Settling In and (Another) New Sewing Machine

Kohl is plum tuckered out. Eyes open but he
won't even raise his head.

Kohl seems to be settling in nicely. He's VERY mellow which is a nice attribute in a family dog. Well, it is for us anyway. We've got enough energy screaming through the house with six girls running amok. I previously blogged how we adopted him at the age of eight (a few weeks ago). His previous family didn't think he was getting enough attention after a family member passed away. Well, he gets SO much now, occasionally I find him hiding under my bed. My three little girls LOVE to hug him around his neck. Doesn't matter what I say about giving the dog a break. They chase him everywhere.

The older three daughters are becoming more and more interested in sewing. They see mommy making all the skirts, bags, and shirts and want to join in. Naturally, Wifey explained to me that this is the perfect and logical reason why she NEEDS more sewing machines. Of course CraigsList has them listed ALL THE TIME. Grrr.

Seed For Security Update: Jacob's Cattle Beans and French Horticulture Beans

Purple carrots comparing size to a dime coin.

If you read my previous post about how excited I got planting purple carrots, you'll also know that they failed miserably. I can't remember where, for sure, I got them but it was NOT inside the United States. Needless to say, out of two 3'x3' raised garden boxes, I've grown maybe six carrots. The tops were deceptively large, or so I thought (as a novice gardener) so I picked a few. They were miserably small and scrawny. Smaller in diameter than a pencil and less than half the length. That was over a month ago.

I picked two more just the other day. You can see by the picture that they are still pathetic. I only have two left growing and they're staying in the soil until they say FEED ME SEYMOUR! Maybe I'm just being too impatient. I want this stuff to be ready to eat in under four months. Is that SO unreasonable?

Seed For Security: Corn and Squash Update

Indian Corn from SeedForSecurity.com

I'm happy to report that our seeds purchased from SeedForSecurity.com are growing very well. This is our second time to plant the Indian Corn and it has done superb. Last season we planted it a little late and didn't get the joy of seeing it reach full size before the winter frost set in. We also discovered little grubs had eaten into the cobs once the ears were peeled back. The grubs didn't matter much since our corn hadn't been planted early enough to mature before the frost (there just wasn't much corn ON the cob yet.)

Needless to say, Wifey and I have pulled a few ears here and there and they look terrific. The SFS website says to harvest when the ears turn brown and/or start to flip upside down. I pulled one yesterday and tasted it raw. It was sweet and yummy. I can't wait until they are fully grown. I'm guessing about one more month. We've planted several rows, around seven or so. Each row has around 10 stalks. Each stalk looks to be growing anywhere from 2-5 ears of corn. We should have a terrific feast ahead of us!

Book Bomb Reminder: The Simplicity Primer June 7 Release

As an Amazon Associate, Orange Jeep Dad earns from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Book Bomb Reminder: The Simplicity Primer June 7 Release

A book bomb is a coordinated push to get as many people as possible to buy a book on the same day, which drives it up the Amazon sales rankings and puts it in front of a much larger audience than it would normally reach on its own. For independent and small-press authors writing about self-reliance, homesteading, and simple living, a strong release day can make the difference between a book that disappears into obscurity and one that keeps selling steadily for years because it finally got noticed.

Books focused on simplifying daily life resonate strongly with readers who are trying to cut down on debt, clutter, and unnecessary complexity in favor of a more self-sufficient, intentional way of living. Whether the focus is frugal living, basic homesteading skills, or rethinking consumer habits, these guides tend to offer practical, actionable steps rather than abstract philosophy, which is exactly why they build such a loyal readership within the preparedness and homesteading community.

Supporting authors in this niche by purchasing on release day, leaving an honest review afterward, and sharing the book with others who might benefit costs very little but has an outsized impact on a smaller author's visibility. Independent authors rarely have big marketing budgets behind them, so word of mouth and community support around a launch date often matter more than any advertising campaign could. If simple living and self-reliance are topics that interest you, keeping an eye out for book bomb announcements from authors in this space is a great way to discover new material worth adding to your own library.

Just a Reminder!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 7th is Book Bomb Day for the new book The Simplicity Primer, by Patrice Lewis. You'll probably recognize Patrice's name from either her excellent Rural Revolution blog, or from her WorldNet Daily columns. Please wait until June 7th to order the book, to create the maximum media buzz.

The above was copied from SurvivalBlog.com

How to Install a Door to Our Bathroom Archway: Part II

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How to Install a Door to a Bathroom Archway: Part 2

Updated May 2019

Continued from Part One of my post about installing a door to an arched bathroom entrance. In Part One, a friend from church used his nail gun to place a frame inside our archway (pictures of installing the framing in Part One.)

A list of all the supplies needed for this project are listed at the bottom of this page. 

Our drywall installer came over yesterday to drywall the arched doorway frame. We've been waiting for about a month for this particular installer because he comes highly recommended AND he only charged us $50! I could have nailed the drywall to the frame myself but if I had attempted the taping, applying putty and texturizing, it would NOT have looked nearly as nice. Plus, I figure, for $50 I get a one-on-one lesson from a professional on how to do this stuff :-)

Book Bomb June 7th: The Simplicity Primer by Patrice Lewis

As an Amazon Associate, Orange Jeep Dad earns from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Book Bomb June 7th: The Simplicity Primer by Patrice Lewis

A BOOK BOMB is an event where buyers coordinate an effort to buy an item on the EXACT same day. When a majority of purchases of an Amazon sold book are done with this effort, it drives up the popularity of the book. Please support Patrice Lewis and purchase her book The Simplicity Primer on June 7 with the link provided below. (Only $10 to support an American Mom, Homeschooler, Writer & Homesteader, do it!)

====> Buy it HERE at Amazon <====

Patrice Lewis (Author)

======> Book Bomb date of June 7<=====

365 Ways To Simplify Your Life

List Price:	$15.95
Your Price:	$10.85
You Save:	$5.10 (32%)

 (FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.)

Jeep Quotes for my Jeep Bretheren

Here's some Jeep quotes I've pulled from around the 'net. I need to post more Jeep stuff. Its in the blog title 'cause I've always found peace and solitude riding around in a Jeep.

Now, on with the Jeep quotes:


JEEP: The dirtiest of the four-letter words

Jeep: Just Everyone Else's Parts

When I Die, Bury me in my JEEP. 'Cause it's never been in a hole it couldn't get out of!

JEEP - Jumps Everything Except Payments

JEEP = Just Empty Every Pocket!

Real Jeeps are built, not bought.

If its not leaking, it must be empty!

Jeep Gear Worth Checking Out

For fellow Jeep enthusiasts, a few accessories worth having:

• Jeep accessories
• Off-road recovery kits
• Roof rack cargo carriers

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.