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 been doing some deep cleaning and thinking about this post. I found myself grateful for what I do have, even if it was heavy to shift around. I thought perhaps we should be hanging on to the things we have. I think other people may be thinking the same thing as I have been in the thrift shop a few times (with a mask on for sure as flu is way too high in our area) and I have noticed a huge difference in what they have. Also, I noticed prices are way up too. So hanging on to things right now may be a good idea...use it up, make it do, or do without our grandmothers would say. Think outside the box - how can we use an item differently?

I also have been thinking a lot about stretching things from your food, supplies, clothes, shoes, etc.

We need to find less expensive ways of doing what you do now.

Cedar Creek Homestead on YouTube had a very helpful recipe for pan spread. In your mixer (using equal parts) mix one cup oil, one cup vegetable shortening, one cup of flour. Mix well and put in a jar with a lid. Put it in the refrigerator then if you need to grease a bread pan, take it out and use your pastry brush to spread it. Use this to grease your bread pan, cake pan, muffin tins, casserole dishes. 

This will last a very long time. This means you won't have to purchase spray cans. Every penny counts, it all adds up.

What recipe you can share that would save money?

We are going to need to get back to basics and build skills.

I am developing my knitting skill a bit more and using yarns I already have in my stash is great.

I have been working in my sewing area and thought I would show a free decoration for the wall. I had a frame and an old pattern. I took out the directions and put them in the frame which made for a free item for the wall.

This was totally free, all it took was just thinking outside the box.

I've been working on my weaving skill as well.

For my sewing skill, I had to learn to alter this shirt a bit till I got what I wanted for the fit.

I also worked on this is a project bag I made from supplies I already had on hand. It has two pockets on the inside. The pattern for it was a paid for pattern though from Craft House Magic.

Here you can see the fabric close up. Look those mitten strings, I kept thinking I had a loose thread on the fabric :p I plan to make a few more with other fabrics I have. I may be piecing some together but that too will be cute. I usually have multiple projects going.

If you don't have a bread machine try to find one at thrift stores, if you don't have bread pans look for them too.

Time to look for a water bath canner, pressure canner, dehydrator, food saver. Try to find used, even ask on freecycle first or ask for these kind of things for gifts. Talk to relatives who are done canning if you could buy their equipment. I even put it up at the post office that I was looking for free canning jars and that worked well. Look at thrift stores, look at yard sales, Craig's list.

These items will help you the most as well as a used sewing machine and supplies, even if you used them just to mend your clothes.

If things breakdown, do not be so fast to throw them out. Look up how to repair them. We fixed our dryer and our stove by doing that very thing.

Eggs are high right now, find recipes without eggs. Breads don't all take eggs so choose one that doesn't and use that. All this is to say, try to stretch what you have - in this case, eggs.

I got this gingersnap recipe from Mary Ann, it doesn't use eggs so that's a plus.

Ginger Snaps

Newfoundland cookie with a snap! If made thicker can be used for gingerbread men.

Bring to a boil in saucepan;

1/4 cup water,1/2 cup molasses,

1/3 cup shortening

Cool...

Sift together:

2 cups all purpose flour, 2/3 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda, pinch salt

1 tablespoon ginger, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

sift into molasses mixture, chill 1 hour. (I don’t do this I just stir in)

The instructions say….roll dough 1/8 inch thickness, cut with a cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on baking sheet.

Bake 375 degrees for 5 to 8 minutes. or lightly browned

Makes 6 dozen.

We really have to be mindful how we do things now more than ever. Missy says being frugal is serious business but that doesn't mean we have to be deprived.