Wednesday, February 10, 2021

It's The Small Stuff

I read blogs and watch videos, mostly about homesteading and preparedness.  

Some are over-the-top with hints about what to do during a zombie apocalypse.  Others talk about all sorts of expensive gear needed when our world comes crashing down around us.  I don't pay much attention to these.  The only 'zombies' I have seen in my neighborhood are at closing time when the bar next door was still open for business.  

Many others have useful information on a variety of subjects related to food storage and preparedness and I have learned much from them.

I find it is the small things that matter.

When the snow is falling and the wind is howling, having the ingredients on hand to bake bread or cook a nutritious meal saves me from having to brave the elements to run to the store.

When Oldest Son runs out of something, he can just look in Mom's pantry, knowing chances are good he will find what he needs.  That's the reason most of us prepare - for our families.

This morning I saw why we have water stored.  Some have water storage systems using very large barrels.  That's a great way to store water if you have the space for it.  Three room apartments are not built for that type of storage, so my water is stored, mostly behind my sofa, in 2 liter soda bottles and juice bottles.  And I have several cases of bottled drinking water stored as well.

There is construction going on in my building and because of that, the water has been shut down several times.  When I went to make my morning coffee, there was no water flowing from the tap.  As anyone who knows me can attest, I am not fit company until I have had at least two cups of coffee.  But it was easy to open a bottle, fill the coffeemaker and make coffee.  The world at large is again saved from a grumpy old woman who has been deprived of her coffee!!

It is the small stuff that matters sometimes.  :)

18 comments:

  1. If you look after the small stuff the big things look after themselves.

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    1. You are absolutely right, BW...And it seems like if the small things aren't taken care of, they are what will nail a person every time!

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  2. Indeed Vicki, most of my preps have come in handy for "the small stuff." 'Broke my readers? Spares are in the buckets. 'Wife came up short a can of tomato paste for a recipe? It's on the shelf in the barn. At work, I'm the MacGyver that always has a spare battery, screw, or some Crazy Glue handy. I've found that being able to save the day on "the small stuff" makes the lights come on in peoples' heads as to why I prep. My only hope is that the light stays lit long enough for the idea to catch...

    ...No blizzards here... except maybe at Dairy Queen...

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    1. Pete...Having that extra can of tomato paste on the shelf or that extra battery when needed, gives us a sense of security in very unsecure times. We can only hope that after the job losses from the 'plandemic' and now from executive orders, perhaps there will be some who decide that being prepared isn't so crazy after all.

      I sometimes question my sanity for continuing to live in blizzard country - weather, not DQ. And then a hug from a kid or a grand reminds me why I am still here. :)

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  3. BW is right. It's sort of like Franklin and his quote on pennies and dollars.

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    1. "Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." Franklin had a good point!

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  4. Many years ago, Amy Daczyzyn, author of the Tightwad Gazette, wrote that there are a few ways to save a lot of money, but thousands of ways to save a little money. There are a few of the big things that we all need to do to prepare for the challenges the communists in charge have planned. We better have means of self-defense, transportation, food, shelter, light, etc., figured out. The little things build up to a lot of these big things. When we have the little things taken care of, our families feel more secure and confident that the big things will be taken care of as well.

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    1. Following that same thought Jennifer, I have heard some say that they can't afford to prepare. They seem to think they have to buy truckloads of freeze dried foods or bucket loads of emergency rations, when just buying a few extra shelf stable groceries each time will eventually add up to a nice, deep pantry. Same with saving money. A few dollars set aside each payday will add up. It can, with time and patience, be done.

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  5. You and the blog family are so right. A little bit of prepping goes a very long way:) Call me prepared. I love my coffee too, Vicki, so I fill the coffeemaker the night before...just in case...CW

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    1. CW...I usually fill up my coffeemaker at night too - except when I forget! And since Murphy of 'Murphy's Law' fame has taken up residence in my apartment, the day I forget is, of course, the day the water is shut off first thing in the morning. Sigh.

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  6. It won't work for everybody, but remember that if there is a swimming pool out back, you have a huge amount of potable water stored nearby.

    That changes if you have a salt water pool because the amount of salt makes the water undrinkable. (I'd appreciate somebody with real medical knowledge to weigh in on the exact point when the amount of salt in the water gets to where it's not drinkable.)

    But even undrinkable water is still good for flushing.

    Because our neighbor has a fresh water pool, and there's a small creek down the street, we made sure that our preparations include more than the usual amount of water treatment stuff.

    Good post as always.

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    1. Thank you John, for your reminder for those will access to a pool. Many are so accustomed to just turning on a tap for water that resources like that are often overlooked.

      I live less than two city blocks from a major river. I seriously doubt there is anything that could make that water safe to drink, but it still could be used for other purposes. Also in my climate in the winter, there is snow to melt. Although not an ideal way to produce water, it still would be better than no water. It is important to keep an open mind to all options. Thanks for giving us something to consider.

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  7. It is the small stuff that matters. I first started building my pantry by just adding a can or two to each week's grocery shop. Usually by doubling up what I bought for a recipe that week. Later I found a list on line about spending an extra $5/week to build the pantry.

    About water and apartment living - if you have access to your hot water tank like I do, that's a lot of water. A small hose is needed and some times not thought of when living in an apartment.

    About being MacGyever - I surprised the maintenance guy here a few winter's back when I had the needed part that had broken on my electric baseboard heater. I was handing the part to him about when he finished telling me what was wrong with the heater. Wish I had had a camera to take a picture of the shocked expression on his face. Also, not typical of most renters to have spare parts on hand.LOL.

    Stay cozy everyone. Cheers
    SJ in Vancouver BC Canada

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    1. SJ...So many think they have to rush out and buy a ton of stuff in order to prepare, when it can be done a little at a time. Anything extra that we set aside puts us that much closer to being able to take care of ourselves in an emergency.

      Apartments here - at least in my building - don't have hot water tanks in each apartment. But there is a huge hot water heater in the basement that could be tapped if necessary.

      Everything in this building = furnace, hot water heater, kitchen stoves - are all gas, so I doubt anyone has spare parts for any of it. I do keep a fairly well stocked tool box that has come in handy more than once. :)

      Take good care.

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  8. ...Twas in the wee hours of a bitter Sunday winter night in ND when the gas furnace igniter burned out and it was constantly going through the starting sequence. To the basement, waited for the gas to turn on for the next cycle. Applied a kitchen match, burner lit (the sensor detects flame rather than igniter). Went back upstairs, turned the thermostat up to 85 degrees. When the furnace shut off, turned it off. Was still in the sixties the next morning when I went to get a replacement ignitor...

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    1. The only thing colder than a winter night in Minnesota is a winter night in North Dakota. I believe that the combination of knowing how to do stuff and common sense are essential for survival. You, sir, win the MacGyver Award of the day!!

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  9. Vicki~ Thought everyone might want to know about the Freezing Weather and Heating~ Red
    https://www.bitchute.com/video/_PsAJzHilMQ/

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    1. Thanks, Red...I have been hearing from various sources about a jump in electricity and gas prices, but didn't have the particulars. We have been living in a deep freeze for at least a week now. I am actually kind of surprised that so far we still have power and gas working in my building. How awful for those who are having problems and what a bad time to raise prices!

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