Boy Scout Camporee and the Hams

The Pacific Meramec Valley Amateur Radio Club

demonstrated different modes of ham radio  operation 

during the April 24-25 Camporee hosted by 

Pacific Boy Scout Troop 329 in the City of Pacific, MO.

An estimated 300-500 scouts from 30 troops 

camped out in Liberty Field park as they demonstrated

their idea of futuristic camping which included a stingray  three person

tent suspended around 10 ft high from three poles.   

My husband used army surplus ammo boxes to create a

Go Box for his radio which is bolted into the box for protection

and ease of travel if they were to be called out in an emergency.

It is fitted with plugs and speakers for a quick plug in before start up.

He has room to add a second radio.  One being dual band and digital

and the other will be all digital.  I won't go into techy detail

but they operate differently.  He was able to use his

radio as a repeater so the handy talky radios could communicate

when their signal was not strong enough.

He also had it set up as a packet station so he could transmit

data over the airwaves known as packet radio.  It is sort of a forerunner

of the internet but much slower.  In an emergency they can

send Word docs and Excel spreadsheets which is a requirement

by the State Emergency Management agency plus it works

with the MERS system which is the Missouri

Emergency Radio Service.

An example of PSK31 (similar to instant messaging)

and Packet Radio (similar to email).

Some of the tents that were set up.

His gear packed up and ready to go.

One box is the radio and the other a tool box,

laptop computer and antenna and mast.

My Amazing Cane and Deal of a Walker

I was able to stand up the next morning after my Chicago injury

but the tables had turned.  I could stand up but could not bend my knee.
It was the better of the two situations because I could now meet
with the customer and, with help, get through the customer visit and
warehouse tour riding on their golf cart.  They could not have been nicer
and they just happened to sell the Trusty Cane which they promptly
gave me as a gift!  This was the only thing that allowed me 
to get back to the airport, through the rental car return and into the
terminal where a most charming airport wheel chair escort made
certain that I was well taken care of.  

I worked from home the next day and made an appointment with 
the orthopedic doctor for Friday morning, bright and early.  

The Results are In  
(Drum roll)
No tears in my meniscus!!!!  
Yea for me.

What did happen was complicated.
Due to a previous car accident my knee cap no longer sits exactly where it should
but rather is sort of kinked to the side.  Manageable in most situations.
The cartilage is OK in the front of my knee although there is a massive spur
on the top.  Behind my knee has very little cartilage left and when I pivoted
is somehow caused the ligaments to snap and either stretch or contract,
maybe both, resulting in a bad sprain.  From stepping into a car.

I have to use a walker instead of the cane for the next two weeks and 
go back for a follow up.  I have the standard front wheeled walker that
was my Mother In Law's, the sort where you put tennis balls on the back legs.
That won't work for me, especially at work where I need to transport
and not drag the walker across their heavily carpeted floors.

We checked Walgreen's where a four wheel walker is $140, too high for me.
Then went to the medical supply to see what my insurance would pay.
It doesn't really work out well so I told them I would pass.
Then they brought out the dinged and dented model that was scratched
during transportation.  It is 100% functional but has some dings
which is fine with me.  The best part is that they would sell if for $50
which was OK with me.  The old metal ones are $90!

So now I have a Snazzy blue metallic walker complete with 

brakes, a seat and a carrying basket that can sit below the seat

or attach to the front.  Perfect for carrying my lunch or bringing

print jobs back from the copier.  It is light weight and folds.

Now for the cane.

It is amazing!!!!!

It is the TRUSTY CANE from As Seen On TV fame.

No joke, this is a great cane.  I've used canes in the past

that fall down and the bottom can slip out from under you.

I have no idea what they cost but through Bargains in a Box

in Chicago, it has to be value priced below the normal markets.

It stands up so you can balance it while you use both hands.

If the floor is not level, it may tip but for the most part it will stand.

The tip swivels so it moves with you.

It even worked on grass.

There are three bases under the single base to provide more stability.

As you can see in the first photo of it, it lights up when you push the button.

I wondered about this but if you need to go down the hall at night and 

you don't want to turn on the overhead lights, push the button and your

path is now lit up.  It will stay lighted until you turn it off which allows

you to stand the cane up and continue to have light.

It could also light up your walk way or the key hole as you try to unlock

your door at night.

And there is more . . .   it collapses onto itself with a simple pull and 

twist of the segments.  I did not do this since my flight was just an hour

but if I wanted to carry it in a tote, I could.

Tom will have to drive me to work for a couple of days until my

knee is strong enough for me to drive.  I would try it locally but

the area I work in is congested and under major construction with

lanes missing and temporary lanes in place where a highway,

major outer road and a university converge.  Too much for me!

So I have avoided surgery for now. 

Thankfully.

Find more about the Trusty Cane at the link below.

Trusty Cane

Check out Bargains in a Box at the link below.
If you are anywhere near Chicago, go visit.  
The majority of their inventory is from major suppliers
and prices are great.  They keep is plain and simple to reduce 
costs so don't plan on finding fancy shelving or expensive decor.
That only increases the cost for me and you.

Bargains in a Box

Disclaimer:
My company requires I tell you that I have a relationship with this customer
as I have mentioned in the posts.  That being said, this is the sort of place,
as regular readers know, that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, even without our products
being in there.  I have no connection to Trusty Cane or As Seen on TV.
Those opinions are strictly my own.

Injured in Chicago

I have real problems.

My boss and I flew to Chicago this morning for a customer visit.

After a terribly turbulent flight we landed safely and walked the

miles and miles to the bus which would take us to the rental cars.

My boss put my suitcase in the back and I opened the 

passenger door, pivoted to get in and 

SNAP

went my knee, in the back rather than the front like I am used to,

I think I may have torn my meniscus based on my husband's previous injury

which sounds very similar.   

We drive around the airport about 150 times since the GPS wants

to take us on a road they just dug up. No matter where we drive,

we're still in the airport.  It must be as big as a small city.

Then there are barricades, lanes that disappear, the wind is

blowing so strong that signs are falling over and construction material

is waving across lanes.  

We end up in parking lots for FedEx, for foreign airlines,

for other cargo shipments.  It goes on forever.

Planes are landing just barely over our heads.

Finally we see a way out.  We don't know if it is the right way,

but the GPS will figure it out if we can just leave the airport!!

We pull up to the Marriott Courtyard in Elmhurst.

The hotel has a wheel chair and moved me to a first floor room.

They brought ice and my boss ordered and brought my dinner to me.

The concierge even wheeled me up the hall.

So here I sit,

Hurt in Chicago.

There is no point in going to an emergency room.

I can sit without any pain, I can sort of stand but can't walk.

We fly home tomorrow around 1 PM.

I assume the airport will take me to the plane in a wheel chair

and I'll get to board first  (Woo Hoo)

Then I'll get a wheel chair to get to the car (I rode with my boss)

and he will take me back to work where my car is waiting for me.

The one I can't drive because it's my right leg.

Somehow I'll get home and then make an appointment with 

a doctor who will tell me I need some sort of major operation

that will hurt an awful lot.   I'll work from home until I can drive 

well enough but will probably not be taking that vacation day 

on Friday to walk around libraries for the book sale.

Do you know what my major immediate concern is?

How will I shower, dry my hair and FIX MY HAIR in the morning.

This is TRAGIC!!

And I will miss out on the warehouse tour but hopefully can hobble

into the customer's place to meet them.

Maybe a magic fairy will make my knee better overnight.

Let's hope!

I'm not real happy right now but I've got a nice hotel,

the employees could not be nicer, truly wonderful.

I have some soda and pretzels and TV plus internet.

It could be lots worse (like if they want to do surgery),

Maybe it is just twisted.

Right?  Just twisted.

Sigh.

I Can Do It Too - Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

I saw the recipe for Cheddar Cheese Biscuits in the 

same issue of The Backwoodsman in which I

found my emergency lighting.  I decided I would try

and make these as well.

They have a photo in the magazine that is attributed

to Betty Crocker and not the same shape as they call

for in the instructions. I will say that the Betty Croker

photo is much more appealing than the the final product.

They call for cutting them into 2 inch squares.

These were OK.  My issue with the recipe is that

the measurements for the ingredients were ambiguous.

For someone that does not bake often, that's tragic.

They gave ranges of 1/3 to 1 tsp salt.

This could be 2/3 tsp salt less, which is a big difference.

They also ranged from 1/2 to 2/3 cup shortening,

again, a pretty big difference.

I really don't find them very tasty, perhaps due to salt

especially since our butter is not very salty.

If I add salt, they are better but, for me, not 

worth making again so I won't bother with the recipe.

My husband liked them but says they would be better 

baked with lard.  He says shortening adds a bitterness to them.

I will say h says it tastes just like a campfire biscuit

so these may be a win at the campfire, 

but no so much in my kitchen.

Storm Damage Clean Up

This is always the thing you want to see when you look

at your giant, leaning tree that is near the driveway.

It's only a matter of time.

Then, will it fall or get hung up in all the other trees in its path?

We had a similar situation with another large tree

on the other side of the front yard.  A storm came

through that left the torn and twisted top hanging from

the top.  Finally storm #2 came through and took about

half of it down.  With the help of a ladder, the other half might 

just be low enough to attach a chain to it and pull it away with the tractor.  

Taylor, our granddaughter, is very helpful.

She always offers to drive the four wheeler when there

is work to be done!  I am not certain she realizes

she's doing any work though based on her big smile.

There are a few other large limbs hanging on so

you need to be mindful of them as you walk about.

Cousin Gabe discovered the window had been shattered

in the camper and glass all over the ground.  This side

faces away from the house so we had not noticed it.

We're not done with Spring storms, there should be 

some big ones in May and June.  My work location is

moving a mile farther up the road.  After 15 years of covered parking,

we will be in a regular parking lot.  I've never had covered

parking in the past but you sure do get spoiled 

with the little perks like covered parking 

 and a tunnel into the building to stay out of the elements.

I guess I'll have to get one of those sunshades because

I have a black interior and it will surely be hot.

Decorating the Compost Pile

Our granddaughter, Taylor, and her friends took great pride in

decorating the compost pile!  We could hear them laughing,

screaming and running about; however, we didn't expect this!

They created steps from rocks and lined them 

with May apple greenery topped by sprigs of redbud.

It is an awfully nice embellishment but we are still 

wondering what the fascination with a pile of horse poop,

wood chips and other decaying organic matter is.

They sure have a good time with it!

The Morels Are Here

The morels are here!

We've been watching beneath the ash trees where they 

grew last year.  Between yesterday and this morning they

appeared out of nowhere.

When he picks them he tries to shake them up a bit 

so some of the spores remain next season.  You have to

make certain you are picking morels, not false morels. 

See the link here for false morel identification.

The Missouri Dept of Conservation has some good 

links here covering not only false morels but other

good types along with recipes.  

Supposedly the best spots are under elm, tulip, old apple

trees and ash trees, they say preferably dead, 

after the ground has been disturbed - such a disruption

caused by water rushing over it or the leaves disturbed.

He found these so far and will check tomorrow morning

when they are easier to spot.

My granddaughter will be so disappointed.  

She fell in love with fried morels at our friend's place

last year when they had a blue gill and mushroom fry.

She won't be with us this weekend, and we will 

cook them tomorrow for dinner.

A Pretty Blooming Spring

Spring sure has a way of putting a little beauty in everything.

See some of our Spring flowers at 

Cats, Quilts and Wild Woodland Things

This is a blog I had for a little while to separate subjects but

found it difficult to maintain two plus everything else.

I had a nice comment a few days ago so I thought I would 

post here periodically.

Happy Spring

I Can Do It Too- Emergency Lighting

Emergency Lighting is the first in my series

I Can Do It Too

I have been reading various issues of The Backwoodsman

which has both feature articles in addition to handy

tips on how to do things and quick recipes.  As I am 

reading I keep thinking I can do it too! 

So I am going to try.

The issue where you can find this tutorial

Items Needed

A cat food tin or similar small round tin such as a tuna can

An aluminum soda can

a 3/4 x 5 inch strip of blue jeans

Cooking oil such as vegetable oil

tin snips or scissors 

something to make flame (a lighter/matches)

I started with an empty tin of cat food

(the cats benefited greatly from this experiment)

Cut the center out of a soda can.

I used tin snips but you could use scissors as the article

mentions; however, scissors can be dulled by the metal

or since we had tin snips, I used them as well as a leather

glove just so I did't poke my fingers as I was cutting it.

Trim it to fit inside the tin.  My tin was smaller than

the one used in the magazine so I had to trim accordingly. 

Bend the metal so it forms an upside down "V"

Snip a hole in the center to thread the blue jeans through.

I think I should have made a smaller hole but it worked.

Thread the strip of blue jeans through the hole.

Adjust so about 1/8 inch is sticking up. 

This photo shows the jeans before adjustment 

to make it easier to view.

Fill the tin with oil but not to the very top.

Allow the jeans to wick up the oil.  The article says you

can add a drop or two to the top of the jean wick to 

help matters along.  Once it has saturated the jeans, 

light the blue jean wick and watch it flame.

For caution, I did this outside and sat it in our fire pit 

where it would stay out of the breeze and if spilled,

it would be safe.  (Safety First!!)

The article said their candle burned for six hours

without using hardly any fuel.  I blew mine out after 

three hours since I had to leave and as mentioned,

I could not tell that anything had been used up.

It smoked a little at first which was either from

the oil or the length of the wick, or both.  I 

would be cautious if using it indoors since it is oil

and can spill but it certainly put out light for a long while.

I have a few other experiments to try, some from

Backwoodsman and other sources.  My husband tells me

this is Kathy's Summer of Learning while he shows me

how to work on things around the house that he generally

takes care of such as minor tractor repair, the septic system,

household appliances, etc.

A Wash Out and Flood Conditions

Three inches of rain came down in a half hour

resulting in flooding like we have not seen in 

our area for many years.  Not only was the low water 

bridge under, it covered our county road and flooded

farm fields tearing down fences and stranding motorists.

Even in town water rescues were conducted in areas

that you would never expect. 

 Barricades have been erected just past the entrance to our county road 

after the bridge washed out so who knows how long the residents 

will have to travel extra miles to get to the other side.

My husband snapped a few shots while I was at work.

The frog pond on the wall is overflowing and a river 

traveled across the courtyard, flowing down the hill

towards the coop and taking all the rock under the 

coop deck with it.    This frog pond is severely cracked

and holds very little water so for it to overflow is 

amazing and devastating to the poor frogs.

What was more amazing is that it scoured all the large 

rocks that fill the road's three feet deep culvert.

Pushing the rock to the bottom of the ridge 

and creating a dam at the bottom.  We have to 

arrange for a backhoe to come out and correct it.

As you can see, these are no little rocks.

This is where it all ended up.  Again, this was 3ft deep.

I was concerned that all my routes were under water

but I was able to get home using the highway.  Many 

times the place I turn onto the highway is flooded

in smaller rains but I was lucky this time.  All the other

routes were not passable.  More rains were expected

on Thursday so I worked from home just to be safe.

There were two very large storms, one early and the 

other with winds up to 72 mph which collapsed a couple

of buildings near where I work in town.  It eventually crossed

over into Illinois where it continued to cause damage. 

Friday morning I called the highway patrol as I crossed 

the major intersection out here.  The storm had blown so 

hard that the Stop sign was facing the wrong direction 

so the road with the stop no longer had one

and the sign was now facing the 55 mph county letter highway

where locals would not anticipate a stop.  

It was a bad situation, especially with a detour in place

due to the washed out bridge.  They were calling
MODOT to come out and fix the signs.  I saw they were heavily

braced by the time I came home that evening.  

The weekend is nice but we expect more rains on 

Sunday and Monday but hopefully not severe weather.

Bugs and Blooms

The plum tree was a hub of activity, literally hundreds of

flies bees and other winged creatures soaring in and

out of the blooms.  One poor fat bumble had a mid air

collision with a smaller flying bee.  I'm not so sure 

it was an accident!

The dandelions are blooming too.

As well as the wild violets.

I picked some tall grass next to the garden beds that turned

out to be a pretty delicious snack for the birds.

The buckeyes are one of the earliest bloomers.

We have two up by the road and a smaller one

over in the garden area.  They are very distinctive

so it's easy to spot them but more difficult

to find the buckeyes after the fall.  They are 

either buried in the leaves or taken away by animals. 

This isn't my tree but I found it blooming across the road.

I don't remember it from last year.

Any ideas of what it is?

When I turned over this broken chicken statue

(I don't know why but I keep the head in the garden)

I sent an entire colony of ants into a panic.

I replace the head and patted down the leaves so

I hope they are happy again.

Specks enjoys sleeping beneath the viburnum bushes

I have on the garden wall. I trimmed them up so

she had more room as they provide a lot of shade

in the summer.  

We're anticipating another round of storms, some 

potentially severe towards mid to end of the week.

There are a couple of trees that I have concern about,

one that could block the driveway until it's sawed up.

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter!