The time is now

I occasionally have to do something that I would prefer to think that I will do "Some time in the future."  Most times if the task has to do with a major goal then it will end up on a list or in the calendar in due time, but some require a bit of prodding.  There is no time like the present, carpe diem, don't put off 'till tomorrow what you could get done today, etc.  I can rah-rah all day wit this motivational art fodder however it always seems to come down to the same question for me, if I don't do it now what will be the change that will make me do it then.  Since I am too logical to believe my own hype I usually end up just getting it done and being happier for it.  Sometimes it is good to think about where we get the strength to do everyday things as well as those tasks that require just a little more strength.

-TODD

Best new bread recipe

Yesterday I put the finishing touches on a new recipe for Apple, Raisin, and Pecan bread.  The product is so good that I literally ate almost the entire loaf by myself, so good in fact that my wife ate some and she does not normally eat the breads.  So here it is:

Yield: 2 loaves

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons buttermilk
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 green apples diced
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Cream ½ cup butter, gradually adding sugar; beat until light and fluffy.
2.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3.  Dissolve soda in buttermilk; add to batter, mixing well.
4.  Stir in flour with a large spoon.
5.  Add vanilla, and stir well with large spoon.
6.  Stir in apples, Pecans and raisins.

7.  With a basting brush lightly coat bread pans with applesauce then sprinkle with all-purpose flour.
8.  Spoon mixture into the 2 prepped loaf pans.
9.  Drizzle melted butter over loaves.
10.  Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; stir well, and sprinkle over loaves.
11. Bake at 350 for about 40-45 minutes.
12. Cool in pan 5 minutes; turn out on wire rack.

You can make half for one loaf but I fully recommend that you make two the first time because it will disappear very quickly. 

Growing the future

The next generation of garden is ready to spring forth, right now there are 3 different cucumber pots getting ready to be transplanted.  Also in the mix, is a yellow jubilee tomato plant to add some variety.  Unfortunately the last crop just did not pay out and the garden has been marking time waiting for rejuvenation.  I almost always start everything in Jiffy pellets and that is the case here also, Yesterday the last two to sprout were transplanted into 4" pots and the largest is already in an 8" pot all in the miracle grow soil.  I am noticing that the Miracle grow comes dryer than the Scott's so a new tip is to spray the soil as you go for more uniform wetness as compared to watering the plant in as normal.  I am avoiding going too crazy before any potential move but it is always a strong decision to grow more veggies.

-TODD

Gardening going forward

The next generation of garden is ready to spring forth, right now there are 3 different cucumber pots getting ready to be transplanted.  Also in the mix, is a yellow jubilee tomato plant to add some variety.  Unfortunately the last crop just did not pay out and the garden has been marking time waiting for rejuvenation.  I almost always start everything in Jiffy pellets and that is the case here also, Yesterday the last two to sprout were transplanted into 4" pots and the largest is already in an 8" pot all in the miracle grow soil.  I am noticing that the Miracle grow comes dryer than the Scott's so a new tip is to spray the soil as you go for more uniform wetness as compared to watering the plant in as normal.  I am avoiding going too crazy before any potential move but it is always a strong decision to grow more veggies.

-TODD

Skin care...intensive skin care

Yesterday I got most of the tanning chemicals and oils ordered from Knoblock's, a premier provider to the tanning industry.  I am considering doing the deer hide if I get one this week, tanning is a valuable skill that I have long been interested in for this purpose and since I am getting started anyhow I am looking forward to getting as much use out of my new skill as I can.  Snakes are also on the list, I have officially begun seeking a large snake hunter who is in need of a partner.  It is interesting that I have had this on my mind so much of late and yesterday I found a show filmed in Miami-Dade County that features the Fire Dept. chasing these snakes it is called Swamp Wars and I do believe that they may have the coolest job ever.  I need to know if I have the strength to handle a 20 foot snake.

-TODD

Missed the woods for the trees

I am doing my annual fall dance between the woods and the homestead.   At home I have a wife and animals plus a little garden that keeps me interested and sometimes fed.  As of last year I have added another dimension i.e. the lake.  The lake is awesome for gators and pigs and friends, but not so much for the family. I am looking forward to a potential move in the near future that will put me within walking distance of a wilderness area and bring that aspect of my life closer to my home life.  Balance is what I am looking for, balance of things I like and things I love.  So far I am incorporating everything relatively well but it looks like my life is coming into even closer alignment with my goals and desires and then who knows what we can add next if I just have the strength to plan and live these daily dreams.

-TODD

Hey you have got some thick skin.

In anticipation of bringing the next gator back to the house for full processing and tanning I am beginning to research the process and appropriate materials.  FloridaFishandhunt.comFloridaFishand Hunt.com  is a website that I am new to but I really like their layout and information, click the link and check out their alligator skinning and butchering plan.  The info is about the same as you would find anywhere else bu the photos are a nice touch.  tanning skin and processing wild meat is a skill that hearkens back to the beginning of time and will serve me well into the future.  I will include photos and maybe a video or two when I start everything it should be a strong lesson.

-TODD

Well, that's just peachy

This afternoon I put the peach seed into some soil.  I liberated the seed from the pit via table vise after letting it dry for a week or so.  Planted 4" deep in Miracle Grow the little seed may bring big things.  I did mention the soil I am using since I am just beginning to use it, sort of a trial.  So now I have an avocado that has a nice root going and the shell is splitting on the seed, cherries and a plum are cooling off in the fridge prior to planting, and two oranges starting in 4" pots.  The goal obviously is to grow a bit of fruit and I am starting it in anticipation of having some ground of my own soon to plant it in.  I intend to do a bit more with the citrus by bringing in some lemon, lime and grapefruit but the oranges are the guinea pigs.  Hopefully I can work out the kinks of starting seedling prior to establishing my own mini grove.  I know the title leads toward the peaches but I am including a picture of the avocado 2 minutes ago.  I hope the root is strong!

-TODD

Can't keep a good man down

I was able as you can see to access the Blog.  A software program was to blame (a toolbar) for keeping me out.  Since the last post, we got an 11 foot gator for the freezer, turned some venison into homemade burger, got the IRA onto an auto pay program and got the next crop ready to go into the garden. This year we are growing yellow Jubilee tomatoes.  I am sure that I have missed something, but the good news is that I can share some strength with you again.

-TODD

And so began a grove...

I decided that if I live in Florida and I start trees I had ought to try my hand at citrus, good old fashioned Florida Oranges.  Not being the Citrus expert I looked to what is rapidly becoming my go to resource for how to start trees from seed, EHow.  Check out the page I am referencing during my first foray into the culture of this ideally suited South Florida plant.  I do have video, all of my thanks go to DVDSoft, without their free video converter software I never would have been able to share this poorly shot video with terrible sound...I guess that that will have to be next on the list of improvements.  All questions of quality aside, there will be more to come on the presentation front,  In the mean time check out the video and tell me what you think.

-TODD

Sharing is Caring

I thought ahead a couple of months ago and handed out some calabaza seeds to my co-workers.  I had been wanting to try to grow them myself, however my space limitations prohibited me from doing so.  When I got to work this morning one of my associates let me know that I have one coming my way and it is nearly ready.  I have been handing out seeds at work for nearly as long as I have been gardening but this was a new barter for me, each staff member got six seeds for the price of one calabaza (tropical pumpkin,)  not only do I get some produce that I can't grow at home but so do my friends with the added benefit that maybe one more person will get the itch to grow something they might otherwise overlook.  I guess that in our circle we are stronger together.

-TODD

What to do now?

Well, No gator this week, I guess that will have to wait a few days on that.  Since that is the case, I will be spending more time in the gardent this week to bring it back from it's hunting season coma.  The first step for me is going to be to do an evaluation of what the soil and climate will support and compare that to my particular uses and needs.  I am hoping to put in some Cherokee purple tomatoes and a few more bell pepper plants, these are all relatively easy to care for and fit in well with our diets.  If these will fit the rotation plan as well as fitting the criteria listed above then I will be starting the greenhouse up tonight and hopefully have some seedlings by this time next week if everything gets off to a strong start.

-TODD

Throwing away the wrapper

All of my life I have bought things and thrown away the wrapper, as a child I may have even been guilty of playing in the box a time or two.  Now I am an adult that is interested in doing more with what I have and getting more out of myself and my time.  So now the wrapper is a gator hide (or two,) and if I am so lucky a deer hide.  Well these are more than mere wrappers I know but the fact is I should be recycling everything that I can and the future uses of the leather will far exceed the cost of the process.  I went to Ehow and pulled up the process for the gators and will be trying it myself, with any luck I will be posting a lot of cool info about the process and results.  The material list is short and the work is detailed but I cannot get past the strong feeling of pride that I get from providing directly from nature to my family.

-TODD

Save some for later

I had to look up a shipment tracker for my box of MADE IN USA LED light bulbs from LEDNovations.  yesterday and go claim my box that was on hold in my wife's shipping and receiving area.  The first bulb is already in the wall and the others on standby.  It has become much easier for my to have American Made products, green products or other goods that matter to me by buying ahead.  We maintain a pantry area and thanks to the Man in the Can I am looking forward to starting canning later this year but this is my first foray into stocking up on not just supplies for everyday emergencies but also for the emergency that is everyday,  When I need that bulb it will already be waiting for me.  That is an easy answer that I like, buy extra and there is no good reason to find yourself compromising your values later to avoid an inconvenience, like buying Japanese bulbs rather than American just because imported bulbs are more available.  Stay Strong.

-TODD

The Strength to do it all.

"Have you given up on the garden?"  This is the question my wife asked me yesterday.  I thought about it and said, "No, why?"  Well it turns out that when I neglect thee garden for hunting season bugs still come, soil still dries out and the leaves still grow.  I have this tendency you see to focus 100% on one thing and take it as far as I can go, and while I am blazing new trails the old ones grow over.  This year when we get the new house I will put in a self-watering garden and try to make things workable for that quarter of the year that I would rather hang from a tree than water a plant.   That is just how things work in my mind If I like it, I love it, if I want it to continue however, I have to make it into a system; a watering system, a ring of marigolds to keep the bugs out, a pre-planned schedule to keep things working.  Strength  of all types is built over time including the strength to live a life I can be proud of, so next time I find I am marching full force into something new I will remember to look closely at the parts of my life I need to bring with me and make them  automatic.  So maybe next September my wife won't have to ask if I still garden.

-TODD

Making it Count

Whether I am going out hunting (like tonight,) buying LED light bulbs (waiting on a shipment right now,) running the garden or just learning a new recipe I know that I am making it count.   I have a list of goals that I have written about before.  Each goal has a number and every time I plan to do something even a s simple as reading a book I check to see how doing that moves me measurably toward my goals and which ones.  It can be one activity like reading an investment book, well that activity moves me toward my goal of being a steady long-term investor and my goal of being well read.  This activity gets two different numbers to demonstrate that it serves two goals.  Doing this little activity allows me to see all the progress that I weave into my life and gives me something to be grateful for every day.   I also go through my goals and plans book regularly and make a list of things I can do that materially moves me closer to all of my goals, having an activity like this to keep me on track gives me strength and it takes strength to make it count every day!

-TODD

P.S. I will be out in the field almost every day for the next week so posts will be irregular.  I will be taking notes and photos and hopefully I can figure out how to get my videos out on the blog also.

Meat Eater

Well I am in the process of getting some venison for the upcoming year and the season is off to a good start. Over the weekend I saw at least four different deer including two bucks. Where I hunt the rule is bucks only so even though does taste better, this year we will be eating one of the boys.  I did get some video of one while on my stand yesterday and I am still trying to get it to load onto the blog.  Finding the bucks and patterning their daily movements is the key to bringing one home, right now I have two different bucks staked out and I know what times of the day they are moving so it looks like a nice meal of venison is not too far off in the future.  Wild meat is not only free of Antibiotics and steroids but is also much leaner and heart healthy.  I am looking forward to going into the process of making homemade sausage when I have some meat to work with.  There is nothing stronger than an American who can survive on their own skills.

-TODD 

The Goal

This weekend is the magical opening weekend for big game archery season. This is my chance to fill the freezer with some free-range steroid and antibiotics free meat. This is also my chance to be in the wild for two to three days at a time each week for a quarter of the year. I don't know which aspect of hunting in the wild appeals to me the most but I do know that I would not want to live without any of it. I hope to have a couple of videos to post when I get back.

-TODD

A little strength at a time

Well I got a little programmable timer a couple of years ago and finally put it to good use. The coffee maker that has two lights on it as well as a backlit LCD clock display now comes on only from 5:00 AM until 9:00 AM. A small victory I know but one less phantom load taking a daily bite out of my wallet. So now I am looking around at what I can apply my 4-plug mechanical timer on...hmmm, I'll find something I'm sure and it will feel at least as good. A little strength in an ordinary day is just what the doctor ordered. By the way the timer cost me less that $5.00.

-TODD

Getting it right and SHARING it!

Well I have been playing around with the idea of adding media to the blog. So far I have come up with some ideas and the best seems to be video. I tried over the past weekend to video a wild deer to add to a blog post about nature and finding food in it, but the quality is so bad that you can only tell it is a deer for about 30 seconds and It is apparently a buck for about 10 seconds. The video is from my phone which takes excellent images but leaves something to be desired as a motion picture camera. My thought here is that I can share more through the use of video but if the video is poor so will the message be, so I will be using a Nikon coolpix that I have available to me until I fund a camera...MADE IN AMERICA of course. The Nikon while owned in Japan and made in China is free for my use so that is where I will start. Look forward to some cool videos covering the topics from the blog to be coming up as well as some garden images, the garden images will be up when the storms pass and I can take them. I am very excited to add this feature and hope that I can document some strong ideas. The strength of one life is compounded by bringing that strength to others.

-TODD

A chance to be stronger

Well Hurricane Isaac has said what it has to say to South Florida. Plenty of rain and a little wind damage, but all in all we made it through without major incident. I was proud to be able to help out a few people while all of this was going on, and even more inspired to see others doing the same. Remember that when situations arrive that offer us the opportunity to be of obvious help to our neighbors, those are our opportunities to grow as a community and to develop connections with our friends and neighbors that will bind us together for a lifetime. Be a good neighbor and a strong part of your community.

-TODD

Finding my Strength in Nature

Tonight I am headed out to the swamp to do some scouting. In much the same way as I grow my own food for the table, I love to bring my own meat in from the wild and serve it for my family. The time I spend out this weekend is an investment in achieving that goal and something that I look forward to every year. Just like anything else I will get out of this season what I put into it, and no, I do not always get a deer, pig, or whatever I may be chasing at the moment but I do always get to experience the wild places that I love. So have a safe weekend everyone and stay strong, I'll be out where my heart is enjoying my favorite time of the year.

-TODD

Trial and error

My little garden is failing to produce to full capacity right now. Three of my largest containers have been dedicated to yellow crook-neck summer squash and the veggies are literally rotting off the plant as they grow. I can't help but smile though, I am marking this all down in my garden log and I know that if I plant them again I will know not to do so at this time of the year. I am learning and my skills are growing stronger because the plants are not producing. When I was a kid in school a teacher told the class that Thomas Edison was quoted as saying that he had not failed to create an electric light bulb, he had successfully determined 10,000 ways that would not produce the desired result. Looking back I recall that Mr. Edison did in fact develop from his trial and error the incandescent light bulb. If it worked for Mr. Edison it will work me so that is my thought for today, learn from planned successes as well as from those you did not intend and you will grow stronger.

-TODD

The source of my strength

I have long believed that planning and setting goals has been the secret to my success. I am not a multi-millionaire living in a mansion on a hill smoking a cigar and drinking brandy every day, I am a young man who works hard and loves my family. Having goals written down where I can refer to them and put them into my planner help me to see the progress I am making, and to count the blessings I may otherwise overlook. True success for me is measured in the happiness I can find everyday after all is said and done the days I live are the building blocks of my entire life. My goals allow me to measure progress and give me something clear and meaningful to do. One of my goals is to be well read, so I make a point to read everyday about the other subjects in my goal list. Since I am reading I am accomplishing a goal and I am reading something that will help me to realize another. I am always working on something and it helps me to see results if I have it all planned out. That is one of the sources of my strength and can be a true source of continuing happiness.

-TODD

10%

Throughout my life I have heard people say you have to give 100%, some even say 110%. I say you should give 10%, 10% for wealth and you give it to yourself. If your paycheck is $500.00 per week then take $50.00 every week and put it away where it can earn you some interest. I am not advocating that you try to become the next stock picking mogul, there are plenty of long term options for investing your money that will pay out when you are ready to retire. I recommend starting with a guaranteed investment in U.S. Bonds Click the link and you go directly to the Treasury department's website no brokerage fees and no guessing, you know what you will get right up front. If that isn't your cup of tea, try out a well established mutual fund or one of my personal favorites an IRA with a targeted retirement account or whole market fund. However you start, do it! You will never get anywhere financially if you don't pay yourself and remember your investments need a regular income to grow. I look forward to retirement, not becoming inactive but being able to work on what I want to work on, now that is the kind of strength I am talking about!

-TODD

And the Orchard grows!

I just added a Plum pit to the refrigerator pack. The refrigeration time is about the same as for the cherries so the timing felt right. So far the fruit tree preparations are quite exciting, I will post as things progress and for the first time I will post photos!

-TODD

Patience is a virtue

I am back to starting trees from seeds. I am trying the Peach pit again as well as some cherries. The mistake I made with the peach last time was that I destroyed the seed while opening the pit, I sought out some advice and found that I can let it dry for a week or so then use a bench vise to open the pit without risk of damage to the seed. A little time has passed and now I have a better understanding. Now for the real test of patience...the cherries. I am starting some cherries which involves letting them refrigerate in a baggy with moist paper towel for about 10 weeks, then planting the seeds in good soil 1/2" deep, then you only have to wait 7 years for the cherries! This will definitely test the strength of my patience, but what a reward! I may in fact put some of these trees out in the wild for the critters to eat and for me to share. I could just buy some trees and I may do that but I am looking forward to the satisfying reward of eating a cherry that I grew from seed and cared for over such an extended period. I will let you know how it is going and in a few years I'll tell you how they taste.

-TODD

Pass on the Strength

Tomorrow my wife and I are lucky enough to host my nephew at our home in Florida. This is a case for celebration anytime, but I am even more excited that I get to share with him some of the gardening practices that I use. You see, he has become interested in growing food as has his mother, my sister. So not only do my wife and I get to enjoy his company and use his presence as an excuse to have a great time for four days but I get to pass on a legacy to my family that will feed, entertain them and keep them in good health for years to come. There is an old gardener's riddle that says "anyone can count the seeds in an apple but who can count the apples in a seed." I think that this very much applies to passing on the heritage of growing your own sustainable food sources, for the rest of his life my nephew will be able to produce food from the seeds in an apple. That isn't just strong, that's powerful!

-TODD

Protect your assets

Remember that your assets (the things you own) are worth protecting. I recommend taking pictures of everything you have that is worth more than $100.00 and storing it digitally on a sky drive or a fire safe (both would be even better.) In addition I recommend that you make color photocopies of every ID, Credit card and debit card you have and storing these somewhere safe also. Don't forget to document your paper assets while you are at it, this includes; car titles, deed to the house, investments, etc. Not only can this exercise give you great peace of mind by giving you a reference in the event of a fire, flood, robbery, etc. you will also have an opportunity to go through your possessions and decide what is valuable enough to keep, what is worth selling or donating, and of course what needs maintenance. Maintaining you valuables is another great way to protect them from deterioration and ultimately from needing replacement. When you are photographing your valuables remember that for electronics and firearms getting serial numbers is extremely important. I find that the practice of protecting my assets gives me a strong sense of peace. I hope it does the same for you.

-TODD

Strength in Positivity

When I started making posts on this blog I knew that the one thing I wanted to do was to focus only on the positive with the intent of improving my life and that of all of the Americans that I can. Some of that improvement will come from things that I do directly, some from encouraging others to do for themselves. Sometimes I will post things that you have heard about but not understood, some posts are new ground and others are old territory that just needs to be gone over again. The one thing you will not find here is negativity, I just find that I do better for myself when I focus on positivity and on progress. I do read comments, so if there is anything that you would like covered or just clarified please let me know and I will be glad to share, just keep it positive and keep it strong.

-TODD

A gift that keeps on giving

On of my colleagues has been helping me to have time to eat my lunch for months. You see in my line of work a break is only as long as you can go without being called to respond. My associate, we'll call her T.C. Gilcreif, has repeatedly made herself available to respond while I eat. That kind of gesture cannot go unanswered. Since T.C. is very much into growing her own food, I decided that I should start a tree for her. My first thought was a white flesh peach tree which should grow well in our area, unfortunately I shattered the seed when I tried to crack the pit. So now we are on to an avocado tree. This tree is exceptionally east to start and will produce years of healthy food for her family. Since I have never started an avocado tree I went to to Hand Grown in California's website and got the ridiculously easy instructions. Not only do I get to show my appreciation to a friend, I am learning a skill that will last me the rest of my life and that I can share with my friends and family. A strong gift that we all can benefit from.

-TODD

Putting in the effort

I have noticed lately that giving up seems to be cool now. I was fixing a fan the other day and someone told me that the fan was old and not worth it, the repair did not work. The same person told me that, "Well at least you tried." I took it down and worked on it some more, still didn't work. I was told, "I can get another one from work, we have a few sitting around, you don't need to do all of that." Finally I took it down and overhauled it and redid all of the wiring. Works like a charm! For some reason not putting in any effort and giving away money seem to be the way to go now, I offer that we are headed down the wrong path, the path to incapability and poverty. I will be posting recipes and projects on the blog that are things I have worked out on my own through trial and error so that you can take those things and do them for yourself. If someone tells you it is easier to buy it already done or have someone else do it for you then you know you are on your way to being a Stronger American.

-TODD

Turn waste into food

Everyday we throw away; coffee grounds, grass clippings, egg shells, banana peels, etc. If you take these things, basically anything organic, and put them aside rather than in the trash you can pile them into a compost that will produce the best soil available. All you need to do is try and mix green colored waste and brown colored waste evenly and spray a little water in the mix. If you go back about once a week to mix it up with a garden rake or pitchfork and re-wet the pile you are well on your way. The time it takes to turn into humus rich soil will depend on your climate and the waste you use. Like all things that go into or come out of your garden the first time it will seem to take a while, then before you know it you will have top quality garden soil every time you turn around. One little trick-when you have a pile that is as big as you can turn by yourself with a rake or fork start another so the work does not get to be too much. If you want you can create a bin of sorts with old pallets to keep it neat, but that is not required just heap it high. Not only will this help you to produce better veggies without chemical fertilizer it will also save you money if you pay by the load for trash haul-away or even if you just pay for your bags. A strong healthy garden starts with strong fundamentals.

-TODD

P.S. if you are interested in using a pre-made bin or making your own check out Blue Grass Garden's composting page

Brighten my day

Let's talk again about strengthening your personal economy by making a small change around the house. I want to talk about lighting. A standard incandescent bulb is only 10% efficient, that means that 90% of your lighting bill goes to heating rather than illumination. If you live somewhere warm like I do that is double trouble since I then have to turn around and spend more in A/C to cool off the heat my lights are producing. Most people have heard over the last ten or so years that high efficiency compact florescent bulbs conserve energy, that is true, but nothing and I mean nothing is as efficient as an LED. LED bulbs are now much more affordable and available than ever with many brands MADE IN THE U.S.A., and you know nothing makes me happier that saving money, being responsible and supporting American Businesses. Check out 1-800bulbs.com, LEDWaves.com, or just go to Home Depot or your locally owned hardware store and buy them off the shelf, I have found them for as little as $10.00. Please remember to look for the Made in U.S.A. logo and enjoy the strong savings and cooler atmosphere in your home.

-TODD

Strength in numbers

I have a good friend whom I have worked with for years, he constantly tells me that he can't find anything made in America. In order to spur the American economy into further growth we all need to do what we can to help it along, this includes recruiting new shoppers for american made goods. My friend constantly gives me the opportunity to share american made products and resources, so I do. Check out Findamericanproducts.com on Facebook this is where I send people, including my friend ,who are looking to shift their spending to this side of the pond. Please feel free to recommend this site to anyone you know who wants to create more American jobs, also if you have any good resources on this topic please share them by making a comment to this post. Remember that there is strength in numbers and the more of us spending here rather than in China or elsewhere the stronger our economy grows.

-TODD

Did it myself

I am up for trying anything to keep my money out of the hands of major corporations (especially foreign ones.) Recently I came upon a recipe for homemade laundry detergent and saved it to try. Well, today is D-day for the detergent and it works so well I figured I had better share it. 1 bar shaved Fels-Naptha soap, 1 bar Zote soap, 3 cups Arm and Hammer washing soda, 3 cups Borax. Just a note; next time I think I will use three bars of Fels-Naptha rather than one of each (Zote bars are twice as big,) i just like the texture of Fels-Naptha better. Mix or shake it up and use 2 Tablespoons per load it even works in HE front loaders because it is a low sudsing formula. Average estimated cost per load is only $0.07 compared to over $0.50 for most commercially made detergents, and like I said I am only posting because it worked so well. Strength of personal economy, and another skill!

-TODD

Strength in Marriage

My beautiful wife and I are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary today. I know that this is still just the beginning of the road for us, and yet we have already come so far together. Good times and bad, sickness and health. When I made my vows to my wife I meant it, I still mean it. The strength I find in my marriage helps too carry me through tough times and is my most valued possession in the best of times. I truly am a stronger American because of my wife.

-TODD

A stronger Economy starts at home...with the home

I know that a lot of Americans are still struggling financially and even if you are not here are a few tips to keep cash in your bank account rather than going to the utility companies. Insulation, everyone knows it will keep you warm in the winter, it will also keep you cool in the summer. A properly insulated home will reduce utility expenses by keeping in the air temperature you are paying to create either through heating or A/C. Make sure that you follow safety precautions when installing insulation by wearing respirators and applying vapor barriers as recommended to avoid mold problems.

Now that you have a well insulated home it is time to look at environmental losses through drafts, your insulation won't do you a bit of good however if your home is victim to drafts from being poorly sealed. Take some time to examine windows which can account for up to 60% of drafts in the home as well as tops and bases of standing walls. Seal up those areas that have any gaps at all, then go up to your attic or crawl space and seal off the tops of those walls since almost every wall has penetrations for plumbing electric etc. filling and sealing the tops will help to hold in the climate your hard earned money goes to create. When you are ready to invest some money into your home for long term savings these are great places to start, but remember there is always more you can do i.e.; door sweeps insulated doors, etc. use your imagination and some good old-fashioned elbow grease and watch the savings pile up. there will definitely be more on this topic soon!

-TODD

What have I been up to

Well this is one heck of a list; My wife and I have been working on acquiring some land (home ownership strengthens communities,) I have entered into talks to purchase a small business (Small businesses are the strength of our economy,) I have been growing as much of my own food as possible (veggies make me strong.) More than anything I have been educating myself reading just about everything I can on self-sufficiency and homesteading as possible. If these topics interest you check out "Self sufficiency for the 21st century" (that link will take you to the Author's homepage) 21st (that link goes to Amazon to buy the book,) and "Country Wisdom and Know How" (that link also goes to Amazon.) Have fun reading!

-TODD

Sorry I have been away so long, I am back at it again trying to be strong and share what I can. Please check out the new links!

Strong Recreation

The weekend approaches, remember that recreation is important. Recreation is defined by Earl Nightengale as an opportunity to re-create yourself. Taking time for yourself is much like hitting the reset button on your electronics, you have the opportunity to let the smaller problems of everyday life go even if just for a moment. Finding strength in downtime...now that is strong.

"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change."-Earl Nightengale

-TODD

Do you have the strength to do what is right? Do I?

So far this early in the day I have seen homeless people soliciting on street corners, people rude in traffic & trash in the street...it is only 0900 AM as I write this. When I see someone who is truly in need I give, not to everyone, but I give blood, time and in certain cases money, I do let people merge in front of me and I will and do pick up trash littered about on the ground. I have never stopped a rape or murder, never been present to stop an abusive parent from beating their child. Not once have I driven into a disaster area to deliver aid to those who desperately need it. I gave to the red-cross after Katrina and my wife to the pet rescue efforts, but neither of us volunteered in the months or years after to contribute. What I need to ask myself is, am I doing my share, I think that there is room for improvement. So far this year I have volunteered at one charity event and given to the American Red Cross one time, I have one school charity gala planned for this year. Is that enough? I know I need to do more, I know I need to encourage others to do the same. If you read this please Google your County or City name followed by the words Volunteer opportunities, you WILL find many opportunities to give back close to home where you can see the results and your community can directly benefit. If we set the example of what a few stronger Americans can accomplish others will follow, they just need role models.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke

-TODD

+1

Every student has heard that there is strength in numbers. The more numbers in your bank account the more financial strength you can bring to bear, the more Marines in your Corps the more strength you can project on the world, etc. It is time to take a look at the number of people you surround yourself with at the most critical times; How many people do you consult when you need to make an important life or business decision, how many people are in your support network that you can look to when you need it the most...how many people are you there for when it matters. Unless you drink with experts in your field of business your drinking buddies may not be the best to consult, unless you really know the people you surround yourself with you may find you are turning to the wrong people at the wrong time. Unless you are a good friend, you may find that no one wants to be yours when you need it the most. Take some time to evaluate the relationships you have, take more time to cultivate relationships that will strengthen your life and the lives of the people you bring into your inner circle. It has often bee said that a man is judged by the company he keeps, I think that it is much more appropriate to say that a man (or woman) is limited or empowered by them.

Work together and be strong.

-Todd

Attitude

Americans as a whole are viewed to be optimistic, energetic and unwavering in the pursuit of their goals. Attitude is the basis for how we as individuals address the world and interact with those around us. Remember as you go out to conquer your own little piece of the world to embrace an attitude of progress and accomplishment. I don't mean in a fake-it-'till-you-make-it b.s. kind of way, but rather in a know who you are and be confident in yourself get-it-done kind of way, the way our fore-fathers did, the way that made Americans strong in the first place.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” -Henry Ford

-TODD

Go stand in the employment line

We are coming to a time in the history of the world where more people are literate than are not, where higher education is available to everyone (even those who did not complete high school.) When I was a child my mother told me that by the time I grew up I would need a college degree just to work at Mc Donald's. What I am finding out however is that even for those with an advanced degree there is no guarantee of employment. Knowing that I need to spend time on professional development, I recently underwent aptitude testing to provide some direction as I prepare to go back to school. The testing has provided me with some invaluable insight that is paying me back even now before attending any further schooling or changing careers. Even armed with this information I realize that in addition to new skills to better work within the guidelines of my own aptitudes I need to learn new career finding skills. To this end I have been reading "What color is your Parachute" by Richard Bolles. This book is updated annually and full of valuable resources and information and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking employment. I am posting this information as a reference to anyone reading, we all know that one of the largest problems we as Americans are facing is unemployment. My problem is not unemployment, I am searching for a more rewarding vocation. If anything from my journey helps even one American find stronger employment all I ask in return is that you pass it on and help another. With unemployment rates hovering above 10% in most of thee country we need not only to create jobs, we need to be worth employing and capable of finding those that need our skills before the job that could have bee ours is sent overseas. Learn about yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses and go apply yourself in a way that is uniquely yours, do your job in a way no one else can and rise to the top, do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for America.

When we work together strategically to gain better employment and provide it to others we all become stronger.

-TODD

Stronger and Cleaner

I will make this one short and sweet, I was raised to be proactive, if something is not the way it should be-fix it. I have noticed in my area that a number of the communities do not have facilities for recycling. Including, unfortunately the one I live in. We all know the benefits of recycling so I won't go over that again here, this is about making America better and stronger and re-using our resources rather than throwing them away and buying again. I will be approaching the management of my community (I am married to her) with a prepared presentation including government tax incentives, ways to spotlight the progressive changes in the community, a potential layout for the facilities and a realistic cost analysis. Then I will encourage other communities in the area to follow suit. This type of project increases marketability for the community in addition to the better known long-term benefits to the Country (and at the risk of sounding like a tree-hugger,) the Earth. If this is something that you find needs improving in your neck of the woods you can find valuable tax incentive programs at BNA.com and of course from the EPA. Wherever you are look for things you can do and ways you can help to make America stronger.

A stronger American is just that, stronger...stand up and be a leader or just take responsibility for something...anything.

-TODD

Politically or actually correct

In 1994 The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came in to force. The premise of this agreement is to allow easier trade between the U.S., Canada & Mexico. The reality however is that products made in these countries are no longer subject to tariff, tariff is a tax that is applied to foreign made goods and products as they cross the border into our country. This tax is supposed to provide a price barrier to allow American workers to receive a fair wage and still have our pricing be competitive with goods produced by underpaid foreign workers. Since 1994 and the end of the tariff on Mexican goods the importation and sale of Mexican made goods has increased exponentially. The manufacture of American made goods has declined at a similar rate and many of the goods previously made by American hands sadly are now made south of the border, the price paid to the remaining manufacturing workers here at home is substantially (on average) well below what workers were receiving at the time. There are multiple other countries (China, Taiwan, Etc.) that sell us a multitude of cut-rate goods pushing our products off the shelf based on expense, but this one speaks to me directly since I am originally from Michigan and I watched so many Auto manufacturing jobs go to Mexico as a result of this agreement. There are a terrible number of working opportunities that have left our borders however as a result of the implementation of NAFTA from Every State please take a look at this link to Citizen.org's map of job loss that provides greater detail on this subject. It is no secret that Congress has recently been heavily lobbied to vote for expansion of this agreement and undoubtedly will again, please remember that this only works in our favor if they buy more of our goods than we do of their's. At last tally we are as a nation making money on the trade agreement, my concern is not only the national profit--which is great, but the manufacturing jobs that have made our country a power and the economic center of the world. We must continue to purchase American made goods from American owned companies, this will increase the U.S. manufactured goods market and if more goods are made here, more goods can be sent to other countries for them to purchase.

We as Americans and trade partners can do better and we owe it to ourselves to do so.

-TODD

American Cheese update

While speaking with a close friend today on Facebook this very topic came up (fortuitous huh?) so I did a little on-the-fly research and came up with the following quick facts: One in eight Americans go hungry on a regular basis, one in 6 Americans live in poverty, Southern States high school graduation rates average between 47.6 and 67.1%, there are an estimated 380,000 homeless youths living on American Streets right now, there are an estimated 2.9 million children who are orphans or live without a parent in the U.S., there are an estimated 1,200,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in America. I thought that this was pertinent to today's topic and felt the need to share it. the truth is if you look, really look, you will find something just about everywhere that needs to be fixed and people that need help to do it.

"Help" -the Beatles---Yeah I know, they are a foreign band, the irony is killing me.

-TODD

American Cheese

I found something on Facebook yesterday that a friend posted stating, "Welfare was not meant to be a career option." I liked it, even shared it. It kept popping up in my mind all day that there are plenty of Americans out there that actually do need some form of help so I started doing a little research for today's post and discovered that the United States sends out more foreign aid than any other nation in the world and has more foreign support charities than any other country in the world. Now I find myself torn...is it better to send our money overseas to be distributed by other sovereign nations as socialized relief or is it better to let charity truly begin at home, if you read the title of this blog I don't need to answer my own question. Since as a taxpayer I am already contributing to the largest foreign aid programs in the history of the world I will share some info for giving at home. I have a soft spot for those who truly are not responsible for their situations in life and starting with kids and my list will reflect that, but what about victims of natural disasters and those that dedicate their lives to serving us, yeah they make the list too. At the top of my personal list is St. Judes Research Hospitals, The make-a-wish foundation, and American Red Cross, I have to include Goodwill since my Grandmother worked there for most of her life rehabilitating workers and testing them for job placement, If you would like to support the families of fallen law enforcement officers take a look at the BTLS Foundation My list would not be complete if I did not include the Wounded Warriors. If my list is not what you are looking for check out greatnonprofits.org or guidestar.org, guidestar is unique in my view as being a reference for the tax papers of non-profits so you know how much of your money gets to where you are trying to send it.

If you give of yourself, give of yourself to make America Stronger.

-TODD

Self-reliance revisited

Reduce-reuse-recycle, that has long been the catch phrase for saving our planet. I think that if you consider it to be a catch-phrase for saving your cash you can take it further. There are many different ways we as Americans can reduce the amount of crap we buy and subsequently throw away if we do a little creative thinking but since I know that we are not all creative thinkers, I have found a few resources that are jam-packed with great ideas. http://www.facebook.com/ModernPioneer is a page for facebook users that can show us how to reduce by growing our own food sans packaging, www.motherearthnews.com/ is a great little website that gets more involved in all three aspects of the phrase and they produce a printed magazine, if you are more interested in producing your own power as a way to reduce your spending take a look at www.proudgreenhome.com/ or www.thenakedscientists.com. According to Waste Management the average individual in my state is responsible for approximately 10 lbs. of trash daily, if we could prevent 1 lb of trash from being generated per person per week in my state alone that would be 52 lbs/year/person and 990,992,184 lbs/year for the state...in case numbers are not your thing that is almost 991 million pounds of trash if each person in Florida prevents one pound of trash per week. Remember that every time you unnecessarily spend your hard earned money on something you ultimately throw all or part of away, you are reducing your personal economy and throwing your cash away.

Reduce spending-reuse instead of rebuying-and recycle the money you have already spent.

-TODD

Sanctity of Marriage

Recently my wife and I quit smoking together, believe me having two people in the same house kicking the habit can be trying even at the best of times. This experience is giving me the opportunity to see what an unhappy home can be like. Overall my wife and I enjoy a pretty happy existence and don't fight and argue very often. Since we have had a few quarrels recently I have taken the opportunity to reflect on the strength of our marriage and am very impressed especially as compared to the home I grew up in as did my wife for that matter...we are both the product of broken homes and parents that for one reason or another did not stick it out and work through "good times and bad." Both of our Mothers for instance have had three husbands while our fathers both never remarried. Such similar histories have, I believe brought us to the determination separately and together to enter into and remain in marriage even/especially when we have to work for it. This determination and effort makes the good times all the better and the bad, not so bad, because we already know that we will make it through to the other side. The collapse of marriages and families in the U.S. breaks my heart and ruins more lives than can be counted. I know that for my family, we made our decisions before getting married and discussed the topic openly before committing our lives to each other before our family and friends, that is after all why the vows say "'till death do us part." Please if you are reading this, take the sanctity of marriage and family to heart before entering into a marriage or before even considering throwing away the vows you've made. If you believe that marriage can be temporary, maybe you should consider dating instead, after all the emotional and financial cost to yourself, your family and the nation will be greatly lessened.

A strong American from a strong family is a stronger American.

-TODD

Victory and self-reliance

Self-reliance or the ability and desire to do things yourself seems to have gone the way of the black and white T.V. The result seems to be that we buy everything, and often those things are imported. As an exercise to increase the self-reliant tendancies in the younger generation of my family, as well as decrease the shopping bills, we have put together a victory garden. No, there is no material difference between a vegetable garden and a victory garden, we thought it appropriate however to remind our youth of the historic importance of being self-reliant. Just as it helped in WWII so it helps now. Home gardening also has the added benefit of filling downtime with something other than T.V. something that gives a sense of accomplishment and helps our family eat healthier and grow stronger.

A well fed American is a stronger American

-TODD

Health and personal responsibility

A very hot topic right now is healthcare, we are constantly inundated with new buzzwords like "Obamacare, Romneycare, Etc. Two things that everyone seems to agree on are; 1.We as a society have many preventable health related problems i.e. Smoking, Obesity, etc. 2.We all pay for the increased costs of healthcare as a result. These can both be addressed best by each of us individually by taking personal responsibility for ourselves and our well-being. This is not to imply that each person is to blame for all of their ailments, but let us avoid the pretense that we have no responsibility for ourselves and our conditions. If each of us between the ages of 15 and 55 just once a week performs only 20 minutes of mild exercise we would burn an estimated 100-200 calories we will average that out to 150 calories per week per person and 23,664,750,000 for the nation per week. That equals 7800 calories/person per year and 1,230,567,000,000 for the nation per year remember that this is from only 20 minutes/week!!! When you bring that back to the basics of 20 Min of MILD exercise per person per week this demonstrates the power of cumulative effort. Now that we have come this far consider the effects if every individual in this demographic also ate one more salad per week and drink two extra glasses of water. I issue a challenge to anyone who reads this to do the above for the remainder of the year and if you smoke, stop, (I know it sucks I've done it...recently.) By following a recipe like this that requires a minimum of time (less than one hour/week,) we can cut our healthcare costs as a nation while improving our quality of life, now that is a stronger America for stronger Americans.

Take responsibility for yourself and take control of your own life.

-TODD

Personal Economy

Let's talk about personal economy, let's talk about saving. Talking about GDP and earnings is great but what about savings and retirement. A strong and stable society is composed largely of hard working smart individuals who plan for the future and are prepared to meet it. What do you do if you live paycheck to paycheck and your car breaks down or if you have a serious injury/illness and no nest egg? I do not know and I do not want to find out. Some of the best financial advice I have ever received was from a small business owner named Roger who became a friend and mentor to me, he said, "put away $10,000 to cover emergencies, it may take quite a while to do it, but make sure you do (if you save $100 every week it will take less than two years). When you have your emergency fund start putting away at least 15% of your annual income into solid long-term investments, that is your 15% for wealth building. And remember this is your actual paycheck so pay yourself before you pay anyone else, no one else will do it for you." I took this to heart and followed through, it has made a difference in almost all aspects of my life. This is also something I try to share with as many of my friends as will listen. A good starter long-term investment (and one I still invest in every year) is Treasury Direct. At this site I purchase government bonds, as long as I do not pull my money out early I have zero risk of losing it and guaranteed interest, not bad for a starter investment. I do also have a Roth with Vanguard with a targeted retirement account and other more sophisticated investments, but I believe that starting with something as long-term and low risk as possible is the wisest recommendation I can make to beginning investors/savers. Go start saving put away what you can and invest, maybe, just maybe you will not end up as a Walmart greeter at the age of eighty...here's hoping.

"A penny saved is a penny earned"-B. Franklin

-TODD

Educated American

In order to increase our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) or the money that is made and spent in america we all need to make more money. Sounds easy enough but so many people really have no idea where to start and may be discouraged by the age old belief that you have to be a doctor or lawyer to be financially successful. If you are satisfied in your career field, take continuing education courses or additional certifications to increase your marketability and thus your income. If you find yourself among the millions that need a change or find themselves unsatisfied in their work and subsequently unmotivated to advance, consider aptitude testing. I do not mean the online college sponsored tests that always seem to put you in the exact field(s) of study the college is trying to market. I do mean a comprehensive analysis of your innate abilities. There are several resources available for to us ranging from simple at home self directed tests such as SDS available from PAR, a Florida based company www.parinc.com and to more comprehensive laboratory analysis like those conducted at the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation www.jocrf.org. Take the information you gather about yourself and use it to better your life and personal economy. At the very least you will undoubtedly have a better sense of what you need at work and at home.

Know Thyself.

-TODD

Is is really Made in America

Remember that just because a product is made in the U.S. does not mean that it is American owned. As an example; Budweiser is owned by China and Coors is owned by a South African company, you may be surprised to know how many beers are made by Anheiser-Busch and the money is then sent to China. drinkamerican.us is an excellent resource on the beer topic, but there are other products that follow this trend. Having Americans produce a product is important for creating American jobs, but it cannot end there, the money needs to also go to an American company for our economy to receive the full benefit of our spent dollar.

The U.S. is a capitalist country, we vote with our dollar. Please vote America next time you pull out your wallet.

-TODD

Stronger Reading

A stronger American is a well read American. A book that has my full attention right now is "They fought for each other: The triumph and tragedy of the hardest hit unit in Iraq" by Kelly Kennedy. I am nearly a year behind the times in reading this national bestseller but this is truly a case of better late than never. Kelly, a former soldier herself documents not only the in theater activities of Charlie Company but also the transition and condition of these soldiers as they leave the battlefields. My heart was both broken and uplifted by Kelly's accounts.

Nothing pays you back like being well read.

-TODD

Buy American

For a reference regarding purchasing American made products and related news coverage please follow the link on the right hand side of the screen to ABC News Made In America.

Buy products made in America, by Americans, at American owned businesses and the economy shall be revitalized.

-TODD

Stronger American is a new blog I am putting together with ideas and ideals to help us as Americans to keep putting one foot in front of the other as we rebuild a stronger America with stronger Americans.

There will be no hate or rhetoric about American supremacy here, putting others down would only lessen the value of what we need to accomplish.

-TODD