WEEKLY WISDOM #7

Motivational Monday

– Benjamin Franklin said "Failing to prepare is simply preparing to fail."

Can we afford to be wrong?

Is it better have, what you don't need – or – need what you don't have?

Is it better to have a little too much – than to have a little too little?

Is it better to be prepared a little too soon – than one day late?

The United States grain inventories are at their lowest level, in history, according to record keeping by the U.S.D.A. In 1960 they had a 1095 day, or 3 year supply of grain reserves. In 2005 they had a 1 day reserve! 70% of the One-Day reserve consisted of unprocessed wheat and the remaining 30% was fresh milk, cheese, peanuts and lentils.

Can we afford to be wrong?

Timely Tuesday

– The WHO (World Health Organization) predicts that the world is now closer to a pandemic than in the past 50 years. The influenza season is about to begin according to Dr. Paul Schnee, who visited us last Thursday evening. Today put together a "flu kit". Think of the things that you would need to take care of your family when the nasty flu season hits. Start adding to your kit. Have it ready with any medical supplies that you will anticipate that you may need. Dr. Schnee made it very clear that these items will likely not be available at the greatest time we will need them so we should gather them now! Have food stored, savings (cash), alternate communication methods, and skill knowledge available. Look forward to after the New Year when we have an evening to learn basic nursing skills and hygiene skills to be able to care for our loved ones in our home!

Start today and prepare for this. Now is the time! It is only a matter of time, so plan for the worst, and pray for the least!

Workin' Wednesday

– Today add to your 72 hr kits some things for general sanitation. You can create a portable toilet out of a five gallon bucket with a tight fitting lid. Fill it with a plastic bags for liners, toilet paper, twist ties, disinfectant, powdered chlorinated lime, deodorant and insecticides, ziploc bags, wipes, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo, soap, feminine supplies, kleenex, chapstick, bug spray, hair brush, mirror, hand towel, face cloths, and anything else you think your family will need for sanitation.

After you have it filled, snap the lid on and put it with your 72 hour kits and you have ready made, transportable, washroom.

Thrifty Thursday – How about going through some of your old clothes and shoes today. Some of your old winter clothes may prove useful in your 72 hour kits, or in your car travel kits for the winter. Some old but sturdy shoes could be used instead of thrown out. Think of how you could reuse items, instead of throwing them out. I believe there will come a day when we will wish we had learned this principle of thrift. So start today with this one small task of sorting and finding other uses for the clothes or shoes we would normally toss. I remember a time when instead of throwing something out, my mother and grandmother would cut off all of the buttons, zippers, pockets, or anything else reusable, so that they could use it on something else. It is a forgotten art!

Food Storage Friday

– Here is a great way to use your food storage and save a little bit of money. It is called Cream of Whatever Soup Mix - From your storage you use:

2 cups powdered non fat dry milk

¾ cup cornstarch

¼ cup instant chicken or vegetable bouillon

2 tbsp dried onnion flakes

1 tsp basil leaves,

1 tsp thyme leaves

dash of pepper

Combine ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. To substitute for 1 can of condensed cream of whatever soup, combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 ¼ cups cold water. Heat and stir until it thickens. Use as you would canned soup. Makes the equivalent of 9 cans of soup at the cost of pennies per recipe.

Mushroom soup: add ½ cup finely chopped mushrooms

Celery: add ¼ cup minced celery

Potato: add 1 cup cooked diced potatoes

Chicken: add any amount of cooked chicken

Vegetable: add ¾ cup cooked vegetables

Broccoli: add 1 cup cooked chopped broccoli