Dear Diary – July 4th, 2026

I met a young man yesterday while on a job setting traps to capture a nuisance badger that is killing a lady’s poultry. He’s probably around 18. A good young man who has a job, gets up early in the morning, and loves spending his time outside hunting, fishing, and trapping. This seems so strange today, as most kids sleep in, play video games, and wouldn’t know how to be outside without air conditioning. A sign of our times. 

Anda and I bought more land and have extended our homestead even further. I had cataract surgery this past Monday, and I’m so overjoyed to be able to see out of both eyes again. Jott is all set for his knee replacement on August 3rd. He can hardly walk. Trump got us into a war with Iran and exposed our weakness as a nation. I sense big changes in world power, and a continuing economic decline here at home. It’s amazing how much things cost now. We are very pleased with our life of simplicity and self-sufficiency. 

Today we are processing one of our pigs. It’s always sad to have to kill another animal. Life must consume life to continue. It’s just how things are. 

It’s almost 5:00 Am and I have to get things ready to go check my traps. Hopefully I’ve captured the badger, and the lady can once again be at peace with her birds.