From My Home to Yours
2/13/26
~ getting back to our normal ~
Things have returned to what's normal for us and now I'm playing catch-up. As you would image, I got a bit behind on projects I'm working on, but I'll work at a pace to get caught up that is right for me. Not stressing, just continual chipping away.
Our daily high temps have ranged from 50's - 70's this week and I keep looking at my raised beds and gardening containers and planning in my mind what I'm going to plant where. Since, we're going with a smaller garden space this year, I aim to see how much I can grow in the designated space. Actually, I'm seeing this as a challenge! Next week I need to focus on getting the raised bed amended that our green peas will go into along with spring greens ... if our weather cooperates. We can't forget the potatoes either, time to get them chitted and a planting date selected!
Hubby has asked me what I want for Valentine's Day and I've decided that I'd like to have a really fragrant rose bush that produces hops and can be used for herbal purposes. The color doesn't really matter. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
I worked some more on my winter long project of deep cleaning my pantry and home. All the little chunks of time I've snatched here and there are beginning to show ... and just as good as the progress made is, the fact that I'm not exhausted from pushing myself to get it done in a shorter period of time feels just as good.
Take a peak at the fabric in the picture! All 3 pieces are slated to become aprons ... two for me. (I wear aprons quite a lot and as a result they wear out and or get so stained that I can't get them clean. This is the time of year that I like to inventory my aprons and replace any that need replacing.) The third piece of fabric (the puppy one) is for an apron for a grand. Grandma is making aprons for all the grands this year for Christmas. This puppy fabric is perfect for one of them!
You can see what prep work I did along with the small amount of sewing and crocheting I did this week HERE.
I did absolutely nothing for the pantry this week except eat from it. I added nothing, just used from it ... but isn't that what our pantries are for ... using!
I continued reading Dark Chaos, by Ginny Dye, book 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles. If you haven't noticed, this series has me hooked! Like I always say, if you're interested in any of the books I read, first, check your local library, check on Libby, try to find them used or if possible borrow them from someone you know who has them. As a last resort, if you really want to read a book and can afford it, by all means buy it new! However, I highly recommend you start with the cheapest method and go from there.
And finally, I want to go back to the recent weather event that swept across a good part of the country. In some parts it dumped large amounts of ice leaving many without power for several days and large amounts of snow in areas that don't usually get snow. For the next several weeks, I want to do 'case studies' where I present an imaginary family that is not prepared for power outages. I want all of us to take the 'imaginary family' and offer suggestions for ways they can prepare for being without power for up to 10 days.
Here's the first one ...
(this power outage occurs in the winter)
a family of 3 (father, mother and a new born)
no disabilities and in good health
they do have a well-stocked pantry
they are renting their home
they have a budget of $300 to spend
they do not have an alternate source of heat
they do not have an alternate lighting source other than flashlights and candles
they do not have an alternate way of cooking
How would you suggest this family prepare for a power outage of up to 10 days. (I'll compile your suggestions along with mine in next week's post and then present another family scenario.)
That's it for this week, I hope you've found something in my ramblings that will help and or encourage you in the upcoming week.
Until the next time ...
mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry
~ quietly holding the home front ~
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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I would find an alternate source of heat. We do have one of those Mr Buddy heaters that uses propane. We got it out again when that storm came through NC. Thankfully we didn’t lose power but we turned it on and it does produce good heat!
ReplyDeleteThey should find a small grill to cook on too.
Lee Ann, I agree an alternate source of heat is a must. It's good to know that the Mr. Buddy heater is a workable option.
DeleteWe are still playing catch up as well. Our temps have been up and down just like yours and I am so glad to see some warmer weather. One day I was able to get a double batch of chocolate chip cookie dough mixed up. We baked one tray of cookies and put 5 containers of dough in the freezer. Being able to work in the kitchen is rare for me these days. I found a recipe to cook boneless skinless chicken breasts in the air fryer to try to use up an embarrassing amount of them in our freezer. They turned out tender and delicious. We have used them on sandwiches and salads. I have to tell you that when you cannot look in your freezer because it is in a place you cannot get to things get out of hand. We are paying for not checking well enough before buying more. We have also had to be realistic and know that there are things in there that our now Hubby is not able to cook and they have been there too long so they got pitched. It is what it is. Hubby says to just not worry about it and move on. He is right. We did top off our butter supply though because we always use that and Sam's has 4 pounds for 8.44.
ReplyDeleteHonestly that incoming ice storm that we were warned would take out our power for two weeks had me terrified. As a disabled person and relying on my lift chair and cold being such a painful thing for me all I could do was pray. We are putting on a whole house generator so that we are covered next time. Yes, very expensive but we must do this. We had our generator at the ready and 8 tanks of propane but it would not have lasted for long. Our church was so gracious and delivered three tanks to us the day before the storm. We also had a huge amount of firewood delivered which we will be giving away as soon as the generator goes in but we know some who can use it if they will just come haul it away. So many were completely unprepared and went into the storm just hoping they would survive that it was frightening to hear.
Lana, I'm so glad you are putting in a whole house generator. In your circumstances it is absolutely the best solution. You just can't put a $ amount on peace of mind.
DeleteAs for the food in the freezer issue, you are not the only one who has ever not kept a close enough eye on what's in the freezer. All you can do is what you are doing and move on. Our pantry today looks so very different than what it did 5 - 10 years ago. We have different dietary needs and we don't need or eat as much as we once did. My goal is to get our pantry organized in such a way that a glance will tell me what we have and what we need to restock. It's been a winter long job and I'm not finished yet, but I am making progress.
I haven't tried cooking chicken breast in the air-fryer, but I will. Chicken breast is not my favorite part of the chicken because it taste dry to me, this sounds like a solution.
I marinated the chicken breasts in Italian dressing and cooked at 360 degrees. It was moist and tender. The recipe is on Skinny Comfort recipe blog.
DeleteLana, thank you! It sounds yummy!
DeleteMy comment was the one withe whole house generator.
ReplyDeleteI also was able to make some granola this week. We are making sure that our garbage can is completely full every week when it goes out.This has helped get rid of a lot of broken and useless stuff over the last few weeks.
Lana, I had to laugh about making sure your garbage can is completely full every week when it goes out, I am doing the same thing for the same reasons! Great minds!
DeleteSince you want the rose primarily for the hips I would suggest Rosa Rugosa. It is tough as old boots (I live near to the Yorkshire coast of the North Sea and it grows happily in windswept gardens there and even wild, right on the cliff tops) and it has HUGE rosehips. It can be used as a hedging plant and it has nice bright pink flowers and disease-resistant foliage. If you don't like pink there is also a white variety.
ReplyDeleteI have previously made rosehip syrup from hips I picked from wild Rosa Rugosa plants I found on cliff-top walks. Being large, they are a lot easier to pick than the little hips found on the dog roses that grow in hedges around my village.
Tracy, that is one of the varieties on my list! Thank you for confirming what my research has shown. It's always reassuring to hear from someone who has hands on experience!
DeleteI enjoyed my visit today!! I am coming over from Annabel's blog. I am also chipping slowly this year at decluttering and deep cleaning. I am learning to pace myself better and not burn out as I am recovering my s severe case of that. It has been so nice to just practice moving slow, not rushing getting a whole room done, just turning on some soft cheery instrumental music or praise music and work on a drawer or a cabinet here and there. If I need a break, I take one. I am learning after so many years of PUSH....PUSH... no matter how I feel that I did a great disservice to my body and mind. I am so thankful the Lord is taking me on this journey to slow down!
ReplyDeleteChrissy, Welcome! You and I are on the same page with chipping away slowly at big projects as opposed to burning myself out trying to get it all done in a short amount of time. It sounds like the Lord has us on the same journey!
DeleteWe have planted Rosa Rugosa too and I have made jelly with the hips. They do spread so be careful where you plant them.
ReplyDeleteHaving had the winter weather here I am interested in learning more about ways to be prepared especially for older people who have some physical limits.
Some of what we have others have suggested but for $300 this family could buy:
Mr. Buddy Heater on sale at Walmart for $89.
one 2 pack of fuel for $27.00
Luci solar light $10.00, I would suggest staring with 3 and keeping the lights in a window all the time
Sterno folding camp stove about $15.00
Stereo Green about $8.00/2 pack at my local Food Lion Grocery Store. Green is safe for short term inside. This fuel doesn't last long so buy more as budget allows.
Camping light weight pot and pan set prices from $10 and up depending what you get.
I enjoy your post and what you are sewing too.
CindyD,
Cindy, thank you for the info on Rosa Rugosa. It's good to know that they spread, I'll keep that in mind if I go with that variety.
DeleteYou shared some good ideas for our preparedness case study family. I especially like how you broke it down price wise showing that it is doable with the given budget.
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
I would definitely get a propane stove and and extra filled bottle. This can be used on the porch or in the open garage door area. In my area we are more worried about no A/C than in no heat, so I would also look into a power bank that could run fans. And of course I need a stovetop camp percolator because I have to have my coffee! I can and have charged my phone in my car.
ReplyDeleteIm loving that fabric!! And a rose is a perfect gift!
ReplyDelete