That's how a friend described the prepping lifestyle. She said we think we have it under control and then something pops up that we have to deal with. For her, it was a nip from a new puppy who isn't old enough yet to have any manners, and her collection of butterfly bandages was quickly depleted
My latest 'whack-a-mole' moment was in the baking ingredients department. Each of my kids and grands got a quart jar full of hot chocolate mix and a bag of caramel corn. I didn't need to buy any of the ingredients, but making those items sure did trim down my supply. And showed me that I didn't have nearly enough of any of it to begin with
This prepping thing isn't just a one-time shot. It is a lifestyle. And I am convinced that I will never be as prepared as I would like to be. There will always be a 'whack-a-mole' moment where I find I need something else.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed. It would be easy to just give up. But this preparedness thing is not a contest. We don't need to have everything perfect all of the time. We don't need to have as many jars of peanut butter or bags of rice as someone else has.
We do need to work at having what our families need in an emergency situation. And after a while, there will be fewer moles to whack.
Vicki, this really made me laugh and realize that I need to just keep on keeping on with my getting ready for whatever is going to come our way. Whatever comes our way may be big or small but it WILL come. Keep on whacking everyone...
ReplyDeleteCW...About the time I think I have it all under control, I find something I am short of or lacking altogether. But as long as we keep plugging away at it, we are in much better shape than those who think government is going to come to the rescue. Yep - keep on keeping on!
DeleteVicki~ I couldn't agree with you more. We have an old side gate that needed some work for it to close properly in order to be able to lock it. That meant taking the gate down. Adjusting the connectors, replacing a few parts, drilling into the block fence, adjusting a few other parts to get the clearances required for a new latch/lock. Plus the cats had to supervise. On the garden front, the garlic, potatoes and carrots are coming up. Red
ReplyDeleteRed...There is always something that rears its head needing to be fixed or replaced! If your cats are anything like the ones I have had, their idea of supervising is doing it smack dab in the middle of everything. :)
DeleteI envy your garden. Anything outdoors here is frozen solid! I hear a rumor though, that Spring may arrive in a couple of months. I am ready! Take care.
Amen, Vicki.
ReplyDeleteYou all be safe and God bless.
Thanks, LindaG...Take good care and God bless you and yours.
DeleteRight on. And it's when we think we have enough and don't that are eye opening. Today I can order replacements or go to a store. At some point that may not be possible. And for some this past year, they've already experienced closed stores.
ReplyDeleteAnother whack=a=mole occured this weekend, I needed some OTC med and didn't have any of what I was looking for. I remembered cleaning out way out dated items, but some how they had fallen off my 'buy' list.
Yes, it's an ongoing process and lifestyle.
And then there's the whole issue of finding what we have!! Keeping organized could be a whole other post, LOL.
Cheers
SJ in Vancouver BC Canada
SJ...It seems that about the time I think I have it all under control, something happens to show me that I still have miles to go. That usually is in the form of thinking I have enough of an item only to discover that I wasn't even close in my estimation. Live and learn, I suppose!
DeleteWe're not whacking moles, Vicki. We're covering bases. When I started prepping I asked myself "What happens if the lights go out?" and started from there. What goes when the lights have been out for a day? A week? A month? How long will natural gas keep flowing without power? What about water? Your friend may see these as moles to be whacked, but they're actually your responses to cascading failures. There's only so far we can go, as we'll never have everything. We'll never think of everything. We'll never be able to afford everything. We can, however, do our best to be ready for whatever comes our way, and that's what we do.
ReplyDeleteFunny; the people who give us the most friction about our prepping are also the ones who come running to us when the lights go out!
Belated happy new year, Vicki!
I think your approach to covering the bases is spot on. We prepare as best as possible for the cascading failures that re on our doorstep. I agree that we'll never be able to afford or plan for everything. Even the best of us are going to forget something. That's where bartering and being good neighbors will come in, I hope. Other people will have skills that I could never hope to master while I will have a good supply of medicinal herbs and knowledge to use them.
DeleteHow I wish the people that visit Vicki's blog could be together as a little community when the lights go out.
I know we are not whacking moles, Pete...It is far more serious than that. But sometimes when I think I have one base covered, up pops something else that needs to be dealt with. And my sense of humor pictures a whack-a-mole scenario that I will never, ever win. :)
DeleteMy preparing began after I retired and had time to delve into what was happening in our world. The more I learned, the more I realized that we are in trouble and nobody will come riding to the rescue. Those who should be concerned about us are the very ones causing the problems.
So I continue to shore up my preps. This week I have ordered 40 lbs. of frozen vegetables to dehydrate. Youngest son brought me a case of small propane tanks and 4 cases of Sterno cans. And next week I will add something else that is needed. Can't do it all, but will do as much as possible.
I wish a New Year that brings all sorts of good stuff to you and yours, my friend.
Jennifer...Even with the lists we all keep, I still forget things. But we do the best we can.
DeleteI live in a suburb of a very 'blue' city. I know of no others in my area who prepare. The general belief is that government will take care of them in an emergency situation. Good luck with that!
I am blessed to have family close by. But yes - wouldn't it be great if those who stop by here often could have our own little community. I can think of nothing better when the lights go out.
Hi Vicki...I am sooo glad I found your blog a few years ago!! Your writings have helped me prepare for today's problems. I live alone also, just celebrated my 78th birthday. I don't do any canning but boy, thanks to you, I have stocked my pantry over these last years with plenty of staples, seasonings, canned soups, dry bean soups, pasta, canned vegies, crackers, cereals, etc...things that have a long shelf life. I live in a Illinois farming rural town of about 7000 people. Sadly, our only store to buy fresh vegies/food is Walmart and ours is having problems keeping shelves full. Thankfully, their deli bakes bread so I buy loaves, slice, and freeze that (I'm a terrible bread baker no matter how hard I try) Plus I don't eat most fresh bread fast enough to keep it fresh...freezing partial loaves works great for me. We do have one butcher shop in town ..he buys his meat from area farms..yes, it's pricey but he is always well stocked and the meat is excellent. I buy and freeze that. Honestly, I know I never would have known how to do all of this prepping until I found your blog! You have helped me so much and I do feel I can be prepared for whatever is ahead of us now. Thank you so much, Dear Friend!! Wishing all the best to you, stay safe and healthy! Please keep us all up to speed by blogging on!
ReplyDeletelynney62...I am so very glad to hear how well prepared you are, but I think you give me way too much credit. I am quite sure you would have figured out most of this on your own.
DeleteI do home canning simply because I was raised in a family that canned. You are proof that a person can be just as prepared by buying canned goods at the store. We all have different methods of doing things, but the goal is the same. And isn't it nice to know that no matter the emergency, we will manage much better than those who have no clue about prepping!
Before arthritis found my hands, I baked my own bread, stirring and kneading by hand. Now I use a bread machine to stir and knead, baking the bread itself in the oven. A few years ago, bread machines were popular, but after a while when the novelty wore off, many machines ended up at the thrift stores. I know the machine will be useless if the lights go out, but until then I can have homemade bread. I store lots of flour for that reason.
Locally grown meat is so much better than store bought. I am glad you found a good source of meat. I have ordered beef from a local farmer, and it is the absolute best.
We don't know what the future holds, but it is comforting to know that we can survive. I appreciate your kind words but remember this. You can read all the blogs and watch all the videos on preparedness, but unless you are willing to do the work, they are just entertainment. You are testament to the fact that those of us with a few years behind us can still manage to be prepared. You are an inspiration, my friend! Take good care!
dehydrate in case of long term power outage
Deletecan meat be dehydrated and stored?
deb...I have not dehydrated meat. I either can it or freeze it. But I have heard of some who do dry meat. You might want to Google dehydrating meat to find the answer.
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