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Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Preparing for War?

No, but it sure does feel that way.

Before I continue with this post, an update. Monday evening we took a motorcycle that has been in our garage for some time back to the owner. The bill for the work was more than we thought it would be in the beginning, plus the owner gave my husband a generous tip. I have all the back money I owe the propane company in my pocket, and have called them to come fill me up. As soon as they show, my back pay will be current and I will have propane. We are current on all other bills.

Getting ready to live and work in the middle of now where, feels more like survival prep than anything else. The thing is, the farmstead is literally in the middle of nowhere, the center of the US, towns too far away to walk to. Even the Mennonites in the area say our farm is in the sticks. Today my mother and I will be hitting the thrift stores in the city. I need rain gear, work gloves and various odd and ends. There are so many things that even I in my rural existence take for granted. There is no last minute runs to the store where we are going.

Guns are also on the list. Something that I will have to keep on my persons at all times when at the farmstead. Why you ask? Does Kansas have bears or something? I haven't seen bears, but we do have wild dog packs, coyotes, other various rabid animals as well as us seeing proof that there are cougars in them there hills. To protect myself and my livestock I will need something more than a bolt action .22 rifle. I have found a private dealer that is willing to work within my meager budget. I will be purchasing a Russian SKS. The Chinese version is worthless, Russian it is. These guns have been buried and dug up by a bulldozer and have been known to still work. You can submerge them in water and they still work. And the bullets are standard size. My mother asked me what I would do with such a thing, it is an assault rifle (technically, no). But it is a good gun, and it works well for both hunting and defense.

Defense got me to thinking. What happens if I have to pee, and I leave my rifle strapped to my horse? Here is were I decided to also purchase a .38 Special. I prefer revolvers over more modern guns because they are simple. I will not need to to shoot distance, this hand gun will be for close up, if something sneaks up on my while my butt is hanging out. I am not certain yet, if I will get it. I do have my knives as many of you know.

And then there are all the animals, medical supplies, food rations, and things I haven't thought of yet. I need to look at horses, stock trailers (probably just borrow for now). Keeping deer out of the garden, getting that armadillo out from under the house, keeping raccoons out of the cabinets, and make arrangements to barter with the local hog farmer. The list continues to get longer. And on top of all that, my husband will only be out during the weekends. As long as he has a job, he will stay in town. In the winter and in the spring there might be no way for him to get there because of the flooding and the snow. We could go weeks without seeing each other.

The Neophyte Homestead also has to be worked. We will be going room to room, fixing, and insulating, getting it ready for another family to rent it. I do not want to lose this place, nor sell it if we don't have to. Any potential renters out there?

28 comments:

Given55 said...

Need to include...the house has a hole in the roof...water supply...sleeping quarters...garden saved from all them critters...doors...saws, to cut down all those dead trees...school...church....did I forget anything...oh yea, what the hell are we doing????

Given55 said...

Forgot...medicine. No, doctors and it takes EMS or police 2 hours to get there. I am sure I will think of more.

Lisa said...

This is going to be quite the adventure!! I look forward to riding along.

A couple of thoughts. Kill the armadillo but be prepared that it one stinky animal! If you don't kill it, it will just keep coming back. Oh, and they shriek like a little girl if you scare them!

I, too, keep a firearm when I am out on my property. But I wear a 9mm instead of a revolver. I find the revolver MUCH harder to fire, because of the revolving action. I suppose if I were really scared, the adrenaline would help me out.

I think you are doing great. Just keep making your lists as you think of things. It will take time, but will eventually come together.

Captain's Wife - Jennifer said...

Sarah Connor from Terminator popped to mind when I read your post!

How totally thrilling! I too am looking forward to being (vicariously) along for your journey. Post a list of things you need...I bet there are probably a lot of us who have things we would love to send you to help you get going!

The Fool said...

We have a to drive 90 miles one way to get to the nearest town for many amenities...I can relate. On the plus side...it's amazing how much you can do without. I haven't made the trip in about 5 months.

Anonymous said...

Wish I were in a position to rent. =) I am so excited about your new adventure!

Tim Appleton (Applehead) said...

I think you are prophetic and don't acknowledge it. I want a .357 now.

April Bourgois said...

Wow, ladies, you're going whole hog! Definitely post a list of needs, if only to give us a clearer picture of what craziness you're undertaking.

Robbyn said...

Ok, can I just say HOW jealous I am??? (don't laugh, seriously!) We are SO rooting for you!!

Robbyn said...

P.S. of the very few guns I've ever shot in my life, the SKS is one of them and I. Loved. It. Loved loved loved!! (and have a serious respect for...)

FancyHorse said...

I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Kelli said...

I really think you should push yourself to have a little more adventure in your life. It seems, well....I don't know so boring. LOL far from it. There are many of us in your same shoes. It is so doable, forge ahead and don't let any nay-sayers discourage you.

Judy T said...

What a grand adventure! I would love to live out in the middle of nowhere- really. But the commute would be a bit far to my day job. Make your lists and check them twice.
Judy

Sandy@American Way Farm said...

Hubby bought me a .357 mag with a 6" barrel for valentine's day a few years back. My kind of guy! -Sandy

Gail said...

Keep on keepin' on.

Anonymous said...

I'd argue with you about the Chinese SKS being worthless. I own one and it's fairly sturdy. Norinco (the outfit that exported the SKS, Tokarev and other guns to the us market) made a couple of different guns and imports and I guess the early imports where chinese military surplus that were shot to hell and back. Thus the bad quality rap.
You wanna go classy, get a Yugoslavian one, they've been hands down outstanding little guns.
I don't know what your experience is with guns or "gun people" but you have to be careful, a lot of these people have more opinion than sense.

Just a curiosity, why didn't you consider something like an Enfield, A Mosin Nagant or a mauser or any of the other "cheap" surplus military guns? I've had some goods ones I've picked up for as low as $60 that all shot well. (Ugly military finishes, but definitely functional).

I love my .38 specials. There's still some great deals on the old police turn ins. They are also really easy to reload since they have the straight walls. I do mine by hand from time to time. Everyone wants the sexy "pimp" automatics, but I'm one for a revolver. If you get a dead shell in a revolver you pull the trigger again. In a auto you gotta do the whole "tap, roll and rack" thing. Don't discount them for distance shooting, they hold their own.

Something else you might consider too, is a .357 magnum. You can shoot the .38 specials through it, but when you "go to town" you can load it with .357 magnums for man stopping.

Like your blog man, I'll check back in!

Country Girl said...

Wow, what an adveture you will take on. What about the kids? Will they be with you? Where will they school....is the bus ride gonna be killer or what? just curious.

Phelan said...

Hi Thomas, and welcome to my world. The crack about the SKS was a little tongue and cheek. But I have heared they have some issues with the stock. The dealer I am getting it fro, I have known for years, ex-millitary, ex-cop, now dealer. I do trust him. I like the SKS, the weight and size just seems to fit. As for the .38 and distance, I don't discount them, just have experince with them not being as accurate as I would like them to be. The rifle should be just fine for anything distance I need. My father and grandfather were cops, and they both had them. Seems fitting for me to have one as well. Simple is usually better.

Phelan said...

Country girl, the bus ride is 2 hours one way. It will be killer. We will be placing a church/school house on the land as well. Hopefully my sister-in-law can be their teacher if SHTF.

white_lilly said...

You are one tough lady!
What an adventure for you and your family. All the best and take care :)

Anonymous said...

Hello Dearie,
Might I suggest a Charter Arms? I have a five shot 44 but they make 38 also, stainless or blue and very affordable. We live way out in the sticks also and if you'd like any ideas, I'm willing to help. I grew up with firearms and poor country living.
YeOldFurt

Phelan said...

YeOldFart, I always welcome the help.

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

Phelan, email me. Kinda regarding my last post (the 1-3-09 one).

I love thrift stores!

And I'll take the garden/orchard minion's spots any day... :)

Anonymous said...

"But I have heared they have some issues with the stock"

Oh yeah, the Chinese are not a big people. So taking a gun made to fit a 18 year old five foot nothing Chinese man and then trying to fit that same gun to a 6ft corn fed country person can be a pain in the butt.

Glad you got a good dealer!

Phelan said...

I was told to change out the stock if I got one. Te only ones he has in stock are the Russian's. Which is fine. I have shot them before, and enjoyed every minute of it. :D

Anonymous said...

I prefer a .357 myself...

Also Lisa suggested killing the armadillo...I don't disagree but be careful with the carcass as they can carry some nasty diseases.

Barb Smith said...

Poor country girl raising gave me lots of knowledge about much of what you're talking about here. (About all we bought when I was growing up was flour, sugar, spices (but we grew our herbs), fabrics and threads, and a few other misc. things.)
Anyway, the point I was coming to...cut your own hair and spread the clippings around the perimeter of your garden. The deer do NOT like the smell...and neither do rabbits. Still thinking of other hints and helps.
Have you thought about bees? One hive can provide much honey for sweetening, baking, etc. and beeswax for candles.
Peace & Love,
~Barb~

Phelan said...

Barb, hair? oh goody! Thank you for that. heard peeing around it will keep them out as well. And I have 2 hives, we bought them last year.

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