Monday Message

"I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment may affect any of us. We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)


I think we all have seen things that can happen that are catastrophic. Things we never thought would be but here they are.  We need to work a bit harder at our storage and supplies. If you go out to eat, go one less time and use that money to stock up. Every little bit helps us if we are willing to do the work.


Remember, sacrifice now so you will be in a better place later with your storage.


Money is tight, I know. It will just get tighter so learn now to live on less. That is a huge skill, perhaps the hugest skill of all. It isn’t anybody’s favorite skill to learn but it is the most important.  

Temptations are tossed in front of you continually. You will need to keep the big picture always in mind. Our families are relying on us to learn these skills. It isn’t always easy to go the harder path but we really need to.

I am still knitting dishcloths. This is a work in progress pic. Making do is not at all a bother if you love using these cloths.


We also need to be the example for our children and others because things will only get harder. How do I know it will get harder? Well I am 62 and have only seen in all those years things get higher in prices, catastrophes seem to come in faster… I don’t expect things will reverse if they haven’t in that amount of time. I also have stories from my grandmother that show this as well.


Does it take time? Yes, it does but as I mentioned earlier if I had not taken the time to clean and dry jars and lids then load and vacuum seal my jars of dry products, water could have gotten in and that would have been bad. Was it convenient for me to do this or to dehydrate or can? Usually not, hence the sacrifice for better later.


Sometimes it is very hard work! We have to be willing to work hard. Life is hard work. I have fibromyalgia and I have to break up my tasks. For example, clean my jars and lids. Then after drying I let them air dry till the next day and then load and continue.


There are times I cannot break the task up, then I push on till the end. I have to cry from hurting so much, but we have to be willing to work hard.


We need to use what things are available. I happened to run across a bolt full of lining type fabric. Did I need it right now? No, it would have been easier to leave it but the price was $1.99 for the whole bolt. So I pushed myself a little harder to carry it to the car and etc. Will I use it down the road? Yes, it could be a dress or blouses…so keep looking for supplies and things you can use .


Also, always be willing to help others as we can. Again, there is always no shortage of need. Will someone manage without the help? Yes, but it may be way harder for them and isn’t it a better world when we help each other?

https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/microwave-poached-eggs I am a huge poached egg person. I also love mug recipes but knowing how to poach an egg the old fashioned way is good too.

https://jamiecooksitup.net/2012/08/40-food-storage-recipes-and-food-storagepantry-staple-lists/ - okay, this is fantastic. She has lists and recipes so check it out and just scroll down it. When she talks about the pretzel bites it is a third a cup of soda in the water not what she has listed.

I have my homemade mixes in my using jars with some of the spices I use. I have smaller jars I use as well but I want flavor in things.

Keep spices in mind while gathering storage.

These were the peppers I showed before. I tied their little stems with an overhand knot and hung them to dry, and they are doing nicely. When they're dry I will crunch them into pepper flakes.


https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/homemade-soft-pretzel-bites/ - this has the correct recipe with cheese sauce, yum!


https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/garlic-knots/ - just pulling some favorite things

https://jamiecooksitup.net/2016/09/pick-me-up-jars-printable-list-of-50-positive-quotes-and-scriptures/ - okay, this is a really neat idea and great for a gift.


Report on one of my skill-building skills…

I finished the first rug. The red I am putting in now just spaces between each rug so there will be a fringe. I will not see this rug for a while because as I make them they roll onto the roller down by Missy’s head then when I am ready I will cut them off one by one and tie the fringe to finish the rugs.

Keep working hard at building your storage, being frugal, learning your skills and helping others.