Country Living With Emma

Fannie recounts a couple of Indian attacks that affected her family directly. 

I cover a multitude of topics in this episode, including the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, Quilts of Valor, and why living a life of preparedness and self-reliance involves making choices in how we spend our time and our financial resources. If you are interested in participating in the Quilts of Valor program, here is a link to their website. Quilts of Valor

Some things don't need much power, but keeping them running or charged up is important. A small power station is relatively inexpensive and can be very handy in a pinch. It won't keep you warm, but it could keep you connected to the outside world. Jackery Power Station

Over 130 people, so far, have died as a result of Winter Storm Fern. Can we do anything to mitigate that going forward?

This episode references a recent Cajun Navy Facebook post about the current winter storm and the vulnerability of senior adults during disasters.

Fannie Beck, born in 1862,  tells what it was like growing up on the frontier in West Texas. 

After action report for Winter Storm Fern. Tool of the Week: Bluetooth Thermometer

I took off from work yesterday afternoon to get at least some of my winter storm ducks in a row. We can only hope it's not as bad as the prediction!

Just like Snowmageddon, every update we get from the weather channels is worse than the last one. The biggest issue for us is losing power and trying to stay warm. Are you in the path?

We're continuing our discussion about water and looking ahead to the winter storm that is forecast for Texas starting Friday. Siphon Pump Water Brick

The weather forecast for the weekend looks pretty dicey with possible freezing rain. Time to ramp up winter preps.

Water is one of the most important preps, and you can start working on it today. 

Eudora was a teenager during the Civil War, living in Indianola, one of the few towns in Texas that were occupied by Federal troops during the war. 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I've never met a vacuum cleaner I like. However, this one does have some benefits, and I'm glad I bought it.  Levoit Cordless Vacuum Reviews:  Spruce.com

The current state of affairs can be overwhelming, especially since we have little to no control over most of it. Hopefully, this is a way to stay sane.

We'll explore the previous 4th turning to see what we can learn about this one. 

More letters from Rebecca to her husband who is away in the army during the Civil War. Prepping topics of interest include food storage, illness, and clothing production. 

The reacher/grabber is a back saver as well as a tool to keep you off a step stool. 

It's my first day back at work. What did I accomplish, and what didn't I accomplish during my break?

This week I'm trying to get stuff done around the property. One of those tasks was to prune the blackberries. Loppers are essential to that task, not to mention upper body strength. 

This is a very versatile tool that has an unlimited number of uses! I keep it in my kitchen. 

I discovered a new YT channel this weekend,  Presenting the Past,  dealing with the events of the Revolutionary War. I had never heard of the Battle of Great Bridge which took place in early December and led to the evacuation of Norfolk, VA. There are many lessons we can learn from this event. 

Physical objects often represent important events in our lives. In hard times we may not be able to keep those objects. Having a "let it go" mindset may be necessary.

We begin another Texas pioneer, Rebecca Adams. She lived around Fairfield, TX during the Civil War and managed the plantation while he husband and oldest son served in the Confederate army.