Social – Fine Country Living

August 21, 2019

Shout Out! Solitary Sentinels (USAF SP, FEW AFB)

Just ran across this video on YouTube this evening, which caught my eye because of the ‘Guarding America’s ICBMs’ blurb in the title.

Interestingly enough, the USAF Security Police unit depicted in the video is the ‘sister squadron’ that I supported when I was there in ’83-’84. They (3-man team) are responsible for guarding a 10-missile squadron. My squadron (88th MSS) provided five 4-man fireteams responsible for ‘covering’ the entire 100-missile wing.

Basically, the folks depicted in this video live in, and work out of, a Launch Control Facility (LCF). They respond to alarms on the 10 Launch Facilities (LF) within their missile squadron. If they verify an actual hostile threat, they call for backup, and the nearest two RF fireteams respond. In the evenings, after roaming the missile wing all day, we (fireteams) would be dispatched to an LCF to eat and bunk down for the night.

Politics being what they were, we (RF) didn’t usually hang out with the alert teams assigned to the LCF, even though we were both USAF Security Police teams. There was always an acrimonious relationship between us. It was like their house, and we were just passing through, flirting with their on-site cook (usually a female), and basically trashing the place (in their opinion). When the sun came up the next morning, we got to leave … they had to stay.

At 7:41 in the video, they respond to what is (or was, in the 80’s) called an Outer Zone (OZ) alarm at the Juliet-9 LF. While I don’t recall that LF in particular, I’m sure I visited that site at least once, probably a few times, in the two years I was at F.E. Warren.

I snickered, too, when they showed the inside of the LCF. I swear the doors, furniture and equipment is the SAME as it was 25 years ago!

The SPs are wearing different uniforms, carrying different gear, and slightly updated versions of the same firearms ‘we’ carried way back when … but the mission is EXACTLY the same.

Hats off to the Solitary Sentinels at FEW AFB and the 90th SPG!

August 18, 2019

Shout Out! Lucky Clays Fresh

I mentioned in a recent video that one of my next large-scale projects will be standing up a moderately sized aquaponic gardening system.

Last year, I got licensed in the State of North Carolina as a Tilapia fish farm. I just haven’t “pulled the trigger” yet, as I’ve been busy with other systems.

Soon, like next month, I plan to erect the first of a few 100′ x 14′ caterpillar tunnels to serve as the greenhouse for my initial venture into aquaponics.

Today, I started researching local (NC) aquaponics resources, and stumbled upon the Lucky Clays Fresh (LCF) farm here in the Piedmont area. If you are unfamiliar with, but maybe a little interested in, what aquaponics is all about, this video (above) provides a great introduction. My aquaponics system may approach 25% of their size (scale), but you’ll get the gist.

I plan on raising Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), augmented by largemouth bass, catfish and perhaps freshwater shrimp. Red worms are a given.

Anyway, I thought I would give a quick shout out to LCF as a seemingly premier aquaponic gardening resource here in the Piedmont area of NC.

August 17, 2019

Shout Out! The Holler Homestead

First, a little backstory. For about a year, maybe year and a half, I’ve been learning things about farming and permaculture from a guy named Justin Rhodes on his YouTube channel. He has recently launch a much larger website called Abundant Permaculture (.com).

I recently purchased a Premium Membership to that site, which includes a large library of videos on all sorts of homesteading and permaculture topics. He also includes a lot of videos from others in the local (North Carolina, Mid-Atlantic region) area, including videos from a relative newcomer to the NC area, The Holler Homestead.

This evening I watched the Holler Homestead video above, and REALLY enjoyed their story. You may as well.

They essentially sold everything, including their home in CA, bought an RV, and travelled the entire U.S. for the better part of a year (with their four young sons!) to pick a location to create a new homestead. They ended up not far from where I live, up in the Appalachian Mountains near Asheville, NC, which happens to be where Justin Rhodes and his family live as well.

SUCH a cool story. Couldn’t be happier for them. I’ve watched a few of their videos that cover all their work getting their new homestead “stood up.” Lotsa work.

If you ever find yourself wondering WHY I do the things I do on my little farm, I would encourage you to watch some of Justin’s and/or The Holler Homestead videos on YouTube. THAT is why. 😉

August 14, 2019

Shout Out! Gabriella Quevedo (Fingerstyle Guitarist)

Folks … if you haven’t discovered this 22 year old guitarist savant before, TODAY is your lucky day!

Check out her YT channel, pick a few of her videos, maybe a few songs you are familiar with, maybe a few you are not.

I don’t think she does it on purpose, but about halfway through each video, she looks up, into the camera, and smiles. Just a lovely, EXTREMELY talented soul.

For those that believe in reincarnation … she’s got to be v2.0 of some guitar rock star from a few generations ago.

I can seriously listen to her music, her covers of so many famous songs, all damn day.

You’re welcome, in advance. 😉

August 2, 2019

Shout Out! Justin Rhodes & Family

I’ve been learning from various YouTube videos from a guy named Justin Rhodes for the last few years re: farming related topics.

Just ran into this video (How We Built a 10 Acre Homestead in a Year (from scratch)) and have to say, it moved me more than anything else has moved me in YEARS. I laughed, I cried … buy mostly I just envy EVERYTHING about their family and lifestyle. Talk about being right-headed.

I just subscribed to his 12-part permaculture course.

If you can find the time, I highly suggest you watch the video. In particular, pay attention to his children, and his wife. They have interesting stories to tell. I love how the kids ALWAYS seem to have scratches on their faces and hands. His oldest son (Jonah?) is just an amazing kid, sure to grow up to be quite the stud.

I plan on re-watching this video at least once a month.

Yeah … that good. That powerful. That POSITIVE.

Best.

DEF

June 16, 2019

FCL :: Day in the Life :: 9-15 Jun, 2019 (More Ducklings!)

Because I staggered the introduction of duck eggs into the incubator over about a five day period, the “hatch” has also been distributed over about a five day period. Well, duh, right? Down to the last two eggs. I just poked my head in there, observed that at least one of the two eggs is still viable (heard chirping inside), and decided to intervene a little.

Historically, hatch interventions (trying to help a bird out of the egg when they get stuck) have been about a 50-50 prospect. Half the time, they don’t make it.

In this case, it was my assessment the membrane between the shell and duckling was too thick and malleable for the baby duck to break through, so she was likely to suffocate and die. So, I cracked the shell a little around one end, pinched the membrane and tore a small hole in it, then put the egg back in the incubator. At least I know she can get air. I learned the hard way in the past that getting more aggressive against the membrane can be detrimental to the bird for a few different reasons. So, just a minimal change to ensure she can draw air into the otherwise air-tight shell.

Deuce discovered another nest of duck eggs, which I decided (contrary to what I state in this video) to recover and setup of the next incubator run. Had I not, Deuce would have just eaten them.

Got my new IronMaster Quick-Lock Dumbbell System setup.

Also did a quick summary review (limited to “I really LIKE it!”) of a new pair of Trekz Air wireless bone conduction headset by After Shokz, which I use to listen to music on 5-mile “ruck” walks three times a week. REALLY happy with the product.

May 21, 2019

FCL :: Day in the Life :: Mon, May 20, 2019 (Ruck Narrative, Teeter EP-960 Ltd)

First, we compare a few eggs (normal chicken, normal duck, abnormal chicken).

Then, I provide a little color commentary during a 5-mile ruck (combat boots, 30 pound backpack) walk.

Lastly, we introduce the newest member of our workout infrastructure … a Teeter EP-960 Ltd inversion table.

May 18, 2019

FCL :: Day in the Life :: Fri May 17, 2019 (Donkey Escape & Capture)

Lesse … shot my workshop with a 12 gauge shotgun (accident, oops).

Luna the d.Bag donkey opportunistically broke out of her pasture when I bumped the fence with the front of the tractor and knocked one of the horizontal cross-members off. Put the ‘sheps to work chasing her down and herding her into a pasture for capture.

After about 4 hours of livin la vida loca by herself in the “big” pasture, she was clearly ready to return to be with Soleil. I ran to the local store to buy donkey bait (carrots and peanuts) and lured her into custody with a few carrots. Probably the easiest capture and return to date. She normally fights me like a ISIS noob and ends up choking herself out. Not this time! Easy Breezy.

I think I need to buy Deuce a hockey helmet, cuz he’s too damn dumb around the donkeys, and as much shit as I talk on camera … I’d actually HATE to see him get his front teeth knocked out, or his cranium vacated. Luna has it in her to kill with those kicks of hers.

Oh, yeah. And my rooster thinks he’s hen apparently. In this day of “gender fluidity” … no surprise I guess.

October 20, 2018

Quote from Escape Clause (A Virgil Flowers Novel Book 9)

I got addicted to John Sandford books 2 or 3 years ago. I’ve read all 28 books in the Prey series (i.e. Lucas Davenport), and am currently reading book 9 in the spinoff Virgil Flowers series.

I’m on my 4th Sandford book in the last 10 days. They are THAT addicting … I’m telling you.

Anyway, I just read the following quote from first paragraph of Chapter 4 in Escape Clause, and laughed my ass off:

Virgil made a hurried trip from Frankie’s farm back to Mankato, where he lived. He left Honus at the farm, and as he left, the dog stood in the driveway and barked once. The bark was a familiar one and translated as ‘asshole!’

My kind of humor. 😉

DEF