Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

This week, I started knitting a sock tube. Even though I can do this in minutes on the circular sock machine my sister gave me one birthday (I love it), I like to knit one by hand to have in my church bag to work on while I listen. I am building a skill of trying to not look at my hands while I knit. I am getting there. I can do about six stitches now without looking but building on that.

As you can see by the orange clearance tag, this yarn was originally $14.99 clearanced to $3.74. I got it years ago, I can't quite remember how many but that was a good price.

A very relaxing thing to do. I will knit nearly all of this yarn then break it down into sock lengths and knit by hand, toes, heels, and cuffs.

This is my sock machine, it is beautiful. It took me a year to figure out but I stuck with it learning by try and fail school.

It was hard but I learned. I cleaned it all up and learned how to adjust it. I have always wanted one. And I do use it but I like to do one as a church project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLXbgkfK4yI - this gal has a new printed machine but does the same as mine. Here she shows you how to take the tube to make it into socks. This is the best tutorial ever on the subject. It is the same if you do it by hand or crank it on the machine. All this to say, I started a sock tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B4fSPY11ds - she has helpful info here worth the time to watch.

https://smalltownscratch.com/how-to-stock-a-pantry-fridge-for-cooking-from-scratch/ - some ideas.

Having the basic ingredients in your storage to be able to make from scratch items is so helpful!

https://thesoccermomblog.com/100-must-have-pantry-staples/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRdw9xleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCTEFGUEoxMGhzSm00Z1V2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr-FhKpUNtX15iCjXbADoiby1yYOTa453NMSqNOunGjjJlQGZEv6Q_N0X0wD_aem_9k9iQMgpKY6A4LmWSbBB2w - of course, everyone's pantry will look different but maybe there are things you might not have thought of.

Please don't run out and purchase everything at once, just add a few items to your grocery list.

Also, I encourage you to start introducing foods like homemade bread, more soups with biscuits, or rolls. Learn these skills and get your family used to homemade things, same as learning how to fix basic foods - practice till you have it figured out.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2012/02/homemade-bread-crackers.html

https://www.laurasbakelab.com/blog/homemade-crackers

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a98773/how-to-make-crackers/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_md_dsa_prog_org_us_23638011728&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23638011728&gbraid=0AAAAABxutSrZj5q6t6uZzfg8bESG4MDxj&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJmLkjMKFYIqjr5q0Gl3yIwB7-0hxBYs7xfvSqdpSRwJQ_htqIpXwIRoCmBgQAvD_BwE

https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/3-ingredient-homemade-crackers-whole-grain-wheat-andor-spelt/

It takes so little to make crackers.

It takes very little to do bread, laundry soap, cookies, cake, etc. Learn to do them. You don't have to do it all at once. Pick one thing and learn it then go to the next. We can do these things. It saves so much compared to the store-bought version.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2024/11/monday-message_11.html

Much cheaper than store bought for sure.

Remember, I tell you I store the things to always to make chocolate cake. Well, if you store the items it takes to make stuff like bread and cookies and biscuits and chili and the casseroles that your family likes - this is storage and by keeping the basics on hand, you can make these items.

Basics

Flour and grains

Vital wheat gluten

Salt

Sugar

Oil

Yeast

Now you could make bread

but if you add...

Cinnamon

Now you can make cinnamon rolls

If you add...

Brown sugar

Shortening

Vanilla

Now you can make cookies

Muffins

Coffee cake

If you add....

powdered milk

Now you can make pancakes

Waffles

I think you get the picture. If we stock the basic ingredients then we could make cinnamon rolls or pizza but if you store a muffin mix instead it just makes muffins, no pizza. I hope that explains what I am trying to say.

It is even better described in this book....

She gives a step-by-step, here I will show you.

She gives recipes as well, a very good book, see if you can get it through your library.

You can see I got mine at a yard sale.

Missy says keep picking up storage a little each time you go to the store, it adds up.

Tippy Longstockings says just do the best you can, that is all we can do, this isn't a competition.