radio not requiring batteries could be used if the power is off for an extended period. Emergency alert radios might receive broadcasts in a long-term power failure where the backup generators for am/fm radio stations have run out of fuel.

If situations develop so that longer-term solutions are needed, you will need other strategies. You may have to hunt for and gather food from the wild. Very long-term collapse of the present supply chain would require that you become self-sufficient in mending and making your own clothing. You might have to construct a shelter using basic tools and basic materials. The scope of this article does not allow for discussions of what you would need to know to survive extended collapse of society into how it was a couple of hundred years ago.

Alan Detwiler is the author of the ebook, Thrivers, a speculative science fiction novella describing a pandemic and climate change. Thrivers is available as a Kindle ebook - Thrivers In An Uncertain Future: A Speculative Fiction Novel About Likely Changes Coming In The Near Future It is also available as a Nook book at BarnesandNoble.com

Steps To Surviving Economic Collapse


Stage 1. There is no way to predict when disaster may strike. The best way to survive disaster is to first prepare for a short-term emergency, such as 72 hours. That is why your purchase of quality survival kits for each member of your family and pets is highly recommended. Once you have done that, you can at least feel better knowing that you have taken the first step to preparing for a small disaster. Unfortunately, many disasters are not small. Take Hurricane Katrina of 2005, for example. Hurricane Katrina spread destruction across 7 states, with New Orleans, Louisiana being the hardest hit. If you don't live in an area which typically suffers attacks from hurricanes, how safe are you from other natural disasters? The extreme temperatures of 1980 killed 1260 people in the United States. The 1980 disastrous heat wave and drought caused crops to fail and the resulting food shortages brought increased food prices to consumers. Since storms typically cause over half of natural disaster fatalities, why not focus your initial survival planning there? Storms often knock out electrical power from wind, flooding or snow, so plan for storm disasters first; especially if you feel overwhelmed with all of the "what ifs" disaster scenarios.

Stage 2. Once you are satisfied that you and each member of your family can survive an emergency for three days, then immediately make a survival plan for one week! Yes, I am talking serious disaster preparedness here! Last winter a storm hit our area with 90 mile/hr. winds and the power went out. One section of our community was without power for two weeks with below zero temperatures. Another community in our state had a total snowfall of 18 feet in January 2012 while another community had 27 feet of snow. There were no deaths, and neighbors helped neighbors, people didn't panic, a lot of small generators powered up, wood stoves burned through lots of stored wood, and all survived. People hauled water when their pipes froze, and didn't starve, because they were well prepared with canned and smoked fish, frozen moose meat, and canned/frozen berries and garden veggies. Local community agencies offer many resources to help residents survive. By this time you may be thinking that our climate is harsh. Yes, and we don't run from it, either. We stock up on food and wood and other supplies all summer. We hunt, fish, can, dry, and freeze foods to store for winter. We prepare, dig in, and survive! You can, too. Even if you are living in an urban setting, you can buy items on sale, and stock up!

Stage 3. That brings me to the subject of extreme disaster preparedness - planning to survive one month! Yes. Our winters in Alaska are 8-9 months long! Oh yes, we have cities here. We work and buy food at stores just like everyone else. But if you have ever been here, you may have left with the impression that Alaskans are serious about their rights to subsistence fishing. Moose hunting season empties a lot of offices around Anchorage and Fairbanks in the fall season. Winter comes once a year, and it's rough, so we make ready.

Sounds easy? Well, someone told me that researching something is the easiest part of any project. The hardest part is to stop researching and START DOING!

So let's start with the easy part - research. There is a plethora of information available online. There are disaster plan guides you can download, survival lists, and gardening tips galore. There are government agencies with resources to help. Utilize your LOCAL community resources to find out about local edible plants and how to get the most out of your gardening efforts for your own climate and soil types. Check out university extension services in your area for edible plants indigenous to your area and plant the seeds they recommend. These are just a few ideas.

START DOING NOW! Revise your Survival Plan to supply you and your loved ones for at least one month. Include renewable resources native to your region and a few hand tools. Drill it down to just the essentials on your list of survival items. If you can survive one month, you will survive 9 months! By doing your research, you have the knowledge you need for most emergencies.

Collect your survival items on your list and keep to the essentials. Survival products make your job easier. Most of the planning is already done for you. Most websites have product categories which have your major survival concerns organized. Make your survival items list and shop carefully for first aid supplies, survival kits, storage foods, and survival equipment based on your research.

Stick to 3 stages of preparation, and you will amaze yourself how quickly you are able to plan and implement your own plan for emergency survival. Make your own individualized survival plan, and continue to revise it. Be sure to practice your survival plan of action with the whole family many times BEFORE disaster strikes. Then drill regularly so each family member feels comfortable with his/her role and responsibilities in an emergency. This helps prevent panic. Practice builds your confidence and the skills to survive whatever nature throws at you.

Sherron L. Collins invites you to buy essential quality disaster preparedness supplies at [http://www.serioussurvivalequipment.com] in order to help you and your family survive emergencies.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

FREE Minecraft-Themed Math Worksheets Your Kid s Will Love

Title: FREE Minecraft-Themed Math Worksheets Your Kid s Will Love Do your Minecraft kids need some encouragement to practice math? How about a quick addition refresher before going back to school? Minecraft Math Worksheet Freebie - Educents Download Multi Taskin' Mom's FREE Minecraft Themed Addition Workshe ets. These fun math worksheets include single digit to double digi t addition, making this freebie useful for Minecraft kids ages 5 to 12. Here's more ways to use your child's interest in Min ecraft for learning:
Looking for more ways to turn gaming time into learnin g time? Check out all the Minecraft-themed educational products offered on Educents at a discount.    

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Prepper's Pantry Box Set: 110 Safety Hacks and Meals for Practical Survival Preparedness (Prepper's Pantry, Prepper's Pantry Box Set, Prepper's Survival)

Prepper's Pantry Box Set: 110 Safety Hacks and Meals for Practical Survival Preparedness (Prepper's Pantry, Prepper's Pantry Box Set, Prepper's Survival) was a free Kindle book when this post was written.


BOOK #1: Prepper's Pantry: 55 Most Popular Convenience Food for Tasty Life Saving Meals



Who says that your emergency food stockpile has to be filled with bland, flavorless junk? With the right advice and the right amount of ingenuity, you can recreate a familiar, delicious, nutritious, and most of all comfortable variety for your family. Even in the worst disaster, you can use the act of preparing and eating meals to offer a slice of normalcy and comfort to your entire family. Nutrition is important, but it's just as critical to make sure that you can provide that comfort to your family in a stressful emergency situation.

This book will teach you about:

  • How to incorporate a variety of different fruits into your diet when they're not available fresh
  • Enhancing and increasing the quality of convenience foods
  • Finding a balance between ready-to-eat meals and shelf-stable ingredients
  • Maximizing your family's comfort in an emergency situation through food
  • Being creative and flexible with what you have on hand
  • Much, much more!


BOOK #2: Prepper's Hacks: 55 Amazing Safety Survival Hacks



By reading this book you will come to know how to make a ship with soda bottles and jugs to displace from the river. Moreover, this book is also an aiding guide. You can learn how to heal up the bleeding wounds, how to stop the rapid flowing blood, how to maintain B.P and how to give help to a victim of cardiac arrest at time of survival.

Let’s have a fantastic look over the basic topics of this book:

  • Amazing tactics for life saving survival hackers
  • 55 amazing safety survival hacks – Win the fight between life and death


BOOK #3: Preppers Blueprint: Practical Preparedness Steps for Jungle Survival



Surviving in the jungle is not easy if you do not have any idea about how to survive. This book will give you an idea and step by step guideline that will help you to survive in the jungle. This book covers some exclusive tips and tricks that are must have items for the survivals of the jungle. Get ready to discover the secrets of surviving in the jungle!

Here is what you will learn after reading this book:

  • Quick idea about the essential equipment that will help you to survive
  • The ways to manage fresh water in the jungle
  • Mange shelter and safe foods in Jungle
  • Quicksand is very common in jungle, how you can survive if you face quicksand?
  • Quick demonstration about the dangers of jungle

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Prepper's Survival Box Set

Prepper's Survival Box Set: 136 Emergency Preparedness Steps and Survival Tips to Increase Your Disaster Preparedness (Preppers Survival, emergency preparedness, survival skills) was a free book for the kindle when this post was written.

Preppers Survival Box Set(FREE Bonus Included)



BOOK #1: Prepper's Pantry: 55 Most Popular Convenience Food for Tasty Life Saving Meals



Even in the worst disaster, you can use the act of preparing and eating meals to offer a slice of normalcy and comfort to your entire family. Nutrition is important, but it's just as critical to make sure that you can provide that comfort to your family in a stressful emergency situation.

This book will teach you about:

  • How to incorporate a variety of different fruits into your diet when they're not available fresh
  • Enhancing and increasing the quality of convenience foods
  • Finding a balance between ready-to-eat meals and shelf-stable ingredients
  • Maximizing your family's comfort in an emergency situation through food
  • Being creative and flexible with what you have on hand
  • Much, much more!


BOOK #2: Prepper's Hacks: 55 Amazing Safety Survival Hacks



By reading this book you will come to know how to make a ship with soda bottles and jugs to displace from the river. Moreover, this book is also an aiding guide. You can learn how to heal up the bleeding wounds, how to stop the rapid flowing blood, how to maintain B.P and how to give help to a victim of cardiac arrest at time of survival.

Let’s have a fantastic look over the basic topics of this book:

  • Amazing tactics for life saving survival hackers
  • 55 amazing safety survival hacks – Win the fight between life and death


BOOK #3: EMP Survival: 26 Steps on How to Increase Your Safety in Case of EMP and Solar Flares



An EMP blast, or electromagnetic pulse, is one of the absolute worst disasters that can happen to civilization today. Not only are we in constant threat from religious extremists, who have the ability to build these weapons with no problem, but we also have a giant fusion reactor constantly throwing highly ionized atoms our way. These are called CME’s, or coronal mass ejections, which our sun is due up for very soon. When this situation happens you can expect no more technology, power, or internet. Pretty much the foundation of humanity right now. Don’t allow yourself to be caught off guard, which can mean almost certain death.Things aren’t always going to go your way, but with these tips you can definitely increase your odds of survival exponentially.

Here is what you will learn after reading this book:

  • Ways to increase transportation
  • How a Faraday cage will protect you
  • The medical items you need
  • How potassium iodine can protect your thyroid


BOOK #4: Preppers Blueprint: Practical Preparedness Steps for Jungle Survival



This book will give you an idea and step by step guideline that will help you to survive in the jungle. This book covers some exclusive tips and tricks that are must have items for the survivals of the jungle. Get ready to discover the secrets of surviving in the jungle!

Here is what you will learn after reading this book:

  • Quick idea about the essential equipment that will help you to survive
  • The ways to manage fresh water in the jungle
  • Mange shelter and safe foods in Jungle
  • Quicksand is very common in jungle, how you can survive if you face quicksand?
  • Quick demonstration about the dangers of jungle

Getting Your FREE Bonus



Download this book, and find "BONUS: Your FREE Gift" chapter right after the introduction or after the conclusion.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

We Will Be Making Our Own Soda Soon!!

Found another treasure at the thrift store today. I didn't even want to go there again. But, my mom was here to visit me from out of town and she loves our thrift store. I am glad I went now. I found a SodaStream Soda Maker! It was a steal for $10.00. My mom was mad that I found it before here. It has a Co2 cartridge in it so I know it works. Not sure how much power left. Need to get some flavors and be up and running. I like that this is not electric! We can even have soda if the grid goes down and we can take this with us when we camp. YUMMY!!

How to Make Delicious Meat Jerky

How to Make Delicious Meat Jerky was a free book for the kindle when this post was written.

This Guide Will Help You:


• Make easy and convenient jerky recipes that you can use everyday
• Create delicious jerky recipes from around the world.
•Make meat jerky without MSG , nitrates or any other weird chemicals that you find in store-bought jerky
• Learn the art and science of making jerky.
• Make all-natural and delicious meat jerky with your oven or dehydrator

Here are some of the mouthwatering jerky recipes that you’ll find in this book:


Habanero Beef Jerky
Honey Orange Beef Jerky
Black Beef Jerky
Bourbon Barbecue Beef Jerky
Cajun Spice Beef Jerky
Argentinean Chimichurri Beef Jerky
Chipotle Jerky
Serrano Beef Jerky
Old School BBQ Beef Jerky Recipe

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

A Backyard Oasis

Or that is what I am planning on building. Went to a local store and they had these outdoor gazebos on sale for 50% off. So I got it for 24.99!! Then right behind us is a place where I can get pallets that we plan on using for making a deck. Not too big. We have measured out from the house to the shed is 10 feet and the shed is down the side of the house. So we would use that for privacy down that one side and then have to do the 2 ends! Have a place we can relax and sit out without the whole neighborhood watching us. Be a great place for cookouts and dining. Plus it could be moved easily if we had to move it.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Lighting From Thrift Store

I am all about being frugal and the best thing I always find at thrift stores is forms of lighting. I got these 2 really nice candle holders. The one to the left is for big candles and has a glass globe in it also. Great for safety and to enhance the light. The other one is made like a frame , or shadowbox, and had 5 places made into it for tealights. There is a mirror in the back and the top is open for the heat and flame. I plan on hanging it in the bedroom. The candles I also got at the thrift store and I paid $3.00 for all of this!!

Friday, July 3, 2015

Easy and Delicious Desserts You Can Make On Your Grill


You can think of your grill as your outdoor kitchen. You can cook a main course, a side dish, a snack and even dessert on it! So don't limit your menu to heavy meat and sauces the next time you host a barbecue - get your creative juices flowing and satisfy any sweet tooth out there by preparing mouth-watering grilled desserts.

Here are some easy-to-follow grilled dessert recipes you absolutely must try:

Marshmallow Banana Boats

What you need:
  • 4 medium ripe bananas, unpeeled
  • 4 tsps. miniature marshmallows
  • 4 tsps. miniature chocolate chips
Carefully cut the peel of the banana about half an inch deep, leaving half an inch at both ends. Open the peel wider before filling with 1 tsp. marshmallows and 1 tsp. chocolate chips. Do the same with the rest of the bananas. Wrap the bananas with heavy-duty foil before cooking on a covered grill over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until marshmallows are melted.

Fruity Campfire Cobbler

What you need:
  • 1 regular package yellow cake mix
  • 5 1/4 cups raspberry pie filling
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 1/4 cups water
Combine cake mix, oil and water thoroughly in a large bowl. Set aside. Line a large grill pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Add pie filling then top with cake mixture. Cook on a covered grill over low heat for 20-30 minutes. To ensure doneness, toothpick inserted should come out clean. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream if desired.

S'more Sweetstuff

What you need:
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 cups crushed graham crackers
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 2 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
In a small bowl, mix together graham crackers and butter to make the crust. Set aside. Line a large grill pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Press the graham cracker and butter mixture on to the bottom of the pan, pour milk over it, sprinkle with chocolate and butterscotch chips then top with marshmallows. Cook on a pre-heated grill over low heat for 12-15 minutes or until chips have melted.

Pineapple and Butterscotch Delight

What you need:
  • 2 small pineapples, peeled, cored and cut into 6 spears
  • 3 cups vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup whipped cream
  • 1/2 cup plus 6 tbsps. butter
  • 2 tbsps. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • A dash of salt
Melt 6 tbsps. butter in a small saucepan then add sugar and nutmeg. Brush the pineapples with this mixture before cooking in a covered grill over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until pineapples are lightly browned. To make the sauce, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan before adding brown sugar and whipped cream. Stir constantly and bring to a boil. Remove from heat before adding salt and vanilla extract. Pour sauce over grilled pineapples and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Make these deliciously sweet grilled desserts and you won't be baking in your kitchen for a while!
Adrian T. Cheng is a food blogger and a BBQ expert. Through years of grilling experience, reviewing various top quality grill accessories and trying delicious and unique recipes, he is sharing his knowledge with everyone through his blog. For more grilling secrets, tips, recipes and more, head over to Adrian's page.






Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links enables me to share more information and get closer to getting my family totally off-grid and on our own piece of land. This will let me share more and more information to allow , hopefully, for you to become more self-sufficient and able to become more prepared by reading my blog and purchasing items that I share with you that will help you. Thank you! :)