Pre-Filter Your Water

Many people send a lot of money for a good water filter for camping and emergencies. Some of those filters are really great and can filter out the smallest of particles.

I am no expert at water filtration devices. I leave that to my friend Steve Spence at

 http://www.green-trust.org/wordpress/

He has so much information on his site regarding eco-friendly solutions to reduce energy consumption and more.

If you have a Berkey water filter, or any other type of filter, you want it to last as long as possible. A good way to extend the life of your water filter is to pre-filter the water.

In case you haven't noticed this about me, I like to find other uses for things I have.

I have some non-electric drip coffee "makers" that I use to filter so much more than coffee.

I use the white ceramic one for filtering hot bacon grease and for filtering maple tree sap for making syrup. The center is a reusable filter that I am not impressed with and don't recommend. The paper filters are natural non-bleached and thou I like environmentally healthy things, these impart a flavor that is less than desirable. I would go with the bleached ones for making coffee or filtering water.

The dark plastic one is what I have for my survival pack.

It is very durable and light weight and I don't have to worry about it shattering.

I use this to pre-filter water before using my other water filters. If you don't have any paper filters you can either use a clean T-shirt or a clean sock in place of the paper. Even if your clothes are not clean, hopefully you will be running it through a better filter to take out the rest of the nasties. Just think hard before using a dirty sock, please. I can't guarantee THAT won't impart a less than desirable taste. And isn't the point of filtering water partly for a refreshing drink or preparing tasty food?

Okay, just get some good paper filters and leave your socks out of it.

Thank you for stopping by.

Dee Dee

Pics to Ponder - Chain Link

Be advised, not all materials shown are what is needed for this project, but alternatives are shown just for representative purposes.

I am posting these pictures as a favor to those that wanted to see what I was talking about.

It's a HANDy little thing that can connect to large chains together. You may need to get a larger size if your "chain" is too big to fit in this link.

You can replace the yarn with rubber tubing and the denim with leather to make a field tourniquet to help control bleeding. The link can be placed over a feminine pad over the wound and the tubing wraps around the body part involved.

The pouch is to put the stick through to tighten or loosen so the tubing does not get damaged.

Nod your head now because you understand!

Thank you for stopping by. It's been a treat. I really enjoy our little visits.

Dee Dee

Boats Are More Than You Think

It is really nice to be able to get out on the lake and enjoy nice weather, do some fishing or just take in the air. I don't have a boat yet but I am considering getting one. Hopefully a sturdy row boat.

A row boat, though they can be quite heavy, can also provide shelter.

If placed upside down over a small dug out area that is wind protected by hills, supported with dirt or rocks, it can help protect you from wind and hail that other structures, like a tent, won't provide.

Use the anchor to help hold it down and also secure it at other points.

What got me thinking about this ( I know I can be a bit much, excuse me) was the possibility of a polar shift and the possible effects of the comet that we will be seeing from Sept. to Nov. this year. I have read some very alarming views on this, so in my head, instead of panicking, I look at how to solve the problem. Since not everyone can build an appropriate high tech shelter, this might be an option. The poor man's shelter. Besides, if it floods you can turn the boat over and row out of there.

 If you have a larger group you could opt for a pontoon as long as it has a metal floor, but the curved surface of a row boat is better.

Don't shelter near anything that can become a debris hazard like trees and loose rocks.

And if that mean old comet does cause problems, try to help others. We will all be in the same boat. And in the meantime, hiding under a secured boat during a storm can save you some welts. Just don't be touching the metal as I can tell you from first hand experience lightning does not feel good.

Thank you for stopping by.

Dee Dee

Some of What's In The Emergency Bag

My emergency pack is loaded with things to survive beyond the 3 day emergency kits that FEMA and other Government agencies recommend. What I have pictured here does not include my larger tools that I featured earlier.

Something unique that I have included in my pack is dishpans. Fully loaded they fit in 2 separate compartments, fairly easy to put in and zip up. There is room around the outsides of the dishpans for clothing.

All these items make a fairly heavy pack so some things will eventually be broken down into 3 packs for my family to share.

This list keeps getting longer as time goes by, as it should.

Some of these items I purchased over the years through Emergency Essentials, others from thrift stores and discount/drug stores. The Frontier Emergency Water Filter System, I won from "Survival Solutions" (Friend them on Facebook!).

Yes, this is a long list.

Emergency stove and 2 cans of Sterno/Cell heat

Mess kit = 2 sauce pans with lids, 1 fry pan, 2 cups (which have measuring lines).

Salt and pepper shaker, spice packets

Utensils

Coffee samples courtesy of Taster's Choice

Cutting board

Water purifier and purification tables

Camp towel, hand towel, scrubber and one of my wash cloths

1 three day Emergency Food Ration Bar for each person

Oven Bags and ties.

Pre-moistened towelettes

Condiment packets and Bullion seasoning

Bar Soap and Camping Suds

Roll of Toilet Paper and wash wipes

Matches, all kinds of matches and a lighter

Stainless Steel Camp Cup

Sewing kit and Knitting needles

Tape measures

Laundry Soap sample

Hand lotions

Female pads - these should be included in all first aid kits as a way to help stop bleeding from a massive wound.

Bug nets

Bobby pins, hair binders, shower caps - to keep hair contained when cooking or dealing with a wound.

Black trash bags

Rope

Safety glasses

Fishing line and tackle

Binoculars

Bug lotion

Hand sanitizers

Mouth wash

Razors

Dental floss and filling kit

Q-tips and cotton balls

Toothbrushes

Magnifier

Elastic Bandage

Stethoscope

American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook

Travel First Aid Kit

Wilderness Book

Emergency Space Blankets - I recommend having the thin ones and a few good real ones.

Bulb syringe

Burn gel

EMT shears

Scissors

IOSAT tablets.

Honing Stone and Oil and a few knives

and new to the pack is some garden seeds.

This is not complete by any measure so I will add more as I go. If you do not have a pack, you should really think about putting one together. If we have tornadoes in the area I will bring my packs down to the basement with me. That way I don't have to go to a shelter and be a burden to others if I come out of it without a house. Also, try to keep important documents in a firesafe that you can bring with you.

I worked hard to get my pack put together and to log it all down here for you just to repack it. If you appreciate this please share with others and check out some of the ads.

I thank you so much for stopping by and remember, if you have to leave home try to make it feel like a camping trip! Be cozy around that campfire!

Dee Dee