Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: September 15 ~ 21, 2019

[ReneeT]

Sorry for the late start; have company visiting and have had family in and out over the past few days, so this will just be a short post to get things started - hope you all will kick in to keep it going as I will have guests for the next week I just got a chance to finish reading last week's thread - sounds like you all have been busy. Scary to hear of the shelf shortages in some areas, though! Will be keeping an eye on the fuel prices as well re: the attack on the Saudi Aramco facility - paid $2.60/gallon just a bit ago at the Casey's in town.

Well, I've been up til after midnight the past two nights, so I am already ready for bed lol! Take care all; stay safe!

 

[prudentwatcher]

Got my flu shot and my second shingles shot. Stocked heavily on canned potatoes, canned corn and canned diced tomatoes and am now where I want to be on all three. Bought 10 more lbs of flour, 8 more of sugar and 10 of rice. Will bag of one bag of rice and one bag of pasta in mylar with oxy absorbers tomorrow, and will attempt to put all of this other stuff away before better half gets annoyed at tripping over bags in the den

 

[Digger]

We got half our hay field baked. I sold all of it right out of the field. I was glad I only had the bales from our equipment testing field to put in the barn. That field still needs some work, but it will do for our needs.

Late last week hubby had an eye check up. His right eye is blurry. They think it is cataracts. They gave him some drops and said to come back in two weeks. Hopefully it will help.

I had not been feeling well for a month or so. I take prescription potassium to keep my levels at normal. Lately my legs have ached at night till I have had trouble sleeping. After working in the hay field all day I felt better than I have in a long time. I was tired and sore, but not achy. I only took 1 potassium pill with supper instead of three. I slept all night without any pain. I had been taking 5 potassium pills a day. 2 with breakfast and 3 with supper. I am going to stay with 3 a day for awhile and see how I do. This morning I feel better than I have in weeks.

We head to hubby's pain dr today. That means a trip to a bigger town. I might go in Kohls and shop the clearance a little. We are going to the fish market too. We will get some catfish and hopefully some shrimp.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Yesterday, I added coffee, 2 cases of tuna, kraut, peas, apple jelly, vegetable oil, mayo, and a case of canned chicken breasts to my pantry for storage. I figure, "what the heck", with the way food prices are going up, and the world stage looking bleak, I took the leap to add more. Will probably have to start looking for other places to store things as my pantry room is full.

Stopped for gas at Sam's for 2.09/gal. DH is going today to restock all the gas in our gas cans, and will be laying in more firewood later this week. We have 6 cords cut, split, and stacked already. Since we are expected to have another mild winter, what we have already could last us 3 years, but we try to keep 9 cords in rotation.

 

[20Gauge]

We pulled the generator out of the shed, (small 1k version) that we use to power tools when we work on rentals. It used to be owned by my father, but he got a new one and gave me the 1k. So I no longer have to borrow it each time I need a generator.

Bad news, it was full of old gas. So I spent the time to drain the tank, pulled the carb and cleaned what I could. Still wouldn't start. So a couple of youtube videos later, I take the air filter off, open the carb and spray a bit of quick start into the carb. Close it up and 5 pulls later, bang! It started right up. Granted, I had to let it run for a bit to clear out the gunk, but once I had put everything back, it still started on the 3rd pull.

So if your generator won't start, try the remove the filter and spray quick start method. It does work

So now that I have it going, my next plan was to use it for hurricanes. As it creates dirty power, I can only use it on tools and lights. No biggie, I will use it to power the lamps in the house. That would be perfect!

Worse news, After telling the wife of my "great" plan, she pointed out that we don't own any lamps. I forgot that I built the house so that we didn't need lamps. So we never bought one.

Now I have to go shopping to buy a couple of lamps!!!!

 

[moldy]

Getting ready for DD/DSIL to visit this coming weekend. So excited to see them!! I did manage to get my pantry cleaned/somewhat organized.

As far as preps, sigh.... need to talk to the electric company, so that when renters leave the service goes back into our name without delay (or extra charges). I see a very few small signs in that direction, but I still think the sheriff will be involved.

Putting up the few tomatoes that I'm getting. Our garden was a bust this year - totally my fault. We didn't get enough planted early enough, and the weeding didn't get done. I always say next year will be better - hopefully I"m not lying this time!!

 

[20Gauge]

Getting ready for DD/DSIL to visit this coming weekend. So excited to see them!! I did manage to get my pantry cleaned/somewhat organized.

As far as preps, sigh.... need to talk to the electric company, so that when renters leave the service goes back into our name without delay (or extra charges). I see a very few small signs in that direction, but I still think the sheriff will be involved.

Putting up the few tomatoes that I'm getting. Our garden was a bust this year - totally my fault. We didn't get enough planted early enough, and the weeding didn't get done. I always say next year will be better - hopefully I"m not lying this time!!

Not sure about your area, but GA power will let landlords sign paperwork to move power automatically into their names once renters move.

 

[paxsim2]

Rearranged the pantry, still some holes to fill but it's much more tidy and full. I am working on downsizing all the rooms, it's a bit overwhelming but slow and steady wins the day.

Working on a new plan for the gardens for next year, changing out the veggie gardens and removing the dirt then filling with new.

Need to go buy new hedge clippers and some better work gloves.

We leave for a much needed vacation next week.

 

[Digger]

We stopped at Harps yesterday. I bought a 48 oz bottle of peanut oil. There were only two on the shelf. Best choice brand only. They did have some in the larger bottle in the Best Choice brand. I kind of wish I would have bought the other 48 oz while I was there.

We got a call from the packing house. Our half a beef will be ready for pick up Monday. We are getting 321 pounds. Our cost ended up being $ 2.65 a pound total. I don't know how much of each cut we got till we bring it home.

We watched an old movie last night called The Day After. I told my hubby when it was over that there was not one "feel good" moment in the whole movie. It was about the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the USA by Russia. I need to read some of Shane's material again.

We got some nice catfish and shrimp from the fish market. I made some shrimp stock and froze to add to hubbys gumbo. That is a first for me. We will see how it is. I like crab in the gumbo, but hubby says it is too strong. This should add more flavor without being to strong.

I went to Hobby Lobby to buy jars to put salve in. I am going to make salve with plantain and some with plantain and jewlweed for poison ivy. I found some cute little jars that are smaller than my small jelly jars. They were half off yesterday. I may give some as Christmas gifts.

 

[Illini Warrior]

We stopped at Harps yesterday. I bought a 48 oz bottle of peanut oil. There were only two on the shelf. Best choice brand only. They did have some in the larger bottle in the Best Choice brand. I kind of wish I would have bought the other 48 oz while I was there.

We got a call from the packing house. Our half a beef will be ready for pick up Monday. We are getting 321 pounds. Our cost ended up being $ 2.65 a pound total. I don't know how much of each cut we got till we bring it home.

We watched an old movie last night called The Day After. I told my hubby when it was over that there was not one "feel good" moment in the whole movie. It was about the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the USA by Russia. I need to read some of Shane's material again.

We got some nice catfish and shrimp from the fish market. I made some shrimp stock and froze to add to hubbys gumbo. That is a first for me. We will see how it is. I like crab in the gumbo, but hubby says it is too strong. This should add more flavor without being to strong.

I went to Hobby Lobby to buy jars to put salve in. I am going to make salve with plantain and some with plantain and jewlweed for poison ivy. I found some cute little jars that are smaller than my small jelly jars. They were half off yesterday. I may give some as Christmas gifts.

I keep seeing these indications of cooking oil shortages - ???? - there's no industry shortage - 100% from the store chains or the individual stores not stocking enough >>> my local store has gallon jugs on sale for $3.99 right now and the stores have pallet loads

 

[nomifyle]

This week I added 4 #10 cans of freeze dried or dehydrated foods to my pantry. Instant garbonzo, black beans and lentils. The garbonzos probably won't be exactly instant but it will cut down on cooking time. I have several cans of onions so I won't be ordering any more of those for awhile. I'm not just ordering from Thrive if I can find something cheaper. I compared Thrive onions and Auguson Farms onions, they both smell great, but the Thrive seemed to be finer. No matter, both will work. The Auguson Farms is cheaper.

Now that the weather may be getting cooler, its seems fallish even with the temps so high, I think I will be more inclined to dehyrate more of my own. I have a good supply of canning jars and lids. With the cooler weather around the corner I'm going to get into my big stash of #10 cans of food and move them to my newest shed. Also might try a few things to see how they are holding up.

Every time I've pressure canned it failed, so I doubt I'll be doing any of that again. Its exhausting anyway and at 72 I'm tired.

Judy

 

[Marseydoats]

My bee man told me he wouldn't have any honey this year but his bees surprised him and I was able to get 4 jars. Which should probably last me a year.
I wasn't able to get any peanut oil at Walmart so I went to Food Lion and they had plenty of everything. No shortages at all, on a busy Saturday.
Aldi was out of several things but that is mostly due to their clueless millennial store manager. I fill out the surveys they give me every week and it only took 3 weeks of me complaining to get the donuts I like back. For awhile they had those wonderful German candy bars that are like rice krispie coated chocolate, and they hadn't had those in years.
Gas went up 32 cents a gallon overnight.
It's still in the 90's and I don't think fall is ever going to get here.

 

[Freeholder]

We pulled the generator out of the shed, (small 1k version) that we use to power tools when we work on rentals. It used to be owned by my father, but he got a new one and gave me the 1k. So I no longer have to borrow it each time I need a generator.

Bad news, it was full of old gas. So I spent the time to drain the tank, pulled the carb and cleaned what I could. Still wouldn't start. So a couple of youtube videos later, I take the air filter off, open the carb and spray a bit of quick start into the carb. Close it up and 5 pulls later, bang! It started right up. Granted, I had to let it run for a bit to clear out the gunk, but once I had put everything back, it still started on the 3rd pull.

So if your generator won't start, try the remove the filter and spray quick start method. It does work

So now that I have it going, my next plan was to use it for hurricanes. As it creates dirty power, I can only use it on tools and lights. No biggie, I will use it to power the lamps in the house. That would be perfect!

Worse news, After telling the wife of my "great" plan, she pointed out that we don't own any lamps. I forgot that I built the house so that we didn't need lamps. So we never bought one.

Now I have to go shopping to buy a couple of lamps!!!!

Just a thought, but rather than buying regular lamps to run off the generator, could you run a charger off of it for some rechargable battery-operated camping lanterns? Those would give you light even if the generator wasn't running --- just charge them up when it is running. The best one I've got holds a charge for many hours of use, so it would only need to be recharged maybe once a week even if you were using it regularly. I have a folding solar panel meant for camping to recharge mine (it will also recharge my phone and tablets), but it's slow; the generator would probably be a lot faster.


Kathleen

 

[20Gauge]

Just a thought, but rather than buying regular lamps to run off the generator, could you run a charger off of it for some rechargable battery-operated camping lanterns? Those would give you light even if the generator wasn't running --- just charge them up when it is running. The best one I've got holds a charge for many hours of use, so it would only need to be recharged maybe once a week even if you were using it regularly. I have a folding solar panel meant for camping to recharge mine (it will also recharge my phone and tablets), but it's slow; the generator would probably be a lot faster.


Kathleen

Good idea. We do have a number of chargeable batteries and regular batteries with the lanterns. We also have a large supply of flashlights. All from Harbor Freight and with the exception of the lanterns, totally free. We get them when we buy the things we normally use anyways.

As far as the lamps, the idea was to give the wife "normal" lights for a period of time. Some thing lanterns just can't do as effectively.

Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Freeholder]

Good idea. We do have a number of chargeable batteries and regular batteries with the lanterns. We also have a large supply of flashlights. All from Harbor Freight and with the exception of the lanterns, totally free. We get them when we buy the things we normally use anyways.

As far as the lamps, the idea was to give the wife "normal" lights for a period of time. Some thing lanterns just can't do as effectively.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Yes, both regular lamps and battery-operated ones is a good idea.

Kathleen