What did you do today to prepare for whatever? [Archive]

Dayzee

01-25-2010, 05:58 AM

This isn't going to come as a surprise to 99-44/100 percent of you, but I'm confessing, anyhow.

Due to the storms, we had a power outage the other night that lasted for an hour and a half. I was hungry and had no way to cook anything. My range is electric as is my microwave, toaster, toaster oven, wok, crockpot, fondue pot, egg cooker, bread machine, and coffee pot, etc! My fridge and both freezers were not working--tho' they didn't have time to defrost. My furnace has an electric thermostat, so it wasn't working. My computer was dead as were all three of my TV's. It was in the 40's outside, but these Arizona houses are well built and insulated so I wasn't freezing. I have lots of wood and could build a fire in the fireplace if stuff got "worser", but it is a damed lot of work for an old lady unless I'm in an "ambiance" mood (or really cold!)

I have a hand crank radio with a light and a slew of candles and a battery radio and a big flashlight, but it sort of got my attention just how much my life depends on electricity these days.

Something to think about for me--you?

kawalekm

01-25-2010, 06:17 AM

Saturday was spent grafting scions onto rootstock. I'm focusing now on combination trees with a necturine, white peach, Shiro plum, and apricot all on the same tree. A few weeks before, I finished the combination apples with 3 or 4 varieties on one rootstock.

On Sunday I was in the garage sorting through all the empty brass cartridge cases that need to be reloaded. Got a count for how many 9mm, .357, .40, and .45 bullets I'll have to size and lube before reloading starts.

NCLee

01-25-2010, 09:19 AM

This isn't going to come as a surprise to 99-44/100 percent of you, but I'm confessing, anyhow.

Something to think about for me--you?

Nope! LOL

My rude awakening came after hurricane Fran took out the power overnight. I couldn't make coffee the next morning. Swore that morning I'd never be in a situation again where I couldn't make a cup of hot coffee.

That was back in 1996. Would take me a while to count up all the ways I can make a cup of coffee, now. :wink:

Glad your power outage wasn't long enough to cause any major problems.

Lee

bookwormom

01-25-2010, 09:44 AM

stocked strawbales into a shelter for three goats about due to have babies. Made a cattlepanel hoop that is to be covered with a big tarp for instant woodshed.

GoodDaughter

01-25-2010, 01:50 PM

Taking lots and lots and lots of cuttings of fruit trees. Starting my tomato and pepper seeds.

That's all.

firegirl969

01-25-2010, 02:19 PM

Today, I got 3 kiwi plants, 2 females and 1 male. I also made a deal to buy an Amish completely-enclosed buggy with lights, windshield, and wipers for $1000. It is in like-new condition. We have a 6 hour drive to pick it up, but the ones around here were $2700-3500, so it will be worth the trip. DH and I are going to ride in it to town. One way to beat the high gas prices! I can't ride the horses anymore because of my back, so DH wants to get this so we can ride along with the kids. Plus, we can take those grandbabies that are coming this spring.

patience

01-25-2010, 05:32 PM

Working on the 12 volt portion of our solar system--posted about it in the "Solar" topic. I ground some flour and wife baked 6 loaves of whole wheat bread. We do this about every 10 days.

Sold my clunky old VW Rabbit back to the guy I got it from (it had issues), and putting the money into solar power and preps. By the time I get all the old VW parts out of the basement, I'll have lots more storage space. :) I plan to put a few bucks from the sale into keeping our remaining 2 trucks in top shape.

Daughter spent the day here slugging it out with our business computer forcing it to talk to our accountant's computer. She won--it worked out, so the taxes can get done. :p

We are pretty much eating out of our pantry and freezer, and stored grain bought from the local farmers. Had some great pear jam with lunch. :D I hope to grow some corn next year, mainly to keep seed stock going for Open Pollinated varieties for us and the kids, but also have some for chicken feed. Can't do a lot on one acre, though.

Daughter also finished the sheet metal hopper for the burr mill I restored for her and DH. I found a deal on a 2 1/2 HP gas engine for it, since they are off-grid. This mill is small, but will do cornmeal, flour, and could do some cracked corn for a few hens. I also have a big burr mill for them that can do livestock feed in quantity. No engine for that one yet. Her and DH are within days of having their first solar window box heater done. they plan to make and sell those. Has a 12V solar powered fan on it, and work REAL well. I'll be helping with that soon.

patience

01-25-2010, 05:45 PM

firegirl969,

Keep the wheels dry, and check the wheel bearings for grease and adjustment. New tapered roller bearings are usually available at an auto parts store. The fifth wheel (steering pivot under the body) seldom gets greased, so jack up the box and smear some in there. Check the small bolts that hold the shafts on--they wear fast.

Be SURE you have a slow moving vehicle reflector on the back end, and should have lights, too. A car battery runs those nicely, and lasts a long time if you recharge it EVERY time you use it.

How about harness? The new "biothane" stuff is actually a plastic, and doesn't require the oiling, cleaning and drying that makes leather a bore. Lots of it on eBay, but some of it is shoddy stuff, too. I'd reccomend a local harness shop, so you can see what you are getting.

cwatson

01-25-2010, 06:17 PM

I need to learn tree grafting. There never seems to be enough time to learn everything I need/want to learn. I have another spinning session tomorrow (spinning wool not bikes). You all probably knew that but I was talking about spinning today to someone that knows I knit alot and they said "Oh what gym are you going to?". It took me a minute to realize what they were talking about. They then said "why would you want to learn that when you can buy it at the store?" I just said "why not?". Finished the venison and turkey jerky so tomorrow it will be potatoes again on the dehydrator. I got one of those hand cranked peeler, corer, slicer gadgets and it works super great. The other day I peeled 15 pounds of apples (cored and sliced) in hardly no time. It does potatoes too you just move the coring part of the gadget. Got a great deal on block cheese today at the store so I froze some and will dehydrate some. That's about it.

cubcadet

01-25-2010, 06:18 PM

A few days ago, I hauled about 10 lbs. of hamburger out of the freezer. Boiled it on the woodstove in a large stockpot. This morning I skimmed off about a pound of tallow and froze it to use in soap. I strained out the boiled burger and froze most of it. The stock will be canned and frozen. Took about 2 lbs. and put it in baking pans and put it in 200 degree oven to drive out most of the remaining moisture. I have it spread out on the fridge to dry this evening. I`ll be able to reduce that 10 pounds into 2 or 3 mason jars of dried burger. You can re constitute this easily. Tomorrow, I`m gonna dry the rest of the carrots I grew this year and prolly some garlic too.

firegirl969

01-28-2010, 05:54 AM

Day before yesterday, DH and I sent a deposit on a closed-in Amish buggy with lights, windshield, and wipers. Looks brand new, the gent said it has been used 15 times only. He doesn't have time for it like he thought he would. We picked it up for $1000. We are using our tax return. I also traded for an Amish-trained Standardbred yesterday. She is 9 y/o, 14.2 hands high, trained to drive/ride. Her name is Quennie. I can't wait to get her. I already love her just from hearing so much about her. The lady is going through a bad divorce and she and hubby have to sell everything, so she is letting me have the horse for $100 just because I can provide her a good home. (DH is county animal control officer.) DH decided to get these because I can not ride the horses due to my disabilities, so this way, he and I can enjoy riding with the kids. Also, we can put the grandbabies that are arriving this spring into the buggy and ride them with us. We are planning ahead for alternative transportation. We can be to town in about an hour and 15 minutes. We are getting a good chunk of change from the IRS due to this being our last year we can claim all the kids. We are planning to spend all of it on preps. We will get the buggy, horse, build the shelter onto the barn, finish blocking up the root cellar, get the solar batteries, and put new tires on the truck. The only other goals we have this year are to get a pump for the fuel tank we have and put gas in it, so that in the event of an emergency, we will have gas for the truck and gas for the tractor. We also hope to acquire a couple of young heifers so that we can raise our own steer each year and sell a couple of calves to pay the land taxes. BIL keeps his bull here about 4 months a year, so they will be bred naturally. I hope to get a milk cow or dairy goats also. The great thing is that with the tax refund on the way, we are able to get many of our goals accomplished sooner, rather than later, and we know where that money is spent.

patience

01-28-2010, 07:48 AM

firegirl969,

Great progress! Spend some time with the new horse, spoil her a bit, and make friends. Time well spent, and enjoyable. :)

If you could put the gas tank up on a farm-style stand, you don't need a pump... Did ours that way, and happy with it. We use from it, and refill with cans to keep it rotated and fresh. Been doing that for ages and it works just fine. I have a water trap/filter at the outlet, that I drain regularly. If I get much water out of it, I shut of the tank valve and change for a spare filter. Then the one I removed is drained, open the drain on it and blow it out, then dried thoroughly in the sun, and put away for swapping out the next time. This keeps the shell from rusting out from the water in it. We've been using the same 2 filters for years. :D

firegirl969

01-28-2010, 09:46 AM

Thanks for sharing your experience with your gas tank. DH liked that idea alot, and so do I. That would save us over $200. $200 will put a good deal of gas in that tank. Do you mind sending me a picture or two of yours and your drain and filter system so that DH can look at it. I can PM you my email addy if you prefer. Blessings, firegirl

patience

01-28-2010, 01:01 PM

firegirl969,

I'm a computer illiterate, so I doubt if I can get photos of my rig to you, but here's a link to one: http://www.tidytanks.com/farmtank.html Whether this is economical for you depends on what you have or can scrounge cheap.

The bottom of the tank has a pipe threaded outlet, where a 90 degree elbow is screwed in, then go to the farm store or auto parts store in a farm town, and ask for a fuel shut off valve (brass), a tank filter for gasoline, the filter BASE (looks like where you screw on a car oil filter, but bigger), a gasoline hose and fuel nozzle. Get the SMALL nozzle, so it will fit cars with the small hole for unleaded fuel, then it will go into anything. (You are then responsible for not putting gasoline into a diesel, etc.) Most farm stores here have a clerk that can go right to the stuff. The order of installation is: elbow, short pipe, shutoff valve, short pipe, filter base, then the hose and nozzle. Get a shutoff valve that is lockable--they have a loop on top that the handle fits over, like a hasp, for a padlock. Check pipe thread sizes on everything, in case you need some adapters to make it all fit. Here's a photo of a spin-on filter unit like I use: http://www.jmesales.com/category/2394/1/Cim-Tek-Filter-Kits.aspx

Don't buy a new stand! Go to a farm auction. I see them sell here for 10 to 20 bucks! One auctioneer has 5 he can't give away. The tank has to fit the stand. Old ones here were round, and held 200 gallons. The stand fits under it, and if the stand is too narrow, it won't be stable, too wide, and the tank will not hit the side rails. Measure your tank diameter, and be sure the stand is 6" to 8" narrower at the point where the tank hits it.

We have an OVAL tank (see photo on the linked page), that was previously used for home heating oil. Got it FREE on Craigslist. It had very short legs, of 1 1/4" pipe, whichI replaced with longer ones to raise the tank. Then, I braced the legs by welding on X's of angle iron. Remember, 200 gallons of gas will weigh in the neighborhood of 1,500 pounds! Build it strong! I put a concrete slab under my tank (a foot bigger than the footprint both ways) to keep the legs from sinking into the ground in wet weather. This thing is as top heavy as a concrete truck, and you don't want it to tip over...

It is a fairly easy install, if you can find a suitable stand. If all the above puts you off the idea, consider a hand pump for your tank. I got a cheapie crank type that I use for kerosene at Harbor Freight for about $35, IIRC. Linky: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40844
It fits the standard 2" pipe thread in the "bunghole" of a 55 gallon barrel--also known as a barrel pump, but be certain that it is for FUEL, not water. It has about 3 feet of intake pipe so it can reach the bottom, but it adjustable for shallower tanks. It does NOT come with a hose and nozzle. If you use this, all you need is a hose and some BRASS pipe for the delivery end--brass is non-sparking. If you are cranking the pump, it would be near impossible to also hold the trigger open on the nozzle! If you want a better quality hand pump, look at the farm store for a hand operated fuel transfer pump, but you are back up to around $160 for that. (Online is a little cheaper than the store.)

I had to fiddle with my HF pump a bit to get it to work, and it is plain cast iron, so it will rust inside if you don't watch it. If it is to be stored for any length of time, pour a pint of oil in it and turn the crank to get it full. Always teflon tape any fittings, so you don't leak gas, nor suck air.

If you can't find the stand and such for cheap, you're better off with the pump. No easy way oput here, that I know of. Hope this helps some.

patience

01-28-2010, 01:19 PM

Working on the restored burr mill for my daughter. Need to get a pulley for the gasoline engine, but have a vee belt, and a 3/8" thick aluminum plate to mount it on. Then it can be clamped to a picnic table, or whatever, to use. I tried using this one cranking by hand and it made a handful of very nice corn meal! :D It can easily grind fine enough for flour. I have 20 bucks in the thing (auction) + $10 for sandblasting + paint $2 + $89.99 for a 2 1/2 HP gas engine at Harbor Freight. Total of about $130. A new one this size is around $200, I think, without the engine.

Received the 12 volt cigarette lighter plugs I ordered, so now I can do a bunch of wiring in the shop and house.

PS--On the farm fuel tank, don't try to get by without a filter. Moisture condenses in the tanks from temperature changes and humidity, causing the tanks to rust, which gets into you fuel system and plugs the fuel filter there. You need the drain on the bottom of the tank filter, too, because all that condensate goes to the bottom of the tank--water is heavier than gasoline--and ends up in your vehicle fuel tank. Not good. Drain that tank filter once a month. Religiously. Leave water in the tank filter for a year, and the filter cannister will rust out and leak out gasoline. That's why we change 'em out. Keep the outside of the tank painted, because it rust on the outside, too, especially where it sits on the stand and stays wet after a rain.

NCLee

01-30-2010, 02:35 AM

Today is one of those "whatever" in the title of this thread.

Last time our area had a major snow storm was in Feb 2004. Total then was 6". Well, this morning we already have 5" on the ground and it's sleeting now. Snow and sleet mix supposed to stay with us until early in the morning. Folks to the south of us are getting freezing rain and we may have some of that here, too, before this mess ends.

So, last night we went into hunker down mode to ride it out. Filled the bath tub for flushing, 5 gallons of water in a cooler beside the sink. Portable toilet on the backporch in case we need it inside. Checked the light in the well house, since temps are due to go down to 12 degrees tomorrow night. Pulled out longjohns and put them on top in the dresser drawer. Put a flat bladed shovel on the front porch.

If the freezing rain starts getting material, will go into phase II during the day today. That means putting oil lamps around the house. Filling the water bath canner on the stove and other related items to hunker down even more.

Yep, today is a "whatever" day.
Lee

Pokeberry Mary

01-30-2010, 03:02 AM

I'm one of those folks south of you getting that freezing rain. From what I hear its supposed to continue all day then become snow. YIKES! I was just thinking about filling the tub myself. I just filled a few containers and talked to Hubby about it all. We just moved here in the fall and really do not have what is needed for an electric outage. We looked at wood burners one weekend but never decided on one and I'd been checking Craigs list. Well I am hoping we won't find out what's it like to be in big trouble sometime today.

I'm also realizing I need to have a source of heat and a source of water-- and not to keep putting that up. I also realize my daughter in town needs the same--as well as to learn to stock up food.

Prepping is not something I think we've taken quite seriously enough-- the weather today is definitely getting our attention. I'm pretty sure if there are wide spread power outages as can easily happen with ice storms--that our neck of the woods is not going to be anyplace near the top of priorities for the electric co-op. Hoping for luck.

Pokeberry Mary

01-30-2010, 05:44 AM

Builder Ken

01-30-2010, 07:33 AM

Well guy's we got between 6 and 8 " I think a little ice and sleet. we had power outages around us but we never lost power thank the good Lord for that. Today the sun is shining but it is cold, wish we could get to the farm but not sure the roads will allow us too. We have a lot of work left to do out there but if we can get a few days of good weather it won't take long and we can move in. I will say a prayer for all of you in the path of the storm, stay safe. Ken

jonvee

01-30-2010, 07:39 AM

It looks like we're going to have a nice weekend, so I'll be out planting cool weather veggies and starting seeds in the garage. Later in the afternoon I have to take DD to work on a school project and will take that opportunity to check out a store that sells used water storage containers. One of the guys in my CERT training told me about it and I need something for livestock water storage.

I'm also hoping I get my Costco rebate check today so I can get more stock up supplies.

And, if I have time, or maybe I'll let DD do it for me I have to paint my gas shut off valve red and attach the shut off wrench to it so we'll be set if we need to turn the gas off. (this is my Cert training homework)

CapeCMom

01-30-2010, 08:50 AM

Take care for all of you in the path of this storm! Stay warm and I hope your power stays on!

patience

01-30-2010, 11:16 AM

We got a couple inches of snow, but no biggie. Most of the storm went south of us. It IS cold, though, so we keep the cats mostly inside, check the chickens a couple times a day. No frozen water in the henhouse yet, since we have a heater under it, but if it gets down below 10 F, we could get frozen eggs if we leave them overnight. None yet, though. Love that insulated henhouse!

Wild birds are flocking to our feeder on the back porch, and eat like farmhands. Hard time for all wildlife.

patience

01-30-2010, 06:22 PM

The small burr mill I restored is finished. I got the 2 1/2 HP Chinese gas engine on it and ground about 2 pounds of very nice corn meal in just a couple minutes. That thing is fast, for only 3 1/2" burrs. Since this goes to my daughter's place, we talked it over and she wanted the engine easily removable to also use on other things, like a big bench grinder for metal, and maybe a drill press we have. The drill press has a crank, but also has a pulley for power.

Working on the 12 volt wiring today. I dug out all my scraps and salvage of welding cable, and have enough #2 and #1/0 AWG to run two conductors the length of the house. Still have to buy some #2/0 to go from this buss line to the solar entrance panel. Found that I have enough #2 gauge to add about 15 feet to my portable welder leads, too. This stuff has been lying around for a year or more, waiting to get used for something. I have enough to get started setting junction boxes, so now I get to make some insulator plates (out of phenolic plastic) to mount all those huge wire lugs. (#1/0 welding cable is as thick as your thumb.) This will run 12 volts/30 amps about 70 feet with less than 2% loss of power. Low voltage takes really FAT wire, and it ain't cheap, with copper prices of $3.00 to $3.50 a pound. The #2/0 I need runs from $2.75 to over $4.00 a foot, and that is single wire--you need 2 of them for power = $5.50 or more per foot of run, so all the salvaged stuff makes a big difference.

My wife helped me get some really grubby, greasy jeans in the wash, along with my shop work coat (filthy), and reminded me that I promised to waterproof her hiking boots. I spent some time with a toothbrush and a can of Mink Oil scrubbing it into the leather, then set them in front of a south window where they will get some sun to make it soak in well.

We still need to hit the surplus store and hunt for fanny packs and a tent of some sort for hiking season. I can't decide on a tent. The new ones are very light, cost a fortune, and not very sturdy. The old stuff, like GI shelter halves, are really heavy, but cheap and indestructible. Anybody know of a decent compromise? I'm leaning toward indestructible. Don't plan to carry it very far anyway. Ideas? Others here gave me links to modern backpacker tents, but they start around $200, and look flimsy to me.

NCLee

01-31-2010, 02:36 AM

Well I've filled up some 6 gallon buckets with water--just in case. I'm also going to make some extra coffee today and fill up a couple of pitchers with it. I'll leave it on the porch where its plenty cold today here in South Carolina. If we do lose power at least I'll be able to heat some coffee up over a fire outside. We don't have much else right now that would do that in a power outage. I always think of water, heat and cooking. We have plenty of food here I just hope things don't get worse and are fine. We will definitely make getting our wood burner and generator more of a priority now.

I'm also thinking more canning and less depending on a freezer--but that will take me longer to change.

I'm also concerned because my daughter in town has taken her boyfriend to work this morning--on the highway--where I know it is very risky in this ice storm. He has never driven in snow she is a Wisconsin December baby so she can handle it--I just worry about everyone else! I don't know why they didn't close the store today!

Nothing to do about it, just hope its OK.

ugh.

Hope all is OK!!! Heard that a lot of folks in western NC and in SC lost power. Sure hope that I don't read, later about you being one of those. (sigh)

So far, we're OK here. Haven't measured it but according to the news reports we got somewhere between 6 & 8" of snow with sleet on top. Two foot icicles hanging off the front porch. If we can get through one more night without the pump or line to the house freezing, we'll be over the hump. Next thing to deal with is possibly a flooded septic tank drain field when all this stuff melts. May have a day or 2 of portable toilet duty. Oh, well.... we're still lucky, as it could have been so much worse.

Local weather folks are hinting at a repeat next weekend. (groan)

Hope all is well with the other members, here.

Lee

momma_to_seven_chi

01-31-2010, 02:54 AM

We picked up a couple of cases of evaporated milk last night. They had a clearance sale for fifty cents a can, so we stocked up on that.

patience

02-01-2010, 06:25 PM

Woo-Hoo!
I just had a real "find" in my junk box! A friend cleaned out his shop several years ago, and gave me a box of stuff to sort and take what I wanted. I remembered seeing an old timer that I kept from that haul, and looked it up tonight. It is an Intermatic # T-105 as seen here: http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/int1tisp40a1.html (http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/int1tisp40a1.html)

Rated at 40 amps per pole, and my water heater runs on a 30 amp breaker, so..... FREE water heater timer! This thing is "new old stock", never used, but ancient. I pulled it apart and checked it out, finding a date stamped on it of January 18, 1958. Looked up the part number, and whaddayaknow, mine looks exactly like the one in the linked photo! They haven't changed this thing in 52 years! Saved me a trip to the big city and about $70, too.

Now, all I gotta do is figure out how to wire this thing, but it looks pretty simple. They put directions inside the door of the metal box!

Pokeberry Mary

02-02-2010, 09:05 AM

I inherited 7 produce boxes full of dirty mayo jars from the guy who began the building on our house. Today I got a couple dozen of them cleaned up good and packed in clean cardboard trays with recycled plastic shopping bags wrapped around them. I figure there's about 6 dozen to go. These were all in a section of my root cellar that needed to be gone through and cleaned.

I'm also ordering some fruit and nut plants and heirloom seeds today for our garden.

recoilless_57mm

02-03-2010, 11:05 AM

For the last 2.5 weeks I have been machining a small 3hp steam engine to run a generator to supply electricity and heat to the house. At this point I am looking for a set of boiler plans or boiler itself. So far things are progressing very well.

OT

CapeCMom

02-04-2010, 04:25 AM

Bought a bunch of seeds for the garden. I know a lot of you guys don't like Burpee, but our local Ocean State job lot had 2010 Burpee seeds including many heirloom varities for 40% off the list price. I bought a whole bag full, and was happy to at least get a start. They didn't have some of what I was looking for, but they did have the basics so I was happy.
DH bought a Smith and Wesson .45 on a trip with my father. Dad bought two long guns.
The guy who owns the gun shop gave DH a pretty good deal-threw in a holster and a couple boxes of ammo.
I think my dad is getting nervous about stuff-he and Mom went on two BJ's stock up trips which they picked up stuff for me on my list. Now they are going again next week to get more. They are so sweet, it really saves me time to give them a list. BJ's is about 25 miles from here and it is hard sometimes for me to take the time to make the trip myself. Will be stocking up again when they go. I will have to go downstairs and stare at my shelves to decide what to get next. I am so glad they are nearby. Dad is also a HAM radio operator, and about ten years ago had taken down his tower-well now the tower is back up and he back on the airways. He used to be in civil defense during the day. I am glad we will be able to communicate with the outside world if things do go South. He pressed his brother in California to get his lic-which he has so that they could talk.

sinzitu

02-04-2010, 10:26 AM

Picked up a Buddy Heater at Lowes for $59.25. It's the cheapest price I could find locally.

Picked up some more can goods that were on sale to continue filling up the pantry. I do this every week when I do our regular grocery shopping.

Gave my truck the once over to be sure it's fueled up and ready for the snow we're expected to ge tomorrow and Saturday.

Cil

02-04-2010, 11:11 AM

Went grocery shopping. :D

NCLee

02-04-2010, 11:43 AM

Gave my truck the once over to be sure it's fueled up and ready for the snow we're expected to ge tomorrow and Saturday.

Welcome!

I sure hope the weather folks are wrong about what's going to the north of us. And, I sure hope they're right about our forecast. Don't know whether to grin or frown with that comment.

Rain, snow, freezing rain tonight with rain tomorrow ending with some more snow and ice. Not expecting much frozen accumulation around here. Don't need it. Still have plenty from last weeks storm.

Melting snow has our septic field flooded. Can only flush about once per day. Bath this morning was at the sink. Porta Potty is sitting on the back porch. Cause with 2-3" of rain, we're going to need it over the weekend.

All the folks to north and west of us, prayers that you don't lose power. Be safe on the roads. Nephew totalled his truck last weekend. Thank goodness he and his passengers came out OK. He had to cut himself out of the seatbelt as he was hanging upside down when the truck came to a stop after going down an embankment.

Lee

patience

02-04-2010, 04:56 PM

Lee, Thank goodness everyone was all right. Happens in an instant, and no way out of it sometimes.

Today I'm making special terminal blocks for the 12 volt buss line in the house. Couldn't find what I wanted without ordering something, and had some phenolic plastic and some aluminum flat bar. Saved a good deal of money, too.

I was almost done with this when I realized I would need 5 or them, not 4.... Oh, well. tomorrow is another day. :o

GoodDaughter

02-04-2010, 06:19 PM

More seeds planted for the spring garden. More fig tree cuttings. Bought a case of 12 rolls of t.p. at 1000 ft./roll, paid $20.

That's all, but have plans for this weekend if the weather cooperates.

crunchycon

02-05-2010, 01:35 AM

Scavenged about 20 big red delicious apples leftover from a workshop at work. I'll likely be making applesauce this weekend!

sinzitu

02-05-2010, 03:36 AM

Welcome!

I sure hope the weather folks are wrong about what's going to the north of us. And, I sure hope they're right about our forecast. Don't know whether to grin or frown with that comment.

Thanks. No worries. As long as it's just snow we'll do fine. Ice and freezing rain are the worst but fortunately (for us) that looks to be staying south. The folks in So. MD and Virginia will likely take the brunt of that portion of the storm. It may be a rain event there too... not sure if that's any better.

I hope things dry out down there for you soon.

Take care.

Sheila

02-05-2010, 01:27 PM

So far this month, haven't accomplished a lot. Had been pretty ill with a cold/bronchitis. It was all I could do to report for my bus driving duties daily. Finally today, I began to feel a bit better.

Went to the grocery story and purchased some meet on sale for our freezer and some noodles that were on sale.

Over the weekend I'll probably work on our guest bedroom. Still pulling down some wallpaper and spacklingl holes. Then I'll begin sanding and finally wash down the walls and lastly paint a bit.

Then there are the usual chores. Feeding animals, cleaning out driveway, etc. We got dumped on pretty good today with the snow 4-8 inches. Tons more tomorrow or so the weatherman says.

Also, ordered some more heirloom seeds for the garden. Can't wait for them to come.
:sarcastic:

cwatson

02-05-2010, 02:44 PM

I hit a great sale at the store and was able to stock up on body wash and bar soap. We can make our own bars but I like to always have back up to the back up. Got organic bar soap that was reg 2 bars for 2.99 for 2/.84 Bought a bunch. Had a bunch of coupons for freebees too so I got that too (dish liquid, laundry detergent and more) And not tried size either. At the end of the day between the freebees, coupons and sales I saved over 55.00. Stocked up on more T.P. too. I try to get a couple jumbo packs a week if the budget allows and if I find it on sale somewhere. It is usually on sale somewhere in town. :) DH said he was getting concerned be cause he thought we might have less than 100 packs. LOL Other than that it is just preparing for the visit tomorrow by my DMIL and making yogurt and cheese.

I put the deposit down on my spinning wheel this week too. That was exciting. I was actually blessed to meet a woman who is fast becoming a friend and she had an extra she offered to sell me for half of what that particular one is going for used and with alot of extras and roving too. She is the same person that offered to teach me for free saving me over 100.00 a class for formal classes and an 80 mile trip each way to where I was going to take the classes.

patience

02-05-2010, 03:24 PM

Had rain that turned to snow today, temps falling fast, so I hurried through some outside work. We have an inch on the ground now, with slush under it that will turn to ice tonight.

I finished a big I-beam job and got it out of the shop today, and had time to finish the 12V terminals for my 12 volt buss line. Next is mount the boxes, and run that heavy 2/0 cable on the basement ceiling. Can't wait to start THAT. Overhead work doesn't mix well with a bum shoulder. Torn rotator cuff, many years ago, but it works, sort of. Plenty good enough to sling around I-beams on the ground. Someone else can paint my ceilings, though.

Our welding shop is only 24 x 28 ft., but that is plenty big enough to make one heck of a pile of plunder! I am diligently cramming it full to the rafters so that when I die, my kids can have lots of fun sorting it out! :rolleyes: Actually, it is sort of a savings account for them. Whatever happens to the currency, the tools and materials are still what they are, and will be good assets, no matter what. They have a metal shop, too, so it's not like they won't know what to do with it. Daughter and her DH want to eventually consolidate mine, his Dad's, and their own stuff into one shop at their place. Knowing that, I have done things like making free standing storage shelves for a given class of stuff, like my drill bit collection that goes from .011" up to 2 1/4" diameter. Has its' own shelf unit, of heavy welded steel, and wood blocks that store the bits, extra chucks, morse taper sleeves, etc.. The whole thing could be moved, intact, to any shop and still function like it does now. Someday, they will bless my memory for that. :)

I recently moved my portable welder to their shop, so I can lie and say I don't have one. :p That means I don't have to crawl in the mud to weld under busted farm machines! SIL tells everyone it is broke, 'cause HE won't do that, either. But, it means they have welding capability at their off-grid place. Last week, I extended the leads on it to 35 feet long, so you just have to get somewhere close to the job. Darn thing weighs 800 lbs., so you don't just drag it anywhere, and even loading it in the truck is done with a forklift or a chain hoist. This is a Miller 200, which is commonly seen hanging from a crane, 60 feet in the air on a construction site, to keep someone from stealing it.

I made a cart for it so it can be rolled around the shop, with 8" diameter cast iron wheels on it, and urethane tires. SIL is 6 ft. 5 in., weighs about 240, and it's a load for him to push around. It will weld continuously,all day on less than 5 gallons of gas, and idles when not welding. You flip a switch on the front panel, and it becomes a 2,400 watt continuous duty generator, running the 16 HP Onan engine at idle. We keep a stash of welding rods, too, in watertight containers. I use 4" PVC pipe with a cap glued on one end, and pushed tight on the other. Cheaper than the commercial tubes, they hold more, and work perfectly.

firegirl969

02-05-2010, 06:42 PM

DH and I returned tonight with the Amish buggy horse we bought and a freebie gaited sorrell gelding the lady sent with us. Tomorrow we travel another 7+ hours each way to pick up the Amish buggy we bought.

A guy just came and paid DH for our bass boat, so DH is going ahead with construction of a shelter for the horses and a shelter for the two tractors and the buggy and a shop for DH's tools and the tack.

We also got the new tires put on our truck yesterday and got the oil changed, so those important prep items are complete.

momma_to_seven_chi

02-06-2010, 02:00 AM

Melting snow has our septic field flooded. Can only flush about once per day. Bath this morning was at the sink. Porta Potty is sitting on the back porch. Cause with 2-3" of rain, we're going to need it over the weekend.

Lee

I hope you don't get all that rain. We have pumped our basement more the last year than ever in the last 25yrs. It has been such a wet spell.

NCLee

02-06-2010, 05:00 AM

Thanks!

We ended up with a little more than an inch around here according to the weather folks. The worse of it went to the south of us. Still having to ration flushing though, as the combo of the rain and snow melt has all the land mush. We're on the side of a gentle slope. And, close to the bottom of it. There's 2 creeks in the backyard. So, when it gets extremely wet, as it is now, the drainage from above us, passes through our drain field. Fellow got stuck, last fall, in our side yard. You could see the water oozing out of the ruts he made, on it's trip down the slope.

Back to the topic. :)

Went through the sweet potatoes yesterday to make sure they're still OK and none starting to spoil. Plan to bake up a half sheet pan of them today for snacking. Need to get started canning and dehydrating soon, while they are still in good shape.

Working on getting hard copies of DIY info stored on the computer while it's too disagreeble to do anything more than necessary outside. Snow flurries this morning.

Lee

patience

02-06-2010, 05:56 AM

Southern Indiana got an inch and a half of slush, then snow, which froze overnight into a glaze of ice on everything. :( I'm staying in the shop today, and will try to get some of the 12 volt buss line installed this weekend.

edit: CORRECTION! We got about 3" total snow, over a coating of ice. My first guess was from in the house. It's a mess out there. Highways are clear now, but the county roads are waiting on the county's solar snow removal plan, as usual.

pcrowder

02-09-2010, 08:01 AM

Am making out a list to purchase more goods for the pantry, and more kerosene and wicks for the lamps.

TEX

02-09-2010, 09:34 AM

Am making out a list to purchase more goods for the pantry, and more kerosene and wicks for the lamps.

Same thing we are doing. We usually go to Sam's about once every month or 6 weeks - Saturday is a Sam's Club run. Wandered around in the kitchen checking things like baking soda and corn startch, salt and spices. Invariably you think you have one of those little things and *&%$( the container is empty - we are not out but we are low and those are the things i like to get at Sam's plus paper stuff and cleaning supplies.

patience

02-09-2010, 02:28 PM

Plowed snow till I was tired of it, and got it done. I'm trying to draw a floor plan of our house, so I can plan where 12V lights will go, and thus, where the buss line junction boxes need to be set. Just looked out, and it's snowing again. Oh, joy. :mad:

Thankfully, we made runs to Sam's, Wal Mart, grocery, county landfill, and whatever, before the snow and ice hit us. Worst case, I might have to mix up some powdered milk for cereal, but we don't plan to go anywhere with the roads in a mess. One of the few luxuries of being retired! :p

We're thinking that we'll just put outlets in for 12 volts, and use plug-in lights. Lots of versatility in that idea, but that means that I need a lot more outlets than I had planned on. Planning for this whole system is a fine activity for cold weather! ;)

MrGreenJeans

02-09-2010, 04:39 PM

Getting ready for another nasty blast. Bought more can good's today little here and there.

firegirl969

02-09-2010, 05:05 PM

DH sold his bass boat, so he is putting a shelter in for the horses and getting a metal building for s shop/tack room and putting a shelter on the front of it for the river boat and workspace and a shelter on the back for the two tractors and the buggy. We also placed an order from sportsman guide which included a 1500 watt inverter for the upcoming solar system, new boots for DH and DS, several cases of ammo, DVD set of 150 western movies, a driveway alarm, a rechargeable LED lantern, and a solar nite lite. I also placed orders for the seeds, fruit bushes and trees, and alldaychemist for meds. The federal tax return should be here by the end of the week. We will finish the root cellar, fix the gas tank, and fill in a few holes in the preps including food, OTC meds, and some first aid bandages, lamp oil and wicks, detergent makings, mylar and o2 absorbers, and will save the rest for emergencies.

Bootz

02-10-2010, 03:39 PM

I bought new boots. A pair exactly like the old ones, but a half size smaller. When I lose weight I wear a smaller size :-0

I thought about economizing and just buying a cheaper pair of sneakers, but panicked, knowing I can walk twice as far in boots as sneakers,and carry a heavier load.

The salesperson couldn't figure out how I had worn my boots out so fast. The soles were bald and and my foot had burst out the side of a model that has only been on the market for about a year. "Do you wear them everyday?" he asked, with a confused look on his face.

I'm on disability for my post trauma and seizures, so am pretty lean on cash. I have to hit food pantries to stock up. I carried about 40 pounds of food home before the snow hit. Waiting in line out in the cold for an hour was worth it. I got some dried potatoes, parmalat milk, whole grain pasta, onions, pickles, tomatoes, soup, green beans, and some other stuff, that I'm really thankful for. They were out of oats :-( I have no stockpile of oats. I eat them more than other grains, because they are SO versatile, and am always running out.

And as usual I get a LOT of exercise. The best prep is to have stamina and be fit.

Cil

02-10-2010, 04:08 PM

Bought new sneakers. My old ones are trashed.

patience

02-10-2010, 04:44 PM

Daughter helped me get the 2nd buss junction put up, and then UPS brought the fuseholders, terminals and switches I ordered. Now I get to figure out how to mount the fuseholders on those boxes--the boxes I bought were too small. :o But, I've jammed everything in them so far. fuses will have to mount on the outside. :mad: At least they'll be accessible.

Looks like I'll have some heavy cable left over to work on the 3rd small solar panel setup. :D That stuff is expensive. I've scrimped and salvaged stuff, hunted for deals, and still spent more than I wanted to for cables. Actually, I came out good, I'm just a skinflint. :)

firegirl969

02-11-2010, 10:12 AM

I picked up some gauze wrap, 81 mg aspirin, and olives yesterday for the storehouse.

sinzitu

02-12-2010, 03:51 AM

Picked up some ibuprofen, acetaminophan, and migraine (generic Excedrin) meds to supplement the med cabinet. Also some toothpaste and other misc personal hygeine stuff to add to the pantry.

NCLee

02-12-2010, 10:36 AM

Threw some "extras" in the grocery cart this morning. For example, 3 jars of peanut butter and mayo, instead of the usual 1 jar or each. Added a box of borax, 2 bags of black beans, and a few more items along that tine. Stashing back a little extra on each shopping trip adds up, after awhile.

Lee

firegirl969

02-12-2010, 03:09 PM

Glad we're prepared for "whatever." It is snowing here in south GA. We have about 2 inches on the ground already. The city 7.5 miles away from us is without power. We still have it, but the lights keep flickering. We have water stored to water the animals tomorrow and some for flushing the potty. DH has a roaring fire going in the woodstove and a pot of soup simmering on top of it. He has a good stash of dry wood on the porch. We aren't worried about it.

NCLee

02-13-2010, 02:46 AM

We dodged the bullet on this one. Have about 2.5 to 3" on the ground here according to the weather folks. We usually get nailed when systems like this one move through.

Also heard a couple of times that with this storm, all 49 contiental states have snow on the ground. Keep saying they can't find any record of it happening before. Guess it's global warming at work. :sarcastic:

Firegirl, sounds like you hunkered down nicely. Hope your power didn't fail.

Lee

Pokeberry Mary

02-13-2010, 04:48 AM

I've got 145 seedlings growing right now and its time to start the next wave soon. I got some more seeds that are fresh this week- concentrating on more heirlooms and perennials and self sowers.

I've been continuing to clean all my inherited mayo jars and re-wrap them in clean fresh cardboard trays from Sams and Aldi's then in recycled plastic grocery bags. I have about 2 dozen left to clean. I've added more things to my root cellar. I also got paint this week for the inside of our pay as you go house. We're finally painting inside walls! I'm so thrilled. I got rebates on all the paint I bought at Lowes including 2 gallons for my son's room that are are going to be free with the rebate because they were clearanced at $5 and the rebate is $5. :)

Our biggest preparedness item is our house. We bought it outright so we don't ever have to worry about making a payment on it.

I'm hoping to order my grapes and filberts--they are the plants I decided to add to our fruit and nut collection this spring. I spent alot on paint and we have some big tax bills due--so we'll be maybe waiting a couple weeks to order those--we'll see.

doing well, enjoying the gorgeous snow on our pine trees here in Sunny South Carolina. :)

CapeCMom

02-13-2010, 11:20 AM

Going for the next step in getting my Concealed Carry Permit. Going to the range tomorrow to take the course with a friend of my husbands who is on a SWAT team. Getting to shoot an AK 47 for the first time-that should be fun. The guys is pretty cool-not charging me for the course-just two couples going so it will be a pretty hands on time. FIL went for his and there was 20 people in his class. No Thanks. Hubby bought me a twelve gauge so I will get to shoot that for the first time too-it'll be good to get a good feel for it. Hope it doesn't knock me on my keester! BUT for my CCW I have to shoot 50 rounds of DH's .45. It's weird. I am more comfortable with a rifle so shooting a handgun will be different.

TEX

02-13-2010, 12:59 PM

Spent a bunch of money at Sams is what I did - sugar, toilet paper, velveta (it's the king of cheese and till tshtf I want it on my english muffin with sausage in the mornings). OTC meds - cough meds, powdered aspirin - if you haven't tried the one Bayer makes you really should - works way faster and it tastes like those little straws full of candy we ate as a kid so you don't need water and you can take a dose or two in your pocket. Baking powder, dried onions - I don't have a dehydrator yet but I sure need one - onions just don't keep well here in our very humid climate and we seem to throw away about 1/4 of all the onions we buy. Also picked up some more rolls of bags for the food saver. Black oil sunflower seeds for the wild birds and treats for the dogs. Being empty nesters we spoil the wild birds, the ducks and the dogs and cat.

We were supposed to pick up a pair of doves so we could raise them - although I have a feeling that they will turn into pets also but for some reason the man we went to get them from was gone. We will try again tomorrow.

And ordered some more green coffee beans to put into storage. I am running out of storage space except for in the mud room. Have a huge run of cabinets back there but they are full of old paperback books which are going into the trash to give us more storage space.

GoodDaughter

02-13-2010, 01:15 PM

I would like to try the powdered Bayer---I used to take BC Powders by the handful. Ah yeah, just dump one on my tongue and choke it down quick with a slug of soda before it foams up too much, wait a minute and take another. Yum.

Been watering and caring for seedlings. Got three new baby fig trees, varieties I don't have. Will be getting a load of cuttings of more rare varieties in the next week or so. Can't wait to add to my collection.

DH and I rolled five tractor tires over to a very sunny area today and filled with soil/leaf mold we scraped off the ground back by the woods. It looks like it should be awesome for growing potatoes in. I think we're going to go to town this evening to the bookstore to see if they have the current BHM so I can read Jackie Clay's article. DH wants a book ' Chevy V8's On A Budget'. He has the 'Ford V8's On A Budget' and wants the Chevy issue. Good excuse to go somewhere in the evening together.

Got a Silkie hen sitting on 5 little eggs!! I think she's only been sitting less than a week. I added some new dry shavings to their little A-frame pen today and she hopped off for a few minutes but was soon back on the nest.

Got a batch of that good leaf mold/soil in the oven baking. I'm going to mix it with some perlite and take some rose cuttings this evening and pot them up. Along with trying to grow more food, I like to grow lots of pretty things, too.

NCLee

02-13-2010, 01:21 PM

Don't trash those books. Donate them to someone. Maybe take them to a resthome, for example.

If you bought the Tomes dried onions and such, transfer them to small canning jars and vac seal. Jelly jars, half pints, or pints. Put a coffee filter, cut to fit over the contends of the jar (to keep the pump from pulling in the poweder, if that' what you bought). Vac sealing will prolong the shelf life. Dividing into smaller containers, means you'll have a smaller amount "open" at any given time. Or, re-seal with the FoodSaver, for each use, if you don't use xyz very often.

Psssst.... I like those Sam's stocking up trips, too. :secret:

Lee

TEX

02-13-2010, 02:22 PM

I highly recommend the Bayer powdered aspirin - it works really fast and you don't have to chug the liquid afterwards - it actually tastes good, only Sams doesn't carry it yet - but Wally world, right down the road does.

Already repackaged everything into smaller quantities except for the Garlic Pita Chips - gotta love those things - much better than chips. LOL

firegirl969

02-14-2010, 07:58 PM

I ordered mylar and O2 absorbers to pkg some of our stores for LTS. We also ordered the pump for our gas tank and some meds from alldaychemist.com for storage: several types of antibiotics, silvidene cream, lidocaine cream, and a good-size stash of thyroid meds for me.

firegirl969

02-16-2010, 04:28 PM

Today the gas company came and repaired the 110 gallon propane tank we were given by FIL. It needed new seals in it and a new bonnet and valve to fill it up. Then they put 100 gallons of propane into it. We only cook with propane, so that should last us 2-3 years.

The hand pump for the gas tank came today as well as 3 months worth of contact lens. Our seeds came from Baker Seed Co.

These additions to the homestead make for a good prepping day!

Southerngirl

02-16-2010, 05:41 PM

Realized today I need to start hitting the garage sales and Goodwill stores this spring to start buying the next size in clothes and shoes for my kids. They are 3 and 5 years old and I realized if something happened and I couldn't order or go out and buy clothes for them, we would be in a situation of them not having shoes, ect. that fit them properly.
So this I will work on!
Found potato starters, onions, strawberries and more at our local Tractor Supply today. Last year I waited too long to buy them, so I put them up for growing season this year.
Also I contacted someone on craigslist that is selling Loblolly Pine seedlings very cheap, and I've checked them out, they are legit. Need to order about 200 seedlings to help conceal our farm.
I planted about 50 Norway Spruce seedlings back in December before the hard winter started, but they are turning brown on me, so not sure if they are going to pull through? I assume since they are evergreens that them turning brown means they are dying? Was hoping it was just that they are in their dormant stage because of winter and just being planted, I will let them go through Spring and see if they "come back" before I pull them up and try something else. It's the front part of the property and I wanted something nice looking and quick growing. After long research, they say they are the fastest growing evergreens. Anyone have any experience with them?
I saved back $150 from this last paycheck and plan on buying some much needed items to restock our small pantry for those "in case" situations.
Doing tons of reading, planning for Spring. Hope to get the old storm cellar that we do not use for our escape from the OK tornadoes, we have a newer one for that, and hope to get the old cellar up and going into a root cellar this year!
Plan on contacting the big tire company 2 miles up the road and see if I can get some old tractor tires for planting potatoes in this year, we too tried in the ground last year but they did not make it.
Southerngirl

patience

02-16-2010, 05:56 PM

Southerngirl,

Potato crop was dismal for us last year. Got barely a little more than our seed weight back. The season was very wet here, and potato beetles were a problem. I plan to put potatoes in a better drained location this year.

We have been managing to save most of our potato seed form the past year's crop. don't have the best place to keep them--in a rather too warm, too dry basement, but it has been working fairly well. No place to put a root cellar. Our one acre lot is getting rather full. :( Today, I got our stored potatoes put under the bottom shelf in the pantry, where it is cooler and darker.

I spent most of the day plowing snow out of the driveways. I've had quite enough of February now. I only managed to get a little wiring done on the 12 volt line.

Pokeberry Mary

02-17-2010, 06:40 AM

I'm not feeling well so I've been just doing quiet work. We found a source finally for sausage casings this week and made about 15 pounds of sausage. I packed away the last bit of that this morning.
I've been researching food dehyrdators. I sold my old one when were in the midst of one of our many moves before we finally were able to buy a house again. I think they've been improved some since I got mine so I am looking forward to getting a nicer one and having it here before we harvest anything this spring. I'm leaning toward a 5 tray excalibur, 2nd choice is the Nescoe 75.
Depends on what Hubby will agree to paying. I thought about a bigger one or extra trays--but read one review that the 9 tray exc. was quite noisy and I KNOW how much Hubby dislikes things that are noisy. Besides I think 5 trays will be good enough for us at this stage of life.

We're still working on finishing our inside walls on the house--getting paint on . I got the last of my paint in time to use the Lowes rebate. There are 2 bedrooms I didn't pick paint for--but I figure I'll find some mistints later and maybe mix some of my own with leftovers.

We used watered down joint compound--the cheapest we could find--to put a light texture on the drywall and it looks ok--not professional perfect but not too bad for DIYers.

I'm still working on my pantry and getting it organized but as I said, I'm sort of down for the count this week, so not getting that much done--although I do have lots of seedlings started for the garden. Started some more today.:)

CountryGuy

02-18-2010, 04:49 AM

Plan on contacting the big tire company 2 miles up the road and see if I can get some old tractor tires for planting potatoes in this year, we too tried in the ground last year but they did not make it.
Southerngirl

Have any of y'all done the planting potatoes in plastic trash cans? I've read about it and was thinking about trying it this year. Since we're moving at the end of June I'm probably not going to be able to plant anything this year. But, I thought if this trash can idea works I could go this route and be able to take my "potato garden" with me without to much mess or trouble.

Last year I tried tomatoes in hanging planters, I even made one of those upside down planters to try. All of them and the ones I ground planted didn't do anything. So I'm gun shy to try containers that I could take along.

BTW, I hope your feeling better Pokeberry. If you still have more walls to do try buying the powder instead of the premix, it will let you mix your own thickness and it's usually less cost. not to mention you can get something like quick set 90 that sets up fast. Depening on the temp and humidity it can sometimes be ready to sand in an hour or 2. In the past I've tried adding water to premix mud but it can be hard to get it consistent from batch to batch.

Pokeberry Mary

02-18-2010, 03:29 PM

I am getting better. I got some antibiotics and hope to be in good shape by the weekend. We're going to have warm weather!!! yeah!! I'm planting my peas and spinach and then moving some seedlings out to coldframes finally--so I'll have room on my light stand to start more stuff.

We have tried the dry stuff-- Hubby & Sons preferred the pre-mix for some reason. We get a big heavy bucket for 8,99. at lowes.

I do still have one more bag of the dry though--maybe we'll use that too, but we're almost done! YEAH!!!! Just in time to start working outside...

Always someth:)ing.

CountryGuy

02-18-2010, 05:14 PM

What part of SC you in? We used to live in West Columbia

NCLee

02-19-2010, 01:00 AM

Pokeberry Mary

02-19-2010, 02:35 AM

What part of SC you in? We used to live in West Columbia

We're in the Piedmont--as Lee said not too far south of Charlotte.

Pokeberry Mary

02-19-2010, 02:40 AM

Mary, don't rush the season, this year. If memory serves, you're not too far from Charlotte on your side of the NC/SC line. So, far this year, we're running about 10 degrees below normal. And, according to the weather folks, there's no break in the pattern in the long range forecast.

Just be prepared to bring your coldframe plants back inside, if we get another blast of really cold air from Canada. And, save some of your seeds to replant, if needed, the things that are going into the ground.

In my part of NC, the average last frost date is April 10th. Not sure what it is to the southwest of us. Anyway that's an AVERAGE. If this weather pattern doesn't break for the spring, it will be much later here this year. While it rarely happens, we've had snow flurries around the first of May. Based on what's happend so far, this could be one of those years.

I know how you feel about getting started. I've got cabin fever, too. This may be one of those years where we just have to fight it longer than usual.

Lee

Yup its hard to wait!~ Especially cuz I well remember the 'real' cabin fever up in Wisconsin and North Dakota-- didn't ever expect to have that here!

My cold frames are in a protected spot behind a shed and near some trees--they're concrete block with shower doors over them. They seem to keep cooler in summer--so I sheltered rooted cuttings in them last summer and they should be ok to keep things from freezing--I'm only going to put out perennials and cool season stuff--like cabbage, parsley.. etc Just want to free up space for more in the house. :)

I bought my stuff to build my big light stand with birthday & Christmas $$ this year. I think right now it has over $300 in baby plants on it--- and that's just the early crop. Its paid for itself already! :D

I HOPE we wouldn't get snow in May--sheesh! But up north we never even started the garden til the end of May--tomatoes in June. I suppose I can wait... I have enough seed to do 2nd sowings though if need be.

Lets hope for the best--that it warms up nice and that we dont' go from deluge to drought now that we're getting close to growin time. :)

firegirl969

02-21-2010, 09:36 AM

We planted carrots and snow peas and pulled grass from around the blueberries and grapes. We will put cardboard down and pinestraw this week. DH is getting his tools and tack organized in his new shop. The three $695 garages will be delivered on Tuesday. They are 18 X 21 ft each. One will go into the pasture and stalls will be made for the horses. The other two go by the shop, one to hold the two tractors and buggy and one in front of the shop to hold the small river boat and for DH to work under. This is his dream since we moved here, so I am glad that he is realizing it. We weren't using the bass boat anyway, so he put that money to good use.

NCLee

02-21-2010, 10:06 AM

Made a run to Sam's Club Friday. These are some of the things we picked up.

50 lbs white rice
Bag (13.5 lbs) A&H Baking Soda
3 qts Classico Pasta Sauce (in canning jars)
Box of 200 top loading sheet protectors
Bulk pack of FoodSaver rolls & bags
Pack of 4 1-1/2" Notebooks
Another #10 can of Veg-All
Had an "E-value" that saved $2.00 on a 2 liter bottle of Bertolli EVOO

Bought a #10 Can of pasta sauce that I want to try dehydrating. It was only $2.47, so won't be a lot lost, if it doesn't turn out OK.

Broke my heart, but I bought a 3 pkg of black printer ink cartrides and a pkg that contained 2 color cartridges and 1 black cartridge. Those cost more than the printers they were selling. The 3 pkg of black was $52. Locally they sell for $25+ EACH. However, I'm determined to get hard copies of all the "stuff" I have stored on the computer.

The other day, I couldn't find a ballpoint pen that worked. Was about time to stock up on those. Found a 6 dozen pack of Bic Stick pens for $4.88. Now I have a pen!!! LOL

Stopped at AC Moore. Picked up a 50 pkg of tealight candles for $2.99. Plus I found a wick snipper for use with jar candles on sale for half price $3.99. Added both of those to my stash of candle supplies.

Friday afternoon went dumpster diving at the local convenience center when we took off the trash. Brought back a bunch of 2 liter soda bottles and some juice bottles. Washed and sanitized those yesterday. Dehydrating them today to dry them.

Made a 2 liter soda bottle screw on funnel. That should make it a lot easier to fill those bottles with rice.

Time to check the dehydrator.
Lee

NotSoFast

02-21-2010, 06:21 PM

Planted some more garden this weekend, tomato and bell pepper plants as well as basil. Lettuce is already up as is the oregano.
Ordered spares for my rifle and pistol.
Rearranged my closet shelves and under bed storage for more room on the shelves by moving the cans to shelves and dry goods to under the bed.
Made replacement shoelaces for my boots.
Began exercising to strengthen my knee after surgery.

cwatson

02-22-2010, 04:50 AM

Still working on reorganinzing the pantry room and made alot of lead way last week. Canned more soups and beans last week so the pantry shelves are just about packed now. So I guess it is time to add another shelf :) We were able to convert my DSD's room into a pantry/sewing room stash a couple of years ago and it became a catch all for a while and I have been working for months (a little at a time) to get it cleaned out and organized again.

I ordered and received the sheeps fleece to get it ready to spin. I am finally at the point with the spinning that I can make a pretty decent skein of yarn. I finished off the alpaca and am now working with Romney wool. The alpaca is being knit into a scarf and hat and I may spin some up thinner to make matching socks too for DH :) (Since it is neutral colors and all).

Today I pick up the 10 new chicks to add to the hen house. Last year was a hard year with the chickens we lost several to preditors in a one month time span but then it stopped.

Also finally found a studdly (Billy) for my girls (nigerian drawf goats). We didn't want to keep a billy all the time because of limited space and have been having a hard time finding a billy to "borrow" but I met someone in knitting class and we got to talking about her one little nigerian dwarf billy she has in a pasture full of full sized goats and next thing ya know she said he could come for a visit. LOL

The other day I got another 10 pounds of potatoes dehydrated. I found I really like working with the dehydrated potatoes. And they store so well. I keep some vacuum sealed for trips and some in large jars ready to grab from the kitchen pantry

I took an old pair of jeans from my son and but the legs off and turned them into a firewood carrier for my DH. He always made a huge mess carrying the wood from the back deck through the house so I made him this bag and it allows him to carry much more wood at one time and is washable too boot. I double stitched it all and he absolutely love the thing. I always knew there would be a way to use those old jeans. I just hate to throw stuff like that out.

Finally I got the potatoe box made that I linked to the week before last. It was easy and looks pretty nice. I used cedar fence planks to make it and DH got to use his new miter saw too so everyone was happy. Now today the potatoes go in :)

firegirl969

02-22-2010, 04:06 PM

Today, UPS brought the Sportsman Guide package that included 3 pairs of boots for DH and 1 pair for DS, a driveway alarm, a solar motion-detected night light, gun polishing cloths, ammo, and a 1500 watt inverter. My Ison's nursery pkg also came by Fed-Ex. DH planted the almond tree and the olive tree. He will plant the raspberry bushes this week. I consider these items good preps for whatever may come.

patience

02-22-2010, 05:25 PM

Got my parts back from my sandblaster buddy and reassembled one of these:

http://www.tinnerstools.com/rowhbeandcrm.html (http://www.tinnerstools.com/rowhbeandcrm.html)

Now I can make stovepipe!! :yes2: That new one in the link above costs $900. I got this with a bunch of scrap horse harness, an old horse collar, and some singletrees for 20 bucks.... Well, it didn't look so good then. But after sandblasting, new paint, polish all the parts, ream burrs out of the bearings, and make a couple missing dowel pins, it looks and works like a new one. Made by Niagara Machine and Tool works, (still in business making heavy punch presses) probably about 1920. Top quality equipment.

Sandblast cost me 10 bucks, plus a couple for paint, so my total cost is about $32. It is crank powered, like the photo. Already have a sheet metal roll to make the tube, and a spotwelder to do the seams--much easier than the old snaplock joint, and more durable.

One down, only about 18 or 20 more old machines to go...... By the time I really retire, my daughter will have some heckuva tinshop. :sarcastic:

texashomesteader

02-23-2010, 08:36 AM

I re-organized my bug-out bag, now I have a hammock and a small fleece blanket (I ain't sleeping on the ground). And I always buy more rice, dry beans, pasta, and tea than what we need when the boyfriend and I go grocery shopping. I also bought some veggies on sale and froze them.

patience

02-23-2010, 03:42 PM

Today I used the bead roller-crimper to make a sample piece of stovepipe, and I'm pleased with the results. :)

Started work again on the bigger burr mill restoration.

I gathered all the parts together, including some new pulleys, and determined belt lengths. That allowed me to measure up for a framework to mount this thing, along with its' jackshaft and 6.5 HP engine. Some design effort is required to make this all work the best. It's not as simple as just whacking up some steel and daubing welds on it, if the result is to be tidy and useful.

I spent some time figuring out how to best arrange the belt drives to make it all compact and easy to replace and retension belts. That takes some thinking, to assure that engine exhaust doesn't go in your face when you use the mill, lubricant drips don't land in the ground grain, the pull rope starter is accessible, and to make sure the engine oil drain is where it can be used without making a mess.

Now I can choose suitable materials from my scrounge pile and get to work. When finished, this mill will occupy a footprint of about 2 ft. x 3 ft., and be about 42" to the top of the grain hopper. The whole works will weigh in over 200 lbs., so I plan to put a pair of hard rubber wheels on one end to make it easier to move. The discharge chute will be about 2 ft. off the ground, allowing a 20 gallon galvanized metal trash can to just fit under it. (Metal trash cans are mouse-proof.)

It should be able to fill a 20 gal. can with cracked corn in 20 minutes or less. Grinding flour needs a couple passes through, so if I can get a pound of flour per minute, I'll be happy with it. That doesn't sound like a lot, but at that rate, even including handling time, it is reasonable to grind 300 to 400 pounds of flour in a day, assuming you have all the containers you need and such. Daughter will use it for making animal feed, but it could supply flour and cornmeal for a LOT of people.

NCLee

02-25-2010, 02:33 AM

Stored 50 lbs of white rice in 2 liter soda bottles. Took 12 1/2 bottles. The soda bottle screw on funnel works great, BTW!!!!

Had a rain check for 12 cans each Libby corn and green peas at $.39 each. Redeemed those yesterday at Food Lion. New sale price yesterday was 4 cans for $5.00.

New special this week on the Food Lion brand of those is $.33 each. Debating on whether to pick up a bunch of those, or another raincheck. And, I see they have an off brand of HD aluminum foil on a buy one, get one free special. Limit 2 free. I need some extra foil for upcoming solar cooker experiments, so I may also get that. (After checking the unit prices of Reynolds.)

Lee

patience

02-26-2010, 02:23 PM

NCLee,

What does that screw on funnel look like? Maybe a bottle cap fastened to the top section of another soda bottle?

Today, a friend/customer stopped by with his electrical engineer who has good solar PV background. We talked for an hour about how to properly ground a solar system, for lightning protection. Looks like that morphed into the need to dig another ditch across the driveway, to put in a heavy ground wire I forgot. :o It seems you want all your building's grounds tied together, lest you get weird things happening in the case of a lightning strike. He said that an unequal ground potential would cause current to flow through my components to equalize it, thus frying the electronics. Since my panels will be on one building (shop roof) and the power control panel grounded by the house, I need to tie the two building ground rods together. :confused: I have to take his word for it.

I have 4 rods at the panel site, one on the shop AC entrance, one on the house AC entrance, and 2 more ground rods at the solar control panel, plus a couple at another solar panel site. Bottom line is, this means a couple hundred $ worth of #6 bare wire, and a week's worth of digging to bury it.

Okay, back to the pick and shovel routine, as soon as it is weather fit to do it. AAArgh! :mad:

Pokeberry Mary

02-26-2010, 03:26 PM

I'm a little cautious this year, instead of planting some things out I began to move seedlings from the light stand out to the cold frames. I did a test run on one batch last night and they looked good this afternoon so I'm going to let 2 more containers of seedlings stay out tonight. Cool season stuff: parsley, cabbage, chives, snapdragons, lettuces.. etc.

The first day it is warm out I'm going to transplant the lettuces into actual beds. There is a little bit of lettuce in my garden that has made it through winter but I don't know what sort it is.. came in a mixed salad packet and I think its tougher than what I normally use.

My peas haven't come up yet so I'm just watching and watering. :)

I've got more space on my light stand now so I'm going to start seeding some warmer weather things--exciting!

Another thing I'm excited about is 'dreaming' of my new food dehydrator. I think Hubby may go for the excalibur. We've been talking and looking into it.

I can't wait to get my hands on that! One thing I really want to start practicing on is making spice mixes dry bits of veggies in it. I'm having to go low on my salt and I just NEED flavor! Things taste so bland w/o salt.

Anyhow I enjoy some of the Mrs Dash mixes but I really want to make my own--and I want to try different flavors than just herbs.

I meant to go for a 5 tray but Hubby just got a new tv--and I think I'll just hold out for that 9er.. seems he must be 'good for it'.

This no mortgage thing is starting to pay off a little. :D

NCLee

02-26-2010, 03:34 PM

Soda Bottle Funnel:

Using a pair of vice grips to hold the caps, I used a utility knife to cut as large a hole as I could in two caps. Chose 2 caps that matched and appeared to be a little thinner than most. Alternative is to drill out the centers of the caps. (I was too lazy to go to the shop and set up the drill press. :secret: )

Cut one soda bottle apart to use as a funnel.

Screwed one of the 2 prepared caps onto another bottle ("A"). Screwed the other cap onto the funnel. Sat the funnel on bottle "A". Once I had them lined up, attached the funnel cap to the cap of "A" with aluminum duct tape. Cut the tape to fit before applying it. Put on two layers to give extra support. Used a screwdriver to burnish the tape for a tight seal.

Then I unscrewed the "assembly" off bottle "A" by grasping taped connection between the bottle and the funnel.

It was ready to use. Worked great. Screw on the funnel. Fill the bottle. Then, replace the funnel with a regular cap.

Lee

firegirl969

02-26-2010, 04:25 PM

We got our alldaychemist.com order today. It included a variety of antibiotics, cipro, allergy meds, thyroid hormone, silvidine cream, B12 injections. Most expiration dates aren't until 2012. Only one med had a best by date of 2010. I really like that company. This is my first order with them, but I will order again.

My O2 absorbers came from LDS storehouse. I plan to start pkging the rice and beans in mylar tomorrow and then put them back into the 5 gallon plastic buckets.

I won several auctions from ebay including a new saddle with bridle, several sewing patterns for 99 cents, some material, several horse bits, and 12 pairs of baby jeans for $4 for the coming grandgirl to grow into.

Gracie

02-26-2010, 08:23 PM

NCLee,

That's a pretty slick idea, going to have to give it a try. TY!

patience

02-27-2010, 06:25 AM

Yeah! I hadn't thought of the 2-caps idea. Cool! I want to make one of those for milk jugs, too! That should help prevent spills when I'm jugging up used oil for recycling. I always make one heckuva mess at that. :mad: Maybe I can find some epoxy or something that is oil-proof.

NCLee

02-27-2010, 07:27 AM

I tried glue made for plastic, but it didn't work. That's why I decided to use aluminum duct tape. May experiment with super glue and epoxy to see how well these work. If you do experiment with those, please let us know how well they work.

Agree, BTW, about using this method for almost any type of plastic bottle used for storage. With a glass bottle cutter, it should work for glass, too. Although there's the danger of the "funnel" breaking.

Concept should work for mixed items, too. As long as the tape or glue holds the two caps together. (Metal cap with a plastic cap, for example when filling glass vinegar jugs.)

Lee

firegirl969

02-27-2010, 12:43 PM

It was cool and windy this morning, so DH and I decided to work inside. We got the mylar bags and O2 absorbers that we just recieved together with our buckets of rice and dried beans and peas. We had never packaged any items for long term storage except in five-gallon buckets, so we decided to package them and put them away for longer storage. It was very easy and went by really fast with both of us working together. We have some mylar and absorbers left, with the absorbers stored in a quart jar, so that we will continue to buy extras and store them for whatever may come in the future. It feels good to have this part of our preps ready for longer-term than just this year. We also cleaned up some around in the yard and around the barn. Things just seem to pile up when it is cold and wet. We also got caught up on laundry since we have been behind due to the recent rains. Tomorrow DH has to take the steer to the slaughterhouse so that they can kill him on Monday and hang him in their cooler for us. DH plans to let him hang about a week and a half and then we will pick him up and spend weekend after next cutting him up, canning, and freezing the beef for our future as well.

patience

02-27-2010, 12:44 PM

NCLee,

I have one of those Harbor Freight plastic welder rigs that I have never used. Gotta try it out on this! Or, a soldering iron might work, If I add filler from the same material. Busy today--maybe tomorrow I'll get to it.

CountryGuy

03-04-2010, 06:29 PM

Bottle caps are usually polyethlyene or polypropylene. Both of these resins tend to be very inert and don't play well with adhesives. This is one reason they are used so widely in food containers since they tend not to react with the acids in the food or chemicals stored in them.

One thing to try is what we call spin welding, it might take a litte practice and some caps to get it right. Might be best to weld first then drill out and smooth the edges, not sure. Play with it, afterall caps are cheap. You might want to scuff the top of the caps with some sand paper to give a a slightly rough texture. Secure one cap in a vise or similar without deforming it, chuck the other cap in a drill or drill press. You might have to make some type of adapter to hold it securely and so not to let it free spin. A lathe might get the jaws around it and help to line everything up. Run the drill or lathe while lightly touching the parts together, speed it up and increase the pressure till the drill is at max speed, slowly increasing pressure pushing them together. Your trying to create friction heat, just like what happens when starting a fire by rubbing 2 sticks together. so it's a feel thing here. As you do this it builds friction heat, just like rubbing your hands together. You may see it look "gooey" or even turn slightly clear. when it does, stop spinning but keep or even slighty increase the uniform pressure and hold it for 30 seconds to a minute to allow it to cool and re-freeze. if done correctly the 2 caps should be permantely fused and ready for you to drill out and make your adapter. This spin weld can also work with PVC pipe and caps in a pinch in case you don't have primer and glue.

That's an idea too, check and see if a PVC pipe nipple or short chunk of PVC pipe might be the right size to snuggly slip over the bottle necks to hold your funnel...

TEX

03-05-2010, 09:22 AM

Southerngirl

03-05-2010, 11:06 AM

New special this week on the Food Lion brand of those is $.33 each. Debating on whether to pick up a bunch of those, or another raincheck. And, I see they have an off brand of HD aluminum foil on a buy one, get one free special. Limit 2 free. I need some extra foil for upcoming solar cooker experiments, so I may also get that. (After checking the unit prices of Reynolds.)

Lee

.33 cents for canned veggies is darn good, compared to what it is around here. Can't find anything under .55 cents, which is even generic brand here. And the Cream of canned soups are outrageous! It makes me sick to buy them at $1 a can or more sometimes. When it's over $1 I usually don't buy them.

Southerngirl

03-05-2010, 11:13 AM

Stored 50 lbs of white rice in 2 liter soda bottles. Took 12 1/2 bottles. The soda bottle screw on funnel works great, BTW!!!!

Lee

How long can you store the rice in the soda bottles? Just wondering if it's better to do it that way or in buckets? Do you put anything in with the rice in the soda bottles? Thanks! :)

patience

03-05-2010, 05:41 PM

NCLee

03-06-2010, 02:10 AM

How long can you store the rice in the soda bottles? Just wondering if it's better to do it that way or in buckets? Do you put anything in with the rice in the soda bottles? Thanks! :)

Stored in a cool, dry place, white rice has a 30+ year shelf life. Along with some other things that I store in soda bottles. http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7798-1-4224-1,00.html

So, I store those in soda bottles without doing anything special to them, except packing as tightly as possible to remove as much air as possible. I figure if I can get half of the shelf life with that method, I'm doing fine. (If the bottle flexes after filling, more can be added to the bottle.) With rice, about another measuring cup full will fit, after it appears to be full. Just tap the bottle on the counter. Or slap the sides with your hands. Press with your thumbs, etc. That'll help settle and compact the rice, sugar, beans, or whatever you're storing in the bottles.

Plus, I don't want to keep them that long in storage. The older beans and rice get, the harder they are to cook. Thus, more fuel and water are needed.

FWIW, I like using those bottles for several reasons.
Easy to handle and store in nooks and crannies where buckets won't fit.

If something happens to one bottle, I haven't lost the whole batch. If something happens to a bucket full of rice, it's all gone.

Easier to use. Some of those buckets are hard to open. (Plus, when half or more of the contents are gone, there's a heck of a lot of air left in the bucket to speed deterioration without adding oxy absorbers or something.) When, I need rice in the kitchen, just grab a bottle, and dump it into the glass cannister that I keep in the kitchen for rice. Or, simply use amount needed and return the bottle to the pantry shelf.

When I get a grain mill, I'll probably go with buckets for corn and wheat. That's mainly due to the amount I'd like to store. Several hundred pounds of those won't work well for storage in 2 liter bottles. But, even that will go into the bottles, if you have storage room for them. I have 50 lbs of popcorn stored in soda bottles. In my case, by the time I get to wheat and corn, I won't have any more nooks and crannies for bottles. Those buckets will have to replace some junk that has to come out of a closet somewhere in this house.

Lee

NCLee

03-06-2010, 02:42 AM

I'll have to find a source for soda bottles. Never buy the stuff. Surely there are some around, though, as much of it as they sell. It even chaps my skinflint soul to be caught out somewhere (like auctions) and have to BUY a drink of water in a bottle!!! Never thought I'd live to see the day when I had to pay for a drink of water.... Maybe I've lived too long now. :confused: (I'm older than dirt.)

Note to self: Scrounge soda bottles.
snip......
Gotta find something to do with excess eggs. We have about 6 or 7 dozen ahead, and the hens are working overtime laying. Is it feasible to dry eggs? :confused:

Eggs, first. I don't know of any way that eggs can be dried at home. From what I understand, it takes special equipment for freeze drying. You can freeze the eggs for future use. http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/freeze/eggs.html

Some folks make pickled eggs for long term storage. I haven't tried it, as the folks here are on high blood pressure and cholestrol meds, so we have to limit salt and cholestrol. Plus, I've read about concerns with the safety of those. http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_06/pickled_eggs.html

Storing in waterglass is a method often mentioned. I've never tried this either. Simply passing it a long, FWIW. http://standeyo.com/News_Files/Food/storing_eggs.html

Now for the bottles. :) We don't buy soda in liter bottles, either. If we did, I'd drink way too much Coke. Can't resist that stuff when it's in the refrigerator.

Anyway, we go dumpster diving at the convenience center when we take off the trash. Have one of those reach assist gadgets. Makes it easy to pick up the bottles without having to actually dive into the dumpster. Only get a few at a time for "crafts projects", if anyone asks. Bring them home, wash, sanitize with bleach, dry in the Excalibur dehydrator, and they are ready to use.

Another option is to get friends and family to save them for you. In your case you're going to use them to store "shop supplies". Use a couple for that purpose, just to set the scene, so to speak. :wink:

BTW, the aluminum duct tape is still holding fine. Doubt that I'll do any more experimenting with methods to attach 2 caps together. It's easy enough to make another one or re-apply the tape, if the glue backing fails after a while.

Jes 2-cents, for whatever they're worth this morning.
Lee

NCLee

03-06-2010, 03:01 AM

Stopped by WalMart yesterday to pick up a couple of things. While there, did a little "prepping" too.

Picked up 3 more 2 lb bags of black beans. At $1.72/2 lbs that's the best price that I've seen on them around here.

Added more mayo, peanut butter, stewed tomatoes, instant coffee, oatmeal, and lentils to our stash. Again, WalMart has the best price, I've found. With mayo (Helman's Lower Fat) it's at least a $1 or more elsewhere. Haven't seen a buy one, get one free sale on that for a while.

Stopped by the camping dept and looked at the Mountain House survival foods they're now stocking. Was thinking about adding some of those to our stash. Nope! Couldn't believe the prices. I'll pass as there are much more economical ways to stock up on food.

Did buy a pack of Dutch Oven parchment liners. A little high at $4.88 for 8, but worth a try just to see how well they work. Probably save one, as a pattern to make my own, in the future, if they're worth the effort.

Continuing to work on my hardcopy DIY library. Trying to get as much done as I can ahead of the weather warming up. We're finally supposed to get some temps at normal or above tomorrow. Now, if the March winds will hold off, a bit, may actually get some things done outside I've been putting off. These old bones can't take the wind and cold they way they used to cope with it.

Lee

firegirl969

03-06-2010, 04:08 PM

I freeze extra eggs. Put one egg in each ice cube tray and freeze it. When you pop them out, put them into a ziplock freezer bag. When you need them, one cube=one egg. It works great.

We did pick up mayonnaise this week. A local grocery store had it 3 for $5. Limit 3. That is the cheapest I have seen it in a very long time.

CapeCMom

03-07-2010, 12:34 PM

Spent almost the whole day downstairs in my stash room yesterday. Commandeered new shelves and spread things around and newly organized a lot. Gave everything a quick vac with the shop vac-it's amazing how dusty things get over time.

Went to Bass Pro Shop today. Got odds and ends. New soft case for the 12 gauge. A Beartooth stock guard, and a new cleaning kit. A pack of targets, A new Turkey caller, that new product from Food Saver called the Fresh Saver. It is a battery operated cordless vacuum system for smaller zip lock bags so they are reusuable-mostly for deli meats and cheeses, but I was psyched. It was only 20.00. A can of funnel cake mix to put in my stash for a treat.
That place was really cool-it was up by the New England Patriots Stadium in Foxborough.
So much stuff-we spent almost the whole day there and still really didn't get to everything.

momma_to_seven_chi

03-07-2010, 12:34 PM

We have been busy buying up those $3 solar lights, and sticking them in the window sills. Amazing little things that charge all day, and give enough light at night to get around by. It was an idea we first saw here. Thank you all you brilliant people for giving us that idea. I have two of them sitting in my kitchen window charging right now.

firegirl969

03-07-2010, 02:27 PM

DD and DH got the new horses out and rode them a little. He also put the harness on the horse and hooked her up to the buggy, but something isn't right, so I got to study the internet when we get our computer back and figure out what is wrong. Well, working on alternative transportation is a good prep idea, I guess. We are also getting 6-9 eggs a day, so we figure we will be getting a dozen a day in a couple of weeks and DH plans to start selling them. This should easily pay for their food and allow us to start putting some by for the winter as well. We do turn them out on pretty days, so their food is not that bad. Add in that we are buying feed directly from a farmer who mixes it, and our food bill is down this year. We also are feeding the bunnies ground corn, hay, and alfalfa cubes, and their feed bill this winter has been cut over 1/2 from buying pellets last year. Also, the bunnies are much happier.

SamS

03-07-2010, 03:16 PM

I'm new to this so any help is appreciated. I went to Walmart and stocked up on first aid supplies to start a kit with. Didn't look for the sale prices because most of our stuff was out dated when I checked it. Got a pack of 3x3's, 2 packs of fabric band aids, 2 packs of fingertip/knuckle asst, 3 packs of butterfly's, 2 tubes of antibiotic cream, 2 rolls of water proof tape, 1 generic betadine. Already have 1 box of alcohol wipes, 2bottles alcohol, 1 bottle peroxide. Now I need to get some type of containers to keep it in and have room to add to it. It's not much but a start it is.

NCLee

03-08-2010, 12:58 AM

One thing to look at is a good sized tackle box or tool box for your first aid kit. Look carefully at the tray layout in either one to try to find one that will best suit what you want to put in it. Some tackle boxes are pretty good for sorting things. Unless you get a huge one, bottles of things like alcohol won't fit in them, but they work well for many other things.

For over the counter meds, like Tylenol, buy a small bottle to go into your kit. Then, refill it, as needed from a large bottle. More economical that way. We buy the bulk bottles of Tylenol and other similar meds from Sam's Club.

Can do the same thing with many of the other supplies. Especially if you have more than one kit. FWIW, I keep a small one in both of my shops and in the camper, too. Plus, what we keep in the house. Periodically, I check the small kits and refill with what's needed from the house. So, things like bandaids are purchased in larger packages and divided. Again, more economical.

Oh, another one is latex gloves. Those things don't last very long in a first aid kit, especially in my shop due to the heat in summer. So, I keep a box in the house. Periodically, I'll toss the ones in the kits and add a couple more pair.

Just some thoughts that may be useful.

Lee

firegirl969

03-08-2010, 03:26 PM

Welcome, SamS!!! Sounds to me like you got a great start!!! I get lots of those bandages at the Dollar Tree if you have one near by. The large rectangle bandages I got from them worked the best at staying on when I had back surgery back in December. If you have a Walgreens close by, you can also watch their sale flyers and get more hydrogen peroxide for 3 for $1. They have that coupon in their paper every couple of months.

patience

03-08-2010, 06:56 PM

I really just need to sell some, I guess. Our married daughter and DH take what they want, wife uses all she can, eat 'em for breakfast, and take devilled eggs to all the family doin's.

Not worried about being short in the winter--our 5 hens laid an average of 86% all winter! No extra light, either. Maybe I should put a hen of two in the freezer?

Got a load (1 1/2 tons) of horse manure delivered today, and got it covered with a tarp to make it heat up faster. Another load coming in a few days, as my friend gets time to do it. Wheat cover crop in the garden is looking good after a really cold, snowy winter. Chickens are casting lustful eyes at it.

Helped a buddy build an 8' x 12' greenhouse Saturday. !" PVC pipe and clear plastic, on a treated wood floor against the south side of his house. It got hot in there as soon as the last end was covered! Then he fixed my computer that had a deadly virus. Cool deal! :cool:

yotetrapper

03-08-2010, 07:05 PM

LOL about eggs. I'm getting a dozen a day and they're just getting warmed up. In a month or so should be getting about 4 doz. Pickled eggs, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, fried eggs, devilled eggs, pound cakes.. never enough ways to use em up lol.

patience

03-09-2010, 04:09 PM

I worked in the shop all day, on a pay job, but we did get a second load of horse manure delivered. $20/load, all that will fit on a 3/4 ton truck, very little straw or hay in it--pure stuff! We wrapped it with a tarp, (expecting rain tomorrow) hoping it will heat up pretty fast and start to compost. As rich as this is, I'd better be on the lookout for overheating!

One more load due in a couple weeks, when the ground dries up after the rain. The youngest and poorest of our 3 large garden areas will get 2 loads, and the oldest gets one load, since it hasn't had any for a while. The poorest one also gets some really old sawdust (black and rotten) in one corner that had almost no topsoil. All the winter's wood ashes from the shop go on there. too. Once the cover crop of wheat is mowed off and tilled under, all this stuff goes on top, and till it again. Let it sit a while, and check pH and go from there.

We found last year that we can grow all we need in 2 of the big patches, and one small patch near the house. So, that poor spot will get put in OP field corn, with beans and squash this year. Lots to do out there, if it ever dries up. Just thawing now, and muddy. No planting here for a while, except maybe some peas in the small patch by the house.

MrGreenJeans

03-09-2010, 06:04 PM

Blood work, x-ray been puttin it off for a while, broke over and got it outa the way. On the other hand spent rest of the day with grandbaby in garden. Great day at 70 with sunshine. Also bought a little ammo to. Going sunday to take my carry and conseal permit, i reckon.

NCLee

03-09-2010, 11:38 PM

Had to have a prescription filled at WalMart. While there, checked out the camping dept to see if they had anything new that was begging for purchase.

Well, yes and no. Found 2 gal of Coleman fuel sitting behind a stove. Price for it was $8.88. Saw it for $9 something elsewhere. Latched onto them for storage. However, I noticed a shelf full of QUART bottles of fuel at $5.88 each. "Weekend size" noted on them. Yikes that's $23.52 per gallon!

Because liquid fuel is getting so expensive, also bought another propane adapter to have the option of running one of those stoves off camp fuel or propane. Should have gotten the adapter that allows 2 appliance to run off one 20 lb tank. Maybe next trip.

Added an Aqua Tainer to our hurricane / ice storm preps. WalMart had them at $10.88. Reliance price is $18.49 http://www.relianceproducts.com/products/hydration/79.html

Still resisting the temptation to buy those Mountain House prepared meals. :) Waiting, instead for the canning jars and lids to go back on display. Based on last years prices, 2 of those meals are more than a case of regular canning jars. They still haven't put out canning supplies, so don't know what this year's prices will be.

Lee

TNDadx4

03-10-2010, 03:27 AM

Tilled up the area for our garden. Man, that gets me excited :)

@Lee - I get the same Aquatainers from Wal-mart now and then. Our store only carries two at a time, though. It's a nice container and has saved me once when a radiator had a leak. I had my wife throw one in the back of the truck to bring me water. We keep serveral of them and they stack nicely.

I bought a couple of the Mountain House spaghetti meals to try. Wish they carried more variety, though.

yotetrapper

03-10-2010, 03:55 AM

I dont know if you know this Lee, and I don't guarantee all Coleman stoves/lanterns will work on it, but I know a lot of them WILL run off regular unleaded gas. The lanterns tend to be just a bit dimmer, but there's really no noticeable difference in the stoves. I bought a really old stove made by Sears/J C Higgens, and it said on it that it would run on white gas, or unleaded gas. I noticed no difference in the parts/assembly of that stove to the newer coleman variety. So after that I've tried unleaded in all of my products, and so far, it works.

patience

03-10-2010, 04:53 AM

Yup. I've used it forever in some old lanterns and stoves we have. The gas generator gets carbon deposits after a season of use, but I just take it apart and scrub the black off the spring thingy inside the tube. (Be careful with that teeny tiny needle valve end.)

I keep a couple Coleman Fuel cans around to store the stuff, for convenience, and so they are labelled properly. They get rusty on the bottom after a few years, so I replace them.

I don't know about brand new Coleman stuff, but the 30 year old stoves and lanterns I have run great on it. In fact, when I was a kid, I heard some grousing from the camping buffs (rare sorts back then) that "white gas" was hard to find then. They seemed to think that Coleman stuff was designed to run on it.

"White gas" is simply the raw product out of the refinery, before they put the additives in. (Well, pretty much like that--I don't want to start a row with a refinery expert.) Dad had a blowtorch, available at Sears then, that also used white gas. Had a pump on it like the stoves and lanterns.

Grandad had an antique torch with an 1/8" thick copper tank that had a reservoir on top for gas. You filled it HALF full, screw the pipe plug tight in the fill hole, dribble a little gas on top in the reservoir, and LIGHT IT! The burning gas atop the tank got the copper tank hot enough to "generate" gas vapors, whence, you open the torch valve and it would squirt flaming liquid for a bit, then the vapor which lit and roared like a forge. Then, ongoing heat from the torch flame kept the copper tank hot to keep it running. Using that thing was an adventure. It dated from about 1920's, I think, so the idea of white gas for stove fuel was old when Coleman started out, methinks. Anyhow, those old Depression survivors thought that "Coleman Fuel" was ripoff! They knew what it really was.

I saw an antique book with reprints of old articles from Popular Mechanics at the Library. It had plans for a "camper trailer" that looked like a chuck wagon, pulled by a Model A Ford. There was a compartment for a "gasoline stove", but no place for a fuel can--they said to siphon some gas from the car tank! It was a space-saving idea.

ETA: Be sure to get real unleaded gasoline. The stuff with ethanol in it didn't want to work for me.

patience

03-10-2010, 05:17 AM

:mad: Lots of companies made money on what people did not know. I got really aggravated when I paid about a dollar for a pint can of "gas line anti-freeze", only to read on the can that it contained methanol = shellac thinner. Having grown up around my Grandad's furniture shop, I knew what shellac thinner was, and that I could have gotten a GALLON of it for 2 bucks then. Buying it in the pint cans cost 4X that! Mostly for the cans, I guess.

I started looking at other things. Fuel injector cleaner = xylol, a high powered paint solvent. Lighter fluid (petroleum naptha) could be bought as "Energine Cleaning Fluid"--same stuff--for 1/4 the cost. Now, companies are loathe to put the actual ingredients on things, only saying it "contains petroleum distillates", to protect their dirty little secrets.

One of the earliest ones I know of was eyewash--distilled water with a bit of boric acid in it, at $2 for a 4 ounce bottle. Boric acid then was about $2 a pound, and boiled water worked just fine. Later, we went one better, making a tea of Goldenseal roots (found wild in the woods here), which has wonderful antibiotic properties, reccomended in the old herbals for eye infections. (You are on your own here! I'm not an eye doctor!)

Anyway, have some confidence in dethroning the retail kings!

ETA: How about a thread on this sort of thing?

NCLee

03-10-2010, 05:19 AM

Thanks for the reminder about "white" gas. I'd never used it, but it sounds like it may be time, if I can find some unleaded without ethanol. I'm not sure what's in the pumps around here, now. They keep switching it for the seasons.

I didn't know that the stove generators could be taken apart and cleaned. I've got several that I didn't throw away when they quit work. Stores quit stocking the stove generators a number of years ago around here. Can still find the lantern generators once in a while. Have a few new ones, but no new ones for the stoves.

Appreciate the heads up. All 3 of the camp fuel stoves are old ones. Bought the first one back in the late 60's, if memory serves.

Lee

CapeCMom

03-10-2010, 06:00 AM

Lee,
I broke down and brought a few of the Mountain House meals at Walmart. But I got them for my Bob. Yes, after much to do about it, I am finally got around to putting one together. I am doing one for the whole family though. My eldest keeps all of his military gear including sleeping bags and such in the trunk of his car, so I have concentrated on packing up other stuff. The Mountain house was expensive but I just a few breakfast meals of scrambled eggs and bacon and then a few dinners. It would be only the most extreme of situations would we ever consider leaving so I have not gone crazy on it. Eldest also brought home a few MRE's that I am putting in there.

firegirl969

03-13-2010, 03:41 PM

We picked up the steer from the slaughterhouse today, then DH cut it up, wrapped all the steaks, cubed steak, and some hamburger for hamburgers and put them in the freezer, and I have canned 5 quarts of roast beef, 5 quarts of hamburger, 3 quarts of short ribs, 6 quarts of stew beef, and 2 quarts of rice and beef scraps for the dogs. I am still finishing up browning the hamburger tonight that I will can tomorrow. There is lots of it.
It was good for DH to refresh the skill of properly cutting up our own beef. He did it when much younger when his dad and grandad did it for a living. Another self-sufficient skill checked off the list!

cartershan

03-13-2010, 04:18 PM

Hey firegirl, when you can your roast beef or short ribs, do you put any seasoning in with it? Do you cover with the drippings from browning and boiling water? Do you mind to share how exactly you can your RB and short ribs? Thanks, Shannon

patience

03-13-2010, 04:26 PM

When I first tried cutting up a beef on my own, Dad gave me some general guidance, but was not available when I had to start on it. So, I asked a farm neighbor how he cut it. He said he didn't know where all the kinds of steaks and roasts were cut from, so he just cut it in pieces, and called it all "meat". Said it all tasted pretty good, without a proper name.... :lol: I decided to wait for Dad to show me how it's done.

We decided to completely bone out our beef. That saved about half the freezer space! Never put a bone in the freezer again. My wife cooked the bones with some meat trimmings for soup stock, and canned the result. No T-bones--we had filet mignon instead. Roasts cooked in less time and in a smaller pot. I'm convinced that the reason meat is sold with the bones in it, is to enrich the butcher! We dried the bones, pounded them up in a burlap bag with a sledge hammer, and ground them in our burr mill for the garden. (A hammermill works better.)

Same goes for pork, especially if you are salt/sugar/smoke curing the meat. Boning out results in thinner pieces that absorb the salt cure much faster and more thoroughly. By boning out everything, we put an 800 lb. steer and a couple 250 lb. hogs in a 15 cu. ft. freezer. All that was in there was solid meat.

SamS

03-13-2010, 06:03 PM

Hey NCLee do you have to have a hose to use the propane adapter for a coleman stove? I saw aan adapter at Walmrt on the clearance aisle and it was a brass pipe that would fit into the stove with a screw attachment on the propane tank end.
Does this sound like what your talking about?

NCLee

03-14-2010, 05:46 AM

SamS, here's the adapter that allows you to switch from the 1 lb bottles to 20 lb ones. http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanCom/detail.asp?CategoryID=27400&product_id=5470A7931T

Here's the Tee that allows 2 appliances to run off one 20 lb tank. There are better prices, BTW. http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanCom/detail.asp?CategoryID=27400&product_id=5114A760T

The adapter to switch from liquid fuel to propane is made by Ozark Mountain. It's called a "Regulated Propane Converter". It looks like a regular generator with a fitting on the end where it would normally attach to the fuel tank. If that's what you want, be sure to check the back of the package for the instructions, so you'll also get any other needed items to make the connection to your bulk propane tank, if you don't already have them. (Didn't find a link for the converter.)

Shannon, here's the instructions for canning beef. http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can5_meat.html As a general rule, you want to leave out as much fat as possible, when canning meat. The fat can cause problems with sealing.

FWIW, I don't put seasonings in any meat that I can. Some spices can have a flavor change during canning. And, if I leave out the seasonings, then I have more choice as to how I can use the meat later.

Just my method, as everyone is different in how they like to approach things.

Lee

Dawgus

03-15-2010, 04:27 PM

The local grocery chain had 2lb bags of coffee (ground or whole bean) buy one/get one free. Since we use this brand (8:00) and hand grind, we bought 8 bags and got 8 free. I went back today to get 2 more, and while there noticed shampoo and conditioner (vo5) for 70cents. I got 6 each. They also had store brand cold & sinus meds on sale half price, so I got 2 each. They always have a cart or two of clearance, so I always make sure to check them out. I found 1/2 gallons of good organic apple juice marked down to 75cents. I got all 10 bottles that were there. (exp. isn't till Feb '11!) On sunday the wife and I finally ordered a sample pack of dehydrated food from Emergency Essentials to see if we like it. I kinda hope I dont, cause I could put together one helluva order pretty easy, lol.
I visited the neighbor last week and he ended up giving me +/- 40lbs of ground venison since his wife refuses to cook or eat it. He showed me a Taurus "Raging Bull" 44 mag that he got in a trade and only has $250 in. I'm trying to work out a trade for some old chainsaws I have in the garage. (keep your fingers crossed!)
A good friend of mine called me last Wednsday asking if I knew anyone that would be interested in her handgun, since her husband really didn't want it in the house. (I still cant wrap my head around that one, but ah well, he's a bit different) It was a Hi-Point .45 with an extra mag, 50 rounds of Winchester USA, cleaning kit, and zipper case. I told her what it was worth, and what to expect for an offer. She told me she would be happy with $60. Needless to say, I ran to the ATM machine and got it from her. It's definitly not my first choice in a handgun, but who could turn down a $60 .45?

SamS

03-16-2010, 05:13 PM

Don't know if it's a store only sale or chain wide but Kroger has 140 ct alcohol wipes for $1.00 They're the small ones for first aid or what ever.

firegirl969

03-20-2010, 06:48 AM

To answer your question, cartershan, I didn't not put any spices in my jars except a little salt. The reason is because the chunks of roast may indeed become shish-k-bobs, stew beef, a roast, as I left some large chunks that just would fit in the jar. For that reason, each dish will require different seasonings. I don't know what I will do with the short ribs yet, so I didn't season them. Any suggestions?

firegirl969

03-20-2010, 06:56 AM

I helped the doc deliver my first granddaughter yesterday as 3 mothers were delivering as the same time, and I am a paramedic so I have refreshed the skill I learned back some years ago. DH and DS got the kiwi vines planted on a cable line. I placed another Breadbeckers order for soft wheat (as I didn't have much of that for making cakes, cookies, and pastries) and ordered a gallon of olive oil. I am also spearheading the beginning of a new mobile food pantry for homebound senior citizens and disabled citizens. That is about it for this past week.

pcrowder

03-20-2010, 01:59 PM

Went through and separated all my 1800+ precut fabric strips and squares into somewhat intelligent groupings. Am going to get started on making utility quilt tops and then later on will machine quilt them to use as barter or to cover the windows/doorways next winter. Have the incubator going hoping to have a hatch of chicks this week. I plan on hatching out as many chicks as I can this year to use for either barter, sale, or for canning next fall. Started taking an inventory of what I have prepped and what I still need.

CapeCMom

03-21-2010, 05:47 AM

Wow Pat, you've been busy! It's a lot of work but don't you feel so good once things are organized?

Parents made a BJ's run, so as always, I sent a list. They're so good to me.
Got a package of six Brita water filters. Been dying to get a Berkey, but until I do, I have the Brita. Got another 20 lbs of flour, a large bag of choc chips for the pantry.

The grocery store had 10 for 10 special on the large cans of tomatoes, so I bought ten cans of various products including stewed, sauce and whole. Bought some more spices from the discount warehouse place we have.

At Walmart I got a few more things for our BOB. New Mag Lite-as my old one has dissapeared...they also had one of those sports drink coolers that hold about five gallons.
It has a spigot on it, and I have put it away with my water supply. I think it will serve us well if we have a hurricane this year. A few bags of tea lights and another long lighter for the grill.

Been working on starting more seeds for the vegi garden. I got some ROMA tomato seeds as I noticed that most of what I started wouldn't be that great for sauce. I am glad they still had some.

patience

03-21-2010, 08:41 AM

I hit the info below this morning and it confirmed my gut feelings that all is not well. Showed it to my wife, who is on the edge of freaking out now. She is VERY supportive of my efforts, does all the homesteading stuff-gardening, canning, etc., but her emotional tolerance for the problems we face is limited. So, I end up doing the research and planning. She's a wonderful help, and I bless her for it. Just have to work within her limitations is all. Anyway, here it is, as posted on another forum. I put it here so more people would see it, rather than in maybe financial. Bottom line is, this motivated me to REALLY get going.
____________________________

Click the link and check it out. The US has passed the event horizon of currency collapse. No turning back now, since all the tax revenue PLUS MORE is required to just pay interest on the debt. It takes some reading to get your head around this, but the article explains it well.
http://www.swarmusa.com/vb4/content.php ... he-CENTURY (http://www.swarmusa.com/vb4/content.php/282-THE-Most-Important-Chart-of-the-CENTURY)

Quote:
"Macroeconomic DEBT SATURATION occurred causing a phase transition with our debt relationship. This is because total income can no longer support total debt. In the third quarter of 2009 each dollar of debt added produced NEGATIVE 15 cents of productivity, and at the end of 2009, each dollar of new debt now SUBTRACTS 45 cents from GDP!

This is mathematical PROOF that debt saturation has occurred. Continuing to add debt into a saturated system, where all money is debt, leads only to future defaults and to higher unemployment."

This is, without a doubt, the scariest chart I have ever seen. For a discussion of how this works out:
http://tickerforum.org/cgi-ticker/akcs-www?post=132007 (http://tickerforum.org/cgi-ticker/akcs-www?post=132007)

Houston, we have a problem.

______________________

Well, for us, that means a trip to Home Depot today to get more downspout and guttering for our water collection tank for the garden. I just laid in another 200 lbs. of pork meat scrap that we use in the chicken feed for protein supplement. (It is 50% protein, compared to about 33% for soybean meal, and meat scrap has more micronutrients.) Also got myself a GOOD pair of Wolverine shoes this week, the super-cushy ones that mail carriers wear. They are great for my old fallen arches.

Wife reminded me that I have to get our cistern fixed (it leaks), and get the hand pump installed in it. I told her to check out the treadle sewing machine we got last year, and make sure it works right. It is up to me to get the solar PV online now, and get some 12 volt lighting in place.

My priorities for solar use are simple: lights, refrigeration, deep freezer, and communications, more or less in that order, although they will all happen pretty much at once. I got the ground wire I'd been needing to connect all the grounds for lightning protection for the system, and now have to dig 100+ feet of ditches to bury it. Half of those ditches go across our driveway. :mad: If I'd thought of that when we buried the conductors for the system, it would be installed now. DRAT!

My thinking is that we may have a couple years of relative economic stability, but it could be as little as a few weeks until the dollar goes kaput. There are only 2 ways for the debt situation to resolve itself, as I understand it: 1) The US enacts stringent spending cuts, refutes debt to foreign countries, stops all entitlement programs--the sort of thing the International Monetary Fund forces 3rd world countries to do when they loan them bailout money. This is the good answer. OR, 2) The Federal Reserve/Govt issues zillions of dollars with no backing, like they have BEEN doing to the banks, and we get horrendous inflation.

I'm betting on #2. That is all politicians can bring themselves to do--spend. If so, we will look like Weimar Germany/Argentina/Iceland/Zimbabwe, with hyperinflation. :eek: That means we will each be on our own for our own needs.

I plan to talk to a couple neighbors this week and discuss this, with the goal of having our small farm community pull together and help each other through whatever happens. Our farm repair business has helped us become a functional part of the community, and will make that talk easier.

CapeCMom

03-22-2010, 11:20 AM

Patience,
It's wonderful that you are considering gulching with your neighbors. There has to be some cooperation among people. You can't always go it alone. It must be a comfort that you have like minded people around you.

I will read your link when I get a chance. The only thing I have to say that in reality-we should have collapsed last year. There is a vast amount of manipulation going on. Mainly by the Federal Reserve. They have been able to prop things up so far but we never know when the damn will burst. Thanks for your efforts in getting us all a little more informed.

patience

03-22-2010, 04:15 PM

CapeCMom,

That article and chart about "Debt Saturation" has gone viral on the financial sites. Who knows how long they can string it out. The Fed/.gov has pulled a lot of rabbits out of the hat in the last couple years. Eventually, though, it will end. Yeah, lots of manipulation in stocks, bond market, PM markets, and between central banks, playing with currency values, etc..

I like to read Tickerforum.org, SHTFplan.com, zerohedge.com, silverbearcafe.com, and several others to try to stay current, along with watching the dollar index, gold/silver prices, and oil prices. It's a lot of reading, but I can scan it all with my first cup of coffee and not take too long, unless something notable pops up.

My post above doesn't really explain how important I think it is to watch this situation and be ready for it to the best of our ability. I'd love to see it all fizzle away into nothingburger, but I can't see that happening.

So, I'm working overtime on getting our house in order, mainly trying to get a lot of things we started buying for last year, up and running. That limits my time here. Heck, it limits my time for chores--I found 9 eggs from our 5 hens today and realized that I didn't make it to the henhouse yesterday! :o Automatic feed and water, so they are okay, but still...

I did get to town yesterday and bought guttering and downspouts to hook up the big water collection tank, and ordered a case of canning lids (60 dozen) last night. Going so fast on so many things it reminds me of running too fast down hill so that you end up falling on your face. :rolleyes: I hope not.

patience

03-22-2010, 05:40 PM

I got a chance to talk to a neighbor today. I've known him for many years, and his cousin was in my high school class (back in the 60's). He does some farming, sells a lot of hay, and does building/contracting in season. We spent an hour discussing how to ride out hard times, and found we are pretty much on the same page. He's not a "prepper" as such, just an old fashioned country guy that does the homegrown food thing because that's how he learned to do it as a kid. He is on top of the state of the economy, as a businessman, but not so much on what is happening in finance that is so unstable. He knows now. I suggested he think about it for a while and we'd talk again.

He wants a diesel generator. He keeps diesel on hand for trucks and tractors already, has LP for heat, and knows all about woodstoves, just doesn't have time for it now. If he needed to do that, it would happen before the house got cold. There is no doubt in my mind that this guy can handle whatever comes his way, but I thought it might help to give him some info on the world of finance. Looks like this will work out fine.

There are a dozen other locals I want to talk with, and check out what they are thinking. Most of the country folks here either have most of the things we call preps in place as a regular part of their life, or can do so at the drop of a hat. They grew up with a lifestyle that most preppers are trying to learn about, but have moved on to central heat, and other modern conveniences like most of us. The dangers I see for them are being caught by surprise by a bank closure, or something of the sort. If I just put the thought in their heads, I think they will arrange things to get along okay.

My interest with all this is to assure people that I have thought about it and want to work out how we can help each other in the future. We all know what each other can do, so it is just a matter of working out the details of things like what to do with the milk from 80 to 200 head of dairy cows if the truck doesn't show up, or the power goes off? Or, what to do with 225,000 broiler chickens if Tyson's goes belly up and the feed truck isn't coming? My thought is to contact the local radio station. We'll see what they think.

Our community has a restored water powered grist mill, now operable. Farmers have grain in storage and feed mills that can make cornmeal and flour in huge amounts--if they have diesel fuel on hand. There is beef on the hoof, and a new slaughter house going in business soon. I can see a major logistical headache, but there is enough food around here to feed this county and a couple others on an ongoing basis, IF we can get it organized when the need arises. There are plenty of water resources. We have to talk.

NCLee

03-23-2010, 05:06 AM

Finally, started ticking off another item on my list. Lye.

I use it for cleaning castiron cookware. Have literally been hoarding my last container of Red Devil lye. Used to buy it, a couple of bottles at a time from a local feed/seed. All of a sudden, it was not longer available and he couldn't re-order. (meth labs).

Found a substitute at Tractor's Supply. Roebic HD Crystals. According to the label it's 100% sodium hydroxide. The only problem are (1) They only had 2 2 lb bottles. (2) Expensive! $9.29 per bottle. Found a source on line for 8 lbs for $14.49 vs 4 lbs for $18.56 at TS.

But, I've been hesitant about buying it on line, as I suspect it's on a Big Brother watch list.

Now I have enough to replenish the CI lye bath and some to start making some homemade lye soap the way that Grandma did. And, I can start building a stockpile, for the future, as the budget permits. YEAH!!!

On another note, talked to the fellow at the feed/farm place about ordering a case of Octogon soap for me. Told me that his wholesalers didn't supply it anymore because the sales volume was too low. Anyway I found what appears to be a good source on line. Gave him the info. He's going to check into it this week and let me know. Can combine my order with his to get free shipping.

If it pans out, I'll post the info. BTW, they also sell Fels-Napha, another product that's disappeared from the stores. Keep your finger's crossed that this works out.

This was a small step (the lye), but it is another step forward.

Lee

TEX

03-23-2010, 05:53 AM

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lye

NCLee

03-23-2010, 06:35 AM

Thanks for the link, Tex. I hadn't seen that one. Bookmarked it and will be adding the info to my DIY files.

Here's the method that I'd been planning to use, if I couldn't get lye. (Plan B)
http://www.grandpappy.info/wsoap.htm Scroll down to the lye making section. He goes into depth with the subject.

Lee

firegirl969

03-23-2010, 07:06 PM

I put 50 boxes of canning lids on layaway at Fred's. They still had a case at $1 each, so I bought 50 of the 51 they had left.

Gracie

03-23-2010, 08:34 PM

Firegirl969,

Have never heard of Fred's but sure do wish we all could find the flats for a dollar a box, you got a good deal. Congratulations!

Gracie

NCLee

03-24-2010, 02:22 AM

Added another gallon of Coleman Camp Fuel to my stash, yesterday.

It's not much, in itself, but it's another little step, towards being prepared for whatever. Trying to keep a goal getting something every time we go shopping. Even if it's only a buck at the Dollar store for a bottle or box of something useful.

Lee

CapeCMom

03-24-2010, 05:12 AM

Lee,
I don't know if you have an ACE hardware or Aubochon near you, but they carry Fells Naptha. 1.25 per bar. I know at least at ACE, you can order from their internet site and there is no shipping if you have it sent to their store for pick-up. I used to do that with my Super Washing soda before my local grocery store started carrying it.

I'm with you also about sometimes only doing one or two things towards preps. I do what I can every week, but there are certainly times when one thing put away is all I can manage.
One thing is better than no thing.

Patience I like hearing about your attempts to reach out to others in your area. What you are doing I also consider an important prep. Again, you are so lucky to live in an area where at least common sense seems to prevail. I miss Indiana sometimes. We had such good times there. Life was so simple.

NCLee

03-24-2010, 06:13 AM

CapeCMom, thanks for the tip. There are 2 ACE stores about 10 miles from me. One to the south, the other to the east. The one to the south is new and just recently opened. Haven't taken the time to check them out yet. Think you've just given me the reason to stop the next time we go past it.

Thanks!
Lee

momma_to_seven_chi

03-24-2010, 06:20 AM

Lee,
I don't know if you have an ACE hardware or Aubochon near you, but they carry Fells Naptha. 1.25 per bar. I know at least at ACE, you can order from their internet site and there is no shipping if you have it sent to their store for pick-up.

I was going to say the same thing. One of our kids runs an ACE hardware. He can get a lot of things into the store even if they aren't on the site. You may ask the local ACE store owner about anything you want to see if they can order it someway. I buy a lot of my dogs' supplies there even though they don't actually sell them at most of the stores.

momma_to_seven_chi

03-24-2010, 06:21 AM

I planted my tomato seeds in pepsi bottles yesterday. I will cut the bottoms off and put them in the ground in a few weeks when it is warmer.

CapeCMom

03-24-2010, 01:12 PM

Lee,
I forgot to add-I know we have complained about shopping cards and such lately, but ACE has a rewards program too. They constantly send me 5.00 gift certificates for shopping in their store. I usually put it towards more canning supplies.

NCLee

03-24-2010, 02:41 PM

Thanks! I'll check into it when I stop by the store.

Lee

Prag

03-24-2010, 04:23 PM

Relatively productive day.

I picked up 5 of the 5 gallon buckets from the local WM deli for free, brought them home and scrubbed them clean. Now they are ready for my next trip to the local Asian and Latino markets...You can never have too much rice and beans. :)

We use raised beds for gardening...we have 3 that are 4'x16', one that is 4'x12', and I added an additional 4'x8' (I ran out of landscape timbers for the additional 4'x8' :o) but H.D. has them on sale for $1.97, so I'll pick up the rest tomorrow.

I have nine styrofoam cups with my German Queen Heirloom Tomatoes coming along nicely...but I'm hesitant to put them in the ground until at least the 2nd week of April. I have a lot of elderly and seasoned farmers as patients and they all tell me not to get in too much of a hurry, because we may well see another snow before mid-April.
I tend to listen to those with wisdom and experience. ;)

I also cut the grass (weeds actually) and de-winterized the yard. There is finally some green showing up and it does feel good. Spring is finally coming along! :D

Prag

NCLee

03-25-2010, 02:38 AM

Prag, that's good advice. Don't rush the season. My peach trees are in full bloom. And there's the possibility of freezing temps Friday or Saturday night. Looks like another year without peaches. (sigh) Average last frost date here is April 10th.

Washed 34 2 liter soda bottles yesterday, along with some juice jugs and some 12 oz Coke bottles. Will sanitize them today with a bleach solution. Getting about time for more rice and beans. Decided to start collecting the small soda bottles to store dehydrated herbs and for small ice packs. Use those when blanching veggies, as the ice won't melt as quickly as when using cubes. And, no ice chips mixed in with the food.

Lee

Prag

03-25-2010, 03:24 AM

Prag, that's good advice. Don't rush the season. My peach trees are in full bloom. And there's the possibility of freezing temps Friday or Saturday night. Looks like another year without peaches. (sigh) Average last frost date here is April 10th.

Sorry about the peaches. We are over in East TN, so I'm seeing similar weather patterns.

Spring will truly arrive...eventually. ;)

Washed 34 2 liter soda bottles yesterday, along with some juice jugs and some 12 oz Coke bottles. Will sanitize them today with a bleach solution. Getting about time for more rice and beans. Decided to start collecting the small soda bottles to store dehydrated herbs and for small ice packs. Use those when blanching veggies, as the ice won't melt as quickly as when using cubes. And, no ice chips mixed in with the food.
Lee

That's an excellent idea.
I don't usually drink soft drinks (water & coffee guy here), but the DW and Son occasionally do, so I'll ask them to save a few bottles for me.

We eat a good bit of beans and rice variations. We were raised on the them.
We make some variety of French Market Soup at least every couple of weeks. We use stock form our stored beans/rice and dehydrated & canned veggies and whatever meat is on hand for seasoning...as long as there is garlic, onion, bell pepper, and celery in the mix, you can't go wrong...Oh Yeah, and a dash or two of Tony Chachere's...:D

Regards,

Prag

TEX

03-25-2010, 03:48 AM

Prag, you used raised beds. Think Container gardens. Those 5 gallon buckets are great - drill holes in them and plant away. They aren't the prettiest thing in the world but tomatoes, beans, lots of things can be grown in them and you can move them around if weather calls for movement of plants.

They aren't the easiest thing to put a hole in but I have drilled many a hole in the bottom of them. Put some packing peanuts in the bottom of them to make them lighter and to not have to use quite as much soil but do use some good light soil - garden soil will compact too much.

Prag

03-25-2010, 04:14 AM

Thanks Tex.

We do quite a bit of container gardening as well.
We have an elevated deck that 10' x 25' and it gets great direct sunlight.
The DW grows a large variety of various herds, along with cukes and Roma tomatoes out there.

I might just try some pole beans in some buckets and let them climb around on the railing. It'll be interesting to see how they do.

Good Advice. Thanks!

Regards,

Prag

momma_to_seven_chi

03-26-2010, 11:11 AM

I spent a couple of day cleaning the pantry and rotating cans and things. And we rotated a lot of the water. I still have 35g to rotate, but will wait until we do wash again tomorrow. I hadn't rotated most of it since last Nov. Plus, we finally got some things into the ground. I do want to add some more blackberry bushes to the patch this weekend before it warms up any more.

firegirl969

03-26-2010, 05:39 PM

I got approval from social security for my disability claim. It has been 19 months since I filed it. I am happy about this as I have been paying in social security for over 30 years now, and I am glad to finally get some return on my money. I plan to take some of the back-pay they owe me and get the batteries for the solar system and get it hooked up, get the fuel tank filled up with gas for emergencies and for the tractor, tiller, and chainsaw, and fill up the extra propane tank we have so that we can add a propane fridge.

CapeCMom

03-27-2010, 03:48 AM

My mother finished putting in her replacement windows, and DH is going to pick up the old ones today and start the cold frame construction. I can't wait to put all of my seedlings outside! I just love the smell of dirt in my diningroom!

firegirl969

03-28-2010, 12:46 PM

DH got the gourds up for the martins. With this wet winter, I am counting on those little birdies to eat 2,500 misquitos each per day!

Gemglo

03-29-2010, 12:16 PM

Today the kids and I planted bell pepper seeds in containers, and my DD transplanted her pinto bean plant to a larger pot. Don't know how the pinto beans will do since she started them in winter, but we'll see together!

UPS brought my new water bath canner, and I've been pricing lids and jars online.

Jennifer

patience

03-30-2010, 05:14 PM

Chicken freedom day! I finally got the garden fence finished, and turned the hens out there for a short time today. They had been watching the progress closely, sitting in the windows, and talking about it.

Once out in the garden, they did what chickens do, dug and scratched up worms and bugs for a couple hours before dark. There is winter wheat out there now for a cover crop, a brilliant green. All I saw for a while was wiggling orange tail feathers in the 8" tall wheat. They found where the leftover straw mulch was, and dug it up furiously to get at the insects below. Looks like they will have a fine chance to de-bug the whole patch before that gets planted. And turn it all into high grade fertilizer, or course.

I arranged the end fences to be easily undone so I can roll up the wire and make easy access for tillage work later.

NCLee

03-31-2010, 03:27 AM

Wish I could have been there, with elbows propped on the fence, watching them, too.

It's hard to explain to folks, who haven't seen it, just how much peace and contentment can be found in doing something as simple as watching chickens hunting bugs. And listening to them talk to each other about their discoveries.

Lee

raytwnmt

03-31-2010, 05:53 AM

Boy,this weather! Last Sunday...5-6" of snow...today...84 degrees.I have raised beds so am planting corn and okra and stirring the manure tea.Tomorrow,squash and cucumbers.Have a good day.

patience

03-31-2010, 06:05 AM

Today I hope to finish the paying job in my shop, a set of grille bars for home basement windows. THEN, I can start on some for us. There have been reports of more thefts lately, notably scrap iron, since the price has gone to $200/ton recently. TV said it could hit $400/ton by year end! Had some reports of "scouting" by cars not known in the area, too. I have a lot of fences to build for such things, to make it more difficult for thieves.

CapeCMom

03-31-2010, 06:08 AM

It has finally stopped raining! Just cloudy today. The ground is so saturated that it feels and sound like you are walking on a soaking wet sponge. It's going to take forever for this to dry out....at least we didn't get the flooding that everyone else did so I consider myself pretty fortunate.

At least now I can get to work on the cold frame. DH zipped off the ends of the windows where the tracks were. I am going to prime and paint them so that they last a little longer outside. We found that we have most of the lumber laying around to finish what we need to-I just have to buy some Piano hinges today. The cold frame is going to be about 15 feet long-there are eight windows so I am thinking two hinges per window. I think I might get some handles also to make it easier to open and close. I also want to pick up an oven thermometer to put inside the cold frame so that I can keep track of the temperature in there.

I wish we could get chickens now but we haven't had any time to work on a coop.
We need to move our woodpile as that's where I want to put it-
There's never enough time-especially when it's only weekends that you can work on this stuff. I have vacation time to use-may be-if it doesn't start raining again!

Gemglo

03-31-2010, 07:10 AM

Boy,this weather! Last Sunday...5-6" of snow...today...84 degrees.I have raised beds so am planting corn and okra and stirring the manure tea.Tomorrow,squash and cucumbers.Have a good day.

As soon as I read your post, I knew you were in Oklahoma! :D I actually miss those extremes now that we're in MO. We were 40 degrees and rainy last weekend and will hit maybe 79 today. Just not quite as extreme, is it? lol

I ordered a bulk package of canning lids last night, and today we have DS's homeschool bowling league, then it's back home to pack and get ready to go to OK tomorrow.

Jennifer

Builder Ken

03-31-2010, 07:23 PM

1 1/2 wks ago 6" snow this wk sunburnt face got to love Oklahoma lol. I have been working on the old wheelhorase getting the tiller attached always forget something. Bringing the bigger tractor home tomorrow and work at getting the tiller going on it. I use the wheelhorse between rows so it really gets used more than the bigger one. Ray I have never planted Okra this early hope yours does good let me know. Ken

patience

04-02-2010, 04:25 PM

Myself, a hired friend, and DD cleared 165 feet of fencerow today across the back of our lot, and removed the old wire fence. Still have about 225 feet to do on the side fence. The fencing contractor is coming in a few days to build a new fence, and the more I get done, the less I have to pay him. (This runs into money. The materials for the job come to around $1,000.)

The other advantage to us doing the clearing is that we can protect the raspberries, mulberry tree, irises, rhubarb and asparagus growing on our side of the fence. I worry about that. :eek:

This is part of our ongoing security stuff. The fence is standard 4 ft. farm woven wire (the only thing on the other side of the fence is cows), but it gets 3 runs of barbed wire on top; one on each side of the post, and one of them on top of the posts on insulators so I can charge it if I want to. Makes it very tough to climb over. :D Special hard-tempered barbed wire with very sharp points. It doesn't stick you, it cuts. Hard tempered woven wire also, which is difficult to cut with wire cutters. Also, I have one solar powered fence charger on order.

That should keep my guard dog contained. ;)

MrGreenJeans

04-03-2010, 02:54 AM

Well it was really yesterday, but both gardens tilled and ready to put tater's and all the main early stuff in today. Ordered several book's on old time thing's that have been forgotten on engine's, tool's, many new old thing's i,am not quite old enough to remember. Chomping at the bit, it's not daylight enough yet to get out in there, will be in a few.

Southerngirl

04-03-2010, 03:22 AM

As soon as I read your post, I knew you were in Oklahoma! :D I actually miss those extremes now that we're in MO. We were 40 degrees and rainy last weekend and will hit maybe 79 today. Just not quite as extreme, is it? lol

I ordered a bulk package of canning lids last night, and today we have DS's homeschool bowling league, then it's back home to pack and get ready to go to OK tomorrow.

Jennifer

Yep, I did too when I read it because I live in OK.... it got almost "hot" in the house with only having 1 south window to get any air in here and it's in a bathroom!
LOL... yep, if you've been here for any amount of time... you'll understand the weather!
Sometimes the wind though.... ugh... can be pretty annoying, but I look at it like this, the wind is better than complete stillness where you can't grab a breathe of air!

DH expanded the garden spot, so we now have a large garden on each side of the old "hog" barn. We are thinking of dividing that hog barn and making it part chicken coop, part something else as needed. It's a shame to have a building sitting there doing nothing, and I don't see us building a chicken coop anytime soon, but I'm sure wanting them!

So thankful the green grass is coming on, won't have to buy but a few more round bales for the horses! :)

We got 2/3 loans that we have paid off so I plan on using that money each month to buy more items for whatever is needed whenever it happens.... everything has been needing fixing around here lately and I have not done much as far as "putting back"... makes me nervous not to.

patience

04-03-2010, 11:46 AM

CapeCMom,

I use wood frames for the top, covered with 4 mil clear plastic sheeting (Visqueen was an old brand name of it), fastened on with wood laths and small nails. Paint the whole works and it will last several years.

Instead of a handle, I hinged a piece of 2 x 2 wood onto the front edge, longer than what will reach the ground by 6 or 8 inches. It serves 2 purposes--both a handle to lift the top, and a prop stick that won't fall out, being attached at the top.

If the ends of the coldframe box stick up past the lid, you can just drive a nail in each end at the back to act as a hinge. (Lid pivots on the nails.) My hardware store wants about 6 bucks for a pair of 3" hinges, and another 2 bucks for the handle, so this cuts the cost to the bone. Plastic sheeting is cheap, too, which pleases my cheapskate streak. :D

I'm cutting brush and wild grapevines out of our fencerow today, clearing for the fence building guy who is due on Monday. Hope to get the whole thing cleared and the wire down, if possible this weekend to keep from paying him $20/hr. for that.

CapeCMom

04-03-2010, 12:47 PM

Well the cold frame is done, and DH did a great job on it! Of course when it was time to move it out of the garage and put it near the vegi garden, I was thinking that it was going to take ten men to move it! Had to close my eyes when my three men picked that thing up and carried it over. I prayed for no bad backs, and my prayers were answered! Still can't believe that they actually moved that thing.

I put a bunch of my plants in it, and kept watching the temperature, but at about noon it was way too hot in there even though I had the windows propped open. Some of my stuff wilted even though I had watered it thoroughly. Live and learn. Am going to have to be really careful when I am not home to check! Now that it has cooled off somewhat, a few things seem to be perking up-but not all. May have to replant -but that's ok I have plenty of seeds, and this is a learning experience for me.

Thanks for the ideas Patience-I have yet to put handles on the windows as they are pretty easy to open by the edge-and yeah-I swallowed and bought the hinges. So much for my prep money this week-but that's ok-it worked out alright!

lowetom65

04-03-2010, 02:45 PM

I have been experimenting cooking with simple ingredients. The family seems to like it.

Also I have been given my layoff notice at work so I will be giving full effort to the garden and preparation.

sewserious

04-03-2010, 05:51 PM

I planted out the garden today! Tomato seedlings aren't ready to go in quite yet, but I put out 4 zucchini plants, planted 6 hills of squash, 6 hills of cucumbers, a 4' x 6' area of pinto beans, a 4 x6 area of navy beans, about 4' x 12' feet of pole beans, radishes, carrots, and "green" bunching onions. I still have two types of tomatoes to set out when they are ready and also jalapenos, hungarian hot wax peppers, and of course bell peppers. Have to plant the sweet onions too! I had to replant my three kinds of peppers, the seeds did not sprout first time, so I am getting a late start on those! The second round is just now sprouting.

I also am finishing moving my "fabric" closet. The closet under our stairs (we have a split-level) was unusable because they put the water heater in there and blocked most of the space. DH moved the water heater to an little used corner of the garage (closer to all the bathrooms/kitchen which are all on that end of the house anyway!) and I have turned the closet into an area to store fabric and various other items that I use to make clothing and other things that are needed around the house. The room I am moving that stuff out of is my former office space, 5' x 7', which will now become my walk-in pantry!!! All of this space is located in our finished basement (though my old office is not heated, I used a warm-oil radiator heater in there). Can't wait to get it all done but time is limited. DH had to work today (yes, I am thankfull he is working) so I had to do the garden myself. Didn't leave me much time for anything else today.

firegirl969

04-03-2010, 07:52 PM

We made a wally world run and got 100 lbs of sugar, bras, panties, and dih got undies.

patience

04-05-2010, 03:47 PM

My fence guy came today and pulled all the old posts, the remaining part of the wire I hadn't gotten out, then moved equipment the rest of the day. His post driving rig is in place, so next is to haul in all the materials and start driving posts.

All I have to do now is load up the old wire to take to the scrap. I saved some of the old woven wire for a buddy to make tomato cages, but the last bit is wadded up, so it is junk. Now I gotta figure out how to pick up that heavy wad of fencing and get it on the truck. :confused: Maybe use the tractor to drag it up under my chain hoist...

While this was going on, I mowed off the wheat cover crop, plowed 2 of the 3 big gardens and disced them. Rain the rest of the week, so I'm glad that is done. Chickens are still in the 3rd garden, having a great time.

Had a bit of trouble with the tractor, replaced the fuel filter, and it started right up, went one round plowing and stopped again. Finally figured out it was vapor locking when I saw gas boiling in the clear fuel filter. The air cooled engine gets hot when you do heavy work, and the gas line is a bit close to the exhaust manifold. I moved the gas line all I could, then got a piece of aluminum foil and made a heat shield for the gas line. Worked! Plowed and disced for 2 more hours, no problem.

Plenty of power in my little tractor, but no power steering, so my hands ache tonight after bouncing over plowed ground with the disc. Arthritis is no fun. :fie: I did get a trailer repaired in the shop later, and knocked off about 7:00 PM. Gotta do it when the weather is fit!

I expect it will be a week before I can get into the garden again, then I'll hit it once more with the disc and then plant potatoes. There is about 3 tons of horse manure that has to find its' way out there, too.

firegirl969

04-05-2010, 06:04 PM

DH and DS got the garden tilled. DH then planted 40 Better Boy tomatoes, 9 cayenne peppers, 9 sweet banana peppers, and 9 tabasco peppers. We planted the red-skinned potatoes yesterday. He hopes to plant the butter beans, peas, silver queen corn, cucumbers, and squash tomorrow.

patience

04-06-2010, 05:16 PM

Fence is up, bill paid, and neighbor will chip in his share for half of the line length. :D

Rain predicted for the next couple days, so no work in the big gardens till the weekend at least, but we have the ground prepared for it. First thing in will be 50 pounds of potatoes and a couple pounds of yellow onion sets.

The fencerow clearing has exposed a lot of wild raspberry plants that I plan to dig up and transplant, but I haven't figured out WHERE yet. :( They need to be where I can mow on both sides of them, lest they take take over the place. Briars are NOT easy to contain. I may just put them on our side of the fence and let it go at that.

We left 2 wild cherry trees in the back fencerow on our side, both 20 feet tall and growing like crazy. That might be a good place to put some nut trees, too. Should have thought of that 20 years ago, and I'd be eating them now. ;)

Laura

04-06-2010, 05:20 PM

Made an excel spread sheet of all my food storage. I searched and searched for a pre made sheet.....but to no avail. So I made my own!

I have 5 raised beds in, and will build and fill 5 more this weekend.
I planted 72 onions today!

I made a binder for keeping track of my coupons. Once I could see them to use them.....I save 32.00 at the store this week. Over 20% of my total bill.

Slowly but surely......

firegirl969

04-06-2010, 05:47 PM

Today DH and DS planted the sweet corn, sa-dandy peas, butterbeans, cherry tomatoes, and roma tomatoes. Tomorrow is squash, zucchini, watermelon, cantelope, cucumbers, and okra. Then the garden will be full. After the potatoes make, we plan to plant green beans and purple-hull javies in their spot. Yesterday, we purchased a new set of pots. My first new set in over 20 years. They are heavy duty T-Fal Stainless Steel with copper bottoms. These should last 20 more years.

NCLee

04-07-2010, 03:41 AM

Yeah, Laura! That truly is the best way to do it. I've never found a pre-made list that worked for us either. All those lists are geared to the creator's circumstances. Thus, they include things that have no relvance to us, and, at the same time, don't have some things that are must have for us.

Yahoooooo!!! Found Octagon soap at a Lowes Foods. Been searching high and low for it, since it was discontinued by the wholesaler to the mom & pop where I'd been buying. Found it on line for $.99 per bar + shipping. Hadn't pulled the trigger yet on the order. Sometimes it pays to listen to that little voice that says "wait". I did, and now there are 20 bars, waiting to go in storage, for $.85 each. Yahooooo! :yes2:

One security issue had been bothering me for a while. There have been several home invasions, in our general area, at night. Front door kicked in. Our front door was kicked in a number of years ago. Locks didn't hold, as the whole jam was splintered. So, to make a long story short, bought a "Dual Function Door Security Bar" from Lowes home improvement. It's a brace that fits under the door knob. Learned how well they work, when I worked at a flea market that someone tried to rob. Although someone damaged the door, they weren't able to kick it in. That $20 investment will allow us to sleep better at night.

Found stewed tomatoes on sale for $.69 per can. Added 10 more cans to the pantry. For some reason, it's getting harder and harder to find stewed tomatoes. We eat a lot of them, as a side dish, especially when we have all vegetable dinners. If we can have any luck with trying tomatoes, in the garden again, this year, (disease in the land), I'll be canning my own stewed tomatoes this summer.

Added 2 more #10 cans to the pantry. This time it was mustard greens and Veg-all mixed vegetables. FWIW, try to add a #10 can of something each time we go grocery shopping. Usually, it's some type of greens, mixed vegetables or green beans. Doesn't break the budget to add them 1 or 2 at a time.

Lee

CapeCMom

04-07-2010, 05:51 AM

Lee,
I love stewed tomatoes too. In the summer I mix the stewed tomatoes with zucchini and some garlic and let them cook down. It is simple but yummy.

I am glad you found your soap! I love it when things like that work out. People must have thought I was insane when I started laughing and talking to myself at our grocery store. They had started carrying the Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda-meaning I didn't have to special order it anymore. Ah the simple things, huh?

Laura,

I ended up doing the excel thing also for my food storage. I had an online food storage plan but they wanted money when I ran out of the trial space provided by the site. No thanks.
It took some doing-and I am not quite done adding up certain categories yet. but I am much happier now that I am doing it myself.

The only thing I did yesterday besides collapsing when I got home, was I planted a flat of coleus. The it was off to watch the Red Sox Yankees game. And yes-American Idol. I am watching it this year because there is a girl from the Cape who is very good and she is in the final ten. We are all cheering her on as she has a really good chance of making into the top few of the competition. Local girl makes it big. :)

patience

04-07-2010, 04:16 PM

More security work. Today I'm making brackets to put barbed wire atop 5 farm gates on our place. Last week, I received an order of steel, including 400 feet of 1/2 steel rod, for miscellaneous window and door grilles. Most of it will be out of sight, inside the basement windows and shop door, etc. Got some 9 gauge X 3/4 diamond expanded metal, too. Tough stuff. Common uses are the floors in car trailers, and certain jail enclosures.

Seems like about half the paying work I get these days is security related. Made a barn door lock for a fellow today, out of 1 1/4" schedule 80 steam pipe.

Yesterday I found a pile of 1 1/4" and 2" pipe at the junkyard where someone tore out a security fence. The 2" posts had been torched off at the ground, and are about 6 feet long. That is enough to put some of it in concrete and make posts for a wrought iron fence at the front of the house. Couldn't turn it down at 11 cents/pound. Now, if somebody will throw away some wrought iron fencing, it will save me a lot of money!

firegirl969

04-07-2010, 06:24 PM

We are almost finished planting the gardens. We had to cut our grass for the first time of 2010 this week. DH and I ordered the propane tankless hot water heater yesterday and have the T105 Trojan batteries ordered for the solar system. We got a great deal on them at $95 each locally. I also stocked up on contact lenses online. 8 boxes were as cheap as 3 boxes locally. I found Hunt's ketchup on sale for $1 each at the Dollar Tree this week, so I picked up 5 to replace our stores that had been used and found 4 bottles of 1000 Island Dressing on clearance at our Family Dollar for 37 cents each.

NCLee

04-08-2010, 02:16 AM

Lee,
I love stewed tomatoes too. In the summer I mix the stewed tomatoes with zucchini and some garlic and let them cook down. It is simple but yummy.

That sounds good! Never thought about adding zucchini. Sounds like I could make a meal from your combo and some southern style cornbread.

Lee

firegirl969

04-08-2010, 08:49 AM

We ate up all of the okra and tomatoes that we canned last year, so I plan to double or triple the amount for this year. In fact, since my cousin gave me all 1200+ quart jars that were my aunts, I plan to can everything I get my hands on. It looks like I will now be feeding DS, and both DD's and their new babies if TSHTF. They have plans to move into our apartment with the babies if their SO dash out of the picture, so I want to have plenty of food to get through several years in case we have a bad crop next year.

CapeCMom

04-08-2010, 09:44 AM

Holy Smokes! 1200 jars? That is beyond awesome. You'll be able to put back plenty of food.
You're going to be be ONE busy lady.

pcrowder

04-08-2010, 12:54 PM

Starting on my sweet potato plant order and have a hen sitting on eggs - she's up to 14 so far! Hatched out 8 chicks 2 wks ago, and my sons girlfiend bought me 4 new baby ducks! Have a nasty case of flu so have been in bed for 4 days reading some new personal accounts of life in the Great Depression - think it's good to glean as much knowledge as possible for those who lived through it before.

CapeCMom

04-08-2010, 01:23 PM

Welcome back Pat-Sorry to hear you got the flu!

Gracie

04-08-2010, 01:34 PM

Pat, Hope you are on the mend and will soon put the ol' flu bug well behind you. 4 baby ducks sounds like fun, hope you'll soon be outside enjoying their antics.:) Is it a book, you have on the Great Depression...would bet it's interesting & insightful. Take good care of you!:yes4: G

firegirl969

04-08-2010, 05:08 PM

Today ordered the 8 batteries for the solar system, ordered lime to be put on the pasture in the morning, and made a deal for 2 Sannen/Nubian cross does for milk.

pcrowder

04-08-2010, 06:29 PM

Thanks guys! Got back from South Carolina on Sunday and came down with the flu on Monday. Guess flying on 6 different airplanes with 1000+ strangers all breathing recirculated air was the clincher.
I've been buying up alot of books on Ebay written by people giving their personal accounts of living through the Depression. It's fascinating to read how it affected people differently in that they lived rural vs city, yet the same as in their fears/ways of coping seemed to be marketedly similar. There's a farm auction on Saturday that is listing canners and canning jars, so I'm gonna try to lay around tomorrow to have the strength to go. D/h is out of town on business and d/s is down with the flu too, so all farm chores are up to me. Now if I can just stay vertical for another 36 hrs, I'm home free. I WANT THOSE JARS!!!!!!!!

steveandsandy

04-08-2010, 08:54 PM

We ordered Joel Salatin's book You Can Farm so we can start learning all this stuff most of you guys already know! And yes, we really will read it. I can't wait to get my hands on it, in fact!

NCLee

04-09-2010, 01:42 AM

Pat, good luck with those jars! Wal-Mart here still hasn't put in their stock, so I have a price to judge other sources yet. I want to build up my supply a little more. Rarely ever see them around here other than in the stores.

Steve, be sure to get a copy of Carla Emery's Country Living Encyclopedia. IMHO, this is the best book that anyone, new to homesteading, can buy. My copy, bought back in the 70's (if memory serves) is just about falling apart. But, that doesn't take away from it's usefulness.
http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Country-Living-Carla-Emery/dp/1570615535

There's a long list of other good books you may want to acquire over time, but do start with this one. You won't be disappointed.

Lee

sewserious

04-09-2010, 02:46 AM

Found an assorted batch of canning jars yesterday at Goodwill, $9.50 for 29 jars; that beats $10 for a dozen jars at Wal-Mart or the local Bi-Lo. I still need a lot more jars and need lids/screw bands too but I will get to Fred's next week for those hopefully.

DH and I are going on our first camping trip of the season. That is prep in our eyes. We have a little 8-foot pop up. We use it as we would a tent; it has no luxuries; it is a tent on wheels and a place to store our gear. We enjoy it but we also practice the skills we need for living very simply; cooking on a fire, identifying plants, etc. We have always camped and could live that way, at least for a while, if we ever needed to.

Gemglo

04-09-2010, 12:00 PM

Picked up my order of wheat, corn meal, etc. Came home and got the buckets cleaned for storing it in. Ran to Wal-Mart with kids got a few groceries, checked to see if they had the canning stuff out. I got a case of regular mouth pints for $7.70, and a case of regular mouth quarts for $8.82. Since I have a large amount of lids on hand I plan to pick up more jars a little at a time with my regular shopping.

Now to finish putting stuff away, clean the kitchen, and think about dinner. Thinking about grilling some steaks to go with the asparagus, and making an apple pie with the pie filling I canned last fall. Plus the pie gives me a reason to try the soft white wheat! ;)

Jennifer

CapeCMom

04-09-2010, 02:03 PM

Yum-sounds like a great dinner!

I am sticking with Walmart for now for canning jars-I can get them any time at ACE but the prices are much better at Walmart. They have had a case or two in with the kitchen supplies but nothing like the regular seasonal display they have had in the past. In a few more weeks, I would expect the display to go up. Might pick up another pressure canner this year also. Should have two.

Gemglo

04-09-2010, 02:41 PM

CapeCMom,

Second pressure canner is on my list too. I got mine from my Grandparents, it is 2 years younger than me (1974 model) and when this gasket goes, there is no getting a replacement.:eek:

Enjoy the weekend!

Jennifer

pcrowder

04-09-2010, 03:32 PM

Gemglo -- try this site: www.pressurecooker-outlet.com I went there and got gaskets for my 1930's pressure canner. They seem to have parts for most everything.

Gemglo

04-09-2010, 03:45 PM

Gemglo -- try this site: www.pressurecooker-outlet.com (http://www.pressurecooker-outlet.com) I went there and got gaskets for my 1930's pressure canner. They seem to have parts for most everything.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! They have it, yay!

Jennifer

steveandsandy

04-10-2010, 10:12 AM

Lee, thanks for the tip! I am going to take your advice and order the book from Amazon today. From the sounds of it, it will be worth it's weight in gold.

We are so grateful to have found this forum (and magazine) of like-minded folks (thanks Jamie!).

Blessings,
Sandy

Native87

04-10-2010, 10:35 AM

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv46/MagicWoods87/Mobile%20Uploads/0410101358a.jpg

What Have I Done Now? :)

Catalpa

04-10-2010, 11:11 AM

Native, it looks like you have done just what I wish to do! Someday....when the house is fixed up and sold and I'm out on my land. Sigh.

How many did you get, and what breeds?

dearg

04-10-2010, 12:47 PM

We just got chicks yesterday too!! Today I gathered some herbs to dehydrate. The goats have all had their babies and we have 7 doelings and one little buck. Friend of ours is going to trade us chicks for the little buck.

pcrowder

04-10-2010, 03:42 PM

Gemglo - you are most welcome! I'm so glad they had the part you needed.

I went to a farm estate auction today as canning jars and canners were advertised. I was the ONLY bidder (strange!) on the jars. The canners were OLD All-American-type with the metal to metal and knobs, but I didn't get either one even though they went for $7.00 each. Both of them had BIG pieces of metal missing on the lids arounds where you tighten the knobs (you could tell they'd broken off), so in my opinon they were worthless except for possibly decoration, because you couldn't tighten the lids to hold pressure. They were pretty darn small, too, or I would have gotten them as back up waterbath canners. I'm still trying to wash and count the jars, but I did get a huge plastic mineral tub FULL of jars for $2.00, and they're all Ball and Kerr. The others ended up being $5.00/box (the auctioneer wouldn't go any lower - darn!). But - from what I was able to just glance at before he started the bidding, most of the boxes have 24 jars per box, and I got 11 boxes. I also got 2 boxes with 12 each of jelly jars with the snap on lids. I also ended up getting a NICE cast iron dutch oven for $15.00 and a decent size presto pressure cooker with a brand new gasket and TWO weights for $4.00 (only bidder on those, too), so I guess it was a good day. Wish the auctioneer would have gone back down on the jars, but he wouldn't. Often if he starts an opening bid and there are no takers, and you offer a lower bid, they'll start all over again with that lower bid. But not this time. I got a large plastic igloo-type lunch cooler for my son, and several plastic food-grade blue buckets with the lids too. The whole bill came to $93.00, with the jars costing $67.00 - sure hope I didn't pay too much for the jars! I can remember when I used to get a box of 12 jars for $1.00, but not any more. Oh - and some also came with the plastic Ball white storage lids on them too - I have washed 20 so far, and still haven't finished going through all the boxes in the truck yet. Am still recovering from the flu, so it'll probably be a day or so before I get an accurate count on the jars, although I have washed 81 jars so far. I have NO idea how many are in that mineral tub!

patience

04-10-2010, 04:51 PM

pcrowder,

You did good on the jars! New ones here are about 9 bucks/dozen, minus the cost of a dozen lids and rings at around $3, so as long as you pay less than 50 cents each = $6 per dozen for jars, you are in good shape.

My collection of Fels Naptha soap had stunk up the basement something FIERCE, so I sealed it in a bucket (should have to start with), and have been ventilating the basement ever since. It's down from intolerable to just objectionable now. Will do it again tomorrow!

Got a BIG truckload of fence lumber today, and spent a while unloading and stacking it.

Gasoline prices are headed up again, so I filled 5 gallon jugs (10) today + the truck tank. Will dump that in the farm tank and go back for more. It was $2.72 here, but in the big city today, it is already $2.95, so I saved about $10 on 50 gallons. Rotating gas in the farm tank, it stays fresh. We just fill the trucks out of the big tank, and refill it with jugs. Lots of trouble? Well, some, but it means we have a store of fresh gas all the time, and we take advantage of lower prices when we can, too. The gas we are using cost us about $2.35.

Gotta go unload the gas jugs and head for W-M tomorrow for the monthly run. No point in letting the prices go up more before I get the stuff, although I did read that Wal Mart is cutting prices on a lot of things. They can surely do that-they have been raising prices long enough!

Native87

04-11-2010, 12:31 AM

Catalpa- I got ten of them and they are Gold Sexlinks.

pcrowder

04-11-2010, 05:55 AM

Thanks Patience for doing the math -- All i could think of while standing there recovering from the flu was "hurry up and get to the jars!". They went through all the household furniture first, and then finally got on to the boxes of jars, but I had to wait while the auctioneer went through 3 very long trailers of shop tools and fencers and etc to get the mineral tub of jars. Soon as I got those, I settled up and went home and started washing them. Was so tired and sick feeling I could hardly concentrate at all, and had a sinking feeling that I didn't get a good deal. It wasn't bad enough I still had a touch of the flu, but now I woke up this morning with a bad cold! Sheesh! I just can't win! But---I got the jars, and that's all that's important !!!!!!!

firegirl969

04-11-2010, 06:07 AM

Congrats on the jars! I bought a couple boxes of wide mouth jars last year that cost me $5 a box. I was glad to get them for that.

I stopped at an auction yesterday that my BIL was working at. I didn't stay long, but I did bid and win a nice metal frame that holds a swing and a wooden swing for $40. The swing ain't too much, but the frame is well worth the money. I am going to spray paint it, and then put it out by the pond to enjoy when the day is cooler late in the evenings.

pcrowder

04-11-2010, 06:23 AM

Wow firegirl, that is quite a find! Around here someone would have bought it up for the metal value, only to sell it to the scrap yards and it's beauty would have been lost forever. Great find!

firegirl969

04-11-2010, 04:55 PM

I went out and really studied my purchase. The swing is really heavy. It was in a pile of stuff when I bid, but DH picked it up and brought it home, and the swing is truly a find. It took DH and DS both to pick the swing up off the trailer. I can't wait to sit out by the pond late in the afternoons.

Gemglo

04-11-2010, 05:18 PM

Firegirl, your swing sounds wonderful.

Today I canned the chicken stock, did the budget/bills with DH, and planned next week's school days for the kids. Bell pepper seeds are coming right along & DD's pinto beans are looking good. Beautiful day in our corner of the world.

Jennifer

Gracie

04-11-2010, 05:41 PM

Pat - Bless your heart, first flu, now a cold, but when this too passes (hopefully soon), you'll be thinkin', Yes, I finally got the jars!!! I've learned something from you that will remember: when it comes to canning/cooking supplies, ya' just can't keep a good lady down! :yes4:

Firegirl - Congrats. to you, now I'm going to be on the look-out for a similar swing...in the early spring can use it for a mini-green house for plant starts, and when they are in the ground, hang the swing sit down with my DH, after working in the yard/garden and enjoy the view, TY for the idea!:yes4:
G

Incoming

04-11-2010, 07:52 PM

Went camping with Survivalist Board Group Oklahoma Team while untold thousands were sitting around playing keyboard commando. Had a good class on weaving a gill net and a head count of 14. Use it or lose it boys and girls.

Sheila

04-13-2010, 04:46 PM

Today, I purchased at a flea market a manual radio/flashlight/siren. It's the kind that you crank and it lights or plays for a while without batteries. I had wanted to get one for an ion, but they wanted $20-$30 or more for them. So, I got mine for $3. It works too!:meeting:

Several days ago, I ordered to more fruit trees. A peach and an apricot for jellies/pies for later just in case.

Been fishing of late, to provide some meat. Haven't been too successful yet, but will continue to try. Soon it will be turkey hunting time. Maybe I'll do better with that.

patience

04-16-2010, 04:49 AM

Still doing fencing. We got the front board fence up yesterday, all but some pass-thru gates I still need to build. Those will make it easier to mow the grass, then close them again. All those gates will be lockable, well, boltable, is my present idea, since the whole fence thing is about security. The treated lumber is very wet, so it will have to wait for a month to dry out before painting, even with latex.

Our one acre is very hilly, so the fencing has been a real challenge, to meet the requirements on security, along with not LOOKING like a secruity fence, and being halfway attractive--part of the grayman approach. At least I don't want it to stick out like a flashing sign!

Our farmer neighbor brought his big tractor over and pulled out the overgrown Yew (?) shrubs in front of the house, and we have them in the brush pile, awaiting a chipper to grind it all up. The hole where they came from remain, and the soil there is poor, so there's some work to do before planting anything there. Wife wants some Sage plants, and I have another bunch of walking onions that could go there for a start. Removing the shrubs has opened up the area for visibility, so we can monitor the area with CCTV now.

firegirl969

04-20-2010, 07:51 PM

DH got the rest of the sausage and taco filling canned tonight. I think we ended up with 20 quarts of sausage crumbles and 10 quarts of taco filling in all. We have two Mirro pressure canners that are identical, so we ordered a second jiggler weight and a spare gasket tonight. I also ordered me 8 boxes of contact lenses from visiondirect.com. They are normally $35 a box at the Walmart Vision Center. I found a vision direct discount code of $20 off $133 plus they are running a $20 volume discount and free shipping right now, so I got 8 boxes for $119. I plan to save up some money and order 8 more boxes in June. That should last me at least 3 years for the same cost of 1 1/2 years at Walmart.

femmesteader

04-21-2010, 11:32 AM

.33 cents for canned veggies is darn good, compared to what it is around here. Can't find anything under .55 cents, which is even generic brand here. And the Cream of canned soups are outrageous! It makes me sick to buy them at $1 a can or more sometimes. When it's over $1 I usually don't buy them.

It's so interesting to read stuff like this,
I wish I could take y’all for a tour of a local grocery store in my area. Here in Toronto, a can of soup is regularly 1.67 the “hearty expensive stuff” is 2.99 sometimes. For a can of soup.
canned beans, lentils, or canned corn is also about $1.50.

I try my best to stock up on low-sodium soups and stocks, I’ll buy a bunch at $1, but you’ve got to be quick for those sales.
I remember the day well…when wallmart sold Campbells soups for .59cents.

The only vegetable that is cheap around here are potatoes and onions, $2 for 5lbs on average.

I try to eat in season, not JUST because it’s a lot cheaper, but because I also like to purchase local foods.

Our area is good for fruits believe it or not…so in the summer time, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, you name it, are available for $10 a bushel. (which I plan to take full advantage of and do lots of canning this season)

femmesteader

04-21-2010, 12:31 PM

patience

04-21-2010, 04:11 PM

femmesteader,

Works like a champ, and this thing is at least 50 years old! Good stuff.

Plowed the last garden today, but it is too dry to plant. I'll continue working on fencing for a while, instead, until we get some rain. Hopefully, that will be this weekend.

DD discovered the "Petfinder" site online, and thinks she has a good dog located for her. I'm searching there also, since we need a watchdog. I'm favoring a Labrador mix of some variety. Had them before, and get along nicely with them.

If our shop business stays slow like it has been, maybe I'll soon get back to the solar project! I'm hopeful, at least. Also have to build us a woodstove, (have the spot for it, a chimney ready, and about 15 truckoads of dry wood stacked up), then tackle the rest of a very long list of projects, including buidling a wood splitter. Got parts for all that, so it's just a matter of time and work now.

pcrowder

04-21-2010, 04:27 PM

DH got the rest of the sausage and taco filling canned tonight. I think we ended up with 20 quarts of sausage crumbles and 10 quarts of taco filling .

How do you make your taco filling? Do you have a set "from scratch" recipe, or do you brown the burger and add store-bought pkgs of taco seasoning? I hadn't thought of it, but we do go through ALOT of taco filling, so I think I should can some up soon.

cartershan

04-21-2010, 08:23 PM

Hey all, I would like to know that recipe as well for sausage and taco filling. I'm always on the hunt for new recipes to can.
Sunday, DD and I made tons of more strawberry jam.
TOday I picked up 67 more jars (pint and quart mixed) from a friend whose mother has gone to an assissted living establishment. Also got another water bath canner, a grass seeder and some great tupperware.
My friend teaches with me, so I went over after school and loaded up!!!
I have gotten 197 jars from her for FREE!
Today was a really good day, Shannon

patience

04-22-2010, 03:41 PM

firegirl969

04-22-2010, 04:12 PM

pcrowder

04-22-2010, 04:52 PM

Thanks for the recipe, firegirl. I should make up a bunch of it because it would be good in casseroles and smothered burritos, too.

And cartershan - WOW! You scored! woo-hoo! I am soooo happy for you!

pcrowder

04-22-2010, 04:54 PM

We have a local meat market that sells the sausage crumbles in 5 lb bags, so I buy those and put them in the jars, cover with boiling water, and pressure can on 10 lbs for 90 minutes. The taco filling I brown deer burger and add taco seasoning and cann it up without adding extra liquid. witht he same pressure canning instructions as above.

Ok - have another question....when you use the canned sausage crumbles, do you drain off the water and heat the crumbles in a skillet, or do you just leave the water in the pan with it, thicken it and make biscuits and gravy with it?

cartershan

04-22-2010, 10:07 PM

Thanks so much for posting your directions for the sausage and taco filling. Just as soon as I get a bit of time I'm going to try the taco filling. My family really enjoys tacos, but the process of making them is such a pain in the rear for me. I really don't know why, I guess thats just one of those dishes that I just dread making. This would ease the process quite a bit.
My friend I got the jars from gave 4 more boxes away today. I bet there was at least 60 jars in there. I thought I had gotten them all!!!
Hope all is well with everyone, Shannon
I really can't believe my DSL is still working.

NCLee

04-23-2010, 03:50 AM

I spent the morning clearing out overgrown honeysuckle, with a weed burner torch. I don't think you can kill the stuff, like Kudzu, all you can do is slow it down. When it sprouts again, I'll hit it with brush killer spray, or it will be back in force this summer.

The best time I've found to spray Kudzu is late summer, about a month before the end of the growing season. During that time the top growth is storing food in the root to over winter. Thus, it does a better job of pulling the herbicide into the root. Gotta kill that root. Some of those thing are HUGE!!

This time of year the root is pushing out nutrients to promote the top growth, so herbicides are less effective now.

I dislike honeysuckle about as much as I do Kudzu. Birds keep spreading it with dropping under the trees. We're infested with it. For that, I just keep spraying and cutting off top growth where it's run up into trees. My problem is where I can't spray. Keep cutting it back where it's trying to over take the azaleas and Spanish Dagger. Because it's difficult to work that closely to the latter, I may have to bush hog them down, and spray the area. Dig up a few smaller ones to transplant in another spot, first.

Given enough time goats will take care of both kudzu and honeysuckle. Just have to have enough goats for the area enclosed so they'll tend to overgraze. Thus, they'll get every new sprout. Deprive that Kuduz root of nourishment from the leaves and it will DIE!!

FWIW, it's been a battle around here for years with honeysuckle, kudzu, wild climbing roses, and posion oak. About 5 years ago we had a new pest invade.
Japanese Stiltgrass. If you ever run across that stuff, go after it with a vengance. When it first appeared here, I didn't know what it was and didn't pay much attention to it. Now it's almost everywhere.

Impact: Can grow in a variety of habitats where it forms dense stands and crowds out native species http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/stiltgrass.shtml Used to have a beautiful carpet of wild violets in the back 40 near the creek. People often commented about how pretty that spot was in the spring when the violets were in bloom. They're almost gone now, due to this pest.

Can't rake leaves, shred, and put in the garden anymore. So far, I don't have this pest in the garden. However I can't take the chance of introducing those seeds out there.

And, what's worse, this stuff is a fire hazard in late fall. It grows about 18" tall and is like very very fine dry wheat straw after the frost kills it. It burns like crazy if a spark gets near it.

As far as I know, there's no selective herbicide to take it out. Spray it with a non-selective and everything else dies, too. It's easy to pull up, but there's so much of it around here, that's an impossible task. We keep all we can mowed, but it's in the edges of the woods and in other places where we can't mow. Seed are viable in the soil for 5 years. Any disturbance to the soil brings up a fresh crop.

I pray that you don't encounter that grass. Kudzu is a walk in the park compared to that grass pest.

Lee

patience

04-23-2010, 04:23 AM

NCLee,
We don't have Kudzu here, only heard about it from friends. We DO have Wild Rose Hedge (Multiflora), honeysuckle, Johnson Grass, Canadian Thistle, poison ivy and poison oak. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, WRT all of those. My pocket knife sees a lot of duty cutting thistles in the yard, and have pretty much kept them under control.

Rain today, and I have a hot job in the shop, so it will be up to DD to get plants set out and put in onion sets, if possible.

cwatson

04-23-2010, 10:30 AM

Finished two more rain barrels yesterday and now just need to get the rest of the eves painted on the house so I can get up the remainder of the gutters up. I still need to add another gutter to the chicken coop too. Total of 8 rain barrels ready to go now just need the gutters :) Always one more thing. With the limited amount of rain we get here in Central Texas water is one of my biggest worries in an emergency so I want as many rain barrels as possible so I have water for my garden. The barrels were free from the Dr. Pepper Factory. They put them out back and let people take them as they want. They are food grade 55 gallon barrels. I just get the stuff to put the spigots on and screen the openings etc to make them usable for rain barrels.

I transplanted 22 more tomatoes today that I grew from my saved seeds last years. Got two peppers transplanted too. Those were so delicious last year that I had to save some of those seeds. I canned a bunch and dried up a bunch. I hope I get even more peppers this year and I can can more. I gave a lot of jars as gifts last year too. Planted more squash too. We are running low on squash pickles so I hope they will last until the new crop comes in. Same on the beets.

Evening have been spent working on quilt or carding some mohair that I got a great buy on from a local lady. I have an entire Merino/Targhee fleece that is still awaiting me to scour it and several pounds of mohair. I am also working on knitting another cardigan for DH. My darling autistic son has suddenly developed an interest in learning to hand sew the basics so I have been giving him lessons. He sewed his first button on his short the other day and was really proud of himself. With his poor hand coordination that was quite an accomplishment.

I canned up some more beef stock the other day and just in time because the venison stock was running low. I have tons of chicken stock since I made a chicken about once a week and we raise our own chickens but we don't raise beef. We basically depend on getting a deer or two each year and then buy beef as necessary. With only one acre we do have some limitations :)

firegirl969

04-24-2010, 04:54 PM

We picked up two young dairy goats today. We got rain on the garden and it looks so much better.

patience

04-25-2010, 10:36 AM

I'm spending the day fixing up stuff I got at the junkyard last week. Put a new handle in a 10 lb. sledge hammer, cleaned up a 2" trailer hitch ball, sorted out about 5 lbs. of bolts and put them away, cleaned and sharpened a linoleum knife that was in the pile, and cleaned up a heavy tractor clevis. That stuff, retail cost would be at least $50 worth, so far. Still have about 20 lbs. of bolts to go through.

pcrowder

04-26-2010, 12:56 PM

I have the Excalibur FULL of celery and carrots, with more waiting to go in tomorrow.

patience

04-26-2010, 02:07 PM

Bought a solar powered electric fence charger yesterday and some insulators and gate hook thingies for it. It's a medium duty unit, 10 Joule rated, which is enough to firmly discourage cattle, and most 2-legged pests.

Now I have more ground rods to drive. :( This unit wants a minimum of 3 rods, at least 8 feet deep. The better the ground, the more energy transfer, so it is good to do it right.

Barbed wire on the fence tops makes a really GOOD connection to whatever hits it. :eek: Glow-in-the-dark zombies, anyone?

patience

04-27-2010, 04:54 PM

Spent the day mostly cleaning beds in front of the house, and hauled a pickup load to the huge brushpile out back. I put the honeysuckle vines on top where I HOPE they dry out and die quickly. Clearing out front will benefit a couple ways. We can see out a lot better, and any approaching visitors, friend or foe, will feel very exposed. And, we can plant a host of things to eat in those old flower beds. :)

Later, I welded an extra ring on a round bale feeder for the neighbor, to keep his little calves from climbing into it. He has between 60 and 80 calves at the moment. Then, I repaired an deck spindle for an obsolete mower, sold a small piece of steel channel to a fellow who is repairing a truck frame, and cleaned up the shop somewhat.

firegirl969

04-28-2010, 04:55 PM

I had to pick up something at Sav-a-lot for someone else today, so I did some stocking up for us as well. Several prices had gone down since last year. We were low on mixed veggies, so I got 3 cases and another case of mushrooms for DH to grill with his steaks. Worcheshire sauce went back to 99 cents from $1.19 so I picked up a case of 12. Gallons of white vinegar went to $1.99 from $2.29 so I picked up 8 gallons of that. I also got 4 bags of 100 tea bags for 99 cents a bag and 8 jars of coffee creamer for DH for $1.79 each. Brown sugar and powdered sugar was $1.29 for 2 lbs. I think that is about average, but I went ahead and picked up 2 of each. I also got two jars of canning salt to store as I have one left from last year. I noticed that their jar prices were higher than Big Lots, $8.99 a dozen for regular mouth quarts and $10.99 for wide mouth quarts and they were sold out, so people must be planning ahead to can alot. The stuff that I got replaced quite a bit of stuff we had used from our stores.

NCLee

04-29-2010, 01:06 AM

Firegirl, sound like you got some good deals. We don't have one of those stores around here. There's a Big Lots! about an hours and a half away, so we don't get there often.

Glad to hear that you stocked up on white vinegar. So many uses for it. I need to add more to my stash, as I keep raiding it for something.

If memory serves, WalMart has quart jars for $7.88 regular and $10 for wide-mouth. Bought all the regular lids (17 doz) they had @ $1.50/doz & 4 boxs of wide @ $2.12. As soon as the budget permits (and they restock) planning to get more lids and some more jars.

Lee

Gemglo

04-29-2010, 06:04 PM

Finished our state required 1000 hours of homeschool for the year, yay! :yes2:Have a couple of projects to finish next week then we'll take a short break and continue with some subjects for summer. Picked up more canning jars at Wal-Mart, and finished getting DD's stuff together for a Girl Scout campout this weekend. Ordered bulk coconut oil & 25lbs of pinto beans, I"ll pick them up next week.

Jennifer

cartershan

04-29-2010, 08:27 PM

Hey PCrowder, I would love to know how you cut your carrots and celery when placing in the dehydrator. Do you shred? Chunk? Slice? I have not dehydrated either of these yet and would like to. My instruction manual says to shred or mandolin slice the carrots, but we just don't like them that way. Can you slice thin or even chunk and still dehydrate them?
Hope all is well with everyone, and that you dodge the flooding we are predicted to get this weekend. Shannon

pcrowder

04-30-2010, 12:40 PM

The first couple of batches I sliced them too thin (about 1/4" thick), and they ended up so small it was tough to get them off of the Excalibur screen without them falling through. I cut them 1/2" on the last batches (the carrots too) according to the Excalibur web site (couldn't find my instruction book so I looked on the web) and those seemed to work well. The next batch I may see if I can slice them 3/4" and see how they do. I like bigger chunks for stuff like stew, and the thinner slices for things like soup, chicken and dumplings, etc.. I just plain sliced them with a paring knife - no fancy shreds or anything. Just plain slices like you would put in a casserole or soup. They turned out great. I then stored them (after I was sure they dried in the dehydrator for 10 hrs) in pint mason jars with the lid off for 24 hrs before I put the lids on. (This was after letting them sit for an additional 12 hrs in the dehydrator with the heat off after the dehydrating cycle was done), just to be SURE everything was dry before I put the lids on. I then took them up to the spare room in the attic for long-term storage. I've done tomatoes and grapes too, and am anxious to try rhubarb this year.

patience

04-30-2010, 06:13 PM

For some time I've been telling people that I wanted a spare engine for my 2 garden tractors. Also have a portable welder with one on it. Onan engines aren't that plentiful, and parts are expensive. Well, a buddy found one for me last week, FREE, no less, and today, I found another one. An old fellow called from 70 miles away down in Kentucky, saying he had one that runs for 100 bucks. Somebody that knew me had given him my phone number... Hard telling who that was.

So, I blew off shop work today and fetched it. It's fairly young, and has good compression, so I can use it for a short block anyway, even though I'll have to use my peripheral parts to make it fit my tractor, since this one came from a genset. A new long block for mine is about $1,200, a good used engine goes for around $500 to $650, all on EBay. So, this was a steal! Got 2 of these now, plus a clunker block that is stuck--won't turn--but is good for external parts and maybe some internals. This should keep me going for quite a long time.

Have to do shop work tomorrow to catch up now, but that's okay. We are supposed to get 2" to 3" of rain in the morning, and AGAIN on Sunday morning, so no gardening for a while. I better shut up the chickens so they don't get rain blowing in the door. It's supposed to be dandy storm. Really glad we got that big tree cut down last week, since wet ground and a big wind would have blown it over. Batten down all the hatches!

NCLee

05-01-2010, 12:33 AM

Congrats on finding what you needed at a good price, too. It's getting harder and harder to do that, these days.

Lee

Storm62

05-01-2010, 05:56 AM

Exciting times on the farm. We got our solar water well up and running. We also put up our new greenhouse. Just a small one, 6ft x 8ft. Just big enough to start our seedlings for the fall and spring gardens.:)

cartershan

05-01-2010, 07:43 AM

THanks PCrowder. My bunch will be much happier with thicker slices as well. Just wanted to hear from someone who had done it, so I didn't screw it up! Shannon

patience

05-01-2010, 05:29 PM

Went to the farm store today and was shocked at some prices. Firewood splitting wedges (forged steel, but made in India) were 20 bucks each! An axe handle was $12.49. Glad I got a splitting maul at the junkyard, 'cuz they wanted $42.99 for one! (That's what the axe handle was for--it fits both axe and maul.) Chainsaw files were 2 in a package (I only wanted ONE!) for $5.99.

At a second farm store: Got 3 ground rods for the electric fence X $13.99 each. The copper ones were $26.99!!:eek: Half a dozen screw-in ceramic insulators cost $2.29 each.

Then I went across the street to Wal Mart for:
> powdered milk, 10 packets/3.2 oz. (makes a quart each) for $8.37 = 10 qts., or $3.35/gallon. Not the way to buy milk with fresh milk at $1.99/gal. of 2%, but this is for emergencies. We use some of it and rotate stock.
>brown sugar @ $1.94/2 lb. bag. (Later found it for $1.50 at Dollar General.)
>good quality bacon @ $2.68/lb.
>5 gal. Exterior latex, white paint. I bought this for $46.99 a couple years ago, but now $67. That is up 21% per year! Can't get that kind of investment return at the savings bank, huh? :mad: I got 2 buckets, which should last me a lifetime.
>cat food, 16 lbs./$12.88. (I guess the cats are worth it. Haven't seen a mouse here in years, except for the dead ones they bring to me.)

This was just filling in some blanks in our stock, and replenishing some of what we had used. It was still an expensive day. :( And my truck didn't have anywhere close to a full load, either. Glad I don't need much more of this sort of thing.

NCLee

05-02-2010, 03:46 AM

Patience, this is what we've been buying (brands have changed a couple of times) for close to 10 years. Price has gradually increased, but it's still the best price I've found. Works out to be $2.14 per gallon based on current price.
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=435872&pCatg=2459

We don't use a lot of fresh milk, so buying it by the gallon resulted in a lot of waste. I use this reconstituted (as, if needed) for making pancakes, adding lemon juice for "buttermilk" for biscuits, making gravy and such. Often I can add the dry powder directly to the recipe without having to reconstitute first.

If you have a warehouse club nearby, it may be worth a check them out. Our annual membership with Sam's pays for itself with savings on top of that, each year. We usually try to go about once a month to stock up, as we "store what we eat and eat what we store". Plus, I've saved quite a bit on durable goods. Bought my Porter Cable 5 1/2" circular saw there with big bucks worth of savings.

On another note, had an eye exam Thursday. Chose to get the prescription put into safety glasses instead of regular frames. The frames style is a classic one that looks nice. Pleasantly surprised at the price. Was much less than what I had expected to pay. Didn't even look at the fashion/fad designer frames. These should be more durable over the long haul and definitely a plus when working in the shop. Wearing goggles or safety glasses over prescription glasses, ain't my cup of coffee.

Suggest that everyone go ahead and get eye exams and glasses, if needed. No telling where the prices will go, what the availability issues will be, if hyper inflation sets in or other SHTF situations hit soon.

Lee