Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: April 9~15, 2023

connie

Veteran Member
They had new Rav4's on lot. All sold. Deposits on them. They did have a few vehicles on lot that were for sale. But not the models we wanted.
It's good they have a selection in stock there. Much easier IMO.
 

anna43

Veteran Member
ioujc -- regarding a hide-a-bed or futon -- take the mattress off the bed, put it on the floor and you will get a good night's sleep.

Buying a car today is different than it was before the current crazy situation. Generally speaking, buying a new car means value drops 50% when you drive it off the lot. Probably less than 50% now but still a big drop. If financed, you will need gap insurance. We live rural and have bought used with cash for many years. Find a dealership you trust, tell them what you want and ask them to let you know when they have something that fits. Dh would call regularly to ask/remind. One requirement was one previous owner and call that owner to discuss the vehicle.

Saw the specialist today about cataract and doctor said I should continue to wait. He would do the surgery now if I insist, but he recommended waiting, so I'll wait. Not sure if that is the right decision but as doctor said even though cataract surgery is very safe all surgery contains a risk.

I went to local store and bought pea seed which was $1,89 for a small package of seeds. I bought two packages and am not sure it is enough for one full row. Also picked up more Yukon gold seed potatoes. They are my new favorite potato so decided to plant more. Got more onion sets, yellow this time. It's supposed to be raining here most of the night so will not be working in the garden tomorrow. Temps are supposed to be dropping with lows below freezing for the next couple nights and highs only in the 40's. Possibility of snow on Sunday. Bummer.
 

Digger

Veteran Member
Hubby got my tiller rebuild finished! The reverse even works again. I don't know what I would do without that man. We are going to run it just a little while today. I have a spot in the garden close to the house I want to till.

We are expecting bad storms later today. We have to clean up the shop enough to get the better truck in there. The weather people are calling for big hail. Hubby is sleeping in. He was hurting pretty bad when he got done with the tiller. But he was determined to finish it. I don't know when he went to sleep. I was exhausted so I went to sleep and slept hard.

I went over part of the yard picking up limbs and rocks. It seems to be never ending. We took the bagger off the mower and we each mowed a little. I like to mow because I know where I planted things. I also want to leave the elderberries that have come up.

I told our daughter I would help her more with the kids. She may come here and work a day or two a week since she works from home. I can help with preschool for the oldest too. I am kind of looking forward to that part.
 

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Good Morning, All! Hope everyone is having a good start to their weekend!

Just got a text from daughter warning me to get out of my pj's and into regular clothes as she, the boys, and her friend are planning to come out to hunt morel mushrooms pretty soon. I expect to see some cousins show up to do the same either today or tomorrow - I'm betting on today as per the forecast, we've got rain starting in this evening and continuing into tomorrow - 1/2 to 3/4 inches predicted. I won't be getting in the garden any time soon - it's too early for most of the stuff anyway. I'll check the Moon Sign book here pretty soon and see if I can plant some some salad stuff - spinach, lettuce, etc... in one of the raised beds.

I'm going to see if I can get Hubby to mow the yard this afternoon as it's already looking shaggy - gotta love spring :lol: I guess I'd better give the yard a once over checking for sticks again- we did have some fairly strong winds go through yesterday. While he's doing that,mowing I'm going to go out and pull the tomato cages if it's not too muddy. It's still way too wet to till the gardens - I sunk ankle deep in the mud in the garden a couple days ago when I stepped in to see if I could pull the tomato cages then.

Well, I guess I'd better get up and get started out in the yard. You folks all take care and stay safe out there!
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I think Cary is almost sold on the Toyota RAV4 for our new vehicle. It is a toss up between the RAV4 and the Nissan Murano. We'll see which place gives us the best deal, Tuesday. We decided to go ahead and pay cash, instead of part on monthly payments. The RAV4 is a bit cheaper, so that would help with paying cash. Our credit score is still really high, so Cary doesn't think we need to worry about that right now.

I made it all night without taking any Norco. Slept good, too. My mouth is still painful, but not to the point of me taking something for it. I still can't eat very well. I blew my diet last night by eating a big bowl of chocolate ice cream. Boy, that sure felt good. No pain afterwards, either. The swelling is beginning to go down. My glasses fit better this morning.

I'll be doing laundry and some light house cleaning today. I can't bend over per dentist's orders for a few more days. I guess he doesn't want me putting pressure on the stitches. Other than that, I have no clue why the restriction. He sent me home with a whole list of "can and can't do's".

I'm making Chicken Rotel tonight for our supper. It's very creamy and cheesy and should be soft enough for me to eat if I'm careful. Cary loves the stuff! My recipe makes enough to last us 2 meals. I won't have to cook tomorrow.
 

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
First off, I hope everyone is doing better. I may not post but I always wing a prayer upwards. And ask at random throughout the day.

I love hearing about the successes. Even the little ones.

Been having to long distance hug a friend. Her Dad passed in his sleep two days ago. She is now an orphan. And the family was fractured before. This is not helping. She's feeling broken and lost.

I would go in person but that would mean bringing my son. And that's a whole pile on of trouble she doesn't need. I will make sure to make a trip this summer and spend a week or two.

Gods my heart hurts for her.

I got garden veggies. Plants are now outside for good. I managed to rescue two of the blueberry plants but I don't think the other two are going to make it.

I'm working up the focus to get some of the lawn done. And a few other outside chores. I've got supplies for a few more of the summer projects. I'm working my way down the list.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've got my laundry all done, but not put away, yet. Will do that later. I also got my Chicken Rotel all made up and ready to go in the oven tonight. It's in the fridge waiting for time. Cary told me he would help me clean up the kitchen when he got up from his nap. I think I over did it, already. I might have to take a pain pill here in a bit. My gum fills like I've got a sharp stick sticking up into it. Ouch! I've got a 2 inch incision with several stitches to deal with.

The sun is shining and pretty outside, today. High of 81 degrees. Rain moving back in tonight with a high of only 65 tomorrow. Then back into the upper 70's and low 80's for the foreseeable future. Rain off and on in our forecast for the next several days. If the rain keeps up, I have no idea when we will be able to get our gardens out.
 

anna43

Veteran Member
I store my tomato towers behind/beside a storage shed with hedges on two sides. They are now packed with windblown field corn leaves and husks nearly 3½ feet deep. It is not unusual for us to have steady winds in the 25 to 30 mph range with gusts much higher. I have drifts of the corn leaves and husks all around and I don't know what to do with them. I don't want to compost or use as mulch because field corn is GMO and raised with a boatload of chemicals. We're also under a burn ban. It did rain a bit overnight and early this a.m. and is supposed to rain this evening turning into snow overnight. And, of course, since it's too wet to get into the garden, the wind is not blowing.:bhd:

Some suggested bagging it, but it would take more than one box of bags plus the amount of work in doing so is more than I could manage. One lady even suggested dumping the bags out in the country. I would NEVER do such a thing. I'm tempted to leave it in the hedges because the hedges are not mine! The lilac is actually 3' inside the neighbor's lot line but we've taken care of that 3' since moving here in 1976. The other is honeysuckle and right on the lot line planted by the former neighbor. Neither are maintained and in leggy condition with lots of dead wood and trees so if they get smothered out by the corn leaves it would not be a big loss for me. Well, I guess the one on the east stops my laundry baskets from blowing across the neighbor's yard into the dredge ditch so that is a plus. :rolleyes:

The new neighbors entertain a lot in their backyard so I think if the hedge was gone, they would put in a tall privacy fence. I think a straggly hedge would be more aesthetically pleasing. I do appreciate their tall fence that blocks the view of speedo man who lives behind us. He is now only visible from the chest up. Think of a tall guy around 60 with a beer belly running around his yard in a speedo. You really need eye bleach after seeing that. He also is bald on top but the fringe around is shoulder length, and he wears a bandana to cover the bald part. The bandana likely has more fabric than the speedo. :lkick:
 

moldy

Veteran Member
Thanks for the giggle from that mental picture, anna! Weather here is cool and windy- we had a mix of rain and snow yesterday, so it's just generally icky. The teen boys we hire are coming tomorrow -- I think DH will have them cleaning out the chicken house. I will be working in my apothecary, I think, and a few other things.
 

hd5574

Veteran Member
We have a 2016 Toyota Rav 4...and love it ...we have nearly 90,000 miles on it ..and replaced tires..windshield wiper
blades..filters as needed..and brakes.... DH did the brakes himself ....but he is an equipment mechanic at a tractor dealership...and could use the lift there.. we bought it from a priorities dealership back in 2016...so we get free oil changes and free state inspections for life...in fact he took it in today for inspection and it passed again. It is driven nearly everyday..around town driving..

We also have a 2010 Toyota Tundra with priorities from the same dealership...again the same maintenance items as the Rav 4....tires and brakes the most expensive...DH's dad who has now passed lived out in Sun City West, AZ...and we made 5 hard driving trips in the truck from Central Virginia to AZ to see him before he passed.l
We would take off from VA and stop to sleep in Oklahoma City and then drive on to AZ...DH had limited time off from work so we pushed really hard on the driving...not one bit of trouble with the truck...no problems with inspections.. most of miles on this one are highway miles.
Not suggesting what you should do just relating our experiences with Toyota. ..

We had the same concerns about our credit...we would get the 0% checks on the credit cards for a year or so ....and then we would write one for around $1000 and deposit it ..not spend any of it...it was about 4% fee to do it or 40 dollars...cheap for good credit....then make 10 or so monthly payments and pay it off..then do it again in a few...do it again...better than paying interest. ..but you do have a debt that shows up in the credit bureau ..this keeps our credit scores way high. Just can't do this on a card you are charging on it must be the only charge on the card not to pay interest. ..
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We have a 2016 Toyota Rav 4...and love it ...we have nearly 90,000 miles on it ..and replaced tires..windshield wiper
blades..filters as needed..and brakes.... DH did the brakes himself ....but he is an equipment mechanic at a tractor dealership...and could use the lift there.. we bought it from a priorities dealership back in 2016...so we get free oil changes and free state inspections for life...in fact he took it in today for inspection and it passed again. It is driven nearly everyday..around town driving..

We also have a 2010 Toyota Tundra with priorities from the same dealership...again the same maintenance items as the Rav 4....tires and brakes the most expensive...DH's dad who has now passed lived out in Sun City West, AZ...and we made 5 hard driving trips in the truck from Central Virginia to AZ to see him before he passed.l
We would take off from VA and stop to sleep in Oklahoma City and then drive on to AZ...DH had limited time off from work so we pushed really hard on the driving...not one bit of trouble with the truck...no problems with inspections.. most of miles on this one are highway miles.
Not suggesting what you should do just relating our experiences with Toyota. ..

We had the same concerns about our credit...we would get the 0% checks on the credit cards for a year or so ....and then we would write one for around $1000 and deposit it ..not spend any of it...it was about 4% fee to do it or 40 dollars...cheap for good credit....then make 10 or so monthly payments and pay it off..then do it again in a few...do it again...better than paying interest. ..but you do have a debt that shows up in the credit bureau ..this keeps our credit scores way high. Just can't do this on a card you are charging on it must be the only charge on the card not to pay interest. ..

Cary is about to work himself into a frenzy trying to make the right decision. We're praying about the whole thing. Right now, he's changed his mind on what vehicle he wants so many times, I don't know what we'll wind up with. He's doing all kinds of research on several different vehicles. We have our mind set on a small SUV. That's all we know for certain. He also keeps changing his mind on whether to pay in cash or put some of it on monthly payments.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I'm only familiar with the RAV4, my good friend has one and so does my niece. They both love them. My friend bought hers preowned, but her husband is a crackerjack at picking a good preowned vehicle. Possibly same with my niece with help from her dad, my beloved brother. I've got my mother's 2004 Honda Oddessy and its in good shape. DH has a 2013 Ford F150 that he takes good care of. I also have a 2001 Ford F150 that has been down for about 4 years. We are toying with the idea of having it towed to our good mechanic and having it repaired, if its reasonable. DH has always thought it was something in the fuel line. We'll see.

My mother was in a position to pay cash for her van, it was a nice feeling. God bless ya'll that you are in a position to pay cash also. I feel blessed that I can pay cash for repair work, but I'm good with that. When I was married to my ex even that would have been impossible. I bought my truck new and always loved it, but then I got my mothers van and drove the truck less. Because the truck was the only new vehicle I've ever had I think is why I've refused to sell it. Man I loved my truck. My ex is often without transportation because he's clueless about saving money.

We went to wm today to get a few things. They have all their holiday cookies at half price, I got two large packages that don't expire until 5/4, these are for the pot luck at church tomorrow. I'm also going to take cole slaw since I discovered the cole slaw dressing. DH made some lemon jello with shredded apples in it to take also. I usually don't take anything because I'm cheap and don't cook well, but I'm feeling a bit guilty about that. One year I took chilled tomatoes and onions and they were a big hit. Tomato season is coming soon.

The other night I cooked a dish that might be okay to take. Our ground pork, broccoli, diced potatoes and mushroom soup mix. It was tasty and I think it would be even better baked with a cheese sauce.

The ladies at church seem to spend a lot of money on the food they bring, I simply cannot do that, but I'll figure something out for the future. Our church feeds people often.
 

moldy

Veteran Member
Taking my own advice from another thread and printing a copy of 'Survival and Austere Medicine'. It's 614 pages, so I may run out of ink before I finish, but I will get it done. I feel like time is growing short on a lot of things and it is important to have a hard copy of this. DH has been starting trays of cabbage, broccoli, and cucumbers. He may do melons later.
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Best friend just bought a used Honda SUV. Had a very hard time finding anything. Dealer said with all of the tornado/hail damage to vehicles lately, plus people getting refunds on income tax, good cars are being snapped up as soon as they become available.

We'll probably have to order ours if there is nothing on the lot that we like. Cary's friend had to wait 4 months on his new vehicle. We're not in a hurry to buy one, necessarily, but we don't want to wait too long, either. We want it here, bought, and paid for, before the world finishes falling apart, and our money is worthless.
 

ioujc

MARANTHA!! Even so, come LORD JESUS!!!
I am SORE tonight!!!
I unloaded and put 12 - 50 pound bags of animal feed into barrels this morning in order to beat the rain. Going from being a couch potato to that, I am actually surprised I can walk!! I am trying to get some ahead on the grain and feed for the goats, chickens and rabbits......plus my doggos!!

Although that sounds like a lot, all it did was fill the barrels I have, with NO EXTRA!! I try to get AT LEAST this much every month......just trying to get a little ahead. Not sure how much good it will do, as most of the attempts I have made to do this in the past, have not been very successful.

It was supposed to storm today, now they have said it will be tonight. Don't like storms.....much less at night!! Not much else going on.....need to start getting up EARLY.....like 3 or 4 AM, so I can enjoy my coffee and still be out in the garden by about 6 AM!!!
It has gotten HOT here the past week.....I am thinking we are going to have another horrible HOT summer, like we did this past year. I am also thinking a water distiller would be an EXCELLENT investment!! Then, I can use lake water and distill the impurities out, make my own essential oils and even make some various liquors in order to have tinctures and for medical emergencies. Also would make GREAT BARTER GOODS!! In addition to rain water harvesting and other methods of obtaining water, this will be an AWESOME prep! Could also make your own gas....….couldn't you???

Well, that's about it from here....I am REALLY SORE....and it will be worse tomorrow after all that lactic acid stays in my muscles/joints.....lymph nodes.....wherever it goes when you have exercised really hard!!!
LATER.
 

anna43

Veteran Member
ioujc -- regarding a hide-a-bed or futon -- take the mattress off the bed, put it on the floor and you will get a good night's sleep.

Buying a car today is different than it was before the current crazy situation. Generally speaking, buying a new car means value drops 50% when you drive it off the lot. Probably less than 50% now but still a big drop. If financed, you will need gap insurance. We live rural and have bought used with cash for many years. Find a dealership you trust, tell them what you want and ask them to let you know when they have something that fits. Dh would call regularly to ask/remind. One requirement was one previous owner and call that owner to discuss the vehicle.

Saw the specialist today about cataract and doctor said I should continue to wait. He would do the surgery now if I insist, but he recommended waiting, so I'll wait. Not sure if that is the right decision but as doctor said even though cataract surgery is very safe all surgery contains a risk.
 
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