We are having fun !

          The trip down went well ! I made 1 mistake I kept my foot in the pedal going 75 pulling the fun finder and my mileage was about 9 miles to the gallon. That's a problem when its been awhile between trips you hurry and forget to enjoy the ride. The ride is as important as the destination going home I will be going slower and taking the old roads .

      Before the interstate system the rural HI ways held a lot of places for travelers to stop and places to see .Now they are almost gone I remember old Burma Shave billboards and See Rock City painted on old barns and Stuckys advertising 2 eggs bacon and toast for 99 cents.
 I will be back on here later this week. Love the Wi-Fi at mc D but this coffee suck . I am taking the wife a sausage bisects back to the camp site and fix some drinkable coffee !!!

Ready to Go .

     The camper is packed and ready to go and so am I .Sunday morning we will head out about 4 am to the gulf. Now I love to leave before sun up and avoid traffic .On Sunday traffic isn't a concern but I like leaving early . My wife hates it, one she's not an early riser and two she says she cant see the country side .What's to see I am taking 65 south . The sun will be up before we hit the back roads she can look then.

    I may stop at wind creek casino and let her play a little its on the way . Three years ago I  hit a 2000.00 $ jackpot on a machine you never know. The truck  will be ready tomorrow. I had the air fixed turns out it was a clogged orifice tube going into the condenser .It is a minor and cheep repair and will fix the whining sound from the passenger seat :) . We need a little time just the 2 of us. Having the kids around is driving us nuts . Since the stay will be 2 weeks I have the bikes and may rent a kayak one day . I will check in when I go to Mc Ds as the campground doesn't have Wi-Fi .  

Some friendships start on the wrong foot

      Last summer about this time I had a conflict with a vendor selling produce where I have been selling BBQ. Now I have never had a problem with yard sales or others joining me on the road .The more selection the more traffic for both. But this man was setting up in the exact spot I always have been. For 2 weeks I never said a word to him and his grandkids . Finally he came over and asked why I seemed mad about him selling his extra produce ? Well your welcome to sell but that spot where your table is  flat that's why I always have used it. This spot I have is sloped for water when I had the parking lot paved for the old gas station, in this trailer the tilt is terrible.
   Danny climbed in and said it feels like he was sliding and could see the pots would slide on the stove. The next day we swapped spots and struck up a conversation . He told me he took that spot so I would be more visible he didn't know how sloped the ground was .I have been there so long customers know my spot.
    By the end of the growing season he had a lot of regular customers also . This weekend he joined me selling nice to have a friend back . We trade food and lies back and forth between customers and have become friends. Today I cooked fried squash green tomatoes and had buttered new red potatoes. All picked yesterday morning. Next weekend he will have a bigger variety ripening and should do good .It could have turned out differently (in a bad way) I am glad it didn't .

Trip planning with family.

     For the last week we have been trying to coordinate a trip back to Big Lagoon in Perdido Bay Fl. We are set, reservations are made the Camper is packed. Add food and we can roll ! My sister in law is going to join us she has reservations for 4 days .Our daughter is going to come down and spend 3 days staying with us or her Aunt. For 4 days it will be 3 Man bashing women and me !

     My stepson and his wife are planning on coming down for our last 2 days and want to use the camper for 3 more nights and bring it home when done . I have no problem with that but for some reason they are hee hawing on the reservations and Gulf shores is full and big lagoon has 1 spot left. The days of plenty of camping spots are done . Now you have to plan a little ahead if you want weekend camping.  They are wanting to be at gulf state park because its closer to the night life and his father is going to be camping at GSP.

     Kind of funny my wife's EX bought a camper. Now he wants the kids to camp with them like they have with us. He has always been a condo resort type .Makes you wonder what brought it on .

One less law for a few days.

      Well looks like we get till later this week free from the patriot act. Over the years I don't know what has been the most distasteful every word it contains or The name " THE PATRIOT ACT". If there ever was an action by our government more insulting to the founders of our countries principles I don't know what it was.
    Ok maybe the establishment of the federal reserve but that's a set of encyclopedia's in itself .

    I for one would like to thank Rand Paul for stalling it and letting it expire . Now I don't think it was just because it sucks mule @#$$ I understand it is political grandstanding. If the man wants to uphold the constitution ,abolish the Federal reserve and a few thousand other things to bring us back to a GOD FEARING, CONSTITUTION FOLLOWING nation for political gain I am all for it . If he can  be a pain in the ass to the powers that control our nations capital all the way to the White house and take control back from the unelected hands he has my vote.

     Ok maybe  I am dreaming, if he is a contender and for the people I am sure we will find out he slept with a 3 legged donkey in collage while doing crack. OR he will meet with an untimely death . Who am I kidding the fire died with the last signer of the Declaration Of Independence.

3 videos from the past !!!!

Prepper barter items for frugal preppers.

    Ok I am trying to relax between loads of BBQ so a change of pace this post Last week I saw a couple of posts on survival sites on barter goods. Some Items listed were kind of pricey to toss in a box for someday . So I got to thinking what I had multiples of and what I need to add that are frugal and will have bang for the buck.
   Before I go  on AMMO in my opinion is not a barter item. The other thing that is not a barter item is Toilet paper. I have yet to meet a man that would face his wife and say use a leaf I traded butt wipe for __________ .They will not understand I don't give a damn what you barter for!!!

     Most items I have are dollar items or a little more or can be broke down from bulk for trade. I advise a small kitchen scale or a hanging farm scale to make honest trades both ways.
 
Salt its cheap and will be needed in large quantity's .
Sugar, cheap cant be grown and last forever.( honey is pricy)
Coffee any way (green, ground, instant) worth the cost.
Tea individual size qt.size
Spices all kinds in different sizes unground if you can find.
Over the counter meds and pain meds bulk to be broke down
LED Flashlights from dollar tree
Solar path lights, light and battery for a buck at dollar tree.
Bleach
Vinegar
Coco  powder, chocolate syrup. Pricy but bang for the buck
Hot chocolate packs just add water 6.99 for 72 at Sam's
Alcohol or more sugar if you make your own :).like me
Liquid soap in bulk or make your own
Canning lids lots and lots
Fishing hooks bobbers, lead weighs and spools of line
Plastic sheeting ,  2.98 for 20x50 Walmart.
     
    This isn't a complete list but  it is a cheap list of items that should trade high compared to cost . Yes some pricy items and fuel will be in demand  but I cant afford the inventory cost.

     If you have bulk items be sure to have zip lock bags for the dry goods and save empty 1/2 liter water bottles for liquids.

     You may have some personal preps that you may barter if long term but that wasn't what this list is. I also left out gold silver due to it isn't frugal :).