Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread; May25 ~ May 31, 2014

[ReneeT]

A heartfelt Thank-You to all of our Veterans!

Wow - it's a new week already - snuck right up on me, it did!!

Moldy, what breed of cattle are you raising?

Well let's see... I did pick up a 6 hour (ha - 7.5 hour!) shift early Friday morning. Came home, slept for a bit, did some laundry, then daughter brought the grandsons out so that was the end of getting anything accomplished!! Hubby didn't get home until 9pm; he went to his niece's birthday dinner. I begged off as it didn't start until 7pm and I would have had cranky little boys to deal with. Hubby didn't even bring us home a piece of cake, so SIL may not have been happy with me for missing...

Took the boys home Saturday morning, stopped and picked up another dozen bottles of Gatorade; and while trolling the Evil Empire for boy sized boonie hats for them to wear on the boat (sunburned ears - ouch!), found Spiderman and Batman shirts on clearance for $2 each - stocked up for both boys in sizes up to 10-12. I'm dithering on whether to use their outgrown super hero shirts to make pillows or to pass them down; guess I shouldn't 'waste' them by making pillows if someone could wear them, should I? We're planning to redo their room at our house in a super hero theme this summer - littlest one is big enough to be out of the crib (I hope lol!!). It's the former guest room and has pink rosebud wallpaper; really not all that suitable for rowdy little boys I bought a bunk bed frame for $20 at a garage sale so will sand it down and paint it bright red. Walls will be gloss white (washable!!) with a green, yellow, and blue stripe; and we will put their Super Hero mylar balloons that we've saved after parties, etc... on the walls as a border. Should be a pretty inexpensive re-do.

Got home from town and tried to nap before work but just couldn't get to sleep so got up and did some laundry instead. Just as well that I skipped the nap as I ended up on call; didn't get called in so slept until about 3:30 this morning.

I was nice and let Hubby sleep until 8am before I started making noise lol! First off was the mower - mowed around the gardens. Then it was the tiller - got both gardens tilled in between the already planted rows and the rest re-tilled. Measured and got the t-posts for the pole bean trellises in and got them put up - 52' worth (I'll be wondering what in the heck I was thinking come canning time ) - then planted 5 types of pole beans: Blue Lake, Kentucky Blue, Missouri Wonder, Kentucky Wonder, and Kentucky Wonder Wax. Pole beans are soooo much easier to pick than bush beans, they bear longer, and the trellises provide the perfect place to let the mature beans dry before picking for cooking or to save seed.

Hubby came out and had his job - weed whacking - done in time to help with the trellises and stayed to help me get the cattle panels up for the canning tomatoes. 16' cattle panel~8 tomato plants on 2' centers~then another 16' cattle panel 8" from the first one - keeps the tomatoes upright and easy to pick. I'd picked up another 4 pk of peppers (that had 7 plants in it) when I was taking the boys home, so those got planted next; then we put up 2 - 4' trellises in one of the raised beds for cucumbers.

Had a late lunch and now I'm trying to decide if I want to take a nap before work or not. Probably should as it's supposed to rain tomorrow afternoon, so if I want to be able to stay awake for anything other than the Veteran's ceremony at the cemetary, I guess I'd better try. I'll be heading home from work at just about the right time to attend the ceremony.

Neighbor has offered me the use of his small tractor and loader tomorrow to use to get some loads of composted manure transferred into raised beds and spread the rest out a bit so I can till that area to plant late corn; best to get that done before I'm too tired... We may be trading him the use of our tractor and log splitter

Take care all; stay safe this holiday weekend!

 

[Kathy in FL]

Managed to get all the fruit I bought at Websters processed before leaving our BOL but I've been running like a loony ever since. Spending today and tomorrow here in Orlando finishing up some passes that were given to us before camps and missions trips start this summer. Is the graduating daughter's last summer for that kind of stuff before "adulthood" which include college and working.

I found a 7 day/week flea market here in Orlando that I will have to add to my "to try" list. Unfortunately it will not be this time around. Had hail in parts of Tampa so we spent an hour making calls to make sure none of the properties had any damage. Frankly we need the down time though we are tired. 21 yo DS wanted to come with us but our doggie care fell through at the last minute and he had to stay home with his baby.

Speaking of dogs (and cats) this coming week is going to be spent restocking their needs. I had no idea things had gotten so low. Means that even if there are sales at the grocery all of my discretionary money is going towards the animals to get their dry food restocked to capacity. Plus gotta find something for the lab's doggie dandruff. Never seen anything like it in my life. And of course since she is black it really shows on her coat.

Another bugaboo is that it looks like I have two to three of the kids who are needing their wisdom teeth out this summer. Ouch. And hubby needs to get his wolfman teeth taken care of as well. Double ouch.

Someone want to get me a cutting of their money tree? Mine missed a harvest or three. Sigh.

 

[eXe]

Did our monthly run to Sams, picked up some canned goods to rotate into the store room, as well as stocked our freezer and finally got some popcorn stored (Yeah, I do love popcorn lol) but the most important stocking we did was canned chicken, (I rotated out a lot into the kitchen pantry and stored the new) and lots of spices so we now have extras as well. Put up a few more cans of coffee, and thats about it for today. It was a good run into Vegas, got to the place early, shopped and were home before noon.

 

[moldy]

Man, I"m still tired. Finished planting the peppers today, along with some basil, cilantro, calendula, eggplant. Nothing left in the greenhouse except artichokes (they take a year to fruit - what was I thinking?), the lemon tree, and lemon eucalyptus. Everything is watered, and I'm ready for a couple days at work to recuperate!!

Renee - we primarily raise Angus, but DD has a couple Herefords (one lost a calf yesterday - I think it was stillborn - so maybe one less now). DD also has a couple Jersey bullcalves that she bought as bottle calves when we had the milk cow. We have one Holstein - haven't decided what to do with her yet.

 

[SAPPHIRE]

I can remember having 52 green bean plants one summer and staying up till 1 a.m. a few nights canning till I was cross-eyed...........never did that again! We're trying to empty a storage shed which costs too much....but it's slow go when the back says "NO" and the boxes are heavy.............too much stuff for us to handle quickly..........

our weather nw of Denver is dry in morning and cloudy in p.m..........with some spotty rains.........and cooler temps.....nice but hard to plan a yard sale when the rain keeps teasingly close..........perhaps in two weeks we'll try for it....

 

[Deena in GA]

I know this typically isn't a thread that people ask questions on, but I want to get y'all's opinion. I went to a junk shop today and something caught my eye. I don't know the official name of it, but its a rolling rack like they bring bread into stores on. There are about 10 shelves made of a heavy duty plastic and they are slightly inclined, higher in the back. When I saw it I thought it would make a great storage unit for cans. It would be very easy to rotate them on it. The rollers do lock too, so it can stay in place. The price on it was $100, but the lady said she would take $75. Do you think its a good idea and a decent price?

 

[summerthyme]

Deena- I think it would be great for rotating stocks. My only concern is space... I have two long shelves in the basement I stack purchased canned good on, and I can get a LOT of cans on there. I suspect that the bread rack would hold a lot fewer cans in a lot more space. But if you have the room (or have problems keeping older stock in front to get used up) go for it.

Summerthyme

 

[Digger]

I went to town yesterday and while there I went to my favorite thrift store. Everything in the shelves in the middle of the store was half price. I found two shaker bottles for my son to use as salt and pepper shaker for .50 for the pair. They have a deer head on them, so I think he will like them. I found a nice flannel sheet set. It is Coming Home brand, and Egyptian cotton. They feel really nice. They are a good heavy weight material. Next I found some new looking hand towels and wash clothes.
I got a brown swade clothe skirt for church and an Izod shirt for me. My total purchase came to $11. I was just thrilled! The two article of clothing were $5 of that $11.
I normally buy Best Choice sugar instead of the more expensive brand name. Lately I have noticed more trash in the sugar. I am going to buy the more expensive sugar from now on after finding what looked like a mouse dropping in the last BC bag. Anyone else seeing more trash in your sugar? Mostly it was just black small specks, but not the last bag. Hopefully it won't hurt the humming birds. I usually buy the better sugar when I make my jelly. My mom always insisted in using only cane sugar for jelly, and I have continued that.

 

[connie]

Rain in the area - parts of TX, but only a sprinkle here so our drought continues. Few squash plants are up and tomato, pepper and herbs doing well. Last year I had squash bugs for the first time. So this year, I was sure to get my marigolds in and this morning dusted with DE as added protection. Just waiting to see what the summer temps will be like. Need to get a few okra seeds in. My granddaughter will like helping me do that. Need to dig bermuda grass out of some flower beds this evening. We have been living her 30 years and the grass just crept in to beds last year. It is impossible to eradicate, but try to control it. Hubby would like to concrete over flower bed. It may come to that !

 

[SAPPHIRE]

Haven't seen trash in our sugar...yet.....but perhaps the brand is pushing old stock??? My local Safeway is dumping their warehouse..........lots of froz. stuff on clearance.......but I don't have much fr. space!!

Lots of diapers on clearance.........but we have no need! Will keep my eyes open.....bought more than I normally would since I had coupons for some of the clearance items. Bought six more SPAM.......not my usual buy. We like Hormel natural lunchmeats......and its price is skyrocketing.....now they have a type called "flame charred" or somesuch.....on sale it was $1/oz..........YIKES............

 

[ReneeT]

Picked up a few items at the local Bent 'n Dent salvage store this week - earlier in the week, I'd found a tub of 'Muscle Milk' protein powder - Hubby is still having difficulty eating, so is using the protein powders to make up calories. It's usually around $25 at CVS; this one was marked $9.50 and had an expiration date in 2015. So I wandered back by when I had to go back to town on Tuesday for some work related stuff; found 4 more tubs, this time Body Fortress brand, for $9.50 as well, and with distant expiration dates. With the CVS brand stuff I bought during a buy one get one 50% off sale, he now has 8 large tubs stocked back; hope it gets him through - but just in case, I'll be haunting the B&D I've threatened him with dire consequences if he throws any of the tubs away - they look perfect for storing other items

While I was at the B&D, I picked up:
6 boxes - Pillsbury cranberry orange bread/muffin mix, expiration date a year out, 50 cents/box - cheap indulgence
8 - Old El Paso cooking sauce (MILD!), 80 cents each but marked buy one get one free, so actually 40 cents - cheap enchiladas
4 - Ball instant pectin 4.7 oz marked $1 but on the 1/2 price shelf so 50 cents each - this expired 3/14, but I have used pectin a year out of date with good results
4 - boxes Ball low sugar pectin, 60 cents each; boxes were re-taped
16 - Minute tapioca - 8 oz, at 50 cents each - this is $1.39/lb at the Amish store

Co-worker Buddy just delivered me 20 dozen plus assorted canning jars (including desperately needed pints - woo hoo!) from my jar collector co-worker friend - so far, she's refusing any compensation, telling me that the blue jars I sent her last week included a scarce 42 oz Ball jar, but we're going to have a talk about that!! She manages a church based food pantry, so if she won't take payment for the jars, I will send a donation to the food pantry instead. She says she has another load of jars coming in on Monday and may have some more for me after she sorts through them

Co-worker Buddy is coming back over with his truck tomorrow afternoon to pick up 2 bicycles I bought from a local, on-line, resale site. One men's, one women's, 26", fairly good condition - $10 each! I will have Hubby put the baby bike seat on the women's bike; then I can take the grandson's for bike rides!

It's been a good week

 

[anna43]

We were on vacation so not much prepping done here. I did hoe the weeds out of part of the potato patch after we got back...without gloves so have a big blister which I broke open today mowing...again without gloves. Duh. I planted another 3 sweet potato starts and have 2 more in water rooting. They've been slow growing this year.

I went to a thrift shop while gone and found 8 quart jars for $4. Got them washed up and stored. I've purchased 2 dozen new quart jars at Menards for $9 and change per box. Actually, close to $10 a box. Also, several new boxes of pints at $6.26 a box on sale. I'm not finding many used jars and when I do they are priced at 50¢ per jar or more. I don't buy "or more"!

My freezer is full so I'm debating canning rhubarb. I've always frozen it so am not sure on canning.

 

[moldy]

I'm thinking I need to start up the canning machine soon..... DH hit the discount grocery and bought fruit (I haven't had fresh fruit in a while - just can't stand the prices!) and some boxed breads I love. I need to get off here and do some baking as we are having a deluge!! So glad for rain although the timing isn't the best - we just had the rye hay baled. Sigh - it'll be OK. DH told me he will be 'on the road' (working 6 days a week) starting week after next, so we were trying to get a bunch done (haha - like that 3 hour nap - but we needed it!)

Had a lady who's bought pigs from us in the past call and wanted 4. DH told her he wasn't sure we'd have that many. I did put dibs on a neighbor's litter that will be born next month, but the prices have gone up by 50%. I think we can still make money on them though. People are getting scared with the increases. Went to the grocery - when asked by the manager if I had found everything and if there was anything I needed, I told him, "Yeah. Have companies stop making smaller sizes for higher prices." He looked at me without a smile, and said, "It's gonna get worse, especially the cost of meat. WHat we could buy last spring for $200, we're paying $800 for now."

Stock up folks, just stock up.

 

[ReneeT]

Amen, Moldy!! I look at the sale prices in the grocery ads and think "That's a sale???!" Daughter was out last week and poked her nose in the fridge, looking for something to eat; found half of a ribeye steak and pounced on it. She said she was so tired of chicken and pork; and that she planned to hit the stores early Tuesday morning, hoping for after holiday markdowns on beef - says that's the only way she can afford it. I'm going to poke my nose in her little chest freezer when I go pick the boys up Saturday; if there is enough room, I'm going to pick up a whole beef loin at one store that has them on sale for $4.99/lb and have them cut it in to ribeye steaks; and order her some good ground beef as well - her birthday is Wednesday, so that will be a portion of her gift.

Lollygagged in town after I got off work this morning - I'd found 2 used book store gift certificates, a gift certificate for a local Mexican restaurant, and 2 for a local diner while sorting through a basket on top of my dresser. I had breakfast - $3.30 + $1 tip using one of the diner cards; then hit the used book store and spent the entire $50 value of their certificates, plus 52 cents. Picked up Rodale's 'Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners', and a wildflower (weed lol) guide, along with some light reading material. Hit one grocery store and picked up eggs @ 99 cents/dozen, 3 bags of a frozen chopped green and red pepper and onion mix for 77 cents/bag; had a 35 cent coupon on each bag, so 42 cents. Snagged 2 brownie mixes for 88 cents each minus a $1/2 coupon, so 38 cents each. They'd discounted some of their plants, so I picked up a few more herb plants - daughter's rosemary had died, and I finally found pineapple sage - yummy on pork dishes, and hummingbirds love the flowers.

The other grocery store had started a big produce and fruit sale so I popped in to look for markdowns - scored 2, 8oz tubs of sliced mushrooms for 69 cents each, and a 'steamer' bag of cauliflower, carrots and broccoil for 99 cents. Snagged a 5 pk of their homemade sweet Italian sausage that had been marked down a dollar as well - $1.99; and a Vidalia onion for 29 cents. I put most of the mushrooms in the dehydrator when I got home and they were dry by the time I got up from my nap. Then I dumped the steamer bag in a bowl and tosed the veggies with some olive oil, season salt, the remaining mushrooms, and fresh thyme and rosemary from the garden - folded it in to some foil and put it in the toaster oven to roast. Sliced one of the discounted peppers I got earlier in the week; then onion as well; then chunked the sausage and tossed all in a skillet to sizzle for a bit. No complaints at the supper table this evening lol!!

Clouding up - better go get the yard mowed before it rains!!