Tag Archives: shtf

Work Wednesday—The Remodel


We’ve been working more on the house remodel than anything else lately, especially due to the heat. Every day, of course, there are chores like composting and burning trash, weeding and checking over the garden, and tracking the progress on the old house.

Which, I’m thrilled to say, now resembles a one-story A-frame. They pushed it over Monday afternoon, and by next week, it should all have disappeared! Fencing and a second gate will go up across the front to fill in the gaps.

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So, the remodel. Well, I’m not going to move in and THEN try to re-do everything, so we’re removing plywood (??) and replacing almost all of it with drywall. I say “almost,” because the front of the living room and soon-to-be office are also plywood, with lots of windows. What a pain. Besides, those pieces don’t look as bad as the rest of it did. I can live with it.

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Then there’s the closet. The seller didn’t like walls, apparently, but when he built them, he went all-out. The three closet walls—it’s built into the center, load-bearing wall—are all super-reinforced. Since it’s just on one side (keep in mind that the entire house is 30X30), we finally decided it must be a safe room, for tornados and such. Down it comes. Husband has been moving electric, taking out some outlets and moving switches.

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Next week, we’ll be adding some half-walls to divide things up a bit. Also, I need more wall space. Interesting how so much furniture is designed to be set against a wall.

After that, we’ll de-popcorn the ceiling, replace 2-3 of the fans, and start painting. Then we’ll have just the kitchen to work on: adding a double wall oven and extra cabinets and counters, removing the dishwasher, and replacing the existing counters.

Move-in date is still ten and a half months away, but—and this is a big but—we’re rapidly closing in on the start of school, which means we can only come down on weekends, for two days at a time. So that gives us a total of about three months.

However, I’m happy to report that the garage is almost empty! All the storable stuff, kids’ things and memorabilia, etc., has been moved. Next up, getting rid of this giant garage sale pile—coming in October. I think. I hate doing these, but we’ll see. Maybe I’ll just call a charity and have them pick up the whole lot!

 

 

Prep Monday—Are You Doing Enough?


I read an article the other day about “normalcy bias.” This can happen when something traumatic occurs, and people (in general) justify their reaction—things like “oh, it won’t happen” or “well, it’s really not that bad.” The author suggested that, in spite of what you may believe about SHTF, you prep to your comfort level or capabilities and then just a bit more.

So what are you doing?

We, of course, bought a place out in the middle of nowhere. Well, kind of. We’re about 25 miles from a town, which sounds close, but when was the last time you tried walking that far? Sure, the town’s population is around 4500, which is great for now, but if all those people are fanning out into the area, looking for supplies or shelter, it could be a problem—except that they’d need a way to get here, and there are a lot more places to stop or encroach upon between there and here.

We have a well, storage, supplies, a garden, a home. And the perimeter will be secure. We’re prepared to defend ourselves in many ways. We have a community of sorts, in the area, who are like-minded folks. In the next couple years, we’ll be even more prepared, and we’re hoping that’s enough time.

Time for what? Whatever happens. The rumors are always there, new ones every day, but you must, always, consider the sources. And not just TEOTWAWKI—interrupted supply chains, civil unrest, economic issues can all certainly cause problems for the average person.

Why prep? Why not? What’s wrong with using part of my barn for supply storage? If I decide to cook something for dinner, but don’t have it, I can walk up the drive and “shop” at my own store. If the grocery stores here aren’t restocked, then we’re still okay, for weeks or months.

Although I do have that one shelf with “stuff we’ll only eat if we’re actually starving.” You know, the things you always accumulate, somehow?

But how do you know if you’re doing enough?

Like they say, do what you’re comfortable with, and then a bit more. Take the garden, for example. If we need six hills of zucchini, I’ll plant eight; if we need a sixty-foot row of kale, I’ll plant 80. What if the deer get it? What if there’s a drought? Or a fire?

What if it’s a simple crop failure?

Then I take a look at all the things to be done yet: fencing, for instance. Our boundaries need repair, additions, and more security, yes, but at the moment, everything’s still okay. It is, however, a priority, but it’s also a huge job. Have you ever put in fencing? Barbed wire or hog wire or even split rail? Okay, that last is pasture fencing, but my point stands. I’ve strung all of those, and it’s not easy. Particularly when we’re not talking about a suburban lawn with all the marking flags, but thick woods and underbrush.

Water, food, shelter first. Then you can move on to security, and later, making things pretty and more comfortable. Remember too, that chores come first, every day, and then bigger projects. Doesn’t do you any good to put in a big garden if you don’t have the time or energy to tend it. Living on a farm or homestead or survival haven takes a lot of work, a lot of energy, every single day. Push yourself. Work to your limit, then a little more. Take breaks when you need to, of course, but the work comes first.