by Winding Pathways | Jan 1, 2026 | Geology/Weather, Preparedness
We love being outside even when the weather is awful and the world is icy. It doesn’t keep us inside but, we do a few things to help us walk safely in an icy world.
Orthopedics’ “Delight”
Ice on deck.
Ice makes walking treacherous. Orthopedic physicians are busy during icy periods treating people who’ve slipped and fallen. We’ve developed a strategy to make walking safer when ice coats the world. Here are a few tips:
Boots and Traction Devices
One boot without gripper. One with.
We have summer and winter boots and shoes. Every fall we stow our summer boots in the attic and bring down our winter ones. In the spring we reverse the process. Summer boots usually have less aggressively textured soles of harder rubber designed for walking on concrete, rocks, and packed trails. Winter boots, in contrast, have soles with aggressive treads often made of softer rubber that grips ice. Usually winter boots are also insulated to keep feet toasty warm on frigid walks.
When it’s really slippery out we pull traction devices on our winter boots. Made of a stretchy material that makes them easy to pull on over boot bottoms, they have tiny metal spikes that stick into the ice to give a grip. Just don’t wear them inside!
Trekking Poles
Trek poles
Trekking poles, canes, and walking sticks all serve the same purpose. Stumble a bit and they give a third point of contact with the ground, often preventing a fall. When it’s warm out Rich prefers using a strong wooden stick when he walks on soft or uneven ground, but he switches to a trekking pole when it’s icy.
Here is the tip! Take the rubber bottom off and use the tip!
Rubber and wooden bottomed poles slip on ice. A sharp metal point that looks like a nail is built into many trekking poles. It’s easy to jab it into slippery ice to get a more stable grip. Often trekking poles come with a rubber sleeve that can be slipped over the sharp point for use when it’s not icy.
Grit
At Winding Pathways we avoid using chemical ice melters. Salt is amazingly toxic to plants and many animals, especially aquatic ones. It also corrodes cars. Other chemical “ice melters” are less than good for the yard or environment. Here are some traction boosters we use:
Grit and Sand
Sand: Sand is easy to find. Each fall we buy a few bags of “play sand” at a building supply store. It’s intended to be used in kid’s sandboxes, so it is clean and uniform.
Chick grit: Even better than sand is chick grit found where supplies for chickens are sold. Sand is mostly tiny round stones that roll when sprinkled on ice. Chick grit is tiny particles of hard dense rock that has been crushed to size. It has sharp edges that stick to ice better than sand. We put a few pounds of chick grit in cans near our doors. It’s convenient to sprinkle it on icy stairs and walkways.
Wood ashes: Back when nearly everyone heated with wood or coal, ashes were commonly sprinkled on icy walkways for traction. Ashes still work but have a downside. When they get moist the slurry sticks to boots and easily gets tracked inside to leave residue on the floor.
On all the above, remember WIPE YOUR BOOTS OFF CAREFULLY before entering the house/a building. This avoids tracking in excess and unwanted sand, grit, ash.
To sum it up, BE CAREFUL and avoid a nasty slip on the ice.
by Marion Patterson | Oct 30, 2025 | Preparedness
In October Rich held a lighted match to an antique railroad lantern’s wick. In seconds the lantern gave its first light in over 80 years but couldn’t hold a candle to a modern-day lantern.
“My grandfather, Harry Patterson, was an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad. He died in 1949 and somehow, I ended up with his old Dietz Vesta lantern. It gathered dust in a closet for decades. Then, it hung as a memento in our woodstove room. One day I decided to clean it up and see if it would work,” said Rich.
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Rich’s grandfather
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Burning brightly
It was fun seeing the railroad lantern work, but its glow was anemic, so Rich drained its tank and designated it a family heirloom. All this brought to mind the true story of Kate Shelley of iowa and her heroic crossing of a railroad bridge over the Des Moines River. A storm had swelled a creek, a smaller train tumbled into the water, and Kate, hearing the cries for help, braved the storm and dark of night to alert the station to stop the Midnight Express. Kate Shelley and The Midnight Express. The story, introduced by Levar Burton and retold by Brian Dennehy, was written by Margaret K. Wetterer with illustrations by Karen Ritz.
Being Prepared Means Having Backup Lights
The lantern got us thinking about how humanity survived the cold dark nights of northern winters. It wasn’t easy. For hundreds of years the only lighting sources were open fires, candles, and smoky lamps that burned whale or seal oil. For most of human history people endured darkness punctuated by tiny flames.
That started changing when Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb in 1879, but by 1925 only half of American homes had electricity. Many families continued using lanterns for primary lighting until a century ago.
For years the best lamp oil came from whales, but it was expensive. John D. Rockefeller made a huge change in American lighting by finding oil and refining it into kerosene. This was before cars, and gasoline was a waste byproduct of kerosene production.
Grandpa’s old railroad lantern burns kerosene. So do many modern decorative oil lamps.
Electrification
Eventually nearly all American homes were electrified and Edison’s incandescent bulb ruled the night for about a century. They work but have a major flaw. Most of the electricity they consume is converted into heat, rather than light. That changed with the coming of compact fluorescent bulbs in the 1980’s. Although they had many flaws, fluorescents transform electricity into light efficiently
Compact fluorescent bulbs were only on the market a short while. Soon light emitting diodes, or LED, bulbs almost completely eliminated both compact fluorescent and incandescent lights. They’re efficient, inexpensive, and hardly ever burn out.
Preparing for Power Outages
Evolution in lighting
Modern electric lights have a problem. They need electricity. Should a storm knock out power lines, homes go dark. What to do? Follow the Scout motto: Be prepared!
Grandpa’s old lantern had one strong advantage over modern bulbs. It doesn’t need electricity to work. We keep a modern kerosene lamp and a gallon of kerosene, stored separately from the house, ready in case of a power outage but we also have these types of emergency lights:
White Gas Coleman style lantern. Ours produces lots more light than a kerosene lamp but is a bit touchy to get started.
Candles. They are handy, cheap, and commonly available but only produce about as much light as a kerosene lantern. Like liquid fuel lanterns candles present a fire hazard and we prefer not using them in the house.
Battery powered lights. We keep several battery lights in the house along with spare charged batteries. Because their bulbs are either compact fluorescent or LED, they last hours on a single battery charge and produce enough light to read or cook by. There’s no combustion so they are fire safe.
Many people install backup generators to provide continuous electricity when the grid fails. Some need these for medical reasons. Most don’t. They are expensive and normally power comes back on in a few hours. We choose to have much less expensive lanterns.
We’re sure Grandpa would have preferred a modern battery lantern to his touchy kerosene railroad lamp but he used what was available at the time.
by Winding Pathways | May 15, 2025 | Preparedness, Ruminations
*Apologies to Ben Franklin*
It’s funny how quotes get attributed to people. Franklin might not have actually said the quote above, but he did have the right idea with his quote: in the 1737 Poor Richard’s Almanack: “A penny saved is two pence clear.” When you save something today, it likely will grow in worth over time.
We are on the far side of age 75 and enjoying financial security that has resulted from a lifetime of careful spending, good advice, and a bit of luck. A penny saved here and there added up.
We’re not financial experts so this is just how a lifetime of money management enabled us to emerge into good money health despite years of lean income.
Over many years of talking with people facing financial stress we often hear them say, “I need to find a job that pays better.” Well, you might not need to do that. You simply need to spend less and perhaps live in a more affordable geographic location. Dr. Laurie Santos, professor at Yale University, hosts a series on the Science of Well Being. She also hosts a six-week course, the Science of Well-Being for Teens. Participants look closely at their lifestyles and where they spend time and money that drain them, causing them to think they need more. Often it is not true. It’s a great course to take online.
Our Background
We worked in the nonprofit sector, which provided slim salaries and sparse benefits. We liked what we did so never felt compelled to change jobs for better pay. Rather than seek higher pay we used what money we had efficiently.
Financial Philosophy
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Our basic financial philosophy is that however much money a person earns, if he/she spends a little less and consistently invests the difference, financial health increases. Of course, that was partly back in the day when financial institutions gave better interest return on money customers deposited.
Decades Long Strategy
Here’s what we’ve done for over a half century to be financially secure.
- Avoided compulsive, ego spending. Keeping up with the Joneses costs money.
- Developed a long-term relationship with our bank and brokerage as partners. Their advice is free.
- Avoided paying rent and borrowing money. Yup, we drove old cars we could pay cash for and regularly put money in the bank. This earned us interest and avoided loan interest. Then, when we needed to buy a car, we withdrew money and paid cash. We rented apartments briefly but invested in a house purchase. Because we live frugally, we were able to pay off a mortgage early. Now our housing costs are utilities, taxes, and maintenance. No monthly rent or mortgage! It’s a pay-as-we-go philosophy. Granted, we did not “enjoy” some of the exotic trips or coolest stuff and we are better off for it.
- Avoided voluntary taxes. People complain they don’t want to pay taxes. (Benefits exist to paying legitimate taxes) Then, what do they do? Some buy tobacco, alcohol, and gamble.
By doing so, they pay self-imposed high taxes and often end up with health issues. We’ve never smoked, don’t gamble, and enjoy a beer or a sip of wine occasionally. A pack of cigarettes in Iowa costs about $9. If we each smoked two packs a day, our daily cost would be $36. That’s over $13,000 a year. If we’d done this for our 50-year marriage we’d have spent far more on tobacco than to buy our home.
- Embraced life cycle cost. For example, it’s common for the least expensive refrigerator to consume the most electricity. Life cycle cost means figuring out what an object will cost during its likely lifespan. Usually paying slightly more upfront for a well-made, efficient device saves chunks of money over time. Energy efficiency saves money! BTW, ditch the inefficient refrigerator or freezer you’ve held on to. Recycle it. Likely you don’t need all the extra stored food. Your electric bill will go down and you have more space in your home.
- Embraced inexpensive recreation. People often carefully calculate the cost for business and home functional items, then spend ridiculously on recreation.
Hobbies
Rich’s hobbies are reading (library books are free), walking, birding, and fishing. He also scrounges and crafts items like bird feeders.
Fishing’s a good example. It can be expensive but doesn’t have to be. A cheap rod and reel costs about 30 bucks and won’t last long. A better one costs about $100 and is durable and efficient, but the very best is around $500. Sticking with the $100 model is the most cost efficient…..and he catches fish from an ancient rowboat purchased at a garage sale. In contrast, an expensive powerboat and electronics need insurance, storage, maintenance, and fuel. Not needed for catching fish.
- We love gardening, which helps lower food costs. Even a small patio can support vegetables you may enjoy.
- Avoid being nickel and dimed to death. It sounds cheap. Only eight dollars a month for a streaming service. $96 a year. Multiply that by six streaming services and that $96 a month costs close to $576 a year. All sorts of other things that seem cheap per month put a constant drain on finances. A few bucks here. A few bucks there. They add up!
- Use our credit card carefully and always pay off the balance on time to avoid interest costs.
Final Words
The upshot is, most people do NOT need to earn more money, they need to learn to use what they have wisely.
We spend carefully yet live richly and have avoided the terror of a heavy debt burden. Our financial strategy has led us in a good direction and we believe it may help others to achieve the same result.
by Winding Pathways | Sep 12, 2024 | Preparedness
Make it Easier on Yourself
We’ve written this before and will write it again: Simple disaster preparation makes sense.
A few days after Hurricane Beryl knocked out electricity for thousands of homes in the Houston area, we turned on the evening news. A reporter interviewed a family who had evacuated to an emergency shelter. Their home had not been damaged but they had no power.
“We could handle the heat but we had no food or water, so we came to the shelter,” one of the victims said.
How sad. Simple preparation could have made their lives easier. They wouldn’t have had to go to a shelter for food and water or to charge their phones.
We encourage everyone to store at least two weeks of food and water. By then the electric company is likely to have restored power. Remember, ATMs need electricity to work. Have some cash handy for emergencies.
Here’s what we keep on hand:
- 25 gallons of water in five five-gallon food-grade containers. Clean milk jugs work well for storing water. This is for drinking and cooking – not bathing.
- Sealed containers of food we bought from My Patriot Supply. It has a 25-year shelf life. These provide two weeks of food for the two of us. Many other companies sell long-term storage foods online.
- A moderate supply of canned and dried food, including flour, beans, rice, and nuts. A hand-operated can opener. We’re constantly using and replacing these foods but what we routinely have on hand would last at least a week. We keep minimal food in our freezer so a power loss wouldn’t greatly impact us.
- A camping stove and plenty of fuel that’s stored in the garage.
Keep supplies on hand.
None of these items needs electricity for storage. A power outage knocks out refrigerators, so any cold or frozen food is vulnerable. If our electricity went out, we’d eat these first before they spoil.
If the couple in Houston had stored a couple of weeks of food that doesn’t need refrigeration and a camp stove and fuel they could have stayed in their home until the power came back on. Having some nonperishable food and water in storage is a solid emergency strategy.
by Winding Pathways | Oct 12, 2023 | (Sub)Urban Homesteading, Preparedness
What To Do When No Room At the Inn?
Even bivouac camping can be comfortable.
Basic bivouac camping gear saved our night as we drove along a rainy Ohio Interstate.
We were returning to Iowa from a business trip in New Jersey. The 1000-mile trip is too far for us to make in a day so we normally plan to overnight in a comfortable motel in Ohio or Indiana.
On this recent trip, we didn’t make a reservation in advance, so Marion called motels ahead of us as Rich drove through pelting rain. Bad news. They were all booked for the night.
Bivouac Camping Saved Us!
Our basic bivouac camping gear saved us. Marion spotted West Branch State Park on the map. Not far ahead of us and near the Interstate, we exited just as the downpour subsided. Soon we enjoyed a hot dinner inside a restaurant near our tent.
Lightweight camping gear stashed on the sides of the car.
Although we weren’t on a camping trip, we always carry basic bivouac camping gear just in case we run into a situation like our recent one. Modern backpacking gear is lightweight, compact, and effective. It’s essential for a long trail trek but also takes up little space in the car and comes in handy should camping be necessary.
Here’s what we always slip into the car:
- Small nylon tent and ground cloth. Sturdy pegs (spikes or gutter nails are sturdy, don’t bend and so are useful to hold cords to tie a tent down.)
- Lightweight foam mattresses and sleeping bags.
- Folding chairs.
- Cooking and food gear that includes:
* Tiny featherweight butane stove and fuel bottle
* A few backpacking-type meals
* Basic utensils
* Matches! (Remember these!)
Cooking gear and dried meals fit in a small cardboard box and it’s easy to stash the other gear here and there in the car.
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Looks like a lot! It’s not!
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Essentials in box
The morning after our unplanned campout we woke well-rested, sipped instant coffee, packed up, found a breakfast cafe, and were soon back on the Interstate heading home.
A Note on Dried Food
Years ago, dried camping food was tolerable but hardly tasty. That’s changed. Modern foods are delicious. We keep two weeks of dried meals in our preparedness bin at home. Should we be impacted by a natural disaster we’d break out our camping stove and enjoy tasty meals. Although this food lasts for years we occasionally eat a few meals at home, on planned camping trips, and during emergencies. Then we restock with fresh meals. We have previously written about preparedness on our blogs.
by Winding Pathways | Jan 19, 2023 | (Sub)Urban Homesteading, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvements, Preparedness
Power outages. They happen in an instant. Most are only a flicker but some can last for hours when the wind’s whistling and the temperature’s dropping outside. Or in summer when the heat rises.
What’s the best thing to do in power outages? Well, it’s best to anticipate it and be ready by having a few things ready to pull out of the closet when the lights go out. Here’s a short list:
Cooking and Food:
- Propane or gas camping stove with plenty of fuel stored away from the main residence. (i.e. in a stand-alone garage) If you live in an apartment or condominium have less volatile fuel options ready.
- A few days of nonperishable or dehydrated camping food.
- Several gallons of water stored where it won’t freeze.
Power Outages and Light & Heat:
Electronics:
- Cell phones and other electronic batteries drain quickly. A backup power source and solar-powered phone charger keep the phone working.
One More Important Item:
- In a widespread power failure credit and debit cards don’t work. Cash always does. Keep some cash in small bills to use during emergencies.
Many other items readily available in case of emergencies help keep life comfortable. Read about them on our other blogs. The list above covers only the most basic and sometimes overlooked, emergency items to keep on hand. Get ready now for power outages.
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We found the meals tasty and filling.
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emergency food
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This two-burner Sterno keeps food warm but is less useful for cooking. Great for old style fondue parties!
