Prep Monday—So What’s Up with Prepping These Days?


Oh, I still hear a lot of prepper ideas and plans and things, but has anyone else noticed that the sky doesn’t appear to be falling these days?

We had some tense moments in 2015, like Jade Helm and the economy and the Pope’s visit with Congress and the UN and whatnot, but it’s now 2016 and there haven’t been any dramatic differences.

Huh. Maybe ISIS just settled down for the holiday or folks are still chugging holiday spirit . . .

As for me, I’ve been watching and waiting. Watchful waiting. Whatever. I never expected, really, to have to throw stuff in the truck and take off, but I could have if it had come to that. But, while my Facebook feed has slowed down a bit, as well as the media, both mainstream and otherwise, I’m still plugging along.

I have a garden planned for the spring, and the means to get it planted and fenced.

I have alternate power sources.

I have plenty of stored consumables and other things.

I’ve been hoping all along that things will hold off until we’re “ready,” and it looks like that’s going to be the case. Or not. But I am at the point where that “or not” doesn’t seem as scary.

And you know, while writing and researching my book series was enough to scare the bejeezus out of me, I’m still convinced that things—in general, I mean, politically and economically—are going to get worse.

And that’s what prepping is about.

Then, too, I’m at that point in life where I want to do what *I* want to do, and be out in the woods and be self-sufficient. That’s the plan, and I’m sticking to it.

And, too, when something happens, I’ll be ready. I’m not going to scour the Internet for the crazies and report on every single conspiracy theory, but I’m still checking my sources, the ones I trust, and I’m still keeping an eye out.

You probably should, too.

 

Work Wednesday—Tile, or The Job from Hell


Well . . . you’ll have to wait until next week to see the pics of the new kitchen counters, because they’re installing them THIS WEEK! Yay!

But last week, well, see for yourself:

 IMG_6249[1]    IMG_6252[1]

IMG_6251[1]

The remaining cabinets, except the two we’re waiting on; hardware attached, except the three cabinets that need different screws.

And the living room prepped for tile.

Remember how I was complaining that I couldn’t be there? Yeah, well, they saved the tile for me . . .

And I have to report that I’ve successfully passed Tile 101. Or, well, probably Tile 102, at least. I mean, I know how to do it, in theory, and I’ve watched my husband tile a couple small bathrooms, but this time I actually did it.

Oh, gee. Swell.

It. Took. Forever.

Okay, not quite. My husband spread the mortar, I set the tiles—damn heavy, yes, they are—and the next day I did the grout:

 IMG_6254[1]    IMG_6255[1]

IMG_6257[1]

Just about ready to head back down there after a couple days’ recovery, so we can do it all over again and finish the kitchen floor . . . my muscles are protesting already!