Monday, October 28, 2013

Monday Message - Winter storm prep


Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m. there will be a class at the Shook's on starting a small business.

President J. Reuben Clark (Church News, 1953) –
“When we really get into hard times, where food is scarce or there is none at all, and so with clothing and shelter, money may be no good for there may be nothing to buy, and you cannot eat money, you cannot get enough of it together to burn to keep warm, and you cannot wear it.  You can’t eat money, but you can eat your three-month supply of food – IF YOU HAVE IT AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT."

We never know what is around the corner this is sound advice.

I find that there are things we could never dream of if we sat all day long thinking then when it happens it is totally unexpected and never did we ever think that could happen.

President Ezra Taft Benson - "Plan to build up your food supply just as you would a savings account... We urge you to do this prayerfully and do it now."

President Harold B. Lee – “If you knew what I knew, you would pile it up (referring to food storage) in the middle of the floor, throw a cloth over it and walk around it!”

As Elder Featherstone proclaimed, “The Lord will make it possible, if we make a firm commitment, for every Latter-day Saint family to have a year supply of food reserves…  All we have to do is to decide, commit to do it, and then keep the commitment. Miracles will take place; the way will be opened.”

Now the we have had a little snow rain mix three times I have been in it already this is essential that you start now to put your winter car kit together. I leave mine in all year-round just change out anything that is needed to be eaten.

When the kids were home and driving vehicles, we made sure that there were kits in their cars too. I know it is one more thing to do, but you will thank yourself when you are in need to use it. Nothing like having kids in a stalled car with no blanket, no way to keep them warm. And the thing that is always a concern to me here in Iowa is that you get on the interstate and there may be a terrible accident or a jack-knifed truck blocking all traffic which then backs up and you are stuck with no way to get out of that and you must try to keep your car filled with gas. I often wonder how people make it through stranded on the interstate for ten hours, yep happens a lot so get on this. I, myself, need to do a clean through and transfer before the snow flies.

http://voices.yahoo.com/15-must-winter-survival-kit-items-drivers-7337680.html?cat=27
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/ilx/pdf/Winterstorm_Survival_Kit.pdf
http://www.nd.gov/des/uploads%5Cresources%5C147%5Cwintersurvivalkit.pdf
This would be just as good in Iowa.

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/winterdriving/survival-kit.htm - this is like the first one

Here is one for the home - http://www.ncemcs.com/electricity/safety/winter.htm

http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/emergency-preparedness/

Lots of sources are saying that this will be a very cold and very snowy and rough winter so be prepared....

I think you can plan a box, instead of rainy day call it a snow day box. Go to the dollar store and gather things that they can only play with on snow days. Add games and snacks, keep it in your room or in some location that they won't get into it till you present it. Of times you cannot count on that, there will be electricity if things get too bad so have plenty of blankets, and ways to fix food and spend the day playing. Keep flashlights. Things you can think of that would be helpful.

Read up on stories of people who have lived through weeks without elecricity due to snow or ice storms. You can learn from them what to have on hand. I read one that was after the bad ice storm in Canada and the woman told of what they did and how they would go out to the car once a day to get the local news and that once they ran out of wood it got dangerous to go out and look for wood as the ice was snapping the trees and you could be hurt. The one thing that stood out for me was that the lady said the one thing that bothered her the most not being able to vacuum the carpet and so I thought hmmmmmm and went to a yard sale and there was a carpet sweeper for 75 cents and I got it in case but I found that I use it a lot, so I have that covered but reading on these experiences of others will help us prepare.

A few tips - freeze some empty milk jugs that have water in them and when you lose power and need to keep the frig cold you can take them out and put in the frig to help with that.

Keep in mind that when power goes out you will have no heat as electricity powers the fan on your furnace. So plan how to have heat. If you have a fireplace, have wood stored. If you have a gas fireplace, see if it will still work without electricity, ours does but not all may do. Remember using other heaters in the house is usually what kills people, you hear of that all the time.

Get long johns for everyone. yes they are unflattering but helpful when cold.

Have food in your storage that can be fixed without heating if necessary.

We now have gas stoves with those rotten electronic ignitions I am sure are a safety feature but you cannot run your oven in a power outage. You can run the burners, so keep that in mind unless you are all electric and then you will have to have another source like a camp stove or such.

Another thing is that you might think you can go to so-and-so's because they have the warm house... I can tell you the roads may not be passable. We once lost electricity in an ice storm and you could not even walk to the mailbox or a neighbor's house.

So it is time to be working on those sorts of things.

Those huge Halloween totes you see out now would be good to make a home winter kit of sorts.

I think now is the time when we are thinking of having our stuff all secured and safely gathered in to weather what may come.

If you have not done so DO IT NOW, get those hoses off the house faucets or they will freeze and cause damage. If you have water barrels EMPTY THEM NOW, the cold weather will freeze and crack the barrels. It is time to button up everything and be getting ready.

Now on another topic... Keep looking for sales and stocking as you can, remember do the best you can.

I keep working on Christmas gifts here...

http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-outfit-for-dolly.html I am making two dollies with this outfit only using velcro so that the dress is reversible.

http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2012/01/diapers-for-dolly.html doing the same with velcro for the diapers so they can be reversible as well. I am sure you all are working on your own gifts, I just happen to be working on these.

I also crocheted a Mario for our oldest grandson.


I have lots of things going when you do the same remember to rest, I keep forgetting that myself.

I love to visit teach and I am always looking for ideas for Christmas and birthday gifts for my special sisters. Here is a site with ideas for yours. http://www.pinterest.com/barbarayork/visiting-teaching-gifts/

Keep up doing the great things you all are doing, remember to keep working on your storage. It is not something you set down for a year, it is rather like doing dishes - you always have them to do and you always have storage to do. Remember to keep being frugal. Let's remember how long our loved ones and us have worked to make the money that we spend it most frugally make it go as far as it can....

Remember to keep Christmas in a frugal way, do not go into debt and don't do more then you can... I will insert a story about my grandma here...

She had six children and her husband died during the depression. She had no money and worked so hard. One year she had nothing to give her children, so she tried to make it special by opening up the cook stove and they all sat and looked to see what things they could see in the coals, kind of looking at clouds when ones sees a rabbit or such... that was all she could do but she was blessed in town, someone knew how hard it was for them and they brought out a tree and all sorts of things for the kids and food to eat... That is the real meaning of caring and love and what Jesus would want us to do to celebrate. We do what we can and remember to serve others who are in need, I am so thankful that someone did this for my grandma.

In years after she would make little cupboards out of crates for the girls, she did what she could and is my wonderful example.

Lets work hard to make a very meaningful Christmas this year!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Monday Message - Frugal Christmas


Next provident living class will be Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the Shooks. We will have a class on starting a small business. Also, we will have a pumpkin treat :)


Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own" (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1980, 47; or Ensign, Nov. 1980, 33). 

As winter approaches rapidly we must be prepared with our storage to outlast a winter storm so that we can stay in and warm and not have to rush to the store to get supplies when people mob the stores for their 8 gallons of milk for a two-day storm.

Make sure you have everything you need to fix food if the power goes out and, an added plus, make sure you have everything on hand to make cookies and have fun family time.

Everyone loves a snow day...

http://www.honeybeepantry.com/topics/view/51cbfc93f702fc2ba812df79/
This will help you know what to have on hand to make bread, apply it to other things

http://www.honeybeepantry.com/topics/view/51cbfc93f702fc2ba812df76/
- Some words from the prophets

Now we all know only too well Christmas is coming too fast so I will add some homemade gift ideas...

http://adiamondinthestuff.com/2011/12/i-spy-ornaments.html

http://gooseberrypatch.typepad.com/blog/2010/12/that-yummy-bread-on-our-christmas-card.html#.UmF88dK-pbs

http://www.stamperosity.com/2010/12/12-days-of-christmas-waltzingmouse.html

http://createstudio.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-thank-you-notes.html

http://penniesandblessings.com/2011/10/12-ways-of-christmas-ways-of-frugal-gifting/

http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/search/label/Preparedness%20Project

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/crafts/christmas/blessing-mix - this has lots of ideas on the side bar

http://mawhats4dinner.com/soup-in-a-jar/

http://queenbeecoupons.com/homemade-play-dough-recipe-using-kool-aid-or-jell-o-preschool-teacher-and-kid-approved/

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/gifts/holiday-food-gifts-recipes-plastic-containers/?sssdmh=dm17.553285&esrc=nw100d11_4_d77_120111&email=609130149#page=7 - has several ideas here, click the arrows

http://www.thenshemade.com/2010/09/tiskit-tasket-little-green-paper-basket.html

http://savingcentbycent.com/2012/11/27/frugal-christmas-gift-ideas-part-1/

http://savingcentbycent.com/2012/12/04/frugal-christmas-gift-ideas-part-2/

http://savingcentbycent.com/2012/12/10/frugal-christmas-gift-ideas-part-3/

http://savingcentbycent.com/2012/12/17/frugal-christmas-gift-ideas-part-4/

http://moneysavingmom.com/2013/09/make-it-from-scratch-week-homemade-bath-bombs-day-3.html - this has lots of ideas; at the bottom I like the homemade garbage disposal cleaning cubes

http://www.mariasself.com/2012/12/dollar-store-diy-christmas-gift-ideas.html

http://www.kgw.com/lifestyle/money-saving-queen/frugal-living/183960371.html

http://www.951shinefm.com/common/page.php?id=1051

http://www.mommysavers.com/frugal-christmas-25-days-of-homemade-gift-ideas/

http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/easy-frugal-homemade-christmas-gift-ideas/

So, if you stuck with me this far, these are all frugal ideas to help you get a jump on Christmas gifting!

I will tell you there is a sister in our ward who, knowing her children's interests, formulated a gift around them. I know I always loved a gift that gave me things I enjoyed doing. So look to your children's interests; if they love art, encourage it and make a kit of art things, if they like magic tricks - do a gift of those, if they love reading -make a starter kit of a series (one that you approve of... isn't that the great part?).

Most of all DO NOT GO INTO DEBT for your gift giving. If you cannot purchase due to a tight budget then make a gift. If not that, then a card... if not that, then a letter that would be dearly loved. But never go into debt, that makes a bad situation worse!

Living providently is a wise way to live. We do not know what tomorrow will bring and how many of you have spent a lot of money on a toy to have the kids play with the box it came with. Kids will live if they do not get what everyone else has.

Don't do more then you can. Plan traditions! Being together is what your children will remember.

Continue to work on your food storage and supplies. Giving food storage can be a real blessing to your children who are not at home. Keep doing the best you can, that is all we can do.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Apples!!


It's fall and that means it time for apples!


The dehydrators are loaded with apple rings. Then I made seven pints of apple butter and then cooked the juice out of my peelings. Five quarts and one pint of apple juice from the peels of non-sprayed apples that were washed. I only have one and a half bushels more! I want most of them dried but will also make apple pie filling.


All the waste from the apples went to the compost so no part was wasted.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Monday Message - Apples!



Provident living:  This Tuesday, Oct. 15th, will be our class it has been changed this time. We will be having an open question/answer time and bring binders...we can talk more of them too! Bring questions if you think it is something I need to research on email me the questions. Class will be at 9:30 p.m. at the Shooks.

"As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. . . . I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With the events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness. . . . Create a plan if you don't already have one, or update your present plan . . . We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we're putting away." (L. Tom Perry, in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 47; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 36)

It's apple season!! Jeff Boyd said to let you all know that Mary Boyd has excess apples to share :)

I did pick some... thank you very much Mary!

Now that you have apples, what to do with them...

You can dehydrate - them to do so you must peel and core and slice or dice and put in a bowl with six cups of water and about a fourth of a cup of lemon juice from this bowl you put them in the dehydrator this prevents browning.

After dried, put in glass jars. If I do more then one using jar, I vacuum seal them but it is not required.

From dried apples I make applesauce, granola we eat plain. Make trail mix.  Apple crisp - yep you cannot tell you used dried apples. You can shake the apples after cutting up in jello powder and dry. Yum! Caution, this is addictive. ;)

You can freeze them using the same method (only after the lemon juice and water you may put in freezer bags and freeze)

You can even make pies up and freeze so a cold winter day you can pull it out and bake it

You can make muffins, cake and pancakes... it is a really good storage item.

You can make pie filling ready to use from the apples. You can make apple rings, applesauce, apple butter... you can fry them, caramel them... eat them!

This year was a bumper crop!

I know it takes a lot to peel and such but I recommend an apple peeler corer slicer. It works fantastically and is way faster, then you have a coil of apple left you can either cut in half from top to bottom and you have slices or just cut one side from top to bottom and you have rings.

You can even freeze applesauce.

Topping for apple pies:
version one:
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. butter
blend this with a pastry blender or fork and put on your pie before baking

Topping for apple pies
version two:
1/2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. margarine
1/4 c.chpd nuts
mix together and put on fruit pie and bake

The most unusual apple pie
1c. flour
1 tsp b. powder
3/4 c. sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 c. margarine
1 beaten egg
4-5 apples
sugar and cinn
Mix together flour, baking powder sugar and salt.  Add margarine and stir in beaten egg.  Mix everything with a fork.  Slice apples into a heavy pyrex pan. Pour batter over apples and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.  bake at 350 for 30 to 40 min.

Apple Butter this is the best in all the world:
make one gallon of applesauce or if it is a not good year for apples you can buy a gallon of it at fareway
to this add:

3 c. sugar
1 tsp cinn
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cloves
4 c. apple juice

mix all together in a roaster pan without the lid
bake at 350 for 3-4 hrs till thick
process in water bath for 15 min

The Amish make apple jelly from the peelings of apples, so wash them carefully and then peel for what you are doing or use the peeler corer slicer. My kids used to love getting the long peel of the apple from that and that is really fruit by the foot!

http://www.food.com/recipe/apple-pie-filling-122885 here is a recipe for apple pie filling to can.

I made apple pie filling in the past and Laura loved it so much she would eat it right out of the jar.

And now I will end with store when there is plenty for many more times have we had less than more.

So for a sweet ending: another best ever recipe...

Apple cake:

1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 c. sugar
cream this together really well and add:
2 eggs and mix till fluffy

add:
2c. flour
1 1/2 tsp b. soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp salt
mix well and add to the above fluffy stuff

add:
4 c. raw chopped unpeeled apples
1 c. chopped nuts
beating it with the above mixture
bake in a greased 9x 13 pan at 325 45 to 60 min test with a toothpick

Butter Sauce:

melt 1/2 c. butter in dble boiler and stir in one cup of sugar 1 tbsp of cornstarch and 3/4 c. heavy cream (whipping) cook in the double boiler until thick

serve a spoonfull on cake piece then a dab of cool whip

I had this at a garden party the mayor's wife invited me to and oh this is really wonderful!

Keep working on your storage, our ancestors did it and we can do it too!

I am proud of all of you working so hard at it, thank you for doing it.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Monday Message

(This recipe for croutons is a great way to use what you have on hand and they taste great! Click here for the recipe.)
Provident living: our next class is Oct. 15th at 9:30 a.m. It will be on starting a small business. Brother Shook will be teaching.

Gordon B. Hinckley, Oct. 1998
“Time has come to get our houses in order.”

“There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed.”

“I urge you, brethren, to look to the condition of your finances. I urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt to the extent possible. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from bondage.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, Oct. 2005
“The best storehouse is the family storeroom.”

“Our people for three-quarters of a century have been counseled and encouraged to make such preparation as will assure survival should a calamity come.”

“We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day.”

“We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. . . . We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments.”

http://www.hashworks.com/foodstorage.htm this site has lots of useful info on how to use your storage.

http://westhillspreparedness.blogspot.com/2009/04/food-storage-recipes-milk.html

http://westhillspreparedness.blogspot.com/2009/04/food-storage-recipes-barley.html

http://westhillspreparedness.blogspot.com/2009/04/food-storage-recipes-pasta.html

These have interesting recipes and info as well on using your storage.

http://wickedgoodkitchen.com/homemade-sweet-cornbread-mix-gluten-free-option/#comments

http://foodstorageresource.blogspot.com/2012/01/make-your-own-rice-mixes.html

http://jamiecooksitup.net/2010/02/slim-down-saturday-5-and-whole-wheat-blender-pancakes/

http://dealstomeals.blogspot.com/2009/12/oat-fu%20n.html

http://www.thetipgarden.com/2012/01/master-mix-stove-top-stuffing-from.html

http://sandstonestake.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Using-Food-storage-Kim-Baldwin.pdf

http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/recipes/shelf-stable-recipes/

http://everydayfoodstorage.net/

I thought now that it is cooling down, you can play with recipes and find ones that work with your storage.

If you have favorite recipes using your storage email me at bshook@huxcomm.net and we will put them on the Monday message!

I want to encourage you all to keep stocking up and doing what you are doing! :) I am proud of all I keep hearing!
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