Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: August 27 ~ September 2, 2023

[ReneeT]

Prayers offered for your Aunt, Philkar.

The neighbor lady hasn't called yet, so I don't know if we're going to the pool or not today. I need to make an Aldi run sometime soon, but if I had to choose between going to the the pool with the neighbor lady and going to Aldi on a Friday, the pool wins I went to the main pantry closet for a bag of the Morena cane sugar from Aldi that I like to use, and realized that I need to make my pantry re-fill list and get stocked back up sooner rather than later. Hate to go to Aldi on a Friday or Saturday but it's going to be in the high 80's to mid 90's for the next 10 days after today, so I don't know if I want to wait. Sitting on a hot metal bleacher to watch a football game when the temp is in the mid 90's... Grandma must love that boy an awful lot Daughter and I worked it out that I will stay at home with the younger grandson when the middle one has away games, but we will all go when it's a home game.

The ad that starts this coming Wednesday's for the store in the pool town has whole beef eye of round on sale for $3.99 lb, so I may pick up enough to run at least two canner loads of pint jars of cubed beef. It's nice to have on hand for beef and noodles, beef hot shots, beefy vegetable soup, beef stew, etc... (I was starting to feel like Bubba in Forrest Gump there for a minute )

I went to the main current use pantry closet for a bag of the Morena cane sugar that I like to use, and realized that I need to make my pantry re-fill list and get stocked back up sooner rather than later. Hate to go to Aldi on a Friday or Saturday though, so if I don't have a grandson or two on Sunday afternoon, I might slip over then. That'll give me time to rotate things I have stocked in the longer term pantry into the current use pantry.

The hummingbirds have been slowing down a bit- it's barely September and that's pretty early for here, so I hope it doesn't mean an early winter. We will likely get a flush of them passing through to the south later in the month. We still have them in November some years.

Well, dang - looks like I'm headed to the pool.

You folks all stay safe out there...

 

[nomifyle]

It looks like the middle of September will bring temps back to the 80's to stay. And by the end of the month in the 50's at night.

When I got up this morning DH had on his new winter robe, it was 73 in that room, which is cold to him. I woke up with my cooler weather cough this morning. No eggs today.

 

[kyrsyan]

Planned the morning run. Three hours. Headed home before the majority of people will be loose. I don't know what it is, but that is very tiring. But everything is in the house. The cold and frozen stuff is put away. I deal with the rest after work.

Back brain said that yup, the squash bed is going to become the garlic bed. But not this weekend. The garlic will need fridge time before it can be planted, so that will be the end of the month. But the ramps will go in the ground next weekend, earlier if they get here early enough. They will get one of the shaded garden beds with a frost cover for now. Again, to keep the squirrels from digging them out. And then a layer of leaves after they start falling.

One step at a time until it is done.

 

[aviax2]

I’ve finally made it into my closet OH MY STARS what a mess. Not only does it house my clothes, shoes, etc. it seems to be the place for everything that doesn’t have a home elsewhere. Most of what has been taken out of there is residing on the bed at the moment. I told DH we might have to sleep in the basement tonight (and I was only half joking). I’m sure I won’t get it all done today but if I can go through and find homes for things that don’t need to be in there, I should be able to make a huge dent today. And then I can get started over the weekend on personal belongings.

So far I found an extra filter and 2 packs of pre-filter for the bedroom air cleaner so YAY for that!

I stopped to rest, cool off and then had lunch and let things settle. Back to work.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I’ve finally made it into my closet OH MY STARS what a mess. Not only does it house my clothes, shoes, etc. it seems to be the place for everything that doesn’t have a home elsewhere. Most of what has been taken out of there is residing on the bed at the moment. I told DH we might have to sleep in the basement tonight (and I was only half joking). I’m sure I won’t get it all done today but if I can go through and find homes for things that don’t need to be in there, I should be able to make a huge dent today. And then I can get started over the weekend on personal belongings.

So far I found an extra filter and 2 packs of pre-filter for the bedroom air cleaner so YAY for that!

I stopped to rest, cool off and then had lunch and let things settle. Back to work.

I haven't tackled our closets, yet. I always do those when it's time to change out our clothes for the winter or summer. I did get my planned cleaning out done. Bathroom cabinets and pie safe are cleaned out and reorganized. Also, my fridge is spotless with a lot less in it. I feel like I actually accomplished something, today. I've been putting off doing some of these things for a while now, and it was just time to get it done. Must be something in the air!

 

[kyrsyan]

Tattler Lids are 30% off for Labor Day weekend. I'm debating a batch.

 

[kyrsyan]

Well fragged doesn't quite cover it. I sprained two out of three wrist tendons. And apparently not the ones helped by using a brace because the brace made it worse.

Can't take steroids. OTC anti-inflammatories aren't doing anything but arnica tabs are working.

Falling back on an old trick since the inflammation is kicking the whole nerve. My arm is now in a swing. The sling supports the arm and lets everything rest. And it wasn't until it was in place that I realized how much pain I had been blocking. No wonder I've been dragging.

 

[philkar]

QUOTE="ReneeT, post: 9846033, member: 7360"]
Prayers offered for your Aunt, Philkar.

The neighbor lady hasn't called yet, so I don't know if we're going to the pool or not today. I need to make an Aldi run sometime soon, but if I had to choose between going to the the pool with the neighbor lady and going to Aldi on a Friday, the pool wins I went to the main pantry closet for a bag of the Morena cane sugar from Aldi that I like to use, and realized that I need to make my pantry re-fill list and get stocked back up sooner rather than later. Hate to go to Aldi on a Friday or Saturday but it's going to be in the high 80's to mid 90's for the next 10 days after today, so I don't know if I want to wait. Sitting on a hot metal bleacher to watch a football game when the temp is in the mid 90's... Grandma must love that boy an awful lot Daughter and I worked it out that I will stay at home with the younger grandson when the middle one has away games, but we will all go when it's a home game.

The ad that starts this coming Wednesday's for the store in the pool town has whole beef eye of round on sale for $3.99 lb, so I may pick up enough to run at least two canner loads of pint jars of cubed beef. It's nice to have on hand for beef and noodles, beef hot shots, beefy vegetable soup, beef stew, etc... (I was starting to feel like Bubba in Forrest Gump there for a minute )

I went to the main current use pantry closet for a bag of the Morena cane sugar that I like to use, and realized that I need to make my pantry re-fill list and get stocked back up sooner rather than later. Hate to go to Aldi on a Friday or Saturday though, so if I don't have a grandson or two on Sunday afternoon, I might slip over then. That'll give me time to rotate things I have stocked in the longer term pantry into the current use pantry.

The hummingbirds have been slowing down a bit- it's barely September and that's pretty early for here, so I hope it doesn't mean an early winter. We will likely get a flush of them passing through to the south later in the month. We still have them in November some years.

Well, dang - looks like I'm headed to the pool.

You folks all stay safe out there...
[/QUOTE]
Thank you Renee. She is a precious lady who has a beautiful relationship with God. She will be greatly missed but greatly celebrated.

 

[moldy]

Well fragged doesn't quite cover it. I sprained two out of three wrist tendons. And apparently not the ones helped by using a brace because the brace made it worse.

Can't take steroids. OTC anti-inflammatories aren't doing anything but arnica tabs are working.

Falling back on an old trick since the inflammation is kicking the whole nerve. My arm is now in a swing. The sling supports the arm and lets everything rest. And it wasn't until it was in place that I realized how much pain I had been blocking. No wonder I've been dragging.

Can you try some turmeric (avout 1500 mg) and St. Johns wort oil (topically)?

 

[kyrsyan]

Can you try some turmeric (avout 1500 mg) and St. Johns wort oil (topically)?

Have the turmeric. Will try that as well.

Thank you. I forget options when brain is blocking pain.

 

[moldy]

No worries. Hope you feel better soon, friend.

 

[ReneeT]

Had a very nice day out with the neighbor lady - we went to the pool for our 40 minutes of aqua aerobics, then decided to skip over a town and go to my former work town and hit both Rural King and Aldi as neighbor wanted a few things. Rural King had only 2 ten pound bags of cane sugar in stock, but a whole pallet of beet sugar - and boy was it difficult to find the word 'beet' on the bags of beet sugar. I got the two bags of cane sugar, but may have to go up to the Amish market to replenish the stock if there is no cane sugar at Wal Mart the next time I am able to go; I wanted 100# total, but I'd like to have it in bags that I can move easily. I have a few hundred pounds in buckets but other than checking on them occasionally, I am leaving them alone for long term stocks as sugar rarely goes bad.

Aldi let me down on the Morena sugar as well - only one leaky bag. I don't go to my former work town all that often any more so I guess I'm going to have to check out the list of Aldi and Rural Kings stores around me and figure out how far I'll have to drive to get what I want. I'm getting pretty picky about what towns I'm willing to venture in to these days.

Middle grandson has a home JFL football game Sunday (in 90*F temps - ugh!) so I will be going to that. He would like me to come to all of his JFL games, but to keep the peace, I will go to the home games, and stay at home with younger grandson during the away games so that his Mama can go without having to listen to a grumpy younger brother. Younger brother doesn't see why he needs to go to his brother's games when brother doesn't come to his gymnastics matches; I guess I can see his reasoning.

Prices are creeping higher and higher - Hubby isn't even blinking at me any longer when I bring in the grocery hauls and plop the ticket down on the counter. He did say that prices on the lunches he eats at work haven't gone up that he's noticed.

Gas prices are weird lately - the town we went to go to Rural King in is about 20 cents a gallon higher a gallon on gas than all of the small towns we went through today.

Tomorrow, I need to go through the garden and till under some plants that aren't doing much of anything; then I'm going to do some weeding - both gardens are a mess this year. I'm also going to talk to the cousins when they come down and see if they will mow off under my three fruit trees that actually had fruit on them this year. I didn't spray so the apples aren't pretty, but I'll cut them in quarters, simmer them in some apple cider, and then run them through my Victorio strainer for applesauce.

Well, Hubby's demanding to have the porch door open, and I'm not willing to deal with any skeeters that might slip in past the screen, so I'm shutting off the kitchen lights and heading to my room - where I was smart enough to shut off the lights and shut the door beforehand.

Take care all - have a safe and happy weekend!

 

[Illini Warrior]

good article from the other day on a med topic not covered much - most likely will be a trendy subject come SHTFtime >>> just the lack of the usual sanitation and tap supplied water will be enough to set off an epidemic load of people - headed where? >>> they won't be flushing either

Diarrhea in Doomsday

You might not want to read this during mealtime. You have been warned. Do you ever look up toward heaven and ask God, “Really? I’...

prepschooldaily.blogspot.com

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We finally got some much needed rain late yesterday evening, and it's still raining this morning. Good ground soaking rain. Today would have been another watering day for us, but not needed now. Only 85 degrees for our high, today. This is my kind of temps. No need for the ac, and no need for heat. Our electricity bill will start coming down to our wintertime levels now. We hardly use any electricity during the cooler and cold winter months.

I keep a working pantry in my kitchen. I used the last of my rice last night, so I went into the pantry room to get another jug to empty into my kitchen jar. When I opened it, it smelled sorta like plastic. I don't know if it's safe to use or not. It still looks good and there isn't any mold or anything, just the smell. I'm going to leave the lid off today to let it breathe and see how it goes. Or, would ya'll just throw it away. It's several years old. Maybe, 10. I have a lot of rice stored in plastic containers. Not all is that old, though. We don't go through as much rice as we do pasta of different kinds. It won't hurt my supply too much if I have to throw out all the older stuff. I just stored too much for our use.

My small project for today is to go through all my gravy and spice mixes. I have several tall containers full of them. They are all mixed together in the containers, and I want to separate each mix into its own container and throw out what's too old. Anything dated earlier than 2022 goes out. I don't know if there is any too old, since I use a lot of different gravy mixes on a regular basis. I may have overlooked a pack or two that have gone past that date, though.

 

[kyrsyan]

Two more trapezoid braces and then we can start the doors and top. I think doors first so I can get the garden stuff tucked back under amd the tarp put away.

The body just flat out does not want to do anything but sleep today. I refuse to accept that. And a migraine, likely from barometric, is trying to come into existence. Which means I need to hydrate. I haven't been drinking enough.

Right now the hand and wrist feel better. While we are sure the issue is thumb tendons, wrapping the wrist for support seems to be the best thing. And not using the thumb as much as possible.

I got son two pairs of colored sunglasses. He has taken to wearing one pair of them when one version of his migraines hits. I am going to order more when I can tell which color it is. Because the tinting is so subtly off of gray that I can't tell. But it's not gray. It's blue or green.

 

[nomifyle]

Regarding sugar: In my opinion if the package doesn't say cane sugar then its not cane sugar. Walmart's packages use to say cane sugar and now they don't. Their packages say granulated sugar. I've been buying the Imperial brand of cane sugar, but now I'm seeing granulated sugar on some of their packages. If it doesn't say cane sugar then I'm not buying it. We generally don't use much sugar unless I make a cobbler for DH, which isn't very often. I stored sugar about 3 or 4 years ago or longer. I don't need to buy it but I pick up 10 pounds from time to time just because.

Most of my rice has been stored in brand new paint cans. I checked a can a couple of years ago and it was pristine. Since storing in cans I've stored in 1/2 gallon glass jars. I can't remember the last time I cooked rice. I also store pasta in glass jars that are vacuumed sealed.

When we were cleaning out and re organizing the pantry room last winter I ran across some boxes of lasagna noodles and they were disgusting.

 

[nomifyle]

I asked DH if he would be interested in eating shrimp with pasta with a mild sauce and he said no, so he is on his own. I need to figure out something for my dinner that is friendly to my eating plan. Haven't come up with anything yet.

 

[etdeb]

I asked DH if he would be interested in eating shrimp with pasta with a mild sauce and he said no, so he is on his own. I need to figure out something for my dinner that is friendly to my eating plan. Haven't come up with anything yet.

I made this 2 nights ago,
Shrimp
Crab helper(imitation crab)
Crayfish tails
Diced garlic
Mozzarella cheese
Parmigiano cheese
Jarred Garlic Alfredo sauce
Pasta of choice which that night was spaghetti.
I made a big pot and eat on it until it's gone.
Since throat/swallow issue in March I don't eat much meat.

Hubs likes red meat so he fins for himself.

 

[nomifyle]

I made this 2 nights ago,
Shrimp
Crab helper(imitation crab)
Crayfish tails
Diced garlic
Mozzarella cheese
Parmigiano cheese
Jarred Garlic Alfredo sauce
Pasta of choice which that night was spaghetti.
I made a big pot and eat on it until it's gone.
Since throat/swallow issue in March I don't eat much meat.

Hubs likes red meat so he fins for himself.

I would love it but DH with his picky yankee tastes buds would not eat it.

 

[ReneeT]

Would someone please start the thread tomorrow morning?

Thank You!

 

[John Deere Girl]

I would love it but DH with his picky yankee tastes buds would not eat it.

Hey, now! Don't be blaming the Yankees for being picky! Hubby and I are foodies that like a variety of foods and spices, and you'll never eat the same thing twice at our home, because we don't measure.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'm as Southern as you can get, and I hate shrimp.

 

[Digger]

We finished the hay we were working on. We had a grand total of 352 bales. That's 100 bales more than we have gotten off in what we thought was our best year. I only had one to put in the barn. The rest sold off the field. We have other fields to cut, but hubby needs a break. Also, rain chances and humidity are going up. I don't know if we could get it dry and out of the field before it got wet.

I picked me bloody butcher corn that was pretty dry. I have it hung to finish out. I saved the good silks for tea. It's drying too. It is good for your kidneys. My melons are about done now. We are needing rain bad. I cooked a very small batch of butter beans a friend gave me seed to try. I think they will be my new addition to next years garden if hubby likes them. I tried one and I thought it was very good. We will each have some with dinner today.

Today I have a lot to catch up on. Produce to preserve, and more to pick.

Well, we went to the auction today instead of catching up here.. But hubby saw an elderly friend that he hadn't seen in a while so it was worth it.

 

[nomifyle]

Hey, now! Don't be blaming the Yankees for being picky! Hubby and I are foodies that like a variety of foods and spices, and you'll never eat the same thing twice at our home, because we don't measure.

my bad, but he has horrible taste in food. I know his first wife was a good cook and I've tried to cook what he likes but I have run out of ideas. I raised two big strapping boys who are the picture of good health and they never complained about my cooking, and neither did my ex.

ETA: and I didn't impose my health foods on them either.

 

[John Deere Girl]

my bad, but he has horrible taste in food. I know his first wife was a good cook and I've tried to cook what he likes but I have run out of ideas. I raised two big strapping boys who are the picture of good health and they never complained about my cooking, and neither did my ex.

ETA: and I didn't impose my health foods on them either.

I was just joking, Judy! I was not the least offended.

 

[aviax2]

Well I managed to get most of the things needing a home to a better spot, some things will just have to continue to live in there though LOL.

On the personal items I‘ve made a lot of decisions the past few days that were overall pretty darn easy. I tossed one purse and wallet, I’ll be donating 6 purses and 1 wallet. Decided to keep only my 2 concealed carry purses (was only going to keep the one but thought I should keep an extra just in case) and the one and only Vera Bradley purse I ever bought. *Sigh* I didn’t find any cash when I went through the purses or wallets, but I did find the top of a box of Winston Lights in one of the purses, SMH! I quit smoking in 2007 so that shows how long some of those purses have been hanging around.

I‘ve gone through all my sleepwear, tossed a few items and have several to donate that are in great shape, a few even has tags that I’m wondering if I bought them for my mother (definitely not nightshirt style that I prefer) and forgot to give them to her during the whole lockdown crap. I also found some new knee high socks that are too tight on my legs.

I got all my tops out of the closet and probably over half I don’t/won’t wear because they are very worn looking or don’t fit anymore, pants and shoes are still waiting on me but I’m sure quite a bit of those needs to be trashed. I haven’t bought any clothes in several years except a few nightshirts, socks and panties. DH have been after me to buy some clothes but I hate shopping for clothes and honestly I’m home so much, my needs aren’t great. Ugh, I guess I need to start a list.

In going through one dresser drawer I came across things that I kept here for the grandsons, wool socks, gloves, toboggans, t-shirts that I’m sure will will no longer fit them. Their mom can have the option of passing them onto their younger boy cousins or donating them since they’re in great shape. Oh how I miss my boys being little guys!

Still have more to do but I’m hoping I can finish in the closet and maybe even the bedroom itself in the next few days. I was pretty tired today but I managed to get quite a bit done with several rest (long) rest breaks.

 

[nomifyle]

Well I managed to get most of the things needing a home to a better spot, some things will just have to continue to live in there though LOL.

On the personal items I‘ve made a lot of decisions the past few days that were overall pretty darn easy. I tossed one purse and wallet, I’ll be donating 6 purses and 1 wallet. Decided to keep only my 2 concealed carry purses (was only going to keep the one but thought I should keep an extra just in case) and the one and only Vera Bradley purse I ever bought. *Sigh* I didn’t find any cash when I went through the purses or wallets, but I did find the top of a box of Winston Lights in one of the purses, SMH! I quit smoking in 2007 so that shows how long some of those purses have been hanging around.

I‘ve gone through all my sleepwear, tossed a few items and have several to donate that are in great shape, a few even has tags that I’m wondering if I bought them for my mother (definitely not nightshirt style that I prefer) and forgot to give them to her during the whole lockdown crap. I also found some new knee high socks that are too tight on my legs.

I got all my tops out of the closet and probably over half I don’t/won’t wear because they are very worn looking or don’t fit anymore, pants and shoes are still waiting on me but I’m sure quite a bit of those needs to be trashed. I haven’t bought any clothes in several years except a few nightshirts, socks and panties. DH have been after me to buy some clothes but I hate shopping for clothes and honestly I’m home so much, my needs aren’t great. Ugh, I guess I need to start a list.

In going through one dresser drawer I came across things that I kept here for the grandsons, wool socks, gloves, toboggans, t-shirts that I’m sure will will no longer fit them. Their mom can have the option of passing them onto their younger boy cousins or donating them since they’re in great shape. Oh how I miss my boys being little guys!

Still have more to do but I’m hoping I can finish in the closet and maybe even the bedroom itself in the next few days. I was pretty tired today but I managed to get quite a bit done with several rest (long) rest breaks.

LOL, no, no, and no. I've given away things that I later needed, ain't doing it. If someone comes after me they can burn it, give it away or just let it rot. Same with anything around here. I lost everything in Katrina and what I have now is staying as long as I am.

 

[cupid's romance]

Can you all tell me if it is okay to mix rices when storing them in a 5 gallon bucket? I had almost a full bucket of jasmine rice and then realized I put some regular long grain on top. Should I scoop that out before I seal the bucket or are they okay together? Thanks

 

[summerthyme]

Can you all tell me if it is okay to mix rices when storing them in a 5 gallon bucket? I had almost a full bucket of jasmine rice and then realized I put some regular long grain on top. Should I scoop that out before I seal the bucket or are they okay together? Thanks

Do they need similar cooking times and rice/water ratio? Then I'd see no reason to not combine them. But if they do... one of the parts to the blend is going to be either under or over cooked.

Summerthyme

 

[cupid's romance]

Do they need similar cooking times and rice/water ratio? Then I'd see no reason to not combine them. But if they do... one of the parts to the blend is going to be either under or over cooked.

Summerthyme

Thanks Summerthyme. They cook the same so good to hear storing together is okay. Thanks