Summer Survival - Hairy Mygalomorphs

Pictured above is just one of the many hairy mygalamorphs I have living in my yard. These large hairy creatures are actually quite harmless to humans. They bite only when you mishandle them and the effect of the bite is similar to that of a bee sting. Tarantulas, as they are more commonly referred to, are not true spiders. Tarantulas belong to the family Mygalomorphae and are often referred to as "Hairy Mygalomorphs”. True spiders belong to the family Araneomorphae.

Tarantulas, or hairy mygalomorphs as they should be called, are generally found in the United States in areas west of the Mississippi River and South of a line that runs through the middle of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah and Nevada and continuing on through Northern California.




They generally live in burrows in the ground lined with their silk and females of the species can live as long as 20 to 25 years. The males have a much shorter lifespan.
The picture above is one I found entering his burrow. This one must have been hungry! He was out and about pretty early.

I have a large contingent of hairy mygalomorphs that reside in an area of my yard with approximately 30 to 35 active burrows. They are generally nocturnal and I have seen as many as fifteen or twenty roaming around in the yard at night looking for insects to pounce on (they actually pounce instead of jump) when they are searching for food. I can sometimes coax them out of their burrows during the early evening hours but they have a tendency to get a little irritated when I do this. They are generally quite playful little creatures and many people keep them as pets.

In many places they are endangered due to the fact that hairy mygalomorphs are considered a delicacy. They have a peanut butter type flavor when roasted. Yummy for your tummy!
Just kidding!

They actual have a better value as a predator that helps control the insect population and generally don’t cause any harm if left alone. The ones that have set up home in my yard have been around for over twenty years and have never caused me a problem. I just take a flashlight with me at night so I don't acidentally step on one of them. I’ve included pics of some of the burrows in my yard. Many are only a few feet apart from each other and active burrows usually have silk-lined entryways or silk-covered entrances.

You can check out some quick facts about hairy mygalomorphs here:


http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/spiders/facts-tarantula.htm


Got hairy mygalomorphs? Practice your bushcraft skills and see if you can find where they are living in your yard!

Hairy mygalomorphs...gotta love 'em!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Home Food Dehydrating Tips and Tricks

Hi everyone! Dean in Arizona here! I'd like to thank RW for letting me ramble on yet again about my favorite toy, the food dehydrator!

Special Note: I am by no means an expert at this, but I've played with it almost every day for 6 months or so, and messed up a little bit. Ok, quite a bit! So, let me share my mistakes and victories with everyone.

1.) FRUIT

I have a small orchard in my yard, maybe 1 of everything you could want. Orange, lemon, grapefruit all do great in Arizona, I can't eat them fast enough. I tried to dehydrate some tangerines a while back. My book was a bit vague on them, so I just segmented them and tossed them in.

Hmmm…they ended up looking like a skin shedded by a snake! Just a paper shell! I ground them in the blender; mixed in water…it was tolerable, but not even close to being Tang!

2.) VEGGIES

MOST veggies need to be blanched or steamed before drying, to save color and texture. Mushrooms, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, squash, and peppers can just be sliced and tossed in. Remember, these will all shrink to at least 1/3 the cut size, so if you want them for soup or stew, cut them a bit on the bigger side. My book says to cut potatoes 1/8 thick, they end up looking like a potato chip. Good for scallop taters, or to make mashed potatoes.

3.) MEAT
.
Decide if you’re making jerky, or saving it for stew meat. Jerky needs to be raw meat, marinated in your favorite stuff. I like soy sauce, Tabasco, lemon juice, salt and pepper for at least 24 hours. If you want to save it for stew or soup, you need to cook it to medium rare or medium, to preserve the tenderness. Just toss a cheap round steak, flank or skirt steak in the oven, cook to medium, let cool and slice into 1/2 inch cubes. Pre-cooked meat won't shrink much, so keep it to the size you want. Remember to use LEAN meat, as a lot of fat will cause it to go bad quicker.

4.) FISH

I haven’t had any luck with fish yet. There was a sale this week on flounder, one of the few fish I like. I cubed up a pound of it, tossed it in...And it came out gross! It was as greasy as bacon. I'll try again after a pre-cook.

Hope you all appreciate these tips, it's a lot cheaper to do it at home than to buy the pre-packaged stuff, you can preserve what you like to eat and save weight. It takes a little time but saves some cash. Saving money. This is something I like!

Thanks again RW!

Dean in Arizona

Preserving Parsley

Preserving Parsley

Just thought everyone might be interested in a pic of how fresh parsley looks when kept properly in the refrigerator. It stays fresh for a long time and Mrs. RW has a preference for fresh parsley when cooking up some of her special meals.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Signs of Heat Problems in Pets

Pets also suffer when the temperature rises in the summertime. They require extra care when the temperatures get extremely high and extra steps should be taken to insure their safety and well being. Yours pets are dependent upon you to provide additional “cooling” measures to insure their survival.

Always make sure your pets have plenty of “cool” water to drink. Make sure to keep their water in a shady place with easy access. Proper air circulation is also a must. Have an open area with lots of shade for them to find a place out of direct sunlight. If possible, a fan of some sort to help increase the air circulation will also help. Do not leave your pets in confined areas that can heat up rapidly during the summer heat. Cooling baths or showers will also help your pets to stay cool during the heat.

Caution: Never leave your pets inside a vehicle during the heat of summer. Summer temperatures can quickly reach extreme levels inside vehicles and needlessly endanger the life of your pet.


Signs of Heat Problems in Pets

1.) Excessive drooling or very rapid panting.

2.) Hot or excessively warm skin.

3.) Muscle spasms and twitching.

4.) Stunned or dazed look.

5.) Unresponsive or listless behavior.

If you think your pet, whether it’s a dog, cat, rabbit, etc, is showing signs of heat related stress or illness, you should seek help from a qualified veterinarian immediately.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Summer Survival – Avoiding Scorpions

While scorpions don’t actually bite, they sometimes sting causing moderate pain and a burning sensation. Scorpions are actually arachnids and are closely related to spiders. There are several different kinds of scorpions but only centruroides have a potentially lethal sting.

There are approximately 30 species of scorpions that are native to different parts of the United States. While there are several different species, there is only one scorpion in the United States that has a sting which is capable of causing a possible reaction that may have deadly consequences. This is the Arizona bark scorpion. It is the only scorpion that is capable of causing a sometimes lethal reaction in people when they are stung.

There are some simple tips you can follow to avoid scorpions and thereby avoid their stings. These include using caution when camping or if you are involved in outdoor work or activities to make sure that a scorpion has not made a home or sought shelter in your clothes, shoes, sleeping bags or tents. Don’t walk around barefoot at night when scorpions are the most active. It is also important to remember that most scorpions are also relatively immune to the more common forms of pesticides and pose the greatest risk to very young children, older persons and pets.

Simple Tips to Avoid Scorpions

1.) Seal and caulk door openings, screen openings and window cracks to prevent scorpions from entering your home.

2.) Regularly clean in places where scorpions may be hiding. Corners, attic spaces, and areas that aren’t cleaned on a normal basis can all be potential places for scorpions to hide.

3.) Scorpions normally prey on crickets, spiders, and other insects and by using common pesticides you may be able to eliminate their food source. This may discourage them from making a home in your house.

4.) Minimize the possible places outdoors where scorpions can hide. These include areas such as piles of rocks, dead wood or trash.

5.) Don’t walk around the house at night in your bare feet.

There is also a very informative article with more details available here:

http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1678.html

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Johnny Appleseed Bugs Out

Hi everyone! Dean in Arizona here! Now is a great time for fresh fruit and veggies, whether home grown or store bought. Cheap and plentiful, hopefully, at least for this season. Any excess can be canned, frozen or dehydrated (I bet you knew I'd slip that in!)

So what about the leftovers, such as the peels and skins? Easy, use them for compost! Just remember not to compost the seeds or you'll have them growing wild all over, which isn't a bad thing if you can identify them as they sprout.

Now if you keep the seeds out, what to do with them? Save them! Set them in the sun to dry out, then into a jar or plastic container in the freezer. Seeds like tomatoes and peppers need to freeze to crack the tough outer shell on them before they will sprout.

If your garden did well, your handful of seeds turned into a few dozen cantaloupes, bushels of tomatoes, and so on, so you'll have tons of seeds. Probably more than you'll need for the next year, easily.

What to do with them all...Well, if you’re lucky enough you have some junk land where you can plant them. Don't be too picky about making it into a farm, just plant them randomly here and there, let nature take over. If weeds or grass grow there, chances are anything will. Sure, conditions may not let them fruit too much, but at least you'll have something waiting for you later.

If you don't have junk land, find some! I've found a spot way in the middle of a national forest, way away from anything where we go target shooting. Every time I get up there, I scatter some seeds around the area as we hike into the area. Hopefully, when the time to bug out come', I'll have a garden started and waiting for me. Even if the critters decide they like them, they'll be waiting too!

On my next trip up there, I'll have a bunch of bell pepper, squash, cantaloupe and even a bunch of peach pits to try out and check on last year's plants and see if they made it.

You don't even need to buy the heirloom seeds, as most of my garden is from grocery store food. Remember that fuzzy thing you found in the drawer of the fridge? Plant it!

Hope this gives you all some ideas! Thanks again RW!

Dean in Arizona

Heat Wave Survival

While the forces of nature generally take a backseat to the death and injuries caused by the ravages of war and the man-made hazards of automobiles, heat waves can sometimes rival the effects of many other natural hazards combined. Being able to survive the extreme temperatures of a heat wave can be a daunting task for people everywhere. Heat waves can strike any area of the country with devastating results that cause a huge loss of life. This includes places where cooler temperatures usually prevail and extremely high temperatures normally don’t happen very frequently. A properly working air conditioner can be a great way to “beat the heat” but if there is a rolling blackout due to strains on the public utility system there may be little or no power available. Plus many individuals do not have air conditioning systems, as they aren’t normally needed in most circumstances by a large number of people. There are some simple steps you can take to lessen the risks posed by a heat wave.

1.) Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Maintain adequate levels of hydration by drinking plenty of the proper types of fluids.

You need to drink more water than normal when it's hot. Thirst is one of the first signs of becoming dehydrated. You should drink adequate amounts of the proper fluids before you become thirsty in order to prevent dehydration. It may even be necessary to replace electrolytes lost by the body if you are sweating profusely.

2.) Eliminate additional sources of heat in your home.

Lights and appliances (such as dryers, stoves, and ovens) can create additional heat in your home that you don’t need. Use them only at night when temperatures are cooler to help avoid generating extra heat in your home.

3.) Avoid excess metabolic heat that is created by your body by eating light meals that require little or no preparation.

Eat fresh foods that do not require you to use the oven or stove in order to prepare your meals. Avoid high protein content meals that will raise metabolic levels and increase the body’s own heat levels. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages that can cause further dehydration.

4.) Make extensive use of fans to circulate the air in your home to reduce heat stress and lower your electrical consumption which may help to prevent a power blackout.

Attic fans, box fans, and even hand-held portable fans can all be used to effectively radiate heat away from your body and the inside of your home. At night when the temperatures are generally cooler, opening windows can be used along with fans to help cool your environment. Curtains, blinds and reflective coatings on windows can also be used to keep the temperatures cooler inside your home.

5.) Use the cooling effects of water to help keep your body from being stressed by the heat.

A wet towel on your head or a wet bandanna around your neck will create a “cooling” effect on your body. You could even take a cold shower!

6.) Stay indoors or find a shady spot outdoors, if at all possible, and avoid direct exposure to the sun’s heat.

Sometimes beating the heat is a simple matter of avoiding excess exposure to direct sunlight by finding a shady spot under a tree or staying inside until the evening hours when temperatures are generally cooler.

7.) If you do have to be outdoors, take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of fluids.

You may need to get out of the sun a while simply to give your body a chance to cool down naturally by itself using its own built-in cooling mechanisms.

8.) Wear loose fitting and light-colored clothing to help keep your body cool.

Your body needs to be able to radiate heat away from itself and tight or restrictive clothing may hamper this process. Dark colored clothing will also absorb additional heat.

9.) Be aware of special needs that require additional precautions to keep everyone safe.

Always notify your utility company if there is someone on a life support system that requires power. Heat waves may cause frequent rolling blackouts. If there is a planned loss of power to your area you can then take steps to provide emergency generator power or move them to a hospital if necessary until the heat wave is no longer a threat.

10.) Learn basic first aid and be able to recognize heat-related illnesses.

You will also need to be able to recognize the different symptoms of heat-related illnesses which create a real emergency situation during a heat wave that are caused by heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke and be prepared to call emergency services (911) in the event of a heat-related emergency. Work to help cool the person suffering from a heat-related illness until help can arrive.

You can check out the devastating effects of some of the more severe heat waves in the U.S. here:


http://www.livescience.com/environment/disaster_chronology_1980_2004.html



Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

The Mini-Smoker

Starting to work on a new project. A friend asked me to help him make a mini-smoker barrel. It seems that a smaller smoker barrel would work better for one person or those living in small apartments where space is a critical issue. I'll post results on the process as it comes along. Hopefully, I can make a small but efficient smoker that will work just as good as the bigger smoker barrels but require less space and perhaps be as inexpensive to make as the larger version.

The small barrel is a little smaller than an average trash can but should be sufficient to smoke a small brisket, a rack of ribs or a whole chicken. This smaller version should even fit into the trunk of a car. I plan to make one for myself to use on fishing trips to cook a meal while I'm catching all the big ones everyone else let get away!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Pocket First Aid Kits

While the commercially available pocket first aid kits are great little items to have in an emergency or crisis, they can be enhanced by the addtion of a few simple items that will turn them into mini-survival kits. There is a lot of extra room in the small commercial pocket first aid kits that can be utlized to your benefit. The major trick in doing so is to think FLAT!

A great many items can be added that don't require much additional space if you try to use items that are small and flat. A utility blade, a small mirror, a disposable thermometer, a small solitaire maglite or led light, a safety pin, a mini-sewing kit, a pair of tweezers, a nail clipper, a small multi-tool or a Bic mini-lighter are just a few of the simple items that can be used to enhance a pocket first aid kit. Place the additional items in the bottom of the box and add the original contents on top and you are good to go! Toss in a package of individually wrapped ibuprofen and tylenol to give it a little extra first aid value. It's hard to believe that all these extra items will fit in that little box.

The majority of the little extras are things you have around the house already and the low cost of the initial pocket first aid kit (usually less than a dollar) make it very cheap and easy to assemble a great little first aid kit that can be carried in your pocket, purse or glove box of your vehicle.

Got pocket first aid?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Confessions of a Packrat

Got nuts and bolts?

Let's all take a moment to thank RW for letting me babble on yet again. I promise, no dehydrating this time!

I'm a man; I'll never recover from it. I can, or should be able, to do anything, right? I believe that it's a inherited thing, that man was evolved from hunter/gatherer type. It's normal for us to accumulate junk, much as squirrels gather nuts for the winter. That coffee can full of nuts, bolts, screws and nails is normal, right?

When you go into your garage or shed, how many things do you trip over? That includes a lawnmower that has a bad attitude and that broken rake or shovel? I think I have 1 of each, that I intend to buy a new handle for, but a new one is cheaper, so...But with a little work, it'll be like new someday, right?

We men always have the best of intentions. A handle for the shovel is cheaper than a new shovel, right? We try to do the same as a woman does, "It was on sale". Sure, if she looks good in it, we don't complain! When we come home from the hardware store with 50 bucks of stuff, when we went for a .25 cent screw… we're in the dog house!

How many items are you tripping over in your garage? How many "roundtuit" jobs are waiting for you?

I was in the shop today. I have leftover conduit from when I wired it 5 years ago…a few 3 or 4 foot pieces...I kept them, "just in case". Got a few broken bandsaw blades that "I'll weld back together when I'm bored". A transmission jack I bought for my race truck, now long gone. An engine rebuild kit for the same truck and an air filter for a 406 Ford 6 pack intake…

There is no way I could do a semi-organized bug out like this .I'm in the middle of a small makeover of the house, so all my tools are scattered all over and then tripping over these "someday" jobs? I could not tell you where my camp coffee pot is right now, somewhere in the attic, I know that much.

I know it's a bit late for spring cleaning but it needs to be done on a regular basis. Guys, grab something broken in the garage, think for 5 seconds......what can I do with this, what will it cost to replace it later…If you can't come up with a REAL answer, it's trash! "I have a perfect 1968 318 Mopar 2 barrel intake manifold and I should trash it? YES! Get rid of the trash and garbage, make room for GOOD stuff!

Just make sure you don't toss out her stuff!

Special Note: I seem to have a similar disorder and think it might be genetic. RW

Dean in Arizona

Shotguns at Dark Thirty - Improvised Shotgun Light

While tactical gear for your shotgun is great to have, it can wreck your budget if you are not careful. When considering how much practical use you will get from it versus the cost ($$$), it sometimes leaves you looking for a simpler and more cost effective solution. Here is my $20 solution for an improvised light for my Mossberg shotgun.

Using a set of Weaver Open Sight Scope Mounting Rings (Part # 49713 / cost $13) that mount directly to the receiver of my shotgun (the mounting rings aligned perfectly with the existing receiver mounting holes) and a 9 LED push button flashlight (cost $7) with a 1 inch barrel, I made an improvised light for my shotgun. The open sight mounts were originally intended for my wife's Marlin 30/30. They would allow me to mount a scope and still be able to use the iron sights. I will now need to purchase another set of open sight scope mounting rings for the wife's rifle.

The light when mounted is easy to turn on and off with your thumb and is easily accessed from the safety. Flip the safety off and flip the light on. Simple but effective. The light has an effective range of approximately 9 meters which is more than sufficient for most home defense scenarios but I'm sure there are probably stronger lights out there with a 1 inch barrel that will fit the open sight mounting rings. The open sight mounting rings also allow an unobstructed view of the sights and the light actually enhances the hi-viz bead sight already on my shotgun. Making it easier to put the bead sight directly on the target.

This is a fairly low cost solution that makes carrying a flashlight and a loaded shotgun at the same time no longer necessary. Having both hands free makes your shotgun a lot easier to handle effectively. If the light should fail due to some reason or other, it is simple enough to change out and cheap enough to make it affordable. The need for a light on my shotgun enabling it's effective and safe use at night may never materialize but it is clearly better to have the option of identifying any intended target and avoiding any mistakes that could have severe consequences.

When the means and opportunity presents itself, I will probably seek a better and more professional light set-up for my shotgun but this will work for the time being until a more permanent solution is available.

You can read the original post here: Shotguns at Dark Thirty

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Choosing a Dehydrator

Hi everyone! I'd like to thank RW for inviting me to do a post about one of my favorite things. Dehydrators! (Yes, he asked me to talk about them again!) For full disclosure, I’m not an expert on them, but I've done a bit of research on mine, and what they can be used for, so I'll pass on the things I've seen and read.

If you’re in the market for a dehydrator, do your research as to the model you’re interested in getting. If you stumble upon one at a yard sale, you’re stuck with what you've got, but check on the web for accessories.

First, you need to decide what you want to dehydrate. Veggies, home made beef jerky, fruit rollups, whatever. Depending upon what you want to make, it takes different temperature settings, so make sure you find one with an adjustable temp.Mine adjusts from 95 to 145.The book says veggies need 130, fruit 135, and meats at 145 degrees.

Next you need to decide how big of a batch you want to make. Mine can do 1 pound of frozen veggies per tray, and I have 2 trays, about 14 inches diameter. One thing to watch for is the size of the gaps in the rack, as the food shrinks to at least half size or less! The more water, the more shrinkage. If the gaps are too big, things like peas will drop thru. Mine came with a fine plastic mesh screen to solve that.

Then you need to find a place to put it while it works away! Mine makes about as much noise as a fan on low, and I keep it in the kitchen running overnight with no problem. I usually keep it on top of the microwave, so it's out of the way. In the winter, I put it in the bedroom to help knock off the chill, why waste the heat!? Just don't try this with onions; your eyes will water real quickly!

So what do you need for your specific need? EVERYTHING! I have 2 trays, 1 mesh screen, a jelly tray, which is just a plastic liner for liquids. Even if you don't plan on doing eggs or fruit rollups, the jelly tray makes cleanup easier. And once you use it, you’ll be trying everything!

So what do you look for otherwise? How easy is it to unload? If you’re not careful, you’ll have peas bouncing all over the kitchen. How easy is it to clean? Mine has a 2 inch hole for the hot air to flow through, and Murphy's Law always gets a few peas or corn in it. It’s jammed the fan on me once, and I had to disassemble it to clean it. I’ll fix that soon (Ask me how!).

If you have a chance, see if the model you want has extra trays for it. On my particular model, you can stack them as high as you like.

The only other thing to consider is storage. I keep mine in a coffee can in the fridge. Believe it or not, you can easily get 15 pounds of peas or corn in a large coffee can! For long term storage, you could vacuum pack them or use one of those vacuum attachments for canning jars. So, look for temperature adjustments, unloading ease, cleanup, and spare parts.

GO DRY SOMETHING!!!!

Dean in AZ

Summer Survival - Avoiding Snakebites

Whether you are going on an outing, a hike in a wilderness area or just checking the fence line, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid being bitten by snakes. Using a little common sense will help you avoid a possible life-threatening situation.

Simple Ways to Avoid Snakebites

1.) Wear a good pair of hiking boots or shoes that will give you additional protection and watch where you put your feet.

2.) Always carry a good hiking stick or walking staff to check any areas that could be harboring a snake.

3.) Never turn over logs and rocks with your hands. This is an extremely dangerous practice, especially in a wilderness area. Use your hiking stick!

4.) Never reach into a hole in the ground without checking it first.

5.) Never sit down on a log, rock, etc. without thoroughly checking the area first.

6.) Never try to catch or touch a snake, live or dead. Leave that to the professionals.
Copperheads can bite even when they’ve been decapitated.

7.) If you do encounter a snake, give them adequate room and take another route.

8.) Never leave boots or shoes outside at night. Snakes will crawl into places for protection from the cold to help retain their body heat.

9.) If you are going to be working in an area and need to pick something up or move it, make sure you check the area with a long stick first.

10.) Always double-check the area where you are working, you may not notice a snake’s presence the first time.

Always remember that you can be bitten in the backyard or your garden. Keeping a shovel or hoe handy is a good idea when working in these areas. You can be bitten just as easily there as well as when you’re on a hiking or camping trip.

Following some simple rules and using a little common sense will help you avoid being bitten by a snake while you are outdoors.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Walking the Fence Line

Walking the fence line the other day gave me an opportunity to spend some time outdoors. I had my trusty camera with me and took a few pictures. Hope you enjoy them!


Along the way I saw a nice yucca plant that was blooming with some white flowers.





It was pretty hot outside and so I stopped at a shady spot to get out of the sun for a while.




I'm always looking for different things in nature and on the way back to the house I came across some snake sign.




It took a little searching but I soon found a visitor slithering around next to the house.

Take some time to enjoy the outdoors and increase your bushcraft skills. There are a lot of creatures out there. Can you find them?

Got "urban" bushcraft?

Staying above the water Line!

Riverwalker

Visiting a Friend

Stopped by and visited a friend this weekend.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

First Aid Kit for Treatment of Burns

One of the advantages of making your own first aid kit is that you will hopefully have saved some money. These extra savings can then be translated into some advanced first aid measures to help protect you and your family. One of the most serious threats to everyone's safety on a daily basis is the possibility of being burned. You owe it to yourself and your family to become knowledgeable in recognizing the different types of burn and how they can be treated in an emergency.

You can get consumer information on this product at:

http://www.waterjel.com/consumer-products/

Did you know?

One person is either burned or scalded every 25 seconds in the USA.
Ninety percent of household burns to women occur in the kitchen, two-thirds involve hands and arms.

Up to 1 million burns occur in households annually; approximately 500,000 are scalds resulting from spilled food and beverages.

Most people associate burns with flame. In fact, liquids cause burns more often than flames.
200,000 children are burned by contact with hot substances and objects, with 100,000 children scalded from spilled food and beverages.

The two highest risk groups are children under the age of 5 and adults over 65; scalds are the number one cause of burn injury to children under 4 years old.

Coffee, tea, soup and hot tap water can be hot enough to cause serious burn injury.

There is also excellent technical guide in PDF format available here:

http://www.waterjel.com/technical-information/

Burns can happen at anytime and to anyone. Just ask any dedicated coffee drinker! Being prepared to provide the best possible treatment you can will always be useful. You will also be able to recognize the more serious types of burns that will require immediate professional care.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Shotguns at Dark Thirty

Home defense scenarios are usually going to happen at the most unfavorable time. It will probably be dark and either late at night or early in the morning when lighting is not the best and you are probably only half awake. It was for this reason I decided to do a little “dark thirty” practice with my Mossberg 500A shotgun.

Since wandering around the house at night with a loaded 12 gauge shotgun and a flashlight is not one of the safest things you can do (Mrs. RW takes a dim view of these sorts of things), I decided to do a little practice outside at dusk out at the farm. I decided to use some #71/2 heavy dove shot that was inexpensive enough so that I wouldn’t have to take out a loan to buy more shells (can the price of ammo get any higher?). This also gave me a chance to further check out my hiviz bead sight and see how effective it was at low light levels.

Using some discarded roof sheathing that was an irregularly shaped piece that stood about 6 foot high propped against a wooden saw horse as a target, I found out that the hiviz bead sight worked extremely well in the low light conditions. My brother-in-law also shot numerous rounds and liked the way the hiviz sight worked. The target was set up at about forty feet and this distance was chosen as a test for effectiveness at what would be considered a really extreme distance for defensive purposes and to include a safety factor since we were shooting in the dark. Twenty feet would probably be a normal distance for a home scenario. I also chose an irregular shape to simulate conditions such as someone hiding behind an object that would change the appearance of their silhouette. There was some ambient light from the outside security light that was a couple of hundred feet away but I considered this comparable to an urban scenario where street lights are fairly common and occur at regular intervals. At forty feet, the patterns were holding pretty tight but not anywhere sufficient to stop or even disable an intruder with such a light load. I plan to do some pattern testing in the daylight in order to get a more accurate picture of just how my shotgun patterns with different loads.

I also need to do some POA (point of aim) and POI (point of impact) testing for some different loads. In doing this type of shooting activity, the main purpose is to check to and see if your gun shoots where you aim/look/point your shotgun and is basically done to see how well your shotgun “fits” in your particular case.

I also practiced doing some tactical reloading and had a difficult time with this part. It seems I had reversed my butt cuff when taking pictures of my shotgun for my website to show the normal right handed shooting setup and hadn’t changed it back. This complicates matters when you shoot left handed. Being left eye dominant and right handed is a whole different set of problems that I won’t go into here. Always check to make sure the configuration of your gear matches your shooter and you should be OK. A left handed shooter with a rifle or pistol that’s been configured for a right handed shooter will cause problems you don’t need. My brother-in-law didn’t have a problem as he shoots right handed. On a side note, the “tang” safety on my Mossberg 500A worked great and was not a problem as it is functional for both left and right handed shooters.

I was only able to shoot a single box of shells as it got real dark, real quick. In the country without the ambient light from different sources that are present in the city, it gets really dark! Plus several of the dogs were in the area and I didn’t want to take a chance and accidentally shoot one of them. Even with the somewhat reflective surface on the old piece of roof sheathing, it was not that simple a task to see the outline of the irregular target. I plan to work on a light setup of some form for my shotgun because when it’s dark you just can’t be sure of your target without some form of additional light.

My lessons learned here are pretty simple. First, make sure you’ve got the proper setup. A gear configuration that is uncomfortable for the shooter will affect all aspects of your shooting. Second, you will need extra light to positively identify your target at night. When it gets dark, it gets DARK! Third, shoot something cheap until the price of ammo and shells goes down (hopefully?). Fourth, be extremely aware of your surroundings and the whereabouts of EVERYONE and EVERYTHING when practicing in low light conditions or when it’s dark and your visibility is extremely limited.

Always take the time to learn your capabilities and limits, as well as those of your firearm and make safety a primary concern at all times.

You can read the follow up article here: Shotguns at Dark Thirty - Improvised Shotgun Light

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Food for Survival - Canned, Canning, or Dehydrated?

Dehydrated Veggies

I've touched on this subject a while ago and with the gardening season in full swing; I think it's worth touching on again. Now is garden time and only a short time from now, hopefully, we'll all have a bountiful harvest. But what kind of harvest will it be?

Let's look at the economics of gardening. Tomatoes and potatoes grow almost anywhere, in good or poor soil. The difference is the harvest. Here in Arizona, I get great plants, but no taters.
I get lotsa green, but no spuds. One of the only reasons I try is for the soil and water retention etc. Any vegetable matter in the ground helps but is it worth the time, effort and water to try to grow something you can buy cheap at the store? A 15 pound bag of taters is 2 or 3 bucks! Why bother? True, when the stores close, you need to do it yourself, but till then...

So, you need to grow things that are not easily available in the store. Try to find a fresh eggplant, a Poblano pepper, peaches or apples, eggs after TEOTWAWKI. Got mushrooms? None of this is true "survival food" but it's nice to have as a change of diet. Rice and beans won't work for too long after the toilet paper runs out.

Now how do we store all the stuff besides wheat, rice and beans? I've seen several sites that "claim" to have a ton of this, that, and those...I have a 1 ton pickup and a 25 foot flatbed car hauler...no way I could haul what they "claim" to have, much less the ammo they "claim" to have.

Now, you can buy MRE's. Got cash? They are pretty sad, as the US army uses them as bulletproofing in Humvees, or toss them to the kid's along the road.

Canned food? You can buy almost anything in a can! Spaghetti, soup, gravy, you name it! Would you like to carry a few cases of soup thru the woods for a few miles? Me neither.
Home canning? GREAT! One of my favorites! The only problem is, if you don't have a pressure canner, you’re limited to glass jars which are fragile and as heavy as a can when full, if not more. Now, for an honest disclaimer, my mother and grandmother canned anything that grew in the garden and I survived. According to the USDA, anything other than tomatoes needs a pressure cooker. Something to do with the acid. The other problem is the cost of jars, lids and such. The up side is, you can process anything you grow or prefer to eat! Even if you didn't grow it, buy it at the store and can it!

Now, we have my absolute favorite! DEHYDRATE!!! Any canned food contains water and is mostly water if you look at a common size can. If you have a way to haul and carry it, great! If you have to toss it into a backpack and hike a few mile's...not so hot… Now, after looking at a few "pre-packaged" dehydrated sites, they sell a 2 serving pack for 2.50...WHAT!!?? If you'd like, contact me, I'll sell you a 2 month supply for 20 bucks! Ok, I'm kidding. I'm just trying to show you what the expense of not doing it yourself costs. Even a cheap dehydrator will pay for itself in no time and you can dry whatever you want, even eggs! Besides the cost savings, you've reduced the weight to nothing! I did 2 pounds of frozen mixed veggies last night and it fits into less than a quart freezer bag. As far as shelf life, I can't say, as I rotate it here at home, so I always have a fresh batch around. Frozen veggies are available in a wide variety, so you can have almost fresh veggies year around without the garden hassle. The pic I've included shows the 2 pound bag of large mixed veggies reduced to a half quart freezer bag. Probably 10-15 servings, light as a feather.

I'd like to thank RW for letting me ramble on yet again!

Just another random thought.

Dean in Arizona

Smoker Barrel Gear - The Charcoal Starter

An essential piece of gear you will need for your ugly drum smoker is a charcoal starter. This will simplify the process of getting your charcoal burning. Simply load your smoker barrel's charcoal basket with charcoal and then scoop out a small amount and place it in the charcoal starter. Then fire up the charcoal starter and once you've got some good coals going; put them back in the your charcoal basket and then place your charcoal basket back inside the smoker barrel. Be careful. Use a lot of caution and a good pair of grill gloves to avoid getting burned.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Mossberg 500A Shotgun - Full Stock vs. Pistol Grip

Traditional shotgun stock designs have evolved for a very simple reason. They work and work well and are probably the best configuration for the majority of shotgun users. Most people are unaware that a conventional shotgun stock already has a pistol grip. This is the curved section of the stock between the shotgun’s receiver and the cheek of the stock. The alternate full stock type is usually referred to as a “straight” grip stock. It is most often associated with double barrel shotguns or “Winchester type” lever action rifles.

The majority of people when talking about a “pistol grip” are referring to the protruding pistol grip by itself. An example of the “pistol grip” installed on a Mossberg 550A is shown in the picture (this is sometimes known as a “cruiser grip” and generally includes a cycling strap). Pistol grips can also be had that include a stock behind it.

While a pistol grip looks really “cool”, they are not a very effective configuration for the average shotgun user. The major advantage of a pistol grip is that the shotgun will take up less space and be easier to maneuver within a confined space, such as a vehicle. The normal shoulder firing position when changed to a “shoot from the hip” style when using a pistol grip will also be far less accurate in almost all circumstances. You will also need a significant amount of arm strength when using a pistol grip only configuration. Most shotguns, especially 12 gauge models, have a lot of recoil and your arm and wrist are going to be absorbing the majority of this recoil.

If you decide you like the feel of a pistol grip and want to take advantage of the benefits of one, get a full stock with a pistol grip as an alternative to the standard stock configuration. It would also probably be a good idea to try and find one that has a recoil reducing mechanism that has been built into the stock.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Real Life Survival - Information

In any real life survival situation, information will play a vital part in your survival. Make sure you have all the necessary information that is available before making a decision.

The answer to yesterday's question is take the stairs. OK, I know I didn't give you all the necessary information that was available in this circumstance. The point is that your knowledge will affect your decision making but emotional responses can affect critical thinking, in this case it was the response of the mechanic that was working on the elevator.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Flying Free

Flying Free

Real Life Survival - Do you take the elevator or do you use the stairs?

Sometimes in life your survival is a matter of the choices you make. Choices are most often made based on your experience. Given a real life scenario, which choice would you make?

The Survival Scenario

You are at a conference for work. The session you were attending lets out 30 minutes early at 4:30 P.M. and you are returning to your room located on the seventh floor of the hotel where you are staying. As you approach the elevators to take you to your room you notice there is a work crew repairing the middle elevator. There is an elevator on the right and one on the left that are still functional. You make an off-hand remark to the guy working on the elevator " It's a good thing that elevators are very dependable. " The repairman remarks " Not this one."

You take the elevator on the right back to your room. After showering and a change of clothes, you decide to go out for a late night snack. Upon your return later that night, you approach the bank of elevators in the lobby and push the up button. The middle elevator doors open.

The Question?

Do you take the elevator or use the stairs?


Was the elevator repair a 5 o'clock rush job?

Which choice would you make?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Camping Cookware Combo

Camping gear can be an excellent addition to your preparedness efforts. Everything from tents to tarps, from sleeping bags to cookware and everything in between can come in handy in an emergency or during a crisis. One of the most useful items you can have is camping cookware. It is usually lightweight, versatile and you won't have to use the wife's good pots and pans if you have to cook outdoors during a crisis.

While cast iron cookware is extremely rugged and durable, it is also heavy and cumbersome. In many cases, weight can be an important factor. One of the items I have is a camping cookware combo that helps to fill in with something that is lightweight and extremely portable and doesn't take up very much space. The whole thing combines into a lightwieght package and can be carried easily. 

It also serves as a back-up cookset and is ideal for truck camping or for carrying in your bug-out vehicle. 

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Blades and Britches

Whether it's your trusted pocket folder that you've had for years or a fixed blade hunting knife in a sheath on your belt, blades and britches are an unbeatable combination. Don't leave home without either one! You won't feel fully dressed if you do.

One of the best survival tools is a good knife and the practice of carrying a decent blade should be a part of your normal routine. It also comes in handy for those everyday jobs that seem to pop up without notice. Whether it's in your pocket or your purse (and yes, the ladies should make it a part of their routine also), a good knife should always be an essential part of your gear.

My pocket folder is one of the first things that goes in my pocket everyday and one of the last things to come out of my pocket at night.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

DIY Homemade Dehydrator - Cheap and Easy!

Hi Everyone! I mentioned in my last post a few of my great yard sale/park and swap deals. Trust me; I got really lucky on most of them! Most people don't know how to can, use a pressure cooker, make jerky in a dehydrator, whatever, or they have no patience. Water canning is super simple, provided you only do what is correct for it, boiling water and waiting, pretty much. Pressure canning/cooking needs a special setup. So, how to dehydrate? All you need is warm, dry air and a semi-sealed container. So let's make one!

First, you need a source of warm, dry air...hmmm; a cheap yard sale hairdryer fits the bill! Make sure it has a low setting though; you don't want veggies blowing around!

Second, you will need a cardboard box. If you want to do it long term, you may prefer to whip up a wooden box or something like a metal or plastic 5 gallon bucket with a lid.

Next, you need some racks to fit inside. You could make these out of 1x2's cut to the boxes inside size like a picture frame, then window screen stapled to it.

Cut a hole in the box or bucket on the side, near the bottom, to fit the hairdryer nozzle into. Then cut a hole in the opposite side near the top. The idea is to make the air circulate all throughout the box.

Place your food on the racks, stack them in the box, close the top of the box, flip on the dryer on low and wait! Depending on what you are drying, how much, and so on, it will take at least 12 hours. When I started, I could only do 1 pound per rack. A trick I've learned, wait a few hours for the first batch to start to dry, then add more. Now I can do 4 pound's of veggies in 16 hours. And that 4 pound's fits easily into a 1 quart freezer baggie!

My experience is that fresh or frozen stuff works best. I'm not sure if you can do canned stuff, as I assume its already cooked to some degree. Besides, frozen is cheaper, as your not paying for the water. Potatoes need to be blanched 5 minutes, or it turns gray. Probably ok, they’re just ugly looking. Eggs are super easy, but you'll need some type of shallow PLASTIC dish, as metal will probably react to it.(Aluminum is out, as I've already learned!).My dehydrator has a plastic dish for making fruit roll ups, holds 6 eggs, barely.

Like my grandfather always told me "If you put a lazy man on a hard job, he'll find an easy way to do it. And if it works, who cares?" I've tweaked it to be "If you put a cheapskate on an expensive task, he'll find a cheap way to do it!"

If anyone tries this, please send any ideas you can add to it! I'm having a blast helping out RW, he's been so kind and tolerant of my ranting and I love reading your input. Here I thought I knew a lot and you people keep showing me what I missed!

I'd like to thank RW for letting me ramble on yet again and let's all keep him and his family in our thoughts. And thanks to everyone for the responses to my last post, Lots of great links and tips! Keep this up folk's! The only way to prep is thru knowledge, because we're all like minded, let's share it all!


Let's all keep RW and his family in our thought's. Thank you for letting me rant again RW, and thanks all of you for reading it too!

Dean in Arizona

Food Preservation- Tips and Tricks?

I've posted a few comments that reflect my admiration for dehydrated food. No, not the factory canned stuff that lasts 30 years and costs 3 arms and your first born, but home done stuff. After receiving a minor influx of a few bucks, I needed to restore my preps. I have a food dehydrator that can do a pound per rack. How long will home dehydrated food last? No clue myself, as I rotate it a lot. Never seen anything fuzzy in it!

Just for those of you that have never tried it, first off, it’s easy and cheap! I got my dehydrator at a yard sale for 10 bucks, new in the box! I got it to do jerky in, but after reading all the things it can do, I'm running it almost non stop! Just for comparison, I prefer to use frozen food, as there is less water in a one pound bag of frozen food. Believe it or not, I can fit 18 POUNDS of dehydrated mixed veggies into a large coffee can! That's efficient! And even lighter than a full can of coffee!

I also picked up a water bath canning setup at another yard sale. The rack, pot and 60 jars and lids were only 15 bucks. As far as the USDA website claims, nothing but tomatoes or acidic food can be done in a water bath setup. I recall my mother and grandmother canning darn near everything in them, but sadly, granny is gone, and mom never paid attention and can’t pass on the knowledge to me! I never got sick from eating granny’s canned food, so...

I recently picked up a pressure cooker/ canner at yet another yard sale. It was brand new and still in the original box. I love yard sales!

It only does the little jars, but for a single guy, that's a meal. I still need to do some research on canning meat. I saw a site, wish I could credit it, but they mentioned a lot about canning meat,10 things I wish I knew, but no in depth tips. If you’re reading this, please reply!

I recall reading in the canning manual about canning nuts. Roast and toss in the canning jar, cook so long...So it's vacuum packed. Could this be done with dehydrated veggies, rather than vacuum pack machine/bags? I have yet to see one of those at a yard sale, and not in my budget yet. I've seen those lids for a pump, but it seems you need 1 per jar, and they ain't cheap!

I just finished my first batch of dehydrated eggs. Ok, it’s really my second batch. I tried it in the oven on foil first and something about the aluminum foil made it turn gray. Definitely not appetizing to look at! Wax paper or parchment would have been better. The second batch in the dehydrator looks pretty good! Imagine old dried out cheddar, crumble it up, add1 tablespoon of water and one tablespoon of powder and you’ve got an egg.

Ok....I'm sure RW is tired of doing a review and spell check on me by now. If anyone has tips or recipes on canning meat or anything else, feel free to toss in your tips and tricks!

I really hate to think that something as simple as canning and making homemade jam and jelly would become a lost art. Please share your knowledge with those of us that want to "preserve" traditions...get it "preserve?"Ok, bad joke!

I'd like to yet again thank RW for letting me ramble on yet again and again! For the valuable information he provides us is more than enough motivation for me to try and give him a well deserved break now and then!

RW, my thanks and best wishes to you and yours.

Dean in Arizona

Here are are a couple of links with useful information:

Home Drying of Foods

Efficient Cooking for One

RW

Survival Barter - Good or Bad?

So what can you barter, that you'll never run out of, that you can't lose or have taken from you?

So, what is a good barter item? If you have a few years supply of food stashed, you can trade it for silver or gold, fuel, or whatever items you missed. Assume you have 3 years of food for 4 people stashed and trade off a year’s worth for silver....and SHTF happens and it lasts for 5 years? You’re 3 years short! And if food is worth more than the metal...?

KNOWLEDGE!!!!!


I've been looking over my prep ideas, trying to find where my strengths and weaknesses are. I’m not the Rambo type, too old for it if I was anyway. I have a nice supply of hunting gun' and ammo, no way I'll spend my money for some black ugly gun. Too much $$ for too little use, in my humble opinion (I know that will agitate a few!). I'm currently adding to my food and seed supply, garden and such, canning and other food supplies.

Now we all can't have everything we need, want or desire, whether it is food, tools, or even the knowledge we need. Gardening isn't rocket science. If you can grow something, the person down the road can too. You can stash away silver and gold, but you can't live off it, unless someone will accept it. Sure, someone will someplace...if you can find them or they find you. If your out on junk land, how will you know if the silver is worth 10, 20, or 30 bucks an ounce? Got internet? Got a radio signal? Sure, if you’re starving, you'll give a few ounces for a hunk of deer. But if there are deer around, you can get one yourself! (I'm not advocating poaching).

If you have a skill, you'll never lose it! Whether it be sewing, knitting, welding or auto repairs (assuming the autos have fuel to operate). Learn to make afghan blankets, people will need them! Learn to make quilts! Take one of those "auto repairs for dummies" classes at the community college. You might be the only person for miles that knows how to bleed brakes or change a clutch! “You broke a what? I'll fix it for a bushel from your garden!"

I'm in a pretty good situation for all of this. I went to college for auto mechanics, tool and die making (machinist), learned to weld on the job. I have a few small semi-portable machines, a welder and a pile of tools. Assuming I could get these to a bug out area if need be, and power them, I'd be the only "modern day type of blacksmith" available. Even if they were forcibly taken, I doubt anyone has the skill to use them, if they wanted to go to the trouble to move them. And I'd prefer to trade my skills for something I need, as it will only cost me labor and time. And if they wanted to trade precious metals, assuming I don't need anything else, cool!

I just had to toss in my .02 worth. This time of the year, most colleges are starting adult classes, so check them out. Cheap, only a couple nights a week, and can never be taken away!

I'd like to thank RW for letting me do yet another guest post. He hasn't told me to stop, so he must like them, or he's just too polite to argue!


Thanks RW!

Dean in Arizona

Special Note:

I've had a close family member with some serious medical problems and spent several hours last night at the Emergency Room of the hospital. I will be posting a few guests posts from Dean in AZ as time permits. I will be busy for the next couple of days while they are recovering. Thanks. RW

Stealth Security - Plants for Protection

Bougainvillea Plant

Protection in plain sight can sometimes be your best defense against unwanted intruders.
Through the use of defensive landscaping you can increase the security of your home while adding additional privacy. Even a thick hedge will discourage many unwanted intruders to go elsewhere. There are many plants that can give you additional security while not being obvious as to their true purpose. Many plants can offer additional protection and security for your home and not detract from its appearance. This is an option that works well in both a rural and an urban setting. When considering plants for protection, you will need to consider a number of factors.
















Plants for Protection

1.) Find out which thorny plants, bushes and vines grow well in your area and can provide a measure of protection and privacy all year long, including the winter months.

2.) Decide which areas of your home are the most vulnerable and plan accordingly.




A.) You can guard walkways and entry areas with plants like Yucca and rose bushes to encourage people to stay on the path and not wander around in other areas you don’t wish them to enter. This can be done without being obvious as to their purpose.

B.) Windows that are at ground level can also be areas of vulnerability when it comes to home security. Plants like Agave and hawthorns can reduce the chances of unwanted persons lurking about outside your windows.

C.) Upper story windows can be protected with plants such as honey locust, prickly ash, and Osage orange. You get shade as well as protection. It is also a good idea not to have trees growing so close to your house that they offer easy access to roof areas or upper windows.

D.) Your backyard can be protected through the use of thorny vines or climbing roses growing along fence lines. This will work to discourage those unwanted intruders who might like to climb. Your neighbors probably won’t think much of a berry vine growing on your fence but will notice a couple of strands of barb wire strung along the top real quick. Barb wire works great in a rural setting but doesn’t appeal to the neighbors in an urban setting.

Determine which plants will give you the maximum protection and that are compatible with your current landscaping and climate. This will help you achieve the maximum security value possible for your home.

Keep your family safe from unwanted intruders the natural way!

Hopefully, unwanted intruders will get the point.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker