Monday Message

"Included in the year’s supply of basic foods should be life-sustaining foods that store well for a long time: grains (wheat, rice, corn, or other of the cereal grains); dried milk, dried fish or protein vegetables such as beans and peas and other fresh, canned, dried, or pickled fruit or vegetables; sugar or a sugar substitute such as honey; some form of fats; salt; and water. Fresh taro or sweet potato, and live pigs, chickens, or fish might be considered as a supply in some areas of the world where it is difficult to store food. Remember that regular use of whole grains is important in building a digestive tolerance for roughage." (Barbara B. Smith)

I want to stress 72 hour kits with all that is going on. You see people don't get a lot of time to evacuate. Having one ready will help you be able to gather photos, scriptures, masks, meds, and other items. You wouldn’t have to try to think about what to put in it in the last minute as it would be ready.

This is very helpful on 72 hour kits - http://storethisnotthat.com/store-this-not-that-72-hour-kit-food/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVFKQj3iimw - this shows a pantry.

https://www.youtube.com/c/OutsmartDinner/videos - here are her videos, I love these gals and have both their books.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhNeBYJLXKI&t=6s - helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9lAFTdJdF0 - great ideas.

I am wanting you to realize you can do great meals with food storage and have ideas on what to store.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXJbrFvOksM My tip is when you cut biscuits DO NOT twist the biscuit cutter back and forth, just straight down and up, this will give you the layer tall biscuit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wy6NgplFjE - best fudgy brownies!

https://www.erinliveswhole.com/oatmeal-blender-pancakes/ - this is oatmeal pancakes.

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/whole-wheat-blender-pancakes-my-new-favorite-breakfast/ - this is wheat pancakes, they are done in a blender and oh they are fantastic!

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/mels-kitchen-tip-buttermilk-substitutions/ - this shows how to do buttermilk.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Dehydrated%20Apples%20Recipes - this is our favorite apple crisp made with my dehydrated apples. Look around the site, lots of good info.

http://everythingunderthesunblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/book-2.html - l think this is a very good food storage site. I keep her information in my food storage binder.

So you see this post is mostly on food storage and what to do with it. If you haven’t already, start putting together a binder with information on food storage and reserve an area for recipes in it as well.

Be getting in storage for your working pantries.

Let us know how you are doing on yours by leaving us a comment down below.

At the same time be working on your skills. A little here and there adds up.

This week I took a t-shirt I love and made a pattern from it. I turned it inside out on paper and then used a tracing wheel to go around the body of the shirt. This leaves little holes that I then use as a cutting line. After cutting, I fold the shirt sideways in half. I fix anything askew, making sure they are the same, then I cut in half and label one the back and write “cut one on fold.” 

The other piece needs to have the shirt on it again to trace the front neckline, then I cut it out and write “front” and “cut one on fold.” I draw that fold arrow on that edge you just cut on both pieces. Then I fold the sleeve in half and trace it again, labeling and drawing a fold arrow and “cut two on fold.” Those are the pieces in the picture. I haven't decided what neck treatments I want to do yet. The shirt has bias tape on it but first I just want to see how I come out once I have it. I want to make several shirts out of this, changing little things as far as the look - like different neckline ideas or adding a pocket, etc.

Lately, I've been working on the knitted elephant girl here. I just need to finish her arms and she will be done.

I am really learning a lot by doing these smaller things. One tip I’ll pass along - if you are stuck on directions, stop, mull it over in your mind about how you think it’s supposed to go and then do it. If it’s wrong, take it back out and try it different till you get it. Relax, don't stress. I am getting great at taking things out, which in itself is a great skill to learn. The more I do, the more I find shortcuts and streamlining which I can use in other projects in the future.

Missy says now is the time to be extra safe.

Gus says put extra in Missy's statement a few more times and wash your paws and don't eat off the floor.