Moving forward 2016

Over the last 18 months our focus changed somewhat.  While I will always be The Prepper's Wife, I've spent time soul searching on who else I am~ I'm a Wife, Mom, Daughter, Sister, Friend.... And an urban farmer/ homesteader...  We have been aquiring new skills, and are on year four with our chickens, year seven on growing skills.  Now it's time to make the move from this home.... To OUT THERE. Our forever place. We're currently seeking 5+ acres in Western NC.

What have you been up to what skills have you gained?  What are you working on for 2016?
We will continue to work on:
Growing food and herbs
Raising chickens
Cooking from scratch
Canning
Dehydrating

I'd like to do more in 2016:
Get back to sewing
More herbal remedies
Make & sell soap
Growing more herbs rather than buying them
Actually create YouTube content to give back to the community I've learned so much from.

Lets grow together.

Book Discussion on No Higher Power: Obama's War on Religious Freedom

IF you love America, and our freedoms, you need to understand how our current administration is tearing down our country's very foundation. This country was founded on the Christian faith and at every turn our President is doing his best to erase God from America. For a better understanding please see video below.

For video CLICK HERE

"Phyllis Schlafly talked about her book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom. She responded to questions from students in the audience at the 19th annual Eagle Forum Collegians Leadership Summit from the Allison Auditorium of the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C".

What You REALLY Need to Know About the Qur'an

William Federer recently spoke on his book What every American needs to know about the Qur'an and as a Christian American it answered many outstanding questions I had on is Islam a valid religion? Should Muslims be afforded the same religious freedoms as others?  If Islam was just a religion then maybe however that's the sticky part.  Islam IS NOT just a religion. The totality of Islam is three pronged and while it does in fact include a religion, it also is a POLITICAL and MILITARY regime. This is different from all other religions practicing in America.

I'm not a historian, nor do I have a degree in religious theory so I would like to refer you to the following video.  Please take a few minutes from your busy schedule to review - it's fast paced and informative,  I found this this both enlightening and scary.

What every American needs to know about the Qur'an. <~Link
Video is hosted on C-Span and is presented by author William Federer

Free pdf copy of
William Federer's Book:  CLICK HERE

New favorite thing

You know we all really enjoy our five gallon buckets for storage.  Come on, we use them for absolutely everything ~ in our gardens as self watering containers, to carry stuff, store bulk items, endless uses for a good five gallon bucket right? Right. So I feel like I'm stepping out on my buckets - I have a new favorite storage container.

The 18 gallon Rubbermaid Rough Neck Storage Tub.  I bought a couple to store ... strategic preps and found they really are neat.  I liked them so much I ended up with 24 of them!  They stack better than other totes, and frankly make good sense because you can't see through them.  Now it's real easy to pack them too heavy, so I'm not suggesting anyone put can goods in them but for anything that is bulky and light weight or won't fit in a bucket try these totes.  Cardboard is a food source for bugs - so please get rid of your brown cardboard boxes.

Pic: Rubbermaid 18-Gallon Roughneck Storage Box

Don't advertise to the whole world what you have (or don't have) in supply. A good label system would be to number the totes and keep a list in your planner or prepping notebook.  Put these totes anywhere because they can take it! They work well inside or under extreme conditions.  from hot, to cold ~ Attics, basements, garages or sheds...nice neat stacks keep things looking good, away from prying eyes, and organized!

Children and a sideways world

Children, and their well being during and after a major event is important.  we have and have prepped for my wonderful children.  we have actual board games, decks and decks of cards, sidewalk chalk, crayons coloring paper etc.. you name it we stocked it.  Including their favorite foods.  Why?  Because when the whole world goes sideways the thing a child needs most is stability.  blocks, cars, crayons, games, stuff my kids play with now including board games and books, will be here after an event. My kids idea of survival items are crayons, UNO, fruit cocktail, Spaghetti O's with Meatballs and mac n cheese. We watch television and movies, we have cable and internet but that isn't the whole world to our children. Whatever soothes your kids, you should have stockpiled.

Recently I was asked why I don't have detailed info on giving birth in a sideways world.  Truth be told, its because I won't be having more children and I'm not a medical person.  I know first aid and cpr my fabulous husband is a certified Wilderness First Responder but I don't personally feel qualified to teach someone how to deliver a baby in a post collapse/sideways world. There are some wonderful sources out there to help.  One of our medical books on hand is the: Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook has detailed instructions for everything conceivable (pardon the pun)

Children however I know all about.  Key things you should be doing if you don't have children yet but anticipate having some is prepare to clothe, feed, and homeschool them.  You need to get basics together to teach reading, writing, math and such.

Consider having on hand: 
children's music on CDs
CD player
headphones, (how many sets have you killed over the years? multiple that by # of people in your preps and store)
CD Speakers
chalk and chalk board
pencils (lots of them)
pencil sharpeners
notebooks/paper
crayons, pens, water color paints ($ tree)
McGuffeys Eclectic Readers Series (found on Amazon)
Core Knowledge Series (found on Amazon)
Set of REAL encyclopedias (pre1980 look at yard sales)
dictionary ($ tree)
student dictionary ($ tree)
books - real books (not digital)
Bible

I have no affiliation with Dollar Tree - but I have to say I have gotten a TON of great kid preps there. workbooks, paints, chalk, all kinds of good stuff... to tuck away.   Also - my local one carries a nice King James Bible so we get some every now and then to add to the stock pile. Why? Because in a sideways world everyone will need hope. Those that don't know God, may want to get to know him. I'd like to help them.

Online Survival Summit 2014

A group named The Prepper Project is hosting a free online Survival Summit. With 29 confirmed speakers this looks to be an awesome event. Each day 5~6 speakers will be have in-depth interviews (presentations) posted. YOU have 24 hours to watch them, the next day another set of speakers will be posted, with the set before removed and so on.... it seems to be a week packed of great info and you can go for free, in your jammies and bunny slippers from your comfy chair in your off grid bunker. To register click HERE

Pride goeth before the fall

Proverbs 16:18 King James Version (KJV) ¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

But what does it mean?  

In my humble opinion it's important for us to teach and learn, but when folks get self righteous, and over confident it is my humble opinion you're asking for trouble.  It's all too easy to become over confident in THINGS, the groovy gear know what I mean?  I get asked what I think about terms like survivalist, prepper etc...  putting labels on yourself (or others) is a very slippery slope because at the end of the day we are more than a label  We are flesh, blood, and spirit.  We have responsibilities to our families, especially our children.  It doesn't matter if there is a storm, one of us gets sick or laid off or whatever, our children will still look to us to feed them, love them, and provide for them. Children will expect us to keep them dry, warm and safe....  The next time someone asks you what you are, stop and consider your response carefully.  Is the label you seek really that important? I'm many things including a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, mentor. I'm a woman God put on this Earth and I'm doing the best I can with the skills and abilities I have. I also am, a prepper's wife.