Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread August 2 - August 8, 2026

anna43 said:
Southern Breeze, can you figure out how/where mice are getting into the cupboard? In an old house it is nearly impossible to have zero mice, but it is usually possible to fix cupboards so they can't get in.
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This is a bottom kitchen cabinet the mouse got into. They are coming in through the laundry room. The back of the cabinet is along the kitchen wall as the laundry room on the other side. They must have a hole in that wall right into the cabinet.

I got everything washed and the cabinet cleaned out. What a mess that was to clean up. There must have been more than one mouse to make that kind of mess. New mouse poison is in there, now, until I can get new mouse traps. Cary use the poison out in his work shop, but I don't like it in the house, especially, the kitchen.

I don't like my stove, either. It's about 6 years old. bought it brand new. The two large burners will heat up on high, then turn themselves down on their own, then heat back up on high again. If I turn the burners down, myself, they go really low. After a while, they heat back up on high, again, on their own. It's so aggravating! The two small burners won't turn down low enough to just keep something warm. I even went to Lowe's to talk to someone there about the problem. He told me there was no way to fix the problem. It's just the way the stove was made. I think it's a more common problem than he knows. I've talked to others who have a newer stove, and theirs does the same thing. Since I can't regulate the large front burner, it's the main reason I got an electric canner.
 
I'm sorry to read about all those annoying stoves! I'm glad I got an Amana when I moved in. It's a no-frills electric, no computer crap, and it generally behaves itself. Home Depot carries them, but I think I got mine at Lowe's. They make basic gas stoves, too. They are called "landlord specials" because they rarely break down.

shopping
 
Meemur said:
I'm sorry to read about all those annoying stoves! I'm glad I got an Amana when I moved in. It's a no-frills electric, no computer crap, and it generally behaves itself. Home Depot carries them, but I think I got mine at Lowe's. They make basic gas stoves, too. They are called "landlord specials" because they rarely break down.

shopping
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When I bought mine, that's the kind I wanted. Just a plain stove and oven. No computerized anything. I couldn't get it in any color but white. I can't use that color in my kitchen, so I was left with no choice.
 
I hear you! I once got stuck with a green stove from the ReStore ($90). With the help of a friend, we hauled it outside, took it apart, and sprayed it black with the high heat enamel paint, which is expensive but made for that, let it dry, hauled it back in and re-assembled it. It wasn't the best job, but that beat the green. If I had to do that again, I'd use a spray gun rather than a roller, but that's what I had. I was nearly broke at the time.
 
Folks, I'd like some input from y'all. What is your read on the wars and rumors of war the world and the internet have got going on?
I'm seeing a lot of AI scare stories and have a general policy of regarding anything AI as a lie. There are some stories which appear to have real people and they are warning about various sorts of crashes and wars etc. Then there seem to be some well documented reporting on cyber infrastructure attacks on water facilities in a number of US states, and weird invasions of cities in Spain by Moroccan muslims.
I'm finding it hard to separate truth from fiction. Any thoughts? are you taking any specific actions? I would appreciate balanced views. Thanks in advance. seraphima
 
Meemur said:
Sorry about your stove, Anna! Maybe resell it and get one that works the way you need it to? That's an important piece of equipment!

Raining again here, but I got some of the mowing finished. I just don't understand Iowa grass. It should be dormant right now, not green! :geek:
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From what I can determine, all the new stoves are POS just like the one I bought. Worst part is they are very expensive to boot. I'm just going to have to get used to it and hope I don't burn the house down in the meantime.

Nice lawn grass was mostly dormant before we got a couple showers. However, the weed grasses continue growing to 3' high. I discovered that creeping charlie does not like drought and it turned brown which is good except there is so much in the lawn that the lawn looks terrible. I also have a large infestation of rag weed which is kept mowed so it does not spread pollen.

I just got back from 4 p.m. Bible study because I got hooked helping two ladies with a jigsaw puzzle. Addicting!!!!!!!!!
 
Seraphima, I worry about tornadoes, so I have water on hand in the basement, along with some non-perishable food, that I rotate in and out. That's ongoing because there are heatwaves and extreme cold that can crack the main water line on my street, which could both impact my water and keep my car home for a few days while they fix it.

As far as worrying about AI / hackers / water plant problems, I keep half an eye on those stories, especially since I'm in Iowa and the latest water plant problems happened in MN, but I don't lose sleep over it. There's always crap going on these days. I try to focus on my garden, instead. There's little else I can do.

Added: when I take my next road trip, I'll also include several gallons of water and keep the gas tank topped off. I'm not going that far, and at the first sign of trouble, I will turn around and return home.
 
Seraphina, I'm with Meemur, I keep an eye on things but since there is absolutely nothing I can do about them, I don't stress about them. I'm a prepper and have food and water on hand to manage for a couple months but no way of heating without natural gas. My generator is natural gas and if NG is available, I'll have electric and heat. If not, I'm screwed. Still, I've done all I can do prep wise within budget and age constraints, so I leave the rest to God.
 
@seraphima - my dad used to say 'Don't believe anything you hear, and only about half of what you see." I hate to admit he was right on that too! Part of my discernment is 1) can I do anything about it? If Planet X hits the earth or the poles suddenly flip, can I do anything at all to change that? No. Then 2) What can I do to make my situation more stable? And that varies person-to-person. For me at this point, it is organizing my storage as I am stocked on what I need to stock. That could change tomorrow, but organization is what i need to work on today.
 
Thanks for your input. Yes, that's about where I am at too. I have some PTSD from being in a war when i lived in Beirut as a kid, and have to watch that it doesn't run me. On the other hand, real things are happening and i don't want to be part of the problem when current event are catching up to us. I am seeing prices go up, up, up. Gas here is $5.29 and diesel $5,99 as I drove home today. Dog food went up $5 to $41 for a box of 36 since last month - at Walmart.
 
moldy said:
@ginnie6 - see if he'll drop a denture tablet in it overnight every once in a while. If I have a house to clean that is a more-than-once kind of place, I'll drop a couple denture cleaning tabs in the toilets on the first visit. The second visit they are always better.

Last day working a full day until well, quite a while. I'll be doing half days while I finish the hyperbaric therapy treatments (assuming they get authorized). Everything from the first of the month is caught up, and I will still have work, but it will be manageable (I think!). Going to the big city for therapy and Krispy Kreme doughnuts tomorrow, then just more stuff. Implants get placed on Thursday morning, and I would appreciate some prayers that day. For me and DH that is driving me.
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Praying for a great outcome, minimal pain and safe travels!
 
SouthernBreeze said:
Temperature rising, today. Back into the 90's with higher humidity. I went for my walk first thing this morning to beat the heat.

A mouse got into one of my kitchen cabinets. It made a big mess, so I've got to take everything out and wash it. Clean the cabinet, and put everything back in, after Cary puts down more mouse poison. I need to buy more traps. I don't like using the poison in the kitchen, but that's all we have at the moment.

Nothing else planned for today, but I'm sure I'll find something that needs doing.
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I thought we were rid of them for a while and then I started seeing signs and they were on the small side so I know it was a junior. We are always conflicted about the poison because of our dogs. DH prefers to crumble up the poison because we have had them drag a small chunk out where the dogs can get it. I can't do the crumble so kept reminding him. I got up one morning last week and he said I found your mouse...I assumed he dispatched it. Nope he found it swimming in the bleach water in my half full sink...I'd left sponges and scouring pads soaking in it overnight. He scooped it out and walked it all the way down to the end of our field and released it. He can be a complete softy until he's not. He said it was too little and had survived no telling how long swimming around in that bleach water. Now when they get in his barn, it is all out war.
 
Wildwood said:
I thought we were rid of them for a while and then I started seeing signs and they were on the small side so I know it was a junior. We are always conflicted about the poison because of our dogs. DH prefers to crumble up the poison because we have had them drag a small chunk out where the dogs can get it. I can't do the crumble so kept reminding him. I got up one morning last week and he said I found your mouse...I assumed he dispatched it. Nope he found it swimming in the bleach water in my half full sink...I'd left sponges and scouring pads soaking in it overnight. He scooped it out and walked it all the way down to the end of our field and released it. He can be a complete softy until he's not. He said it was too little and had survived no telling how long swimming around in that bleach water. Now when they get in his barn, it is all out war.
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Cary uses the bar bait for the mice. When they eat on it, it makes a mess that I have to clean up. Leaves crumbles in a pile where they are eating. I prefer traps. Cary uses bait and traps in his work shop. I ask him if he would spare one of the traps for the kitchen. Hopefully, he'll get around to doing that, today. He has to work on the toilet and mow, too.
 
Meemur said:
I hear you! I once got stuck with a green stove from the ReStore ($90). With the help of a friend, we hauled it outside, took it apart, and sprayed it black with the high heat enamel paint, which is expensive but made for that, let it dry, hauled it back in and re-assembled it. It wasn't the best job, but that beat the green. If I had to do that again, I'd use a spray gun rather than a roller, but that's what I had. I was nearly broke at the time.
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I hear ya on the green stove. I'm stuck with one of those old green bathtubs. The toilet, sink, and vanity have all been replaced, but we would have to have major reconstruction done to replace the tub.

My kitchen is all in stainless steel, black, and an almond color. You can imagine what a bright white stove would look like in there.
 
We have done our best to prep for any contingency, except nuclear fallout. If that were the case, we would have to bug out to a safer zone if warranted. I look at everything happening in the world through the lenses of Bible prophecy, knowing that I can't do anything to stop what will happen, knowing that only God is in control of all things. That gives me a sense of peace.

I don't take anything AI has to say, or any youtube or X video/report for truth. I always look for confirmation of at least 2 other sources, before I half way believe them. Even then, I've been caught believing something that turns out not to be true. Having more discernment is certainly something I need more of these days.
 
seraphima said:
Folks, I'd like some input from y'all. What is your read on the wars and rumors of war the world and the internet have got going on?
I'm seeing a lot of AI scare stories and have a general policy of regarding anything AI as a lie. There are some stories which appear to have real people and they are warning about various sorts of crashes and wars etc. Then there seem to be some well documented reporting on cyber infrastructure attacks on water facilities in a number of US states, and weird invasions of cities in Spain by Moroccan muslims.
I'm finding it hard to separate truth from fiction. Any thoughts? are you taking any specific actions? I would appreciate balanced views. Thanks in advance. seraphima
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As others have said, being prepared, even mildly, with stored water, shelf-stable food, warm clothing and blankets, primitive gear like sleeping bags and a camp stove, and a full gas tank in the car, keeps a person from worrying too much.

It doesn't pay to get racked up with all kinds of "news" from internet shills who are only out to sell clicks. If it's internet, assume it's self-serving BS. Check in a couple times/day with a reasonable, trusted source, if you must, but don't let the hype rule (or ruin) your days and enjoyment of life.
 
In the early 1960s a cousin of my dh's got married and had old fridge and stove. As a wedding gift her dad took the appliances to an auto body shop and had them painted pink which was the rage then. Pink or aqua appliances!! My sister got a new home and chose pink. I wanted aqua but I had old and white and was glad I had something that worked. Stove was from 1930's match light, and fridge was in International Harvester brand built like a tank with the small defrost every week freezer compartment.

BTW I learned during those years that I'd rather deal with mice (trapped up a dozen per day) than cockroaches by the millions. No matter how much I cleaned, nothing was clean. Baptism in poverty.

We shrouded in fog this morning. It's slowly burning off.

SouthernBreeze said:
I don't take anything AI has to say, or any youtube or X video/report for truth. I always look for confirmation of at least 2 other sources, before I half way believe them. Even then, I've been caught believing something that turns out not to be true. Having more discernment is certainly something I need more of these days.
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I quit watching TV news before 2020 election because I realized it was propaganda. Shortly after that I canceled DISH and haven't looked back. If or when (both unlikely) news becomes news, I might start paying attention again. I think of the old TV program Dragnet where officer was always saying "just the facts mam". News reports should be facts and let us decide where they fall.

Too wet to go into the garden now but later I need to pick tomatoes and tie up a couple branches that have escaped the cage. I have no "HAVE TOs" on my plate today but plenty that needs done. Maybe a chance to test out the new electric canner. I purchased online and now I'm getting ads galore for canners and canning equipment. Always happens.
 
The rule of the day in news story headlines, videos, and almost ALL internet delivered "info" is that the nugget of news has been so exaggerated, especially to the "doom" side of the message that it's easy to slide into fear or despair. I'm sure a lot of the authors would deny they're doing this intentionally - but some days, it sure seems like it! There's even a YT channel, that focuses solely on "good news you might have missed".
 
Regarding AI: I keep in mind that it's programed by people who have an agenda. I still think it's fine for "neutral" how-to subjects, like how to assemble an adult tricycle or sand and paint an outdoor deck. It's drawing from other instructions around the Internet. There can still be errors and nonsense, so read carefully before doing anything.

I wouldn't ask it about politics or history.

Yep! Foggy here, too, Anna. I'm heading out in a few minutes for biking and gardening. I'm going to take a lunch, too, and eat by the lake, maybe practice disc golf if no one is around. (I'm slow and don't want to hold anyone up.)
 
We haven't watched any TV news in the last 5 years or so. All propaganda or biased opinions. The only access to YT we have is what we see right here on the forum. Same with AI reports. I have noticed, though, that a lot of news reported here are the exact same reports that CNN, CBS, ABC, and other MSM are reporting. If I don't watch the MSM news, why should I believe any reports from them posted here? Posting the exact same reports here still doesn't make them true.
 
We have Dish..and they carry some other ...channels...not any of the ones you mentioned SB..there are tidbits to be gleaned from those..from time to time
Due the past connection of someone related to us who has now passed..we can find the tiny nuggets of truth...in some stories on those channels

There were stories even 50+ years ago....I was grown and married..when "news was news"...lol ...there were at times concerning things reported..to say the least...I would call that person...say their name...and the immediate response was "don't worry about it...if you knew what I know you wouldn't...it is being handled"...the person was always correct..this person had armed security with them when they left the country...and could personally carry a gun on any plane..their clearance was somewhere in the clouds...this person could wake the president in the middle of the night..if needed..more than that I can not say

Be very glad we have Trump...he loves the USA..he is working for us for free......he is a very rich man...he will turn 80 this year..he could just go play golf....he has no need to spend "retirement" this way....I hope you watched him on July 4th this year...there were clues in the flags he chose to have on the stage with him...one being the flag from Fort McNair (the star expanded banner written that during brutal attack but our friends the British)...it all goes back a very long way..certain things in King Charles recent visit..protocol things should give a clue.. the same in Trumps visit to the UK..visitors don't ride in their carriages to point out one...but Trump did...the queen loved obama...but not trump...was obama installed just like buyden... obamas father was from Keyna...Kenya was a british colony...his father was a british citizen.. when o was born...he was a dual citizen...a dual as president...who said he would fundamentally change the country...now wonder why the queen loved him...iran runs their business through london...has nearly forever..obama gave iran tons of money...the bombs are less important than the iranian financial connections being severed..one type at a time...ever wonder why so many muslims in London ..and the british people are powerless against them...wonder why king Charles wished them a happy Ramadan...but no Easter message...and Europe...things are being changed..so much news is distraction
Why is Bessit selling euros and helping Japan...to keep their currency strong ..and in so doing helping the dollar...there were deals during WWII..to stop the Germans from getting the middle east oil..we would all be speaking nazi german today if they had...the germans were in Egypt back then .Rommel ..was based in Egypt...the germans had SS Muslim units...Arafat's uncle organized them..lots stuff happening behind the scenes..
Enough to think about..we are in a multi fronted war..
Prep on and pray for trump to be kept safe..
 
It still comes back to focusing on things we can do something about. Beyond voting, I can't influence what happens in DC. However, I can influence what happens locally by helping to elect good candidates to local offices, being a poll watcher, and taking time to show up at town hall meetings and hold candidates (and wanna-be candidates) accountable. I can read city council meeting minutes. I can keep an eye on school board decisions.

And I won't get into all the crap going on over building yet another data center.

My point: most of the news today is agenda-run crap that wastes our time. The real news is what is happening locally. Do you like it? If not, that's something worth trying to change, and keeping your area free of communists trying to impose their ideology on the local laws is a prep, in my opinion.
 
Meemur said:
My point: most of the news today is agenda-run crap that wastes our time. The real news is what is happening locally. Do you like it? If not, that's something worth trying to change, and keeping your area free of communists trying to impose their ideology on the local laws is a prep, in my opinion.
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That's the same way we see it, Meemur. We are involved in our own local politics. What DC does is out of our hands, anyway. We vote, but it doesn't seem to matter much. DC will do what they want, regardless.
 
summerthyme said:
Fortunately, most of my cookware would work on it (has to be magnetic). I
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They make cast iron plates that you can set on an induction burner, allowing you too use non-magnetic pots and pans. Some of them even come with one.

Got about 2/3" of rain this morning. It's all well east and south of us now. Had a wonderful meal at the senior center, open face turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy on top. Carrots on the side and cheesecake for dessert. Picked up a couple of pullover (polo style) shirts for $1.50 each at the thrift store. Trying to decide whether to thaw out a 3 oz charcoal steak (cooked) or a cooked hamburger patty. Could do either rice or mashed potatoes, but will probably do rice since I had mashed potatoes at lunch.
 
Well, that part is done. We are back home safely. Several things from the dentist:
1) he said several labs 'wouldn't touch me (make my implants) due to how 'complicated' I am. I'm glad he found one that did.
2) The tech from the lab that made them was present for my procedure. I thanked him in person.
3) He said the bone on my maxilla was one of the softest he had ever seen. Consequently, I have really strict instructions and a longer recovery time.
4) At one point he turned to someone and said, "I don't care if she is upset. It's a drunk teenager. He can wait."

I am still bleeding (oozing). the procedure ended 4 hours ago, but I guess that shows I have good blood flow. I'm not too concerned about it. I have tried tea bags (approved), but they didn't help much. I'm sure I am going to be majorly swollen tomorrow as I can already feel it inside my mouth. I have to leave my appliances out for a week, so for that time, only liquids or VERY soft foods and my speech is unintelligible (as opposed to unintelligent - which it is sometimes already).

DH has been absolutely fabulous. I am drinking a shake to also try to stop the oozing. I can't put pressure on it because they had to do bone grafts on 3 of the 5 implants and they are quite delicate. If I get too aggressive with anything, I could cause a hole into my right maxillary sinus. (my left maxillary sinus is open to my mouth already due to the previous cancer surgery). They did give me good pain meds -- but honestly they are not helping much.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I could feel them during the procedure.
 
moldy said:
Well, that part is done. We are back home safely. Several things from the dentist:
1) he said several labs 'wouldn't touch me (make my implants) due to how 'complicated' I am. I'm glad he found one that did.
2) The tech from the lab that made them was present for my procedure. I thanked him in person.
3) He said the bone on my maxilla was one of the softest he had ever seen. Consequently, I have really strict instructions and a longer recovery time.
4) At one point he turned to someone and said, "I don't care if she is upset. It's a drunk teenager. He can wait."

I am still bleeding (oozing). the procedure ended 4 hours ago, but I guess that shows I have good blood flow. I'm not too concerned about it. I have tried tea bags (approved), but they didn't help much. I'm sure I am going to be majorly swollen tomorrow as I can already feel it inside my mouth. I have to leave my appliances out for a week, so for that time, only liquids or VERY soft foods and my speech is unintelligible (as opposed to unintelligent - which it is sometimes already).

DH has been absolutely fabulous. I am drinking a shake to also try to stop the oozing. I can't put pressure on it because they had to do bone grafts on 3 of the 5 implants and they are quite delicate. If I get too aggressive with anything, I could cause a hole into my right maxillary sinus. (my left maxillary sinus is open to my mouth already due to the previous cancer surgery). They did give me good pain meds -- but honestly they are not helping much.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I could feel them during the procedure.
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Sounds like you are going to end up looking like a chipmunk from swelling. I hope you don't. You should have seen me after I had all four wisdom teeth removed. They had to break up both lowers into small pieces to remove them. That was over 50 years ago when I was a senior in high school.

Just be careful and take good care of yourself.
 
moldy said:
Well, that part is done. We are back home safely. Several things from the dentist:
1) he said several labs 'wouldn't touch me (make my implants) due to how 'complicated' I am. I'm glad he found one that did.
2) The tech from the lab that made them was present for my procedure. I thanked him in person.
3) He said the bone on my maxilla was one of the softest he had ever seen. Consequently, I have really strict instructions and a longer recovery time.
4) At one point he turned to someone and said, "I don't care if she is upset. It's a drunk teenager. He can wait."

I am still bleeding (oozing). the procedure ended 4 hours ago, but I guess that shows I have good blood flow. I'm not too concerned about it. I have tried tea bags (approved), but they didn't help much. I'm sure I am going to be majorly swollen tomorrow as I can already feel it inside my mouth. I have to leave my appliances out for a week, so for that time, only liquids or VERY soft foods and my speech is unintelligible (as opposed to unintelligent - which it is sometimes already).

DH has been absolutely fabulous. I am drinking a shake to also try to stop the oozing. I can't put pressure on it because they had to do bone grafts on 3 of the 5 implants and they are quite delicate. If I get too aggressive with anything, I could cause a hole into my right maxillary sinus. (my left maxillary sinus is open to my mouth already due to the previous cancer surgery). They did give me good pain meds -- but honestly they are not helping much.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I could feel them during the procedure.
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I know you are glad that is over. I'll be praying for you.
 
seraphima said:
Folks, I'd like some input from y'all. What is your read on the wars and rumors of war the world and the internet have got going on?
I'm seeing a lot of AI scare stories and have a general policy of regarding anything AI as a lie. There are some stories which appear to have real people and they are warning about various sorts of crashes and wars etc. Then there seem to be some well documented reporting on cyber infrastructure attacks on water facilities in a number of US states, and weird invasions of cities in Spain by Moroccan muslims.
I'm finding it hard to separate truth from fiction. Any thoughts? are you taking any specific actions? I would appreciate balanced views. Thanks in advance. seraphima
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Personally, I'm paying attention, because I think this MidEast deal has high potential of spreading or exploding into a true disaster. I'm not complaining or blaming President Trump, because I believe Iran had every intention of nuking us if they could. But trying to reason with them is like trying to train a rabid dog...their brains aren't functioning in the way most civilized or sane people would expect.

But I'm more concerned about fuel shortages, potential food shortages, and *possibly* the grid going down than actual war (nuke attack) on our soil.

So, I'm staying prepped up, at least on a very basic level. I believe we could run all the freezers with the solar panels, inverters and batteries we have around the place. I still keep many cases of wid mouth pint jars for canning meat, in the event that the grid goes down and we dont want/need to keep six freezers running. The long term preps were heavily weeded out when we moved in 2021...I gave away all my #10 cans of stuff to our Amish friends. The rest was all checked...its all in mylar, vacuum seals intact.

I do want to inventory my seeds...I need another 4 ounces of beet and carrot seeds, and I will top off any other biennials that are tricky to save seed from. Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.

We had a ton of extra snap beans after I canned up 8 cases (we still had 9 cases in the cellar from last year). I called a neighbor to pick what she wanted, and except for using a few fresh, we're leaving the rest on the plants for seed. Ditto with my early peas...I bought fresh seed for the "Tall Telephone" variety, as my seed stock had gotten mixed with a few shorter types. I also bought fresh Wando pea seeds..they are about 4" tall, and I'm hoping to get a good crop, plus *maybe* being able to save seeds (it will depend on how early we get a hard freeze). But I also bought an extra pound of those seeds, just in case I don't get any from the late plants.

In that case, I'd make sure to plant them earlier next year, to assure an adequate seed stock.

I do want to buy 5-10# of a good, open pollinated flint or dent field corn seed, "just in case". We've proven that we can grow corn here, anyplace that got amended with wood chips and animal manure. Even the sweet corn is 7 feet tall...we've got sunflowers in the same patch that are 14 feet tall! If necessary, we can easily grow enough field corn to supplement the chickens, and maybe to be able to raise a couple hogs. But barring TEOTWAWKI, it makes no sense to try to grow it...its reasonably cheap at the feed store!

I'll double check with hubby,,but I think we're in good shape in terms of chainsaw chains,,spare parts, bar oil, etc. As long as we can grow and store food, and cut wood to heat with, we'll be fine as long as God intends us to be.

But I'm not "worried" about any of it...He is in control!

Summerthyme
 
I wish it was over. I am still waiting on hyperbaric therapy to be approved by insurance. that will be 10 sessions, driving about an hour each way each time. Then after 4-6 months, they will 'reopen' the implants (right now they are sutured shut), pull my 2 remaining teeth, and adjust the appliances.

I'm so glad I'm still here, but cancer sucks. And even when you become 'cancer-free', the consequences of treatment keep giving.
 
Summer...
I totally agree about iran...they would use a nuke..if they had one...we are prepped up much like you are..but each family is a bit difference due their needs...we are paying attention..not panicking...there is a difference...the person I spoke of earlier...explained to us that many of the things we are seeing would happen....we have been preppers for years...
We have the jars and the ability to can from the freezers..if the need should arise...and ways to keep things running..
I think it prudent to stock up on anything...that is important to you...that comes from overseas...

I continue to collect recipes...that are delicious and can be made from pantry items...to stop pantry fatigue the more variety the better....rice ...(most dense calorie food) and barley ....(very healthy and often overlooked) .remember pasta is made from wheat...are not as often mentioned...as flour, coffee and chocolate..
We have seed...and have purchased ahead...for the things we grow..and save seed also...don't wait...I agree that fuel...of all types could become a problem..since we are retired..we use a lot less gas...and plan our trips to save as much gas as possible..
We have also stocked up on all things medical..and things for hygiene..
Also on different types of things for mending, darning and patching..both normal type clothing and more heavy duty things..like canvas..needles..needles.
We also have extra shoes, boots and gloves..
 
Each year about this time I start stocking up for winter although in general I always try to keep a year's supply of food, personal hygiene items, supplements and cleaning supplies. I have a lot of rice and rice recipes because that is a major staple belly filler and goes with most everything.

For sewing, I bought basic patterns for tops, bottoms, pajamas, aprons, jackets, robes and have the fabric, thread and findings to make each item. I bought multi-size patterns which was good considering my girth has changed. So glad I did that as pattern prices are now ridiculous. Elastic goes limp after a time so renewing your supply is a good idea. I also have cording to put in drawstrings, so waists are covered. :xpnd: In fact, I recently put a drawstring into a pair of Alfred Dunner pants whose elastic had died. Currently thrift shops keep me in clothing without sewing, but as the economy tightens or crashes that source will dry up quickly. I just checked and I need to buy cording as my supply is almost gone. Really, bottom line, at my age I could probably survive the rest of my life without buying or sewing clothing ... just need to do maintenance mending.

I'd still like a treadle sewing machine but haven't been able to afford one and haven't found anyone who could convert my current treadle cabinet to fit a new machine. Janome makes a treadle head but you have to supply your own treadle. I have a 1940s treadle machine with a perfect cabinet and worn-out head. Whoever owned it wore the head out completely and that takes some doing with those old cast-iron machines. I've never seen another cabinet like it as the treadle foot peddle folds into the side of the machine. Just checked, Janome 712t machine is still available online for $369 which is about $100 more than 15 years ago when I first wanted one. It would be nice to use a treadle that backstitches so you don't have to tie threads which is about the only thing I hated using a treadle.
 
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