Monday Message

“A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life. Remember these words from Paul: "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (Keith B. McMullin, April 2007)

We go through times our income is tighter than others. Personally when things are better I make sure to purchase for the less money times we have. This way we can get through the harder times.

I find the more you know how to do or make for your family the better things will be, whether your income is higher or lower.

I find your mindset is as important because if you are angry that you have hard times or feel you deserve or are owed this, that, or the other thing then you will be very unhappy, but, if you prepare, you will be more at peace. And if you have an “I can do this” attitude and you have worked on your skills, you know you can fix or make do with what things should come up.

Bad things happen to good people, it does not make them bad. It is just how things happen. We should not judge and we should not blame each other. Work together. Another time may go well. If it does, remember to make ready for when things go bad next time. If they don’t, great, but be prepared anyway.

Keep those skills up and learn more. I need to replace my dishcloths. I cannot ever remember buying them from the store and if you have ever been gifted homemade dishcloths you would never want to buy them at the store. Knowing how to make them yourself is a great skill. 

When you are first learning to knit making these are a great place to start. I am using my own take on the popular Grandma's Favorite on Ravelry.

Use cotton yarn. I am using up scraps I have as well as what I already had in my stash of which I picked many up at yardsales and clearance sales, lots from others clearing out their stash too.

Here is my version of Grandma's Favorite dishcloth found on Ravelry. I am doing the no holes version.

My version (pictured above).

I use cotton yarn
Size 9 short needles

Cast on 3 stitches
Knit all three stitches
Next row = Knit 2 stitches in the third stitch by knitting in the front and back of the loop and then knit the rest of the stitches. 

(Here is a video on how to knit in the front and the back of a stitch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILcTB5hc0XM)

You continue to repeat that last row until you get 35 stitches on your needle then you…

Knit 2 stitches then knit the next two stitches together and then knit all the rest of the stitches. Do this over and over each row until you have five stitches left. 

(Here's a video on how to knit two stitches together - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpbLmgwHFA)

Knit 2 stitches then knit the next two together, then knit the rest.

Knit one then knit two together then knit last one.

You now have three stitches left.

Bind off and weave in ends.

I tug it into a square.

This is smaller than the one on Ravelry.  I like smaller ones.

I am replacing my old ones which will go to my husband as paint cloths. He paints pictures. If you would like to see his work you can go onto his site www.dickshook.com. So he will use my old dishcloths.

So this is very frugal all the way around.

Would it take less time buying some dishcloths? Yes, but have you tried these?? Again, they last way way way longer. And knowing how to do my own with what I already have on hand is a skill that I can do. It saved me running into town and spending money on gas and buying something that would not last. I also find knitting them to be relaxing.

What skills are you working on? What frugal things are you doing?

It is a good feeling to know I have skills that help with filling in the gaps we may have in our income. But that doesn’t stop me from learning more skills that could help us.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/easy-homemade-pizza-sauce-recipe.html - here is a pizza sauce you can make rather than running out for pizza.

Do you ever say, "oh well, I will just get this or that," when if you did it yourself it would have taken less time and money? 

When we are frugal it might not seem like it saves a lot but when you do it many times it adds up. If you don’t have to spend you can live on less.

If you need to live on less, do it. If you don’t need to live on less, do it anyway.

When I first started working on this Monday Message we had ice overnight and everything is coated in ice.

Having storage is such a good thing. It means we are not out on the ice and it means that I also had ice melt ready for the walk way.

It is hard to think of everything, but do the best you can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_O8g6TaapQ&t=60s - this was so funny yet will help you understand about toilet paper.

So for years I have wanted this book and last week I got it for less than four dollars. It was written in 1978. I am enjoying reading it. She has a mix section where you can make your own mixes and lots of money saving info. I always look for information on saving money ideas.

See if you can get it library loan. If not I did buy my copy used on amazon.

Keep working on your storage. Keep finding ways to be frugal. Do the best you can.

Monday Message

"As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son" (Gordon B. Hinckley, in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 89; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 73).

“Let us be prudent in every respect” - that is very important.

The old saying from the depression times “use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” We should take it to heart...

http://www.providentplan.com/601/use-it-up-wear-it-out-make-it-do-or-do-without/ - this is very much worth the read through.  I like their statement, “when you learn contentment, you break free of materialism and consumerism.”

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/use-it-up-wear-it-out-make-it-do-or-do-without/ - read this one too, she uses this in a clear way as well but with different aspects.

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/the-dreaded-leftovers-tips-for-using-what-you-have/ - this goes hand-in-hand with what she said in the above site.

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/old-fashioned-cooking-substitution-chart/ - this is very handy to have at the ready to know you can substitute.

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/how-to-live-a-simple-life/ this is a good read as well.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/14-steps-towards-living-simpler-lifestyle.html#_a5y_p=2596916 - I have followed this gal for years.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/recipes-index/canning-and-preserving

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/recipes-from-scratch

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/simple-healthy-snack-ideas-for-under-1.html

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/stockpiling

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/eating-from-the-pantry-stockpile.html

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/more-eating-from-the-pantry-stockpile.html

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/10-mixes-that-should-be-in-your-pantry.html

You will not be disappointed in reading these FEW things from her site. She has gluten free recipes on there as well.

I will tell you I LOVE her scone mix! - https://www.littlehouseliving.com/scone-mix-recipe.html I use thickened powdered milk instead of heavy cream as that is what I have and it is terrific!

I got a used coat in the fall but the first time my husband wore it the zipper broke. I attempted to fix it but it broke again. Lets just say I hate plastic zippers.

This time I looked through my zippers (I have a stash from yard sales). I only had one that would be long enough. Actually, it was too long but it was metal and separated at the bottom. I could cut it to fit and I took out that broken zipper as you see in the picture.  Then I sewed in the new zipper - it wasn’t new it was a recycled zipper someone had saved. I am glad that they did as you can see the finished goose down coat below.

If you don’t know how to sew please learn how. The coat was used and free to me, the zipper was also free. So because of my sewing skill I was able to fix a coat when we otherwise would have had to get another. It now will last for years.

Along those lines, remember last year I mended my gloves by having knitting knowledge and knew how to darn….

So learn your skills - sewing, knitting, crocheting, bread making, budgeting, meal planning, cooking from scratch and so many more… You will be glad that you did learn these things. So by doing these things it helped so that we did not have unexpected things to buy and it can save money so that you can get your storage in.

Do the best you can!

Monday Message

"We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. . .I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. . .Begin in a small way, … and gradually build toward a reasonable objective." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

I want you to begin working on your storage. It is so important to have on hand. We have had snow storms of late and knowing that I have storage and won't have to run to a store for anything is sooooo helpful. There have been huge multi car pile-ups about fifteen miles from us on the interstate - a huge reminder to brush up on winter driving skills and to have your winter car kit in your vehicles.

We must be prepared for needful things as best we can. Disasters will only keep coming we need to be able to not only care for our own families but those around us as well as far away.

Be sure you know how to fix what you store. Also store what you and your family like. It will do no good if you store things no one will eat.

I love knowing how to use our food storage items. Even if I have my food storage binder full of our favorites I still like to find more ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anRWO5_Q92o&feature=em-uploademail - great recipe video using food storage.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Dehydrated%20Apples%20Recipes  - since we talked about dry apples last week this has my favorite recipe for applesauce.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Dehydrated%20Carrots%20Recipes - we all have our ways of using carrots here are some for using dehydrated carrots.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/ - meals

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Oats oatmeal is a great food storage item.

Don't forget you have free food storage you can get simply by taking advantage of what you already have on hand, like making your own orange peel for baking and etc. by zesting oranges you already have and just drying them on a plate. Free!


http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Bean%20Recipes - bean recipes

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Rice%20Recipes - rice is great for your storage as well.

https://www.pinterest.com/fsme/food-storage-recipes/?lp=true - this is well worth looking at recipe-wise.

Now I have given you lots to look at so try and see if your family would like the recipes in your binder.

Look through your recipe file and see if you can adapt it for your storage.

For example, I will show you a great recipe we have stored around.

Green Bean Casserole

1 lb browned hamburger (could also use your canned hamburger)
2 cans or pints of drained green beans 
2 cans of tomato soup
1 tbsp  dried onion

Mix this all together and pour into a 9x13 pan then you top with mashed potatoes.

Bake in a 350 degree oven.

Now we like this recipe. We can use leftover taco meat in place of the hamburger.

So you take your recipe and see what you would need to store. We have all items in our storage to make this any time. I store potato pearls from the LDS  home storage center. You just add water and everything is in there already 

http://allaboutfoodstorage.com/wp-content/uploads/EVERYTHING-UNDER-THE-SUN-2010-word.pdf I love this method. So if we had this recipe two times a month I would need to do the math. She tells you how to do it so read her method to figure out how much of these items you need. I would need to make this two times a month for a year.

Also she has terrific recipes so if you are planning to stock up read her method. I have it printed and in my binder. She also has videos on YouTube...
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=wendy+dewitt+you+tube&view=detail&mid=FC86E40CCEAB93356EB8FC86E40CCEAB93356EB8&FORM=VIRE I think if you did nothing but watch this you will have great information

Keep working on storage and keep learning skills.

Monday Message

Get a recipe for versatile homemade bread HERE!

"I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment may affect any of us. We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

I want to encourage you to continue your storage and if you haven’t yet started to get started. Everyone starts somewhere.

It's just as important to learn basic skills. I think if you know how to make bread it is one of the biggest helps. It takes a little learning but in our times we can learn so easily on the computer by just typing in how to make bread. YouTube videos shows you how to make so many breads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj7Sfu3IuYs - bread secrets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2clOSZJ7o - amish white bread, makes two loaves. Get white bread down first then move to grains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJDBqoDqXRo - amish sweet white bread

My favorite tip….one tsp of vital wheat gluten to one cup of flour  equals one cup of bread flour.

My tip….I let my bread cool for an hour then I use an electric knife and slice the whole loaf. This is just what I do. I could use a bread knife if no electricity but I like the look of using the electric knife. I pick them up at yard sales. I bag and freeze my sliced bread if I make more than one loaf.

I know you might be saying you already know how. That is great! Are you making it to get your family use to homemade bread? You might be saying, "someday I will." I am here to say someday things seldom come. We need to push ourselves to learn the things we want to learn. The same thing can be said of "I have no time." We need to find the time. Think through what you are doing. Sometimes we are too busy but we are not meant to be that busy all the time. Our bodies and minds need to rest to learn as well.

When we were first married my mother-in-law made bread. My best friend Shirley’s mom made bread. I was going to make bread. So I got a recipe for bread from my mother-in-law as there were no computers back then. I gathered everything I would need. I was working at the time so I needed to pick a day I wasn’t working. 

The day was finally there and I had everything. So I set out in the morning to make two loaves of bread. I set it to raise. After the time allotted I divided the dough in two loaves. Of course, had I known that my bread was supposed to have risen I would have known there was a problem. So in the pans went the dough. It did not rise, not even by two hours or three, no different at four hours. I thought perhaps I should put both into one pan and bake so I did. By supper I pulled it out…..it was so heavy. I went to slice it to have with supper and couldn't even cut it. I had baked a brick. So we laughed and buried it out in the backyard. I later learned I had the water too hot and killed the yeast.  

I kept trying and that is what it takes. But now you all have mini classes any time you want on your computer. A blessing for sure. Learn all you can and never stop learning! 

Years later I was talking to a doctor and she said that if more people made bread we would have less mental disease, that was back in the seventies….something to think about.

I can make bread by hand just as well as any machine in my kitchen.

That was my goal. As time goes on I have gotten fibro then I discovered the machines I have can do it just as good as I can by hand. I learned using bread machines to do everything except baking was just as good and helped me. So when money permitted I got a mixer that could do many loaves at one time.

So what I am trying to say is don’t turn your nose up at machines that can help. You look at thrift stores and you can find them for such a savings but remember that if you cannot get any of the machines you have the skill to make by hand…so no matter where you are you can learn this skill. 

Now I just picked bread making as one of the skills that would be good to know. If you are gluten free it is just as important to learn how to make bread using what you can for that and to store the ingredients because one thing is for sure - we all eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih1XIyg3-f4 - this is fantastic whether or not you are gluten-free. She gives you both recipes this is so handy to have on hand.

There are other skills that help us as well so think what skills you want to learn. Let us know what skill you are working on and how you plan to learn, if it's on the computer or using the library or from a friend, let us know.

If you have a request on a skill, let me know :)

Monday Message

"Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free." - President Thomas S. Monson

As many of you know president Monson just recently passed away so I thought it would be a good thing to use his quote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTCodG3OOdw - this video shows how to use several food storage items. I love this gal. Tip: use one tsp vital wheat gluten to one cup all purpose flour to make one cup of bread flour, I do this all the time.

I have these apples in storage and also have my own apples that I dried I use them just the same with same results so if you dry apples and haven’t tried them this way you are in for a treat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FijOO3DchSQ&t=9s - this is good info on your storage as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZpNGuvUQQ - this is a wonderful way to show how to use your canned meat. It is very easy to can meat I love having my canned meat. When I can it I do it exactly as directed for my area and the up to date canning instruction. Isn’t this a wonderful way to fix a meal when you are tired?

http://storethisnotthat.com/recipe/one-pot-spaghetti-skillet/ - here is the recipe she has for the video above. She says under thirty minutes to make. I think after church this would be a good thing to make if you don’t make it on Saturday. I often love leftovers on Sundays.

If you are in Iowa or Minnesota you can call 1-800-262-3804 they will give you any up to date info on canning and actually answer any homemaking questions you might have.

I cannot tell you how nice it is to have canned meat on hand with my chicken. I can just open and make chicken salad sandwiches and also a lot more recipes I have using cooked chicken. Roast? Yes, I have canned cubed roast. My favorite is to use it for making beef gravy for noodles or mashed potatoes or rice. I have hamburger and some pork from uncooked type ham.

Meat is easy to can easier than any other canned item I can. One more thing, my canned meats cost me less than I can get on any sale currently because prices went up since their canning.

http://storethisnotthat.com/everydayfoodstorage/ - here is the recipe page they have. Now looking at these recipes, do you still think food storage is icky food? I should think not.

http://storethisnotthat.com/build-basic-food-storage-10-week/ okay, I know I have a lot of their site on here but really I love these no-nonsense gals. Tap on this chart, this is a helpful chart on how to get in storage every month. Totally doable, don’t you think? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNGgIVh-dik - here is a great recipe and using food storage. She also shows you the link for the LDS home storage centers which is what she shows in the monthly chart in the site before this one.

Now I don’t often buy food storage books but their books are fantastic. If you were wondering if they were good - yes, they are.  I have been following these gals since I started this blog. I suggest you look around their site and go way back.

It is helpful to try the recipes that they share and apply your recipes to a way like they do to use your storage.

If you plan to can your meat (and I highly recommend it), you will need a pressure canner that has a good gauge and have it checked.  

You will need jars. I particularly like pint jars for us and I use wide and regular mouth jars together. I can get twenty in my all American pressure canner. If I just use wide mouth I cannot get that many jars in, just a tip there.  

You will need new lids. Never use the used lids to can but I save the used lids to vacuum seal my dry foods. Since I write on the lids the date and contents I know which are used lids. Plus, I keep the new ones in their packages even if I only have a few lids left - a safety measure for me.  

You will also need rings. Now, if you need both you can buy new lids with rings, so there is that. But if you ask for rings from people getting out of canning they will gladly help you out. I keep my rings on wire hangers that I took apart and use like a giant safety pin. They slide on and off and are kept together.

Of course, you will need meat so look for sales.

I also will keep my freezers rotated by canning the meat to make room for new meat. This is why I can all year round.

So look up information on how to can and gather things together you will need.

On a separate note, Rachel Martinez reached out to offer us this great information on saving money on disaster preparation, so a big thank you for sharing! https://www.couponchief.com/guides/guide_to_saving_money_on_disaster_preparation

Keep working on your storage. Watch your sales and set money aside to take advantage of them.

If you know you will have extra money coming in, set some aside to stock up.

Do the best you can!

Bathroom Mirror Re-do

We stopped into the Salvation Army recently and my husband came across an ugly as sin mirror, that thing was right out of the 70's with big clunky octagon shaped spindles. I didn't have the vision for it that he did but I'm glad he picked it up because the end result is really pretty. 

The light fixture is from his studio. The light gave off the wrong light for working on paintings so he never used it. He moved it into the bathroom and integrated it into this project.

So I guess my overall advice is to go into the thrift stores and be open to the potential of ugly things! :p

End result is now a beautiful mirror! Well done, Dick!

Monday Message

Diner-style pancakes from scratch. Recipe HERE.

"More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I think there are so many calamities going on all over that maybe we should heed this statement by President Benson. Living within our means is so important especially now. There is more need. Are you in a position to help those in need?

I continue to suggest picking up something for your storage every time you go into a store.  If you cannot afford to do this try to do more budget meals and using what you save to build your storage.

Please do not go into further debt, instead work hard getting out of debt.

Try to learn to be content with what you have. Also, learn to stretch what you have. One always thinks when they retire life will be easy, not so! You will be living on a fixed income in an unfixed world.

Here are a few things that help me - I buy in bulk when I can which means 25 lb bags of flour. If you are not doing this you might consider it. Here is how I do it… I get buckets from the bakery in my local grocery store. I get them free. I wash them well and then dry them very well. Then I let the bucket air dry overnight to be sure they are totally dry. Then I pour the 25 lb bag of flour in and on top I place two bay leaves. Then I label and date the lid. The bay leaves keep from getting bugs in the flour. The label tells me what it is and the date which makes it easy to rotate using the oldest one first.

I make bread and rolls and cookies and cakes, muffins, coffee cakes, pancakes and waffles... I think you see if you make from scratch you use flour a lot. I also store whole wheat berries the same way as the flour. I only grind the wheat when I need, it is the only difference.

I glean apples every year I can.

I also can everything I get my hands on - this saves lots of money.

I dehydrate fruits and veggies. When I have one or two pieces of celery or a handful of carrots I dehydrate them. This drying things has saved us a lot.

This brings me to vacuum sealing. This is huge at saving us money. I vacuum seal things I dehydrate. I vacuum seal chocolate chips to last years. I use it so much I keep it on the counter ready to go all the time. I vacuum seal nuts to make them last. Dry things not wet things.

The key thing is when you do things yourself it saves money. So it may take elbow grease and skill building but they're good skills to have.

We had a used dresser given to us that was not in great shape. We cut it down which meant taking a lot of it apart. Then we made it into this bathroom sink. We used front of drawers to open into a cupboard door but closed it looks like drawers.

Being frugal means spending less it serves us well.  Sometimes we have to be really frugal we use what we put up if we are blessed with a little more we stock things needed ahead like two bags of flour etc this helps to smooth the harder times.

So what skills you learn now will help you all your life. 

https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/basic-life-skills-you-should-know this might give you some ideas for teaching your kids.

https://acultivatednest.com/homemaking-skills-to-learn-to-make-your-life-easier/ here are a few things you might want to pick from to work on

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-create-a-frugal-budget-1388523 this has ideas to help you with a budget

http://theparsimoniousprincess.blogspot.com/2013/01/100-more-painless-ways-to-live-frugally_31.html has maybe some thing you never thought of

https://www.frugalwoods.com/2016/01/04/make-a-new-years-resolution-for-just-one-month/ - more ideas here.

Sometimes we think we cannot manage without ___?  But I have found out you can really live without whatever thing you thought you couldn't before. We really can…

Cooking from scratch really is a huge thing. I know I keep saying it but I wouldn’t if it wasn’t.

https://www.thebalance.com/learn-how-to-cook-everything-from-scratch-1388352 - has some good things here.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ - this gal has a terrific site with frugal ideas in the kitchen.

What frugal things are you doing?