No Vacuum? No Problem! (So Far)

As many of you may know, I do not have a vacuum. It broke about three months ago. Since I never used it very often anyway, I made it a goal to go one year without purchasing a new one. I want to see if I can do it. My great-great-grandmothers didn't have a vacuum. I want to experience what they experienced as they tried to keep their houses clean. In my three months without a vacuum cleaner, I have learned a few lessons:

• Sweeping the floors/carpets becomes a daily chore. I sweep the entire house once daily, usually in the mornings. During the day, I spot sweep areas that I am working in. On the days when the house is full of people and activity, I swear the broom and carpet sweeper are glued to my hands. I didn't like doing this when I first started. Now, I find it only takes a few minutes to sweep in the mornings and spot sweeping only takes a few seconds. I adapted and it doesn't bother me at all now. 
• Hand in hand with item #1 above, adjust your attitude on what a dirty floor looks like. I used to hate seeing dust bunnies on my floors. I would stop whatever I was doing to pick them up. (My husband tells me cleanliness is a compulsive behavior for me.) Not any more! Since I am sweeping every morning anyway, I know if I see a dust bunny during the day, it will be picked up in less than 24 hours as part of routine cleaning, so I leave it there! At first this was difficult to do. Having a busy schedule these past three months helped a lot. I didn't have time to focus on the dirt. Now, I may experience a few moments of stress as I walk by the dirt and dust, but I leave it there for the next mornings cleaning.
• My Hoky carpet sweeper is wonderful! It picks up small wet spills as well as dirt, dust and hair. It even picks up heavier items like pennies that sometimes fall out of my husband's pockets! I researched many different types of sweepers and read all the customer reviews I could find before I bought this one!  I love it!! The Hoky works on both floors and carpets.

• Beating the throw rugs is fun!  Really! It is a great way to remove any frustrations or stress you may have. Just throw over a chair, fence or clothesline, and whack away! Beating the rugs weekly and using the Hokey daily keeps them clean. When done weekly, it doesn't take more than a few minutes per rug.

• Throw rugs on the carpet help to keep it clean. Putting throw rugs on the high traffic areas of your carpet do a great job of keeping them clean. If they won't stay put, use a little carpet tape.

• Swiffer dry sweeping cloths are expensive. Too expensive to buy if you are using them daily. I can go through three or four in one morning! That includes turning it over and using the other side! Now, I use old socks that have lost their mate. I have a stack of them. (Where do those other socks go anyway?) All but the smallest socks slide over the Swiffer broom and work beautifully. Then, just toss in the wash.

• Before electricity, animals were kept outside for a reason! It is quite difficult to keep up with the hair and dust pets make. To help keep the house clean, I could make Molly stay outside. However, if I did that I would deprive myself of the constant companionship and love she gives me. (She never leaves my side.) Besides, how can you say "No, you can't come back in." to this face.

At the three month point, I am happy with my results. The floors are clean (generally), Molly's allergies haven't flared up and now that I have adjusted to it, I don't think it takes that much time out of my day to go non-electric.

I will post another update at the six month mark!


If you liked this post, you may also like:

• No Vacuum? No Problem! (6 Month Update)
• No Vacuum? No Problem! (9 Month Update)

What is the Point of Food Storage and a Well Stocked Pantry?

A lot of people I know don't understand food storage. I get questions such as 'Why do you want to grow your own fruits and vegetables when you can just go to the grocery store to buy it? Sometimes it is a struggle to put all my thoughts about food storage into words when I am standing in front of someone who thinks the idea is crazy. However, it is important to me, it saves me money, and I love not having to run to the store to buy something!

I found someone who thinks just like I do over at the blog, A Working Pantry. In this post, Patsy talks about why she works hard to can up food for the winter and the sense of security it provides for her family if they ever had to rely on it. You can read the post here.

I agree with her thoughts! And I will add some of my own: 

My church counsels us to be prepared for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water, and some money in savings. Being prepared in such a way is the first step on the journey to self-reliance. Many LDS church members store one years' worth of basic supplies like rice, powdered milk, honey, wheat and beans. Then, a three month supply of the everyday foods you eat. Having this much food stored away gives you a feeling of peace. When adversity comes your way, having food storage allows you to spend what money you do have on other critical things. You can rest assured that you and your family do not have to worry about how you are going to eat!

If you haven't yet started your food storage program, you can start here. In these posts, I have listed lots of other resources to help you get started .

If you have started your program but still have work to do, remember, purchasing a little every week is a better strategy than buying it all at once. Even better, try growing some of it yourself!

I know that when you complete your supply of food storage - and can stand back and look at your well stocked pantry - you will realize it was worth the effort!

Canning Chicken Stock

I have been swamped with work all this week so I didn't have time to write up this week's post for the countdown of the top 10 things you need to know how to do before you lose electricity. So, we will take a break from the countdown for a week and I will post #7 next Friday.

Today, I am going to reference a post that I saw over at The Rural Revolution. I have talked about how easy it is to make chicken stock before (you can see my post on making chicken stock here.) Patrice added an extra dimension to it when she left it on the stove for almost 30 hours! I bet it tasted delicious! She didn't leave it there on purpose. She had an extremely busy day and just didn't get to it. It is good to know that even with a busy schedule, you really can find time to make chicken stock!

It is also very easy to can and Patrice shows how to do it in this post. I strongly encourage you to try making your own chicken stock! It is better tasting and better for you than what you can get at the store!

Whether you freeze it or can it, homemade chicken stock rocks!

Happy Pioneer Day!

Today is Pioneer Day for all Latter-Day Saints. It is also a state holiday in Utah. There is usually a big parade in Salt Lake City. (You can watch the parade on BYU TV if you get that channel.)

Pioneer Day is the day the first Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The first company (all wagon trains were organized into groups called 'companies') consisted of 143 men chosen on the basis of ability and need. There were blacksmiths, wagon makers, carpenters, millwrights, stonemasons, hunters and surveyors.  All of them had farming skills. The purpose of the first company was to determine the best trail west and plant crops so there would be food enough for everyone who followed. 

One of the characteristics of the land was the fact that it was isolated. This was what the Church was looking for so they could be left alone to build a community and establish the city of Zion. 

For anyone who has been to Salt Lake City, you also know how dry it is there. The Saints had to dig irrigation ditches to get the water to the crops. By 1850 the Saints had irrigated over 16,000 acres of land yielding over 120,000 bushels of grain and 45,000 bushels of potatoes. The President of the Church at the time was Brigham Young and it was his skills as a logistician that made it possible for Salt Lake City to grow and prosper!

Happy Pioneer Day to you!

Most of this information was taken from the pamphlet, The Mormon Legacy: In the History of the American West. If you would like to read this pamphlet or learn more information about the Mormon migration west, you can do that here.

The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How to Do Before You Lose Electricity!

#8: Wash Clothes

Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday, until we countdown to #1, I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.

I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator. 

I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!

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Now, I don't recommend that the first thing you do after you lose electricity is wash clothes. In fact, I would recommend only washing clothes by hand if you absolutely have to! It is very hard work! Finding a Laundromat (reasonably close to your house) that has electricity is preferable to washing by hand. However, this post is about when you are out of clean clothes, the authorities are telling you the power may not be back on for weeks, and you have no choice but to wash by hand.

One option that is available, (if you only have a few items to wash) is to put them in the sink with a little soap and swish them around a bit. It doesn't take much water and it doesn't take much soap. It works well if you don't need anything washed but a few undergarments. If you have a house full of people, that won't be the case. When the time comes to wash a few loads of clothes, I have some suggestions on how to make the process a bit easier.

Let's start with the water. If you have running water, this isn't going to be a problem. If you don't have running water, you are going to have to get the water from somewhere. The good news is wash water does not have to be potable. A stream, pond, pool or hot tub can all be good sources of water to wash clothes. (I would recommend that you only use clear water, not anything muddy or cloudy.) In this post, I am going to wash with rain water.

Next, sort the clothes. First sort is to determine what must be washed and what can wait until the electricity is back on. Then take all the clothes that must be washed and sort by categories. I sort mine by:

• Light colored; lightly soiled
• Light colored; heavy soiled
• Dark colored; lightly soiled
• Dark colored; heavy soiled
• Whites

I have washed clothes by hand quite a bit and this is the best sort I have found when you need to save water. (Of course if you have access to lots of water, sort them anyway you like!) The idea being, you can wash the lightly soiled clothes first, then (using the same wash water) wash the heavy soiled clothes. If you don't have that many clothes, put the lights and darks together and use cool water. For me, I usually change the wash water for the whites. I like to wash whites in hot water. I usually wash the colored clothes in warm or cool water. No need to heat the water in the summer, let the sun do it for you.

How much water do you use? Not a lot. The size of the tub will help determine how much water you use. Also, if you need to carry the water from someplace else, you will use quite a bit less! (Ask me how I know that!) Here is a picture of my setup for washing clothes.

Let me describe what is in this picture:

• A wash tub. This tub holds 40 gallons of water. I have slightly over 10 gallons of water in it. I got the tub at the Tractor Supply Store. You can see it here. I got the water from my rainwater collection barrels.
• A Mobile Washer. This is a plunger type washer but better than a plunger. As you use it, it creates a vacuum to pull the water through the clothes. Much, much better than your average toilet plunger. I highly recommend that you get one of these! Boy, if you ever had to wash clothes by hand, you won't consider this a luxury purchase!  Besides, it isn't expensive. You can see the one I bought here.
• Laundry soap products. Although I have a bottle of Extra brand laundry soap in the picture, it isn't filled with commercial laundry soap. That bottle is at least five years old. I refill it with my homemade laundry soap. Also in this picture are Washing Soda, Borax and lemon juice.
• The dirty clothes you want to wash. I didn't have a lot of dirty clothes so I washed lightly soiled lights and darks together. When washing by hand, keep the load small. It is easier to manage if you break up large loads into two or three smaller ones. For me, one load is about half as much as I would normally add to the washing machine.

Once I filled the tub with water, I let it sit in the sun to warm up. I didn't take the temperature of the water so I can't say how warm it was. It was slightly cool to the touch. I added:

• 1 tablespoon of homemade laundry soap
• 1 tablespoon of washing soda
• 2 tablespoons of borax
• Lemon juice as needed for a pre-treat directly on the clothes.

The washing soda didn't dissolve right away so I had to stir it a bit. That is why the water looks so 'soapy' in the picture. Put the clothes in and agitated with the plunger.

I don't want to agitate for 10 minutes like my washing machine does. Too much work! So, the key to clean clothes is to agitate for a few minutes and then let them soak. Come back in a few minutes and agitate some more. That is exactly what your great-grandmother did in her day. As an alternative, you can let the younger members of the household agitate for you. It really is as simple as up and down. It is amazing how that plunger moves the clothes, just like your washing machine does! Rub any spots or stains together by hand to help dislodge them. You can also use a washboard to do the same thing.

When they are done, it is time to remove them from the wash water. Since we will be reusing this wash water for the next load, you don't want to spill or waste any of it. Take each piece out one at a time and wring it out by hand. This is easy to do in the summer. However, when it is 45 degrees outside and the wind is blowing, it isn't so easy. Gloves help, but in the cold weather, you want to be quick about it. Use this instead.

How I would love to have a clothes wringer like they used in the 19th century! You can see one here. Boy, they are expensive!  My option is much cheaper. I got this at the home improvement store. Mine is made of plastic. They also have ones that are metal (the metal ones are a bit more expensive). While it isn't as effective as hand wringing, it does the job. 

Tee shirts and other small items fit well, jeans don't. If you are trying to wring out a large item, do it in sections. Save the water and pour it back into the wash tub before you start the next load. I washed a total of two lightly soiled loads. My water wasn't that dirty, so if I had another load of really dirty clothes, I would have wash them next with the same water. Here is a picture of the completed wash. Now it's time to rinse them.

Save the wash water! I put mine into five gallon buckets. You can use it as grey water for flushing toilets, watering landscape plants or pouring it on the compost pile. Of course, only use the grey water if it is legal to do so where you live.

Once I had ten gallons of water in the tub for rinsing, I repeated the process. In this picture I am rinsing the second load.

It goes without saying, this whole process would be easier if I had two tubs. I could put the clothes from the wash directly into the rinse water after wringing them out. However, two tubs cost twice as much money. To me, it isn't worth it for an occasional use. (I do use my tub for other things as well, so it really isn't sitting around doing nothing.) If I really need two tubs, I can take this inside and use the bathtub as a second tub. (Not a bad idea if you are without power because of an ice storm!)

When done, hang to dry!

Not counting the wait time to let the clothes soak, it took me about two hours to wash two loads. Most of that time was spent hauling the water to the tub. If you have access to tap water, that time will be significantly reduced. Still, with the soaking, it can take all day to wash three or four loads. My guess is all women from the 19th century thought the washing machine was a miracle when it was invented!

If you decide to purchase any of the items I mention in this post, I kindly ask that you use my links to do so. It won't cost you anything extra to use them and I will get a few pennies to help support the blog.

If you liked this post, you may also like:

• 10 Things Countdown: #10 Think Safety First
• 10 Things Countdown: #9 Maintain Cleanliness
• 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
• 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
• 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
• 10 Things Countdown: #4 Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
• 10 Things Countdown: #3 Handle Sanitation
• 10 Things Countdown: #2 Obtain Safe Drinking Water
• 10 Things Countdown: #1 Keep Your Family Safe From Harm

Make a Rainwater Collection System, Part III

It was a beautiful day yesterday! The sun was shining and it was 87 degrees outside.  I was outside all day and loved it. It had been so long since we saw the sun. I got a lot of work done in the garden to include work on my new rain barrel!

I got a second one because these things fill up in a matter of minutes when it is raining. I also ordered a new white drain pipe from the home improvement store. They have them online, but not in any local stores near me. Since I raised the second barrel up so it is taller than the first one, the pipe was a perfect fit. Now, all I need is a connector hose between the two barrels. Overflow from the higher barrel can go into the lower one.

When both barrels are full, I will use the old black pipe (the one that is sort of painted white) and attach it to this one to let the water go out onto the lawn.

Collecting rainwater is addicting! I want another barrel for the other side of the house! However, the next barrel will be a local purchase. I won't pay a premium price again. I think I can drill out my own holes and attach a faucet. Not sure how long it will take to find another barrel, but when I start to assemble it, I will be sure to post about it!

If you like this post, you may also like:

• Make a Rainwater Collection System, Part I
• Make a Rainwater Collection System, Part II
• A Crisis with the Rainwater Collection System!
• Disassembling the Rainwater Collection System for Winter

Garden Update

What super weird weather we are having this summer! I feel like the rain is going to wash the house away. With all this rain, the garden has been a struggle. We received 9 inches of rain in June, and it has rained every day so far in July. On Saturday it only hit 81 degrees! The weatherman told us this morning that it hasn't hit 90 yet this month.

Now for the readers in the northern states, those temperatures may sound like a delightful summer to you! To us in the Southeast, it's cold. I grow peanuts and grapes. Both of them require heat. I need temperatures well over 90 degrees from June to October for them to be successful. 

If I had known that it would be this cold, I could have planted the peanuts in old tires to give them the extra heat they need - but alas, I didn't! I am OK with the peanuts so far, as long as it gets hot (and stops raining) soon. The peanuts are flowering now so no harm done yet. If it doesn't stop raining down here, you can expect the price of peanut butter to go way up in the fall!

I am sad to say the grapes are a total loss. The rainy weather last summer put them at a disadvantage in the late summer months but I thought I could save them and nurse them back to health this year. However, the wet and cold has killed the vines. I was growing Thompson Seedless grapes and they are very susceptible to fungus diseases. I will be removing these in the next few weeks. Next spring, I will plant something that can better handle the humidity.

I am SO glad that I decided not to plant corn this year. My decision was based on my work schedule, however, I now know that I would not have been able to keep up the spray schedule needed in this weather. I will plant my 'popcorn' corn next year.

A few people at church yesterday told me their tomatoes are splitting. In drier weather all that would do is make for an ugly tomato. In this constant rain, those split tomatoes are rotting. Even spray won't help them. The good news for me is - I am not having that problem. I believe it it because all of my tomatoes are in pots. The soil is quite moist, but not overly moist because the excess runs out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pots.  I am keeping a constant watch on them in case any fungus issue arise. Here is a picture of one of my plants.

The blueberries are doing fine as well. No fungus issues with them. However, the ones that are ripening now are somewhat tasteless. Never the less, they still go well in a breakfast smoothie!

No real problems with the green beans either. They do need a bit more sun, but they are hanging in there and are just about to flower. Here is a picture.

Tobacco looks good too. I hope the extra rain isn't diluting the potency of the leaves! (I am not enough of a tobacco expert to know the answer to that.) I will need good strong tobacco to make an insecticide. This is a picture of my front walkway next to my front door. The little tobacco plant (in the front middle of the picture)  is wild tobacco. I have nine wild tobacco plants in the ground this year. The larger one on the right (in the back of the picture  - just to the left of the downspout) is called 'One Sucker'. It self-sowed in that spot from last year. It is just about to flower!

As I mentioned in an earlier post a few weeks ago, all of my parsley died. It was sprayed by the lawn care people by mistake. I guess the serviceman thought they were weeds. I lost some other herbs as well, but the parsley is the one I really use the most. I even had one that was two years old and ready to make seeds.To say the least, I was very disappointed. So, I went to the big box store and got some new ones. These are planted at the end of the squash bed. I didn't put them back in the herb garden.

 I also started a few more parsley plants from seed and put those in the other end of the squash bed. They are really tiny and a bit hard to see right now. But the rain hasn't killed them yet!

One last picture for today, here are my apples. This is a Golden Delicious apple tree. They are hanging in fairly well - I am only spraying them for fungus every two weeks. No bug issues at all! That is because I have put a barrier between the bugs and the apples.

I now have a reason to save all my old stockings! I cut the toe off and slipped it over the apple. This process should work well for the next few years. I won't be doing this when the tree gets older and starts producing hundreds of apples.

If any of you are currently in a drought condition, I will pray that Heavenly Father sends you our rain! We don't need anymore!

The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How To Do Before You Lose Electricity!

#9: Maintain Cleanliness

Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday, until we countdown to #1, I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.

I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator. 

I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!

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Many of you are probably thinking that cleanliness is the last thing you will worry about when the power goes out. I hope that is not the case! Diseases tend to spread rapidly when power and water supplies are disrupted. Today's post is not about the most important thing you should address to prevent disease when you don't have any power/water. In my opinion, that would be sanitation. Sanitation will be discussed in another post in the coming weeks. Still, that is not meant to dismiss the need to maintain cleanliness in other areas. You or someone in your family could end up sick if you don't pay attention to the levels of cleanliness mentioned in this post as well.

A house full of people make a mess. If you are not cleaning the dishes or eating areas as you go, you will soon find dysentery paying a visit! In addition for those not sick, it is difficult to cope with other stressful issues (maybe house or car damage) after a storm if you can't feel human. You will need to address hygiene needs.

A few simple tools and household rules/strategies can help to minimize these problems. Let's start with the kitchen. Simply stated, the dishes and countertops must stay clean. No exceptions!  Having a supply of necessary paper items/cleaning items will go a very long way to ensuring your family stays healthy during the power outage. I make these items part of my food storage program so I always have them available. Here is a list of some necessary supplies for the kitchen and eating areas:

• Paper plates
• Paper cups
• Plastic silverware
• Plastic serving utensils
• Paper towels
• Paper napkins
• Disinfectant cleaner for the countertops, tables and floors
• Brooms/dustpans to sweep up
• Garbage bags (all sizes)
• Wet wipes

Your list will vary from mine because your family is different from mine. Look around your kitchen and see what other items you will need. Pay attention to the supplies you use to clean up now and make a note to purchase extra the next time you go to the store.

 If you run out of cleaning supplies during the outage, you can always use homemade versions. 1 part vinegar and 1 part water will disinfect the countertops nicely. You can wash dishes by hand if you don't have any paper supplies. (This is a bit harder to do if you don't have access to tap water, or ways to heat the water. I will be addressing those issues in the coming weeks.) But I must say, if you don't wash dishes by hand or use homemade cleaners now, you are not going to want to do it when the power goes out! Stock up on the needed supplies and you won't have to worry later!

How long can you go without taking a shower? Most people can't stand it for very long! Hopefully, if you lose power, you won't lose water as well. But if you do, you will need to get creative on how you can take a shower. While wet wipes will work in a pinch, they won't do for more than a day or two. In the warm months, this really isn't a problem, put on your bathing suit and go outside!  When I was a teenager, I would take showers in the rain! There are also lots of camping products available to help with this issue in the camping section of your favorite store. For example, you can purchase one of these. Just fill it with water, set it in the sun, and you will have a hot (or at least warm) shower. I have also read about people who purchase sprayers from the home and garden center and keep them just for taking a shower. (Be sure to use common sense here. If you use a sprayer for insecticide/fungicide on your plants, DO NOT use it to shower. Purchase a new one and label it 'FOR WATER ONLY'.) Both the solar camp shower and sprayer can be brought inside and used in a bathtub during the winter. 

Don't forget to stock up on other hygiene supplies, soap, toothpaste, shaving cream, etc. The last thing you want to do is run out!

There is one last point I want to make about trying to keep your house clean without the use of electricity. That is the need to run the vacuum cleaner. As a routine, I don't vacuum carpets very often. If you follow me on Facebook, you would know that currently, I don't even have a working vacuum cleaner! I am trying to go one year before I purchase another one.  You can minimize any need for vacuuming carpets if you use throw rugs in all the high traffic areas. Lay them down directly on the carpet - you can use a bit of rug tape if they won't stay put. I have them all over my house! Then, when the small rug gets dirty, take it outside and shake it. Or even better, use one of these. 

This is my early 20th century rug beater. I hang it on the wall near my garage when I'm not using it. In my opinion, this does a better job of getting out animal hair than any vacuum. Put the rug on the clothesline, drape it over a fence or over a chair and beat it! You won't believe how clean it will be! If you are allergic to dust, be sure to wear a dust mask. All other messes can be dealt with using one of these. They are quite handy, and easy & convenient to use! The problem is, as I have found, they are difficult to find in stores. I have had more local store owners say that they don't carry them anymore because they don't sell. If you can't find one locally, they do have lots of different options and price ranges on Amazon.com. I would like to ask that if you do purchase one (or anything else I recommend), please use my link to do so. It won't cost you anything extra and I get a few pennies to help support the blog.

While some of these issues may seem minor in the face of a power outage, cleanliness is not something to shrug off. It can make you sick! A few extra supplies tucked away in a closet can eliminate many of these problems and keep your family healthy during stressful times!

If you liked this post, you may also like:

• 10 Things Countdown: #10 Think Safety First
• 10 Things Countdown: #8 Wash Clothes
• 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
• 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
• 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
• 10 Things Countdown: #4 Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
• 10 Things Countdown: #3 Handle Sanitation
• 10 Things Countdown: #2 Obtain Safe Drinking Water
• 10 Things Countdown: #1 Keep Your Family Safe From Harm

Cooking with Food Storage: Suprise Muffins

I have been making these muffins for quite a few years. I first learned about this recipe from the blog Safely Gathered In. Here is the original post. These muffins are a surprise to eat because there is jam in the middle of them!

Over the years, I have made a few changes to this recipe. In the past when I made these, they always tasted like corn muffins. Not that a 'corn muffin flavor' is a bad thing, but since I didn't make corn muffins, I really didn't want them to taste like I did! The changes I have made eliminate that - now they taste like regular muffins. If you read the original post, you will also notice that I don't follow the directions when making the batter. Here is my interpretation of this recipe.

Let's start with the recipe ingredients I used:
1 1/2 cups spelt flour
1/2 cup oat flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup powdered milk (sometimes I use powdered buttermilk)
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup water
Jam of your choice (I used apple jelly and orange marmalade.)

Start with the dry ingredients. Add the first seven ingredients together and mix well. Then add the shortening. 

You can use a food processor to mix in the shortening if you would like. I cut mine in with a knife. It took about five minutes. Try to eliminate the big pieces of shortening. It should look very fine and crumbly. Here is a picture of mine.

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Then add the water. Mix the batter until moist. You will need to let this batter sit a bit to rest if you use whole wheat flour like I did. The batter needs to have more of a 'biscuit' consistency rather than a 'quick bread' consistency to hold the jam in the middle.

Grease the muffin tin or use paper muffin cups. Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of batter into each cup. Then add 1 tsp of jam. On top of the jam, add another tablespoon of batter. The batter should make 12 muffins. In this picture, the muffin tin in the upper left corner is completely filled. The rest need the last tablespoon of batter.

A  word of caution here, if you add more than a teaspoon of jam, the muffin cup will overflow while baking. (Ask me how I know this!)

Bake in a very hot oven (425 degrees) for 20 - 25 minutes. Mine only needed 20 minutes. Since such a hot oven is necessary, this recipe doesn't work well in a sun oven.  Here is a picture of mine straight out of the oven.

I cut one open with the idea of showing you what they look like, but since I used a very light color jam, it didn't show up well in the picture. However, I can tell you, the jam surprise in the middle is really good!

Grow a Garden in a 55 Gallon Barrel

Even if you don't have a yard, there isn't any reason you can't have a garden! I just found this invention that let's you have a garden in a 55 gallon barrel. It can accommodate up to 50 different plants! Even better, it is a kitchen scrap composter as well! No chemical fertilizer needed. 

Here is the link to the webpage.  

Garden Tower Project

They also have a video explaining how it works on YouTube.

I need to get me one of these!

The Countdown: 10 Things You Need to Know How to Do Before You Lose Electricity!

Since we are about to hit the active period during our hurricane season here in the US, I thought it would be beneficial to create a 'Top 10 List' of things you should know how to do without electricity. Most of these things will be extremely important if you had to go without electricity for a few weeks (or longer). However, many of them also apply to power outages of just a few days. So, every Friday for the next ten weeks I will highlight a necessary skill to keep your house running as 'normal' as possible. Once you learn about these 10 things, you should be able to keep your house running normally during any power outage from a few days to a few months or longer, if that becomes necessary.

I do want to mention, none of these things will include the use of a generator. While generators do work short term, IMHO, there is no way you can store enough gasoline to keep the generator running for a long term outage. My strategy is to use 18th and 19th century skills to keep my house running. I don't even own a generator. 

I created this 'Top 10 List' and the subject matter and countdown order are mine alone. You may not agree with my list. That is no problem! You are welcome to share your ideas in the comments section. We all learn when differing viewpoints are shared respectfully!

So, with that in mind, let' start the countdown!

 # 10: Think Safety First

Why do you think so many houses and barns burnt down in the 18th and 19th centuries? Why were fires so common? When candles and kerosene lamps are your primary method of lighting, fires will be common. In addition, during power outages in the winter months, who hasn't heard of a house or apartment building catching on fire because of kerosene heaters. These tools are very beneficial if you don't have any other way of lighting/heating your house, but they are also extremely dangerous!

So what is needed here is to put some safety rules around the use of these tools and make sure everyone in the house sticks to them. No exceptions!! Here are a few to get you started (in random order). You will need to complete your own list depending on the age and abilities of the people who live in your house.

• When you need light, use flashlights or battery powered lanterns. Keep plenty of batteries (rechargeable ones would be best). Don't use candles or kerosene lamps if at all possible. 
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and each bedroom. You can get small fire extinguishers for your home at the big box stores. They will last for years. I have had my current ones since 2009. I inspect them when I am cleaning the room they are located in. They really are very inexpensive when you think about all they could save you! We also keep one in the upstairs hallway and one by the fireplace. Can't afford to buy them all at once? Pick up one each time/or every other time you go to the store and soon you will have all you need! Don't forget to teach everyone in the house how to use them!
• Put carbon monoxide detectors around your home. These are not as inexpensive as the fire extinguishers, but just as important! We have two, one by the fireplace and one in the master bedroom. I really want to purchase another one and put it in the upstairs hallway.

Fire extinguisher in the upstairs hallway.

If you can't avoid the use of candles or kerosene, then create safety rules specifically for them. Here are some examples of rules for open flames:

• No running or walking with a burning candle or lamp.
• If you need to carry something from another room, use a flashlight not a candle or lamp.
• Place the candle/lamp where no one can knock it over. Don't place it on the table you are using. Don't place it on a table full of other stuff. Use another table (if possible) or put it up high where no one can reach it. If you knock over one of these lamps, you can quickly have an out of control fire.
• Remove the matches from the area after you light the candle/lamp.
• Place the candle or lamp on a safe, sturdy platform. Don't put it down on your good tablecloth! Don't put it down on a bunch of stacked books. (I have seen that one tried before!) Don't put it near anything flammable! 
• Keep lighted candles out of the reach of children and animals. 
• Extinguish candles before leaving the room, going to bed, or going out of the home. 
• Never leave children unattended in a room where a portable heater or candles/lamps are in use.

Here are some links to help you get started on your own safety rules:

How to Use and Maintain a Kerosene Lamp

Candle Safety Checklist

Candle Safety Rules

Some additional websites that may help:
How to Make a Power Outage Bearable
Fire Safety and Candles

Safety rules can apply to many different tools and many different situations that you may face during a power outage. I have only listed a few here. What about rules for using a chainsaw? How about an open flame fire to cook with in the backyard? What about debris clean up from a hurricane or tornado? 

Whether summer or winter, no one can keep your home safe during a power outage but you! The longer the power outage, the more people will become complacent with the use of tools. Make a list of safety rules and stick to them!

If you liked this post, you may also like:

• 10 Things Countdown: #9 Maintain Cleanliness
• 10 Things Countdown: #8 Wash Clothes
• 10 Things Countdown: #7 Cool or Heat Your Home
• 10 Things Countdown: #6 Provide Essential Lighting
• 10 Things Countdown: #5 Store Shelf Stable Foods
• 10 Things Countdown: #4 Have & Use Non-Electric Appliances
• 10 Things Countdown: #3 Handle Sanitation
• 10 Things Countdown: #2 Obtain Safe Drinking Water
• 10 Things Countdown: #1 Keep Your Family Safe From Harm

Happy Independence Day!

I hope it isn't going to rain where you live and that you have a great day of barbecue and fireworks! Please remember, freedom isn't free. Lots of wonderful people died to give you the freedom you have today! 

Let me tell you about one special fourth of July that I think about often. It happened in 1918. On that day, the street in Paris named 'Avenue du Trocadero' was renamed 'Avenue du President Wilson' on behalf of the United States joining the war effort. (BTW, before WWII, WWI was known as 'The Great War'.)

This fourth of July is special to me because my grandfather marched down the Avenue du President Wilson that day. Only a few hundred soldiers got to participate, my grandfather was one of them. He also bought this postcard as a souvenir to send to my grandmother.

On the back of it he wrote this note. Notice there isn't any stamp on this postcard. My grandfather wrote in the corner 'soldier's mail'. That is because it didn't cost anything for soldiers fighting overseas to mail letters home. Also, all mail had to be censored to make sure soldiers weren't sending home information that the enemy could use. You can see the censor stamp in the middle of the postcard. 

My grandmother lived at 1707 Melville Street in the Bronx. She and her family owned an Italian restaurant there and lived in an apartment above the restaurant. (Today, it is a laundromat ) My grandparents married one year later, when my grandfather came home from the war. I am blessed to have this postcard and I am very thankful my grandmother kept it!

It makes the fourth of July extra special to me!

Does Your Water Bill Go Up in the Summer?

Summer and water go together. Much more so than in any other season. Now this post isn't about going to the beach to enjoy the water, it's about how you use water around your house in the summer. Do you have a garden? That can have a huge impact on your use of water! What about a pool? It doesn't have to be a 30,000 gallon built-in pool to put a dent in your water bill. Even kiddie pools can use a significant amount of water if you fill them every other day or so.

What can you do? I don't advocate skipping the summer fun or forgoing a garden. Instead, I am suggesting we all try to be a bit more frugal in our use of water elsewhere around the house. I found a website from the State of Virginia (Loudoun County) that has some ideas on how to save water around your home. Not only are these good ideas in the summer, but they can save water (and more importantly money) the rest of the year as well!

If you happen to have a well instead of county or city water, you are very fortunate! I wish I had one! However, I have relatives who have a well and they are constantly thinking about how much water they use so the well doesn't run dry. These ideas are appropriate for those with wells too! Most of the ideas are not new, but sometimes we need a refresher to get us back in the habit of living frugally.

100 Ways to Save Water

In addition to the ideas mentioned on this website, a rainwater collection system can play a significant role in keeping your water bill down during the summer. It is so rewarding to be able to pull water from the barrels and not have to use county water to keep the garden growing. Installing a rain barrel is simple to do. You can read about how to install one here.

There is no reason why you can't have fun this summer and still keep the costs down if you try to make frugal living part of your everyday life!