Senior Year

[Abigayle]

Once upon a time.  "Senior", had an exciting ring to it.  Maybe it was connected to sports and letter sweaters, proms, homecomings, sneaking a peek around the end of your locker at that "hot guy or gal".
Well that ship has sailed for a number of us on this site.  As bad luck would have it, this may be the time that we need the skills that we developed more than ever.  One thing I know for sure about this generation, the post W.W.II babies, is that we came from strong stock. Some of us have traced our heritage back to the first Minute men. Some are D.A.R.s. We don't quit.  We can't quit.
It's time to take a look around your current environment and see what you can do to get you through this.
We are considered soft targets.  We need to be able to prove them wrong.  I am going to make this next statement very carefully, so read between the lines...Some of those things you used to be proficient with, may not have been "tested" for awhile.  Do you have enough "stuff" to go it it?  Can your hand still do it justice or do you need to trade it in?  Be honest with yourself.  You may not be able to get down on one knee.  Crawling on the ground may work, but can you get up again?  Stage your environment so you can use it in your current condition, or "a bit downhill".
Make sure your knives are sharp. You can still learn to can, dehydrate, dry can, sew, use your first aid skills...brush up.  You still have value.
I can't say enough about raised bed gardening.  Some are very high. you can even tend them in a wheel chair.  So far, we have had a few broccoli, cabbage, zucchini and cucumber.  It won't keep us alive, but it will help to keep us healthy and add variety.  You may have to buy some of the things you can....so what?  You will still be eating healthier if you buy wisely. 
Have good shoes.   Make sure your meds include things for aches and pains but don't get hooked on the strong stuff.  Use some rubs and ointments. KEEP MOVING!
You can still raise small live stock.  Keep away from the big stuff that may hurt you.  They are faster than you are.
Now it's your turn and FOR PETES' SAKE.  I know there are a lot of "guests" on here.  Get involved.  Make yourself useful, because you ARE useful.  Maybe you just don't know it anymore.  You have skills that many have not dreamed of. Please share your ideas, we need them.  We need you....

[Ravenwood1950]

Dear Abigayle,
I have always said I might do okay when something goes down, "IF" people will leave me alone. Fat chance of that. That is my biggest fear, roving bad guys intent on taking what I have sacrificed and put by. I see the mass of thieves on TV looting and there is no way I can fight them off here at my homestead. God knows how they will be when they are hungry.
I confess, I am getting to the point where I don't enjoy working in the garden anymore. I spend all my energy just weeding and prepping beds for planting and then have little energy for anything else. I think I will try to go to the farmers' market and buy some things to process at home. There is a younger couple about 7 miles from me that farm and sell their produce. I have purchased from them before, sweet folks. The man even gave me free garlic to plant one fall.
Ravenwood

[Surveyor1]

Ravenwood, do you have raised beds?

[Abigayle]

Ravenwood, you make some very good points.  Remember your skills; we all have different ones.  You have communication skills, where we dropped the ball. I won't mention your other skills here, as this is an open forum.
By the time you put in raised beds and paid to fill them, you could purchase a lot of veggies from those folks down the road.  They may give you a volume discount.  Watch for meat at reasonable prices, maybe try some new canning recipes.  Take time to chicken watch for a smile.
Maybe take the one thing that worries you the most that you can control and work on that.  It's your life....your direction at this point.  Your worries are very justified.  I am sure we all have played out these scenarios in our minds.

[Ravenwood1950]

I have raised beds as such. They are made with 2x12's 3 feet wide and 12 feet long. I have 6 of them plus the old not raised beds in the really over grown area of my garden. I will take some photos and post them in the next couple of days. This week I made too many doctor's and dentist's check ups, ha ha and will be running back and forth several days. I decided that once I met my deductable early this year, that I might as well get a head to toe check up. Even planning on a dermatologists' visit since I haven't had one in who knows how many years.
With my slipped vertebra in my lower back, I often have a catch in my hips which causes me to have pain running down my leg. I tend to tire more easily than the past. I don't whether I am just getting lazy or this is normal for someone my age???
Ravenwood

[Abigayle]

I think we are all discovering new spots in our bodies that we didn't pay attention to in the past.  It is wise to get all those appointments over with while we can.  I am meeting a new dentist soon and of course, if I make it to July without our world changing drastically, I have a new hip in my future.  I don't even want it, I want a new knee....or dear.... One of these days I may have to use that thing the Dr. said I should hang in my car for special parking.  Right now, I am trying to stay mobile and "walk young". I bet I am not fooling anyone.

[Abigayle]

O.K. visitors and guests.  Here is some food for thought for you seniors.  You can't do it alone, at least not for very long.  While being very cautious regarding who you invite to join you and equally so for any group you are invited to join. You and your spouse, single adult child or friend won't be enough.  But what will you bring to the table?
If you can afford to feed another mouth, go on line and see what you would need for another person for a year.  You don't have to throw ten filets in the freezer, but most won't pick you for just beans and rice.  If you are canning, can some more.  Watch for freeze dried sales,  Do you know how to dehydrate?  It's easy, but there are some things you still need to know.  Many resale shops have them sitting there.  Be sure to plug them in.  Do you knit or croquet?  Good time of year to buy yarn on sale. You may be wearing hats, scarves and mittens to bed.  If you don't have an extra bed, pick up a mattress someone wants carried off.  Spray it before you drag it in, even if it appears to be very clean.  People pick up bedbugs traveling, esp. in Europe and South America.  The U.S. is not exempt.  If you don't knit.  Teach yourself to knit a scarf.  You only need casting on/off and the knit stitch.  You can teach yourself the rest.  It's good for arthritic hands. Retired carpenters, plumbers and electricians can be great arm chair quarterbacks.
What you can no longer DO you just might KNOW.  Young people are flying by the seat of their pants right now, trying to learn skills you can do in your sleep.  What's wrong with that plant?  Is my canner going to explode?  How should I close this wound?  When is it safe to have a fire and what kind of wood should I burn?  You get the picture. If you have reached your senior years and are just starting out, get on U-tube. Folks on here can help direct you to the people there that actually know what the heck they are doing.  We are also willing to answer your questions without judgement, or criticism. People on this site are here to help.  This goes for regulars on here who have some holes in their prepping.  You can alway private message someone on the board, if you are an active member.  When is the last day that you can do a single thing to protect yourself in some way?  We just don't know.  Make a list.  Wishing the best for you all.

[Ravenwood1950]

Well my visit to the cardiologist yesterday refreshed my memory that I have right bundle branch block. I had honestly forgotten! Symptoms are: slow or fast heartbeat, palpitations, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath and lightheadedness. Geesh, all my complaints. Echocardiogram and chemical stress test scheduled for June 26th.
I guess I need to give myself a little grace and stop calling myself lazy.
Ravenwood

P.S. Where does one locate these young folks eager to put my knowledge to use? Ha Ha 🙂
Not even under my own roof.

[Abigayle]

Raavenwood, when you store water in the canning jars that are not in use, do you add a teaspoon of white vinegar or a drop or two of bleach?  I am not suggesting this is right, maybe you ran it through a filter?

[Ravenwood1950]

The most recent information I have, is that you can store the water straight from the tap. No need to add anything if you are on public water. I can certainly smell the chlorine in my county water. I filter my everyday drinking water through my Berkey. Check with Google to be sure. Wish me luck, today is my cardiologist’s visit.
Ravenwood

[Abigayle]

Ravenwood, please keep us posted...prayers coming your way.
Just added a little apple cider vinegar (two teaspoons) to the chicken's water for the morning, along with a lot of ice. I am trying to provide about 25% of scraps, veggies) to their diet.  Right now the first two have started laying.  We got two eggs yesterday.  They are small, but well-shelled and a beautiful brown.  They love to be petted.
Ate our first large Granny Cantrel yesterday.  It made a wonderful B.L.T..
I think we can put jars of water out in the sun, to purify it (I am sure). Even city water can have lots of stuff we don't need, like other people's meds that end up in the land dumps, and travel to our ground water.  I've read a few reports on bottle water, from the store....they need to monitor it more closely.

[Ravenwood1950]

Good report from the cardiologist yesterday. 🙏
Although I still have to deal with palpitations and right bundle branch block, no blocked arteries, some calcification on heart valves with small amount of regurgitation, doctor said that I have only a 1% chance of a heart attack in the next 3 years. I feel a little better knowing I am not in worse condition than I feared.
So prognosis is keep on keeping on. Sure hope we get some rain the next few days, it has been a month since I have recorded significant rainfall.
Ravenwood
P.S. Got up to an invasion of ants in the kitchen this morning. 😩