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 see how long it takes to get supplies to people needing them. In emergencies, depending on the devastation, roads may be impassable. We want to be able to help others at this time so having a food storage helps not only ourselves but others as well.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/how-to-prepare-for-difficult-times.html - I love this gal and this post is very helpful.

https://www.favequilts.com/Beginner-Basics/Back-to-Basics-Quilting-Tips-for-Beginners - this is helpful if you are wanting to learn this skill.

https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitting-Tutorials/Knitting-Class - this was a great find this week, it has a course you can click on in the post.

https://www.allfreesewing.com/Basics-and-Tutorials/Beginner-Sewing-Videos-Learn-to-Sew-Tutorials - here is one on sewing.

https://www.allfreecrochet.com/Scarves/Classic-Infinity-Scarf - this one on crocheting.

https://thesurvivalmom.com/cold-weather-survival-survive-in-a-stranded-car/ - I think we all saw that clogged interstate on the news. This is always something I think about a lot in the winter.

I have always thought having skills is a great thing.

I am writing this post the day after my birthday. Traditionally, I love to go to the used bookstore, it's something I always look forward to. But times being what they are and this not safe for us to do, I needed to think what else would I like to do?

So I decided to dye for my b-day. I had everything on hand. For years I have collected things I would need to dye fiber.

When we insulated the garage a few years ago I had to use this mask, when we were done doing the insulation I put it in my basket of things for dyeing.

When you use dyes in their powdered form you have to wear a mask.

Once the dye is mixed I could take the mask off. I wear rubber gloves as well.

I braided up some wool fleece and soaked them for about an hour.

I laid out plastic wrap, it is here that I will mention everything I use was collected to be dedicated to be used for only dyeing not for use in food ever. Like the pans, the jars, the canner, a scale, the salad spinner, the stir spoons - I keep all these just for dyeing only.

This pan was one method I used for dyeing.

This is the other method I used.

When I was done dyeing they then have to thoroughly dry. Here is what they look like...

When dry, I make these braids and when I am ready, I will spin them into yarn.

This was what I did on my birthday and you got to see what fun it was! Even my furry supervisors approved! So even though we have traditions that we need to change because of Covid, it is okay, we still can have fun and fun was had for sure.

Gus says still be very very careful!  It is not time to let your guard down.

Missy says that staying safe sometimes means staying in.