Mak'in a List, Check'in it Twice

According to Vedanta (Hindu teaching) there are only two symptoms
of enlightenment, just two indications that a transformation
is taking place within you toward a higher consciousness.
The first symptom is that you stop worrying. Things dont bother
you anymore. You become light- hearted and full of joy. The second symptom
is that you encounter more and more meaningful coincidences in your life,
more and more synchronicities. And this accelerates to the point
where you actually experience the miraculous.
from: Synchro Destiny
by: Deepak Chopra

One of my FEW New Years resolutions to myself is to become better prepared.
This is NOT because Glenn Beck pleads with the American public each morning on talk radio to make ready for impending doom!! “store food!!' “buy gold!!” he shouts, “get educated about what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they helped to create this great nation!!” All things which ring true and bear repeating.
But I and all other Mormons have been hearing this advice for many years now. It seems that our church leaders have been exhorting us since the beginning of time to stock up, stay out of debt and serve our fellowmen.
And so you know, I do have a basement full of food. Some of which I use on a regular basis, and some of it is so old that its actually stuck to the shelving so tight that it'll take a crowbar to pry it loose!! ugh!!
I havent mastered the fine art of rotation.
But...this will be the year!!
I'll organize
restock
find comfort
and satisfaction
and maybe attempt to share with you what Im doing and learning as I go.
So here are this weeks goals:
First

72 hour kit
what is it?
What should it include?
Where do I begin?

Second

I will become a little hamster and squirrel away some yummy nuts for a rainy day. My food storage needs some nuts. I prefer almonds and pecans. We grow pistachios, but they are consumed before they have a chance to even dry from their briny bath. So...the nuts that I do acquire I will store in my freezer (I hear thats a good way to keep them fresh) Nuts are a great source of vitamins and minerals. Plus, and more importantly, brownies are much better with nuts!!

Third

I will be organizing my sewing supplies. I have plenty of sewing paraphernalia. Its just that its scattered all over the house, sometimes in places that they have no call for being. Come disaster time...i may need a zipper.

Forth

First Aid supplies. I have a great big 'ol plastic tub in my closet. Its been there for years. Its a pretty decent first aid kit. This is the week to dust it off and open it up and re-evaluate and restock whats in there. Im sure Im in for some surprises. I'll be checking expiration dates.

Lastly

Im going to think about all my dry soup mixes. I have cheap soup mix and I have expensive mixes. I dont use them. I will change this. I will organize and “think soup,” and restore.

Sounds like a good week to me!!!
Any ideas or suggestions?

thanks pam!!!

ARE WE PREPARING IN EVERY WAY?

For my 20 min,3 day a week drive to my hikes in the mornings, I click on talk radio and listen to my beloved Glenn Beck. Though he's become a real downer of late, I still tune in to see whats causing blood to shoot out of his eyes.
Like everywhere else, topics swirl around the crisis with the economy. Its affecting people all around us. Its affecting us too.
What am I doing:
-turning down the heat a notch or two.
-shopping even less than previously.
-pancakes and french toast for dinner is ok
-hunker down and save where I can
-food storage
-my frugality is looking pretty darn wise right now.
What I Know:
I unfortunately believe as Glenn Beck does;something is astir-I acknowledge it-but I will not live in fear and I'll try hard not to sulk. There are still too many wonderful blessings in my life. Heavenly Father is good to me everyday!!
It can be kindnesses that get us through tough times.
What random acts of kindness have you experienced of late?

Kindness
from-Naomi Nye
"Before you know what kindness really is,
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.

(what do ya think?)

image from ffffound

Under Advisement

We 'Mormons' are exhorted annually, bi-annually, tri-annually, and almost every Sunday, of the many things that we should be doing to better prepare ourselves and our families for the unexpected or the anticipated events that this mortal life dishes out!!! I think we began hearing this counsel in the 40's. I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach at the thought of coming up short when things get tough. Heaven knows that I have been taught thoroughly. I will have no excuses. Beginning is a good step; always being vigilant is better! No time for slackers, no sitting on my laurels. No more complacency!! (At least I'm sure to be warm in the winter,

thanks to the Brian Head property.)

What I know: I do not need to live in fear. Also, there is no such thing as too much preparedness. There is always something more that can be done. Solar Ovens are the hot topic around the dinner table of late.

p.s.-this is the butt ugly part of our arce!! The rest of it is Beu....teee...fullllll!!! Due to the talents of my Builder!!

ARE WE PREPARED?

S.I.L. Pam emailed this list to me. Its the first of its type, (and I recieved many) that has really got me thinking. I listen to Glenn Beck most every morning, and he does a good job of projecting the gloom and doom that may be ahead of us,as a country and a world. And, since I listen to him a lot, I may be becoming "deaf" to his message of why and how we need to be prepared. This list gets the ole gray matter mov'in. The Builder and I are going to have a pow-wow; we will shall not fear, for we will be prepared!! (Even MORE than we are!!)

100 Items to Disappear First in
Times of Emergency:

> 1. Generators (Good ones cost
dearly. Gas storage, risky.
> noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
> 2. Water Filters/Purifiers
> 3. Portable Toilets
> 4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become
> dried, for home uses.
> 5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce,
> stockpile ANY!)
> 6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
> 7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & slingshots.
> 8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
> 9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
> 10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
> 11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled
> etc.,)
> 12.Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
> 13.Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD
> CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
> 16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
> 17. Survival Guide Book.
> 18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term
> lighting is difficult.) 19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula.ointments/aspirin,
> etc.
> 20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
> 21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
> 22. Vitamins
> 23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without
> this item)
> 24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
> 25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
> 26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
> 27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
> 28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
> 29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
> 30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
> 31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
> 32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
> 33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
> 34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
> 35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
> 36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
> 37. First aid kits 38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration
> Dates)
> 39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
> 40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
> 41. Flour, yeast & salt
> 42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches
> will go first.
> 43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
> 44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
> 45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
> 46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
> 47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic
> Times)
> 48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with
> wheels)
> 49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers,
> etc
> 50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
> 51. Fishing supplies/tools
> 52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
> 53. Duct Tape
> 54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
> 55. Candles
> 56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
> 57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
> 58. Garden tools & supplies
> 59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
> 60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
> 61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
> 62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
> 63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
> 64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
> 65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
> 66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
> 67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
> 68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
> 69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
> 70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
> 71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
> 72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
> 73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
> 74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
> 75. Soysauce, vinegar,bullions/gravy/soupbase
> 76. Reading glasses
> 77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
> 78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
> 79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
> 80. Boy Scout Handbook, also Leaders Catalog
> 81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
> 82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
> 83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
> 84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
> 85. Lumber(all types)
> 86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
> 87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
> 88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
> 89. Lantern Hangers
> 90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
> 91. Teas .Coffee Cigarettes. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
> 95. Paraffin wax
> 96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
> 97. Chewing gum/candies
> 98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
> 99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
> 100. Goats / Chickens

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that
can happen in a war - death of parents
and friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper
attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you
never know how long trouble will last, so
locate near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury
in war quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than
gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the
easiest to do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no
need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents
are tasty without heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned
gravy - it makes a lot of the dry unappetizing things you find to eat
in war somewhat edible. Only needs enough heat to "warm", not to
cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become
more valuable as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of
survival guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway
trust me, you'll have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you
how many people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for
just a little bit of toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in
fighting if you have to lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders
like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches