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)

This week we have been having hot weather but so far the garden is doing okay. I weeded it this morning while we were still cool. The asparagus is starting to finish, I only got three. The raspberries will be next. They are starting to turn.

The young men came to learn about the telescope my husband built. They got to look at the stars and planets so I made them cookies of stars and planets. I know it is hard to see but the cart we have it on was a free "by the side of the road" find.

I have the first harvest of rhubarb chopped and in the freezer and then made two batches of strawberry rhubarb jam.

After my success of growing strawberries from seed (they were doing so well, I had planted them but within the hour they were eaten) I thought I would try again, only this time I will wait to plant when they are way bigger and totally protected. I thought I would tell you how to get the seed...

What I do is peel the strawberry skin very thin. I lay it down on a plate, cut-side down, and leave it for three or four days. Then I rub the top of the skin with my finger. If you look closely at the picture, you see dark flecks like pepper - those are the seeds. I rub them till all seeds are off and I plant them. The skins stick hard and fast to the plate so it's easy to do. I just run the plate and the now seedless-skins in the dishwasher.  If you hand it to a kid, they can eat those skins like fruit leather but they wash off.

The other thing I did last year was I put the peach pits from our peaches into three holes in the backyard. Well I was weed-whacking and I noticed nothing so I took the markers down but when I got to the third one, I thought there were peach trees but I couldn't be sure. Our neighbor brought us tiny ones all those years ago which the tree we have now is from. Well, I asked him to come and check. He came and checked and confirmed they were peach trees! I am so excited! I put two out front and have three going out back which I can divide further in a while. The apple seeds I planted and grew, I put out back as well but rabbits ate them this winter, but they both have shoots - so this year I'll do more protection.

For someone who hates gardening with a passion, I sure seem to be doing a lot of it!

I do like having our yard give us food. So think how you can plant food that will keep giving you food.

They are saying prices are to go way up over the next two months...

Both cats are horrified by that news.

I put in a grocery order and one thing that said out of stock was a 25-pound bag of flour. Usually when Walmart doesn't have something in stock they ship it, but this time it said ITEM NO LONGER AVAILABLE  Nothing about getting it soon or temporary - nope! And someone else remarked the shelves again at Walmart were empty where the flour usually is. This could just be temporary but I think we should take notice that some things are getting harder to get.

So just keep working on your storage - no reason to panic. We just keep working on it. Get your basics in.

Keep working on those skills. No matter where you are in the world, pick up extra items when you go to the store and work on building your skills. Things are hard for everyone right now.

Our town had their town-wide yard sales this last weekend. We went to a few. My husband got a router for five dollars (his died). We just missed getting a wood planer. With my five dollars, I found sewing books that were 25 cents each.

And I got ten sewing magazines a dime each.

Then I got some cooking magazines for free.

We have a wheelbarrow that we got years ago from a yard sale for five dollars but we could no longer fix the tire and the wood was getting rough but the bucket is okay. Well, there was a wheelbarrow for free! It was good except the bucket had rusted through from cement that they left (so people be sure to wash those out!) but we got it and will trade out the bucket part and it will be like a new one. So that was good! We also got a nice free grill, it just needs a good clean..

Even though I wasn't really going to go, we did, and I am glad that we did! So don't rule out yard sales or thrift stores. I did go to four thrift stores in the last little bit and found nothing - it was kind of creepy for me to find nothing. Remember when I said patterns went up? Well now they had none and remember that I complained about yarn prices at the thrift store? Now there was none. So either I have to quit complaining or things are getting worse but I say, if you can, still try to haunt them. Also, hang onto what you have and remake, reuse - that sort of thing.

Just a side note - I totaled the books I got for four dollars pictured above. They came to $401.67!

I think it is fair to say I couldn't have gotten the cheapest book for the four dollars I spent.

Was it worth it? I would definitely say so. There were a lot of others but I had a limit and got the ones that were of interest or that will further my skills.

Missy says we can do this so don't be afraid, it may be hard but we can do it!

Tippy Longstockings says be kind to others, it is badly needed and we will all get through this time.

Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

I hope this finds you all well.

With more of everything going up in price we need to find ways to do for less.

My husband had a doctor appointment on a Tuesday and Goodwill was right by there as they share a parking lot. So I went there while he went to the doctor.

I found two rolls of fabric for $1.90 each after senior discount and I found a jumbo ball winder. You use it to turn your skeins of yarn into a cake of yarn as I show here with a small ball winder.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2017/07/monday-message_24.html 

I have wanted a jumbo winder for a while but they are so costly

Here is the one i found at goodwill $4.92 after senior discount.  Mind you it just happened to be their senior discount day what a blessing.

It wasn't totally assembled, that took me an hour and a half as all I had to go by was a picture on the internet, no directions. I needed to put that wooden cone in place and attach the part at the bottom left corner. It was the cone that I had issues getting it in place, it went together like a puzzle. I needed to lift the post part which then let me slide it on. So this picture is of it all in place. That baggie in the pic has another belt and extra two of the screw things in the bottom left corner. I am guessing it came to be at Goodwill because they couldn't figure out how it went either. I thank them all for keeping the parts together. I NEVER EVER thought I would see one at Goodwill.

You just never can tell what you will find, so keep looking at thrift stores for items you need, this is a big way to do with less.

But you need to know your prices, different people price these things. For example, they had yarn acrylic for $4.80 a skein. This is not a good price. It was the same price the two rolls of fabric cost before senior discount.

I washed up the fabric and cut two dresses pictured here with my four-legged pattern weight.

I also had enough to cut two bodices and sleeves to be made into two peplum tops. Also sleeves I will put on an opposite-colored bodice. I have printed fabric to use for the peplum.

The camera could not get an accurate color of the fabric, but if you look at the close-up of the two flowers, that is the true color of the fabrics.

One skein of the yarn they had priced equaled the two dresses and two tops. So watch your prices.

One time I saw umbrellas, they were asking more money than the dollar store right next door. We need to be wise stewards of our money because things will be worse before they get better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLoeipbn7FY - worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlD4QqCouk - this is helpful. I used to yard sale all summer, getting school clothes and winter clothes and Christmas gifts for the kids. Getting school supplies was always a huge expense so picking up parts of the list all summer helps a lot.

Time to be learning those skills or brushing up on ones you have. The kids will be home for the summer, have them learn with you.

I was always so impressed with a family who adopted lots of kids - she taught each of them to make bread by hand and they each took turns baking the bread and did the best job I ever saw. Those kids now have kids and I am sure that skill helped them so much in their lives.

So make these skills a fun thing and not only will you learn but so will they.

Life is so very hard, these skills will help them so much more than handing them some money to throw at a problem. It will help them to look at problems in different ways, to figure it out, which is the best of gifts.

We are all going to have to look at things differently to solve what we are facing.

Missy says nothing is ever so bad that it can't get worse so we need to be ready for whatever comes.

Tippy Longstockings says do the best you can, we will all get through this!

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)

The garden, for the most part, is in - thank goodness! It is very hard on me to do it.

I have a large pot on the porch that I put spinach in and two other pots have lettuce in them - one is a red lettuce.

I will soon be harvesting the first batch of rhubarb for this year.

Still doing a bit of spring cleaning but I think I am done with that now.

I finally finished up the puzzle. I think we took it and did just a little as we went by but one day I sat and finished it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiHFRNdTpyE - watch this, she is very helpful and is in Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIhGyMiwjqI - I want you to pay close attention here, she doesn't run out to buy fabric for patterns but is using the things she already has. With the items she wants to make better she makes patterns off what she already has and the crochet pouch for hooks she did go ahead and mended it instead of throwing it away.

These ladies can teach us a lot.

I had this mold for years and years and decided to see what they would be like. This version is basically finger Jell-o in the bear mold. They were something that I could see making and keeping in the refrigerator for hot days. It was a fun thing to do but oh my goodness, are there tons of different recipes out there! I just used grape juice for this version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkE3j_IgN7E - this gal shows you five ways to use sourdough discard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj2XN7_IkFg&t=654s - she shows you how to cut expenses.

https://blog.siysewityourself.com/2022/06/10/15-must-have-notionf-for-your-sewing-kit/ this can give you ideas as to what goes in a sewing kit. Every home should have a sewing kit.

https://www.fibreofmybeing.com.au/blog/essential-hand-sewing-stitches?srsltid=AfmBOopUOXWgU9robN0IGlt5epPUZ3uloYcUeGll0CZ67spJvTzC8vLh - stitches to learn for mending.

I hope you are working on your skills?

Tippy Longstockings says grab a paper and pencil to take notes for this next one.

https://www.eviemagazine.com/post/15-homemaking-skills-we-should-all-learn-in-2025

I know we are busy with planting and soon school is out for the summer but keep working on those skills, teach the kids too.

Missy says learn to hem or sew on a button, pick one and learn it this week - pick another and learn it next week.

Tippy Longstockings says do the best you can and be kind to others and don't judge others, life is hard enough without that.

Monday Message

"Start now to create a plan if you don’t already have one, or update your present plan. Watch for best buys that will fit into your year’s supply. We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we’re putting away. The instability in the world today makes it imperative that we take heed of the counsel and prepare for the future." (L. Tom Perry)

At the time I am writing this, gas is $4.29 but you will be reading this two weeks from now, who knows how much higher it will be.

Garden planting is two weeks away so about the time you read this, I hope to have all the garden in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-zbnlRc1YA - I found this helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmUueAE8YBA - she, too, is doing a fresh-milled flour series.

https://www.iga.com/shopper-solutions/10-ways-to-stretch-your-grocery-budget

https://uwyoextension.org/uwnutrition/newsletters/stretching-your-food-dollars/

https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/banking/article/how-to-save-money-on-groceries-ways-stretch-food-budget-214426031.html

https://www.wisebread.com/20-easy-ways-to-stretch-your-grocery-dollars

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/stretch-your-food-dollars-part-1-before-going-to-the-store/

https://www.shes-worth-it.com/blog/fed-is-best-small-ways-to-make-your-grocery-budget-stretch

https://moneyfitmoms.com/how-to-stretch-food-budget-grocery-shopping/

https://commonsensehome.com/stretch-your-food-budget/

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/best-kitchen-hacks/?srsltid=AfmBOoroEATDNZV_3b5TxrivMgkFdQHtguNVuDNNjhSpA6H-2FOVMBte

https://loveandmarriageblog.com/stretch-grocery-budget/

I tried to find things that would help you with groceries. Some I found are just not real - I did not include them. We need basic real information.

We need to really crack down and learning skills.

Learn to dry food and to vacuum seal it. This saves sooooo much money and keeps food from going bad.

Learn breadmaking in all its forms and with that, store the ingredients needed.

Learn to can. Did you know you can can all year round?

Learn to bake from scratch and store things to be able to.

Also, we need to learn skills like knitting, sewing, crocheting... things that will help our families. This doesn't have to be hated things. Pick what you want and start there. I threw in some pictures of the things I like to learn. You won't probably like the same things nor did I put everything I like here but it is to get you thinking. Mending is huge on the list as one to learn.

Things are going to continue to get harder and we need to lengthen our stride on doing things frugal and learning not to waste things, and to reuse the things we have. We can do this, we can!

Missy says while we work hard on our storage and our skills, find time to find joy!

Tippy says try to keep yourself in balance - learn one thing, then move onto the next, and get plenty of rest!

Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

This week, I started knitting a sock tube. Even though I can do this in minutes on the circular sock machine my sister gave me one birthday (I love it), I like to knit one by hand to have in my church bag to work on while I listen. I am building a skill of trying to not look at my hands while I knit. I am getting there. I can do about six stitches now without looking but building on that.

As you can see by the orange clearance tag, this yarn was originally $14.99 clearanced to $3.74. I got it years ago, I can't quite remember how many but that was a good price.

A very relaxing thing to do. I will knit nearly all of this yarn then break it down into sock lengths and knit by hand, toes, heels, and cuffs.

This is my sock machine, it is beautiful. It took me a year to figure out but I stuck with it learning by try and fail school.

It was hard but I learned. I cleaned it all up and learned how to adjust it. I have always wanted one. And I do use it but I like to do one as a church project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLXbgkfK4yI - this gal has a new printed machine but does the same as mine. Here she shows you how to take the tube to make it into socks. This is the best tutorial ever on the subject. It is the same if you do it by hand or crank it on the machine. All this to say, I started a sock tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B4fSPY11ds - she has helpful info here worth the time to watch.

https://smalltownscratch.com/how-to-stock-a-pantry-fridge-for-cooking-from-scratch/ - some ideas.

Having the basic ingredients in your storage to be able to make from scratch items is so helpful!

https://thesoccermomblog.com/100-must-have-pantry-staples/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRdw9xleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCTEFGUEoxMGhzSm00Z1V2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr-FhKpUNtX15iCjXbADoiby1yYOTa453NMSqNOunGjjJlQGZEv6Q_N0X0wD_aem_9k9iQMgpKY6A4LmWSbBB2w - of course, everyone's pantry will look different but maybe there are things you might not have thought of.

Please don't run out and purchase everything at once, just add a few items to your grocery list.

Also, I encourage you to start introducing foods like homemade bread, more soups with biscuits, or rolls. Learn these skills and get your family used to homemade things, same as learning how to fix basic foods - practice till you have it figured out.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2012/02/homemade-bread-crackers.html

https://www.laurasbakelab.com/blog/homemade-crackers

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a98773/how-to-make-crackers/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_md_dsa_prog_org_us_23638011728&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23638011728&gbraid=0AAAAABxutSrZj5q6t6uZzfg8bESG4MDxj&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJmLkjMKFYIqjr5q0Gl3yIwB7-0hxBYs7xfvSqdpSRwJQ_htqIpXwIRoCmBgQAvD_BwE

https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/3-ingredient-homemade-crackers-whole-grain-wheat-andor-spelt/

It takes so little to make crackers.

It takes very little to do bread, laundry soap, cookies, cake, etc. Learn to do them. You don't have to do it all at once. Pick one thing and learn it then go to the next. We can do these things. It saves so much compared to the store-bought version.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2024/11/monday-message_11.html

Much cheaper than store bought for sure.

Remember, I tell you I store the things to always to make chocolate cake. Well, if you store the items it takes to make stuff like bread and cookies and biscuits and chili and the casseroles that your family likes - this is storage and by keeping the basics on hand, you can make these items.

Basics

Flour and grains

Vital wheat gluten

Salt

Sugar

Oil

Yeast

Now you could make bread

but if you add...

Cinnamon

Now you can make cinnamon rolls

If you add...

Brown sugar

Shortening

Vanilla

Now you can make cookies

Muffins

Coffee cake

If you add....

powdered milk

Now you can make pancakes

Waffles

I think you get the picture. If we stock the basic ingredients then we could make cinnamon rolls or pizza but if you store a muffin mix instead it just makes muffins, no pizza. I hope that explains what I am trying to say.

It is even better described in this book....

She gives a step-by-step, here I will show you.

She gives recipes as well, a very good book, see if you can get it through your library.

You can see I got mine at a yard sale.

Missy says keep picking up storage a little each time you go to the store, it adds up.

Tippy Longstockings says just do the best you can, that is all we can do, this isn't a competition.