Experiences from country living; self-sufficiency; Christian values; amateur-ham radio; a hard working good life; and Humor is the Essence of Survival.
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Wednesday, January 1, 2014
So You're Prepared...Really??
It's one thing to buy a couple of extra cans or cases of green beans or bullets. It's another thing to prepare for a crisis or disaster. It's another thing to know that something bad this way comes and try to get a mind set to deal with it. It's another thing to have a garden and learn how to grow and preserve your own food. It's a whole different situation to live in a manner that will allow you to survive and hopefully thrive regardless of the machinations of the world about you.
So, you're a prepper. You have your bandaids, green beans and bullets. You have your ramming vehicle. You have the camo paint to put on your face so you can be invisible to incoming bad guys. You read all the right things, know the lingo and can comment with the best of them. You can talk the talk.
My question is: Do you walk the walk? If you truly believe that major changes are coming into the lives of each and everyone of us, what are you doing on an every day basis to be able to live with that change? Happy New Year! Time is wasting and the changes that are coming may be here sooner than you think.
We recently had an ice storm. We didn't leave the house for five days. When I went back to work the vast majority of the people I work with talked
about how hard it was to be 'trapped' at home. They couldn't stand it. They just HAD TO GO SOMEWHERE! Anywhere. And see somebody, anybody, even if it was a stranger. Some of them went to the big box store just to have somewhere to go. We don't understand. Why does everyone have to go just to be going even if there is really no where to go to or nothing to do when you get there? What are all of these people going to do when they cannot ever go again? Will they go crazy? Are you one of these people?
If you think you have read enough and stocked up enough to be fine when the SHTF that's great. But do you have enough experience and hands on knowledge to put it to effective use when the time comes? Because the time is coming, and if you aren't truly prepared with proven skills you will need, then it will be too late.
There is no way we can learn, master and do everything. It is humanly impossible. That is why man was not intended to live alone. But, guess what? If you are not able to survive, and you don't have any necessary
skills and/or knowledge, you will be of no use to anyone. In fact, you will be a burden to be discarded or run off, because you will be just another useless mouth to feed. Sound harsh? How will you feel if there are people that expect you to take care of them? Not only provide for their necessities, but for their wants as well in a collapse scenario? How would it feel to listen to them whine about being hungry, dirty, tired or bored when it is all you can do to hold it together mentally and physically? How long would you allow that person to remain in your presence eating up precious food that could be used to feed someone that was productive, instead of destructive, in a life and death situation? Not long, I think. Are you ready for that? So. Are you really prepared? Do some serious soul searching. It's one thing to join a 'fad' that sounds really cool and gets attention from your
friends. It's a whole different life style to really live in such a manner that you are as self-reliant as possible. For example. We have yet to have our cheddar cheese turn out the same way twice. Most of them still have a little of that strong after taste. Edible, but not totally delicious. We have made about 25 wheels over two years. Experience makes the difference and we are still working at it.
Another example. Gardening. Some years things make and some years they don't. This year we had a lot of aphids. Last year we didn't. There is always something to deal with that takes knowledge and experience. This past summer as we evaluated our garden, there seemed to be a lot of food out there. But as we really looked at it and tried to picture surviving on it alone, we knew we would be starving. That is a real reality check. It's one thing to think we know and can do what is necessary, but do we really know enough? I seriously doubt it. This evaluation comes after 25 years of the same survival mindset. There are so many things that take time and trial and error to really learn and understand.
One more example. One of our top producing does just had her kids early and they all died. I never would have thought she would have any difficulty. She has been here since she was five months old, and has had five sets of strong healthy kids. Why? We only have a few theories, nothing conclusive. What if that was the meat we were depending on for the coming year? Would we be able to make it? Would we be able to find an alternate source of meat? Maybe. Maybe not. There are always going to be things thrown in your path that you did not expect and may not have the knowledge or skills to deal with effectively.
Waiting to really learn and do many of the things that will be necessary in a survival situation, when the time comes, will be way too late. It is not enough to 'play' at being a prepper. It is not enough to say, "I have my food storage." Do you eat it? Do you rotate it? Is it food that your body is accustomed to, or when the time comes that you have to eat it because it is all you have, will it make you sick because you're not used to it? And if it does, do you know how to treat and counter that sickness without outside medical attention or running down to the store for some anti-diarrhea medicine? In our day and age of movies, television, video games and a plethora of electronic fictional media, we come to accept and expect the outlandish, fantasy games, stories, and situational excerpts as 'normal'. This is where the good guy always wins, or the 20 people you shoot and kill in the
game get up and show up in the next game. All that blood wasn't real. The problem of the day in the 30 minute sitcom gets solved in under 15 minutes, subtracting time for all of those realistic morphed commercials. Then you can always go to the store to get out of the house and be with all of those strangers you love and buy more chemicalized dead food to eat that is killing you and yours. How in the world will people that live these lives be able to deal with, let alone survive in a collapse situation? I fear for them. Greatly. Man has become too distracted by the world. People fill their lives with meaningless activities; going here, going there, always busy doing something. The person that is always busy is the modern way to be. Staying home is something to be loathed and looked down upon. You mean you didn't go....see....do.....get.....show off......???? How could you? The distractions of the world are there for a reason, to hypnotize and trap you into doing things that don't and will never matter. We all have them; those distractions we waste our time on. The self-reliant life is not a thing you do, it is who you are. It is your life. That doesn't mean the comforts and amazing luxuries of the world are not utilized and appreciated. I love air conditioning in the summer here when
it is 100 degrees and the humidity is 90%. I have long prayed if we were to lose electricity forever that it would happen in the winter so our bodies will have a chance to adjust to the heat gradually instead of suddenly. But I doubt I will get to choose when that moment arrives. And arrive it will, either from a continued long, slow decline or with a bang. One way or another, we all know there are major, life-altering changes headed our way. Even if you only know it on a gut level, if you are here, reading this, you know it's coming. So, what are you doing about it?
We have entered a New Year, 2014. There are many times that we didn't think we would still be sitting here, fat and happy, enjoying the internet and talking with you by now. We are truly grateful we are. I challenge you to sit down and pray about your situation. Seek the guidance of the Lord on what your real priorities should be. Then listen. Really take the time to listen and ponder. We have no doubt the only reason we have started and continue this blog is because, for some strange reason, God wants us to. There is someone, somewhere, that He wants to read or see something that will help them be more prepared in some form or fashion. So here we are. God is calling you and giving you this precious time. We pray you take full advantage of it. The time is short. Until next time - Fern
I bid you a Happy New Year. I have often seen your comments at Rural Revolution, but up until now had nothing to say.
I have been a pepper since the 70's and have seen many of the things you commented on. Regarding the not staying home, I have a theory. Like you I have marveled often at this phenomonon. I have had men I hired to help with projects arrive, get out of their car, listen to the sounds of silence, get in their car and leave, never saying a word to me.
Best explanation I can come up with is most people are utterly uncomfortable with themselves, don't know themselves, and cannot stand to be alone with themselves. Perhaps they are afraid to find out who they are. Most show little in the way of a quiet self-confidence in themselves and their ability to deal with reality.
So, they busy themselves doing the typical nonsense that fills up most people's lives, shopping, games, the bread and circuses routine. People who are comfortable with themselves have been scarce as hens teeth in my experience.
Agree the writing is on the wall for all to see. Most turn their heads and ridicule. I strongly suspect none of us will experience all sweetness and light ahead, regardless of how well prepared we may be. I think I have prepared well enough that we will not end up in a tent somewhere. What is coming will be hard for all, lethal for many.
I find your theory to be very interesting and very plausible. And I like the reference to hens teeth, I haven't heard that in a while.
Fern
A number of years ago, we were at a friend's house, this was after Y2K. We were discussing what people would do for entertainment if the power were ever to go off. The usual comments went around the room, that people would play board games, sew, read, those type items. A lady in the group paused and said, "You know, we could just talk." Imagine that. Talk to the people you're with. What a novel concept.
I often notice families driving down the street in an automobile, and everybody is either on a cell phone, or wearing some type of headset. What ever happened to counting telephone poles? I think we've lost a tremendous amount of family contact with the introduction of cell phones and video games.
A different example. A friend of mine that is divorced and has children. The local department of human services requires that for his children to be able to visit, each child has to have a separate bedroom, just for them. What happened to all the boys in one room and all the girls in another? I guess I could go on for a long time. But thank you for your observations.
I think we've lost the family and that is probably by design. An we're also in the process of losing the schools, which is also by design.
Thanks for all the great posts this past year. I'm an older prepper and progress has been slow but steady. I mostly concentrated on the gardening aspect of prepping. This year I will be adding chickens and rabbits. Please continue to blog you are an inspiration.
Slow and steady can win the race. Keep it up. Don't forget water storage, any way you can.
Thank you for your kind words. It's kinda funny. We just feel like we are plain, old, regular folks. Most days it is amazing that someone would say we are an inspiration. I will count that all God's doin', not mine.
I want to thank you for your blog, I enjoy reading and learning for you on a daily basis I have learned so much. Today I tried your squash patties they were hummy
The questions you pose call for serious inventory on every level. Thank you.
I am thankful to be a homebody! In fact, it takes a lot to get me to venture out to far away other than local shopping. I just love being home. I am quite content to forget t.v. and read scriptures/good books that teach me something and fill my daily bucket of abundance spiritually/emotionally/education. I detest yacking on the phone and I have to admit I don't like unexpected drop-ins. I thrive on my peace and quiet.
The reason so many "need" to get out after seclusion is because they have all they need and take it for granted. Lack for any one of these, food/shelter/clean water/proper attire/good health and suddenly that thing would be the all important subject of the day. It may also be a hole that can only be filled by God's presence in our lives.
None of this preparedness will do us any good if He is not in the forefront. When the judgments arrive, and they will arrive, how will any of us be ready without His divine protection and guidance as to how to proceed each day?
And as for being useful, it's as simple as this.....master what you truly love doing. If it's gardening, you'll be the Garden captain. If you're brilliant with mechanics, you'll be the Professor like on Gilligan's Island. And hey, everybody loves the person who can sling hash out of seemingly impossible ingredients and make it taste good. Mine is herbal medicine/first aid. My passion is healing and combating nasty pathogens. I'm no surgeon but I have learned to suture and take care of a sucking chest wound. Did you know a tsp. of cayenne pepper in warm water given to a heart attack victim at the onset will almost always stop it? And Cayenne will stop bleeding in wounds external as well as internal. Cool info huh?
So beloveds, get right with the Lord, continue storing/rotating what your family will eat, family up and inventory what everybody's good at. Help others find what they are good at if they don't know. Store the tools you will need for your particular skill/passion. Pray for guidance in all things and stay morally clean.
And lastly, I testify to you that we are never alone. Angels really do exist and are at the ready to defend and help if we are worthy of it and if it is the Lord's will we be spared. You have but to utter the prayer and ask...but you must ask. Live to be worthy of this help, keep prepping, praying, and love thy neighbor as you do God and no matter what, YOU win. Whether in life or death. God's children will not lose.
God bless all of you and those you love and care about. Sincerely, your fellow pilgrim who will stand by you.
Well then, it's Brother Frank and Sister Fern! So grateful to have found two such humble servants of the Lord to help make the coming days a little easier to witness. THANK YOU both so much for sharing your vast amount of knowledge and wisdom. Thank you for just being plain decent Americans. Keep up the good work! We need you more than you know!
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You hit the nail directly on the head. Very well said.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I appreciate that fact that there are others out there that think the same thing. Sometimes it feels like we're the only ones.
DeleteFern
I bid you a Happy New Year. I have often seen your comments at Rural Revolution, but up until now had nothing to say.
ReplyDeleteI have been a pepper since the 70's and have seen many of the things you commented on. Regarding the not staying home, I have a theory. Like you I have marveled often at this phenomonon. I have had men I hired to help with projects arrive, get out of their car, listen to the sounds of silence, get in their car and leave, never saying a word to me.
Best explanation I can come up with is most people are utterly uncomfortable with themselves, don't know themselves, and cannot stand to be alone with themselves. Perhaps they are afraid to find out who they are. Most show little in the way of a quiet self-confidence in themselves and their ability to deal with reality.
So, they busy themselves doing the typical nonsense that fills up most people's lives, shopping, games, the bread and circuses routine. People who are comfortable with themselves have been scarce as hens teeth in my experience.
Agree the writing is on the wall for all to see. Most turn their heads and ridicule. I strongly suspect none of us will experience all sweetness and light ahead, regardless of how well prepared we may be. I think I have prepared well enough that we will not end up in a tent somewhere. What is coming will be hard for all, lethal for many.
Winston
Winston,
DeleteI find your theory to be very interesting and very plausible. And I like the reference to hens teeth, I haven't heard that in a while.
Fern
A number of years ago, we were at a friend's house, this was after Y2K. We were discussing what people would do for entertainment if the power were ever to go off. The usual comments went around the room, that people would play board games, sew, read, those type items. A lady in the group paused and said, "You know, we could just talk." Imagine that. Talk to the people you're with. What a novel concept.
I often notice families driving down the street in an automobile, and everybody is either on a cell phone, or wearing some type of headset. What ever happened to counting telephone poles? I think we've lost a tremendous amount of family contact with the introduction of cell phones and video games.
A different example. A friend of mine that is divorced and has children. The local department of human services requires that for his children to be able to visit, each child has to have a separate bedroom, just for them. What happened to all the boys in one room and all the girls in another? I guess I could go on for a long time. But thank you for your observations.
I think we've lost the family and that is probably by design. An we're also in the process of losing the schools, which is also by design.
Frank
Thanks for all the great posts this past year. I'm an older prepper and progress has been slow but steady. I mostly concentrated on the gardening aspect of prepping. This year I will be adding chickens and rabbits.
ReplyDeletePlease continue to blog you are an inspiration.
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
DeleteSlow and steady can win the race. Keep it up. Don't forget water storage, any way you can.
Thank you for your kind words. It's kinda funny. We just feel like we are plain, old, regular folks. Most days it is amazing that someone would say we are an inspiration. I will count that all God's doin', not mine.
Blessings to you,
Fern
I want to thank you for your blog, I enjoy reading and learning for you on a daily basis I have learned so much. Today I tried your squash patties they were hummy
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. I'm glad you have found something useful.
DeleteFern
I wandered over from Rural Revolution. Thank you for the wonderful post! Strangely enough God has been bothering me as well about priorities.
ReplyDeleteThanks for wandering over. Hope you enjoy your stay.
DeleteFern
I agree that we can't know and do everything. Just keep moving forward, learning and making new challenges for ourselves. Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteI truly appreciate your post, Fern. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKathi at Oak Hill Homestead
The questions you pose call for serious inventory on every level. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful to be a homebody! In fact, it takes a lot to get me to venture out to far away other than local shopping. I just love being home. I am quite content to forget t.v. and read scriptures/good books that teach me something and fill my daily bucket of abundance spiritually/emotionally/education. I detest yacking on the phone and I have to admit I don't like unexpected drop-ins. I thrive on my peace and quiet.
The reason so many "need" to get out after seclusion is because they have all they need and take it for granted. Lack for any one of these, food/shelter/clean water/proper attire/good health and suddenly that thing would be the all important subject of the day. It may also be a hole that can only be filled by God's presence in our lives.
None of this preparedness will do us any good if He is not in the forefront. When the judgments arrive, and they will arrive, how will any of us be ready without His divine protection and guidance as to how to proceed each day?
And as for being useful, it's as simple as this.....master what you truly love doing. If it's gardening, you'll be the Garden captain. If you're brilliant with mechanics, you'll be the Professor like on Gilligan's Island. And hey, everybody loves the person who can sling hash out of seemingly impossible ingredients and make it taste good. Mine is herbal medicine/first aid. My passion is healing and combating nasty pathogens. I'm no surgeon but I have learned to suture and take care of a sucking chest wound. Did you know a tsp. of cayenne pepper in warm water given to a heart attack victim at the onset will almost always stop it? And Cayenne will stop bleeding in wounds external as well as internal. Cool info huh?
So beloveds, get right with the Lord, continue storing/rotating what your family will eat, family up and inventory what everybody's good at. Help others find what they are good at if they don't know. Store the tools you will need for your particular skill/passion. Pray for guidance in all things and stay morally clean.
And lastly, I testify to you that we are never alone. Angels really do exist and are at the ready to defend and help if we are worthy of it and if it is the Lord's will we be spared. You have but to utter the prayer and ask...but you must ask. Live to be worthy of this help, keep prepping, praying, and love thy neighbor as you do God and no matter what, YOU win. Whether in life or death. God's children will not lose.
God bless all of you and those you love and care about. Sincerely, your fellow pilgrim who will stand by you.
God is an integral part of our life. We thank Him daily for the blessings He bestows upon us.
DeleteThank you for reading.
Frank and Fern
Well then, it's Brother Frank and Sister Fern! So grateful to have found two such humble servants of the Lord to help make the coming days a little easier to witness. THANK YOU both so much for sharing your vast amount of knowledge and wisdom. Thank you for just being plain decent Americans. Keep up the good work! We need you more than you know!
DeleteThank you for the kind words. We are not experts in any area, we just like relying on ourselves as much as possible.
DeleteFern