November 3rd, 2011 by Dave Duffy
Working on deadline again. Annie, Lenie, Lisa, Rhoda, and I really whipped the upcoming issue into shape today. Very powerful issue, though not the extra signature (additional 16 pages) we had planned to produce. Instead we stuck with our usual 100 pages, but the articles are tightly written with good info. The issue will be among the best we’ve produced. Annie has become a good conductor of a strong BHM orchestra of writers.
I use the word “writers” vaguely. BHM writers are “deep” in knowledge and analysis. You should sit where I am to see the array of talent that gives its best for BHM readers. I’m very grateful to them. I have the luxury of watching the performance, and helping my daughter assemble all the parts into a cohesive issue.
Tomorrow I’ll settle into my own editorial. It’s been swirling in my mind for a couple of weeks. I’ve never been a quick writer who knows what to say. I need time to think.
Yesterday I hit a drive 260 yards on Hole 7 of Cedar Bend Golf Course. That’s 40 yards longer than what I normally hit. I discovered something about how to hit a golf ball a long ways. This is one of the things that’s important at 67 years of age. Most people lose distance at my age, but I am gaining in distance. I’ll work on my editorial in the morning, then go out and try for 265 yards. Just thinking about that will make me sleep well tonight.
Molly is doing pretty well. Her medicine agrees with her, she’s walking a little better, and she’s wagging her tail a lot. We brought her into the office today and will again tomorrow.
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October 26th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
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October 22nd, 2011 by Dave Duffy
Molly is our 13-year-old black Lab. She’s been sick for quite a while. We’ve been putting off the decision to put her down. She can move only one leg properly, limping along when she has to walk. Some of her medicine no longer works, or we’ve had to stop it because the vet said it’s destroying other vital organs. But her mind is as sharp as ever. We even have to protect her from our new kitten, who likes to play with Molly’s tail and legs and realizes the big dog will do it no harm.
This is the problem with dogs: they wiggle their way into your heart and mind, becoming indispensable to your view of the world, then they die long before you’re ready to give them up. Molly has become part of our family. She is a superb animal — calm with kids but fiercely protective against those who she perceived as outsiders. She’s never bitten anyone, and she’ll take a treat from your hand like you offered it on a silk handkerchief. We’ve all got our stories about her. How do you put a member of your family down? How do you deal with the memories. It seems barbaric, even after rationalizing in the suffering you’re trying to alleviate.
Lenie and I told our kids we’d consult with them before any decision is made. I’m still searching for a way out of this.
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October 12th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
I drove 17½ hours Tuesday from Winnemucca, Nevada to Gold Beach, Oregon. Wednesday I had jet lag and slept mightily. Today I played 18 holes of golf and unwound completely.
The Self Reliance Expo was a fine success for us. We took 49 subscriptions and I had a chance to hang out with readers and advertisers.
Jeff Gleason, “the Berkey guy” who has been advertising Berkey water filters with us for years, had the booth opposite from us. I use the Berkey filter. Everyone should have one, even if only stored away for an emergency. This is an absolute must in any future survival scenario.
Tattler resusable canning lids was there too. My wife and daughter use these. This is another “no brainer” addition to a preparedness budget.
Humless was there also with their very useful “silent generator.” They’ve only been advertising on the website but we made a deal so they will soon be advertising in the print issue. Glenn Jakins and St. John (pronounced SIN-JIN in South Africa) Holloway of South Africa are two very cool representatives of that company. I’m buying one of these “generators” but will have to wait a few more weeks for delivery. This is a good complement for the magazine’s new motorhome. I got the solar panel charger with mine.
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October 7th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
We made it to Utah, through a lot of light snow and heavier rain. Interesting keynote speaker, Fernando (FerFAL) Aguirre, who has an interesting website. He’s from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and lived through that country’s 2001 economic collapse. He’ll do an article for us, possibly for next issue.
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October 4th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
We got the motorhome, and John and I will be off early tomorrow morning to show the magazine at the Self Reliance Expo in Sandy, Utah. Unfortunately our first storm of the year has moved in so we’ll be driving through wind and rain, with snow at elevations above 5,000 feet. It’s a two-day drive.
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September 28th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
I’m trying to buy a used Class C motorhome at an auction today so Lenie and I can take Backwoods Home Magazine on the road every now and then. It’s an idea we’ve had for a couple of years. If successful, John and I will drive it to the Sandy, Utah Self Reliance Expo.
The original idea was to meet more readers, perhaps do more shows. I thought the motorhome and trips would pay for themselves with increased subscribers and by selling anthologies. A good Class C motorhome had cost more than we were willing to spend, but with the economy still down after several years, the prices for the motorhomes, especially the used ones, have dropped.
This is an auction for RV dealers, so I’m doing it through a small local RV dealer. We’ll see what happens real soon.
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September 26th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
Now it’s on to to the Self Reliance Expo Oct. 7-8 in Sandy, Utah, which is on the southern edge of Salt Lake City. John Silveira and I will drive two days to do this one. John and I have not done a show together for at least 10 years so this will be fun. If you want to talk politics or economics, this is the one to go to. O.E. MacDougal will also likely be there.
Self reliance and preparedness shows in and around Salt Lake City are always a big deal. Some of the best prepared people in the country live there, and I always learn something new.
This should be our last show until spring.
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September 25th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
Lenie was right — they’re this close to being sold out. They’ll no doubt keep these and just take orders. I had a feeling Pennsylvania would be good for the magazine.
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September 25th, 2011 by Dave Duffy
Lenie and Rhoda went straight from their flight and got to The Mother Earth News Fair 15 minutes before it opened yesterday morning and just barely got our booth set up. Business is booming! Lenie just texted me this photo. They took 50 new subscriptions the first day and expect to sell out of all anthologies and books we sent to the fair today.
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