Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Frosty foggy days

Our front yard

It has been like this for days and days.

 The fog as it rolls into the valleys. 

I am still tying the grands quilt, only a 1/3 finished.  Hard to find a time when I can lay it out when people aren't running around in the living room.
**
I have heard a lot of hard times coming again and high inflation around the corner.  We sure see the inflation creeping up at the store.  

It is important to check out your food storage and replace things you are short offOr if you haven't started having a storage do so of foods that will help you get by for as long as possible.

With all the winter storms it isn't a bad idea to have extra food, drink, a way to cook, light and some kind of alternate heat.  Don't forget blankets and or sleeping bags.  Also those of you with littles.  Extra baby food, formula and don't forget things for the older kids to do that doesn't involve electricity.


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Goals

Yes we have been setting goals.  

One of them is a long term goal; we are planning going on a mission around 14 to 24 months from now.

We know things change quickly but this is something we are shooting for while our health is still half way decent.   I'm pretty much the bug in the wood work with that one with all my health problems.  Frybromyalgia, arthritis in my feet and so on.

Well paying off bills is a big part of that also.  There seems to always things coming up on us that need paid for.  New tires needed, something needs repaired, a new doctor bill, one of our children needs help quick and so on and so forth.  You know how that goes.  If  isn't one thing it's another.  So getting some of the bills paid off always get put off.

I am also continuing to work on quilts for the grandchildren slow but sure on that one.  This is the next; it still needs tied.  It's an around the world with blooming flowers.


I also finished 4-16x16 pillows.








Grand daughter claimed the cat one immediately.  I just did primitive embroidery on them for something quick that I liked.

Note:  Don't forget to stock up on more cold and flu meds.  I know when a couple of us come down with colds or flu we go through them quite quickly and I need to remember to replace them a few at a time when we go shopping.

Pick up fluids that can be drank at this time to replace your electrolytes.  We buy the jarred powdered so we can make it as weak or strong as we each like.



Monday, January 13, 2014

Water How Much?

I got this info from another site and thought it was VERY good information.



Water: how much do you need?
Given the recent chemical spill that may have contaminated the tap water of roughly 300,000 residents of a number of counties in West Virginia, drinking water is on people’s minds. Ice storms, blizzards and unusually cold weather have also disrupted the water supply to thousands if not tens of thousands of people across the country recently.
How much water you actually need every day is different from how much is used or in some cases wasted.
According to the USGS (United States Geological Society), the average shower uses two gallons per minute while a bath in an average tub uses up to 36 gallons. Some tubs are larger of course and this assumes they are relatively full.
You can use between 4 and 10 gallons washing dishes in an automatic dishwasher but the amount depends on how efficient the appliance is. Hand washing dishes throughout the day can use up to 20 gallons of water.
Oral hygiene consumes one gallon of water per person each time they brush if they leave the water running. Newer automatic washing machines can use 25 gallons per load. One toilet flush is three gallons, hands and face washing one gallon daily and watering outdoor plants can use 5 to 10 gallons per minute.
This breaks down to the average person using between 80 and 100 gallons of water daily (USGS, 2013).
How Much Water Do You Need
To sustain life the average adult needs two quarts/liters of water/liquid daily. In hot weather where you are sweating profusely, you may need in excess of a gallon of water daily just to replace the lost fluids. You need constant hydration to prevent dehydration regardless of the outside temperature.
People generally do not think about dehydration during the normal course of the day because they receive fluids in many forms. Coffee, teas, fruit drinks, soda to some extent, energy drinks and those drinks designed to replace lost fluids all add to your fluid intake. Once there is a shortage of water however, people will need to concentrate on their fluid intake to avoid dehydration in any weather.
For short disruptions in the water supply you probably only need to worry about water for hydration, oral care and personal hygiene (sponge baths). After three or four days, however you will need water for laundry and for cooking meals that are more substantial. Most canned foods do not need water for cooking but dried beans, rice and dehydrated/freeze dried foods, for example, will need water in the cooking process.
Water Storage
When properly stored water has an indefinite shelf life, but the containers do not. For example, bottled water purchased from a retailer must have an expiration date by law. It is not the water that deteriorates it is the container. The plastic used will become brittle and breakdown overtime. The typical expiration date is between one and two years from date of purchase. Sunlight and artificial light will hasten the breakdown.
You can store water in food grade plastic containers designed specifically for water and they come in various sizes from five gallon thru 50 gallons and larger. Plastic milk jugs are not ideal for storing water for any length of time because the plastic is designed for short period of liquid storage. Milk is a perishable and the containers do not need to sustain the liquid for long periods.
Water in blue food grade plastic water barrels if filled with clean tap water can last indefinitely if the water does not become contaminated for any reason. Water will become “stale” from lack of aeration, and this will affect the taste however. You can aerate water by creating bubbles in the water by moving the barrel with the cap removed or by stirring with a sanitized stirring device. Stirring or otherwise disturbing the water causes bubbles to rise to the surface. The bubbles collect dissolved oxygen when they rise to the surface and burst, this process then distributes it in the water to freshen it.
Never store water in any container that is not approved for food storage. Never store water in any container that had chemicals or toxins in it no matter how much you think you have cleaned it.
Filtration and purification by boiling or chemical means will not remove deadly toxins or poisons, such as what may be in the tap water in West Virginia. You should never immerse any parts of your body in any water you suspect is contaminated with any type of toxin or chemicals. If your clothing becomes saturated from contaminated water, remove immediately to prevent absorption of the chemicals through your skin.
Certain chemicals can have a lower flash point than the temperature needed to boil water so never attempt to heat or otherwise attempt to purify any water source you suspect is contaminated with chemicals.
USGS. (2013, January). Retrieved 2014, from http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/qa-home-percapita.html

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Happy 2014

Just like that a new year is here.  They sure are going by quickly.

We received about an inch of snow last night and the wind is really whipping out there.  In a couple of days we will get a warmer south wind and it's supposed to bring 50 MPH winds our way.  We do need the moisture. There are farm ponds in the area that I have never seen dry before.

I just found a ladies net site that talks about making gloves from old socks.  What a great idea.  Hats off.

http://preparednessadvice.com/clothing/making-gloves-fingers-socks/#.Us1SjrQ788Y 

Gran girl made herself a house. 


We got to visit with the grand children in the valley over Christmas and see quite a few of our children.  Wish some weren't so far off.  We don't even get to see the ones close very much.  Hopefully this year we will be able to.





Friday, January 3, 2014

A few old recipes

Mock  Pecan Pinto Bean Pie
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 heaping cup cooked mashed pinto beans
2 beaten egg
1 unbaked pie shell 9 inch
Blend sugars, eggs and butter. Add the beans mix this well.  Add this all to your pie shell.  Bake at 375 deg. for 20 minutes, than 350 deg. for 25 minutes until done or until a knife comes out clean.
Can serve this with whipped cream or ice cream.

Bean Spice Cake
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups mashed pinto beans
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoom cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 cups diced apples
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup nut meats
Cream sugar, eggs and beans, add the rest . Pour into 9x13 pan and bake  375 deg for 40  minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
3 oz. cream cheese
1 tablespoon soft butter
1 and 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Blend and frost.

Party Dip
1 cup mashed pinto beans
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon chopped onions
1/4 cup diced celery
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Mix well.