Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: May 23 ~29, 2021

'Morning, All! Hope you are all having a good morning! While I'm waiting for my coffee to finish dripping, I've got the side porch door open and am listening to the hummingbirds zipping around, Jenny Wren chattering away, and boats powering up back on the lake; must be a fishing competition going on.

Hubby and the grandson are still asleep - not that I'm complaining! A little peace and quiet to go along with my coffee is much appreciated as it will be noisy soon enough! It's still way too wet to weed or do anything else garden or flower bed related, so I will have to settle for laundry and sorting out things for the foster kid closet this morning - daughter dumped 2 giant Aldi bags of the grandkids outgrown clothes in the back of my van yesterday, so I will run them through the wash, sort out any that are stained or damaged for the rag bag, then sort and bag by size.

Once every one is up and around, I need to back my van up by the shed and give it a good clean out and vacuuming - I swear, I don't know how half that stuff gets in there! Hubby says he'll take it in for an oil change tomorrow while I'm taking my pre-work nap - if I can get it cleaned out; that'll save me some time since I won't have to hang around waiting for the car dealership to open after I get off work.

After I get that done, I need to get back to weeding - it's already way ahead of of me since we've had so much darned rain; and now we have 3 more days of it forecast starting later this week. I would love to be able to get in and get the last of the garden planted, but it's going to take some seriously warm and dry weather before I am able to do so. We've had temps in the mid 80's for the past couple of days, and they are supposed to continue until Thursday when we drop back into the low 70's; then slowly start heading back up around next weekend.

On the plus side, the wild blackberries are blooming like crazy so I am hopeful for a good crop of those to freeze and make jelly from. The tame raspberries are also doing well, but we will eat those fresh - mostly while standing in the garden

I had a lovely surprise yesterday - I discovered that I have blue birds nesting in the bird house that's hanging on one of my clothesline poles! I bought another wren house (except it's not; the opening is larger than a quarter grrr!) that I need to have Hubby hang for me; it might work for blue birds as well, so I will see if I can get Hubby to hang it for me.

Well, I can see the bottom of my coffee cup, and I'm not getting that laundry done or my van cleaned out sitting here, so I reckon I'd better post this and get to work. You folks all take care out there; stay safe!

Good Morning, Everyone! Another beautiful day to start the week!

It's currently 74 degrees with humidity at 75%. There is a cool breeze blowing along with sunny skies. I've got the doors open in back already. While coffee was making this morning, just after sun up, we went out onto the deck, and watched the hummingbirds feed at the new feeders. We also have 2 new litters of kittens. We played with them for a bit. It's a nice cool morning to just sit outside, drink coffee, and enjoy nature.

When DS comes over for our home fellowhip/Bible study, today, he will unload all the wood from our trailer for Cary. Cary brought home an extremely large load, yesterday, after he and DS got it all cut up. There are still several loads at DS's house from all the trees he's cutting out of his back yard. I don't know if our wood shed will hold it all when it's all said and done. If not, Cary has tarps he can cover the extra with.

Since today is our Bible Study day, I don't have any plans at all. I did tidy up the house this morning, but that's it.

No menu today. Most always, since I'm addicted, we have carry out pizzas for our Sunday supper. I do have the cake I made, yesterday, for dessert.

I really would like some feedback about me posting menus and ingredient lists from my pantry. Am I blowing my own OPSEC by doing so? This was mentioned in another thread, and it got me to wondering.

29 degrees here in sunny Arizona this morning! Actually a beautiful day ahead it looks like and it is supposed to warm up nicely.

SouthernBreeze said:

Good Morning, Everyone! Another beautiful day to start the week!

It's currently 74 degrees with humidity at 75%. There is a cool breeze blowing along with sunny skies. I've got the doors open in back already. While coffee was making this morning, just after sun up, we went out onto the deck, and watched the hummingbirds feed at the new feeders. We also have 2 new litters of kittens. We played with them for a bit. It's a nice cool morning to just sit outside, drink coffee, and enjoy nature.

When DS comes over for our home fellowhip/Bible study, today, he will unload all the wood from our trailer for Cary. Cary brought home an extremely large load, yesterday, after he and DS got it all cut up. There are still several loads at DS's house from all the trees he's cutting out of his back yard. I don't know if our wood shed will hold it all when it's all said and done. If not, Cary has tarps he can cover the extra with.

Since today is our Bible Study day, I don't have any plans at all. I did tidy up the house this morning, but that's it.

No menu today. Most always, since I'm addicted, we have carry out pizzas for our Sunday supper. I do have the cake I made, yesterday, for dessert.

I really would like some feedback about me posting menus and ingredient lists from my pantry. Am I blowing my own OPSEC by doing so? This was mentioned in another thread, and it got me to wondering.

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I love hearing the recipes, and it gives me new ideas for our meals. I wouldn't think a list of ingredients would violate OPSEC, but you have to follow your intuition.

I don't think you're blowing your opsec. Posting a menu is benign, listing the contents of your pantry and your GPS coordinates is blowing your cover so to speak.

paxsim2 said:

I don't think you're blowing your opsec. Posting a menu is benign, listing the contents of your pantry and your GPS coordinates is blowing your cover so to speak.

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Many people order online and have items shipped to their home so those sellers have your email, true name, and address. Does anyone think Amazon, ebay, Walmart, and other places keep your info secure? I would think many sell your info to make more profit.

We got most, OK half, of the garden replanted yesterday and I had planned on finishing that today. However, it's very windy, and I think the seeds would end up places I don't necessarily want them, so I will clean house, do laundry, change sheets, etc today. DH had hoped we could run waterlines to the front garden, but I think it's too windy for that too. Our gusts are around 37-39 mph - and it's very gusty!!

This week will be interesting. I'm interviewing for a new job on Monday, doing additional training on Wednesday, and working M-Th.

I'm resisting the urge to run to Dollar General to get more black beans and Garbonzos since I don't have as many of then as I though I did. And yes Dennis, I am addicted to buying food.

Yesterday we ordered hamburger steak dinners for supper. It includes a salad which we don't eat with the dinner. Its a basis for a larger salad for lunch after church, so two meals I didn't have to cook. For supper I'm think about green beans and potatoes, just have to figure out something else to go with the beans, I guess one thing would be corn bread.

I used to use a recipe from a sweet little natural foods cook book that I had for years and damaged in katrina, but was able to find a copy on ebay. Hard to believe katrina is going on 16 years ago. I've been using the jiffy mix to make corn bread, DH likes it and probably would not like my healthy recipe.

The only thing unusual in the cornbread recipe is wheat germ. I just checked amazon and wow has the price gone up. Although its cheaper at walmart.

ETA in the healthy recipe the corn meal is stone ground which is a coarser grind.

God is good all the time

Judy

Good luck on your interview, Moldy!

Southern Breeze, I don't think it's all that much of an op-sec issue; and I do enjoy your menus.

I've was outside most of the morning, cleaning the car and doing some weeding, so Hubby fixed lunch - spaghetti with chicken sausage and red sauce (I went insane on buying sale spaghetti sauce - oops!), bread sticks, and fruit. I decided I'd better let lunch settle a bit and hydrate a little more before I head back out so I'm slowly sipping a large glass of water - and I'm going to put a glass of lemonade in the freezer with some pureed raspberries in it for when I come back in. I did switch the laundry from washer to dryer, fold the towels I brought in from the clothesline yesterday, and put grandsons shoes out on the porch rail to hopefully dry before I take him home - he forgot to switch shoes when he went out to ride his dirt bike yesterday.

The neighbor lady pm'd me a bit ago and said she heard a rumor that I was in the market for a couple of kittens and she has quite a few as her barn cats have been having litters. I told her I would call the vet tomorrow to make sure I can get them in right away for shots; then would be over to pick out a couple Tuesday after I wake up. I've seen the black and white one that I had put food out for a few times, but I think he lives with the neighbor down the road; so it will be nice to have a couple of our own again as it has been a while. I'm hoping for an orange stripe and a light calico, but will take what I get.

Well, if I rest much longer before going outside, it'll be likely to turn in to a nap, so I'd better get back at it!

ReneeT said:

I'm hoping for an orange stripe and a light calico, but will take what I get.

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We have 2 new litters of kittens. We have an orange stripe and a calico. We've named the orange stripe, Garfield, and the calico, Twinkie, LOL. One set of kittens are about 6 wks old, and the other, about 4 weeks. If we knew of someone who would take them that would give them a good home, we would give all the kittens away. If not, we'll just keep them.

SouthernBreeze said:

Good Morning, Everyone! Another beautiful day to start the week!

It's currently 74 degrees with humidity at 75%. There is a cool breeze blowing along with sunny skies. I've got the doors open in back already. While coffee was making this morning, just after sun up, we went out onto the deck, and watched the hummingbirds feed at the new feeders. We also have 2 new litters of kittens. We played with them for a bit. It's a nice cool morning to just sit outside, drink coffee, and enjoy nature.

When DS comes over for our home fellowhip/Bible study, today, he will unload all the wood from our trailer for Cary. Cary brought home an extremely large load, yesterday, after he and DS got it all cut up. There are still several loads at DS's house from all the trees he's cutting out of his back yard. I don't know if our wood shed will hold it all when it's all said and done. If not, Cary has tarps he can cover the extra with.

Since today is our Bible Study day, I don't have any plans at all. I did tidy up the house this morning, but that's it.

No menu today. Most always, since I'm addicted, we have carry out pizzas for our Sunday supper. I do have the cake I made, yesterday, for dessert.

I really would like some feedback about me posting menus and ingredient lists from my pantry. Am I blowing my own OPSEC by doing so? This was mentioned in another thread, and it got me to wondering.

Click to expand...

Sherree... unless you also have invited a bunch 9f local acquaintances to the board, I just don't see it being that big of a risk. ANYTHING you post online can potentially be an issue, if the wrong nutcase reader it and gets obsessed over it. But the odds are awfully low... much greater chance of a random burglary. And that's why you have guns and a dog...

Summerthyme

summerthyme said:

Sherree... unless you also have invited a bunch 9f local acquaintances to the board, I just don't see it being that big of a risk. ANYTHING you post online can potentially be an issue, if the wrong nutcase reader it and gets obsessed over it. But the odds are awfully low... much greater chance of a random burglary. And that's why you have guns and a dog...

Summerthyme

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I didn't think I was getting too personal by posting our daily menus using what I have in storage, but I was second guessing it. I just thought it could help some people, especially those who are new to prepping. Helping out with food fatigue, and showing that you only need to store what you eat on a regular basis. Plus, most of my menus are quick and simple to make, which would come in handy if under a lot of stress, or time is short. Since I post in this thread on a daily basis, I thought it would be a good place to do it, since it does have everything to do with prepping. Most people's taste will be different from ours, and the ingredients would vary. It's only to give ideas.

I don't know a single person who is a member here in real life. I don't know anyone in real life who might lurk here, either, other than Cary.

Plus a lot of us have plenty of our own preps and wouldn't bother yours even if we did know you in real life.

Meemur said:

Plus a lot of us have plenty of our own preps and wouldn't bother yours even if we did know you in real life.

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I wasn't too concerned about anyone here knowing how much or what I had, since TB is sort of a prepping forum. Everyone here, you would think, are also preppers. It was government snoopers that made me second guess everything.

SB - I had a calico cat that lived to be 17 years old. Her name was Janie. Which quickly morphed into Jane the Pain... I have no clue why I think I want another calico

The right calico is an angel!

Our air conditioner died. We paid half down on a new one already, but haven't heard when they will install it. It is supposed to be high 90s here all week. I am NOT happy. Fans don't do much. They are supposed to have a loaner unit, but we are waiting to hear. He has until noon tomorrow before we go tracking him down for info. I might be over at Rural King buying a window unit that will at least put out cold air. I hate the heat, but my better half hates cold and refuses to leave Florida, so I am stuck.

So no cooking, as I am not turning on the stove or the oven. Didn't buy much of anything this week, but did get 2 cans of Folgers at Winn Dixie at $4.99 each. Weekend deal and they had a bunch of them. We have a lot stored up but these were good for another year out, so I dated them and stuck them in the closet. At that price, I wasn't passing them up.

ReneeT said:

SB - I had a calico cat that lived to be 17 years old. Her name was Janie. Which quickly morphed into Jane the Pain... I have no clue why I think I want another calico

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My 6 wk old Twinkie is the ring leader of the litter right now. She's sassy! She's almost all white with yellow, orange, and black splotches. I think she's marked beautifully. Also, in the litter, there is Bilbo, Frodo, Pippin, and Garfield. I haven't named the 4 wk old ones, yet. They are all grey, and look identical to each other.

We enjoyed another beautiful morning sitting out back watching the humingbirds, and playing with the kittens. Tomatoes are doing great, and roses are in full bloom again. On the other side of our fence line, there are honeysuckles everywhere, and they smell great. At 7am, temp was 65* with humidity of 90%. No wind stirring at all. Partly sunny with a high of 90, today.

Yard mowing and weed eating to be done today. Cary plans to take the A/C cover off today, clean the A/C, and turn it on to make sure it works. It's really old, and I hold my breath every summer when he turns it on for the first time. We don't use it much, but still, when we need it, it's there. I turned a floor fan on for the first time, yesterday.

Mom has plans to go to Alabama one day this week, maybe tomorrow, to spend 2 weeks with her sister. We are taking her. As always, we enjoy the trip, and love spending time with my aunt and uncle. Whatever day we go, we will leave really early, and won't be back til late that night.

Tonight will be another meal cooked on the grill. Too hot to heat up the house.

Boneless pork chops marinated in worchestshire sauce and garlic all day in the fridge
green beans
garlic and butter roasted potatoes
grill toasted garlic bread

From the pantry......

chops from the freezer
worchestshire sauce
minced garlic
green beans

Two things that I make sure I have plenty of going into the summer are worchestshire sauce and minced garlic. I use a lot of both. Other than the meat, I don't use much out of my pantry during the summer. Worchestshire sauce, minced garlic, salad dressings, mustard, and mayo are the main items. All produce and bread are fresh, and bought bimonthly at the grocery store. I might grab a can of baked beans from time to time from the pantry, but mostly, we eat different salads, or some kind of potato with our meat.

ETA.....One thing about our grilling that I forgot to mention. Since we do so much outdoor cooking during the warm months, we use a charcoal grill, and have in storage large bags of charcoal. You can also use small wood in it, too, if you can't get charcoal. We went with a charcoal grill, because propane, and even charcoal, might get scarce later on, or in a SHTF situation. We also have a fire pit where we can do Dutch oven cooking as well.

Checked my bees. In a couple of days I will need to add another honey super. They are doing really well. I also rebaited my swarm trap. I would like to catch a swarm and go into winter with 2 hives. I strained the honey I spun out from last years lost hives. I got 5 pints. Hopefully there will be no bears this year to make bee keeping harder.

I bought 2 herb books on medicinal herbs and how to use them. I finished some plantain and jewelweed salve. It looks good, but none of us have gotten poison ivy to try it out. I have got hubby to spare my jewelweed patch. I finally convinced him it is the only place it grows on the 79 acres. Next he needs to spare me some mullin to make ear oil. I need the flowers. I have one about to put up a flower stalk. It is in the clover so that may save it from the Bush hog.

We bought some nice gulf shrimp at the fish market when we went to hubbys pain dr. We froze 5 packages. I saved the heads to bait traps this fall. I may try them in my turtle trap too. I put a few ofthem in sandwich bags, then put the sandwich bags in a qt freezer bag. That was I can take out just a few at a time.

Even with DH in the ER I managed to run a couple of errands. Including a quick trip to walmart. I scored a big stack of box bottoms. A few cans each of black beans and garbonzos and 4 cans of the del monte zucchini. A couple of other things and that's it and I still spent $51.

God is good all the time

Judy

DH and I went to Sam’s yesterday and I’m feeling it today, so exhausted and achy.

Bought some more coffee and tea (Folgers is a great price with instant savings right now). More peanuts, almonds and cashews, blocks of cheese and cheese sticks, pasta sauce, chicken noodle and cream of chicken soups. They had heavy cream stocked this time so I got 4 quarts, dishwasher detergent, olive oil and olive oil with garlic, frozen fish, brats and breakfast sausage, heavy duty aluminum foil, restocked on tortillas and found some lower carb ones that I got for me. Dates on pretty much all the fresh produce was within a few days so I bought one head of cauliflower, a package of asparagus and some onions. We have been having a hard time with fresh onions the past few months, what hasn’t already started to rot as soon as we get them home, doesn’t take long after. Shave gel for DH and deodorant for both us. They were a few things I wanted to get that were in store items only that I couldn’t find and I was too worn out to walk around any more, so I went and sat down at one of the tables while DH finished up and checked out.

This is our last week of babysitting our granddaughter for this school year but DD2 will have to go back to work in the later part of July so the break will be short but DH and I wouldn’t have any other way.

I also picked up commodities yesterday, but by the time we got home anything frozen was almost defrosted. If there were any ice left in an item it went in the freezer for us. If it was thawed it went in the freezer for the dog. I got a call today to come to the local community center to pick up some bonus commodities, which included onions, sweet potatoes, some frozen meat balls, the meat balls were pretty much thawed out but they are precooked so in the freezer they went. We got two gallons of milk and two huge containers of yogurt, both of those things are for out young pastor and his expanding family.

I'm still worn out from yesterday, so I;m not getting much done,

God is good all the time,

Judy

prudentwatcher said:

I might be over at Rural King buying a window unit that will at least put out cold air.

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If you decide to do that, I suggest sooner rather than later. They are in short supply in many places.
I have central air, but I also have a window unit stored in the bedroom closet. It has saved mine and my neighbor's sanity several times already.

Any appliance parts seem to be in short supply. "Service" person just left after (mis)diagnosing the stovetop...said it would be a week to get the (wrong) part in. (Its under waranty, so they can be screwups). Minor issue that could easily be rectified...
Local farm just dropped of some fresh veggies. Looks like I need to bring in another fridge, no room in the main one.

Good Morning!

It's 74* right now with 81% humidity. It looks like rain this morning. High today only 82 with 64% humidity with rain showers. Rain will definitely shoot that humidity way up. It's not a good day to be outdoors, and Cary has a huge pile of junk to burn. I need to wash a load of laundry to hang on the line, but both will have to wait. It was even too damp to sit outside this morning to drink our coffee. Instant wet as you walked out the door.

We had a nice trip, yesterday, and had a great time with my aunt and uncle. She had a huge lunch prepared for us. Everyone, I think, was in a food coma for several hours afterwards, LOL. My aunt loves to cook, and she always goes all out. We got back home around 5pm, yesterday afternoon. Both of us were so tired. I went to bed at 8pm.

I'm still tired this morning, and the old sciatica is acting up from sitting so long on the trip and back. My hip and leg are very painful this morning.

I planning to go grocery shopping, tomorrow, if I feel better. I need to refill the holes in my pantry/freezers, and I need fresh produce and bread. It's been almost 3 weeks, since I've actually bought groceries, and I know I'm going to see a huge price increase on everything.

I've cleaned out a corner in the pantry room to make room for more added food storage space. I've been wanting to do this for quite awhile, and I just broke down, and did it. I was out of room everywhere else. Now, I've got a big corner that I can add corner shelving, or just stack cases in the floor. I may do both. I was using this space for extra pillows, candle stands, paper plates, and dinner napkins, plus a few more odds and ends. All of that got moved to the laundry room.

Dinner, tonight, will be strictly out of my pantry, because of the rain. I have enough of each ingredient to make this casserole once a month or more for 2 years.

Chicken Noodle Casserole

1 can chicken, 12.5oz, drained
1 can mixed vegetables, drained
2 cups cooked egg noodles
chopped onion, as much as you like
chopped green bell pepper, as much as you like
butter, enough to saute onions and peppers
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 soup can of water
2 chicken bouillon cubes
spices to taste, I use salt, pepper, and Italian spices
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
extra shredded cheese

Cook egg noodles with bouillon cubes added to water. Drain, and set aside. In a medium skillet, add butter, and saute onions and peppers til tender. In a large mixing bowl, add shredded up chicken, peppers, and onions. Add all other ingredients, except noodles. Mix well. Add cooked noodles and mix well. Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Bake at 350* until bubbly. Take out of oven, sprinkle with extra cheese, put back in oven til melted.

I always make a salad to go with it, and crusty, hot, buttered rolls. I'm all out of salad fixings, so it'll just be the casserole and rolls, tonight.

SB, that chicken casserole sounds yummy!!

I stayed in town to run errands after work yesterday; had to wait a bit for the stores to open so treated myself to breakfast out. Short story - and thank you all for allowing me to tell it - I had a perfectly lovely waitress - who appeared to be getting hazed by the other two that were there. I'm so not a fan of mean girls (I'd say late 20's, early 30's; you'd think they'd have outgrown that nonsense), so I thanked my waitress, left a nice tip, and when I got to the register I asked to see the manager to compliment the service. I was still a bit out of sorts when I got to Aldi, but an older gentleman there called me Lovey, made me take his empty buggy, and told me to have a good day. I told him he'd restored my faith in other humans and totally brightened my day - he told me that was what he was here for. I have to wonder if the Lord sent him to me to remind me of my blessings

I hit Walmart after that to pick up a prescription; finally found swim masks for the boys that have elastic bands rather than plastic straps to hold them on, and picked up a couple more hummingbird feeders - my old ones are cracking and are hard to clean.

I slept a lot later than I'd planned once I'd gotten home and got cleaned up yesterday - didn't get up until mid-afternoon. It was still too wet to get out in the garden, but I was able to get the last of the sale barn manure out of the trailer and in to the raised beds. The manure was still pretty hot - had some green manure in it, so I won't be planting anything in those beds for a while - it should be 'cooked' enough by fall to plant greens for salads, etc... There were a gazillion red wiggley worms in the manure, so that will be good for the soil. Once I got that done, I did some weeding in the front beds, but was still tired so went in and got cleaned up and fixed Hubby a good dinner before collapsing in my chair with my ACLS book. I pretty quickly threw it over for a novel; and Hubby was kind enough to wake me up a half hour or so later so I could go to bed.

This morning, it's been drizzling rain off and on, so probably no planting today either; I guess I can pull weeds in between rain showers. To kill a little time while it was raining this morning, I cleaned out the fridge. I only had one boy this past weekend and had picked up enough fruit for two, so I blended the leftover raspberries and strawberries (separately) and put the puree in little condiment size cups and in the freezer - I'll add them to my jars of lemonade that I carry in my work lunches. That left a half carton of blueberries to deal with. I'd bought a lemon pound cake mix at Aldi on a whim yesterday, so decided to mix it up and add the blueberries in. I had a slice for a late breakfast and it's pretty good, but not quite as heavy I expected a pound cake to be. There was a packet of lemon glaze in the box, so I will likely mix it up and drizzle it over the cake before supper. It crumbles easily or I would cut the cake into cubes, make up some lemon pudding and put the two together to make a trifle.

I just saw a little bunny hop up the steps to the side porch - so I tip-toed over and the little booger was eating the dill I have sitting in a crate waiting to be planted out! Guess I know who ate the dill in my raised strawberry bed down to nubbins! Maybe I need to plant a row of rosemary or lavender along the sidewalk so he'll stay away from the dill!!

Well, the rain has stopped for a bit, so I'd better get that compost carried out and see if it might be dry enough to get my last two pepper plants in. I haven't been able to find any marigold plants, so let the youngest grandson pick out some seed instead; I will plant some in a cardboard box and see if I can get enough for around my tomato plants and in between the peppers.

You folks all take care out there; stay safe!

Renee, do you make your own humingbird food? The reason I'm asking is that my new feeders have to be refilled every couple of days. That's going to get expensive. I know you can make your own, but I don't have a clue.

SouthernBreeze said:

Renee, do you make your own humingbird food? The reason I'm asking is that my new feeders have to be refilled every couple of days. That's going to get expensive. I know you can make your own, but I don't have a clue.

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We always make our own hummer food. It's just sugar. Add as much sugar as the water will hold. We go through about 25 to 30 pounds of sugar each summer here for the birds.

SouthernBreeze said:

Renee, do you make your own humingbird food? The reason I'm asking is that my new feeders have to be refilled every couple of days. That's going to get expensive. I know you can make your own, but I don't have a clue.

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I make ours. It's really easy.

Ok, you both. LOL! Do you have to heat the water to dissolve the sugar? Add red food coloring?

SouthernBreeze said:

Ok, you both. LOL! Do you have to heat the water to dissolve the sugar? Add red food coloring?

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I bring the mixture to a boil and then turn the burner off. I never add red food coloring.

SB-I use one part sugar to 4 parts boiling water. I never add food coloring.

John Deere Girl said:

I bring the mixture to a boil and then turn the burner off. I never add red food coloring.

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Thanks. Looks like I'm either going to have to buy bird food, or spend the extra money to buy lots more sugar!

I bring one cup of water to a boil; add I cup sugar and stir until dissolved. Then I add 3 more cups of cold water and stir. I do not add any food coloring either; it's not good for the hummingbirds. I only use cane sugar, and had finished out a bag of 'Farmers Select' that I'd gotten a bunch of at Rural King last summer; then nexgt bag in line was a bag of Domino - the birds barely came to the feeders that had the Domino sugar water in them, so I went back to the Farmers Select - got birds galore.

I store my feed in half gallon size canning jars - plastic pitchers seem to take on an odor after a while, and the birds don't like it. I currently have 5 -16 oz feeders out, but once it gets hotter, I will take down my hanging flower baskets and add another 16 oz and a couple of 32 oz ones. I wash the feeders (hot water only) and change out the feed every day during the early part of the season (the raccoons will get in them overnight if I leave them out); as the birds start drinking more; they get washed when I refill them and a live trap gets put on the porch for the raccoons.

We bought our first hummingbird feeders on a trip to Colorado when I was 8 years old, and have been feeding them in this location since then. If the feeders get empty, they will buzz the window over the kitchen sink looking for me

ReneeT said:

I bring one cup of water to a boil; add I cup sugar and stir until dissolved. Then I add 3 more cups of cold water and stir. I do not add any food coloring either; it's not good for the hummingbirds. I only use cane sugar, and had finished out a bag of 'Farmers Select' that I'd gotten a bunch of at Rural King last summer; then nexgt bag in line was a bag of Domino - the birds barely came to the feeders that had the Domino sugar water in them, so I went back to the Farmers Select - got birds galore.

I store my feed in half gallon size canning jars - plastic pitchers seem to take on an odor after a while, and the birds don't like it. I currently have 5 -16 oz feeders out, but once it gets hotter, I will take down my hanging flower baskets and add another 16 oz and a couple of 32 oz ones. I wash the feeders (hot water only) and change out the feed every day during the early part of the season (the raccoons will get in them overnight if I leave them out); as the birds start drinking more; they get washed when I refill them and a live trap gets put on the porch for the raccoons.

We bought our first hummingbird feeders on a trip to Colorado when I was 8 years old, and have been feeding them in this location since then. If the feeders get empty, they will buzz the window over the kitchen sink looking for me

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Thanks for that info, Renee! Lol, that's funny about the hummingbirds buzzing your window. While we sit out back each morning, we are buzzed by all the hummingbirds coming in to feed! Sounds like a bunch of helicopters.

I don't really boil the solution. After making many gallons, I now know how much sugar to add so I use the microwave to just about boil water in a pint jar. I put the sugar in a half-gallon jar and add the very hot water. I mix this very well and continue mixing as I add the rest of the regular tap water. I never add color. We often have 80 or more hummingbirds. I like the Rufus Hummingbirds the best. They are orange in color (and they like to fight with all the others).

hiwall said:

I don't really boil the solution. After making many gallons, I now know how much sugar to add so I use the microwave to just about boil water in a pint jar. I put the sugar in a half-gallon jar and add the very hot water. I mix this very well and continue mixing as I add the rest of the regular tap water. I never add color. We often have 80 or more hummingbirds. I like the Rufus Hummingbirds the best. They are orange in color (and they like to fight with all the others).

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I don't know what type of hummingbirds we have, but they are so tiny. They almost look like large bees.

The interview on Monday went well. I am so tired. One more day to work, then I have a 4 day weekend. We did get finished planting the garden except for a little more corn.

My house is a disaster. Just completely unacceptable. I'm not one that has to have a spotless house to have company, but mine is embarrassing. Hopefully I'll get it cleaned this weekend. Every day, we have had psych patients and really ill people - I am just exhausted. On the upside, I did see a new client this afternoon. Still need to research pine needle tea and suermic sp) acid.

It's going to be a hot humid one today. Right now temp is 70* with humidity at 95%. There is fog hanging in the air. High today of 90. No rain in our forecast for today. The rain, yesterday, was nice. Everything got watered in good. We might get more, tomorrow.

No rain, today, means we're going into small town, today, for groceries at Food Giant, then on to TSC. Cary needs a hair cut, and I might break down and go to Walmart (I hate Walmart) to pick up a few items I can't find cheaper anywhere else. I need to pick up my eye meds there, too. I hope and pray that my hip and leg allows me to finish everything I need to get done in town, today. Nerve pain is no joke, but I refuse to have another back surgery right now. No guarantee that surgery will fix the problem anyway.

Now that I have cleaned out more storage room, I plan to refill the holes in the pantry, and also start filling up the empty space with more storage foods. I need more canned meats in storage. I'd like to double the amount I already have just to be on the safe side.

No menu today. We always eat out, after our shopping is finished, before coming home.

Have a great day, Ya'll!