Welcome to this week’s Survival Buzz with an update on my own preps and announcements from the Backdoor Survival blog.
This is the week that was. There is no other way to describe it.
Things I had planned did not go right because of stupid mistakes. Thursday’s article was mistakenly scheduled for June, Friday’s article became Thursday’s article, and my weekly giveaway did not happen. Being human, I started comparing this website to some others and became a bit depressed. Where was I when everyone else had a website makeover?
On the positive side of the ledger, my garden is doing well, the herbs in my AeroGarden are taking over my kitchen, and I have some tomato plants ready to go into the ground. I hiked over 15 miles this week and Tucker the Dog gave me Mother’s Day roses.
Prepping wise, my red and silver Mini-Cree flashlights arrived. How many do I now have? A lot; I quit counting a long time ago. Between those and my Blocklite’s, I am like a little kid in a candy store. You can never have too many flashlights.
Mr. UPS aka the Amazon man delivered a bunch of medical supplies for my new, as yet to put together, first aid kits, and a can of flat tire repair stuff for the Subaru. I made fried rice from food storage but used a “dib of this” and “dab of that” method. I will take measurements the next time so that I can share. Who said survival food has to be dull and unhealthy?
So all in all, it has been a good week.
Current Giveaways
Because I messed up, I only had one giveaway this week. Perhaps I will throw in an extra next week – you just never know.  A marathon some day soon?  That might work.
Prepper Book Festival 8: The Garden Pool + Giveaway
Remember, the deadline for all giveaway entries is 6:00 PM Pacific on Tuesdays.
In addition, all winners are notified by email and have 48 hours to claim their prize or an alternate will be selected. Once selected, the names of winners are also displayed in the Rafflecopter on the original giveaway article. This usually happens on the Friday following the end of the giveaway so please be patient.
Essential Oils: Tip of the Week
Annette asked:
Thanks for all your wonderful recipes and information on essential oils. I am just starting out on this exciting new journey and know absolutely nothing about essential oils so your articles are very helpful.
I have noticed that many “recipes” call for 10, 20 even 30 drops of one or more essential oils. I have arthritis in my fingers and hands, and doubt that I would be able to control my fingers to dispense so many drops. Is there any way I could translate this to 1/4 tsp. or something similar that is easy for me to measure?
It never occurred to me that this might be a problem. Here was my response:
As a general rule of thumb, 100 drops = 1 teaspoon. From there, you can work backwards. So, as an example, 30 drops would be about 1/3 teaspoon. This is not an exact science because droppers can vary as does the “thickness” of the oil itself. A few drops one way or another will not make a lot of difference. Often, less is more.
Speaking of essential oils, between now an May 10th, Spark Naturals is offering free shipping to the continental US on any size order. If you are new to essential oils, this is a great opportunity to give them a try. Perhaps a bottle of Lavender or Peppermint?
If you decide to place an order, however small, be sure to use the code BACKDOORSURVIVAL for an additional 10% off your entire SN order.
The Final Word
Buried down here in the final word are some additional thoughts of a more personal nature.
I am tired. Blogging and prepping consumes every waking thought. In addition, carrying a burden of truth and knowledge is exhausting. Many of you know this, but for those of you that don’t, I am what is politely called a “senior citizen†and want to work on getting a PhD in goofing off.  At least a part-time PhD.
So, just so you know, I may be lightening things up a bit and calling in some of my well-regarded colleagues to help out. Nothing for sure but if I seem a bit edgy, now you know why.
I know that everyone has their elbows up in garden dirt this week but I still want to hear about it. What did you do to prep this week?
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
If you enjoyed this article, consider voting for me daily at Top Prepper Websites! In addition, SUBSCRIBE to email updates and receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-book The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.
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The Survival Buzz Almost Free Department
There are lot of books on making your own lotions out there but none are better than this 99 cent eBook by my friend and neighbor Anne Watson. Anne also has a wonderful book on Smart Soapmaking. Same price: 99 cents for the Kindle version although a print version is also available.
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Bargain Bin:Â Here are some of the items mentioned today plus some favorites.Â
Slime Quick Spare Tire Inflator: All spare tire fix-its are not created equal. Or so I learned. Apparently some types coat the inside of the tire with some sort of goo that eliminates the tire from being repaired the proper way. So, after consulting with the Subaru dealer and reading a lot of review, this is what I settled on. Truly, you should always have a can of this or something similar in your car.
FordEx Group 7W 300LM Mini CREE LED Flashlight
Blocklite Ultra Bright 9V LED Flashlight: I first learned about Blocklites from a reader. I am impressed with how long they will run on a single, 9V battery. I now own 8 of these spread out in drawers, emergency kits, the car, everywhere. This is my number one pick for a small, but effective flashlight.
Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener
SE BT20 9-Volt Battery Tester: I do not know anyone that is sorry they purchased or gifted an inexpensive battery tester. Mine sits in my desk drawer and is used 3 or 4 times a week.
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Shop the Emergency Essentials Monthly Specials
One of my favorite deals this month is this Mountain House Flavor Vault Combo that includes both the Italian Pepper Steak and Chicken Fried Rice meals that I recently taste-tested.
Another great special is their Peanut Butter Powder which is only $12.99 this month. That is a 46% savings. All told, this month the sales at Emergency Essential are a real win!
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Need something from Amazon (and who doesn’t)? I earn a small commission from purchases made when you begin your Amazon shopping experience here. You still get great Amazon service and the price is the same, no matter what.
Amazon has a feature called Shop Amazon – Most Wished For Items. This is an easy tool for finding products that people are ‘wishing†for and in this way you know what the top products are. All you need to do is select the category from the left hand side of the screen.
The Amazon Top Most Wished For and Best Selling Outdoor Items
Emergency Preparedness Items from Amazon.com
Shop Amazon Tactical – Great Selection of Optics, Knives, Cases, Equipment
Amazon Gift Cards
Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!
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Are You Interested in Essential Oils?
Spark Naturals Oil of the Month Club
$15.99 – Shipping is Free
The Spark Naturals Oil of the Month Club is the best value out there – all oils are 15ml bottles – shipped out to you once a month (on the same date you ordered the product).
The price is $15.99 a month and includes shipping and tax. This is a great way to collect oils at a discounted price. Be sure to use the code BACKDOORSURVIVAL at checkout.
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The Survival Buzz #168 by Gaye Levy first appeared on Backdoor Survival.
The Survival Buzz #168
The Survival Buzz #168
#preppernews
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