Mother

Kappy, we have had many goats over the years both big and small. I haven't found pigmy's to be very productive when it comes to milking though they can be used for meat. The best small milk goat in my estimation is the Nigerian Dwarf. This is a true dwarf and are extremely thrifty with feed and can give an incredible amount of very rich milk for their small size. They also can have four or five babies at a time and easily raise them all. They can be a great defense against predators. And make nice pets. They do each have different personalities but are generally fairly quiet, another plus. One drawback is they are pricier than a pigmy especially if registered from a good milking line. We've spent upwards of $200 for a doe but also have gotten them for a lot less from people who were ready to sell out. By all means start with a doe. If kept clean they have much less smell than bucks do and the only time you need a buck is to breed for a fresh milk supply. Nigerians can milk for two years consistently before needing to be bred again. If you can find a buck to rent/pay just for breeding you are money ahead and you don't need a buck for protection. A doe can be just as fierce to defend when needed. Can you tell I like Nigerian Dwarf goats When you do decide to get a goat, any goat, make sure they get along with your dogs. Some do but some are naturally protective against coyotes and include dogs in that category. Goats that are raised with dogs do great with them though and even full grown ones can learn to get along with them, usually! If it were me I'd check the livestock laws before i buy. Goats are usually considered livestock by ordinances no matter how friendly they are. I love reading what you and CSMary are doing.

All I can say, Dee, is that I've joined you a few times in that sand too . Little sister. Our van was only slightly scratched on a fender. When I first looked out at it though the van was buried under branches. Looked ominous. I took the picture after DGS cut the branch away. I never remember to take pictures right away! Food will definitely go up in price because of this storm. . The cascade effect will continue for a year or more because it's too late to replant. Corn and soy are staples in more ways than just food. There is ethanol, natural 'plastics', oils, medicinals, and livestock feed just to name a few uses. Then there is the more obscure food sources such as corn starch, corn syrup, soy lecithin, fillers, thickeners, and more. All those and so much more could be scarce and extremely high priced for months to come. Iowa is a prime state for corn and soy and this loss will hurt everyone. We haven't even touched on the loss of jobs and income throughout the whole industry (farmers, field workers, semi drivers, grain distributors and mills, and etc.); the rise in unemployment; the run on food stamps (you know? On those foods that will now be scarce!); the rise in crop insurance premium for next year that could be reflected in the product price for us. All these are just the tip of the iceberg. I didn't mention the underwater parts that we don't see but are going to be felt. All from one storm. Yes, the entire nation will eventually be touched by this loss as will many other nations which rely on the import of these crops. I plan to start buying a few necessities before the prices hit the shelves if products are available.

Dee may check in on her own but she is okay too. Over 1/3 of Iowa's planted crop land was hit. Think of the ramifications that has on our food supply! The cascade that started with the Covid is continuing to fall. Please, everyone, look to the bigger picture. You are right, Mt. R. One of the first WW was no electricity. The first story writing challenge I put on the Fireside was about an EMP. I started it with a specific date when it supposedly hit and members wrote their stories starting from where they were then. We had some great stories. I believe they are still there to read but they were a long time ago. Things change, new preps come out, new techs abound. I have written several various versions of that first EMP story since then using different characters in each and still haven't run out of new info for them. Does the Fireside have a specific moderator(s)? Perhaps it's time to get the members writing their own survival stories again. .

Thank you Jeepers. I wasn't all that scared while it was happening. DH and I stood in our built-in greenhouse and watched the tree limbs crash down around us. Maybe It's a Midwest thing LOL. That is, until some of those limbs started hitting the polycarbonate roof. This storm was so wide spread that most in our family were affected in some way: trees down, electric out, damage to homes, and etc. thankfully almost all are preppers. We will band together to do various clean up and repair and to restock lost preps. Suggestion.... If any of you have not practiced for no electric you might want to consider doing so. Better to find out what you are missing or what would make things easier before it happens. We are old hands at it. So old that some of our preps are outdated and worn. They work but not all that well! Like me. 👵🏻

We are okay here. Trees and limbs down everywhere around the property. (All over everywhere in the area actually) Electricity (and Internet) came back on this afternoon. We lost everything in two refrigerators but held the freezers with generators. Our worst problem was water as we didn't want to install the hand pump for the well for what we hoped would be only a few days. Thankfully we were able to get it from our son in a nearby small village. It was a mess with all electric out but water tower intact. US Cellular had no service and the whole last two days was like a scene from one of Mt. R's What If's! Years of being prepared (and DGS) got us through but we're getting too old and too ill for this. We heard over 200,000 without electricity here. There are still thousands without power First picture is the limb that just grazed both vehicles. And that was after it had been cut away. Second is taken through my bedroom window. This limb was hanging over the roof but because of the strong winds landed just off the corner. God is indeed good! for all who have been affected by this storm.

Happy birthday Ambergris and Louis too. Each birthday is special. Not because you are getting older but because you are getting wiser. 🎂🍧

°°°°° 😄 I've had mine for YEARS and didn't know that. Then found SOOOOOOO many more on the keyboard just by holding a vowel or a symbol ! WOW. Thanks Annarchy. I believe I just took a step forward from the dark ages ...

It will be interesting to see where the numbers go after this holiday weekend. That might be the answer to is it spread by aresol and more outside or inside?

Ambergris,. I have relatives and friends all over the country as well as in several other countries. I know it takes time and effort to post these numbers and I wanted you to know how much I have appreciated your posts. I will understand when you discontinue doing this for whatever reason but thank you for sticking with it this long. It has helped a lot of us to come to grips with the progress this enemy has made. ((((((((( Ambergris))))))))))))

OOTO I use Ghee and it can be used most places you can use butter but don't expect it to taste like butter. To me it taste a bit like browned butter. Sort of nutty. You can make your own easily from butter if you want to try it. Instructions can be found online.

Good evening, Jeepers. I haven't posted in a while but I have been reading. Your questions sort of called me out of lurkdom. I can probably answer them all but I'll answer my favorite one. Micro greens are basically small greens that are grown densely on small amounts of soil or special grow pads. The greens are cut to use when small and tender. They produce lots of baby greens that are really tasty and healthy. They are usually cut once when they reach the right size. There are also shoots that are grown from various seeds and are usually a bit bigger. They, too, can be grown in a small amount of soil or on grow pads. Sunnies, sunflower seed shoots, are cut just before their second, true set of leaves form and are a nutty sweet greens. Pea shoots are grown in a similar way but those can be cut several times and keep growing. Wheat and other grass is another form of shoots. Often the grasses are used in juicing. Plus cats love some of those to nibble on. Then there are sprouts which are seeds grown in a sprouter tray or jar. They are soaked in water for various length of times, fifteen minutes to overnight, to begin with. Then they are drained, rinsed, and drained again two or three times a day and left just damp enough to grow. There are dozens and dozens of sprouting seeds and mixes. A taste to please almost anyone. I almost always have at least one jar setting upside down in the dish drainer with sprouts growin in them. It's a no soil, little work, way to enjoy fresh foods. They don't need light unless you want a couple hours in the sun to green them up a little. They are great as salad, or on a sandwich, in stir fries, and etc. and they are extremely nutritious. I love sprouts. Every prepper should learn about micro greens, shoots, grasses, and sprouts. Stealth gardening at its easiest. Does that answer your first question? Can you tell I'm a fan?

Happy birthday, Jeepers. 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🎂🍨

My grand daughter tested positive for the coronavirus over a month ago. She was able to self isolate at home even though she was pretty sick with it. She works as a nurse in a hospital and isn't allowed to go back to work until she has two consecutive negative tests a week apart. She has had three positive test since then even though she is feeling better. Even if the test she has next week is negative she will still have one more week to go before she can even begin to think of her life getting back to normal. She has not seen her family for Almost two month because of her well grounded fear she would bring it to them. She was told that it was pretty normal for people to test positive and therefor infective for this long after they felt better. How many people who have had the virus but didn't have follow up tests are spreading it for weeks after? Not a lot of good choices for our country. Open the economy and risk a worsening of the virus and the resultant huge number of deaths or keep it closed and risk a total economic crash as has never been seen in the history of the world where people will die by huge numbers due to a total change in life circumstances that very few people, or countries including our own, are prepared for. Stay safe everyone and prepare for more than just food in the pantry.

. May you have many more!

According to AARP if you get SS direct deposited the stimulus check will automatically be deposited there but might be later in the month?

I checked at the IRS and it told my my "payment status was unavailable ". .

Thank you, Ambergris and LS. The GD is pretty miserable with it. Something I didn't know about the testing though. She will have to have two negative tests before she can considered as being over it. She is very close to her kids and is more worried about them (and missing them) than about herself. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. Hugs

I have been following your numbers daily and have really appreciated it. I know it's a lot of work for you. Thank you so much for all you do to help us stay informed. If you don't post it perhaps there is a way to make a sticky somewhere with the links. (((((((Ambergris)))))))) My granddaughter, who is an OB/ delivery nurse, has coronavirus. She is self quarantined at home in Texas while her three children are with others. She is young and healthy but I am still worried. Please everyone stay cautious.

We have an ex-nurse sewing masks for the small local hospital near us. She is using interfacing material encased between layers of cotton. Not sure if that works better than just plain cotton but these are washable yet hold their shape and filtering ability.

I know only too well how precious hope is. Great news,

You are welcome MtR. I only wish I could find something as direct for the Illinois tax due date. You need to have your federal taxes done before you file Illinois forms yet so far I can't find anything on the Illinois Internal Revenue site where it directly says that the date has also been changed.

When all else fails go to the source.. I just went to the Internal Recenue Service web site and this is what I found. WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020 There is also info about tax changes there in case anyone is interested.

The state of Illinois is basically on lockdown with all non essential businesses shut down. All people who do not fullfill an essential service are required to shelter in place. All people are allowed to go out for groceries, pharmacies, health services,, to essential jobs, and many other services so not total isolation. They are asking for people who need to go out follow social distancing and safe health practices. The order is until April 7 th but may need to be extended. If anyone is able to watch the govenor's broadcast I strongly suggest it. One of the doctor's, Dr Landen?, who spoke made a very very good case and explanations for taking this step. Stay safe.

Any oil you normally like will work, MtR. I've used various over the years. I use a light olive oil or avocado oil now because we've become picky about what we use. Melted coconut oil gives them a nice taste too but if the apples are cold it tends to solidify in spots. Over the last, ummm, decades I've most often used an old rectangled ten tray dehydrator I bought for a dollar at an auction twenty or so years ago. I use it for a whole lot more than just fruit and veggies. It's a great tool for getting more raw foods into the diet. I have/had several dehydrators. DH made a cabinet sized one years ago that held a bushel of produce at a time, I've used vehicles as dehydrators and made sun Jam and sun dried tomatoes on pieces of glass. I've dried on sheets on low roofs like the pioneers did. I've even used an antique cabinet sized egg incubator to dehydrate 'horse and goat' cookies. It worked beautifully. This old ten tray one keeps humming along, bless it, and I use it often. Yesterday it held herbs. Today it's full of bananas. After that I hope to make zucchini chips. Can an you tell I like to dehydrate things?