From My Home to Yours
2/20/26
~ Two weeks ago ... ~
... we were dealing with frigid temperatures and 12 inches of snow! Today, our high is supposed to top out at 80 degrees! This week our temps have ranged from the low 60's to today's high of 80. It's what we call a 'false spring.'
The fruit trees in the orchard are starting to bud out with tiny leaves, our elderberry bushes are doing the same. The forsythia, not to be left out of the 'spring' business of waking up is following suit!
False springs are typical for us and I've been taking advantage of it by continuing my deep house cleaning and decluttering project. A house that's getting a spring cleaning coupled with warm spring temperatures is a combination that lifts the spirits after a bout of cold bitter winter weather.
We're still eating out of our pantry and not adding anything to it ... although I did notice in this weeks local grocery store ad that they had shrimp on a BOGO sale and Boston butts on sale for $.99/lb. I need to check my canned pulled pork and see if I need to restock. If I do, I'll purchase a Boston butt and can it up for the pantry. That's how we keep our pantry well-stocked ... we look for those sales and then get to work! Now about that shrimp, yes ma'am, I plan to add some of that to the freezer part of my pantry as well! Shrimp is a special treat at our house!
I stitched up another block in my patriot quilt project. You can take a peek at it HERE along with the other 3 I've completed.
I continued reading Dark Chaos, by Ginny Dye, book 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles and listened to Finding Us by Tracie Peterson on Libby. I had more listening time this week than I had reading time. Sometimes that's the way it works out!
Let's finish off this post with visiting our imaginary family in our preparedness case study series ...
Here's the one from last week ...
(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
Here's the advice you gave this couple ...
for heating purposes, a Mr. Buddy Heater or Kerosene Heater for a heat source,
purchase fuel for which each source of heat chosen ...
for lighting purposes, battery operated push lights or solar lights that can be put outside to recharge during the daylight hours or set in a window ...
for emotional support, candles and a battery operated radio ...
for cooking and boiling water purposes, a small camp stove approved for indoor use, or a small grill for outside use. Fuel for each of these options should also be factored in as part of the cost...
for bed or 'pallet' warming, fill hot water bottles with hot water, wrap in some kind of cloth and place in bedding to warm area, or warm bricks, wrap in some kind of cloth and use in the same way ...
for having warm beverages, quality thermos bottles ...
additional advice given: (1) curtain off or close door of one room and make it your main living quarters, (2) insulate windows with cardboard, newspaper or plastic wrap in your closed off room, (3) cover windows with heavy coverings, (4) set cooler outside and use for refrigeration purposes and (5) use Vaseline or something similar on lips to prevent chapping.
The care and protection from the cold of a newborn would require close attention. Baby wearing might be an option to consider.
I hope you've found something in this imaginary scenario that will help you in your real life preparedness preparations, that's the goal of this series.
Now that we've helped imaginary family #1, let's move on to our next imaginary family situation ...
Preparedness Case Study #2 looks like this ...
(we're staying in the winter season for this one as well)
a family of 2 senior citizens (husband and wife) in their mid 70's ...
the temperature outside is 23 degrees and dropping, there is also a breezy wind blowing and it's starting to rain ...
they are out in their automobile and run over an object in the road giving them two flat tires ...
they have a quarter tank of gasoline ...
their cell phone service is sketchy with hit and miss reception
no water or food in the automobile ...
they are about 2 miles from nearest civilization ...
no blankets in the automobile, but each does have a warm coat ...
What would you advise this couple to do? How would you advise them to be better prepared for a similar event in the future? What can we learn from this scenario to help us be better prepared?
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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Our weather has been a lot like yours and in a few days the high is supposed to be 39. Brrr...
ReplyDeleteWe had an expensive week. We had a huge oak only about six feet from the north end of our house that miraculously stood through Helene while twenty or more trees were blown down on our property. We were constantly hearing limbs dropping on the roof as of late so it was time for it to go. It had to be taken down with a crane so $3500 later we are much safer in our home. You can't put a price on safety.
Four more chicken breasts and a pork roast used from the freezer. A box of pancake mix made into five meals of pancakes and into the freezer We need nothing here except milk and produce.
Lana, I agree, you can not put a price on safety and while that was a lot, it's still better than damage it could have caused to your house if it had come down on it. That was a wise decision!
DeleteGiven the circumstances I think the couple would be best to stay in their vehicle and run the engine from time to time to help keep them warm. It would be a good idea to keep their hazard lights flashing so that anyone coming along the road can clearly see their vehicle and realise that they have a problem. If they hear someone coming one of them could try to flag them down to help.
ReplyDeleteIn the future, I would advise them to tell a family member or friend where they are going, when they expect to get there and perhaps promise to give them a quick ring to let them know they have arrived safely. If they don't ring, someone else will then know there is a problem. I think they should keep some food and drinks in the car and perhaps some of those metallic space blankets, which fold down to fit in a small pouch, for extra warmth.
Tracy, excellent ideas! Thank you! My hubby and I check in with each other all the time if one of us is out without the other. It's not a matter of policing each other's whereabouts, it's a safety safeguard!
DeleteI would advise a couple to stay where they are with their hazard lights flashing, and only turning the car on to warm them from time to time. I always keep some water bottles, some peanut butter, crackers, and granola bars in my car in case of emergency. I have a small plastic tub that I keep these items in plus a small blanket, jumper, cables, and any other small item I think would be beneficial in an emergency. And Patsy just so you know, I’ve been participating in your Naomi study, but I’m having difficulty getting my comments to go through. I am really enjoying this study so far and highly recommend it to anybody else.
ReplyDeleteMarley, thank you for participating in my Naomi Bible study. It's so encouraging to hear that others are participating and hopefully gleaning from my efforts.
DeleteSounds like your winter car kit is well stocked with useful items. I applaud you for actually having one, it's easy to talk about what you intend to do, but actually doing it ... well, a lot of times, it just doesn't happen for various reasons.
Hello!!! I enjoyed my visit as always!! Blessings.
ReplyDeleteChrissy, thank you for visiting! It means the world to me!
DeleteThere are good suggestions for the older couple with 2 flat tires. I have an emergency kit in my car with foil blankets, ponchos, jumper cables and a few other things. I do not keep food or water in my car. We have a problem with mice getting in the car so no food and I vacuum regularly. Also I worry about freezing in the winter and then the heat in the summer. When we go out I usually carry water and snacks, but if we were stuck for a long time that would be a problem. I agree stay with the car. They need to be able to draw attention to the car some how because people will just drive by and if they are in a really rural area there might not be too many people coming by.
ReplyDeleteOne person could get out of the car and see if they wave their phone around to see if they can get a signal and dial 911. 911 will connect the best. Also that person while out of the car could check the trunk to see if they have a sun screen and if so can use that to cover up with more.
You are not supposed to drive on a flat tire. It will damage the tire, rim, and more the further you drive, but if it was getting dark and colder, I would drive on it since there are 2 flat tires, you can't change both. No body is going to notice your car at night. I don't know if this would be the right answer, but that is what I would do. Does any one know?
Anonymous, I like the idea of having a way to 'flag' the vehicle to let others know something might be wrong and I agree that we are not supposed to drive on flat tires, but depending on the circumstances, I would before I let myself freeze to death or be in some kind of danger.
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