Monday Message

"Home storage should consist of a year’s supply of basic food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel. After this goal is reached, emergency and expanded storage is desirable.” (Barbara B. Smith)

We need to build our skills, stretch ourselves...we need to push ourselves to learn skills we do not yet have.

"More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared.” (President Ezra Taft Benson)

"My brothers and sisters, I feel our anxieties are justified. It is the opinion of many that more difficult times lie ahead. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of our people and recognize the potential privation and suffering that will exist if each person and family does not accept the word of the Lord when he says, 'Prepare every needful thing'" (D&C 88:119)  (Victor L. Brown)

"The day will come, when, as we have been told, we shall all see the necessity of making our own shoes and clothing and raising our own food.” (President Wilford Woodruff)

They knew we would be in difficult times and here we are....

Pandemic, job losses, and global calamities...they saw it coming and warned us.

We were able to pack the burn pile and it burned. A good thing we did it when we did because the wind has been blowing ever since.

Canning companies have said it'll be mid March before we see canning supplies on the shelves again.

I did stock up on lids last year but had I known I would have done a lot more.

Jars can be reused. Lids cannot be used to can again but I save them and use them in vacuum sealing.  We need to think twice before throwing stuff out.

So what happens now?? If your garden has done well and you cannot get canning supplies.....

https://food-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/dehydrate-food-without-dehydrator-0161531/#:~:text=Use%20Your%20Oven,usually%206%20to%208%20hours.

https://food-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/preserve-dry-your-own-garden-fresh-herbs-home-0148730/

You could easily make a rack of your own or look around your house, I have several of those clothes drying racks that fold flat or you can pull them and hang wet clothes to dry.

There also are foods you can dry just out on a plate...

I knew someone who strung green beans on a thread, sewing through all the ends and hung them to dry, looked like a string with green fingers hanging.

Also, do not forget about freezing...

https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/freezing/freezing-vegetables-zm0z13aszsor

https://bonnieplants.com/gardening/how-to-freeze-your-harvest/

Save your jars from items you have purchased to store your dried food in. Also, you can use them to freeze food in but remember to leave an inch or more for liquid to expand.

If you have supplies, you can of course can.

This week I made relish 14 pints, salsa 8 pints, pizza sauce 4 pints and 14 jelly jars.

It has been a busy week.

Monday Message

"As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

This makes me think of The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The winter was very harsh. When all were getting worn out, Ma pulled out something she had set back for just when they needed it and made it stretch far giving her family a bit of protein. Plus they put up whatever food they could. This is what people did back then and they are our examples, we should follow that plan too.

As our weather is now getting that snap in the air it tells us winter is coming and reminds us that we need to button things up. I have picked all we had in the garden. We disconnected the hose from the house and are getting things ready for winter.

We have still been cleaning up after derecho. We rented a backhoe to help move the huge tree trunks to the burn pile and crush the pile to help with the burning which is what it needed today. We were finally able to burn the pile of trunks and branches.

Keep picking up extra when you get your groceries. I am feeling this virus will get worse before it gets better.

https://promedica2020.wpengine.com/media/Face-Mask-Sewing-Pattern-Surgical-Mask-Craft-Passion.pdf - this is the type of mask I made for us and plan to make us more. I like them because it is tight all the way around. I saw Walmart workers at a town to our west, they had little aprons on their faces and while cute the top was snug but the rest was open and flapping on the other three sides.

Think of what you would need to have, let's say for the next four months. Like flour and yeast and oil and sugar and salt then at least you can make bread.

I was watching a podcast from the southwest, she stocked up on toilet paper that was on sale and said there was plenty and no limit but here in the center of the USA we do pick-up orders from Walmart and there is a limit of one. So different areas are seeing different limits, we still see lots of limits on other things too so think how severe things were in shortage at the beginning nine months ago and take count of what you have on hand and make a list of what you need and do the best you can.

Gus says we have to be extra safe and not wearing a mask is very dangerous.

A reminder that dehydrating veggies that are frozen is so easy because all the work has already been done! You just have to open and dump on the tray and dry.

Canning supplies are in short supply right now so dehydrate and put dried food in any jar you have like a jar from spaghetti sauce or jars from jam and jellies. Our grandmothers and great grandmothers saved everything and used everything over and over and we can too.

http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2017/08/make-your-own-mix-in-jar-kits-prepare.html - I thought you would enjoy this.

I told you last year how I saved and dried tomato skins then blended them in the blender, basically free food.

https://www.thepurposefulpantry.com/ways-to-use-tomato-powder/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=is_it_too_late_ways_to_make_and_use_tomato_powder&utm_term=2020-09-30 - here you can find how to use tomato powder.

Missy says to be safe and to bide time and to rest as well.

Gus seconds Missy's comment and again reminds you all to be safe.

Monday Message

"We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. . .I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. . .Begin in a small way, … and gradually build toward a reasonable objective." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

As you get groceries just pick up a few extra each time, you will be surprised at how fast it will add up. I like to have some canned soups on hand for when I am not feeling well they will be an easy fix.

I know that Covid-19 is hard on everyone. We never saw it come and once it did we never thought it would be such a long time. The people who know have said it could still be quite a while. So we should plan on that If it isn't, we can do a happy dance but we should still be prepared.

Start winterizing! I was going to wait a week to pick everything from the garden but with the rainy and colder temps coming I decided to do it now. For having a garden flattened in the derecho there was still a lot I gathered. We also disconnected the hose. Time to button things up for winter!

If you know someone having a hard time dealing with how we now have to stay safe, winter will make it feel even more intense staying safe, so reach out by email with a positive note like “thinking of you today.” Play scrabble online or pick a free book online at www.freereadfree.com and send the link to that person so you can read it together and then email back and forth about the book. Or if you know this person likes to crochet or knit or even sew send a link to a free pattern online. If this person likes to cook, send a recipe that is your favorite.

https://www.cheapthriftyliving.com/crafts/Low-Cost-Hobbies - here are ideas that you might not have thought of.

https://40aprons.com/hygge-ideas/ - some ideas here

https://www.yesandyes.org/2015/11/how-to-hygge.html - more ideas

https://mamainthenow.com/hygge/ - more ideas

https://simpleonpurpose.ca/simple-hygge-autumn-list/  - ideas

You can see if we have to be home, make it comfortable.

Missy has a huge head start as you can see.

They mentioned sitting by the fireplace and finding cozy things. If you have a fireplace you don't use or even no fireplace you can set a grouping of candles on a safe surface, it gives the feeling of the glow of a fireplace, you can even get flickering candles from dollar stores to be even safer if you have littles or curious pets.

So as we head into winter or any season, these ideas will help us to make staying home a wonderful thing.  Of course, pick out the ideas that you could safely do while we are still in pandemic. Also, share any ideas you choose with us in the comments.

Gus said be sure to wear your masks and social distance and wash your hands or paws!

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)

We are moving into the time of the year here in the U.S. where sales are good so plan your budgets to be able to take advantage of sale items to put in your storage.

We are still working on derecho clean-up here, slow and steady.

That fall bite is in the air. It won't be long now where I will be needing to pick everything and bring it inside but I am pushing that off as long as I can.

This is a good time to take stock of what you have. Do you need to beef up this or that in your storage? So make a list and look for deals and work to get beefed up.

This is the time for frugal soup making. Mary Ann shared this with us...

https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Potato-Soup-_Poor-Man_s-Soup_-1868578

I use powdered milk for soups and baking and making it stretches the budget.

Thank you for sharing, Mary Ann!!

https://theprudenthomemaker.com/how-we-saved-money-the-second-week-of-september-and-my-plans-to-make-some-major-changes/ - I love to get frugal ideas from this gal and I love her pics of plants and I love to see ideas on gifts.

https://theprudenthomemaker.com/fifty-things-to-do-while-youre-at-home-right-now/ - this is a great list she has.

https://theprudenthomemaker.com/living-on-our-food-storage/ - here you can see her storage and frugality.

http://momsfrugal.blogspot.com/2009/02/guest-post.html - more of her tips.

Missy says no matter how hard the task before you, never give up.

At this time things seem to be very hard but we need to not let it get to us, put on a smile :)

Seriously, get to learning those skills! The more we can do ourselves the more we can save.

Now with temperatures cooling off get to making bread and soups and casseroles....and everything in between. Remember to keep a hard copy of your favorite recipes.

On Saturdays I have been putting together the Monday Messages while watching the sewing shows on our public television channel. Last week I just set it on the channel a bit early and there was a home improvement show on. I was not paying attention at first but when I looked up they had a small segment on toilet tanks. Our upstairs toilet had started making a running noise every now and then. I thought we needed a new flapper thing inside so I added one to a grocery pick-up which we have been doing at Walmart (we have tried other store pick-ups but I like their service the best). My husband would be able to fix the toilet when the wrap was off his arm (he had carpal tunnel surgery on his right arm) but I had noticed the noise was more often so when I looked up and this segment was on I watched it then I went and repaired it. It was not just the flapper thing but was also the tower thing which they showed and….ta-da - fixed! So learn and learn and learn!

Gus says be sure to do things that make you happy.... as happy as raggedy Ann pictured above, he loves to sit by her in the chair.

This week I am reading...

The sticker says I got it at the half price store in 2003. I have looked at it back then but thought I will look at it again so I am doing that this week.

Gus and Missy say to keep wearing masks and social distancing and washing your paws or hands!