I literally cannot eat most vegetables these days especially the bright colored ones. Between colitis diet and kidney store diet, beans of all kinds and descriptions are forbidden or life becomes extremely painful for days. It's hard because I love bright colored veggies and most beans. Two kidney stone attacks convinced me to pay attention to what I eat. The colitis pain in pretty much instant if I dare to violate that diet. I especially avoid foods that are on both lists as bad which starts with beans. Of course, both diets urge drinking a lot of milk which is a major allergy for me. I do not drink milk but do use it in dishes, baked goods and on cereal. Since I use so little milk, I buy whole milk.
Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: Jan 18-24, 2026
- Thread starter feralferret
- Start date
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Plumber will be back about 630 this morning to fix the other pipe. It's dripping a good bit. Was able to finally get a shower.
Refilled all water totes just in case. God willing this will fix the water problem.
Refilled all water totes just in case. God willing this will fix the water problem.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
He's here. Much prayers
WanderLore
Veteran Member
It's fixed!! Praise the Lord what a great plumber he is a machine. I will be having him do some other things it gets warmer, thank you for the prayers!
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
We are up early this morning. I woke up thinking about all we needed to get done, today and couldn't go back to sleep. Last minute things we need to do, before the storm hits.
According to our local weather forecast, we're all over the place as to how much of anything and when it starts. We're still guessing as to how bad we will get hit. Guess we'll know after the storm passes. According to every forecast, even here on the forum, they all say we'll be in the "bull's-eye" of all the bad stuff. Our local forecast out of Tupelo says different.
According to our local weather forecast, we're all over the place as to how much of anything and when it starts. We're still guessing as to how bad we will get hit. Guess we'll know after the storm passes. According to every forecast, even here on the forum, they all say we'll be in the "bull's-eye" of all the bad stuff. Our local forecast out of Tupelo says different.
Yeah...these are smaller... about 6# each. But yes, it's a big batch of stew... no sense in only filling a few jars!
Summerthyme
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Sheree this has got to be brutal where you guys are!
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Just did the chores it's five degrees real feel is -11. Everybody's doing okay though the horses cats are fine they got six different shelters stuffed with straw, they are doing fine.
Because I sold the farm equipment that had been sitting for years and years, in the fall, I had the cash and some left over so I gave him a huge tip. He was worth every penny
Because I sold the farm equipment that had been sitting for years and years, in the fall, I had the cash and some left over so I gave him a huge tip. He was worth every penny
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
That's what all the weather forecasts we've seen so far are saying. Local weather out of Tupelo is saying that we're going to get mostly a rain mixed with a little snow with temps not as cold as everyone else is forecasting. We're preparing for the worst, though. Millwright posted a chart this morning showing that the Tupelo area is forecast to get 1.10 inch of ice, so who knows?
Stay safe and warm everyone. We are not anticipating super bad weather here. Rain starts today but above
freezing until tonight. Then 3 days below freezing and snow. I cooked chili and soup yesterday. Have plenty of food. Gas and generator but I think power will stay on. Mostly worried about family in DFW area.
freezing until tonight. Then 3 days below freezing and snow. I cooked chili and soup yesterday. Have plenty of food. Gas and generator but I think power will stay on. Mostly worried about family in DFW area.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Our rain starts tonight with the low temp of 25 degrees, according to our local weather. According to other weather reports is supposed to be 29 degrees at 3pm this afternoon with snow. See what a big gap there is in our forecasts?
I'm doing laundry right now to get everything that is dirty washed, dried, folded, and put away. I think we'll just have sandwiches and chips for supper, tonight. I'll get up in the morning and put on my big pot of chicken noodle soup. Everything I need for it comes from the pantry, including the canned chicken. We have a lot of firewood already brought in for the wood heater and wood stove. Oil lamps are filled with oil, and I have candles at the ready, too. New batteries in all of our flashlights, and Cary's headlamp. I've pulled all my bread and other items from the freezer. Some things will go in the fridge freezer. We have plenty of rock salt to de-ice the steps. 8 cases of 35 bottles each of water in the house. I can't think of anything else right now, but we are preparing for the worst just in case.
If we lose power, we will have no internet service. We can recharge our phones, though.
patriotgal
Veteran Member
Never thought I would be wearing flannel jammies to work but I am today. With a hoodie. DH is setting generator up on back porch in case we need it. Have tv in office on with captions.
Warned grands to leave water running small stream, not just dripping. One daughter in KC filling water containers and charging everything. Her DH is amused - he grew up in Florida and has never had to deal with such preps. Kids up above KC are so grateful they grabbed a generator the last time it snowed heavy at their place.
I am filling bathtubs and stock pots just in case. Everything is charged. Looks like sleet and freezing rain is on the menu. We are borderline between ice and snow. Anything could happen.
Chili is on the menu for tomorrow. DH checked the 5 for $25 meats yesterday and got fish, hamburger, pork ribs and pork roasts. I will cook one of the roasts in instapot and make BBQ. Will maintain low carb as much as possible. Don't want to derail DH'S progress.
Warned grands to leave water running small stream, not just dripping. One daughter in KC filling water containers and charging everything. Her DH is amused - he grew up in Florida and has never had to deal with such preps. Kids up above KC are so grateful they grabbed a generator the last time it snowed heavy at their place.
I am filling bathtubs and stock pots just in case. Everything is charged. Looks like sleet and freezing rain is on the menu. We are borderline between ice and snow. Anything could happen.
Chili is on the menu for tomorrow. DH checked the 5 for $25 meats yesterday and got fish, hamburger, pork ribs and pork roasts. I will cook one of the roasts in instapot and make BBQ. Will maintain low carb as much as possible. Don't want to derail DH'S progress.
Stay safe, Judy...what's the forecast for your area?
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
Bright and sunny here and a balmy 
-10º/feels like -16º, high today forecast to be -4º.
Everyone's preps sound reasonable to me. If it ends up missing you, you'll still use everything sooner or later. I've been made fun of for prepping and when nothing happens, but they'd be envying me if it had happened. They can do their thing, I'll keep prepping.
Praying everyone comes through with minimal problems, damage and loss of life. It seems every time these things happen there are lives lost to stupidity of running generators improperly. Stay safe everyone.
-10º/feels like -16º, high today forecast to be -4º. Everyone's preps sound reasonable to me. If it ends up missing you, you'll still use everything sooner or later. I've been made fun of for prepping and when nothing happens, but they'd be envying me if it had happened. They can do their thing, I'll keep prepping.
Praying everyone comes through with minimal problems, damage and loss of life. It seems every time these things happen there are lives lost to stupidity of running generators improperly. Stay safe everyone.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
Good morning!
I stayed in bed very late, reading and doing some planning. That was the best place to be this morning! My cat agreed. It's something like -10 degrees (actual) and something like -35 below. My furnace is unhappy, but it's working. I'll go out and check the furnace vent around noon and clear any ice.
Per texts and emails, the mini-marts are open (one is out of gas), Fareway is open, and the bars and restaurants will open at noon, while the hair salons, boutiques, etc., are closed today. I suspect that's true throughout the area. Lots of cars didn't start this morning.
I'm thankful that I don't have to go anywhere! Prayers said for those in the path of the storms.
I'm glad you got your water back, WanderLore.
Stay safe SB! Maybe the worst of it will track north at the last minute.
I stayed in bed very late, reading and doing some planning. That was the best place to be this morning! My cat agreed. It's something like -10 degrees (actual) and something like -35 below. My furnace is unhappy, but it's working. I'll go out and check the furnace vent around noon and clear any ice.
Per texts and emails, the mini-marts are open (one is out of gas), Fareway is open, and the bars and restaurants will open at noon, while the hair salons, boutiques, etc., are closed today. I suspect that's true throughout the area. Lots of cars didn't start this morning.
I'm thankful that I don't have to go anywhere! Prayers said for those in the path of the storms.
I'm glad you got your water back, WanderLore.
Stay safe SB! Maybe the worst of it will track north at the last minute.
prudentwatcher
Veteran Member
It is kind of funny in a way reading about the weather. I am currently in Iceland and it is in the low 40s with no snow or ice. A little rain yesterday but I was able to see the Northern Lights last night on my tour. I have two more days here before heading home to central Florida. You guys stay safe and warm.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
cold, freezing, maybe snow and DH can't get the generator to stay running. He's going to get it serviced after this is over. If the power goes out we can still function and stay warm and if necessary we can warm stuff on the wood stove, still can't find the Gas One.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Our Governor has just issued a State of Emergency!
Good! That sets things up for a quicker response if you do get hit hard.
Summerthyme
I don't know what kind of a system you guys have, but often you can plug your router/modem into a power supply and get the house wi-fi going on a temporary basis. It works for me with the DSL and my router/modem. Then I can at least get on to download movies to the tablet or check the weather, news, etc. on the computer instead of the dog-gone tiny cell phone screen. I unplug it from the power supply (either the UPS or a Jackery unit) when I'm done so as to not drain power.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Gethus. Everybody. This is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
Just did second round of chores. Stove good. Horses good and cats laying on the big straw and hay piles in their pen.
2 degrees actual. -11 feels.
Started both trucks. Drive one through heavy froze snow to flatten. Put other by barn in case needs charged.
Son is working a 36 tonight, will probably have to stay longer. He's bringing me 4 bags coal in.
All dogs in house.
Plumbing working great, got heater going in basement and faucets dripping.
Filled every container with water. Can't fill tub as it has a slow leak even with stopper. Will have my new plumber do more work here when it warms up.
This is all that can be done. That's all one can do.
Just did second round of chores. Stove good. Horses good and cats laying on the big straw and hay piles in their pen.
2 degrees actual. -11 feels.
Started both trucks. Drive one through heavy froze snow to flatten. Put other by barn in case needs charged.
Son is working a 36 tonight, will probably have to stay longer. He's bringing me 4 bags coal in.
All dogs in house.
Plumbing working great, got heater going in basement and faucets dripping.
Filled every container with water. Can't fill tub as it has a slow leak even with stopper. Will have my new plumber do more work here when it warms up.
This is all that can be done. That's all one can do.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
While plumber had power off this morning, I just used my cell Internet. Are you able to do that?
Otherwise we have starlink, so far so good.
Otherwise we have starlink, so far so good.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
We have fiber internet and tv service which comes through our power lines. Power out, fiber is out.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
We can get internet service over our cell phones, but it runs the batteries down quickly. We would only do that to keep a check on weather conditions.
Its a brilliant sunny day here, and the temp has dropped from 23° this morning to 15° right now. The winds are absolutely ripping, though and they're COLD!
The Lake effect snow has stayed north of us for the past 48 hours (Watertown, NY has gotten FEET of snow), but appears to be moving South into our area.
As long as the power doesn't goes down, it will just be another winter weekend.
Summerthyme
The Lake effect snow has stayed north of us for the past 48 hours (Watertown, NY has gotten FEET of snow), but appears to be moving South into our area.
As long as the power doesn't goes down, it will just be another winter weekend.
Summerthyme
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
It's now a balmy -4 degrees. Shorts weather! (LOL!)
The furnace vent had a small amount of ice, easily removed.
I saw the mail carrier. She had on a huge parka. I think she stopped her truck for a grand total of 55 seconds at the
cluster mail boxes, not that I blame her in the slightest! I suspect she was only delivering urgent parcels.
I also saw two of the neighbors walking about six small dogs, all wearing bright sweaters. I suspect those were dogs from four different families out for a very quick jog.
Yes, that southern storm looks scary! I listened to some of Ryan Hall's forecast. He doesn't hype weather, and he's worried.
The furnace vent had a small amount of ice, easily removed.
I saw the mail carrier. She had on a huge parka. I think she stopped her truck for a grand total of 55 seconds at the
cluster mail boxes, not that I blame her in the slightest! I suspect she was only delivering urgent parcels.
I also saw two of the neighbors walking about six small dogs, all wearing bright sweaters. I suspect those were dogs from four different families out for a very quick jog.
Yes, that southern storm looks scary! I listened to some of Ryan Hall's forecast. He doesn't hype weather, and he's worried.
Here (N MN) it's warmed up from -33F this morning to -14F right now. I "remote started" the truck, and am headed out now to get the mail and run it down the highway a few miles to charge up the battery before we're back in the deep freeze again tonight.
Good luck everybody! Seems you all are pretty much set for what comes - as best as can be done.
I'll take the cold over what many of you are looking at in the next few days - any day.
Good luck everybody! Seems you all are pretty much set for what comes - as best as can be done.
I'll take the cold over what many of you are looking at in the next few days - any day.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
You Northerners don't laugh, but about 30 minutes ago we were issued a Severe Cold Weather Watch starting Sunday through Tuesday. 20's for highs and single digits overnight, with wind chills down to -8 degrees. I don't think we'll thaw out, before Tuesday.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie
I'm not laughing! That's going to strain pipes and heating systems, especially in mobile homes. Add to that mobile homes without working heat tape on the pipes and there could be a lot of costly problems for their owners soon.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
Compared to what you all get, it's just a drop in the bucket. For us down here, it is extreme.
SouthernBreeze
TB Fanatic
The last ice storm we had, it got down to 8 degrees overnight. Our community water pumps froze. Broken water lines all throughout our community.
This is our first ice storm with the fiber internet...we'll probably lose it but I have been waiting for a chance to read Kathy's Over the Mountain and Through the Fire so I have all four pages opened on different tabs...hopefully it will work the way I want it to. Also I've been listening to a long series of audiobooks but there is one book in the series not on audio. I have the book and I've been needing to find time to read it.
We've been through this before and have a system that works great. DH checked both generators and he's on his way back from town with gas and diesel to run everything we've got. The Eco Flow is charged so it will be business as usual. The goat has extra hay in a covered section of her pen and we do need to put the tarp around the chicken pen.
I'm still working on the bedroom but almost have it finished. I'm washing the sheets, pillow shams and bed spread along with anything else that needs it. I did the ham, potato salad and baked beans yesterday and the two gallons of stew is simmering so all I have left to do is make tea, cornbread and pimento cheese. I still haven't made any desserts, maybe later. There will be no room in my fridge for one more thing after I somehow manage to get all the stew in there so my cooking spree is almost over.
Mission accomplished and like I said yesterday, I'm taking a vacation/break even if we don't lose electric. I haven't done that in a few years.
How do you access the 'net? If its on a tablet or computer, I'd suggest you use the "download page" function to download the stories you want to be able to access offline. On my Android tablet, using Chrome, it's in the menu accessed by the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser windows.
If you're on a phone, I can't help.
Summerthyme
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Shadow
Swift, Silent,...Sleepy
If you have some Saran Wrap you can put it over the drain, hold it in place while you start putting water in and it should seal the tub.
Shadow
I'm on a chromebook and found the download feature....thanks!