Monday, May 27, 2019

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)

You can't look at what is going on today and not be a bit concerned.
The flooding continues all along the Mississippi. The weather patterns are crazy. The tariff troubles - a million people could lose their jobs and prices will go up...I think we might be in for some bumps.

It could be there are things we cannot see coming along as well.

Our house insurance company is moving out of Iowa this follows our health insurance that already pulled out.

It would be prudent to be prepared.

If you do not know how to garden you might want to learn that.

Put yourself in the position of those that will be losing their jobs.  What would you do? What will you wish you had stored? What will you have wished you had learned? How would you manage? What could you live without? I used to think I would do okay but I have to have_____ (fill in the blank) until I had to do without it, this happened several times. Each time I was amazed how I could do without it. So give this some thought.

Ponder these things.

Can you...

Grow sprouts?  
Do you even have the seeds to do so?  
Did you know you can and should vacuum seal these seeds or they will not work in time? 
Do you have a sealer?  
Did you know if you have the tall canister you can seal any jar that has a lid with that rubber inside the rim? Most everything has that now and you can use your canning jars for canning.  



Mend your family's clothing? Do you have what it takes to do it?
I noticed buttons will be a tariff item...do you have some on hand with thread and needles and scissors?



Can you make pancakes from scratch? Do you have those items in storage?  
What about making bread? Do you have the ingredients on hand?  Did you know you can make pancakes or waffles from these ingredients?

When we first moved back to Iowa we had no stove. I made french toast in the waffle iron. We called them eggy waffles. It is surprising how we can adapt.

Do you have food on hand like canned meats, fruit, and veggies?
Do you have wheat to make bread or flour?  
What could you put on that bread?  
Do you have peanut butter and jam?






Do you know how to preserve your food? i.e. can your food, dehydrate food, etc?  
Do you have the equipment to do so?





Having a full working storage is more than just having food, it is about equipment, clothing, skills and supplies...ponder which areas you need to improve.

Are you practicing better budgeting to handle higher prices?

Even if nothing goes bad you would do well to prepare and with yard sale season soon here you can watch for these items or ask on your neighborhood groups if anyone has what you are looking for.


https://salvageandstitch.com/2017/11/13/diy-underwear-tutorial-from-a-t-shirt - this shows how to make a pattern from your own underwear.

I saw a YouTube video where the husband sewed his wife and daughters' underwear from t-shirts. 




I just wanted you to see with a little sewing skill you can make useful items.





I have given some very basic ways to knit and crochet helpful items that you can learn to make on a beginner's level.

I think getting back to basics will be helpful.
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Monday, May 20, 2019

Monday Message


"Decide as a family that there will be no vacation or holiday next year unless you have your year’s supply. Many Church members could buy a full year’s supply of the basics from what they would save by not taking a vacation. Take the vacation time and work on a family garden. Be together, and it can be just as much fun."
(Vaughn J. Featherston)

 It is almost planting time, are you going to have a garden?

 There still is much flooding going on in eastern Iowa. It seems there is no end to the trials all around the world. We need to be ready to help each other...there is no shortage of need. We may not be able to do huge things but we can do what we can to help, even a smile and prayers can help if we can do nothing else.

 I have still been spring cleaning a bit and organizing as I go. I have always believed having something you like to collect is a good thing but as I have been going through clearing out with this spring cleaning I might be rethinking the collecting thing. I think I collected too many things. Yes, collecting is fun but is hard to clear out. During this time I saw a commercial for a show, this lady had such a huge collection she needed to buy another house just to house it. Just how much is too much? Well, I know my clearing out will help others who are going through a hard time and that kept me going.

 How are you coming with your skill building?

 Mary Ann shared this link with us...

 https://knitfreedom.com/?fbclid=IwAR3-RnEsxZISuUYIjedQudv4hywd8llRi1ceu_BXyqdrDDhoHzDeHtjVenM   

 It is a great site if you knit or if you want to learn.  

 I have been working on knitting up a skein of sock yarn. I only had one skein of this and want to see how long of a sock tube I get.  

Then once I get close to the other end I will do ten rows of ribbing and bind off. I plan to do the afterthought everything socks. I will pick gray or blue and do the heels and toes.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNVKoPw0lcU - here she will show you how I will do it.

 This will prepare me to using my sock machine to do the same thing...

I will crank out a sock tube that will be like the one I showed above then I'll repeat the same procedure. This is a skill I have been teaching myself.

 The sock machine will do ribbing heels and toes using these parts...

Maybe down the road I will want to do that but I really want to crank tubes and do the afterthought everything socks.

At the same time I am trying to learn to spin thinner to make my own sock yarn because over the last few years sock yarn has skyrocketed in price.

Along those lines I have been watching this gal's podcast. This one happens to be her dying cotton crochet thread which it just happens to be like I use in one of my favorite bobbin lace bookmark...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0543_HU25JY&t=1411s  

I'd like to learn more on dying my own fiber. I also have been gathering things I had on hand to use for dedicated dye equipment like separate pans, a salad spinner, rubber gloves, plastic measuring spoons and stir spoons tongs, scale and dye and such.

I have my fleece for spinning all on this shelf waiting to be dyed or spun.

With most of the spring cleaning done I have been able to do a little weaving as well.

This is a bobbin lace bookmark I made for part of a gift. I am still learning and probably always will be. I knew I would like to learn bobbin lace I just never expected to love it so much.

 What skills are you working on?

 Keep looking for sales to stock up as you can.
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Monday, May 13, 2019

Monday Message



“A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life.” (Bishop Keith B. McMullin)

 This is why I stress so much on here to gather storage, live frugally, and learn new skills. It’s a way of life!

 I finally finished the spring cleaning. This was a tough one for sure as I did a lot of clearing out to give to the humanitarian yard sale. It was good that it all worked out to be the same time. A good thing to do.  As I went through my things I organized as well which was probably why it took so long.

 Now I am ready to get back to learning and working on some projects that I put on hold until I was done.


https://www.littlehouseliving.com/meal-planning - she has many things in this area so look around, meal planning can help you live more frugally.

 https://www.frugalfarmwife.com/article/how-to-be-frugal/ - she has a short article here.

 https://www.busybloggingmom.com/live-frugally/ - she has some great ideas.

 Sometimes reading tips like in the sites above will help spur ideas. What frugal ideas do you have?

 https://diyjoy.com/homemade-cleaners-recipes/ - here are some homemade cleaners.

 I like using this recipe instead of dryer sheets - In a small spray bottle place 3 Tbsps of your favorite cream rinse you use on your hair then fill the rest with water. Shake well before using then spray on a washcloth and throw in with a load in the dryer.

 For years I have used baking soda to clean the stove top.

 For slow drains I use 3 Tbsps of baking soda, then I pour in a third of a cup of vinegar, then I pour boiling water  down. If it’s still slow just repeat the process. This saves money and keeps chemicals away too.


Making washcloths from old towels is a frugal thing indeed.

 Every little bit we do adds up and helps us to become a bit more self-reliant.

 Something else I do is knit dishcloths, crocheting too is good. They are better than regular dishcloths but once you use them they will be your favorite. I have gotten the cotton yarn from sales so they are frugal as well as relaxing to make.

 Keep working on your storage and building skills and finding frugal things.
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Monday, May 6, 2019

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 have everything we need right here, we either haven't found it yet or it's a combination of not having tried yet.

 We have so many blessings.

 There is so much turmoil in the world. We need to help wherever we can. As I keep saying, there is no shortage of people who need help. So look around you and see what you can do for others.

 Here in Iowa you can plant your gardens after May 15. However, I have seen frost after that time a few times in the past. I always watch the weather and get an idea of the temps. This year I thought I would plant a few tomatoes in containers and maybe a jalapeno pepper as well.

 What are your gardening plans this year?

 I am still spring cleaning but I am also still learning...

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPgkVoVypyU&feature=youtu.be - this is a great technique to know how to do, especially with the sock machine but I do love working by hand and definitely on car trips.

I knit this sock yarn on a trip to Nauvoo Illinois when I wasn't driving

This is the beginning of doing the afterthought everything sock like in the video. When I am done spring cleaning I will be cranking a sock tube to do the afterthought everything socks that way as well.

 What new thing are you learning?

 I do have to mention we did see flooding on our way by the Mississippi which makes me think again will the farmers get into the fields?

 https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/free-t-shirt-sewing-patterns.html  - this site has many free t-shirt patterns if you are wanting to work on your sewing skills.

Whatever sewing machine you have, read the manual from front to back. Then do swatches of everything the machine will do. This helps you to know your machine.


I put my pages in a binder that I keep by my sewing machine.

 Sewing is a great skill well worth building. Your machine might be a basic machine and that is okay. Learn it up and down, also learn how to clean and oil it.

 This would be a good project to do with all your appliances, we should know all they are able to do.

 Build a binder of all the manuals to all the items you have. It is handy to have them all together...you won't have to look for them as they will be in the binder.

 Keep working on your skills and on your storage and things you can do to be more frugal.
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