How to Make Your Fireplace More Energy Efficient

With the cost of energy on the rise everyone is looking for ways to become more energy efficient when it comes to heating and cooling their homes. Families are doing many different things to achieve this goal. They are installing modern HVAC systems, they are upgrading their current system, and many people are installing wood stoves and fireplaces so they can burn wood. These are all great ideas, but did you know that if you have a fireplace you can increase it's efficiency as well. This article will cover several different methods of making your current fireplace more efficient.

How Your Fireplace Works

The first step to making your fireplace more efficient is to understand how it works. As we all know a fire requires oxygen to burn, it gets this oxygen from air. While your fireplace is burning wood two other basic principles are in effect. The first principle is that hot air rises, this means that you lose some of your heat up the chimney. The second principle is that cold air drops. This means that there is a constant flow of cold air coming down the chimney into your home. To make your fireplace more efficient you must reduce the effects of these natural processes.

Glass Doors

The first solution is to install a set of heavy glass doors in front of your fireplace. There are many different types of doors on the market, and they are reasonably priced making this fix one of the fastest and least expensive options. Fireplace doors are designed with small vents in the bottom that will give your fireplace an adequate supply of oxygen so it can burn. Glass doors also keep you from losing warm air from your home up the chimney. They also help to prevent cold air coming down the chimney from entering your home. Another benefit of glass doors is that many of them are ornate and beautiful which will add to the overall look of your fireplace and the room where it is located.

Fireplace Inserts

Installing a fireplace insert may be the best way to make your fireplace more efficient. While adding an insert will cost a little more, you will find that your home is warmer and that you burn less wood. A fireplace insert is much the same as a wood stove only it fits inside of your existing fireplace. You will have a liner installed in your chimney that will be connected to your insert. What makes and insert so energy efficient is that it is tightly sealed. You will not lose warm air up the chimney because the insert is tightly sealed with a heavy door on the front. This tight seal will not allow cold air into your home. Another factor is the liner, it is also tightly sealed so less cold air comes down the chimney in the first place.

Other Possible Options

Another option that is less expensive than the first two options is to line the back of your fireplace with sheet metal. This will act as a reflector and reflect more warm air into your home. If your fireplace is older check your damper. Over time dampers lose some of their ability to seal properly. If your damper is not sealing properly then replace it, this can make a big difference in the efficiency of your fireplace.

Michael S Bauer loves decorating, and has a passion for home styling. She currently is using her skills writing for ventless fireplace which is a highly competitive eCommerce company which provides home fireplaces of all types.

Getting Supplies for Your Weapons Online

Using your firearms safely and effectively calls for you to have the right supplies for it on hand. When you want to have everything you need to shoot, you may want to look beyond the inventory of your local outdoor and hunting stores. You can find ammunition, magazines, AK 47 accessories, firearms, and more for sale when you shop online. You can also find out what your state's laws are regarding online weapon purchases when you visit the website.


Accessories for Safety and Ease of Use

A big part of being able to shoot safely and effectively involves being able to maintain a solid grip on your weapon. If the handle slips in your hand or your magazines fall out while firing, you could end up hurting you or someone else.

Rather than worry about each time you use your firearm, you can shop online for accessories like holsters, grips, stocks, and more. These items will let you maintain a solid hold on your gun while you fire. They also let you safely carry your weapon in public without the worry of dropping it or having someone knock into you and accidentally discharge it.


Cleaning Kits and More

After you use your weapon, you must clean it so that it fires effectively the next time you plan on carrying it with you. You do not want to risk your gun jamming or backfiring on you. You can keep your gun clean and polished by buying a cleaning kit on the website. The kit has everything you need to clean both the inside and outside of the gun. It also contains instructions on how to use it properly.

When you want to learn how to use your gun more effectively, you may be interested in reading books about your particular gun or about owning weapons in general. The website has a variety of books related to these and other gun ownership topics. You can add this literature to your other weapon and accessories purchase.

Along with gun-related items, you can also find outdoor gear for sale online. For example, if you worry about surviving in the elements, you can buy a survival box that comes with all of the items you need to stay safe and well until you are found.


You must be safe while carrying a gun. You can buy supplies, accessories, and more online today.

Emergency Preparedness Tips For Winter Storms

When you want to make sure that you are ready for harsh winter conditions, you'll find that there are a few things that you need keep in mind. Being unprepared for winter weather can result in everything from severe injuries to sickness, even to death, and if you want to make sure that you and your family are going to be okay, remember that you should prepare as thoroughly as possible.
 
Your Home
Your home is going to be the first thing that you need to look at. You and your family might be trapped there for days or even weeks if the storms are very bad, so make sure that you have all of the essentials that you need. How well are you currently prepared and what can you do to really be safe? The things that you need are very simple, but unless you take them into account, you may suffer in the time that it takes for rescue to come.
First, do you have a heat source? Even if your furnace is running fine, remember that you should setup a backup heating source on top of it. Space heaters are one way to deal with it, as is keeping enough wood around for your fireplace. Also make sure that you have a good method to create the fire if necessary.
Also make sure that all your pipes are insulated. In the case of a sudden temperature drop, you may find that the water in the pipe expands. This can cause the pipe to burst, but it can also stop up your water supply.
Know what you are going to do if a fire breaks out. Are your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in working order? Does everyone know how to use them? You'll find that good fire safety precautions are essential when you want to make sure that your family stays safe.
Is there enough food, water and medicine in your winter storm emergency backpack? What first aid supplies do you have at your disposal? You may need to get by for a few days without being able to get to the store.
Make sure that you keep at least one cell phone with two charged batteries on hand in case your telephone service shuts down. This can help you call for emergency assistance should the need arise.

The Essentials
When you have the above taken care of, you'll find that you are in pretty good shape for winter storm preparedness. Also make sure that you consider the following. They are also quite important and can be found in a number of different ways.
When you have important objects like flashlights, radios and weather radios, also make sure that you have the new batteries that go along with it. Test both items and batteries regularly to make sure that they still work.
Blankets are another thing that you need to think about. Winter storms are cold, and making sure that everyone has at least two to three blankets is important. This can keep everyone comfortable if the heat is interrupted.
What do you have that will help you remove snow, ice and sleet? Windshield scrapers, hoes, brooms and even shovels should be kept where you can reach them.Make sure that you keep things like rock salt, road salt and sand on hand to break through frozen surfaces. It is important to keep these items handy as well.
If you are worried about getting help, look into emergency flares and other types of lighting.

Conclusion
Remember that survival is your primary goal in the event of a winter storm situation. Make sure that your home is ready for everything the weather can throw at it, and that you and your family can survive for as long as it takes. The steps above can help improve your chances for survival by a wide margin.

Chris Perry has been in the emergency preparedness field for several years. He hopes to help families all over the world avoid heartache by helping them be prepared in a disaster situation. He also writes for the site [http://www.ntemergencysurvivalsupplies.com/] which offers emergency backpacks [http://www.ntemergencysurvivalsupplies.com/emergency-backpack] emergency food and water, first-aid, and other preparedness goods.

Perfect Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight

Having a good flashlight is a must and I think that I found a great one, Tactical LED Flashlight! This flashlight is drop resistant to up to 30 feet and is rechargeable! It comes with its own battery and charger. I love that about this flashlight. Keeps it always ready and not have to worry about running out of batteries. It is a VERY bright high power light that has 1000 lumens LED lightbulb. It is the perfect size to keep in your pocket at all times or can even be mounted on a rifle. It has different lighting modes, high, medium, low, zoom, strobe, and SOS. This flashlight would make a great gift for anyone that is a camper, hiker, hunter, fisher, or a prepper who wants to light up their way when the power goes out. This is a must-have flashlight for all of its great qualities. Heavy duty and rechargeable makes this my number one item of the year!!

Fish Antibiotics

If you're new to the whole concept of Fish Antibiotics, there are a few basics you need to know. These are not antibiotics made from fish. Neither are they tiny pills you must cram down your guppy's throat. In general they are pills or capsules of the same size and strength humans use.

Although you cannot buy human or even dog antibiotics in the U.S. without a legal prescription, a federal loophole allows these same antibiotics to be sold over-the-counter for aquarium use. (Most physicians and pharmacists are unaware of this exemption.) Many of these so-called fish antibiotics are the same quality and dosage as human antibiotics (USP grade, AB-rated generics). Those who purchase these products are implicitly agreeing to use these antibiotics for aquarium purposes only.

Over the past year several fish antibiotic retailers have disappeared, probably having caught the eye of the FDA. Again, by law these antibiotics are sold only for aquarium use, to keep your pet fish healthy and happy, though it is clear from certain websites that they are being sold for human consumption. It is currently illegal to sell these medications to treat human infections, although the enforcement of that intention may be difficult to regulate.

Are you taking your life into your own hands if you come down with a sore throat and decide to treat yourself with your guppy-cillin? Probably not, regarding the purity of the medication, if it is a USP grade AB-rated generic... but maybe so, if you are allergic to penicillin and but presumed amoxicillin would be safe.

The problems with antibiotic use are manifold: perhaps more often than not, antibiotics are used for infections they cannot cure, for conditions that are not even infections, for the wrong infections, and for self-limiting disease that requires no antibiotics. Overuse leads to antibiotic resistance and to increasing difficulty treating serious infection. Millions of people suffer antibiotic reactions each year, some of which are fatal. Would you take penicillin for gonorrhea if you knew it might actually make the condition worse?

Just because penicillin, cephalexin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and several other antibiotics can be purchased for aquarium use does not mean people should be treating themselves. Infectious disease doctors spend a lifetime studying the best and safest ways to treat infection. Additionally, it is an ethical question whether you should honor the promise inherent in the purchase.

On the other hand, if you knew without a doubt that TEOTWAWKI was just around the corner, you might feel it your moral obligation to do all you can now to protect your family in the future. Would it be immoral to withhold aquatic sulfamethoxazole from your daughter with a kidney infection if there's no doctor to be found? Having Fish Antibiotics on hand, just in case disaster strikes, is not unreasonable. After all, doctors do prescribe them for pampered patients whose dream vacation may be threatened by traveler's diarrhea. The end of the world as we know it may be a bit more serious. No one knows the day or the hour, but is it imprudent to be unprepared?

I always advise readers to discuss potential medical needs with their personal physician. However if this does not yield what one requires to feel safe and prepared, I know many people turn to fish antibiotics for potential use in emergency situations where medical care is unavailable.
As of 2015 I've noticed a few changes. The window of opportunity to acquire certain strong antibiotics may be closed. After searching several web sites I no longer find the ready availability of amoxicillin-clavulanate, levofloxacin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, or cefdinir, and several web sites simply are no more. I expect they didn't follow the letter of the law.

Penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalexin, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and doxycycline continue to be available. Ketoconazole is an anti-fungal, not an antibiotic, and should be avoided due to occasionally irreversible liver damage.

Again I stress that no one should be using any of these without professional medical advice. But knowing that people will do what they must when threatened with life-endangering illness and nowhere to turn, I've addressed correct antibiotic use in great detail in my book, Armageddon Medicine, information I hope you'll never actually need.

ARMAGEDDON MEDICINE - HOW TO BE YOUR DOCTOR WHEN THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE
http://www.ARMAGEDDONMEDICINE.net
Essential answers to worrisome questions
Protect your family and be prepared!

Cynthia J Koelker MD is a family physician with over twenty years of experience. She is a member of MENSA and is a graduate of MIT, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the University of Akron. She is Medical Editor for http://www.SurvivalBlog.com and is author of Armageddon Medicine.

I have been seeing so much online about using fish antibiotics and wanted to share this article that I found.

Homeschooling Doesn't Have To Break The Bank

Classroom Freebies

We have homeschooled all of our kids and have found out that it does not have to cost a lot to do it.
Thrift stores and yard sales are my best friend. You can find all kinds of textbooks and tools for using in homeschooling.
 Most of my worksheets I get free off of the internet. There are a ton of websites online where you can get free homschooling worksheets to print off and there are free online cirriculum to use, The one that we use a lot of is the Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool. It is easy to use and has everything. You have to check out Pinterest also. It can take days to go thru all of the free homeschool items on there!
We also use the library a lot and find out what is going on each month in and around our town. Last month was busy with Halloween stuff to do around our town and it did not cost a dime. It is also easy to turn anything that you do into a learning experience. Like going to the grocery store teaches reading, math, budgeting, health, and more. Go to the park and learn about nature, science, weather, and more.
You just have to keep an open mind about how much it should really cost to homeschool. I know some people who go all out and spend thousands a year, but you don't need to do that. Just hunt around and search online and you can find tons of free homescooling stuff. Fun stuff also.

Cookbooks!

I collect cookbooks! I look for them every time I  go to yard sales or thrift stores! I currently have 7 boxes full! They are packed for moving soon. Another place that lately has had some great cookbooks is the Dollar Tree! The one pictured below was last one that I got. All cookbooks are good to have on hand and most of the recipes can easily be adapted to freeze dried foods and other stocks. Gives your family some variety.

Cooking With A Propane Heater

This has probably got to be the coolest thing that I have seen and wish that I had thought of it. I found this photo on a group in Facebook. I have gotten those metal trays like that at dollar store and used them for camping, but never thought that I could use them with my Mr Buddy Propane Heater

 

Locating Ammunition for Your Firearms Collection

It is no secret in the private gun ownership community that ammunition can be in short supply at outdoors and sporting goods stores. Bullets for rifles, shotguns, and handguns sells out quickly, sometimes even before the store can get the inventory on the shelves. When you are on the lookout for a steady and assured supply of ammo like 10 round AR mags, 22-caliber bullets, and other ammunition, you can find what you need and more when you shop online. The website makes available the most popular selections that can otherwise be hard to find in stores.


Shopping for the Right Ammo

It is important that you get the right kind of ammo before the start of your favorite hunting season. As the opening day approaches, you may find yourself scrambling in stores to locate the ammo for your gun.

Rather than find yourself without the ammunition you need for a successful hunting season, you can shop online for selections like .223/5.56 stainless steel or aluminum ammo. You can also find other popular varieties that may be in short supply at your local outfitters.

Along with hunting ammo, you also may want ammunition for your handguns and personal ARs. New federal laws continue to threaten the availability of such ammunition in stores. You can stock up now before any new laws go into effect by shopping online today.


Specials, Discounts, and More

Everyone likes a good bargain when it comes to shopping for hunting and gun ownership gear. You may not have the time or the inclination to stay on top of sales at local stores. However, you still appreciate a deal when one is offered to you.

You can sign up for the company's email newsletter on the website. The newsletter gives you a heads-up on upcoming sales and special sales events. It also lets you know about new inventory coming into the website and when it will be made available to the public.

The newsletter is emailed directly to you. You do not have to request that it be mailed to you or download it from the website.


Ammunition for guns of all makes and purposes tends to be in short supply at local outfitters stores and sporting goods retailers. Rather than miss out on your chance to find a good supply of bullets and more, you can shop for your ammunition needs when you go online today.

Another Item For The Bug-Out Van!

Truck stops have some great items. A lot of camping gear and 12 volt items that can be used in a bug-out vehicles! Plug into a lighter and you can have fridges, ovens, fans, and more. This is a 12V Deluxe Family Size Cooler/Warmer that I found on sale and used my Pilot card with points so actually got this for a GREAT price. Will come in handy in the bug-out van. Working on it a lot last couple of weeks. Have the back seats out and are getting ready to build a new seat for the back that will fold out to make a bed. Have to take it in next week to have water pump redone. Luckily still on warranty so just have to pay to have it redone. This cooler/warmer fits perfect between the front seats. Every little bit helps. And if we don't use van for bugging-out - it will make a great camping van. 

Distill Water Easily For Clean Water

There is going to be sometime in everyone's life where they are going to have to know how to get good drinkable water. I am very redundant about having many ways to get good water. This is a simple way to distill you some good water. Place a cup in a deep enough pan with the bad water in the pan. Place a lid upside down , so that the handle is right over the cup. As the water boils it will collect on the lid and go down into the cup. You can use any heating source. This can be done over a campfire, propane stove, etc. It actually does it pretty quick.


(SIDE NOTE: I ALSO HATE MY VOICE!!) 

5 Ideal Vegetables You Must Consider Gardening This Fall

The autumn season is approaching. Your gardening tools are probably hidden and kept for the next spring. Better ready the tools now because fall gardening is not bad as it seems. There are lots of plants you can plant in garden planters during the cold autumn. It is even beneficial since gardeners found out that vegetables that are harvested in fall are sweeter compared in summer. There are lots of vegetables you can plant this fall but below are only five of the most ideal vegetables can consider planting.

Beans and Peas

Even though these vegetables are not usually sown as winter crops, these vegetables love the cool autumn ambiance. If you choose the right and fast-growing variant of beans and peas, you can enjoy a good harvest before winter frost arrives.

Lettuce

If you are up to salad bowls for the season, lettuces is an ideal vegetable you can plant this fall. Growing this vegetable is easy especially to areas that have milder winter. Lettuces also grow all through autumn. If you want your lettuces extend a bit more even after fall, you can simply cover it with a light fabric.

Spinach

Popeye would surely love to grow this in his garden. Spinaches are also great for salads so if you aim to grow this green vegetable this fall, it would be a good choice since spinaches are much more tasty and sweet when the climate is cool. Like lettuces, spinaches will grow throughout the winter season under a light cover of cloth.

Cabbage

Another good vegetable to plant this fall is cabbage. You can simply plant them one foot apart from each other. Earth up the soil around its stem after it have established roots to protect from cold. For areas that have icy weather, covering it with fleece or cloth can be helpful. You should also watch out for pigeons that hang around your garden.

Broccoli

To end the list, you can also have broccoli. This is another Brassica vegetable you may plant in your garden. If you want a surviving broccoli, better plant it in the late summer or ten weeks before the winter frost is anticipated to come. Broccoli takes 70 days to become mature. It can be very delicious when you grow your own broccoli.

Instead of waiting for the long cold seasons to go, better have those gardening tools to work. Know that it's still good to grow your own crops even in fall. Create a vegetable paradise in your garden and ornament it with a stylish solar fountain to give your eyes something to delight. There are lots of other vegetables that are ideal to plant during autumn but these five are the most popular. Just make sure to have vegetables that will work for you. Make sure you will enjoy the choice of vegetable you planted. Having fall vegetable garden can be beneficial since it can give you a good source of food for a lower cost.

Amy C enjoys to write about gardening and landscaping. She works closely with Landscaping Phoenix [http://www.landscapingphoenixaz.net] providers to have a knowledge about the latest trends and techniques in landscaping and gardening. To know about landscaping Ideas, please visit Amy's Landscaping Scottsdale [http://landscapescottsdale.net] blog.

Frugal Decor Tip - Recover A Table

My card table gets used a lot and had some tears in it. So as I was redoing my kitchen drawers and shelves with contact paper the idea came to me to recover the table! Easy and was only $2.00! Frugal upcycle of a card table that I was thinking of throwing out! The 2nd piece took longer to put on because I had to match the flowers up. But, I think I did it pretty good!

Food Storage Recipe - Chocolate Chip Pie

Chocolate Chip Pie

Ingredients:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

  2 cups milk chocolate chips

1 container whipped topping

1 graham cracker pie shell

½ cup mini milk chocolate chips

Directions: Over medium heat, bring the heavy whipping cream to a slight boil in a small saucepan. Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and remove from the heat. Continue to stir until blended. Pour into pie shell and refrigerate for a minimum of one hour. Combine the milk chocolate chips with the whipped topping. Pour on top of semi-sweet chocolate layer. Return to the refrigerator for an additional two hours.

Right before serving the pie, sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top. Enjoy!

Food Storage Recipes - Creamy Pineapple Pie

Creamy Pineapple Pie

Ingredients:

1 vanilla instant pudding mix

2 cups cold milk

3 tablespoons pineapple juice

1 cup crushed pineapple, drained

2 cups whipped topping

1 traditional dough ready-to-use pie shell

Directions:

In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the pudding mix, milk and pineapple juice together until thickened.

Stir in the crushed pineapple into pudding.

Pour into prepared pie shell.

Refrigerate for an hour before serving.

Serve each pie slice with a dollop of whipped cream topping.

Homemade Faraday Cage

 

Prep for this week - Make a faraday cage. 

Went to the hardware store and bought the largest galvanized metal trash can they had. I can already see that I should get a second one next week. 

Wrap everything up with aluminum foil before you place into the can and I am going to line it with cardboard. I have a ton of cardboard from boxes for shipping items. I also have a lot of those Antistatic Bags that I want to place as much as I can into. I have 20 of these. Place the lid on the can real tight and set it off to the side somewhere that won't get bothered. 

Place all of your items in that you can that you will need if something happens and all other things are toast. Like, radios, walkies, handheld scanners, solar chargers, etc.

I am also getting the items together to make a "box" to roll the generator into. galvanized sheeting and wood to make it. Like the wood in and out with the metal sheeting. Hope that would work.

Re-do vintage furniture to make money at home!

I am going to start doing this! Re-do vintage furniture and sell it! Find thd pieces at yard sales or on side of road!

Kids Camping Kit - Top 5 Items For Your Kids To Pack For Their Camping Trip

The top five items for your kids to take with them on their camping trip:

1. Toys. I don't mean their whole toy collection here, but some books and games which will make your kids feel at home, especially at bedtime.I wouldn't let them take their latest toys or any electronics. Toys have an easy way of getting broke or lost.

2. Flashlight. A flashlight for night times is crucial. Your children will be out in the open most days so this will make them sleep deeply. To get them to drift off easier a bedside light is great. Often most kids' flashlight double up as a little lamp; this is the best buy in my view.
3. Disposable camera. This is excellent as it makes your little one feel all grown up by taking their own pictures of their camping adventure, even if they do come out a little wonky or blurry. It is also good as they can then use the pictures for show and tell at school.
4. Treasure box. By having a little treasure box this can be used for the kids to collect interesting findings on their camping trip. It could be stones they find or pine cones, anything they find of interest which is their own keepsakes of the holiday.
5. Rucksack. This is another great way to show your child to have their own independence. For trips out on your holiday they can take their own rucksack with their lunch, toys, pencils and crayons etc. it is exciting for children to be able to have their very own bag to keep their important items in.

Green Peppers Are So Cute!

Morse Code For Survival

Knowing the Morse Code Alphabet could save your life in a disaster situation.

 
                                                              
Morse Code Alphabet by Survivalized

The Best Vegetables to Cook on the Grill

Zucchini or Summer Squash

Grilling these vegetables over an intense heat loosens excess moisture concentrating the delicate spring flavor and aroma of the squash. I like the way it grills the inside thoroughly without burning the outside skin, making it super delicious.

Peppers

Even without the sun, we like grilled peppers. After seeding, I cut them into halves and put on the grill. My children like wrapping them in foil after drizzling with olive oil. The blend of the locked in moisture, flavor and aroma makes the whole side dish powerful and very appetizing you sure would be asking for more.

Endive and Raddichio

Endive and radicchio are bitter by nature and are tempered by the intense heat of the grill while cooked with the leaves together. But this makes me one of my best salads. I just leave the lettuce in wedges for a more composed presentation and chop the leaves before tossing the rest of the ingredients together. I toast walnuts in a dry pan until fragrant and make a fantastic nutty, citrus vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese to offset the bitter lettuces in my grilled vegetable salad.

Eggplant

Full of fiber and antioxidant and promoting phytonutrients, I too consider eggplant a staple and a very effective meat substitute. Simply brush slices with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper then grill. We sometimes rub minced garlic all over the eggplant for a fabulous garlicky tasting side for dinner.

Asparagus

Fresh asparagus brushed with a little sesame oil, soy sauce, salt, and pepper gets its very best flavor and crunch as it is grilled cooking the asparagus quickly over high heat. Since the stalks easily fall down between the grill grates, we make it fun lining them up and use toothpicks to put them together in two places, top and near the bottom, or I use my grill pan.

Potatoes

Potatoes are amazingly comfortable. I partially cook mine by simmering them before grilling so they only need to be seared over direct heat to create a golden brown crust. Grilled this way, the potatoes will have almost the texture of French fries by the time they're done. Who wouldn't enjoy golden on the outside, fluffy and cakey on the inside?

Have you tried combining slices of just the available veggies you have in your pantry, put them in a grill pan, toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar then grill for a couple minutes on each side? Trust me; you will not only get veggies nicely marked by the grill, but a taste that you will keep relishing time and again.

Food Storage Add-ons This Week

This week we added a lot to the food storage! My brother-in-law needed a ride somewhere and he gave us 8 cans of tomatoes, 4 cans of salsa, and some zuchinni. The zuchinni out of his garden and the canned stuff was done by his wife. We bought 4 cans of Keystone chicken, 4 cans of Keystone beef, about 14 cans of different types of beans, a big 110+ servings of oatmeal, 2 5 pound bags of cornmeal, 10 boxes of asst Hamburger Helpers, Sugar, 2 bags whole wheat flour, assorted seasonings, 2 boxes of powdered milk, and other assorted canned goods. I also got a #10 can of taco mix from Emergency Essentials.

Other items we got were a bunch of aluminum foil and those foil pans, medical supplies, batteries, and a few other preps.

Getting the stockpile built up.

You need to also! Get as much food as you can store up. Even 2 cans a week of something to put back will be better than nothing! We had a bonus check this past week that gave us a chance to really add to the stockpile, got new tires for car, and some work done on our van.

Things can get done without going broke. Sell things you don't need on local facebook groups, ebay, have a yard sale, anything to get extra money for preps.

2 Ways to Make a Homemade Air Conditioner

Whether you want a quick way to cool off or simply don't want to spend money on an air conditioner, a DIY or homemade air conditioner is a great alternative. We discuss two ways of making these air conditioners below. What is common to both air conditioners is the use of a portable fan, ice, a container and a vent.

Method 1

The first method uses a cooler (Styrofoam or plastic) and requires you to drill a hole on the top of the cooler. You will need to outline the circumference of the fan with a marker, making sure to make it slightly smaller so that the fan can rest on the opening without falling into the cooler. Once this is done, you will need to drill another hole for ventilation. You can use a cut our dryer vent or an elbow PVC pipe for this. The vent hole needs to be wide enough to hold either of these in place.

The next step is to fill the cooler with ice. You can use regular ice or water frozen in a container. Water frozen in plastic water bottles works well. One you replace the top of the cooler, place the fan and the elbow pipe or dryer vent in their appropriate openings. After making sure they fit snugly, it's time to start the fan. You should now be feeling a cold breeze coming from the opening.

Method 2

This method uses elements of the first, but instead of a cooler you use a 5 gallon bucket with a top. You will use 2 cut out 2 inch pipes (about 6 inches in length). You then outline the circumference of the pipes on the side of the bucket with a marker and cut out openings. Be sure to cut them out high enough so that the ice will have room.

You will then outline the fan on the top of the bucket and cut out a hole as well. The next step is to find a Styrofoam liner to hold the ice inside the cooler. Once you have all the materials in place, put the liner in the bucket, put the PVC pipes in their holes and add ice. Replace the top of the bucket and put the fan on it. Once everything is secure, turn on the fan and enjoy!

Making a homemade air conditioner is relatively inexpensive and takes about an hour or so to make.

For more detailed information on homemade air conditioners or any other AC questions, visit this resource made by home owners for home owners.

10 in 1 Camping Tool!

Pretty neat tool that my son bought. It is 10 tools in one little item that will easily fit in his pocket when he hikes or whatever. It is a 10 in 1 Multifunction Outdoor Survival Military Camping Hiking Compass Tool new. I have got to get one for each of us!

"Short Description: Compass: Measure for magnetic azimuth (Relative functions of compass: acquire data at horizontal and vertical level). Thermometer: Measure for ambient temperature. Hygrometer: Measure for ambient relative humidity. LED light: Lighting. Reflector: Call for help in country-side, reflect sunlight to sent out the light signal. Spirit level: Determine level condition. Item Description: Compass: Measure for magnetic azimuth (Relative functions of compass: acquire data at horizontal and vertical level) Thermometer: Measure for ambient temperature Hygrometer: Measure for ambient relative humidity LED light: Lighting Reflector: Call for help in country-side, reflect sunlight to sent out the light signal Spirit level: Determine level condition Whistle: Call for help in country-side, sent out the sound signal.(use tappet to push out the whistle from the third hole at the left side) Flint: Wilderness survival by make fire. Magnifier: Find a coordinate in a map. Ruler: Measure a distance (3cm length) Dimensions (L x W x H): 75 x 39 x 25 mm

USB Powered Air Conditioner?

This cute little USB Powered Personal Air Cooler came yesterday! I put my USB Solar Charger​ in my kitchen window and plugged this into it. I was surprised how well it put out the air. It has a drawer at the bottom where you can put ice in to cool the air more and it came with some scented beads if you want to use it like that. It also can be powered by batteries. This is one thing that I am going to order another one of. Be great for a tent to keep air moving on a hot day.My son just told me that this would be awesome for my converted mini van to camper idea I have for my old mini van I just bought. - Yes!

USB Powered Lights

These little USB powered lights are so bright! I am glad that I got 4 of them. I plugged one into the usb on my tv and it lights up most of the living room. Perfect. Be great in an emergency - plug into a usb power source. I have a hand crank one and a solar powered one that can charge up all day and then last all night. I love all of the usb powered items. I have 2 of the usb powered fans coming also. Could come in handy when camping.

Trying Out Some New Food Storage

Got this in the mail today. Got this Emergency Preparedness Entree Meal Samples - 16 Large Servings - 4 Lbs - Prepper Freeze Dried Food Storage - Hiking / Backpacking / Camping / Doomsday Survival Supply so that I can try it out and see if I want to order a larger supply. Great way to see if you are going to like something. The Beef Stroganoff is very good. So that is a yes. We will try the other flavors over the next few days.

Bought A Heater In The Summer Time?!

YES! Anyone who is a true prepper knows that you think of prepping all of the time and are always thinking of all of the times that you will be needing to prep for. Like prepping for winter in 95 degree summer!!

I got a great deal on this Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater. We already have a few cans of propane so we actually got this out and made sure that it worked and everything. This could be a life saver some day. Might even be on the watch for a 2nd one.

Now we have to add more cans of propane to our stockpile.

More For The Stockpile

Pretty sure that my mailman doesn't like me much the past few weeks. Been getting a few packages a week. Stockpile is growing!! Getting the family prepped is a great feeling.

Saturday we got a Mountain House 10 Can Rice and Chicken , bulk sized Country Style Gravy Mix , and 3 boxes of baking mix.

Trying to keep the cost around $30.00 a week. Not let it get above $50.00.

The chicken & rice was on sale so I got it for $21.99.

The bulk country gravy was $17.00

The 3 boxes of baking mix was $4.50

Not too bad.