Skill of the day -- Squirrel Pole

Right up front, let me just say a few things:

1. I prefer eating the conventional meats (beef/chicken/pork) as much as the next guy.
2. When given the path of least resistance, I'll probably take it, same as anyone.
3. I did not grow up on a farm, in the backwoods or in a third-world country.  I'm a Southern California native, who has taken up residence in NW Montana for the past 2 years.
4. I have never eaten squirrel meat, so I don't know how it tastes -- but I'm curious.
5. I have eaten wild rabbit, which I have hunted, dressed and cooked myself, on more than one occasion.
6. If you are offended by people harming furry little forest creatures, please stop reading now.
7. Always practice safe trapping and hunting habits.
8. I believe there's room enough for all of God's creatures... right next to the mashed potatoes.

OK, now that that's out of the way...

Today, I decided to try my hand at making a "Squirrel Pole" trap. Of course, I used "found" materials: a ratty old 2x4 and some old electrical wire.  The wire sheathing was a nice shade of "forest brown", which I figure will serve to camouflage the snares.  Apparently these type of traps are supposed to use several of these "nooses" down the length of the pole, but I was feeling lazy, so I only used 2 -- top and bottom.

Why in the world would I want to trap -- let alone eat -- a squirrel or two?  Well, there are a number of reasons:

1. Squirrels are plentiful, and generally very healthy.  They're everywhere!  They're also "cage-free" and "free-range", fed on natural fruits and nuts.  From what I understand, most states (at least mine) don't require any licensing or "tags" to hunt or trap squirrels.
2. Trapping is silent, productive and (mostly) free.  Nothing attracts unwanted attention like even a single gunshot, even from the humble .22 rifle.  If we ever find ourselves in a situation (like during the Great Depression) where many, many families only had food on the table if they could hunt/trap/gather/grow it themselves, I want to be prepared to feed my family without having to rely on whether or not the grocery stores' "cellophane-wrapped meat packs" were available.  While hunting can be effective (if one is skilled at it), it requires constant maintenance for the duration of the hunt.  Trapping is more efficient in that (a) you can re-use your "ammunition" (traps);  (b) you can effectively harvest from several places all-at-once, thereby increasing your take; and (c) you "need not be present to win", so to speak.  Set the trap now, check on it later -- even 24 hours later, if the weather is cold.
3. Squirrels are very easy to "process".  They are much, much easier to handle (field-to-freezer-to-table) than are deer, elk or any other larger game.  Heck, my 7-year-old daughter could skin & gut a squirrel... and probably will, at least once, if I have anything to do with it.  (Yes, that is one of the requirements of growing up in my household: getting exposed to dressing wild-caught game, large and small, on land and in water.) 

There are probably many more reasons to familiarize yourself with the hunting/trapping of wild food sources... what do you think?  Leave a comment below, and let me know about your experiences.  I'll let you know what ever came of my modest attempt at squirrel trapping, ASAP.

Have a productive day!
Psalm 24:1

Quote for Today

"I am not a pacifist, because pacifism in this poor world in which we live, this lost world, means that we desert the people who need our greatest help. As an illustration: I see a great big burly man that is beating a little tiny tot to death....If he won't stop, what does love mean? Love means I stop him in any way I can..."
--Francis A. Schaeffer, "Conflicting World Views: Humanism versus Christianity."

You can trade out "burly man" for "federal government", and insert "American citizen" for "tiny tot".  Same implication.

A "Christian Duty" to Vote?

As if in orchestrated response to the overwhelming attention given to next month's election(s), professing Christians are once again getting quite vocal (particularly in social media) about the concept of "the Christian Duty to Vote".  I often inject "pushback" into these discussions, usually by contesting the scriptural basis for democracy... and WOW, what agitated responses I get!  Holy sacred cow, Batman!  It seems that many Christians fear that if enough people don't vote for the lesser of two evils, then we'll be stuck with our last crappy choice for a president, etc.  Well, I've got news for everyone...

We the people will always get exactly the kind of leader that our Republic-devolved-into-a-Democracy will warrant.  If we fail to bankrupt and bury Planned Parenthood (for example), we will more than likely be saddled with leaders who have little or no regard for the sanctity of life.  If we consent to "green science" over practical common sense, we will be duped by a president who pushes through a whole boatload of cap-and-trade legislation, outlaws incandescent light bulbs and fines you if your toilet flushes too much water.  If our "churches" continue to cower before the IRS by taking on 501c3 status, then our pastors, preachers and teachers will continue to be bullied out of speaking out against specific candidates.  This will, in turn, keep us locked into the vicious "lesser evil" cycle.  What I'm saying is this:

"YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MAMMON."

Think about it.  America has enshrined wealth/prosperity/"freedom" and eschewed Christ, and then we wonder about the mess we are in.  Our national economy will not correct itself.  I believe that a fruitful course of action for any genuine Christ-follower is to repent of our dependence on the dollar, our hunger for humanistic education, and our laziness, and return to attempting to view everything — and I mean EVERYTHING — through the lens of Scripture.  That includes work, play, education, spending, saving, sex, the future, eating, health... EVERYTHING.  We are promised that we will find true fellowship with God when we seek Him with our whole heart (Deuteronomy 4:29, John 4:24, etc).  Conversely, "these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me", says the Lord.

Voting will not save Americans.  Only repentance before the Almighty King of kings will accomplish that.  John the Baptist once warned the crowds, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3).  Let this be our goal in Christ... and the righteous leaders that we so desire will have room to emerge.

"DIY" (or rather, "Family Autonomy"*)

Today, I took another "baby step" toward what I will call "family autonomy"*.  I fixed a digital thermometer that was given to me by my Uncle at his garage sale:

*"Family Autonomy" refers both to the freedom we have in Christ to experience the Kingdom of God, which He is living out thorough us daily, AND the responsibility we bear to rely less and less on other "systems" to accomplish what we ought to be able to do for ourselves. You'll be seeing this term more often in these posts. It stands in contrast to terms like "self-reliance" or "self-sufficiency", which imply humanistic thought, and fall short of what we're aiming for: bearing our own burdens and helping the body of Christ to bear theirs, while relying solely on Christ for all provision and sustenance.

Why I'm leaving Facebook

I've been weighing the decision to leave Facebook for quite some time now.  At first, it seemed to be a great way to connect with friends and family, and to get better acquainted with people I've yet to call "friend".  Over time, however, FB gradually became a source of (unnecessary) frustration for me, such that it began to outweigh the supposed "benefits".  I've lost count of the times I've banged my head against the proverbial wall of conversation with people who don't know how to have a civil discourse (or disagreement) about subjects we may not agree on... so why would I "argue" with a "face-person" in a virtual world?  Why would I frustrate myself like that?

Basically, FB pales when compared to the joy of my real (i.e. face-to-face) relationships.  I could give lots more pithy reasons, but it's not really necessary.  I'm done.

You can reach me at riccalvi-at-gmail-dot-com (you know what I mean), or at 406-2-seven-two-2584.

Of course, I'll still be blogging here... it's just that now, I'll have more time to do so!  :-)

Comments, anyone?

Quote of the Day

"A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one."
- Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty (1520)

Enola Gay does it again

My friends, there is a blog I read regularly, and this post was especially profound and direct.  I encourage you to subscribe and be challenged and... Well, encouraged!

Paratus Familia Blog: Sweet Illusions

Lunchtime Literature

It's lunchtime, and I know you've been looking for something challenging to read while you munch that leftover pizza.  Take 15 minutes to read this two-part article from Brandon Smith at http://www.alt-market.com/ and Stewart Rhodes of http://www.oathkeepers.org/.  Then, please post a comment or send me an email about how this article affected you.

"Getting Off the Globalist Chessboard"
http://www.alt-market.com/articles/96-getting-off-the-globalist-chessboard-an-introduction
http://www.alt-market.com/articles/232-getting-off-the-globalist-chess-board-safe-haven-relocation

God bless you, and let freedom ring.

WOS-dom

There's a thread that seems to run through a life lived among wide-open spaces (WOS).  The WOS-man (or -woman) knows how to hunt most wild game, and has the trophies to back up the claim.  He has an assortment of hand-made trout lures, which he uses every spring off the banks of the [insert river name here].  He has the ability to deal productively with every season of the year -- snow or shine.  Spent more than half his days on the back of a horse, or driving a John Deere, or some other studly activity.  The WOS-man owns a 300-acre ranch at the base of the Northern Rocky Mountains, which has been in his family for 4 generations.  He can survive anything, build anything, learn anything and be trusted.  Makes his (very lucrative) income by being his own boss.  Above all and in all and through all, he honors his Maker by living a life of wholehearted faith, simplicity and humility.

Well, as much as I want to be the WOS-man, I'm not there yet.  And given the legacy that I was born into, I may never be.  But that's OK.  Because you can't attain WOS-dom living in a large Southern California city.  You have to pull up stakes and move.  And even then, it may not be possible for you.

But it just might move your children toward WOS-dom.

Yes, they can learn to hunt!  (--Together with you, of course.)  They can learn to fish and plant and grow and build and sacrifice and save and dream and lead.  And by you having the faith to trust God's promises (in places like Joshua 1:9), you can bring about A Different Legacy, for generations to come.  And faith can change the course of history, one generation at a time.

(Thanks for sitting in on my little pep-talk to myself.  :-)

Freedom

"Freedom isn't the right to make your own decisions... freedom is the result of the right decisions made."

The "War on... Freedom??"

America, if you think your government is acting in your best interests, you've got another thing comin':

Chuck Baldwin Live | Fighting for Constitutional Government in America