Final July Update...

 

Well, here we are, the last and final day of July 2023. It is incredible how quickly time passes by. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything, visit with everyone, and just to relax. We are inundated with the concept of being "busy." Busy dragging our tired bodies out of bed to race through traffic to go to a job, spend 8+ hours at that job making pennies while the business owner/government make mint, then race out of that job to grab some groceries/grab take out for a meal, race home to shower, pay bills, take care of the chores in our homes, fall in bed at night either sleeping like the dead or having racing thoughts of what we didn't accomplish preventing sleep...just to start all over the next day. We celebrate 2 days a week when we can actually enjoy our homes, and our family. It's a constant rat race. We have become enslaved by the need for more and more, in turn needing more and more money...in turn having to work more and more. It's such a vicious cycle. 

In a recent finance class I took, it was said that majority of Americans no longer understand need, want, or living within their means. The instructor used the salary of $50,000 annual income. He stated, ideally, on that income, you should live like you made $25,000 annually. Basing that off of gross salary, he said that taxes are a constant expense and should also be figured into how you manage your money. This course made sense to me, even if I was not quite sure how people today could manage that. For many of us that have a mortgage, utilities, vehicles, for just the bare example...that would be a challenge. I know it could be done, as that was the model for finance for generations. I know with the current economic times, living on half an income is almost undoable. For many, living on a single income is not possible. With the cost of homes and vehicles alone, the debt most of us live with is huge. Just maintaining a home is a major expense. One problem, can decimate your savings in the blink of an eye. If you throw in a major life change: having a child, a layoff from that job, an unexpected loss of any kind would throw that budget into a tail spin. None of this even accounts for the wants like a vacation, going out to dinner, new furniture, etc.  or minor needs like clothing, groceries, fuel, lawn mowers, etc. Sure there are exceptions to every rule, but just speaking in general terms. I honestly do not know very many people that could survive on $25,000 a year; without having to depend on the government. Years ago, it was said that when purchasing a home, you should be able to pay it off it full, in 5 years or less...meaning your home should not cost more the your five year income, minus other expenses. For example: let's use that $50K annual income, with $10K a year in other expenses. Your home cost should not exceed a cost of $200K, and realistically it should be about half that to fit the perimeters that were recently discussed, of saving half your income. When the cost of vehicles are now more than what I bought my home for....that seems like such a crazy thing. 

I am in complete preservation mode currently. I have finally got a garden that is producing at a normal time again. The garden is starting to give us some smaller harvests, we have gotten to eat a few tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. I am working up corn today. It used to be a big ordeal when the sweet corn came ready. There'd be several people working together, and we'd all put some in our freezers. There would be several husking, silking, and cutting. Several more would be mixing and bagging. It was work, but it was also a fellowship of shorts...there was a lot of visiting, older wisdom and story telling. Doing it alone, isn't near as enlightening, but I have been thinking of those old times a lot today. I've been able to share a few things from the garden, and for that I am grateful. My work and effort does pay off. 

The wedding planning, finalizing and organizing is just about finished. Several changes had to be made due to the time frame the kids had to work with. We're going with it, and several people have stepped up to help out. We are all grateful to those that have! I officially gain my bonus daughter into our family September 15th. Then the real work sets in for them. Marriage takes constant work and constant effort. Having to learn each others quirks, and annoyances, and how to deal with them can be a challenge. 

The annual veteran hunt is planned, mostly finalized, aside from figuring out a fundraiser to give us a jump for next year's. I have had a lot of great people that have helped for several years, and without them, this event couldn't happen. My right hand, Janet, is my adopted Mom and such an amazing friend and person. Our personalities align, our hearts align and working side by side is easy. Our friends at True Impact Outdoors, their mission, their volunteers; align with the direction I want to go for our veterans. Our planning has included my husband, both my boys, our friend Slate, and so many community members from Clark County to Keosauqua Veterans Admistration. Without great people, we couldn't make this event possible. 

Well, that is the end of this update for July. Hopefully, August and September will be kind to us, as the next 8 weeks are stuffed plum full of stuff.

Coffee Chat - News Flash

 

Well, let's get into a chat this morning while I wait for my wild child to get up. You see, I usually start my day with education. Whether that be learning some new form of gardening, some new food preservation technique, the "news" or watching a few videos of other's opinions. Sometimes, it is all of the above. As was the case today. My own personal growth is never ending. Learning what kind of crap is being fed to us, has become even more unbelievable...but even more so...it's laughable at how stupidity actually believes it. 

Can you not see the increased cost of EVERYTHING? A perfect example was a phone call from my husband this morning. His words, "what the hell is raising gas prices now?" Fuel prices that were $3.15 a couple days ago, are now $3.50. Right before his call, I had watched a news story about the cost of a barrel of oil going up over $79. It's being said that a 10-25% increase is expected over the coming weeks. This will undoubtedly continue to increase the prices of everything. Is our federal government going to deplete even more of our oil reserve to bring down the cost again? It's already running half what it was in 2020. That strategic oil reserve is meant to be there in the event of war. Not to be used to lie to the American people about where inflation really is. Are you actually buying the 3% inflation rate? By my estimates, it's actually pushing 21%. Which is higher that what it was around the Great Depression. Just today, in now main stream news, the housing market is showing a a 3rd straight year of a decrease in home values. 70+% of the commercial real estate market is done by regional banks. It was said that today, yet another bank has sunk. Pac West is the newest name to add to the growing list like SVB, and Signature. Not to mention the issues being had with the FDIC. I have heard many talking about food shortages starting in August. Do you realize what this is going to do to our already off balance economy? I don't mean to be a downer, but a realist. The people that only shop from store shelves, don't know how to grow their own food...or don't, and those that keep believing if they just keep their heads down, everything will be fine - There's fixing to be a revelation of big proportions! 

The reality is our economy, our country and our people are about to relearn what happened during the Great Depression and the decade that followed. The feds claim that the job market is strong, that consumer confidence is strong, and people supposedly still have stimulous money....it's all complete bull crap!!! People are maxed out on credit/credit cards. People are having to choose to eat, pay bills or buy medication. People are losing jobs/incomes. Employers are working people to just under 40 hours so they can't get insurance, or they are cutting pay/commissions. The overall mental health of our country is in the toilet. Our freedoms are being pulled or limited by a rogue and corrupt system. When a $1 now takes the equivalent of $1.45 to buy the same item....we have BIG troubles. Just LOOK at the big picture, a 40,000 ft. view if you will. Corruption at every level in both political parties, politicizing the Justice Department against politics and the Constitution, a sinking economy, run away debt from the top down, division among citizens/financial classes/ creed/ sex/etc., half truth news, the false sense of opposing view points, everyday/hard working Americans losing everything. Some Americans believing they will just go out in the blaze of glory, by maxing credit cards to take vacations, buying over priced houses, vehicles that lose half their value once you sign on the line, or having to work 2-3 jobs just to pay your bills. 

There are so many areas we could discuss. The one that scares me the most, is the family unit degradation. I know this is not a new issue. I do believe it has been fueled though. When the family unit began to break down, so did everything from economic sense, responsibility, values, morals, and truth. The break down of a family really got bad when divorce & pregnancy prior to marriage became acceptable. I know, this is going to piss off a lot of people...so be it. I believe this and lived through, at least part of it. When it began taking 2 working parents to make ends meet, children became "latch key kids," parents no longer worked together to raise the kids, children became pawns for greedy parents to demand hyped up child support instead of agreeing to co-parent those kids, parents not being the "grown ups" to actually want what was best for the kids...not just themselves. Now, I get there are situations, such as abuse, that require a different direction, but the majority of divorce cases are bogus reasonings. When children are put in the place of  pawns on a game table for the parents, it usually ends poorly for the children. When their isn't a parent at home to be a parent, those children run amok and become heathens...most of the time. They become disrespectful, and turn to get attention in any manner they can - even if it's bad! This has been proven time and time again, in multiple areas of medicine. Sure, you have some that are resilient and work through it, but a large majority do not. Children need discipline, and I am NOT referring to abuse. I am talking about the discipline of mind, body, spirit and soul. In the case of divorce, many children learn they can play a game with the parents. One parent says no, they go to the other that says yes...if nothing more than to defying the ex-spouse. This has brought about a generation that has zero respect for authority. Children need to be taught to think, not just what to think. I have personally seen this. We tell our children to do something, because we said. Well, that is crap. As much as many of us have heard, just because something has been done one way for forever, doesn't mean there isn't another way to do something. I have a severe disagreement with physical discipline. While I did paddle my children when they were little, and wouldn't listen....a swat across the butt was all that was ever needed. My children and I would sit down and discuss what they did wrong. I would explain why what they did could have multiple bad outcomes. However, my children have grown up to be polite and respectful young people. They have moments, don't get me wrong, when I think they need paddled again. My children are no where close to perfect. However, they do have respect for my husband and I; without the need for them to be afraid of us. When there is a problem, they come to us instead of going away from us. That is not to say that my marriage is great either. We have issues, but we also are trying to work through them. Our children are our priority, not our own individual wants. 

Then you have the degradation of fiscal responsibility. At one point, it became acceptable to live outside your means. I mean this quite literal. If you have to borrow money, you are living outside your means. We ALL are. I don't know anyone that didn't have to borrow money to build a house, or buy a new car. We have all had to do this the past several decades. At what cost? Paying twice over for the home you don't get to enjoy because you have to work your fingers to the bone to pay for it? Or miss out on the growing of your children? The stress and strain working nonstop does to relationships? When so many are more worried about financing a vacation, to get away, then they are to pay off their debts....there is a massive problem. Imagine where you would be if you put as much effort into paying off your debts as you did to take that vacation, or buy another unnecessary want. I know I look every single day at how much debt I have paid off, or how much I still have to pay - and we don't buy the best of everything or brand new anything. When I have seen the average debt totals across our country...it makes mine look like nothing. However, I do not want debt, so that is my focus. Break out of the system completely. 

I just can't seem to understand the thought process of some. I really don't even want to. I am too busy focusing on my own house of cards, that unless it is a direct attack to me...I try to avoid all the drama. I just get so upset to see good people hurting so badly from this shit show. I don't place blame on any individual, because this demise in our country is intentional. I just wish more people would see it, open their eyes and stop living in the fake world of consumption.

Planning and preparation never ends - Farm Life

 

Planning and goals, mean nothing without the work put in to achieve them. Even the religious texts tell you to have faith in God, but God is looking for soldiers.

I never understood the efforts that are required to live the life I now live; until I many years into it. You see, living in the country is not only completely different from city life but it even different from living a farm life. I don't care if you have a 1 acre homestead or a 1000 acre farm. You live your life in constant preparation, constant damage control and your efforts are just the beginning. Speaking from my own perspective here. A large majority of our preparations are based on the weather, the quality of what we put into our operations, and a massive dependency on the efforts WE put in. This means doing things half-assed, is going to give you the same end result. Not to mention some of the outcomes of other people's behaviors. In my personal case, I seem to have come full circle to the very ancestors I came from. In my ancestral research to date, my family was farmers. Although I did not grow up that way, that way of life chose me to return to. I don't have the long lineage to look back to for "old ways, or traditions." I have had to adapt to what I could learn from the family I married into, whatever lessons I could find online and good ole trial and error. 

This life, for me, began by living in the country, growing a garden, preserving food, and raising chickens. Although my Dad has gardened for as long as I can remember...I truly didn't understand or know what do to with any of this life, when I started out. I was the typical clueless town kid. I really think that I was destined to this way of life. My grade school best friend, lived on a hog farm. I wanted to spend every possible moment at her house. It intrigued me even then. I know she wanted off the farm, but I wanted on one. I got away from it for several years, but when I moved to Missouri...I knew where I wanted to go with my life. My goals of the very life I now live, were in place...I just didn't have a clue what was involved. Now, I do know and although it is a lot of hard work and stress; I don't want to live any other way! 

The preparations and planning truly never end. I have said before that we plan for 6 months, to be able to live for the remaining 6 months. This is true to the core. I know many that can't plan for 6 days let alone 6 months. That is their thing, not mine. So, I will focus on what I know. 6 months of planning is not only utter chaos, but it's also difficult. On our farm, we have to plan for so much. There is the hay we will need to feed all the livestock, from the start of hay season until we can turn out on pasture the following year. There is the feed and minerals we will need for the same time frames. When the prices are sky high, that adds in a level of uncertainty for the financial planning. We have to plan for our own food too. Living very rural means that you will risk power outages, extended times of snow/ice preventing travel, flooding that could prevent travel, and now the extreme cost in food for us is adding insult to injury too. You plan for illness, pets, next year's gardening, ongoing food preservation in the event of long term power outages - freezers are great until there is no power. Then you start looking into what happens to other areas when there is no power - no power means the electric pumps for water don't work, there is no lights, no appliances to cook, no heat. So, keeping batteries, candles, matches/lighters, extra water, extra propane, extra wood, foil pans to cook on grills/fire, having cast iron, knowing how to cook on each of these alternative sources and no internet, not to mention even the simplest of things - something to do when you have no power. I keep lots of board games, decks of cards, and always have a ton of books. The thing is, reading by candle light is difficult. 

Keeping a back up supply is difficult and more costly now, than ever. Having back ups for back ups, has become the go to theory. I preserve everything possible from my gardens. However, I have no issue keeping canned goods from a store too. One thing I have had to learn, is to look at what I use in a day, week, month, and year. This is a challenge when you are just getting started. For example, I know I use 150 - 200 lbs. of flour on an average year, 150 lbs. of sugar, 20 lbs of baking soda, 50 lbs of epsom salt...to name a few. I know I preserve, on average of 800 jars of food every year. That means I have to keep that many jars, and that many flats. The flats are the piece that go on the top of the jar, that seals to keep the food fresh. The rings that twist on, can be reused, because I do not store my jars with the rings on. So I don't need as many of them. We typically butcher a steer once a year, that allows our family the beef we need. We have butchered 3 hogs a year to feed our family, and average about 100 lbs of chicken. This is a typical year for a family of 4-6. By the time we are ready to start butchering, we are typically the same as out of all of it. It takes about a year to feed a steer and have it ready to butcher. So, if we started feeding a steer right now, Next fall, we could butcher it to have for NEXT year. That is all part of the planning. One thing you have to always factor in on a farm, is the unexpected. This year is a great example. The drought this year has caused a hay shortage not just on our farm, but most local farms. So, it's not only been a smaller crop for us, but purchasing hay has become beyond difficult. Since so many others have faced the same issue, what little bit there is to buy, is stupid high...like pushing $200 per bale. These are the same bales we were buying for $50 - 6 months ago. My gardens have been hindered too. To keep them alive, and be able to get what we need from them, meant having to water them daily for about 3 months. This drove up the water bill, but that was still cheaper than having to buy everything from a store. It just took a lot more work. We finally did get some rain, but this week alone is going to be pushing 100 degrees and that will drain the moisture out of the soil very rapidly. Just as many of the crops begin to really produce, it appears we will be fighting mother nature again. The constant conversations of shortages has me very edgy. I've heard talk about grain shortages, rice shortages, and sugar shortages. So, I'm going to dive into the grain side. I know I have already heard many claim that they don't care about the grain side, because it won't effect them. Well, I beg to differ. Grain shortages mean - anything made with corn, wheat, soybeans, and even cotton...will effect EVERYONE. Think about what these grains go into: bread, cereals, corn bread, soda, cookies, snacks, nearly ALL processed foods, nearly ALL pet foods. Clothing that contains cotton, will continue to go up. Anyone that eats rice, you better have a well preserved back up there too. The large majority of everything we consume, will be increasing even more by fall. Folks, we are 8 weeks from Fall!! 

Here on my farm, I plan, organize, prepare and plan some more! If I have learned nothing else in life, I have learned you better have more back up plans than you can imagine!! What happens if you lose your job, lose an income, or your pension suddenly decreases or you no longer get it at all? Do you have a plan? Listening to the number of people that have paid into pension plans, retire and find out that those pension plans were stolen, or they were backed by commercial bonds; and suddenly those pensions are decreased to 25% of what you were previously receiving and the rest of your money is gone...scares me, I don't have a pension to worry about! Do you have money or precious metals to live on in the event of your pension being gone or decreased, or your income is suddenly gone, or you can't get your money out of a bank? Sadly, these scenarios are now realities. Would I prepared if one of these events happened here? That answer is no. I have watched our own incomes decrease dramatically, while the prices of everything continue to rise. My own budget went from "do-able" to oh shit...in the past 30 months. I have busted tail to try to get as much paid off as possible, but that has hit a wall too. It now takes nearly even penny just to makes ends meet. I have seen a $200 grocery budget that would cover our needs for 2 months, jump to nearly $700 for a 6 week supply. I have seen fuel receipts go from $200 monthly to now nearly $500 monthly...and we don't do anything besides off the farm jobs. We have seen our income decrease nearly by nearly $800 per month, the past year, due to inflation, cost of fuel, and increased cost of our farm. It gets a little intimidating at times to see the reality of what is happening in our country. 

One thing that I have trouble making sense of, is the complete disconnect from reality that so many are behaving like. I have heard so many excuses for ignoring what's happening, ignoring what needs to be done, or doing things compulsively. I guess, in a way I get it...but at the same time, I don't. We have to live our lives, I get that. What I don't get, is the inability to stop consuming so much. Seriously, our economy is in the tank, yet people are living off credit. Our current credit debt in this country is over a trillion dollars. Why?!?!?! So people can one up each other? So people can sky high vacations? So people can drive over priced cars? So people can have homes priced 5 times what they are actually worth? So people can have some stupidly priced phone with a brand name? Yes, I understand that having a home, a vehicle and even a cell phone are necessary today. What I don't get is need to be so far in debt, they will never be able to their way out. I don't understand the need to clutter our homes with a bunch of crap that will either never be used, or will be used a handful of times and forgotten about. I don't see a need to have the highest priced items, just because it's brand name or because someone else has it. I know we are all programmed to believe that the latest and greatest is necessary...but that is a big ole lie! What's wrong with an older vehicle? What's wrong with a home that is used or a little smaller? What is wrong with using financial common sense? 

I guess common sense isn't so common anymore. I can remember stories my grandmother's shared with me when I was younger. They talked about multiple generations living under one roof to help. This helped with not only the costs, but also the chores. They shared stories of growing up after the Great Depression, when they would wash off tin foil, rinse out Ziploc bags, made all their foods from scratch, when they would do everything they could to pinch 2 pennies together, and make the most of it. I can remember them talking about making their own clothes, hanging clothes on the line, they would condense any travel to minimize the expenses. They worked their fingers to the bone, to take care of their family's needs...but as the old phrase goes, "they didn't have a pot to piss in, or the window to throw it out of." You know what? Even though they worked hard, they had it all figured out. They took care of their family, they helped their neighbors, they helped their congregations, and their communities. When someone was in need, they took care of each other. Their morals, their values and their priorities were stronger than most of what we could imagine today. 

I think it's time we circled our proverbial wagons again. Look past the distractions and lies, and see what is important. Instead of walking past or scowling at that homeless person; buy them a sandwich or give them $5. Instead of being selfishly absorbed in all the latest and greatest, challenge yourself to live on half your income. Stop using your credit cards or loans for everything. Pay cash, for everything. If you don't have the cash, save your money until you do. I know, there are emergencies...but not having $9 for a Starbucks, is not an emergency. Get yourself a fireproof/waterproof small safe, and start socking $20 a pay period in it. Do not touch that money. Take another $20 per pay period and get yourself some canned foods - vegetables, soups, canned meats. Set them aside for a back up. If you want a vacation, take one that is a little cheaper...find a way to save some money. Keep your vehicles maintained, and they will last a long time. It's cheaper to fix an older vehicle that to buy a new one! Keep your cell phones for as long as possible! You don't need a new one if the old one still works. Learn some kind of usable skills. Cooking, baking, welding, electrical, carpentry, etc. Our country is seriously lacking people with skilled trades!!! 

Let's chat - warning - solutions

 Let's Chat.

WARNING *These are MY opinions, much of which will be generalized. If you are troubled by language, free thinking, and free speech...you may want to close out of this blog.*

I'm going to start today with this:  "we are in a full scale spiritual war!" We are in a true battle of good versus evil. Let's just touch on the "news" for this week.  Illegal drugs found at the white house, for the THIRD time; and the secret service claims there are no cameras in that area of the white house, and we may never know who brought them in. Seriously?! A woman in Alabama claims to have been abducted, after stopping to help a toddler beside the road, only to show up 49 hours later with a seriously messed up story and refusing to talk to police. Welcome to Smollet 2.0! A country song has stirred the shit pot for cry babies, as it calls out criminal behaviors, but they want to yell its racists...Seriously, sick of hearing that!! The big guy has mountains of evidence piling up against him and his entire family, the CIA, the FBI, multiple former administrations - on both sides of the isle. You just can't make this shit up anymore! Our economy is reminiscent of 1929, our numbers are being cooked by the bureaucrats, they keep changing definitions to avoid admitting that this administration has pulled off in 2 years what no other resident has done in history...complete desecration of America from within...the domestic enemy. Bankruptcies are up, car/RV/boat repossession are up, mortgage and vehicle loans are down, interest rates are up, inflation is up, real wages are down, children are being trafficking, the education system is teaching grade schoolers about sex and hating their own cultures, our national debt is the highest it has ever been, yet we are continuing to send money/weapons to Ukraine, we have a homeless pandemic, our veterans are struggling to get any help but the illegals are flooding in and being given plenty of handouts, and these are just a few of the topics that are being ignored. Or maybe people have just become desensitized, by design, to keep thinking all this will just go away if they ignore it. Have you ever heard what was said about Germany during WW2? Each "class" of people just kept to themselves while the previous "class" was being hauled off by rail. Until it was their turn, and they didn't have anyone left to help them. They would sing louder in churches, so they didn't have to hear the yells and trains. They didn't want to stand up, they thought if they just went about their days, they would be ok. 

Well folks, it's time to pick a damned lane! This fence sitting bullshit is no longer acceptable. You can only bury your head in the sand for so long. There are thousands of men and women that have fought and died for our rights in this country, the very rights that so many have abused by rioting, looting, burning our flag, and physically harming others. We all have the same rights, except the career politicians...they are immune, apparently, from being charged for treason and felonies. Most of the hard working Americans, are being raked over the coals in every way possible. We are taxed at the highest rates in history, our incomes have not kept up with increase in living expenses, we are forced to pay for health insurance that ends up costing us ten times what it was prior to the requirement. Prescription medications are so expensive that even with insurance; many of the life saving drugs are out of reach for those who need them. Our elderly are having to choose whether to eat and pay their bills or buy their meds. My parents generation, who are trying to retire, can not afford to! They can't retire and survive. Many of that generation are watching their service to our country be spit on by a bunch heathens, that couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag, let alone actually serve their country. Instead they need safe spaces and get out of jail free cards. They have no work ethic and want everything handed to them. 

I am all for "to each their own," BUT not when it harms others, destroys communities, or hurts our children. To my thought process, it comes back to respect. Not only for respect of others but also to the respect of self. How many decades has the government put a value on specific people, for the sake of being elected only?! Quite seriously, every time there is an election; think about where and who the politicians flock to, listen to their rhetoric and false promises. What have these career politicians ACTUALLY done for any of us?! Think about it. The election cycles are about women, blacks or minorities, the cities, what they "will be able to do if you vote for them." Well, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO BETTER ANYONE BESIDES THEMSELVES? Are our cities any safer? Is crime under control? Are the low income communities doing any better? Are our taxes any lower? Is or has any industry come back to the US, to provide good wages? Is our national debt any lower? ARE YOU ANY BETTER OFF NOW? If you are honest, I would almost guarantee none of us are! So, how's your voting history working for you? 

 

I can not apologize for being pissed off at the state of our country. I have been so very fortunate to have met so many of our veterans through the last several years. Did you know that only 1% of our countries population actually serves in the military? That is 1% that signs a blank check to our government, that is up to and including giving their own lives for THIS country and our Constitution. That 1% is willing to give all so that the other 99% can sit back and bitch about everything, burn our flag, destroy our values and communities - OR some of us willing to step up and fight for our rights, right beside them!! So where do you stand? Are you burying your head just waiting for another resident placement or are you willing to take a stand against criminals? Are you doing everything you can to break the chains of government enslavement or are you depending on the government for your next meal? 

 

I have actually been given a lot of advice on how to "deal with the new normal." First of all, what is happening in our country will NEVER be the new normal for anyone with half a brain. Second of all, I will not just keep my head down. Finally, I will remain realistic to what is happening around me and not live on some magic rainbow of "positive" thinking or "enjoy the show," bull shit. I am a realist. I call shit as I see it, as it effects me and those I care about. I will never take enjoyment watching good people lose everything they have worked for, while those sitting on their asses or come to this country illegally get handed a free pass.  I will not sit back, or turn up the music to avoid seeing the devastation being caused by worthless, useless cry babies; who think they are entitled to a damned thing they haven't worked their ass off to earn. 

Now, to focus on some solutions that we can do at a grass roots level. This is difficult, which is why most won't do it. First, you have to accept the reality of what is happening in and to our country. Stop watching the noise box, stop indulging in technology and go outside! Get to know your neighbors. Get to know your communities. Stop posting everything you do on social media. What you do in your life, should not be subject of someone else's opinion. I am guilty of this, to a degree. If you follow me on social media, you know I have slowed down a lot on there. My actual daily life, is never fully posted online - anywhere! You want to know what's going on with me, come visit. Learn to respect yourself - your beauty, your quirks, and even your flaws are uniquely YOU! Stop dressing in clothing that doesn't fit - too big or too small is not becoming!! No one wants to see your ass crack or any other anatomy! Give yourself the respect you want, otherwise no one else will either. Be a good person. Yes, you will get burned sometimes...but it is not about others! It's about knowing your integrity is your own priority! Your character speaks volumes of YOU! Learn to communicate. If you can not explain something in a way that a 5 year old could understand, you don't know enough about it. Do your own research. Seriously, pick a subject and LEARN it!! I don't care how old you are, you can still learn. Stop thinking everything you are being programed with through the noise box. They never give the full details. Make sure you are getting your own life in order. Work towards paying off your debts, work on saving - even if it's just a couple of bucks a pay period to start...and do not spend it! Stock your homes with 3-6 months of food, medicines, pet supplies, first aid supplies, water, anything you would need. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you make $50K a year, live like you only make $25K a year. Learn some real skills...gardening, sewing, cooking, baking, plumbing, electrical, carpentry. Something that would allow you to not only learn, but could allow for a side gig, if necessary. Stop wasting time and money on college if you aren't going into a field like medicine, science, teaching, legal. Get some trade knowledge - again, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, concrete, etc. The world is short on skilled laborers. The world is short on people that have real life skills. Find a good mentor and learn by working with them side-by-side. Shop local. Help support your communities by using local owned businesses, farmers markets, local farmers, local egg producers, local gardeners or community gardens. It may take some leg work on your part, to find local producers...but they are in every community, if you look. Learn some Holistic healing practices, herbal teas/salves, and natural healthcare. No matter how much some people would like to sugar coat the conditions in our country...we are on borrowed time before shit hits the fan. Our grid is wide open to cyber attacks, our government has depleted our military so it can not defend our country, our food supply is being chemically laced everyday, our water supply is full of flouride and chlorine. It's no wonder cancer, heart disease and other illnesses are on the rise. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF!!! You want a better life and better health - it's up to you to learn how to make that happen!!!

Imprisoned by identities

 

I can't even begin to count the number of times I have gotten bent out of shape over all the labeling that has happened the past decade. Seriously, the labels are out-of-control! Political labels, sexual relationship labels, religious labels, even so much as male or female - it's quite ridiculous. Even as I write, I noticed on my sidebar where you can "add labels" to your blog. Incredible.

This morning I heard a statement that said: "we have become imprisoned by identities we inherit." I believe this is the same thought process I have had, in a much more pronunciation means. My thought is that we limit our selves by feeling a need to put a label on everything. For example: I am a person that believes we all have the right to live our lives, in a matter that does not harm others. Yes, I am a female, yes I have very conservative but American first beliefs, I don't believe in religion but have full faith in God, I am straight, white, pro 2nd, pro Constitution, anti-violence, pro equal opportunity but anti equality, pro life but also believe in medical freedom and privacy. The first statement was the general one. The second was with labels. I am not one to hate others, however, I do hate the divisions that have been used as prey to desecrate people of all creed, color, sex, and preferences. I believe only those qualified to do a job, should be able to get the job...not just putting a check mark in a box. I don't give a rats behind if you are black, white, green, yellow or red; if you are qualified, are willing to learn or have what a company is needing....that is only way you should get a job. 

Many years ago, the labeling process began. It included another "movement" that has desecrated the sanctity of what it was meant to be. The feminist movement. What began as a noble idea,  became one of ignorance. Just as many others have. Women, not people pretending to be, wanted equality. They wanted to be recognized as people, not objects. They wanted equal rights to men. They wanted to be able to work, to make decisions for themselves, to be able to vote, get an education, and not be enslaved. Through the decades, it is now a battle for women's sports to be actually women competing, it's a battle to just be able to say you are a woman...since the definition of one is now in question. Again, so many movements that have held real merit, have been desecrated by ignorance and greed. Just think back to all the women that decided to fight against being raped, the "Me Too" movement. Was destroyed by people that used it for their own enrichment. The "Black Lives Matter" movement, was yet another one. When black business owners and communities were destroyed by the people within that movement, they lost all credibility. The Gay community is yet another movement that has been destroyed. There are people that take these very legitimate movements and destroy them with ignorance, and truly make the entire movement lose its value. 

Then we get to where everything is overly shared. Seriously, all of us are guilty of this. We have shared our meals, pictures of our vacations, our children, our homes, our vehicles, basically every angle of our lives on the internet. Yet, most people that you talk to, realize how unsafe online social media sites are. We all do this. I know my social media is locked to only those I know personally, but the photos and messages are still online. Once something goes online, even if you remove it, it is still in the cyber world. The stuff we put online, stays there! We are sharing everything in our lives, 24/7. We make adjustments once in a while, but these things are always out there. It's already been reported to congress that every single person is being monitored, 24/7. That was allowed by the Patriot Act after September 11th. Did you know that? 

We have to break the mold of labeling everything. We are all so much more that some pathetic label. Our political parties are not 2 separate parties, they have become one in the same. There are only 2 DNA genders, deal with it. You either carry the XX or XY codes. You can love who you love without destroying any other beliefs. Skin color only matters if someone is trying to keep you from achieving what you are capable of, with some work. Nothing in life is fair, even if you are promised it is. Not everyone is going to come in first place, if you want first place...you better work your butt off to earn it. You want the posh job with the corner office, you better educate yourself to be the best for that position. You better learn to take care of yourself! Have respect for yourself, for your goals, and for others. You are not just given respect because you think you deserve it. You are given respect when your character deserves it, when you have become a productive member of society. When you are a good person. 

So, I'm pretty irritated with a lot as of late. When you walk into a store and you see this: someone wearing clothes inappropriate of being in public, hair an utter disaster, smells to high heaven, ass crack hanging out, a boob hanging out, and bragging about their food stamps and child's father being forced to pay child support while you sit on your ass....I have zero respect. Now, if you need those food stamps to help while you are gaining more knowledge, while you rebuild; fine. It was not meant to be a way of life. Have enough respect for yourself to put on clothes that fit to start with, brush your hair, put on some deodorant, look respectable in public, behave like you have some sense. I was raised that you dressed in a manner that you wished to become. You may have to start at the bottom and work your way up, but you don't have to look like you were dragged out of the gutter. You are better than that! We are ALL better than that. 

I believe that so many of us have been bullied into a belief that there is a massive divide in our country, and I just don't believe that. I believe the majority have similar beliefs, but those trying to divide and conquer have the bull horn, and are playing on emotions to keep a fire burning. It doesn't matter what color we are, what religion/faith we believe in, what our bedroom activities are, or even what the false identity politics claim to be. We all bleed red, and we are all being bullied by one entity or another. We need to come together and have the difficult conversations without yelling or name calling; and solve the issue that our government has created.

Coffee and Life

 

                                                                   Coffee and Life!

 

I thought I would blog this morning. Just some conversation about life, with my coffee as a side kick. I was kind of blindsided about 2 weeks ago with an onslaught of worries. I have gotten frustrated with the increased prices, the pathetic employment standards, and so much more. I thought I would take a break from research, from some tasks that seemed to keep me constantly busy, and do some refocusing. Well, that has been a little scary. You see, I keep myself overly busy to keep my mind focused. When I make lists, plan out my days/weeks, have multiple events to manage, or take time for company/visitors; it requires me to stay on task. I need routine. I need to have a plan. I can not "fly by the seat of my pants." It does not work for me. It makes me too anxious. 

 

So, I stay busy. I know my routines/schedules. When they change or do not have a back up plan...oh boy. I have taken some time to refocus and re-evaluate. That has been kinda messy. My year's are pretty much always consistent. My gardens are planned all year. They get final planning January - March, and I get seeds started in March & April. I get my plants in May. I garden for as long as I possibly can into fall. From June-October, I preserve whatever foods I can. I keep notes on what and how things grow. I keep notes on how much is preserved every year to know what my family uses. I keep notes of where in the gardens I grow things every year, so I can rotate the crops each year but also so I know what additions I need to use to improve the soil quality each year. I know putting in sunflowers helps draw out any chemical run off/sprays that come from surrounding fields. I know putting in other flowers helps to draw not only the pollinators, but they help improve the soil too. I have learned how epsom salts, wood ash, and bone meal improve soil quality and production. I spend my winter/cold months constantly learning all I can about improving my gardening and food preservation skills. Gardening is a year round project. I know I have to stay on top of house cleaning - since my family fights with serious sinus and allergy issues, we don't have the luxury of  surface cleaning unless we all want to fight with one issue or another. I can tell you, the past year....you can tell how much surface cleaning has happened instead of the needed and necessary deep cleaning. Staying on top of laundry is a losing fight! I can do laundry daily, and there is always more to do. Our annual event schedule this year has had a few additions. Typically, it's a get together for New Year's Eve, a party in March, a get together on July 4th, a party in September, our veteran hunt in September, Thanksgiving, Christmas Open House, and Christmas. This year we have the added event of a wedding, and my trip to my family reunion. Keeping inventory of our pantry and freezers is necessary. After we got rid of 2 freezers earlier this year, we learned how much had been lost in the bottom of the chest freezers, and forgotten about. That was a heartbreaking loss. That brings me to the next line of thoughts.

So, I'm pretty certain a large majority are feeling the pinch, these days. From the increase in food and fuel to utilities and insurance, to interest rates on loans. Our wages are not increasing to meet the increase in the even the necessary expenses, let alone discretionary expenses.  I work very hard to manage our budget, our expenses, and juggle any repairs or upgrades, as I can. That being said, the past 3 years have been a really BIG challenge! We all know what the lockdowns were like. Well, at least those that didn't get "extra" money. I believe a majority got the "Covid checks." Aside from that. In my household, there wasn't "extra" money. The increase in unemployment, only made our checks equal what our regular checks would have been, if there would not have been a layoff. So, we weren't fortunate enough to have extra...only what we were accustomed to. The only bonus we got, was having my husband home for 5 months to work around the farm on projects that there were never enough hours for. Anyway, after that, we had the supply chain issues and the inflation issues. Everything went up. Concrete, lumber, food, toilet paper, fencing and supplies, basically everything. It is STILL high. We had planned for a 14 x 36 concrete patio, for several years. What was going to cost about $1800 in 2019, was nearly $5000 in 2020/2021, $6500 in 2022....and I can't even afford to price it this year! The grocery budget that was $400 monthly in January 2020, has doubled in 3 years. The utilities that ran about $500 monthly in January 2020, is almost $700 now. Fuel that cost us $300 monthly for 3 vehicles, is now over $300 monthly for ONE vehicle. Fencing and supplies are double in price, feed/grain is now double in price, repairs are double in price. As of writing this blog, to make ends meet and have anything available for any non-necessary expenditures...we would need to make no less than $75K a year, and I promise you we DON'T!!! So, when I hear these economists, and these educated idiots talking about how great the economy is doing....I call bullshit!!! I suppose if you want to work 2-3 jobs, per person in your home, and do nothing but work...sure, the economy may not effect you. Sadly, there are a large majority that have outstanding debt ten times what we have, and I can't begin to guess how they are doing it. We don't have much for outstanding debts, but at this point in time...any debt is a bad deal! 

Then I move on to the farm side of life. We have recently learned some information on some groups of people, and how they are financially able to price other residents out of purchasing a farm, or purchasing more land. In my area, we have watched land prices sky rocket to levels unsustainable for average people. I know our prices here are less expensive than other areas, but we also have limited job options, basically no industry and it's a long way to any major area. Anyway, looking at this from my perspective - what we would be interested in. Hay and Pasture ground to purchase has increased in price nearly $3000 per acre in just the past 5 years. Now, this means that it is good land, with good fencing, good building, water source, etc. To rent this kind of ground, can't be done because of the group of people I mentioned a bit ago. Just about like purchasing any ground. I'm not even going to get into when there is family ground that taken out of the option because of greed when one passes away. Anyway, that group of people is able to take out hundred year loans, that they pay on their entire lives, and then pass down to their male children. So, it's easy to give $7K-$10K an acre for farm ground, when you get a loan like that...with no to little interest. Local farmers wanting to sell out, see them as guaranteed money, and typically they are, but a normal person has no chance in starting or expanding their own farms. Especially now, when interest rates are 7+% - 10+%. Can you imagine the payment, let alone debt of a million dollar farm?! Young people wanting to get started don't have a snowballs chance in hell!! I'm not even going to get into the big farmers that have the cash flow to look wealthy on paper but are in debt over their heads!!! I'm not going to get into the underhanded, under cutting that is currently going on in this world. It's enough to make a sane person sick!! None of this even touches on costs of feed or grain, to raise livestock. This year, being in an extreme drought, showed me exactly what my husband has said about farming being a gamble. When hay bales have already nearly $200 each, a load of sheep feed(that will last about 8 weeks) is over $1000, chicken feed has doubled in prices, cracked corn that was $6 a bag less than 3 years ago, is now closer to $20. It is very discouraging to see small farmers, and homesteaders on the brink of complete collapse due to all of this I have just talked about. 

We have never intended for our little farm to be a "money maker." This was meant to be our homestead, with livestock and a place to raise our family and put down roots. This was part of a bigger plot of the family farm, that meant the world to us. This was meant to be closer to my husband's mother and step father to help out, and they would have their piece of the family farm, again...to keep it in the family. Thankfully, we weren't able to sell ours when we had to make an employment change. It was tough for a couple of years, but we came back home. I will NOT be leaving my little corner of the world again. Although it gets stressful, this plot of land is my peace and refuge. This is where I feel closest to the loved ones that have passed, and where I have my way spiritually. Home does not necessarily mean a house, it's the place you find your peace. It's where you have a connection. While we have been able to find a means of adding enough income from the farm to justify the livestock and equipment, it's not a money maker. 

I guess, as I have been told plenty of time, I see things differently. I have had the privilege of living a different life style that helps me to see how incredibly beneficially small farms truly are. I have been given a unique opportunity to expand my limited knowledge and grow beyond anything I thought possible. There are so many though, that have truly taken ignorance to a new level. Burying my head in the sand because I don't want to ruffle feathers is not who I am, let alone not allowing myself to see the forest through trees. I am happy to have a backbone, happy to speak my mind - even if it irritates 99% of those around me, and truly happy that I removed myself from so many toxic situations that I can say I have what my heart, soul and mind needed...even when I didn't know it at the time. 

I am in that generation now, where our parents and if we are lucky to still have them, our grandparents, are aging and having more health issues. It's been difficult in my household to have so many parents. Both my husband and I come from split families. We both have had our parents and step parents, and my husband is so blessed to still have a grandmother. However, even though we know we are beyond blessed...we still only have so many hours in a day, we still have a child to raise, and we have the farm. So, time gets very thin daily. We try to stay in communication, although we don't do great, I will admit that. We try to stay in the loop with our siblings and step-siblings, although that is not going well. In addition to our child, our farm, the off the farm jobs, on the farm jobs, repairs, hay, livestock, and now we can throw in severe hardships...it's gets to be pretty overwhelming. Since losing my mother-in-law, I have seen how people really feel and have seen things. It has reminded me of what I was told when I was first married....you are only married into the family, not part of it. So, I guess it showed me my place. Especially when certain ones quit speaking to me all together. I can't control that, even if it hurts. It is what it is. I can't dwell on something I can't change. I know I have done what I could to help but I'm not actual family.

Anyway, Just a few thoughts today. It's already afternoon and I need some serious garden therapy. Have a great weekend.