A few different things happened this week that made me stop and really think about what lies ahead. I am not predicting the long future here. I'm merely wondering how prepared I am for the next season and the next few months.
John and I noticed four weeks ago that the grass suddenly slowed down in growth. We've had enough rain here in our portion of the country the past six weeks or so that it's been growing at the usual rate and then some. John could barely go 5 days without cutting one of the lawns and then suddenly there was no need to mow for ten days. We peered at the lawn and pronounced our belief that the growth had slowed way down at supper that night. In a state where one might easily cut grass from February through December this is unusual enough to be commented upon.
Then I was reading through posts from September 2011. We had an unusually early and cool fall that month. Cool enough that we barely used our AC at all. Again: February through December is our more usual timeline for requiring that at some point most days. If I recall correctly we had one of the coldest autumns we've had in years with temperatures in the low 20's. Those are occasional winter temps for us.
So, we'd noted the grass slowed, the golden rod suddenly started blooming and the mallow flower stems are fat with buds. I'd noticed John and I both beginning to crave those hot and hearty cooler weather meals. Mornings have been cooler so that the AC didn't come on at all for a few hours. There have been days where it cut on and off routinely these last two weeks, even if the oven was going and heating up the kitchen. Then a few leaves began to change color and to drop onto the lawn below. It's a little early-ish yet for such activity.
I went to read the Farmer's Almanac, which frankly I trust more than most meteorologists, and read of a colder than usual fall ahead for our region and slushy/sleety winter. Oh my.
That was just one case of wondering if I was ready for a different season.
I watched Appalachia Homestead's vlog and she shared a bit of folklore to predict a new season. She asked if people were ready for winter...winter! And we're not even into fall just yet. But as she reasoned, it takes time and planning to get prepared. It reminded me of the fashion industry. If you want winter clothes, you'd best buy them in the late summer, very early autumn months because come winter, the stores will be full of bathing suits. It's not just fall decorations in the stores right now, it's fall clothing lines and winter clothing will be in stores well before Halloween arrives.
I've said before, and shall likely say again, I am not a prepper. I am not interested in being ready for absolutely every scenario and possibility. I don't think we can be fully prepared for every little thing. But I do know that I need to be aware of what appears to be ahead. A cold autumn alone is enough to make me want to consider what I might do to insure we are warm and well fed, that we have a source for heating and cooking outside of electricity, that we have warm clothes and cold remedies on hand. Do we have what is necessary to protect our water supply if we're experiencing extended deep-freezing temperatures come winter? Do I have enough water in reserve to cover our needs?
How can I help others in my family do the same? The house in town is our responsibility and there are no alternative sources of heating there. Mama has no alternative source in her apartment either...Where and how can I help them as well as us?
Concern over rising prices and possible supply chain breaks has made me consider how and what I shall feed my household as well as what I might need to help others in my family. I'm trying to see how I can make the very best possible use of what I already have on hand. I'm checking multiple sales at stores and making wandering trips into stores with which I'm unfamiliar, trying to see how they might compare pricewise and always, always, always snatching up those things that are good, cheap foods.
I'm also considering how I might preserve foods. My freezer is packed. I need more storage space, but I really don't want another freezer, except to swap my current chest freezer for an upright. It's occurred to me that it's time to consider other methods of food preservation, such as dehydrating and pressure canning. I've a short list of things I want to acquire as finances allow but I'm not discounting what I have already and considering how I might do better.
I know we have ample cold medicines with the exception of needing fresh cough drops. Those are old and super sticky, the way they get at times. I definitely need to get those. I have a supply of vitamin C as well as Vitamin C based drink mix. I would like to get some more shelf stable real fruit juices for the season ahead. Pineapple juice is always beneficial for colds. I'm good on pineapple itself courtesy a sale this past spring. And while I believe in the power of homemade chicken soup, if I'm the one who is sick...I might not feel up to making any. I'd like to supply my freezer with a bit that could be thawed and reheated. That means creating room in my freezer as well as preparing it. A few cans of a good quality chicken soup might not be remiss either.
It's also time to plan ahead for holiday meals and determine what of those foodstuffs I might go ahead and purchase so that it's on hand. And mentioning holidays. I've slowly. ever so slowly, started Christmas shopping. Along about August, I start thinking about Christmas gifts and my goal this year is to be done by October 31. We'll see if I make that goal or not. I'm going to have to really get busy.
I'm looking a little further ahead to Spring and planning to order a few flower and vegetable seeds this fall. You see, I know that Spring always comes, and I might as well be prepared for that, too.
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