Earthquake Aftermath

Today we wrap up San Francisco Earthquake week with this picture showing the aftermath. One of the things I found interesting about these pictures is how they show that following the disaster people just got up, brushed themselves off, and got back to their business. Some of the pictures were almost surreal, as the people were dressed up, and walking down the street as if things were normal, yet they were surrounded by devastation.

Anyway, I learned a lot this week. Disaster can strike at any moment. Also, from the poll I learned that many people would not be prepared in the case of a disaster. I feel that the most important thing for me to ensure I could care for my family in such a scenario would be to have a nice little tractor. Perhaps I should discuss with Mrs. PJM this evening.

California Street

Today's picture shows California Street in San Francisco after the earthquake. The Great Merchant's Exchange is on the left, and the Fairmount Hotel is in the distance. I find it interesting that even with the disaster, people are still dressing nicely. I would have thought they would have just had "Jeans Week" or something like that.

I enjoyed reading the comments yesterday, and I am sensing a clear consensus developing that I need a tractor. Several pointed out that with a tractor, I would be able to get a garden put together. In times of disaster, we could eat produce from the garden. Mrs. PJM has grown quiet fond of the chickens, and this plan has the advantage that the chickens do not get eaten in the first week of the crisis. I feel we finally have a scenario that might actually work, as far as me getting a tractor.

Earthquake

Today we feature another picture of the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. You can see the smoke of burning buildings in the background, and ruble from the earthquake in the streets.

I enjoyed reading your posts about your level of readiness if the grocery stores ran out of food. It really sounds like a number of you are fairly self sufficient when it comes to food. I could make it about 5 days on old stuff in the cupboard. Then, well, we eat the chickens. That gives us another 10 days. The peacocks are big, so six peacocks would take us about another 12 days. After that we would be out of food. I would love to grow our own food in a large garden, but unfortunately our house is situated on a rock, and there is only a couple of inches of top soil. Moving dirt in is a pretty expensive proposition. On the plus side, all of our neighbors raise cows, sheep, goats or pigs, so perhaps my best strategy would be to try and stay in good standing with neighbors, and have something useful to trade.

Tent City

Good Monday morning to you all. Hope your week starts out good. We start the work week with this picture from San Francisco taken shortly after the Great Earthquake and Fire in 1906. With most of the city destroyed, tent cities sprung up. Reading the signs, you can see that these folks lost everything . . . except their sense of humor.


I am sort of surprised by the early results on the poll question. Half of you indicate that if the grocery store ran out of food, you could feed your family. I wonder if we have that many farmers as readers?

San Francisco Fire and Earthquake

I must say that I am a little sad that Great Generals week is over. I enjoyed the lively discussions and comments. Appears the matter of the unpleasantness of '61 is still not settled in some people's mind. Anyway, we start a new week with this picture, from the great earthquake and fire of 1906 in San Francisco. The picture shows the hospital near the Union Ferry building. You can see smoke from the city in the background.

Domestic Update:

Several have asked about the peacocks and chickies. Sorry I do not have a picture for you this morning, but I can report that Handsome is getting a nice set of tail feathers coming in, and he spends quiet a lot of time strutting around all day. When he starts that business Lovie gets mad, and goes over and pecks him hard on the head. The chickies are all grown up, and are looking pretty much like full size chickens. I am sad to report that egg production has been somewhat disappointing. Total egg count to date is 0 eggs produced. I have a real good friend that has a little "farm" in Palo Alto, California. He has 10 chickens. He says his egg production is excellent. He is married to a wonderful woman from Vietnam. He says she runs a tight ship, and any chicken that does not produce an egg two days in a row goes in the soup pot. He says he is getting about six eggs a day from each chicken. So, maybe I need to go to that system and see if production increases.