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)

We are still plugging away trying to get over this sickness - not an easy thing for two old people.

Every job has to be done in parts.

One day my husband dug a hole for a post. I gathered the dirt from the hole in pots as it was going to rain. So I pushed myself to do this, it was very hard but it kept the dirt dry.

Then a couple days later I filled these produce containers I had collected over the years. Then a couple days later I was able to plant seed to get my plants started.

So every thing is taking way longer to do than I would like but at least I have planted the seeds. Now to get better before the plants will need to go into the garden.

Are you going to plant some things this year?

I still see no prices coming down and expect they will go up. So you might want to think about planting and preparing for harder times ahead.

Today I vacuum sealed some crushed flax seed. Again, took it in steps. Gathered my jars and used lids and rings and cut coffee filters to fit each jar to put on top of the crushed flax seed to keep particles from going into my sealer.  As you know, one can use the flax seed as an egg replacer as well as in other things.

One of the jars was a half gallon jar that uses a wide mouth lid. There are two ways I can vacuum seal in jars. One is in a canister - and I can use any jar with it's lid that can fit in the canister. The other way is to use the jar top attachment which is the way I did the half gallon jar. And when I use from that jar I will reseal it.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2018/11/monday-message_99.html - I talked about this in this post if you want more details.

Learning to do sourdough is a skill as well.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2014/01/monday-message.html - lots of sourdough info here.

I know many do "no-spend months" but I feel now is the time to gather in storage, use and rotate rather than let it get too low.

Keep being frugal as much as you can. Keep haunting thrift stores and yard sales for items that can help you like canners, vacuum sealers, dehydrators... items that will help you to put up food.

Build the skills of bread making and jam making, also stock proteins....canned meats, beans, etc.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2019/08/monday-message.html - I make this recipe into mixes in the jar. All I have to do is add the water to the bread machine and dump in one of these mixes.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2016/02/monday-message_29.html

I am so thankful I have several jarred mixes ahead, especially now as this is our conference weekend  and we like to have chili and cinnamon rolls. It will be easy to make, plus I keep cooked hamburger in the freezer for when I need an easy meal and so chili will just be a dump in the crockpot deal as well.  We are looking forward to it.

So keep working at your storage. I try to work hard on my grocery list to allow for me to get one or two items to stick away.

Keep working on those skills.

Missy says be wise in your spending, stay in budget and stay well.

Tippy Longstockings says keep working on skill building, being frugal and be kind look after others.

Monday Message

"When we really get into hard times, where food is scarce or there is none at all, and so with clothing and shelter, money may be no good for there may be nothing to buy, and you cannot eat money, you cannot get enough of it together to burn to keep warm, and you cannot wear it." (J. Richard Clarke)

Just a thought to make one think.

We are still pretty sick here. I feel like groundhog day - wake up, still sick, drag through the bare necessities, the drop of course, resting hurts my hip for some reason and so it sure isn't fun.

I made a big batch of Burrito Filling:

Hamburger cooked

Refried beans

Enchilada sauce

I just throw in the crockpot and for the leftovers I just scoop out what is needed to microwave.

I made a batch of Haystack Gravy: 

Can chicken

Can of cream of chicken 

Chicken broth

My chicken gravy mix I keep in jars. Here is the recipe: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/ready-gravy-mix/?srsltid=AfmBOop5o_WGskGrxJxK3TJ_nFWjIInG6zJ1-stjaOjDyKcbLrSvkVMP#RecipeCard

Towards the end, I put cornstarch in cold water and add to thicken it.

Like the other, this I do in the crockpot and then store leftovers in the refrigerator. I just scoop out some as needed.

I chose these as I had veggies bought and Chinese noodles and so chopped them and put in baggies.

I like mine over Chinese noodles topped with chopped celery and chopped green pepper and chopped onion. Then I top with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped almonds.

Hard for me to do all this while sick but then it just goes together after that fast.

So this has been helpful for a while.

I can say I am so tired of being this sick for this long but pushing on.

I had gotten some foam squares that hook together from the recycle place before we got sick. I use them for blocking various things I knit or crochet or tat. It was a big batch in a bag so I made two cat caves...

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2013/09/monday-message-food-storage-in-small.html - ideas for storing here.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2019/07/monday-message_8.html - skills.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2020/02/monday-message_24.html - more on skill building here.

So while I have been sick these girls haven't left my side....

Missy and Tippy Longstockings say...

Take care of yourselves or they may come and have shenanigans at your house too. They want you to keep stocking your pantries and find frugal ways along with building skills. They also want to say they love you all and are proud of you!