The Week Ahead: Prudence

 

“As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect.”
Gordon B. Hinckley

I found the above quote on Frugal Measures blog for last week.  It's the last part of the little blurb that really hit me had "But let us not panic nor go to extremes.  Let us be prudent in every respect."  There are times when I worry about what I'm not doing with my pantry/freezer storage, and there are times when I feel very much that I am okay where I am, that much more would feel like hoarding, something which I very much do not want to do.  I want to be able to reasonably use my food storage to carry us over tight spots and rough patches, or to carry a family member over such spots, but I confess that in watching those extreme couponing shows I shy away hard at the number of items people with small families stockpile.

This year I've added three bins to my pantry storage, all big rectangular boxes with a foam seal around the lids of each in which I  safely store dry goods, previously a problem area for my pantry for some time.  I had the 5 gallon buckets but frankly found them impractical for use unless contents were emptied into them from original packaging.  With the hermetically sealed bins I can store in packaging, which in my mind preserves the integrity of the product.   The bins are deep enough they allow me to layer items in them.  Best of all, the bins stack one atop the other.  I keep the heaviest items on the bottom (flour/sugar) and lighter items in the upper boxes.

Do I feel my food storage is complete?  No, I don't.  I can easily name off a dozen items I don't have in my pantry that I think are necessary items.  I would like to expand some of the items I know we could store in larger numbers.  I want to add another smaller (narrower) shelfing unit to the closet and perhaps another bin or two, but I do not feel that adding and filling these would make our storage excessive.

I would very much like to have my storage in the freezer better organized, and by that I mean flatter packaging that promotes more efficient usage of space.  I often do not take time to try to freeze items flat but I should.  Flat packets stack neatly in baskets.  They thaw quicker and more easily.  Of course, there are things that won't freeze flat like a whole chicken or turkey breast but just think of how much more I could put in that freezer if I did freeze all that I could in flat packets.

My grandmother always bought those little waxed boxes and filled small plastic bags with her vegetables and fruit that she stored, then placed the bags in the boxes.  They were the size of the 10 ounce boxes you might still buy today in some instances.  She stacked these neatly into her freezer.   Grandmama's flaw was that she started at one end of the freezer and pulled out whatever was there, so they ate first a continuous supply of peas and then butterbeans, etc...or so my mother tells me.  However, I think she was very wise to make good use of her deep freeze in such a way  and I imagine she was able to store a great deal more in hers than I have done in mine.  Worth thinking about...

Let us move on and look at what I got done last week and what I plan for the week ahead.

The week behind:

Groceries, errands, day out with Mama, routine housework were all done.  Zone work didn't get touched.  I've not actually made a list of jobs to attend to in each zone for March, but have made mental notes about things that I think should be done about the house, if I didn't do them immediately (mending).

I learned to crochet.  I haven't touched it in a couple of days but I will.  I don't mean to start it and then put it away.

We ate every single meal on the menu this week.  Every one.

I 've made my way through all but one of the vintage March magazines, and culled the very worst ones.  I went through a few of the GLH books and culled a few and set some aside to read that I think I may want to keep.

I read through the archives of Laine's Letters and Legacy of Home by Mrs. Sharon White.

In the  week ahead...

Work:  
Zone:  Living room/Dining Room/ Front Entry

Aside from a slightly deeper cleaning of the room I'd like to dust the blinds and run the curtains through the dryer on air setting to pull dust from them.

I also mean to push John to do something about the nest of defunct satellite cables in the corner next to the tv.  They serve no purpose at all.  His excuse last week was that there would then be a hole in the floor.  I've steel wool and extra carpet which I'm perfectly willing to cut to fill that stupid hole.

I am still looking for a wreath or something for the front door.  I know I have things in the shed, but I'm longing for a fresh look.  I've been pinning plenty of ideas.  This week I'd really like to do.

I'm going to try to pin John down to a decision about which bank he wants to use for our new account.

I have a long list of shopping I really should do.  I've about narrowed down what clothing I need  for the months ahead.  Bras top the list.  I do consider shopping work because I must channel my attention to stay focused upon what's on my list and not get distracted by all the lovely but very unnecessary items.

A meal prep day which is to include making Shabat bread.

Work out a pretty arrangement for the table between mine and John's chairs.  Honestly the living room is so close to being done but I've done nothing in that one spot because we use the table.  Part of the problem is that by the time you put on the table the  remote, a glass, a coffee cup and the lamp it appears crowded and cluttered and there's no room for pretties, but I'm sure if I work at it I'll find something that will work...and I'll just have to be vigilant about making sure it continues to look as nice as the rest of the room.



Pick up sticks.  The lawn has grown by leaps and bounds.  Well the spring weeds in the lawn have grown anyway and it's looking fairly shabby.  I know that John will be wanting to mow sooner rather than later, so this is a must.

Meals:

on my own x 3

Roast Whole Chicken, Roasted Vegetables, Spring Salad, Chocolate Cream Pie

Stuffed Peppers, Mashed Potatoes, Butter Beans, Cornbread Muffins

Chili Pineapple Chicken, Rice, Broccoli

Lentil Bolognese, Garlic  Toast, Green Salad

Leisure:

Have a spa day.

I am reading The Dean's Watch with the Elizabeth Goudge book club.  Chapters 1-4 this week.  I'm looking forward to participating in this discussion.

I have a big stack of books by my chair, some I'm reading, some I want to read.  Obviously reading is my big leisure activity this week!

Make a crocheted dishcloth.  Add to my yo yo stash.

Work on my genealogy notebooks.  I really do want to pursue this routinely and not just now and then.  I have a real desire to tell a story with the work I've done and to get to know the eras and the families and their neighbors, etc.