WEEKLY PREP THREAD, Mar 4-11

[prudentwatcher]

The allergies have struck and I'm about down for the count. They bother me less here than just about anywhere I've ever lived, but when they bother me I do suffer for it.

The laundry is done and the car is topped off--$3.779 this week. I didn't see anything in the Sunday paper to get all excited about as far as shopping goes.

I did spend time yesterday picking up branches that had fallen in the yard from the windy weather we've had and breaking them down into firestarting twigs. Got an overflowing copy paper box full. Then we had another storm last night and should have that many more to pick up in the next couple of days.

I need to get the garden (2 raised beds) ready to go. Shouldn't take much and should have the time this week and be ready to get things planted next week.

My SO is having wrist fusion surgery on Friday, so things will be pretty laid back for a bit.

What else is everyone up to?

[kilagal]

Our biggest prep for this last week is we bought a new Troy Bilt tiller. We have one of the biggest ones that they make that is over 20 years old. But we now also needed a smaller one. We got it this week before the new ones come out for the year and the price comes up as well. Plus we got a senior discount of 10% on it.
I also got another pair of shoes for doing chores around here. And got dh a new to him coat for next winter. I am now in the process of making it a LOT warmer by adding a nice blizzard fleece lining to it. The coas cost me $2.50 at the thrift store. Then the fleece cost me $12. So really a cheap coat that will last him for a long time and be very warm as well.

[Lurker]

Not much. One more week of nada here. I'm about burned out from the last two months of 'the sky is falling tomorrow'. I'll lurk but it's time to take a walkabout and recharge. If something goes down I guess I'll know eventually. Time to stop holding my breath for awhile.

[Dinghy]

I picked up a few cans of a new brand of coconut milk, for $1.48 a can! I am just picking up a few things here and there when I find something at a good price. I had coupons for Celestial Seasonings Tea, and got a few boxes. I use it to make iced tea, and will buy them every time I find a coupon. There hasn't been any good sales around here for things I need, so I'm saving some grocery money!

[summerthyme]

Lurker... I've noticed you're showing signs of burnout!! "Holding your breath" isn't ever productive... it just exhausts you, and after awhile, it gets you so you're questioning whether or not prepping is even necessary. I've known several people who got to that point, stopped prepping, ate/used up most of their preps and basically said "screw it"... all because "IT" didn't happen within the time frame they'd convinced themselves had to happen!

If you've gotten to a comfortable spot with your preps, by all means, stand down, relax and enjoy life! We personally have been prepping for close to 30 years. If I'd been tightly wound and paranoid all that time, constantly making a "top off run" every time the news didn't look good, or every time there was a date set, I'd be in the nut house by now!

The whole point of prepping is PEACE OF MIND!! I'm thoroughly enjoying my late winter quilting, and not at all worried that I might be wasting time, because I'm prepped. We're making syrup now, and that could be called "Prepping"... but it's just part of our yearly routine on the homestead. Five or seven gallons of pure maple syrup surely does make a nice addition to the prep stash... but we don't hoard it and refuse to use it, because we "might" not be able to make syrup next year. We thoroughly enjoy it!

You'll notice most of the long time preppers on these "weekly prep" threads are just adding a few things here and there as they find good deals. No one posting here is obsessing about it anymore... if they ever did. Yes, there are a couple folks who have dropped off the radar, presumably to start up their own homesteads. I hope and pray that they WANT to live that lifestyle, as well as feeling that it's vitally necessary for survival. Because more than a few couples divorced after Y2k, when it turned out that at least one partner (sometimes both) really didn't like living in the country, hated gardening and livestock, and moved out of fear, not because it gave them an opportunity to live a long held dream.

As a wise person used to say pre Y2k "are you prepared to be wrong?" That cuts BOTH ways...

Summerthyme

[Kathy in FL]

Five pounds of blueberries and five pounds of pineapple on the excalibur as I type this. Over the weekend I picked up some extra DE for the pool as well as some pool salt. This week I need to pick up the salt for our water softener. I've laid plywood up in the attic because I'm going to be moving a couple of things up there out of the closets ... luggage, cradle, etc. I also plan on fertilizing the citrus and fruit trees this week. Have other yard work in front of us though we did get all of the old fronds off the 50 foot palm trees at the front of the house; good thing too considering how windy it has been. Condo association of squirrels weren't too happy but it didn't stop me from evicting them ... blasted tree rats will chew through stuff just as bad as rats and mice will.

Having some dental surgery tomorrow which I am NOT looking forward to. That will determine what else I am able to get done this week if anything.

[Lurker]

Lurker... I've noticed you're showing signs of burnout!! "Holding your breath" isn't ever productive... it just exhausts you, and after awhile, it gets you so you're questioning whether or not prepping is even necessary. I've known several people who got to that point, stopped prepping, ate/used up most of their preps and basically said "screw it"... all because "IT" didn't happen within the time frame they'd convinced themselves had to happen!

If you've gotten to a comfortable spot with your preps, by all means, stand down, relax and enjoy life! We personally have been prepping for close to 30 years. If I'd been tightly wound and paranoid all that time, constantly making a "top off run" every time the news didn't look good, or every time there was a date set, I'd be in the nut house by now!

The whole point of prepping is PEACE OF MIND!! I'm thoroughly enjoying my late winter quilting, and not at all worried that I might be wasting time, because I'm prepped. We're making syrup now, and that could be called "Prepping"... but it's just part of our yearly routine on the homestead. Five or seven gallons of pure maple syrup surely does make a nice addition to the prep stash... but we don't hoard it and refuse to use it, because we "might" not be able to make syrup next year. We thoroughly enjoy it!

You'll notice most of the long time preppers on these "weekly prep" threads are just adding a few things here and there as they find good deals. No one posting here is obsessing about it anymore... if they ever did. Yes, there are a couple folks who have dropped off the radar, presumably to start up their own homesteads. I hope and pray that they WANT to live that lifestyle, as well as feeling that it's vitally necessary for survival. Because more than a few couples divorced after Y2k, when it turned out that at least one partner (sometimes both) really didn't like living in the country, hated gardening and livestock, and moved out of fear, not because it gave them an opportunity to live a long held dream.

As a wise person used to say pre Y2k "are you prepared to be wrong?" That cuts BOTH ways...

Summerthyme

Hey ST,

Thanks for the good words. Yeah, I'm a bit burned out by everything lately and the up's and down's of Israel/Iran and the never ending supposed default of Greece is the rotten cherry on top of that horse apple sundae. Our preps ain't bad but they could always be better, we use what we have more and more - it's just that replacing them is killing us (inflation). We're also anxious to get our chickens, rabbits and greenhouse (all new to us) started this spring. We're trying to get more sustainable very fast and it's overwhelming.

To top it all off I'm running for local election; a town board position. It's very tough even in our little town, very nasty too - never thought I'd be doing what I'm doing to attempt to win this thing. Part of me wants to win and the other part would like a loss by two votes so I can fade back into the wallpaper. The only upside of winning is that we're in a major corridor/meeting place for our rural area so as a 'government official' I would be privy to some insider info in case things go nuts. It's over next Tuesday but in the meantime I've got rabbit hutches to build, people to meet, candidate debates to attend, newspaper articles to write and oh yeah - don't forget to fit family time and my job in there somewhere too.

Either way, lots of stress lately and the ups and downs of the boards don't help. Boo-Hoo for me - I need to shut up and suck it up, lots of folks in a far worse position than me. I still need to relax though.

Thanks again for the kind words. My walking tonight knocking on doors will help burn some energy off and calm me down.

[The Cub]

Going to Northern Tool to buy a bike rack for my truck, that will handle 4 bikes.

[lindseyaz]

A local grocery store is having a case-lot sale this week so we loaded up on some good REALLY deals. Three carts worth.

My project this week is updating the BOB/72-hour kits for the younger kids. Our older kids moved on to bigger packs so I am adjusting the contents of the old ones so that the younger kids can carry them.

Last week we tackled our water storage and I feel much better in general now about our level of preps.

[Leigh19717]

we are getting another HUGE maple woohoo! My neighbor called and this will be his 3rd he is having cut down in the last 2 years. We haven't even started on the last one yet that is 7 months old. The great thing is he has the cutter cut them in fireplace lengths, so all we have to do is chop into pieces. I know....getting excited about firewood is kinda nerdy, but this week with little money for prepping, I will take it!

[myrtlemaye]

I've never heard of blizzard fleece - what is different about it other than perhaps thickness????

[Leigh19717]

also, Lurker, I really understand where you are coming from. I use every penny we get for food stores, etc. I think sometimes when nothing comes, why do I do it all. Then I look into my kids eyes and remember. Doom will find us one day. Until then keep your eyes upon Heaven and the signs.

[kilagal]

Well when I first bought fleece several years ago it was all nice, thick and warm. Well that is now not the case. Some of it is very thin. But this blizzard fleece was very nice and thick like the old fleece used to be.

[Kathy in FL]

My area Walgreens had decent sized fleece lap blankets on sale 2 for 4.99. I picked up a bunch and put them in with my material remnants. You can't buy fleece - even the thin variety - for $2.50 a yard anymore. At the very least these "remnants" will work well for make inexpensive fleece slippers.

Here is a free pattern for using sweatshirt or fleece to make house slippers. They aren't exactly gorgeous but from experience they are warm.
http://helpinghearts0.tripod.com/id11.html

[Leigh19717]

oh I like those Kathy! Who cares what they look like if they keep your feet warm lol.

[prudentwatcher]

Went to a different Walmart this morning after a meeting. Bought extra undies for the SO; 2 cans of spray paint; 2 rolls of duct tape; some rope; and 4 bottles of ibuprofen (can never have enough of that in this house).

[Kathy in FL]

While I was out getting my pain med script filled I had to kill 45 minutes so I wandered aimlessly through Walmart. Wound up picking up things I might not otherwise have done ... I never spend any more time in a store than I have to for this very reason.

Those V8 energy drinks ... flavor is peach-mango ... are my hubby's new favorite food. I picked up several 8 packs to stock up on them.

I also doubled my stock of Sweet Valley supplements for chromium, cinnamon, papaya extract, and a few other things. I meant to pick up some evening primrose but forgot to so that got moved to the next grocery stop list.

They are re-expanding the material and craft section of the particular wallyworld I was in and I noticed a lot of fabric that hadn't been there before. I think I may just make me some new summer sun dresses that I can work around the house in (already getting in the 80s around here) so I can keep the AC at a reasonable rate.

Loving my excalibur. Even with a really bad headache I can turn that puppy on and let 'r run ... the thing makes less noise than my new microwave does. And fast ... I almost cooked my pineapple I was drying.

[ivantherussian03]

I get tired of the doom and gloom on the board. People around here to thank God for what they do have, and look at the bright side of life, and all the Chicken Littles need to stop about talking about the falling sky. I am not complaining about anyone in particular, but you can sure tell people get gloomy in winter, and the L48 winter was nothing this year, yet people are pissy.

I have been focusing on the positives of my life. I have work. I am exercising and improving my health, at least a little. My wife and I are happy, and dont sweat the small stuff. We are content. The election is coming, and things seem to be improving. I am planning for worst, while remaining hopeful a brighter future. I have been working on myself, physically and mentally. I also think people are very quick to be critical others, point out heir personal flaws, and political views. Maybe they should look to bible and have that speak Jesus moment.

[Kathy in FL]

I get tired of the doom and gloom on the board. People around here to thank God for what they do have, and look at the bright side of life, and all the Chicken Littles need to stop about talking about the falling sky. I am not complaining about anyone in particular, but you can sure tell people get gloomy in winter, and the L48 winter was nothing this year, yet people are pissy.

I have been focusing on the positives of my life. I have work. I am exercising and improving my health, at least a little. My wife and I are happy, and dont sweat the small stuff. We are content. The election is coming, and things seem to be improving. I am planning for worst, while remaining hopeful a brighter future. I have been working on myself, physically and mentally. I also think people are very quick to be critical others, point out heir personal flaws, and political views. Maybe they should look to bible and have that speak Jesus moment.

I don't know Ivan, I see a lot of joking around. Sure, there are a few fire and brimstone types to the exclusion of everything else but by and large I think most folks are trying to stay level headed. There is just so much going on right now coming from so many different directions and that might be the issue.

Glad to hear you all are doing well and on track. Some oral surgery has set me back but I'm actually glad to have it done and out of the way and in recovery mode. So while gloomy in one respect, totally thankful in another.

[Leigh19717]

are you feeling better today Kathy? I forgot when I mentioned on the other thread one real lifesaver for me. There is a kit at walgreens for teeth. It has like a little case, with swabs and a liquid cloves bottle in it. Everytime I had one removed, I would swab a little on the outside of the hole with a reg. qtip and YES it burned like the dickens, but numbed it after a few minutes for atleast 3 hours. Each time I got a dry socket, I would cut off a little part of a cotton ball, dab some of that clove on it and insert it into the hole. At first I thought I was giving birth naturally all over again, but again after a couple of minutes, it would die down and be numb. I could atleast talk where as before the pain would be radiating up through my eye on that side. Feel better!

[Kathy in FL]

are you feeling better today Kathy? I forgot when I mentioned on the other thread one real lifesaver for me. There is a kit at walgreens for teeth. It has like a little case, with swabs and a liquid cloves bottle in it. Everytime I had one removed, I would swab a little on the outside of the hole with a reg. qtip and YES it burned like the dickens, but numbed it after a few minutes for atleast 3 hours. Each time I got a dry socket, I would cut off a little part of a cotton ball, dab some of that clove on it and insert it into the hole. At first I thought I was giving birth naturally all over again, but again after a couple of minutes, it would die down and be numb. I could atleast talk where as before the pain would be radiating up through my eye on that side. Feel better!

So far so good on the dry socket. I was on antibiotics prior to the extraction and have continued. The dentist was adamant about what I ate, drank, and how I did both for a couple of days. The gum line is still very swollen - I can feel it through my cheek - but no pain at the extraction point and I've been very careful about not doing anything to dislodge "the clot" so I think I will be OK. My jaw socket still hurts like a son of a gun but even that had died down considerably to the point I'm not watching the clock until I can take the next ibuprofen.

If nothing else I'm really rotating some of my dental/med supplies. LOL! And I've got a long list of stuff I want to upgrade to. I now also have a small stash of vicodin for just in case. I need to see what their shelf life is so I can write it on the bottle to be safe.

Got to find that silver lining you know? LOL!

[summerthyme]

Kathy... the Vicodin will store for years in a cool dry place. We've used some that was 10 years old... no problems.

Watch the cloth at WalMart... they do have some brand name cotton (for quilting), but by and large, their fabric is such low quality that it really doesn't pay to put the time and effort into sewing things with it. Of course, many people no longer have any idea what QUALITY fabric is like... the clothing, etc sold at most brand name stores has been rapidly deteriorating in quality over the past 10 years or more... it's how they've managed to hold the line on prices as the price of wool, silk, linen and now polyester and cotton skyrocketed.

My DD has two little boys- 2 years and 6 months. I sew some items for them occasionally- Christmas and birthday presents, etc. They aren't fancy... these are little boys, after all! I sew denim overalls, flannel shirts, cotton interlock knit shirts (with decorative iron on animals or embroidered designs) and most of their pajamas. She calls them "heirlooms" and as they outgrow them, she packs them away for the next grandchildren to come. The purchased clothing is very often too ragged to bother putting away after the second kid has outgrown them. She says you can tell the difference after about three wash cycles! That's TERRIBLE!!

If you want to sew, consider buying fabric online... I know, it's not as rewarding because you can't handle it and see the precise colors, etc. But these links following carry GOOD fabrics, and the prices are often competitive with WalMart's prices. HOWEVER, the quality difference is stunning.

Just one example: I love to quilt, and I love batik fabrics. I've stocked up on them over the past 3-4 years, knowing that the days of being able to buy a yard of hand dyed and hand printed batiks for $5-$6 were rapidly fading. But, as a quilter and fabriholic, I'm always watching for a good deal. So, I saw "fat quarters" of batik fabrics at WalMart for $1 each. That's $4 a yard... REALLY good deal (although I didn't pay much more than that for anything in my stash). I grabbed 10 of them, brought them home, and - as I always do, especially with batiks, which ALWAYS lose dye the first wash- tossed them in the washer and dryer. When I started pressing them to put them away, I discovered WHY they were so cheap. The fabric quality was TERRIBLE. It was like a loosely woven gauze/muslin.. the threads had slubs in them, and the print quality was horrible.. drips of wax, uneven dye colors. It looked like a kindergartener had been turned loose with the dyes. But that's cosmetic; it was the fabric weight and weave that made it unusable.

And it didn't show up until it had been washed once- it's amazing what the various treatments and chemical finishes can do in terms of changing the essential character and "hand" of a fabric on the bolt!! I'd NEVER put that fabric into a quilt... it would start falling apart after a couple washings. Yes, it was a couple bucks cheaper per yard than fat quarters from www.thousandsofbolts.com. But if I'm making a baby quilt, I may put fifty to a hundred hours into it. Saving 10 bucks overall on the fabric is NOT a bargain if it won't hold up to washing...

So, check these places:
www.thousandsofbolts.com
www.fashionfabricclub.com
www.fabricmartfabrics.com
www.connectingthreads.com
www.fabric.com

There are others, but these have the nicest cottons and lightweight knits and wovens for summer.

Good sewing!

Summerthyme

[ivantherussian03]

I have been making firewood all week. I brought in 40 six foot logs. It took 10 trips, but it was fun. It is start on next years wood supply. I cut on the logs on the weekend and brought them home. Since then I was sore for a couple days, but I started blocking up the wood, splitting and stacking. I would like to get my wood cut this spring.

[Kathy in FL]

Summerthyme, I actually used to sew almost to the exclusion of buying my own clothes (including underpinnings so to speak). I sewed my children's christening gowns when they were babies. My mom sewed some darling outfits that take up a good chunk of space in my hopechest. We did the handme down thing in our house too.

The only reason I would use fabric from Walmart is for rarely worn clothes or for clothes for my youngest son that I know won't go into a hand me down box someplace. The holiday fabric works for dresses that the girls only get a wear or three out of.

My mother is a quilter. You should see some of the stuff she has done ... absolutely incredible. I do a little bit here and there but mostly repairing old quilts or finishing the tops my grandmothers and great grandmothers started the tops for. I'd do more but to be honest I just don't have the time to enjoy it ... it becomes too stressful and stress is something I don't need anymore of in my life.

My mother worked for JoAnn fabrics for years ... think about 15 ... and I have a tone of lengths and remnants left over from then even though it has been over 10 since she has been gone from there. Now she works at a really busy quilt shop and the fabric I get from her is top quality stuff ... which means I can buy much less of it these days.

Wallyworld fabric has its place but I wouldn't use it to sew heirlooms that's for sure. Usually just limited use decorations and/or holiday pieces or something that I know is going to get worn out. Their fleece selection isn't bad however. Their flannel, when they have it is a little thin, but that is OK for here in Florida. They've got a decent number of notions but you do have to watch your thread and not get the cheap stuff. And their lace and trimmings are pretty good as well. Like you I've learned to get stuff where I can for the best price for the quality.