Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Monday Message


“Salvation is an individual matter, and we must work out our own salvation, in temporal as well as in spiritual things.” (Marion G. Romney, Oct. 1976)

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+read+a+pattern&view=detail&mid=A5B059FA4157AAC7918AA5B059FA4157AAC7918A&FORM=VIRE

How to read a sewing pattern

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+read+a+pattern&view=detail&mid=30CCB12845A0D37C809330CCB12845A0D37C8093&FORM=VIRE

How to read a crochet pattern

http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/tip_knit.html - how to read a knitting pattern.

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-fresh-pasta-from-scratch-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-73435
How to make your own pasta, this is with the machine. If you do not have one, just roll as thin as you can - it will still be good. Then put a pasta machine on your yard sale list, I saw one at a sale this last weekend so keep looking.

https://scratcheverything.wordpress.com/page/3/ - learn how to cook from scratch.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=easy+budget+friendly+how+to+menu&view=detail&mid=78A1FC0612DC42980B9C78A1FC0612DC42980B9C&FORM=VIRE  
budget, make a menu

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-create-a-monthly-budget.html - how to make a budget, I like the for dummies books.

www.wikihow.com/Be-Frugal - this has great ideas, watch the video clip.

http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/ - great idea on a busy book and if you make this sit by me I would love to play with it.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/cooking-from-long-term-food-storage/ - some scratch cooking with long term storage

http://www.ldspreparedness.com/Files/cookbook.pdf more storage ideas recipes

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/FN_503.pdf 
storage

http://www.pllasvegas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Emergency-Preparedness_index1a.pdf 
storage

http://jamiecooksitup.net/2012/08/40-food-storage-recipes-and-food-storagepantry-staple-lists/ storage recipes

http://rrwprovidentliving.blogspot.com/ great ideas here for storage

http://preparednessmatters.blogspot.com/2008/07/cooking-with-basic-food-storage-dried.html I love the recipes using store house dried apples

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/2009/02/basic-food-storage-cookbook.html this my favorite favorite site with fantastic recipes!

This has been mostly on storage but I cannot stress enough that you must be working on this. We must not get complacent or say, oh well nothing will go on…

Things go on. This week a huge recall on frozen veggies covering all the US and goes back to 2014. That is scary. You just never know what is coming at you... things you could lay awake and think on but never ever could you imagine so don’t lose sleep, just work on your storage.

Now I tell you seemingly my frozen veggies are okay but I have canned veggies in storage, I shall hold off until they are really sure those I have are safe.

I am on the recall list. You cannot image how many food recalls there are everyday. If I did not already can my own foods I would learn how ASAP. 

I am so proud to hear of all the things you are doing and learning how to do to help your families in time of need. Keep doing these things, you’ll thank me later for pushing you.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Monday Message


“We all need to build a personal ark . . . And we shouldn’t wait until it starts raining, but prepare in advance. This has been the message of all the prophets in this dispensation . . . as well as the prophets of old.

“Unfortunately we don’t always heed the clear warnings of our prophets. We coast complacently along until calamity strikes, and then we panic.

“When it starts raining, it is too late to begin building the ark. However, we do need to listen to the Lord’s spokesmen. We need to calmly continue to move ahead and prepare for what will surely come. We need not panic or fear, for if we are prepared, spiritually and temporally, we and our families will survive any flood. Our arks will float on a sea of faith if our works have been steadily and surely preparing for the future.” - W. Don Ladd, October 1994 General Conference

If we choose to not follow a clear warning from our Prophets, will we then follow other ones?

If you choose not to follow a clear warning, why do you stop at a red light?

Sometimes we are complacent and think that it will never happen to us..? Really??

Picture a roller coaster, it goes up and down, now think of our lives. Sometimes we have a great paying job, things are going well - this is when the roller coaster is up. We kind of think this will always be so… what could go wrong?? Sometimes you have no idea that things are falling apart for your employer, sometimes you have a feeling. When you have that feeling you start looking for other employment just in case. When things go bad, often they catch us unaware and unprepared for…this is when the roller coaster is down.

This is not an if - it is a when.

So when things are well and you are up on the roller coaster this is the time to put in your storage to help you when you go down.

If you think dehydrating food or canning food or grinding wheat is old fashioned, you couldn’t be more wrong.

If you have already had hard times more likely you have your storage in. If you have not… talk to someone who has, this will help you to be inspired.

I think you should examine why you don’t and before you say time, money, or space you need to go back through this blog for I have addressed all these areas.

I would rather have food on the shelf taking room than have none and need it.

Before the great “recession.” I was in a store and I buy my flour in 25lb bags, I noticed that it jumped up one dollar. I tracked down a worker and asked why? He said just wait the price will come down… ha! Worse advice ever. I did go ahead and purchased it and I can tell you, I watch closely and it has not come down yet… food for thought.

I do dehydrate food. I learned how to in Relief Society. I can say that about all my homemaking skills.

This was the best video I have watched on dehydrating so watch the video! http://storethisnotthat.com/dry-youll-like-dehydrating-class/ 

Dehydrating is a really inexpensive way to build your storage. You can usually find one at yard sales or Goodwill or at other thrift stores. And you have extra fruit and veggies that sometimes are tossed. I have always said my favorite is buying frozen veggies on sale, this is the EASIEST thing to do - you just dump on trays and dry.  

If you worry you won’t know if it is done drying, take a piece of your dried food and drop on the counter, if it sounds like plastic it is done.

I learned things from the dehydrating class above.

Once you get that, move on to food saver. This by far saves so much, using it literally saves money. 
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E552XSAXEdk - this is my favorite way to use my sealer, with the canister. Do you see she has jars from spaghetti sauce and such? What a savings! It also can be with canning jars. I save my used canning lids as they are best to use in vacuum sealing. Never can with used lids - only when vacuum sealing. Also vacuum sealing is only for dry food, never wet.

Yes, you can find them at yard sales and Goodwill, etc. I have found them. They must have a port on them, which is just a hole you stick hose into. I bring this up because they made them for just bags and you want the little hole in it.

Here is a LINK to my post on step by step vacuum sealing.

You can take your jar you have vacuum sealed in, open it and use some, and reseal as many times as you want.

This is a huge money saver - stop tossing out food.

Getting in these basic items help you to be able to take care of your family.

At the end of the dehydrating video up above she shows dried food in jars vacuum sealed.

Chocolate chips you can leave on a shelf in the bag and over time they turn white then break down, but if you vacuum seal in a jar they do not ever break down.

http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/2016/05/11-easy-ways-prepare-eggs/ I pan boil eggs just as she does and never ever had issues.

http://stitchandpink.com/2016/05/sewing-binder-part-1-lesson-6-french-mock-french-seams.html this is to keep you going on your sewing skills.

I know this blog post is kind of wordy but I cannot tell you how strong I feel about you getting stuff in storage. It is not antiquated or old fashioned. Remember, it is better to have storage than to need it and have empty shelves… Don’t put it off!

Monday, May 16, 2016

Monday Message


"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 Ezra Taft Benson

I am finally among the living. Wow, was I sick. Still on health mending duty. Now we have haze from Canada forest. First it sets off a bit of breathing issues but I smell the smoke and am so sad for lost homes.  

I hope you paid attention to how fast they had to evacuate. We may never have to deal with forest fires but fire and many other emergencies that we too might only have minutes. It will take a lot to rebuild, my prayers are with them.  

Along this thought one day it was reported there were eight earthquakes in Oklahoma, so things change.  Also they are now saying in California that they are to prepare as things are ready for an earthquake there as well. We must think of what could happen and prepare as best we can. I am sure there are different things they are asked to prepare as we might be asked to prepare for tornadoes… do the best you can. Even being totally prepared might not be enough but having your 72 hour kits ready at the drop of a hat will help, you can grab and go.

http://www.utah.gov/beready/family/documents/72-hourchecklistpdf.pdf - this is a helpful list.

How are you coming on your skills?

How are you coming on building your storage?

http://www.pnpg.net/guide-des-points-au-crochet-100-symboles-et-points/ - if you crochet this is a really good chart on symbols

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/crafts-hobbies/Crocheting/Stitches.html basic crochet

http://crochet.about.com/od/crochetstitches/tp/basic-stitches.htm basic crochet

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=basic+crochet&view=detail&mid=9E50D9FF1F7B8F7F08A49E50D9FF1F7B8F7F08A4&FORM=VIRE this helps those who need visuals

http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/free-crochet-patterns/simple-crochet-flower/ simple project to start you off


http://www.knowlio.org/knitting-abbreviations-chart-stitches/ here is a good knitting chart as well

http://knitting.about.com/od/learntoknit/u/learntoknit.htm basic knitting

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Cast+On+Knitting+Instructions&&view=detail&mid=36E07C1A1B26EE21217936E07C1A1B26EE212179&FORM=VRDGAR visual how to cast on

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=basic+knitting&view=detail&mid=FB8E55C1AADA0EE86F6AFB8E55C1AADA0EE86F6A&FORM=VIRE for visual learners knit

http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingpatterns/p/garterscarf.htm a great first project

I think you can teach yourself both of the above skills but if you are unsure, ask a friend who knits or crochets to teach you.

I cannot stress to you enough to cook from scratch when you can. This is a great skill and a huge money saver.


http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/self-reliance/cooking-from-scratch/ do you know how to cook from scratch macaroni and cheese?

http://foodformyfamily.com/the-kitchen-sink/stocking-your-pantry-for-home-cooking-the-basics having on hand what you need is priceless


http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/pie/basic-scratch-pudding.html nothing beats homemade...notice chocolate pudding in the variations yum.


http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/basic-biscuits wouldn’t biscuits taste good with your meal? Canned type, I don’t think so.

http://www.food.com/recipe/lemon-cake-from-scratch-354350 yum

I have a go to binder that has things for quick find like white sauce, enchilada sauce, taco seasoning... the stuff you need all the time, just the basics. It makes it so easy. When I was still real sick I made up my taco seasoning, now my favorite recipe for taco seasoning. When I found it was just for one batch I measured and remeasured and now when I make it it fills a quart jar so I have it at the ready.

Tarter sauce
Ranch dressing
Croutons
French dressing
1,000 island dressing
Syrup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Hot fudge topping
Bq sauce
Salsa dip

Think about what you purchase and ask yourself is there a way I can do this homemade? Search online, test recipes by doing them in small batches till you see which recipe you like best. The French dressing recipe I use is better by far than any you can find at the store.

French dressing

1 c. veg oil
1 c. catsup
1 c. sugar
½ c. cider vinegar

One fourth tsp of each….

Garlic powder
Celery seed
Parsley
Minced onion

We put it in a quart jar, add lid and shake and we shake again before using.

Homemade croutons - get the recipe HERE.

I think if you see the savings on things you can do from scratch. Its a huge savings plus no chemicals which is even better.

Start a go-to binder of these things you have handy and won’t have to look up - a great time saver.

If money is not that big of a deal then do it to cut out the chemicals that they are now finding which cause so many health issues.

Store-bought came about to save time but as it ends out the cost is too much.

Keep working on your skills, keep working on your storage… there is always something coming at us around the corner.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Monday Message



Elder Marion G. Romney - "...We will see the day when we will live on what we produce" General Conference April 1975.

I am still trying to get well. According to what the doctor said I had at least two to four weeks more. It sure has not been fun. I keep pushing through.

“As we live providently and increase our gifts and talents, we become more self-reliant. Self-reliance is taking responsibility for our own spiritual and temporal welfare and for those whom Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care. Only when we are self-reliant can we truly emulate the Savior in serving and blessing others.

“It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end. Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance.” 

-Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
"Becoming Self-Reliant", Ensign, Jan. 2010, 9

Now this explains why I am pushing you to build your skills and build your storage.

“‘Self-reliance means using all of our blessings from Heavenly Father to care for ourselves and our families and to find solutions for our own problems.’ Each of us has a responsibility to try to avoid problems before they happen and to learn to overcome challenges when they occur. …

“How do we become self-reliant? We become self-reliant through obtaining sufficient knowledge, education, and literacy; by managing money and resources wisely,being spiritually strong, preparing for emergencies and eventualities; and by having physical health and social and emotional well-being.” 

-Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president.
"Becoming Self-Reliant", Ensign, Jan. 2010, 9

These quotes help us see why this is so important.

There will be times we get sick, despite all we do it is part of our mortal life. I can’t tell you how much I have been helped by having storage and trying to be as self-reliant as I can be. It has been a blessing. I have been so sick I had to rest at each step of anything I did. It would have been a lot harder. 

http://www.hometalk.com/1345862/stretching-your-grocery-budget here are a few ideas

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/30-ways-in-30-days-to-stretch-your-food-budget this should get your ideas going.

http://twocents.lifehacker.com/a-guide-to-planning-meals-when-you-re-on-a-tight-budget-1573204892 - helpful

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/nine-strategies-for-stretching-out-a-tiny-food-budget/

http://www.wisebread.com/20-easy-ways-to-stretch-your-grocery-dollars great ideas

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fcd/nutrition/ewfl/module3/index.html - has effective info 

https://blog.allstate.com/smart-grocery-shopping/ info

So stretching our food dollars is prudent, learning to do so is a skill. Start working on your food budget. You will save and with that savings you can build your storage.

Yard sale season is starting. Remember - make a list of things you need and carry it with you. I would suggest if you don’t already have the basics i.e., dehydrator, food saver or equivalent, water bath canner, pressure canner, canning jars, church type cookbooks, bread pans,.. these are just to get you thinking. You should add to your list.

Think about school clothes, winter coats, Christmas gifts, Church clothes and also shoes and boots and other winter gear.

Crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarn, fabric, threads, buttons, and other notions, working sewing machine, patterns, this sort of thing.

Look for books that will help you with your skill building.

I also think board type games, they are fun family memories and surely electronic devices can wait a bit for that.

I think extra casserole dishes that you can take meals and just give the dish too. It could be then up to the receiver to help someone else when they are better. It could be the casserole dish that just keeps giving.

I think of waffle iron, popcorn popper, toaster, blender, these and more if needed…..you will find the savings over buying new to be huge.

Being frugal is not just having but learning to use to its fullest.

Think of needs first on your list then wants.

There is no written law that we must buy new. Used things help the budget tremendously…you can do it!

If you buy a brand new pair of jeans for a child the minute they go outside to play they are used, so save money.

I have a niece who was extremely popular in high school. I am sure it was because she was so kind, but she would go to goodwill and put together one of a kind outfits. Think about it, the store has just so many to choose from that your friends are wearing the same but worse than that, you are left to style whims without modest choices. She set the trend….

Keep working on your skills and building your storage. I shall keep trying to get better.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Monday Message

Storm damage.

"The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His Servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel?" (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, November 1980)

Still sick here. It has been a really hard thing for sure but I am learning to move at a slower pace. I have been reading in the sun wondering when I am well why I don’t do this? It is making me take time to think about slowing down…taking time.

I hope you are still working on building your storage and building your skills. Having storage has really blessed us.

Are you getting ready to put in your garden??

After May 15 is our planting time.

www.foodstoragemoms.com/2016/04/why-you-need-to-be-self-reliant - this has great info.

http://storethisnotthat.com/how-to-survive-an-earthquake/ - we will hopefully never have them as bad as others but I thought it would be good to know.  

A few years back a fellow from California was at a business fair type thing in Utah. They had tents and canopy type things set up. When someone came running in and said to take cover for a tornado this man went into emergency mode and ran out in the street. Some people he said he was sure was from the Midwest told him no and to come with them to take cover. So for your own good read up on this and on tornadoes. We have had our share of emergency events in Iowa to know we need to be prepared.

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado#/Prepare  This is our season coming up …..you need to be prepared, your kids need to be prepared because they could be home alone while you are trying to get home. If you are in a store when sirens go off they keep you there, so be prepared. 

I can tell you to watch the changes in weather. You feel the change - sky goes green, this usually precedes hail, then tornadoes. Be weather aware. I grew up in Iowa and you can feel the weather change. We have a weather radio on both floors, you need to keep it on. We always have ours on and they have helped us. The tornado does make a train noise, it is a surreal thing to hear. Don’t think, "oh, the siren is going off, it will be okay." You all should go to the basement. Look at it as a chance to practice. Don’t be complacent. There is a reason we have sirens… to give you a bit of warning.

Straight line winds are just as damaging if not more as they cover larger areas, the sirens go off for those as well.

Check your weather everyday don’t get caught off guard.

I finally saw a rotating cloud a few years back in Ankeny. We were discussing watching the clouds and one formed right over us. It looks like a dark toilet swirl. Then there are the ones you see that look like V clouds lowering and rising. I have seen them form on a regular live newscast, so do your homework.

http://www.netmums.com/family-food/guide-to-cooking-on-a-budget/cooking-on-a-budget-members-top-tips I want you to know that making food from scratch is a really good way to save your budget.

http://www.netmums.com/family-food/guide-to-cooking-on-a-budget/cooking-on-a-budget - good ideas

http://goodcheapeats.com/2010/02/build-frugal-pantry/ - ideas to help

http://goodcheapeats.com/2010/03/cinnamon-roll-convenience-without-can/ I like this idea... okay, I just love cinnamon rolls :)

http://goodcheapeats.com/2012/05/bake-your-own-bread-to-save-money/ - it is $ saved when you make your own.

Have you tried shopping at Aldi’s? I find that you leave with a full cart for less.

Stretch those dollars. Fastco is Fareway’s generic brand and I prefer that so check, you may find no taste difference for some savings.

Keep working on your skills and budget and storage, every little bit adds up.
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