Monday, January 13, 2020

Monday Message



"The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." (President Ezra Taft Benson)   

I have stressed on here to learn skills, never ever stop learning.  Don't put off learning new skills.

For a year I have been trying to learn the sock machine. It is simple, it is basic, so why then did it take me a year??

I have two ebooks and two physical books and a manual. Why did it take a year??? All were gifts. I watched videos on YouTube...



Some of the videos showed new sock machines, lovingly called CSM for circular sock machine. Some were antique like mine and some were really different kinds. I even caught a snippet on our public TV channel, it was neat to see but didn't show but how they seemed to do them with ease.

I learned how to take it apart, clean, and oil it. Was it scary? You bet. I took notes, one video showed doing this and even though her machine was way different it gave me the courage to do it. It helped but still I could not get it to work. I traded out all the needles, it helped but still nope. I used yarn that was in the box with it. They had wound it into a ball. When I used it things were bad. I had no idea how long the yarn had been in that ball so it had lost it's elasticity. I pitched it and used something I had. Did it help? Yes, but it still wasn't working like everyone showed in videos...so I kept working.

Recently I got this cold flu that I still have and didn't feel up to reading so I rested and decided to find more YouTube videos on the CSM, so I found things I hadn't before found. From two different ones I learned two key things (to me anyway). I knew the tension eluded me and I had been trying to find info on it.

This one video she said it so fast I almost did not get it and had to watch it again. She said to make sure you have good tension to and to make sure that the space between rows was no thicker than the yarn is wide... Aha! Something finally mentioned that I could use.

The other was also said in passing, I almost didn't get it at all. In that one she said to make sure your latches were oiled...nothing ever was mentioned on this. I had cleaned and oiled every part except the latches. It never ever would have occurred to me that they would be something one could oil.

So armed with these two bits of further info, I did them. Still I had two needles drop every round so I put two other needles in their stead and oiled the two latches before putting them in by the way.  And it works wonderfully no dropped stitches anywhere and runs very smoothly.

This had taken a year to learn...




This all to say if you don't get on with a skill at first keep trying. I did so much repeating that all I have learned is now well ingrained in my brain.

Now I can move on to another skill. I knew this Lady who would choose a skill like making bread. She would spend a whole year to learn to make bread then move on to another skill.  

I would like you to sit and make a list of important skills to learn.

Here is a list of the important ones I would make....




1.  Learn to make bread by hand first then use machines. Once you learn by hand that knowledge never leaves you. Equal to this is storing flour (all purpose), vital wheat gluten to go with, then wheat berries (this is when you make sure you have a wheat grinder), and also the bread pans. 

My pans of choice are not the the big meatloaf pans. If the pan is very wide the loaf does not go as high. If you only have those then make two small loaves and put them in the pan like this = for more normal-size looking bread. Yes, you can get new bread pans but haunt thrift stores while you can. Talk to relatives to see if they have any. Having extra pans is good too. My favorite pans I got at yard sales for 10 cents each. I even found a Pullman pan at a thrift store that makes bread like you find in the store with flat sides. If this is what it takes to get your kids to eat it then go for it.  

I also find that as soon as it is cool, I slice the whole thing. Best is to use an electric knife but if all you have is a bread knife then slice it all at once. This keeps the bread from future crumbling when you try to cut it. In summer months I freeze half the slices as there are just the two of us.

1a.  Store all purpose flour in bulk, one five gallon bucket a month if you bake all your needs and wants a month. I put flour in the bucket and put three bay leaves on top of the flour, put the lid on and date it, then rotate it oldest first used.

What you need...

vital wheat gluten in bulk
oil and shortening
sugar, honey, molasses and salt
wheat berries in bulk 
oats in bulk
powdered milk
yeast (get it like at a Sam's club) get no less then eight, freeze these but one can go in jar in refrigerator

Then store stuff for on it... jams and jellies, peanut butter, butter, 
cinnamon, raisins and nuts.

This would be my first to work on.

2.  Learn to cook from scratch, that means most everything, this has some items in number one but you will need sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey and molasses.

Easy enough, now you can even make your own powdered sugar by putting in the blender. Brown sugar can be made by mixing sugar and molasses a little at a time till it's where you like it.
Baking cocoa, raisins, chocolate chips, baking soda, baking powder, salt... these are items that would be in number one

2a.  Learn to make cakes, cookies and bar cookies and pies with the above ingredients. Here you would need cookie sheets, cake pans, pie tins.

3.  Meal cooking from scratch. Some pans can be used from one and two but you want a frying pan, dutch oven type pan, and sauce pans, you can also find cast iron pans from thrift stores.

While the newest flash in a pan item is out there you can buy used,
I would add a crockpot to this list plus utensils needed to cook from scratch. You probably have all you need in this department

3a.  Physical cookbooks, plus I believe we need a good library of lots of books, books for light reading and how-to books are great to have on hand.

3b.  Now is where your recipe file comes in. Look at the foods you eat a lot of, hamburger, for instance. I suggest canning some and freezing some. I will give you an idea. For example, you have spaghetti one time a week which takes one lb spaghetti noodles and one can of spaghetti sauce and one package hamburger you would need at least 52 packages of noodles and 52 jars of spaghetti sauce...this is the formula.

http://allaboutfoodstorage.com/wp-content/uploads/Everything-Made-Simple.pdf

https://www.theideadoor.com/home-family-resources/self-reliance/food-storage/everything-under-the-sun-fireside/

http://igetready.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/EVERYTHING-UNDER-THE-SUN.pdf - if you can print this it is getting very hard to find but is the best thing out on this.

Storing the basic ingredients lets you do so much more.

Remember spices, you can find them in bulk.

You already know storage items to have on hand...

Pressure canner, water bath canner, and jar lifter.



jars
new lids




vacuum sealer with large canister and jar toppers, keep used canning lids for use in vacuum sealing
wheat grinder 
dehydrator
bread machine, used but not to bake and you need to know how by hand
Learn how to use them
get a sewing machine and supplies
learn to grow food
These are skills and equipment to get... find them used if you can

Skills can also be broke down, like making noodles from scratch.




Make pizza dough from scratch then learn how to make the sauce and then can it.
Canning meats is easy and so helpful.
Learn to make gravy without a packet.
Learn to make mac and cheese without the box.






Learn to grow herbs then learn how to dry them.
We need to be frugal...use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
So haunt the thrift stores for things I have mentioned and knitting supplies, crochet supplies, sewing supplies, also garden tools, just start collecting.




I am sure I have left out stuff but this is to give you ideas. 

When I hunt at thrift stores (it doesn't happen much any more) but I had always done it with an idea of what I needed. One day I was looking for needed items and found a manual pasta maker could be useful. In my cart it went so be flexible. If you see an oil lamp which might not have been on your list, put it in your cart. Be on the lookout for a dehydrator, pressure canner, vacuum sealer, bread machine, so this is the challenge for 2020.

You can do these things just don't let the shiny things distract you because you have goals and are on a mission. Tell us what things you have found and what skills you are learning in the comments.  

12 comments:

  1. I love your articles. I have learned to water bath can but I'm still working up the nerve to pressure can. That is my goal for the year.

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    1. once you do it you will chuckle how easy it is nothing to be afraid of the easiest thing ever is chicken breast I just drop in my clean jars wipe rims afix the lids put them in canner do not add water to jars but add about three qts water to pressure canner find out pressure and time for your area then do a chore in kitchen while you watch on my canner I leave petcock up so when steam starts I put it down if you have one with wt don't put wt on till steam comes out when it gets to right temp you watch it closely or if wt you listen to the jiggles

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  2. HI BECKY: LA ECONOMIA DE MI PAIS ES TAN MALA, QUE NOS TENEMOS QUE ARREGLAR CON POCO, TRATAMOS DE COMER SIMPLE Y HASTA ESO ES CARO, NO ES FACIL MANTENER UNA CASA CON NIÑOS HAMBRIENTOS, PERO DIOS ES FIEL, NUNCA FALTA EL PAN EN LA MESA, VESTIMNOS MUY MODESTAMENTE, SOLO USO FALDAS, NOS REGALAN ROPA Y LA ARREGLO O RECICLO PARA QUE OTRO LA PUEDA USAR, SE COSER A MAQUINA, ME REGALARON UNA A PEDAL QUE FUNCIONA MUY BIEN, LA HEREDE DE UNA TIA DE MI ESPOSO QUE FALLECIO HACE 2 AÑOS, ELLA TENIA 82 AÑOS. ACTUALMENTE, ESTOY TEJIENDO BOLSOS DE HILO Y LANA, HACIENDO BOLSAS DE TELA, LA QUE PUEDES PONER PINZAS PARA LA ROPA, ALGODON, ROLLOS DE PAPEL ECT, TAMBIEN NO TIRO LOS FRASCOS DE VIDRIO, YA QUE LOS DECORO CON FLORES HECHAS CON RETAZOS DE TELAS Y LES TEJO UN SOMBRERITO AL CROCHET, SON UTILES PARA GUARDAR BOTONES, AHUJAS, MONEDAS ECT. Y APARTE DECORAN, HAGO TODAS ESTAS COSAS PARA VENDERLAS, PARA PODER TENER ALGUNOS INGRESOS EXTRAS PARA LA FAMILIA, MI ESPOSO TRABAJA EN CASA ARREGLANDO AUTOS, PERO NO HAY MUCHO TRABAJO, EL POBRE YA ESTA CANSADO, QUIERE RETIRARSE PERO TODAVIA NO SE PUEDE, ESPERO DIOS MEDIANTE, PUEDA VENDER MIS CREACIONES. ¿PUEDES USAR EL TRADUCTOR GOOGLE? ASI PODRAS ENTENDER MI MENSAJE. BENDICIIONES.

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    1. I know it is hard we too have very small income....what I have most was gifts like the looms and sock machine my sister gave me bless her heart she has given me much other things are from yard sales and thrift stores over many years I haven't done much of that as our income has shrunk but back when it was better I could get supplies for very little now they want way too much. I am glad I thought ahead at the time I too have used clothes I either remake or sew them. I feel times will be getting harder so I have been trying to encourage people to be stocking up on food and such...over our married life I have been learning many skills that has helped up stretch what we do have....and it really blesses us now. I do mending for people who need it but it isn't a lot I just don't turn it down....this is why I tell others to learn to sew because when we have needed it someone needs a mend job. Blessings from paying tithing for sure.

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  3. Dear Becky,
    The skill I am currently learning is hand knitting socks. I have a low income also, but some ladies at my knitting group have been very generous in giving me some of the sock yarn they have culled from their stashes. Kindness and helping each other goes a long way. God bless you and your husband. Your writings have me thinking about things I need to do to fill my pantry as well as work on my skills.
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage
    Southwest Missouri

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    1. wonderful it is good to share and be blessed good job

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  4. Just a suggestion. Now that you have mastered the elusive sock machine, maybe you could gift your experience by making your own video with you new knowledge and methods of trouble shooting. You can't be the only one out there frustrated.I didn't even now there was such a machine until you showed us yours.
    I have skills with canning, sewing, and baking. I'm a poor gardener. Maybe because I leave the husband in charge of watering? Some of my skills are rusty and need to be refreshed. My Mother gets canning lids from me on her birthday &/or Mother's Day. At 78 she doesn't want more "stuff" and is thrilled to have them. She is only willing to use brand names as she has had poor luck with generic/off brands lids.
    Sheila
    Michigan

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    1. A great idea would have to see if with limited tech knowledge but see what we could try

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  5. Wonderful, you did it! I am so proud of you. I would love to learn that.

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  6. Becky, I love you Monday Messages and have been fascinated to hear about your struggles and progress with the sock machine. I'd never heard of such a thing before you mentioned it, and even with all you pictures I couldn't see how it worked. Then, just yesterday, there was a programme on TV where a lady was demonstrating one in a museum display! They not only had the machine operating but were using it to produce pure wool socks which they sold in the gift-shop. They said it took about 2 hours to produce either one or two socks - it wasn't quite clear which - but even if it was 2 hours per sock that's a very efficient way to do them. They looked very nice in multicoloured wool, though it didn't say how much they sold for. Now I can't help thinking I'd like to try it myself. Pat.

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    1. it took a whole year but i now feel confident in the next few blogs you will see how i use the sock tube i still want to do the cuff heels and toes myself maybe some day i will want to do them on the machine but i never wanted to always wanted to do the tube and go from there i have everything to do it but for now i love hand knitting and want to do those parts by hand i think that is cool they do that and then sell them they are neat machines

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