A lot more people are baking at home these days, and yeast has become a premium item. In some places, it's in short supply. Lisa offers a wonderful tutorial on a DIY option for this bread stable. Go check it out.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
How to make your own yeast
My friend Lisa Bedford, the Survival Mom, has the niftiest post up: How to make your own yeast.
A lot more people are baking at home these days, and yeast has become a premium item. In some places, it's in short supply. Lisa offers a wonderful tutorial on a DIY option for this bread stable. Go check it out.
A lot more people are baking at home these days, and yeast has become a premium item. In some places, it's in short supply. Lisa offers a wonderful tutorial on a DIY option for this bread stable. Go check it out.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Follow me on Twitter
Reluctantly – kicking and screaming and tearing gouges in the flooring with my fingernails – I’m being dragged into the 21st century. Yes, I've started a Twitter account. Okay, let me rephrase that: I was talked into starting a Twitter account by my much more media-savvy Older Daughter and more more realistic husband.
The reason behind this hesitant move into social media is because I'm trying to build my platform. Exciting moves are afoot on the writing front, in both the fiction and the nonfiction side of things, and Twitter is a powerful and concise way to get a message across. So...I'm on Twitter.
(Well, let me amend that: We're on Twitter. Don and I are both working off the same Rural Revolution account. Believe me, you don't want to miss Don's hilarious sense of humor on this media platform.)
So, dear readers, I am begging a favor: If you have a Twitter account, please follow me at @rural_rev
Let's rock those tweets! Or twits. Or tweeters. Or whatever the heck they're called.
The reason behind this hesitant move into social media is because I'm trying to build my platform. Exciting moves are afoot on the writing front, in both the fiction and the nonfiction side of things, and Twitter is a powerful and concise way to get a message across. So...I'm on Twitter.
(Well, let me amend that: We're on Twitter. Don and I are both working off the same Rural Revolution account. Believe me, you don't want to miss Don's hilarious sense of humor on this media platform.)
So, dear readers, I am begging a favor: If you have a Twitter account, please follow me at @rural_rev
Let's rock those tweets! Or twits. Or tweeters. Or whatever the heck they're called.
Monday, April 13, 2020
Need a face mask?
The excellent family that runs Naturally Cozy (which makes the best washable feminine hygiene products in the world, in my humble opinion) have branched out. By popular request, they are making face masks.
"We researched the different patterns and came up with a version that is pleated like a real surgical mask, and that ties," they said.
These are just the spiffiest things! You have a choice of fabrics to suit your taste.
It looks like masks are going to loom large in everyone's future. Why not have something colorful as well as practical?
(And speaking of practical, there should not be a prepper woman out there without a full set of Naturally Cozy washable protection. Just sayin'.)
"We researched the different patterns and came up with a version that is pleated like a real surgical mask, and that ties," they said.
These are just the spiffiest things! You have a choice of fabrics to suit your taste.
It looks like masks are going to loom large in everyone's future. Why not have something colorful as well as practical?
(And speaking of practical, there should not be a prepper woman out there without a full set of Naturally Cozy washable protection. Just sayin'.)
Yes, Don's blog is down
I've received many, many comments from readers expressing concern because Don's blog -- the Daily Malcontent -- is down.
Fear not! Everything's fine.
What happened, actually, is he got bored with it. Don is an excellent writer, but he's not a "driven" on (as I am). So, after six months of nearly daily posts, he just got tired of messing with it and decided to take the whole thing down.
He's keeping all the posts, of course, just in case he wants to use one someday to further develop a theme or topic. He says he's "off to other projects that are dearer to his heart ... or his temperament. Or something like that."
Don asked me to express his thanks to all his faithful readers.
Fear not! Everything's fine.
What happened, actually, is he got bored with it. Don is an excellent writer, but he's not a "driven" on (as I am). So, after six months of nearly daily posts, he just got tired of messing with it and decided to take the whole thing down.
He's keeping all the posts, of course, just in case he wants to use one someday to further develop a theme or topic. He says he's "off to other projects that are dearer to his heart ... or his temperament. Or something like that."
Don asked me to express his thanks to all his faithful readers.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
He is risen!
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.
A blessed Day of Resurrection to you all.
In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.
A blessed Day of Resurrection to you all.
Monday, April 6, 2020
How to deter theft
A friend sent this. Made me chuckle.
Notably this was photographed in San Francisco. At least they have a sense of humor about it....
Notably this was photographed in San Francisco. At least they have a sense of humor about it....
Saturday, April 4, 2020
The taste of summer
Yesterday I rummaged around in our chest freezer to find something, which meant I had to push aside bags and bags and BAGS of blueberries I'd picked last July.
I kept meaning to can the berries but hadn't gotten around to it. Well, the time had come. I was tired of digging around them.
First step: pull out all the bags and let the berries defrost.
I wasn't sure how many pints jars the berries would fill, so I started off with a dozen. Then two dozen. Final count, thirty (and a half). (The jar in front is a half-pint jar.)
They look like little soldiers all lined up, don't they?
Making the syrup.
Filling the jars with syrup.
Scalding the lids and rings.
Processing in a water bath. Took two bouts with two kettles each to get them all done.
A long over-due job. Now we have more room in the freezer.
I kept meaning to can the berries but hadn't gotten around to it. Well, the time had come. I was tired of digging around them.
First step: pull out all the bags and let the berries defrost.
I wasn't sure how many pints jars the berries would fill, so I started off with a dozen. Then two dozen. Final count, thirty (and a half). (The jar in front is a half-pint jar.)
They look like little soldiers all lined up, don't they?
Making the syrup.
Filling the jars with syrup.
Scalding the lids and rings.
Processing in a water bath. Took two bouts with two kettles each to get them all done.
A long over-due job. Now we have more room in the freezer.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
More on Lehman's
With regards to the blog post on Lehman's I put up this morning, I received a comment as follows:
"I do like their stuff and have bought from them in the past. Looking through one of their latest catalogues a while back, I was sad to see how many of the items were made in China though. Perhaps they will rethink that moving forward?"
Within a couple hours of posting, I received a reply from Galen Lehman himself, CEO of the company, as follows:
"Dear Anonymous - I'm sorry you were disappointed with the amount of product we have from China. I am too! The problem is that we have no choice. If we want to offer a full line of product, we have to include Chinese product, because there is so little made here any longer. I can tell you this: If we know of a USA made version, we carry it. I challenge you to find anything in our store that is made in China but has a good source from an American factory. If you find it, I will carry it.
"Here are some areas where we have problems: Cast iron (yes, we carry USA-made Lodge cookware), tools, stainless steel and glass. For example, when was the last time you saw a stainless steel USA made teakettle. (For me, it's 1970.) We have American made glass from the last family owned commercial glass factory in the USA. But the rest comes from you know where. It's a sad situation."
Please note I've never communicated with Mr. Lehman before. He obviously came to the blog through my emails to his sister Glenda.
Personalized replies. Just part of Lehman's customer service. Gotta love it.
"I do like their stuff and have bought from them in the past. Looking through one of their latest catalogues a while back, I was sad to see how many of the items were made in China though. Perhaps they will rethink that moving forward?"
Within a couple hours of posting, I received a reply from Galen Lehman himself, CEO of the company, as follows:
"Dear Anonymous - I'm sorry you were disappointed with the amount of product we have from China. I am too! The problem is that we have no choice. If we want to offer a full line of product, we have to include Chinese product, because there is so little made here any longer. I can tell you this: If we know of a USA made version, we carry it. I challenge you to find anything in our store that is made in China but has a good source from an American factory. If you find it, I will carry it.
"Here are some areas where we have problems: Cast iron (yes, we carry USA-made Lodge cookware), tools, stainless steel and glass. For example, when was the last time you saw a stainless steel USA made teakettle. (For me, it's 1970.) We have American made glass from the last family owned commercial glass factory in the USA. But the rest comes from you know where. It's a sad situation."
Please note I've never communicated with Mr. Lehman before. He obviously came to the blog through my emails to his sister Glenda.
Personalized replies. Just part of Lehman's customer service. Gotta love it.
One business that's booming
I got curious the other day, and emailed my contact at Lehman's: Glenda Lehman Ervin, VP of Marketing.
Lehman's, as you no doubt know, is the massive mercantile originally founded to serve the needs of local Amish and Mennonite populations in Ohio. They cater to those living off-grid or rural, with an emphasis on leading customers toward a simpler and more sustainable life. I've been writing for their blog for a couple years now, and twice I've been privileged to visit the store in person.
We - the Lewis family - first learned about Lehman's in the late 90s. We ordered some toys for our girls from their catalog. Later, when Y2K hit, we wanted to order something else and found out they were slammed, just slammed, with customers concerned about the future and anxious to obtain products and supplies to help them weather any potential disruptions.
Remembering this experience, I emailed Glenda and asked, "Just as a matter of interest, have you folks been busy? I can imagine a lot of people are interested in what products you're offering."
I received a heartfelt response as follows: "The store is open but almost empty - but direct sales are through the roof! Shelf-stable food, gardening and prepper supplies (water pumps and wood cook stoves) are very much in demand."
Our emailed conversation continued. "If Lehman's is nothing else, it's virtually recession-proof," I wrote. "When the chips are down, people know old-fashioned products are more important than fancy whiz-bang gizmos."
"Yes, interesting times," Glenda replied. "I am grateful we can keep most of our employees busy."
Glenda then sent additional information, as well as some photos of their massive and busy warehouse, as follows:
"As an essential business selling shelf stable food, emergency supplies and cleaning items, Lehman’s in Kidron is open with reduced hours (10 am to 5 pm). There are very few customers in the store so we have staff shipping product out for online sales, which are increasing.
The increased demand is coming in two very different areas - in self-sufficiency supplies, such as canned meat, wood cook stoves, water pumps - and in gardening and food preservation products. We also see a dramatic increase in what we are calling comfort products. For example, last March we sold about 20 puzzles. This March we have sold over 130. There is also an increase in 'how to' books, toys and games, and baking items.
Our store events for March and April were cancelled or postponed (like the visit from 'Off Grid with Doug and Stacy') and we will decide soon on May events.
One of our biggest challenges is getting product from vendors. Some have ramped up production, but others cannot keep up.
You can also review this blog for more information, as well as visit our web site.
In summary, our mission for decades is to help people to be prepared, not scared. We have the resources to help in times of need, and a big part of that is providing information. We are hearing from people who have no knowledge of self-reliance (city folks, as we call them) so we are spending hours on the phone, explaining things like how to install a water pump or when to plant your garden. We are also sending emails, posting blogs and doing social posts that are helpful and comforting.
Happy to talk on the phone if you need more information."
I'm not kidding, folks, Lehman's is the best resource I can think of for self-sufficiency information and products. When I visited the store last November and was given a tour, one of the things I learned was how much Lehman's emphasizes education -- not just for its customers, but for its staff. The training its sales staff receives in their particular areas of specialty is amazing.
It's good to see, once again, Lehman's rising to the occasion during this pandemic.
Lehman's, as you no doubt know, is the massive mercantile originally founded to serve the needs of local Amish and Mennonite populations in Ohio. They cater to those living off-grid or rural, with an emphasis on leading customers toward a simpler and more sustainable life. I've been writing for their blog for a couple years now, and twice I've been privileged to visit the store in person.
We - the Lewis family - first learned about Lehman's in the late 90s. We ordered some toys for our girls from their catalog. Later, when Y2K hit, we wanted to order something else and found out they were slammed, just slammed, with customers concerned about the future and anxious to obtain products and supplies to help them weather any potential disruptions.
Remembering this experience, I emailed Glenda and asked, "Just as a matter of interest, have you folks been busy? I can imagine a lot of people are interested in what products you're offering."
I received a heartfelt response as follows: "The store is open but almost empty - but direct sales are through the roof! Shelf-stable food, gardening and prepper supplies (water pumps and wood cook stoves) are very much in demand."
Our emailed conversation continued. "If Lehman's is nothing else, it's virtually recession-proof," I wrote. "When the chips are down, people know old-fashioned products are more important than fancy whiz-bang gizmos."
"Yes, interesting times," Glenda replied. "I am grateful we can keep most of our employees busy."
Glenda then sent additional information, as well as some photos of their massive and busy warehouse, as follows:
"As an essential business selling shelf stable food, emergency supplies and cleaning items, Lehman’s in Kidron is open with reduced hours (10 am to 5 pm). There are very few customers in the store so we have staff shipping product out for online sales, which are increasing.
The increased demand is coming in two very different areas - in self-sufficiency supplies, such as canned meat, wood cook stoves, water pumps - and in gardening and food preservation products. We also see a dramatic increase in what we are calling comfort products. For example, last March we sold about 20 puzzles. This March we have sold over 130. There is also an increase in 'how to' books, toys and games, and baking items.
Our store events for March and April were cancelled or postponed (like the visit from 'Off Grid with Doug and Stacy') and we will decide soon on May events.
One of our biggest challenges is getting product from vendors. Some have ramped up production, but others cannot keep up.
You can also review this blog for more information, as well as visit our web site.
In summary, our mission for decades is to help people to be prepared, not scared. We have the resources to help in times of need, and a big part of that is providing information. We are hearing from people who have no knowledge of self-reliance (city folks, as we call them) so we are spending hours on the phone, explaining things like how to install a water pump or when to plant your garden. We are also sending emails, posting blogs and doing social posts that are helpful and comforting.
Happy to talk on the phone if you need more information."
I'm not kidding, folks, Lehman's is the best resource I can think of for self-sufficiency information and products. When I visited the store last November and was given a tour, one of the things I learned was how much Lehman's emphasizes education -- not just for its customers, but for its staff. The training its sales staff receives in their particular areas of specialty is amazing.
It's good to see, once again, Lehman's rising to the occasion during this pandemic.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Some humor to lighten your day
In dark times, it's always good to laugh. Here are some memes, tweets, and photos to make you chuckle.
Here it is April 1. We woke up to the ultimate April Fool's joke: snow. Whee!
Darcy, being canine, thought snow was a terrific idea.
But I don't think this little bluebird seemed amused by the joke.
(For extra chuckles, we all felt the earthquake that hit central Idaho yesterday afternoon at 4:55 pm our time. From this distance, it was just a gentle rolling that caused no damage.)
Anyway, on to lighter stuff. Hare's some humor that, hopefully, will brighten your day.
Last but not least, our neighbor sent this parody of the Sound of Music. Brilliant!
Here it is April 1. We woke up to the ultimate April Fool's joke: snow. Whee!
Darcy, being canine, thought snow was a terrific idea.
But I don't think this little bluebird seemed amused by the joke.
(For extra chuckles, we all felt the earthquake that hit central Idaho yesterday afternoon at 4:55 pm our time. From this distance, it was just a gentle rolling that caused no damage.)
Anyway, on to lighter stuff. Hare's some humor that, hopefully, will brighten your day.
(This drink is known as a "Quarantini.")
(I got a chuckle out of this because I'm from the old school of typing -- learned on a manual typewriter in 1975 -- when double spaces after a period was de rigueur.)
(It's hard to see, but the logger spray painted the words "Raw toilet paper" on the ends of his logs.)
(Actually, this is no joke.)
(Needless to say, I sent this to Younger Daughter.)
(As devoted introverts, this cracked us up.)
(This made me howl. Seriously, look it up.)
Last but not least, our neighbor sent this parody of the Sound of Music. Brilliant!
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