I LOVE PIE!!! I could eat pie everyday! So many different kinds! Fruit, meat, vegetable, meat and veg, custard, nut..
It's my babysitter's and MIL fault! Mary and her daughter Kendra took me to a carnival at Kendra's school. There was a pie room. I tried the peach pie. I tried another slice, and another... I ate the ENTIRE pie!! OH it was soo good. the crust was light and flaky on top and the bottom crust was light, cooked through but had amazing flavor. The peaches.. not sure if they were canned or fresh.. Who cares, I dream about that pie to this day!!
I love Thanksgiving because there is GRAVY and then there is PIE! And not just one kind!! Almost always apple pie and pumpkin, then my SIL made chocolate cream pie. YUMMY
So one day I was next door visiting my MIL. She told me to try a tart. It was basically mini pecan pies. She only gave me half of one, because she said they were rich... OM Heck!! YUMMY!! My first time I had ever had pecan pie and I loved it!! Of course I had to come home and make some. Unfortunately I discovered that all pecan pie recipes use, yup you guessed it, CORN SYRUP. Why would anyone make such a wonderful thing using corn syrup?? Well, I had to find a way to fix this. I did. TWO ways in fact. The recipe is below:
PECAN PIE MUFFINS
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour (AP or GF !!!!)
1 cup pecans, chopped
2 eggs
2/3 cup butter, melted
Oven 350 degrees.
Mix all together.
Muffin tin, either lined or sprayed with oil. Fill atleast 9 of the spots.
Bake for 20 minutes
These are wonderful!! If you make them GF, they are a little gooey (perfect). I made these for a dessert and sent some home with my mom.. She had no idea what the dessert was I sent her home with.. She texted me later and said I was evil. She loved them and had to have the recipe immediately because she ate the 3 I had sent her home with and she wanted more.
I surprised my daughter with these in her lunch. She and I are GF. She came home and gave me a huge hug. She LOVES these!! For the GF ones, I have even used less butter, more like 6 TBS and they still worked. Sorry no pictures, they get eaten too fast.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Cheap Heat
The following message from my friend Susan. I thought it
might be good info for when the power goes out.
I am going to try it. this might take the edge off when the power is
out. Any tea light will work, but you can get them in bulk at Ikea. Please remember to put it on a non heat sensitive or flammable surface,
Last year and the year before, the kids had big stones the put by the fireplace to heat up before going to bed. Those stones stayed warm until morning.. totally worth it.
"When Lark set me this simple demonstration of how to heat a small
room for about 15 cents per day, I was hooked. My engineer husband, Fred, was
able to explain the rationale to me and we know that the Brits used a similar
technique in their homes and apartments during WWII, but they did not have
access to tea light candles, all of the same size. I realize that many tea
lights are full of lead but in a desperate situation, thy could be used to my
benefit. The British government told citizens to never leave their candles
unattended. Years ago the size of the candles were uneven in both height and
width and were extremely precious commodities during the war. Enjoy this 3
minute demonstration of how to heat a small room for 15 cents a
day:"
Last year and the year before, the kids had big stones the put by the fireplace to heat up before going to bed. Those stones stayed warm until morning.. totally worth it.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Here comes the ... RAIN!!!!
My goodness, the rain was coming down so hard earlier that hubby and one of my kids were digging trenches for the water so it wouldn't fill my garage. Then they made sure all the down spouts were not blocked, and dug a new trench for the sump pump, so if there is water under the house it has someplace to go.
LOTS of rain!! We couldn't see the street from the house, and it isn't even very far away. You were soaked instantly if you stepped out into it. IT was super LOUD! Like a rock concert. Insane is what it is. And guess what???? MORE IS COMING!!
The last deluge also brought wind. Lovely... not. Our power has been going out and coming back on all day. The loud "bangs" that sound like a shotgun are the transformers blowing. So we started the first fire of the year. Just in case the power goes out and doesn't come back. We don't want to try to start a fire while the wind is blowing, and we are freezing.
And so starts AUTUMN..moldy leaves, rain, rain, wind and more rain..
ON a good note, we saw salmon in our river!!! First time in 3 years! NO the hatchery did not take the dam down like they said they would. Why? Because they are .. well I can't say, there is a baby in the room. They said the dam would be down before the spawning season. I guess they forgot that is September.
BUT we did count 6 salmon! That is more than we have seen in years! Unfortunately, NOT ENOUGH! We stopped by the hatchery and the dam is holding back hundreds of fish.
Ok, I'm off to check the trenches..
LOTS of rain!! We couldn't see the street from the house, and it isn't even very far away. You were soaked instantly if you stepped out into it. IT was super LOUD! Like a rock concert. Insane is what it is. And guess what???? MORE IS COMING!!
The last deluge also brought wind. Lovely... not. Our power has been going out and coming back on all day. The loud "bangs" that sound like a shotgun are the transformers blowing. So we started the first fire of the year. Just in case the power goes out and doesn't come back. We don't want to try to start a fire while the wind is blowing, and we are freezing.
And so starts AUTUMN..moldy leaves, rain, rain, wind and more rain..
ON a good note, we saw salmon in our river!!! First time in 3 years! NO the hatchery did not take the dam down like they said they would. Why? Because they are .. well I can't say, there is a baby in the room. They said the dam would be down before the spawning season. I guess they forgot that is September.
BUT we did count 6 salmon! That is more than we have seen in years! Unfortunately, NOT ENOUGH! We stopped by the hatchery and the dam is holding back hundreds of fish.
Ok, I'm off to check the trenches..
STRIKES
I am not an alarmist. I am not even sure anyone has heard about any of this. BUT, there are a few possible strikes in the works.
One is grocery stores, the other is trucking.
Now one or the other isn't such a bad thing if you have food storage, and if you have full tanks of gas plus extra... BUT if you don't..
I am not sure the entire story at the moment. All I know is that several trucking companies are planning on striking or not coming to work for several days. I also know that on the news they were talking about grocery stores going on strike.
IF both happen at the same time... oh crap! Do you have gas? Do you have food? What about toilet paper? Diapers or formula for your baby (if you use those)? laundry soap?
I am not one to cross a picket line. I will not.
If trucks aren't delivering.. grocery stores only have 3 days of food, if they are not rushed. If rushed they have about 20 minutes of food. No trucks, no gas. How will you get to work?
Just some stuff to think about. I'm not sure any of it will happen. But I know the trucks are planning on not running sometime in October, and since we are now at the end of September, and I am hearing about possible strikes at some stores... looks like things could happen at the same time.
One is grocery stores, the other is trucking.
Now one or the other isn't such a bad thing if you have food storage, and if you have full tanks of gas plus extra... BUT if you don't..
I am not sure the entire story at the moment. All I know is that several trucking companies are planning on striking or not coming to work for several days. I also know that on the news they were talking about grocery stores going on strike.
IF both happen at the same time... oh crap! Do you have gas? Do you have food? What about toilet paper? Diapers or formula for your baby (if you use those)? laundry soap?
I am not one to cross a picket line. I will not.
If trucks aren't delivering.. grocery stores only have 3 days of food, if they are not rushed. If rushed they have about 20 minutes of food. No trucks, no gas. How will you get to work?
Just some stuff to think about. I'm not sure any of it will happen. But I know the trucks are planning on not running sometime in October, and since we are now at the end of September, and I am hearing about possible strikes at some stores... looks like things could happen at the same time.
Um, we live in Western Washington...what's with the heat?
Yup it's hot here. The heat wouldn't be so bad, except that it is also very muggy. YUCK
This isn't so bad if you can handle it. But the number one killer of infants and the elderly in summer is the heat. You have to have a way to cool off, you have to stay hydrated. That said, some people don't realize they are dehydrated, and that can be dangerous. Dehydration does not happen only when it is hot outside. It can also happen in times of stress, illness, and when it's cold outside.
For babies, signs of dehydration include:
Decrease in wet diapers
Very tired baby, sleepiness
Irritability
Thirst
Sunken fontanel or soft spot
Poor latch
Not wanting to play or smile
Tongue and mouth appear dry
Sunken eyes
No tears when he cries
Vomiting
These signs can also be used for children.
Breastfed infants should continue to breast feed. Do not give carbonated, high sugar beverages or dairy products when dehydrated or the child has diarrhea, as this can make it worse.
This isn't so bad if you can handle it. But the number one killer of infants and the elderly in summer is the heat. You have to have a way to cool off, you have to stay hydrated. That said, some people don't realize they are dehydrated, and that can be dangerous. Dehydration does not happen only when it is hot outside. It can also happen in times of stress, illness, and when it's cold outside.
For babies, signs of dehydration include:
Decrease in wet diapers
Very tired baby, sleepiness
Irritability
Thirst
Sunken fontanel or soft spot
Poor latch
Not wanting to play or smile
Tongue and mouth appear dry
Sunken eyes
No tears when he cries
Vomiting
These signs can also be used for children.
Dehydration Chart
| Degree of dehydration | Pretty Parched |
| Mood | Restless, irritable |
| Eyes or soft spot on head |
No tears, sunken
|
| Mouth and tongue | Dry |
| Thirst | Thirsty, drinks eagerly |
| Urination | Less frequent than normal |
| What to do | If your child has two or more of these signs, call your pediatrician, give liquids or an electrolyte solution. |
| Degree of dehydration | Dangerously Dehydrated |
| Mood | Lethargic or not conscious |
| Eyes or soft spot on head |
Very sunken and dry, no tears
|
| Mouth and Tongue | Very dry |
| Thirst | Drinks infrequently or unable to drink |
| Urination | Minimal or none |
| What to do | If your child has any of these signs, call 911. |
Breastfed infants should continue to breast feed. Do not give carbonated, high sugar beverages or dairy products when dehydrated or the child has diarrhea, as this can make it worse.
Treatment Based on Degree of Dehydration Chart
| Degree of dehydration | Minimal or no dehydration |
| Rehydration Therapy | Just replacement of losses |
| Replacement of losses |
Children under 22 lbs (10 kg): 2 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 mL) oral rehydration solution (ORS) for each diarrheal or stool or vomiting episode
Children more than 22 lbs (10 kg): 4 to 8 ounces (120 to 240 mL) ORS for each diarrheal stool or vomiting episode
|
| Nutrition |
Continue breastfeeding, or resume age-appropriate normal diet after initial hydration, including adequate caloric intake*
|
| Degree of dehydration | Mild to moderate dehydration |
| Rehydration Therapy | ORS, 1.6 to 3.3 oz for each 2 lbs of body weight (50 to100 mL per kg body weight) over 3 to 4 hours |
| Replacement of losses |
Children under 22 lbs (10 kg): 2 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 mL) oral rehydration solution for each diarrheal or stool or vomiting episode
Children more than 22 lbs (10 kg): 4 to 8 oz. (120 to 240 mL). ORS for each diarrheal stool or vomiting episode
|
| Nutrition | Continue breastfeeding, or resume age-appropriate normal diet after initial hydration, including adequate caloric intake* |
| * Overly restricted diets should be avoided during bouts of diarrhea. Breastfed infants should continue to nurse even during acute rehydration. Infants too weak to eat can be given breast milk or formula by medical personnel through a tube. Lactose-containing formulas are usually good. If the baby can’t absorb lactose-based formula, lactose-free formulas can be used. Complex carbohydrates, fresh fruits, lean meats, yogurt, and vegetables are all recommended. Carbonated drinks or commercial juices with a high concentration of simple carbohydrates should be avoided. |
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Water Sources
Oh my goodness. Most of the preparedness sites talk about stock piling large amounts of bottled water. Or using 55 gallon drums etc... um, if you have to bug out, how are you supposed to lift that 55 gallon drum up a hill? Empty, it would be tedious, full it would be impossible.
Now I have been thinking about getting some 55 gallon food safe drums (the BPA FREE plastic ones) to use to catch rain water off the roof. For what???? Watering the animals, the garden, flushing the toilets.. BUT there is a down side to these. Freezing temperatures. Will they freeze through? Will they crack and break? You have to have a pump or spigot on it to get the water out the bottom, and you'll want a filter at the top so you don't have a lot of biomass, bird droppings, insects, and etc.. entering the water and ruining it. IN an emergency this water could be boiled for cleaning wounds, drinking, sanitation. But I would not use it strait for any of those.
Now if the power is out and you are on a well, without a hand pump.. what will your water source be? Rain water.... only if it is raining.. Snow? Only if it is snowing.. Bottled water... how much have you stored?
There are other ways to obtain water. You will need plastic, a rock, a container, a shovel, some twine. You dig a hole, preferably by NON poisonous plants, and you put your container in the middle. Spread your tarp over the top, tight enough to keep it off the dirt, but not so tight that when you put rock on the middle of the top it doesn't sink some. Yes, you are collecting clean water by condensation. And yes it works.. during certain times of year. This will not work in freezing temperatures.
River, creek, puddle.... Any and all water sources can be contaminated by anything. You need to have ways to clean the water (filters), boil the water, and hold the CLEAN water. Do not combine dirty and clean water containers. Why bother boiling the water if you are just going to put it back into the bottle you carried it to the pot for boiling in. The dirty containers need to stay dirty, and clean ones clean. Cross contamination in water is NOT a good thing. Giardia, cholera, amoebic dysentery... gross way to die.
Solutions?
Water filters
Ways to boil water
Water tablets
Bleach
Hmmm.... which to use? Well, when our power was out last year. I sent the kids to the river with the Katadyn water filter to get me some water. Then I poured it into a pot and boiled it. Let it cool, then we had safe water for drinking. How did I boil it? Kelly Kettle, AND on my gas stove. BUT, what if I didn't have the gas stove? I would have used my Stove Tec Rocket Stove to boil in the pot. The Kelly Kettle is a stove in itself. Only takes 3 to 5 minutes to boil water after you have the fire going. It is truly a great tool to have, no matter what. You can get them from KellyKettleusa.com or amazon. I ordered my direct from Kelly Kettle. I LOVE my KK.
Ok, I have also collected rain water and used that, during the power outages around Thanksgiving. Because it was raining, I had water. And I still put it through filters, and I still boiled it.
Now mind you if we have a nuclear attack, nothing will make your water safe. EVEN if it is bottled. As soon as you open the bottle the water is contaminated with radiation. Radiation permeates everything. And it scares me to pieces! It is in the air, the water, the soil... everything.
So what do you have to help you for water? Do you have a GOOD water filter? Do you have a way to boil water? Do you know how to use the equipment you have bought? No reason to have it if you don't know how to use it.
Now I have been thinking about getting some 55 gallon food safe drums (the BPA FREE plastic ones) to use to catch rain water off the roof. For what???? Watering the animals, the garden, flushing the toilets.. BUT there is a down side to these. Freezing temperatures. Will they freeze through? Will they crack and break? You have to have a pump or spigot on it to get the water out the bottom, and you'll want a filter at the top so you don't have a lot of biomass, bird droppings, insects, and etc.. entering the water and ruining it. IN an emergency this water could be boiled for cleaning wounds, drinking, sanitation. But I would not use it strait for any of those.
Now if the power is out and you are on a well, without a hand pump.. what will your water source be? Rain water.... only if it is raining.. Snow? Only if it is snowing.. Bottled water... how much have you stored?
There are other ways to obtain water. You will need plastic, a rock, a container, a shovel, some twine. You dig a hole, preferably by NON poisonous plants, and you put your container in the middle. Spread your tarp over the top, tight enough to keep it off the dirt, but not so tight that when you put rock on the middle of the top it doesn't sink some. Yes, you are collecting clean water by condensation. And yes it works.. during certain times of year. This will not work in freezing temperatures.
River, creek, puddle.... Any and all water sources can be contaminated by anything. You need to have ways to clean the water (filters), boil the water, and hold the CLEAN water. Do not combine dirty and clean water containers. Why bother boiling the water if you are just going to put it back into the bottle you carried it to the pot for boiling in. The dirty containers need to stay dirty, and clean ones clean. Cross contamination in water is NOT a good thing. Giardia, cholera, amoebic dysentery... gross way to die.
Solutions?
Water filters
Ways to boil water
Water tablets
Bleach
Hmmm.... which to use? Well, when our power was out last year. I sent the kids to the river with the Katadyn water filter to get me some water. Then I poured it into a pot and boiled it. Let it cool, then we had safe water for drinking. How did I boil it? Kelly Kettle, AND on my gas stove. BUT, what if I didn't have the gas stove? I would have used my Stove Tec Rocket Stove to boil in the pot. The Kelly Kettle is a stove in itself. Only takes 3 to 5 minutes to boil water after you have the fire going. It is truly a great tool to have, no matter what. You can get them from KellyKettleusa.com or amazon. I ordered my direct from Kelly Kettle. I LOVE my KK.
Ok, I have also collected rain water and used that, during the power outages around Thanksgiving. Because it was raining, I had water. And I still put it through filters, and I still boiled it.
Now mind you if we have a nuclear attack, nothing will make your water safe. EVEN if it is bottled. As soon as you open the bottle the water is contaminated with radiation. Radiation permeates everything. And it scares me to pieces! It is in the air, the water, the soil... everything.
So what do you have to help you for water? Do you have a GOOD water filter? Do you have a way to boil water? Do you know how to use the equipment you have bought? No reason to have it if you don't know how to use it.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Have you thought about it?
Ok, so I was thinking today.. which is odd with this pregnancy brain thing... not the thinking part, but me remembering what I was thinking about. So I figured it must be something I need to ask, or start a discussion about.
How ready are you medically if..... power outage, tornado, tsunami (yes we get them here!!), earthquake, eruption (most likely Rainier or St. Helens), hell freezes over (oh wait, Hell, Michigan DID freeze this year!!, not sure about Hell, Belize), car accident, tree falls on a bedroom during the night, windstorm, civil war, severe heat...
What kinds of injuries??? drowning, puncture wounds, broken bones, dislocated joints, severe breathing difficulties, severe cold, severe heat, dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, births, deaths...
Granted I am not sure what the future brings, or in what order things will happen. But I do know there is the possibility that we will be needed to help OR that we may need the help that is offered.
In our family we have had:
a near drowning
broken elbow
broken ankle
broken wrist
broken arms
broken legs (2 at once on same kid!!)
broken nose (severe, had to put it back in place!!)
stitches on the face (he fell in sunday school and face vs. metal chair.. not fun)
stitches on an arm (glass lamp fell and a piece cut her arm)
stitches on face (sibling tossed a toy over couch, hit sister in face, required 5 stitches!)
SEVERE asthmatic attacks (3 of us here)
births
deaths
appendicitis (2 kids in 6 weeks!!)
kidney stones
medication reactions
anaphylaxis
migraines
animal emergencies (animals hit by cars, no we did not take the chicken to vet!)
BURNS (fresh aloe and raw honey are a blessing!!)
Will you fight or flight? Will you freak or be calm? Will you be a help or a hinderance?
Are you able to help yourself and or those around you medically? Do you know how to clean and treat a burn? Do you know how to determine the difference between a sprain and a break? Do you know for sure how to set a break? Do you have what is needed to clean wounds? Set a fracture? Treat allergic reactions? Do you know how to do a compression bandage? Do you know what a concussion looks like? How about dehydration? A stroke? A heart attack? Labored breathing? Internal bleeding?
Do you have:
ace bandages (regular AND latex free)
tegaderm
cotton bandages
cotton gauze
medical tapes
bacitracin
triple antibiotic ointment
fresh aloe
raw honey
cotton wraps
splints for fingers, wrists, arms, legs, ankles
benedryl (liquid and pill form)
tylonal
ibuprofen (not to be used on people taking coumadin or warfarin)
aspirin (not to be used on people taking coumadin or warfarin)
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
hydrogen peroxide
bentonite clay (aka Redmond Clay)
ipecac
GSE
tweezers
scissors
tournequet
thermometer (non-electric or non-battery powered, an oral and rectal)
EXTRA prescription medications and mode of taking them (inhaler, nebulizer, syringe)
In our emergency bug out bags we have an epi-pen, nebulizer with 3 new neb cups and masks, albuterol, tylonal, ibuprofen, benedryl liquid and pills, bacitracin, gauze, paper tape, tegaderm, coban (non-latex), gauze rolls, ace bandages (2 and 3-inch), bandaids (for those who can use them), alcohold swabs, tweezers, scissors, and a couple of other things. Yes we have bugged out during a flood. No we didn't have to use anything in our BOBs. YES, I replace medications whenever I get a refill of a medication so as to always have fresh meds in my kits.
Being prepared is not just your larder, it is so very much more! So here is something to think about, possibly open a discussion about. But it has been on my mind and I had to share it.
How ready are you medically if..... power outage, tornado, tsunami (yes we get them here!!), earthquake, eruption (most likely Rainier or St. Helens), hell freezes over (oh wait, Hell, Michigan DID freeze this year!!, not sure about Hell, Belize), car accident, tree falls on a bedroom during the night, windstorm, civil war, severe heat...
What kinds of injuries??? drowning, puncture wounds, broken bones, dislocated joints, severe breathing difficulties, severe cold, severe heat, dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, births, deaths...
Granted I am not sure what the future brings, or in what order things will happen. But I do know there is the possibility that we will be needed to help OR that we may need the help that is offered.
In our family we have had:
a near drowning
broken elbow
broken ankle
broken wrist
broken arms
broken legs (2 at once on same kid!!)
broken nose (severe, had to put it back in place!!)
stitches on the face (he fell in sunday school and face vs. metal chair.. not fun)
stitches on an arm (glass lamp fell and a piece cut her arm)
stitches on face (sibling tossed a toy over couch, hit sister in face, required 5 stitches!)
SEVERE asthmatic attacks (3 of us here)
births
deaths
appendicitis (2 kids in 6 weeks!!)
kidney stones
medication reactions
anaphylaxis
migraines
animal emergencies (animals hit by cars, no we did not take the chicken to vet!)
BURNS (fresh aloe and raw honey are a blessing!!)
Will you fight or flight? Will you freak or be calm? Will you be a help or a hinderance?
Are you able to help yourself and or those around you medically? Do you know how to clean and treat a burn? Do you know how to determine the difference between a sprain and a break? Do you know for sure how to set a break? Do you have what is needed to clean wounds? Set a fracture? Treat allergic reactions? Do you know how to do a compression bandage? Do you know what a concussion looks like? How about dehydration? A stroke? A heart attack? Labored breathing? Internal bleeding?
Do you have:
ace bandages (regular AND latex free)
tegaderm
cotton bandages
cotton gauze
medical tapes
bacitracin
triple antibiotic ointment
fresh aloe
raw honey
cotton wraps
splints for fingers, wrists, arms, legs, ankles
benedryl (liquid and pill form)
tylonal
ibuprofen (not to be used on people taking coumadin or warfarin)
aspirin (not to be used on people taking coumadin or warfarin)
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
hydrogen peroxide
bentonite clay (aka Redmond Clay)
ipecac
GSE
tweezers
scissors
tournequet
thermometer (non-electric or non-battery powered, an oral and rectal)
EXTRA prescription medications and mode of taking them (inhaler, nebulizer, syringe)
In our emergency bug out bags we have an epi-pen, nebulizer with 3 new neb cups and masks, albuterol, tylonal, ibuprofen, benedryl liquid and pills, bacitracin, gauze, paper tape, tegaderm, coban (non-latex), gauze rolls, ace bandages (2 and 3-inch), bandaids (for those who can use them), alcohold swabs, tweezers, scissors, and a couple of other things. Yes we have bugged out during a flood. No we didn't have to use anything in our BOBs. YES, I replace medications whenever I get a refill of a medication so as to always have fresh meds in my kits.
Being prepared is not just your larder, it is so very much more! So here is something to think about, possibly open a discussion about. But it has been on my mind and I had to share it.
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