Prep Genrl Weekly Prep thread - January 28-February 3, 2024

[anna43]

At Aldi yesterday they were fully stocked with cake mixes so I got one each of white, yellow and devils food. When I went to put them away, I found my storage box full so removed four outdated mixes. I brought those upstairs along with two of outdated frosting. Today I used two (lemon and yellow) to make cookies. The lemon ones were supposed to have dried fruit, so I measured out dried cranberries and forgot to add them! Anyway, they turned out to be good without the cranberries. The other recipe was for snickerdoodles, and it turned out to be good, but did not taste like snickerdoodles. I took most of them across the street to the senior apartments because if I have cookies in the house, I will eat them. I'll look for recipes to use the two devils food mixes soon.

I washed sheets this a.m. and have not yet remade the bed. Putting the fitted sheet on is extremely painful for my hands so I keep putting it off. I thought about hanging the sheets out as it was 40 degrees, but there is still snow under the clothesline. My hands would not have appreciated hanging wet sheets in 40 degrees so its best I wait for warmer temps.

I'd intended to can chicken this week but forgot to take it out of the freezer. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it done next week. If I take it out on Saturday, I should be able to can it by Monday or Tuesday.

I cooked the eight chicken legs I got last week from the mobile food pantry in the crockpot on Sunday. So far, I've had five meals off them and have two or three of the legs left. Sunday, I had two chicken legs for supper. Monday, I made chicken salad and had three meals of that. Another meal was a chicken sandwich. I haven't decided what I'll do with what's left. They were a bit freezer burned but mostly it was just the skin which I discard anyway.

On nuclear attacks. so much will be gone, so many people will be dead or dying, chaos everywhere, government perhaps gone, perhaps enemy invasion so finding a way to survive going forward will be extremely difficult. I'm not sure surviving would be worth the effort. Of course, I'm old so my perceptive is different from younger people especially those with children.

 

[philkar]

At Aldi yesterday they were fully stocked with cake mixes so I got one each of white, yellow and devils food. When I went to put them away, I found my storage box full so removed four outdated mixes. I brought those upstairs along with two of outdated frosting. Today I used two (lemon and yellow) to make cookies. The lemon ones were supposed to have dried fruit, so I measured out dried cranberries and forgot to add them! Anyway, they turned out to be good without the cranberries. The other recipe was for snickerdoodles, and it turned out to be good, but did not taste like snickerdoodles. I took most of them across the street to the senior apartments because if I have cookies in the house, I will eat them. I'll look for recipes to use the two devils food mixes soon.

I washed sheets this a.m. and have not yet remade the bed. Putting the fitted sheet on is extremely painful for my hands so I keep putting it off. I thought about hanging the sheets out as it was 40 degrees, but there is still snow under the clothesline. My hands would not have appreciated hanging wet sheets in 40 degrees so its best I wait for warmer temps.

I'd intended to can chicken this week but forgot to take it out of the freezer. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it done next week. If I take it out on Saturday, I should be able to can it by Monday or Tuesday.

I cooked the eight chicken legs I got last week from the mobile food pantry in the crockpot on Sunday. So far, I've had five meals off them and have two or three of the legs left. Sunday, I had two chicken legs for supper. Monday, I made chicken salad and had three meals of that. Another meal was a chicken sandwich. I haven't decided what I'll do with what's left. They were a bit freezer burned but mostly it was just the skin which I discard anyway.

On nuclear attacks. so much will be gone, so many people will be dead or dying, chaos everywhere, government perhaps gone, perhaps enemy invasion so finding a way to survive going forward will be extremely difficult. I'm not sure surviving would be worth the effort. Of course, I'm old so my perceptive is different from younger people especially those with children.

Not disagreeing with you at all about nuclear event but the thought goes thru my head that those with wisdom and know how will be needed to teach others how to press ahead. I guess God will have a different path for each of us and hopefully we will each be obedient to what our heart hears. I just read a few days ago that it is better to obey than to sacrifice. That's my paraphrase!

 

[feralferret]

I'll look for recipes to use the two devils food mixes soon.

My wife has several cookbooks from the "Cake Mix Doctor" series. Lots of good recipes that use cake mix as an ingredient in those books.

 

[Meemur]

Not disagreeing with you at all about nuclear event but the thought goes thru my head that those with wisdom and know how will be needed to teach others how to press ahead. I guess God will have a different path for each of us and hopefully we will each be obedient to what our heart hears. I just read a few days ago that it is better to obey than to sacrifice. That's my paraphrase!

I think that you're correct.
Another paraphrase:
Q: How do you know whether your mission on Earth is over?
A: If you are still alive, it isn't.

 

[philkar]

I think that you're correct.
Another paraphrase:
Q: How do you know whether your mission on Earth is over?
A: If you are still alive, it isn't.

Truth!

 

[philkar]

So death is knocking on our door yet again. Another family elder about to worship at the Throne! So sleep eludes me. Hubs had check up today so we had an hour drive thru the country. We noted many old houses that were being refurbished complete with chicken pens and garden spots. Saw it during Covid but now seeing second wave. Lots of clear cut timber occurring. Timber prices are still down here so we are guessing people must need the cash. Pine and hardwood being harvested. We see little signs of people tightening their belts. Lots of saved seeds swapping and questions about how “they used to do things”. Conversation at church tonight about growing wheat together and what seed most of us have. Interesting times for sure.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Grocery and other shopping, today in small towns. Walmart, wine shop, and meat market. First stop will be at the bank to withdraw my budget money. Weather is nice and sunny. 64 for our high, today.

I was talking to Mom, yesterday. She mentioned all the crime that was taking place in Tupelo (Big Town). 5 shootings in 3 days! One of those shootings happened at Sam's!!! Only one person was killed, though. Several were injured. Makes me not want to go back there. It's a good thing that all of mine and Cary's doctor's offices are around the North MS. Medical Center well away from the business and shopping districts. Doctor visits are most of our ventures into Tupelo. Tomorrow, we'll be there shopping with gift cards. Heads on swivels the whole time and armed. We always do that, anyway, but will be even more diligent from now on. Like I've been saying for a while now, Tupelo is turning into "Little Memphis".

 

[Meemur]

It's 44 degrees and partly sunny, going into the 50s. I've gotten this afternoon off. I hope to make more progress on the garage. It's not bad because I worked on it several weeks ago, but there's a lot of "fine tuning" to be done, not to mention several more decisions, such as the kitchen chairs. I have two sets, one in the garage. One set needs to go. Problem: I don't like either set.

I know, first world problems, but I may just move both sets out and use one of the office chairs until I can find several that don't hurt my back. These were acquired cheaply, so I'm only out a few bucks.

Onward!

 

[Meemur]

Like I've been saying for a while now, Tupelo is turning into "Little Memphis".

That's sad!

I've found even the down and going areas tend to not be too bad on weekday mornings.
If a shooting does occur there on a weekday, that's your cue to shop elsewhere, in my opinion.

 

[philkar]

Family member is in Glory now! Hubs is at wood mill getting lumber to finish shelving in barn. Some of that lumber was planed 40 yrs ago. I think he is also looking at a wood stove at the lumber mill to put in our barn. I am planting more onions and a few rose bushes a neighbor traded to me for walnuts. My peace is great this morning even though the world seems a mess.

Praying for all of you!

 

[nomifyle]

Church last night. It was okay at best, too much gossiping. The husband of one of the ladies is having an affair with the preachers niece. Made me really sad. I'm shocked at the niece and frankly I'd rather not know about it. This was not out in open discussion, the wife told us, I feel so sad for her. I'm kinda bummed this morning.

On the other hand the sun is out which makes a beautiful day. Off to get something done.

 

[moldy]

Rough start to the morning. Sure hop it gets better

 

[nomifyle]

praying for you Moldy and any others that are struggling.

 

[anna43]

Not disagreeing with you at all about nuclear event but the thought goes thru my head that those with wisdom and know how will be needed to teach others how to press ahead. I guess God will have a different path for each of us and hopefully we will each be obedient to what our heart hears. I just read a few days ago that it is better to obey than to sacrifice. That's my paraphrase!

I'm sure that's true, but young people today do not seem to respect or listen to senior citizens. Even people in their 30's and 40's aren't listening. Of course, when the SHTF their attitudes might get adjusted especially if google no longer is in their hands.

Things as simple as handwashing and line drying laundry will be foreign to them. Gardening and canning again foreign and heaven help them if they need to milk a cow or goat. Or kill and dress an animal of any sort. Actually, simple from scratch cooking is foreign to generations. I know how-to and would be willing to share/teach those skills if asked.

 

[nomifyle]

I'm sure that's true, but young people today do not seem to respect or listen to senior citizens. Even people in their 30's and 40's aren't listening. Of course, when the SHTF their attitudes might get adjusted especially if google no longer is in their hands.

This is how I see it. I do have one young friend with 7 children likes the old ways and older things.

 

[nomifyle]

Last night at church the pastor's mother asked him why he had a gun in his pocket and he said he has it with him all the time, good for him, me too.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

That's sad!

I've found even the down and going areas tend to not be too bad on weekday mornings.
If a shooting does occur there on a weekday, that's your cue to shop elsewhere, in my opinion.

Almost all of our shopping in Tupelo is done in the Sam's, Mall, Aldi's, Home Goods area of Tupelo. That's where one of the largest shopping districts is located. We never go shopping on weekends, because that's when most of the violence takes place. Tomorrow will be our first time doing it on a Friday is a very long time.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I got our monthly grocery and other shopping done. Came home, unloaded the SUV into the house, got everything sorted, dated, and put away. I'm tired. My back was bothering me a bit this morning, and it's hurting now, too. I thought all the walking I would be doing today would help, but it didn't.

I'm getting more and more disgusted with our Walmart every time I go. They are either out of what I need, or they have products in smaller sizes for more money. I was actually paying more attention today at all the food there. It seems to me, at least, that the food they sale now is geared to the trendy, younger, and less likely to cook crowd. It's turning into a more microwaveable fast foods type of place, or just pop in the oven food. Just quick and easy, without much effort. Very little Great Value products and more name brand products. I was hoping, once the renovations were complete, the store would be lots better. Now, it's worse than ever.

 

[kyrsyan]

Today has just absolutely kicked my butt. I have a really nasty migraine sitting behind my eyeballs. Earlier today it wasn't sitting behind them.

Morning exploded into being with clients who think IRS deadlines are not deadlines. So despite yesterday being the last day to file 1099s, I spent today putting in info and filing them. That's on the client's heads. But I was doing all of this on the laptop in the doctor's office.

Interesting doctor visit. It was like he had completely forgotten that we had already done this visit and the surgery was already scheduled. And then the discovery that they had changed procedures, so I could have actually scheduled the pre-surgery lab time myself. Ugh. But the top of the surprises was that he's not doing it as an out-patient. So all of the careful plans we had made are nuked. Which may actually turn out to be for the best but we're still digging through that. By that point my brain was shutting down.

I went as a walk in to do the pre-surgery testing. Spent most of the wait time working on more tax forms. Got vamped, and ekg, and xray. By that point, I stopped to get food and headed to friends. Given how bad my eyes hurt, I'm honestly amazed that I made it. Friend made me eat. Then checked the head lights. (They worked for him!) Then packed up son and I sent us home.

Son got home and crashed. I buried myself in work for a couple more hours. And now I'm calling it quits. Breakfast for dinner and an early bedtime so that, hopefully, I can wake up and get back to life without the migraine.

My prayers for everyone, and especially for those of us who are feeling just as rough as me today. May you receive what you need to have things become more peaceful, less painful, and just flat out better.

 

[Meemur]

I worked hard today, but I ended up making a big mess in the garage. I know some can relate.

Fortunately, it's going to stay warm (high 40s / low 50s) for the next few days. The garage is going to be the weekend project. The short version: several of the shelves the former owner put up are coming apart. I've got to re-do shelving along one wall before I can do anything else. I also need to move along more stuff that's out there, so a trip to the dump / thrift store donation area is in the immediate future, too.

All of that is fine. I wish I had finished that last fall, but I'm so thankful for this weather! I'm going to try to finish now, or at least get a lot further along.

Oh, and I said "No" (kindly) to an offer of more furniture. I did offer to take it to the thrift store when I go. That was hard because this lady isn't used to hearing that word, but I need to stick to my limits since I just spent the last several weeks clearing the excess from my house and then deep cleaning. Ugh! I don't want to go through that again for a long, long time.

 

[moldy]

Working from home tomorrow. I was planning on leaving today after my yearly evaluation, but that was not to be. Walked in this morning to a code in the ER. While I don't really work anymore as a nurse there, I can help be liaison to family or go-fer or whatever. 40s year old female went unresponsive and pulseless while walking into work. We were able to get her back, but I knew the family (small towns are like that). Got her shipped off, and lots of phone calls. Monitoring the radio because there was another patient out in the county that felt bad for 30 minutes, called an ambulance, then went unresponsive/pulseless before they could get there. That one went to a different facility. Then evaluation, then "We need you to see this patient because they have needs - and it needs to be you." By the time the paperwork was done, my usual shift was over by 2 hours.

It was a long day..

 

[briches]

Thinking of everyone on this thread and uplifting them. May today and this weekend be a gentle one for all.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Another beautiful day, today. Sunny and 71 glorious degrees. It's going to be a great day to be outside, walking, and shopping. I'm so ready for Spring!

Cary has gift cards for Academy and his favorite Mom and Pop gun/ammo store. I have gift cards for Home Goods and Barne's and Nobel. We, each, have gifts cards for our favorite steak house. That's where we will eat after we're done shopping. Cary will get a gas fill up at Sam's, but I'm not going in the store. Also, get the SUV washed and detailed while in town, too. I can't think of anywhere else to go, but we might window shop at a couple of other places if we have time. We won't be leaving, until around lunch. The steak house only opens for supper, so we don't want to get in town too soon, or we'll have too much time to kill, before it opens. That will be our last stop.

All precautions will be taken.......

 

[Meemur]

Good luck, SB!

Damp morning here, but 35 degrees so no ice. I just got back from my walk. Need to leave for work soon, but I wanted to check the news. Neither of the groundhogs saw their shadows, so maybe I can hope for an early spring.
I'm not going to get too excited because February and March can be absolute lions when we've had a warm December.

Hope everyone has a great day! Hey, it's Friday!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Good luck, SB!

Damp morning here, but 35 degrees so no ice. I just got back from my walk. Need to leave for work soon, but I wanted to check the news. Neither of the groundhogs saw their shadows, so maybe I can hope for an early spring.
I'm not going to get too excited because February and March can be absolute lions when we've had a warm December.

Hope everyone has a great day! Hey, it's Friday!

A few years ago, we got 9 inches of snow in March. It stayed on the ground for 2 weeks, before the temps rose enough for it to melt off. Hope that doesn't happen this year! We can have some very freaky weather down here.

 

[Digger]

We are having beautiful weather. I hope the fruit trees don't wake up too early. I see the buds swelling. But our winter is not over yet. I did get the dormant spray on them yesterday and picked up some of the prunings. I will get more picked up today unless Hubby has another plan.

We finished repairs on the well and reset the pump house over it on Tuesday. We still need to replace some siding on it, but that that can wait. Trying to get the well repair guy to come pull the pump out of the back well. He hasn't gotten back with us yet.

I have to get started on my gardens getting them ready for this year. I bought onion sets Wednesday. Our son said the feed store was out of Yukon Gold seed potatoes. That is what I want to grow mostly. The ones I have in storage are still firm. The other varieties are softer and wrinkled. I will probably replant some of the small ones I grew along with the ones I buy.

In addition to getting a well bucket for the back well, I have Hubby's approval to get some heritage turkeys. I looked at ordering, but I an going to pick them up at Atwoods or Tractor Supply. I just have to figure out housing. I may do a hoop house till we decide if we are going to continue with them. Anyone with Turkey experience have recommendation for breads that can reproduce themselves? When I was growing up we raised a breed of white commercial bird all for butchering. My dad's family raised turkeys during the Great Depression. They got $.50 a pound for them. I am sure it was welcome money at that time.

Everyone a safe and blessed rest of the week.

 

[summerthyme]

Just don't get Royal Palms... they're gorgeous birds, but adult hens dressed at 7# (smaller than a 9 week old CornishX!), and toms only about 10#.

We liked our Narragansetts, but turkey hens are mostly too stupid to raise babies. We'd either steal eggs and incubate them, or grab most of the newly hatched babies to raise ourselves.

Oh, and you WILL need to make or buy protective "jackets" for the hens... the toms slice them up terribly with their claws.

Summerthyme

 

[philkar]

We too are on the turkey train. Ordered with the neighbors!

 

[paxsim2]

Beautiful weather here. Going out later and transplant some basil in the greenhouse.
Just opened a can of Thrive Life onions. According to the website what I have is good for 25 years unopened but I'm going to start using them now.
Our onions in the cold frame are doing well. I need to go out and prop the lid up.
Need to order cabbage seeds to start and buy some potatoes to plant.
Still sorting out stuff. I'm giving my yarn stash to a young lady that has started a side business at the farmer's market. I can no longer crochet or hand loom so she's getting my looms as well. They bought our farm and are growing it. I love going out and seeing what they're doing!
Prayers for everyone!

 

[nomifyle]

Woke up late and pain free. I immediately thanked the Lord. On the other hand I feel snake bit so to speak and waiting to feel pain, God help me. Two hours in and still not pain.

Another beautiful day, rain tomorrow but still somewhat mild temps. Hopefully our few fruit trees won't bud out early and then get knocked out with a late freeze, happened last year. While I'm certainly enjoying this nice weather I'm not looking forward to summer. Stupid me just can't seem to just enjoy the day.

DH looked at lowes yestrday for a grab bar for the shower, but they had none of the kind you screw in only the other kind that would not hold me if I was trying not to slip, they are worthless.

I've been skipping my supplements once or twice a week, in case I'm taking too much of something. Plus since I've added more sometimes I just can't face swollowing them.

 

[nomifyle]

Worked in several areas today in the house, cooked a steak for DH and he didn't like it, so he's cooking the next one.

Making some progress in my office. And got all the canned food stacked in the place for the new stuff, Almost 40 cases between what I've replaced and what we've got in commodities in the last few month. Next in the pantry room, I'm going to take a section at a time and get it rotated.

I still have not opened the freezer again, but it needs to be done.

 

[Meemur]

I've got to fill my freezer. I've got about 3 pint containers of stew, 5 bags of frozen veggies, and 5 or so frozen grilled hamburgers. I normally have about triple that at the start of February.

(I do have canned tuna and chicken in the basement.)

I didn't freeze as much as I normally do in September, plus I gave some away to folks who truly needed it.
I'll need to do better next fall. Money was in short supply because I was still paying medical bills.

 

[nomifyle]

I've got to fill my freezer. I've got about 3 pint containers of stew, 5 bags of frozen veggies, and 5 or so frozen grilled hamburgers. I normally have about triple that at the start of February.

(I do have canned tuna and chicken in the basement.)

I didn't freeze as much as I normally do in September, plus I gave some away to folks who truly needed it.
I'll need to do better next fall. Money was in short supply because I was still paying medical bills.

That’s not much food, check out sales to boost your supply

 

[philkar]

I've got to fill my freezer. I've got about 3 pint containers of stew, 5 bags of frozen veggies, and 5 or so frozen grilled hamburgers. I normally have about triple that at the start of February.

(I do have canned tuna and chicken in the basement.)

I didn't freeze as much as I normally do in September, plus I gave some away to folks who truly needed it.
I'll need to do better next fall. Money was in short supply because I was still paying medical bills.

You will catch up! One thing at a time. I think you usually do lots of potatoes right! Even in Iowa you could grow a few plants of sweet potatoes if you like them. They store great with no processing. Probably would have to use black plastic but doable. Just an idea!

 

[philkar]

So today the great transfer of soil begins. Tractor is already at sawmill and friends are coming to help. First have to clear some brush but then it is on! Beautiful day yesterday and promises to be similar today. Coyotes have been close in last night. I have walked the property this AM and everything looks ok. Neighbors cattle fussed all night long. I think they have already checked everything there. He would stop by if there was a problem.
Hope all of you accomplish much today!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Yesterday was a great day. It was nice to get out and around in Big Town just for fun, instead of having to spend it in a doctor's office. We saw nothing in the way of violence.

I didn't find anything at Barne's&Nobel that I wanted, so I let Cary use my gift card for some books he found and wanted. He made up for it by paying what I left owing at Home Goods after I used my gift card there. I went over what was on the card. It was my choice. I found a beautiful king sized quilt and pillow shams for bedspread use for our bed, another nice set of salt and pepper shakers that I wanted, and a couple more sets of bedsheets. All were items I really needed for the house. The quilt matches the curtains I already have in the bedroom, but I'll be on the lookout for new curtains. We'll have a whole new look for our bedroom.

Cary found lots of goodies at the Mom and Pop gun/ammo store and at Academy. He was well pleased. We got the SUV filled with gas, washed, and detailed. We stuffed ourselves at the steakhouse, then came home.

Today is another beautiful day. High of 71 again. Rain moving in tonight through tomorrow, then the temps drop. Not too bad, but back into the 50's and 60's for highs.

Oh, and Meemur, LOL! On our drive home, we got behind a vehicle with a car tag from Iowa just outside of Tupelo. We followed him almost all the way to our house. He turned into our little country store at the crossroad where we turn to go to our house. We were wondering what someone from Iowa was doing driving the country back roads of Mississippi. Cary said, "Well, he's driving a pickup truck, so he can't be all that bad". LOL.

 

[nomifyle]

No sun today, rainy of and on all day, bit cooler temps.

No severe pain today, praise the Lord. I've not started doing much, yet. I made the coffee too strong this morning, must have been that extra scoop, LOL.

I've got some cube shelves in my office, I'm working one one cube at a time and I'm finding all kinds of things I'd forgotten about.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I've changed our bedsheets and put on the new quilt and pillow shams on those pillows. I got the new bedsheets for storage, so I need to wash those, before storing. Did one load of laundry just for those and another one for the dirty bedsheets that I took off. I swept, mopped, and dusted the bedroom, too.

I've also rotated some of the flats of canned veggies in the pantry room. It takes a bit to bring all the older stuff to the top of the stack. I had just set all the new stuff in the floor, until I had time to rotate everything. I only worked on the stack of flats of purple hull peas, today.

I have a nice smoked boneless half ham that's going in the oven tonight for our supper. I'll make mashed potatoes, pinto beans, and cornbread, plus bread and butter pickles to go with it.

 

[Meemur]

It's a banner February day temp wise! It's in the 50s. I've been working out in the garage. I'm stopping for lunch and to check the news. Normal high is around 33 degrees, if we are lucky.

I've also got some veggie soup simmering, and some of that will go into the freezer. Tomorrow will be a cooking/grilling day, which will also add more meals to the freezer. Love this weather! Plus the melting snow is adding to the water tables. The drought monitor (comes out on Thursdays) looked a little less dire.

We are not finished with winter in Iowa! But we really are down to our last six - eight weeks. We can still get hit with more blizzards and sub-zero temps -- March can be a real lion! -- but it's February, not November, so piles of snow will be short-lived.

Onward!

 

[aviax2]

Hello everyone. I’ve been out of pocket for awhile and although I’ve been popping in from time to time to see how you all are doing, I just wasn’t up to posting. I’ve been ill a few times since Nov. and really sick before/during/after Christmas. I went to the Dr. and was treated for sinus infection and was told I had a couple of viral things going on too. Tested negative for both flu A/B and COVID. Whatever it was it was rough and I was also having a lot of trouble with my blood pressure running high. I’m not percent but much better. Christmas was/is pretty much a blur to me, DH set up our pre-lit tree, placed the gnome tree topper on and the tree skirt under and we totally skipped hanging any ornaments. Then a couple of other family members got sick at different times so we didn’t celebrate until several days after Christmas. DH was an absolute champ not only taking care of me but taking on all the things I usually do for the holiday.

The weather is springlike here as well, 66 degrees!