>>>>Sustainable Living PLUS Canning and Dehydrating Food<<<<

I AM proud of you, I know how hard it was. Boy, this place just makes my prayer list get longer and longer.

I know what you mean about the prayer list. Funny thing, years ago I told my kids that their "friends" on the internet were just imaginary friends. Now I get it. You all are my friends, even though we have never met in real life.

Singing off off for the night. Sweet dreams everyone! I have a book calling me. It's right up GLP's alley, astroid coming to kill off the earth with 6 months notice. Told from a cop perspective. Sure wouldn't want to be him. I imagine the world would go crazy big time!

The way life is for me, right now, I'd go bonkers without you all! Someday, we'll all get to meet. IF...the world behaves itself!

Sorry I missed the convo last night!
SO, sounds like a great trip! Kenny and Jon in one weekend? WOW!!!!!




So, you are all saying velcro is cheap these days? LOL There are some days I think that plan would come in handy!


HOLY CARP.....The coldest night of the winter so far and our heater went out! We all woke up with icicles hanging from our noses.




Poor hubs is not feeling well and I am gonna have to make him work on it.
I think it is just one little part he needs to replace.
(Famous las words)

I sure do hope we can all meet up one day! That would be so much fun!

Wow Mama, hope you get that fixed up quick! SO, I do a girls weekend too, we usually go to the beach for a 3 day and its sooo nice. We keep it local so we can do it in spring and fall. Summer is just to damn hot to sit at the beach. As it is we get the 90s in spring and fall

What I wouldn't give to be sitting there now! LOL

You ladies are awesome...all of you.

With a compliment like that, you need to join us AC!!!!!

Wasn't that a nice thing to stop in and say? Wow.

I sure hope your heat gets fixed fast. You don't need me to tell you it's below zero chill factor here and it probably is the same where you are. Poor hubs. Do you have an electric heater or know someone who has one they aren't using? Those little Mr. Heater propane things work well and will heat up a house too. If he isn't able to get it fixed right away, hope you look into alternatives real quick.

How miserable to not feel well and have to work on something. Let us know when you get your heat back, ok?

Just a short time yesterday it got kind of nasty TB. Not much accumulation, but bitter cold and lots of wind. Hope things are nice your way. Soooooo looking forward to summer.

That WAS nice!

I definitely wont surrive if SHTF! Flava, I may have to head your way!

I've been doing laundry and the little one and I have been camping out under the towels that are nice and warm from the dryer! May have to reheat them again! LOL

We have a space heater but I also have a vaulted ceiling!
Guess where all that heat is going! May have to move everyone and everything to a smaller enclosed room! LOL

I wouldn't mind the cat laying on me now!

Oh Yikes, Mama. Your ceiling sounds nice most of the time but wouldn't be right now.

You probably already know most of the tips, but just in case, if you wear loose fitting layers it helps. A hat is about the best. We loose a lot of heat through our heads and a hat keeps it in. A stocking hat is great.

You had a great idea on the towels. A desperate measure with an electric dryer is to diconnect the hose that goes outdoors and let it vent directly into the house. A nylon stocking over the end keeps the lint and dust from getting as much in the house and humid air is warmer than dry.

If you don't want to do that, a pot of boiling water helps too.

Is there a way you can shut off your kitchen? Even putting a blanket or shower curtain over the door? Baking cookies or cooking anything would warm a small area...unless you're fortunate enough to have a huge kitchen. 8) If you have an oil lantern or candle, it will put off some heat too. It would help to keep the water pipes thawed too to have it warm in the kitchen. Don't forget to run a little water in the bathroom sink, tub, and toilet once in a while to keep it from freezing.

If you have some rice or beans and an old sock you can make a small body heater by filling it and microwaving it. If you have cast iron, putting it in the oven with whatever you're cooking will put out some heat for a while after it comes out.

A heating pad, hot water bottle, electric blanket?

If the kitchen idea works, you could have a tea party for the little one. Tea is warming, fresh cookies are mood lifters, and a lantern on the table for atmosphere. LOL.
You'll be regular Princesses.



If you get too desperate, hop in the car go for a ride and run the heater full blast til it gets fixed.


Last Edited by Nine's - IN MEMORIAM on 02/01/2013 12:56 PM

We're back in business and toasty warm! Thank goodness my husband is handy and only needed to buy the part!

I will be saving all these ideas Nines! Never made it to the tea party! Thought about the cookies/brownies and still have not ruled that out just yet because the heat is back on! I can go for those anytime!

Thanks for all the great tips!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Speaking of which, how is the little guy doing?

Oh Mama, I'm SO happy for you. Not only for having the heat, but for having such a wonderful husband. What a man. Not feeling well, yet he fixed it. It's such a blessing that he knows how to do things. You must be so proud. I hope you'll give him a nice treat tonight. 8)

After writing about the tea party, it occurred to me. Mama is the only person who wouldn't snap back with a "thanks but I don't FEEL like having a tea party when my fingers are frostbitten." LOL!

Those brownies do sound good. You probably already have a good recipe, but in case you're interested, Amazon has a free book download for Kindle today, about brownies. You don't have to have a kindle, you can download the Cloud Reader free from Amazon.

People have asked before about seed saving. There's also a freebie for that today.

Here are the links:

Seed Saving Tips and Techniques
Has 4 star rating with 16 reviews.

[link to www.amazon.com]

Baked Chicago's Simply Decadent Brownies Cookbook
5 star rating with 19 reviews. Print List Price is 18.00

[link to www.amazon.com]

The little guy is now a big guy, Mama. Thanks for asking. He's hanging out in the barn and laying low during this cold weather, but he still comes for his food and treats and is maintaining his weight real well. He's a real sweetie and it makes me so happy to see him doing so well through the winter. Was worried about that. Thank you for the adorable picture. 8)

Last Edited by Nine's - IN MEMORIAM on 02/01/2013 06:31 PM

Hey, Nine's! Speaking of seeds, I found several places that carry the melon seeds. I've got some ordered. I don't know why I couldn't find it before.

I would tell you all about our weather, but you'd feel bad with your cold, yuckies. It's been a little chilly, but very nice. We may have some more true winter in a couple of weeks, but it's so far out, no one wants to believe it yet. I just hope we get some more wet out of something soon.

Mama, I'm really glad you got your heat back on. I know it's not fun, especially with little ones.

Good for you TB. That way, you'll get fresh ones. Glad you got them. They'll absolutely love that TX heat. Bet they'll be sweeter than sweet.

So, I take it you're having nice weather. Seriously, I'm happy for you but do hope you get some rain. Felt so bad for you guys last year and worried about fires, the oppressive heat, and knowing how people must be feeling.

Right now, oppressive heat sounds good. It's so friggen cold. We're supposed to have a chill factor of between 15 to 17 below tonight. Glad I filled the wood rack high before this cold.

Poor chickens. Don't know why I bothered letting them out today. They just huddled, looked miserable and went back in. Made them some cooked barley so they'd have something warm to eat before tonight. We're supposed to get 2 to 4 in. of snow, and if we do and it stays cold, think I'll just take the chickens out some warm oatmeal and not open the door.

Miserable, TB. Miserable. LOL.

A freebie report for the free kindle downloads. Many for children today. The line ends the childrens section for those who aren't interested in them. Don't know how long they will be free, but are listed for today:

ABC Animals - An Alphabetical Rhyming Picture Book
5 stars with 5 reviews.
[link to www.amazon.com]

15 Funny Stories For 4-8 Year Olds
[link to www.amazon.com]

Squeaky The Helpful Little Squirrel
5 stars with 1 review
[link to www.amazon.com]

The Dancing Owl: A Rhyming Children's Picture Book
5 stars with 1 review
[link to www.amazon.com]

Sparkly Me
5 stars with 26 reviews..ages 3-6
[link to www.amazon.com]
---------------------------------------------------
5 Gifts to Give Yourself
4 1/2 stars with 10 reviews

[link to www.amazon.com]

Be An Ace in removing stains... 20 killer tips on how to remove stains
5 stars with 1 review
[link to www.amazon.com]

The Clear Skin Guide
5 stars with 6 reviews
[link to www.amazon.com]

Hi, guys! I found a good thread tonight, I thought you might like. It has a link on how to make coconut butter.

Thread: How to make Coconut Butter

Hey everyone, hope you are all doing well.

Today I had my first colonoscopy, so needless to say thats why I wasnt on line yesterday. Everything turned out fine and I dont have to do that again for 7 yrs, which makes me very happy! That prep day is a killer

I have heard the prep day is rather daunting. I'm glad your results were good.

So glad things went well Flava! Thank goodness it's another 7 years!

This was too cute not to share!

[link to www.maniacworld.com]

Funny video mama.

Yes, daunting to say the least!
Jake is back in hospital, had another episode of pancriatitis. Hopefully he comes home tonight.


Going computer shopping so hopefully I will be loggin on with my new laptop later. :)

What a wonderful thread!

well thanks, we like it too.

No new computer, everything is windows 8 and I have heard bad things, plus I have a rule not to pay for a new product till they work the bugs out. Maybe I can just get mine fixed up or add memory, or whatever the computer guys do, thats not my expertise.

Hi ladies! Hope everyone is well. Been thinking about you all.

Same to you SO, and everyone. Sorry about Jake, Flav. Hope he is soon better. 8(

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

You too SO and everyone else!

Getting crazy out there! I can't believe what we are seeing these days!