Question for Preppers of All Kinds

Here's a question that came up over the weekend:

Suppose the parents of a family are ready, willing and able to buy a small piece of property out in the country and set it up as a bug-in retreat. Suppose there are some neighbors within walking distance, some with kids. Suppose the family has almost always homeschooled. Suppose the children have always had apartment chores (emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash, helping with laundry, vaccuming, dusting, and helping with meal prep) but never outdoor chores.

They've only been there a few months when the following issues come up:

Now suppose those same children suddenly have outdoor chores like feeding livestock, giving them water and hay, watering the large garden, milking the cow and goat, collecting eggs from the chickens and quail, and so forth.

And the children HATE it.

They don't mind the relative quiet (as opposed to city noise). They don't mind the fresh air and scenery. They don't mind the fresh milk and eggs. They don't mind the fresh blueberries picked anytime they feel like it. They don't mind making new friends.

They DO mind the coyotes and foxes and mountain lions. They DO mind doing outside chores in the blistering heat, the pouring rain and the blinding snow. They DO mind getting up at oh-dark-thirty to milk the goat.

So... what do you do?

Do you...
(1) Find a way to make them like it?
(2) Ignore their feelings?
(3) Move back to the city and back to apartment living?
(4) Move back to the city, into a small house with smaller livestock (quail instead of chickens and ducks, etc)

Comments?

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UPDATE 9/26/11: Since I originally posted this article, found out my kid not only has ADHD but also OCD, autism and epilepsy. Turned out that those had a huge impact on how my kid perceives responsibility and such. We're still working on it.

Prepping saved me and Hubby

I have the swine flu. Again. It's much worse this time. Can't believe I got it, despite my prepping, taking supplements, eating healthy, and using hand sanitizer. But still, I got it and can barely move (only online to check messages and write this, then it's back to bed).

Last night I was practically crying. My throat hurts so much. The tamiflu has given me the trots. The constant coughing has hurt my ribs. Headache and general body aches. You get the picture.

Suddenly I remembered that as we were packing up our house to move here, I had made a special "flu" box. Hubby remembered where it was and grabbed it. I found the vapor chest rub, cough medicine, lozenges, ibuprofen, elderberry syrup, and more. I swept up these wonderful goodies in my arms and cried. Family already thinks I'm nuts; this just clenched it.

I sucked on a zinc lozenge while I planned my attack on this virus. This thing is not gonna beat me. I actually slept most of last night. Nyquil-Wal-mart-brand is wonderful.

Believe me, Hubby is glad that I packed that box. Otherwise, I was planning to send him out for flu supplies. Thankfully I also had stocked up on tissues (on my 2nd box since Saturday), food my family can fix for themselves, hand sanitizer, bottled water, tea bags, and much more.

Be well, people. This thing is a nightmare.

Read this book: "Alas, Babylon" by Pat Frank

I grabbed this book ("Alas, Babylon") from the library, found through a search for apocolyptic fiction. Brought it home yesterday (Sunday) and finished it today. It starts a little slow, took me 3 chapters to get really interested, but it was worth it.

It was written and published the first time in 1959. It takes place (mostly) in a post-nuclear war, specifically in Florida. Here's a comment that a reader left on the amazon.com page for this book:

This story deals with the Soviet nuclear attack on America that fortunately didn't happen. Where "On the Beach" was written from a British/ Australian perspective, this book is based in the American south, perhaps making Pat Frank the Pat Conroy of post-apocalyptic fiction. In 1960, during the height of the Cold War, Randy Bragg, descendant of an old Florida family, gets a heads-up from his career Air Force brother and prepares his family and his town for when "the button gets pushed". Younger readers who didn't live through the Cold War might find this story a bit campy, but as one of the kids taught by teachers to hide under my desk, I'm in no position to scoff. The book's short length (by today's standards) might make you take it for pulp fiction at first glance, but the fact that it's still in print four decades later is a testament to its quality. Rather than just crank this thing out, certain that no one would notice the picky details, Frank did his homework on this story. Even down to the dog tag on the collar of a wild stray German shepherd in one passage. ... ... (Review by R.L. Miller)

= = = =

This is a must-read. It deals with typhoid, radiation poisoning, water, supplies, marriage, responsibility, childbirth, unpreparedness, feral cats and dogs, and much more. It's so much better written than Patriots by James Rawles, and still gives great info for you to think about.

Not Prepared Enuf

We had an electrical outage at our new home yesterday. Couldn’t work online, blog, or write. Couldn’t use my seal-a-meal. Couldn’t use the microwave to make my kid’s lunch (we improvised the menu!). The whole thing just reminded me that I haven’t finished my preparations, and most of my information is either on my computer’s hard-drive or online either in blog-postings or e-books.

I hadn't even printed out my inventory list! I finally found the crockpot but couldn't find my packages of dried food with recipes enclosed.

So I used my cell to get in touch with a person who has expressed interest in publishing, and together we struck a collaborative deal. We’re going to go through a list we made, and write short to-the-point e-books and laminated cheat-sheets for all of the topics we need quickly accessible in case of emergency. These won’t be just for our use, but also for sell, if anyone is interested in them.

We have quite a list, but if you have any suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment on this posting.

And now I have the flu. Well, not THE flu, but a stomach variety. Argh. I'll be back when I'm feeling better.

Critter Invasion

Just wondering...

A friend who lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains has noticed more than the usual amount of mice and spiders in her house, and foxes and coyotes in her yard. Bears grabbing anything, and rutting elk charging anything that moves. After we chatted about this for a bit, we surmised it could be because animals are usually better at knowing when winters are going to be rough. Perhaps they are getting ready for this difficult winter?

Has anyone else noticed an unusually high invasion of critters in or around their home?

Fresh Source of Protein for Quarantine Times

If you're a prepper (you prepare for worst-case scenarios), then you've giving your food intake and sources a lot of thought. I'm sure you have peanut butter, dried chicken and ham, powdered eggs and more. All good sources of protein.

But you might get a little tired of these. So... here's an idea. Make it so you can have fresh eggs from time to time.

Don't want an outdoor animal that you'll need to go out and feed? Or that you'll need to defend?

Raise quail. Indoors.

Quail are very small birds, considered wild game although they have been domesticated for a while. They produce very small eggs - it takes 3 quail eggs to equal 1 small chicken egg.

Have 2 people in your home? Have 6 quail, which could provide 3 small quail eggs per person per day. For this many quail, you only need a square foot cage. I suggest you get a rabbit hutch, with a pan underneath to catch droppings. If the wires that make up the floor are too far apart, get some wire netting from a home improvement store so the birds feet won't get torn up. Keep the cage off the floor and out of drafts.

If you plan on raising quail to eat the birds, then you'll need males too (2 females to 1 male). Keep in mind that in a quarantine situation, if you want to eat the quail, you'll need a place inside your home to kill them, drain the blood, pluck them, and do something with the leftovers (feet, beak, entrails, etc.)

Don't they stink? Not really. Keep the cages clean, but even so, quail make a lot less noise and smell than, say, chickens. Use paper in the bottom of your "rabbit" hutch and it will be easy to change out and keep clean.

Keep a source of bright light on during the shorter days, making it seem like just a long summer. This will "trick" the birds into laying past autumn and they will continue to lay eggs.

Having only 6 small quail in a small hutch will be easy to care for. They don't take a lot of feed, so you can keep it in a rodent-proof trash can with lid. They do need a fresh source of water, but these are small birds and really don't take much. Also, be careful of your other pets, especially cats - don't let them take away your source for fresh eggs!!!

Think maybe you won't have a source of heat to cook the eggs? Remember, quail eggs are small. Use a tea-light candle in a candle-holder, with a small empty clean (but oiled) tuna can on top and you'll be just fine. Add a little spice (onion powder, dried parsley, etc.) and maybe some canned no-need-to-refrigerate parmesan cheese and yummy!

For more information on raising quail indoors, go to:
http://homesteadingbasics.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-raise-quail-indoors.html

Swine Flu Pandemic Possibility

Found this article at: http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/04/pandemic-preparedness/ - wanted to pass it along in its entirety with a few comments of my own:


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With the current Swine Flu scare coming out of Mexico and popping up here and there in the United States, it is prudent to become familiar with the situation and especially prudent to review your Pandemic Preparedness Level. I should also stress that this is a “DON’T PANIC, Just Prepare!” post. So first, let’s get to know the player - what is the swine flu? Well, it’s just a variant of the “flu” that makes the rounds and gets passed around every year. Thing is, this variant doesn’t typically pass to humans so there is not an anti-virus in production or even made yet. Don’t take it from me though, and don’t take it from the ‘news’. Here are links to the CDC info and briefs on this situation:

• Swine Flu Brief
• Key facts about Swine Influenza
• Human Swine Influenza Investigation
• This is a vid-cast from the CDC about the swine flu outbreak

Some quick anti-panic notes from the above sources:

• Swine flu CANNOT be transmitted by food. Eating pork does NOT put you at risk.
• This is NOT the first time the ’swine flu’ has transmitted to humans. It’s happened several times before without it becoming a pandemic.
• This variant of swine flu, as with any flu, is a virus and primarily spread person-to-person through coughing or sneezing.
• This is just a flu! The key here is to NOT GET IT, since there is not currently an anti-viral for it.

Quick notes about prevention:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because germs can spread that way.

Now, let’s talk a bit about Pandemic Preparedness.

We’ve linked to this before, here is an excellent resource on Pandemic Preparedness from the LDS Church. In the case of a true Pandemic outbreak in your area, the most important thing is to be prepared to Shelter In. This means having enough food/water/supplies to keep you and your family inside at your home for possibly several weeks. You don’t want to be caught in a store-run in a pandemic outbreak! You need to make sure you are prepared for that possibility ahead of time. If you have your 3 month supply of everything at home already, then Peace is yours in this situation!

Other Pandemic specific things to make sure you have an excellent supply of:

• N-95 Masks: These masks are different from regular dust masks or other types of masks. They are rated to help stop the spread of viruses. You should have enough in your preps to provide a new one to every member of your family every day for at least 2 weeks. They can be purchased at most stores that include a pharmacy, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, WalGreens, etc. Generally they are a little pricey but are necessary for your preps.
• Medical Gloves: You should have several hundred pair of medical gloves in your preps. These are needed if someone in your family gets sick and you have to self-quarantine. Anytime you touch anything that a sick person has been around, you need to be wearing gloves. You can buy these at the same places you buy N-95 masks. They are a lot cheaper than the masks though.
• Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer: Even though you’re wearing gloves all the time, you should have lots of alcohol based sanitizers in your preps. You should have them in your day bag, your go bag, your 72-hour kits and your regular preps. You should also have lots of anti-bacterial soap as well.

Other Preps: To be prepared to take care of someone infected in your home, you should also have the following in your preps (these preps will be for the single person providing care for the sick person, you do not need to have enough of these supplies for everyone in the family to wear constantly):

• Disposable surgical gowns
• Disposable shoe covers
• Goggles or face shield
• Bleach (to clean surfaces and items touched by a sick person)
• Supplies to boil water (to sanitize dishes and other items used by sick person)

I can’t stress enough how important Pandemic Preparedness is. The worst possible thing you could do in a Pandemic outbreak is rush to the store with thousands of potentially sick people and try to fight them all to buy supplies to shelter in. The only rushing you want to do in a Pandemic situation is rush home - and stay there.

Make sure you have N-95 masks and hand sanitizer in your Day Bag, Office Kit, Car Kit, Go Bag and 72 Hour kits! Keep a good supply of sanitizing materials in your preps at home and .. .. .. Don’t Panic!

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According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control): symptoms for swine flu (H1N1) include: fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you come down with even a few of these symptoms, call your doctor, don your mask, and head on to get checked out. Samples of your blood will be sent to be examined to see if you have this strain of flu. Better to be safe than sorry.

Here's a link to a .pdf file that gives information on how to give chest compressions to people who are having troubles clearing their lungs: http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/emily-center/child-health-topics/handouts/CPT-55b.pdf. Print it out and put it in your emergency binder.

You haven't started your emergency binder? Do it. TODAY! Grab a 2" binder and label it. Start with printing out the .pdf mentioned in the above paragraph. Then start your inventory of your stored foods, disposable gloves and other items mentioned in this article. Do you have hygiene and sanitary products, i.e. toilet paper? Cough medicine, theraflu, ibuprofen, acetamenaphin, children's products? A way to light your home? A way to cook if your utilities get shut off? Enough water (1 gallon per person per day)? Make a note in your binder of everything, then get out there are purchase what you don't have. Be sure to include a section in your binder for first aid, cooking without utilities, and more.

In addition, be sure to sanitize (with bleach, ammonia and/or vinegar) all doorknobs, telephones, toilet handles, cups, and everything else that you come in contact with. First thing tomorrow, we're going through this house and sanitizing everything, including the doorbell outside!

We have a particular situation: we have begun packing and preparing to move. We also have some minor repairs to make, and I have a business to run. Busy busy. We don't intend to put the house on the market until June, but have to pack and store lots of items to "stage" the house (make it more sellable). So... we have to figure out how to store our "prep" items without making prospective buyers think we're end-of-the-world freaks (which we're not). We can't fill our big water storage tank, and in the midst of moving some things to the storage unit we rented, we can't find the disposable gloves, masks, etc. At least we still have plenty of stored food on our special shelves.

So, despite tomorrow being my birthday, after I take the dogs to the vet, Tween and I need to gather some more disposable gloves, N-95 masks, goggles, bleach, and lots of gallons of water. Then we'll get a couple more bags of dog food and head on home.

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple, Silly. Simplicity is the key.

For most people who prepare for the worst, life can be broken into a few major categories, like clothing, water, food, sleep, shelter, transportation, communication, sanitation and hygiene, first-aid and lighting.

The above are not in any particular order. That's because the order changes with every situation. Yes, it's important to have water and food when bugging out, but they aren't very important when you have a nail sticking in your eye.

Have you heard the rule of "Threes or Fours":

If you PANIC, you could be dead in 3-4 seconds.

If you HAVE NO OXYGEN, you could be dead in 3-4 minutes.

If you have no SHELTER, you could be dead in 3-4 hours.

If you have no WATER, you could be dead in 3-4 days.

If you have no FOOD, you could be dead in 3-4 weeks.

If you FALL APART AS A GROUP, you could have 3-4 months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, or even seconds.

Make sure these don't happen to you.

• Keep your preparations simple.
• Practice emergencies. Make a list of possible emergencies (fire, hurricane, tornado, riots, etc.) and write out a plan for each. Drill drill drill!
• Run your routes... from home or work or soccer practice to your safe place you've established. Mark the routes, including landmarks that can't change or burn down. Where are there gas stations? Do they accept cash?
• Teach your children to call 9-1-1.
• Pretend there's an emergency, and you do NOT panic. This is also part of the drilling and practicing thing.
• Make sure that your items all do double-duty, or more.
• Test the group mentality: gather the family and tell everyone that no one can have any food (or toilet paper or water or a bed or clothing, etc.) for the next 2 weeks. Look in the eyes - see the panic and find a way to deal with it. Here's another test: tell a group of smokers that they can never have another cigarette - watch the intense panic in their eyes once it sinks in - then figure out how to keep a cool head.

Psychology plays a big part of your preparations. That's where practice comes in. And the practice is made easier when you've made out your plans, using the simplest features, items, and so forth.

Hiking Tips

A man fell off Lookout Mountain on Monday. Here's a link from the Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12001746

How does that happen?

Hiking is a great exercise. It's good for your legs, lungs, attitude. You can experience beautiful scenery, meditate with the serenity of nature, and appreciate wilderness. You could follow trails or go "off the beaten path" to meander. Here's a few precautions to take if you plan to go hiking (or taking pictures off a steep mountain's edge!):

• Acknowledge there are risks. Common hazards include: injuries or illness, sudden bad weather, getting lost, sunburn and deydration, or frostbite and hypothermia. That doesn't include animal attacks, poison ivy, ticks, snakes and mosquitos. Even if you've been hiking for years and years, don't assume the next trip will be perfect too. YOU can't predict so you need to be alert.
• Make a written plan of your route, with an estimated return time, and leave it with someone you trust (or the nearby sheriff or park ranger). Check in with that person upon return. If you don't return by the expected time, s/he can call for help.
• Take a cell phone. A speedy call for help for you or someone else is essential. There might be parts where you'll lose your signal but wouldn't you rather be prepared?
• Wear sturdy "broken" boots that support your ankles, and good socks.

Equipment - pack a sturdy backpack with:

• water
• compass
• dependable trail map
• sunscreen
• bug/insect repellent
• chapstick
• light rain gear
• a $.99 super lightweight space blanket
• extra clothing if you're hiking in the mountains or if it is cold out
• hat
• extra socks - change when wet with sweat and foot powder to keep feet dry
• sunglasses
• first aid kit
• food like protein bars, etc.
• Not required but a good idea would be: a camera, pepper spray, GPS equipment, foot blister medication, a radio for weather updates, and cell phones.
• For a night-time trek, take a tent, more food, toilet paper, and other overnight gear.

Unless you have practice and permission for building a fire, don't do it. The weather has been weird lately all over, and chances are there is a grave danger of fire spreading. Pack foods you don't need to heat, or a small self-contained cooking situation. And don't smoke!

Please be careful.

Survival Blog - One Person's Prep Story

I read www.survivalblog.com on a regular basis. I came across this entry (http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/02/perspectives_on_prepping_on_a.html) and had to make sure other people read this. It's about one person's story on prepping with almost no money. He discusses food, gardening, animal husbandry, defense, and much more. This is an absolute must-read! Thanks!

After you read it, will you please come back here and give us your thoughts?

New Montana Residents were Unprepared

Couldn't believe this story. An Oklahoma couple bought a "retreat" real cheap in Montana, and moved. Didn't prep. Didn't stock up on wood, firestarting supplies, food... sounds like nothing was there. The woman froze, as did the 2 cats and 2 of the 3 dogs. The man was found surrounded by guns, soaking wet from urinating and defacating where he sat by the woman's body. He had a couple of boullion cubes in his pocket

Makes you think. Glad we're prepping - not just in supplies but also in knowledge.

Here's the link:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6236477.html

Tanner Gun Show at the Denver Merchandise Mart

We went to the gun show today. Our first, especially as a family. We saw displays of everything from collectibles to gun magazines, taffy snacks, folding knives, flack jackets, guns, rifles, blowguns, target practice, life insurance (attention mr cheney), books, gun training, mountain man snacks, belt clips, and just about everything in between.

It was almost overwhelming. Actually, after about an hour, our Tween couldn't handle it any more. Meanwhile, before the meltdown, we saw some great info and possible items to go into our special box.

We did come away with three blow-guns and ammo and practice parts for those. Oh, and I bought some pepper spray. Then, as we were making our way to the door, we found a practice "range" with a laser-sighted rifle. Just happened to be run by Hubby's friend. We paid our money, and all three of us tried our hand. Tween had never even picked up a gun, and shot 90% of what he aimed for. I hadn't shot since a B-B-Gun 35 years ago but shot about 95% of what I aimed for. Hubby didn't do quite as well. We came away knowing (1) we need to encourage more of this activity with Tween because of the immediate high from shooting such a great percentage, (2) we need practice to get better, and (3) we need more equipment of different varieties.

Did anyone else in the Metro Denver area go?

Keeping You Busy - Are you Prepared?

Info on Homeschooling in Colorado
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeedserv/homeschool.htm

Even if you don't homeschool, what would happen if you were confined with your school-age children while the bird-flu rages in your town. Three, four, five months, and your kids (and their classmates) will be so far behind that most will be repeating a grade. Nothing your kids did. Just lack of time in a classroom.

So get a jump:

Get a few simple musical instruments, like a recorder (flute), drum, keyboard, guitar, etc. Try to dollar store, thrift stores, yard sales. Remember to get some music instruction books and sheet music. Teach the family basic music and a few simple songs.

Gather reference materials (several suggested below). They don't have to be new or even current. Pick a topic a day, and research/discuss it completely. Have the older kids write a report.

1. Get a set of encyclopedias.
2. We just got the "Big Book of Everything", 2005 edition. It has sections on "Universe", "Planet Earth", "Life on Earth", "People", "Countries", "History", "Science & Technology", and "Arts & Culture". It's got lots of little facts about almost everything, from space landings to the longest bridge to communism, etc.
3. Get a big dictionary, thesaurus, language dictionaries.

Get language tapes or cd's and teach the whole family a new language.

Play scrabble, requesting increasingly harder words.

Stock up on a variety of workbooks, miscellaneous grades, miscellaneous topics (language arts, spelling, math, science, history, writing practicing, etc.

Visit your thrift stores, used book stores, and garage sales. Grab every classic novel and reference book you can find. Assign one book a week - Wuthering Heights, Little House on the Prairie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.

Involve the whole family in menu planning and cooking. Discuss nutrition, balanced meals, sodium, nutrition requirements, colors, variety, presentation of food, energy-efficient cooking methods, etc.

Fill a couple boxes with art supplies: construction paper, magazines, stickers, glue sticks, glitter, scissors (safety and regular), glue, art instruction books, crayons, paint markers, etc. Make collages, paper mache', paintings, pictures, etc.

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You can keep the kids and yourself entertained, while keeping minds occupied. Make it fun.

Buy Food Now Before Prices Rise More

Prices for food basics like wheat, rice, and beans (among other things) have risen so much these recent months. And now, prices in grocery ads says they are "fixed" until April 2009. Wondering just how much grocery/food prices will increase as of April. We will be stocking up between now and then, but meanwhile, take a look at the following links:

• http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/11/27/why-food-prices-could-rise-9-in-2009-and-how-kellogg-could-prof/
  Why food prices could rise 9% in 2009
• http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article5511830.ece
  Enjoy low food prices, they are not here to stay
• http://www.foodnavigator.com/On-your-radar/Food-prices/Credit-crisis-could-lead-to-rice-price-rise-warns-IRRI
  Credit Crisis could lead to rice price rise
• http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/business/27food.html
  Food prices expected to keep going up
• http://odeo.com/episodes/23869812-BizDaily-Food-Prices-13th-Jan-2009
  Food prices (audio from the BBC)
• http://www.philly.com/philly/living/pets/Pet_food_costs_on_the_rise.html
  Pet food costs on the rise

Make your lists of your basic foods needed. Be sure to stock up on your basics. Get that membership for food clubs now. Buy in bulk there and everywhere else.

Time Is Running Out

Now, we're not the kind of family that thinks the world is ending, that the Earth will fall into a black hole, or that a particular political or religious group will take over and be world dominators. We are not extremists, militants or chicken-littles.

However, we DO believe that the status of Mother Earth is changing. The frequency and intensity of weather-related incidents is rising: droughts, floods, blizzards, heat waves, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. While we may disagree on exactly what's going on, we have to agree that something is going on.

Then there's politics and economy: this world is in a mess, financially speaking. Unemployment is on the rise, as is the resulting homelessness. Major permanent shift in weather patterns. Economy. Politics. Crops manipulated to not re-generate (so people will have to buy more seeds each year) will cause more hunger in the long run. Dependence on foreign oil. Free TV-watching has become pay-for-boxes-to-watch-"free"-signals (DTV). Constitutional and basic human rights are being trampled on. Civil unrest. Supplies not being available because imports dry up. Or transportation cost prohibits importing. No supplies means no manufacturing, and no products for anyone to purchase. Crop failures so heathy eating goes further away. Immune systems break down. Rising costs of utilities prohibit running water, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, and sewer treatments. Spread of illness along pandemic proportions. Self-imposed quarantines or government-required 24-hour curfews.

The list can go on and on.

We believe we have about 3-4 years before the changes occur to a point of no return.

Don't panic but mark our words: be prepared... now. Find your perfect spot. Learn how to garden and preserve your food. Learn personal safety and first aid and homeschooling and handyman skills.

We still have a little time left. And if nothing happens beyond a little worsening weather and increasing gas prices, then you still have valuable knowledge.

... What are YOU preparing for? What threat do you think is the most imminent? What time line are you thinking about?

Is Your Car Ready for the Winter?

As yesterday's post noted, this Winter has been weird. But as we Coloradoans know, we're still going to be blasted (probably in March) with a huge traffic-stopping car-burying blizzard. Is your car ready?

What happens if it starts snowing after you get to work, and keeps on snowing. People come in from lunch, brushing big flakes from their coats, and shivering from the sudden drop in temperature. You sneak a listen to the radio news report, or a friend texts you that it's a roaring blizzard out there. At 5:00, you leave your desk, ready to go home, to find over a foot of snow already on the ground. You de-ice the locks and windows, brush off the snow, and warm up the car. Seatbelt firmly buckled, you slowly pull out from your parking space, nearly side-swiping the car next to you. Crawling along. Nearly sliding on your bald tires through the streetlight because the plows haven't been through yet. You try to get on I-70 or I-25, but traffic is stopped. Oh no, you have a quarter of tank of gas. You forgot to go to the bathroom before leaving. You have your lunch box but it's only got those crackers you didn't feel like eating at lunch. Nothing to drink. Just the push-in lighter for heat. And your forgot your scarf, hat and gloves this morning.

You get the picture.

Prepare NOW!

1. Pack a roadside emergency kit. Road flares, battery jumper cables, de-icer, etc.
2. Check your ice scraper - if it broke last Winter, you should replace it today.
3. Place a first-aid kit in the car. Bandages, antiseptic, aspirin, etc.
4. Pack a little lunchbox with juice boxes, granola or protein bars, dried fruit, etc.
5. Do you have a child? Include a few items like diapers, toys, music.
6. You need heat: there are many little devices you can buy, or pack a few tealight candles in a coffee can with lighters or waterproof matches. In an enclosed area, those tealight candles can provide some heat. Test it before you have to absolutely depend on it.
7. Kitty little in the trunk will not only provide some weight to reduce skidding along on the ice, but is also great to sprinkle under tires to provide traction.
8. Pack some blankets, socks, mittens, and other warm clothing items just in case you need to go out to move snow. When you come back in the car, change in something warm and dry.

What did we forget?