Monday, April 27, 2009

OINK OINK! It's here.

Well this is the second time in my lifetime I've had to worry about a "pandemic" the first one was the Anthrax scare. This one took me by surprise because I was thinking the avian/bird flu would be the culprit. I had never heard of the swine flu.

Let me tell you how I'm coping/preparing. Yesterday I brought hand sanitizer to work to use in between hand washing (sometimes I can't always get to the restroom to wash them as often as I'd like). I handle people clothing so I use gloves, I "Lysoled" the phone, cash register, credit card machine, & light switches. I'm sure there were a number of things I missed spraying. I did this because my co worker came back from Mexico City about 5 weeks ago, and spraying made me feel better.

We have a couple bottles of hand sanitizer at home, a box of gloves, at least a dozen face masks in our first aid kit a big bottle Lysol, bleach, fever reducers (ibuprofen/acetaminophen) cough & cold meds, food & water, an new thermometer. Talking to a lot of people, they seem totally clueless as to what could happen if you are told to stay in your homes.

Tomorrow night I'm thinking of picking up more fever reducers for the kids (I need more anyway), some more food , water and pedialyte. I know there are medications out there that treat this, but we've found they are near impossible to get right now. I 'd love advice & to hear how you've prepared, and if you're in panic or wait and see mode.


On a lighter note I have found someone who is going to show me how to can. I am so excited, I almost cried when she told me she cans...I had been so nervous about trying it myself ( I didn't want to kill or poison anyone LOL) I'm going to get some mason jars to share, there will be three of us girls...what an awesome way to spend the day!

Also, another friend has a little garden plot her neighbor is letting her use (he even tilled it). I'm going to see if I can bring her some seeds, and give her a hand and see what grows for her. I'll write here what's been able to grow, the trials & errors, possibly post some pictures of what comes up. I'm excited because all I'm going for this year is that "Topsy Turvy" thing on my balcony...possible tomatoes and strawberries.

Well enjoy your night stay healthy & safe!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Alternative cooking/heating














































Good Morning All.

I am so happy I don't have to work today.

One of the many things I do is constantly think about ways to cook food off grid. My Nana heated her home & cooked on these kerosene stoves until the early 80's. My Grampy always went down to the basement to fill the kerosene. She had a metal box with a temperature gauge on top of one of the burners to bake in . She made the best pot roast. She lived in a small New England seacoast town that now-a -days most people that grew up there can't afford to stay. She passed in 1987 when I was 13. I still think about her all the time. I know if she were still alive she would be a wealth of information. Okay moving on so I dont cry on my laptop.

Other ways I tought about cooking/and or heating is on a wood stove. I would love one like the one pictured above.

Then there is the solar oven which would take the place of my crockpot, also pictured above. The outdoor oven made of brick or adobe, propane & open fire.

Because we are in an apartment I have the small propane camping oven & the Coleman camping oven "the metal box". The outdoor propane grill, and the Mr. Buddy portable heater. My next cooking purchase may be a solar oven.
My thoughts on this is you should have multiple sources to cook/heat with depending on the season, weather & what sources are available to you.

So for now I use what I can in my apartment ...longing for fresh air, stars in the sky, and my husband being able to "working to live ...not living to work", and trying to learn as much as I can by reading my books and "listening" to all of the like-minded bloggers in cyber space.
Enjoy your day everyone!
Comment & Ideas are appreciated. I would love to hear about other ways you cook your food.

























Saturday, April 11, 2009

Miscellaneous rambling

Good Morning All,



We have beautiful weather here today after those storms moved through, just tornado watches here no warnings. I have to get some housework done before going to work at 3PM. I know I only have to work out of the home for one more year, and we'll have our own property. I would rather be doing something like this today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul0kQ_2lvrE . gardening in a bag. This link was posted in my comments section by Ginger. What a great idea if you are limited on space, soil & other resources. Thanks Ginger for sharing it.



The neighbors woke me up with their drunk rendition of N' Sync's "Bye, Bye Bye at 2AM. I keep telling myself & praying one more year.....



I am still working on my husband about that small chest freezer. I got hit in the head when some mixed vegetables flew out of my overloaded freezer this week, not fun first thing in the morning.



I ordered my Angel food box yesterday as will as the additional fruit & vegetable box. I hope to use my dehydrator on some of it.



The North Korea thing was a dud... I'd like to know what happened to the third stage??? Where did that land? The secret surrounding that bugs me. My opinion about the celebrity rock star bowing ...he definitely bowed... not good. Some of the negative shooting stories that would usually stay in local news, suddenly making national news....interesting. Our celebrity rock star ordering the pizza maker from Missouri http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1168940/Obamas-fly-chef-860-miles-White-House--just-make-pizza.html ...really stupid for the image, his handlers need to get him under control. Enough political ranting....just my opinions folks.



Well that's it for the day, I don't want to scare anyone with my miscellaneous ramblings.



Enjoy your day!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Patriots

This is from the very first Survival blog I ever read.... www.survivalblog.com


"Today is the "Patriots" Book Bomb Day!!! If you have a blog, then please mention this one-day event, and if not, then please send a brief e-mail to friends and relatives on your e-mail list, today, to let folks know about "Patriots: A Novel Survival in the Coming Collapse". The new edition features both an index and a glossary. This is the day to place an order. Please consider buying any copies for birthday and Christmas gifts early. This new edition of "Patriots". is priced at just $10.17. Our goal is to jumpstart the book's Amazon sales rank well into the Top 50, and perhaps even in the Top Ten. (When I last checked, it was ranked #135.) Many, many thanks!"

I have to work today, so I'll update later this week.

Have a good day!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Things have been so crazy lately. I've been spending so much time reading all the blogs I follow, I haven't had a chance to update mine.

I've been steadily adding to my preps, my regular freezer (the one on top of the fridge) is so full, when you open it you need to take cover. I'm really hoping to get a small freezer soon, I have a corner in my bedroom all prepared for it, I'll just buy a semi nice table cloth & ..put some pictures on it & voila a "decorative table" LOL.

I've also been picking up canned goods, rice, oats, batteries, TP, paper towels, lamp oil for my new handy dandy lamp (pictured in another post) & water. I use Angel food (where you buy a box of food for $30), I watch their prices carefully to make sure I'm getting a good deal. I like the fact that it comes with shelf stable liquid milk (not the powder, which I will stock up on & mix with liquid eventually, to get my son used to it).

This time next year we should be financially ready to purchase a property without a mortgage. Hopefully before anything major happens (Apartment living stinks for us.)

I'm trying to do some hanging strawberries & tomatoes on our small 2nd floor balcony..any suggestions on where to get these are greatly appreciated. I am also going to try a container of salad greens. The container of soil can't be too heavy, the apartments are old & I don't want my balcony to end up on the 1st floor LOL.

Thank you Kelle for telling me about this site www.thetreeofliberty.com. It's very informative as well as entertaining (quite some characters there, but very thoughtful & bright people). I am also in awe of your experience with The Encyclopedia of Country Living, thanks for sharing that, what an awesome life experience.

I'm also trying to stick the blogs I follow on my blog instead of in the dashboard part of the blog...but it seems to want me to enter all the links individually..if anyone knows an easier way to do this...please share.

I'm waiting patiently (impatiently) to purchase property so I can grow some of my own organic food, but meanwhile I use food storage, & prep all I can. I can't wait for those local farmers markets to open....a couple months away.

Last but not least ....things I worry about/question....Korea and its "satellite", the stock market (manipulated or not) ...and if our current country spokesman has too much power, has blinded people by his "rock star/celebrity status", has way too big of an ego ...oh the list could go on. I guess I just should put all my worrying energy into taking care of my family, praying, and leave the questioning to all those experienced political bloggers I read daily.

Sorry so long-winded today...It's been building up.
Thanks for "listening".
Enjoy your day!

Friday, March 27, 2009



Good Morning All,

It's Spring break! My kiddos are driving me cuckoo. It is so hard living in an apartment without a yard. It is hard going outside because the grassy areas are muddy & inundated with dog poop (I think I'm the only one in the complex who owns a pooper scooper)...We are saving & saving to buy our home with some land using cash....We are aiming for next Summer (not the one coming up).


Now to answer a couple of questions.


Why am I looking for pre 1965 quarters? Silver content, good if something happens to the almighty US dollar & my son collects coins.


Coupons...They work for some people depending on your area & commitment. I have a store 1/4 of a mile that doubles. I get a lot of items less than the storebrand/bulk brand cheap or free. I base my purchase off unit price (per pound, ounce etc...). This store also sends our storebrand coupons & FREE milk, yogurt...etc,..because we still live in an apartment & they don't allow cows...I can't get my own.



I dehydrated some corn to make some room in my freezer for my Angel Food order I pick up tomorrow. I just might be getting that additional small freezer this weekend : ). I am loving my Seal-A -Meal...Keeping that freezer burn off my stuff.


Thanks for the info on the Red Feather canned butter Jim...Now if I can find a place that has it in stock (that kind of worries me hmmmm).


I haven't been sleeping well, I keep thinking I'm going to miss something big in the news....


I hope to post more often, I have lots of things to talk about...I even made a list...Now if I could just find it! LOL


Enjoy your day!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Canned Butter, Quarters & Coupons...

Good Morning All...I'm impatiently waiting for my coffee to be done. I'm tired because I worked until 11PM, I could not wind down & my husband is still snoring like a bear, so I ended up on the sofa.....

I have a few things I wanted to mention/ask .

1. Canned butter, has anyone tried this? I'm not interested in canning it myself just yet. I'm thinking of ordering it, but I don't want to order it if the taste is horrid and we end up not using it. So if you've had it let me know what you think.

2. Pre 1965 quarters. I have tried in vain to find these. At my weekend job I see over 100 quarters a day & not a pre 1965 coin to be had. I have a few pre 1965 (mostly dimes), and have been trying to find a local coin shop, I'm not totally comfortable purchasing these from someone I don't know over the Internet, so if anyone can recommend somebody trustworthy, I would appreciate it.

3. Last but not least... a little rant....Coupons, I've been having trouble matching the "crappy" coupons I've been getting in my Sunday paper to any sales....I don't use a coupon unless it's for a product I regularly use , I'm getting it FREE , or getting it for less than the storebrand.


That's all for today..comments, suggestions...etc are greatly appreciated. I read at least 20 blogs before bed & always try and keep up with all the states on the APN...Man I end up crossed eyed sometimes LOL.

Enjoy your day!

Thursday, March 19, 2009


Well we had an unwelcome guest in our home this week,...bronchitis. I slept on the couch to try and get some sleep between my husbands coughing & snoring...so not fun. I bought a can of Lysol, opened the slider & window, and hopefully bronchitis left to bother somebody else....but of course I now hear coughing coming from the 13 year old son.


We were able to pick up a few more preps this week. I found this cute little lantern that holds oil or kerosene , some replacement wicks, found some butane for our lighters, a first aid kit for our bugout/hiking backpack, and some tablets you add to water to clean it. We tried to buy ammo, but they were out (I wasn't surprised just hopeful they might have some)


Every week I add to our food storage using sales & coupons (except what is cheaper in bulk) . This week I'm picking up some more water, because of the feedback from you all, and that is the one thing I'm always concerned about.


I'm still reading The Encyclopedia of Country Living (Carla Emery) and everytime I pick it up I know again I made a great choice for a reference book for my collection...so much information...it makes me so excited to move off grid & work to live not live to work.


Enjoy your night!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Feedjit

So I just went to one of the many blogs I read and saw this http://wretha.blogspot.com/2009/03/privacy-and-feedjit-rant-and-request.html

I will remove mine right after this post. I was just so excited to have my very own blog, I wanted to see if anyone was reading it. That doesn't matter to me... if this little widget thing is going to make ANYONE leery of visiting me, it's gone. Sorry if anyone saw it and it offended anyone.

Enjoy your day,
Warm Regards,
Josselyn

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Supplies

One of the things I am continuously concerned about is if I have enough supplies. I had been reading a lot of blogs, and felt totally inferior to the survival gurus. My philosophy (for lack of a better word) is I need to make sure I live life in the here and now, as well as prepare for the future. Having a 13 year old with mild Cerebral Palsy & Aspergers, as well as a 9 year old with Autism means I have to make sure their quality of life in the present is taken care of , as well as their medical & educational needs. At the same time I want to make sure we have a good quality of life in the future, and their needs are met as best as can be when either the SHTF, a natural disaster occurs, economic breakdown, job loss etc... Roof over head, food on table, clothes on back and our health.

I am always in awe of what people are able to do in other blogs, they seem to be able to dehydrate food with their left foot, while bathing their multiple beautiful children with their right, at the same time they can put together a home cooked meal using their preps, sew a hole in a sock and with that extra arm (I swear they have one LOL) blog and share their knowledge with their loyal fans! I'm just trying to keep my house clean, and take care of my kids.

So anyway, this is why I really would like to get out of our apartment, live rurally, away from the drama of people, prep & spend time with my family. I would like to share what I have accumulated and run by you all what I think I need. I will definitely be stocking up on water (Thanks guys). I know that I am way behind others who are already homesteading or are well prepared, but I do have a lot of supplies your average Joe doesn't have which gives me a bit of a head start. I also have storage restrictions (apartment living) that prohibits me from storing more propane. I wouldn't want to blow my neighbors up. (Or would I? ..music at 4 in the morning ; )...LOL)

Thanks for "listening" to my rambling this morning...comments are sooo appreciated. enjoy your day all!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Hey Everyone,
First I'd like to thank all the people who have commented on my posts since I started my little blog. I truly appreciate it.

One of the things I get concerned about is trying to take in and try too many things at once & overwhelm myself. I am also concerned that I am not prepared for much of anything...For example I have plenty of cereal...not enough water. Any suggestions on how to know if I'm doing okay(prepping) would be greatly appreciated...(Did that make any sense? LOL). This is the only place I've found people who have a bit of a clue...& like talking about it.

I'm enjoying The Encyclopedia of Country Living, it's hard to put it down. If I can get rid of this headache tonight I'd love to read more.

Finally, tonight, I'm an avid couponer, that's how I stock up. I went to Kroger I got $81.25 for $47.01...Good deal.

Have a nice night!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Books....

Well tonight is my TV night, pretty much the only night I watch TV. I watch Ghost Hunters and UFO Hunters. During the TV shows & commercials, I either read, clean the bedroom, or surf the net (really bad ADHD...can't sit still...LOL). So tonight I'm going start to poke through my newest book The Encyclopedia of Country Living (the 35th anniversary edition) by Carla Emery. It's a book I've been wanting to get for a long time. While my husband was on vacation last week he took me to a huge local book store & I found it. He bought How to Stay Alive in the Woods (Bradford Angier) & Edible Wild Plants (Lee Allen Peterson)...

I tell you he's come a long way, the hard way. I'm so glad keeping up with the Joneses isn't his priority anymore. It took a lot of long talks, gentle persuasion, and catching him reading some of the blogs I had bookmarked. I knew he had it in him, and it makes me sooo happy.

He was thinking of buying some more books, and was pleasantly surprised to find out we already owned some of them. Root Cellaring (Mike & Nancy Bubel) and Seed to Seed (Suzanne Ashworth).

A few weeks ago I found Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick & Injured (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons) for $1.00 at our local Goodwill store. It's an old edition but for a buck...

Another book I've had for years, and actually started me on a frugal type lifestyle was The Complete Tightwad Gazette (Amy Dacyczyn). This book is awesome, it taught me how to save so much money. It definitely should be a book in everyone's collection.

Well off I go to try to get my kids settled...Have a great night.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Not much today

Today I had to work. I have to work all week. I usually only work weekend nights 2nd shift, so this is different for me. Basically I got up, got the kids off to school, went to work, kids came home...here we are. I get to do the same thing tomorrow....I'd rather be dehydrating fruit, prepping a garden.....I hope to get something accomplished this week.

Monday, March 9, 2009

A Little bit of Everything...

Hello All,
Sorry the post might be a little scatterbrained tonight, the ADHD is winning and my husband lost my keys. UGH!

Anyway...The apples came out good, the problem....Eating them as fast as my little dehydrator can work. My husband watched the videos on dehydrating I posted earlier & actually offered to buy me one of those Excaliburs. We'll see if that's in our future. The only question I have about the apples is.... For long term storage do I dehydrate them until they're "crunchy/crisp"? If anyone knows I would greatly appreciate it.

I really don't like feeling so out of control. Everything I thought & grew up with has been a lie. I wish it didn't take me so long to figure some of these things out, then I would already have the kind of life that was truly important to me, and not the kind of life that "everyone else" thinks is important to have. I always knew something wasn't quite right & I hope I'm not too late.

I had my sister (she lives 20 hours away from me) read my blog. She said "I don't quite get it...why is this fun? & who would read it?. ... (I think I bit a big hole in my tongue)

All those "super cool bloggers" got me off my butt, thinking & doing. Maybe someone will read my blog & pick up an extra can of beans...LOL

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Pictures of food storage




Hello All! Wow this time change really kills me. My kids are all messed up. "But Mom it doesn't feel like bed time...."




Anyway....We had a great day yesterday, the weather was beautiful, the kids were great. I'm sad my husband has to go back to work tomorrow, we really got a lot accomplished this week . I can't wait until he can stop working the stressful job, and do something he enjoys...with a lot less hours. It took quite a few years for him to get on board my "stocking up thing". He likes his gadgets & toys...But now he's all for living off grid, gardening, stocking up...and having a simple life (thank goodness). He bought an edible plant book & how to survive in the woods (LOL). I laugh because he couldn't live without his ipod thingy last year.




So tonight we are dehydrating some apples. I'm a little disappointed because the dehydrator only fit 5 apples. (after slicing) and we have a peck LOL. I'm not sure how long they'll take but I'll keep an eye on them & rotate them. Our first adventure in dehydrating was lemons (on sale) a couple weeks ago...those took 24 hours for 4 lbs. Here is my first attempt at a picture:



Since we are limited on storage and are temporarily in an apartment, this is how I'm storing some of our dry goods...as decoration, (see picture above) people have actually asked me if the stuff in the jars are edible ...LOL. When we go "rural" I'll have many different types of storage...some out of sight.
I'll post pictures of my apples. I hope they turn out okay. Enjoy the rest of you night!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Family Day

Good Morning All!

Since my husband goes back to work Monday and tomorrow we're getting some rain, we decided to drive out to a nearby historic little town, take a walk around, get some icecream at their local soda fountain, and spend some time together in the 75+ degree weather. We haven't been out together as a family since October.

Husband and I are going to prep and dehydrate apples tonight/or tomorrow. I hope everyone is getting nice weather today!

Friday, March 6, 2009

New Hobby LOL

I seem to have this new little hobby, that I'm sure will become an obsession. Dehydrating food for every day use & storage. Tonight I will dehydrate apples. This link... http://www.youtube.com/user/Dehydrate2store has the "most excellent" videos on how to dehydrate. There is so much information & instruction, I had to ask my husband to watch, so I could have a second set of ears. He thought they were great as well! The key is to buy what you want to dehydrate at the lowest price possible, buy it in bulk & prepare for storage. Another super cool addition is this women shows you how to use your dehydrated foods for cooking & baking in "everyday life", not just for emergencies.

Moving On...Today is supposed to be 72 degrees (Spring fever) & Saturdy 76 degrees. I hope to be able to spend some time outside today. Fridays are shopping day, The day I gather all my coupons (another obsession), prepared lists , envelopes & ...power shop. I save at least 50% off my grocery bill by buying in bulk when on sale & using coupons. I'll always post my $$$$$ saving totals for all to see.

Well enjoy your day, I need to get the big boy out the door to school.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Journey To Self Sufficiency

Good Morning!
Husband is still on vacation from work. Yesterday he put together a small free-standing storage pantry for me. We put it in our bedroom. It looks like a small wardrobe so it blends in pretty well. I do have a small galley kitchen so food storage is difficult. When I get our camera up and running I'll post some pics on how we store our food and other supplies.

I decided on more dry food storage instead of a freezer because if we were to lose power, ( IE ice storm) we would have lost what was in the freezer. Unfortunately we live in an apartment right now so storage of fuels, generator... etc is not doable. I am so happy to be able to stock up. Through further posts you'll learn how I save money & pinch pennies in our household. Our goal is to live mortgage/debt free and homestead (possibly off grid).

My husband and I are spending the day together running errands and headed out to lunch. Enjoy your day all!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Good Morning

So this is my first post...My husband is on vacation from work and is still asleep. The kids are at school and I have decided to start blogging...because... it's cheaper than therapy. I have a lot of ideas and opinions overloading my brain and nowhere to put them. So stay tuned it could get very interesting ; ).