Thoughts on Food Storage

There is one very good reason to build up a years supply of food: we've been commanded to do so. There is not one single reason that supports this commandment, but then again, Noah had no visible proof that he would need an ark. My theory is that there are many reasons that we should try to build at least a 3 month supply. Personally, I've faced a few minor challenges, the latest being no refridgerator for 3 weeks. It's not like when this appliance stops working you just go out and drop $800+ on a new one, especially when you know your current one can be fixed for much less and isn't that old. Fortunately, the freezer still works to hold the ice for the cooler and other goodies that we can defrost when needed. Now, tell me that anyone could predict that my freezer would work but the fridge would not!?! Here are a few things I have learned about my food storage:

Jarred butter is the best!!! This miracle shelf item will always have a place in my storage. It is not hard to do and you use it the same as you would regular butter...because it IS regular butter! The other miracle is, a sealed jar of shelf butter is already softened and ready for baking. Wa-la. On another note, when the fridge AND the freezer shut down around Christmas, it was really easy to can the butter in the first place. I can also see jarred butter to be a real asset on a camping trip. Melting ice and/or melting butter will not mix!


You seriously need to practice using the food that you are going to store. If you are going to store egg replacer, you need to know how to use it. Since I have been living out of a cooler, eggs only have a place on the weekend when we will eat them for breakfast. I have tried making brownies twice now to no avail. I actually had to throw them out! Can you imagine throwing out brownies?! The first time they could not even be chiselled out. Bill had to reheat them so they were soft enough to pour into the garbage. The second were greasy and didn't set up. I think you could pull them like taffy and Bill's dad went ahead and ate about half the pan. No eggs brings me to my next point...


Maybe I need a chicken. And a cow. What's the zoning on keeping chickens in Tempe? I'll wait on the cow since I have dry milk that I DO know how to use.

I really need to start a garden. The fact that I don't have a green thumb to begin with is even more reason to start a garden NOW. If I can't do it in non-stressed times, why would it be any easier when I really need to do it. Perfecting this task now should obviously be a high priority. Does it count that I have kept bamboo alive inside the house for over a year now?!

"Brownie Points"

Along with spelling words, Kyra's teacher assigns the class a phrase to learn each week. Things like "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" or "barking up the wrong tree." Apparently they have not gotten to "brownie points". As I tucked her in to bed tonight, I told her that she probably had earned some brownie points this evening since she was so great with the little kids. I told her the moms would probably remember her playing and when she was old enough to babysit they might call her. The kids entertained themselves for the most part, but she seemed to be watching over them and playing with them on and off. I was quite impressed sinced she takes so little interest in her own sibling, unless it is to her benefit. Anyway, the point is when I said "brownie points" she immediately corrected me and said, "don't you mean Girl Scout points?" That was cute.

My Made up Prophet song...

Since two of you brought it up...
(Sing to the tune of "The more we get together")

The more we hear the Prophet, the Prophet, the Prophet,

The more we hear the Prophet, the happier we'll be

Thomas S. Monson is our modern Prophet

The more we hear the Prophet, the happier we'll be!

Tasha started humming this song on the way home from school today and when I sang the WRONG words to it she politely corrected me. We then continued to sing the Prophet version and she was trying so hard to learn the "hard part". I'm proud to say, I think my 4 year old can now pronounce our new Prophet's name.

I'm glad Rich enjoyed my goofy song, and thrilled that Justin was singing it on his own! Maybe someone is listening in sharing time, woohoo! And now, so this blog isn't all about me...Justin was the man in Junior Primary who came up with our new Prophet's name. He's 5. That's just plain awesome, especially since the guy giving the opening prayer in Sacrament meeting almost said Gordon B. Hinckley. Kudos to April for her clever home-made Prophet matching game! (hey, do they still make those Kudos granola/candy bars anymore?!)

"I want to ___ in the grass"

The picture on the left is when I realized that she had actually said "pee in the grass", not "be in the grass".

The one on the right is Tasha running to find the right spot. Did I mention that we have a dog?!

New York City here I come!

Well, it's officially, official. I booked the ticket just a few key stokes ago and I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. My stomach is all jittery and my feet are a-tappin'. Thanks Rachel and Davey for your last few posts about the city and Rachel for the relentless questioning on when I will be there. Now, I just have to break the news to my aunt and make sure she wants to see me. Oh, what a joy my crazy Greek Aunt is!

Literary Tag

This is what you do:

1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages)
2. Turn to page 123
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog
5. Tag 5 people

I searched in the dark for the nearest book on the end table by MY chair. Kyra left her book on top of my scriptures so here you go:

From Superfudge, by Judy Blume
"What's playing?" asked Jimmy.

Too bad that wasn't very funny. The whole book is hilarious and actually reminds me of my kids: Peter is the well-behaved, quiet, older brother (Kyra), and Fudge is the inquisitive, silly, pain-in-the-neck, younger brother (Tasha). I think I read this out loud to Kyra when Tasha begun her it's-fun-to-pick-on-Kyra stage (which she is still in). I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Kyra is re-reading it so she can relate to someone.

I think this tag only works well if you give some insight into the book that you read. SO, I tag: Sara, Monique, Rachel (not Davey, I won't understand the book you're reading), Tori (if you're out there), and Carianne. The rest of you will get tagged by them, I'm sure.

"I want to be in the grass"

This is the phrase that I heard Tasha say to me while she was sitting in the backyard dumping the piles of sand out of her shoes. I apparently did not hear her correctly because when I responded with, "I don't care," both of my children were surprised that I agreed. Kyra was at the computer and said, "mo-om!" like it was the craziest thing I'd ever said. I remember her saying it now that I think about it, but I really wasn't paying close attention to either of them. Yes, that's terrible to admit, but I was making dinner. I can't boil water and think at the same time!

Tasha runs inside, puts up her shoes and socks (THAT is amazing) and comes back through the kitchen with flip-flops on. Smart kid, there are thorns in the grass. But a few minutes later I'm prompted to look out the back door, which Tasha has left open. Yep, now it dawns on me what she said. No wonder they were surprised that I said it was OK.

Can you guess which word I misunderstood?!