Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 6, 2021

Today is the birthday of “claymation” artist and filmmaker Nick Park (born, 1958.) He is best known for his Wallace & Gromit films.

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On December 6th, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, ending the institution of slavery. “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” With these words, the single greatest change wrought by the Civil War was officially noted in the Constitution.

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There are just five days left in the month-long Patton’s Birthday Sale at Elk Creek Company. Order soon!

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 96 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Wheel Estate For Survival, by Pat Cascio

As a lifetime Prepper, I’m always looking at ways to improve the odds of surviving, whatever may come my way. I readily admit that no one, no matter how rich they may be, can prepare for every circumstance that may come along, that demands survival. I remember back in school, in the early 1960s, when we practiced “duck and cover” as a way of surviving a nuke going off in our city. Even back then, it was silly to believe that by  ducking under your desk while in school would add to your survival chances. Our school was huge – three stories, and a full basement. We learned to head to the basement if alerted that a nuke was about to go off…and we found inside walls, and we sat facing those walls, with our hands and arms protecting us. Again, not feasible, but still better than ducking under a desk. My plan was to run across the street, to the house we lived in. Beyond that, I had a vague plan to go and shelter in the storm drain under the sidewalk in front of our house.

There is no sure way we can prepare for all the nasty things that we might have to endure – simple as that! We have always kept tents in our vehicles, along with sleeping bags, and a small e-box – that contained food, water, and other survival necessities, and we still do to this day. However, while none of that is exactly what we want, it is better than nothing. If we had to evacuate our home, we’d of course grab our BOBs (Bug Out Bags) along with weapons and whatever else we could grab and go within a few minutes. Not a bad plan, but not a good one.

Enter the world of RVs – Recreational Vehicles. In this article, I use the term RV generically to include motor homes as well as travel trailers, camping trailers, and 5th wheel trailers. We own a fairly nice, used,  22-foot travel trailer, and it has everything we’d need for survival. We keep it fairly well-stocked with enough food, for our family of four, at all times. If all we could do is hook up to a tow vehicle and drive away, then we’d have enough food for several months, for the four of us. Of course, we’d top-off the freshwater tank, as well. Given a little more time – say an hour or so, we could add a lot more food inside our vehicle and trailer, and of course more weapons and lots of ammo. We have several bug-out locations we could go to – or at least attempt to get to one of them. Once again, not a perfect plan, but better than no plan, like jumping in a vehicle and just driving off.

Prior to 2008, there were a lot of really nice used travel trailers, and if you’ll recall, that is when the recession hit, and those people who lost jobs, purchased some used travel trailers. In our area – all around our area – we would see travel trailers, and 5th wheels alongside the mountain roads in our area, where people were living – and I mean, these rigs were right alongside mountain roads – not a pull-off or a campground. It was a heart-breaking sight, to say the least. We even saw people with RVs, set-up in friends’ or families’ front yards. Some were living in small tents – Ugh! However, better than living on the streets.Continue reading“Wheel Estate For Survival, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Lentil and White Bean Soup

The following recipe lentil and white bean soup is from Nurse Michele. She writes: “Today I made a nice pot of soup.  It occurred to me that the recipe used mostly pantry staples and garden stuff that stores well, and thought it may be enjoyed by your readers.”

Ingredients
  • 1 cup lentils,  picked through and rinsed
  • 3 cans chicken broth
  • 3 T olive oil
  • 1 can small white beans
  • 1/2 large onion, diced (I like Vidalia)cup
  • 2/3 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery, inner stalks are best w/leaves
  • 2 cloves finely chopped garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 28 Oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp, or up to 1/2 Tbsp salt (on taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup really small pasta (like Pepe, Orzo, or Pastina)
  • Up to a cup of water,  if needed for thinning
DirectionS
  1. Place carrots, onion, celery, and dry lentils in soup pot and drizzle with olive oil.
  2. Cook over medium heat,  stirring frequently until onions start to sweat. Usually just a few minutes.
  3. Add garlic, simmer for 2 more minutes.
  4. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, bay leaf, salt,  pepper and white beans.
  5. Cook for an hour,  covered, or until lentils soften. keeping at a good simmer but not too high a boil.
  6. Remove bay leaf.
  7. Stir in dry pasta.
  8. If soup has thickened too much,  you may add some water.  Start with 1/2 cup, it’s a hearty soup, so don’t thin it too much.
  9. Keep simmering until pasta softens. Then the soup is ready to eat.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at promising cryptos for 2022, and a brief crypto crash. (See the Forex & Cryptos section.)

Precious Metals:

Reuters: Gold set for third weekly loss as faster tapering talks weigh.

o  o  o

A Couple Stored IRA Gold at Home. They Owe the IRS More Than $300,000. JWR’s Comment: For some sound advice on how to set up a gold IRA the right way, consult Perpetual Assets. (They are one of our advertisers.)

Economy & Finance:

Biden says economy is ‘stronger,’ despite disappointing job numbers.

o  o  o

Northern Trust: Global Economic Outlook for 2022.

o  o  o

India’s economy grows by 8.4% amid signs of recovery.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“If you have to be persuaded, reminded, pressured, lied to, incentivized, coerced, bullied, socially shamed, guilt-tripped, threatened, punished and criminalized … If all of this is considered necessary to gain your compliance — you can be absolutely certain that what is being promoted is not in your best interest.” – Ian Watson

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 5, 2021

On December 5th, 1964, the first Medal of Honor awarded to a serviceman for action in Vietnam was presented to Captain Roger Donlon of Saugerties, New York. Captain Donlon and his Special Forces team were manning Camp Nam Dong, a mountain outpost near the borders of Laos and North Vietnam. Just before two o’clock in the morning on July 6, 1964, hordes of Viet Cong attacked the camp. He was shot in the stomach, but Donlon stuffed a handkerchief into the wound, cinched up his belt, and kept fighting. He was wounded three more times, but he continued fighting–manning a mortar, throwing grenades at the enemy, and refusing medical attention. Now 87 years old, and at last report, Donlon was living in Leavenworth, Kansas.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Smallpox? – Managing a Serious Possibility, by SwampFox

Author’s Intoductory Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and am not prescribing anything to anyone. Seek out appropriate advice and medical treatment from your own medical professional.

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Covid-19 has been unpleasant for many reasons. However, it is not particularly lethal. It is interesting to notice that in the midst of so many restrictions and social changes, the Biden administration has promised us a couple of things: A “Dark Winter” and the “Next Pandemic.” Bill Gates has also called Covid19 the “first pandemic” and has proposed that society should prepare for “Pandemic 2.” How prepared are you for something worse? And do you have any idea what that will be?

I don’t have a medical background. However, my mother is a retired physician. Together, we have been preparing for various pandemic possibilities over the last 20 years, including SARS, H1N1 flu, H5N1 flu, Ebola, and Covid19. This article is the result of some recent, timely discussions. I’m sure that we are not alone in thinking about this issue, and noticing the trends in current events and attitudes.

So, I present a likely candidate for the next pandemic: Smallpox. Take a look at the following timeline:

06/22/2001- The Center for Strategic and International Studies along with Johns Hopkins and
ANSER simulated a widespread smallpox bioterrorist attack on the US called “Dark Winter”
(note the name!) They did this simulation in spite of the fact that smallpox was
considered eradicated from the world as of 1980.
01/14/2005- “Atlantic Storm” a bioterrorism war game was held in Washington, D.C. In this
scenario smallpox was released in Los Angeles, New York City, and 5 other world cities.
09/04/2007- The FDA approved a new smallpox vaccination due to their concern of potential fatality
rates of above 25%. This vaccine has not been without adverse side effects in our military.
07/01/2014- Six vials of smallpox were discovered in a cardboard box at the National Institute of Health.
This was a startling surprise as the only samples thought to exist were held in two
locations, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Russia’s Vector Institute.
11/14/2014- Bill Gates funded the development of antiviral brincidofovir to treat ebola. (This
same drug was later approved in June 2021 to treat smallpox.)
03/02/2017- David Evans, a professor at University of Alberta, Canada, synthesized an extinct horsepox
virus (similar to smallpox) in his lab. This proved the concept that smallpox could be
recreated for minimal cost by either state or non-state actors without access to existing
smallpox virus samples.
10/10/2017- Johns Hopkins’ Center for Health Security completed a “SPARS Pandemic 2025-2028”
scenario.
07/13/2018- The FDA approved antiviral tecovirimat aka TPOXX for the treatment of smallpox.
09/10/2018- Contracts were signed to provide and maintain a supply of 1.7 million courses of TPOXX in
the US National Stockpile. Another round of contracts was signed 09/03/2019
09/24/2019- The FDA approved a live vaccine against smallpox and monkeypox.
06/25/2020- $32 million was allotted to supply TPOXX to the US Health and Human Services.
06/04/2021- The FDA approved brincidofovir for the treatment of smallpox. This drug development
was funded by Bill Gates and Wellcome Trust in 2014.
09/13/2021- Eric Lander, Biden’s science advisor and director of the Office of Science and Technology
stated in an interview, “The next pandemic will likely be substantially different than Covid,
and so the U.S. government must prepare now to deal with any future viral threat.” The
White House subsequently released a 27-page paper outlining the expectation that
pandemics will occur with increasing frequency and severity.
10/31/2021- President Biden signed an executive order detailing federal control over the
National Defense Stockpile.
11/09/2021- Bill Gates warned of possible smallpox bioterrorist attacks such as at ten US
airports.
11/16/2021- Several vials of smallpox(?) were discovered at an unsecured Merck lab in
Pennsylvania. The CDC took possession of this alarming cache and later stated that
the vials only contained the viral materials used to make the smallpox vaccine and
not the virulent virus itself.
11/22/2021- Dr. Zev Zelenko, M.D., a physician who treats covid patients expressed concern that
bioterrorism may be used to depopulate the earth and stated that covid was “war
gamed” before it became a pandemic. (Internet search “Event 201” October 2019.)

Dr. Zelenko encouraged people to optimize their immune systems by utilizing certain
supplements in order to decrease viral replication. He also discussed a historical
Native American smallpox remedy which will be discussed in detail.Continue reading“Smallpox? – Managing a Serious Possibility, by SwampFox”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR:

To share this, you can find it here: https://kapwi.ng/c/pM0Hbd3mVv

Meme Text:

Why is Team Biden So Surprised That The Inflation Is Not Transitory

When 35% of All Dollars in Circulation Were Created in Just the Past 11 Months?

Federal Reserve Graph Link: 
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1

Shadowstats Money Supply Chart:
http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/money-supply-charts

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” – Luke 13: 6-30 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 4, 2021

December 4th is the birthday of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, (born 1912) an AVG “Flying Tiger” volunteer pilot for the Chinese Nationalist government, WWII Marine Corps aviator, and Medal of Honor recipient. (He died January 11, 1988.) A proto-Redoubter, Pappy Boyington was born in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and was raised in Spokane, Washington.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Your New Normal, by SaraSue

Once you see the strings on the marionettes, you can never unsee them. In other words, once your eyes are opened to manipulations, you can’t not see them. When you see them, trust, if given, is retracted, taken back, lost. If a thing is found to no longer be genuine, and it is no longer what it was promised to be, you feel tricked. Trust lost is much harder to earn back than trust never given in the first place. I did, at one time, when I was blissfully unaware of politics, “trust the government”. I do not anymore and that has had a profound effect on how I live my life. Yes, I was once very naive. But, I will say this in my defense, the government has never been so corrupt as it is now.

I’m not going to fill space listing all the traitorous things our government has done because it would fill a library or two or three. I’m sure everyone reading here has had some sort of disagreement with the government, perhaps over taxes owed? Maybe it was about who owns your land, that was handed down over generations? Maybe it was or is about the water you pump out of the ground on your land to satisfy the needs of your family and livestock? Taxes, property and water rights, what you’re allowed to buy, or sell, where you can travel and in what mode of transportation, what you eat, how and where you worship, what constitutes medical care, how you raise and teach your own children, etc., somehow has the fingerprints of the government all over it. Is this even America anymore – land of the free and home of the brave?

Many still have their heads in the sand and they’ll do just about whatever they’re told to do just to have some semblance of comfort and normalcy. They absolutely will take an untested substance into their bodies so they can take that Hawaiian vacation. Even really good people, who are not selfish in any way, believe that they should be obedient to government in order to do more good things. What they aren’t thinking about is that compliance with unholy mandates is not actually a sacrifice for a good cause. It is submission to an unholy power. I’ve seen a lot of devout people bow down to the government because they want to “do the right thing”, or alternatively, because their way of life has been threatened. In reality, they are merely submitting because it makes life easier to go along than to shovel against the tide. Although, I do not doubt their sincerity! They just haven’t seen the puppet strings yet, or they don’t want to.Continue reading“Your New Normal, by SaraSue”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

I did my best to get caught up on projects around the ranch this week. I also made several antique gun purchases from estates.  As always, I have to scramble to keep guns in inventory.  Sales have been brisk at Elk Creek Company, so I’ve also been busy packing orders. We’re now down to just 17 antique handguns, 16, percussion replicas, 14 rifles, and four shotguns. I did add another Mauser cavalry carbine that just arrived. Our month-long Patton’s Birthday sale ends on December 11th, so if you want to place an order, then do so, soon.

One of the projects for the new chicken coop was laying step-stones in front of the door.  Lily and I went to the far end of our property and gathered three large flat stones that were roughly 20 inches square and 6 inches thick. I estimated that they were just over 100 pounds apiece. We hefted them into the back of our truck for the short ride back to the coop. After rolling them off the truck, I laid down a base of gravel and set the stones in place. The leveling process just took a couple of minutes.  We also brought one other stone that was 30 inches long, three inches thick, and a foot wide. I positioned this one as a ramp, just outside the chicken door at the back of the coop–inside the fenced chicken run–so that the chickens won’t have to hop up or hop down, at the coop’s sliding Guillotine door entry.

Deer and elk season has just ended, leaving me empty-handed. I was so busy with out-of-state travel, and then “catch up” that I didn’t get the chance to get out and hunt.  So I suppose that we’ll slaughter and butcher one of our steers sooner rather than later. It is nice to have plenty of beef available, on the hoof.

Our new sheep have settled in. I’m sure that Lily will have more to report, on that…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Then Job answered and said,

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.” – Job 9:1-22 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — December 3, 2021

Today is the birthday of actor Brendan Fraser (born, 1968.) He often plays “fish out of water” roles. Preppers of course remember him from Blast From The Past.

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A Legislative Action Alert!  Please contact your state’s U.S Senators, immediately, re: Anti-Gunners Attempt Stunt to Pass UBCs Without a Vote. Note that “Universal Background Checks” is just a tricky way of saying: Private Party Intrastate Transfer Ban. Remind your Senators that would be an unconstitutional overreach of the Interstate Commerce Clause.  They can regulate interstate commerce, but not intrastate commerce. Someone selling a used gun to their neighbor is intrastate commerce.

Oh, and while you are at it, also voice your opposition to H.R. 1808/S. 736, — the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021, that would define many rifles, shotguns, and other common semi-autos as “assault weapons.”

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 98 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  5. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  6. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  7. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. A transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $725,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 98 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Boots, Knots, Hand Sanitizer, and a Knife, by The Novice

Thrift store shopping can yield many useful items. This article is a collection of short reviews about some of my finds. These finds include a pair of boots, a book about knots, a gallon jug of hand sanitizer, and a knife.

A Pair of Boots

When I am harvesting firewood, I like to wear steel-toed boots. My toes just feel happier with a little extra protection when they are in the vicinity of running chainsaws, swinging axes, and rolling logs.

About a year ago, I was in one of our local thrift stores and ran across a pair of “Skechers Work Relaxed Fit Holdredge-Rebem Men’s Steel Toe Boots.” They were my size. I tried them on and was immediately impressed. They are the most comfortable steel toe boots I have ever worn. If I remember right, they cost less than $10. They are one of the best purchases I have ever made.

Over the course of the last year I have worn these boots extensively in all kinds of weather. They have kept my feet dry in the rain, warm in the snow, and adequately ventilated in the heat. They are lightweight, sturdy, water-tight, breathable and provide good traction. They are more comfortable than many pairs of hiking boots that I have owned.

I was so pleased with these boots that when I went on a mission project to Montana this past summer, they were the only footwear that I took along. I found them well suited to a full day of wear, whether on an airplane, cutting firewood, siding a cabin, or paddling a canoe. If things went south tomorrow, and I had to abandon my home with just the footwear on my feet, these are the boots I would wear.

The boots have just two drawbacks that I can think of. One drawback is small: the laces tend to come untied, so I need to double knot them. The second drawback is larger: the boots are made in China.

A search of the internet revealed that these boots are currently available from many vendors. The best deal that I could find in my size was from Kohl’s for $74.25 . I was strongly tempted to buy a backup pair, but decided to wait. After all, I might run across another pair at a thrift store.

A Book about Knots

For many years the number of knots that I could tie was somewhat limited. I could manage a square knot and a hangman’s knot and a few other knots which I could not even name. I even knew how to tie my own shoes. But I was never a boy scout nor a sailor, and felt that my knot tying skills could use some improvement. I have often been confronted with a rope and a task and had the feeling that there must be some good knot for accomplishing the task, but I just did not know how to tie it. Sometimes I created my own knots with mixed success. So when my thrift store shopping uncovered a copy of The Morrow Guide to Knots: For Sailing, Fishing, Camping, Climbing, I snatched it up.Continue reading“Boots, Knots, Hand Sanitizer, and a Knife, by The Novice”