Canning Butter!

Wow. I believe this might be my craziest post yet!  After following an article I found in last month's edition of CountrySide magazine, I actually canned butter!  It worked!  Before I explain what I did, let me explain WHY I thought this extra work necessary.

I buy butter, and I mean REAL BUTTER, in bulk when it's on sale.  In my region, $1.68 per pound is about as cheap as you can get.  I bought a case of 30lbs. last spring for about $52 and it has lasted our family of three until now, and is still going.  For us, a case lasts about a year.  How do I store so much butter?  Well, I freeze it.  Frozen butter can last about a year, BUT you need to be careful of what else you have in your freezer as butter will absorb the smell and taste of surrounding foods.  In other words, you better store those chopped onions in a different freezer!
However, my husband and I recently acquired a deer for meat (I will do another post on this) and needed some more space in our two freezers.  So, out came the magazine with the instructions to can butter. :)

Step 1: 11 pounds of butter will make roughly 12, maybe 13 pints of canned because of the headspace allotment.  

Unwrap the sticks of butter and  melt on low to medium-low in two large saucepans. I folded and kept the wrappings in the fridge to use in place of cooking spray later. :)



Step 2:
While the butter is melting, gather 13-14 pints into a roasting pan or on a cookie sheet and place in the oven at 250 degrees.  We are heating the jars not only to sterilize them, but when we ladle the boiling butter into the jars we don't want them to break.

Step 3:
Put your lids in a small saucepan to simmer just as the butter is beginning to also simmer. Prepare a place on your counter to begin ladling.

Step 4:
Ladle hot butter into the hot jars by scooping from the bottom through to the top, in order to get a good mixture of butter.  Stir periodically.  It would be best to use a canning funnel for this part. Leave 3/4 inch headspace in your jars to give room for the shaking stage.

Step 5:
Wipe the jar with a hot rag to remove any slimy butter, and place on your lid and screw on tightly the rim.  Let the jars sit until you hear a few of thing begin to "ping", or seal.

Step 6:
Every 10 minutes or so (put on the kitchen timer if you are forgetful like I am!), come back into the kitchen and give each jar a little shake.  This is just to keep the butter from separating as it cools.  We want a uniform consistency throughout.

Step 7:
When the jars have cooled some, but are still slightly warm to the touch, transfer the jars to the refrigerator.  This quickens the setting stage. This next part is crucial to canning butter: make sure to check and shake the jars every 5 minutes until they set.  If you forget and the butter cools as a separated unit, you will have to reheat the jar using the double boiler method.  

Ta Da!  You have successfully canned butter!  Check the seals of each jar by gentle pushing in the middle of the lid.  If there is no "click", they have sealed.  Store in a cool, dark, and dry place.  According to the CountrySide article, canned butter will last 3-4 years, where frozen is only about a year.  Also, a successfully sealed jar will not need to be reheated in order to use as it will be at room temperature.  An opened jar can also sit covered on your counter for a good month while you use it without going bad! Happy Canning! :-)   

 

Urban Winter Survival

My facebook friends have asked me to do a blog post about some WINTER TIPS during this bad cold snap we are experiencing in the Midwest.  I know I will not cover all the possible tips, but I hope you can take away at least one piece of helpful information from these words.

We live in a world of ease and convenience, but in the blink of an eye, all of that can change without any notice at all.  We depend far too much on our electricity and indoor plumbing, but what if the power were to go out?  What if the power companies estimated a full WEEK without?  What if the temperature outside was hovering around 0 and you have children at home, and you can feel the temperature inside already beginning to drop?  This is not an unlikely scenario. 

This exact situation is one that residents of Sibley, Iowa, experienced last year on April 10, when an ice storm thrashed NW Iowa.  I am absolutely not trying to scare anyone with this post (or any of my posts for that matter), but I am simply laying out some facts and some tips that hopefully parallel in such a way to bring about some responsible living. :-)

When we experience a prolonged period of cold immediately following comfortable weather, there is always a higher chance for a water main break.  Consequently, there is an even higher chance of water main trouble with a fast thawing of the ground.  As mentioned earlier, a temporary power outage is probable, especially when dealing with an ice storm, like LITTLE ROCK, AK, is about to experience this weekend.  Taking the considerations of water and electricity issues, here are some tips to help you prepare.

1) Water
- BEFORE the storm, fill clean containers with water and store in a cool room
- preferably a room that will not freeze, like an enclosed porch or basement
- good containers to use are clean milk jugs (I keep a supply of these for this reason), basic beverage jugs with a spicket (like a gallon tea jar or 5 gallon gatorade-style water cooler below)
- PLAN A GALLON OF WATER PER DAY PER PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY

2) Rate your food sources
- plan to use food in the fridge first as it will go bad the fastest
- use indoor freezer food second
- use outdoor freezer food third
- use canned goods sparingly and or only after the fridge and indoor freezer are cleared
- make sure a variety of foods are eaten per meal to keep up strength

3) Prepare the family with a sanitation plan
- put tape over the flusher handle and remind all family members NOT TO FLUSH because you will have only 1 flush left per toilet once the power goes out.
- if you have the convenience of 2 toilets in the house, designate one to be for urine only. This toilet will be able to fill quite full before using that last flush.
- designate one (or more, if you are so blessed to have more than 2 toilets) toilet for solid waste. Use plastic wrap or Press and Seal to cover when not in use to keep smell down. (Yes, we are using the knowledge of a common prank, but trying to keep the poo and smell IN this time!)
- encourage family to "hold it" and use toilet sparingly, BUT DO NOT FLUSH until the toilet is quite full.
- another option for waste is for men and boys to urinate outside
- for solid waste, you can also use ice cream buckets WITH LIDS and store outside.  Dispose of later.
 - to manually flush the common toilet, pour about a gallon of water SWIFTLY into the bowl.  It should flush.

4) Confine heat
- block off a room or 2 using blankets hung in the doorway with hammer and nails
- obviously choose the room with the heat source
- if you have a generator, now would be the time to hook it up :)
- break out the board games!
- body heat goes a long way. Try to keep everyone together and wear layers.  2 layers actually goes further for conserving body heat than one warm sweatshirt.
- we lose over 75% of our body heat through our heads since heat rises, so bring out the stocking caps

5)  Cooking with a GAS STOVE
- if you are blessed to own a GAS STOVE, as I am, you are well set for cooking when the power is out.  All you have to do is manually light the PILOT LIGHT. :) Consult your oven manual for help.
- put up blankets in all doorways of the kitchen and turn the oven to a low setting to keep the room comfortable. Corral your family here.
- crack a window ever so slightly for ventilation
- keep a candle burning to monitor oxygen levels in the room

6) Cooking with an ELECTRIC STOVE
- if you have an ELECTRIC STOVE, well, welcome to Camping 101.
- since your stove is virtually useless, you will have a harder time choosing foods to eat that do not require heat.
- options are your grill outside, a portable camping stove, or even a fire outside (before you get to this point, try contacting a neighbor)
- if you DO happen to have an electric stove, it would be smart to attain your cooking source ASAP.


7) Lighting
- to conserve body energy and fuel, try to sleep with the sun. Go to bed early and rise when the sun wakes you
- try not to use FLASHLIGHTS as they are portable in case you have to go outside or loan out
- keep a supply of the CORRECT BATTERIES
- candles (obviously jar candles will be most safe. I actually spend some winter days melting down old taper candles I find at garage sales or people give me and make them into safe jar candles. Future post?)
- instruct children that they are not ever to touch the candles
- keep matches either on your person or next to the candles so you don't have to search in the dark


The best thing we can all do, whether you live in Canada or Arkansas, is to BE PREPARED.  It absolutely does not hurt to throw together a pile of these supplies in a corner in your basement.  We all know of people (or we ourselves) who have experienced trying winter situations, and preparedness and education are the only ways to succeed. :-)

Prepping Part 4: How-To Table of Contents

Greetings!  I have set the table for why I might be considered a Prepper, and have served the food by introducing you to the two categories of Preparedness in natural vs. manmade disasters.  It is now time to dig in and get down to business.  I am a known list-maker, and therefore wanted to give my readers an organized page to refer to for the future blog posts on the subject of preparing.  Granted, I will edit this page as I realize what I have accidentally left out, but eventually we will make it to a stable list.

Before I post the list, I wanted to also put a plug out there for the book that persuaded me to go down this path.  The book is called, How To Survive the End of the World As We Know It, by James Wesley Rawles.

This book is simply amazing.  Yes, it sounds like a crazy person book, but I believe you and I are well past that stage and can connect on a mutual understanding of where we are coming from.  Mr. Rawles is a former US Army Intelligence Officer and sheds a lot of light and "inside" information on the current state of our country.  It would also be in your best interest to scour his blog for his valuable (and FREE!) information.
http://www.survivalblog.com/

Prepper "How-To" Table of Contents
Intro: Possible Disasters and Their Definitions
1. Water
2. Food- short-term storage
3. Food- long-term storage
4. Food- gardening
5. Food- harvesting
6. Food- water bath canning
7. Food- pressure canner canning
8. Food- dehydrating
9. Food- freezing
10. Shelter
11. Sanitation
12. Energy
13. First-Aid
14. Defense
15. Tactical/Defensive Living Skills
16. Security
17. Communication
18. Bartering
19. Charity and Giving
20. Pets
21. Orienteering
22. Sewing
23. Off-Grid Weekend

Prepping Part 3: Facing the Facts

Alright, so you've read my post on having a Get Out of Dodge (GOOD) bag, and you've even considered putting one together.  Maybe you took my words to heart and have made one already!  Whatever the case, this post will be covering the next step in this journey: EDUCATION.

I think everyone would agree that the world we live in is not the same as when we were children.  Our parents' and grandparents' generation would agree that the past 20 years has held a huge shift in politics, economic stability, and even opinions.  I would even argue that the past FIVE years have been particularly different.  We are witnessing a change in thinking.  We are witnessing a different way to view money and savings.  We are watching a new sort of political strife play out. 

In my husband's and my opinion, the current shift that is taking place is NOT Biblically founded, and therefore is not pleasing to God.  We seeing a rise of a police state, quite frankly.  Police raids on private property without a warrant has increased, as have incidents of restraint of citizens by police during emergency situations.  We see a gradual agenda to ban guns, and can feel the squeeze of limited ammunition availability.  We also see a weak and lazy American population in reference to entitlements, welfare, government programs, and voting. 

Without getting into details about the above observances, I do want to communicate how important it is for you and your family to know what is REALLY going on in our country.  Do your homework, compare news stories, and take the time to study statistics.  It would also be in your best interest to turn off the mainstream media stations (CNN, ABC, NBC, etc) and focus your energy on those news stations (they will be small) who are doing their best to bring truth and accuracy.  My husband and I are particular to the Glenn Beck program, as well as the Drudge Report online.  Watch laws. Watch prices. If something feels wrong, there is good reason to chase that feeling.

In short, our economy is hanging by a thread.  At any moment, the entire system could collapse, much like Black Tuesday in 1929.  For fellow wives and mothers out there, consider just the grocery store prices and how they have increased, almost doubled for some products, in the past year or two.  Bacon, ground beef, milk, eggs, lettuce; all of these and more have increased in price, following that of increased gas prices at the pump.  Increased prices are a result of something called INFLATION, which is something that occurs when an economy is in the desperation stage of it's illness.  This is the last gasping and grabbing at the surface of the water before we drown and die. 

The world functions proportionally.  In general, principles on small levels will still ring true (or even more so) on bigger levels.  Just like I cannot be $170,000 in debt and still function properly in everyday life, neither can our nation be healthily sustained with $17 TRILLION in money owed.  It's simply not possible.  Let me repeat that.  It. Is. Not. Possible.  One cannot hand a friend a gift when there is no gift in your hand in the first place.  I am no economic expert, but a simple google trip will give you story after story of well-known economists who have come out and said publicly we cannot continue down this road.  We WILL fall.  The great nation of The United States IS going to experience some sort of economic downfall, and I feel it will be sooner rather than later.

The big question for this sort of assumption is, "when".  When is this going to happen?  The scary part is, we do not know.  God is in control and can slam the hand of judgement anytime He sees fit.  For me, I feel we are going to experience inflation starting in the coming year.  After that, inflation will either gradually continue, or there will be an actual collapse.  It is our job as Christians to #1 spread the word of repentance, #2 educate our family and friends, and #3 be responsible by not ignoring the facts and taking the steps to provide for our family, considering a possible economic crises.  This is the reason for this blog.  I have far too many words to say and articles to post for my simple Facebook page.  I also want to reach as many people as possible with this wake-up call.  Please feel free to pass along my words, only because I would feel horrible if I could have warned someone and didn't because it was "too hard" or "too much work".  No. It is time for us to wake up, get real, and go get it. 

Pictures from 
http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4717941167688675&pid=1.7
http://thestatelessman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/police-state.jpg
http://blog.jordanwirsz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/inflation-worry-Jordan-Wirsz.jpg

Soothe Your Tummy with CHARCOAL

With this beautiful, new day comes a bright start after a long night for me.  It seems I got food poisoning after attending a soup supper last night. :-(  Without going into the details, there were stomach cramps, chills, and vomiting.  However, this is a perfect time to introduce my dear readers to a wonderful natural stomach remedy called Charcoal.

"Wait, you're talking about the stuff in my grill, right?" Yes, I am speaking of the same. However, it would be in your best interest to purchase activated charcoal from your local health food store. ;P Actually, some Hy-Vee pharmacies happen to carry activated charcoal as well!  Make sure the bottle you are considering purchasing reads "ACTIVATED Charcoal".  Charcoal is an amazing stomach aid which removes toxins from the body.  This includes germs, bad enzymes, and even poisons!  When taken on an empty stomach, the charcoal spreads out and absorbs the enzymes in your stomach that are causing the trouble.  Then, as the charcoal and harmful germs travel through your digestive tract, the charcoal masks the upsetting properties.  Charcoal is something I carry in my diaper bag at all times.  If I or someone I am with complains of a stomach ache, I am able to help. 

Activated Charcoal is even safe for infants. It is especially useful if a stomach bug is suspected of being the culprit of diarrhea.  However, KEEP TRACK OF THE DOSES (below).

Try Activated Charcoal for your next stomach flu, bout of diarrhea, incident with food poisoning, bloating, etc.  Also, note that you or your child's stools will be black in color and looser than normal, which is going to be a result of the black charcoal itself and the upsetting enzymes.  You should feel significant relief within the hour of taking your first dose or 2. :-)

Dose:
Infants
-break open one capsule and pour HALF into baby's bottle of milk/water. It is best to feed activated charcoal to her on an empty stomach, so try to use as little milk as possible.
-give above dose every 3-4 hours while symptoms persist, NOT EXCEEDING six times in a 24 hr period

Children
-break open or administer 1 capsule on an empty stomach
-give above dose every 3-4 hours while symptoms persist, again on as empty of a stomach as you can, NOT EXCEEDING six times in a 24 hour period.

Adults
-take 2 capsules with a glass of water on an empty stomach
-a good rule for the above is either 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours following a meal
-repeat every 3-4 hours while symptoms persist, but DO NOT EXCEED six doses in a 24 hour period 
 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Give a little kick to your winter soup!  I was especially excited about this recipe because I was able to use up some food in my fridge and cupboards that were almost on their way out.  It felt really good to pop open 3 jars of canned goods and 2 bags of sweet corn my mother-in-law was kind enough to freeze for us. :-)

The recipe with common measurements:
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed and cooked
4 (14oz) cans chicken broth
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 cup white uncooked rice
2 cans Mexicorn
2 cups salsa
1 T. lime juice
tortilla shells or chips 

The recipe I used:
1 pint my canned chicken
1 quart canned chicken broth
2 tsp ground cumin
1 cup white uncooked rice
1 pint bag frozen sweet corn
1 chopped jalepeno
1 pint canned salsa
1 T. lime juice
baked corn tortilla shells

Steps:
1) Cube and cook the chicken (because I used canned chicken, all I had to do was open the jar!)
2) Add other ingredients, except tortilla shells, and heat through
3) To make tortilla strips: Cut 4 corn tortillas into strips about 2" long. On a saucer, pour a small amount of vegetable oil.  Toss strips in oil evenly and place on baking sheet.  Bake at 350degrees for 10 min. or until golden brown.  Top soup with cheese and these strips.  Bon appetit!  

Prepping Part 2: "Get Out of Dodge" Bag

Yes, by taking the step to have a Get Out of Dodge (GOOD) bag, you are officially crossing the threshold to being a true PREPPER.  You will be a little odd compared to the majority of American society, but you will also be that much more ready for a natural or man made disaster.  This pack is simply the beginning to being AWARE, EDUCATED, and READY for unforeseen events that could change your life.

So, let's get started.  What is the point of a GOOD bag?  In the event of an emergency where you might have only moments to leave your home (fire, post-tornado, flood, etc), the GOOD bag is a summary of your life and necessities, enough to get you to a rendezvous point of safety.  It is all the important documents, spare medications, and survival items to aid you in relocating and eventually rebuilding after a disaster.  Remember, after some disasters like a tornado, emergency personnel may not come to your family first as other situations in your community will take priority until more help arrives.  Therefore, it would benefit your family and children greatly if you were able to, for example,  care for their injuries with your own first aid kit.  It would also be of great benefit to local law enforcement if you had means of personal identification with you.  Do your own homework and check out the news stories that came out post-Katrina and the even more recent Moore, OK, tornado.  What would have aided those survivors who were left in the wreckage? 

What items should I have in my pack?  Well, first of all, you should have one pack per family member, so therefore the items in the pack should be specific to that person's needs.  Are they an adult or a child?  Does that person have specific health concerns and/or medications?  Consider these factors when making the list for your pack.

Our adult packs include:
(because of space issues, my husband's pack is more geared towards defense and orienteering, where mine is more first aid and food related)
1) A binder with COPIES OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
-birth certificate
-Social Security card
-driver's license
-professional licenses
-credit and debit cards
-passport (ORIGINAL, but mine is also expired)
-vet records of animal rabies vaccinations

2) First Aid kit
-hydrogen peroxide
-rubbing alcohol
-band aids

-ace wrap
-bar soap
-scissors
-medical tape
-gauze
-burn cream
-insect bite/plant rash lotion (called Chalomine lotion)
-myriad of pills (Tylenol, Advil, Tums, etc)
-triple antibiotic ointment
-latex gloves

3) Duct Tape
4) Multi-tool camping style knife

5) Binoculars
6) Extra ammunition for my handgun
7) Small Gideon Bible (I had a bunch laying around; useful place for them)
8)  Small notepad and a few pens
9) Waterproof, strike-anywhere matches
10) Fire starter bricks
11) Lint fire starters (pack laundry lint into used toilet paper rolls)
12) Newspaper for starting fires
13) Book of edible plants for my region
14) Maps of my state and surrounding states WITH OUR REGROUP SITE HIGH-LIGHTED
15) Camping mess kit
16) Quick food, such as MRE's (I have not purchased any yet) or simply granola bars
17) Whistle
18) Compass
19) Water bottle (mine is a Berky Sport Bottle, which can filter even pond water!)
20) Rain Pancho
21) Emergency heat blanket
22) Change of clothes
23) Dog leash 
24) Toilet paper
25) Feminine hygiene items
26) Small tape measure (mine is a wedding favor ;P)
27) Flashlight and extra batteries 
28) Battery-powered radio
 
My toddler son's pack includes: 
1) Blanket
2) Change of clothes
3) Diapers
4) Wipes
5) Baby powder
6) Snacks
7) Children's book
8) Toy
9) Picture of family members with labels
10) Copies of important documents pertaining to him (birth certificate, SS card, etc)
11) Flashlight and extra batteries

In closing, you can call me crazy, but in the end, a disaster will come to all of us at some point.  It may show its ugly face in different ways, but hopefully none will require us to leave our home quickly and for a temporary time period.  It is all of our prayers that no one would ever experience losing our home to fire or other natural disaster, but we all know it happens.  What would it hurt to be one small step ahead?  What would it hurt to have even the smallest means of personal items and information during the rebuilding stage after a crises?  After all, imagine how much you could relax after losing your home when all you have to do is turn over your copies of personal information rather than traveling to and fro trying to prove who you are?  Imagine actually having a diaper along with you to change your crying infant.  Imagine being able to hand your child their own stuffed animal from home as you tuck her into bed at the hotel room after your home has been damaged by a tornado.  Those are moments where you will shine as being the parent who was prepared. :-)

Ever considered the role of Charity?
Going back to our post-tornado scenario where your town looks like a war zone, what will your family being a little more prepared enable?  Assuming all of your family safely rode out the disaster, you have cared for their minor cuts and scrapes, what can you now do?  Your family can now distribute your survival items as charity!  Imagine how many people you can assist by tending now to their injuries, baby needs, whatever the case may be. :-)  

Prepping Part 1: Emergency Overview

As some of you already know, my husband and I could be classified as "preppers".  No, we're not the rapture-dooms day followers that will be drinking suicidal kool-aid during a ceremony on a certain day, predetermined thousands of years ago by Mayan mathematicians and astrologers.  We prepare, or "prep", for those unknowns in life.  This could be anything from a flat tire to a worldwide flu pandemic.  All of us are preppers in our own way.  We all have it ingrained into our minds to have some sort of a skeleton plan in place for emergencies, and this can be as small as reading the fire exit plan in our hotel room after we get settled.

In an emergency situation, the only way to survive is to have a PRACTICED plan in place.  This is why life guards hold regular training sessions with personnel to ensure everyone understands their role in the united goal of saving a life or lives in an emergency situation.  This is also why your local fire department has regular meetings, safety checks, and simulations.  After all, in a true emergency, focus and keeping one's head about them can mean the difference between life or death.  These next few posts will revolve around this idea of prepping, and each part will delve deeper into the specifics of what emergencies you and your family might begin considering.

In this post, I am going to focus on the basic prepping that I believe every single person needs to be practicing routinely.  And, because of my location, I will be focusing on natural/man-made disasters particular to my area here in the midwest.  However, you can easily use my examples and information and apply them to your particular situation, simply tweak as needed. :-)

The Boy Scout motto is "be prepared".  However, within those two little words is a myriad of education, information, time, energy, some money, and organization.  BUT IT'S NOT DIFFICULT! It's actually quite exciting, and I am nerdy enough to think it's fun to even qualify prepping as a hobby.  Start by making a list of possible emergencies in your area.  My beginning list looks a little like this:
1) House fire
2) Tornado
3) Flood
4) Drought

These are the events most likely to happen in my region.  What are yours?  Now, considering this list, the first step towards preparedness is to start thinking of an emergency plan for each scenario, thinking of worst-case first.  Make sure to physically WRITE OUT your plan and COMMUNICATE it to your family.  Make sure everyone knows their specific role and PRACTICE the plan!  You will find that each of the above situations, and more later as we discuss them, will require a "To-Go bag" or a "Get Out of Dodge" (GOOD) pack.  This is simply a back pack for each family member that includes items that could help you live for a three day "unknown" period.  My next post will cover items you should consider putting in these packs, and, if my computer cooperates, there will be pictures. :-)

The Lost Culture of the Apron

I wanted to share this absolutely gorgeous and nostalgic poem with everyone.  Lately, I have been completely entranced by the seemingly lost days of what we know as the apron.  The lifestyle and attitude surrounding that simple piece of cloth is of such interest to me.  A wonderful book to enjoy on a cozy winter's day is The Apron Book by EllynAnne Geisel.  Over Thanksgiving, my grandmother and other girls of the family will be making memories together by having an apron-making party.  We are very excited to be creating our very own version of this symbol of Titus 2 womanhood.  Our culture seems to have lost the pride of the Christian woman as Keeper of the Home.  I believe the apron is beautifully illustrated as such in this poem.
So, grab a cup of cocoa and cozy up to the words of Tina Trivett. :-)

Grandma’s Apron
by Tina Trivett

The strings were tied, it was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.
For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed. The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she’d found.
Or to hide a crying child’s face when a stranger came around.
Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.
Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.
She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.
To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.
When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.
You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.
She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.
Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.
When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I’m sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.

Photo from http://s7.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/31A989CC.jpg

Winter Projects: for those ho-hum days

1. Clean out the fridge! And I mean really clean it! 
- get out all the nasty food
- wipe down the shelves with soapy water
- reorganize according to food type

2. Go through all of your and your children's clothes to donate what they truly don't wear anymore. 
- a good rule is if you haven't worn it in a year, you probably won't wear it again
- an exception to the rule would be formal wear

3. Organize the pantry
- not only clean the shelves and walls, but organize food according to food type
- if you're REALLY crazy (like me!), make an inventoried list of the food you have.  This helps you meal plan.
- organize and sort food according to Best-By Date! Obviously the food at the front is the earlier date.

4. Attack the storage room
- how much of our STUFF is really worth keeping?  Encourage your family members to donate or gift to friends in need.
- pick up a few apple boxes from your local grocery store.  These make great storage containers, and the lack of cost is enough to overcome my sadness that they aren't clear.  The grocer will be MORE than happy to connect you with some boxes, as it means less work for him at the end of the day.  Banana boxes have a hole in the bottom, and apple boxes have proportional-fitting lids, hence why they are my favorite. 

5. Rearrange the furniture
- the kids will LOVE the fun change, even though your husband might take a bit to warm up to it (like my dear hubby)
- clean as you go. Vacuum, collect the coins you find, etc.

6. Help the kids trade rooms
- my three siblings and I did this ALL the time growing up, and it brought us a lot of joy.  Not only were we getting a new, exciting space to call our own, but it forced us to work together happily for the benefit of each other.
- again, clean as you go. Sorting, sweeping, mopping, etc.

7. Make freezer meals
- I will have a future post with tried-and-true recipes for this, but for now use google ;P
- great for keeping for a rushed day or to give to someone ill, had a baby, lost a loved one, etc

8. Wash the walls
- you'd be surprised the grease and grime build-up from the sticky Popsicle fingers and homemade french fries around not only your kitchen, but mudroom and living room walls.  Grab an ice cream bucket with some warm water and a touch of dish soap.

9. Visit the nursing home and/or hospital
- you don't need children or even a pet to do this (even though either are great, if you are willing and able!)
- simply ask someone at the desk if there is a patient who would like a visitor.  Many wonderful and meaningful relationships for me have been built this way.
- bring a deck of cards ;P  And prepare to get your tooshie beat!

10. VOLUNTEER
- there are many places in your community that could use your and your family's help.  Even if it's just for one afternoon
- check out your local food bank, nursing homes (do you have a craft you could help the residents learn as a presentation? Ask to be put on their event calender), non-profit thrift store, animal shelter, etc.  :-)

Calcium can CURE a Fever?

It is so hard to see our wee babies fighting a FEVER, whether they be infants or young adults.  However, did you know there is a cure for your child's fever in your medicine cabinet?

Most women take a calcium supplement, and so most of us have CALCIUM CITRATE next to our prenatal pills in our cupboard.  If you do not already take calcium-citrate or calcium-magnesium, you can find a bottle of these pills at your grocery store in the vitamin section.

So what does calcium have to do with a fever?  Well, let's first break down and understand what a fever is.  A fever is the body's way of fighting off infection or a bacterial threat.  However, most people do not know that a fever is a result of a calcium deficiency in the body.  When the body fights off infection, it uses little soldiers called White Blood Cells.  White blood cells are transported via the bloodstream to the impending threat, and it is their duty to the body to surround and absorb the germ.  These white cells are made mostly of calcium, and is easy to remember because we associate milk with calcium, which is also white.  See THIS ARTICLE for more information!

So there is an infection going on in your body.  To use a military analogy, the normal battalion of soldiers is being used up and spent.  The white blood cells are literally giving their lives to defend the nation called Body.  Body needs reinforcements!  Body has no choice but to steal calcium from our bones.  Sacrifice must take place in order to save the entire Body.  A fever is the body super-heating (which for our sensitive bodies can be accomplished in just a few degrees) in order to turn some of our hard bone marrow into a liquid, easily transportable form for the bloodstream.  Are you familiar with the ACHING feeling often accompanied by a fever?  You are feeling this bone marrow transition from a solid to a softer, almost liquid form.

However, with this information, we can help our bodies fight infection and reduce the fever by giving it extra calcium so our bones are not robbed.  By keeping a supply of CALCIUM CITRATE or CALCIUM-MAGNESIUM on hand, adults can rid their fever with just a pill or two.  You can even rid your child's fever with a little work ahead of time.

**Is your sweet baby teething?  You can help her out by giving her extra calcium in her drink.  After all, teeth are made of calcium, and it requires extra calcium fuel for the teeth to move up their gums.**

Here is what I do:
1) Using a food processor (I happen to have the small, 2-cup KitchenAid food processor), grind a handful of calcium pills into a powder.
- store in an air tight container.  I use a small glass jar with a mayonnaise lid labeled "calcium powder"
- as with any medicine or home remedy, keep away from children.  I have a certain high cabinet in my kitchen that houses all my pills, salves, extracts, essential oils, etc.

2) Give a little less of a teaspoon to children over 2 every four hours or until the fever is receding.
- I mix it in my son's favorite juice or in chocolate milk, and he wouldn't know any better.
- Believe it or not, even infants can receive this treatment because their bodies are used to receiving calcium via breast milk. However, their dose would look more like 1-2 pinches of the powder into their bottle, again every feeding until the fever is leaving.

3) THANKFULLY, one cannot overdose on calcium! :-)  Your body will simply expel the excess without any adverse effects. 

A GREAT science lesson for even the elementary child is to use mini marshmallows as white blood cells and chocolate chips to represent germs. Have your children smash the marshmallow over the chocolate chip and eat it, showing the germ being destroyed.  Then, make sure there are a few more "germs" than there are "white blood cells" and explain that now the country called Body (or use their name!) needs more soldiers so it is going to heat itself to borrow soldiers from the villages (use stick pretzels for the village boundaries) called Bone (or Arm Bone, Leg Bone, etc).  Then explain how those other villages are now hurting (muscle aches) because their fathers and brothers have gone to war to defend Body.  :-)

Lotion Bars!

I am quite sure Wellness Mama is my absolute favorite place to visit online if I am looking for a certain herbal remedy, or just have freetime to scope the net a bit.  I tried her recipe for lotion bars and they turned out really well! 

Recipe:
1 part coconut oil (I did 1 cup)
1 part shea, cocoa, or mango butter (again, 1 cup)
1 part beeswax (1 cup)
opt. vitamin E oil to preserve (1 tsp)
opt. essential oil for fragrance (about 25 drops. I chose lavender)
 
Here is what I did:
1) Melt all the above ingredients EXCEPT the essential oil in a double boiler. MIX WELL!
*You can create your own double boiler by simply putting a quart jar holding your ingredients to melt in a saucepan over heat with about 1-2 inches water in the saucepan.*

2) Remove from heat, and add essential oil to your mixture.
- some great scents are lavender, cinnamon bark, chamomile, etc. But experiment with your favorite!
 
3) Pour into molds 
- clean yogurt containers work wonderfully, but know that you should not use them for food again
- you can also pour the mixture into a 9x9 pan lined with wax paper and cut into bars after it cools

4)  Cool completely before removing from molds. 
- the refrigerator works wonderfully to speed up this process.  If you're like me, you're very anxious and excited to see your job well done! :-)
- make sure family and guests know this bar isn't soap! Maybe get creative with a stamp that says "lotion".

Cold and Flu Prevention/Treatment: Elderberry Syrup (DIY!)

Elderberry Syrup

Cold and Flu Prevention/Treatment

This week, I took a recipe from my favorite blog and tried my own variation.  In my county, we have to travel at least 30 minutes to get to the nearest health food store.  Therefore, most of us tend to plan ahead and order our organic/natural items via a monthly co-op.  After running the numbers, I found that it would be more beneficial to my frugal family to purchase a bottle of elderberry extract rather than actual elderberries themselves.  However, the recipe I was following called for simmering the actual berries.  Time for experiment mode!  After some quick calculations, I decided 10 droppers-full of the extract would get me about the same amount as boiling/simmering the 2/3 cup berries.  The end result was a daily dose of a VERY tasty herbal remedy, and the best part is knowing my family will benefit from its natural properties.

Recipe

10 droppers-full pure elderberry extract 

4 cups water

2 quarter-sized slices of fresh ginger root, quartered (more easily permeated by water)

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1 cup raw, local honey

 

Here is what I did:

1) In a saucepan, heat all but the honey to a boil.  Remove from heat.

 

2) Add honey, and mix well.

 

3) Pour into quart jar container with a lid (old mayonnaise lids work wonderfully!) and keep refrigerated. 

The dose is 1/2 to 1tsp for children, and 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon for adults.  Take daily during cold and flu season, and especially if symptoms for these illnesses arise.  Already caught a cold or flu bug?  Please see my other posts on natural remedies and herbs helpful for these illnesses.

 

 

Now, wasn't that easy? Three steps to reaping the wonderful health benefits of elderberry and honey.  Remember, buying local honey is one of the best health choices you can make.  Not only does it support your local economy, but it carries allergens particular to your area.  This enables your body to, in times of health, become accustom and even immune to the allergens you come in contact with every time you take in a breath of fresh air. :-)

 

**because the water was boiled and honey cannot go bad, along with the preservation properties of both cinnamon and cloves, your quart of elderberry extract should last you the entire cold/flu season if kept refrigerated**

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my Blog!

Greetings!

May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ work in you and bless you during your visit to my blog.  The purpose of "Back to Basics: Midwestern Style" is to communicate, display, and share the passions my family keeps in the older traditions of our American forefathers, and to demonstrate how they function in a Midwestern climate, community, and culture.  After all, a "back to basics"-minded person in Vermont is going to be able to share a different lifestyle than the cacti-laden hills of Arizona, and vice versa.



Please enjoy your time here.  Please feel free to ask questions or comment, and I will try my best to answer promptly.  The power of kindred spirits is amazing, and I would be so happy if I could be an encouragement to you! :-)  Blessings!