Kids Bug-Out Survival Bag

 When we asked the boys what they would like for Christmas this year, the first answer was for dad to put together a grown up survival/bug out bag for them. When they were little we started them off with some simple items, like a water bottle, change of clothes, compass and some small form of entertainment.

Senior was in all his glory shopping for these bags, looking for useful items that kids could use in the event we needed to bug out. 

First we found these bags from Mossy Oak, extremely roomy and can hold a lot of stuff:

 

The bags are so roomy inside that they can even carry their Hennessy Hammocks they got for their birthdays in 2015. 

Senior addressed three main areas when planning for these bags: First it was food, he got them a couple of bags of Mountain Houses, and a block of Emergency Food rations, these bricks are available anywhere and give you around 2400 calories..

Next came Warmth...before we added this to their bag Senior held several fire starting classes with them, and made sure he knew that they were well educated and versed in fire safety.  The orange can is "Murray's Super Light" hair dressing it is  very flammable,  Just rub a cotton ball around in it and put it in some tender. We also included some fire starters to spark a flame.  Fire is not only essential in keeping warm and cooking but it is essential to a persons morale.

Next and probably the most important item is water... He found this water bag squeeze filtration system. You put water in the blue bag and filter it out through the orange thing at the top.  A person can go three weeks without food, but the human body can only go three days without water...  A water filtration source should be the most important thing in anyone's bug out bag...

Shelter is also an important component, and we love the Hennessy Hammocks, first off they keep you off the cold wet ground. We gave them a Shemagh scarf to help camouflage them if we are out in the woods etc. And the boys think it is totally fun to wear them...lol

Some other useful items are a couple of pocket knifes, a multi tool and compass...got to know where you are going!

For this past Fathers Day we got Senior this folding saw...He loved it! And added one to the boys bags, it is great for cutting small branches and brush.

I know there are people out there probably scratching their heads as to why we  allow our kids to carry around knives and fire starting items..Well unlike yuppy kids, our kids are well versed in safety and carry with them the knowledge of using these items, they understand they are not a toy, and could one day save their lives. Our boys love to get outside and pretend to Bug-Out, they will set up their hammock tents and make a little campsite, it gives them responsibility and independence... They see their parents, prepping and carrying around this cool stuff and they want to as well. I guess it gives them a sense of importance.

So if you are searching for a gift idea for kids who are like ours, I recommend putting something together for them.
 Just keep the child's age in mind, some of the things we have for our kids, may not be age appropriate for yours.

Items that are not posted but just as important are A change of clothes, poncho,  flashlight, para-cord, toiletries and first aid items...

-JUGM

My fortress of solitude

 “In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are

 absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books 

through your skin, without even opening them.” 

-Mark Twain

What is it about a library? It makes me feel at peace. I could walk the aisles all day reading titles and flipping through pages, just trying to find something that interest me.  I take deep breaths and breath in the smell of history, fantasy stories, love novels, and biographies.
Whatever it is, it makes me happy going into ours.  I think I am one of the rare ones that browses the books, most people these days go there to browse the Internet.This was "Our Internet". 
I remember having to sit going through encyclopedias to do a research paper, and sitting for hours taking notes.

My mom was not a book worm like me, I get it from my dad. I remember I had to do a term paper in 10th grade, and mom drove me to the library, I guess she thought I would just check a book out on the subject and we could go...  After my browsing for an hour she started getting testy with me..I saw her sitting in a chair tapping her feet and mouthing " hurry up" to me.   I got a "C" on that paper...  Thanks Mom !  

I like our library here, there is a room called "The Carolinian Room" and inside is a large meeting table with 4 shelves of books, they are the known history of families who settled in the area. Some are a first edition print , others are the only print ( like with our family) and no one is allowed to check them out. But you can sit there all day, reading through them, taking notes etc.... 

I am thankful the boys have inherited my love of books, they like spending time in the kids section and read just about as much as I do. Summers are the best, some days we sit at the tables reading and trying to decides what is a good book and what is not...  I guess it is whatever peaks their interest for that day...  I think about something funny little ND once said to me after leaving the library he said "Mom, I feel so much smarter after being in there" . He is always full of humor...  

Senior bought us a really nice bookcase,.  I am inheriting some of dads books and buy so many on my own that I needed one. I never get tired of them. Books are an adventure, waiting for you to open them up and jump in to the story they tell..  They are like an old friend...they are always there for you offering wisdom to their reader.

-JUGM

Trains.....an inheritance

 My dad had several hobbies: woodcarving, fishing, models, and HO scale trains..   He was so in to his trains that he took my mom on a camping trip out to Colorado just so he could ride the Durango/Silverton train...  He loved the history of trains, and I think he secretly wished he had been a train engineer...

I remember as a little girl, his train boards and the creativity he would put in them, He had a Christmas themed board that he would have under the tree...It did not seem like Christmas until dad set his trains up.
 So, back in September we were at their house going through a few things and checking on the place. We went out to my dads old wood shed. There sitting on the floor was a large Rubbermaid container gently packed with his HO trains. Ones I had not seen in years, but remembered fondly from all those past Christmases, and all those times I would stand in his "man cave" watching him play with them.

We had been in the shed before the funeral in August and  they were not sitting out like we found them that day, so I was afraid my brother had left them there so he could take them on a future visit. After a call to my sister she said go ahead and take them...as far as she was concerned dad gave them to the boys before he passed away.
So we did....This past week, we went to a hobby store and honestly I had no clue where to start, the last I knew you had to buy special track and adhere it all to a piece of plywood....boy have things changed! We met an elderly man there who gave us some insight, and introduced us to "EZ Track"  it all snaps together and you don't need the ole plywood... It is all NW needed....we put together a little oval track and the kid is hooked, and He has been playing with them ever since, He has taught himself how to take them apart and do some  repair work and has gotten 2 or 3 of the old engines running again, I think its been at least 5 years since dad had done anything with his trains, so some of them are kind of rusty...

This was dads "Santa Fe" steamer...I remember him putting a little fluid in the smoke stack so it could blow steam out....

   This Amtrak was one of dads favorites....I remember he would hook up all the passenger cars and they all lit up....

It did me good to see something my dad loved so much brought back to life, I immediatly called my sister and she got quite overjoyed about it.  I know Dad was here when we first got them running and he is up there smiling and happy that his grandsons have his precious trains, and learning more about the hobby

-JUGM

A home made bow, and Fathers Day etc......

Back during the fall I got these books for the boys, I think I did a blog post about them, but for some reason I can't find it. But that is irrelevant.

Our two reads them all the time, and have learned lots of useful information, so if you are the parent of boys I suggest you get them a copy

NW being the brilliant child he is, decided to follow the guidelines in the big red book and make a bow.While it is not very big, It is pretty useful and launched the little arrow he fashioned over 30 feet. I am proud of both of my boys for thinking of things that would be useful in a survival situation.

Fathers day was this past Sunday, and we got Senior a new T-Shirt. All of our Navy Friends love it...

My cousin in another part of the state is getting married tomorrow ( again). We were invited but because we have been back and forth to FLA so much, opted out and not attending. I bought a frame, and put together a single page scrapbook layout for her. 

I racked my brain trying to think of what wording I wanted to use. ND being the outspoken child he is, chimed in and said " Well given her track record I wouldn't put anything that says ever after, or together forever...you don't want to jinx her".

So I went with "live, laugh, love"......    For literally being thrown together in about 6 hours, I don't think it came out too bad:   

front porch....

If the world had a front porch like we did back then
We'd still have our problems but we'd all be friends
Treatin' your neighbor like he's your next of kin
Wouldn't be gone with the wind
If the world had a front porch like we did back then

-Tracy Lawrence

Okay, its safe to say that I am not a big fan of country music, but I always liked Tracy Lawrence, and I always liked this song. "If the world had a front porch" I guess because some of my most memorable times growing up was summers over in Easley, SC with my grandparents. I am sure most of you can concur that life revolved around the front porch.  

Supper would be finished, dishes washed and put away, it was time to retire to the  porch.  No kidding-every neighbor seemed to drop by and we kids played in the front yard chasing lightening bugs or eating a cold piece of watermelon. There was no TV, the comings and goings of the ole mill hill were our nightly entertainment.
Friends would catch us up on all the local gossip, and My Grandmother ( God rest her soul) would sit in her porch swing with her two pekingese puppies next to her. She was a great debater, and would keep you up past midnight arguing the issues. She went to her grave believing that man never walked on the moon and it was all one big puppet show.  In one evening we would have all the worlds problems solved and then enjoy a dish of ice cream..

My Grandfather would sit in a rocker that was once my great grandmothers, and laugh at my Grandmother, and all her theories on things. He would get us kids together and scare the crap out of us telling stories of local "haints" as he called them. He taught us the way of the hill people, and all the superstitions.

So, when we got the house done, with our lovely porch...Senior surprised me one day with rockers. It was so reminiscent of those simpler times when I was a kid, much like back then we turn the TV off, and retire to the porch, take a breath and enjoy life.....

-JUGM

a quiet sunday

What is it about the solitude of country living? No hussle and bussle of the big cities, or crowded apartments and subdivisions. No hearing everything your neighbors talk about or having cars parked along the street and blocking your driveway...No I don't miss that at all.
 Another benefit is shooting whenever you want to, we have been working on our little range, made some additions and improvements and its all coming along nicely...I am thankful that we no longer have to find a public range to shoot at and can come and go as much as we want on ours...
 This being the last day of our spring break the boys were up early, with BB guns in hand, wanting to get some target practice in. As long as they don't put an eye out they can shoot BBs whenever they like. But, when it comes to their .22s or something of mom and dads...we need to be there with them.
 I made a cup of coffee and sat on the porch watching, and thinking about how carefree they are. Wishing desperately that they did not know of some of the things that are corrupting our world, or the meaning of words that I would have never thought of as a child.

I look at them being so free and smile, but inside I am sad that soon Senior and I will have to turn them loose in this big old world, and I hope we are preparing them well for that day.( sniff sniff..mom gets weepy eyed)

Another good thing about country living and having property?...is getting to have a monster garden. Ours is 99% planted. Only thing left is the okra for Senior and boys. ( ick...i know!...lol )
Jack was being naughty in the house, and so we collectively decided to let him have the great outdoors where I think he is much happier. Today he was helping us out in the garden . He likes coming down there to purr and nuzzle us with his nose. When we pull the hose out, he cracks us up trying to attack it thinking its a big black snake.
Having an out door cat has been an adventure, we look forward to his daily presents he leaves on the porch. Mostly its moles. But Friday he managed a bird. And No, we were not happy because it was a robin.

The day is growing short,  I have noticed several of my favorite bloggers have done posts, so I am off of mine to go check theirs out and say a quick hello. Then its on to answer the demands of the household....you know that dinner thing!  lol

-JUGM

starting a natural fence

every time I go down to visit my parents, my dad sends me home with small cypress trees. I made the mistake of telling him once that Senior and I wanted to work on a natural fence along part of our property line. So ever since, he calls to tell me he has some trees for us..
I can't say no to him..I mean he's my dad. But, every time a new little tree pops up in his yard, he is quick to dig it up, pot it and send it home with me when we visit.

So, yesterday we finally got around to planting these three. The ground was really hard, and of course rocky. I was happy to turn the shovels over to the boys and just supervise.

 But we got them in the ground, of course we have no clue what type of cypress trees they are..

This one is a complete mystery..but we took it anyways and I smiled and thanked my dad for it.

It was with this one, that while we were taking it out of the pot, I talked about its roots and how happy it would be to be in the ground where it could stretch them out. NW the oldest, said it was kind of like us...getting the house built, starting our life up here..and putting our roots down on the estate, and now it was time to watch the little tree grow, just like we had.

I told him that was a good analogy, and Thanked God for giving Senior and I wise and intelligent kids..

-JUGM

rainy saturday and garden sale

All you had to do was tell me there was a plant sale, and I would be there. I love planting and watching things grow. So, I was up bright and early on this rainy Saturday morning. The boys asked last night to come as well, but only ND made it out of bed... 
I made us a quick breakfast, and with coffee and chocolate milk in hand we both headed out

It is an annual plant sale the first Saturday in April that is put on by the local high schools and "Future Farmers Club+. I really want to give it up to these kids, and all the hard work they do. I don't think I have ever been around a group of teenagers as polite as these were.  When so many are disengaged, sit on the video games or getting in to trouble, it was nice to see some doing a worth while thing and learning to be self sufficient. Their knowledge on gardening, what to plant and when to plant just amazed me. It was like picking the brain of the "Farmers Almanac" . Indeed I was truly impressed.

Then there were the girls,  and being all flirty and smiling at my little ND that he turned red.. LoL
  I was proud of him because he brought some of his own money and bought cantaloupe plants and Jalapenos..  Don't ask me why the peppers, but he did. I guess it was something to buy and he could plant. I think he has inherited moms love of gardening.

 This was my haul: Squash, pickle bush cucumbers, beef steak tomatoes, red and yellow peppers for Senior and the two things ND bought. The prices were so cheap that it was impossible not to go overboard, I think I paid no more then $10.00 for my load.

The rain here is now stopping,and the sun is starting to peek out,  but there is no way to get down in the garden, it is so muddy after the two days we have had that it will be either tomorrow or Monday before I can get this stuff in the ground without sinking down 2 feet and getting stuck.

Hope you all have a blessed Saturday...

-JUGM

things round here #6

 With the fact that spring has sprung, I have been trying to work on the chicken hatching thing..  I pick up a broody hen, throw her in for some loving with the rooster, then a couple of days later put her in the maternity ward,  so she can lay her eggs, and nothing...  The entire science of it all baffles me that I am not considering either  buying chicks, or getting the eggs once they lay them and incubating them. ..   Will keep you all posted..  : )

Planting season has also begun, Senior has been non stop getting the garden  plowed and the rows neat and spaced decently. I picked up a pound of Silver king corn seed last week, and over the weekend we got it in the ground..

 

We wore out the hired help, and much to their happiness we are finally investing in a seeder plow...

But, 15 rows later...so pretty!!!    I still have a quarter of the bag left, and I suppose Senior will do some more rows this weekend..

 I have the best niece ever, she does metal stamping and charms and made me this necklace for the boys baseball. I love it!!!

We just celebrated Easter, and for you all I hope it was truly blessed.  It was our first year coloring fresh eggs straight from the chickens, and I got to tell you the natural colors from the hens, made for some vibrant colors.... They also made for some great deviled eggs, that were so good the boys cleaned them out....

-JUGM

kids and issues

Ya know, this world would be a better place if the kids could run it. Our nine year old ND had to write this little report on if he ran the world for a day, what would he do..  His first thing was to fire Obama. the second thing was to end common core, and the third was to return school lunch menus to their rightful place.
While all the other kids had wishful thoughts of toys, and video games, ND came out with a grown up political statement in which his teacher gave him an A.


I love to debate the issues with the both of our boys and hear their views on the world and the candidates. They know about the Hillary email issue, and  both firmly believe that if they pulled a stunt like that, they would and this is a quote: "lose their xbox for a year"   So why should she get off?

The other issue I was told is that "Gun Free Zones" should cease to exist. It was asked of me that Don't all these people know that the mass shootings happen in places that are gun free? You don't hear of these mass killings at gun shows or gun ranges do you? Noooooo you don't...always in a gun free zone!!, then if you want to stop it, get rid of gun free zones....


Another thing was to build our military back up, and add more ships, I mean we are the country that was turning ships out like tic tacs during WW11, so why can't we now?. We have an enemy out there that wants us destroyed and despite what we are told:  its not climate change....."DUH"

And the Space program!  What the heck is that about? All kids dream about being an astronaut and with one stroke of a pen and a speech that dream was crushed. .

Lastly, (and I said this to Matt in my previous blog post)...both boys would LOVE to stand before Jeb Bush during a debate and have him work an elementary school common core math problem.. and not some 1st or 2nd grade level problem...no, he needs to attempt a 5th grade problem.


 You don't think they listen to mom and dad too much do you?

 -JUGM

sorry for my lack of posts.....

I know its been a while since my last post. I assure you all that we are fine and all is well. NW has been playing winter basketball, and it has taken up much of our time, more then I would have liked. Then there are the daily chores of the estate, never seems to stop. Well before I knew it a few weeks had passed since I had been on here. So, after blog surfing and seeing what everyone has been up to, I decided to sit down and write a bit myself.

I am sure most of you are in the path or have been of this storm, the first sign we got that it was going to be bad came last night when the school district cancelled classes for today. I broke the  news and was met with many hoots and hollers. 

 Overnight it started....

 First came the freezing rain, then sleet and finally a bit of snow. Not a lot but enough to cover the ground and for the boys to have a few snowball fights

.Senior going to work today was questionable, and I made the decision for him, after watching the early morning news and weather..for us the storm involved ice and lots of it, I made the decision for him, his drive to work is more then an hour, and I didn't want him out there on these icy back roads. I am glad he agreed, because as promised, the ice added up and yes there have been many wrecks. 

I went to tend to the chickens, these are some of my new ones, and had no clue what snow was, I don't think they liked it too much as they stayed in the coop all day. I have noticed that our rooster "Black Jack" is not doing his traditional crow, he has started making more of a cackling noise. Not sure if this is because of the much colder weather we have had all week, or if he is just mimicking the hens...I have not had a roo do this before.

I have been hanging out at our public library more often, when I saw the trailer for this movie, I did not realize it was a true story until I saw Ron Howard being interviewed about it, so out of curiosity I  checked it out. and I got to tell ya, its one heck of a survival story. 

I truly believe everyone should read it, to learn the things "not to do" in a survival situation. I an about half way through it, and will sit at night and read parts of it to Senior, and tell him the things they did and shouldn't have done. Pretty amazing, I can't wait to get back in to it tonight. 

So the big parts of the storm have moved north...here we are having some small snow showers, but tomorrow promises to be brighter...might even see the sun..  

Hope you all have a good night, if you are in the path of this blizzard...stay off the roads, and stay safe..

-JUGM

things round here #3

Have been on the quiet side. The new house is moving along well and we hope to be in it by Christmas.
The leaves are in full turning mode, and I must say that I can not get enough of them. So, Senior and I decided to load up the kids and take a day trip to the mountains. His stepdad is buried up there, and as we did some of his moms ashes over his grave, it was only fitting we paid our respects.

 

Down here in the lower elevations, the leaves have gone into full changing mode as well.   The colors are brilliant and makes me happy with our decision to move up here, I love having all four seasons,and being surrounded by the brilliant colors.

 



 

This is NDs  other pumpkin he was growing, it grew flat, So, since he was entering the schools "Book Character Pumpkin  contest" he chose it to be his "Headless Horseman" From the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He said the thing look distorted an extra level of  creepiness.

 

And after his paint job:

NW deicded the day before all pumpkins were due that he too wanted to have an entry-I went out and bought a small one and he chose "Frankenstein" :

 

 

In other news, our oldest NW went on his first camping/fieldtrip without us. The entire 5th grade goes every year. I have began making cuts in those apron strings. but I can't help but feel that a part of me is missing. Senior and the boys are my heart, and right now a part of my heart is not here. Senior and I miss him terribly. And even though he won't admit it, I know ND misses his older brother too.

He loaded up a large backpack Tuesday night so much to the point we all thought he would fall over backwards..lol  It was funny watching him hump that sack. The kids boarded a bus and left yesterday morning and will be home tomorrow afternoon. I know he will be excited and full of stories of the trip. I can't wait to have him back and hear all about his adventure.

-JUGM

Things round here ( take 2)

( blogger was wonky earlier and I have no idea what happened with the first post about this so this is another shot at it)

Things are here have been busy. The construction of the new house is moving along nicely. We are growing accustomed to the coming and going of subcontractors. This week it has been the masons who are doing the brick work around the base. Senior and I thought they would run out of the red brick  so, this morning I slowly approached and politely asked if they would be getting another delivery. I was looked upon as if I had three heads, unbeknownst to me  none of the workers spoke a lick of English...  They just kind of smiled like they understand and nodded their heads as if agreeing with me.

ND has been giving me fits these past few days. He is expanding his vocabulary and the word for this week is "Apparently"  everything begins with : "Apparently Mom"...   Yesterday  he put the word to use while ratting out his older brother  it was " Apparently Mother your older son is to blame"   I rolled my eyes and silently giggle...  Kids! you just gotta love the things they say...

The fall garden is in full swing and we have been blessed with an abundance....This is NDs gigantic pumpkin, it has grown quite a bit since the last post about it. But it still has a ways to go before Halloween.

These are the two vines that the boys planted:

The fall green beans are being more prosperous then the spring and summer ones, so we have decided in the future to only do a fall planting of them.

We get half of a 5 gallon bucket every 2-3 days. Thus it  has become the ritual after our evening  baths to sit at the kitchen table, and snap them. We have 3-4 gallon bags frozen and plan to start canning some this weekend.

I was told "Apparently Mother, ( lol)  I have picked and snapped so many green beans, they are growing out of my nose" 

 OMG! 

I had to take a pic

We got the collards in earlier this year, thus they are exploding:

We are being blessed with cooler weather, the lows are down in the 50-60's highs in the 70s. Hopefully those stiffing hot and humid days are gone until next summer.  And rain is back in our forecast, which is much needed for our region. Everyone is hoping it will start to cut into the drought we have been under since April.

It is the first day of fall and the only positive thing about being so dry and hot this past summer is the fall leaves are expected to be very brilliant... they are currently turning a bright yellow, with some reds and oranges splashed here and there.

-JUGM

Another Birthday and Friday Stuff....

I looked and saw it was almost a month ago since my past post.  I have no idea where the time goes, but we are all still here and doing fine. Senior and I have been busy with stuff around the estate, boys out of school, and have had other stuff to deal with and hope with all our hearts for an answer to our prayers.

ND turned 9 today. Can't believe my baby is getting so big. And since he is getting big, he wanted big boy presents...and just like his big brother he as well wanted his own Hennessy Hammock.  After the presents, Senior took both boys outside, and taught ND how to set his up. The three of them gave a new meaning to the term "Tent City" Seniors is the brown one in the middle. I guess that leaves me who needs to get one now....

And in some other news, all the corn has been cleared out of the garden, its been plowed and planted with our fall garden crops. We have one row of Mustard greens, green beans, and collards coming up. ND wanted a pumpkin patch, so he threw in some seeds down in the lower part, not sure how big they will get since we did it kind of late though.. 

In other news, My brother married that person he has been living with..uggggg, and I or anyone else in my family have not spoken to him since his hate filled emails a few weeks ago.

Watched the Fox debate last night, and the two who impressed me were Cruz and Kasich. However, I do like that Trump is not a politician but I need to research where he stands on the issues other then immigration yet and I would like to know what he thinks of  "Common Core", so my jury is still out on him...

I hope you are all doing well, I am making my way around the blogisphere to read and get updated on you all.

-JUGM

our lil man turned 10

 

 

our oldest NW turned the big 10 today....where on earth has the time gone?  If you have babies, or little toddlers, then please enjoy this time with them. My sister told me once, to wait until they start school, then the time will zoom right by you before you know it. She was right.

 

When we asked what he wanted for his birthday his answer was simple, he said he would like his own Hennessy Hammock tent, a big boy watch (" because ya know mom I am not a little kid anymore and really getting out of toys" ). he also asked for "Lego Marvels" for Xbox. 

 

Well he got all three...  here he is proudly displaying his Scout version hammock, and his new explorer edition watch, it even glows..lol 

 

 

After eating the triple chocolate cake I made for him, NW, ND and Senior had to set up the new tent so the birthday boy could try it out:

If you have kids, then we reccommend the Scout version, it is perfect for them.

corn pickin time

The corn is ready...  We are literally up to our ears in it!  the first 75-100 ears we boiled for 7-8 minutes then soaked in ice water before sealing them with the foodsaver. the bad ones we gave to the chickens.

 

Next couple of batches, I think we will can. Either way, this family is going to be eating a lot of corn throughout the winter months...  lol   

 

 

 

And in other news, the major heat wave we had over the past few weeks broke down, and the rains have returned. Yesterday was a nice cooling downpour:

our family is celebrating our little man NW turing 10 today. I remember when I had him my sister told me to enjoy those moments, because once they start school the years start flying by, and sad to say she was right. I have no idea where the time went....(sniff, sniff)