Prep Genrl Weekly prep thread November 22-28, 2020

[nomifyle]

Since no one else has started the weekly thread I'll go ahead. Not meaning to step on anyones toes.

Continuing to organize. Almost all of the stuff we cleaned out of a shed awhile back is out of the yard. Its looking better. I found two large totes that have blankets, throws, quilts, etc. in. They belonged to DH and 1st wife. Of course, they all have to be washed and properly stored. I don't think you can have too much cover, it actually can get pretty cold around here, even though we are a banana republic. I moved those two totes to the camper porch/summer kitchen. Trying to get the front screened in porch cleared out. Found a lot of old spices from my mother's house. They are getting dumped, although some nice bottles that I'll keep. I think I have all the loose canning jars, that need to be washed, stored on the camper porch. DH and 1st wife canned and she had a ton of canning jars that he wanted to leave in Illinois and I packed them all up and brought them home. I probably never actually have to buy any more canning jars

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[Marseydoats]

It finally decided to be winter time and when I dug out my beanies I found that all but one of them (naturally the one I really dislike) shrunk so badly the last time I washed them, they won't fit my big head. So I donated them. I've been to 3 different WM's and none of them have any winter hats, scarfs, or gloves... It's really hard for me to find a hat that's big enough, I have to try them on.
I had been wanting some new lawn chairs but couldn't find any that I liked that I could afford. Relative gave me some of those collapsible camping chairs, and I'm surprised at how nice they are. The barn cat and I sat out in the sun yesterday and we haven't done that since back in March. I really enjoyed the break.
I'm trying to clean and organize as well.

 

[moldy]

I just can't seem to get it together today. Pulled the Christmas decorations out of storage as DD#3 asked me to send hers to her (first year out on her own with a boyfriend), and I thought I might as well send DS' to him also. Trying to downsize a little, but there's not really much to go. I need to do my cleaning for TD as I work Tues and Wednesday and we are having guests for dinner thursday.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

There's nothing much going on here. I'm still working on cleaning out my old freezer. Slowly but surely, it's getting down almost low enough to defrost, but I'm waiting till after Thanksgiving. I'll have more things to take out of it for our Thanksgiving meal.

Cary is still working on firewood, but hit his knee on the log splitter. Made it very sore, so he's limping around on it. He's got around two more cords to cut, split, and stack. That will give us 9 cords total. We have rather mild winters here compared to some of you, so that should do us for two years, at least.

We're planning a nice quiet week ahead for a change, nothing planned, other than Thanksgiving day. I'll do some of my cooking Wednesday night.

 

[Jeff B.]

I just can't seem to get it together today. Pulled the Christmas decorations out of storage as DD#3 asked me to send hers to her (first year out on her own with a boyfriend), and I thought I might as well send DS' to him also. Trying to downsize a little, but there's not really much to go. I need to do my cleaning for TD as I work Tues and Wednesday and we are having guests for dinner thursday.

I’ve been trying for about three years to get the wife and two daughters to go through the Christmas stuff as we open not up and pass out things we’re not using.

Maybe this is the year!

Jeff B.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Time for some "fun" topping off. At Sam's I got some wine, some snacks, 2 of those big cans of Folgers that were on sale, some more freezer bag rolls for vacuum sealing, some fire logs, and some more butane.

Off of Amazon I ordered a popcorn popper (a real one, not a hot air one), some ortho insoles, some movies, some extra Christmas presents, and some food storage containers for the kitchen.

And at Bass Pro tomorrow I plan to order some thermal shirts and some hiking boots.

I have also hit the grocery stores and purchased more toilet paper, more dish soap, more bar soap, vitamins, distilled water, soup, popcorn, fresh veggies for Thanksgiving dinner, brown sugar, gravy, peppermint candies, butter, and a few other odds and ends.

The house smells awesome right now as I am cooking a chicken carcass down for stock, which I will freeze for making soup later. It has been a very productive weekend

 

[Hilblyswife]

As of right now, the husband and son are processing a deer. Some of that will become jerky, but most will be cut up as stew meat and the scraps ground. I am making apple butter in slow cooker and will can it in a couple of days. One of the ways I use older apples. The day I can the apple butter, I will also juice some oranges (before they go bad)and can the juice up as well.

 

[Marseydoats]

Time for some "fun" topping off. At Sam's I got some wine, some snacks, 2 of those big cans of Folgers that were on sale, some more freezer bag rolls for vacuum sealing, some fire logs, and some more butane.

Off of Amazon I ordered a popcorn popper (a real one, not a hot air one), some ortho insoles, some movies, some extra Christmas presents, and some food storage containers for the kitchen.

And at Bass Pro tomorrow I plan to order some thermal shirts and some hiking boots.

I have also hit the grocery stores and purchased more toilet paper, more dish soap, more bar soap, vitamins, distilled water, soup, popcorn, fresh veggies for Thanksgiving dinner, brown sugar, gravy, peppermint candies, butter, and a few other odds and ends.

The house smells awesome right now as I am cooking a chicken carcass down for stock, which I will freeze for making soup later. It has been a very productive weekend

I didn't know they still made actual popcorn poppers. Mine from 1967 is still working fine, and I have a back up that Mom bought me at a yard sale. My niece didn't know what the thing was and didn't believe me when I told her you didn't have to have a microwave to make popcorn. She really couldn't believe that my neighbors make theirs on top of the stove with a cast iron skillet, but I've never been able to do that without scorching it.

 

[nomifyle]

Another thing I lost in Katrina was my Christmas decorations, including the ones that I got my babies every year. Kinda lost interest in decorating much of anything. Sad, but they would not be interested in the now anyway. But I'm blessed for the good life I have now.

God is good all the time.

 

[ReneeT]

Thank you for starting the thread, Nomifyle!! I'm not sure I even knew it was Sunday! My work week has been so messed up that I've had to ask Hubby what day it is!! Only thing that's keeping me half sane is the thought of 5 off in a row starting at 0730 on 11/26 - not that I'm anxious for it to get here or anything

(I just asked daughter to see if the Chinese restaurant was open for take out on Thanksgiving - shhh, don't tell!)

A few years ago, daughter was asked to be a part of the Holiday House walk (she lives in an historic house); silly girl asked me if I had any decorations to spare... one van load and one truck load later, I was down to one small tote in the closet under the basement stairs. I had to go to Dollar General and buy a little 3 or 4' tree and take the boys to my Aunt's church's holiday sale to get ornaments for it when they were upset that I didn't have a tree, but it was worth it to pass down all that stuff.

 

[moldy]

I left out two small nativities and a wreath for the front door. I haven't decorated at all the last few years, so this will be enough. I do want to get a little something with lights, though.

 

[WanderLore]

50 bags of coal and new propane tank was set for daughter. Animals and people are stocked.
Have been having little guy from the corner come play with the boys and they have become fast friends, love seeing it.
Started a small hiking group for our homeschool group and working on some patches for us.
We leave tomorrow to go to the city for DH's test on Tuesday, got a hotel room. His covid test was negative.
We got several inches of snow, its mushy now and will melt off after few days.
I'm exhausted. Yesterday we took the boys to visit their cousins before they leave for Colorado for holidays. Stepson gave us a yuge bag of venison jerkey.
About 18 years ago, my best girl friend gifted me an old Christmas tree. I keep it in the corner of the living room all year and decorate it to reflect whatever holiday it is. Boys and I already put it up and its pretty.
Kind of neat about the new little guy friend, his dad is on dialysis (15 years) and they are getting set up to do home hemo, and possible transplant. We BTDT so we can be a good support. God is good, all the time. As Judy says.

 

[Digger]

We hired a man with a forestry machine to clear some paths on the property we bought 2 years ago. He cleared the north fence line in the woods and part of the west fence line. He cleared the part of an old road that went to the west fence so we can drive back there again. He cleared off the spot we would like to build a barn and chicken house on. My current chicken house is getting pretty rough. The new location would be dryer too. It is just over our original fence on the new property. The guy also cleaned around the pond in the woods on the new property. We opened a hole in the fence and he cleared a road to the pond from our house. Lots of wild life coming for water there. We set up the game camera looking over the pond. One picture had 5 deer and another had 5 hogs.

Tp, paper towels, and Kleenex are back to being limited on how many you can purchase. I bought 1 Kleenex because I had opened one last week. Hubby is thinking about trying red feather butter and bega cheese. Anyone tried these items that can give us a review?

 

[nomifyle]

We hired a man with a forestry machine to clear some paths on the property we bought 2 years ago. He cleared the north fence line in the woods and part of the west fence line. He cleared the part of an old road that went to the west fence so we can drive back there again. He cleared off the spot we would like to build a barn and chicken house on. My current chicken house is getting pretty rough. The new location would be dryer too. It is just over our original fence on the new property. The guy also cleaned around the pond in the woods on the new property. We opened a hole in the fence and he cleared a road to the pond from our house. Lots of wild life coming for water there. We set up the game camera looking over the pond. One picture had 5 deer and another had 5 hogs.

Tp, paper towels, and Kleenex are back to being limited on how many you can purchase. I bought 1 Kleenex because I had opened one last week. Hubby is thinking about trying red feather butter and bega cheese. Anyone tried these items that can give us a review?

I bought a case of the bega cheese about 12 years ago. I never used any and now its garbage, I think the shelf life is 5 years, so I'm way past that, and it was stored in a hot shed.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[Digger]

I bought a case of the bega cheese about 12 years ago. I never used any and now its garbage, I think the shelf life is 5 years, so I'm way past that, and it was stored in a hot shed.
So sorry you lost your cheese. But the info was helpful to me.
God is good all the time

Judy

 

[Digger]

I am sorry you lost your cheese. But your experience was helpful to me. Thanks for the reply.

 

[nomifyle]

We've been getting cans of campbells vegetarian vegetable soup. I tried a can yesterday, it badly needed meat (LOL) and something else. I added a small can of chicken and chicken boullion and a little Tony's. It was okay, but filling. It was quick and easy to warm up, I could easily have done it with one of those little stoves that you put a candle under (I have a supply of those candles).

God is good all the time,

Judy

 

[nomifyle]

I am sorry you lost your cheese. But your experience was helpful to me. Thanks for the reply.

Use it or lose it, my fault.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[nomifyle]

More cleaning out and organizing. I'm cleaning books out of my camper (100 boxes) and putting them in my she shed. To accomodate the books in the she shed I have to move some things around. I was moving something under the air conditioner in there and saw where there had been a leak around the a/c. DH went right out took care of that, I am so spoiled and blessed. I have four out building kind of things to get cleaned out this fall, winter and early spring. The camper, she shed, a small shed and my school bus. We had a big "big" roach problem everywhere but we have taken care of that so all of these places have to be cleaned out and ruined things burned. Getting all of those things done will be a big load off my mind. Although its slow going, but something everyday gets it done over time.

God is good all the time

Judy

 

[school marm]

I finally got my second book published, Food Storage Made Fabulous.

Last week I canned black beans and hamburger and vac sealed a bunch of Halloween candy. Also dehydrated a box of apples.

Today Smith's had pineapples for 97 cents, so now I have a dozen to can. Not sure that was the best idea for Thanksgiving week, but hopefully it will be ok. We won't have the big dinner until Friday, after DS and DDIL get back from her parents' house for their Thanksgiving.

Good luck to all preparing for the interesting times ahead.

 

[hiwall]

I finally got my second book published, Food Storage Made Fabulous.

Congrats on your book!

 

[moldy]

Schoolmarm where is your book available?

 

[hiwall]

Is it this one?

Amazon.com: Food Storage Made Fabulous: Principles of Food Storage and Recipes So Fantastic Your Family Won't Realize There's a Crisis eBook : Rader, Jennifer: Books

Amazon.com: Food Storage Made Fabulous: Principles of Food Storage and Recipes So Fantastic Your Family Won't Realize There's a Crisis eBook : Rader, Jennifer: Books

www.amazon.com

 

[school marm]

Is it this one?

Amazon.com: Food Storage Made Fabulous: Principles of Food Storage and Recipes So Fantastic Your Family Won't Realize There's a Crisis eBook : Rader, Jennifer: Books

Amazon.com: Food Storage Made Fabulous: Principles of Food Storage and Recipes So Fantastic Your Family Won't Realize There's a Crisis eBook : Rader, Jennifer: Books

www.amazon.com

That's it!

 

[Old Gray Mare]

Snagged two frozen turkeys at a decent price and may go back for a third. Trying to fill the freezer and get ready for some serious canning come January and February. It's good to have a plan. I think it amuses God.

 

[Bps1691]

We hired a man with a forestry machine to clear some paths on the property we bought 2 years ago. He cleared the north fence line in the woods and part of the west fence line. He cleared the part of an old road that went to the west fence so we can drive back there again. He cleared off the spot we would like to build a barn and chicken house on. My current chicken house is getting pretty rough. The new location would be dryer too. It is just over our original fence on the new property. The guy also cleaned around the pond in the woods on the new property. We opened a hole in the fence and he cleared a road to the pond from our house. Lots of wild life coming for water there. We set up the game camera looking over the pond. One picture had 5 deer and another had 5 hogs.

Tp, paper towels, and Kleenex are back to being limited on how many you can purchase. I bought 1 Kleenex because I had opened one last week. Hubby is thinking about trying red feather butter and bega cheese. Anyone tried these items that can give us a review?

Bought one can of the cheese and tried it a few years ago. It was passable if you didn't have any real fresh cheese. The Red Feather butter was also ok but I make and can my own Gee, so I didn't bother getting any more of it.

 

[hiwall]

The plastic covering came today for my greenhouse. I now have everything needed here to build one and enough plastic to cover it twice.

 

[marsh]

A greenhouse is something I have been pining for. I have space for it, just not the money. (I want the small one from harbor freight.) I have a feeling that it would be nice for winter greens. It is so hot here most of the year that things just stop growing. It goes straight from summer to fall, so spring is the best time for growing things. I would like to extend the season, now that I don't go to the store much and can't get fresh veggies.

I did look into subscribing to the weekly farmers' boxes, but they don't offer them anymore.

 

[Illini Warrior]

A greenhouse is something I have been pining for. I have space for it, just not the money. (I want the small one from harbor freight.) I have a feeling that it would be nice for winter greens. It is so hot here most of the year that things just stop growing. It goes straight from summer to fall, so spring is the best time for growing things. I would like to extend the season, now that I don't go to the store much and can't get fresh veggies.

I did look into subscribing to the weekly farmers' boxes, but they don't offer them anymore.

if you have the labor & transportations means - keep an eye out for the freebies on FB Marketplace & Craigslist >>> they come up available ....

 

[prudentwatcher]

I have been taking advantage of some online deals for Black Friday "week" and have ordered some winter clothing items, a pair of hiking boots, 2 pair of sneakers, some new masks, and the last of the Christmas presents. When a company offers my sneakers at half off, I am not going to turn them down.

We are ordering some cat treats from Chewy's tomorrow, as well as an Instapot for me (it is a Christmas gift). Just a couple of things left on the wish list and they will all be ordered in the next week or so. Feels good getting all of that done.

 

[moldy]

Got an air fryer lid for my instapot for my Christmas present. Had a lovely day with inlaws and a friend of DHs . Now have washer and dishwasher going, more pumpkin cooking on the woodstove overnight, and updating my journal.

 

[aviax2]

Other than Christmas, I didn’t get much done prep wise this week. I did put in an order for gifts for the grandsons and books for all the grands. Their mom will be picking out an outfit for each of them from us and DH has to get some rope for the huge saucer type swing the boys are getting and we’ll get a few things for stockings and be done with them. So far the grown up kids are getting socks and a bottle of wine and cash to get what they want or need.

I hope everyone that celebrates Thanksgiving, had a great one. It’s actually my favorite holiday but we can’t always do it on THE day. So we’ll be celebrating ours on Sunday.

Our refrigerator went out AGAIN this week so that will make things a little harder. Ugh, why can’t they make things the right way!?! We built a house and moved in 10 years ago and this is the 2nd refrigerator that we’ve bought and have had multiple issues with. We had a repair person here Tuesday and it was supposed to be fixed but we knew before bedtime that it was still not fixed. DH called again Wednesday morning and it will be Monday before we can get someone here again. Thankful we still have our old fridge (1997) in the basement and youngest DD’s college fridge (2000), inconvenient but workable.

 

[moldy]

Sold 4 aloe plants today and am working on herbal products.

 

[Meemur]

Bought a twin single wool army blanket from a neighbor who is moving and pulled the trigger on the wool blanket throw I've been watching on Amazon. The twin will go in the car to replace a 60 (?) year-old wool blanket that has far too many holes in it (I'm finished repairing it -- enough!). The throw is for the living room chair and replaces one I crocheted that just isn't warm enough from Dec - Mar.

I've had people watching thrift stores for me for army blankets, but they are disappearing as soon as they come in.

I'm glad to cross that off my shopping list. Other stuff can wait, but I've been worried about winter-related items lately.

 

[Digger]

We got the upper garden finished covering with chopped leaves. We added more to the lower garden. There is still about 1/3 of the lower garden yet to cover. We are running out of leaves. But we should be able to get enough, we will just have to go further out from the yard.

We cleaned the flue yesterday. We will be building our first fire of the season in the stove today. The next 10 days look to be a little below normal for our area.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Bought a twin single wool army blanket from a neighbor who is moving and pulled the trigger on the wool blanket throw I've been watching on Amazon. The twin will go in the car to replace a 60 (?) year-old wool blanket that has far too many holes in it (I'm finished repairing it -- enough!). The throw is for the living room chair and replaces one I crocheted that just isn't warm enough from Dec - Mar.

I've had people watching thrift stores for me for army blankets, but they are disappearing as soon as they come in.

I'm glad to cross that off my shopping list. Other stuff can wait, but I've been worried about winter-related items lately.

Meemur, if you or anyone else is interested in military grade wool blankets, this is where we get ours. They are very good quality. If you have a military surplus store in your area, you can try there, also. We have one in our area, and we shop there often.

| Sportsman's Guide

 

[20Gauge]

We dug out two turkeys we have had for about two years in the freezer.... yeah I know. They were small turkeys as it is just the wife and I with 4 cats.

So we scrapped all of the meat off of them and made 12 pints of turkey. We then boiled the bones in the slow cooker to make broth.

The meat alone will give us quite a bit of cat food.

We also have 12 pounds (pints) of chicken to can today with the broth. I have a busy day.....yet I am here......lol

For those who have cats, canning cat food may save money. Pure meat and not the rice/wheat filled stuff that costs about $0.75 per 3 oz. So it would cost about $5 per pound for cat food. Make it yourself and it costs half that.

 

[prudentwatcher]

Right now I have five pints of Ghee in the pressure canner. I consider that my major prep for the day. I also made some wine, following the instructions of Pinball Preparedness (youtube), so I have two 64 oz juice bottles in the closet doing their thing. It is an experiment, so we will see.

Bass Pro tossed in an extra thermal shirt on my order, so I guess I came out ahead. Placed an order on Amazon last night for some backpacks. The one I use when I travel just unraveled when we were gone for my dad's funeral. So I replaced that one and then ordered two more to turn into bug out bags. The BOB's I have now I think are too big for us. So these will be downsized and updated with new stuff, probably my New Year's project.

 

[20Gauge]

I just canned 7 quarts of chicken for the cats. I have 5 more and 3 pints of broth waiting for the canner.

Got to go the cat is yelling at me.

 

[Meemur]

Meemur, if you or anyone else is interested in military grade wool blankets, this is where we get ours. They are very good quality. If you have a military surplus store in your area, you can try there, also. We have one in our area, and we shop there often.
| Sportsman's Guide

Our military surplus store is closed for now. I think the owner had a heart attack. Thanks for the Sportman's Guide link. I'll keep it in mind.