Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: July 3 ~ 9, 2022

[Digger]

We got our electric bill. We used less electricity than the same time period last year, yet our bill was $36 more than last year. I have started using the clothes line again. I actually enjoy it. It is a peaceful chore. And I like folding as I take them off the line. My stove on the side porch is set up again. I can cook and can out there and keep the heat out of the house.

We have been at or near 100* for several days with higher heat indexes. It was just miserable yesterday. Late in the day I dug some potatoes. I still have more to dig but they are still green so I will leave them till the plants start to die. That could be any day now with the heat. We need rain badly. We are in a burn ban now. I won't have to mow till we get rain. The grass is crunchy.

The new grandbaby and her momma are doing great. Baby is growing and momma is feeling much better.

We have just been trying to catch up around here. Hubby has ordered bailer parts. They should be coming in this week or at least starting to come in. I ordered boots a month ago and yesterday we got the call that they are in.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I have started using the clothes line again. I actually enjoy it. It is a peaceful chore. And I like folding as I take them off the line.

I enjoy using my clothesline, too. I do my laundry very early in the mornings, so I can hang them outside before it gets too hot. The other morning, I was out there doing the chore, and I heard a flock of wild turkeys gobbling as they had just come off their roost down under the hill from us. It's a peaceful time, early in the mornings. I also fold the laundry as I take them off the line. Makes putting the load away go faster. I always hang everything together, so they're already sorted out, too.

 

[WanderLore]

Couldn't stand the oppressive heat/humidity anymore yesterday so am over at sons. He is working a 48, so I plan to be here a couple days. Its been storming daily and at night, so gardens are growing like crazy.
Going to run some errands and then just veg.

 

[nomifyle]

I enjoy using my clothesline, too. I do my laundry very early in the mornings, so I can hang them outside before it gets too hot. The other morning, I was out there doing the chore, and I heard a flock of wild turkeys gobbling as they had just come off their roost down under the hill from us. It's a peaceful time, early in the mornings. I also fold the laundry as I take them off the line. Makes putting the load away go faster. I always hang everything together, so they're already sorted out, too.

In my mind I could enjoy using a clothes line, but in reality I have so much pain in my right shoulder I just can't lift my arm to hang clothes on the line, much less fold as I take them off the line. This is why I end up putting things on the porch rail. I do use a drying rack in the tub also. DH keeps the bedroom so hot in the winter that I can put the drying rack in there then.

We went out to dinner last night with a couple that I have know her since child hood and I went to school with him, but didn't know him then. He got drafted in '66 and has a heart condition due to walking around in agent orange. Very nice people.

The hamburger steak dinner that DH and I like has gone from 9.99 to 10.50 in the last year. Of course, I can blame them because her costs have gone way up. This is the local small cafe and we are lucky that she has been able to stay open.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

In my mind I could enjoy using a clothes line, but in reality I have so much pain in my right shoulder I just can't lift my arm to hang clothes on the line, much less fold as I take them off the line. This is why I end up putting things on the porch rail. I do use a drying rack in the tub also. DH keeps the bedroom so hot in the winter that I can put the drying rack in there then.

I would be lost in the wintertime without my drying racks. I use them when it's cold, cause I can't handle going outside to hang them on the clothesline. Not only do we heat a lot of our hot water on the wood heater/stove, I also set up the drying rack next to it, and it dries my laundry. Free heat, free hot water, and free clothes dryer. Can hardly beat that!

 

[drafter]

Considering future supply problems, I ordered an extra chain and bar for my chainsaw and some extra cutter blades for my planer. I have extra bandsaw blades so hopefully I’ll be able to keep going for quite some time sharpening and rotating them.

 

[briches]

Briches, that is the way I built my pantry over time. Each time I went grocery shopping (back then it was once a week), I picked up 2 flats of a different canned veggie and a 5lb sack of either cornmeal or flour. I did that over time, until I had a good stock. I didn't concentrate on stocking canned or frozen meat, cause I always figured Cary could hunt to provide what we needed. I had the basics covered, a veggie, bread, and the meat Cary provided. Then, like you, I moved on to something else for a while, then something else, etc. It was a slow but steady process, and it built up over time.

I do like this method for sure. It’s been a very doable way to build my pantry further. I’m not sure how much pasta and sauce is needed, but still have a sense of relief getting it each time. Prices are only going up -

I did check my vitamin stash, and it’s better than I thought it would be. I might increase with a few more multi vitamins next time I run into Costco (not often but might happen next week when I run into town). We are good on elderberry, vitamin c, d and b.

Slow and steady ….

 

[briches]

I’ve never used a drying rack but will hang clothes over the dining chairs and towel bars. However, shirts that end up getting hung in the closet, get put on a hanger and I let them dry hanging on the shower bar.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I’ve never used a drying rack but will hang clothes over the dining chairs and towel bars. However, shirts that end up getting hung in the closet, get put on a hanger and I let them dry hanging on the shower bar.

When using my drying racks, I don't have enough room to hang all the bath and dish towels on it with all the rest of the laundry. I take each towel, fold it long ways, and hang over a sturdy clothes hanger. Then, I hang them up over the door facings over each door to dry. Our day to day work shirts and pants get hung on clothes hangers, then hug over the door facings to dry as well. It's just me and Cary here, so who cares if there is laundry hanging all over the house. It's free........ The wood heat dries everything pretty quickly anyway.

 

[nomifyle]

I've always hung delicates and nice blouses on hangers on the shower rod. It does make them last longer not being put in the dryer. I've got most of the same night gowns that I moved here with almost 12 years ago.My clothes almost never wear out. Even Dh's things rarely wear out, he's got a couple of long sleeve shirts that are looking kind of thread bare, but he wears long sleeve shirts in the summer too. Its helps to protect his arms when he's out working.

And what woman hasn't hung stockings in the bathroom. Although its been a very long time since I wore panty hose, than you Jesus. And the dresses, panty hose and heels that we had to wear to work back in the day, just to sit at a desk.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Ya'll are full of good ideas! I definitely need more drying racks for winter and more bar and chain oil for our chainsaws. I need to learn how to use our chainsaw too.
The fall garden is going in this week. I'll be glad to have that done!
Our garden, orchard, and berries are doing awesome this year, and I thank God daily for that! I'm canning as fast as I can!

 

[hiwall]

I need to learn how to use our chainsaw too.

Ah, no you don't. Or may I say please don't.
Running a chainsaw is risky. A large number of people who run chainsaws get hurt. Some get hurt bad and some just get hurt a little. I bet you have plenty of very useful things you can do and are doing. No one has has to do everything. I have no doubt that you are strong, intelligent, and fearless.
If you want to learn about the chainsaw, then learn how to shut it off.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Ah, no you don't. Or may I say please don't.
Running a chainsaw is risky. A large number of people who run chainsaws get hurt. Some get hurt bad and some just get hurt a little. I bet you have plenty of very useful things you can do and are doing. No one has has to do everything. I have no doubt that you are strong, intelligent, and fearless.
If you want to learn about the chainsaw, then learn how to shut it off.

I leave all the chainsaw stuff to Cary. It scares me to death everytime he uses it, because he takes blood thinners! I don't even like for him to use an axe, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, sometimes.

 

[drafter]

Ah, no you don't. Or may I say please don't.
Running a chainsaw is risky. A large number of people who run chainsaws get hurt. Some get hurt bad and some just get hurt a little. I bet you have plenty of very useful things you can do and are doing. No one has has to do everything. I have no doubt that you are strong, intelligent, and fearless.
If you want to learn about the chainsaw, then learn how to shut it off.

Proper safety gear is a must and knowing how to not get squashed by the tree you’re trying to cut down is helpful.

 

[nomifyle]

bar and chain oi

Dh has started getting used motor oil from our mechanic to use for that, free

 

[John Deere Girl]

Ah, no you don't. Or may I say please don't.
Running a chainsaw is risky. A large number of people who run chainsaws get hurt. Some get hurt bad and some just get hurt a little. I bet you have plenty of very useful things you can do and are doing. No one has has to do everything. I have no doubt that you are strong, intelligent, and fearless.
If you want to learn about the chainsaw, then learn how to shut it off.

I agree with what you're saying, but my DH isn't able to. I probably wouldn't use it unless I absolutely had to, but I would like knowing how to use our small one just in case. I've had to learn to do a lot of different things these last 3 years. Right now we buy our wood and have it delivered. The kids and I stack it, but with fuel prices increasing and the state of the world, I'm not sure that will always be the case.

 

[nomifyle]

years ago, when I worked at Home Depot, I bought a small electric chain saw with jaws on it. I was able to cut low hanging limbs with it. And DH came along and he loved it, actually wore it out, but ever since he keeps an electric chain saw here and has a small generator that he hauls in the woods when he's cutting fence lines. The generator is dual fuel, but when he's using it like that he puts gas in it instead of also hauling around a small propane tank. He built a small trailer for the generator and used it that way before he got his tractor.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

years ago, when I worked at Home Depot, I bought a small electric chain saw with jaws on it. I was able to cut low hanging limbs with it. And DH came along and he loved it, actually wore it out, but ever since he keeps an electric chain saw here and has a small generator that he hauls in the woods when he's cutting fence lines. The generator is dual fuel, but when he's using it like that he puts gas in it instead of also hauling around a small propane tank. He built a small trailer for the generator and used it that way before he got his tractor.

We heat solely with wood, and Cary cuts, splits, and stacks all of our firewood. He has an 18 and a 20 inch gas powered chainsaw with lots of extra chains, and a grinder to keep the chains sharp. Files for backups. He has a 27 ton splitter, good axes and wedges. We have a 12ft. x 40ft. covered wood shed. I worry about what we'll do once he isn't able to do this anymore. He's almost 70, and firewood around here to buy is almost nonexistent. I guess, we'll have to install all propane if our firewood supply dries up.

 

[briches]

I agree with what you're saying, but my DH isn't able to. I probably wouldn't use it unless I absolutely had to, but I would like knowing how to use our small one just in case. I've had to learn to do a lot of different things these last 3 years. Right now we buy our wood and have it delivered. The kids and I stack it, but with fuel prices increasing and the state of the world, I'm not sure that will always be the case.

We have a smaller electric one that I learned to use last year and enjoy using it. It wouldn’t be big enough for big trees (Hubby does have bigger chain saws for that), but it is one I feel comfortable operating. We also have a pole chain saw that uses the same battery so I’m able to help trim limbs and branches in the yard.

 

[ioujc]

years ago, when I worked at Home Depot, I bought a small electric chain saw with jaws on it. I was able to cut low hanging limbs with it. And DH came along and he loved it, actually wore it out, but ever since he keeps an electric chain saw here and has a small generator that he hauls in the woods when he's cutting fence lines. The generator is dual fuel, but when he's using it like that he puts gas in it instead of also hauling around a small propane tank. He built a small trailer for the generator and used it that way before he got his tractor.

I have cut wood in the forest too, but found an inverter to be the best thing ever to power my electric chain saw.

For about 3 years I cut all my own firewood.......and wood heat was my only source of heat.

Actually, I LOVED IT!!

 

[nomifyle]

I have cut wood in the forest too, but found an inverter to be the best thing ever to power my electric chain saw.

For about 3 years I cut all my own firewood.......and wood heat was my only source of heat.

Actually, I LOVED IT!!

Never cut wood, just low hanging limbs. We've also got two log splitters.

 

[nomifyle]

We heat solely with wood, and Cary cuts, splits, and stacks all of our firewood. He has an 18 and a 20 inch gas powered chainsaw with lots of extra chains, and a grinder to keep the chains sharp. Files for backups. He has a 27 ton splitter, good axes and wedges. We have a 12ft. x 40ft. covered wood shed. I worry about what we'll do once he isn't able to do this anymore. He's almost 70, and firewood around here to buy is almost nonexistent. I guess, we'll have to install all propane if our firewood supply dries up.

DH is almost 79 and I worry about when he can't do the wood, although right now, like you, we have very good supply. Heck, I worry about when he can't do all the things he does now. Well, I don't actually sit and wring my hands about it, but it does cross my mind and then I thank God for what both of us can do.

 

[connie]

Live in high desert so cool mornings and low humidity. Use clothesline and drying racks too. My clothes I dry for 10 minutes and then hang.
Our dryer is gas. Hot water heater gas too..

Our electric is supposed to go up over 30% as they 'go green' despite abundant natural gas to run the plants here. Common sense is out the window. We ALL have to go green.

 

[CaryC]

I need to learn how to use our chainsaw too.

I saw where people advised against it. You have to be your own judge on that.

However if you decide to do it, be advised that you most certainly need to respect the saw, those that don't are usually the ones that get hurt, in any profession/or job.

And even more important is the tree. I don't cut trees, I cut "downed trees," due to storms or whatever. It's cutting trees where real pain and death come in. They can fool you. When the last tree I cut fooled me, I was done cutting standing trees.

Second is cutting down trees and knowing which way they will bend due to the weight. I was cutting a down tree on my son's place and as I was going through the tree I paid attention that the gap was getting bigger as I cut, which told me there was some weight on the tree that would make it pop open or up, when I got through the tree, and it did pop up, over head high, because the roots were still in the ground, and unseen was pulling the base of the tree back to an upward position.

Seeing that and knowing what it would/could do, I didn't stand over the tree, but did the cutting at arms length, and everything turned out fine.

A lot of that comes from experience and using your head. Never think you can just walk up and cut a tree, there are way to many variables that you need to pay attention to. So it's not just running a saw.

Another important thing is knowing your saw, and saw blade. I use Sthil's and they are easy to flood. Always stand on the handle, I don't care if it does look wimpy, stand on the handle. Lock the trigger into wide open, and set the choke all the way. Pull 2-3 times to get a sputter, then close the choke and pull a couple of times to start. If you flood it, you'll have to let it dry out so plan on waiting a day, or take it apart and dry it, easier to just wait a day.

You will also need to know the gas oil ratio. Because chainsaw don't just run on gas, they are 2 cylinder and the oil goes in the gas. Hubby can help with that.

If you do decide to use the chainsaw be very careful and always be mindful of that, safety first.

It would be great if you could do some practice runs with the wood in an X type holder. Like they did in the old days with cross cut saws. Bonanza did that a lot, right out the front door.

If there is any advice I can give you over the internet I would be glad to, but hubby can do that too. It would be great if he was there on the spot to advise you, even if he can't do the work.

Like tell you to cut under first then on top, or on top first then under. It makes a difference depending and I can't see that from here. Also for safety reasons it would be great if he was along just in case, even if he's sitting in the truck. Listen to him, even if he gets on your nerves, he knows what he is talking about.

 

[John Deere Girl]

I saw where people advised against it. You have to be your own judge on that.

However if you decide to do it, be advised that you most certainly need to respect the saw, those that don't are usually the ones that get hurt, in any profession/or job.

And even more important is the tree. I don't cut trees, I cut "downed trees," due to storms or whatever. It's cutting trees where real pain and death come in. They can fool you. When the last tree I cut fooled me, I was done cutting standing trees.

Second is cutting down trees and knowing which way they will bend due to the weight. I was cutting a down tree on my son's place and as I was going through the tree I paid attention that the gap was getting bigger as I cut, which told me there was some weight on the tree that would make it pop open or up, when I got through the tree, and it did pop up, over head high, because the roots were still in the ground, and unseen was pulling the base of the tree back to an upward position.

Seeing that and knowing what it would/could do, I didn't stand over the tree, but did the cutting at arms length, and everything turned out fine.

A lot of that comes from experience and using your head. Never think you can just walk up and cut a tree, there are way to many variables that you need to pay attention to. So it's not just running a saw.

Another important thing is knowing your saw, and saw blade. I use Sthil's and they are easy to flood. Always stand on the handle, I don't care if it does look wimpy, stand on the handle. Lock the trigger into wide open, and set the choke all the way. Pull 2-3 times to get a sputter, then close the choke and pull a couple of times to start. If you flood it, you'll have to let it dry out so plan on waiting a day, or take it apart and dry it, easier to just wait a day.

You will also need to know the gas oil ratio. Because chainsaw don't just run on gas, they are 2 cylinder and the oil goes in the gas. Hubby can help with that.

If you do decide to use the chainsaw be very careful and always be mindful of that, safety first.

It would be great if you could do some practice runs with the wood in an X type holder. Like they did in the old days with cross cut saws. Bonanza did that a lot, right out the front door.

If there is any advice I can give you over the internet I would be glad to, but hubby can do that too. It would be great if he was there on the spot to advise you, even if he can't do the work.

Like tell you to cut under first then on top, or on top first then under. It makes a difference depending and I can't see that from here. Also for safety reasons it would be great if he was along just in case, even if he's sitting in the truck. Listen to him, even if he gets on your nerves, he knows what he is talking about.

I really appreciate all your advice and I also appreciate Hiwall's advice too! I only want to learn in case I ever need to do it. Our son knows how to use a chainsaw as well,, so chances are very small that I will ever need this knowledge, but I'd hate to need it and not know it.. I welcome all the advice I can get!! I will only cut downed trees, and when I do learn, I will use safety equipment. My DH or a close friend (probably both) will supervise. I plan on learning to be proficient with our small saw, but we will continue to buy wood as long as we can. We have Sthil chainsaws, and I just ordered more bar and chain oil today for them.

 

[ioujc]

I didn't cut standing trees either.....just wood that was already down.

Even then, you can hurt yourself badly.....I have the scar on my wrist where I got it in the way of the chainsaw and squeezed the cut button harder because it hurt so bad....THANK GOD I let go of the blamed thing ....AND my feet were not in the way!!!
A minor miracle really!!

 

[Marseydoats]

Had a 12 hour power outage in the 100 degree heat. Not something I care to repeat. I don't know why it went out, ours seemed to be the only house that did.
I put down 300 more pounds of rock in front of the barn in the crater that I.am trying to fill up. I wanted to get at least 1 project finished before everything hit the skids, but it's just too hot. I've got a huge list of things to start doing in Sept when it usually cools off.

 

[hiwall]

In Minnesota, where they commonly have winters that last 13 months or more, we heated our house there with a wood furnace for many years. I cut a huge amount of wood. I cut mostly standing timber because downed trees would rot quickly there. I started cutting firewood when I was a teen and still living at home where we heated with wood too. I did get hurt once when I got careless for a moment. It wasn't a big deal and I finished the tree I was working on. I cut a lot of wood after that accident too.
It is easy to get hurt cutting wood with a chainsaw.
We are all on this thread so we can help each other because we care about each other. I do not want any of you to get hurt.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

The neighbor's fireworks were really subdued last night. We had no complaints, and they finished early. Now, we're back to the nice, quiet, peaceful life, LOL. Other than the occasional car or truck going down our country road, on a very still night, you can hear the train going through a little town 8 miles away. That's how quiet it is out here where we are. We love it!

I'm getting ready to go shopping. Mostly what I'll be buying today will be vitamins, supplements, and OTC meds. I've really let my vitamin and supplement stash get down lower than what I like. I don't need to add anything to storage or pantry this time. Just what we need for 2 weeks. I'm emptying out the oldest freezer, so I don't need to buy more meat, until that is done. I really don't like the idea of having an empty freezer with times the way they are, but I'm afraid to rely on it with being full in case it goes out. Cary won't let me buy another one, until this one actually stops, so..........It may run another 20 yrs, but who knows? I still plan to use it, but not for meat. I'll store cornmeal, flour, butter, and cheese in it. The newer freezer will be for meat only.

Heat index hit 109, yesterday. We were sweltering. No rain, so everything got watered again this morning. It's going to be the same, today. Rinse and repeat for the next week, maybe longer. The only chance of rain are those afternoon popcorn showers that can pop up once the humidity gets too high. That's about a 15%-20% chance each day. This is normal July weather for us, though. July and August are the two hottest and dryest months for us. I don't like those 115-120 degree heat index at all. Those are coming.

SB,

I have a friend who is the Stock Clerk Manager for the Super WalMart in Bolivar, TN. That is less than an hour out of our favorite farm Mega Store in Pontotoc. I point that out because what is true for the WalMart in Bolivar will be true for the WalMart up your way. Probably the Sam’s Club too, for that matter.

Anyway, you already know about the shipping container problems, right? How they couldn’t get hardly anything for a long time, then all of a sudden, everything came pouring in all at once.

Anyway, WalMart in our region has gotten flooded with all kinds of refrigerators and freezers.

She said the prices are insanely low right now, because they have got to get rid of all those electric cold boxes ASAP.

She suggested to me that if I thought I might want to buy a new fridge or freezer, there is no better time than right now. 5 cubic foot freezers are $157. Other fridges and freezers are great prices, too, but that is the only one I can recall at this point in time.

Just thoughtI would mention this...

 

[John Deere Girl]

SB,

I have a friend who is the Stock Clerk Manager for the Super WalMart in Bolivar, TN. That is less than an hour out of our mutual, favorite farm Mega Store in Pontotoc. I point that out because what is true for the WalMart in Bolivar will be true for the WalMart up your way. Probably the Sam’s Club too, for that matter.

Anyway, you already know about the shipping container problems, right? How they couldn’t get hardly anything for a long time, then all of a sudden, everything came pouring in all at once.

Anyway, WalMart in our region has gotten flooded with all kinds of refrigerators and freezers.

She said the prices are insanely low right now, because they have got to get rid of all those electric cold boxes ASAP.

She suggested to me that if I thought I might want to buy a new fridge or freezer, there is no better time than right now. 5 cubic foot freezers are $157. Other fridges and freezers are great prices, too, but that is the only one I can recall at this point in time.

Just thoughtI would mention this...

That's interesting! Our dryer died 2 weeks ago, and while I hang laundry outside a lot, I still use the dryer some. I looked at Lowes, and they want used car prices for a regular dryer. I prayed about it, and felt like I should check Costco. I found a Whirlpool dryer with steam for $214 with tax, delivered. I'm so thankful, and I bet they had an overstock like Walmart.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

That's interesting! Our dryer died 2 weeks ago, and while I hang laundry outside a lot, I still use the dryer some. I looked at Lowes, and they want used car prices for a regular dryer. I prayed about it, and felt like I should check Costco. I found a Whirlpool dryer with steam for $214 with tax, delivered. I'm so thankful, and I bet they had an overstock like Walmart.

They could. Right now, every thing is so messed up, one store could easily have an overage problem on a particular item while another store is experiencing a shortage of the same item...

It is getting insane out there...

 

[Marseydoats]

I had been to 3 different WM's looking for specific scrub brushes and they didn't have any. Finally went to the $1.25 Tree for something else, and they had an entire aisle of every kind of scrub brush you could imagine. Also had 5 people working, 2 cashiers, and 3 stocking, which I have never seen. That store is extremely busy and always full of shoppers.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

Canned up 21 pints of butter. 1 failed, so, using it. Gave 1 to neighbor girl who put up with the sound of my canner running on my porch for 2 days. Got it done b4 the bad heat set in. We are expecting 105f high today, not heat index. Just keeping the quail, cavies, and chickens fed n watered, and the garden watered. Tomatoes are coming in, so ketchup is my next project. Potatoes are in and yummy. Growing dragon tongue beans for my son, but probably goingvto need to switch to a better producer. I still have time to put in another crop of beans, corn, and potatoes, so going to. I can't figure out what is wrong with my godiva pumpkins. The female flowers are not even opening b4 they brown and die. Most male flowes are doing the same. Dropping buds like crazy. My rapicante squash are just starting to flower, so not sure. Keeping the bugs and borers picked off.

I guess, we'll have to install all propane if our firewood supply dries up.

Deadfall gathering?

 

[CaryC]

I really appreciate all your advice and I also appreciate Hiwall's advice too! I only want to learn in case I ever need to do it. Our son knows how to use a chainsaw as well,, so chances are very small that I will ever need this knowledge, but I'd hate to need it and not know it.. I welcome all the advice I can get!! I will only cut downed trees, and when I do learn, I will use safety equipment. My DH or a close friend (probably both) will supervise. I plan on learning to be proficient with our small saw, but we will continue to buy wood as long as we can. We have Sthil chainsaws, and I just ordered more bar and chain oil today for them.

Cool. And even when one is proficient with a chainsaw it really is a good idea to have someone around in case you get in trouble. If for nothing else than to call 911. Much less when you get your saw stuck.

As a side bar: On bar and chain oil, yeah I buy mine too, so no problem, BUT....if you get in a Shumer event or a bind, consider that any old oil will do. Like the oil you change in your car, or lawn mower. Mostly its just to keep the chain oiled, like on a bike, AND to keep it from getting hot. A lot of that oil is slung off. You can test that by easing up to a log, and don't stick it in, but rev the motor and you'll see a line of oil appear on the log.

So keep any old oil, and if what it comes out of, does not have an oil filter, like a push mower, just put a coffee filter over anything that will hold the amount of oil you are putting in, and slowly pour it in that.

That type of oil will sling off pretty fast, because it is not sticky, so make your own stickum, by adding a can of STP to 5 gallons of oil.

You can pick that up in the automotive section of Walmart. As a second side bar, you might consider putting a little STP in machines that sit for long periods. Log splitters, genies, etc.... It won't take much.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It is so hot that we just decided not to go to big town, today. I ordered from Sam's, instead. They had everything I wanted in stock to be delivered, except Folger's coffee. We had planned to do more shopping in town, and then go out to eat, but with the extreme heat, we didn't want our dog to have to be out in it no longer than necessary. We don't leave him in the house while we're gone. He doesn't handle heat very well anyway. High temp of 100, today, with 112 heat index.

Thanks, Barry, for telling me about the freezers. When this old one quits, we'll get another one then,maybe. That's all I can say about it. I may not even replace it then. We're trying to really limit our use of electricity. One large freezer is enough for me and Cary, too. With my new canner, I'm canning most of the meat that would usually go in there. I may try canning all my butter, too, just to get it all out of the freezers.

Gardens are holding up fairly well in this heat. We're watering everyday, almost. Some of my bell peppers are beginning to show scald spots on them. I have old sheets that I use for shade cloth, but the plants have grown taller than the frames that are supporting them. The shade cloth would weigh them down too much. I'll figure something out. We have an abundance of tomatoes, but they are getting rotten spots on them overnight. Don't know what's causing that. If I gather them in the mornings, we have to eat them that night or the next day, they have the spots appearing on them. I know one thing. I will never buy this type of tomato again. Ugly, and they just aren't doing right. Everything else in the gardens are doing ok. The volunteer garden is doing best of all!

Oh, and on our firewood. We already have, roughly, a 3 year supply under roof.

 

[Cag3db1rd]

That's good. Still fighting with hubby to install the wood stove. Collecting firewood and storing it along the fence on top of cement blocks using U posts to contain the stacks. Hoping to cover the stacks soon with some old composite corrugated roofing.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

That's good. Still fighting with hubby to install the wood stove. Collecting firewood and storing it along the fence on top of cement blocks using U posts to contain the stacks. Hoping to cover the stacks soon with some old composite corrugated roofing.

Cary likes to keep at least 3 years worth of firewood under roof. That way, if there is a year where he can't cut any, we still have plenty in reserve. He cuts to replace what we use each winter, and keeps it rotated.

 

[briches]

It is so hot that we just decided not to go to big town, today. I ordered from Sam's, instead. They had everything I wanted in stock to be delivered, except Folger's coffee. We had planned to do more shopping in town, and then go out to eat, but with the extreme heat, we didn't want our dog to have to be out in it no longer than necessary. We don't leave him in the house while we're gone. He doesn't handle heat very well anyway. High temp of 100, today, with 112 heat index.

Thanks, Barry, for telling me about the freezers. When this old one quits, we'll get another one then,maybe. That's all I can say about it. I may not even replace it then. We're trying to really limit our use of electricity. One large freezer is enough for me and Cary, too. With my new canner, I'm canning most of the meat that would usually go in there. I may try canning all my butter, too, just to get it all out of the freezers.

Gardens are holding up fairly well in this heat. We're watering everyday, almost. Some of my bell peppers are beginning to show scald spots on them. I have old sheets that I use for shade cloth, but the plants have grown taller than the frames that are supporting them. The shade cloth would weigh them down too much. I'll figure something out. We have an abundance of tomatoes, but they are getting rotten spots on them overnight. Don't know what's causing that. If I gather them in the mornings, we have to eat them that night or the next day, they have the spots appearing on them. I know one thing. I will never buy this type of tomato again. Ugly, and they just aren't doing right. Everything else in the gardens are doing ok. The volunteer garden is doing best of all!

Oh, and on our firewood. We already have, roughly, a 3 year supply under roof.

Last year we froze a bunch of tomatoes when they started coming in quickly. We just chopped them up and put in a gallon zip lock bag and kept adding to it. It was great to use in chili and goolash in the winter. Just thought I’d mention in case you don’t have time to can them.

 

[nomifyle]

This past winter our wood burning faster because a lot of it was 2 to 3 years old. He had newer cut but used the old first. This year half of his barn is not filled and he built an add on that is completely filled with wood. He also has more to split.

I've got a small list for wm, but still haven't gone. Its bread and other fresh or frozen foods, I'm almost out of fish sticks (Gordon brand) and I like to keep them on hand, the price still seams reasonable, if it goes up and I can I will still keep a package going in the freezer.

I ordered some boxes of name brand quick grits, the came and the best buy date is November 22.

A month or so ago our big upright freezer lost all the food, it still works, some reason the door was a jar. We've not turned it back on yet, silly me I though not using it would help keep the electric bill down and it may actually have, who knows. I'm thinking I need to plug it back up and transfer all the flour, beans and rice and that sort of thing from the other freezers so I can see what I actually do have in those freezers. Upright freezers are so much easier to keep organized. The main thing I regret losing in the freezer were several pork loins that we'd gotten in commodities over time. And even if they might have had a little freezer burn they cook up delicious, I used onion soup mix on them.

 

[John Deere Girl]

Cary likes to keep at least 3 years worth of firewood under roof. That way, if there is a year where he can't cut any, we still have plenty in reserve. He cuts to replace what we use each winter, and keeps it rotated.

This is a wonderful idea and a goal of mine.