Jason closes his journal... Thanks!! I love you!!

[Mackay]

Modern pioneer, back to that topic about your kids in the woods...

You have to always be very careful. We had a bad experience with my son when he was in kindergarden.

Trav started to like to play with fire. I caught him a couple of times and tried to teach him not to to no avail. Then one day he lit the bathroom in school on fire! I was shocked. My sweet little boy doing this! I couldn't believe it. Fortunately no bad damage done to the room.

So counselors got involved and out came the whole ball of wax.
Trav had been playing in construction dirt piles across the street with his dirt bike with the "other guys". A whole bunch of boys rode the dirt piles there. Turns out one of these other guys, age 16 is a known pedophile out on probation and he had taken Trav into the port a potty on this construction site and exposed himself and tried to get Trav to do the same. Now what turned the counselor on to this possibility that Trav was in some kind of trouble was that often, but not always of course, kids that are abused sometimes turn to playing with fire. Trav had also taken to lying, which he had never done, and to bad moods which I had noticed but didn't see how to get to the bottom of it.

Turns out that this 16 year old kid and another kid were also fire players and they were teaching Trav fire play. Next step was police involvement.

Since this kid already had a record it was not hard. Trav went to the police station, as they had already picked this kid up for questioning thanks to the counselor. Trav identified him through a one way window and told the police exactly what happened. No trial. nothing. Since the kid was on parole he got sent right up the river till at least age 18 was the last we heard.

I tell you when Trav came home that day he was so proud to have put his finger on this guy. The counselor and the police investigator were just great with him. It was a healing for him. He never went near fire again. (He's 20 now and I'm still proud of him. His nature is that of protector of living things.) a few months later we received a letter from the court about what was to happen to this kid and Trav and I sat down and read it together. Justice had been done, at least in Travs mind. He was quite satisfied. ... The other kid that was marginally involved moved away so that was the end of him for us.

You need to know who your kids are with and what their history and reputation is. I would not rule out a 17 year old boy just because of his age. There are millions of fine 17 year old boys out there who would not be thinking in this line at all. But you do need to know who each one is that comes around your family. And most of all you need to educate your children from a very young age what the boundaries are. Your best protector of your child is your child. The world is full of possibilities. This could happen at church, at school, at a relatives home, in a neighbors back yard, and sure enough we have seen plenty of that on the news...

For my son, he learned at a tender age in Kindergarden, and the hard way. If I had taught him sooner there may have been less of a problem because he would have had the words and sense to tell me what these kids had been up to... he did have the sense to say no...but it never crossed my mind that there were such "bad kids" around.. They intrigued this little guy with their games of fire and secrets...if he had not acted out by setting a fire at school who knows how far it would have gone and I was really thankful to this counselor for her insight and help.

 

[TanksHill]

Jay your booth looks great and thanks for sharing the story about the Gypsies. They are a culture all of their own.

I did some back reading to see what was going on. I agree you should trust your instincts. You have good experienced ones.

How is that big old trellis tower you made???? My cucs are hitting 6 feet tall not sure what o do with them when they get to the top.

Have a great day.

 

[modern_pioneer]

Mine are about 2 feet so far, that late cold spell early spring shocked them, but they'll come around.

This week has been a pretty good one, not much going on at home, weeding, picking berries by the quart fulls, and I am planning to do some jamming/video this weekend for my SS you tube series. Jamming is/has been pretty easy for me, but some might wanna see it done.

The girls are getting bigger and now spend at least 4 hours a day free ranging eating weed seeds, grasses and bugs. They have set camp under a pine tree in the back yard where they can dig in and stay cool from the sun. Ruthy and another (nameless) join use for berry picking and have a taste for japanese beatles that we collect and feed them.

More good news on the work front, as I watch the markets/job loss around me get worse, I landed a pretty large rotating wholesale account under my Artisan Metal Shop business this week. I had been working with the client for a short time, who at first was going to look overseas for so called cheaper products. I had sent them a few free samples to gage quality, and they did find a supplier in Taiwan.

When I did a follow-up call and learned that, I discounted that we would do business and let the info. slip from my head as not to focus on dropping my prices in order to secure the contract. If my people that work for me would want to make less an hour, than I could drop my prices some. But as you and I know we all have to make a living and support our families, so thats never going to happen.

After a phone conference, I spoke with the purchasing agent alone and asked why the change of supplier? Often agents will not discuss these issues with a supplier, and it is a little rude for me to ask. But she was very quick to answer, with a small laugh, she said " With the demand of American manufactures, it seems to be very patriotic to support our own people/companys here first. Also we learned that your wholesale prices were on average .30 cheaper per part compaired to the ones made in Taiwan, by the time we paid the import/metal taxes." I said "I like import taxes, can I have your corperate CC number please"

I also got another small wholesale account with another company this week. They project that they will need about 2k a month of products. My knowledge tells me, I have been doing this awhile, and have 14 current wholesale accounts already, they will be doing more like 1k a month, but hey its revenue and I'll be happy to take that. I might add, know one can really say either way, because their store might become a beacon for my nice signs and key racks.

That reminds me of a story I want to share with you about my mentor Jim. When I told him I was going to start building copper pot racks, he laugh at me and stated that wasn't a very bright idea, I tried it anyway, now I sell 2-3 every seven days. So it wasn't a bad idea. I always like putting my ideas on the floor and allow my staff and employees kick it around. When I mentioned dog breed leash/key racks most folks just looked at me and said nope its not going to work. I said we were going to do them anyway, and they do really good. So a big ole at Jim and those other folks that didn't think it was a good idea.

So whats my newest idea????? And I putting this out here for your comments/feedback.

Again, I make no claim to the idea being an original, however I do claim that it is original to the metal silhouette manufacturing on a mass production scale. TREE FACES

I was driving up Pine Track Road, when I saw one of those plastic tree faces looking down at me. So the first thing I do to start my research was prices that they were selling for, how much could I sell them for. What types of faces/expressions could I come up with to make this a product line? One of the advantages I discovered I had againist those plastic tree face makers is cost and sizes. I figured I could offer them from small, medium, and large starting at about $18.00, $24.00 and $28.00 a piece. The small would match the crrent size offered, and $7.00 cheaper.

Do I think I will set some kind of new sales record with this idea? No..... But if I could sell one a week, thats a good start.

What kind of Tree Face would you find interesting to see?

So far I have a mean, happy, jolly, smirk, rolling eyes, eyes to one side, eyes looking down. I even have a farmer, and a wizard one so far. Ideas please????

ETA: I might put you in my will, being that Tallman has so many folks in his already, your sure to be a winner with me because I haven't promised any one to be in my will. I also have a sliding scale will, the more ideas you present, the bigger your percentage wedge gets.

 

[TanksHill]

Funny you!!! Great ideas glad to see the gears are still turning. Lets see I need a sun face for my new company logo. Maybe I could give each new customer a complimentary sun Tree Face.

wouldn't that be cute?? do those things hurt the trees? Sorry for asking but it's the tree hugger in me.

Gina

 

[2dream]

I love tree faces - and you might also look into fairy doors and fairy silouetts. Personally I would love a fancy fairy door.

 

[modern_pioneer]

Not to worry G, they won't hurt the trees. So there will still be plenty of trees to hug!!

Thanks Wanda, I'll have to get my head around fairy doors, designs I mean. Thats a great idea!!!

So lets talk about my jamming/canning adventures for a minute. I once was asked about my 1966 tappon stove and how canning pots won't fit under it. So as it is, this is pictures of my canning pots/stove out on the back deck. If you recall I picked this up off the street corner and did some small repairs, less than 20 bucks, it retails for around 100 bucks. If I hadn't found it, I would have bought one just to can on.

Laugh at me if you want, it works, and I put up food. When the old stove dies or remodle happens first, I will still can outside in the summer to keep the heat and steam outside, keeping the house cooler.

Here is my last batch of jams cooling, as you can see by the marks on the towel, I have already moved and stored other jams today. Once I get my cool storage cleaned and start filling it, I'll share some pics of my pantry with you folks.

Once cooled/set I'll paste on new labels and put in my dark cool pantry for storage.

Let me tell you about that new strainer I purchased for my kitchen aid, LOVE IT..... If you do jams and jellys and have a kitchen aid machine, you can thank me later. It took me less than 5 minutes to do each batch, I like my jam semi seedless so I always add a few tablespoons of seeds back in. As you might know, I also have the grinder attachment to grind my own meat. You will need this attachment to use the strainer as well.

Last year, my shoulder was so sore from straining all those tomatoes, not to mention the hours of work involved. Maters aren't even red yet and my shoulder is thanking me.. LOL... Some how I can see the conflict between using the old strainer and my new kitchen aid one, being SS and all. However, the amount of labor and time saved to move on and do other SS things, well, it just makes sense to me.

I strained 48 quarts of sauces last year alone, what does that mount to, 16 hours of labor?

 

[TanksHill]

Wow, you been jammin!!! Sorry I had to. Ok so I guess I'll be looking for Kitchen Aid attachments on e bay. I have been eyeing the wheat grinder but I have a Blend Tech Blender that grinds pretty well.

Most of my jams are stone fruits and strawberries. I have never even made a berry with seeds. I guess they are just way to expensive around here and don't grow wild very well. Hummm... I'll have to work on this.

I took inventory on my canning cupboard this morning. I will either need another cupboard or have to find someplace else for my tom sauces. It's getting full!!!!

Great job, Gina

 

[modern_pioneer]

So what do you have to barter with Gina? I will trade you some good bramble jams for some good eats you have to offer.

"We" canned 48 half pints today. Did I say "we", ohhh... the cat is out of the bag now... Let me explain....

My DW is very thrifty, often she hunts for good sales and such. She is very good with numbers, even asked me today our cost to make a half pint of jam verses buying it. I already had raspberrys and blackberry plants in, but needed some from a local berry farm to make jam, that was taken out of my SS fund, $18.00 for raspberrys. I will be fine with blackberrys and harvested a heap of strawberrys already. I also purchased 2lbs of rhubarb to make my pie recipe this year, but next year, I will harvest the rhubarb it will be three years.

Like some of your husbands, not getting the SS idea, my wife thinks I am nuts. However, she always ask if I need help, she will help, but sometimes she doesn't. In the big picture, I can goods to feed my family, its a labor of love. Whats interesting is how the kids like what I made better than store bought stuff. I never make a point to point this out, but she knows.

For the first time, DW helped me make Jam today!!!

I made the jam, she moved the funnel, wiped the rims, and even sorted sugar for the next batch. I don't know why she decided to come around to jamming, maybe it was me and I wouldn't allow store bought jam to be purchased. Perhaps she felt guilty after seeing my days work yesterday, I am glad to have the help, we did it together, and she was happy to have made some jam. I don't see any reason to take that away from her, she has done good...

 

[modern_pioneer]

This morning I took DS to camp for the week, he was excited, of course we had spent the last three nights packing his ruk sac, making him pack it again, over and over till it was right.

That would be the army in me, giving bad weather and such. But LiL'J has done good, I am proud that he understands how to pack his ruk sac and keep everything dry.

On his own.... I snap this pic of him loading his gear..

He won't be little for long, one of these days I will be old and thumb through photos. I am sure I will remember this photo because he worked pretty hard for those patches, and he will remember how much time we spent together sewing them on.... It was nothing less than blood bank, but we got it done...

 

[2dream]

What a fine looking young man you have there. I always did love a man in uniform.
I know he will have a great time at camp. We always seem to miss the kids when they are gone and they are never ready to come home. LOL

You have been busy jammin. I don't do much in that area. About every 3 or 4 years I will make fig preserves. One canning will last me that long. We are not big jam or jelly eaters. But I do love the smell of a freshly opened jar of homemade jelly or jam. Alas, it always ruins before we eat it all.