Go Bag - Mom Edition

Here is my personal Go Bag.  Inside are things not listed on the 72 hour kit post as this is for longer term needs.  I have the bag set up for 7+ days.

Now this picture doesn't show everything in my bag but a small sampling of the items I have in there.  From the picture you can see I have food (long term food bars as well as homemade MREs), water (both a canteen, purifying tablets and a life straw), hygiene items (female urinary device, toothbrush/paste, first aid kit etc) and some weather gear (poncho, fire starters and thermal blanket).

I have tools in my bag that would be needed should I have to hike to safety.  Items like a compass, knives, extra socks, gloves, etc.

Also I carry extras for Roo should something happen and her bag gets lost.  (Remember she is only 2 years old so she can't carry her own supplies.)  These extras are things like training pants (Vacuum sealed to compress them so they don't take up a lot of room in my bag.), toddler snacks, small toys, weather gear for her etc.  Since she has short little legs and can't walk as fast or as far as I can I have been debating tucking my Ergo carrier in my bag.  The only down side to this is with my Go-Bag I'd have to carry her on my chest. 

For a list of items to have in your own bag please refer to my 72-hour kit post.

Go Bag - Dog Edition
Go Bag - Toddler Edition

Emergency Plan Task Two: 72 Hour Kits

72 hour kits are basically the Go Bags I have been putting together.  They are also known as BOBs (Bug Out Bag) and GOOD Bag (Get Out Of Dodge bag).

Here is where I need to go through our existing bags and make sure each has the following items:

• copies of important family documents and identification
• 72 hours of food
• 72 hours of water
• personal first aid kits (just basic first aid items a child could use)
• change of clothing
• hygiene items
• boredom busters 
• emergency cash (small bills and coins)
• extra medications
• weather appropriate gear
• bedroll, bivy, thermal emergency blanket or lightweight sleeping bag
• fire starter/tinder box
• flashlight 

The actual bag is not a big deal.  It needs to be able to house everything you'd need away from home for at least 72 hours.  I have an old (but very clean and rarely used) backpack from high school that I am using.  I have a second backpack of the same type for Roo that has the same items as my bag.  This is aside from her Toddler Go-Bag that she can carry.  The point of the bigger bag is if we can leave by car I have extra supplies for her and we are not forced to share one set of supplies.

Don't forget your pets need a bag too!

Flash Floods

Last week we had a late summer storm roll through.  It lasted a few days but caused a lot of damage.  The dam broke at the top of the ravine a few miles up the mountain and a wall of mud and boulders came barreling down next to the cabin in the creek bed.  Not fun!  I was afraid the cabin was next!

The roads were buried under 4-8 feet of mud and rocks.  They have the roads clear now but they are still moving the rocks and mud away.

Task One, What Now?

After you find your documents and have them in one place it is time to organize them!  I use the plastic file boxes for longer term storage of paperwork but for shorter term or even mobile storage I use the expandable file folder.

 

I have several of these for different types of papers and locations.  I have one in the kitchen for temporary filing of pay stubs, paid bills and other papers to be filed in the long term storage.  I have another for receipts divided by type (work, grocery, gifts, charitable etc).  I even have one in the car with insurance info, maintenance, accident forms etc.  There is one that houses our important documents so I have them all together.

 

Now, as for what to do with important papers for the sake of the Family Emergency Plan...

I made photo copies of all the papers to keep copies in our Go Bags, fire safe and safety deposit box.  These photo copies will work until extra copies can be ordered and swapped out.  I keep them in waterproof map bags but Ziploc freezer bags will work.  Also part of these papers are copies of photo IDs and group family photos.  This way if someone is separated from the group and does not have their ID the family photo will prove they belong to your group. 

This is smart for your pets as well.  If their tags get misplaced or a microchip reader is not available a photo of you and your pet will show they belong to you.  You could even go as far as paw print cards.  They are similar to the child finger print cards they give out at safety fairs.  When I was a teen and worked with sporting dogs many owners had the dogs' ear tattooed with a name or number unique to the owner such as their last name or social.  This practice has been replaced with micro-chipping but this only works if there is a chip reader.

DO NOT keep copies of any of these papers in your car or out in the open!  This can make life easy now but can lead to identity theft later on.

Bear attacked my shed!

Last night a yearling tried to break into my shed down below the cabin.  I store some gardening tools and my trash cans in there.  Well, I guess my trash cans will have to be moved back into the basement.  Fun.

At least trash is picked up tomorrow.

Emergency Plan Task One: Important Documents

For my first task I want to gather all my family's important documents and identification.

Having all your prudent information in one place may seem like a no brainer but most people couldn't tell you were their birth certificate was if they wanted to.  For this reason I want to take the time to get all of these together for our Emergency Plan binder.

Documents like birth certificates, social security cards, marriage and death certificates are important ways to identify your self and your family.  Plus if you don't have everything in one place you could waste precious time looking for them when you need to "GO".

Here are the documents and information I am gathering:

• birth certificates
• social security cards
• marriage certificates
• legal documents
• bank account info
• any other account info (this includes passwords and numbers)
• contacts
• any investment info
• medical info (prescriptions or medical history if you have it)

I use printable pages.  I'm not talented to make my own printables to help keep track of all the information you should have at your fingers so I have linked a few of my favorites (both free and not free). 

Emergency Plan Printables

 Pinch a little Save a lot




Bowl Full of Lemons
Toni also has a multi week preparedness series on her blog you can check out.  She was my inspiration for blogging my own start to preparedness.  Loved her ebook and printables.

Simply Fresh Designs 

UPDATE

Task One: What Now?  08/31/2013

Family Emergency Plan

Living here in the mountains has taught me a lot.  The most important thing is to be prepared for anything.  Don't leave anything to chance when it comes to your family and your life.  For this reason I am putting together my own Family Emergency Plan.  Sounds complicated, I know but if you are willing to follow along I'll try to make it easy and fun. 

Every two weeks I'll be posting the next task for setting up a family emergency plan.  Stay tuned for the next post with the first task.

Task One 08/24/2013
Task One Update 08/31/2013 

Task Two 09/07/2013

Go Bag - Dog Edition

Since my dog is a big part of my little family she needs her own supplies should we need to evacuate.  This can pose a problem.  Just like us Winter would need food and water as well as any medications and important documents(vaccine records etc).  This is added weight in my pack that will carry the bulk for Roo and I.  The solution is to get Winter her own packs and train her to carry them with some of her own supplies.

Now the rule of thumb for dog packs is they should carry no more than 1/4 to 1/3 the dog's body weight in supplies.  Winter is about 25-27 lbs depending on if she likes her kibble.  This puts her load weight at 6-9 lbs total- about 3-4 lbs on each side of the packs.  This could be a 4 lb bag of dry kibble on each side or some water bottles.  Making sure we get the most out of this weight limitation is very important.

The other option is a travois.  Now this has its own set of issues since we live in a very rocky mountain area.  This would have to be a project for another time...

Winter's Go Bag:

• freeze dried dog food
• water bottles/ purification tablets
• collapsible bowl
• dog hiking booties
• bed roll
• tick key
• first aid kit
• toys
• treats

There are a lot of food options out there for humans as well as dogs!  Doing the research for the right food for Winter's bag was a long and stressful process.  I narrowed the field to freeze dried and dehydrated dog foods to help make the most of the weight limit in the packs.  Since Winter is a picky eater I know it has to be something she will eat verses an untested food.  I had to contact lots of dog food companies for info and samples to see what would work.  The brands I couldn't get samples for I had to buy small packages and try them out that way.

Now for longevity in Winter's packs food had to be packed in mylar with an oxygen absorber or vacuum sealed with my Foodsaver.  It will keep for a while and have to be rotated out but not as soon as if I left everything in their manufactures packaging.  These methods will work for dry kibble if this is your preferred food.

There are lots of resources online as to what to pack for your dog in their Go Bag but I feel it can be a bit personal.  Everyone cares for their dog differently so what you pack may be completely different from what I packed for Winter.

Here are some links to help you if you decide a Go Bg is right for your dog.

Dog Bug Out Bag | Preparing Your Pet in Case of Emergency

Bug-out bag for dogs: are both you and your dog ready?

Homemade Raspberry Jam

I enjoy making my own jams for 2 reasons.  #1 I know what goes into it and I can decide how much sugar (if any) is in it.  #2 I save money.  A jar of jam at the store can cost $4-8 for 12 oz.  When I make my own I end up with 6-9 jars of jam for that price.

My basic recipe is not really my own but a little bit from a few different recipes/instructions.

Ingredients

• raspberries (about 8 cups whole berries)
• pectin
• sugar

Instructions

• Wash and sterilize your jars.  Since I water bath my jams I have to wash then boil my jars to make sure they are clean and bacteria free before filling with my jam.  If you have a dishwasher (I don't) you can run them through a wash and sterilizing cycle.  Washing your jars includes the lids.
• Wash berries in cool water.  Remove any mushy berries and non edibles (leaves and stems etc)
• Measure out your berries making sure you stay under 8 cups of whole berries (6 cups mashed).  Pectin will not gel in large batches so if you want lots of jam make it in smaller batches.
• Mash the berries.  You can use a Foley Food Mill, food processor, potato masher or a blender.  I have tried all of these and find that it makes no difference in the taste.
• Measure the sugar.  Depending on the type of pectin you are using the amount of sugar will vary.  I use low-sugar pectin so I follow the measurements on the box for how much sugar is needed.
•  Bring to a boil the berries and pectin.  Just to the point you can't stir away the boil.
• Add sugar and heat again.  A low boil to help melt the sugar and mix it well with the berries and pectin.  Boil for about a minute or two more.
• Fill your jars with the berry mixture.
• Seal jars.  Wipe the threads and rim of your jars before putting on the lids and bands.
• Put the sealed jars in the water bath canner so there is a few inches of water covering them.  Bring the canner to a boil for 10 minutes.
• Take canner off the heat and remove the lid.  Let it sit for 5 minutes before removing the jars.
• Set the hot jars on a towel on the counter or table to cool.
• Put the jars away for later use.
• Enjoy. Yum.

Rainy Day Cash Stash

I am a shopper.  I enjoy going out and shopping- be it window shopping or even grocery shopping!  The down side is I can lose track of my spending (even at a thrift store) and go over budget.  I have even dipped into my rainy day cash to go shopping.

Well here is my rainy day cash stash idea that will prevent me from dipping in for shopping cash.

You will need 2 things- a glass bottle with a long narrow neck you can't reach into and a small bottle of craft paint.

A wine bottle works well and you don't have to buy a decorator bottle like I did.  I got a purple tinted bottle from the store and white paint.  I poured a small amount of paint in the bottle and rolled it around to coat the inside of the bottle.  Since my bottle was tinted the white paint brightened the tint.   Make sure you leave the cork/cap off the bottle until the paint is 100% dry.  I made this mistake thinking the bottle was dry and the paint pooled at the bottom.

You can pick any color paint you want.  The paint is to shield your cash stash from prying eyes.  Since coins can't fit through the neck of the bottle no worries about the snoop who will give it a shake.  Because the bottle is glass the only way to get the cash is to break it.  Great way to tell if someone has taken your money or to prevent yourself from spending it.

I recommend having a few of these painted bottles to prevent them from looking out of place.  You can even use a taper candle as the 'cork' and give the bottles a purpose as candle holders.

The truth about using LED light bulbs...

Reducing your electricity usage and your bill is more than just turning off lights when you leave a room...

After moving into this cabin my electric bill went up quite a bit from what I was use to.  I don't want to spend an extra $30-60 a month as that defeats the purpose of moving my tiny family to the middle of nowhere to be more self sufficient. 

I invested in some 4 watt LED light bulbs in hopes this would help.  The bill went down but not to levels I was happy with!  I also noticed that when the switch to the kitchen light was off the bulbs still were lit up a bit.  So my 4 watt LED bulbs were saving me a little money but were still turned on 24/7...

The cabin was built in the early 1970s so I had a thought that the wiring might be shot/chewed by mice or just plain faulty.  I had an electrician come by to take a look at the kitchen light in hopes it was a cheap fix.  Here is what he told me about my LEDs...

You can not use LED or CLF (the coil fluorescent) bulbs in fixtures that have dimmer switches.

It seems that standard dimmer switches allow a small amount of current to run to the fixture even when turned off.  LED and CLF bulbs are very low wattage and will use that current to light up.  It is all in how the driver in the bulbs process the current.  This will burn the bulbs out faster costing you more money in replacements and used wattage. 

To prevent this from happening you can only use LED and CLF bulbs in fixtures with toggle style switches.  You can buy dimmers rated for CLF and LED bulbs but they are really expensive.  So I have changed all the dimmers to toggle switches.  This way I can use my LEDs without issue or ridiculous bills...

Go Bag - Toddler Edition

Roo and I live in the middle of nowhere on a mountain.  Since there is a national forest below us on the mountain there are campgrounds.  Campgrounds draw all types even the moronic- those people who have no clue as to how to start, maintain and/or put out a camp fire.  Whatever the reason be it they are too drunk, stoned or just stupid these people are a real threat to our way of life.  That is why I have set up "Go Bags" for Roo and myself.  A Go Bag is also known as a Bug Out Bag (BOB) or a Get Out Of Dodge Bag (GOOD Bag).

Roo is my heart so her bag was the first to be completed.  It is a small mini backpack normally sold as a purse to teen girls.  I found it at a thrift store in near perfect condition.  It has padded straps and 2 pockets.  I like it over the cartooned backpacks because it is made from a heavier fabric like a normal canvas backpack.

As far as the contents...

• Britta Kids filtering water bottle
• hydration drink powder sticks
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• fruit snacks
• raisins
• juice boxes
• kids first aid kit with bug repellent wipes
• crayons and paper pad
• glow sticks

Since Roo is only a toddler I can't over load her little back with everything she would really need in a Go Bag.  I have put a few things in her bag that she can carry and would not be an issue should her bag be lost or misplaced along the road.  Also in her bag but not pictured is a small plush toy just for her bag.  This is like letting her bring a bit of home with us should we have to leave due to fire or other disaster.


*Added to my bag for safe keeping are copies of important documents, 3-7 days food, water, changes of clothing (vary depending on weather) and a more extensive first aid and survival kit.

Here, Kitty Kitty...!

The most recent visitors to our cabin...

A Real Patriotic Smoothie...

Another smoothie recipe for you.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced and frozen
• 1/2 cup blueberries, frozen
• 1 medium banana, sliced and frozen
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• 1 cup fat free milk

Blend until smooth.

Drink and enjoy.

Strawberry Carrot Smoothie

I love love LOVE smoothies.  Not the juice shop kind but ones I make at home.  I have my standard Berry Banana Smoothie but today I thought I'd try something different.  Since I am eating more of a farmer's paleo diet I had to find ingredients that fit this.  Here is my recipe...

Strawberry Carrot Smoothie

• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 2 whole carrots (I sliced them for easy blending)
• 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter (you can use protein powder instead)
• orange juice to cover the strawberries and carrots (1/2-1 cup for me)

Blend til smooth.
Drink.

YUM!

A healthy change

Because Roo's grandfather passed away from  two heart attacks I am having a change of heart (pun intended) about my own health and eating habits.  Her grandfather was the kind of man that put mayonnaise on everything and covered his food in table salt!  I was told I had high blood pressure when I was pregnant but I have been watching it like a hawk now.  I do notice when I bake and eat processed foods my sodium levels are very high.  For this reason I am trying a salt substitute.

Salt-substitute herb blend 

• 3 tablespoons dried basil 

• 3 tablespoons dried marjoram 

• 3 tablespoons dried parsley 

• 3 tablespoons dried thyme 

• 4 1/2 teaspoons dried chives 

• 2 1/2 teaspoons dried paprika 

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary 

• 2 1/2 teaspoons onion powder 

Grind all ingredients together.

Death is just a new start

We got the call yesterday (Sunday) that my former father in law had passed away.  This is my daughter's grandfather so we went to say goodbye and for me to pay my respects.  This got me thinking and planning the whole 2 hour car trip about being prepared even if its a subject few people want to deal with.

The death of a loved one be it spouse or parent can be devastating to everyone and rock you out of your comfort zone.  Grief can be so strong knowing how to deal with everything can be the furthest think from your mind.  But having an idea of what to do can really make a difference in this dark time.

 1.  Calling the funeral home/mortuary.  If your loved one died at home or in a hospital the body has to be released to the mortuary before anything else can be done.  You have to sign paperwork to allow the mortuary to claim the body from the morgue.  Plus you can make arrangements for the funeral at the same time saving a trip to the mortuary.  If your loved one was in the service, call the Veterans Administration.  They can assist in the final arrangements.  Each case is different, but they can help to a degree.

2.  Order the death certificates.  You will need these for everything and a photocopy will not cut it.  Order 10-20 copies.  Trust me, you will need them.  These can be ordered from the funeral director so order them while you are signing the release of the body.  Most will offer a bulk discount.

3.  Close and cancel all accounts.  Once the funeral and memorial are over you will need to gather all your loved ones account documentation and get to work.   This is where the death certificates will be needed.  Any insurance policies need to be cancelled.  As will all creditors will need to be contacted.  Not all debt disappears with death but the creditors will need to know of the death.  Some will offer a reduced debt/payment for bereavement.  Bank accounts/titles will need to be changed to the name of the beneficiaries. 

4.  Make sure you remember the good times you had with your loved one.  Those memories will help you deal with the grief of the loss.

Death can be sad and cause deep heart ache but at the same time it can be a new start.  It can be a chance for you to take that step to change things in your own life and to make sure your own loved ones are not at a loss when you pass.  It is a time to live, love and laugh.

Fall off the bone tasty ribs

Friends are coming this weekend to visit us here on the mountain.  I want to be a good hostess and offer some yummy food.  So I have opted for some fall off the bone delicious ribs and some tri tip.  Of course with guests here I'll be chasing Roo around and will not have time to 'man' the barbeque myself.  I am having one of the menfolk take over grill duties but not before I prep the meat!

For the past few days I have had the ribs soaking in a pot of citrus juice and spices.  Once they are ready I will rinse them and rub them down with my fab rib rub that makes them soooooo yummy!

Rub Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 1 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons cumin powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 to 4 tablespoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

From one box to another

As I started emptying boxes in the dining room and kitchen I realize that there are items I have to put back in to boxes.  REALLY?!  I started by dividing all the items that need to go back into boxes.  Mostly it is food and food storage items that are not needed at the moment. 

This past weekend I had picked up some clear plastic totes from Costco for items that need to be in storage but are used often.  I put the food in these so they can be stored in the basement without fear of mice eating it.  I had also picked up a shelving system for these totes.  This way I don't lose totes to being crushed by the weight of others on top of them.

So far my kitchen and dining room are less cluttered and I have a box of kitchen gadgets I'll never use ready for Goodwill.  Another up side to this is I can see what is in the tote as well as it is ready to just grab and go if another move should happen.

In short, sometimes moving things from one box to another can give you the desired results.

Caveman vs. Farmer

You hear lots of buzz about different diets nowadays.  And when you are trying to be healthy it can be hard to stick to any one of them.  Well, this is my problem.  I thought one of the perks of living away from it all on a mountain was not being able to run to the store for cookies and cake.  Yeah right!  With all the food I have to keep on hand to feed us it is easy to grab that box of cake mix or make a batch of cookie dough...

So its back to eating moderately healthy.  I figure if I start each day on the right foot I can maintain better eating habits and slowly push out the bad habits.  Because I have Hypothyroidism due to Graves Disease my health is important.  I have to stay on top of my blood tests and watch my food.  My doctor told me the best diet for thyroid conditions is a diabetics diet- low to no carbs and no sugar.  I tried.  No luck.  Everything was bland or lacking in taste regardless of the spices/seasonings I used.  So, I am giving the Paleo diet a try.  Or I should say a modified Paleo diet.  I like to think of it as a farm diet- fresh fruit and veggies and healthy lean meats.  All things that can be raised on a homestead.

Now, this is not about weight loss though I could stand to lose some weight.  This is about better overall health.  It is slow going but I can only take it one day at a time.  Geez!  Sounds like a twelve step program but it is the only way to do this...

Living out of boxes...

Clutter is a big issue for many people including myself and family.  I have a problem letting go of things I can see a future use for.  Like other clutter bugs I don't every use those items- they just take up space.  In the past seven years we have moved six times and every time we have thinned our belongings and spent months after the move living out of boxes.  This is one of the major reasons I think I am a clutter bug.  I want to know where things are and not have to dig through boxes for them.  My answer for this was to replace the items I need most.  Yeah, a waste of money and time.

I have taken time to go through our belongings many a time to get rid of duplicates and things we will never use.  Every move I make 10+ trips to the Goodwill to donate useable items that do not need to be in a landfill.  I have also spent the month before a move selling other items on Ebay or Craigslist.  I have even gotten to the point during a move that I just start throwing things out rather than lug them with me!  But no matter how much I get rid of our belongings multiple before the next move!

When I was in college I had a boyfriend that lived a minimal lifestyle.  His goal was to be able to packed everything he owned into his car and move in one trip if the need ever rose.  He never had to rent a truck if he had to move.  All his clothes could be packed into two small suitcases.  His bed sat on a frame made from milk crates.  All the crates doubled as moving boxes and he could pack all his things in them then into the trunk of his car.  I always thought he was odd not having any major furniture or keepsakes.  Now I look at him as a fine example of how my family and I should live.   Of course with a child I'll never be able to make one trip with the car to move but at least I can get things to a point where one medium moving truck is all I need. 

To combat the clutter, living out of boxes and the growing amounts of belongings I have come up with a plan.  I will go through one box everyday.  Items will be put into one of three classifications; Keep, Throw Away and Donate/Give Away. 

The items to Keep will be put away in their proper place. Or packed into a box that is clearly labeled and placed neatly in the basement or storage.

Throw Away items are ones that do not have a use and are of no use to anyone else.  Mostly paper scraps or what we all call "trash".

Donate/Give Away items are self explanatory.  These will be kept in a box til it is full and then taken to a donation center or listed as "free" on Craigslist.

Happy Fourth of July!

 Have a safe and happy holiday.

The Great Mountain of Laundry

Everyone has laundry.  Unless you buy new clothes, wear once and toss out you have laundry that needs to get washed, dried and put away.

Like most of society I hate doing the laundry.  I have tried setting up wash days to get it all done and it will get washed and dried but sit for the next week in the baskets never getting hung up or folded in drawers.  So I set up a schedule to do a load of laundry everyday.  That includes wash, dry, fold/hang and put away. Lets see if I can actually stick to it.

Now, not only do I hate doing laundry I hate spending lots of money on detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener and stain spray!  I started couponing to help cut the overall cost but saving 55 cents on a $20 bottle of detergent doesn't seem worth it...

 I have tried many recipes for making my own laundry detergent.  With the amount of laundry I have done over the year as a costume designer I have seen how these recipes have worked and then again didn't. 

Recently I found a recipe that seems too good to be true.  I mean it has all the same ingredients as the others I have tried but its mojo is just stronger!  And... drum roll, please... it's cheaper per use than the other recipes!  It contains the following; Borax, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, OxyClean, Zote Soap, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, and Purex Crystals Fabric Softener.

I found the recipe while surfing around, but credit needs to be given where credit is due.  The gals over at How Does She deserve the praise for this one.  You can find the recipe HERE. 

I did find that one batch only fills a 5 gallon bucket half way.  Double the batch and you'll have a full bucket.  I am using a pink bucket from the Breast Cancer Sale at Ace Hardware with a black Gamma seal lid.  It looks very bold and bright compared to my other 5 gallon buckets used for food storage which are white.  I do advise wearing a dust mask while you mix this all together.  The dust from all the powdery ingredients really got caught in my nose.  I could only smell the Zote for a few days.

With saving money in the laundry department on my mind I wanted to find a way to save even more.  Dryer sheets are another area where I can't seem to find a way to break even!  They cost sooooo much for so few sheets in a box!  I have switched back and forth from brand to brand and even the generics to try and find something that worked but didn't break the bank!

Well, the answer was in the laundry aisle at the store- dryer balls!  But I didn't feel the PVC ones for sale were healthy for my little family so again I surfed for an alternative.  And I found it.  Wool dryer balls.  I made mine but there are tons of great crafty people on sites like Etsy that make and sell them for very cheap.  I almost wished I had gotten mine there rather than spending the time to make my own.

Now armed with this new fab recipe and some great wool dryer balls hopefully I can get laundry under control and save some money.

The World's Best Mouse Trap

Living in the mountains away from society means that nature doesn't stay outside the door!  In fact it comes right in through the walls, cabinets, floor, windows and yes, even the door!

Before I moved into this cabin in the woods there was evidence that a mouse had made its home here.  There were acorns hidden under the kitchen sink and a nest in the garbage in the basement.  No problem!  I have 5 cats.  3 of my cats are proven mousers.  The other 2 are as dumb as bricks!  Or so I thought...

My flame point siamese tomcat just proved himself as a fast and smart mouse killer!  He found the little mouse that has been lurking in my cabin.  This mouse has stayed away from commonly used/lived-in areas and remained under the basement stairs til tonight.  With food nowhere to be found in the basement the mouse came up to raid the kitchen.  Death was swift.

Here is my handsome boy taking a well deserved rest with his mini kicker stick.

Now I have 4 proven mousers and 1 cat who is as dumb as bricks...

Hey Grill, you rub me the right way!

I love barbeque.

Let me correct myself.

I love GOOD barbeque.

For this reason I am always looking for good recipes for rubs and trying them out.  Here is my most recent experiment...


I got a good deal on tri tip and wanted to grill it.  I am sick of bottled sauces so I wanted to try my hand at a rub.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried chipotle chile powder
• 2 tablespoons peppercorns (fresh ground pepper should be fine)
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin 
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder 
• 1 teaspoon dried cilantro 

Preparation

Grind peppercorns in the spice mill; transfer to bowl with chiles. Stir in brown sugar, cumin salt, and mustard powder.

Spread on tri tip to coat and let the meat rest in the fridge for at least an hour. 

Grill to your taste.

I know tri tip is suppose to be pink in the middle but while I was grilling we had a "visitor" come up to the house and we had to go inside til he left.

 

I used the leftover rub with a little olive oil to coat the veggies and grilled those too.  Everything was spicy and yummy! 

Tomatoes, Potatoes and Peas... Oh My!

The garden is coming along as to be expected.  We have only been living up here for a few months but I tried to start most of my seeds and veggies before the move.  My pepper, beans and corn starts didn't make it but the tomatoes, peas and squash seem to be taking off.

The tomatoes are starting to flower so hopefully that means I'll have tomatoes.  The Brandywine plants seem to love it up here and are blossoming like mad!  One little tomato so far but lots of flowers!  The Marvel Stripe also like the mountains but not as many flowers as the Brandywine.  The Green Zebras just are not happy here.  Only half of the plants have flowers but none are pollinating.  I could do it by hand but this season is more for experimenting than full scale farming.

Everyone told me raspberry plants would grow just fine up here on the mountain but they would not fruit. Well, my plants seem to think otherwise!  I have small buds forming that will flower soon.

Even my potato plants seem to be thriving here on the mountain!

Freezer Meals- Just thaw cook and serve!

I hate cooking.

That's not quite right.  I hate the mess prep makes when I cook.  All the cutting boards and utensils you use to get your food to the point of cooking it.  Ugh!  I hate those heat and serve meals they sell at Costco but they seem to find their way into my freezer.  They don't create the same amount of mess as cooking from scratch.  The other common fix is to run for take out or fast food.  YUCK!

Here is how I combat the urge for an easy meal.   I figured that if I am making the mess when cooking from scratch I might as well double the recipe and freeze half for another night.  Makes great sense to me.  It creates less mess for 2 meals!

Now, I don't just throw it all in a container in the freezer to get frost bitten.  I use my Food Saver to seal it all nice and tight before tossing in the freezer.  This way if it gets forgotten for a month or more (read year) it is still edible!  When cooked of course.

I want to try my hand at a few of our other favorite meals.  If I did this every time I cooked I could have a freezer stocked with meals.  Think of all the money and time saved!

Some of my favorite Freezer Meals are chicken fajitas and calzones.  Here is the recipe for the fajitas...

Chicken Fajitas

1 tsp. minced garlic (fresh or dried)
1 tsp. minced onions (fresh or dried)
3/4 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cilantro (finely minced if fresh)
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup orange juice (substitute lemon juice if you prefer)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken (breast or thighs), cut into strips
1-2 sweet bell peppers, cut into thin strips
1 red onion, thinly sliced
8 or so tortillas

Mix the juices, oil and spices.  Add chicken.  (if you are making this to eat now, marinade the chicken in the mixture for one hour in the refrigerator.)  Place chicken and mixture in a freezer bag and seal.  Also place the peppers and onion in a freezer bag.  Freeze for later use.

To cook, place chicken and mixture in a skillet and brown.  Add the peppers and onion till tender.

Spoon chicken and veggies onto a tortilla.  Serve.  Eat.

Alone on a mountain

Its hard to believe why anyone would choose to live on a mountain alone.  You are so far away from everything but again you are so close to everything.

Yes, I live on a mountain alone.  Well, not really alone.  I share the cabin with my dog, Winter, and a few cats.  Then there is Roo.  She is the light of my life- my daughter.  So, in truth I am not alone on a mountain but then what kind of conversation can a toddler offer?!

This is our adventures alone on a mountain.  Our life trying to make something from nothing.

Penny saved is a penny earned

I have been in need of new cookware for some time now.  About a year ago one of my frying pans lost its handle.  The weld that held the handle in place came off.  I'm sure I could have had it re-welded but the handle was chipped and missing a rivet to boot.  I cleaned the pan part and put it in with the camping gear.  I'm sure I can use it as a dish or to make campfire cornbread.  So I have been one pan short for a while.  It makes cooking our usual big Saturday breakfast a long and tedious process.  First you have to cook the bacon, then the eggs and finally the pancakes or french toast.

Coming up with the money for new cookware has been a hassle!  We live on a very tight budget.  I did the math ten ways from Sunday to come up with the extra funds.  I was going to have to sell some thing.  I also looked into Ebates.com.  I figured if it was worth a try if it was 100% free to sign up.  Just for signing up when I did I qualified for a free $10 giftcard to the store of my choice.  I made a few purchases online for things we needed and saw the cash back add up.  It was in no way the thousands they claim in the commercials but the check for $60 was a nice surprise.  Plus it would help get me closer to the new cookware I wanted.

I have been shopping around for new cookware trying to get the best deal on a good quality item.  I had my heart set on an expensive stainless steel set that was going to cost me over $300 for just the basic pieces.  Then my budget savvy side smacked me up side the head and I did the smart thing- I replaced the missing frying pan.  My cookware is my Grandma's Revere Ware set.  Not hard to replace one piece since they still make it.  (I had checked to see if Revere Ware would repair the pan but they don't do that anymore.)  Well, I found a fab deal on ebay for two 10 inch pans for less than one 10 inch pan brand new! 

In short I saved over $275 just by replacing the broken pan!  If you factor the $60 check from Ebates.com I made $35 and still got two "new to me" frying pans!