Forum: Finding Other Preppers Arkansas IV

Continued from here

PBQ I didn’t see the Martha Stewart show but very interesting letting the olive oil soften the macaroni…I’ll have to check into that…it does sound good. I love soups too and usually make them from scratch which can be a lot of work as you well know. I’ll definitely give the potatoe soup recipe a try. Years ago I had a quickie roll recipe that called for beer and it was very good. Have you seen the cup a soup recipes on Hillbilly Housewife? They look pretty good and lots of different boullion cubes are part of my preps. The ethnic section in the groceries here have a wonderful selection. Only problem is they are very high in sodium.

I’m afraid DH would have to figure out what those pots and pans are for if I got sick. I’ll give him good intructions LOL. My oldest son does very creative things with Ramen noodles…better stock some of those.

I have 11–12 marked and look forward to it too.

PBQ, I found you! lol atleast I hope this is you. First time here and I really don’t know what I’m doing. I just read the thread and it’s so great. You ladies all sound so sweet. Hope you don’t mind me barging in on you. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in Arkansas prepping (besides you PBQ) so it’s nice to know there are others! It’s just great to hear cities mentioned that I actually know! lol even though I am in south Arkansas..makes me not feel so alone.

Welcome Lkay..so nice to have you here. I felt the same way when I found this board because I thought I was the only one and didn’t even know what I was doing had a name LOL. Boy have I learned a lot in a little while.

Lkay!!!!!!!!! Glad you are here!!!! Yea it’s me. Ima Prepper is my other handle on other BF sites. I like it better but when I started here (My first post ever was on fluwikie) I couldn’t think of anything else so I’ve been PBQ. Love to have you join us on the 12th of Nov. Can’t wait as a matter of fact. That is what is so great about the internet. Safety in numbers. I’ve enjoyed “meeting” all the people here too. Tell everyone about yourself so they can get to know you like I have. Welcome!!

Hey LK, welcome! We need more Arkansas preppers! Your location.. South Ark… where… near Warren?

And how far will it be for you, from South Ark to Clarksville? We might be able to move southwards a little.

Arkie-if you move southwards, how about Little Rock

Lkay-welcome. where are you in South Arkansas, I live in SW Arkansas in Miller Co. Would be nice to have a prepper close. Are you planning on going to the lunch in November, my DH has informed me that Nov 12 is the opening weekend of somekind of hunting.

PBQ-I have really slacked off of prepping this past month. Have been trying to get certain items increased. I am in the process of increasing my mac n cheese to 100 boxes, rice another 50 pounds, 75 boxes dehydrated potato products, buying 100ct boxes of tootsie roll pops. (about the only candy DD lets the grandkids eat) I have to start back canning Monday, both my freezers and packed. We had a power outage today after thunderstorm, reminded me that my meats would be much safer in canning jars. So off to walmart to purchase more jars before they sell out for the summer.

It did rain today and we really needed it.

We had two days of rain and thunder storms. Needed it and loved it. 100 boxes of Mac and cheese! Oh my gosh- that impressive. How long are you prepping for? How many people? If this is just adding to your preps, you have lots and lots. I was just telling my sister I think I have 9 to 10 months but would lose weight and I don’t have near that much. Maybe I should rethink my preps- maybe I should organize them too.:-) Tootsie pops- great idea, think I’ll add some of those as we only have mini tootsie rolls. I dried corn a couple of weeks ago from frozen bags from Sam’s. Worked well and ever so easy since all I had to do was open a bag and pour it! Have to try it in receipe. Drying peaches now.

PBQ- prepping for 4 adults and 3 children. I am prepped for about 8 months. The Grandkids are great eaters and will eat just about anything.

I dried some green peas several weeks ago, they look pretty in the jar. 32 ounce bag filled a pint jar.

Awww, thank you guys for making me feel so welcome. You have me smiling this cool Monday morning! I live in a small town just east of El Dorado. My job is in El Dorado, my church, and Walmart (lol) so I feel like I spend as much time in El Dorado as I do at home. Arkie, I’m about 40 minutes from Warren. I go thru there on my way to Monticello where my sister lives. Are you from Warren? If you are, then you are the closest person to me that is actually preparing (atleast that I know of anyway) Scary thought. I’ve only been preparing about 4 months. PBQ (it seems strange to call you that *wink*) has helped me so much! I was so glad to be able to find someone in Arkansas that knew things and was willing to help me. Thanks again PBQ! At first I was frantic. Trying to fill my cabinets with food, wash and save everything possible that would hold water, print out every bit of information I could find that might help save and protect my family. I wore myself out! The worries of the “worse case scenario” had me thinking of BF 24/7. The mental and physical load came at a time I should have been so happy. My daughter was pregnant, expecting our first grandchild, so the excitement of all that was also mixed with the fears of bringing a baby into this world at a possible horrible, dangerous time for us all. I’ve calmed down some since then…lol I have a healthy, precious grandson that is almost 4 months old now. When I hold him, all my worries and fears seem to go out the window. I still feel behind at times, but my list of things to do and buy is getting shorter and I’m so thankful for that.

Arklatx, Miller County? is that Texarkana? I’ve never been there but I think that is about an hour from here. I have a salesman that comes here every week from there. That would be really neat to meet you all, but I don’t want you changing your meeting place because of me. If I can do it, I can come to where you all have picked out. I don’t drive in big cities (lol) but hubby and I always love to drive north during this time to see the pretty fall colors, so I’ll talk to him and see if he would mind bringing me. Thank you all so much for asking me. Oh, and I’m sure there will be some type of hunting during that time. The talk, the buying up “needed” stuff, and the excitement of it all has been in full force at the house. I don’t hunt, but I do have to stumble and walk over all the hurting gear.

Again, thanks so much for the warm welcome. I’ll have to spend some time here and figure how to get around. I know there is so much information here. I’ve never prepared for anything, always the one you see running to Walmart if a 3 day storm is headed this way. Sorry for the long post, I’ll keep it shorter next time.

No need to shorten your post Lkay. It’s great getting to know you! I am excited to meet you all. Lkay I wouldn’t call Clarksville a big city. Once we have the resturant picked out go to mapquest dot com and look it up and that will tell you how to get there if you have to come alone. Early afternoon is good because we can (mostly) be home or close to home at or before dark!

Finished drying the peaches. Only 3 of them. I did also dry about a dozen plums. Peas are as easy to do a corn and I like them. So will be drying some of those next week too.

Nice and cool here. Trees are starting to turn at least the smaller ones. I love autumn!

Hey LKay, No, I’m not from Warren, my father was, so I am very familiar with the town. My only connections left are very distant relatives. I was born in Monticello. However, I now live in Mountain View, in Stone County. You are so far down south! Will you be able to make it to Clarksville? Should we move it more central? We are glad to have you here, good luck prepping! Welcome!

Sarah

Lkay-I am from Texarkana.

Oh Sarah, I am jealous! Mountain View is beautiful. Just last night, hubby said “It’s going to be pretty chilly for the Beanfest I bet. We went last year, but had to stay in Batesville. It was a nice drive though, we didn’t mind. We were just glad to get a place close enough to enjoy the festival. I’m not into bluegrass music as much as my husband is, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had a wonderful time! We were there 3 days and I enjoy every minute. I get a newsletter from Mountain View and a couple days ago printed off the schedule of events. I doubt we get to come up that way this year since he’s working 6 days a week and also, it’s hard not to see our grandson every weekend. Hopefully we can make it next year.

Arklatex, I guess we both are way down south. You’re close to the Texas border and I’m only a few miles from the Louisiana line. My husband works for a pipeline, so he’s close to Texarkana often and works in Texas alot. You’re in the “arklatex” region and I’m in the “arklamiss”. Glad to know a prepper that’s close.

PBQ - hey! It is exciting getting to met people that have a common interest. It’s a great thing about computerland, the way it can bring people together. I hope I get to come met you all. I mentioned it to my husband, and that ya’ll had suggested a place more central, but that I didn’t want you to change it for me, and he said “they just don’t know how you like driving up that way” lol I’ll jump at any excuse to see northern Arkansas. Because of having migraines, I don’t usually make very long road trips alone, but my husband is always ready to take me somewhere so he won’t mind at all (if he is off this job he’s on now) I appreciate the offer to met closer, but ya’ll go ahead with your original plans and I’ll try my best to be there!!!

I noticed you were talking about drying foods. Is this using a dehydrator? Do the foods last a long time doing this and I was wondering how you store them. I was going to buy a food saver, but decided to wait a while since I wasn’t sure it would be worth the expensive.

Thanks guys for making me feel so welcome. Nothing like southern hospitality is it?

Dehytors are fabulous! I love mine. I’m not much of a canner- so much hard work and I’m too lazy. Dehytoing is simple and easy. But a bag of frozen stuff (like corn, peas, carrots-whatever) and pour it on to the trays and plug in. See if I can do it anyone can. I was hoping to get quite a few zucs this season but never did. This working thing gets in the way doesn’t it? My last day at Dillards is the last day of this month so I will have time for more drying. If I had to choose Lkay I would pick a dehydrator over the food saver. If you put your dried food into a canning jar and add oxy absorbers you have a fab food saver. The only drawback I see to dehydrators is that they run on electricity. (I do have a couple of glass table tops that I could use in the sun sitting on an old tire to dry and a couple of window screens if things get bad and the garden produces) I have a food saver too but a lot of what I dry will not “take “ to a food saver because of the sharp edges drying produces. Never got broccoli to stay in a sealed food saver bag. Into a couple of baggies or a canning jar they go. Love dried pears and that will be my next big project- drying lots and lots of them. I tend to make them crispy not leather-y, I think they last longer and have less mold potential.

Lkay I didn’t realize you lived so far away. I knew you were south and east but…gosh that is a long way- well gas prices are down! Off to play bridge now. See you all soon!

Lkay if you look back to earlier threads, you will see that several of my posts are rather long ;). I can certainly understand the migraine issue. I have them too and I would not be able to drive if one hit. Thankfully I don’t have them very often and can avoid one completely if I catch it in time. I get visual disturbance among other things so couldn’t see to drive anyway. The company I work for hires folks to work on pipelines..mostly inspectors, and we usually have a few working in that general area…now that would really make it a small world if your hubby happened to work for us LOL.

PBQ I would love to get into the dehydrating and it sounds like you know a lot about it. The only thing that I worry about is giving my family food poisoning by not knowing what I’m doing and not dehydrating long enough. Can you freeze the dehydrated food? I hope you enjoy your time off…I’m jealous!

Yes you can freeze dried foods, Aunt Bee. I was trained to be a microbiologist many years ago. I have forgotten most things I learned in college. One thing I haven’t forgotten is that anything (except virus, fungus spores and I can’t remember any more;-)), including germs (bacteria) needs moisture to live. One of the reasons that dried foods keep so long is there is no moisture in them. I would be afraid to dry meat although I have done 1 batch of jerky last year but haven’t eaten it. With fruits and veggies- dry- no moisture -no bacteria like botulism. If something molds in your bags you will know it. If you stick to fruits and veggies you will not give your family food poisoning. If after a while you want to try sour cream, meats or anything else you will have the experience to know if this is what you want to do. For most veggies and fruits I just buy the big bags at Sam’s and put them in my dehydrator and then bag them up when done! I do have lots of seasonal stuff that I have chopped myself but that is a lot of work. Maybe some peas or carrots or onions. Make your own soup mix! Whatever you like. Good luck and let me know what you do. I can almost give you a warranty that you will not cause food poisoning for fruits and veggies. Try it, you might like it!

PBQ, you have me wanting to go buy some fruits and veggies to dry! I hope drying over night (about 10 hours ) would be enough drying time? I guess I could start it in the mornings, but it would be 10 hours before I got home to check it. (this working thing REALLY does get in the way!!) I don’t usually like things running when I’m not home, but I guess a dehydrator would be fairly safe. It would be so nice to have fruit and veggies to eat if we can’t get to a store.

Aunt Bee, sorry to hear you have those mean ole migraines too! They sure can disrupt life! I have the blurred vision too and it makes it almost impossible to drive. I’ve had to do it when I would have one while driving, but I try to get somewhere quick and call someone. They are the main reason I hate to take off on a trip by myself. The job my hubby is on now has him inspecting. lol Since he works for the only pipeline in this area, I bet he has run into some of the people that work for your company.

I checked out the thread here on “things you may have forgotten” Oh me…I just thought I was doing good. I know we all can’t possibly have everything we might need so tyring not to overstress about it. I would hate to spend money on all the gadgets to make life easier, and then run out of food! It seems like a balancing act at times.

PBQ-Please tell me about dehyrating sour cream.

Arklatex, To dry sour cream just spread it in a thin layer on one of those fruit roll up trays. Being a cheap person and not wanting to spend 10 dollars on another tray I have used non stick aluminum foil cut to fit your dehydrator. Anyway spread evenly and thin and dehydrate. It will break into pieces when dry and just put it into a canning jar in peices or you can grind it up into a powder. I grind it up with a hand held blender right there in the jar. The texture is never the same but it taste great in that 5 can mexican soup posted earlier (which can become 6 can mexican soup by adding a can of chicken for your meat eaters). A great way to store this is in a jar with a oxy absorber thrown in. Other than using it in that soup I have not tried anything else with it. Let me know if you do. How about baked potatoes or potato soup? Also I’ve been thinking about a Brekefield gravity water filter. What do you think? What kind did you get? I know we have the small Doulton for the BOB.

Lkay, depends on what you dry and how big the peices are. 10 hours ahould do most things like corn and peas- small stuff- if it’s not raining. I get lots done in 5 or 6 hours. some things take 10 to 12 hours. Experiment. BTW I do dry lots overnight- the disadvantage is that I don’t check it and sometimes it can get too brittle. That’s OK -just brittle not leather-y. Still tastes great. Things with a high sugar (bananas, peaches) content will get sticky. Peel them off the trays and turn them over after a few hours. And when they are done you will be able to put them in bags or jars easier. They are also eaiser to get off the trays while warm. :-)

PBQ-we have several wells, I did not get water filter. I purchased an antique well pulley with a well bucket. Thought if power out, move pump off well and draw our water from the well.

Sorry that was supposed to be for Lkay but I put it in the wrong paragraph and hit the post button and by then it was toooo late. You know that adage about thinking twice and posting once…..well I wish I could think at all. :-)

:-) I think your a great thinker PBQ and sure do put me to shame when it comes to being self sufficent and prepared. You have great ideas! like the foil for the dehydrator. I was wondering how to get a tray since mine doesn’t have but one. I had considered getting one of those thin plastic cutting boards, but figured it may be to thick.

About this BOB? Do you have one because you think somewhere other than your home may be safer? or incase something happens to your home? I don’t have anything prepared for a BOB and wouldn’t even know where to start!

Thanks Lkay, for a vote of confidence. I thought at one time you had said you had bought a small Doulton water filter like mine and I was wondering if you have thought about a larger one. I am thinking about a large Berkefield water filter (big Berkey). I also think you have quite a large holding tank for water. We cannot have one of those so we will need a larger water filter. Ah a bug out bag- well, no I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be than home. But I am afraid of a fire. We live on a “retirement street” and all the homes are very close together, only 10 or 15 feet apart. If, because older people are using candles as a light source or making fires in the fireplaces or whatever (and there is no fire dept. or water), I am concerened about the neighborhood burning down! The worst time for a fire- during a pandemic! I want something that could help us survive for a few days before we find another place to stay. So the BOB placed right next to the door, so we can grab it on the way out. In our BOB (backpack) I have 4 MRE’s, 4 small bottles of water, a small first aid kit, a tarp, duct tape, the small water filter, 4 whistles, shake up flashlight, hand sanitizer and a couple of tealights and boxes of matches. I want to make copies of everything in our wallets and other very important papers and put in a baggie. I also will have a rolling suitcase with an change of warm clothes and shoes and meds and perhaps more MRE’s that I will organize when/if we get closer to the Virus Day. When we lived in earthquake prone countries like Japan, I had a rubbermaid container by the front door. A back pack and suitcase seems so much more civilized. I’ve thought of things like bug spray, sleeping bag or two and a few other things but there is just so much room… Nope, I’d much rather be at home but like the virus itself you just can’t tell what will happen next and I like to be ready! I would not worry about the BOB untill we get closer to the pandemic. Why do all that extra work now. Besides, don’t you live in the country? I am 3 minutes from the mall! About a mile from here is a large low income apartment complex. In lots of ways our house is in a very urban area. Sure am glad that a very upscale (houses in the $500,000) neighborhood is nearby so any looting will start at the mall and then to our rich neighbors. My mom thinks I worry too much:-).

PBQ, I have bought a water filter, and I was thinking it was the Daulton. It showed the filter being layed in a pan of water, with tube going to a holding container. The water went thru the filter and tube using gravity. I’ll have to check and see if the name brand is Daulton. I also bought a Berkley light, but did not buy the canister. Thought we would use the same method as above or hubby could fix two 5 gallon buckets together. You had mention before about being very careful doing this since contaminated water could seep into the bottom bucket. Thanks for telling me that. I did buy a water storage tank, but figured I would only be able to fill it up once. Also the idea of it being outside, unprotected isn’t a good thought..so the water issue is still worrying me somewhat. The BOB is a great idea. I am not very close to other homes, but a fire can start in any home. With the use of candles, kerosene lamps, heaters, the chances increase so much. I’ll print out what you said was in yours, and work on that soon.

Everyone thinks I worry to much too. It’s much better to think these things thru before it’s to late. If you love someone, and think this may evenutally happen, I’m not sure how to don’t worry.

Hope you all have a great weekend! It was so cool way down south today and I love it!

We did have a great weekend, as a matter of fact, we are still having a great weekend. We have a fabulous younger (30) son. But he has lots of challenges. He is devopmentally delayed and has phsical problems (just bone and joint) too. For us it is like a 14 year old at home. He is one of the funniest people (at least top four) I know. But still sometimes after 30 years it can get old. Anyway my point is that he is on a overnight trip this weekend and it is so quiet here that I just don’t know what to do. DH leaves to pick him up in an hour but oh my gosh what do people do when they retire and have grown kids? How wonderful! I could get used to this… oh, I can’t, but it sure is nice now! HeHeHe! Plus my last day at work for at least a month was Saturday and well, doggone it, I am accomplishing a lot of dehydrating,chores and such. What fun! Who knew…? Life is good!

Amen PBQ! Life is good. I know we all have challenges and hard times, but thank goodness for those special times, those times when we fill so good and all is right with the world! So glad you had a great weekend!! I had a great one too. My daughter, son-in-law and grandson was home for the weekend and then we all went to my sisters house Sunday. Nothing like family! Hubby had to work all weekend though, that was the only bad part. He’s tired and misses seeing the little one. It’s funny how that little one has only been here 4 months and all we want to do is sit around, hold and watch him. Even my son’s girlfriend said Saturday “Ok, where is Jace? He’s are entertainment”.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

4 to 10 months are prime baby times! They are so cute then. Really they are cute untill puberty but that’s a different thread… Glad you are having this wonderful time with him. Grandkids are so great. There is not the pressure. You just get to have fun and then give them back to the parents! Speaking of kids, how is your son doing Arklatex? At least it is cooler over there now and he won’t have to content with the heat. How long are his tours? I hear they are extending them.

Aunt Bee have you tried the Martha Stewart receipe? This week I am getting 5, 20 # propane cannisters for a Mr. Heater we bought last year. In 2 weeks we are having a cord of fire wood delivered in 2 weeks. Those are my big preps this month. Hope to hear from you all soon and don’t forget about the 12th of Nov!

PBQ I haven’t had a chance to try it yet. My busy season has kicked in full force and I’m not complaining but I’m extra busy right now along with the tax deadline looming…my accountant just stopped by my office to check on my progress…dang it I told him I would have it ready tomorrow. I am looking forward to 11–12 too.

I can really relate to your situation with your son. My time at home alone is very rare and I cherish it…not that I don’t love having my family around but sometimes you just need a little quiet time. At least I’m never lonely LOL.

I’m just now getting my preps started back and if DH doesn’t get my addition finsihed so I can have a pantry of sorts or just more storage, I’m gonna go on strike. I am so sick of preps taking over my house but thankful to have them too. My latest purchase was twenty bottles of laundry detergent. WM put my brand (All concentrated) on clearance for $2.00 a bottle and that’s less than half price so I got all I could stand to look at in the corner ;). My youngest son and nephew brought us a load of fire wood and that’s about it for now.

PBQ-DS is doing good. He emailed me yesterday that he arrested someone and it became very intense, but he handled himself well. I think I would like to know what “became very intense” means, I’m probably better off not knowing.

He and his roommate liberated a small refrigerator for their dorm room so my message was to send chocolate, now that it will not melt. His sprints seem to be better since he arrived, he is doing the job of SSgt even though he hasn’t put on the stripe yet. Writes that he is riding around in a hummer rather than guarding gates.

He does not know when he will be coming home, six or eight months. If it goes past eight months they will have to extend his stay in the military because he is to be discharged in June.

Someone is suppose to come and look at our house Friday. DH and I were talking this morning about taking it off the market, we both like it, our only problem is that DH is tired of taking care of our hugh yard. Now that we are having second thoughts it will sell.

Aunt Bee I puchased four bottles of the all, to put in storage. Planned on buying more but didn’t get back to WM. The last few times that I was in Wally World they have had a very good mark down item as you come in the door. Hope they keep this up. I am running out of room to keep my preps hidden, I am going to transfer some of them to my closet on my days off this week. The spare bedroom and entry hall closets are full and I have stacks against the wall in the computer room.

Lkay I have three grandchildren under four. They are wonderful, so much fun to play with and return to their parents.

The above message is me, forgot to sign in, I’m at work.

I know what you all mean about storage. The path thru my utility room is getting very narrow. I’ve arranged and rearranged so many times trying to get every inch. I would love to feel like I’ve finally got enough of some items and could cross them off my list. I know one thing - I’m not close to having 20 bottles of laundry detergent! Good for you Aunt Bea. I just know I have to much of some things and not enough of others! I’m pretty confident I’ll never have to buy oatmeal again in my life time. lol

I need to find the time to look thru this thread from start to finish so I won’t be repeating questions. Arklatx, I assume your son is overseas? Thank him for me. We can’t appreciate enough all those brave men and women do for us! God Bless him and keep him safe.

Aunt Bea, thanks for reminding me about taxes being due very shortly. I just made myself a note.

PBQ - about this Mr. Heater you mentioned. Is it sorta like a kerosene heater, but you use propane. I don’t think I’ve seen one of those. I did buy a kerosene heater, but wonder if this you’re talking about is better and maybe less fumes.

Better get back to work.

Lkay, yes a Mister Heater uses propane and is supposed to be used inside! None of the coleman heaters say that. I haven’t used it but I’ve heard good things about it. Our house will heat up quite a bit during the day if it is sunny. So I plan on only using the heater in the evening before bed, run it just a couple of hours a day during really cold weather. The rest of the time I guess we will be dressed in layers-silk, wool- not cotton as cotton will get wet very easily and doesn’t retain heat when wet. Cotton kills in winter and cotton saves in summer is the saying.

Yes thanks Aunt Bee, I need to put paying taxes on the calendar so I don’t forget!

Arlatex good luck with your house. Hope they buy it so you can start building your house with a hugh prep room!!! Or it could be a Hugh prep room with a small living, bedroom and kitchen. :-)

Well the accountant now has my tax info in his hands so I am through…unless I have to pay. I get an extension just about every year because I hate doing those things and resolve every year not to put it off the next year. I’m so busy and do that type of thing at work so the last thing I feel like doing when I get home is more paperwork. The sad part is I did get the majority of it done last year but just couldn’t face it til I was forced to. On a brighter note, I’m through with that for a while!!!! Now all I have to do is pay the accountant and those property taxes and maybe I can have extra $$$ for some serious preps.

The main thing is my canned stuff is stacked so high, it’s a pain to rotate it. I would love shelves and saw some plans on a board somewhere, maybe here, for shelves that you feed the cans in one end, the shelf is slightly tilted so they roll down to the other end and they rotate themselves. I will be making another prep trip in about a week and will feel better when I’ve at least replaced what we’ve used. I have a ton of chicken in my freezer to can and plan to get some beef canned too. After that, I may ask Santa for a dehydrator but can’t decide if I should start out with a cheaper version or spend the money for a more expensive one…any thoughts welcome…PBQ?

Arklatex I am so happy your son made it there safe and sound and you’ve heard from him. I’ve noticed the same thing with my W-M having good stuff on clearance. They are probably making room for the Christmas stock. I couldn’t believe the detergent and was tempted to buy all they had LOL. The bad thing is they are probably discontinuing it.

Lkay I am also a little out of balance with my preps too but I like sales so stock up when things are cheap and that kind of guides what I buy next. If things get serious though, food will be my number one priority. Too funny about the oatmeal but it is good for you.

PBQ-my DH has the heater like yours. He uses it when he goes deer hunting, he has a trailer that he heats with it. says that it does a good job.

One of DH friends gave him two propane tanks several months ago, he finally took them by WM and traded them out.

I bought the dehydrator at WalMart. Plus 2 extra trays. Works great so far and it has a thermomator thing-y on it. It has 2 trays of frozen broccoli on it right now in the back porch. It is a Nesco American Harvest. I have no flour or corn meal. If I get nervous that is on my list on my last run to Sam’s. I don’t use it on a regular basis so I want to wait untill I really need it as it doesn’t last but a year or so. I too am running out of room to store preps. This winter I can put things in the garage but next summer is going to be hard. Aunt Bee if you find a place that has those self rotating shelves let me know. Oatmeal is so good for you and you can make granola for snacks too! I don’t like warm oatmeal but I do like crunchy oatmeal.

FYI- wanted to let everyone know that I was at Walmart this morning and they had 25# flour for $2.00. It was not where the regular flour is, it was at the end of the special racks that they put up each holiday for holiday baking products, candy, etc. Know special sign just happened upon it. Purchased 75 pounds. If you have a super one grocery they have mac and cheese on special for the weekend at $.18/box.

Thanks a lot! Will hit WM early in the morning! After Lkay talked about detergent on sale at WM I picked up the limit-4 bottles-. Thanks again.

I went to my WM and they had no flour or mac and cheese on sale. Since NW AR is considered above average income wise they frequently do not offer slaes here like they do in other parts of the country. It seems that prices are higher here too. I’ve been into WM’s all over and we buy small things (we can pack into the car) outside of NW AR, because its cheaper. I’m bummed now. I love bargains!

PBQ-Sorry you didn’t find the sales. This was a good week for sales here, added quite a bit to our preps.

Since gasoline is going down, planning on putting some in storage in the next week or two.

Good for you and your preps, Arklatex. How much gas are you going to store? Do you have a genny? Will the gas be for cars?

I didn’t get to the propane after all. I will try this week. DH suggested that I get one 20# cannister and try it out to see if all the connections fit and to do a general trouble shot. Good idea so we will try that (hopefully) next week.

I’m drying lots of stuff now. One bag of green beans from Sam’s (takes about 8 trays) was done yesterday. Now I’m onto sweet onions. The whole yard smells like onions. Did a bag of carrots from Sam’s yesterday also. Will do a big bag of corn tommorrow. My own dried soup mix! I do not like to cook in the summer but in the fall and winter I go like a crazy woman. I’m also drying frozen pineapple. Never done that before so we’ll see how it goes.

We do have a generator that we purchased during the ice storm of 2000???. We purchased several 5gallon containers then. I am planning on storing 50 gallonsof gasoine, for generator and tiller. I read on one of the forums that you could run generator one hour every six hours to keep the food in the freezers frozen, that will be my goal. I will have to store diesel for tractor and DH truck. I need to get working on this while the price is down alittle, I ‘m afraid that after the elections prices will start going up again.

I have to get my dehydrator going.

PBQ did you catch the last chapter of the book I posted about. I read it a few days ago but was left kind of hanging. I hate it that you weren’t able to stock up on the detergent. After I posted it, I went back a day or so later and it was all gone and what little they did have was back to normal price…they tweaked the lid and label color a little so I guess that was the reason for the clearance. Thankfully we didn’t have a limit and I now have 20 bottles of it in my preps…we will stay clean LOL.

At my CV’s today they had Nature Valley granola bars on clearance and we do eat one of the flavors. Mainly we eat the Kashi brand but my youngest son likes a more candy bar tasting granola. I paid $.75 for what equals a box I normally pay $2.65 for. Only bad part is granola bars don’t have a very long shelf life but we are good for several months anyway. By the way if anyone has any good homemade granola recipes, I would love to have some.

Arklatex I believe you are the most prepped among our little crew. I’m not at the stage yet for gas but do try to keep my tank full. I still need to put more of my $$$ in food and meds but I agree with you about the price and I’m going to try to get more before the elections are over. I will be going to the super center this week and will check out the flour but our prices are like PBQ’s and I’ve yet to see anything on sale at one of the super centers. I get more bargains at my little local W-M but we have very few groceries.

My youngest son got a very nice buck with his bow a few days ago. My father figures it dressed out at least 100 pounds of meat and my mother canned a huge batch today. We had planned to try it but I was too busy to help so my father helped her. It looks great in the jars and I’m anxious to try it and see if it is as tender as I think it will be. I’ve got to add more lids to my preps…and arrows.

I feel especially old and tired this week. I basically work two jobs between now and Christmas and it’s not even mid October and I’m aleady beat. At least it’s more $$$ for preps ;).

Aunt Bee-congrats on your son killing a deer, I know he is so proud. I have canned venison and we really like it. My DS would rather eat venison than beef.

Sorry about you being tired, working two jobs is the pits. Working 12 hour nights, I understand the tired part.

Isn’t it great when you luck up on a good sale. Bought 20 boxes pop tarts this week, DH now thinks that pop tarts are his new snack food. I am going to try to get part of the boxes in food storage before they disappear.

Tell your son hope he gets another deer during gun season.

My son killed a buck with his bow too Aunt Bee! They say it’s harder to kill a buck, so I know they were both very proud of themselves. He was making jerky last night (at a friends house) He grilled the tenderloin last Sunday and it was very good, tender. We’ve canned it before too (with gravy and without) and it’s always good and ever so tender. Hope you like it!

I still feel like I’m going at this prepping all wrong. I really have no idea how much of one thing I’ll need. Take toothpaste (or toilet tissue) If I have 6 people living with me I need to try and figure up how much I’ll need of each thing and then go from there. Hubby seems to think I should hold off for a while now and see how things go, but I’m almost afraid to do that. He’s been so great about it all but I think he thinks I have enough. It’s very hard for me to get to that comfort zone about it. He doesn’t read as much as I do about it (only what I print out for him). There are times I feel like I’m wasting time while I still have time. Know what I mean? I wasn’t going to buy any fall flowers this year - mums and things like I usually do. It seeme like money better spent on preps, but he insisted. Said it was one of my favorite times of the year and I needed to enjoy it. I did buy two mums, so going to try and enjoy them and not wonder what “important” things I could have bought with the money.

Hope each of you are enjoying the fall.

Lkay-congrats on son killing a deer.

All you can do is estimate how much TP, toothpaste, etc that you will need. Makes a difference how many men to women ratio that you have, ages of the people. I wash my hair every 2–3 days, my DD washes her and DGD’s hair daily, so as long as we have power we will be using alot of shampoo.

My DH thinks I’m a little crazy some days to keep buying more supplies. He understands how serious it could be, but doesn’t really think anything will happen.

Fall is also my favorite time of the year. We all need to do things that we enjoy, none of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Enjoy your mums.

 I

PBQ

Where in NW Arkansas are you ? I am in Missouri, near KC; but originally from Bentonville. I have a sister living on a farm near Bentonville, too; but I can’t get her to prep a thing…..wanna go over and smack her in the head for me ?!?!?!

Hello everyone, Tommorrow I will be spending the day picnicing with my mom and grandkids. Will check in on Sunday. For anon (madamspinner?) I live in Fayetteville but DH works in Bentoville.

Thanks for the congrats on the deer. He always gets his limit and lives to hunt but I don’t think he’s gonna meet a girl in the woods LOL. I think I’ve mentioned that I don’t have any grandbabies.

I agree with everyone…I love the fall. I passed on the mums and have regretted it so I would get them. PBQ I hope you enjoy that picnic…I don’t see how you could keep from it. How old are you grandchildren? We are going to a bluegrass gestival tomorrow for the first time in ages…since our kids got too old to go with us. Some good friends from Foreman will be there and we’ve never met their daughter-in-law or the grandchildren so I can’t wait.

I did that big shopping trip I mentioned today and I am officially out of room til DH gets that addition finished. There is just not another place to put a thing and I’m not even close to having a year’s worth but that probably won’t stop me from hitting the sales. Lkay I felt exactly like you about my preps for a while but now I just try to be relieved with each new purchase because that is one more thing I will be so glad I’ve got if anything ever happens. The way I have predicted what we need is by dating lots of stuff I wasn’t sure about as we started using it. I opened up new tubes of tooth paste for both bathrooms and dated them with a sharpie and found out we use about a tube of toothpaste a week and did the same with TP, shampoo, razor blades, shaving cream. coffee, sugar, tea, etc. I know that a twelve pack of Scott TP will last us about a month. One roll of single roll Charmin lasts just a day so all tha Charmin I got on sale back during the summer takes up a ton of space and doesn’t last long so we are using it now. I’m buying all I can for us and extra when I can because I know none of my family is prepping. If my boys were married with children I would be prepping for tham and their families too and I can see where it would be hard to predict how much extre you would need for them.

It sounds like all our hubbies are alike ;).

I hope y’all have a great weekend!

Ummm..that would be festival LOL. Can you tell it’s late and I should be in bed?

Aunt Bee, What is the web site again? No I didn’t read the last chapter of the book. Please post again. I do think of it often. I hate the left hanging part though. For those of you that want to know more, there is a web site that has a book on it (free) and it’s great- the book is great. It is about a family that survives an earthquake and then pan flu. All the trails and tribulations of said events. Very intresting and a good read. I suggest it to all- however- it does take quite a lot of time. It is a book after all, you just read it on the computor.

Deer, never had it. I might though within the next couple of years. DH and his dad and sibs used to get deer to eat, so I would think he can still to that if he has to. I think the last one he killed was as a senior in high school- him not the deer. I’m using a lot of misplaced modifiers. Tired after being out all day. How do you all work and prep? Really that is amazing. I can only do one or the other. Wish I had my mom’s metabolism. She runs circles around me.

I’m starting to run out of room too. And no addition to look forward to. I did get the guest room finished except for the curtains. They are thrown over the rod but not sewn. The sewing machine is out on a table. I’ll have to get to them soon but the room is looking great. Glad it is (mostly) over.

My grand kids are doing fine. The one I raised untill he was 4 years old, is 12 now and with braces. His teeth are very crooked so I’m sure he will be in them for several years. He is an old soul. Very quiet, very thoughtful- a deep thinker- you can tell he was reared by older folks. He was born weighing in at a pound and a half- his eyes were still fused shut. His mother died so we moved down from Portland OR to help out. The other one is 4 and a handful but very sweet and nice. His mother is very healthy! Anyway, you can see I have a special feelings for the older one. I try not to but…I was at the hospital with him for 6 months and then brought him home… well you moms know. He did wear me out though. He was 26 months and I was still having to wake him up every 2 hours to feed him because he was so tiny. When he turned 27 months I only fed him every 3 hours. Just couldn’t do the 2 hour thing anymore. Every day was a food challenge, I gained 50 pounds his first 4 years. If you eat this bite of cream cheese Grammy will eat a bite of cream cheese. :-) He still doesn’t like to eat and will remain small into adulthood but he is a great reader and I’m so proud. Can you tell? Prolly more than you wanted to know…

I am off to relive the day and make notes of him and his sweet little brother in my journal. Tommorrow is the trying the propane heater day!

Don’t forget about our meeting in November! Can’t wait!

PBQ, how can you be an Arkansan and have never eaten a deer? I’m vegetarian but I ate it many years ago, as a child. Didn’t like it much :( Sounds like you’ve taken wonderful care of your grandchild! I’m looking forward to our meeting in November, but my schedule has abruptly changed and I may not be able to make it. Another :(

PBQ

Yep, that was me…didn’t realize I was Anon on that post. Mt sister lives between the military Park in Pea Ridge and Jacs Ranch.

She will be up here this next week, and I’m going to SHOW her all my preps; and try to pound it into her head,…the NEED to do so ! I reminded her of the many times we went hungry as kids; then asked her WHAT she was going to tell her little one still at home; when he asks WHY there is no food in the house OR THE STORES ??? I think I’m making a DENT in her hard head.

She reminded me that they have their own well….until I reminded her for the umpteenth time, that without a generator and fuel, all the water in the world wouldn’t do them any good ! Jeezzzzz……….

Madamspinner, Your sister must be younger than you? You are so cute, My sister and I are close too but she doesn’t want to rotate thngs (can’t blame her- I don’t either) so I told her at least to get some rice and beans and those keep forever. We were at Pea Ridge city park yesterday. They were having the Mule Jump. Lots of MO folks.

Hello folks…..I’ve been reading this thread for a while and been intending to introduce myself. I live in NW Arkansas. GO HOGS!! I don’t post often, mostly a lurker. I’ve learned so much as we all have. Can you imagine trying to do all of this without the wiki? Anyway, I just cooked my first meal on our new wood stove. I bought a cast iron pot on Friday at WalMart and tried it out today. For supper we are having brown rice and chicken. It took about 1 1/2 hours to cook and it smells great. It’s not cold, but cool and lightly raining outside and I’ve got to tell you, it feels like another perfect day in the Ozarks. My DH and I have been preparing since March and we feel pretty good about what we’ve got. We’ve got heat, food, water, paper products, OTC meds, and just about everything else we can think of. What an adventure. We have several friends that are also prepped. They pretty much stay off the computer. Don’t know anyone else in town that is though. No one talks about it anyway. This came on fast and furious with us….just had to do it and couldn’t not. Not worried now, just resigned that this is going to happen. Some days I feel it is really close. Sometimes not. Anyway….hello to you all….Aunt Bee, Arklatex, PBQ, Arkie, LKay and others.

Welcome Feather Pillow, Glad you are here. I live in Fayetteville. Are you near me? I love this weather! I have been getting ready for over a year now. Slow and steady. Since I have found fluwikie and the internet I have made great progress. Lots of fabulous ideas here. We are going to have a meeting of the minds in real space in Nov. in Clarksville. Hope to see you there.

Where did you get your wood stove?

PBQ…we got the stove in Farmington at a store called “Chicken Holler.” The stove is a Lopi, model is “Patriot.” It’s small. Supposed to heat 1000 to 1200 square feet so we don’t intend for it to heat the whole house. The house is 100 years old and lovely but drafty. So far, though we love the stove. I think it is going to do better than advertised. The chicken and rice were yummy. I live in Berryville. I’ve read about the plan for a meeting in November, but I don’t think our schedules will work.

Madamspinner and Feather Pillow it is good to meet you both…it’s great to have more fellow Arkies here!!!

Feather Pillow is your wood stove a cook stove? I cook on my wood stove but it’s not a cook stove. It has a hinged vented top that I can lift to expose the steel wood box and I can cook a pot of beans directly on it and have even made a pan of corn bread on it. My regular cook stove is an electric reproduction iron cook stove and I wanted it for years..now I kinda wish I had the wood burning model.

Madamspinner I assume you spin ;). I have a weakness for antique wheels and have a few in storage but have no place in my house for them right now. I’m always having to learn something new and have spinning on my someday list.

PBQ I’m glad you had a good day with the gandbabies. I can see why you have a soft spot for the 12 year old…sounds like the little fellow has been through a lot.

I emailed the web site for that book you mentioned and will be happy to send it again if you don’t have it in your emails. I wasn’t sure about posting it here but will be happy to email it to anyone interested.

Yesterday here was wonderful and today we have had a nice slow rain that we needed and on the way to town today I noticed we are starting to get some color. That cold night last week must have done the trick.

Aunt Bee & PBQ

PBQ— Actually, I’m 5 years younger then she is; and SHE’S the nurse ! :-(

Aunt Bee---

“ Oooo, the spinning wheels don’t LIKE storage, if it’s not a temperture controlled space ! “ They will warp and dry out ! Oh, those poor babies….what kinds do you have ?

I have a 1969 Ashford Taditional that is my workhorse; and recently acquired a Double drive Norwegian Spinning Wheel;….and when I took it all apart to clean, feed, oil and tinker with it, I found the makers signature and DATE on an inside, completely protected piece….dates 1856 ! WOW !! I still haven’t tinkered with the double drive band enough to get the hang of it; but that’s on my winter to-do list.

I have close to 150 pounds of Merino wool, that’s ready to spin; so when we have to SIP; I’ve got planty to do ! And will have sweaters and socks to knit with it. That foot action on the wheel will take a natural anxiety and put it to work !

anonymous – at 00:21 was me again….

Feather Pillow welcome to the forum.

Hey guys! Nice to have you here Madamspinner and Feather Pillow!!

Madamspinner, hope you have some luck with your sister. I know exactly how you feel! Mine has two girls and I’ve been coaxing her along for a few months now. I was over at her house the other day and ask her if she had prepped any. She said money had been tight…but she had cleaned out a closet for some preps. Of course her home was decorated top to bottom for fall and she spends so much on those girls. I wanted to really let her have it - but instead told her to atleast get rice, beans, and water! I just know that she won’t be ready for all this and then it will fall back on me. Some days this feels like a mountainous task.

Feather Pillow, so glad you feel more at ease and at a place you don’t worry as much. I’ll be glad to reach that place. It must be very comforting to know friends that are prepping. Other than the nice people here, I know none. That wood stove of yours sure sounds like a great investment. When the gas goes out, all I’ll have is a fireplace to try and cook on.

PBQ, how special your “Aaron” must be! and how very blessed he is to have you! Getting up every two hours is truly a labor of love! I can’t imagine how hard that must have been on you, but I also know we’ll do more than we think is possible to take care of the ones we love. If this pandamic does hit, there will be so many “mother bears” doing what ever it takes to keep our loved ones safe.

Aunt Bee, I had to smile when you made that comment about your son hunting all the time and not going to find a girl in the woods! lol I’ve often thought (and spoke) the same thing to my son. He’ll be 26 this November and is still living at home. Of course I love it. He’s never been a problem and is such a good son. Sometimes you don’t even know he’s there unless you stumble over all his hunting stuff. My daughter is the one (at 22) that made me a grandma. She’s told her brother she expects her son to have some cousins evenually! lol He’s been dating a girl for a few months now. She got blisters on her hands the other day from helping him on his hunting lease. She can’t wait til gun season so she can hunt. I’m thinking this one just might work out. *smile*

Arklatx, I’m sure enjoying those mums! Hope your enjoying this fall time as much as me. If I lived in North Arkansas I think I would go crazy lol My hubby has already told me I’m going to have a wreck if I don’t stop looking at the trees that are turning - trying to figure out what they are so I might can get me some. I planted a yellow poplar (tulip tree) a few years back. It was beginning to shape up soooo pretty and had started to turn yellow. My dad backed over it the other day. I could have cried! He was so upset, almost crying himself so I just said “hey, atleast it wasn’t somebody, don’t worry, it was just a tree” booo hooooooo

Aunt Bee, if you don’t mind email me that link to the book. I believe that is something I would like to read. My email is lkay42@yahoo.com. I would love to share emails with any of you that would like too, if that is ok.

Madamespinner don’t get upset…the babies are safe and sound LOL. Actually I only have one that I would consider altering in any way to get it in working condition. The others I would prefer to leave in original condition as they are very old. I met a few women when we were doing the bluegrass festivals that spun and their favorites were wheels their hubbies put together for them using wheels from bicycles. I make soap but never have time to actually soap so have a ton of supplies and I intend to enjoy that if the worst happens. I’ve been thinking though since most of the oils are edible I might have to come up with another hobby LOL. I’m not stocking much hand soap…guess we could bathe with some of that All I got my hands on ;).

Lkay I just emailed you the link to the books. Our sons are the same age and sound so much alike. I can understand how you felt about the tree. I wanted a catalpa tree in the worst way and a neighbor actually rooted me about five but they are very hard to get to survive. One made it and was cut down accidentally by the lawn mower after a year or so. It came back out and was damaged twice more before the poor thing got large enough to be safe. Maybe yours will make it too.

I guess we all have family that we think should be prepping but will not. I do all I can to put extra back but that soup may be mighty thin if they don’t get serious about it. I know we can hunt but everybody in our neck of the woods will have the same idea and I’m not sure there would be much game left so I feel better putting my beans and rice away now just in case.

I’m with you Aunt Bee, Can’t have too much rice and beans. You might have to share.

And Lkay we are like you- no wood stove but a beautiful fireplace. I don’t want to put an insert in it and I can’t think of a place to put a wood stove and they are expensive to install. 3 grand for stove and instilation from Chicken Holler, Feather Pillow. I found the place and they were very nice. Thank you. It sure was cozy in there. I think if we did get one it would be from them. I would have to work again to afford it so we are making do with the fireplace for now. Although you did make it sound so nice and I would like to be able to cook on a wood stove rather than in a fireplace. I have gotten some soapstone and granite scraps (for free from a countertop/tile place)) and will heat those in the fireplace and wrap with a towel to snuggle with on cold nights. They make stoves with soapstone because they hold heat for so long. Granite is almost as good. I’m not nearly as worried about the cold as I am the heat.

Madamspinner how did the visit with your sister go? Did you convince her to prep?

Did you show your house last week, Arklatex? All the houses we’ve bought and sold- after we fix them up a bit to sell they look so nice we don’t want to sell. I’m sure that whatever happens will be the best for you and your DH.

Enjoy this cool weather and the mums. The trees are looking good. (Sorry about your yellow poplar Lkay.) The dogwoods are red! Sweater weather here.

LKay and PBQ . I think a fireplace will work fine to cook on if you have cast iron pots and tripod or other grill type thing to put or hang pot on. I think the key is to use to the best advantage what you’ve got. And not have to invest too much if not necessary. Afterall, we just don’t know. Last year natural gas was so high and we were cold all winter. This old house has 3 chimneys but only one working fireplace which we had already converted to gas. We were able to use one of the other existing chimneys and not have to invest in building one. Also we got the smallest model. I think after tax it was just over $1,000. We got it in July. You metntioned that you could stand the cold better than the heat. For me it is the opposite. One of my greatest fears in a pandemic was being cold…lol. Isn’t it funny how we are all so different and in the end our prepping will be instructed by those wonderful individual differences. The soapstone interests me. I’ve read where you’ve mentioned it several times. What wonderful ideas to heat the stone to wrap and put in bed and other places to hold heat. Plus, soapstone and granite are so beautiful. I like that……again so creative to use what you have, whatever is available. Don’t we even live in the most beatiful place as well. I just love it here.

PBQ, realtor said they were interested but were trying to sell their’s. That’s always the story, if they like ours, they have to sell theirs.

DH and I both have reservations about selling ours. If it doesn’t sell we will be happy living here. (The main reason moving so we could help DD more with her three little ones. ) This was our dream home, if the yard wasn’t so big, we wouldn’t sell.

It is very hard to keep preps from running over. I have an entertainment unit in computer room (3rd BR) full of preps, that closet is also full, full. I signed another contract until December 15, if it doesn’t sell by then, we are probably taking it off the market. When we take it off the market going to get some shelves from Sam’s so I can organize better, very hard to rotate now. Figured if I put the sheves along back wall I could make some kind of curtains to cover.

Went to WM again today, they had 25# flour on sale again for $2/bag. Picked up another 50#. Would have bought more, afraid it would go bad before used. Keep checking when you go to WM, you may luck upon it.

We had our Infection Control meeting at our little hospital (I’m the Chair). I convinced them to move the triage area outside of the hospital if TSHTF, and possibly even to a separate building, so that we can have security at the hospital doors. I also worked on having more than three days of food and paper products available, but that is a tough one… not enough storage space! We do have water… somebody with a big water truck has volunteered to keep it available at all times. We did have our Pandemic Flu drill about a month ago, and it went well although I don’t believe it gave us any real idea of what it will be like. Just so you know we’re working on things in Arkansas!

Arkie-I hope your hospital is better prepared than ours. We run short of supplies now, what will happen if we miss a delivery or two.

It is NOT going to be well-supplied. Everyone still expects to have deliveries continue, no matter what.

PBQ—

My sister is here now…and try as I might, convincing her of the need to prep is like banging my head against a solid, granite wall !!! I just had another aguement with her a few minutes ago…I give up…you know ?!?!?!

She’s got all the info, she’s been told she can NOT come here for MY preps….to GET HER OWN…and that may be the ONLY thing that I have convinced her of;---that I MEAN it when I say DON’T come here with empty hands ! .

She and my BIL have the perfect set-up to prep & defend….and they are doing not one thing to get ready for this. So sad.

I am so sorry that your sister feels that way Madamspinner. I know you must be very disappointed. We can only do so much for the people we love unless they are under 12 years old. After that, YOYO’S Your On Your Own Sister. (By the way my sister was born in the hospital that Arkie works for) Hopefully, by this time next year ( I think it will take at least another year for this to go pandemic but like I’ve told Lkay- mother naure often has ideas that are different than mine) she will have heard more and more from MSM about BF and will be ready.

On a lighter note, I went to a garage sale today and found, you’ll never believe it, an Excaliber dehydrator for 5 dollars! It is an older one but it still works! I’m thrilled. I was just on their website last night thinking how I would never pay 250 bucks for one and now look I have one for 5. You just never know do ya’? Sent DH out to gets lots of celery for me to dry tommorrow.

Arkie, you are so lucky to have someone with a water truck! Oh my gosh, I hope you live near him. Do you know why he has this truck?

Feather Pillow, DH is now thinking about a firplace insert. I’m just so afraid they will tear up the fireplace. Have to think about it. Arklatex will check on flour at Wal Mart Monday. Thanks. Have a great week and enjoy the autumn and the mums. :~)

PBQ congrats on finding the dehydrator. That is the brand that I have, works great. Hope to try drying the sour cream this next week.

We had a fireplace insert in our old house, it just slipped in. Didn’t cause any problems. One thing to keep in mind, can you use the insert if the electric is off??? The insert that we had, had to have the blower running to use.

My mom thinks I’m crazy for storing all our preps. Doesn’t really say anything to me, but has said several things to my DD. DD tells her if SHTF don’t come to our house. I have tried to tell her buy beans,rice, items that will keep for years just to be safe. She doesn’t listen to me either. I am trying to get alot of meals with rice, beans, mac n cheese that is cheap, that I can give to her and my BIL and his family. I couldn’t turn them away.

Way to go PBQ! I just love garage sales!! It’s been a while since I’ve went to one. You have to get up so early and I’m always tempted to sleep in on Saturday since I get up at 5:30 weekdays. I live in a very small town, so have to drive about 25–35 minutes to go to them. Nothing like the deals you find at them though!

Speaking of fireplaces, we haven’t used ours in a few years. I did have it cleaned out this year (just in case). Arklatex, ours has an insert too. I sorta hated to lose the open fire look, but it gives off so much more heat and the woods burns so slow. It will have a fire in it several hours later. Ours had a blower too. That’s how you get so much heat in the house. We always had the blower running, so not sure what it would do if the blower couldn’t run. I guess you could leave the door open and the heat could escape that way. Not as beneficial, but still give some heat and provide a place to cook.

Sorry about your sister Madamspinner. I know how it feels. My sister isn’t prepping any so far, but is going thru such a hard time with one of her daughters. A sweet, pretty girl that has gotten involved with the wrong man. It’s like he’s brainwashed her or something. We were all upset this weekend over it because, after two months away from him, she went back. I’ll just continue to pray that it never comes or atleast I’ll have time to store more rice, beans, cornmeal for them too.

I’m undecided what to do about money. I wonder if we’ll have time to withdraw savings from the bank. It doesn’t seem safe having it any place at home, but afraid that if we don’t have much warning, we will be unable to get it. Most of our savings is in 401K and I’m totally uncertain as to what to do about that, if anything. Any suggestions you guys have would be greatly appreciated.

Lkay, just was passing through and saw this; “I wonder if we’ll have time to withdraw savings from the bank.” Nnno. Don’t think so. Banks will not want “a run on the bank” and most don’t keep enough cash on hand for you to do so. (Was it NZ told its banks to keep more cash on hand for that?) Wasn’t there a thread with 401K in the title? I know there are various financial threads.)

(Arkie – at 08:25 Got the triage outside; yay for you! MA said hosp. should stock 30 days of stuff- see the MA prepping thread.) (Sorry -I gotta get offline now - bye from up here)

My sister is so clueless….and she’s a nurse, for G*ds’ sake ! In a nursing home. She has only 1 small son still at home, a nice farm, BIG, NEW barn that they’re using for a parking garage….and no intention of prepping ! She told my mother yesterday that I had LOST MY MIND with all this “Doomsday” stuff.

She says she doesn’t have the money to prep (big fat lie); because they have to pay about 3 grand to have a water well problem fixed…So I reminded her that—that well was useless with no power or generator. I tried to get her to get a generator while she was here with her pickup & they were on sale…”Nope”.

The only thing I could say to her when she left was; when this goes bad; remember that I love you. And deep down, I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again, especially if TSHTF this winter. But the survivial instinct is taking over……I may NOT live thru a pandemic; but I’m gonna make it hard as H*ll for “IT” to get ME !

One of her excuses was that —she’s a nurse, and she doesn’t hear any medical personell talking about it ---no big deal if it spreads---- ( Well, I KNOW her….she’s just NOT listening !)

And I think my PPF actually went up a notch….I plan on another rice, B-1, and Canned meat run on Weds.

For those buying rice: If you have an Oriental grocery near you ( or even not so near)…pay a few bucks more for the jasmine rice in the 25 pound bags….it’s all I have used for years; and when we’re talking about a rice diet…this kind is THE BEST. You can eat it plain, even without salt, if you have to.

It takes a variety of sauces, plus it makes your house smell better ! The Jasmine smell is NOT an added ingrediant; but comes from the ground in Thailand where it’s grown. Even that seed rice, planted here in the USA, will not ssmell or taste as good as that grown in certain parts of Thailand….strange. But I’d rather have the “Good Stuff” if it was going to be all I had.

Hi everybody Sorry to be butting in here since I live in MO. But my nephew lives in Little Rock and hasn’t started prepping. I thought if I could direct him to this site he might be inclined to start after he reads how many other Ark people are doing it. I’ve really enjoyed reading all your posts and you have me almost convinced to get a dehydrator. Don’t know anything about them yet but will find out. But can you tell me how long the dried food last in mason jars with the air taken out? Also, Aunt Bee I would sure appreciate knowing the web site for that book. I’m sure I would love to read it.My email is Sigerist@sbcglobal.net.Thanks so much. Won’t butt in again.ggg

new name, We like visitors!

new name I will be happy to send it to you. I’m at work but will forward the links to you tonight.

You know I’ve stopped begging and pleading with everyone to prep. Maybe it’s my foolish pride but I’m tired of all those strange looks and efforts to change the subject…pretty sure they think I’m a nut case which may not be that far from the truth LOL. Nobody in my family is on board with me and we all are neighbors so I’m just buying what I can and praying that we will have a warning so they can get what they can afford. I will share what we have til it’s gone but they are gonna get mighty tired of thin soup cause that is my plan if the worst happens…community pots of soup. The toilet paper I’m not sharing because nobdody ever died from lack of tp LOL.

Aunt Bee, I’m laughing at your TP remark! You are soooo right. Would you send me that site too so I can finish the book? Do you still have my email address? Well, it is 2zbowman at cox dot net.

Madamspinner, you will get to see your sister again. I think that we will see within the next year more and larger clusters. If the news picks this up (on an otherwise slow news day) then this info will be dissemanated and more and more people will be talking about it. Your sister will hear of it and will prep. She will have to pay more for her rice but that will be OK. I believe that this will build like a rainstorm. We are seeing the rain clouds getting larger now but, it maybe others have to see the river overflowing before they put on their waders. You put the bug in her ear,,, now you will have to sit back and wait for others to bring it up too. She’ll get it.

I have told all of my friends about PF- once briefly. Only one person had questions. If they don’t bring it up then I don’t mention PF. As clusters get larger and more frequent I expect to get a few calls. I have told my siblings and parents that when they hear WHO has gone to level 4 they need to make a BIG trip to the store. Other than that …not much anyone can do without sounding like a …well, a person that wears a tin foil hat.

I love my Excalibur dehyydrator. I dried 3 heads of celery yesterday and it fit into a quart jar. Yeah! It is sitting on my kitchen counter and I just can’t put it away yet. BTW for Arlatex I put my dried sour cream in the freezer to use in soups and such. I guess it will last for quite a long time that way. I’m afraid to just let it sit at room temp. The fruits and veggies I can but with dairy and meat I’m just a big ole chicken. :~) Mums to all.

I forgot to welcome our visitors in my earlier post. Welcome and y’all come back anytime.

PBQ I did still have your email and sent the links to you and also to you new name. I will go ahead and post here that it looks like the books will be published so I’m not sure how long they will be available on the site. I really enjoyed both and intend to buy the books if and when they are published and could reread both right now but will wait in case changes are made later.

PBQ conrats on your great find. Your YOYO remark reminds me of one of my favorites “catch as catch can”. Ever so often when I was exhausted and the boys were younger I would announce that we were having catch as catch can for supper. They loved it because they could have anything they wanted that would fill their little tummies. I didn’t feel too guilty about it since I only did it a time or two a year but they’ve never forgotten. We still have that occasionally LOL.

Aunt Bee-would you please send me the site for the books Ptipton192@aol.com

Lkay-about your 401K, We took ours out of the stock market and went with IRA’s. Afraid if the SHTF we would loose all our money. If this does happen and we have to SIP for long periods we could get our money placed in our checking account to make payments. Our accounts are not with the bank that we have checking but surely they could transfer electronically. This gives us a little extra security.

Welcome all visitors, glad to see you.

Madamsprinner-tell your sister that doctors and nurses are prepping. It is being done quietly. I cann’t say that the numbers are large, but I know 3or4 that prep. I even called one of my friends to let her know about the butter and cheese buy.

We are going to the lake for the next several weeks, still have to work, will drive back and forth.

Arklatex – at 22:51 Madamsprinner-tell your sister that doctors and nurses are prepping. It is being done quietly.

But my sister is a nurse. :-( But she has a tendency to stick her head in the sand, throughly convinced that if SHE can’t see the problem….it isn’t going to affect her. :-(

I just wanted to give anyone who was interested in the books a heads up…they will only be available until Friday because the author is working on getting them published.

Arkalatex the lake sounds wonderful. The colors up here are really getting pretty and I expect by this weekend they will be even better. I sent you the links.

Aunt Bee - could you please send me the info on the book. I’m at quilter dot 1 at hotmail dot com. Thanks. I’m a Hoosier but have cousins in Arkansas, so I read this thread to see what’s happening down there. Thanks a bunch. MJ

mj they are on their way. If you get a chance to read them, let us know what you think and welcome to the Arkansas thread.

Aunt Bee

Thanks so much for sending me the book link. I really didn’t know how many pages it would take and I printed it out. Wow, it took over 2 reams of paper. But, that’s alright cause now I have it and will give it to others in my family. After we have all read them, then we can reuse all the paper. Glad I got it on paper since the author will take in down later this week. Thanks again,Bee

New name I knew they were long and read on another forum today that they are over 600 pages. It took me a while to get them read since I’m pretty busy most of the time.

I don’t think you will be sorry you copied them off and I imagine others would love to reimburse you for your paper and ink once you are through with them because I guarantee there will be many who didn’t get them saved and it will probably take a while to get them published. I have good intentions to save them myself but haven’t yet. Both books were so good and I found out today that a third is in the works. My plan is to buy all three.

I just saved both books to my computer and here is how I did it.

Each story has to be saved in two parts…they each consist of two pages with several chapters on each page and you have to save each page seperately.

Look to the top of the first page of each story. Right above where the story starts to the right you will find Thread Tools. Click the little arrow to the right and there is a drop down menu…select printer friendly version, let it fully load which can take a few minutes on dial up then go to File at the top left portion of your computer screen and click on save as. After the first page is saved, go to page two still in the printer friendly version and click save as again…I added a 2 to the title of the second page. You will end up with four files, two for each book.

I know for some my instructions may seem too detailed but I’m assuming that some of us might not have as much experience on the old puter. Hopefully my instructions don’t have any holes in them LOL. I plan to attach them and email them to myself in case I get the urge to read them before they are published. My computer has crashed before and I don’t want to lose them and discs have a way of disapearing around here.

Thanks Aunt Bee, I had read those two. I had thought there was a third. Good reading. If a bit scary. Makes you want to have plenty of seeds and gardening know how doesn’t it? Well plenty of everything and good friends too. Let me know what you all think of the book after you’ve read it, please.

Tonight I put in 2 trays of freash green beans and 3 trays of zucchinni to dry overnight. Tommorrow it’ll be celery and carrots. Next week I’ll do some onion. Can’t wait till pears come down in price so I can dry them. My favorite fruit to eat dried. Also I read on the Excalibur website that drying at too high a temp. will cause veggies to be less nutritous. The lower the temp you dry the better for vitamins. Any one know about this?

Good night all.

Drying onions---in a dehydrator----DON’T forget to spread them out on heavy gauge plastic wrap or wax paper ! Or the trays will smell of onions permanently…. :-( ask me HOW I know THAT one…… I found it out with red, HOT chilis, tho !

I’ve dried onions many times and I have not noticed a smell on the trays. ‘Course the whole house smells like onions for hours while drying. What kind of dehydrator do you have? I’ve also dried chilis and have not had the problem. Maybe my nose just isn’t as sensitive as yours.

I have the American Harvester…2 sets of trays, 1 for the spicy veggies and 1 for fruits and other stuff. ( As to the nose ;-) I’m not a smoker, maybe that’s it…. ???

I have about 15 pounds of seeded, minced Jalapenos to dry out ( in the oven, tho ) today. Some of these are going into a HOT & Sour Soup today---for my cold :-( It will sure open up the lungs and nose ! ;-)

Madamspinner, I’ve just read the thread on canning. How wonderful! How long have you been canning? I’ve never done more than just jams and jellies. You all make it sound so exciting…and good. If I didn’t know how much work was involved I might like to try it! :~) The chicken soup sounds heavenly. Oh my gosh you have me thinking about getting a pressure canner! I will buy any of that energy you have if you can figure out how to can that!

Been canning since I was a teenager.( so about 30 years ) I have to can when I have a “good day”; pain-wise;… Only with the carrot deal I got; looks like I can today, regardless of the fact that I’d rather take this cold and crawl back to bed ! :-( “Sniff, Sniff,…SNUCK “ ! ( groan………)

We live a long way from anywhere and consider ourselves close to fully prepped.I wonder what percentage of the populace are getting ready???Everyone I talk with in Russellville are unconcerned.

Welcome Mountain Man, My mom, her husband and his sister live in Russelville. They are remodleing their house so they are not prepping but said when the WHO calls a level 4 they will. Ha Ha Snort! They will be fine, My mom is very self relient and feisty. She makes Attila the Hun look like a wuss. Have you read all of the Arkansas threads?

Arkie, it is almost the 12th! Have you picked a place? Can’t wait.

Lkay I read of another forum that you had a fire near your house. Let me know how you are doing.

I hope you are feeling better by now Madamspinner.

Another beautiful day in the Ozarks!

PBQ— Actually, I’m feeling alot worse. ( Thanks for asking.) Even tho this is “just” a very bad cold---it gives me alot of reason to think….”what if” ? And, ALL my cold & flu stuff is packed into prep boxes ! BAD move….So I just dug out what I needed, and when it takes effect; guess I’ll sleep all day. ;-)

BTW—Those carrots----what a job. I ended up with 16 pounds of carrots, 8 of celery-and 12 of onions, all cut into a big dice,…canned almost 60 pints of it to add to soups….whew ! Glad I didn’t add the potatoes ! And I’m so stuffy, I diced all those yellow onions and never shed a tear !

Oh my gosh I can’t believe you did all that while sick! On my best day I couldn’t accomplish that much. What a gal! How did you can them BTW? In veggie/chicken/beef stock? water? I have a glass top range and I have read that canning on them is bad for the range so… I don’t think I will even try but you make it all seem so easy and good. Dried stuff is good and easy but it will never have the same texture as the original. It would be great to open a can of carrots vs. a handful of dried carrots. Just not the same. I envy your creative and tasty contribution to your preps. Prep On!

I just diced everything, mixed it all together, and did a loose pack in the jars, added 1/4 tsp salt and boiling water…processed for 20 minutes. I have lots of beef, chicken & turkey already canned, plus broths. Takes all of 5 mins to make a soup !

Nope, glass topped ranges and a canner don’t mix. Don’t wreck your stove….canners are extra heavy.

( Meds are taking hold………see ya late tonight…….Zzzzzzzzzz )

Mountain Man welcome to the Arkansas thread! I’m in south Logan county and know absolutely nobody that is prepping. Maybe they are and just keep it to themselves but I’ve had the same experience as you. Many of the families in this area do good to keep groceries for immediate use and would find it almost impossible to prep anyway.

Madamspinner I hope you feel better soon. My oldest son is just getting over this stuff and had a backset as grandma use to say. He was sick for two weeks with the last being really bad and he ran a high fever that whole week. This kid usually never catches anything or has a light case but that first week he was sick, he didn’t stay home and take care of himself. He’s 27 and doesn’t always listen to his mother LOL…imagine that!

PBQ Arkie posted on the 14th that she may not be able to make it. I just wonder if we would have better luck getting everyone together after the holidays…it’s looking like maybe just the two of us at this point. Is there anyone else planning to attend?

Aunt Bee, thanks for giving me the link for the books, have read them both. They really make you think, don’t they. If you find out when they are going to be published let me know, I am planning on buying them. If the third is placed on line let me know.

I tried to download them to my computer without any luck. Any hints.

Thanks again

Aunt Bee, saw your instructions after I posted the above, sorry.

Arkaltex I’m glad you liked them. They kind put a different spin on just how serious your preps are and what you may be lacking. If the stories are down…they were suppose to be down yesterday but I noticed they were still there today…just let me know and I can email them to you.

I have to confess that I’m one of those that couldn’t get them saved either til DH came along and helped me. I kept trying to find some way to download them too but it was as simple as saving them LOL. I also tried copying and pasting but that was way too many pages.

I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for news of the third book and I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

PBQ have read around the forum……..and talked some with friends and family.My impression is that a tiny minority are prepping and most (a huge majority)do not believe a severe pandemic is going to happen.Obviously something is going to happen that will in some ways cause diruption in living.Could be pf or terrorist attack or something else. The way our “on demand inventory” system now functions there are only days of food in the pipeline. If the grid goes down for more than a few days in the midst of winter the cities are in severe trouble.Infrastructure failure will result in chaos unimagined in the past. Country dwelling folk will have to have the will and the means to defend their homes and provisions….something I would not like to have to do!!So the word needs to spread and we all need to encourage cities, counties etc.to prep.We will all lose in anarchy!!

Aunt Bee-I did get both books download to my computer. I there is another placed online please let me know.

Thank you

You’re welcome Arkaltex…I will keep you updated.

Arklatex…I do know how to spell your name LOL. I noticed I’ve spelled it wrong more than once…my fingers go faster than my brain.

bump

I tried drying pomegranites in my old (garage sale find) excalabur and it took 40 hours! I did several onions and carrots too and they dried just fine but it took the poms ages! I may dry more poms but I will do them all togeher so at least the drying time is the same. This last weekend I also found lots of canning jars to put my dehydrated stuff in at a garage sale. Still working on other things. I have just about deceided to start working again in a couple of months to save up for a wood stove. I love this cool weather!

PBQ I can’t wrap my mind around drying pomegranates. How did you prepare them and how will you use them? Congrats on the canning jars…I would love to hit some yard sales but we don’t get many good ones in this area and I don’t travel much.

I think the wood stove would be a great investment and at least you will be working with a goal in mind so it would make it a little easier.

We got a good freeze last night and I’m sadly watching those beautiful leaves fall from the trees. I do believe this was the best year yet for color.

Yes it was a great year for color. The autumn is so beautiful. I love getting my PJ’s on right after dinner and putzing around for a few hours. Cozy.

I cut the poms in half and then put the seeds on a tray and dry. The seeds just pop right out if you turn the pom inside out after you cut it. Well , it may take a little urging from you but it is very easy. The seeds are full of liquid and that’s why it takes so long to dry. Don’t peirce the seeds so they hold their juice. Very tasty in all kinds of desserts. Do you remember drinking Shirley Temples or Roy Rodgers as a child? Well They are made of seven up and Grenedine. Grenedine is pom juice. It is also suppose to be VERY good for you and has more antioxidants then green tea. Very trendy right now. I also dried cabbage. It will be great in potato soup. I am going to wait ‘till March when it is cheaper before I dry more. I am trying to dry or try to dry lots of fruits and veggies so we get a good cross section of good things. The only thing I’ve never dried is potatoes. It is just too cheap and easy to buy them already dried in bulk from Sam’s.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy.

Hi all, Well in my quest to dry everything I tried some fresh cranberries. Don’ do it. Buy them. It’s cheap and easy to buy not to dry. I have a pinneapple to do. Done that and it takes a while to do but I’m thinking of staying with the tried and true. Green beans, onions, carrots, peas, corn, peaches, plums, oranges and lemons. Oh, there are others but I’m tired of waiting for 2 days for my cranberries to dry. I so like the rather instant pleasure of 6 to 12 hours!

Aunt Bee are you still planning to get together on the 12th? I would love to! If it is just going to be us perhaps it would be easier for us to meet in Alma or Fort Smith. Would you believe I have never driven to Fort Smith??!! Is it closer for you?

Is anyone else coming? I would so like to meet you all. Would another city be better? Hope to hear from you all.

PBQ----about those poms…..you’ve dried them as whole seeds ? I can see them re-hydrated; but the seeds will still be in it….you don’t eat the seeds do you ? We always spit them out……..just wondering …. ;-)

On the cranberries---did you “check” them before you put them in the dehydrator ? ….the way you do with grapes -to-raisins…..you know,…that very brief dip into boiling water to start the crackling of the skins…..

Hey PBQ, so sorry that I cannot make it. My schedule has changed so that I’m working on Sundays now. Since I only have one day off a week, I doubt I could make it any other day either. Have fun meeting!

SarahS = me, Arkie :)

Madamspinner, Yes we eat the seeds-good for you too. Crunchy. I’ve never “checked” the cranberries or pom seeds. Never heard of it but it sounds great. Like something I should have been doing all along. Will try that with my next batch of cranies since I have a big bag from Sam’s. Thanks for the idea.

Arkie, I’m dissapointed that you will not be there. Why are you working so hard? Is this just a busy time of year or do you always work this hard. I swear you people make me tired just listening to all you do. You must be like a ball of fire! I am such a slug. If anything comes up and you think you might be able to drop by please do.

Anybody else? Aunt Bee? Arklatex? Lkay? New Name?

I will not be able to make it on the 12th, I am working weekend contracts at the hospital. I was looking forward to meeting all of you. Anyone who comes to texarkana, let me know and we could meet for lunch.

We have people coming back for a second look at the house Tuesday. Just the thought of putting all our “stuff” in storage while we build ??????????????? Wish us luck.

DD and I have started talking about where all of the preps will go. If I have to move all of them, means that everyone, “DH” will see just how much I have stored away. Don’t know if his heart can stand it. Planning a trip this week to sav-a-lot for more veggies.

Sorry I’m just now getting back PBQ. I have been working overtime without a minute to spare. As much as I would love to meet this Sunday, it would be better for me after the holidays. I’ve gotten a couple of very large orders in and am spending every spare minute working to fill them. Once Christmas is over, I can relax and enjoy myself and not have to worry about what I should be doing but til then I will be working pretty much seven days a week. Ft. Smith would be great for me if nobody else can meet after the holidays and I would only need a week or two notice…maybe less.

Arklatex…good luck!

PBQ my biggest question on the pomegranate is what do you do with it after you dry it and what about the seeds but you answered that. I was imagining reconstituting it somehow LOL. I see it everywhere now in the juice form but haven’t tried it yet.

PBQ—DON’T “check” the pom seeds…you’ll lose the juice !

This just works on crans, and grapes as far as I know. All you want to do is stick them in a strainer, and do a quick dip or two in boiling water. You want the skins barely cracked.

Hey PBQ, well, you can laugh if you want but I’ve taken on Sundays as an ER doc. Just temporarily, I think. The opportunity was too good to pass up, and I’m sharpening my skills. You make me want to get a dehydrator and start drying! (If I can ever find the time). Maybe if we have a gathering after the first of the year I won’t be working as much… but then we will have the weather to contend with.

Everyone stay warm and dry, looks like a beautiful day here. If I get a chance, I’m looking at 55-gallon water containers today.

Thanks for responding everyone. I guess we will be postponing our meeting untill after the holidays. I hope we can all find a place and time that will be O K for everyone. I can’t wait to meet you all.

I have been drying so much that I am surspised at myself. More cabbage tonight. Have a golden pineapple that I will be drying in the morning. They taste so sweet that it is like a party in your mouth. Dried Pom seeds are just a crunchy snack, kind of like eating sunflower seeds, or any other kind of seed.

It has been so warm. What Global warming? :-) Beautiful weather though I can’t wait ‘till cooler weather arrives-again. What and how are you all doing? Prepping? Lkay, taking time out for Jace? Arklatex, house? Aunt Bee, still working hard? Good night all.

PBQ-The people came Tuesday to look at the house, they were here over two hours. Talked with the realtor yesterday, she said they had not decided yet. DH said that if they didn’t buy it to call the realtor and tell her to pick up the sign. The contract is out Dec 15, we probably will not relist. We both have reservations about selling it, we really like the house, however, DH is tired of our very large yard.

The weather has been great here, very warm. Yesterday was kids day at the deer camp, there were five boys that spent the night, DGS the youngest at four, oldest about fourth grade. They road four wheelers, ate hot dogs, had a great time.

Have got to get the dehydrator out and start using it. I would rather can than dehydrate.

Went to Cabela’s in Fort Worth this week, purchased a 24 bulb LED lantern in the bargain basement half price, puts out fairly good light. Better than a oil lamp and much safer with the grandkids. Suppose to run 20 days on a set of batteries, 4D’s. (That sounds to good to be true) Need to get to Sam’s for more batteries. Also purchased a sausage grinder and a book on how to make sausage. Something else to learn in my spare time.

Hope we can get together after the first of the year.

Arklatex hopefully the house situation will work out just the way that would be best for y’all. The big yard does get to be a bit much…DH keeps several acres mowed but has help since our youngest son does most of it for the old man LOL. I’ve always wanted to go to Cabela’s and have looked at the meat grinders for years…wistfully. If that lantern works like it’s suppose to, you will have a treasure.

I just got back from another big grocery/prep run. I had to make a delivery in a nearby town and took advantage of being near a supercenter. PBQ I am still busy but the extra $$$ will help my preps a lot. Things will slow down after Christmas and maybe I can rest then LOL. I will second what everyone else said and hope that we can all get together after holidays.

I am thinking about asking Santa for a Berkey water filter..I already spend about $20 a month on filters for our kitchen faucet because our water is so irony so I think in the long run it would pay for itself since I would use it every day. I’m looking at one of the larger models since I would be looking at supplying water to at least three families in a worst case situation. From what I understand, it will continue to kill the bad stuff for ages but would let the safe minerals through that cause bad taste after the carbon portion of the filter wore out. If anybody has one and uses it, I would love some feedback.

Arkie I found a site a couple of days ago that showed two 55 gallon barrels that were joined by a few hoses and set side by side with one under a down spout. Once it filled, it would overflow into the second through a hose connecting the two near the top. The second one had a hose coming out the top that would relieve overflow for both barrels. It was the neatest thing. PBQ is inspiring isn’t she? She would be our resident dehydrating expert and has about got me convinced to give it a try too.

Hopefully everyone is enjoying their weekend…I’m about to have a cup of decaf in my recliner and rest for just a few minutes and then finish putting up groceries.

Aunt Bee, Thanks. The only reason I dehydrate is because I’m too lazy and afraid to can. I just think of Arklatex and all the work she does and I get tired! Are you watching the game Aunt Bee? Razorbacks are winning.

I had no idea that Fort Smith had a Cabela’s. Where is it in relation to I-40? I would love to visit it before Christmas. I’ve heard about it on FW and other sites but have never been into one. What kinds of stuff do they have?

I have been thinking about a large stainless steel berky. Maybe in the spring. I have a small Daulton and about 70 gallons spread out around the house not counting water heater etc. I also have an extra tea kettle in case we boil so much water we go thru the Chantal. I have hit a new low in terms of preps, I have hidden 6 canned gravies behind a family picture on a shelf. I didn’t let DH see me do this or he would think I’m nuts. Well, it’s not so much hid as ran out of space anywhere else. Space is getting tight and while I am continuing to prep I am starting to doubt myself more and more. Like what if we are all crazy and we are just delusional-sp?-. Anyway I think of all the money I have spent over the last couple of years (and I’ve never bought anything that I haven’t used) yet here I am, buying stuff like headlamps, batteries and other very pricey things that I may never take out of the boxes. Self doubt is not nice. On the other hand would I be questioning myself if I were nuts? No, I think I’m OK after all, just hate spending money like this.

Arkie, I don’t know if you get over towards Rogers much but Websters (the place that makes the jellies) has 55 gallon drums that used to hold fruit for 8 dollars! We have one but I plan on getting a couple more early in the spring. The one I have is wonderful with a tight fitting lid and in great shape.

Thanks for listening to the vent ladies. Have a great Sunday and lets plan on getting together in January or Feburary.

PBQ I have to smile thinking about the gravy hidden behind the picture…only another prepper would understand. I know that doubtful feeling because I spent 300 on groceries today and didn’t need half of that for immediate use. Now I know darn good and well that I will need that money for Christmas shopping but I just can’t help myself. I’ve done it for years and now that I’ve found people who can validate my obsession, I’m on a roll LOL. Years ago DH jokingly told me I must have starved to death in another lifetime…my reaction was no I must have had to watch my children starve. Kind of harsh I know but better to be safe than sorry was always my feeling. You know you will end up eating the food and the batteries will be used eventually and if you are buying things that aren’t consumable but will make life comfy if the stuff hits the fan, that just means that you have gone to another level in your prepping that the rest of us, who aren’t there, aspire to so I say be proud of yourself. That Berkey would be an item that you could use now since we hear so much about city water being contminated. BTW, the stainless is what I want too and am thinking either the next to the largest or the one size right under that one. I want to be able to sit it on a counter without it overpowering things. I would love to get up there and get a few of those barrels from Webster’s.

Cabela’s is in Ft. Worth…wish it were in Ft. Smith. Actually they started as a hunting supplier very much like Bass Pro and over the years have added clothing, furnishings and the dehydrtors, grinders and slicers aimed at hunters preserving the meat they harvest. They will be happy to send you a catalog free. We do a lot of Christmas shopping there for our son that hunts and have had nothing but great experiences. They take returns with no questions asked. Just go to cabelas.com and look around.

Sorry Aunt Bee it must have been wishful thinking about Fort Smith rather than Fort Worth. I remember reading Fort Worth and thinking Fort Smith. Oh well Another Senior Moment. I seem to have plenty of those in the past few years. Speaking of which, why do you think so many preppers are women in their forties, fifties and beyond? I know we have more time now that our kids are grown and that whole protective mother thing going on but any other reasons we are doing this? (your DH’s previous life thing) :~) I have always had a few extras on hand, I had 200 dollars at home for Y2K but nothing like this PF business. I guess a lot of people are second guessing themselves at this point, just because it is so slow, newswise. I have a feeling it will explode with a bang with in the next month or two. Now I’m rambling. I am going to try to stay off this forum for the whole day. It will be a new record for me not to check in.

Have a great Sunday. Even if you have to work.

Hi ya’ll, the realtor said that the people that looked at our house twice, will be making an offer on Friday.

Went to Wal Mart yesterday to purchase more canning jars, they have closed them out for the season. They did have a great buy on a 23 qt canner, wish I had needed another one.

Well, we accepted the offer on our house. Looking for volunteers to help with packing.

I found canning jars.

Arkaltex Cogratulations!!!! Now my next thought is moving all that food you’ve canned LOL. Will you have to be out before Christmas?

I know what you mean about W-M. I went to buy extra lids for my preps the other day and they were gone. Our local CV’s keeps a pretty nice stock of canning supplies year round but the prices are a little high. We had to run up to FS today to get the insulation for that room I’ve been talking about and I ran in the super center to grab a couple things and it was so crowded it gave me a headache…couldn’t get out fast enough and forgot to check the lids. I just don’t deal well with huge crowds…guess I’ve been in the boonies too long.

PBQ I think us more mature girls have more time and more extra income to prep. When my boys were little and my mother was my age, she would have been the one prepping because she could afford it and I still depended on her for guidance but didn’t really realize it. The only problem I have with the preps is that my house has a constantly cluttered look. There is always my last shopping trips cans and such on the kitchen table waiting to find a home…who knows where. I’ve started getting very discouraged about the chaos and trying to rotate and keep a balance of stuff but I still don’t second guess any of it but I do try and get things we use regularly. Your gravy behind the picture is just the mindset I need..maybe when I’m not so busy I can get crative too :).

We are suppose to close 12–15, but have 2 weeks after that to get out. So we will be living in our fifth wheel after the first of the year. Every time I think about the amout of packing that I have to do, I feel ill.

Really wasn’t expecting an offer that we would accept, puchased 16 dozen more cans of veggies this week.

Hey gang, I have started us a spot on the New Forum. I will be SarahS there (more consistent). See you there! Arklatex, good luck with the move. I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. The weather certainly could not be better!

Hey guys just thought I would touch base and see how everyone is and if anyone has the ice or snow yet.

Am I the only one having to scroll sideways to view the posts on this thread…strange. I just checked a few other threads and they seem fine.

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Thanks for fixing the side scroll! After I posted, I saw a few other posts about it.

How is everyone and where are you guys?

Arklatex I know you are busy busy busy with the move and the holidays.

I’m still checking both boards and intend to keep posting on this one til I have time to learn the new one.

Just pop in if you have a minute to let me know you are all ok.

Aunt Bee, did not know that this board was still open. I will also keep using this one, the new one is hard for me to find anything on.

We just had to fix a pvc pipe to my greenhouse, the temp has been down in teens for several days the past week. There was a small section that didn’t have insulation and it cracked.

I just had another visit with my sister in Arkansas….she still tells me I’ve lost my mind…..( mayyyyybe so…..BUT,…I will be a FAT, Crazy person when it’s all over ! )

I snagged a great deal tonight ! I went into a thrift store today and found 11 food grade barrels, that used to hold rice cooking wine for an oriental cafe….The owner had 10 bucks on them….we worked out a deal for 8 bucks each, and I took all of them ! They hold about 35 gallons ! WOOHOO !!!!

Arklatex we bought a house years ago that had all the water lines busted because of an unexpected freeze in the two short days between the old occupants moving out and closing. It was a nightmare to say the least and we had no luck getting them repaired. I’ve been thinking about you.

Madamspinner great find! Have you decided yet what you will fill them with? I understand about the sister situation. I have a special stash of ramen noodles for those who refuse to prep lOL. What I don’t understand is how in the world could anyone have witnessed the disaster that was Katrina and still think the government will be able to take care of us in a disaster that would involve the entire continent.

I’m worried about PBQ…it’s not like her not to pop in every few days. Has anyone heard from her? I’m assuming the board change may be the reason since many didn’t realize we could still use this one.

Aunt Bee- we sign the final papers Friday. All the i’s have been dotted and t’s crossed so everything is on go.

A water line going into the greenhouse cracked last week, with our weather down in the teens. The only spot that wasn’t wrapped where it comes through the wall. We just capped it, the new owners can repair if they are using greenhouse.

DH has a fast growing growth in his nose thats afecting his breathing. MD said wasn’t in sinus, he is having a biospy Thursday morning. MD doesn’t think its cancer,but since we wants to wait till the first of the year to have removed, she wants to make sure. I will be with him, so I can ask questions, he has been the only one talking to MD, and I will feel better after I talk to her. The ENT did a TNA on our two year old DGD last week, we are keeping her busy this month.

This is just what we need with trying to move. I am staying positive, but worried. I didn’t realize how much it was affecting him until I spoke with him on the phone day before yesterday, sounded like he had been exercising.

Remember us in your prayers.

Arklatex I am sending up prayers for a negative biopsy. Bless your heart that is a lot to go through all at one time but thankfully you will get a quick answer about the growth.

I went through something similar with my oldest son a few years back and it turned out to be nothing. I’m praying that your news is just as good and the biopsy is not painful for DH.

Keep us posted.

Aunt Bee-went to the MD with DH today. Never believe anything your DH tells you, because he will get it wrong.

The ENT showed me all the CT’s and the growth is in his sinus, totally occuding the right and pushing into the left. She wasn’t planning on a biopsy today she was just wanting to talk with him and set up appointment. We decided to wait till January and have the surgery, he would have the same problems with the biospy as the surgery.(not being able to lift, etc) She told me that she does not think it is cancer, but can never be sure. DH wants to wait, she said that it had been there a long time and just got large enough to really start bothering him.

I have been packing my preps tonight, darn, I have alot of food.

DH agreed today to place a hand pump on our well when have the new electric pump placed.

Arklatex thanks for the update. I will continue to keep ya’ll in my thoughts and prayers. I know you can’t help but worry…been through that before. With everything you have going on, it would be a terrible time to not be able to lift.

I knew you had some groceries with all that canning and prepping you’ve been doing. Too bad we can no longer let our supplies get low intentionally. I use to do it once a year just so I didn’t have to worry about rotating but I would be afraid to knowing what I know now.

That hand pump is something to be proud of and one of the things I want badly. We have an old hand dug well in addition to the one we use now and DH says the water would be so easy to get with a hand pump on it which is what was used on it back in the day. I passed up a chance to buy an old one in great working condition last year for $200. I’m still kicking myself over that one. It was so pretty and had all the stuff that you submerge into the well too. If I had found this site then, the pump would be mine today LOL.

Aunt Bee, we signed the final papers on the 15th, the moving company will be here Friday to move us. We have boxes everywhere, just trails to get through many places.We have all next week to get everything cleaned and the attic emptied.

We will not have internet service the first several weeks. We are parking the RV in DD yard, will move as soon as electric and well are ready. We have to keep up with wiki on DD computer and at work.

DH and I have decided that Christmas is not a good time to move.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Arklatex hopefully you were all able to take a day off to celebrate Christmas and rest.

I’ve been a little under the weather myself and hardly on the computer at all and have not missed it quite as much as I thought I would. For me it could be a good thing because I suspect I waste a little too much time on the old puter.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. DH and I got new light fixtures for the house and bought more supplies for the additiion. He’s off for a week and will be working on it all week. All I need now are windows, floor covering and paint. Not only will I have a new work space but also a pantry…cannot wait!

We got both sons items that could be used for prepping among other things. Our oldest son got a nice backpack for hiking that will make a wonderful bug out bag along with lots of stuff to go in it. Our youngest got the wind up flashlight/radio/phone charger and various hunting gear that included a nice pair of insulated boots. I didn’t get that Burkey yet but may decide to buy it after I see where our finances are next month.

Hi ya’ll. It took us a week to get everything out of the house. Once we get moved into the new house I will NEVER, NEVER move again. I have never worked so hard, I am sore all over.

Living in the RV is not so bad, except we do not have a place set up for my washer and dryer, it will be about another month before we do.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I had a large medical problem in Nov. and am just now getting over it. I am sorry I have missed fluwiki for such a long time but I had a cerebral anaurysm on Nov. 13th. The last couple of months have been a blur. I am doing much better now and feel like I will make a complete recovery soon. I cannot even read old messageages yet. I will try again tommorrow to see if it is better. Please excuse errors.

PBQ I can’t tell you how sorry I am that you had to go through all of this…it sounds like some very serious stuff. It’s so nice to have you back with us because the place just hasn’t been the same without you! You keep the Arkansas thread going.

I knew something was wrong for you to stay away from FW for so long and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for a complete recovery.

Be sure to touch base with us when you can…we will look forward to hearing from you.

Arklatex I’m so glad you have the move behind you. How are things going with your DH? At least you can clean the whole house now in just a little while ;).

PBQ, I’m so sorry you’ve had such problems - thank God you’re back with us - take your time in catching up, we’ll have to help you get aquainted with the new forum too, it’s real different…glad you’re healing….love and positive thoughts voming your way.

PBQ-sorry about your health problems, its sounds like you are very lucky. We have all missed you and are glad that you are back.

Aunt Bee-DH is having surgery Tuesday. Keep him in your prayers. The Rv is quick to clean, I have been cooking supper at DD house several times a week, I have NO counter space in my kitchen. I don’t mind washing dishes by hand, however, I am looking forward to getting my washer and dryer hooked up.

Arklatex, good luck with your DH’s surgery — hope all goes well!

PBQ, glad to hear you’re better! That must have been a rough time. I hope you’re healing well. Arklatex, good luck with your husband’s surgery. Happy New Year to everyone!

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SarahS

Since this board will close for posting on the 12th of this month, I hope all of you fellow Arkies will join us on the Arkansas thread on the new board. I would hate to lose touch at this point since I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all of you and we haven’t had our get together yet.

If anyone is having trouble getting to the Arkansas thread on the new board, just let us know and we will help.