Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: July 12 ~ 18, 2020

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Morning, All! Hope everyone is having a reasonably calm day today. Ours started with some aggravation, but we had no one but ourselves to blame; I'd left my van windows cracked and Hubby had left his 1/2 way down; neither one of us remembered to go out to close them up. We got an unexpected hard rain - I was already asleep but Hubby said it was blowing sideways. I checked the rain gauge when I went out and it showed 1 1/4 inch! The van just had a little condensation on the inside of the windows, but Hubby's truck was soaked. I took out a load of towels, wiped down some stuff; then loaded up all the wet stuff from his truck to head for the house. I made a suggestion that he pull up under the shed porch where he could leave the windows down, and plug in a couple of fans. I just got a growl in response so carried the wet stuff inside and rounded up the fans and set them by the truck; he can use then or not, but I hope he stays out there until he's over the snit 'cause I haven't had near enough coffee to laugh at that yet!

Can't believe he left the windows that far down because we've had 3 little raccoons playing on the porch recently; they're somehow able to get inside the live trap to eat the bait, but not set off the trap. So far we've trapped 7 raccoons on the porch; gonna have to figure out a different game for these little bandits.

Plans for today include the grandsons and grand-dog being dropped off sometime around lunchtime, and whatever chaos may ensue thereafter lol! Hubby picked up a couple more bales of straw for the garden, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get in to put it down without sinking up to my ankles in mud. I need to clear off the island counter - no idea where all that stuff comes from! I might consider a trip up to the orchard in the afternoon to pick up some peaches; I only got a small bag last week as they weren't freestone. I could probably deal with that at least long enough to make a cobbler and some peach jam... I have to work Mon/Tue nights, but then have 3 days off - that I'd better make count because after that it's a 3 day weekend followed by some one off, one on nonsense for a few days. I might be able to get the garden tilled, depending on the rain; but I won't start anything that involves as large a chunk of time as canning a bushel of peaches. They should have them clear through August, though; and my schedule should straighten out before then.

Well, dang; coffee cup is empty - guess that means I'm gonna have to get up and start getting things done...

You folks all stay safe out there!
 

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
ReneeT, hope the day straightens up and goes better than it started.

I'm going to "just a buck store" and I'm going to buy cookies to vacuum seal in mason jars. They are cheap and if things do go as bad as I think it might I'm going to need cookies.

I also get their knock off sos pads, parchment paper, and cleaning supplies to stick back in reserve. It won't break the bank and I will use it eventually.
 

prudentwatcher

Veteran Member
I hit Sams on Friday and got a little more than I expected, but it was all good. Managed to find space for everything, which was a relief!

Yesterday I took my big box of branches and limbs and broke them all down into little twigs and put them in a plastic 35lb kitty litter container. It filled up my fifth one. These are to be the fuel for my little twig burner stove to warm up cans of soup and the like in case there is no power. Costs absolutely nothing to put them away and gives me a fourth way of cooking in a grid down scenario.
 

MissionBend

Contributing Member
I hit Sams on Friday and got a little more than I expected, but it was all good. Managed to find space for everything, which was a relief!

Yesterday I took my big box of branches and limbs and broke them all down into little twigs and put them in a plastic 35lb kitty litter container. It filled up my fifth one. These are to be the fuel for my little twig burner stove to warm up cans of soup and the like in case there is no power. Costs absolutely nothing to put them away and gives me a fourth way of cooking in a grid down scenario.
I never thought about this! I have ten acres of wood with loads down to start breaking up and trying this with. Love this idea.
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Since Louisiana is going mask mandate tomorrow, I made my last trip to Walmart until we are in Phase 3. There was nothing I really needed except some more water. In the water section they were completely out of the walmart water and they has nestle crap sparsely placed in that section. I dislike, actually despise, Nestle so much I'd rather drink sink water (thank goodness I have ways to purify). I got 4 big bottles of the the dish soap I like, 4 bars of felsnaptha, although I already have a pretty good supply of that. They were still 97 cents. I meant to buy more bread but I forgot to go to that section in the store.

I was looking for Goya products and all they had were two kinds of beans, I did get some of those. I got some more of the stuff DH likes to drink. I finally broke down and got a bottle of Glenfitich for myself, I've never even tasted single malt before, but I look forward to it. Pretty expensive, but I treated myself.

I didn't get much canned foods, four more cans of mixed vegetables, I get that many every time I go to the store and a few more cans of mandarin oranges.

I went out to the garden section looking for somewhere to sit down, I found something and sat for awhile and chatted with the lady working there. No where else in the store to rest your old painful bones for a few minutes. I'm wondering if I sat down on the floor they might get a hint. My hip hurts so much after i've walked around in there for an hour plus that I can hardly move. I took a pain pill.

As I was coming back from the garden section I was passing by a row of things with signs say be prepared and low and behold they had a few cases of walmart water. It was the 40 bottle package that is so hard for me to handle, but I managed to get two cases on my cart.

I got more sugar and checked to make sure the package said cane sugar. The 25# bag did not say cane sugar so I passed that buy and got two 10#s. There were about six 2-paks of paper towels and I got two. With what I already have that will do us for a good while. I would have gotten a package of TP but no 1000 sheet rolls, and not all that much of any other.

I bought a six pack of donuts and did not eat any on the way home.

I did get some other things that I can't think of right now, but we are good for the long haul. It did look like other people were getting things that would be considered stocking up. And then there the folks that looked like they were buying for a day or two.

Even my yellow dog democrap sister keeps a full pantry, not as much as I would have but a lot more than most. She said we get our bunker mentality from our grandmother.

I came home and took a three hour nap. Now to put all this stuff away and clean the kitchen.

A nice young couple helped me get the water and really everything else out of my cart into the truck.

God is good all the time.

Judy
 

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
Judy, the limited shoe section in my Walmart still has 2 benches that you can sit to try on their shoes. Maybe they would save you walking all the way to the garden center. It's a pretty good hike in my store.
 

coloradohermit

Veteran Member
July has been the month to catch up on doctor visits. The last 2 are this week, and except for the eye doc, all were good and no one wants to see me for a year. Yeehaw! The eye situation will likely end up with a cataract fix and I'm anxious to get that done and get my eyes back so I can see well enough to not be a nervous driver.

I'm ready to start cutting and splitting some firewood, but it's been unusually hot for Colorado, so that may end up waiting til fall. I've got plenty ready to burn if fall makes an early appearance.
 

school marm

Senior Member
Got the house under contract and we close in one month. Canned a load each of sweet cherries, cherry jam, and cherry syrup, and dehydrated one load. Decided the remaining 80 lbs would be canned and turned into fruit leather.

Spent some time talking to two sisters-in-law about their medical preps and the general insanity in medicine right now. Tomorrow I've got an order coming in from Atlantic Medical Supply, so that will have to be put away.
 

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Picked up a bushel of peaches yesterday early afternoon; they are resting on newspapers on the counter, covered with a light plastic tablecloth (those ones you can get in the party section at Dollar Tree). I tucked a couple of apples under the tablecloth to help the ripening. I plan to make a peach cobbler and peach dumplings for eating now; then once I wake up Wednesday afternoon, I'll make jam with part of them, and get to work on canning the rest in pint jars. I'll cut them in halves or quarters and can them in heavy syrup (1:1) as they keep better in it than in lighter syrups. I have absolutely no idea where my short/square pint jars went beyond the 6 Hubby is keeping in rotation for his lunches so I reckon I'll be using wide mouth pint jars as they are easier to get the peaches in - and because I found another giant box of doubled stacked wide mouth pints in the shed when I was looking for something else, so dragged 'em out, rinsed 'em off with the hose, drug 'em in the house, ran 'em through the dishwasher, and followed that up by hand washing. Right now they are taking up way too much space in my kitchen because I don't have any boxes that they will fit in that I am able to carry down stairs when full lol! I've got about 30 dozen wide mouth lids I probably need to rotate anyway, so might as well use 'em up on those jars.

I need to stop by Aldi on the way home from work Tuesday or Wednesday morning to pick up some more lemon juice - I've only got two bottles that aren't out of date. I need to start decanting it in to jars and keeping it in the freezer instead of just shoving it in the pantry. I'll also hit WM for some more low sugar pectin - I like the Sure-Jell brand in the pink box. The blackberries seem to be a bust this year, so I won't be making blackberry jelly; but will make several batches of the Dutch Apple Jam we use a lot of.

Just went out to check the garden; my green pole beans seem to understand climbing wires, but the yellow ones are going to have to be given a helping hand - they are a different variety from what I used to plan, but RH Shumway no longer carries yellow pole beans so I had to go with Stokes. The fence starts a foot from the ground; I may have to lower it to 6" for the yellow beans next year.

While I was out in the garden, I also found 1 giant, 1 large, 1 medium, and 2 small size zucchini; the giant and large ones will be chopped and bagged in zucchini bread recipe sized portions, the medium will be made into zucchini fritters, and I'll take the two small ones to daughter when I go to watch the grandsons later this morning. I also had a green pepper that needed picked as it had a bad spot. I'll cut it in to lobes, blanch, drain, and vac seal for making stuffed peppers later on.

And speaking of daughter, I need to get off this computer and get ready to head over to here house so she can go to her appointment!

You folks all stay safe out there!
 

aviax2

Veteran Member
I’m adding corned beef hash, almond extract (love the aroma and the flavor), karo dark syrup, some butter sprinkles (haven’t used them in years but thought they could come in handy), Goya seasoning, hard white wheat berries, a few bottles of off brand facial astringent and a large pack of washcloths.

DH dropped by WM a couple of times last week for dairy etc. and both times bought 6 boxes of reg. mouth ball lids. I don’t do as much canning as I used to but I really want/need to do more this year. Thankfully I have quite a few boxes of wide mouth lids on hand but not as many of the reg.

We’re starting to get a few tomatoes from the garden for fresh eating and lots of squash so I need freeze some for later. Corn should be ready soon, I hope the electric fence keeps the raccoon and deer population at bay.

AviaAnn
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Since the 50# bags of dog food were to heavy for me to handle in the store, I ordered two from walmart.com. That should hold us for awhile. DH is running low on chicken feed, I just can't seem to get him to keep it stocked up, oh well. All is good.

DH planted from dent corn and the plants look great, he picked a couple of ears yesterday and they looked awful. I am not interested in eating any of that. I don't eat much corn anymore anyway.

Although he has plenty of laying mash for the chickens, we are not getting many eggs these days, maybe its too hot. He caught a big coon in a trap last night, used the chicken that the coon killed as bait. A dead racoon is a good racoon.

God is good, all the time.

Judy
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
What is wrong with the ears he picked? And what was the goal of planting the dent corn?

Summerthyme
it was wormy, tough and it looked nasty to me. He planted the dent corn to eat (yuck) and he's disappointed. He did plant some sweet corn, no clue how that's doing. Sometimes my precious DH lives in the past.

God is good all the time.

Judy
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Ooh, yeah... even non hybrid sweet corn isn't going to be appealing for fresh eating these days... people's taste buds have changed. Next year, see if you can get him to try an "SE" hybrid sweet corn. These aren't "super sweets", and don't need to be isolated from other corn types lije the super sweets. But they are a wonderful balance of sweet and corn flavor, and they will hold in the fridge for up to a week, and on the stalk for 10-12 days before they get too starchy to be tasty.

To help prevent earworms, a few drops of mineral oil on the silks is supposed to help. Spraying the baby ears (just as soon as they start to form) with Bt also will kill the worms before they get into the ear.

On your chickens not laying as much... how old are they? Is there a chance some of them are molting?
Heat realky doesn't seem to affect our egg production, even when the hens show stress. But I suppose it might throw them into a moot, especially if they've been laying for close to a year...

Summerthyme
 

moldy

Veteran Member
Butchered another 20 or so chickens this morning. The weather is really cool for today, so we did it while we could (before it hits 100+ again). I need to load up the freezedryer with ground beef again, and finish canning peaches I got last week. DD#3 and her boyfriend are coming to visit this coming weekend and I am so excited!!
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Ooh, yeah... even non hybrid sweet corn isn't going to be appealing for fresh eating these days... people's taste buds have changed. Next year, see if you can get him to try an "SE" hybrid sweet corn. These aren't "super sweets", and don't need to be isolated from other corn types lije the super sweets. But they are a wonderful balance of sweet and corn flavor, and they will hold in the fridge for up to a week, and on the stalk for 10-12 days before they get too starchy to be tasty.

To help prevent earworms, a few drops of mineral oil on the silks is supposed to help. Spraying the baby ears (just as soon as they start to form) with Bt also will kill the worms before they get into the ear.

On your chickens not laying as much... how old are they? Is there a chance some of them are molting?
Heat realky doesn't seem to affect our egg production, even when the hens show stress. But I suppose it might throw them into a moot, especially if they've been laying for close to a year...

Summerthyme
some of the ones that are laying are a couple of years old, I think there are 8-10 of them. We do have some new ones that have gotten large, 3-5 months old, can't remember.

DH though we had a chicken snake and got some snake away and the out put picked up but them slacked back of to 3-4 a day.

What's BT for the corn?

Judy
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Bacillus thurengiensis... it's an organic way to get rid of caterpillars of butterflies or moths. It's a bacteria that only affects caterpillars (there are also strains that kill the larvae of Colorado potato beetles), but is harmless to bees and people. It basically shuts the gut down on the caterpillar, which stops them eating. It's really useful on cabbage, broccoli, to get rid of those little green cabbage worms that hide so well...

Summerthyme
 

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I got my Walgreen's card yesterday, and it saved me $6.90 on my purchase there! I'm sure glad I found out about this one.

Our shopping day went well. I got a few more food items for the pantry, but mostly, I just filled in what we've eaten over the past two weeks. I did take advantage of some of the sales at Sam's. I was also able to get more ground beef for my freezers. It was still unlimited and on sale at my new grocery store. I loaded up again. I had to take some of the bags of flour out of the freezer to have room for it, though. Don't think the flour will ruin in a short length of time to leave it out.
 

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Peaches, peaches, peaches... Once I finally woke up late yesterday afternoon, what little energy I had was spent making a peach pie and two cobblers - the pie to freeze; one cobbler to take to Hubby's family, and one to eat. We also put three large bags of peaches in the freezer for future pies/cobblers; and two quart jars of sliced peaches in the fridge for fresh eating - Hubby used some of those in his oatmeal this morning; I put mine in my yogurt (along with some broken up left-over pie crust that had been buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar before baking.) I was busy this morning, and have to pick up the grandsons at 5pm, so this evening I will start canning peach quarters, tomorrow will be peach jam. I will ask Hubby to pick up more peaches this weekend - I won't have enough time and/or be awake to can from Saturday early afternoon until sometime late Tuesday afternoon; or maybe even Wednesday morning so will have Hubby pick up the peaches either late Sunday afternoon or early Monday morning. I'm only going to get a half bushel; if it looks like I'll be able to work through it pretty fast, I will pick up another half bushel on Wednesday

Another 3/4" of rain dumped by a wicked storm yesterday evening has put off doing anything out in the garden until it dries up a bit; I guess that's just as well since I need to get the peaches done anyway. Now I'm off to search for the rack for my water bath canner -there wasn't one inside either of the two water bath canners. If I don't find it in the shed, I guess I'll swipe one from one of the pressure canners instead.

Take care, All; stay cool out there!!
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
A couple of days ago I placed an order with vitacost, included is more D3 and Kelp. The order arrived today. These two vitamins are a big part of what we take every day, along with Zinc among several other things. Quick shipping and the prices had not gone through the roof. I ordered 12 packages of Thai Kitchen instant rice noodle soup at 99 cents a package. This is the cheapest I've found in awhile, Amazon is twice that.

Also part of an order from Walmart.com, which included 6 one pound packages of black eyed peas. I can remember a time when they were my favorite food, having grown up eating them. I still like them. A couple more cans of strawberry/rhubarb pie filling (had to find in a store locally). The dog food I ordered won't be here until the 22nd. It was just shipped today coming from california.

I'm thinking of making a masked trip to walmart to buy more bottled water, it would be nice to keep it to just that, but haha.

God is good, all the time.
 

prudentwatcher

Veteran Member
Got a few little things here and there. Not sure where to put everything, but Walmart had canned roast beef for the first time in ages, as well as a fair amount of soup, so I got more than I normally would when I went a few days ago.

People drop stuff off at our house all the time as my better half can find homes for things or donates them to the proper thrift stores. A friend dropped off some clothes and a big bag of yarn rolls. I took all of the big balls and left the little ones. I have a lot of yarn already, but I bought one of those looms that you are supposed to be able to make caps/hats on. Now I have yarn to practice with. Most of my yarn is in space saver backs stored in the garage.
 

ReneeT

Veteran Member
Peaches are done - at least for this week ( And so am I :lol: )
1 bushel of peaches =
30 pints canned
6 pints jam in the canner now
3 large bags frozen
1 pie
2 cobblers
1 - 1/2 gallon peach ice cream
1 quart diced peaches still in the fridge to carry in lunches, etc...
1 big load of canning towels in the washer
A racoon party in the compost pile
2 happy little boys who have had peaches every meal - and sometimes in between meals - for the past two days. The dog doesn't say no to a slice of peach either.

I'm going to try to talk daughter in to coming out to pick up the boys so that I can get some weeding done in the garden before I go down for my before-work nap - I've already been given a heads up that it's going to be a bad weekend at work; and I have three days of it to get through.... Whine, whine, whine :lol: I'm going to have to till out the row of beets I put in, they were so small that they were getting uprooted when I'd try to pull weeds, and the weeds grew a lot faster than they did. Still having trouble convincing the yellow pole beans to climb - I tied some baler twine between the posts below where the fencing starts, but they are still wanting to crawl across the ground instead of up the fence - gonna have to do some more thinking on that one...

Sounds like the washer just shut off; time to head for the clothesline...

You folks all stay safe out there this weekend!
 

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I've been going through stacks of bills and papers. They come in and get paid accordingly, however I have a bad habit of just stacking them up for months and months. I was looking for something the other day and pulled the big stacks out and spend time each day sorting, tossing and filing. I have yet to find what I was looking for.

I watched a utube video today
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhwiQrP9S4w
on how to dehydrate and store ground meats. I'm going to give it a try, so I pulled out 4 packages of ground venison that has been in the freezer for awhile to try this with. I'll give an update once I have it done.

I picked a 5 gallon bucket of tomatoes yesterday and I'm washing and slicing and putting them in the dehydrator, and I've cut some up and put them in the freezer to do something with later. Dh want to juice them but we don't really drink tomato juice and we would not really used them canned. That all sounds like a lot of work and it makes me tired just thinking about doing it. DH would do the juicing but he makes a hellofa mess that I have to clean up.

God is good, all the time.
 
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