Sorry, I have a busy life, please forgive me......

    Well as most of you have seen that I have not done a post in a while, I apologize but life has been hectic. First, I have transferred to a new location and getting my feet on the ground an running. Everything is good with the new job, I am really like it there. Baseball has been in full spring mode and now that we are done with out exhibition games, the season starts in 2 weeks. Both boys are doing very well on a team of mis-fits. This will be the last season we will play in the county recreation league as numerous parents from last years championship are wanting to put the old team back together and play travel ball. It should be fun.

     While I have been gone I have done a few things. As most of you know we no have pigs. We bought 3 gilts almost a month ago and they have been growing pretty fast, matter of fact I had to build a new hog pen as they started to out grow the first one. I also constructed the new one farther away from the house.

 

Went and got 5 more panels from Tractor Supply to start our breading expansion.

            Along with building the new pen for the pigs, I have also been getting the garden in the ground. We have been pretty lucky with getting the garden in without rain hampering our plans and holding off until it's all in. 

First 3 rows of sweet yellow corn

remaining 2 rows of sweet corn

5 rows of corn, 1 row of yellow onions, 1 row of green beans, 20 tomato, 15 various pepper plant, and row of red potatoes

row of red potatoes

      Now for some other news. I haven't even had a chance to do any upgrades on the "Fouled XJ" but here is a pic of it in the last snow fall when we went to a neighbors property to do some sledding.

And a small video of driving to town 

 

      Let me make this statement. I am so blessed to have a family that is so on-board with the lifestyle of being self-sustaining. Yes, there is more to do and we have come along way and we plan on doing more but the WHOLE FAMILY is involved. I mean, really how can you call yourself a big time prepper/survivalist when you live in a HOA mandated community, create multiple websites that all have failed, and do Internet postings of raised bed gardens when you have the fencing and area to actually plant a real garden? Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with people wanting to plant a few crops in planters in their back yard and enjoy the success of eating something you grew, but don't tout yourself as some expert when you can't even feed one person in your family with your bounty. As far as I am concerned, you have earned Amateur status in my book. You know who your are and your buddy lives in a freaking apartment and eats Wendy's on group camping trips. Enough said on this.......

     Well I hope everyone has a great week and I would like some input on this. JUGM and I have been thinking about combining out sites into one blog. The reasoning behind it is sometimes we may step on each other toes when doing blog posts of the things we are doing. It will also increase the postings that we will be doing as a family so I would like to hear every-ones input. So fire away.

Senior

 

Happy New Year to all, Stereo install in the Fouled XJ, New Hennessy Hammock, and review of De Santis Mad Max IWB Holster

    Happy New Year to everyone out there in Blogger land. I thought I would take a break from posting part III of the survival buckets and write up a post. I was in much need of a break from work so with the Christmas and New Year holiday, I took 4 days off to get 10 days off with weekends and observed Federal holidays. Let me tell you I really enjoyed the time off and I need to hurry up and pay stuff off so I can make this a more permanent lifestyle.

    A little over 2 months ago I went out to the XJ on my lunch break to listen to talk radio and eat lunch. I turned the radio on and I have no FM, and AM would play for 3 seconds or so, then cut out and come back on. The previous owner had installed a DUAL brand stereo and it had finally started to die. Christmas day comes around and I had a new Pioneer stereo with Bluetooth and remote under the tree. Later Christmas day, the install took place

Old Stereo

I was lucky because the previous install used Crutchfield's mounting and wiring harnesses

Factory wiring harness with old stereo harness. Also, my Connex 10 meter died so I have a Cobra CB w/ kicker now

New stereo harness and Crutchfield factory harness. Just match the colored wires up and you are good to go.

Stereo installed. Notice Bluetooth mic on top of dash.

     This Christmas I also upgraded to the Hennessy Hammock with side zipper entry and camouflage rain-fly. I felt I may need a new one as my bottom entry Hennessy hammock is pushing 10 years old. Worst case, I don't have to move my "Get-Home Bag" from different vehicles, I can just build another bag. This year, Hennessy Hammock had good deals on hammocks, including free-shipping, snake skins, water collection/Rain Fly tension system and a free "Leaf" day hammock.

     For many years, I have carried my Glock 23 in a De Santis Mad Max IWB holster. I had two Kydex based holsters prior to purchasing my first Mad Max holster and I started to notice wear on the finish so that's when I switched to strictly leather holsters. This holster has been through a lot over the past 8 years, specifically 5 years of dirt, sand, rain, and sweat in the Florida heat when I had my landscaping business. I have been really pleased with the comfort and condition after all this time. One of the features I like the most is this holster, like many others, as it accepts other Glock models, so my 17 will also fit. I have placed JUGM's 26 in the holster and it fits good but barrel length doesn't quit reach the bottom of the holster. There is also plastic clips included for those who want to carry without a belt. I will continue to wear the old one only when I do work around the house. Here are some photo's

23 in Black (New), 17 in natural (old)

Notice wear on backside.

 

     I figure 8 years is long enough to do a review of my De Santis Mad Max holster. I am not the type who will purchase an item, drop, kick, pour water over it, turn it on/off a few times and then write a review, that's not me. I also do this with no compensation from any company which is fine by me, I don't have to do a good write up for a piece of shit to make good graces. Would I recommend De Santis holsters from my experience? YES!!!!  

    Well as we start a new year, I hope with the change that is coming in the executive office will turn out to be good, I am praying that it does. Look at it this way, can it be any worse that the last 8 years. I'm sure Obummer will be a pain in the side of everyone as he takes his "Russian hack" message nationwide on his 2017 community organizer tour. I hope everyone has a great year and more to follow at a later time.

Senior 

A quick post about the garden, Project "Fouled XJ", and CPO results are out.

    Just wanted to put a quick post out. CPO results are out and one of my guys will be pinned shortly. Congrats to OSC Gaines, slated at 51 I think, well done shipmate. BZ!!!!!! Things have been hectic to say, 3 trips to Florida in the past month, with me only making one of them. Mother in law has been placed in a great facility that provides excellent care. My father in law has gone from death's bed to a good recovery, but we shall see what the future holds as he is on a see-saw right now. As everyone knows when you have family members that you are close with and their health takes all kinds of turns, you have to step away from time-to-time to handle what is most important to you. As we have not posted much on our blogs, we have been somewhat busy taking our time off things.Since we have had little rain up until the past few days, we had resorted to watering our crops

Drip Irrigation line for Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, and Squash

One Pumpkin with a bubbler

Lower part of the line with the Squash.

These were awaiting me the day I came back from FL. There is a couple of weeks between pics.

Fall Tomatoes with Drip lines

Bought a few to try, Cucumber is only thing doing well. They all contain foreign seed.

     Now we hit the mother load on Cantaloupes and Watermelons this year from seed purchased at out local farm and feed store. We did manage to eat a few before we had this problem.

     Since it has been so dry around here, some of the wildlife has been partaking in a buffet of watermelon to get water. They couldn't get through the rinds of the cantaloupe.

One mom and her cub

Another mom and two cubs, one cub was smart and didn't make it in. Don't believe me?

Smart cub hanging on the outside of the cage with door down. Mom's eye glowing from trail camera

 

Cub who though he was smart

     These 6 Raccoon's were relocated about 5 miles away in a cemetery. Sorry, I don't kill not unless I am going to eat what I shoot or catch. If this was for a SHTF situation and I needed food, well grab the hot sauce then. Now, personal defense situations are different.


     I was very fortunate to have served in the Navy for 20 years with almost half of that time wearing the Chief's "Fouled Anchor". To make the transformation of our XJ unique, I figured I would give it this project name. We made the decision to put off a couple projects till the winter and spring so I can get a few mod's done.

  

   

     A Rough Country 4.5" was installed with 33" TOYO M/T tires on aluminum rims. I did have to trim the fender wells a bit as hard turning caused a small amount of rubbing on the plastic in the fender well. All fixed now. Next up is a transfer case drop kit. I could go with a slip yoke elimination kit but I will wait until I need to rebuild the transmission to save money for other stuff. With some lifts, your driveshaft angles change at higher lifts and I need to lower the transfer case to restore the angles back to as normal as possible. Its drive able but you do have vibrations at certain speeds.

Upcoming modifications will include:

• Front bumper equipped with winch

• Rear bumper with rear tire carrier

• Fender Flares

• Roof mounted cargo carrier

• When I find the right one, cargo area lockable storage vault for inside

• 10 meter Connex Radio and kicker (already have, just need to install). Had a great radio network in Florida with Stephen and the guys, We were able to do comm-checks up to 50 miles away without skip conditions. If we couldn't hear someone, another group member could relay for them. 

More to follow.

Senior