I spent the past week picking up the final few supplies to begin blacksmithing.  I got a couple files, a punch, a chisel, an extendable meta...

I've been looking into getting a kayak for about 6 months, and finally went ahead.  I got a 10 ft. Sit on top Pelican from REI last week...

Please check out our Memorial Day post from 2012: http://ifithitsthefan.blogspot.com/2012/05/memorial-day.html John 15:13   Greater love ...

We spent the last week at the Hilton in Kitty Hawk, NC on the Outer Banks.  I didn't have a lot of safety concerns.  It's a nice pla...

We've had some weird weather, but at two weeks, my garden is coming in nicely.  Here's a short video update on it. https://youtu.be...

We are a little late this year, but we got a small vegetable garden in this weekend.  Check out this short video to see our process:  https:...

I went to my first farm/estate auction today.  It was brutally hot, and I didn't get the rocking chair I wanted, but I did get some grea...

This past Saturday I was in Appomattox (where Lee surrendered to Grant) for the state Search & Rescue conference.  If I hadn't gone ...

Folks in the Lone Star State can save a little money on their disaster preps this weekend.  They are tax free.  Stick it to the man and stoc...

The flu really kicked my butt and I had no energy after work for about 2 and a half months.  I'm feeling better finally, and will be bac...

Have you been following the California dam that might be failing ?  The largest, tallest dam in the country is leaking and might have a cate...

I got word this week that I've been accepted to be a speaker at the Virginia state Search and Rescue Conference in April.  I'll be p...

I was pretty productive around the old homestead today.  I got my Cold Steel Trail Boss axe on Friday.  First thing, I sharpened it up with ...

It's simple... I am super impressed with this headlamp.  I can't believe the quality for the price. I needed a couple extra headla...

I was an EMT 25 years ago.  Back then, tourniquets were a final option for arterial bleeding.  They were discouraged.  You had to loosen it ...

I rode up to Fredericksburg today for a Preparedness Expo held in conjunction with a gun show.  The place was packed!  I haven't been to...

I've added a tab at the top of the page for Amazon Affiliate Links.  If you buy the items I recommend OR you enter Amazon through one of...

So, who am I, and why do I prep? I'll turn 49 this summer.  I grew up in the suburbs of Richmond, Va. in the 70s and 80s, and spent se...

You might think that this post is going to be about the riots surrounding the inauguration in DC last night and today.  But no.  Other than ...

One of the best things about living in the country is having good neighbors.  Granted, not all are good, but the ones we have are great.  Th...

I had to make a winter car emergency kit because I have a loaner AWD from work for the next couple of days and didn't get my normal kit ...

Call me old school (or old skool if you are hip and trendy...) but I still really enjoy a magazine rather than reading "e-zines" a...

Product Review Video: Pathfinder Search and Rescue Tarp Please go to the link above to watch our new YouTube video of a review of the Path...

Haven't posted anything in a LONG time!  Since then, I've gotten a new job where I am heavily involved in emergency management and...

Folks, it has been over 2 months since I have posted anything.  Lots of things going on (nothing bad) and I'll get some updates out to y...

Welcome, WRVA Listeners Thursday morning at about 7:30 a.m. (EDT) I'm scheduled to be interviewed on Richmond's Morning News with ...

Moore, OK We were on vacation this past week down on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Taking a break from the beach in the room, my wif...

TREXPO The other day, I went again this year to TREXPO in D.C.  It used to be the Tactical Response EXPO back in the 90s when I started go...

It Can Happen Anywhere Friday afternoon I got a call from the local police that a guy had escaped from state police custody and he had 50 ...

Surviving Civil Unrest with Chance Sanders Disclaimer: Chance sent me a free demo copy of this video for me to review. First, a little b...

Staying Home - by Alex Smith Alex wrote his first post-SHTF novel, Going Home, under the nom de plume of Angery American.  It recieved rav...