Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: June 5~11, 2022

[nomifyle]

We are still hacking and coughing and basically feeling miserable again to day, but not as bad as it was.

I placed two orders to wm.com and they came yesterday. Both were almost the same, sugar and pickled beets, along with something or another, I got one box emptied and the contents hauled in. The other box is covered up on the front porch out of reach of the rain. Hopefully, I can get the other box unloaded and brought in, but right now I'm not much feeling like it.

When I'm able I want to get the sugar repackaged and put away. I'm not finished with adding pickled beets to the pantry though, but so far I've got three cases.

Sleeping had been difficult with all the coughing, so I'm tired and want to go to sleep but when I get in a reclining position I start coughing again.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Since it's been raining outside most of the day, I've spent time organizing all of my gravy mixes. Gosh, I've got a lot of them. I'm trying to put each flavor packet together into it's own sealed container. I've got chicken, pork, brown, country, and onion flavors. I really, really need more 1/2gal jars! O2 absorbers are getting low, so I need to order more of those.

Hope you feel better soon, Judy.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Got 5 more pints out of the next two roasts. Will probably find some pork loin for next week.

Stopped in to Publix today and took advantage of some BOGOs: yellow rice, 10 oz cans of chicken, and toilet paper. Didn't need anything for the regular pantry but did get a blueberry pie and some vanilla ice cream. It was good

 

[philkar]

We are knee deep in garden chores and beginning to harvest. Sounds like everyone has had a great week!

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Too funny! If me forcing the issue doesn't work, I won't have any babies, squash or cukes. There are just no bees around. It just dawned on me, yesterday, that the reason our apple tree was loaded in blossoms but no apples is that there were no bees to pollinate them, either. Usually, every morning when I go to the gardens, bees are swarming all over everything. Not a single one this year. I even thought about putting some sugar in the garden to see if that won't attract them.

I was hoping for a good garden this year, since it's the first time in 5 years to have a meaningful one. All of the banana peppers that we put in the huge flower pots are beginning to look bad. With all the rain, I think they are getting water logged, even though, there are holes in the bottoms for drainage. Tomato plants are loaded, but some sorta look deformed. Not perfectly round like I'm used to. We bought Beefsteaks this time not Better Boys. Bell peppers are looking good. Almost ready to pick a few of them. Beans are running wild, and hope to see blooms on them soon. Are pole beans self pollinators, or do they also need help from bees?

I need to be doing laundry, today, but there are storms to the west of us. Severe storms are in our forecast for later today. I'll wait, until tomorrow, so that I can make use of my solar dryer.

Beefsteak tomatoes are ugly in appearance, but boy are they ever DELICIOUS!

The state of Florida has regulations on what tomatoes shipped out of the state can look like.

And let’s face it, Beefstake variety tomatoes are ugly.

But elite chefs up in New York discovered Florida “ugly tomatoes” - that is actually what they are called - and fought for several years until Florida agricultural authorities finally wrote an exemption to their tomato appearance regulations to allow the Florida “ugly tomato” to be shipped to elite chefs in other parts of the country.

That is when I began to include the Beefsteak tomato in my garden. I grow only one or two beefsteak plants a year, but they make the best soup!

They are pretty good on sandwiches, too.

But boy are they UGLY!

 

[anna43]

I have room in my garden for two half rows and a single row, but don't know what to plant. It is dry here. We have had lots of days/nights of rain adding up each time to a "trace". All around us gets ½" or even 1" and we get a trace. I'd like to plant more carrots but hesitate due to the lack of moisture. The row I planted has germinated so, fingers crossed, it prospers.

The rabbits ate three of my sweet potato starts. I had some tiny starts so replaced the missing ones and used some rusty chicken wire to make individual cages for each start. Once sweet potatoes really get growing the will outpace the rabbits. My dd's partner trash picked two rolls of rusty chicken wire 18" in height and gave it to me several years ago. I keep finding ways to use it this being the latest. Our soil is black and those rusty cages are nearly invisible against the soil which is nice because they are seriously ugly.

I used the last of my green bean, winter squash and pea seeds and have not found any to replace them. I planted the winter squash twice and zero has come up and my seed was not old...not new but not very old either. I also planted summer squash and zucchini twice and all of that is now up. Lettuce row is less that 1/4 up. Small seeds like lettuce and carrots are planted so shallow and the soil is dry down two inches. Due to gas prices I'm not inclined to drive from store to store searching for seeds so guess I'll have to try online. I really want them added into my preps. I guess the smart thing to do would be letting some of the peas and green beans go to seed and saving my own.

 

[John Deere Girl]

I have room in my garden for two half rows and a single row, but don't know what to plant. It is dry here. We have had lots of days/nights of rain adding up each time to a "trace". All around us gets ½" or even 1" and we get a trace. I'd like to plant more carrots but hesitate due to the lack of moisture. The row I planted has germinated so, fingers crossed, it prospers.

The rabbits ate three of my sweet potato starts. I had some tiny starts so replaced the missing ones and used some rusty chicken wire to make individual cages for each start. Once sweet potatoes really get growing the will outpace the rabbits. My dd's partner trash picked two rolls of rusty chicken wire 18" in height and gave it to me several years ago. I keep finding ways to use it this being the latest. Our soil is black and those rusty cages are nearly invisible against the soil which is nice because they are seriously ugly.

I used the last of my green bean, winter squash and pea seeds and have not found any to replace them. I planted the winter squash twice and zero has come up and my seed was not old...not new but not very old either. I also planted summer squash and zucchini twice and all of that is now up. Lettuce row is less that 1/4 up. Small seeds like lettuce and carrots are planted so shallow and the soil is dry down two inches. Due to gas prices I'm not inclined to drive from store to store searching for seeds so guess I'll have to try online. I really want them added into my preps. I guess the smart thing to do would be letting some of the peas and green beans go to seed and saving my own.

Try Amazon. They still have seeds.

 

[Digger]

I got two low strands of electric fence around where the chickens had been going into the garden. I was able to let the chickens out for several hours. I did not see them test the fence, but they must have. There were 5-6 hens that would go to the garden no Matt how many times I ran them out. Being able to let them out longer will greatly cut down on my feed bill.

I got into some poison ivy while weed eating. I am not super allergic. But chop it up and sling it on my bare arm and I will get it. But on the bright side, it gave me a chance to try my jewel weed salve. I washed my arm and applied the salve. In just an hour it was almost gone. It was not to the blister stage yet, but was raised, red, and itchy. My kids and friends have used it with success also.

 

[ReneeT]

Good Morning, All!! Boy, you folks have been busy this week - so happy to see that other folks are working on preps and gardens I really appreciate all you folks who chime in - I get a lot of great ideas from you all!

I did pick up the beet chews and assorted teas containing hibiscus the other day that were suggested for elevated blood pressure - I'm not at all a fan of red beets, so I had my face all screwed up and was ready to gag when I tossed the first beet chew in my mouth. I was surprised enough at the taste that I grabbed the jar to make sure I hadn't picked up the wrong thing - they were cherry flavored! Not bad, not bad at all... I can do those

I stopped by the Friday Farmer's Market on my way home from work yesterday; my splurge for the week was a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers, daisies, and zinnas plus a couple more boxes of muffins. I also picked up yellow beets with greens attached, salad greens, new potatoes, garlic and garlic scapes - the scapes are so good to add when I'm cooking the beet greens)!

I'm fortifying myself with a cup of coffee and a red raspberry muffin before I head outside to give the back garden another going over with the tiller before I head into town to pick up the grandsons - the middle one likely won't be awake until after 9 so I've got plenty of time. That will give the dust time to settle before I need to hang my laundry on the line.

Hubby is out putting gas in my tiller - he uses his 'race' gas can that holds 5 gallons and is pretty tall - it was full and when it is, it is more than I want to lift and try to balance while I try to get the hose in the tank. On the plus side, it has a flexible spout instead of one of those ones that you have to push this forward and that back blah blah blah while you're trying to hold the gas can up.

I want to get the pole beans and sweet corn planted - which reminds me that I need to put the beans on to soak a bit before I leave to go get the boys. We've got a little bit of rain in the forecast for Sunday, but then it's temps ranging from 90-99 degrees up to at least the following Sunday, so anything that is going to go in the garden needs to go in today. I also need to drag out the soaker hose and sprinkler sometime in the next day or so.

Another thing on my list for today is to fill the birdbath, and to cut some slots in the big clear plastic bowls I bought at Dollar Tree to make covers for my hummingbird feeders to keep the darn sparrows and orioles off of them. I was looking in the wrong place for the dremel, so Hubby found it for me and brought it in - with the warning to use it on the porch or I'd have a house full of plastic dust! After I get that done, it will just be weeding and hanging out with the boys - the oldest is making good use of my Kindle Unlimited free book account so he won't be a problem to entertain; the younger one will have his videos to watch if I need to take a nap

Well, the gas tank is full so I reckon it's time for mer to get to work - take care all; have a great weekend and stay safe out there!!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Beefsteak tomatoes are ugly in appearance, but boy are they ever DELICIOUS!

The state of Florida has regulations on what tomatoes shipped out of the state can look like.

And let’s face it, Beefstake variety tomatoes are ugly.

But elite chefs up in New York discovered Florida “ugly tomatoes” - that is actually what they are called - and fought for several years until Florida agricultural authorities finally wrote an exemption to their tomato appearance regulations to allow the Florida “ugly tomato” to be shipped to elite chefs in other parts of the country.

That is when I began to include the Beefsteak tomato in my garden. I grow only one or two beefsteak plants a year, but they make the best soup!

They are pretty good on sandwiches, too.

But boy are they UGLY!

Well, that's good to know! LOL. I thought I was doing something wrong to make them look ugly. Now, I can tell everyone that I'm growing ugly tomatoes. I think I'll go back to Better Boys next year. My OCD just doesn't like having tomatoes that look deformed, LOL. They are getting quite large, though. I gave each plant another good shaking, and Cary sprayed each one with copper spray. Green bell pepper is almost big enough to begin gathering. I'm going to use my new dehydrator with them. I usually chop them for the freezer, but I need the freezer space for other things. I pollinated more squash blooms this morning. So far, the two baby ones that I did that to are still looking good and growing. Got a Q-tip, and went down the cucumber vines pollinating all those blooms, too. All the banana peppers look to be dying. It's either from too much water, or I put too much Epsom salt in the pots the other day. Green pole beans are going crazy on our fence! I don't know why we haven't thought of growing them on the fence, before now. Thanks to Summerthyme for the suggestion.

All the storms missed us, yesterday. We didn't get any rain or storms. Today, is going to be 90 (heat index of 99), but for the next 7 days, temps are supposed to reach the upper 90's with over 100 degree heat index! No rain, either. Tomorrow's heat index....105. I've got laundry going, and will be using the clothesline to dry.

Our DIL used her new digital canner, yesterday, for the first time. She canned 4 pints of water! She was so proud of herself. I was proud of her, too. I told her to do the water first so that she knows how the process works. Her little garden is doing great.

Since daylight, Cary has been cutting, splitting, and stacking more firewood. Got to get that done, before it gets too hot. He has to take frequent breaks.

 

[moldy]

One and a half rows of cukes weeded, and I'm already tired.

 

[Wildwood]

Since it's been raining outside most of the day, I've spent time organizing all of my gravy mixes. Gosh, I've got a lot of them. I'm trying to put each flavor packet together into it's own sealed container. I've got chicken, pork, brown, country, and onion flavors. I really, really need more 1/2gal jars! O2 absorbers are getting low, so I need to order more of those.

Hope you feel better soon, Judy.

The only way I got my hands on more 1/2 gallon jars was to check our local WM online a few times a day and the minute they showed up available, I went straight there and bought the only two cases they had. That's been a few months and I haven't seen any since...I'd like one more case but it's not a have to have situation.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

The only way I got my hands on more 1/2 gallon jars was to check our local WM online a few times a day and the minute they showed up available, I went straight there and bought the only two cases they had. That's been a few months and I haven't seen any since...I'd like one more case but it's not a have to have situation.

I'm trying to buy up as many cases as I can. I use them for storing lots of things from flour/cornmeal to packets of gravy mixes. I might have to order from Walmart online, but I don't like taking the chance they will get broken. It would be a last resort. Hometown Market always have them, but I haven't be there, lately.

 

[Wildwood]

I'm trying to buy up as many cases as I can. I use them for storing lots of things from flour/cornmeal to packets of gravy mixes. I might have to order from Walmart online, but I don't like taking the chance they will get broken. It would be a last resort. Hometown Market always have them, but I haven't be there, lately.

I do the same with mine and had several cases of empty ones but when the shortages started, I filled those up and would like a few more now. I've tried every method for storing four, meal, dried beans and rice and have found the 1/2 gal glass jars keep everything fresh longer and also keep out mice and bugs better.

 

[Wildwood]

I have room in my garden for two half rows and a single row, but don't know what to plant. It is dry here. We have had lots of days/nights of rain adding up each time to a "trace". All around us gets ½" or even 1" and we get a trace. I'd like to plant more carrots but hesitate due to the lack of moisture. The row I planted has germinated so, fingers crossed, it prospers.

The rabbits ate three of my sweet potato starts. I had some tiny starts so replaced the missing ones and used some rusty chicken wire to make individual cages for each start. Once sweet potatoes really get growing the will outpace the rabbits. My dd's partner trash picked two rolls of rusty chicken wire 18" in height and gave it to me several years ago. I keep finding ways to use it this being the latest. Our soil is black and those rusty cages are nearly invisible against the soil which is nice because they are seriously ugly.

I used the last of my green bean, winter squash and pea seeds and have not found any to replace them. I planted the winter squash twice and zero has come up and my seed was not old...not new but not very old either. I also planted summer squash and zucchini twice and all of that is now up. Lettuce row is less that 1/4 up. Small seeds like lettuce and carrots are planted so shallow and the soil is dry down two inches. Due to gas prices I'm not inclined to drive from store to store searching for seeds so guess I'll have to try online. I really want them added into my preps. I guess the smart thing to do would be letting some of the peas and green beans go to seed and saving my own.

Over on some of the youtube gardening channels I watch, there has been some discussion about seeds not germinating well, if at all, this year and that has certainly been my experience. They are blaming the seeds and are advising everyone to save their own which I do as much as possible. I'm not so sure it's the seeds and have speculated on everything you can imagine since I've had the issue with bought and saved seeds. I've had to fill in holes on every row I've direct sewn a few times. My germination rate is usually extremely high.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I do the same with mine and had several cases of empty ones but when the shortages started, I filled those up and would like a few more now. I've tried every method for storing four, meal, dried beans and rice and have found the 1/2 gal glass jars keep everything fresh longer and also keep out mice and bugs better.

If you use O2 absorbers in with your cornmeal and flour, they will last for years, and stay fresh. I've got a few cases of the 1/2gal jars filled with pasta of all kinds. I've never had any to go bad, or got bugs in them. Cornmeal and flour, the same.

 

[Marseydoats]

Good Morning, All!! Boy, you folks have been busy this week - so happy to see that other folks are working on preps and gardens I really appreciate all you folks who chime in - I get a lot of great ideas from you all!

I did pick up the beet chews and assorted teas containing hibiscus the other day that were suggested for elevated blood pressure - I'm not at all a fan of red beets, so I had my face all screwed up and was ready to gag when I tossed the first beet chew in my mouth. I was surprised enough at the taste that I grabbed the jar to make sure I hadn't picked up the wrong thing - they were cherry flavored! Not bad, not bad at all... I can do those

I stopped by the Friday Farmer's Market on my way home from work yesterday; my splurge for the week was a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers, daisies, and zinnas plus a couple more boxes of muffins. I also picked up yellow beets with greens attached, salad greens, new potatoes, garlic and garlic scapes - the scapes are so good to add when I'm cooking the beet greens)!

I'm fortifying myself with a cup of coffee and a red raspberry muffin before I head outside to give the back garden another going over with the tiller before I head into town to pick up the grandsons - the middle one likely won't be awake until after 9 so I've got plenty of time. That will give the dust time to settle before I need to hang my laundry on the line.

Hubby is out putting gas in my tiller - he uses his 'race' gas can that holds 5 gallons and is pretty tall - it was full and when it is, it is more than I want to lift and try to balance while I try to get the hose in the tank. On the plus side, it has a flexible spout instead of one of those ones that you have to push this forward and that back blah blah blah while you're trying to hold the gas can up.

I want to get the pole beans and sweet corn planted - which reminds me that I need to put the beans on to soak a bit before I leave to go get the boys. We've got a little bit of rain in the forecast for Sunday, but then it's temps ranging from 90-99 degrees up to at least the following Sunday, so anything that is going to go in the garden needs to go in today. I also need to drag out the soaker hose and sprinkler sometime in the next day or so.

Another thing on my list for today is to fill the birdbath, and to cut some slots in the big clear plastic bowls I bought at Dollar Tree to make covers for my hummingbird feeders to keep the darn sparrows and orioles off of them. I was looking in the wrong place for the dremel, so Hubby found it for me and brought it in - with the warning to use it on the porch or I'd have a house full of plastic dust! After I get that done, it will just be weeding and hanging out with the boys - the oldest is making good use of my Kindle Unlimited free book account so he won't be a problem to entertain; the younger one will have his videos to watch if I need to take a nap

Well, the gas tank is full so I reckon it's time for mer to get to work - take care all; have a great weekend and stay safe out there!!

I can't begin to pick up a 5 gallon can of gas, much less pour it in anything. I use one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Siphon-Light-Kerosene-Water-Chemicals/dp/B000E5S33M

 

[nomifyle]

I can't begin to pick up a 5 gallon can of gas, much less pour it in anything. I use one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Siphon-Light-Kerosene-Water-Chemicals/dp/B000E5S33M

The weight of the gas can is why DH only puts 4 gallons in a 5 gallon can. I have a goose neck funnel that we use.

I use to have 6 gallon cans that DH burned. I could not lift them. I was much younger when I bought them.

Still getting nothing done, still coughing. I even poured some local honey down my throat thinking that would help. I took some Manuka honey the other night and that seemed to help a little bit.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I can't begin to pick up a 5 gallon can of gas, much less pour it in anything. I use one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Siphon-Light-Kerosene-Water-Chemicals/dp/B000E5S33M

Cary has several of those. They work great.

 

[WanderLore]

Everything in garden is doing well. Boys go out and pick fresh lettuce and spinach. Blooms on everything. Very blessed with garden, I do go out and talk to the garden and give compliments and encouragement while I'm tending lol. It seems to help.

 

[anna43]

I'm trying to buy up as many cases as I can. I use them for storing lots of things from flour/cornmeal to packets of gravy mixes. I might have to order from Walmart online, but I don't like taking the chance they will get broken. It would be a last resort. Hometown Market always have them, but I haven't be there, lately.

I'm trying to be careful about purchasing items for storage because I want to use those dollars for preps. I don't mind paying a $1 for a popcorn tin or a bucket from the deli, however, the cost of jars just for storage gives me pause. I'm fortunate to have plenty of canning jars or maybe I should say I've worked hard over a lifetime to acquire my jars!

I am going to convert a tote for storing more cereals but I'm not going to buy another tote. Perhaps I'll need to get rid of some stuff, but storing cereals seems of primary importance over "stuff" I have stored.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'm trying to be careful about purchasing items for storage because I want to use those dollars for preps. I don't mind paying a $1 for a popcorn tin or a bucket from the deli, however, the cost of jars just for storage gives me pause. I'm fortunate to have plenty of canning jars or maybe I should say I've worked hard over a lifetime to acquire my jars!

I am going to convert a tote for storing more cereals but I'm not going to buy another tote. Perhaps I'll need to get rid of some stuff, but storing cereals seems of primary importance over "stuff" I have stored.

I have over a hundred quart canning jars. I still see it as a better way to store food for long term in the 1/2 and 1 quart canning jars. I'm running out of room, quickly, and the 1/2 gal jars doesn't use as much space. I'm also saving the quart jars for garden veggies and meat. What I've been using for pasta, dry beans, and rice are the large plastic jugs of mixed nuts I get at Sam's. I just wash and reuse. I have slacked off on buying those, so I'm running out of them. That's why I started using the 1/2gal canning jars. I understand when there is a choice of whether to spend the money on food or jars.

 

[Wildwood]

If you use O2 absorbers in with your cornmeal and flour, they will last for years, and stay fresh. I've got a few cases of the 1/2gal jars filled with pasta of all kinds. I've never had any to go bad, or got bugs in them. Cornmeal and flour, the same.

I use to use the oxygen absorbers but found that my results are just as good if I vac seal. I put mine throuh the freezer for three or four weeks first.

 

[summerthyme]

I second Super Glue! I broke my glasses frame today, and the lens is precariously stuck in there because so far I can't find our tube. I'm about to try a glue gun next, but Super Glue is now on my list.

Shoe Goo is excellent to keep on hand to reglue soles or toe caps that loosen. Unfortunately, all but the super expensive shoes are no longer stitched together, and the glue dries out over time. I've had brand new sneakers in storage that the soles fell off within days of putting them into use. That was when I started keeping Shoe Goo in the preps.

Unfortunately, glue itself, especially Superglue, doesn't store very well. If your stash is a few years old, check and verify that it's still usable.

Summerthyme

 

[briches]

Y’all have continued to stay busy. I just got back in town from visiting Charlotte, NC with my son. I’m thinking he’s not going to want to relocate there, but not sure yet. I’m hoping he sticks closer to home. Only time will tell.

Hubby listed a dog pen we had (with canopy) for sale and it sold within an hour. Guy comes tomorrow to pick it up so hopefully he will show and that will go as planned. It will be a little more money in my pocket I can divide between savings and preps.

 

[briches]

Judy - praying for you and hope you feel better soon.

Moldy - you continue to be in my prayers as well.

Everyone on this thread - hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. This remains my fav place on the board.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I use to use the oxygen absorbers but found that my results are just as good if I vac seal. I put mine throuh the freezer for three or four weeks first.

I never put cornmeal, flour, rice, dry beans, or pasta of any kind up in storage, before letting it spend at least 2 weeks in the freezers first. I don't take the chance that there might be bug/weevil eggs in the packages that will hatch out later. The time spent in the freezer kills off any and all eggs. I don't have a vaccum sealer, so I use the absorbers.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Judy - praying for you and hope you feel better soon.

Moldy - you continue to be in my prayers as well.

Everyone on this thread - hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. This remains my fav place on the board.

Mine, too. I come here to get away from the insanity of it all. I really enjoy talking about prepping, cooking, and gardening. It helps to calm me down, especially when my anxiety level is high. Plus, I would be a lot dumber if it weren't for all of you sharing so much knowledge and wisdom here.

 

[bluelady]

Shoe Goo is excellent to keep on hand to reglue soles or toe caps that loosen. Unfortunately, all but the super expensive shoes are no longer stitched together, and the glue dries out over time. I've had brand new sneakers in storage that the soles fell off within days of putting them into use. That was when I started keeping Shoe Goo in the preps.

Unfortunately, glue itself, especially Superglue, doesn't store very well. If your stash is a few years old, check and verify that it's still usable.

Summerthyme

Yeah, I never found any superglue here anyway. But hot glue worked great on my glasses. The only problem: it's a glob, instead of the nice neat fix that might have been possible if I'd been able to find my spare glasses to see what I was doing...LOL! My spare glasses are *always* in the same drawer, except I was cleaning it out so I put everything temporarily in a box which is ???.

Hot glue sticks never go bad, but they do require electricity. I guess a match might kind of work in a pinch? Hope we don't have any significant pinches though, because I'm clearly *still* not ready.

 

[anna43]

Another prep I have is a small glasses repair kit. It has the tiny screws and a tiny screwdriver. It almost goes without saying a second pair of glasses. I actually keep mine in my car glove box because I can easily get them if I need them at home and always have them with me when I go somewhere.

I buy OTC meds, super glue and other things that outdate in super small sizes mostly at Dollar Tree. If an OTC med is good for two years, buy another in a year. Price is small enough. Of course, I live alone so the tiny sizes are about right for me. If you have dentures, a denture repair kit would also be a good prep.

 

[ReneeT]

The garden is done! And so am I.... done in, that is Now if the corn and beans just come up - and the weeds don't!. I had to take a break in between the morning raking/tilling stage and the afternoon marking rows/planting stage to run in town and pick up the grandsons so daughter could have a day off from kids. We hit the small local grocery store on the way home for a 5# bag of IQF sliced chicken breast - I took enough out for supper and then put the rest in a vac seal bag and in to the freezer for a later meal. I put the ones for supper in a bag in a bowl of cold water to thaw while I went out and marked the rows. Hubby got home in time to supervise the older grandson while he fixed supper - grandson cut the chicken into chunks, breaded and fried it, made mac and cheese to go with, and opened a jar of peaches for the fruit.

Younger grandson was out in the garden with me dropping bean seed into their rows, then he loaded most of the garden tools in to the buggy while I pulled on surgical gloves and dropped the treated corn seed in it's rows. I covered all the rows while he drove the buggy back up to the shed then we unloaded the tools and I hung them up on their racks. Last outdoor chore was putting the tarp back on the trailer of compost from the sale barn. We all had supper, then younger grandson headed for the tub and I headed for the shower. Now both boys are reading on their tablets, and I'm trying to convince myself to stand up and hobble to my bed to do the same. Maybe I'd better hobble to the Ibuprofen bottle first...

Take care, all - stay safe out there!

 

[Wildwood]

Shoe Goo is excellent to keep on hand to reglue soles or toe caps that loosen. Unfortunately, all but the super expensive shoes are no longer stitched together, and the glue dries out over time. I've had brand new sneakers in storage that the soles fell off within days of putting them into use. That was when I started keeping Shoe Goo in the preps.

Unfortunately, glue itself, especially Superglue, doesn't store very well. If your stash is a few years old, check and verify that it's still usable.

Summerthyme

DH fixes everything with shoe goo. He even repairs his work jeans with it. I use to set and tediously try to make his repaired pants look as good as possible. A few months later I was repairing the same spot. He started doing it himself and would cut an old piece of denim close to the color of his pants and glue it behind the torn area. They never need repaired again in that spot. It looked surprisingly good.

 

[Wildwood]

Yeah, I never found any superglue here anyway. But hot glue worked great on my glasses. The only problem: it's a glob, instead of the nice neat fix that might have been possible if I'd been able to find my spare glasses to see what I was doing...LOL! My spare glasses are *always* in the same drawer, except I was cleaning it out so I put everything temporarily in a box which is ???.

Hot glue sticks never go bad, but they do require electricity. I guess a match might kind of work in a pinch? Hope we don't have any significant pinches though, because I'm clearly *still* not ready.

If the SHTF the hot glue sticks can be melted in a dedicated pot but you have to be extrememly careful and heat them very slowly. A lot of professional crafters do this for faster production. I know, back in the day, a lot of florists used that technique...just dip the pick in the hot glue and stick it where it needs to be. No fumbling with a hot glue gun. They eventually made little electric pots just for this and they are much safer but they are electric. With this technique, you can pick up a lot smaller bead of glue than using the gun. I once saw a large electric skillet full of hot glue on the work table of a florist friend.

 

[tech]

Shoe Goo is great! I try to always keep some on hand, 'cause you never know...

Better Boys did well this year, now the Romas are producing. I hope the high heat doesn't fry them on the plants. Potatoes were mediocre, didn't fill out like they normally do, but still decent.

Still arguing with myself whether or not to put more gasoline back...I hate paying so much (currently at $4.48/gal), but I don't foresee a price decrease anytime soon.

Oldest pup is going in for surgery in a couple weeks to remove (hopefully) some growths. I really hope it isn't cancerous. He was rescued from death row nearly 13 years ago and has since had a full life, to include working as a search and rescue dog for several years.

 

[briches]

Through my travels this week, I did make it into a dollar (and twenty five cents) tree.
I picked up another thing of generic Benadryl, two Bottles of acetaminophen (100 capsules each), a couple more bottles of mouthwash, a triple antibiotic cream, — I wasn’t out of any of these, but keep thinking, “what if I couldn’t get it any longer”?

Slow and steady ……

 

[nomifyle]

DH fixes everything with shoe goo. He even repairs his work jeans with it. I use to set and tediously try to make his repaired pants look as good as possible. A few months later I was repairing the same spot. He started doing it himself and would cut an old piece of denim close to the color of his pants and glue it behind the torn area. They never need repaired again in that spot. It looked surprisingly good.

Thanks I may try that on a pair of DH;s jeans that he will not wear because there is a hole in them. He was very poor growing up.

 

[Wildwood]

Thanks I may try that on a pair of DH;s jeans that he will not wear because there is a hole in them. He was very poor growing up.

That can tend to mark a person for sure.

 

[anna43]

Thanks I may try that on a pair of DH;s jeans that he will not wear because there is a hole in them. He was very poor growing up.

Start asking your dh how to do various things that he had to do as a child. Such information is (unfortunately) likely to be very importation and useful in the not too distant future. He is probably has a wealth of information he could share especially if he understands how it might help you prepare for the coming SHTF mess. Maybe seeing that will also help him come to better terms with his past.

 

[etdeb]

I got two low strands of electric fence around where the chickens had been going into the garden. I was able to let the chickens out for several hours. I did not see them test the fence, but they must have. There were 5-6 hens that would go to the garden no Matt how many times I ran them out. Being able to let them out longer will greatly cut down on my feed bill.

I got into some poison ivy while weed eating. I am not super allergic. But chop it up and sling it on my bare arm and I will get it. But on the bright side, it gave me a chance to try my jewel weed salve. I washed my arm and applied the salve. In just an hour it was almost gone. It was not to the blister stage yet, but was raised, red, and itchy. My kids and friends have used it with success also.

Where do you get jewel weed salve?

 

[nomifyle]

Start asking your dh how to do various things that he had to do as a child. Such information is (unfortunately) likely to be very importation and useful in the not too distant future. He is probably has a wealth of information he could share especially if he understands how it might help you prepare for the coming SHTF mess. Maybe seeing that will also help him come to better terms with his past.

Thanks for the suggetions, although his past doesn't really haunt him. Its just a matter of a fact that he doesn't like jeans with holes in them and I doubt any of the other older men around here do either. It doesn't bother me because I was always a rebel.