WELCOME TO OUR WEEKLY EDITION FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 7th, 2020

 

WE WELCOME ALL OUR NEW READERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVEN’T PREPPED YET OR MAY HAVE JUST STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT.

If you are reading this page for the first time please read our ABOUT section to avoid any confusion. Here’s the short version. If you are looking for babes with guns, camo commandos, zombie hunters, political rants, racial hate ideas, or quasi-religious doomsday stories:  LOOK ELSEWARE!

        We put together plain, simple information on how to prep for storms, disasters and other possible threats so the average Ann and Andy can prepare with the least cost in time, space, effort and money.

TWO-FERS OR HOW TO PREP BUT NOT LOOK LIKE YOU ARE DOING IT.

Mama Donna got us some nice battery powered, remote controlled candles to go in the living and dining rooms. As we use them every night in a decorative way, we buy packs of dollar store batteries for them.

Now a visitor might see them and think of them only as a nice decoration. They may never consider the fact that if the power goes out late some evening, there will be at least enough light already on to see to walk. They are portable so we could pick up one to light our way to where the flashlights and lanterns are. They also give another explanation to why you have packs of extra batteries, but with controllers for almost everything from TV’s to a/c, it’s not looked on as a big deal to have extra batteries on hand.)

Another example is the plastic containers we have now switched over to in the pantry for such things as stuffing mixes, pasta, rice, cereals and other such non-perishable items, and the racks for our canned goods. The containers can hold days of crackers, pasta and cereals and the racks can hold weeks of canned goods, but have them so neat and organized that they really don’t look like that much food. If asked, we say how it helps us to keep safe and fresh all the bargains we got when the stores have their can goods specials or their 5 for 5 pastas. You don’t need the more expensive containers as the discount and dollar stores have many good sizes available.

The containers also help you to have regular, store bought items and not “survival foods” on your shelves and in your pantry where there is more chance of them being seen. This helps you to save money as, while good, the “survival foods” are expensive. If you do have some, let them be the “deep reserve” hidden in such places as a bedroom closet or such.

This carries over into an area such as the decorative containers on our kitchen counter. They hold probably a month’s worth of sweetener packs, sugar, tea bags and such, yet would hardly draw a second look.

Then there are various scented candles of many sizes. They can sit out openly or be on a shelf along with some regular emergency candles and have their lighters. I have a relative that has two working oil lanterns as part of the “rustic” wall decorations. Talk about your camouflage! LOL!  

The same idea works with flashlights. A super-duper “commando” flashlight on a pantry shelf might raise an eyebrow, where a small 9 LED flashlight in a drawer or two would hardly be noticed.

These items and actions are what I call “two-fer’s”. They have an everyday use that is “acceptable” and raises no red flags about your prepping, at the same time need no further steps to be useable if a situation develops.

                                IN YOUR POSITION, YOU WANT NO ATTENTION.

 

STEALTH PREPPING

            It’s great to live in an area like mine when gun ownership, camping, hunting and fishing are part of what we do, and prepping is no problem.  But not all of us live in areas or situations where prepping is looked upon favorably so it helps to avoid hassles by “stealth prepping”.

            This is basically prepping without any outward appearances than might “spook the sheep”. You avoid any “military” looking items that would be in areas easily seen by friends, neighbors, mailman, co-workers, or in some cases, even family. You can have non-camo backpacks of various sizes and regular gear “for camping”, regular first aid kits, extra store bought canned and non-perishable foods to a reasonable degree in the pantry or on the shelves, decorative candles, a flashlight here and there, and a manual can opener and never draw a second look.

            Special gear, extra supplies, such as long term storage foods, and cases of bottled water can go under beds and in closets. Firearms, especially anything that remotely looks like an “assault weapon”, should be kept from sight along with bows and large sheath knives.

            This also means, other than the American, no flags, symbols, patches, outfits or anything else that screams “SURVIVALIST”.

LIGHT STICKS

            The electricity is out, night has come and you have a young child that needs to go to bed, but is afraid of the dark. What do you do?

It’s simple, break out a light stick.

Light sticks are great in that they are safe, colorful, make great nightlights, come in all sorts of shapes, even in bracelets for children and they can be gotten at dollar stores. On top of that they can be stored without any maintenance, as far as I know, last indefinitely in their package, and are easy to use.

As with anything else, the child must be old enough to know NOT to chew or bite on one, and they should be the size and shape to prevent being swallowed.

Emergencies are stressful enough on adults, and even more on children. A simple light stick can brighten up the darkness in many ways 

AA OR AAA, IS IT A QUESTION FOR YOU?

            If you have started your prepping you may have found a question you may not have considered before, namely what batteries to stock up on AA or AAA. It seems like you need both for the items that take different sizes. I have some small flashlights that take one or the other.

            You have a couple of options here. If your money is tight, invest when you can in a combo pack of name brand quality AA/AAA batteries to be in reserve, and for now get packs of dollar store AA and AAA for general use.

            If you have a few extra dollars, you can invest in some adapters that allow you to use AAA as AA. In this way you can just stock up on one battery type. The adapters are available on line for around $10. I lucked out and found packs for $2 at a discount store that could convert AA to C, and C to D.

THE HUMBLE TUB

            They come in various sizes, colors and designs, but basically they are just a simple storage tub and a great friend to the prepper. They allow you to have a way to store and keep protected various items you from weather and critters.

            But they also have many other uses. When an emergency can be seen coming and warnings are posted (blizzards, hurricane) you can put a clean tub in a shower stall and fill it with water. While you won’t drink this water, you can wash with it then use it to flush the toilet.

            If the emergency is longer than a week, you could use a tub to do laundry in. (Not fun, I agree, but it beats nothing.) A variation on this is an actual metal washtub that you keep around to put ice and drinks in for summer cookouts.

            They can also be of use if you feel the need for some serious “stealth” prepping. Mark them on the outside with words like “Christmas tree decorations” or such then put non-perishable food or prepper gear in the bottom. Place a false bottom of cardboard, foam board, poster board or plywood over the items and put a pile of loose decorative items over them. Put them on the bottom of another tub totally filled with decorations. (How do you hide a leaf? You put it in the forest. LOL!)

BUILDING BLOCKS

            My wife, Mama Donna, made a cake the other day “from scratch”. She used flour, sugar, cocoa, oil, and such but no eggs or any perishable item. She can do that because she has the knowledge and we stock up on items, such as flour, sugar, etc.

            If you have a reasonable chance of sheltering in place (SIP) I recommend you stock up on such “building blocks” and keep them in tubs and plastic containers. The good news is not only can they be found at discount stores and their quality is NO less than name brand items.

            But, like any other item, be it firearm or flour, it is useless without learning what to do with it. Learn to make items from scratch now, and do them as much as possible by hand without “gadgets “that won’t be there after a major event.

            And after a homemade biscuit or two, you may find prepping to be a “tasty “proposition.

MAMA DONNA’S UNBELIEVEABLY GOOD EGGLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

            My wife, Mama Donna, takes a practical view of prepping. She looks to be able to cook, clean and keep the house going under any circumstances. This is her “no perishables” cake recipe.

3 cups of white, all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

½ cup baking cocoa

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. white vinegar

1 cup Canola (or other) cooking oil

2 cups cold water

            In a large mixing bowl stir all dry ingredients until well mixed.

Make 3 “wells” in the mix.

Pour the vanilla in well #1

Pour the oil in #2

Pour the vinegar in #3

Pour water all over

Mix until combined ( A hand beater can be used )

Pour the batter into a lightly greased 9X 13 X 2 pan

Bake at 350 degrees in oven (if possible or inside a closed grill ) for 30 minutes or until a toothpick put into the center comes back clean.

Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.

 

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Thank You,

Poor Richard and Mama Donna.