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Comment by Jan Carter on September 11, 2018 at 20:03

As I look at this the last time I posted in this group Irma was on the way.  Read below, the tips are still good

Well it appears that we will be getting somewhere around 30mph and 2-4 inches of rain from Florence.  I am worried about a good many of our members and friends.  If your in the path, please leave.  You will NEVER here me say this unless I fear for lives...even knives can be replaced (but I suggest they go in their own bug out bag with silicon packets :) )

Comment by Jan Carter on September 4, 2017 at 20:09

Are you in the cone of uncertainty for Irma?  Dont wait until too late.  Is your bugout bag ready?  Important papers?

A few hurricane tricks for those who may need it:
Start running your ice makers now and bagging the ice in freezer bags. Fill as much space in between your freezer items as you can.
2. Freeze regular tap water for pets, cleaning or drinking in tupperware-type containers. REMEMBER to leave a small bit of space between the top of the water & the lids so the ice expands but doesn't crack the container.
3. Start using up your perishables to make more room for ice in the freezer.
4. Fill up all vehicles & check tires & oil.
5. Cash from ATM, at least enough to get you through tolls and gas out of town. Call your bank if you plan on leaving the state so they don't freeze your card for out-of-area "suspicious" transactions.
6. All important docs screenshot & send to your email. Take originals in sealed bags or plastic bins.
7. Pet & livestock food & supplies. Vet records in case you need to shelter then at a storm-safe facility.
8. Evacuation plans and share with family members so they know where you're headed.
9. Consider putting heirlooms & photos in plastic bins in a high place, second floor, or safe room if you don't plan on taking them with you.
10. SECURE ALL FIREARMS & AMMUNITION PROPERLY.
11. Old rags & beach towels on your windowsills. Even with the best windows & shutters, water seeping from the wind pressure happens. A few damp towels is better than soaked drywall or floors!
12. Shutter windows and doors and bring everything outside into your garage or house NOW. Do not wait until the day before. Better to get done early and relax than wait until its too late, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MANDATORY PERSONNEL (hospital employee or first responder).
13. If you don't already have your hurricane supplies, you might want to get them now. Shelves are already empty in most places.

Comment by Jan Carter on September 4, 2017 at 19:55

Here are the 20 Signs of A Hard Winter according to folklore:
Thicker than normal corn husks
Woodpeckers sharing a tree
Early arrival of the Snowy owl
Early departure of geese and ducks
Early migration of the Monarch butterfly
Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow’s neck
Heavy and numerous fogs during August
Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands
Mice eating ravenously into the home
Early arrival of crickets on the hearth
Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers
Pigs gathering sticks
Insects marching in a line rather than meandering
Early seclusion of bees within the hive
Unusual abundance of acorns
Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river bank
“See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest”
The orange band on the Woollybear (or Woollyworm) caterpillar: a narrow orange band warns of heavy snow; fat and fuzzy caterpillars presage bitter cold
The squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter
Frequent halos or rings around the Sun or Moon forecast numerous snow falls.

We are seeing a good number of these happening, what about in your area?

Comment by Jan Carter on August 31, 2017 at 10:41

So according to this we are looking for a cold and wet winter with possible white.  We are right at the tip of GA/NC border.  

As of today, I would have to say it is going to be an early Fall.  Although Autumn  officially begins Sept 22, we have been checking the wood pile and generally looking around the house to see what chores need to get done before winter comes along.  The doors and windows have been open for a good 2 weeks now, the weather if ranging high 70/low80's during the day and mid 60/high 50's at night.  The webworms have started in earnest and we are seeing some color change with leaf fall.  NONE of this should be happening, but there you go.  Time to prepare the homestead.

Sooo, is the weather whacky at your place this summer?  Are you noticing anything out of the ordinary?

Comment by Jan Carter on August 22, 2017 at 13:06

A wonderful neighbor took the time lapse video but here it is

2017 Hiawassee Eclipse

Comment by Jan Carter on August 19, 2017 at 19:40

Charles,

We are doing all the right things up here.  We have all taken down the bird feeders, we have made sure anything thrown away with food smells is in ziplocks in the trash.  We are keeping outside lights on at night and we have all walked our properties for the underground yellow jacket nests and gassed them.

What we are afraid of this weekend is that visitors to our area are throwing out trash.  We have found 2 trails of fast food wrappers and containers and picked them all up. We were rather hoping with all the camping going on this weekend for the eclipse that he would move on for better hunting grounds.

The 35 Remington is loaded now, the revolver changed it's cylinder from snake shot to 22 mags.

Hope he moves on before someone has to hurt him or that DNR gets a trap available to bring out soon

Comment by J.J. Smith III on August 18, 2017 at 12:37

Thought I'd pass this on, for those interested...

http://www.solarsurvivors.com/free-5-gallon-buckets-with-lids/

Comment by J.J. Smith III on August 18, 2017 at 12:36

We're expecting huge crowds, in SC, for the eclipse. Hotel rooms have been fully booked for a while now.
Lake Murray is expected to be full of boaters, wanting to view the event.

We, however, plan on staying home and watching from the front yard.

Featured Comment by Charles Sample on August 17, 2017 at 17:09

You and Donnie be careful Jan!  Be especially watchful while outside.  If you have a shotgun I would keep it loaded with slugs.  At close range, as such an encounter would be, a 12 gauge loaded with slugs is about as powerful a stopper as you can get.  If you have a large caliber pistol I would take it with me on trips outside.  A high powered rifle would work too.  Of course the best course of action is to avoid a confrontation if possible.  However it isn't always possible.

Comment by Jan Carter on August 17, 2017 at 16:06

Ok, so living in the woods does come with it's own set of challenges when it comes to critters.  Trying to get the game camera set up this week as we have just been notified a very large and very destructive bear is hanging out on our mountain.  For the past three nights he has been tearing up a neighbors property (about 1 mile away at the foot of the mountain).  He has also been seen during the day at a property just below us tearing up and eating the yellow jacket nests.  While I appreciate him getting rid of them, he can move on now !!! 

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