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)

When we had our furnace done I had to clear a space for them to cut long pieces of metal so I had to basically unload that area. It was a lot of work, then we had to replace the water heater. So now that hot, and I mean hot, weather is here it was time to put things back in place. Working in the basement is cool temperature wise. I have been doing a little each day. Amazing what you can do when you do a little at a time. The same is true with our storage. There is no way to do it all at once. A little at a time builds it up over time. It also is not so painful to our finances to do just a few extra things when we are in the store.

At the same time I am having to pick in the garden.

My plan is to can salsa to start with. I try to think of prices to purchase and what is more costly and that is the item I can first. Like in this case, tomatoes are now and salsa costs more than a can of tomatoes.  In some recipes I can use salsa interchangeably.

I hope you are finding places to keep cool. A heatwave is a good time to rearrange things in the basement. Remember to rotate your food, I think that is sometimes the hardest to do.

"Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or do without." I love this saying.

We live in a time where everything seems disposable. For example when you purchase strawberries they come in a plastic container. You eat the berries then toss the container, but did you know you can take a few minutes to think of a use for that? I planted the strawberry seeds in one and I have about a dozen tiny strawberry plants growing. I have saved these to use for starting seed in the spring, but... 

https://munofore.com/awesome-ways-to-reuse-plastic-berry-containers/ - here are some fantastic ideas, I liked the ribbon and the yarn keep and loved the garland. Sometimes we just need inspiration.

https://www.almostzerowaste.com/repurposing-plastic-ideas/ - I like the milk carton scoop idea.

https://www.educatall.com/page/1061/10-things-to-do-with-berry-containers.html - such cute ideas.

https://chascrazycreations.com/recycled-plastic-containers/ - so many people have great ideas.

https://ecogreenlove.com/2014/01/09/reusing-plastic-produce-containers/ - I love the idea over the fruit, wouldn't the chipmunks (we have one here know as Neanderthal) be surprised to try and nab that.

https://remake.world/stories/style/how-to-mend-your-clothes-during-quarantine-5-easy-stitch-fixes/ 

https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/visible-mending-darning-clothes - these days anything goes, just like making a belt for my dress last week.

I extended the use of my dress by making this belt. I think these days any fabric would work, even a blue and white floral fabric would be cute. We can do great things.

Think of a pair of pants with a hole, you could make a pocket or make an envelope looking patch or monsters or fish, even a shark. Use your child's favorite thing (like a dinosaur), it could end up their favorite pair, you just never know.

https://www.marthastewart.com/274965/how-to-patch-a-hole-mend-a-seam-and-fix

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+mend+clothing&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS960US960&oq=how+to+mend+clothing&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l8j0i390i650.17052j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9f326364,vid:IKlKEbkbX_M

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/22/1177552573/extend-the-life-of-your-clothes-with-visible-mending

https://chatelaine.com/style/best-purchases-editors-picks-july-2023/

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+mend+clothing&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS960US960&oq=how+to+mend+clothing&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l8j0i390i650.17052j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:eb7a4589,vid:TnxGHRlevlQ - I like this gal.

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/do-it-yourself/fabric-paper-projects/visible-mending-basics/

All of these were on mending, lots of great ideas on this topic, but I thought perhaps I would throw in an embroidery one in case knowing the different stitches would be helpful for you to tackle some fun mending.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4i9EM5ats0

Missy says if we find frugal ways to do things around the house, it all helps our family with the budget and if she had thumbs she would sew.

Tippy Longstockings is showing no holes in her socks but if it happens, she knows I will mend them! She says stay cool out there!