This weeks preps check-in

[Brent S]

The roofing guy came by to check the vents. We have a gas heater. He went up and checked (and admitted he didn't when the work was completed in the summer). He said everything was fine. Then he said that he made one fit more "snuggly" and then later on he used the word reconnected... hmm. I got the carbon monoxide detectors plugged in. I don't know if "reconnecting" and making something fit more"snuggly" would have caused us any problems, but when I proactively take care of something, or prep for something in advance and found out I did the right thing. ... I feel like I have won something... like some kind of score. I don't know how to explain it, but it makes me feel really good.

I like the old saying of better safe than sorry.

 

[Brent S]

How long do you age pine? Do you do anything different from hard wood?

It dries much faster than hardwoods. As artic said, standing deadwood is pre dried and easy to use. Lots of people say o never burn pine for fear of flu fires but as I said, as long as you clean every year it's no problem.

 

[Mountain trapper]

It dries much faster than hardwoods. As artic said, standing deadwood is pre dried and easy to use. Lots of people say o never burn pine for fear of flu fires but as I said, as long as you clean every year it's no problem.

Also to help prevent flue fires with a wood stove it's important to have a draft and a damper that you can close all the way. Unfortunately many of the new EPA approved stoves aren't equipped with dampers or draft controls. That's why I had to modify my stove and cut out all the EPA crap to make it work right.

 

[Brent S]

Also to help prevent flue fires with a wood stove it's important to have a draft and a damper that you can close all the way. Unfortunately many of the new EPA approved stoves aren't equipped with dampers or draft controls. That's why I had to modify my stove and cut out all the EPA crap to make it work right.

Why would they get rid of a damper?

 

[Mountain trapper]

Why would they get rid of a damper?

In the brilliant know-everything-better nanny mentallity of the EPA, they were only interested in reducing smoke emmisions. A hot fast burning fire emmits less emmisions than a slow burning fire. Their thought process was that if they took away the damper then you wouldn't be able shut down your stove. I like to shut the damper down to get fire to last longer. Don't really care about the smoke.

 

[Brent S]

In the brilliant know-everything-better nanny mentallity of the EPA, they were only interested in reducing smoke emmisions. A hot fast burning fire emmits less emmisions than a slow burning fire. Their thought process was that if they took away the damper then you wouldn't be able shut down your stove. I like to shut the damper down to get fire to last longer. Don't really care about the smoke.

At least I can understand the reasoning now. I agree though, I want to be able to let it smolder all night to keep it warm longer and to have coals still going for early the next morning to rekindle..

 

[Mountain trapper]

Got a 10% off coupon for Home Depot the other day. I'm going to make the trip down there this morning and pick up a new refrigerator and chest freezer. And some lumber and new tools. I have a freezer somewhere in storage but can't find it. We're going to butcher the pigs next week and I need a place to put the meat. I'll put the freezer in dad's garage until I can finish the setting up the solar. Got the tile laid in the bathroom last night. Tomorrow I'll set up the shower, water heater and sink.

 

[Maverick]

Picked up a case of 24 boxes each box has 6ct (144 candles per case) of Luminessence unscented Emergency Candles $24. Each candle is 4" tall burns 5hrs.

This would be the third case of emergency candles we picked up this year, last year I filled up 3 5gal buckets (50 per bucket) of 10" candles 8hr burn unscented.

 

[Maverick]

With all the candles I've been acquiring, I looked around and seen I only had 4 candlesticks. Lisa out and about called and found some old wrought iron candlesticks and brass and pewter chambersticks, she be bringing home 2 wrought iron candlesticks and 3 chambersticks (2 brass 1 pewter), that should give me enough.

 

[jontte]

did a re-org of my med supplies,should have done it ages ago,as I found out I'm pretty well stocked in those,only in those clear fluids I need some more to be
on the safe side.

 

[Brent S]

With all the candles I've been acquiring, I looked around and seen I only had 4 candlesticks. Lisa out and about called and found some old wrought iron candlesticks and brass and pewter chambersticks, she be bringing home 2 wrought iron candlesticks and 3 chambersticks (2 brass 1 pewter), that should give me enough.

I decided to go the lantern route over candles. Just recently I realized I didn't have any spare wicks. I got them stored with the extra lamp oil now but realized you need to consider the accessories too.

 

[Maverick]

I decided to go the lantern route over candles. Just recently I realized I didn't have any spare wicks. I got them stored with the extra lamp oil now but realized you need to consider the accessories too.

I have a lot of lanterns gas and battery. fuel and batteries not a shortage here though candles just broaden our options plus they last longer storage wise.

 

[Brent S]

I have a lot of lanterns gas and battery. fuel and batteries not a shortage here though candles just broaden our options plus they last longer storage wise.

I agree multiple options are always better, and having some source of light is not just practical but comforting as well.

 

[Maverick]

I agree multiple options are always better, and having some source of light is not just practical but comforting as well.

We have about 2000 candles, at 4hrs a day using 4 candles a day should easily give me 3 months of candle usage, least that's my figuring (aka theory) plus a few in reserve in case I'm wrong.

 

[padouva]

AA+AAA batteries today

 

[Brent S]

We have about 2000 candles, at 4hrs a day using 4 candles a day should easily give me 3 months of candle usage, least that's my figuring (aka theory) plus a few in reserve in case I'm wrong.

One thing I try to consider with gauging prepping supply amounts is in a real emergency you will have more people to help than you would expect. Having more than you would think you could need may really help out one day. I have a feeling that friends and family will be showing up at your door in higher numbers than most think if things get rough for more than three weeks. I’m smart enough to know I can’t feed the world, but I’m not against trying to help a few.

 

[Dani]

So tomorrow we have been invited to a birthday party for the Marines. After working, I came home to put batting on the backside of a quilt and stencil the markings of butterflies for the boarder. Got my first line drawn when hunny calls to tell me and that he will be late and he promised I would make Deviled Eggs plus the cake. . . no prob Babe. Did his evening chores along with mine. When i checked on goats, little Ivy was caught upside down in the barn. I got her free, but she may have been there awhile. Yes i kicked myself for not checking when i got home. Poor babe had trouble standing. . . i was worried she may have broke something., but after a little while she was standing on her own. She was wobbly and walked to one side for a little bit. I picked her up to take her to get water not knowing how long she was there but she turned her nose up. I have been in and out checking on her and she has improved. Cake is made and eggs boiled. Tomorrow morning is when I will finish. Sorry but up at 4, the rest of the evening is mine. Need to finish, go to party, then birthday shop for grand daughter who is turning two. She will get the quilt I made for her bed, but she is also in need of clothes. Sunday is her party, but all this Nan has to do is show up with a couple gift .

 

[Brent S]

So tomorrow we have been invited to a birthday party for the Marines. After working, I came home to put batting on the backside of a quilt and stencil the markings of butterflies for the boarder. Got my first line drawn when hunny calls to tell me and that he will be late and he promised I would make Deviled Eggs plus the cake. . . no prob Babe. Did his evening chores along with mine. When i checked on goats, little Ivy was caught upside down in the barn. I got her free, but she may have been there awhile. Yes i kicked myself for not checking when i got home. Poor babe had trouble standing. . . i was worried she may have broke something., but after a little while she was standing on her own. She was wobbly and walked to one side for a little bit. I picked her up to take her to get water not knowing how long she was there but she turned her nose up. I have been in and out checking on her and she has improved. Cake is made and eggs boiled. Tomorrow morning is when I will finish. Sorry but up at 4, the rest of the evening is mine. Need to finish, go to party, then birthday shop for grand daughter who is turning two. She will get the quilt I made for her bed, but she is also in need of clothes. Sunday is her party, but all this Nan has to do is show up with a couple gift .

I’m glad I don’t have your schedule! All I have to do is run a business and take care of a sick wife . Seriously, the next time someone volunteers the eggs some should be thrown at them.

 

[Dani]

I’m glad I don’t have your schedule! All I have to do is run a business and take care of a sick wife . Seriously, the next time someone volunteers the eggs some should be thrown at them.

My life is not normally hectic. . . only every once in a while. Just seems the days I go to work are the days when extras get thrown my way. Its like you have a plan but then things go a little differently. Keeps us young I guess.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Well the butcher didn't make it out this week due to the weather. He's going to try for next week. If the weather is still bad I'll haul the pigs down to the road with the tractor to meet the guy. I finished siding another outbuilding a few days ago, just have the roofing left to put on. Got the tiles down in the bathroom floor, will add trim today. Next week I'll get the studded tires put on all the vehicles, then I need to find some help to put the chains on the tractor. I can put the front chains on by myself but the rear set is more than I can handle alone. I'm going to start the barn extension next week. After it's finished I'll move everything down from the old barn. Got a guy interested in taking the old barn down in exchange for helping me with fencing next spring. It would be nice if winter would hold off for a couple of weeks so I can get everything done outside.

 

[Brent S]

Spent yesterday evening digging up an underground leak on the main waterline. I got it fixed, but have about a thousand feet of line that I’m going to replace before too long. I really hate playing in freezing mud. Having to use a flashlight just made it more fun.

 

[Brent S]

Today I’m celebrating last weeks birthday. We always do it on the weekend vs the actual day. I opted for 1” thick sirloins for the grill, baked potatoes and salad. I think the kids are disappointed I didn’t want to just go to a steakhouse. Honestly, there’s no place I’d rather be than home, and no one knows how to cook a steak any better than me.....

 

[Maverick]

Picked up two CAT 8D batteries, got them installed yesterday, by the time I was done felt like I broke every bone in my body. Picked up a few Deltran battery tender plus.

 

[Brent S]

Firewood is up and stacked inside on the porch, and I have a nice slow fire in the stove. It’s a nasty drizzly day out there, overcast and cold. The kids went to pu steaks for the grill and a cake, so I’m just relaxing now. Prepping and everything else can just wait a while. I went to wallyworld a little while ago and of course the place was a madhouse on a Sunday. I really don’t like crowds anymore. When you’re in your 20’s it’s great to be in the hustle and bustle of the world, but now I’m content with peaceful quiet.

 

[Brent S]

Picked up two CAT 8D batteries, got them installed yesterday, by the time I was done felt like I broke every bone in my body. Picked up a few Deltran battery tender plus.

I had to look up what a cat 8d battery was. I have a scissor lift and a towable bucket lift that both use 4 6volt deep cycle batteries to run them. The 6v hold up pretty well. One thing I have learned in life about batteries is to check the water. The quickest way to murder a battery is to run it low on water.

 

[Dani]

I'll take peace and quiet any day, but I just threw on my overalls to go to grand babies birthday party. Nana's ready for some fun with kiddoes cause I'm one of the biggest ones around according to hunny. At least I'll get some good quality play time in.

 

[Maverick]

I had to look up what a cat 8d battery was. I have a scissor lift and a towable bucket lift that both use 4 6volt deep cycle batteries to run them. The 6v hold up pretty well. One thing I have learned in life about batteries is to check the water. The quickest way to murder a battery is to run it low on water.

I used a hydraulic transmission lift, at 150lbs a battery doesn't leave much room to man handle these things, generally I would have pulled the CAT into the shop where it's better equipped but the rain and snow back to rain would have left tracks in the ground so I opted to change the batteries where it was parked. I use battery tenders on all my battery used equipment anytime they ain't in use. half of my equipment are using SLA or GEL/AGM batteries thus they are no-maintenance making it more imperative to use tenders, I changed out the wet batteries for the SLA for the CAT, first time I am using them on the heavies.

 

[MaterielGeneral]

The other day I went to one of the discount stores in town. I picked up a bag of 100 one gallon Mylar bags for $10.00 and a pack of 100 DVD disks for producing the library. These disks are different. They are HP Inkjet Printable. I have never seen these before. They have this material on the top of the disk so you can print on them. I have to investigate on how you do this.

My buddy and I finally finished fabricating a mount for my 40' tower to mount to the existing in the ground mount. I finally finished creating my 6” PVC tube cache. I just cut the tube in half so they are 5' long. That bugger was expensive. I got the components I think pre 2016 Christmas just never had the time to put together.

 

[Dani]

My sweet hunny's birthday is today. . . 66 young ). Made his favorite cake this morning, yellow cake and chocolate icing. Also another pot of greens and granny's covered dish of green beans and clover rolls she needs to take for her luncheon. Have a bottle of wine, hunny's card with gift card to one of his favorite stores ready for when he gets home and I will actually be taking him out for dinner this year instead of cooking. When we were all together for Sweet Pea a couple days ago, that's when the boys got to celebrate with him. . . tonight its just the two of us. So CE I have a few hours, think I will work on the quilt. Need to finish that up so I can start on Sweet Peas Christmas present. She's getting a kitchen play set so I'll be doing an apron, potholder & mitt using some of my leftover fabrics. She is such a girly girl .

 

[Maverick]

Ordered a handheld UEi combustible gas leak detector CD100A. This is one item I haven't had and every year I kept saying I was going to get one and finally did today.