Rain and More Rain

It has rained all week here, sometimes just a light drizzle and then the downpours. 1/2" in the gauge this morning, Wednesday had 3/4". The constant overcast is a bit depressing, so many unfinished projects here that the mud and rain are putting on hold. I spent some time in the front garden this morning pulling grass and weeds. I had to give up when my fingers got so water logged I couldn't grip the stuff to pull it out. Didn't hardly put a dent in it! I'm almost afraid to go out back and look at the corn patch. Forecast is calling for rain every single day next week too. I don't know when I'm going to get the beans in! Maybe I'll have to mud them in! I'd really prefer to cultivate the ground so the weeds are at least knocked down a little but that may not be an option.

Crazy weather we're having......

Spike in "Suburban Survivalists"

A nice article I found this morning, written by Gillian Flaccus, a writer for the Associated Press.

Crisis Spurs spike in "Suburban Survivalists"

Gillian writes about how every day people are starting to wake up when it comes to the shape out country is really in economically. How ordinary people that would never think like a "survivalist" are now stocking up on the basics, thinking of taking care of themselves and their families.

From the article:
"From teachers to real estate agents, these budding emergency gurus say the dismal economy has made them prepare for financial collapse as if it were an oncoming Category 5 hurricane. They worry about rampant inflation, runs on banks, bare grocery shelves and widespread power failures that could make taps run dry."

"These people snapping up everything from water purification tablets to thermal blankets shatter the survivalist stereotype: they are mostly urban professionals with mortgages, SUVs, solid jobs and a twinge of embarrassment about their newfound hobby."

Nobody should ever be embarrassed by wanting to take care of themselves and their families. This country was founded by people that took care of themselves and even talked to and helped their neighbors. Somewhere along the way we lost that. We need it back now more than ever.

From the article:

"I don't want to be a slave to anybody," he said. "The more systems you're dependent on, the more likely things are going to go bad for you."

That's a philosophy shared by Vincent Springer, a newcomer to emergency preparedness from the Chicago area.

Springer, a high school social studies teacher, says he's most worried about energy shortages and an economic breakdown that could paralyze the just-in-time supply chain that grocery stores rely on."

Well done Gillian Flaccus, well done.

Lazy Day and Homestead Cheese

Boy do I wish some days that I was a barn cat. Just laze around, get petted and fed, catch birds and mice and at the end of the day just fall asleep where ever looks good!

Happy Days-Self Sustained Living Style

It's been a busy few days for the son and I around the farm. We've been scraping the bottom of the hay loft for a couple days sweating out the first cut of hay. We just did 2 of our small patches to check the equipment out and make sure it's all in working order before getting into a big field. We got it all done and the boy cussed me a bit for baling them so heavy. Half way thru the job it got overcast and smelled like rain so I cranked it down a little bit. It didn't rain so I got the "told ya so" along with the dirty look. LOL

I took today off and drove up to visit some new friends and had a very nice time. Thanks Clovis and Sardog for inviting me. I'm so glad you liked the cheese, I got a bunch better at it, eh? LOL Practice makes perfect!

We seem to have dodged the rain so tomorrow will be bean planting day. I'll need to clean off the hay string that seemed to find it's way onto the tiller so I can roll the soil over for easier planting.
6 rows, 100' long will be the order of the day. That will give us enough red kidney beans to last a year. I'll probably get the melons put out as well. Tomatoes are also starting to take off after being about drown to death, I'll post pics when they flower out. I still haven't knocked all the grass out of the onion/garlic patch, I'm still miffed about it too, LOL.

I still haven't finished the chicken coop, actually haven't touched it in 2 weeks. Another half done project to add to the list. If my back doesn't peter out on me I think I'll dig a post hole or 2 for the enclosure. We need to worm a few animals and dehorn some calves too but I need to work it in somehow. The chicks are getting big enough to jump out of their cubby inside the coop and I don't want them to be lunch for the barn cats.

Oh! I almost forgot! We saw our first cougar! The dog was acting like the big scaredy cat he is, whining and such so I figured coyotes were too close. Went out and saw the big son of a gun with the night vision in the CRP about 200 yrds out munching a deer. Scary! I thought they were just urban legend/rumor. Guess not! Hope he doesn't run out of deer.

Just another day on the little bitty farm...