Prep of the day

[White Shadow]

I'm still going back and forth between the solar installation company and Anker trying to get everything smoothed over for my solar install. Hopefully someday soon I will actually get a date for installation (and finally get the big stack of panels out of my garage). It feels like I have been battling this forever. I will feel a lot better once those are installed. Then my biggest weak spot would be a loss of natural gas during cold weather.

I have been checking inventories and increasing the depth of items stocked figuring I would rather pay today's prices on the stuff we use regularly. No push back on that from the wife as long as it's the stuff we use on a regular basis.

I have been adding some ammo, but we have been depleting a good bit too the last several months. I was actually pretty impressed that both my wife and daughter agreed to get WI CCW permits, take a significant pistol training course, and a lite version of the police AR-15 class. They are even game for the follow up advanced pistol class later this year. Where they fall way short is they both have serious normalcy bias and don't think they will ever actually carry.

[Bucket-Back]

I have Mexicans next door. They ride their wheelers all over and keep a close eye out.😎

eta- They are way better than the freeloading local white meth heads . The blacks and mexicans work way better than most that were born local here.

[Chiefster23]

I received my second lithium battery yesterday, doubling my solar power storage capacity to 600 amphrs total. 480 amphr is usable without damaging the batteries. I’m feeling pretty comfortable now in my ability to deal with power disruptions. Now I need to gather up all my disgarded lead acid batteries and get rid of them.

[White Shadow]

I came across an article that said the Lake City ammunition complex has been shut down for a few weeks now and there is no indication when it will come back online due to a worker strike against Winchester. This is not going to help availability / cost of 5.56 and 9mm ammo.

[StratBastard]

Yesterday a traded a worthless pile of dirty green fiat paper for a one-ounce American Gold Eagle. I'm hoping to manage doing that that every other month.

[Bucket-Back]

I received my second lithium battery yesterday, doubling my solar power storage capacity to 600 amphrs total. 480 amphr is usable without damaging the batteries. I’m feeling pretty comfortable now in my ability to deal with power disruptions. Now I need to gather up all my disgarded lead acid batteries and get rid of them.

I need some batteries for the 4 - 4' x 5' solar panels leaning against the pole barn South side. I have the inverter already. A old boat battery went away with the boat I bought in 2019. It only got wet when it rained

[White Shadow]

I came across an article that said the Lake City ammunition complex has been shut down for a few weeks now and there is no indication when it will come back online due to a worker strike against Winchester. This is not going to help availability / cost of 5.56 and 9mm ammo.

Production at the plant resumed on May 7th after over a month of sitting idle. Not a lot of specifics were released on the contract, but they got a 4 year deal done so hopefully no more work stoppages for a while.

[~MG~]

For the last couple of weeks, I've been trying to really simplify my life and the way I do things.

I've changed my entire solar footprint to use only small devices: transistor radio, flashlight, phone, tablet - all of which I can now use or charge with AA batteries. I have 2 (of the same thing) small solar chargers for the AA's, and a small 10w folding solar panel to direct charge my phone & tablet <-- those two I can also charge using 4AA's with a cool little adapter thing that just came today and I haven't tried it yet.

I'm tired of thinking about big systems.
Small, simple, and easy is my new path.

[~MG~]

I tested the AA adapter charger yesterday and it gave my phone a 35% boost before they ran out of juice, which will be fine for an emergency. If I wanted to charge the phone to 100%, I could just pop in fresh batteries.

Keeping the AA's charged up via solar will be the ticket.

[SparkyPrep]

Got our new chicks in. Got them all set up in the chicken coop. Now, we just need them to get grown up, and start laying.

[SparkyPrep]

Headed up to the BOL this weekend to do some work on the house, and see Sparky Jr. I'm bringing the whole clan, including daughter, son-in-law. and new grandson. I hate driving, and I am not looking forward to this drive.

[Slippy]

In regards to our FOOD PREPS---For the first time in over 20 years we are dwindling down, giving away to Son1 and Son2, and not replacing many of our "food prep items".

Our diets have changed greatly. Very little carbs consumed by me and Mrs Slippy. We just don't eat much of the store bought canned items. All of the heavy carb stuff are going to our kids and grandkids.

Don't get me wrong, we still have a metric shat ton of Emergency style food. Our hope we never need that stuff! But the store bought stuff is going to good use with the children/grandchildren!

Fresh meat, homegrown eggs and fresh homegrown veggies are most of our meals now.

(Still can't figure out how to grow Tequila! )

[Texas PO]

In regards to our FOOD PREPS---For the first time in over 20 years we are dwindling down, giving away to Son1 and Son2, and not replacing many of our "food prep items".

Our diets have changed greatly. Very little carbs consumed by me and Mrs Slippy. We just don't eat much of the store bought canned items. All of the heavy carb stuff are going to our kids and grandkids.

Don't get me wrong, we still have a metric shat ton of Emergency style food. Our hope we never need that stuff! But the store bought stuff is going to good use with the children/grandchildren!

Fresh meat, homegrown eggs and fresh homegrown veggies are most of our meals now.

(Still can't figure out how to grow Tequila! )

MG and I are doing the same thing. We still have a ton of backup food, meds, and all that, but we have done just about all we can do as far as getting more prepared. Short of digging a bunker someplace or buying our own private island we are as prepared as we can be. We are tempering our preps keeping our age in mind. We replace what we eat, drink, and shoot mostly.

If we were in our 30's we could do much more but I will be 70 in a couple of years and she already hit 70, so right now our stores and preps would outlast us in a grid down situation. No one to hand it down to, no kids or family, so as long as trouble stays outside our gate we are going to relax and enjoy. We are more than covered.

By the way Slip? If you figure out how to grow Tequila make me your first phone call. I suppose I could make room for one more prep.

[Chiefster23]

I’m in the same place. My location is not ideal, but I’m too old to move. Prepping wise I’m well set up in most categories. Age (I’m 75) and health concerns have me rethinking things. I have enough guns and gear. I suppose now I will just sit back and maintain what I have. Just concentrating on stocking the shelves anticipating hard times coming this fall and especially this winter. I made some bulk purchases of meats since we are being told more big price increases are coming. The world (and America too) is getting pretty crazy and the risks of bad shit happening rises every day . I’m just planning for a winter where I only make one trip out each week or 2 for groceries and necessities. Recent news stories are telling of Iran and a bioweapon program. I’m half expecting another pandemic. I signed up for the Walmart home delivery service and assuming it would still be working, that would eliminate some shopping trips. On one positive note, yesterday I called my propane supplier and they told me my price is still t he same as last fall, $3.29 per gallon.

[Bucket-Back]

Since I built my home designed solar setup years ago, I’ve gone thru 2 sets of lead-acid batteries. I get maybe 4 to 5 years on a set and they are getting expensive. Yesterday I ordered a Rolls lithium-ion battery. Even more expensive, but should last me pretty much the rest of my life. (Or at least until I’m out if here and in the old folks home)

And here I am again , looking for batteries to install in the panels. We've been having a cute kick boxer helping us get a camper set up to sell off extra prep items. She may stay in it also and get her home health aide job back again

[SparkyPrep]

Did some work to the BOL house. Helped out Sparky Jr. with some electrical projects. Went to Dollywood and the Knoxville Zoo with the grandson. Then, this week, I built new doors for the shop. 6 X 12' X 12' metal and wood doors. Took me all week to build them on the ground, then yesterday, some friends came over and we got them hung. Baby chicks are now pullets, and learning where "home" is. Learning to use the water bar. All in all, things are going well on Sparky Ranch.