2020 - AUGUST - Prepping Updates For The Week/Month

Started the new thread.

We've had torrential rain and flooding for a few days so we've been stuck inside doing hobbies. It delayed the grocery shopping trip, so we're going today.

I finished the top of the baby quilt, just need to batt, back, and quilt it now.

We bought a couple solar outdoor lights but because of cloud cover we're not sure if they're working properly or not. The light seems rather dim.

I've been harvesting plantain between rain fall, got a pile ready to dehydrate for my herbal pharmacy. I've made two more containers to have on hand, too.

It's been 90's here with almost no rain for 3 weeks.

I scored paper products today at Target.  TP, paper towels and Kleenex. For whatever reason, people here seem to forget Target. And ouch are prices skyrocketing and took a bigger bite than I budgeted.

People sense a second lockdown/second wave is coming Sept-Nov.

Was able to get the double wrapped paper towels, so happy to find them. Also got 3 more cases of wet cat food since they were on sale. And received 30 pounds of dry cat food, so we’re up to over 18 months of food for the kitties.
Also picked up more hydrocortisone cream for us humans. Otherwise just restocking stuff we used during the week. That and keeping an eye on the tropical system heading for Florida then up the east coast. Might actually impact my area by Wednesday with some wind and lots of rain, but current predictions aren’t anything to worry about.

Dave58 wrote:I just heard at the local hardware store the the Ball canning lid factory has shut down and won't be making any lids for the foreseeable future....

For the ones that has procrastinated about canning this might become a problem

I googled the closing of Ball plants and it listed numerous plants that are closing. We went to walmart this morning and bought dozens of boxes of them, didn't need them as we have hundreds of them, but you never know.

I check ebay and amazon and they still have plenty of them too, stock up now, you may end up just like the toilet paper shortage.

Amazon is price gouging on canning lids! Holy cow.

Ball website has some available, also rather high priced, but if you're desperate, here's the link:

https://www.ballmasonjarz.com/

I went to my canning shelf and pulled all the lids I have together. I have over 144 each of regular and wide mouth, so we're good this season.

As a backup, for 2 years I ordered 2 cases of Tattler lids - wide mouth and regular, when they went on sale. So I also have around 500 reusable Tattler lids/gaskets should the need arise. Here's a link:

https://reusablecanninglids.com/

Husband cooked and canned 2 cases of chili today. He has a special recipe we all love which came from Brigid at https://mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/

I have an older kitten that has been having some kind of allergy issue. He has pulled out a lot of his hair, chewed on every bit of skin he can reach and looks like a bald, mangy mess. It is not mange, however.

We've been to the vet three times for shots, creams, and such. Still not resolved. Vet said try Claritin - we did 20 days of that, and while it eased his continuous, incessant scratching, he still scratched enough that most is not healing well (although some hair is coming back on his tummy).

I was following a rabbit-hole online about alternatives to hydroxychloroquine for my medicine cabinet in case we contract Co-Vid, and discovered that some people swear by quercetin/bromalain as an alternative to allergy issues/upper respiratory issues, etc. Several mentioned they no longer took allergy meds and it cleared up several issues, including a couple who claimed it healed their gluten intolerance.

But what got my attention was several reviews mentioned giving it to their cats who scratched and pulled their hair out due to allergies and how it calmed their itchies and healed them.

I ordered some of the NOW brand on Amazon and it came in yesterday. I gave the kitten the approximate dosage last night. He slept like a rock for hours. I actually worried that I overdosed him despite the precautions I took. But Husband thought maybe he was so exhausted from the constant itching that when he finally got relief, he got rest.

He got another dose this morning and except for a single bout of scratching for about 10 minutes, he's been docile all day. He even got curious and started exploring the house for a while. He started itching a little just before his dinner, so I gave him another dose in his food and he stopped itching almost immediately. He's politely sitting on my new computer surveying his kingdom. I truly hope this works. He's been miserable for months as I threw everything at him I could think of.

The neighbor brought me more tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers. I also have some jalapenos coming in. So I made and canned 12 pints of Ranchero sauce.

Our garden is no more - the wild animals got it all, except the things I grew in the deck pots. I am hoping that while the potato tops were destroyed, that we'll find potatoes under the ground. It's been rainy and miserable, so I've not checked.

Husband was reading up on cooking with various methods and finally caved to ordering a thermal pot. We got the 5.5 liter one. Here's the link:

http://www.saratogajacks.com/

We tried beans in it first, and while they cooked to almost done, I had to give them a good boil for about 20 minutes on the stove-top after they'd been in the pot for about 15 hours (overnight and to noon). Next time we'll try with a smaller amount and more water.

Our grocery run yesterday was small - stocked up on what we'd used, picked up a few baskets for organizing the freezer better, and Husband got some shirts on sale.

Did a full visit to all the local supermarkets this weekend to stock up. Got more seasoning for all the meat we've been putting back in the freezer, and found a good price on baked beans, so got another dozen cans. Also got another 20lb propane tank and refilled one that we had used up.

Have ordered some medical supplies (bandages and such), but won't consider them real until delivered to the house....

Otherwise, just regorganized the LTS so I can see what room I have to add to it.

Husband and I have been alternately canning - both pressure and water bath. The neighbor has been giving us produce, plus we've been buying some, so it was time to get all that processed.

He pressure canned chili, spaghetti, and beef stew. He canned at least 72+ jars, but I didn't get a final count. I also had him pressure can 7 pounds of butter I got on sale (I prepped, he canned).

I water bath canned 12 pint jars of Ranchero sauce (a type of enchilada sauce) and 12 pint jars of pizza sauce.

I dehydrated and ground up the tomato skins for tomato powder to add to various foods.

I have been pre-making and pre-cooking pizza dough in individual units in an unglazed terra cotta saucer, and then wrapping each one in cling wrap. This allows us to make individual pizzas whenever we get hungry. We can cook them in the pizza oven for the wood-fired taste, or we can use the toaster oven if we're in a hurry. I keep a few pizza topper ingredients on hand to facilitate a quick meal.

Husband has decided to clear a little more of our property, mostly to decrease fire hazard. We live in the woods, and while we've kept areas clear, some has grown back, so he's out clearing brush and cutting down the occasional sapling.

I took the baby quilt I made to the recipient. I received 2 quarts of honey, 2 beeswax candles, and a little lump of beeswax to use to while sewing. Pins and needles tend to need a little lubrication to get through some tightly woven fabrics and a little beeswax makes the transition smoother. They use the little lump of wax to keep zippers smooth.

My little deck garden, whats left of it, is producing. I have bell peppers and jalapenos coming in. The herbs are always producing, been using a lot lately, and freezing what I don't use.

I've been gathering plantain around the yard and making salves for family and neighbors. And I gathered enough to dehydrate for future use.

I am also stocking the herbal pharmacy. There are rumors that because most meds are made in China, or their ingredients are, there may be a med shortage later. Since high BP, cholesterol, and heart issues are prevalent in this neighborhood, I've been stocking up on herbal alternatives.

Other than that, we are keeping busy with house/yard maintenance, hobbies, the occasional movie, reading books, and the Internet.

Picked up 3 full, 20lb propane tanks from a guy down at camp, he switched to a 100lb tank, got them for 25.00 each, now have 8 full tanks.

Got 6 more 5 gallon buckets from the deli at the local giant eagle and cleaned them up.

Been picking tomatoes, peppers, green beans, etc.. The wife has been cleaning and cutting them up and putting them in the freezer, we don't do much canning anymore only a little.

Got a 2nd cutting of hay cut, raked, baled and but away. I don't think I'll be getting a 3rd cutting as we are in a drought, haven't had to cut our grass for 3 weeks now. Been watering the garden every other day.

Picked up a junk 12 gauge shotgun online for 100.00, cleaned it up, cut the barrel down to 19 inches and put a tube extension on it. I'll throw this one in the pickup. I now carry a 9mm, ruger 10/22 and this 12 gauge in the truck, along with 100 rounds of 9mm, 500 rounds of .22 and 100 rounds of the shorty 12 gauge shotgun shells in #BB shot.

Finishing up the canning for this week. Might get a little more done in the next week.

We decided to do a last ditch effort to help the sickly kitten. Hypoallergenic food, litter, anti-itch spray, and betadine spray. Finally, some improvement! Not so sure it's the food, I think it's the litter and sprays. He sleeps in the litter box (when it's not dirty), litter is infused with charcoal. I'm dousing him with both sprays 2-3 times a day. He now does routine grooming, no biting or pulling fur.

Working on the sewing pile today.

Grocery shopping was routine - just stocking up on what we used. Got a couple items of clothing on sale, shirts, and a sweater.

I got bell and jalapeno peppers off my potted plants and they're still producing. Husband tilled and put the garden to bed for the winter. No winter garden this year we have other things we want to do.

Finished the Christmas tree skirt. Will be sewing other items soon.

The sickly kitten is still doing OK, he looks terrible but seems to be more comfortable, not scratching and tearing out his hair anymore. I've moved him back in the house for now.

I rooted a hoya carnosa plant for a friend and will be giving it to her this week.  She needs shade plants.

My birthday was last week. I got an avocado tree, books on my reading list (including Joe Alton's Survival Medicine or whatever it's called), a bouquet of flowers, and Husband put together a small ironing board on a wheeled cart for my sewing room (it's an IKEA hack).

Thanks, Dave!

I've been cleaning up the guest bedroom - guest, HA! - it's the dumping ground for whatever we don't want anyone to see. Shove the stuff in there, close the door. LOL. But I do have a good pile for the thrift shop.

I used some storage bags to organize all the spare pillows, sheets, and blankets for the toddler beds and cots we have for when family/company comes to visit. They're now neatly in the closet, and there's room for preps on the top shelf of the closet! YAY!

I ordered a new foam gel-infused mattress topper (the dog chewed up the old one while I was washing the bed linens), and a new heated mattress pad. I like the heated pad so much, I ordered one for the guest bed, too. Anyone comes to visit, they don't need to sleep cold this winter!

Husband is now working on fortifying the garden fences and still clearing some of the property.

Dave58 wrote:Almost done with canning..... I am doing stewed tomatoes today.. We still have a lot of green tomatoes in the garden. I am hoping the rain will help them turn...

We planted a white sweet corn called Trucker's Favorite White Corn.. I am very impressed with it I will be saving some ears for seed..

Stay safe folks and keep storing food

Glad your garden is doing good, mine is about done, no rain.

Dave, if your corn is a hybrid, you may want to rethink about planting from your seeds for next year, here's a good article on heirloom, open pollinated, versus hybrid seed. If you plant hybrid seeds from your corn, you end up with nothing next year:

https://blog.seedsavers.org/blog/open-pollinated-heirloom-and-hybrid-seeds

Fixed the link:

Annie's Heirloom Seeds

I've been working with the new computer all day, getting all the programs and stuff set up on it.

Husband was bored, so he canned 12 quarts of chicken soup.

Still working on the rubble in the guest room . Much more organized and now I have room for more preps.

We ordered #60 of flour from Walmart and they sent a note saying it was cancelled.

So Husband drove out to the Amish store and got me 2 #25 bags.

The next day, the Walmart order arrived.

He filled up my bucket and pantry canister and has been vacuum sealing flour in smaller portions since yesterday.