Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: April 18 ~ 25, 2021

R

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Good Morning, All!

Time to get the thread going for the week - no muddy dogs to chase this morning; just a psycho squirrel on the porch and the dog took care of that for me :lol:

Two days ago, I looked at the weather forecast - 7 days of no rain and no frost; so of course I made plans to work in the gardens, and plant out my strawberries today. This morning I looked at the forecast and it's rain, sun, rain/snow mix and down to 28, frost possible, sun, rain, sun. The Lord is telling me to be patient with my planting, I think!

I wasn't able to get the load of composted manure I wanted last week; went to the sale barn but no one was around and the place was locked up tight. If the weather does what it says it is going to, I probably won't be able to get any this week either as it's pretty muddy where the compost is stored. On the plus side, I got the van backed up to the trailer in the right spot on the first try - first time that's ever happened! - so I did have one victory for the week :lol:

Work has been super busy; our unit has ran full through the past year and a half. Surgeries are finally picking up again - it's been pretty much emergency surgery only for the past year plus, and anyone that can go home right after surgery has ; maybe there is hope for my knee yet! I have a vacation coming up - last day I have to work is this coming Thursday. I'm trying to not feel guilty for leaving the rest of the crew short - we've all pulled so much overtime this past year; the younger staff have been great to step up to the plate, bless their hearts! By the time I get to work after the OT calendar is posted, it's usually already filled in. (I remember those years of 60+ hour weeks; and I don't miss 'em!)

Well, I guess it's time to go refill my coffee cup, and get the first load of laundry in so that I can get it all out on the line and dried before the rain starts in late this afternoon.

You folks all take care out there; stay safe!
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Cary is already up and about piling on more limbs, logs, and brush on the burn pile this morning. The fire simmered down low all night, and he just needed to poke in it a bit to start it back up again. We should get that finished this afternoon.

I've been tidying up the house this morning, getting ready for our home fellowship group meeting later. We didn't get to have it last Sunday, because of my uncle's funeral. It's always a joy when we all get together.

No rain in our forecast for the week, but it's turning cold again. It's 49 right now, and only in the mid 60's for our high, today. Tuesday, it's supposed to be 77 and sunny, but Wednesday, it's only forecast to be 58 for our high, with frost/freeze warnings. Low in low 30's. If this keeps up, it's going to be mid May, before the soil is warm enough for my veggies to go in the ground.

Praying that everyone has a safe and blessed week! :)
 
D

Digger

Veteran Member
We got the rest of the split wood stacked in the woodshed. We still had energy, so we got the splitter out and split the rest that was cut to length. We also split the big stump pieces that came out of the yard. By the time all that wood was stacked in the shed, we were done in. I was glad we had leftovers to warm for supper. The next day we didn't do much but little piddly chores.

I moved some of my Cole crops out of the cold frame and into the garden. I potted up the extra cabbage to offer the kids. I still have cauliflower and broccoli to move to the garden. That is on this weeks plan. We are expecting a possible frost Wednesday morning and maybe brush 32*. I really don't want to see it get that low. Some of the fruit trees already have fruit and the flower shucks are off. That shuck can protect them a little from cold. Tomatoes maybe safe to plant after Wednesday. I will have to look at the forecast. My plants are getting kind of leggy but I will just plant them deeper.

I water glassed some eggs. I have never tried that before. But I figure if nothing else, they will make good dog food if we can't get any. I have 2 more gallon jars to do more eggs if I keep having extra. I have a hen wanting to set so I may separate her and see if she hatches a few.

I have seen a hog nosed snake around the house 2 times last week. They really give me a heart check! But I leave them to get mice and stuff. We need to mow now that the yard is cleaned up and dirt smoothed again. We got grass seed out before our last rains. They were gentle, slow rains. Just what we needed. But the chickens are upset that I won't let them out. They thought the grass seed was a buffet.
 
hiwall

hiwall

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Started snowing here about 5:30 this morning. Snowing fairly hard off and on and we have about an inch on the ground now. Supposed to snow all day and into the evening. I really don't expect much more accumulation though.
Great to live in hot, sunny Arizona. :)
 
M

moldy

Veteran Member
We'll see. both DH and I are exhausted. I'm sure part of mine is from the meds I"m now on, but that doesn't help get stuff done. My knee is also causing me enough problems that I find it hard walking, so there's that. I have a doctor's appointment Wednesday, and I"m hoping she can wave her magic wand and fix the knee at least!! (Hey, if you're gonna dream, dream big!)

At this point, I"m hoping I can get to work on Tuesday, as there are other people depending on me and I dont' want to mess up their stuff. Weather here will be a little wonky this week, but if the knee will behave I need to get ground prepped for planting some bare root stuff from the extension. A total of 100+ plants, but I think most I can do with a simple tree planting spade.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Today my prep is spending time with the Lord. Church this morning (first time on Sunday in a year) and a ladies Bible study tonight. Tomorrow is one of my commodity pick up days and prayerfully I'll also get the oil changed and a new brake tag for my van. as I blew it off the other day. Normally I don't drive the van much but I'm trying to drive it more often.

Attempting an egg fast today, I ate more than once yesterday.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
M

moldy

Veteran Member
One thing l have been thinking of since yesterday: The trip that was a waste cost me $15 in gas. My truck is not terribly fuel efficient, and most trips around here are at least 30-60 minutes (work is 15-20 minutes one way). I need to be working more on staying home (it's not like there's not a lot to do), and watching my pennies closer.
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
Going to try to get back to chiropractor soon. Back still bad and leg which tells me it hasn't made a lot of progress. Feet and legs go numb pretty quick after walking. (Extrusion at the L4-5).
But stuff has to get done and everyone else is overloaded too.
We're fixing out a spot for the pool stepson gave us. 18x4 ft. The fire department will fill it for a reasonable fee.
I see some of my cold weather stuff is coming up. It will be fine in the snow.
Solar so far is working like a dream.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
moldy said:
One thing l have been thinking of since yesterday: The trip that was a waste cost me $15 in gas. My truck is not terribly fuel efficient, and most trips around here are at least 30-60 minutes (work is 15-20 minutes one way). I need to be working more on staying home (it's not like there's not a lot to do), and watching my pennies closer.
Click to expand...

Our gasoline usage is one way that we save money. We make no separate trips for anything, unless it's an emergency. If we have a reason to be in town, we fit as many other things into that one trip as possible. Works for us.
 
R

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Hot, sunny Arizona, huh? I remember chaining up one lovely December morning to go over Wolf Creek Pass in CO; then chaining up again later to go through another pass near Flagstaff. Colder than all get out both places. We got into Phoenix in the evening - 70*F.

Seems like I'm always on the road between work and grandkids, but I do at least try to combine errands. Yesterday, I stopped at a Dollar General on my way to a family funeral; picked up 3 condolence cards, plus some laundry detergent and 5 bottles of Gatorade (buy 4/get 1 free); used my $5 off $25 coupon from the app plus other coupons ditto for the laundry detergent and the Gatorade. On the way home from the services, I stopped at a grocery store that had some good loss leaders - peanut butter, laundry detergent, soups - and took advantage of those; then hit another Dollar General for more laundry detergent and some vitamins for Hubby - using a paper $5 off $25 and coupons from the newspaper.

I always keep a cooler in my car just in case I find a deal that requires being kept cool :)

Thanks for mentioning going to the chiropractor, WanderLore - I sometimes forget that they exist. I think I'll see if I can get in for an adjustment - left hip and knee have been giving me fits for a couple of weeks; can't even lie down on my left side to rest. I was planning to call the ortho to see if I could get a shot in the knee at least, but think I'll try the chiro first.
 
M

moldy

Veteran Member
I am hoping doc will agree to a short time of PT. I just don't want to mess up my hip or other knee by babying the one that hurts. No injury that I can remember - just getting old. DH is complaining about back pain - I don't know if I could talk him into a chiropractor or not.

He plowed the garden spot and turned up a bunch of carrots and a few turnips. don't know if they will be feeding us or the chickens, but it was nice to get. Fall hit before I could get enough done, so these have been in the ground all winter.
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
I've had this same chiro for 16 years. He always fixes me up, until this injury. Its going over a year now. I hobble everywhere and use my cane when out. Not liking it. Doc said it would heal in a couple months, a year ago. If I could pay for laser surgery, it would be a done deal. But my chiro does help a lot.
WanderLore was my name when I wrote and traveled a lot. Real name is Kelly.
I've gotten a bit attached to you all in this group. *smile*
 
Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
SouthernBreeze said:
Same here. If I'm in town, and notice a sale at a store, mostly meat, I always have a way to keep it cold, until I get home. I've got caught too many times having to pass up good deals, because I was unprepared.
Click to expand...

I started carrying a metal pop cooler in the vehicle years ago - keep an insulated wrap inside to reduce the size down on the frozen/refrig foods when necessary - in the summer I keep a couple of large Freez Paks in canvas shopping carry bags ready to go >>> pain in the azz but better than rushing home or having questionable food ...
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Illini Warrior said:
I started carrying a metal pop cooler in the vehicle years ago - keep an insulated wrap inside to reduce the size down on the frozen/refrig foods when necessary - in the summer I keep a couple of large Freez Paks in canvas shopping carry bags ready to go >>> pain in the azz but better than rushing home or having questionable food ...
Click to expand...

I bought several of those large insulated tote bags at Sam's. They stay in our vehicle all the time. When we leave home, we have plastic blocks of ice in the freezer that we put inside the totes just in case I find some good sales while out and about. Sometimes, I buy things that are already frozen, and they keep the other nonfrozen foods cold. We've never lost any food due to overheating or thawing even in the hottest summer months.

At one time, we drove 60 miles one way to buy a couple of month's worth of meat at a time for our freezers. We took 2 large coolers with us, and packed the meat in ice, once they were filled. When gas got too high for us, we stopped. The place where we went had good quality meat for ridiculously cheap prices. It was worth the trip, until the higher gas prices eat up all of the money we were saving on the trip to buy the meat.
 
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nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
So went to the ladies Bible study at church last night. It was on submission and I always grimace at that word although through the years I've gotten a better understanding of the concept. Then there was a questionaire, the last question on it was what you do to prepare for what is going on in the country. I said pray and I waited to see if anyone would say anything about the other preparedness. I really wanted to speak up about physical preparedness but kept my mouth shut. The pastors wife led the group and I spoke to her privately afterwards about being prepared. I know she and her husband are building a pantry and I'm giving them food to put in it. This is their second year to have a garden, last year was a trial run to see if they could grow anything. And the pastor is raising rabbits now for a meat source, he also hunts and fishes.

Although I was sort of frustrated in the Bible study, I was glad I went, I'm in disparate need to get out more and the fellowship was good. I put this in the prep forum because I felt it was prep related. I really feel that God has given us a brain to take care of our physical needs in addition to our spiritual needs.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I'm so pizzed right now that I've got steam coming out of my eyeballs! :mad:

I had ordered some books online. They always come by FedEx. We've always had an arrangement with the driver to leave all of our packages on the top of our large garbage can which sits just inside our gate. The yard is fenced. She always honks her horn when she leaves a package for us if she knows we're at home. We go right then to get it as she's driving away. Our dog is always barking during the process.

So, yesterday afternoon, we were inside, and our dog started barking. We didn't get up to see what he was barking at, but we didn't hear anything. No honking. He kept barking. Cary finally got up, went to the door, and looked out. He saw a car with 3 huge black guys parked at our gate, which is always closed. One of the men was out of the car walking around. He got back in the car, and they left. We didn't think much about it at the time, because people turn around in our driveway all the time, or they stop for any number of innocent reasons. Cary walked out to the gate to look around, but didn't see anything.

I've been tracking my book shipment online. This morning, I got an e-mail saying that it was delivered, yesterday at 4pm. Yep, that's when the black POS's were at our gate, stealing my package!!! Apparently, they were following the FedEx truck, saw it stop at our house, and they stopped right behind it, and stole my package.

This was just a book order, which didn't cost me a huge amount, but it just as easily could have been a couple of hundred dollars Sam's order! I'm fuming!

No need to call the sheriff. These guys were black, and our sheriff and deputies are " do nothings". So, it wouldn't do any good to report the crime. I wish I could get my hands ahold of them right about now. I hope they choke on my books!
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Sherree, none of my packages have been stolen but lately both fedx and ups has left packages by our mail box, which is on a busy state highway, instead of bring them to the house. And two packages were a couple hundred each, blades for the saw mill. I've called fedx twice and they give me the song and dance that they will take care of it but they don't. And ups left a small package under my mail box the other day, that is unusual for them. When I call them they do take care of the problem, must be a new driver. That box would have fit in the mail box but it was full of books.

I truly understand your anger, give it to God and you will calm down

God is good all the time

Judy
 
Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior

Illini Warrior
SouthernBreeze said:
I'm so pizzed right now that I've got steam coming out of my eyeballs! :mad:

I had ordered some books online. They always come by FedEx. We've always had an arrangement with the driver to leave all of our packages on the top of our large garbage can which sits just inside our gate. The yard is fenced. She always honks her horn when she leaves a package for us if she knows we're at home. We go right then to get it as she's driving away. Our dog is always barking during the process.

So, yesterday afternoon, we were inside, and our dog started barking. We didn't get up to see what he was barking at, but we didn't hear anything. No honking. He kept barking. Cary finally got up, went to the door, and looked out. He saw a car with 3 huge black guys parked at our gate, which is always closed. One of the men was out of the car walking around. He got back in the car, and they left. We didn't think much about it at the time, because people turn around in our driveway all the time, or they stop for any number of innocent reasons. Cary walked out to the gate to look around, but didn't see anything.

I've been tracking my book shipment online. This morning, I got an e-mail saying that it was delivered, yesterday at 4pm. Yep, that's when the black POS's were at our gate, stealing my package!!! Apparently, they were following the FedEx truck, saw it stop at our house, and they stopped right behind it, and stole my package.

This was just a book order, which didn't cost me a huge amount, but it just as easily could have been a couple of hundred dollars Sam's order! I'm fuming!

No need to call the sheriff. These guys were black, and our sheriff and deputies are " do nothings". So, it wouldn't do any good to report the crime. I wish I could get my hands ahold of them right about now. I hope they choke on my books!
Click to expand...

PORCH PIRATES !!!!!

actually a good thing you didn't get a delivery Beep Beep and go down to road >> you might have had a confrontation with them ...

most are just dumbazz dirtbags - but the coppers have pinched some serious dudes in that racket - stolen cars, guns, felony warrants, assaults and even a few resulting murders ....
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
nomifyle said:
Sherree, none of my packages have been stolen but lately both fedx and ups has left packages by our mail box, which is on a busy state highway, instead of bring them to the house. And two packages were a couple hundred each, blades for the saw mill. I've called fedx twice and they give me the song and dance that they will take care of it but they don't. And ups left a small package under my mail box the other day, that is unusual for them. When I call them they do take care of the problem, must be a new driver. That box would have fit in the mail box but it was full of books.

I truly understand your anger, give it to God and you will calm down

God is good all the time

Judy
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've calmed way down by now. It just makes me leery about ordering other things online, especially, if we aren't at home when it's delivered. I'll have to watch tracking to make sure we're at home and watchful on the arrival date from now on. Lesson learned. I hope others in our community aren't experiencing the same thing.

I hope all the "Baby Mama's" to these black stooges enjoy reading my romance novels! I bet these guys were really surprised/disappointed when they opened the package, LOL!
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Yesterday I went to pick up commodities. While in town I thought I'd stop at goodwill and look at blouses. I bought 7, 5 fit well. The other two will work if I lose 10 pounds, which I still don't seem to be having much luck at doing. I'm seeing myself going over board with buying second hand blouses, it adds up.

Going through the commodities, excluding the frozen stuff, I'm sorting out most of the haul for the pastor. I mean if if have 60 cans of fruit cocktail I really don't need any more until we eat some of it down. Same with several other things, I've got 4 boxes for the pastor. And he is building a longer term pantry, other then the usual two weeks worth of food.

God is good all the time

Judy
SouthernBreeze said:
Yeah, I've calmed way down by now. It just makes me leery about ordering other things online, especially, if we aren't at home when it's delivered. I'll have to watch tracking to make sure we're at home and watchful on the arrival date from now on. Lesson learned. I hope others in our community aren't experiencing the same thing.

I hope all the "Baby Mama's" to these black stooges enjoy reading my romance novels! I bet these guys were really surprised/disappointed when they opened the package, LOL!
Click to expand...
I've definitely cut back on delivery orders, besides I don't need much any way. I did order a book from amazon and it will fit in the mail box, but usually ups does bring it to the house, unless its a new driver. There are several people around here that I've talked to that have the same problem with fedx.

The lack of decent employee problem is just getting worse. And the baby mamas of those thugs are probably doing the same thing. I don't know what the solution is.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
nomifyle said:
Yesterday I went to pick up commodities. While in town I thought I'd stop at goodwill and look at blouses. I bought 7, 5 fit well. The other two will work if I lose 10 pounds, which I still don't seem to be having much luck at doing. I'm seeing myself going over board with buying second hand blouses, it adds up.

Going through the commodities, excluding the frozen stuff, I'm sorting out most of the haul for the pastor. I mean if if have 60 cans of fruit cocktail I really don't need any more until we eat some of it down. Same with several other things, I've got 4 boxes for the pastor. And he is building a longer term pantry, other then the usual two weeks worth of food.

God is good all the time

Judy

I've definitely cut back on delivery orders, besides I don't need much any way. I did order a book from amazon and it will fit in the mail box, but usually ups does bring it to the house, unless its a new driver. There are several people around here that I've talked to that have the same problem with fedx.

The lack of decent employee problem is just getting worse. And the baby mamas of those thugs are probably doing the same thing. I don't know what the solution is.

God is good all the time

Judy
Click to expand...

We have our gate close at all times for security purposes. That's why UPS and FedEx can't drive up the driveway to our house. Having the gate and fenced property didn't stop the thugs, though. Not when they can just reach across the fence, and steal the packages off the garbage can. We may have to come up with another way, but right now, all we can do is to be more watchful on the delivery due day, or have the delivery driver just drop the packages on the ground inside the fence keeping them out of reaching distance from would be criminals. That still wouldn't stop them if they really wanted to get the packages. They would find a way.
 
J

John Deere Girl

Veteran Member
SouthernBreeze said:
We have our gate close at all times for security purposes. That's why UPS and FedEx can't drive up the driveway to our house. Having the gate and fenced property didn't stop the thugs, though. Not when they can just reach across the fence, and steal the packages off the garbage can. We may have to come up with another way, but right now, all we can do is to be more watchful on the delivery due day, or have the delivery driver just drop the packages on the ground inside the fence keeping them out of reaching distance from would be criminals. That still wouldn't stop them if they really wanted to get the packages. They would find a way.
Click to expand...
That is actually kind of scary. I would be on high alert in case they come back. You may want to invest in some cameras for your property.
 
C

coloradohermit

Veteran Member
I finally this morning made a phone call I've been putting off and putting off for 6 months or so. I didn't get the wonderful happy outcome I had hoped for, but the status quo is perfectly fine and it's FINALLY off the to-do list. Not really a prep activity but I needed to mention it somewhere to pat myself on the back. ;-)
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
John Deere Girl said:
That is actually kind of scary. I would be on high alert in case they come back. You may want to invest in some cameras for your property.
Click to expand...

We have thought about that, too. It would probably be cheaper in the long run than having expensive packages stolen over and over.

Usually, when something gets our attention outside, especially after dark, Cary slips out the back door, and eases around to see what is going on while remaining hidden. He is always armed. I'm always his back up, armed also, and with my cell phone ready to snap photos and call 911. All I can say is that these thugs and their ilk are getting more bolder by the day even out here in the rural countryside in broad day light.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
hiwall said:
While we have a gate at the end of our driveway, it is always open.
Click to expand...

We have a dog that we don't want to run loose. We've also had problems in the past with strangers walking right up to our front door. Keeping our gate closed solves both problems. If we are expecting someone, we go out, and open the gate for them ahead of time, but that's it. Unexpected guest that we know will call from their cell phone while they are at the gate, so we can come out, and open it for them, or they open it themselves.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
coloradohermit said:
I finally this morning made a phone call I've been putting off and putting off for 6 months or so. I didn't get the wonderful happy outcome I had hoped for, but the status quo is perfectly fine and it's FINALLY off the to-do list. Not really a prep activity but I needed to mention it somewhere to pat myself on the back. ;-)
Click to expand...
I'll bet that feels good!

Summerthyme
 
briches

briches

Veteran Member
Southernbreeze - you might consider filing a complaint with fedex and the vendor you ordered from. I’m guessing you could get your books replaced at no charge to you. Worth a try. Worst they can say is no.

Moldy - looking forward to checking out that blog. Thanks.

I’m extra tired tonight. Work has been a bit intense as the school year winds down. Not too much on the prep front, but will work on self-care.

Slow and steady ....
 
paxsim2

paxsim2

Senior Member
Getting ready to head out and cover the plants. It snowed for an hour this after noon and now we're under a freeze warning. Ugh.
Decluttering and reorganizing, my niece is coming Thursday to help me do some things I'm not able to do. Oh to be young again lol.
We have decided to sell our small farm and take advantage of the real estate market. Due to my husband's health we never moved out there but continued to work on it. It's been the family gathering place for the last six years. But it's time to let it go.
 
briches

briches

Veteran Member
Went to food lion for a couple of things and ended up getting a few extra things for the pantry. They had spaghetti sauce on sale for 88 cents (got 6). Kraft dressing was on sale for $1 each (got 9). We are looking good, but when I see really good deals, I will be stocking up as I know costs are rising A LOT.
 
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