Monday Message

"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I don't think it is hard to imagine at this time with what is going on. We should take it seriously. I saw on the news that it said we wouldn't see this next rise in prices till the end of April (about the time you are reading this). They are so high now, I can't imagine.

I worked on the Sofie Scarf while watching general conference - https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sophie-scarf-2 My sister gifted me the pattern and the yarn was from her as well - both from a long time ago, so this week I pushed through and finished it.

In this picture, I am blocking it. The scarf will hug the neck. It wraps around twice and ties in a knot that looks like a bow. So now that this is done, I will move on to a sweater I already started.

This was a free pattern and I have made it before, but this time I want it with long sleeves. I have a dress I made this color that it will be nice with.

That and spring cleaning still (which is about tended) is what this week's projects have been.

I am following along with this series - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_lRTZxY7s She is doing a series on milling grains.

And from another https://nchfp.uga.edu/ has information on preserving food. I would encourage you to check with the extension service in your area for accurate processing info for where you live.

Keep looking for used equipment for preserving food like dehydrators, pressure canners, jars, pick up lids and rings if you need them (I suggest picking up several each time you get groceries, this will help you have them on hand when you need them), vacuum sealer and a tall canister to go with, if you can find one. https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2017/02/monday-message_27.html - this shows how I use mine.

But keep haunting those thrift stores and marketplace areas and any other thrifty place, don't rule out Freecycle, where you can ask for what you are looking for.

https://www.ldspreparedness.com/id129.htm - this has a wealth of information. You can click on the dates to the left. I printed them off when I was a Provident Living leader and put them in a binder. There is food storage information, gardening tips, recipes, etc. Very useful information, including tips like how to sharpen sewing machine needles, how to more easily reuse a zipper, and the many uses of cattails.

This will keep you reading and learning for years and years. And it's for free! You can print them and put them in a binder so you have a hard copy - like I mentioned before, hard copies are a storage item too.

This is a site I have shared before. it is one that has lots of storage recipes - https://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/2009/02/basic-food-storage-cookbook.html This takes you to the contents of the book, just click on whatever you want and it comes up.

But you can also click on topics in the right-hand column.

This is where the dried apple crisp recipe comes from. I like to have dried apples in my storage (this is where a dehydrator and an apple peeler come in handy)

Apple Crisp

2 cups dried apples reconstituted in 1 cup boiling water

1/3 cup flour

2/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup melted butter

Put apples and any remaining liquid in an 8x8-inch greased pan. Mix other ingredients in a separate bowl. Sprinkle over apples. Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

You cannot tell I made it from dehydrated apples -  my favorite recipe, yum!

So jump around reading these sites as a homework assignment.

Missy says keep building your storage, she is proud of you!

Tippy Longstockings says learn your skills - make a list of the ones you want to learn and then break them down into steps to achieve the goal.