Prep Genrl Weekly prep thread: May 5 - May 11, 2024
- Thread starter nomifyle
- Start date
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Cary still has such a huge pile of firewood to split and stack into our woodshed that he will work on it all summer, and I'm sure into next winter, too. We had a huge oak tree cut in our yard last year, and that's where the pile came from. He's already been working on it from the time it was cut.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Home fellowship this morning. Nothing else planned for the day. I wanted to grill hamburgers tonight for our supper, but rain is coming in. I'll just fry them, instead.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
We had a fairly decent size oak tree fall a few months back, thankfully away from anything but the back fence. Dh got the fence repaired and has the wood cut. Living in the woods and keeping things maintained is a never ending job.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I did crawfish out of going to church and offered DH no excuse except that I wasn't going. I seriously need to get my head out of my behind about this. I'm no longer stuffed up and my ear stopped hurting. I have no good excuse.
DH strapped the door shut on the upright freezer and its running, no clue why the door does that from time to time. DH changed the seal on it a few years back, didn't seem to help much.
There was broth in the baking pans from cooking the chicken, I gave it to the dog. I have eggs on to boil to make chicken salad, there is still a lot of chicken left and some is going in the freezer today. I also need to cook up some ground meat to go in the freezer.
DH strapped the door shut on the upright freezer and its running, no clue why the door does that from time to time. DH changed the seal on it a few years back, didn't seem to help much.
There was broth in the baking pans from cooking the chicken, I gave it to the dog. I have eggs on to boil to make chicken salad, there is still a lot of chicken left and some is going in the freezer today. I also need to cook up some ground meat to go in the freezer.
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kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh, tired. So my blood sugar is all over the place. I'm going back to strict keto for a while to see if that helps or if the surgery tipped the scales too far. Regardless, I can't continue taking Jardiance. The pain isn't gone but it is no longer getting worse. And sometimes it is much better. I think healing is going to take a while.
I hit the stubborn button this morning. The cardboard is now under the landscape cloth. That cleared out most of what I had stacked in the house. Despite what people think, I have nowhere near enough cardboard for this whole project. I figure I will run out by the time I get the third new raised bed.
Mr Rogers' Neighborhood is playing for son. I really wish these had been something he could have seen as a child. He teaches so much in each episode. But we didn't have cable then. He does enjoy watching them now. I hope it helps him fill in knowledge gaps. And a lot of what is taught is not the 3Rs, but instead normal life stuff.
I hit the stubborn button this morning. The cardboard is now under the landscape cloth. That cleared out most of what I had stacked in the house. Despite what people think, I have nowhere near enough cardboard for this whole project. I figure I will run out by the time I get the third new raised bed.
Mr Rogers' Neighborhood is playing for son. I really wish these had been something he could have seen as a child. He teaches so much in each episode. But we didn't have cable then. He does enjoy watching them now. I hope it helps him fill in knowledge gaps. And a lot of what is taught is not the 3Rs, but instead normal life stuff.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Good afternoon!
64 degrees and partly sunny. Outside work is continuing. Among other tasks, today I'm planting the rest of the squash and elderberry seeds in small pots. They are then put on trays that sit on carts and are wheeled into the garage at night or when hail threatens. I sowed the first set in pots about three weeks ago. Those will go into the ground in 2 - 3 weeks, depending. The second set goes into the ground June 1 (or sooner, depending on conditions).
I'm staggering planting in case we get more really nasty storms, which I suspect we will.
The elderberry seeds are an experiment. The seeds were put into the freezer about 8 weeks ago to stratify. If they germinate, I will baby them along until June and plant them out along the trails (with permission). It's a lot easier to grow elderberry bushes from cuttings, but I was given a bunch of seeds last fall, too late for planting at that point.
I also have a bunch of apple seeds to plant. I'll do the same thing, only baby them a little longer at home. I doubt many will survive, but who knows? I will also buy some of the field-grade apple trees when they are on sale and plant some of those. The public excuse: it's for "wildlife." Actually, I've planted a number of fruit and nut trees off the beaten path since I've been in Iowa. It's part of my stealth food program, LOL.
64 degrees and partly sunny. Outside work is continuing. Among other tasks, today I'm planting the rest of the squash and elderberry seeds in small pots. They are then put on trays that sit on carts and are wheeled into the garage at night or when hail threatens. I sowed the first set in pots about three weeks ago. Those will go into the ground in 2 - 3 weeks, depending. The second set goes into the ground June 1 (or sooner, depending on conditions).
I'm staggering planting in case we get more really nasty storms, which I suspect we will.
The elderberry seeds are an experiment. The seeds were put into the freezer about 8 weeks ago to stratify. If they germinate, I will baby them along until June and plant them out along the trails (with permission). It's a lot easier to grow elderberry bushes from cuttings, but I was given a bunch of seeds last fall, too late for planting at that point.
I also have a bunch of apple seeds to plant. I'll do the same thing, only baby them a little longer at home. I doubt many will survive, but who knows? I will also buy some of the field-grade apple trees when they are on sale and plant some of those. The public excuse: it's for "wildlife." Actually, I've planted a number of fruit and nut trees off the beaten path since I've been in Iowa. It's part of my stealth food program, LOL.
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kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Blood sugar was too high this morning (156). But it's actually under 100 now. I have a couple of herbals to try for both that and estrogen. I think the problem is a combination of both of those. Which is hilarious because the oncology doctor was worried that my body fat was going to provide estrogen that might feed the cancer if any remained. Instead, I am definitely low on estrogen. I have to wonder how much the hormone issues are affecting the diabetes.
I'm trying to avoid direct estrogen supplementation so I going to try herbs that balance the hormones rather than ones that provide estrogen. Doc was very sure that the risk of reoccurrence is absolutely minimal but I don't see a reason to gamble if I can get things to balance. And I need to research herbs to support in the areas where menopause is causing problems, mainly joints. But also hot flashes. And now I understand why he didn't offer HRT.
Anyways, fingers crossed. I am just glad that I already have the herbs I want to try on hand.
About half of my elderberry plants came back from last year but I'm going to give it a bit of extra time. I'm debating ordering more or just waiting until the surviving ones get big enough to do rootings off of.
I am holding off on new fruit trees this year because of the other garden things that need to be handled. Then I will order the specific ones I want for the new orchard, even if I have to order only one or two at a time. While I would love dwarf, I don't want to deal with rootstock issues again. So I think I'm going with the advice from an old grower of getting full growth plants and keeping them pruned to dwarf heights. I have an extension chainsaw now. And extension trimmers. Although if I can find natural dwarf versions, without splicing, I will get those. There are more out there than people realize.
The lilac seems to be holding. I'm going to run a soil test near it and see what I can boost in order to help it. The echinacea in front of it is going like gang busters. I am actually going to have to clear more space through the mulch for it this year. And that's okay. My hope for that area is for it to be so overgrown with echinacea that nothing else can grow through it, except for the lilac and other trees/bushes that I put there. I have the same wish for different plants in other areas but I just haven't gotten that far yet.
I have a beautyberry planted near son's windows but I don't like the complete die off every fall. I think I'm going to go back to plan A which is a couple of nice roses as the "hedge", preferably climbing roses, and then the beautyberry as the front plant. But about 4 more beautyberry plants to fill in. And then mini roses as the lower layer just behind the asparagus.
The two golden eumonysus bushes are going to go. One is so intertwined with sweet autumn clematis that I can't kill the clematis without killing it. That will likely be the first to go. I just need to figure out what I want to replace it with. I'm thinking filbert but I'm still letting that brainstorm for a bit. It's not happening immediately.
I have accepted that I'm not going to get a regular spring planting in. I'm debating waiting to do the fall plantings and just get those in a bit earlier than normal so that the plants have a good strong start before fall/winter weather hits. I will miss my fresh tomatoes and peppers but it is not a crisis. I might be able to get a few in before the end of the month if I can get two of the new garden beds up by then. It all depends on my body cooperating.
I'm trying to avoid direct estrogen supplementation so I going to try herbs that balance the hormones rather than ones that provide estrogen. Doc was very sure that the risk of reoccurrence is absolutely minimal but I don't see a reason to gamble if I can get things to balance. And I need to research herbs to support in the areas where menopause is causing problems, mainly joints. But also hot flashes. And now I understand why he didn't offer HRT.
Anyways, fingers crossed. I am just glad that I already have the herbs I want to try on hand.
About half of my elderberry plants came back from last year but I'm going to give it a bit of extra time. I'm debating ordering more or just waiting until the surviving ones get big enough to do rootings off of.
I am holding off on new fruit trees this year because of the other garden things that need to be handled. Then I will order the specific ones I want for the new orchard, even if I have to order only one or two at a time. While I would love dwarf, I don't want to deal with rootstock issues again. So I think I'm going with the advice from an old grower of getting full growth plants and keeping them pruned to dwarf heights. I have an extension chainsaw now. And extension trimmers. Although if I can find natural dwarf versions, without splicing, I will get those. There are more out there than people realize.
The lilac seems to be holding. I'm going to run a soil test near it and see what I can boost in order to help it. The echinacea in front of it is going like gang busters. I am actually going to have to clear more space through the mulch for it this year. And that's okay. My hope for that area is for it to be so overgrown with echinacea that nothing else can grow through it, except for the lilac and other trees/bushes that I put there. I have the same wish for different plants in other areas but I just haven't gotten that far yet.
I have a beautyberry planted near son's windows but I don't like the complete die off every fall. I think I'm going to go back to plan A which is a couple of nice roses as the "hedge", preferably climbing roses, and then the beautyberry as the front plant. But about 4 more beautyberry plants to fill in. And then mini roses as the lower layer just behind the asparagus.
The two golden eumonysus bushes are going to go. One is so intertwined with sweet autumn clematis that I can't kill the clematis without killing it. That will likely be the first to go. I just need to figure out what I want to replace it with. I'm thinking filbert but I'm still letting that brainstorm for a bit. It's not happening immediately.
I have accepted that I'm not going to get a regular spring planting in. I'm debating waiting to do the fall plantings and just get those in a bit earlier than normal so that the plants have a good strong start before fall/winter weather hits. I will miss my fresh tomatoes and peppers but it is not a crisis. I might be able to get a few in before the end of the month if I can get two of the new garden beds up by then. It all depends on my body cooperating.
Good afternoon! Quick summer afternoon shower taking place here. No cicadas here yet but the whippoorwills sing to us every night. We watched a big red headed woodpecker fly over garden yesterday. So fun! Barn birds have left the nest and kittens and turkeys are growing. If it is dry enough we will put more corn in the ground tomorrow. Planting still going on here! Long days and shower water runs brown every evening when my day is finished but wouldn’t have it any other way!!
BTDT, Moldy - chicks out of the house are certainly a thing to celebrate 
I didn't wake up until almost noon so I went out to the shed to feed the cats once I got the coffee started - was wiping sweat from my face as I came back in - it sure didn't feel like the 60* shown on the porch thermometer - gotta love humidity.
I need to get a couple of new hummingbird feeders - and also ant guards and zip ties (I have a feeling my zip ties migrated to Hubby's shop as I only found one lonely zip tie) I had moved on from pretty to practical feeders - ones that are easy to fill and clean - years ago; but my sister sent me two lovely swirled glass ones for my birthday last year, so I will have to see if I can find them - I put them in a 'safe place' at the end of the season last year so they wouldn't get broken, but I think I remember I had Hubby put them up on a shelf, so I will have to wait until sometime mid week for him to be available - he's on a 24 hour on-call shift to make up case carts for surgery (our docs are overloaded with cases and are working Saturdays and Sundays) then has to flip back to second shift for the rest of the week so I'm not about to poke that dragon until it quits growling or snoring one!
Looks like I need to pick up a couple more wren houses when I go to town - all my wren houses are full of cranky mama wrens, and I won't be using my clothes pin bag for a while as there is a nest in it as well I think one of the grandkids left a plastic Hallowe'en pumpkin bucket here so I'll just grab some more clothespins at Rural King and use that until baby birdie season is over.
Uh Oh - The Creature from Sterile Processing just lumbered up on to the porch - I better start looking busy
Take care all - have a great rest of the weekend!
I didn't wake up until almost noon so I went out to the shed to feed the cats once I got the coffee started - was wiping sweat from my face as I came back in - it sure didn't feel like the 60* shown on the porch thermometer - gotta love humidity.
I need to get a couple of new hummingbird feeders - and also ant guards and zip ties (I have a feeling my zip ties migrated to Hubby's shop as I only found one lonely zip tie
) I had moved on from pretty to practical feeders - ones that are easy to fill and clean - years ago; but my sister sent me two lovely swirled glass ones for my birthday last year, so I will have to see if I can find them - I put them in a 'safe place' at the end of the season last year so they wouldn't get broken, but I think I remember I had Hubby put them up on a shelf, so I will have to wait until sometime mid week for him to be available - he's on a 24 hour on-call shift to make up case carts for surgery (our docs are overloaded with cases and are working Saturdays and Sundays) then has to flip back to second shift for the rest of the week so I'm not about to poke that dragon until it quits growling or snoring one!Looks like I need to pick up a couple more wren houses when I go to town - all my wren houses are full of cranky mama wrens, and I won't be using my clothes pin bag for a while as there is a nest in it as well
I think one of the grandkids left a plastic Hallowe'en pumpkin bucket here so I'll just grab some more clothespins at Rural King and use that until baby birdie season is over.Uh Oh - The Creature from Sterile Processing just lumbered up on to the porch - I better start looking busy
Take care all - have a great rest of the weekend!
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
We had rain this morning for awhile, kinda over cast right now, maybe a little more rain this evening, but not much. DH had the goat mower out in part of the big garden for awhile, looks like she's not out there now. Our one baby goat this year is growing like a weed, getting long legs.
I've been watching a documentary on "foods that built America", which unfortunately has led to gmo garbage that people gobble down. It's food (cereal) that changed the way people eat and in my opinion not in a good way. One thing that was invented tho was flash freezing that was/is truly inovating, by a fellow named birdseye.
We had chicken salad sandwiches for lunch today, pretty tasty except that I don't like miracle whip and DH doesn't like mayo, so I used MW, oh well, ones not any more or less healthy, so I guess I'd rather prepare something DH would like, I'm not that hard to please. There were three boiled eggs left from the chicken salad and DH wanted them for supper. I may prepare a small stir fry for myself.
I've been watching a documentary on "foods that built America", which unfortunately has led to gmo garbage that people gobble down. It's food (cereal) that changed the way people eat and in my opinion not in a good way. One thing that was invented tho was flash freezing that was/is truly inovating, by a fellow named birdseye.
We had chicken salad sandwiches for lunch today, pretty tasty except that I don't like miracle whip and DH doesn't like mayo, so I used MW, oh well, ones not any more or less healthy, so I guess I'd rather prepare something DH would like, I'm not that hard to please. There were three boiled eggs left from the chicken salad and DH wanted them for supper. I may prepare a small stir fry for myself.
For the last mobile pantry, we were given a bag of frozen egg pucks, the kind that are used for biscuit/egg sandwiches in restaurants. I've never cared for those sandwiches so thought of another use for the pucks. (I call them pucks because they are about the size/shape of hockey pucks!). Anyway, I cook the pucks in the microwave and then chop them up and use in tuna salad. I haven't tried them for egg salad yet but that may come. Chicken sandwiches sound sort of good, but I eat so much chicken I feel I might start sprouting feathers!
We had one our first sunny days in a week or so and no rain in the forecast until Wednesday. I think I will try to get some seeds in the ground on Tuesday. My energy has been at a very low i.e. slug/sloth level for a few weeks with last week being the worst, so I hope I fine the energy I need.
Church today was long because we have snacks before church and then had a funeral luncheon to serve after church. I hadn't planned to help with the snacks, but when I got there one lady was trying to do it alone. I asked if she wanted help, and she was extremely grateful. We always have coffee and snacks before church and individuals sign up, but it's usually two or a family that signs up. I was glad I was able to help her because I've never seen her so bothered before. We were told 30 for the luncheon but ended up with 50. This sort of miscount causes a lot of stress on our committee. We always figure on at least 10 extra, but 20 is a stretch. Our local grocery store does not open until 11 on Sunday so it really puts us in a bind.
We had one our first sunny days in a week or so and no rain in the forecast until Wednesday. I think I will try to get some seeds in the ground on Tuesday. My energy has been at a very low i.e. slug/sloth level for a few weeks with last week being the worst, so I hope I fine the energy I need.
Church today was long because we have snacks before church and then had a funeral luncheon to serve after church. I hadn't planned to help with the snacks, but when I got there one lady was trying to do it alone. I asked if she wanted help, and she was extremely grateful. We always have coffee and snacks before church and individuals sign up, but it's usually two or a family that signs up. I was glad I was able to help her because I've never seen her so bothered before. We were told 30 for the luncheon but ended up with 50. This sort of miscount causes a lot of stress on our committee. We always figure on at least 10 extra, but 20 is a stretch. Our local grocery store does not open until 11 on Sunday so it really puts us in a bind.
patriotgal
Veteran Member
Reconnected with cousins we hadn't seen in years. Nice dinner at a restaurant after decoration. Very rainy day.
Visited MIL in nursing home after.
Visited MIL in nursing home after.
Decoration had low turnout because of rain. We filled the pavilion but it wasn't crowded. My cousin gave a good, but short sermon. Then we went to the fire station for our family dinner. I enjoyed it so much. It made me very homesick even though I moved almost 40 years ago.
The turkeys are happy in the big pen. Only one has figured out the roost so far. The rest sleep on the ground.
Today we are getting our daughters kids so she can go to her dental checkup. Then she starts her training for her work from home job Wednesday. It's only a 2 month project, but having a foot in the door could lead to more projects. At least, that's what we hope.
Rain is in the forecast several days this week. We got over an inch here yesterday. I am having a time getting the last of the garden in. Even getting the mowing and trim work is difficult. What we do cut, needs it again before we get it all finished.
The new thermostat wafers I ordered arrived. I put one in my old incubator and it is cycling. I will have to run it a test run before I totally trust it. I think the wafers I bought at the local store were bad. Probably shipped in too hot of weather. This is an old round metal one that you turn the eggs by hand. But my hatch rates were better than in my newer one with an automatic Turner. Both my kids have digital incubators and are not happy with those either.
I guess I had better get some more stuff done before I am tied down with kids. Have a blessed day everyone.
The turkeys are happy in the big pen. Only one has figured out the roost so far. The rest sleep on the ground.
Today we are getting our daughters kids so she can go to her dental checkup. Then she starts her training for her work from home job Wednesday. It's only a 2 month project, but having a foot in the door could lead to more projects. At least, that's what we hope.
Rain is in the forecast several days this week. We got over an inch here yesterday. I am having a time getting the last of the garden in. Even getting the mowing and trim work is difficult. What we do cut, needs it again before we get it all finished.
The new thermostat wafers I ordered arrived. I put one in my old incubator and it is cycling. I will have to run it a test run before I totally trust it. I think the wafers I bought at the local store were bad. Probably shipped in too hot of weather. This is an old round metal one that you turn the eggs by hand. But my hatch rates were better than in my newer one with an automatic Turner. Both my kids have digital incubators and are not happy with those either.
I guess I had better get some more stuff done before I am tied down with kids. Have a blessed day everyone.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nothing happening here, today, prepping wise. Just regular household chores, and Cary will be back on the wood pile. I would hang my laundry out to dry, but it's so damp and humid outside, they will never get dry. Hopefully, the rain will stop in the next few days. No rain forecast for today, but it's cloudy, damp, and humid. 85 degrees for our high.
The rest of the week will be busy. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I expect phone calls all day long, LOL. Wednesday, Cary has a checkup appointment. with our PCP. Thursday, I have a checkup appointment with same doctor. I plan to do a bit of shopping while in big town on one of those days for my birthday and Mother's Day. Then, on Saturday, I plan to spend the day with Mom, since I won't get to see her on Mother's Day. Her church has an all day thing planned for all the mom's that Sunday.
Off to do more laundry.
The rest of the week will be busy. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I expect phone calls all day long, LOL. Wednesday, Cary has a checkup appointment. with our PCP. Thursday, I have a checkup appointment with same doctor. I plan to do a bit of shopping while in big town on one of those days for my birthday and Mother's Day. Then, on Saturday, I plan to spend the day with Mom, since I won't get to see her on Mother's Day. Her church has an all day thing planned for all the mom's that Sunday.
Off to do more laundry.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
It was sunny earlier not looking overcast, rain later.
We have one boy goat that keeps getting out. DH put him and a shim down in another pasture that has plenty to eat. They were both out this morning, I let them in with the other goats and they both went straight to the salt blocks, they'd been in the other pasture for a few days with no salt. Reminds me to that we need to put salt blocks back for them. We get the plain, medicated and yellow one and they all go for them. The plain one has gotten really small, wonder if DH has one put back somewhere.
I was in the two year food storage thread earlier and mentioned macaroni and cheese. I forgot for a moment I wasn't in this thread. I grew up with boxed mac and cheese. My mother cooked boxed mac and cheese and so did I raising my family. It was shocking when I tasted the real thing. I only made it that way once and decided I would get really fat if I continued to cook it that, totally delicious. I miss being around Italians, they are such good cooks. Olive Garden is not real Italian food. My oldest son is half Italian and he's an excellent cook, even half owned a small Italian restaurant several years ago. His wife is a lucky woman.
I woke up this morning not really wanting to get up but once I did I'm feeling pretty good today.
Have a blessed day.
We have one boy goat that keeps getting out. DH put him and a shim down in another pasture that has plenty to eat. They were both out this morning, I let them in with the other goats and they both went straight to the salt blocks, they'd been in the other pasture for a few days with no salt. Reminds me to that we need to put salt blocks back for them. We get the plain, medicated and yellow one and they all go for them. The plain one has gotten really small, wonder if DH has one put back somewhere.
I was in the two year food storage thread earlier and mentioned macaroni and cheese. I forgot for a moment I wasn't in this thread. I grew up with boxed mac and cheese. My mother cooked boxed mac and cheese and so did I raising my family. It was shocking when I tasted the real thing. I only made it that way once and decided I would get really fat if I continued to cook it that, totally delicious. I miss being around Italians, they are such good cooks. Olive Garden is not real Italian food. My oldest son is half Italian and he's an excellent cook, even half owned a small Italian restaurant several years ago. His wife is a lucky woman.
I woke up this morning not really wanting to get up but once I did I'm feeling pretty good today.
Have a blessed day.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I'm really enjoying reading that thread, too, Judy. I'm not changing my strategy from what I've always done, though. I'll just keep buying and adding to our stock each time I go shopping. A little here, and a little there to add to what we already have. I'm adding more in order to make my 1 month menu plan stretch out farther. I made out, a long time ago, a menu plan for a whole month using only items I could put in storage. I have enough in the pantry to use that menu plan for a whole year, already, but nothing says I have to stop there. I don't want to eat just dry beans and rice for survival, unless that's all that's left. I'm adding more beans and rice to my storage just in case, though. The only way I'll stop prepping is if the food runs out at the grocery stores, or we're broke.
I'm still purging things from our house in order to make room for more food.
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nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I'm not changing mine either except I can't spend like I did when I was stocking up heavily. And realistically don't need to stock up that way any more.
When DH rearranged my pantry a year or so ago, and God bless him for doing it, he put things where I've really had to search for them. I finally found a case of my favorite tuna. The date was 2019, its in perfect and delicious condition. I was buying 8 cans a month but decided to go back to a case of 24 every other month, it actually comes out cheaper. I find myself eating a can two or three times a week, just dump it in a bowl and don't add anything else, its canned in olive oil.
A couple of weeks ago DH planted some spinach in one of my new planter boxes that are on the edges of the porch railings. Its starting to come up. He also planted some cilantro which I have not clue what to do with it.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yeah, with a 2 yr. supply already in stock, I'm not stocking like I once did. We spent a huge amount of money stocking up rather quickly back when Cary was still working. We bought everything in bulk in order to stock the pantry as full as we could in a short amount of time. Now, it's mostly just replacing what I use and adding a bit more here and there as we go. Some shopping trips I buy less for extra storage. Other trips I buy more for extra storage.
I have mostly been adding things that come from overseas..
Like tea from the UK..has increased..35 % in price... because of shipping around the Horn of Africa
Chocolate... problems with the crop
We like canned seafood and fish..we love the King Oscar brand in extra virgin olive oil.. but with the problems in Europe ..much of their things are canned in Poland and Germany so getting some extra..
Also other fish canned salmon and canned yellow fin tuna..so much better than...the regular type canned tuna..
Smoked oysters canned baby shrimp and canned clams... most are very high in omega 3.. protein and iodine.
Of course coffee is experiencing bad weather conditions...
Like tea from the UK..has increased..35 % in price... because of shipping around the Horn of Africa
Chocolate... problems with the crop
We like canned seafood and fish..we love the King Oscar brand in extra virgin olive oil.. but with the problems in Europe ..much of their things are canned in Poland and Germany so getting some extra..
Also other fish canned salmon and canned yellow fin tuna..so much better than...the regular type canned tuna..
Smoked oysters canned baby shrimp and canned clams... most are very high in omega 3.. protein and iodine.
Of course coffee is experiencing bad weather conditions...
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Tuna in olive oil is about the only fish we eat other than fried catfish from time to time. Cary is allergic to all other seafood, especially shellfish.
We both drink lots of coffee, so our stock equals at least 2 year's worth, already.
As long as we can keep getting our chocolate bars from Germany and Switzerland, we're good.
When I started stocking up in 1998 or 1999, it was very different from what I need today. I was stocking for two working individuals and now it's one old lady. I can no longer eat beans of any kind. I think I already have enough pasta and rice to last the rest of my life (!!) but I keep buying new varieties.
I've learned "use by" dates are not real. I've used some mac & cheese boxes that are 8 or more years old, and they taste as good as fresh (which isn't all that great in my opinion). Still, I get one or two boxes with each mobile pantry, so I use them adding extra milk and cheese. I found some Jello that was at least 10 years old, and it was fine. I've learned that white flour does get old tasting and it's best stored in the freezer in glass jars.
Sugar gets lumpy or turns solid but it will break up and the sugar is fine. It's stored in original packaging in totes or buckets. Never store sugar in glass jars as it will be impossible to get out if it goes solid. Even outdated cake mixes are still good to use for cookies if not cakes. However, even baking as cakes they seem fine.
Bottles of oil that are past best date are okay but will go rancid faster once opened. Very old cocoa powder is fine to use and no taste difference as far as I can tell. Honey turns to sugar, so I always put it in glass Mason jars as soon as I bring it home. It turns back to liquid when the jar is warmed slowly in a pan of water.
I've added shelf stable milk to my pantry and was told by another customer that it was good a year past use by date. I haven't tested that but am going to put two with May 2024 use by date aside. One I'll open at 6 months and if it's good will leave the other for 12 months to see how that works. Each quart costs $1.25 so $2.50 for a half gallon. A half-gallon of milk at the local store is $2.39 so shelf stable is slightly more expensive. However, when I buy a half gallon it regularly is bad before I finish it. I'm allergic to milk so only use it on cereal or in cooking.
I've learned "use by" dates are not real. I've used some mac & cheese boxes that are 8 or more years old, and they taste as good as fresh (which isn't all that great in my opinion). Still, I get one or two boxes with each mobile pantry, so I use them adding extra milk and cheese. I found some Jello that was at least 10 years old, and it was fine. I've learned that white flour does get old tasting and it's best stored in the freezer in glass jars.
Sugar gets lumpy or turns solid but it will break up and the sugar is fine. It's stored in original packaging in totes or buckets. Never store sugar in glass jars as it will be impossible to get out if it goes solid. Even outdated cake mixes are still good to use for cookies if not cakes. However, even baking as cakes they seem fine.
Bottles of oil that are past best date are okay but will go rancid faster once opened. Very old cocoa powder is fine to use and no taste difference as far as I can tell. Honey turns to sugar, so I always put it in glass Mason jars as soon as I bring it home. It turns back to liquid when the jar is warmed slowly in a pan of water.
I've added shelf stable milk to my pantry and was told by another customer that it was good a year past use by date. I haven't tested that but am going to put two with May 2024 use by date aside. One I'll open at 6 months and if it's good will leave the other for 12 months to see how that works. Each quart costs $1.25 so $2.50 for a half gallon. A half-gallon of milk at the local store is $2.39 so shelf stable is slightly more expensive. However, when I buy a half gallon it regularly is bad before I finish it. I'm allergic to milk so only use it on cereal or in cooking.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
The best shelf stable milk for our use is canned evaporated milk. It keeps well past its expiration date, too. Neither of us drink milk, so it's only used for cooking/baking. 1 can evaporated milk emptied into a quart glass canning jar and filled with water almost to the rim of the jar makes 1 quart of milk.
I do store evaporated milk, long term storage milk and powdered milk as well as shelf stable. The powdered milk we got from the mobile pantry last year was good enough to use on cereal and a friend said he drank it and liked it. I always like lots of options because one is none and all that.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I've got powdered milk and shelf stable milk. I use it for cooking, we don't drink milk or eat cereal.
I stored flour in mylar bags in buckets, I've not checked it, who ever comes after us can do that. I've also stored sugar in glass and who ever comes after us can deal with that. I've put it in mylar in buckets w/o oxy and I've also put it in zip locs in buckets and I'm sure that is fine too. I give all the wheat flour we get in commodities to my friend Morgan. I've got some coconut flour in the fridge or freezer if we need to bread something, which is very rare.
Morgan brought the children by for a little while today, I had yoyos for the boys and had already given the girls theirs. DH gave the 11 y/o boy (going on 20) a table saw today, he's beyond excited. The little 2 1/2 y/o boy will now let me hug him without having a fit.
I stored flour in mylar bags in buckets, I've not checked it, who ever comes after us can do that. I've also stored sugar in glass and who ever comes after us can deal with that. I've put it in mylar in buckets w/o oxy and I've also put it in zip locs in buckets and I'm sure that is fine too. I give all the wheat flour we get in commodities to my friend Morgan. I've got some coconut flour in the fridge or freezer if we need to bread something, which is very rare.
Morgan brought the children by for a little while today, I had yoyos for the boys and had already given the girls theirs. DH gave the 11 y/o boy (going on 20) a table saw today, he's beyond excited. The little 2 1/2 y/o boy will now let me hug him without having a fit.
SB and others- thinking about 30 day menu of pantry meals. I understand there are many ways of doing it. That said, do you include any freezer meats or refrigerated cheese? I know it could be done either way. But cheese will keep a long time unopened or grated and frozen and would make homemade pizza and enchiladas so much better for example.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Yes, but mostly it's ground beef. I keep a good supply of it in the meat freezer, but I also have about a year's worth that I canned myself, plus Keystone ground beef in the pantry. The other meats that are used in the recipes are all canned meats, such as chicken, tuna, Spam, canned smoked ham, etc. I also keep shredded cheese in the other freezer, but I'm also stocked up with Campbell's Cream of Cheddar Soup that works in several recipes, also shelf stable Velveeta cheese, too.
patriotgal
Veteran Member
Cousin at decoration asked to borrow some old big pictures I have of grandma's parents and grandparents. Don't know how I ended up with them. She hated me. Cuz offered to buy anything I had of hers and didn't want. He thinks he is coming to borrow them. I am giving them all to him. They mean a lot to his genealogy and I have no use for them. Something else I don't have to pack for moving.
Someone we know called this am wanting to buy the rehabbed rental. Praise God! Not only has he lived in it previously, he has also worked on it and knows it well. In return for DH's knowledge on construction, etc. He is going to help DH with tractor and backhoe. What a blessing!
Spent today on a ladder finishing gutters. A big serving spoon made the perfect tool. Part of the problem was the roofing pieces left behind when new roof put on last fall. If the roof guys had cleaned up after themselves the gutters wouldn't have been as bad. Doubled my Turmeric today and it seems to have helped.
Someone we know called this am wanting to buy the rehabbed rental. Praise God! Not only has he lived in it previously, he has also worked on it and knows it well. In return for DH's knowledge on construction, etc. He is going to help DH with tractor and backhoe. What a blessing!
Spent today on a ladder finishing gutters. A big serving spoon made the perfect tool. Part of the problem was the roofing pieces left behind when new roof put on last fall. If the roof guys had cleaned up after themselves the gutters wouldn't have been as bad. Doubled my Turmeric today and it seems to have helped.
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
It has been a long, busy day. Blood sugar this morning, after walk but before eating, was 146. This evening it is 107. Definitely getting better. And the brain is clearer, which proved to be good since I topped an 8 hour day today before I was done. I'm tired. My brain is now exhausted.
Gonna put in my 2 cents worth here! And you probably already know this. Glucose levels rise between 2 and 5A naturally to carry us thru the "fast" that sleep makes us go thru. Hard to eat when you are sleeping! So glucose levels are naturally higher in the AM. My solution for myself is to not eat after a certain time, you will have to work that time out for yourself, and I drink lots of water. If I am noting a real problem I cut carbs at supper and eat them earlier in the day til I get squared up. Just a few suggestions.
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
That crash actually wakes me up and I drink a protein shake. I can sleep 3 to 4 hours before I wake up. If I didn't drink the shake my morning glucose levels would be higher. Once my body recovers from the Jardiance, that number will be around 120.
From how my body is reacting now, I think I missed some stuff when I used Jardiance the first time round. But I was dealing with some other big things then. From what is happening now, somehow using Jardiance causes my hormones to go way out of whack. And it really only has one hormone to send whacky now.
Regardless, it is now off of my list of drugs to use. I'm just glad it was the lowest dose level.
drafter
Veteran Member
My prep today was repairing my Harvestright freeze dryer. Ended up replacing the circuit board. Finally got it to work and currently drying some strawberry, lemon, and lime slices. Also ordered the stuff to be able to safely plug my generator into my house panel. Having extension cords running everywhere last time was a pain.