Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: October 9 ~ 15, 2022

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Digger

Veteran Member
I went to my favorite resale shop while hubby took our car to get serviced. They were running behind so I really got to shop all I wanted. I found some good clothing items for me. The store had just put out their ladies fall items on Saturday so there were lots of good stuff. I got the little granddaughter a couple of cute outfits that I just couldn't pass up.

Hubby and I both went to the barn at different times. We are sure someone has stolen some square bales of hay. I have to figure out a place to put the game cameras to watch the road. Our drive is 1/2 a mile long with one neighbor before our house. The barns are a little over 1/4 of a mile away. We are only missing a few bales, but that is our income. And we have other stuff in the barns too.

Last night we went to revival at an old church west of us. Just a one room building, no electricity, or plumbing. We had service by kerosene light and those battery candles. It was really beautiful and moving. The little church was full. All the money collected goes to repairs on the church.

We got more wood split and stacked with our son and grandson's help. We keep 3 years worth in the shed but had gotten behind on this bunch. We do everything slower than we used to.

I remember my dad or grandmother telling me about Grandma making patties out of left over peas. She fixed them for breakfast when they had peas left from supper. She raised 6 kids during the Great Depression. She and Grandpa made sure their kids didn't go hungry. We were having BLTs for breakfast so I made pea patties to go with them. I mashed my peas, added onions, cornmeal, a little flour, and an egg. Then fried them in a little bacon grease. They were really good. We will be cooking them again.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I didn't get any sleep last night at all. I've been up all night just reading a book. I got that upcoming trip to Alabama on Saturday on my mind, and that movie played out over and over in my head. I really don't want to go, but I don't want to knock anybody else out of a good time. Know what I mean? First off, the restaurant is in a cave. I had a panic attack the last time I went inside a cave. I swore that I would never go inside another one. You have to walk across a rope bridge to get to it that is high and long. I don't do high or rope bridges. Not to mention being so dang far away from home.

I did manage to get our bedroom cleaned this morning. Swept, mopped, dusted, and bed sheets all changed. Other than washing the bed sheets, and cooking a package of bacon for supper tonight, that's all that will get done today. We're having breakfast for supper.

Cary doesn't like the texture of chopped, cooked celery, so I don't buy it. He doesn't mind the taste, so I buy celery seeds to have on hand when I use a recipe that calls for chopped celery. They last forever.

Out of nowhere, we have a small chance of rain today along with thunderstorms with the possibility of tornadoes in the mix. A cold front is coming in this afternoon. I sure am praying that we'll get a good rain. I don't like staying gone from the house very long when we're under a fire danger! Another worry about Saturday.

I have my mammogram appt. tomorrow afternoon. A quick run to Big Town to get that done and back home.
 
aviax2

aviax2

Veteran Member
SB~I keep celery seed on hand too, I use it in coleslaw, potato salad, etc. so between that and the dried celery leaves I have, will just have to do except for when I make cornbread dressing or want raw celery to snack on.
I feel for you about Sat. and I do know what you mean, it’s something you don’t really want to do but you don‘t want to disappoint others. I don’t think the cave part would bother me too much, the few I’ve been in haven’t but heights bother me greatly and rope bridges freak me out.

Digger~I remember a lady I know telling me that her mother used to make pea patties and how much she always liked them. Her mother was a young adult during the GD, I need to try them sometime, yours sound tasty.
I hope the hay theft stops, sorry you’re having to deal with that. We aren’t selling any hay from this years cuttings because we’re concerned about having enough to feed our cattle this winter and had to start putting hay out early for them this year. I know how precious it is especially after all the drought in so many places. I despise a thief and a liar.

DH is drilling seed today in the pastures, hoping to get done before rain moves in later. We need rain so bad, it’s so dry. I need to get busy and get some housework done and work on my shopping list. I’m wanting/needing to make some changes in the pantry and I can’t quite figure out how best to do it without some serious moving things around or out. I may just go and sit in there for awhile and see if I have any light bulb moments that I can get DH to help me with when he has time LOL!
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
One of DH's sons called yesterday. His twin boys are almost 4 and he really wants DH to come to visit. Dh told him he could not possible come until after his ear surgery on Dec 5. The last thing I want to do is go on a trip and it would be to Illinois. For me everything depends on what happens midterm. Even if my sons were talking to me I would not want to go to New Orleans.

So SB I can understand your not wanting to get far from home.

More in the kitchen to get done, although I've made a lot of progress.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
aviax2 said:
SB~I keep celery seed on hand too, I use it in coleslaw, potato salad, etc. so between that and the dried celery leaves I have, will just have to do except for when I make cornbread dressing or want raw celery to snack on.
I feel for you about Sat. and I do know what you mean, it’s something you don’t really want to do but you don‘t want to disappoint others. I don’t think the cave part would bother me too much, the few I’ve been in haven’t but heights bother me greatly and rope bridges freak me out.
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Has anyone heard of Rattlesnake Saloon? That's the name of the place. I've already told Cary that if there were any live rattlesnakes on display of any kind in there, I absolutely was NOT going in. It's bad enough that it's inside a cave. He will more than likely have to go inside and order my lunch for me, if I can even get across the bridge. The only saving factor in all this cave business is that you can eat outside. Cary and I have never been to this place. DS has been several times while traveling for his job. That's how he knows about it and wants to take us to see it. I'm not as adventuresome as I once was, LOL.
 
JMG91

JMG91

Veteran Member
I made my first batch of yogurt this last week, and it turned out really well! I'm so happy! I'm hoping to try cheesemaking next. I want to do cheddar, since that's the type we eat so much. It will be interesting trying to age it though.

I also purchased something called a steam juicer after a recommendation from the lady who runs my homesteading group. I'd never even heard of such a thing before, but she loves hers. You basically put the fruit/vegetables in the strainer part, fill up the bottom pan with water, and it steams out all of the liquid and gathers it in the middle compartment. I will be using it to help me with making jelly out of my 7 gallons of muscadines, as well as the Kiefer pears I got off the tree this year.
 
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philkar

Veteran Member
JMG91 I have an electric juicer that I use to make muscadine jelly. I have processed approx 7 gallons of juice. For every 4 gal of muscadines I get 1 gallon of juice. No water added! What I don't make into jelly I can and we drink. The juicer is one of the most useful appliances I have. It just takes no time to use. Can also use on other fruit.
 
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Barb

Veteran Member
I've been looking for winter pajamas or nightgowns and found a pair of pajamas on Amazon that I like the looks of and they are on sale so I ordered them. Hope they fit. I've lost so much weight that I have to keep buying clothes. Not entirely a bad thing I guess. Lol.
 
Siskiyoumom

Siskiyoumom

Veteran Member
Here in far Northern California out temps have been unusually high in the 90s and no rain since a small storm in early September. Lots of micro quakes in our region, a new arson fire start south of, but fairly far from us.

Dear husband has gotten all the downed trees bucked and split up from the major road clearing done back the tribal fire prevention loggers who worked on our road this summer.

With dear step daughter out of state dealing with her mother’s health crisis I have been harvesting her garden beds and canning up Cowboy Candy, tomato soup (terrible tomato harvest this year), Lemony Egg Plant Campanata from the 2021 edition of the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving, and harvested the amaranth today.

Dear hubby built me a canning closet this week! Sturdy and strong and very nice.
 
briches

briches

Veteran Member
I nailed down my new budget this week and have put it into place as best I can. Oil change and inspection happening Friday as well as a tire rotation. I’m hoping I won’t need tires for another year.

Meal planning happened, and we are doing good with using things we have on hand.

I‘ve started thinking ahead for Christmas and making my lists. Hubby and I don’t do a lot for each other, but I have my two young adult sons and daughter in law. I got a couple of small things off Amazon prime sales for that but have a long way to go.

Slow and steady -
 
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Barry Natchitoches

Has No Life - Lives on TB
SouthernBreeze said:
Oleglass just lives a hop and a jump from me in a different county. I think I saw on our local news where his county was under a burn ban. This whole area of Mississippi is going to be under one if we don't get rain soon. It's been over 2 months, since we've had any measurable rainfall. Still no rain in sight at least for the next 2 weeks. That's as far out as our local forecast goes.
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It is storming here right now, as I write this.

Did you get some of today’s rainfall, SB?
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
Update on the green beans...we had a frost last weekend..we covered a bunch of things. ..but not the green beans...DH came in with 2 boxes before the frost...so relented and canned more...we now have 72 jars of them...at least the frost has put an end to them....lol..he did string a bunch of leather britches also..

Saw on the web that you can ...take the top and seed column out of the middle of green peppers and then string them and dry them...then rehydrate them and stuff them...they put the string through the peppers side and out the other side about half way down... they used thin sided peppers...cause they dry faster. ... they were green and turned...red when dry... interesting idea.
when the peppers were dry they stored them in zip lock bags..

might try a few of those ..since peppers are crazy expensive in the winter..bet no parboiling when dehydrated... wonder if it would work with other peppers
 
aviax2

aviax2

Veteran Member
Barry~I’m 3 hrs away from Memphis up in NW TN and we were blessed to get a decent rain today. The first we’ve had in awhile, I’m hoping we get more later this week. I started to tell DH how strange it was to hear thunder (it’s been awhile) and he ended up finishing my sentence because he was thinking the same thing.

hd5574~One year I had green beans coming out of my ears! I canned 95 quarts and a few pints of those beans, I picked and canned over 40 of the quarts among other veggies over a 3 day holiday weekend and I was happy enough to go back to work. My sister and someone else picked quite a few beans off those 3 rows of pole beans. By the way, green beans are far from being a favorite veggie for me but DH and our daughters loved them.

briches~I just ordered two things for my granddaughter about an hour ago, I told my daughter I finally got started shopping! 3yr little girls are much easier to shop for than her 11 and 13 yr old brothers.
 
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hd5574

Veteran Member
Aviax2..
We only planted one 22 foot row of pole beans...we planted half Kentucky Wonder and half Blue Lake...there are only 2 of us...and I have also cooked and eaten them for weeks.. we wanted to see which would do best in this new spot..it was like an insane competition between the two types of beans..when this frost came in they were still wildly in bloom..

We covered the butter beans and peppers and they are still thriving..we eat butter beans fresh or dry in soups..DH pulled the tomatoes and we have those..still ripening

We have been over run with tomatoes..DH has been taking them to work...one guy lost all his tomatoes to fungus and he and his wife have been canning ours...I have canned lots of maters and peppers both sweet and chili are going crazy..I have canned those and potatoes and celery..
Chopped and frozen peppers and chives..until no room left..

Still have a lot of taters to can..and onions...we just don't have a good place to store store and keep them.

DH has been taking hot peppers to work...to the hot pepper lovers.. ..the crazy thing is we only have 6 chili pepper plants total ..of three different kinds they hanging whole all over the kitchen drying..the plants are full again ...that is why I want to try drying them to stuff.

I have also canned over 50 jars of various meats with more frozen meats to do after rest of the veggies are done..my 2 freezers are jammed..

We have truly been blessed this year...with the right amount of rain when it was needed..we have more rain on the way tonight late and tomorrow..which will water our fall winter garden.... after all those beans we are looking forward to all our fall greens, lettuces..and peas

people in our county were flooded are had damaging winds others were dry...we plan to enlarge this new spot..and plan more rows of beans..there are bunch of young kids where DH works that are married with young kids..so we hopefully will have a bunch more veggies next year to share..with those who will need the help..

It has broken my heart ❤️ reading about problems people here have had with the weather and things not producing..it is so heart breaking
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
We saw lightening tonight on the way home from church, but no rain here at our house. The folks at church were talking about a storm coming and I laughed.

Church was nice and the people are also nice. Church is just about our only outing. I'm so tired of all that is going on and yet people around us don't seem to be the least concerned. Just about makes me want to have my head in the sand, but I just don't know how to do that.

Praying for you Moldy.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Barry Natchitoches said:
It is storming here right now, as I write this.

Did you get some of today’s rainfall, SB?
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Oh, yes! Wonderful rainfall overnight last night! All our rain barrels, tubs, and water tank have been refilled. We had severe thunderstorm warnings 2 times for our county. It was so good to get up this morning, walk outside, and see everything refreshed. I think we're supposed to get another cold front that will bring us more rain, Sunday. We may even get our first frost next week, and I'm still gathering tomatoes! 2-4 a day, but I'm using them almost as fast as I gather them each night for supper. This rainfall will do wonders for the mustard and turnips, plus the much cooler temps.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh yeah. DS has assured me that there are no snakes of any kind inside Rattlesnake Saloon. He also told me that there is another option to get to the restaurant from the parking lot besides walking the rope bridge. You can ride in the back of a wagon and go a different route. Now, if I can just get reassured about having to go inside the cave......Everything should be ok.
 
ioujc

ioujc

MARANTHA!! Even so, come LORD JESUS!!!
moldy said:
Just got done with my 3 month post-radiation scans...I see oncology next week. DH is making more sorghum syrup today, I think, and I have gobs of canning to do.
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INTENSE PRAYERS that your scans are good and there is NO RE-OCCURRANCE.....in JESUS' precious, holy name!!!!

Just saw your update about needing a CT scan...... continuing to pray for healing and NO SET BACKS!!! Joining in prayer with all those here....LORD, PLEASE HEAR US!!!
 
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M

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
SouthernBreeze said:
Oh yeah. DS has assured me that there are no snakes of any kind inside Rattlesnake Saloon. He also told me that there is another option to get to the restaurant from the parking lot besides walking the rope bridge. You can ride in the back of a wagon and go a different route. Now, if I can just get reassured about having to go inside the cave......Everything should be ok.
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Sherree, they have a website Home of Seven Spring Lodge and the Rattlesnake Saloon | Tuscumbia, AL

It says that you can ride your horses there, so I assumed that the suspension bridge was pretty substantial, unless they had another route. I don't care for swinging bridges either. We once made reservations at a campground in the mountains, and they didn't bother to tell us that the barn was only accessible by a suspension bridge and you had to lead your horses over. My mare said, no way, no how, was she crossing that thing. Dh took the stud across first and she decided that if "the men" were going, we could go too. By the end of the weekend, crossing it was no big deal.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Marseydoats said:
Sherree, they have a website Home of Seven Spring Lodge and the Rattlesnake Saloon | Tuscumbia, AL

It says that you can ride your horses there, so I assumed that the suspension bridge was pretty substantial, unless they had another route. I don't care for swinging bridges either. We once made reservations at a campground in the mountains, and they didn't bother to tell us that the barn was only accessible by a suspension bridge and you had to lead your horses over. My mare said, no way, no how, was she crossing that thing. Dh took the stud across first and she decided that if "the men" were going, we could go too. By the end of the weekend, crossing it was no big deal.
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Thanks for the link! I feel better about it, already. The cave part doesn't look all that bad, since it's wide open. We'll see how it goes. I don't do crowds, but it seems to always be very crowded from what the article says. I'll survive, though.
 
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