Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread- February 18-24, 2024

[Meemur]

Zero judgment from me, SB, just prayers. I'm very sorry that happened.

Wishing everyone the best!

It's in the 50s. I'm stopping in for a minute to scan the news. I'm watching the NYC trucker strike on several sites and then onto work, with a walk later. I heard there was a loon sighting on the retention pond. It's very early for them to be here (they stop on their flight back to the North). I'm suspect that was a mistake.

I'd rather work from home today: I'd sit on the patio in a blanket and work from a laptop, but that's not possible.

Onward!

 

[moldy]

Trying to get over the bug that hit me hard and fast yesterday. I think the stress of our issue, then finding it was postponed just let the germs get the upper hand. Not a lot of plans for today.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Cary got a great report from his new Nephrologist! He told Cary that his kidneys would most likely outlive him. No problems whatsoever, except for the fact that he had a partial kidney removal. No overall damage there. He told Cary he didn't have to change anything he was doing, even with his diet, but told him not to eat very much processed foods and stick with our low salt diet. Not a problem, since I already cook that way.

We left there and went straight to our bank. Got everything there taken care of, finally. We, both, have taken on brand new accounting practices and established safeguards for our money from now on.

So far, it's been a great day. Thanks to all of you for your prayers!

 

[philkar]

Came in for a quick break and lunch. Springtime work has begun! Greenhouse is packed. Spreading our sawdust mountain and hopefully planting potatoes. T shirt weather here!
We continue to pray for everyone.

 

[aviax2]

@ioujc So glad to hear you’re feeling happy!

@moldy Feel better soon.

@SouthernBreeze Thats great news about Cary! I know that has to be a huge weight lifted from y’all.

Continued prayers up for all.

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday and I just feel that I keep getting further behind. Supper tonight will be meatloaf from the freezer (already cooked) purple hull peas from last years garden along with red tomato relish I canned last summer. The rest of the broccoli that needs using from the fridge and a pack of instant ranch flavored mashed taters. I needed something quick and easy.

DH has been on a sourdough kick and has went through a bunch of flour in making starters, feeding starters and baking bread. I’ve got to go through my flour buckets in the basement because the last time he filled the smaller bucket up from the open one down there, it smells off. I had him dump it and we’ve just been using flour as we buy it. Went ahead and bought a 50 lb bag this week so if any more has gone off, we will at least have that to use and build on.

 

[patriotgal]

Washed all the rugs today and hung them out. They dried in no time, it was so nice out.

Have a big peace lily that was still pouting from being left alone during our vacation. Pulled up a chair and started trimming. I know it hasn't been touched for at least 2 years. Got all the dead stuff cut away and realized there wasn't much soil (4 inches in a 15 inch pot!) Grabbed an open bag of potting soil and filled it up. Used up one of the ice packs/plant food packs someone gave me and watered thoroughly. It looks like a new plant.

Went to inlaws and retrieved all the tools late FIL had in the vehicles. Checked the house and property. All looks good. Disturbed an 8 inch wasp nest on outbuilding door. Of course it was inhabited by those huge red wasps. Knocked it down, closed door and left. Didn't even bother to spray. By that time I just wanted to go home.

Ordered a couple of chair covers from Temu. We love our bar stools - they are tall padded office chairs on wheels. 20 years and 3 generations and the fabric is showing wear. I might take them apart one of these days and re-cover but washable slip on covers will do nicely for now. Am amazed at how well the cushions have lasted.

DH pulled a muscle while practically climbing into the farm truck motor. He is slowly sorting his dad's tools
He rotated stock for me yesterday after I hit a big sale at grocery store. We have a lot of painting to do tomorrow so will probably head for our chairs soon. We have done a lot of lifting in last 2 days and it is catching up with us.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Quick stop into Publix again today--a new one I had never been in before. Picked up some more of that BOGO stuff, the same as the other day. But this time I walked the aisles of the store as the layout is different than what I am used to. One thing stood out--NO SUGAR at all on the shelves. No Publix brand, no brand name. Completely empty. They also didn't have any Publix flour, though they did have some Gold Medal that was BOGO (but was almost $6 to start with). Pasta on sale as BOGO is 2 for $1.99, which is the price it was for regular pasta a couple of years ago. Used to buy it BOGO all the time then and use coupons and get it for 25 cents a box. Good thing I still have a lot stored.

 

[Meemur]

The lack of sugar is concerning, especially since it's not canning season.

 

[briches]

Good morning all. Just a quick drop in to say hello and to let you know I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Not a lot of preps here this week. Have money going towards other things. I bought airline tickets to go so my eldest son next month. I hate flying, but I want to see my son.

Busy week.

 

[ginnie6]

Canning beans this week (no not fda approved but been doing it for years) and organizing my pantry. Planning the garden as I can get beets and such out the first week of March. My spidey senses are really tingling today with the networks being down lol.

 

[kyrsyan]

Canning beans this week (no not fda approved but been doing it for years) and organizing my pantry. Planning the garden as I can get beets and such out the first week of March. My spidey senses are really tingling today with the networks being down lol.

Canning beans is approved. Is it the method you are using?

Headed to doc for followup. I would like an answer for the exhaustion that's been plaguing me. And the bruise.

 

[ginnie6]

Canning beans is approved. Is it the method you are using?

Headed to doc for followup. I would like an answer for the exhaustion that's been plaguing me. And the bruise.

No not the method guess I’m wrong I thought it wasn’t lol.

 

[Digger]

I tilled my big garden on Tuesday. One more tilling and I will plant early stuff.

Wednesday I went to my chiropractor. He told me congratulations that I was his first patient in from the tiller. He said he has had a lot in from doing yard work and knew he would be seeing gardeners soon. I had needed to see him for weeks but had been putting it off. My right hip gets slightly out of whack and hurts. He put it right. Now I am stiff and a little sore but much better overall.

I had lunch with a friend while we were out. Hubby had lunch with the retirees from his work. We both enjoyed the visits. My friend and I usually talk on the phone weekly but had missed the last couple of weeks. We call it our therapy sessions. And it really keeps us on a better path mentally.

Hubby has the parts to change the ball joints on the truck. He will probably work on it some while I am keeping the grandkids this evening.

We are having Spring weather so I am moving the plants outside. I may have to bring them back in before they can stay out for good. But they can use a little help from nature. I am not good with house plants. My Boston fern has held up better than last winter, so maybe I am getting better.

 

[kyrsyan]

No not the method guess I’m wrong I thought it wasn’t lol.

There is a method that is not approved. It's the one where you don't presoak the beans. I tried it once and ended up with bean bricks. Decided I would just use the presoak method.

 

[ginnie6]

There is a method that is not approved. It's the one where you don't presoak the beans. I tried it once and ended up with bean bricks. Decided I would just use the presoak method.

Well haha that is the method I use…no precook. They always turn out great so …..

 

[Wildwood]

Hello everyone!!!
My depression has lifted a good bit and I thank ALL of you for your prayers.
Summerthyme had mentioned that I consider antidepressants..... I have been on maximum doses for about 30 years. They help a bit. I am also severely OCD, and that is what it helps with most. I have two bits of news, which have helped me feel better.......my Niece appears to be coming around and realizing that they need to get some preps if only because of inflation!!!! Hallelujah!!!! They also want me to advise them on creating a HUGE garden!!! This is scary, because they are considering me an "expert" because I have been extremely successful growing huge amounts of food in MISSOURI. The issue is, this is FLORIDA, with a different climate and NO established garden plot and basically SAND in the yard. This is causing me to feel pressured to do well..... difficult in ANY new environment!!

The second factor is....... I have HOPE again!!! This week, I had an iridology exam done:

What Is Iridology (Iridodiagnosis)?

The fellow I saw has been performing these exams for over 40 years, and his daughter is now doing these exams as well. They both have PhDs in NUTRITION and several other areas. He produced results indicating EVERY SINGLE ISSUE in my body!!!
He had NO way of knowing ANY of this information!!!

He has made a number of recommendations on supplements and in my eating habits. I am hoping and PRAYING that these recommendations will help my physical condition!!!
He even told me things about how I think and what I could change as far as thought processes that would positively effect my physical body. This is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!

There is NO WAY he could have known these things ..... I have only been in town for 3 months, the only thing he may have been able to know is that I have back problems.......but he identified MANY MANY issues that I had an awareness of, but had no knowledge of how to "fix" these things!!!!

This has given me a great degree of HOPE!!! My Niece and her husband have taken the supplements he recommended for them for the past several years and have had significant success in healing, or at least improving their health!!!!!

I am SO EXCITED!!! There is a POSSIBILITY that my pain can be reduced and I might be able to improve my physical situation!!!

Again THANK YOU, TO ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!! I believe your prayers have brought me to this point!!!

I am actually HAPPY for the first time in several YEARS!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!

That makes me so happy ioujc! We have a lot of sand in our soil even though we shouldn't...I'm in the hills of Arkansas but we are on the banks of a good sized creek and it floods ever so often so this probably got deposited hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. Anyway, it's a pain to a degree but not bad at all to achieve success.

I add a lot of ammendments and use landscape fabric...it's the only way to conquer the weeds and helps hold in moisture. I don't burn holes in mine. Instead I leave uncovered strips that I plant in, between the rows of fabric, ideally around nine inches between rows of the fabric which makes it easy to fertilize and even till with one of the very small electric tillers. Every year, I work the rows and sprinkle in a granulated fertilizer, some yellow corn meal and a little lime mixed with boron and till all that in. When I plant or sew seeds, I do more ammending depending on what I'm planting or sewing...having to only fertilize that small strip, I'm able to use much less fertilizer and can afford to use the good stuff...Osmocote Plus and Dr. Earth to name a few. This year, I'm going to do some ph testing before I add more lime. The plain yellow cornmeal kills ants and helps with nematodes...never get the selfrising because it has salt in it...I'm sure you are aware of that but others may not be. It has to be the yellow corn meal.

Installing drip irrigation was another thing that made it all work even better.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Our cell phone service is out this morning. Cary needs to make more calls, so I hope it's fixed soon.

Rain today, but our temps will be going into the 70's in the next few days. I think our forecast has us in the 70's for about a week, before temps dip again. We have a bit of yard work we can get done those days, but still no plans for a garden this year.

Housework to get done today, and I'm reworking my monthly grocery shopping list. It will just be the basics this time around. No extra spending.

 

[Wildwood]

Quick stop into Publix again today--a new one I had never been in before. Picked up some more of that BOGO stuff, the same as the other day. But this time I walked the aisles of the store as the layout is different than what I am used to. One thing stood out--NO SUGAR at all on the shelves. No Publix brand, no brand name. Completely empty. They also didn't have any Publix flour, though they did have some Gold Medal that was BOGO (but was almost $6 to start with). Pasta on sale as BOGO is 2 for $1.99, which is the price it was for regular pasta a couple of years ago. Used to buy it BOGO all the time then and use coupons and get it for 25 cents a box. Good thing I still have a lot stored.

I have foolishly let my sugar stock get low...need to make a trip to Sam's for a few fifty pound bags. Sweet tea is a must around here. I don't cook with it much any more.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Sugar is one thing I don't stock a lot of, because it's not something I use a lot of. I keep around 80 lbs. in storage. We gave up drinking sweet tea years ago. We had drunk it so much it began tasting like syrup. Now, it's black coffee and water. Occasionally, we'll get sweet tea when we eat out, but most of the time, it's too sweet for our taste.

 

[hd5574]

Our cell phone service is out this morning. Cary needs to make more calls, so I hope it's fixed soon.

This the very reason that we have kept our landline.... We have Consumer Cellular .... two flip phones..and Verizon landline with the dsl Internet...a never activated..TracFone..flip phone with a couple of unused cards as back back up...
just last week the Verizon landline was on the fritz....but the cells were working :-) I really needed to talk to my cousin in AZ...
All together it is under $150 per month including Internet...but usually at least... something is working...

 

[SouthernBreeze]

This the very reason that we have kept our landline.... We have Consumer Cellular .... two flip phones..and Verizon landline with the dsl Internet...a never activated..TracFone..flip phone with a couple of unused cards as back back up...
just last week the Verizon landline was on the fritz....but the cells were working :-) I really needed to talk to my cousin in AZ...
All together it is under $150 per month including Internet...but usually at least... something is working...

We have in home wifi, so if our cells are down much longer, Cary can just switch them back over to wifi, until the issue is resolved.

 

[hd5574]

We have in home wifi, so if our cells are down much longer, Cary can just switch them back over to wifi, until the issue is resolved.

My landline is not depend on wifi...or cell towers.... and with old princess phones of which we have several not even dependant on electricity..
Plus not hackable..... Just me....old school..

 

[SouthernBreeze]

My landline is not depend on wifi...or cell towers.... and with old princess phones of which we have several not even dependant on electricity..
Plus not hackable..... Just me....old school..

My 83 yr. old mom is the same way. She still pays 2 phone bills each month. One for her cell phone and one for her old landline. She refuses to give up her landline.

 

[Marseydoats]

My WM this morning was very low on sugar as well. They had maybe 20 bags of Great Value and none at all of the name brands. Found out the hard way that you can't make jelly with GV sugar --- it won't set. I had some Domino hidden away but hubs found it and used it. He said he wanted the "good" sugar.
I'm one of the Southerners who gets rabid without their sweet tea, so I hope this was just a fluke.

 

[nomifyle]

I have an untold amount of sugar stored, the good kind, cane sugar. No gmo beet sugar in this house. We don't use much, DH puts it in his coffee. I rarely use it for anything, if I want a cup of hot tea, I use stevia. I buy Imperial sugar, which use to be more expensive but lately the great value is the same price.

I gave up my home phone through at&t several years ago because it was too expensive. I get a modium from my cell phone carrier to plug in my hand sets to and keep my home phone number. I would get rid of it but I use that number when I have to give out a phone number, although we never answer it.

 

[hd5574]

My WM this morning was very low on sugar as well. They had maybe 20 bags of Great Value and none at all of the name brands. Found out the hard way that you can't make jelly with GV sugar --- it won't set. I had some Domino hidden away but hubs found it and used it. He said he wanted the "good" sugar.
I'm one of the Southerners who gets rabid without their sweet tea, so I hope this was just a fluke.

I have seen off and on for several months that there was going to be a shortage of sugar..I imagine the price will skyrocket....I stocked up on all kinds.. regular granulated white cane sugar..powdered sugar...and both light and dark sugar for baking cookies..
I know that Walmart sugar is beet sugar unless it is marked cane....since beet sugar is GMO...
that might have something to do with the jelly not setting????
We use organic granulated in our coffee and tea...but it is a course sugar....I use Domino's white sugar in baking and pies that call for sugar..
Next time I go shopping I will look for sugar...

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Since we budget for everything, it was just becoming too expensive for us to have two cell phones and a landline. Plus, about 98% of all calls we made on the landline were long distance, we had to pay extra for those calls. No such thing as long distance calling on cell phones.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I have seen off and on for several months that there was going to be a shortage of sugar..I imagine the price will skyrocket....I stocked up on all kinds.. regular granulated white cane sugar..powdered sugar...and both light and dark sugar for baking cookies..
I know that Walmart sugar is beet sugar unless it is marked cane....since beet sugar is GMO...
that might have something to do with the jelly not setting????
We use organic granulated in our coffee and tea...but it is a course sugar....I use Domino's white sugar in baking and pies that call for sugar..
Next time I go shopping I will look for sugar...

Yes, the only beet sugar I've ever seen is GMO. I've never used it. It's all pure cane sugar for me. I also keep powdered sugar and brown sugar for baking purposes, but not a lot of it. I don't do a lot of baking from scratch. Most cakes are from cake mixes and the cookies as well from cookie mixes. Frostings are most often from a can.

 

[hd5574]

I was wrong...2 cell phones....landline....and Internet...is only about $125.. per month...but are billed on the bill only charge card ....so I even get cash back on them ....

 

[hd5574]

Both the cell phones and the landline have calling all over the US....we don't pay any long distance charges on any of the phones...
The landline has caller id, call waiting and voice mail box...all that stuff....included....same with that tracfone if we ever turn it on...just a very cheap back up...

 

[kyrsyan]

Well haha that is the method I use…no precook. They always turn out great so …..

I have massive steel bowls from a restaurant supply. I just fill with beans and hot water the night before, and a sheet of seaweed. Tuck that in the oven for the night. Pull it in the morning, rinse, and can.

 

[hd5574]

I do think as we go forward in time we will be dealing with more outages...be they electric ...cell ...or landlines..and even shortages at the grocery and drug stores
..the worst thing about the outage today was a lot of 911 systems were down ...so it could impossible to for some people to call for help in an emergency situation..that could frightening..

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I do think as we go forward in time we will be dealing with more outages...be they electric ...cell ...or landlines..and even shortages at the grocery and drug stores
..the worst thing about the outage today was a lot of 911 systems were down ...so it could impossible to for some people to call for help in an emergency situation..that could frightening..

Also, as technology improves, scammers will have more and more sophisticated and improved methods. We've learned that there is no 100% way to stop them. All we can do is to be aware and do what we can.

 

[hd5574]

Also, as technology improves, scammers will have more and more sophisticated and improved methods. We've learned that there is no 100% way to stop them. All we can do is to be aware and do what we can.

That is one of the reasons we keep the landline ... No connection to the Internet.....our important stuff is not connected to the web..
I can remember when having a TV was a big deal....life was a whole lot simpler then....we wrote letters ..by snail mail ..back when it was 5 cents to mail a letter...lol...I miss it..

 

[SouthernBreeze]

That is one of the reasons we keep the landline ... No connection to the Internet.....our important stuff is not connected to the web..
I can remember when having a TV was a big deal....life was a whole lot simpler then....we wrote letters ..by snail mail ..back when it was 5 cents to mail a letter...lol...I miss it..

Yep. I believe in a lot of ways technology is going to be humanity's downfall. We were all a lot safer back when things were so simple.

 

[Wildwood]

Sugar is one thing I don't stock a lot of, because it's not something I use a lot of. I keep around 80 lbs. in storage. We gave up drinking sweet tea years ago. We had drunk it so much it began tasting like syrup. Now, it's black coffee and water. Occasionally, we'll get sweet tea when we eat out, but most of the time, it's too sweet for our taste.

I feel the same and drink water with most of my meals and have cut down on the sugar per gallon amount. I still have about half a glass of watered down sweet tea with supper. I have never cultivated a taste for unsweetened tea and would rather have water. I rarely ever cook sweets anymore but I do not want to go into the apocalypse without sugar lol.

I do have sugar in my long term storage but no longer trust my super pails of food. The ones I tested didn't do too well. Surpringly, the ones I did myself have held up better than the professionally done ones. They have all been kept in fairly stable temps. Even more surprising, the years ago opened pails of wheat berries are in much better shape than the unopened and still vacuum sealed ones that had oxygen absorbers inside. I guess there is enough oxygen left for any potential critters to work their magic before they run out.

 

[Meemur]

64 degrees and sunny here! It's a record for February.

I don't remember now, but I think my landline phone was going to increase to something like $75 or $80 per month. In any case, it wasn't in the budget any longer, not when I could buy a Tracfone for $39 and a years' worth of minutes for $100.

And that's what I'm still doing now, although a years' worth of minutes was $139 (I think) in 2023. Still, a good deal for me! I make very short calls / texts (I'm on my way or I'm home safely!) and generally meet face-to-face for longer discussions. I'm living a much different lifestyle now where I can do that.

Today, I've been on the run since sunrise. I hauled the last of the mulch and manure (for now) out to the community garden. Others are spreading it. My back is still a bit tender these days. I worked online for awhile (no problems, but I heard AT&T was down), and I've got a load of towels drying on the patio.

My energy is better but I'm still getting tired around 4:00ish, which is tons better than it was.

Re sugar: I use a little local honey mostly, but I need to keep a sugar supply for making strawberry freezer jam in June. I think I have enough for that, but I'll do the calculations later.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Better half went to a different Publix today and a friend to even a different one. Both reported that there was no sugar on the shelves. You could get equal, splenda and the like, but no sugar. I have about 400 lbs stored, so I am not worried, it is just that it is the first big hole that I have seen with my own eyes.

 

[Toosh]

Rabbits! We're doing meat rabbits!! Just bought home two bucks and two does. Purebred Creme de Argents. Gorgeous.

I was into Californians a few years back but decided to quit. Luckily, I kept all my equipment so after a day of cleaning, repairing and setup I am back in the swing. Buck1 has already done what bucks do so I should have kits soon. Buck2 will get into action in a few weeks. I like to alternate them.

Previously I was known as The Bunnhut but now I'm changing the sign over the door to be The Bunny Brothel. Looking forward to having little fur balls again.

 

[moldy]

Lots of things going thru my head - dang! It's scary in there! Made up a quart of non-fat powdered milk. Not my favorite, but I can mix it half and half and drink it or use it that way. I have a bunch I need to use up. There's something that just makes me a little happy about finishing something up and throwing away the package.