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)

We are still hot here, just waiting for cooler fall weather.

It is harvesting time here for sure. Last week was rhubarb - this week, tomatoes. Our neighbor gave us peaches from his trees. Ours had no peaches this year.

They aren't quite ripe but soon they will be. I will do jam with some of them for sure...yum!

I also worked on tomatoes.

The tomatoes refused to wait for cooler weather so today I got all the ripe ones sliced and in the dehydrator.

I also got my annual ear infections - both ears, boo :( Whatever is my allergy outside creates this for me - not a fan.

Happy to report though that the basement continues to stay dry even though we have had storms. That is a great thing in my book.

I have froze chopped green peppers and jalapeno peppers are in the freezer as well. How I do those is I pop off the stem end, wash and freeze. And when I need one, I take it out, cut it frozen, and this works for what I need. Plus, with all the recalls going on right now, I am happy to have my own safe ones. I always say poverty has its perks. Poverty has saved us from many a nasty sickness.

I plan to take the tomatoes I am drying and turning them into tomato powder - a very nice thing to have on hand.

We still have plenty of tomatoes and salsa and pizza sauce, so powder is what I plan for this year.

What are you harvesting right now?? Let us know in the comment section below.

I know everyone is getting ready for kids to head back to school...so you are busy for sure. Remember the thrift stores for clothing, backpacks, even school supplies and also winter gear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDxj0zrGdf0 - this gal is very helpful on dehydrating. If you need information, go to her channel and just click on the purposeful pantry under the video, then hit videos, and there are so many helpful things.

https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/make-jam-jelly/jams-jellies-general-information/general-information-on-canning-jams-jellies-and-marmalades/ - this is a great place to start when you want to learn to make jams and jelly. I always think that learning to do jam is the best place to start your canning journey.

https://extension.umn.edu/cooking-home/food-preservation - here is a helpful site for preserving food.

If I can give you only one tip on canning it would be to follow sites that are teaching the right way to can, like the ones I've put in here. In some videos, people just doing willy-nilly things they say they have been doing without fail and some say they are canning rebels - do not follow these people!! You need to can safely and properly.

At best, it costs a lot in time and hard work and money to just throw it out the window, at worst, it makes your family sick or can cause death because of not following professionals. I say call your county extension service to get accurate up-to-date canning times and pressure.

I think keeping a journal of what you can is good idea too.

Ask family members if they have jars, if they are done canning, also put out the word you are looking for free canning jars. That has helped me in the past.

The prices of groceries are continuing to rise. Putting up your own food is a great way to save.

Winter will be here before you know it (and I will be complaining of the cold instead of the heat) but prepare for it while you can, get or grow produce cheaper.

Continue to haunt those thrift stores for needed items - look at sheets as well for fabric. Going to thrift stores is a huge savings compared to new prices. It isn't just groceries that are going up.

Missy says that getting things ahead for storage should not just be done when hard times are on you but in good times too when money is more - that is best time to stock for when hard times come. So don't wait - prepare all along the way!

Tippy Longstockings says forgo going out and use that money to put things in storage - you will be glad you did!

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Monday Message

"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through the home production and storage, but others as well." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

This week, I have still been reorganizing my storeroom which has fabric, yarn, my fiber that I spin, our games and puzzles, the dehydrator, empty jars, etc. I got that done then retweaked it. In my mind, I would love to put my sewing room in there but haven't figured out a way, so in the back of my brain I am working on it. Though it is all good where it is. Leave well enough alone, right? But still my brain works on it.

We have a break in the hot weather today and tomorrow. So I will need to get stuff ready for six days of heat. Seems that is the pattern for now.

I made this form of ice cream sandwiches...

Puddingwiches 

1 1/2 cup peanut butter DIVIDED

3 c. Cold milk DIVIDED - I used cold powdered milk (already mixed with water)

2 c. Cool whip DIVIDED

1 small package vanilla instant pudding

1 small package chocolate instant pudding

One and a half boxes graham crackers

Foil line two 9x13 pans

Mix one set of divided ingredients together with the instant vanilla pudding mix and spread in one pan.

Mix the rest of divided ingredients with chocolate instant pudding mix and spread in other pan.

Freeze

Then I cut mine to fit each one on the half of the graham cracker and the other to fit the other side, like in the picture. Or you could stack the slabs on top of each other and cut to fit half the graham cracker.

Either way or do all plain, all chocolate and all vanilla - suit yourself but they are yummy!

Having something cold on a hot day is sooooo nice.

Prices were up yet again! I do not know how families are doing it. I don't know how anyone is doing it. I don't know how we are doing it but yet we all push through, right?

Everything I see or read says they will continue to go up.

We had old apples left before I got groceries this time, so I made apple rings and put them in water with some lemon juice then into the dehydrator they went. These I will use in winter to put in oatmeal. I also put in sourdough discard on sheets to dry. When they are dry, I will put them through the blender and into a jar. This then can be used for starting a starter if I should lose mine some how and can be given as gifts for others who want to start sourdough. 

Also, I am picking tomatoes just as they start to turn to get them before bugs and critters get them. I will be slicing and drying those this year. So far I have almost picked a bushel.

How are your gardens doing? My tomatoes have never been this big! I would get one this big occasionally but most all of them are big. Maybe has to do with those flooding rains??

Our phlox are doing well and spreading and look fantastic this year!

I am still weaving when I can. It is coming along nicely.

https://extension.usu.edu/preserve-the-harvest/files/Food-Storage-Booklet.pdf - here is a helpful booklet on storage.

https://sarahscucinabella.com/2020/02/27/a-guide-to-food-storage-basics/

https://diyjoy.com/sewing-projects-diy-gift-ideas/ - school has probably started and soon you will turn your attention towards making gifts for the holidays. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWsDzesoMcA - this gal is doing a great job teaching you how to make your clothing that you have now into patterns. She's very good teacher.

https://www.pinterest.com/rachris/homemade-gifts/ - lets make homemade gifts this year.

https://www.youtube.com/@RobynOnTheFarm - this gal makes all kinds of fabulous breads. In each, there is a tutorial she will guide you through and is very good.

I think it's time to start learning to make bread and she is a great place to start, you can even make biscuits.

Keep working at your storage to save money with prices continuing to go up.

I know everyone is busy with back to school for now, so I wanted to make this short and sweet so you can still feel inspired as you are collecting all those lists of supplies. When supplies go on sale, if you can, get some for someone you know who is struggling as a care package. I am sure it would be appreciated - these are hard times.

Missy says be kind, even it you meet someone grouchy - say a prayer for them and be kind. So many are having hard times.

Tippy Longstockings says work on those skills and find time for yourselves.

Monday Message

"Our bishops storehouses are not intended to stock enough commodities to care for all the members of the Church. Storehouses are only established to care for the poor and the needy. For this reason, members of the Church have been instructed to personally store a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel. By following this counsel, most members will be prepared and able to care for themselves and their family members, and be able to share with others as may be needed." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

This last week we had extreme heat. I prepared for this by making up meals that I could just heat in the microwave and not heat up the house. It was extra work for a few days but so helpful to have meals when we had heat index of 115 degrees. I would like that to not come again.

I used the indoor time by cleaning and organizing a couple closets.     

How are you coming with skill building?                 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCU5mDiVbzQ - this shows how easy it is to make underwear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Xm2v5E_Wc - this looks so nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxUEJa6MmCI - she shows how to make a pattern from ready made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYPWHsgVAg - she also shows this.

https://thecraftymummy.com/2012/10/fabric-scrap-bookmarks/ - this would be a great project to do with your kids, also would be a nice teacher gift.

Keep working on your storage, every little bit will help you. Put up any produce you get for winter. I hate to keep saying this but they are still saying prices will continue to rise.

Tippy Longstockings say NO MORE on rising prices!

Also, be looking for things at thrift stores. Don't forget to plug in any electric items to be sure they work. Hit the yard sales (ask to plug in stuff there too). Be sure to check out the free boxes if they have them - sometimes there are clothes you could fix or remake.

Always - Always! have a running list. 

This will get you started...

School clothes

Winter coats, boots, mittens, hats, scarves

Vacuum sealer

Dehydrator 

Canner

Jars and supplies for canning

Things for Christmas gifts

Sewing machine if you need one

Sewing supplies

Patterns

Iron if you don't have one

Fabric and sheets to use for fabric

Knitting supplies

Crochet supplies

Yarn

 Things for sending sack lunch meals

Oil lamps

Emergency supplies like flash lights, candles, etc.

Shovels for snow removal

Gardening tools. Remember, I told you about our wheelbarrow needing a tire which would have cost us and when we were yardsaling we found a free wheelbarrow that was no good but the tire was and now we have a working wheelbarrow again. Keep an eye out for free things you can use that people set out. We set things out too and stick a free sign on them. It helps keep them out of landfills.

Add to this list of things you are looking for.

These things help a lot.

I know things are hard - believe me I know.! We will get through these times. Yes, we will have to work a little harder. We even may have to create some Franken-pumps like we had to do during the flooding.  But we can do hard things! Also, help others because we are all in this and it is the right thing to do. Even a kind smile will encourage someone who needs it.

Put together clothing exchanges where people can bring and take. You might need children's clothes in a size that someone else needs to get rid of. Now with market pages everyone can get together and do that. Meet at a park, take a blanket to set the stuff out on and have one huge FREE yard sale sort of thing! Fun!

It is time to be as thrifty as we can be.

Missy says we need to all look out for each other be kind to each other.

Tippy Longstockings says we should never ever judge others, just be kind, we don't know what others are going through.

Monday Message

"Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. We could refer to all the components of personal and family preparedness, not in relation to holocaust or disaster, but in cultivating a life-style that is on a day-to-day basis its own reward." (President Spencer W. Kimball)

Well a busy time for us still. We had the water come in July 2, 3, and 4, and now I can add July 20 to that as well. We had another storm last night on the 20th and heavy rain which overtook the sump pump. Once again, we got two inches of water in the basement. This wasn't as bad as the last one, not as deep for one thing, and the other is that took many days to clean up. Plus, I've put many things up higher.

It has been costly. The pump that was overtaken this time was brand-new. Today, we've had to do many things to fix it but in the end we had to get another pump. We then try to have two in the pit of the basement, if it comes to this again. Hopefully, it won't. I am tired of this game.

But we push through.

These little emergencies are why food storage is important. It helps us be able to buy these pumps - all three of them!  

Tippy Longstockings is horrified at the rising prices!

Gas prices are going up again. Food prices are going up still.

How are you managing through these life emergencies?

They will always be there. We will all get through them but having storage makes the rough places not so rough.

We, of course, are planning for a future that may keep having these stronger storms.

I will tell you this makes two Fourth of July events, so we make plans and prep. We prepare for the worse and are hoping for the best.

Tippy Longstockings is praying that pattern stops.

I will continue to get things higher in the basement, higher than I currently have as one prep. One other thing I have done is now having a chair for each of us for when we go down in tornado warnings - no more getting a bucket to sit on.

The garden got beat down a bit but is doing well so that is good. I hope your gardens are doing well too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQqHIs8PPlo - this lady takes you through her storage, it is so different for everyone. She said store what you eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Xm2v5E_Wc - this is a cute way to refashion a shirt without a pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hveYgv16oHk - time to be thinking about Christmas. This is a beginner project that looks fantastic!

How are you coming on your skill-building? I guess I am meant to build skills on water invasions hmm..

Tippy Longstockings and Missy both say they are trying to learn all they can from books!

Missy and Tippy Longstockings say...

Make sure you get plenty to eat and plenty of rest especially in stressful times!

Sometimes we feel like it is all too much.

But you can always turn to a friend...

Just know we are all pushing through the trials here at our house.

Missy says to please keep working on skill-building, maybe pick something more fun than moving water.

Tippy Longstockings says remember to take breaks!

All of us are hoping you all are well and happy!

Monday Message

"Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own." (Ezra Taft Benson)

This week finds me still working in the basement. It could have been so much worse, so I am thankful it wasn't.

Even in a flood event, I am still thankful I have food storage. This has been a rough few months and food storage has really helped. I will never be sorry I stored food.

Our little apple tree - I planted it and another a few years ago, one grew big, one did not, though they were planted at the same time. I was talking sternly to short-one saying, look at this one - what are you doing?? Well it has two nice apples on it so now I ask the tall-one, what are you doing?? So take time to plant fruit trees if you are able and things that will grow back every year. This helps to supply you with food for years.

I planted apple seeds and they grew and they will be trees too so if you don't have money to buy an apple tree, plant the seeds in your apples you are eating. I buried the peach pits last year and now have peach trees growing. The same year I planted those trees I was scolding, I planted two plum trees. One this year never put out leaves. I was sad to think I would lose it but was holding off cutting it down. We just cut it down this last week because I noticed it had put out babies so they are growing fast.

Do what you can to plant future food. You know I planted those strawberry seeds and they are still doing wonderful. If you missed how to get the seed refer to this post from a few blogs back.

Our weather is hot again but it is cool in the basement so that makes cleaning it up not so bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZi6O6_FYE - I thought you would enjoy seeing how someone other than me does food storage on a budget.

The books she shows... Stocking Up and Make Your Own Groceries and More Make Your Own Groceries are great books. I suggest getting them through your library.

I have been too busy to get to my dresses I have cut out. But while dealing with my sheets I have to make rugs from on the rug loom, I found one I may want to make a dress from down the road. I have all the sheets dried and tended. They are bagged but not wanting a repeat event, I put wood on the fifty gallon barrels and stacked the bags on those and they will not be low enough to get wet again. I hope it never gets that high.

When you are faced with something that seems way too huge to tackle, remember how I did it... just start and do as you can to move forward. Where I am at this point: I now do an hour a day down in the basement. It doesn't seem so bad if you only take it in chunks like that. If I felt up to more I can always keep working but doing an hour a day isn't so bad.

I have been working on the little loom each day as well.

It is very pretty. I am enjoying it. When I am worn out, it is soothing to work on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_09cPiwMak - this lady does her research.

I hope you are working on your storage and skill building.

It is time to give some thought to Christmas gifts....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a746-1lVKwo - great idea for gift-giving.

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/gifts/g33416427/diy-christmas-gifts/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_d_bm_prog_org_us_g33416427&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15358799983&gbraid=0AAAAABxutSrGXFN1F1Qo-278qclF_Zr6i&gclid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCd75igWTgj2EYEnjcrdwWSAHHM_LyErrW1q4r9cr-rZGr3CLunAI9BoCY1YQAvD_BwE

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g645/crafty-christmas-presents-ideas/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_clv_md_pmx_prog_org_us_18459994477&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18456255285&gbraid=0AAAAACq-IruEjaIW9vOGFmV2DN73CTjak&gclid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCfLxoxgEciXuEsm-EGut8mxareTJnTcqM14BKXVZdP_bMi_pfBNluxoCXdgQAvD_BwE

https://www.pinterest.com/cultofmoney1/cheap-christmas-gifts/

Missy says keep working on your storage and building skills and showing kindness to others - we can do these things!

Tippy Longstockings says she wants to encourage you. She says you are doing a terrific job! She wants to pat you on the back.

Monday Message

"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through the home production and storage, but others as well." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

Well, this is two weeks ago when you will be reading this... The second we took on water from heavy rain, we were pumping it out when my sister came for a visit. In the night of July 3rd, I was awake and thought, oh no, more rain that was heavy. At 1:25 a.m. I got up to check the basement floor. It had dried nicely so I went back to bed. I still couldn't sleep and rain kept going hard so at 3 a.m. I went to look again and water was again coming in. I woke my husband to turn on the extra pump which he did. I fell asleep but woke early to go look but my sister had already looked. It was really bad. She said she heard noises of things falling in the basement. 

We had 18 inches of water so we added a third pump but it was not running well. My sister had to be places on the fourth and my husband decided to go get another pump. I manned the pump that wasn't doing well - it would run for three minutes then I would unplug it to cool it down for three minutes, then repeat - three on, three off... This went on till my husband was home and we put in the new pump (now there were four pumps). 

It was now one in the afternoon and I measured 21.5 inches of water, so it was gaining on me even though I kept at it - three on three off. This pump worked all day and night and in the morning my husband put it in the sump basin so we could start the very very long and hard work of clean up. 

Come to find out the first night we had ten inches of rain in a short time span, second night 5.5 more inches in a short time so in total 15.5 inches fell. It has been three days since then and still water fills the basin fast. Fortunately, what we got is only ground water. For so many other it was sewage, eeew, that is way worse! And this was hard. When my husband was picking up the new pump, they said that they had to send someone an hour and a half away to get sump pumps.

Under basement stairs, I stored sheets in garbage bags for making rugs on my loom and towels too for rugs. Can I just say those were soooooo heavy to get out as they were wet and at that I had to break them up into four bags each just so I could carry out that - it took all day yesterday. 

This morning we were met with stacks of buckets that tilted across the walk way, I wasn't planning to do buckets till tomorrow. But that went to the front of the line. We were able to move them off and found the wood had failed. So we took off the wet wood and put on two by fours and restacked the buckets then I dried cans as best I could and stacked them in plastic tubs - this took all day.

Fans are working overtime down there now.

While husband was getting the pump, the water took out the internet and phones and water heater and furnace motherboard, so no air conditioning and it was very hot those days.

That was the third and now it's the eighth. We're still working hard but at least the air is now on and the two fans we were using can now help in the basement.

It is a lot harder now that I am seventy than it was when I was younger to pick up such a mess.

This was the worst amount of rain I have ever seen.

And now on the eighth, we are trying to dry out and just now another flood watch has been sent out. 

I complained of no rain but now I complain it's too much rain. I feel like that book "Too Much Noise" that we used to read the kids

I tell you that you can be prepared and still troubles happen. You can only do the best that you can.  Having had issues in the past, I made sure things were above the four inches - like my old buckets of beans were saved to be under buckets so four inches plus the buckets high and yet the water went higher. So we can only do the best we can and hope for the best.

I am thankful the internet and phones are back on and thankful water heater was fine and on, but most of all I really like having air back on.

Not looking forward to more water coming, the ground water levels are already high.

We are working to fix sump pumps and it's not easy going.

We have things out front and back draped over to dry.

When we thought we had only a little water and was pumping it out, my sister showed me a pattern. I had already warped the little loom so was ready... it looks very pretty.

Keep building your storage, keep making preps and building your skills.

Missy says trials come to us all, having storage helps us to weather the storms. Even if some of it gets compromised, she is sure glad we put those buckets of old beans on the bottom as it saved a lot.

Tippy Longstockings says take care, everyone in the path of the storms, and stay safe!

Monday Message

"We encourage members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. We ask that you be wise, and do not go to extremes. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve." (All is Safely Gathered In)

We are in a bad heat wave here this week and each time we are to be done with it, they extend it another day, so now it goes through tomorrow (as you read this it will be two weeks ago).

Boy is it hot!

I can tell you what I did before it got here, as we had some notice it was coming. I did laundry and ran the dishwasher so I would not have to use it during peak times. I cooked up two pounds of hamburger and took some out for hamburger gravy. I put taco seasoning in the rest for smashed tacos and other things like soft shell tacos too, things that would only require the microwave. Also, I've been wanting to try this mac and cheese recipe. I made a double batch, we love it! I have it in the fridge and scoop out what is needed and microwave it. I chose this recipe as I had everything it took to make it and always have these things on hand...

This recipe I clipped from a magazine that I got free from library creative kids spring 2004.

Mac and Cheese (it calls to bake it I chose not to)

2 c. dry macaroni, this you cook in your water with salt like you would normally

When done, drain and add:

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour

1/8 tsp pepper

2 1/2 c. milk I used powdered milk i mixed to make amt needed

3 c. shredded American cheese - I started to shred it and gave up as my cheese was soft and just cut it into pieces

I stirred all together, heating until the cheese melted.

I doubled this to have it through the heatwave. If you have kids, this would be so easy to just heat in the microwave when needed.

I also wanted it a bit thicker so made a slurry of more flour and water till it was just right.

My husband does not like mac and cheese but loved this. It says you can add cheddar cheese to make up half the cheese but I won't be doing that as I think it is perfect just how I did it, plus, I have American cheese on hand and cheddar cost more so I save it for other things.

I also froze juice into popsicles.

I made bread up.

Chopped up a salad and had it ready to use as well.

Along that line, the lettuce I used I got from saving the bottoms and putting them in water and here is what they did. You can see my little strawberry plants are growing in the pot on the right. This works for an extra bit of lettuce, you can do this with celery as well.

I tried to do things that would not heat the house up at this time.

It has been rotten weather but we are getting through it.

I put a new project on the big loom and this shows the struggles of getting it tied on plus the yarn I am using is from that yarn haul thirty years ago.

Then I used that ball winder and used these two skeins of yarn and wound them into balls.

I measured off warp using this yarn and warped up the small loom.

So these are both ready to work on now and I will tell you lots of work went into getting these warped and to this point.

Meet Norman the squirrel eating breakfast - our youngest named all of the squirrels Norman :p

Keep building your storage - things are still going up, I find this incredible.

https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/100-frugal-fun-summer-activities/ here are some fun frugal things for the summer.

Missy says keep building your storage, prices aren't nice right now but keep at it and be kind - it is more needed now than ever.

Tippy Longstockings says keep building those skills! Vacuum seal food you have to keep it from going stale is a good skill, so is dehydrating and canning and freezing!