An Apology; Angela is away

Angela is away so the 1cent sale is probably off as of now. I don’t know when she’ll return.
If you have any questions please contact me at my personal blog, http://pattistafford.wordpress.com

I apologize for this inconvenience.
Patti Stafford

 

Pisgah Mountain 1 Cent Sale!

It’s finally here! The Pisgah Mountain Products 1 Cent Store!

Pisgah Mountain Products Catalog

All Pisgah Mountain Products Are offered for 1 penny, no strings, no catch – you simply pay shipping and handling.

Limit one item per customer.

Supplies and quantities are limited and not guaranteed, all sales are first come first served.

You will be alerted via email when your order has been processed.

Please allow 7 to 10 business days for standard shipping. All shipping will be done via US Postal Service – so please provide a complete mailing address.

 

$4.99 Sears Sander

Craftsman 0.5 amp 3D Sander
Sears item# 00911633000 Mfr. model# 11633
$4.99!!

I seriously don’t know how long this offer will last – so if you want one – HURRY!!

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00911633000P?mv=rr&sid=IAx20050830×000526&aff=Y

 

Digital Switch Postponed

First we were told that if we had a “newer” television, we wouldn’t need a converter box in order to receive the new digital signals. The word “newer” was deceptive, because what they really meant was new. Brand spanking 2007 or 2008 models, anything older would require a box. Okay, then they tell us – hey, don’t panic, the Government is going to supply everyone who needs one a coupon for $40 off the converter box – cost ya $20 bucks at the most and you’ll be good to go. There were a few groans and grumbles – but $20 bucks isn’t gonna kill us – so okay, fair enough. But then…

We are informed that the Government grossly miscalculated the number of people needing boxes, and gee they’re sorry – but the coupon program is broke. Louder groans and grumbles – but it’s just $60 bucks, we can send in the car payment late and get one. But then…

They tell us, oops, ya know – we just never really took into consideration how many of you have rabbit ears and bed springs for antennas and well, it looks like you’re going to be needing a new antenna too.

“A whut? I thought that’s what this here $60 box done.”

Well it does, it does. But it can’t receive the signal itself, you need an antenna to receive the signal and send it to the box. Then the box sends it to your television. In other words, it’s gonna cost you at least $70 more bucks to get that “free” TV signal. Grrrrrr….

So, one $60 box and one $70 antenna later, I think we’re finally ready – so I fire up the TV expecting the other thing we were promised. Remember… more channels? We have exactly what we had before, plus one channel with a 24/7 color test pattern displayed, one Spanish speaking channel, and one never ending – elevator music playing – advertisement rolling – community calendar – local access – something or other. *Oh yes, this was so worth my money! (*snark – in case it wasn‘t obvious.)

The only good thing I have to say about all of this is that, apparently, the digital switch deadline has been postponed until June.

 

Arkansas Ice Strom 2009

Rarely do we have a harsh winter, but every year we seem to have one ice storm – generally in January. The worst I can remember happened in 2000, and effected the river valley and South Arkansas. The storm this year – by some estimates – topped that one, and effected primarily North West Arkansas. Because of the mountainous terrain, it doesn’t take much ice to make this state treacherous. Trees and overhead lines (electric, cable, phone) couldn’t bear the weight, and snapped across 25 counties. Most folks were watching the weather channel…

But I had about a 2 day jump them – because I was warned by the horses.

Anytime livestock group up in huddles and steadily eat – there’s bad weather coming. We’d just put out a new round bale of hay and in 2 days, it was almost gone.

I told JT and Tyler to cut wood, and get prepared for some rough and cold weather.

I made a dash to the grocery store just as it started raining and bought a few things I could cook on a wood stove – and by 6 pm – the rain began to freeze.

By 10 pm we were without power. Trees all around the farm began to droop over with the weight of the ice – and by midnight – it sounded like gun shots outside as limbs broke.

We built a fire in the wood stove, and the 3 of us snuggled in for a long night. By morning, it looked like an icy wonderland outside.

Businesses, schools, and roads closed – and many residents were forced to go to shelters because they had no heat source or way to cook. But I was doing just fine with the wood stove…

Once the storm was over, it was time to access the damages – and they were astounding. Power outages were widespread, there was no phone service, no cable. Many roads remained closed due to downed trees and downed power lines. Homes were damaged by debris and the weight of the ice. Metal buildings caved in from the weight, many garages and car ports collapsed. Here on the farm, our biggest concern was tree limbs, and luckily there weren’t any right over the house. We moved a tractor and the guys cut a few limbs they thought might fall and hit things below – but for the most part, our biggest concern was keeping the animals warm. We had record setting cold temperatures following the storm.

Clean up has been slow and tedious. FEMA came to North West Arkansas – but they offered little in the way of individual resident help. They passed out emergency packages of food – but then announced the packages contained salmonella tainted peanut butter. I have an opinion on FEMA, but it’s probably best if I just keep that to myself. *snark* The Red Cross also responded, and those guys were amazing! They went door to door passing out warm and dry clothing, blankets, water, and offering rides to shelters. Neighbors helped neighbors, and as the ice melted – more help came. This is our neighbor Shane…

The National Guard from Louisiana responded and launched a massive clean up around Fayetteville. And to my amazement – private citizens from Louisiana also responded around the river valley! They took off work. Made the trip – and were ready to roll up sleeves and go to work digging us back out. The amount of gratitude we all feel can’t even be expressed in words, and without all their help – I’m not sure what we’d have done. (insert more FEMA snark).

Slowly things are getting back to normal. I still have limited internet, because my service comes out of Fayetteville and they suffered the hardest blow up there. All customers are limited to an hour a day while they work to restore everything. This should be fixed by the end of the week – and by Monday – I’m expecting to be back in full swing. Until then, please bear with me!