Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: January 26 ~ February 1, 2020

[ReneeT]

Good Morning, All! Hope everyone is doing well this beautiful Sunday. Daughter and grandsons got home safely from their trip late last night so that brightened my day Although they did go through one of the airports that the CDC is monitoring for the corona virus, so that was a little stress inducing... It's a little chilly here this morning at 27*F, but is bright and sunny - no snow, sleet, or freezing rain, and none in the forecast for a few days so that is also making me happy.

I was pretty tired from extra hours at work and minimal sleep yesterday so I didn't even bother to sale shop though I had a list made out - nothing essential, just stock up items that I'm sure there will be another sale on soon. I settled for a quick run in to Aldi to pick up the perishable basics for here at home, plus fresh dairy, fruit, veggies and a few easy to fix things for Daughter to get her through the upcoming week. Her life has been so hectic the past year with juggling partner's cancer diagnosis and treatment along with caring for her boys, running her own business, and now they and the extended family having to adjust to his passing; it's a small thing I can do to give her a bit more time in her already busy schedule.

I do think that I'm adjusting well to being back on night shift (note to self - buy more B12 lol!), and I am enjoying working with younger people again - especially this group. Most are continuing their education while working full time; and taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement plan at work to avoid student loans. Smart kids - they give me hope

I've perused a few online sale ads for this new week, but will need to spend a bit more time when I get my hands on the paper ads and coupons later today or tomorrow. I need to do an inventory of OTC meds and vitamins; noticed that CVS had a buy one/get one free deal on some vitamins (has to be same brand to get the BOGO), and they also had some paper products on sale; will have to see how their sales work out vs Dollar General's. CVS sales on OTC meds usually work out to be the best deal for me, but the coupon printers are down in my 3 local stores (they are replacing the printers, but not until July), and using those coupons is how you get the best deals. I've resorted to doing a separate transaction for each item unless it's a buy one get one 1/2 off or free (suggested by my favorite cashier - love that girl!) in order to get my full amount of coupons.

Our insurance carrier at work changed to BCBS and no longer accepts CVS as a pharmacy; that left me with 3 local options: the hospital pharmacy (lousy hours), Walgreen's (shorted me meds or could only fill half so I had to come back in the past), and Wal-Mart. Went to Walgreen's because it and discovered that the insurance won't fill 90 day scripts - grrrr! Guess I'll let them finish out the three months, then get another 90 day script from the doc, take it to Wal-Mart, do bulk shopping while they fill it, and pay the $10 out of pocket. $40 per year and being annoyed 4 times vs 0 out of pocket but being annoyed12 times; I can tolerate that deal.
!
Well, I just got a call from a couple of little boys that miss their Grandma; guess I'd better find some town clothes and head over to get my boys! You folks take care out there - stay safe!!

 

[Hfcomms]

Well, I was going to buy some more dog food and cases of freeze dried food anyway with the tax refund so I went ahead and got that stuff ordered and will be here this coming week. In addition I went thru my medical gear that I had stored away and have some more nitrile gloves coming. I also got some more Tumeric and D3 coming as I use them anyway. Other than that I'm in pretty decent shape.....I think!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

The only prepping I'm doing for the foreseeable future, like for the next two weeks, is to concentrate on building up my medical supplies.

 

[nomifyle]

I ordered 3 containers of Gatorade from Amazon, I usually keep two in my preps but DH used more than I thought he had, so this is mostly just a restock but also useful for sickness to help with hydration.

Judy

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I ordered 3 containers of Gatorade from Amazon, I usually keep two in my preps but DH used more than I thought he had, so this is mostly just a restock but also useful for sickness to help with hydration.

Judy

Yes, more powdered Gatorade here, too. I have some, but it's a bit outdated. I want to get fresh. Also, I need more Turmeric/Curcumin capsules, another box of nitrile gloves, and more OTC meds for cough and congestion. It will be another week, before I do my regular shopping. I hope I can wait that long! If not, Cary will be ordering online.

 

[Illini Warrior]

now is the time to use your prepper knowledge and sources to stay ahead of the panicking sheeple ...

they are buying up the recommended supplies for limiting the disease spread - gloves, masks, suits ect ect ...

if it begins to spread the treatment supplies will be gone within hours off the shelves - with the warehouses soon following >>> get your EDC meds, rehydration stuff like Pedialyte and Gatorade/Kool Aide, kleenex, ect ect

 

[prudentwatcher]

Winn DIxie had my toilet paper as a BOGO, so I bought 4 6packs. Also picked up some cornbread mix, some strawberry jam, some cheese and some eggs and some marked down meat for the freezer. Hit Dollar Tree on Friday and picked up a few things, but the shelves were pretty empty as the new shipment was sitting in boxes on the floor waiting to be unloaded. Might try again on Tuesday as I would really like to pick up some more boxed milk.

I ordered a dozen butane cartridges for my butane cooker (hot plate) and they arrive tomorrow. I will order another dozen in February. This gives me another way to heat food in case of no power.

We are pretty well set for medical preps. Only thing I really want to get is more bottled water, but I wasn't paying the Winn Dixie prices for the brand I wanted. It should be on sale somewhere else this week, so I will look at the sales flyers when they come out. My prescriptions will renew/refill for another three months at the end of the week, so I am good there.

Only other things to get are canned cat food and more kitty litter. Both are on the list for the next week or so.

 

[ReneeT]

Gatorade substitute:

Homemade Hydration Beverage Recipe:
1 package Kool-Aid powder (try Watermelon - it is great with the slightly salty taste of the drink!)
1/2 cup sugar (or 10 sweetener packets)
3/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp salt substitute that contains potassium chloride (we use Morton's Salt Substitute in the dark blue container)
2 quarts water

Mix dry ingredients together, add to water. Chill for best flavor, or heat for someone with chills/fever.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Gatorade substitute:

Homemade Hydration Beverage Recipe:
1 package Kool-Aid powder (try Watermelon - it is great with the slightly salty taste of the drink!)
1/2 cup sugar (or 10 sweetener packets)
3/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp salt substitute that contains potassium chloride (we use Morton's Salt Substitute in the dark blue container)
2 quarts water

Mix dry ingredients together, add to water. Chill for best flavor, or heat for someone with chills/fever.

Thanks, Renee. That's good to know, and I copied the recipe. I wouldn't be able to use it, though, since I'm allergic to any type of Kool-Aid. During the summer, Cary drinks a lot of Gatorade, since he works outdoors a lot. In our temps, he needs it. We buy it by the cases at Sam's, so I'm just gonna go ahead and stock up on it now, instead of waiting til summer.

 

[COelf]

Be sure to check your boxes of gloves. I had to throw away a box. They were old and practically crumbled when I took one out.

 

[ReneeT]

SouthernBreeze, any type of drink powder or other flavoring can be used in place of the Kool-Aid; it's just there for taste.

 

[ReneeT]

Check out the gloves at Harbor Freight if you have one nearby - cheaper than a drug store!

 

[Digger]

I ordered two sets of sheets. I had been needing them but had been waiting for a sale. Penny's had a good sale then a promotional code for more off. They will come to the local store next week. With this virus, I did not want to buy anything like that for a long time.

 

[prudentwatcher]

I did get 4 more cases of bottled water to add to the stash, as well as more distilled water. Also bought some fresh bleach, some OTC meds, and a few food items, though we are fully prepped on food. Walmart had some butane today, so I didn't have to order more.

Filling prescriptions is more of a pain as my insurance now will only fill them at Walgreens and I have everything at Walmart. I will have to go to Walgreens tomorrow at lunch and get things switched over.

Also printed off a bunch of new recipes off Pinterest--mainly easy slow cooker ones with basic ingredients that we have plenty of already on hand. Just wanted some variety to try. Some skillet dinners and a few new desserts as well.

Have just a handful more things to get that would be nice to have, not necessary. Should have time on Sunday to do that and will consider that my final prep run for a virus pandemic.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I'm starting from the ground up and trying to work within a budget. Picked up small tarps and para cord for the BOBs. Got some bits and bobs to do some minor home maintenance. Picked up some Mucinex as suggested by other members. Earlier this week I picked up a cheap vaporizer. Picked up more food but not what any would consider long term preps.

I now have Japanese winter squash and organic spaghetti squash. I'm planning on saving the seeds. Want to buy some organic butternut squash as well, to eat the squash and save the seeds. I get more organic seed out of a single squash than in one of those tiny little organic seed packets with like ten seeds in them that may or may not germinate.

 

[summerthyme]

Just remember, organic doesn't mean they aren't hybrid seed... or that they didn't cross with the different variety in the next field. Regardless, they'll probably produce something edible.

Summerthyme

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'm making my final run tomorrow for anything related to a virus pandemic. I have only a few things to get, but think they are important. If a self quarantine is called for, and I've forgotten something, we'll just have to make do with what we have, and pray above all else after our run tomorrow.

I'll also be adding a few more food items to my pantry over and above my normal grocery shopping. Items that I am close to needing for the house may get scarce in the future, so I'm picking up a few things in that category as well.

It's gonna be a big run for us, tomorrow.

 

[Digger]

We bought a couple of boxes of mask. I also called in our prescription refills. I have about 3 months worth of all but one of hubbys meds. The lady at the drug store told us people were buying mask and shipping them to China. The had only 3 boxes left. We bought a box of 5 there got some better ones at Lowes.

I am working on a list for the grocery store next. I have a lot of preps, but feel I need more of some stuff. Especially stuff the kids might need or grandkids. Both grands have been sick lately and i gave the parents part of our supplies to help them out. They needed rotating anyway.

I used the self checkout at Lowes so not to have to answer questions about the masks and hand sanitizer.

Going to put the old chickens on death row. I had been putting it off too long. They will make several jars for later meals.

 

[nomifyle]

my brother told me the other day that if something bad happens that at least one of my sons would show up on my door step and expect me to provide everything for him and his wife and three children. The thought of that made me think about how feeding five more people that eat three meals a day would clean me out in less than a month. And they would bitch about the choices I have. For DH and I we have enough for a long time, but five more mouths, not so much. They have little that they could provide for themselves because the only keep a few days worth of foods in their house. My three year old grandson, (who is the most precious boy ever born) is hungry all the time, he's says "I'm really really hungry" on a regular basis. While I would want to be able to feed them I simply cannot provide what they would want. The really sad thing is a life or death situation is the only reason they would ever come to my house. They are city people and have no interest to even visit otherwise.

Judy

 

[SouthernBreeze]

my brother told me the other day that if something bad happens that at least one of my sons would show up on my door step and expect me to provide everything for him and his wife and three children. The thought of that made me think about how feeding five more people that eat three meals a day would clean me out in less than a month. And they would bitch about the choices I have. For DH and I we have enough for a long time, but five more mouths, not so much. They have little that they could provide for themselves because the only keep a few days worth of foods in their house. My three year old grandson, (who is the most precious boy ever born) is hungry all the time, he's says "I'm really really hungry" on a regular basis. While I would want to be able to feed them I simply cannot provide what they would want. The really sad thing is a life or death situation is the only reason they would ever come to my house. They are city people and have no interest to even visit otherwise.

Judy

I'm concerned over some of the same issues as you. I have prepped for two adults for a year+. Our oldest son and DIL who live about 2 miles from us are also preppers/survivalist. DIL's mother and sister aren't, because of finances. If something bad were to happen, DS and DIL have already made plans to come here, bringing all the food/supplies with them. They have also prepped for two adults for a year. DIL's mother and sister would also have to come here. I'm concerned that two more mouths to feed might cause us to come up short, plus their diets are sugar and gluten free. I'm not prepared for that. I'm hoping that DIL has been thinking of this as well. It should be her place to add foods to her pantry that her family can eat, but I doubt she has. I do not have the room or money to start preparing another year's worth of food for any type of special diet.

 

[nomifyle]

On this cold 50 degree weather I have decided to clean out and defrost our upright freezer. Besides the fact that its long over due, I'm motivated because I want to do some freezer meals and really have no place to put them because everything is full. The upright though would have room if it was defrosted and cleaned out. We keep three of our freezers on a porch that is enclosed on three sides and last year DH built a floor with 5/4 decking. So the defrosting water won't hurt the floor. The other freezers need the same thing done just not as bad. At this point I have all the food out and in containers. Its so cold outside it won't hurt the frozen food, its unlikely to defrost.

On another hand, before the weather starts to warm up in the spring I have two sheds, the school bus and my camper to clean out. I do have some organizing to do in the she shed, but its not in bad shape.

Yesterday I watched a utube video about organizing chest freezers. The one I'm probably going to go with and the cheapest one is to use plastic grocery bags ($1 each most places) to organize the food. Now I just have to get myself to the dollar tree to buy the bags. The lady had bags for things to use first and things to use last and the bags were identified for certain types of food. Sounds doable.

Judy

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I'll admit I'm jealous of those who are prepared. DH has been watching the progress of the virus. Yesterday he surprised me. After some discussion we hit a box store. IMO we may now have enough for a wave of flu, if we ration carefully and the power stays on. We have a small portable generator but not much in the way of fuel for it. Running it at our current location also has some issues.

I'm putting my faith in the Lord. We've done what we can. It's in his hands now.

While out I picked up food grade resealable plastic bags. My plan is to transfer some of the bulk items into them along with some bay leaves to scare off the bugs. I'm also planning a bug-out bin. A bin of ready to eat or almost ready to eat food. The bin will also have whatever is needed to make and serve it. We can grab it and go if we have to. It wouldn't hold us for long but it would be something.

 

[Hfcomms]

That is all you can do. An active faith is much better than a passive one. We do everything we can with the resources, time and talents God has given us and he’ll take care of the rest.

 

[Illini Warrior]

my brother told me the other day that if something bad happens that at least one of my sons would show up on my door step and expect me to provide everything for him and his wife and three children. The thought of that made me think about how feeding five more people that eat three meals a day would clean me out in less than a month. And they would bitch about the choices I have. For DH and I we have enough for a long time, but five more mouths, not so much. They have little that they could provide for themselves because the only keep a few days worth of foods in their house. My three year old grandson, (who is the most precious boy ever born) is hungry all the time, he's says "I'm really really hungry" on a regular basis. While I would want to be able to feed them I simply cannot provide what they would want. The really sad thing is a life or death situation is the only reason they would ever come to my house. They are city people and have no interest to even visit otherwise.

all you can hope for is a run-up period to a serious SHTF that we can all recognize as such >>> have a comprehensive list prepared - categorized and by priority - if you see things cooking and your sons start talking about bugging out to you >>> email/text or just verbally dictate the list - hopefully they can bring supplies along that can extend your efforts ...

PS - they could also be able to bank transfer deposit extra $$$$ that you could use locally to bolster the effort - get a fuel truck in one last time - more feed - ect ect

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We made our final run into town, yesterday, to finish up on our medical supplies. Bought another box of nitrile gloves, another box of surgical masks (we already have N95's), Robitussin DM, large case of Gatorade, and Turmeric Curcumin capsules. That's all I needed to go with everything else I already have on hand in good supply. I feel like I've done all we can do, and will trust God with the rest. We also pray Psalm 91 on a daily basis.

I did allow myself extra wiggle room on my grocery budget. I went over budget to buy more food for my pantry. It was just basis food items like coffee, butter, cheese, flour, canned veggies of all kinds, and finished topping off 2 chest freezers with more meat, etc.

We went all over town to different places to shop. In a city with 40,000 pop., we saw only one person wearing a mask, but noticed that several people were wiping down their shopping carts with sanitizer wipes. The Flu and Strep is still going like wildfire here, and no one seemed to feel the need to wear masks. If this virus hits our area, I don't think they would take the precautions needed, either. That thought gave me a sinking feeling in my stomach.

We will be partially self quarantining for the next two weeks. We will assess the situation at the end of two weeks, and make a judgement call at that time whether we will continue with the quarantine, or tighten it.

 

[nomifyle]

I put off going to town until Monday, still need to cash a check that my brother sent me for my birthday. Plus have to pick up an order from Walmart.com from the local walmart. Having an order sent to the store seems the best way for me to get my order timely and not damaged. I wore my self out yesterday cleaning out the upright so I haven/t done much today. I did make DH some waffles and bacon for breakfast. I'm going to surprise him with one of his favorites for supper, tun noodle casserole. I double the recipe and have enough for extra meals for him, I don't usually eat it.

After this next trip to town we'll see how things are going with the virus as to whether or not we will stay home for awhile. Doubtful that folks around here will do much.

Judy

 

[moldy]

Friday, the concrete pad in front of my business got poured. I came home to see "(DH) heart (me)". I tell you, that man can still make my heart race with the things he does!!

Today, we spent the day trenching the overflow pipe from the pond (about 3 acres) to the ditch, so we have the ability to drain it if need be. I've ordered more herbs, but I cannot find lomatium (biscuit root). Any one know of any sources? I've tried amazon, Mountain Rose, and herbco.