Prep Genrl Weekly prep thread: November 2-November 8, 2025

patriotgal

patriotgal

Veteran Member
Fireplace going. Just realized DDs and I are starting new jobs on a full moon week. Hospital, post office and pharmacy. Gonna be interesting. Moon not full til 5th but is already bright. Moving extra coffee pot to one corner of desk. A bit of extra Bible time before. Between God and my vintage experience, I am not too concerned for myself. Figuring youngest DD will bear brunt of it.

Went to do groc pickup that instacart said would be ready yesterday at 12:30. Store had nothing. Spent 15 min getting instacart app and my password manager on phone. Canceled order and went in to store. Shopped another store, paid bills and had an appetizer at Chili's. A full hour AFTER I get home I get a message from instacart that my order was moved to tomorrow because they were overwhelmed. Seriously? Done with instacart. App removed. Will plan to shop the store personally for future trips.

Furnace needs expensive part according to tech/ friend who came to fix it. Said for some reason he is not allowed to order it. Wondering if that's because the main office wants to make sure of a serious markup because I have found a place for original parts that suggests it won't be more than $500 at most. And I can order it. Getting part number today to fine tune my search. Furnace is 30 years old. The repair work is just one more item in a list of 3 big financial dings in one week. Should be the last since it is third. One of those "when it rains it pours moments" that hit hard. But it is just stuff. We are healthy with a solid roof over our heads and food in our pantry.

Praying for everyone who is going through stuff or supporting someone who is.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
Home fellowship this morning. Nothing else planned for the day. A pot of homemade chicken noodle soup is on the wood heater simmering, already, for supper tonight. I'll make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches to go with it.

We have our first frost warning for tonight. Only 57 for our high, today. We'll be back in a warming trend after tomorrow. Mid 70's for highs.

Tomorrow, we have to go back into small town. I need to go to the bank. Cary will stop in at TSC for fire ant poison. We forgot to get it while in Tupelo the other day. Also, to pay our water bill. We won't be going anywhere near a food store.
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
We were home yesterday...Saturday...and good friends stopped by...
They had been out one county over..shopping and there was no problem at any of the stores..nor did they see any problems at any of the stores they drove past..
So far there hasn't been any problem in our area that we have heard about..
But it could change as a few days go by
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I binge watched a TV show Friday night. Not a normal thing. It meant that I didn't get to bed until after 3. Son let me sleep until 9 but I dragged all day.

Last night I got to bed on time, expecting to wake up on time. That's my normal. Nope, body took 12 hours. Fortunately son was okay with that since he could get his basics.

I opened the blinds and curtains to sunshine. Only for the sky to almost immediately darken. Fortunately my light fixtures have sunlight bulbs. I immediately turned them on. I'm not losing a day to SAD and I was in the right place mentally to realize that was trying to happen. It's always easier to catch when the feeling is so drastic.

My body is so stiff. Movement has been helping some but something about how I slept has my back muscles sore beyond tightness. No time for that so I grab some OTC med to help.

A load of laundry is started. A cup of tea is made. I'm eating breakfast. And then I'm getting cleanup done. There is a list to handle.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie
Yes, I turned most of the clocks back last night before bed. The exceptions were the basement and car clocks. They are too hard to change, so they stay on standard time.

I got laundry started and I need to mow, but I'll wait until later this afternoon so I don't bother anyone.

I haven't heard about any looting, but one of the neighbors said that police and uniformed security were out in full force, so hopefully that keeps any trouble at bay.

Wishing everyone a good rest of the day!
 
M

moldy

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Just relaxed yesterday. I needed it. The Good Lord knew what He was doing when He commanded the Sabbath. Today, I am busting my backside - two types of homemade rolls, prep for class (turkey rolls with stuffing, mashed potatoes, bought pecan pie, homemade rolls with cranberry butter), brining a turkey, listing Ebay, 2 more casseroles to put in freezer, 3 pies to put in freezer, and a batch of cookies. Oh - and a pan of dressing. Stuff going in freezer is for later this month when we go to visit family.

We'll see if I get it all done or not!
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
I woke up thinking it was saturday and wondering about the clocks. Looks like they are all the correct time exxept the one in my office. DH stays out of here says something night jump out at him, LOL, could be.

Sun is shinning and the chickens are making a lot of noise. DH says the goats are filthy, boys and girls, its that time of the year. We didn't get any new babies last year, hope we do this year, they are so cute to watch.

DH came in yesterday smacking his lips, he's found a ripe tomato and ate it, said there is another one but still green. They did no do well this year.
 
sssarawolf

sssarawolf

We're just plugging along.
Tonight will only be our 4 th freeze, not back at all. We got some more small chores done for the winter to come but they sure add up.

We have one more batch of plums to do, maybe 20 lbs worth and dry more onion's, good thing they last a while.

A friend passed away yesterday. He was ready to go. Hubby visited him on Thursday and knew he would be gone soon.
 
M

moldy

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well - I did not get it all done! Ha! The pies and 2 casseroles will have to wait until later in the week (Tuesday or wednesday). DH brought me a huge bowl of pumpkin seeds (fresh from the pumpkin) that needed cleaning, so that took the place of the casseroles (I still wouldn't have gotten the pies done). and the time change is throwing me off some, too.
 
A

anna43

Veteran Member
We've had three lay members taking turns preaching for the last three months while our pastors (husband & wife) were on sabbatical. They've done a marvelous job and today was not an exception. I think pastors will be preaching again in two weeks as next week we have missionaries speaking.

I got all my clocks changed last night and they are within 2 to 3 minutes of each other. I think 8 clocks upstairs. The one in the basement needs re-set and new batteries. One thing I don't understand is why my landline didn't update. It has always done so automatically but it's still an hour off. My car clock is a pain to reset so I just leave it on standard time so it will be correct until March!

For some reason I've been extremely tired the last two days and haven't accomplished much. I've started a list of what I want to accomplish this week so hopefully I'll get more done. It seems to help me when I can see progress by crossing items off a list. My list is for inside and tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day which will tempt me to prune hedges instead of working on my list. Well, I guess pruning hedges is on the outside list I've not completed so maybe that will count as progress.
 
ginnie6

ginnie6

Veteran Member
today is my at home day thankfully. I've got meal prep to do today as we went hiking yesterday and missed it. There's enough left from lunch yesterday though for lunches today.
When we got home yesterday about six I showered and went to bed lol. I was whooped. I didn't even start the wood stove so that was the first thing I did this morning. The house is cold! I'm sitting drinking coffee and surfing while it starts to warm up.
I got some new fruit/veggie bins on amazon and am eager to try them out. You can wash and store in them. Hopefully it will keep stuff fresher a little longer.
I'm cooking chicken, pork butt, bacon today on the Blackstone. That will be our meats for the week. I also got cabbage in the mountains and am thinking about making some kraut with it. I never used to like it but now I do. Then I'll make some slaw with the rest. There's beets in there that need to be done too today. So a busy day once I get moving.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie
Anna, I often lose energy around the time change. This isn't medical advice! But I've found taking D3 + K2 helpful, and I need to start it earlier next year. I will bet anyone a lotto ticket that my Vitamin D levels are low because I haven't been spending as much time outside.

Lower Vitamin D levels also lead to picking up the fall illnesses that are going around, and those can really zap one's energy.

In any case, I've got a strong cup of coffee and an egg with protein toast for breakfast. I've got a lot to do today, too. They keep talking about AI replacing workers: I just want "Rosie" from the Jetsons cartoon to help with housework!
 
D

Digger

Veteran Member
Friday our son came up. I helped him fix his grown cover on the strawberries that the wind blew whonky. We put some rocks on it to hold it better. Hopefully that works. Then he helped us put the roof we ordered on the dog pen that I am using as a Turkey pen. I am glad to get that project done before winter. We just have to add the second tarp over it. The second tarp will go to the ground on the north side to block the north wind. Then over the top to keep the roof cover out of the sun. The factory cover will last much longer if covered.

I brought in the rest of my plants. But we did not have a frost. We built our first fire of the season Saturday. I was tired last night so I didn't get up to add wood to it and it is out this morning. But we should be warmer this week so that's ok. The heat pump kicked on now.

Hubby passed his kidney stone last night. He should feel better now.

Hubby found a guy selling food grade plastic barrels. Wednesday, we are going to take a drive to pick some up for us and the kids. We will look at the leaves too. The seller is in a mountain town north of us.

Our son bought some hair sheep. I saw a lady that we both know mention on a face book post that they were selling some. He contacted her and bought them. They gave him a decent deal since he picked them up and they didn't have to take them 40 miles to the sale barn. He got 4 ewes and a ram. They now have most of the animals that they wanted. They just need to get the fences here fixed and them moved. That might happen next spring. Hubby cleared a little more fence with the pole saw yesterday. He used the tractor to move the brush that our son and the teenaged boys had cut. The plan is to attach the electric fence to the old existing fence. Then divide the pasture into sections for rotational grazing using electric fence.

I think I hear Hubby stiring. Have a blessed day everyone.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
I'm not feeling well this morning. I have been getting very little sleep, because of back and hip issues. I tried sleeping on the sofa two nights, but that didn't help. Sometimes, I can sleep better on the sofa than I can in the bed.

We got patchy frost last night, and might get the same, tonight. For the rest of the week, our temps will be back in the low to mid 70's. Too warm to keep the wood heater going.

Cary will be going into small town, today. I don't feel up to going with him. Not expecting anything to happen there. He will still be on the watch, though.
 
feralferret

feralferret

Veteran Member
I just watched Ryan Hall's forecast for November. It looks like it is going to get chilly here in just under a week and then get a bit crazy. I'm not looking forward to the cold air.

I had hamburger stew today at the senior center. They had cornbread with it. The cornbread was OK but not nearly as good as what my wife fixes. My mother's cornbread was virtually identical to my wife's cornbread, Neither my wife or I like sweet cornbread. Our preferred cornmeal is the Bob's Red Mill medium ground. It has a good flavor and texture for cornbread. It costs a little more but is worth it no more often than we have cornbread. She fixes cornbread with jalapenos in it for everyone here except me. She does one of the small 6" iron skillets for me with the plain cornbread. I like the jalapeno cornbread but it doesn't like me. I miss being able to eat a big bowl of chili with some cornbread. I have healed enough that my digestive system isn't giving me anywhere near the grief that it was. Praise God for that.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie
I haven't heard of any large scale looting going on in my area. I ended up having to go help pick up pizza for lunch from HyVee for a meeting -- some stores sell hot pizza -- and there was a bored-looking security officer walking around the front of the store, but otherwise it looked like the usual noon crowd, which is a combination of high school students (getting lunch), and other shoppers, mostly white women, late 30s - 70s.

I'm told that the weekly food pantry distribution was also calm, albeit crowded, but everyone who came left with something, and there were about a dozen extra cars. Fortunately, the pantry was given several tubs of bread, oatmeal, jars of peanut butter, and cans of soup.
 
S

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
feralferret said:
The USDA is using their remaining contingency funds to provide half benefits for November in deference to the two court orders. This should keep things fairly calm for a week or two, but you never know. Some people are idiots.
Click to expand...
Except, its being reported "the process" to figure partial payments "may take weeks or months"

I read in a different thread that USDA is requiring the lists of SNAP recipients to validate their eligibility, before releasing any (partial) funds. Probably to be stopped by some damned activist judge by Tuesday evening. But if Trump has managed to maneuver this so the 21 states who refused to send USDA the data won't get any funds until they DO...that's brilliant!

Summerthyme

Summerthyme
 
M

moldy

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Class tonight went well - 2 students, one of which could teach the class better than me. I did manage to teach her something she didn't know tonight though. I made turkey rolls - deli slices wrapped around stuffing, then covered in gravy. Works well when you want a taste of Thanksgiving without the fuss of making a whole turkey or chicken. Rolls with cranberry butter, and some instant mashed potatoes. Nothing fancy - just a bit.

Will work from home for a bit tomorrow, then a meeting with one of my side gigs and an appointment with oncology to get the OK to start the dental debacle. Ooohhh, the December dental debacle! I like it! Well, not really, but it will describe the latest 'Adventures with Moldy."
 
S

seraphima

Veteran Member
I've decided that it is time to start giving away most of my canning jars, as I just don't have the energy to do it any more. I did grow, pick, and freeze strawberries for jam, and salmonberries for juicing, as well as home-grown rhubarb to mix in, but have been looking for almost 3 weeks for the pectin and just can't remember where it might be.

Well, there were so many years of happy canning, and now I'd like to pass the happiness along!
 
A

anna43

Veteran Member
seraphima said:
I've decided that it is time to start giving away most of my canning jars, as I just don't have the energy to do it any more. I did grow, pick, and freeze strawberries for jam, and salmonberries for juicing, as well as home-grown rhubarb to mix in, but have been looking for almost 3 weeks for the pectin and just can't remember where it might be.

Well, there were so many years of happy canning, and now I'd like to pass the happiness along!
Click to expand...
I'm with you on letting go of canning jars. However, I haven't been able to find anyone interested in having them. Sad. I have boxes and boxes of quarts that I'd gladly re-home. I use some quarts for storing dry goods but still have many excess. I still use pints and half-pints although I have more than I use. Two pressure canners, water bath canner, cherry pitter, two Squeezos and lots of other specialized canning equipment. Mostly these days I use the smaller pressure canner (7 quarts or 9 pints) and a large soup kettle for water bath canning.

It makes me sad to think of all the years I struggled to find enough jars and managing without the helpful equipment and utensils and now that I have all that I need, I no longer need them. I remember years of inadequate kitchens and inadequate equipment, struggling to find jars and even the 1970's shortage of lids. Guess it's part of growing old.

I'm considering buying an electric pressure canner because my old arthritic hands have extremely difficult time opening the canner after processing is finished. Usually, no problem putting the lid on, just unlocking it afterwards.

I still can tomato products, jelly/jams/sauces and meats although I have only done peach jam this year. Plan to do cranberry relish tomorrow.
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
anna43 said:
I'm with you on letting go of canning jars. However, I haven't been able to find anyone interested in having them. Sad. I have boxes and boxes of quarts that I'd gladly re-home. I use some quarts for storing dry goods but still have many excess. I still use pints and half-pints although I have more than I use. Two pressure canners, water bath canner, cherry pitter, two Squeezos and lots of other specialized canning equipment. Mostly these days I use the smaller pressure canner (7 quarts or 9 pints) and a large soup kettle for water bath canning.

It makes me sad to think of all the years I struggled to find enough jars and managing without the helpful equipment and utensils and now that I have all that I need, I no longer need them. I remember years of inadequate kitchens and inadequate equipment, struggling to find jars and even the 1970's shortage of lids. Guess it's part of growing old.

I'm considering buying an electric pressure canner because my old arthritic hands have extremely difficult time opening the canner after processing is finished. Usually, no problem putting the lid on, just unlocking it afterwards.

I still can tomato products, jelly/jams/sauces and meats although I have only done peach jam this year. Plan to do cranberry relish tomorrow.
Click to expand...
I have a Presto Electric canner and I love it...it makes it so easy..I am so glad I finally got one
No listening for the jiggle and that..adjusting..
I have an All American canner...but I go for the Presto every time..
There are only two of DH and myself..doing less jars in a load doesn't matter at all
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
I live in the country with acres of fields around this old house...
I have lots of canning jars...but I can...vacuum seal...and use them all kinds of food storage...even leftovers ..with the Ball no leak lids

I bought this super cool little jar sealer from Lehman's..it is their brand..it is cordless and recharges... and really small...I was using my food saver with the jar attachments...had to drag it out to seal jars..don't have a lot of counter space..this thing is great and easy ..

Now I seal all kinds of things..get a box of cereal..dump it in a jar and seal..packages of organic instant oatmeal..drop in jar and seal...chocolate chips ..its in glass and safe from bugs and rodents...I'm using more jars than ever..even munchies... like nuts , cookies in jars...and crackers..DH snacks just as good from a jar as a bag..don't seal his snacks ..but the lids work even the canning type work...things are out of plastic and in glass
It's just so easy with that little sealer
Edit to add
Even French's fried onions..out of plastic and into glass jars...yum..lol
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
Morning all. Up at 2:30 am. Couldn't sleep.
Went to two bigger towns yesterday. No disturbances. Yet.
Finally got the Jeep in my name. Got all done for new truck and then SOS says they have to release electronic release. They are going away from paper. So I'll have to see how long it takes to get that done, then make another trip to get it finished, then can lower insurance.

Going to work on red barn today as scrap guy coming tomorrow morning. There's an antenna hanging off the porch roof that needs to go also.

You know. Just odds and ends. Finish hallway curtain. Re tarp boat. Probably have to run the steam cleaner in living room. Poor old dog of sons can't hold bladder.
Laundry, trash, etc. Just the norm.
 
W

Wildwood

Veteran Member
I just wrote a long rambling post and I must have hit something wrong because it went away lol.

I just wanted to say that I don't can near as much as I use to either I do still can some garden stuff and keep a certain amount of meat canned. I also use my jars for storage and left overs in the fridge. All my flours, meals, rice pasta, etc. are in half gallon jars in my pantry.

I don't have a problem with what to do with them. DDIL cans and is always running out of jars so I send them over by the case. I've been converting to wide mouth jars for years and only drag out the regular mouth when I run out of WM. My mother would not touch a wide mouth jar. She didn't think they could possibly seal as well. I love them for many reasons with the main one being easier to clean.

Until I got to my fifties, I could still get my hand inside a regular mouth to scrub it good. I can't do that now...I guess it's the extra weight because my knuckles and joints aren't any bigger...as far as I can tell. Scratch that thought, I was just inspired to take a look at my hands and the right hand index finger knuckle is definitely bigger and my hands are showing their age. Before I got so serious about gardening, my skin looked much younger than my age.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
I'm feeling better, today, after getting a good night's sleep. I hardly did anything, yesterday.

I have a storehouse full of different size canning jars that Mom keeps at her house for me. I have cases and cases here at home, too. I don't can these days the way I did when we had much larger gardens. I think I have enough sealing lids to last my life time, LOL.

I, also, have the Presto electric pressure canner. It works great, and is the only type of pressure canner I will use. No large batches, so it's perfect for just the two of us. No large gardens for us anymore, either. It also takes my fear out of canning, because it's so simple to use.

71 degrees for our high and sunny skies. Same temp (70's), until Friday. Another cold front coming in, and possible severe storms with it. The next week, our forecast has us getting our first hard freeze. Down to 23 that night.

Cary is making his trip into small town, today. He's gone now. He didn't get around to going, yesterday, like he planned.
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
Antenna off roof. Rewired old antenna to living room tv. Looks much cleaner.
Made a dog gate for living room. 2 loads laundry.
Stuff set out for dinner.
Pulled all the big boards and pallets from front of my cabin. Will use a board or two for top of the boys fort. Every time I walk on those boards when they are wet, I fall, slippery. Made new steps for cabin.
Tried to jump the old jeep as guy is coming Saturday to look at it. Couldn't get it to do anything. Can't trickle charge it as not close enough for extension cords.
Have to sweep back porch and then start working on barn. Ug. But it's half way done.
I get my most work done the first half of the day. Can get a lot done. Then I'm pooped out.
Scrap guys coming tomorrow so trying to go through and get what I can.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
WanderLore said:
I get my most work done the first half of the day. Can get a lot done. Then I'm pooped out.
Click to expand...

I hear you. It's the same with me. I go full blast the first half of the day, and then I'm done, except for cooking supper. I guess I only have a half day's worth of energy.

Even though, I feel better, today, I don't have much of anything to do. I put boneless pork chops in the crock pot and made some brown gravy with onions and spices and poured over them. Don't know, yet, what I will make to go with them. Cary will want mashed potatoes with the gravy.

Cooking supper and cleaning up the kitchen will be my last burst of energy for the day.
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
summerthyme said:
Except, its being reported "the process" to figure partial payments "may take weeks or months"

I read in a different thread that USDA is requiring the lists of SNAP recipients to validate their eligibility, before releasing any (partial) funds. Probably to be stopped by some damned activist judge by Tuesday evening. But if Trump has managed to maneuver this so the 21 states who refused to send USDA the data won't get any funds until they DO...that's brilliant!

Summerthyme

Summerthyme
Click to expand...
I have read that up to 59% of people on SNAP....are illegals...they are flat out not eligible for them
Musk said that all the super old people on social security,(dead)..are not recieving SS..but the Democrats don't want to purge,those numbers because they are using those SS numbers to give the illegals SNAP and all kinds of other benefits ...that are costing us billions...of tax payer $
The 21 blue states are refusing to send their SNAP records...so everyone on SNAP..may be required to requalify so SS numbers can be verified..and the fraud stopped.
 
Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie
I've been keeping an ear to the ground, but I haven't heard about any wide-spread looting. I was warned to be careful while getting gas, that purse snatchings have increased. I no longer carry a purse, and I keep my car doors on the other side of the car locked at all times, plus I take note of who is around.

I heard that there was a protest at the Iowa State House, maybe about a dozen protesters waving signs. It didn't make the TV news.

The main focus was on getting the vote out to defeat all of the school bond issues. People are totally fed up with taxes . . . that's what I kept hearing today in my brief wanderings.

It's quiet tonight. I was out sitting on deck, watching the moon rise. I hope that tomorrow continues to be calm.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
Not much going on today. My hip is still bothering me a bit. I think it's bursitis and has nothing to do with sciatica. The bur bands down the outside of my right leg are extremely sore down to my knee.

Cary got home from his trip into town, yesterday, and declared war on about a gazillion fire ants. They were about to take over our property. Mounds everywhere. I needed him to help me do some work in the main pantry, so we got that done. I needed to rotate some flats, and they were heavy. I went looking for a can of cream of chicken soup, and the oldest was on the very bottom of the stack and hard to get to.

Nice and sunny today. High temp of 75. We're back to using our little propane heater at night. Still in the low 40's. Just enough to keep the chill out, until the daytime heating warms things back up.
 
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