Good morning everyone… remember…
Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of a day.
Anyways, we are all up and awake and that’s great, however, I do have some bad news to report…
After days of my brain not registering the fact that my email load had dropped from an average of 100 emails a day down to 15 or 20 at that those emails that were being sent were sent directly with my email address and not with the contact form of my contact page.
Well, once it finally did register I started looking into it and to my dismay, I discovered that my email contact form was broken and NOT sending me any email. So if you have sent an email using my contact form and I’ve not answered, then, please don’t think that I’ve been ignoring you… I’ve simply not gotten your email because the form was broken…
But the good news is that it’s fixed now, so if your email was really important then please resend it and I will get back with you as soon as possible… thank you for your understanding.
Okay, if you look closely you’ll notice a few changes to my blog design… look closely… there have been five changes to the design over the past few days… the first person to describe all five changes in the comments below will get a new Lifestraw Personal Water Filter!
I also made a few changes to my recommended must have prepper gear page but we won’t include those in the five design changes mentioned above. Now let’s see who has been paying attention… Good luck.
Okay, now let’s get on with our homesteading progress and preps for the week…
My main homestead expensive/progress for this week was that I received my Swisher 10.5 HP 44-Inch Finish Cut Trail Mower. I had to order the mower through Amazon.com because, unfortunately, no one in my area is a dealer for that type of mower.
I have some hillside on my property and mowing it with a typical riding mower was dangerous and exhausting. Once that I finally got the Swisher 10.5 HP 44-Inch Finish Cut Trail Mower unloaded and uncrated, I checked to make sure it had been filled with engine oil (it had) and then I filled with 100% gasoline as I prefer to not use gasoline that has had ethanol added.
I gave it three cranks and it started up and after letting it run idle for about ten minutes I hooked it up behind my side-by-side UTV and proceeded to mow my hillside in record time.
This mower is great for mowing on hillside land if you have a UTV or ATV and it can also be pulled behind a regular riding mower while off-set to the side to mow two times the normal area in one pass which cuts mowing time in half. However, if you’re pulling it behind a regular riding mower then you’ll need to stay on level ground.
Well, folks, that’s my main homesteading for the week… of course, I did other stuff like gardening and removed the suckers for my tomato plants and fed the chickens several times but I know that you probably don’t want to hear all of the details about that…
Now over to you…
Picked up 6 lbs of mushrooms for $6 and pressure canned them into 3 pints and 10 half pints in beef broth. They sure do shrink. Also pressure canned 17 lbs of boneless chicken breasts on sale. Stocked up on 3 cases (36 boxes) of K mac dinners, 10 jars of our favorite mayo, and 4 bottles of DH’s fav sauce, all on sale. At the bulk store, with a discount coupon, I stocked up on more mac cheese powder and organic buckwheat flour.
Catching up on garden and yard chores, lots of pruning, mowing, trimming, mulching, weeding, etc. We’ve had little rain to speak of so watering and mulching are important. Great news, we finally got rain most of last night. Everything really needed it.
We thought we’d have only one hive this year after we bought a fertile queen for the small colony I bought from a neighbor. But last Saturday afternoon, ODS got a call from a seller who had a last minute cancellation of 2 locally raised nucs and was he interested? He was up there first thing next morning despite 30C heat and no car A/C, then set the hives up in the miserable heat. We’re not used to such heat and it’s a real slog for us. We now have 3 vigorous hives working hard. Such a relief.
Finally getting our rat problem under control with special rat bait (hidden from cats) and the pellet rifle.
I thought I’d passed the kidney stone plaguing me but the CT scan shows it’s just hiding in another area. The urologist says it will do ‘sleeping damage’ that can eventually become critical so in 3 weeks I’m booked to have it ‘sonar blasted’. I’m really glad my province has a good health care system that pays for these expenses.
Gloria, funny how they both say 8:30…….I think there is some kind of collusion here because how did you know you were in front of me when there is no seconds on the time.
I demand an investigation….. LOL
Your first message to me was at 10:04 AM, where is an FBI agent when you need one. Oh yeah probably headed to prison….. LOL
Thor1
Funny as ever…rowl
Ac, was that rolling on the wall laughing??? LOL
THOR, ur presence has bren requested over @ thesurvivalistblogdotnet. Plz hop over & join the conversation. There’s also a request for a puppy update.
Livinthedream; I have sure been trying. Everything seems stuck in moderation.
I think apple cider vinegar is supposed to eliminate the formation of kidney stones. Good luck.
I did try apple cider vinegar and it helped a little but not enough.
Gloria,
Apple cider vinegar can be a bit strong to drink; but, cranberry juice cocktail is more palatable, something I like, and something I drink regularly. I had gall stones and my gall bladder removed back in July 2012 and so far, so good.
A Google search found the following:
AF, the conversation has begun over @ thesurvivslistblogdotnet
Gloria, we r up & running over @ thesurvivalistblogdotnet, thanks to Tara. hope u will hop on over & join the conversations!
Nice equipment
Puppy is still growing, it seems daily. Is he an inch taller today, maybe……LOL
Garden, planted the experimental garlic just in time for a rain storm.
Harvested a couple of red, yes RED cherry tomatoes…… Mmmmmm
Bought an electric single burner that uses 1100 watts. It will work great with the solar power generator and gives me another way to cook or boil water.
Bought 2 cases of water.
Bought more meat for the freezer.
Bought another propane tank.
Received an Omaha steak package from the kids for Fathers day. Mmmmm
Been hearing of a lot of water contaminations in other States and the possibility that underground aquifers could rupture from earthquakes. Hmmm
I heard Gloria might have been brought in for questioning by the FBI………LOL
Something about the Russian’s again……LOL
No, just ahead of you in moderation. This time it’s for smuggling shoes according to your illustrious leader.
Gloria, you didn’t throw them over the Mexican fence again, did you…….LOL
Gloria,
All of this competition about whose first or second reminds me that everyone should remember, that: “The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”
Think on that a moment.
I’d rather be the early bird with the worm than the first mouse with nothing or the second mouse with old cheese.
Gloria ,
The second mouse doesn’t always get the old cheese; but, the first mouse often gets no cheese at all, which is the reason the second mouse gets any.
Wild fire started Saturday morning. Was 1500 acres now it has grown mandatory evac. So it has begun fire season. I put a coat of linseed oil about a hour ago on my 10/22 and it is mostly dry now it is that hot. Friday was so hot that our boss sent us home at 10/30. We stocked up on some food today.
WOW Axelsteve, Is your place safe?
Almost there
For now it is no telling what will happen in a few days.
Axel, we’revwaiting ,4 u ,- back over @ thesurvivalistblogdotnet
Oops, also added a surge strip for the backup TV. It also has an HD antenna so no cable necessary to watch. This comes in handy with bad storms coming in so I don’t risk messing up the big TV.I leave the backup unplugged with antenna down when not in use. This way I can still get weather updates on TV.
A WET DAMP COOL SATURDAY MORNING FROM SEATTL WA. I had a few extrude $$$ SO I went to the “GOODWELL” I found a very good wind up clock for 3.00$ pile up over in the Conner! The 3.00$ clock works wounderful “WOW” add it to my more STUFF I ! LOVE shopping cheap!
So, if an emp happens and I still have solar power, with the new electric burner, I should be able to can effectively due to regulating the heat……
Thank you!
i will keep this short as we are teAching a tomato class this morning. Well the wine making class went well this week . Set another duck on eggs this week . Oh and for those that have been waiting for info on the October Hohenwald event they have told me it should be ready Tuesday night . I will be demoing my oil press that night .
Fixit – the conversation has begun over @ thesurvivalistblogdotnet – plz join us!
picked 5 gallons blueberries & making Jelly. Went to Amish produce auction in Ethridge, Tn again. Bot peaches # $74/bushel. ‘Bama peàches here r $90/bushel. New baby red potatoes & wilt-resistant tomatoes. Saving seeds. Mu beautiful matured tomato plants have wilt. I have to burn them & sanitize soil by covering w/clear plastic at least 5 weeks. Bummer
Hànd healing. Stitches out this week.
Hopefully you’ll heal so well that you won’t have a scar.
I’m glad you’re healing well.
LTD, with your accident proneness, you might get cut when they take out the stitches…. LOL
Be careful……..
Thàt’s not funny, Thor.
Oh yes it is!
The truth hurts! ✌️?
LtD,
You mentioned in one of your earlier posts that you sprayed your apple trees to prevent the rust. I see this appearing on my trees now, and need to treat them asap. And then I am reading it comes from juniper trees. I have 2 Leyland Cypress’ close to the apple trees, so I will need to treat them in the winter. But, I wanted to know what the organic spray is that you bought for yours that you said works well. It thought I had copied the info and sent it to myself via e-mail, but can’t find. The Japanese beetles are also coming around… ARGH!
Thanks in advance.
Hey, AT!
Well, to CONTROL Cedar Rust Blight, I use JMS Stylet Oil, which I buy online from Arbico Organics, out of the FL panhandle. It comes with handling warnings, but it is organic. It’s a type of mineral oil. It “smothers” the fungus, and insects, etc.
HOWEVER, this is a control – not a “fix”.
Before I started spraying JMS Oil, I gave ONE spraying of nasty ol’ Capstan. Yeah. Bad stuff. I bot HazMat suit online & I wear it for Capstan. I wear a full head coveribg and hat with full plastic face shield. I also wear an N-95 respirator mask under full face mask. I wear bots & disposable gloves Yes, it gets hot in all that. But this should be sprayed late in day, esp. if u have pollinators – like, just before sunset.
A strong fungicide is necessary.
If u don’t want to use Capstan (my trees were mucho infected), there’s always Neem Oil. Safer makes one. The truth is, a serious fungal disease needs a quick knock-out. Organics are not as quick.
Capstan should not be used with less than 30 days to harvest. Soak fruit in cool water w/white vinegar – one cup vinegar to one gallon water. Rinse thoroughly. Eat.
Wait recommended time 7-14 days), then spray JMS Oil. Stay on schedule with spraying.
Next year, spray JMS Oil @ first leaf break & first bud break. Then spray on schedule thru season.
I use an old spatterware water bath pot to mix Capstan. I bot powder @ local farm co-op. DO NOT BREATHE IT OR HANDLE IT BARE SKIN.
I also bot a trombone sprayer from Lehman’s. DH & I love the thing! It will shoot high, so u don’t need ladder. Just don’t stand directly under while spraying. Duh! I know.
I wish I cud afford a second trombone sprayer. For now, I spray hot water through mine after Capstan to clean it out.
Instructions for control of CRB indicate also spraying cedars I do not. Our cedars are 60 ft tall! OK, really tall.
Our little apple trees are thriving (mostly) even tho spring sickness put us behind spraying. But I did Capstan treat last Fall.
Meanwhile, look up Cedar Rust Blight apple varieties. And remember u need a cross-pollinator. Rural King has trees on sale I got Liberty, but I already have CRB-resistant cross-pollinators.
Hope this helps.
I wear boots, not bot.
NEVER mix these things in aluminum. Can create a chemical reaction.
Thanks LtD. I have only 2 small trees, one Honey Crisp, the other Gala. They’re only about 6ft tall and have a few branches on them, no fruit. I think I will go with Capstan then. I don’t need that fungus getting out of hand.
Found this chart of apple varieties with their susceptibility rating and the Gala is HS and the Honey Crisp is H. And we’ve had a wet spring adding to the trouble. Thank you again.
https://www.uaex.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-7538.pdf
Livinthedream,
I find it interesting when people try to promote “organic” as something special, while using it with a petroleum based product (mineral oil) which is technically organic in origin as are most chemicals based on petroleum feed stocks.
Just sayin’
“Organic”, the way it is used today, is supposed to refer to the fact that it is OMRI-approved for use as a designated “organic” treatment.
Livinthedream ,
Organic Materials Review Institute eh?
I didn’t know about this; but, I’m glad to see it and will investigate.
For too long words like Organic and Natural have been tossed around like they mean something. I like to see real definitions and perhaps this is a good starting place.
LTD, did you get any damage down there with the storms? We read there were twisters.
Planting more tomatoes I got blessed with . Elder-sitting, so, although not a direct prep, the money will go into the kitty, which IS a prep. Did well at the Hamfest last weekend, and today is Field Day, so I am practicing my skills by cooking Chicken Stir fry over an outdoor burner for 25 people! Prayers for the Pack. Nice mower MD.
Babycatcher,
Thank you! I love it.
GOOOD WET SUNDAY MORNING FROM SEATTLE My 4 ” ” tomatoes ” plants are doing perty good I have a few “GREEN” tomatoes now YAHOO ! and my outher