Ogre

Because I'm still on crutches, we're experimenting with this method. We have seven bales put together as 2 squares with hollow interiors. We've filled the interiors with a compost/soil mix and are currently growing potatoes in them. So far the exterior of the frame (the bales themselves) are playing host to Broad Beans, Runner Beans, Peas & Garlic (all growing together at the far end of the project. This is with a trellis to support the plants. Cauliflower plants grow down one side and strawberry plants are in the middle (out of our dogs reach ) in the middle of this week the second half should be conditioned enough for peppers, raddish, lettuce and onions. So far all plants seem to be thriving in this environment.

Thanks all. I'll give it a go. Been daring the last couple of days, not wearing the brace everywhere. However, I now find that the position I seem to hold myself in without crutches is giving my lower back gyp. Never rains but it pours (lol)

I slipped on the stair on November 17th. Managed to completely snap my Quadriceps (the big Tendon running down the front of your leg from your thigh to knee). You could actually hear the snap in other rooms.

I was in a cast and walker until December the 18th and have now graduated to a metal leg brace and crutches.

Back in work now and getting around as best I can. But at home at night, the muscles either side of surgery site and snapped tendon cramp awfully. The interior muscle cramps way up into the groin area.

As you can imagine, this is a tad uncomfortable. Has anyone suffered this injury and can give me some tips on the cramping ?

Ogre

Sorry, It was Fallen Angels by Niven Pournell & Barnes.

Sure I read a scenario very very close to this in Niven & Pournells 'Oath of Fealty' way back when ? It'll come to me I'm sure.

Lost my job in February. MIL died of Breast Cancer, my employer gave me a week off to help my wife sort out the family affairs then fired me.

Anyway. Back in work for two weeks now and did my first prep shop in 7 months this weekend. Can I just say what a great feeling it is looking at 48 toilet rolls, 20 tins of Tuna, a dozen tins of peas, ditto carrots, potatoes, baked beans, beans and sausage and 3 packs of coffee for your truly.

They look lost on the new racking we've built, but it's a great feeling. We've had to dip regularly into our main supplies (kept in a locked steel shed in the garden) but it's so nice to be putting in, not taking out...

Hmmm, the squirrels in the neighborhood are going crazy burying nuts in my garden....really early for here....and we had a very mild summer for here. Hope its not going to be a bad winter.

Here in the UK we usually have Wolf Spiders migrating back into the houses in Autumn. A sign that Winter's on its way. This year their already getting undercover. (4" visitor floating in the bath the other morn and a 3"er killed by my daughters pup yesterday).

Not sure about US prices, but I don't think there's £100 worth of wood in the construction. Your paying for the twee idea of having a raised bed above your chooks.

HOW MUCH !!!!

Very sorry. But at that price I would want a converted garden shed at the least. Also not sure how sturdy it would be with a dirty great tub of Earth on the top. Plus they mention the insulative properties of the roof and leave big gaps in the sides. Plus it looks like cleaning would be a b*tch. Forget it..

Last Light by Alex Scarrow Brit SHTF novel. I must admit I can read JDY & TOM and most US SHTF authors with enjoyment. With Scarrow I have to put the tale down and take a break quite frequently. The sense of desperation get a bit disturbing.

In the UK we don't get Yard Sales. We have Car Boots. Like a Market with all goods sold out of the owners car trunk.

Gods I love Car Boots.Thats where we got our hand coffee grinder. Rusted up etc, but some TLC and 2L of cooking oil in the works and it's great.

Anyhoo.. My Vacuum Sealer is starting to make the occasional rattle. Now lets be fair. I use this for so much prep stuff that I can't complain. It shrink wraps clothes for BOB's. It seals our walkie talkies off from moisture. It seals in arrows for buried caches. It marinades chicken. I use it to split big sacks of dogfood into manageable munchies. Sometimes if desperate I even seal food in it for storage. :DLaughing

I've been looking at replacements, all a tad expensive at the moment. However, yesterday I found a new, boxed unit. Still with the complimentary bags from the maker. £5...

I love car boots.

Ogre

This is a subject I'm looking at at the moment. I'm fairly certain that our ancestors burned olive oils or similar. But I must admit I'm unsure what too thick an oil would do to the wicking and chimney. Unfortunately all my re-enactment experiences are Medieaval. Perhaps some of the ladies can (wait for it) shed some light on the subject (ouch).

Ogre

This is an idea for a concealed store we put together.

The cover is hidden hinged

Then it was clad and varnished to match the rest of the interior.

Ogre

Dammit Ladies. I thought I'd found a tattoo thread there for a second

Ogre

Luckily I'm not a great distance from our local (major)river. Twice a day with a wateroller and poured through a slow filter should keep stocks topped up.

Ogre

That is soo embarrasing. I burst out laughing at quite a few thinking 'oh dear, that's true'.

Ogre

I picked up boxes of 72 taper candles for £1 each at a recent close down sale. This weekend I'm melting them down and casting them into stubbier 'safer' non tip over type candle with thicker wicking. Actually I must admit I've always 're-cast' candles rather than mess around with wax and stearin etc.

Ogre

ROFLMAO. I'm sitting in the office, having a coughing attack and crying at the same time. It's even better for me as one of our dogs was chased out of our living room and up the stairs yesterday by a menacing half deflated baloon that bounced toward her across the carpet.

Thanks for that.

Ogre

My family's emergency kits each contain a tin of charcloth. I bought 4 novelty tobacco tins, used one as a cooker/template and the rest to hold the charcloth.

Take an old tea towel or hand towel, cut it into squares to fit your 'cooking tin'. Fill the tin until almost bursting then pierce a small hole on the top (maybe from a 1" nail). Slow cook the tin until the fumes stop coming out of the hole at the top. (this can be noxious, so I cook ours on the BBQ in summer months) Take it off the heat and leave to cool (or throw it into a bucket of water). Release the lid carefully in case of ignition. You should have lovely cooked squares of charcloth that will ignite even when damp (I've seen it burn on wet cloth)

Repeat as necessary and Store until needed

Ogre