TOTM- May 2019 What are you working on?

Lets see,Have an 15'' culvert half-way plugged up.
Need a couple of loads of bottom wash for a Conex pad.
Waiting on the rain to stop for at least a week....
Oh,and the Breaux Bridge crawfish festival in on this weekend....May hitch a ride over for some crawfish?

 

Where to start... Since 1 April, we have been in high gear here.

1. I have been dropping 70 ft. - 80 ft. trees (Jack and Lodge pole pines) for firewood and cleaning up the mess. It really is hard work as got to carry all the wood and branches/limbs out of the woods by hand. I got to get that tractor and soon. I got a large section that I must clear for two new out-buildings so work, work, work...

2. Finally built the wife new greenhouse and enclosed it within the garden with fence. Built some large planters and then had to haul in the good top soil and fertilizer/compost to fill them. All left to do is put some path stones inside. Much bigger job than I thought...glad it is finished.

3. contracted a Builder to put up a 40' x 30' pole barn and add an extension to my garage. I intend to buy a new tractor to keep in the 40x30 and going to put my wood splitter in the extension so I can split out of the rain and sun. I intend to put 20 cords of split in there also, already got the rounds just didn't have any more space to keep the split wood to dry.

Much, much, MUCH more going on but instead of writing about it I got to get to it....

 

I am glad you said that because those were my thoughts exactly. I know there are cheaper better radios out there. I do like the handheld aspect but would like mounted radios also. This is a work in progress.

I will. I am hoping the padding around the bottle works otherwise one ends up with a red-line around their face and if the tape slips it could cut your face. I am also wondering how the bottle will hold if something is thrown at your face. Example: what if you are wearing it and someone throws a tennis ball at you. someone has to test that out.

Congratulations to you & Mrs Dart. If she keeps practicing, she may start passing you in proficiency. for Mrs. Dart !!!

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

What are you going to do about that armadillo? Inquiring minds want to know. I am not educated on armadillos, they always seemed like slow moving critters to me. Saw lots littered on the highway. Do they get mean like coons?

 

I hope you have a speedy recovery from your surgery. Down time at the press can be therapeutic.

What mold are you using for your TOK bullets? We may wander down similar casting/loading paths.

 

What are you going to do about that armadillo? Inquiring minds want to know. I am not educated on armadillos, they always seemed like slow moving critters to me. Saw lots littered on the highway. Do they get mean like coons?

I usually just shoot them...although there was one that I kicked around and then dispatched with a pipe.
Some get mean but mostly try to make a getaway.
This one comes through late...but the weekend is near
ETA: they're usually slow when they're looking for grub, but can scoot along pretty quickly. They also tend to jump up when startled...not good news when a vehicle comes along.

 

MIght be able to mow some hay soon

 

Throw them in da Bayou,They will walk across on the bottom!

 

Armadillo are one of the dumbness and do the most damage.
And best of all they are real good to eat.

 

Possum on the half shell

 

Working on gardening and learning if container corn will grow here. Getting more firewood in and loving my new place.

 

What am I working on in May? Mostly me. Of all my preps, I'm the thing the furthest behind. Still need far to go with weight loss and physical conditioning. I also need physical stress and exercise to aid in mental conditioning.

As an aside, I've now got a shift in my get home bag strategy. It all started with coming across a near mint ILBE set for a stupid low price that made me think it was 2010 again when these were being blown out and even given away free to homeless vets at the stand downs. So now I'm learning how to properly rig the system so I can get it squared away. This thing is huge and no way will I need it's full capacity even if the potential is weeks instead of days. Don't think I'll ever see a need to dock the assault pack to the main bag, but it does look cool stuffed with blankets and pillows.

As far as regular prep's, @ED GEiN 's latest thread on urban WROL survival got me re-reading some of Selco's articles. In one of them, this stood out:

"Arms, ammunition, candles, lighters, antibiotics, gasoline, batteries and food. We fought for these things like animals. In these situations, it all changes. Men become monsters. It was disgusting."​

So now,a bit more assessment on the essentials I already have, and the need to have the right network and mental attitude.

 

I have a crew coming in tomorrow to clear defensible space around the house and then to work their way out to the perimeter.
After the fires last year, we want to do what we can for prevention.

If you're a blackberry lover, my place is paradise and there's volunteer grapes as well, but they mostly have to go.

I bought a new pump for fire suppression and I'm replacing the roof on the house and the shop with metal roofing.
There's not much else I can do for fire prevention other than pray.

I've also been remodeling the place inside and out and that's been progressing in fits & starts as time and money allow.

I'm seriously thinking about selling but not until the elections are over. This is my BOL and it's the safest place to be during any unrest, so sitting tight is the plan.
I'm sick of the anti-freedom garbage coming out of Salem. But it seems like an uphill battle in almost any state these days, so I'll sit tight for a bit and see what shakes out.

 

Always welcome in north Idaho..

 

Thanks, I'm thinking very seriously about Idaho.

 

It is harvest time for dandelions. I spent sometime last night digging around in the yard. For those thinking they are just obnoxious weeds, you are missing out.
Dandelions- How do you prepare yours?

 

Fitting a1550 gal water tank with RV style backup diaphragm pump in case of power outages.
Two 135 watt solar panels feeding 7 wet cell lead acid 2 volt clear case set up for 15 vdc.
Gives me a discharge rate of 40 amps for 8 hours (depth of discharge 40%) so should handle pump and back up LED lights no problem. Just need to find an easy way to heat shower water. I don't do cold showers well.

But of course power never goes out here... (yes it's sarcasm!)

 

Propane water heater with shower attachment.

 

Might have found an answer....

Anyone have experience?

 

Stuck deep well pump 200' feet down , grab cord broke at the pump from rot . 29 years down , pull cord let loose at very light pull. Well drop pipe has stretched after a few pulls till it snapped . Still have feed pressure pipe above casing ..
I have built tools , patents next .
WTF uses this old crap anymore !!

New system to be dropped I hope.
Stinky Sloth, 2 weeks now

 

@Crusin Sloth so you did or did not get all the pipe out of the well?