Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: Nov. 9 - Nov. 15, 2025

[SouthernBreeze]

Good Sunday Morning!

It's a cold morning, here. Cary got a warm fire going in the heater.

No home fellowship, today. I've got the bedsheets washing and changed out. Floors swept and mopped in the bedroom and the furniture in there dusted. I always do a good cleaning of the whole bedroom when I change out the bedsheets. I also hand vacuumed the area rugs. That's all I plan to do, today.

We don't get to Aldi's very often, but when I do, I stock up on their German kraut. To us, it tastes better than any other kraut we've tried that is store bought. I think it has a milder taste. It was a big hit with Cary last night, along with the potato cakes and homemade bread.

Wishing everyone a blessed and safe week!

 

[kyrsyan]

Good morning!

 

[sssarawolf]

Morning, supposed to be a mild day here, high around 50. The wind is trying to blow us away. Indian summer until the weekend. Then rain and snow. The snow fence is now up. That construction plastic fencing does a better job then one would think.

We got the tractor's filter and oil changed. We're absolutely going to get one of those funnels that bends for next time.

We have a small batch of plums left to do, then that's done with. Got rid of the contents of some other canning that I couldn't find as they had been buried. (Not by me) Under other canned goods.

 

[connie]

We may get a light freeze tonight. But in a few days it will be 80.
May put flannel sheets on bed anyway.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We may get a light freeze tonight. But in a few days it will be 80.
May put flannel sheets on bed anyway.

I started to put flannel sheets on the bed this morning, too. It's supposed to be back up in the upper 70's by Tuesday, so I waited. 23 degrees for our low tonight and tomorrow night.

 

[nomifyle]

DH is dong a grocery pick up this afternoon. I'm resting so I can help get it all put away.

 

[WanderLore]

I think 5-6 inches heavy wet snow this morning. Was supposed to be a dusting. Very pretty. But I rescheduled the memorial till next Sunday. Will be in the 50s and dry.
Son did the chores. I drove to village to grab a few things. It is due to get very cold tonight and for a couple days, and more snow.
We're enjoying the chili and cornbread. Shared some with the dogs.
I'm going back to bed.

 

[patriotgal]

Good afternoon. Cold here for today and tomorrow.

My muscle pain is almost gone. Will be careful about lifting for a bit.

Made big breakfast meal. DGS and I will make a DG run but otherwise just relaxing by fireplace today.

 

[hd5574]

Very warm here yesterday and today..in the 70s..then very cold ..had a very light frost on the 7th..very late for us..we will have our first hard freeze..tomorrow night..down into the 20s...then only in the lower 40s for our high on Tuesday..
The weather is crazy
Have homemade canned stew for tonight..I pressure can my soups, stews,and spaghetti sauce..for quick meals...no fridge or freezer needed...then a casserole for tomorrow night and pot of soup for Wednesday..
Stay warm everyone..

 

[20Gauge]

Finished painting the chicken coop upgrade
Finished putting back all the hardware for the coop
Installed a hose holder in concrete for the wife
Found new ( non-galvenized steel ) containers for the wife's fertilizers
Bought almost $100 in fertilizer for her this year, yes it is still cost effective.
Did some upgrades to her garden frame work so we can over winter the peppers

Still have tons of things to do......

 

[Meemur]

WanderLore, I can relate: I looked at the snow on the ground, started the dishwasher, and went back to bed. There wasn't anything else that I had to do that couldn't wait for a few more hours.

At this point, the sun is out and it's warmed up into the mid-30s. I've got laundry going and meatloaf, pork chops, and biscuits in the oven. When those finish, I'll have a late brunch and do a quick Sunday drive, plus work in a walk if the trails aren't icy (they should just be wet).

I'm watching several areas on my Sunday drive, including another home (the owner is in the hospital). I'm hopeful that a relative can get some time off and move in. This is not a good time to be leaving homes unattended: they can attract squatters, even with the lights on timers and someone checking regularly.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'm watching several areas on my Sunday drive, including another home (the owner is in the hospital). I'm hopeful that a relative can get some time off and move in. This is not a good time to be leaving homes unattended: they can attract squatters, even with the lights on timers and someone checking regularly.

That is the very reason Cary and I don't take long vacations anymore. We don't leave our home unattended for long periods of time. Break-ins and theft are big out here in the rural lands. We don't have anyone that can watch our house 24/7. DS and DDIL still take long vacations, but they have a house-sitter while they are gone. Long vacations are expensive enough, not to mention having to pay a house-sitter on top of it. We'll just stay home. When we go out on our shopping days or for a doctor visit, that is as long as we want to leave our house unattended.

 

[Meemur]

In my area, I would be OK with leaving my home for four - five days, if someone were coming in daily to feed my kitty, but not any longer than that. My house is not off the beaten path, so it's not as much of a target, but I have the feeling that there are people from nearby towns watching.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

In my area, I would be OK with leaving my home for four - five days, if someone were coming in daily to feed my kitty, but not any longer than that. My house is not off the beaten path, so it's not as much of a target, but I have the feeling that there are people from nearby towns watching.

We don't even have close neighbors to help keep a watch out.

A couple of years ago, one of our neighbors who lives on down the road from us had their home broken into while they were at work. The only thing they stole was food. Emptied our their chest freezer and all the food they had in their cabinets. I don't know if they kept a large pantry or not, but if they did, I'm sure that was all taken, too. The thieves turned out to be a woman and 2 men in the community who sent her 2 grade school kids out into the community on their bikes to watch people, when they were home, and when they were not.

I'm sure it's worse today than it was just 2 years ago.

 

[Meemur]

I know most of the children on bikes, but there's several older teens / adults on bikes who appear at odd times. They don't seem to live nearby. I've been able to photograph two of them. There's a difference between those who are doing fitness riding vs. those who are casing. The latter tends to peddle more slowly and look closely at homes, plus the fitness riders generally wear neon shirts so they are easily seen.

I haven't seen any strangers on bikes in several weeks, which is good.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I know most of the children on bikes, but there's several older teens / adults on bikes who appear at odd times. They don't seem to live nearby. I've been able to photograph two of them. There's a difference between those who are doing fitness riding vs. those who are casing. The latter tends to peddle more slowly and look closely at homes, plus the fitness riders generally wear neon shirts so they are easily seen.

I haven't seen any strangers on bikes in several weeks, which is good.

It's not uncommon to see kids out riding their bikes, or people just out walking down the road, especially, during the warm months and when school is out. Nobody thinks anything about it, but we do. We keep a close watch on everything that goes on out at the road. We learn who the folks are that do the walking, and we know who every kid belongs to and where they live. Can't be too careful these days! Cary even knows who drives what vehicle in the community.

 

[feralferret]

Still kicking!

 

[Wildwood]

I've been busy lately. I had to get my booth in the city ready for Christmas open house...it was yesterday and I spent the past week getting things cleaned up and priced. DH went with me and we pulled the small flat bed trailer. He was planning to pick up some kind of special plywood he needed for rebuilding his shop. He unloaded me and all my stuff Friday and went shopping. I worked for hours overhauling everything and had the best visit with my booth neighbor next to me...she's the sweetest friend. I was so exhausted the next day, I had to cancel all my plans.

Instead, I spent most of the day processing a good part of my unexpected pepper haul from my garden. I cleaned and diced most of the Marconi and bell peppers ending up with about a years worth in my freezer. I kept the freshest looking ones to make some stuffed peppers but I think I'll just go ahead and chop those too. Today I started on the notapenjos and got most of those cleaned, rough chopped and in the fridge...tomorrow I will finish them and the rest of the bell peppers.

All in all, I am so pleased with what the garden gave me at the last minute after the worst year ever. My sweet potatoes were a huge blessing and I have about a hundred pounds in storage now and they are good...we had some last weekend even though it's against the rules to eat them that soon after digging lol. There are a few left in the bed but tonight may do them in with mid twenties forecasted...I just couldn't get out there to dig more before the hard freeze. I still have a table full of tomatoes that need processing in some way...not sure I'll be canning them. I'm leaning more toward chopping and freezing them too. I can always can them later but they are so good in stew with that still fresh taste.

We took the grands out tonight for our weekly burgers and shopping and everything was still normal...plenty of folks shopping, nobody causing any problems. I'm just keeping things topped off and adding a few things for holiday cooking. It occurred to me tonight while I was browsing the meat cases that I can now buy good looking minute steaks for the same price as hamburger. I grabbed a package and intend to get more of those. DH is back to funneling all extra cash into getting his shop rebuilt and that makes my heart so happy that I'm holding back on huge hauls so he can have even more to spend...there's also the fact that we have no extra room any way and I've vowed not to buy more than we can easily keep rotated. I'm tired of having even a case of stuff that has gone past what I consider safe.

I hope everyone has a blessed week with good health and no stress!

 

[Meemur]

I'm happy: we'll get our Indian Summer this week. I'm mostly finished with the necessary outside work, so maybe I can decorate a little for Christmas, nothing major! Just a homemade wreath with a bow and a string of battery powered lights. Since people here go all out with inflatables and hundreds of lights, I'm not putting a target on my house. In fact, not to decorate at all would make it stand out.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Hardly anyone in our community puts up outdoor decorations. Only a few Christmas trees showing in the windows, either. I guess, it's because we are all older with no small children at home. We don't do Christmas decorations, either. I set out a few small decorations around and about inside the house, but that's it. No Christmas tree at all.

My hip and leg are much better this morning. I'm so thankful for that. I can get around without having to hold onto something, now. I've got a lot to do, today

41 degrees for our high today with a stiff north wind blowing dropping the wind chill factor down to around 30. Tonight's low of 21. We had a hard freeze last night. Cary happened to remember that he had forgot to cover all of our outdoor faucets, until late yesterday afternoon. He got that done, immediately.

 

[connie]

We no longer host Christmas so I no longer put up tree. I have several mini tabletop trees and other decor.
Some years I don't want to clear everyday decor off fireplace mantel either. Snow village looks great up there but a lot of effort. I am more excited about putting out decor this year. Mini trees decorated and stored on closet shelf. Decluttered tree ornaments last year. Let kids and grands take what they wanted.
Dining table, entry and a few other spots. Do a little each day. May see something online I want to try too..

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Back when our boys were small, I decorated the whole house for Christmas. I love to decorate! The whole house looked like a winter wonderland, including a tree. Once they got old enough and moved out, it became just too much just for me and Cary. I don't do it anymore. We don't have any small children in our family. For years, all of those old Christmas decorations have taken up a lot of room in my mini storage barn. They need to go. I doubt I'll ever use them again.

We celebrate Christmas by having a birthday party (family gathering for a meal) for Jesus, and that's it. Birthday cake and all. No one knows the exact date of his birth, so Christmas is the "designated" day. We don't commercialize it at all.

 

[summerthyme]

Back when our boys were small, I decorated the whole house for Christmas. I love to decorate! The whole house looked like a winter wonderland, including a tree. Once they got old enough and moved out, it became just too much just for me and Cary. I don't do it anymore. We don't have any small children in our family. For years, all of those old Christmas decorations have taken up a lot of room in my mini storage barn. They need to go. I doubt I'll ever use them again.

Since we finally got the storage units sorted, I'm planning on bringing the two big tubs of Christmas ornaments along to our holiday celebration this year. We'll let the kids take any they want (there are quite a few hand-blown glass tree ornaments, plus a bunch of adorable farm-related ones they all loved), and we'll donate or toss the rest. Im going to keep my bone China Nativity set...it will fit on the windowsill in the kitchen, and can go to one of the granddaughters later.

Summerthyme

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Since we finally got the storage units sorted, I'm planning on bringing the two big tubs of Christmas ornaments along to our holiday celebration this year. We'll let the kids take any they want (there are quite a few hand-blown glass tree ornaments, plus a bunch of adorable farm-related ones they all loved), and we'll donate or toss the rest. Im going to keep my bone China Nativity set...it will fit on the windowsill in the kitchen, and can go to one of the granddaughters later.

Summerthyme

I don't have anyone I can donate all of mine to. All of the strings of lights can be thrown away, but I have tons of decorations for the house, itself, plus all the tree decorations. I do still use a few every year, but not many, simply, because I don't have room for them anymore. I think, if we had small grandchildren, they would love for me to decorate again, especially, with all the stuffed snowmen, tall wooden nutcracker soldiers, and many stuffed animals/elves.

 

[nomifyle]

Katrina took all of mine, so I just put it out of my mind.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Wouldn't you know it. The coldest day of the season so far, and our power went out, AGAIN. The wood heater kept us warm, but I'm late getting supper started. It has just now come back on.

It's only 39 degrees outside right now.

 

[hd5574]

It's cold here today...decided to make a sausage quiche for dinner today.
Super easy super good...
Then maybe a cherry cream cheese dump cake..
Tomorrow will be even colder will make soup and biscuits...

I have a lot of special Christmas ornaments...that I will leave to a friend..
I some that were on my grandparents tree when mom was little...about 1915...and others from family members and friends who have passed...most are one of a kind..but mainly just a tree is not too much to do

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It's cold here today...decided to make a sausage quiche for dinner today.
Super easy super good...
Then maybe a cherry cream cheese dump cake..
Tomorrow will be even colder will make soup and biscuits...

I have a lot of special Christmas ornaments...that I will leave to a friend..
I some that were on my grandparents tree when mom was little...about 1915...and others from family members and friends who have passed...most are one of a kind..but mainly just a tree is not too much to do

I don't even have room for a small tabletop tree anymore. I have a table for it, but what to do with what's already on it? That's my biggest problem with decorating. What to do with all the things I have setting around on a daily basis?

I have bacon wrapped chicken breasts in the oven now that our power is back on. Along with the chicken, I have a pot of pinto beans on the wood stove that have been cooking all day, I'm boiling a few potatoes with butter for Cary, and I'm making myself a broccoli, cauliflower, red bell pepper, and onion stir fry. There will be plenty of chicken left for tomorrow night.

 

[connie]

I agree SB. Moving the everyday decor to put up Christmas is a pain. I just add small decor here and there now.
Beans and cornbread for supper here. Add some green chile and cheese to cornbread.

 

[feralferret]

Beans and cornbread for supper here. Add some green chile and cheese to cornbread.

Yum! I wish that I could get away with eating beans and green chili. I really shouldn't complain. I haven't had diarrhea in about a month now instead of every day like most of the last two years. I really do miss some of the foods but I don't miss the diarrhea.

Today was my appointment for the free foot care for seniors here. Got mine done. Wife didn't feel up to going so I will have to do hers. It's not easy with my bad hand, but her back was hurting too bad to go.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I agree SB. Moving the everyday decor to put up Christmas is a pain. I just add small decor here and there now.
Beans and cornbread for supper here. Add some green chile and cheese to cornbread.

It is. The small table I used to put the little tabletop tree on has a grouping of candles in candle stands on it now. What to do with those? No where to put all the stuffed Christmas animals and elves. Snowmen? Wooden nutcracker soldiers? Those soldiers were placed in the corners of my living and dining area, but other things take their space now. I put out a Christmas arrangement on our dining table and a few decorations on the coffee table, along with bowls of Christmas candy, nuts, and fresh fruits every year, now. That's enough for just us two.

 

[Meemur]

It's too dark in the evenings! I have a little energy, but it's too dark to work outside.
Good day here. It got warmer at lunch and I hiked around the retention pond, got all my
steps in and some extra.

So glad we're getting Indian Summer. I'm not ready for winter, yet!

 

[moldy]

Back home. Got to spend Saturday with 3 of the 4 kids having 'Thanksgiving dinner'. Sunday was the grandbaby's first birthday party (delayed as Daddy had work obligations last weekend). She behaved amazingly well. So proud of her and all my famiy.

Got to spend some time with Mom (96 and still lives mostly independently) which is always good.

Other plans for the week are a dental consult and estate picking, along with the regular job. I sold a bunch on Ebay while I was gone, so that was also nice.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

A hard freeze overnight, but it will be warmer today than yesterday. 56 for our high. Tomorrow starts a big warming trend. Upper 70's the rest of the week. The low temp last night broke the old record for low temp. 21 degrees. We woke up to a heavy frost.

Today will be bread making day. I love to use the wood heater to rise the bread. I put a towel down in the floor right beside the heater and put my covered bread dough on the towel next to it. It rises a lot better than just leaving it on the kitchen countertop. I'm going to need more bread flour on my next shopping trip. I only have 1, 10 lb. bag left in the freezer.

Mom gave me some bad news last night. Her best friend's little great-granddaughter was almost killed by a pit bull, Saturday. She is 9 yrs. old and was life flighted to the children's hospital in Memphis. It took 2 grown men to get the dog off of her. She will have to have major reconstruction surgery on her face, ears, and neck. She's in really bad shape right now.

 

[Meemur]

Prayers said for your great-granddaughter, SB. I'm so sorry that happened! Many communities have banned owning them for that reason.

It's in the 40s and overcast. I finished most of my online (paying work) for today. I'm waiting for my coffee to finish filtering (I used the pour-over method. I have a little imported coffee from France from a friend.) After I sip that coffee, I'll go get my steps in, and look for several more winter-weight, long-sleeved tee shirts in non-obnoxious colors at Fleet Farm. Hot pink and neon orange are big right now. Ugh. Then again, I'm tired of mending some of the old ones. They are now in the rag bag.

 

[patriotgal]

Praying for that little one. Friend's grandson was bitten on the face when family dog attacked him. Kid's grandpa was mad when mom told him to shoot the dog when she was trying to free her child's head. Saw the child recently and he is healing well. Dog was put down as soon as it was cleared of rabies. I am with mom. Shoot the dog. They can still test it.

I love Christmas tree lights. Not sure if I will squeeze in a tree this year. We are going to KC for Christmas. DGS is in bootcamp at Fort Leonardwood so won't be hard to pick him up for his Christmas time off. Going to surprise him. Hoping to bring home more groceries from Sam's, Costco and Aldis.

Squirrels are in turbo mood putting up food. Not a good sign. Big flock of turkeys hanging around and a lot more deer than usual. Deer season usually sees them scatter but they are sticking close. We are good for the cold even if furnace part should get delayed. Time in KC will be determined by weather windows. Last year it started sleeting as we were heading out but was clear for the drive once we hit Missouri. Rig is 4 wheel drive but I have no urge to fight the elements.

 

[hd5574]

Prayers for the little one

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Prayers said for your great-granddaughter, SB. I'm so sorry that happened! Many communities have banned owning them for that reason.

It's not our great granddaughter. It's Mom's best friend's great granddaughter. They have been friends of our family for many years.

 

[Meemur]

Said prayers in any case.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Praying for that little one. Friend's grandson was bitten on the face when family dog attacked him. Kid's grandpa was mad when mom told him to shoot the dog when she was trying to free her child's head. Saw the child recently and he is healing well. Dog was put down as soon as it was cleared of rabies. I am with mom. Shoot the dog. They can still test it.

The dog tore her whole face off. Completely took off her nose and upper lip, one ear completely off, and large neck wounds. It's a miracle she is still alive. She still might not make it. The whole family needs a lot of prayer. Mom's best friend has another great granddaughter that is only 20 yrs. old with Huntington's Disease in her final days. She probably won't last til Christmas. It's so sad for the whole family. This young woman has already lost her father and brother from the same disease.