Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: December 25 ~ 31, 2022

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hd5574

Veteran Member
SB
Olive leaf extract will lower BP....the most usual dose is 500mg per capsule....to lower your BP may require 2 to 3 caps per day..or even more there is no set number because everyone is different...your BP cuff is your friend.....take your readings often....since it is also..anti pretty much everything... including: viral, bacterial, yeast and fungal, blood glucose, and cholesterol and triglycerides in addition to lowering blood pressure...it is a very healthy thing to take.
I have a relatively low blood pressure naturally and was taking it during covid in addition to my mega d3...k2 (MK7)and beta carotene ..for the anti viral properties.. I started checking my BP and found I would drop very quickly with 2 capsules per day...I have to be careful not to take too much..But I think you would require more having high BP...it is trial and error to find the correct amount..
Swanson has a good price on it..
Maybe this or this in combination with garlic could work for you ..it is worth a try....as they are natural things
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
hd5574 said:
SB
Olive leaf extract will lower BP....the most usual dose is 500mg per capsule....to lower your BP may require 2 to 3 caps per day..or even more there is no set number because everyone is different...your BP cuff is your friend.....take your readings often....since it is also..anti pretty much everything... including: viral, bacterial, yeast and fungal, blood glucose, and cholesterol and triglycerides in addition to lowering blood pressure...it is a very healthy thing to take.
I have a relatively low blood pressure naturally and was taking it during covid in addition to my mega d3...k2 (MK7)and beta carotene ..for the anti viral properties.. I started checking my BP and found I would drop very quickly with 2 capsules per day...I have to be careful not to take too much..But I think you would require more having high BP...it is trial and error to find the correct amount..
Swanson has a good price on it..
Maybe this or this in combination with garlic could work for you ..it is worth a try....as they are natural things
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I'll consider trying the OLE at a later date. I'm willing to let my doctor try and find what is causing it now that I'm seeing him on a regular basis. I want him to rule out any heart disease and will see where it goes. If I refuse the treatment and med's he recommends, he will stop seeing me. I don't like having dangerously high BP readings with severe headaches and dizziness. I need something that works now or in a couple of days.
 
babysteps

babysteps

Veteran Member
Stock tank heaters went on sale right after our ice storm melted last week so I picked up an extra one.
We almost never need them but when we do, it would be nice to have a backup.
My corner of Oregon is pretty low on eggs so we snagged a couple dozen extra.
Other than that, getting a visit from our Air force daughter next week :) and hubby's 50th birthday is in 2 weeks so working on plans for that.
 
R

ReneeT

Veteran Member
moldy said:
Struggling with the fatigue and lack of appetite from chemo. I know it will get worse before it gets better.
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Is there anything that you have found palatable? For me, it was lemonade - yeah, minimal nutrition, but at least it kept me hydrated. Chemo day was my good day - I could eat anything. I had enough drugs on board to control the nausea. Paid for it later with constipation - gut doesn't like an influx of food when it's not been having much of anything dumped in it for a week or so. Cocoa Wheats hot breakfast cereal, ditto Malt O Meal were okay. Milk & coffee were no-go's.
 
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M

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
Our pipes burst in the storm, and since my house was designed by an idiot, they are inside the wall with no access to them or the shut off valves. Hubs had to take the chainsaw to the bathroom wall. He tore up his hands and arms trying to get in that little space, I had to help him because he just wouldn't fit. (I have NO idea what I did, I just held what he told me to hold and turned a couple of screws for him) He managed to get it fixed. We were only without running water in the house for a day and a half, but it was a PITA.
It could have been a lot worse. A drunk hit a power pole early Christmas morning and power was out for over half the county until the next day. Luckily for me, we are on a different trunk line. I think the drunk should have had to pay for everybody's busted pipes. The local chat board was nothing but folks begging for a plumber or plumbing parts on Christmas Day. Our first Christmas here, almost 25 years ago, the power was out all weekend.
My truck is still not running right and I told hubs he had to get my car to the garage. It's been sitting in the yard for almost 3 mos and wouldn't start. He's tinkered with it a couple times, but not seriously, and the driveway is so bad the wrecker can't get back here. Lo and behold, he put the battery on charge and whacked the starter a couple times and it fired right up. It tried to quit on me in the driveway but I managed to drive it all the way to the garage. I think it just needs a new starter, I go thru them regularly.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I had a good doctor visit this afternoon. He doesn't want to change my dosage of Losartan right now. He thinks my BP will still stabilize as I continue to take it. Last visit, he did bloodwork to check enzymes and such (which were normal), and he wanted more bloodwork, today, to check other enzymes and some other stuff, but can't remember what all it was. It was 4 different things. My potassium level was one thing. Right now, he doesn't believe I have any heart issues, but wants to rule everything out. I have another apt. in 4 months. He didn't mention anything about all those other preventative tests he wanted me to have done last time. I still told him No when he asked about the Covid and Flu vax.
 
P

philkar

Veteran Member
Glad that everyone made it thru the cold weather. Water troubles are no fun! Biden is in St Croix, the migrants continue to flow over the border, and the Deep State is getting deeper by the moment. Meanwhile here in AL we press on! Planted fruit trees and berries. Dreaming of potting up seeds in greenhouse and amending some of the soil in the garden. God is faithful indeed! Moldy praying that you find your appetite again. ReneeT praying that you kick that head cold soon. May your New Year be bright, sweet friends!
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Going to visit takes a lot out of me, and this year was no different. My son did absolutely great. He really did. Family, on the other hand, was a mixed bag. I've decided to just take a deep breath and let it go. One gift got regifted to someone who will appreciate it, knowing that it was a regift.

We made it through the freezing temp with only one interior line freezing. But the water and electric bills are going to hurt next month.

Today was ultrasounds. I made the decision that it was more practical to have Sam's Club deliver to my friend's house then to spend the time and gas to drive there after the appointment. Got the Costco stuff. Refilled the very low gas tank. Picked up the Kroger order, where they lied to me about the out of stock items. Ugh.

Tomorrow is another scan. I'll be stopping by Gordon Food Service and Kroger afterwards. And that's likely to be it for the month.

I've been using the reusable plastic bags and silicone bags for about a year. I decided to get some of the Ziploc Endurables so I can use them for cooking. That absolutely rocks. Their seal didn't hold fully, but I was kind of expecting that. Didn't stop the food from being piping hot and cooking much more quickly than I expected, especially from frozen. I have a different set coming to try as well. No more microwave so I need the oven safe ones. Each bag style has its own use and I like it. I still use vacseal for the meats. I use silicone for leftovers. And the heavy reusable plastic to repack things like cheese, hot dogs, pizza, etc.

I'm sending everyone hugs and winging a few prayers upwards for good health. Moldy, especially for you.
 
D

Digger

Veteran Member
Christmas was good. We do our dinner Christmas Eve so everyone can stay home Christmas or go other places. Our dinner was actually at 2:00 in the afternoon. I think the temperature may have just touched the 32 before dropping again. Christmas Day I was exhausted. I didn't get much done but we both got a nap.

I sold almost all my hay before Christmas. I also got 7 roosters butchered and canned. The first canner I raw packed bone-in. I did it before Christmas. The 2nd pot I was taking off the bone and cooking the bones longer to make better broth. I cooked it a little and just put it on the porch canning stove instead of taking it to the shop refrigerator. We got down to 1 degrees or maybe 0. So it stayed on the porch frozen for 3 days till I was up to canning again. I got 14 quarts with meat and broth and 6 pints and 2 quarts of just broth. I still have to find some place to store it. I have 8 more roosters that need culling still in the pen.

Hubby got me some shirts from Duluth Trading. They aren't real girly, but they are very warm and well made. I love them. I am not real girly anyway. I have always been more comfortable as a farm girl. I had been buying hubby t-shirts for years from Duluth. They hold up and look great year after year.

Looks like our weather will be mild for the next 10 days. Maybe we can get a little more done outside. We still have to mulch the leaves and move them to the garden.

We got our Rural Wave Connect through the electric co-OP. High speed internet is awesome. We will be dropping our direct TV. We can stream the old shows that we like to watch. While in the attic running conduit for the internet, I did some culling up there. I have some items to donate and some I just trashed. I want to get that cleaned out a lot so the kids won't have so much to do when we are gone.

Hubby spilled some anti-jel additive in the truck cab. We have been trying to clean that up. It is not very strong smelling in there now. We have 2 trucks so we don't have to drive this one at the moment. We drive our small SUV when we get the grandkids so that won't affect them.

Eggs at our local Harps have gone up another .20 cents a dozen to $5.68. But that is the sale price good until 12/31/22. The tag says the regular price is $7.48 a dozen. I am so thankful for my chickens. I never buy eggs, but I always look at the price when we go in the store. Walmart is cheaper for eggs. But I didn't take a picture, so I don't remember the price.
 
briches

briches

Veteran Member
Slow and steady here.
No real progress on the prep front other than me “making my lists”. I got paid so will work my budget / bills for the first half of January. I haven’t gotten surgery bills yet. I am NOT looking forward to that and am certain I will hit my maximum out of pocket insurance wise. It is what it is …..

I have been reading a lot, and that has been fun. I’m currently rereading The Hobbit by Tolkien - such a good read.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Finally, our "boil water" notice was lifted late yesterday afternoon. What a relief! I'm refilling all the potable water jugs that I keep on hand in the pantry room. I'm going to add more to my stock and more cases of bottled water when I'm next in town.

I'm doing laundry that has piled up. It's safe to do that, now, since I don't have to worry about everything turning out orange. They never tell us when they are going to flush the water lines, and it always turns our water a muddy orange. I didn't want to take that chance, until the water situation was over with.

I have a half ham thawing in the fridge for New Year's Day. I plan to have a nice meal that day just for Cary and me. We haven't heard a single word from any of DDIL's family, or herself, since 2 weeks before Christmas. Oh well.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Rain, Rain, Rain all day an night and well into tomorrow. One good thing about it is that DH is stuck in the house and he is continuing to work in the pantry. Not exactly how I'd do some things but at least its getting done and at the rate I was going it would never have gotten done.

Unfortunately, we got pack rats in there, never had that problem until we put in the new shelves last year. And I was still buying things then and just putting them where ever I could find a space. The rats are gone and DH is taking the one unit down where they were packing things in. He caught them with live squirl traps, but they did not stay live very long.

However, he has saved a lot of food that was in packages and what we lost was insignificant.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I went into town today for the second day of testing. And the results from the first day are back. Nothing notable with kidneys/bladder/etc. The reproductive provided different info. Nothing on the position so the doc will have to reach back out. But I have uterine fibroids. That explains so much in regards to several things. And it's better than what we were fearing. So we still don't know what is triggering the pain in the kidney area. But we do know why my anemia has gotten so bad and why that time of month is so vicious on my body. Going to be honest, knowing is over half the battle in my case. The worry that it was something worse was not helping things.

After today's testing, I ran by Gordon Food Service to check some things. I haven't purchased from there in a long time, but they just opened a store locally. Until the change in Sam's Club pricing right after Christmas, they weren't competitive. They had the ground turkey we needed, but not the ground pork. Turned out Kroger now has ground pork - at $5.99/lb. Yeah. Not doing that. GFS has boneless pork butt for $1.69/lb. I bought two for now. Those will become ground. I may shoot back for more on Sunday to get pork/beef sausage made now that I figure out the last of that problem. But I am honestly almost out of freezer space, so I won't be doing more than 10 lbs or so.

Am I the only one that's noticed that packaging on ground meats is changing as well. The meat packs are disappearing to be replaced with vac packs. And where the meat packs are still being used, they are coming in pre-packed and pre-measured, in 1 lb increments unless it's ground beef or turkey.

The almost immediate price jumps for food after Christmas are pointing to a really bad year to come for grocery bills. I'm debating getting some seeds started next week, and then a few a few weeks later, so that I can have plants at different stages of growth to drop in the garden as soon as possible. That garden is going to get maxxed out this year.

I've gotten my warning that there are going to be more new expenses this coming year. And while the new job pays really well, it doesn't guarantee more than a minimum amount of work that is just below our current expense levels. So while I want to use the tax return for some prep things, the prep thing it is going to have to go for is paying off the van. I have much more flexibility financially if I don't have to worry about that payment every month. I think I'm going to need that flexibility.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I'm not going grocery shopping, until Monday or Tuesday of next week. I'm already getting myself ready for sticker shock. Adding more natural cut meats, more fresh fruits, and more fresh veggies is already causing my grocery bill to increase. I'm only using a processed food, like Hamburger Helper, boxed scalloped potatoes, etc. once a month or so, now. Paying more attention to my diet cost more, but I'm not about to get rid of anything in my pantry. It will eventually be used. I don't have a lot of processed food in storage anyway. I keep it on hand just for something quick and easy for the days I don't feel well.

Typical Mississippi weather. We've just got out of this big deep freeze, and Monday and Tuesday it's severe weather with possible tornadoes! Rain coming in tonight and tomorrow. Temps in the 70's next week. At least we'll get our water tank and rain barrels refilled. Cary emptied them, so they wouldn't freeze and burst, before the freeze hit. We just can't take the chance of them being empty for long.

Maybe, that big raise all of us on SS are getting will offset the rise in cost of everything, LOL. I can dream.....
 
briches

briches

Veteran Member
I’m sure I will have sticker shock next time I go to the grocery store. Last time I went was beginning of December as hubby did a small run while I was in the hospital.

kyrsyan - fibroids are something I have as well and was something I was seeing the doctor for a few times late summer into fall. I agree, the fear of the unknown can be scary if you let your brain go there.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
briches said:
kyrsyan - fibroids are something I have as well and was something I was seeing the doctor for a few times late summer into fall. I agree, the fear of the unknown can be scary if you let your brain go there.
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Didn't have a choice. The pain levels were enough to cause me to cry involuntarily. I, as a rule, don't cry. Especially not because of something like pain. As I find things and deal with them, it gets better. But I'm still occasionally getting the 'PAIN' that comes out of nowhere and makes me want to shut down and cry. Which I don't do because I'm me.

Finally remembered the other fun. I'm going to be making my own sausage, multiple reasons. And I'd been trying to find a good metal press for forever. And the one I found was on the completely ignored Christmas list. Well when it was ignored I went to go get it. Only to discover that the price had jumped up quite a bit. So I put it off.

Today my back brain scolded me for all the hassle. I have the Kitchen Aid stuffer. I had to buy it if I wanted to make pasta. So now I'm trying to find the 1 lb tube bags that the processors use, but unlabeled and in smaller than 1000 count quantities. Yeah. Life is not cooperating at the moment but I'm sure I'll find them.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
We were gifted a nice ham at Christmas, we like it so much that DH bought another one. There is still some ham on the bone of the first one so ham and beans it will be. DH mostly only likes great northerns so that's the beans it will be. They are okay but I prefer limas, baby or large or even green. Which ever he wants, he's been doing a lot of cooking the last few days so what ever he wants to cook I'll make do with. I am feeling a lot better but the damn cough just will not go away, which is how it normally is, it takes awhile.

DH has been taking all the vacuum sealed jars out to the she shed. Today he wanted cheese and crackers and the only crackers in the house are saltines. Neither of us particularly care for them but they were better than nothing. I have said we should not take all the jarred food out to the shed, we might want something. All the other kinds of crackers are vacuumed sealed in jars in the she shed.

The rain has finally let up a little, the goats were actually out from under the bus, they don't want a drop of rain on themselves, although they all could use a good wash.

I haven't been to the store in a couple of weeks, if I don't have something I'll make do or do without.

I was in the girl scouts for 8 years and our motto was/is "Be Prepared", which I've always tried to do. When I first moved to the woods 12 years ago I knew there would be not close by walmart or grocery store. So I've never relied on having to run to the store for an ingredient that I didn't have. Right now when I go to the store I'm only spending about $100 and that's about every 3 or 4 weeks. I have a list but there is nothing I really need and can't do without until I get around to going to town.
 
ioujc

ioujc

MARANTHA!! Even so, come LORD JESUS!!!
You remain in my daily prayers.....praying not only for your healing, but also that our LORD provides you with peace, reduction of pain, and the awareness that our SAVIOUR is holding you close to HIS heart, that HE wants you to recover, and that HE is IN CONTROL.

We join together in supplication to ALMIGHTY GOD in heaven, that you are soaked, and completely saturated in the golden oil of healing that GOD is pouring over you!!! If you could visualize this, it might be good. FATHER, we come before you to ask that Moldy be filled to over-flowing with YOUR love, YOUR peace, and YOUR healing!!!! May she hear the whispers of YOUR WISDOM AND LOVE oh LORD........in JESUS' PRECIOUS NAME we pray......
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
ioujc said:
You remain in my daily prayers.....praying not only for your healing, but also that our LORD provides you with peace, reduction of pain, and the awareness that our SAVIOUR is holding you close to HIS heart, that HE wants you to recover, and that HE is IN CONTROL.

We join together in supplication to ALMIGHTY GOD in heaven, that you are soaked, and completely saturated in the golden oil of healing that GOD is pouring over you!!! If you could visualize this, it might be good. FATHER, we come before you to ask that Moldy be filled to over-flowing with YOUR love, YOUR peace, and YOUR healing!!!! May she hear the whispers of YOUR WISDOM AND LOVE oh LORD........in JESUS' PRECIOUS NAME we pray......
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Joining and agreeing with you in prayer. Amen and Amen!
 
M

moldy

Veteran Member
Re: thr corkboard thread, I have to do a little more research. It's funny you mention milkshakes. I asked for one yesterday and they brought me ice cream and a glass of milk. I swear....just shaking my head. We got one at Carl's Jr. on the way home.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I just heard back from my PCP's office about my bloodwork. Everything was normal, except my vitamin D level was low. So, he wants me to start taking D1000. I'll add that to my list of things to get at Walmart next week. I've also began taking Valerian Root, again, just to help keep my stress levels down. It didn't do anything to help me sleep, but I thought it might help with stress during the day.

From the looks of my local radar, we are about to get hit with bucket loads of rain. It's 60 degrees right now.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
moldy said:
Sb, you might look at other herbs than valerian. Valerian either tends to make people drowsy or really focused.

Ashwagandha would be my choice if it doesn't interfere with the meds you're already on. It has few Interactions.
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Thanks for that advice! I have several bottles of Valerian Root, and thought I would see how that goes, first. If it makes me too drowsy, I'll switch. I'm trying to find a way to bring my stress/anxiety levels down, naturally. I don't want to be put on an antidepressant. Bringing my stress level down should help with my BP, too.
 
M

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
It was below zero last Sat and supposed to reach 70 today. Gotta love this weather. I turned the heat off and opened the windows to air the house out. The cats are thrilled, they all have windows to sit in. Weathers supposed to turn nasty again tomorrow.
I didn't have to bust ice or carry hot water this morning for the livestock and it was a welcome break.
I did try to get some sand off the sand bar and it's still frozen solid, so I guess that'll have to wait until next week.
Already been to WM and got everything put away.
Hoping for a relatively easy day today.
 
briches

briches

Veteran Member
Just got back from a quick grocery run with hubby. It was nice to get out of the house after surgery. I definitely noticed an increase in prices. Yikes!
 
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