What Would You Say?

I'm getting really tired of the sun finally creeping up at almost 8 in the morning.  It just doesn't seem "right" to wake up and realize that the morning is already half over.  Of course there is always the other side of it too.  The sun doesn't set till just after 6 right now.  I always have trouble adjusting to the sun setting an hour earlier.  But even so, I'm always happy to see Daylight Saving Time come to an end.  So next weekend time will go back to normal and I for one will be happy  to set my clock back to  "regular" time.

  The North East got pounded with a freaky snowstorm that has dumped up to two feet of snow and bad weather on millions of people.  This is an unheard of thing to be happening so early in the year.  Millions of folks are out of power and they don't know when they will be back online.  Wow, I sure hope that folks were ready for it.  Those who have prepared for an emergency will be fine, but I can guarantee that most of those millions out of power WEREN'T ready.  THIS is one of the main reasons that folks sould be prepared.  Think about it.  Would you be able to stay warm in your home without electricity?  Would you have some sort of lighting?  Being cold AND dark sounds like it would really SUCK, ya know?  Would you be able to prepare a few meals?  Would you even have meals to prepare?

 I was chatting with a new prepper just last week who is struggling to get her husband to see that prepping is something they needed to be doing.  I know it is a prevelent problem among many preppers.  Those folks who know that they need to be doing something and yet their family (especially the "significant other")  can't or won't listen and just doesn't understand the need.  I always feel blessed that I have never had to deal with that situation.  Mar's has been "awake"  for years and for that I am grateful.  While chatting with this nice lady the other day she said that during hurricane Irene she had actually hoped that they would get hit with some of the weather, be out of power for a bit.  I know that sounds extremely odd to some people but I totally understood what she was saying.  If they were to actually "experience" an emergency situation then maybe she could make him understand how important it is to be prepared for a disaster. 
The reason I bring this up today of course is that monster of a storm that hit the North East last night.  I was thinking about this woman and wondering if they are going to be ok during all this.  I'm pretty sure that the "emergency" that she was hoping for is upon them now. The electric companies are saying that they have no idea when they will get the power back on for the millions of customers sitting in the dark.  And I wonder if that nice lady I was chatting with the other day is going to use this "weather event" to help her husband understand why she wants to be prepared.  And of course I wonder if this will be the "event" that will make him "Come over to the Prepper side". 

Another problem she said she was having was that if she bought something for "putting away" that the kids and the husband would eat it all up. I was joking with her and told her to start with basic bulk stuff like beans, rice, oats, sugar, flour...etc.  That way they are going to have to learn to cook if they want into the preps!  Maybe once they get used to seeing those bulk items in the pantry, an extra can of tuna or ham might just make it.  Having no experience with a partner who isn't into prepping I sometimes find myself at a loss as to what to tell them. 

I try so hard to make new preppers feel welcome in the chat rooms I go to.  Most all of us do.  The more who are prepared the fewer we will have to worry about later on.   I know she was new to prepping.  She had all the "earmarks" of a new prepper. The problem I have (and this is just me I'm sure) is that I never know exactly where to start.  Everyone is at a different "level" of understanding and I don't want to come off like a smart azz or a know it all. (Or like know nothing AT all) I feel like I have a responsibility to help if I can though.  I've seen people who come off like they know all the answers and actually scare off people who are interested or just beginning to prepare.  It makes me want to reach out and just smack them upside the head.  Folks who are just starting out are usually nervous, vulnerable and looking for a place to begin.  Personally, I think that I have a responsibility to help when I can, not "show off" and talk down to folks who are looking for answers. 
 I have a question for the folks out there that are already prepping.  How do you treat a new prepper?  Do you feel the need to kind of take them under your wing? Or do you just wish them the best and move on? 

~~~~~~  Hey ... I'm Just Sayin' ... ~~~~~~

Writer's Block?

Sitting here this morning with my coffee, I watch the rain fall gently as I enjoy the fall colors out my window.  I love mornings like this.  It's quiet and just a little cool out but I am armed with coffee and my fuzzy slippers.  I tend to put the day on hold for just a bit longer on mornings like this.  

I've been avoiding talking about what all is going on in the world around us lately.  Not exactly like me to keep my mouth shut but things have escalated to such a ridiculous level that even if you only listen to your TV and radio you can't deny that things are a mess. A quick glance at the headlines would (and should) tell you that things are spiraling out of control.  I'm done with the preaching.  Tired of trying to tell folks they need to be preparing to take care of their families.  If you cannot now see what is in our future I am not convinced that I could make a difference anyway.  
So....  I find myself at a crossroad.  I have been struggling with the thought of shutting down this blog.  There are tons and tons of prepper sites out there these days with more information than I can give here. There are great homesteading blogs that can teach people more than I have the knowledge to do. It seems all I can do is repeat what I have said in the past. The good news is that there has been a real awakening around the country in the past couple of years.  It gives me a bit of hope that somehow folks ARE beginning to see where we are headed. As a matter of fact I was really happy to see an article on  the Drudge Report yesterday that there has been a huge rise in the number of folks who are beginning to become preppers.  

So the question is.... do I really want to quit blogging?  The answer is obviously no or I would have done so already.  From the number of posts I've made in the last 2-3 months it is obvious that my "passion" for writing has changed.  There have most certainly been other things that I have had to concentrate on around here.  Getting ready to "do winter" in an RV in NE Oklahoma is the focus right now.  And of course the homestead calls for daily attention.  Heaven knows there is always something that needs to be done around here.  Believe me, I am NOT complaining.  I think I am happier here than I've ever been.  It is a dream come true for me.  It just doesn't leave as much time for writing at the moment. As someone said in a comment recently winter is on the way and that will certainly leave more time for blogging. 
      ~~~~~~ Hey ... I'm Just Sayin' ... ~~~~~~
 

" There is only so much you can say about prepping before you start repeating yourself.  It is the "doing" that will save your butt."

Fall Sales

I've been working on preps as I can around here.  I hope you all have too.  This time of year you can pick up some good deals if you just pay attention. And next month most of your baking stuff will be on sale too, take advantage of the seasons. 


I've been drying onions this week since they have been on sale.  We eat onions in most everything and it irks me to no end to 1)  be out of onions  and 2) pay close to a dollar a pound for them.  So when I can find them on sale I will chop them up and dry them.  I'm hoping we will grow some next year but until we do at least I know we won't be out of them.  I've had folks tell me that it was cheaper to just buy them dried but I don't know.  I can get 5 lbs of onions on sale for under two dollars and it will make almost a quart of dried minced onions.  I can't touch that price if buying it already done for me.  Besides, I'm cheap.... errr frugal... and I like to do it so for me it's a winning situation.

I don't know if you have heard it yet but Jiff peanut butter announced this past month that they are raising their prices by 30% real soon. Other companies said they will follow suit.   So if you are a peanut butter lover like we are here, you might want to try and stock up on some.  I got lucky this past weekend and hit a 12 hour sale that had good peanut butter on sale for .99c a jar.  Of course there was a limit of 4 on them but I didn't let that stop me from heading back a couple of times!  The biggest surprise was when I got to the register and the kid asks me if I had a coupon for them.  I asked him if I needed a coupon for them and he told me no, but that he had coupons that he'd been told to give to customers.  Long story short I was able to get those .99c jars for half that!  Two for a dollar with the coupons!  Peanut butter cookies anyone?? 

Another good deal I ran across was on bacon.  I don't know about where you are but around here bacon prices are through the roof.  Getting up to $4.00 a lb.  So when I saw that 10 lb box of nice looking bacon for $15.00 I knew I was going home with it.  LOL!  Now I wish I had been able to afford more of it! 

 Anyway...  the point is that if you get a chance to stock up, now is the time... get it while you can!  Food prices are soaring and will only go higher.  What you stock up on today will be sure to cost more in the coming days.  Get ready for it folks, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
     ~~~~~~  Hey ... I'm Just Sayin' ...  ~~~~~~

The Letter

 

I found this story and  just had to share it with you all today.  It touched my heart... 

 

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

 

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
 

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

By: Rasta's Rescue Ranch