Monday Message

"Our bishops storehouses are not intended to stock enough commodities to care for all the members of the Church. Storehouses are only established to care for the poor and the needy. For this reason, members of the Church have been instructed to personally store a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel. By following this counsel, most members will be prepared and able to care for themselves and their family members, and be able to share with others as may be needed." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

This last week we had extreme heat. I prepared for this by making up meals that I could just heat in the microwave and not heat up the house. It was extra work for a few days but so helpful to have meals when we had heat index of 115 degrees. I would like that to not come again.

I used the indoor time by cleaning and organizing a couple closets.     

How are you coming with skill building?                 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCU5mDiVbzQ - this shows how easy it is to make underwear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Xm2v5E_Wc - this looks so nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxUEJa6MmCI - she shows how to make a pattern from ready made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdYPWHsgVAg - she also shows this.

https://thecraftymummy.com/2012/10/fabric-scrap-bookmarks/ - this would be a great project to do with your kids, also would be a nice teacher gift.

Keep working on your storage, every little bit will help you. Put up any produce you get for winter. I hate to keep saying this but they are still saying prices will continue to rise.

Tippy Longstockings say NO MORE on rising prices!

Also, be looking for things at thrift stores. Don't forget to plug in any electric items to be sure they work. Hit the yard sales (ask to plug in stuff there too). Be sure to check out the free boxes if they have them - sometimes there are clothes you could fix or remake.

Always - Always! have a running list. 

This will get you started...

School clothes

Winter coats, boots, mittens, hats, scarves

Vacuum sealer

Dehydrator 

Canner

Jars and supplies for canning

Things for Christmas gifts

Sewing machine if you need one

Sewing supplies

Patterns

Iron if you don't have one

Fabric and sheets to use for fabric

Knitting supplies

Crochet supplies

Yarn

 Things for sending sack lunch meals

Oil lamps

Emergency supplies like flash lights, candles, etc.

Shovels for snow removal

Gardening tools. Remember, I told you about our wheelbarrow needing a tire which would have cost us and when we were yardsaling we found a free wheelbarrow that was no good but the tire was and now we have a working wheelbarrow again. Keep an eye out for free things you can use that people set out. We set things out too and stick a free sign on them. It helps keep them out of landfills.

Add to this list of things you are looking for.

These things help a lot.

I know things are hard - believe me I know.! We will get through these times. Yes, we will have to work a little harder. We even may have to create some Franken-pumps like we had to do during the flooding.  But we can do hard things! Also, help others because we are all in this and it is the right thing to do. Even a kind smile will encourage someone who needs it.

Put together clothing exchanges where people can bring and take. You might need children's clothes in a size that someone else needs to get rid of. Now with market pages everyone can get together and do that. Meet at a park, take a blanket to set the stuff out on and have one huge FREE yard sale sort of thing! Fun!

It is time to be as thrifty as we can be.

Missy says we need to all look out for each other be kind to each other.

Tippy Longstockings says we should never ever judge others, just be kind, we don't know what others are going through.

Monday Message

"Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. We could refer to all the components of personal and family preparedness, not in relation to holocaust or disaster, but in cultivating a life-style that is on a day-to-day basis its own reward." (President Spencer W. Kimball)

Well a busy time for us still. We had the water come in July 2, 3, and 4, and now I can add July 20 to that as well. We had another storm last night on the 20th and heavy rain which overtook the sump pump. Once again, we got two inches of water in the basement. This wasn't as bad as the last one, not as deep for one thing, and the other is that took many days to clean up. Plus, I've put many things up higher.

It has been costly. The pump that was overtaken this time was brand-new. Today, we've had to do many things to fix it but in the end we had to get another pump. We then try to have two in the pit of the basement, if it comes to this again. Hopefully, it won't. I am tired of this game.

But we push through.

These little emergencies are why food storage is important. It helps us be able to buy these pumps - all three of them!  

Tippy Longstockings is horrified at the rising prices!

Gas prices are going up again. Food prices are going up still.

How are you managing through these life emergencies?

They will always be there. We will all get through them but having storage makes the rough places not so rough.

We, of course, are planning for a future that may keep having these stronger storms.

I will tell you this makes two Fourth of July events, so we make plans and prep. We prepare for the worse and are hoping for the best.

Tippy Longstockings is praying that pattern stops.

I will continue to get things higher in the basement, higher than I currently have as one prep. One other thing I have done is now having a chair for each of us for when we go down in tornado warnings - no more getting a bucket to sit on.

The garden got beat down a bit but is doing well so that is good. I hope your gardens are doing well too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQqHIs8PPlo - this lady takes you through her storage, it is so different for everyone. She said store what you eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Xm2v5E_Wc - this is a cute way to refashion a shirt without a pattern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hveYgv16oHk - time to be thinking about Christmas. This is a beginner project that looks fantastic!

How are you coming on your skill-building? I guess I am meant to build skills on water invasions hmm..

Tippy Longstockings and Missy both say they are trying to learn all they can from books!

Missy and Tippy Longstockings say...

Make sure you get plenty to eat and plenty of rest especially in stressful times!

Sometimes we feel like it is all too much.

But you can always turn to a friend...

Just know we are all pushing through the trials here at our house.

Missy says to please keep working on skill-building, maybe pick something more fun than moving water.

Tippy Longstockings says remember to take breaks!

All of us are hoping you all are well and happy!

Monday Message

"Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own." (Ezra Taft Benson)

This week finds me still working in the basement. It could have been so much worse, so I am thankful it wasn't.

Even in a flood event, I am still thankful I have food storage. This has been a rough few months and food storage has really helped. I will never be sorry I stored food.

Our little apple tree - I planted it and another a few years ago, one grew big, one did not, though they were planted at the same time. I was talking sternly to short-one saying, look at this one - what are you doing?? Well it has two nice apples on it so now I ask the tall-one, what are you doing?? So take time to plant fruit trees if you are able and things that will grow back every year. This helps to supply you with food for years.

I planted apple seeds and they grew and they will be trees too so if you don't have money to buy an apple tree, plant the seeds in your apples you are eating. I buried the peach pits last year and now have peach trees growing. The same year I planted those trees I was scolding, I planted two plum trees. One this year never put out leaves. I was sad to think I would lose it but was holding off cutting it down. We just cut it down this last week because I noticed it had put out babies so they are growing fast.

Do what you can to plant future food. You know I planted those strawberry seeds and they are still doing wonderful. If you missed how to get the seed refer to this post from a few blogs back.

Our weather is hot again but it is cool in the basement so that makes cleaning it up not so bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZi6O6_FYE - I thought you would enjoy seeing how someone other than me does food storage on a budget.

The books she shows... Stocking Up and Make Your Own Groceries and More Make Your Own Groceries are great books. I suggest getting them through your library.

I have been too busy to get to my dresses I have cut out. But while dealing with my sheets I have to make rugs from on the rug loom, I found one I may want to make a dress from down the road. I have all the sheets dried and tended. They are bagged but not wanting a repeat event, I put wood on the fifty gallon barrels and stacked the bags on those and they will not be low enough to get wet again. I hope it never gets that high.

When you are faced with something that seems way too huge to tackle, remember how I did it... just start and do as you can to move forward. Where I am at this point: I now do an hour a day down in the basement. It doesn't seem so bad if you only take it in chunks like that. If I felt up to more I can always keep working but doing an hour a day isn't so bad.

I have been working on the little loom each day as well.

It is very pretty. I am enjoying it. When I am worn out, it is soothing to work on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_09cPiwMak - this lady does her research.

I hope you are working on your storage and skill building.

It is time to give some thought to Christmas gifts....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a746-1lVKwo - great idea for gift-giving.

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/gifts/g33416427/diy-christmas-gifts/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_d_bm_prog_org_us_g33416427&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15358799983&gbraid=0AAAAABxutSrGXFN1F1Qo-278qclF_Zr6i&gclid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCd75igWTgj2EYEnjcrdwWSAHHM_LyErrW1q4r9cr-rZGr3CLunAI9BoCY1YQAvD_BwE

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g645/crafty-christmas-presents-ideas/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_clv_md_pmx_prog_org_us_18459994477&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18456255285&gbraid=0AAAAACq-IruEjaIW9vOGFmV2DN73CTjak&gclid=CjwKCAjwvNfSBhBiEiwAyaGMCfLxoxgEciXuEsm-EGut8mxareTJnTcqM14BKXVZdP_bMi_pfBNluxoCXdgQAvD_BwE

https://www.pinterest.com/cultofmoney1/cheap-christmas-gifts/

Missy says keep working on your storage and building skills and showing kindness to others - we can do these things!

Tippy Longstockings says she wants to encourage you. She says you are doing a terrific job! She wants to pat you on the back.