A while back we installed a QYT-8900 dual band ham radio on Jessica’s quad so we could reach her or she could reach us in the many areas around here that don’t have cell service. After using it for a few months we found that more transmit power was...

Having a fun snow day once in the while with the family is definitely a must do whenever you can. It is one of the handful of family activities that does not require money or travel and yet makes lasting memories that will remain long after the snow is...

Prime Rib is an excellent choice for an awesome dinner. It is expensive so we save it for special occasions and traditionally for a Christmas dinner. If you are rich, you probably have it more often than we do, but since it is upwards of $10 per pound on...

I have to admit that low and slow smoked meats are one of our favorite meals. They take a lot of time and effort to smoke properly so they are a great meal for the occasions where you have a couple of free days to do it. We try...

Grouse are one of the game birds that you don’t need dogs, fancy gear, calls or other stuff to hunt. Grouse also make for a great family hunting opportunity as for now there are relatively plentiful in many areas. This story about hunting grouse with my son and contains...

In 2004 I bought a brand-new car trailer to haul our quads and toys around. I selected a car hauling trailer over an ATV or UTV for following reasons when I made the purchase. Car trailers were slightly cheaper since they didn’t have an “ATV” in the name, the...

The Autumn Leaf Festival in Leavenworth Washington is held around the last weekend in September and is a fun filled family event weekend with activities for all ages. Leavenworth is a small Bavarian themed town in the central Washington Cascades near Wenatchee that has many different festivals and activities...

Smoked cheese is a delicious treat that you can do yourself and save money from buying it at the store. Oftentimes home smoked cheese tastes way better than many of the smoked cheeses you find at the stores at a fraction of the price. It sounds tricky and it...

Wood Turning is a fun pastime that also allows you to create some unique woodwork for decorations, tools, gifts, or selling. It requires a wood lathe, a way to attach the wood to the lathe, tools, sandpaper, and a finish to apply to the final product if you want....

I will apologize in advance because this is a more technical article than we usually write so I tried simplifying it where I could. The nature of this system doesn’t allow for as much simplification as I would like, but this is the more complicated side of a ham...