tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87212246607950274402024-02-02T01:12:28.193-07:00Slrpycow's StuffShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-26161380629282424082011-07-25T19:12:00.011-06:002011-07-26T10:29:37.776-06:00Pioneer Trek<span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Yesterday Michael and I were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting about our experiences on our Stake Trek. A few people have asked for a copy of our talks, and so I am posting them here, though it is more notes than talks. I may even put up some pictures if I can remember how.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_POVgwNywibHfs0IZgbYKCFyuHnWSnJ3wuwL5vLqJtr6-AbrgeKK6EQAmEXcQcluxzpUUIrCetw9nirq3SphghpcJ2C8YYE5UbuI-KybXgdzYw8V0KO-Cw08MoEyYy20BhHapWB1F3-g/s1600/GoogleEarth_Image.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 519px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_POVgwNywibHfs0IZgbYKCFyuHnWSnJ3wuwL5vLqJtr6-AbrgeKK6EQAmEXcQcluxzpUUIrCetw9nirq3SphghpcJ2C8YYE5UbuI-KybXgdzYw8V0KO-Cw08MoEyYy20BhHapWB1F3-g/s320/GoogleEarth_Image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633496067220636562" border="0" /></a>This is a map of our Trek course.</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3gyOosqIyrlon-K8CwPfUjQuX6WHU32_hVdzZkWv70BCkv4oacqzdtad0B53mvEucnN6112jkzu56BBj2LUdXRb30K1-PpNgraU48yWzpx0ilHggRw7v8MyxKp7KwgKzn3FSX2G3nLI/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3gyOosqIyrlon-K8CwPfUjQuX6WHU32_hVdzZkWv70BCkv4oacqzdtad0B53mvEucnN6112jkzu56BBj2LUdXRb30K1-PpNgraU48yWzpx0ilHggRw7v8MyxKp7KwgKzn3FSX2G3nLI/s320/Pioneer+Trek+055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633495697603939394" border="0" /></a><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;">A general view of the landscape. We were on a cattle ranch 10 miles from Evanston, Wy.<br /></div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn1jlS7mhIzW-6zRgw_lCPvZZJ-FTNAQSwGruPMCWIfp_9EHb6u4gaAqXBLe93HLjLUpq4I0RTAOSJ0zkytS-ZZI2m0LSjLkTOUSVSF2M4RULUnoQIBvvk3kKhWXekfWYeOV3E56ihyI/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+120.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAn1jlS7mhIzW-6zRgw_lCPvZZJ-FTNAQSwGruPMCWIfp_9EHb6u4gaAqXBLe93HLjLUpq4I0RTAOSJ0zkytS-ZZI2m0LSjLkTOUSVSF2M4RULUnoQIBvvk3kKhWXekfWYeOV3E56ihyI/s320/Pioneer+Trek+120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633470303487972578" border="0" /></a>This was our camp one morning. We figured out how to join the three handcarts of our cooking group together to provide the most shade.</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXiipAx195C4UoE2W0p65wtt8ldPfRdt6MXd8DEJeqEFdh0sts-JA2sMlvgfFzkWbC71FZp3LQMF6pmcctyu3ap6mr3Jgmb-tAMirECw-7-cWv-gpbIo9bkT9qDVdSMsb7RLydFgPt8A/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+156.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXiipAx195C4UoE2W0p65wtt8ldPfRdt6MXd8DEJeqEFdh0sts-JA2sMlvgfFzkWbC71FZp3LQMF6pmcctyu3ap6mr3Jgmb-tAMirECw-7-cWv-gpbIo9bkT9qDVdSMsb7RLydFgPt8A/s320/Pioneer+Trek+156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633492847303640210" border="0" /></a>The Wright Family, as opposed to the Trek Wright Family. This was taken at the very end.</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LBtigMXlnjSJCQGcz6P_TbS_CuJEXbNT-sbUkyKMFMSJhFbK4gRejiA3qkGlggi67nhXQM5OAPx2B2mpcoggm6ayaDfYsJgUtam4M8gKErXCpZ0-PyKNV8GSaU__LKEWO9WFPutqGrI/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+065.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LBtigMXlnjSJCQGcz6P_TbS_CuJEXbNT-sbUkyKMFMSJhFbK4gRejiA3qkGlggi67nhXQM5OAPx2B2mpcoggm6ayaDfYsJgUtam4M8gKErXCpZ0-PyKNV8GSaU__LKEWO9WFPutqGrI/s320/Pioneer+Trek+065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633469866044657986" border="0" /></a>My daughters and I on the Women's Pull, just as we reached the top. I spent the whole time pushing with my left hand and reaching behind and pulling with my right. It was 1.2 mile, with a 310 ft elevation gain. Tough, but good.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihg_ewvj-623xKGS3b8G3pOO3F3ruDB8oJUmiCEw_AYFu2lt_OoToKfBXqOmvAza_z_gtP6dL2jSgcb1KVDgtjhKuGQsLqJLmHZqyrCkAlt837Iq6wVspoWsksiek5QPbhjxMbvxpzZc/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+041.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihg_ewvj-623xKGS3b8G3pOO3F3ruDB8oJUmiCEw_AYFu2lt_OoToKfBXqOmvAza_z_gtP6dL2jSgcb1KVDgtjhKuGQsLqJLmHZqyrCkAlt837Iq6wVspoWsksiek5QPbhjxMbvxpzZc/s320/Pioneer+Trek+041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633469861313105922" border="0" /></a>My Trek daughters: Lauren, Me, Megan, Kaylinn, and Danielle, and a good picture of our flag. We were in the Orange Company, Yellow Family. There were 42 families in 7 companies. Each company was divided into 2 cooking groups that stayed together on the trail and at camp each night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFdCDd_hlN2dUtPDgYNL9yna3ptcqucS1Cx-k7xZ3nhE2HZQ-Pcuymd5Zi9wIiqzt5s0phSLtBcbjohYnAjjXr42ki6MjAANs3y1TN8nVnTAZujgiGC5DWgJvp1Jvi0zzJx0sicQVCyg/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+020.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFdCDd_hlN2dUtPDgYNL9yna3ptcqucS1Cx-k7xZ3nhE2HZQ-Pcuymd5Zi9wIiqzt5s0phSLtBcbjohYnAjjXr42ki6MjAANs3y1TN8nVnTAZujgiGC5DWgJvp1Jvi0zzJx0sicQVCyg/s320/Pioneer+Trek+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633469855784833090" border="0" /></a><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">A picture of the family cart from behind.</span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoapgZZDo2UtTR1NL7psDkdpGLPl6Sc4BWewxZla1DP0TmnTtX3Xo2NXXbe-rRWQE8ODEuBXZQAaFPKGfBcljFiWbkDS-K1R2EZsAnOagx-8L8sD8AU2pdS5rBYttLzsx8asOmBlem_nc/s1600/Pioneer+Trek+009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoapgZZDo2UtTR1NL7psDkdpGLPl6Sc4BWewxZla1DP0TmnTtX3Xo2NXXbe-rRWQE8ODEuBXZQAaFPKGfBcljFiWbkDS-K1R2EZsAnOagx-8L8sD8AU2pdS5rBYttLzsx8asOmBlem_nc/s320/Pioneer+Trek+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633469846342235250" border="0" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;" align="center">Our Family the first morning before loading on the bus:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;" align="center">Nick, Noke', Shannon, Michael, Andrew, Kaylinn, Megan, Lauren, Danielle<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="center"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Trek Sacrament Meeting Talk, July 24, 2011</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">As Pioneers had many hardships and joys on their journey, I would like to share some of my hardships and joys on my journey.</span><br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hardships:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Blisters</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Sunburns</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Bug bites</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Dust everywhere</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Heat</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Cuts and scrapes</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Sore legs</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Stinky potties</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Having our tent area by the stinky and loud potties</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Cold nights</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Hard sleeping ground</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">A tent that was far too short and small for Michael and me</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">No shade</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Listening to girls worry about how they would look walking through the guys a</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">t the end of the Women’s Pull instead of seeing the mountain we still had to climb</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Crazy, busyness of camping with 340(?) teenagers</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Knowing I had to give a talk in church the day after I got back</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Packing to get 6 people ready a week after girl’s camp---starting exhausted was hard</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">§<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Read journal #1</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">“Evening of our first day.<span style=""> </span>Camp is quiet at about 11:15.<span style=""> </span>The thought of not having to get up until 7am is wonderful!”</i></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Walking miles and miles and miles</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">§<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Read journal #2</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.5in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">“Walked 9.08 miles today.<span style=""> </span>Brother Earl is sneaking in the extra miles left and right.” </i>Our 22 mile Trek was 27.5 miles.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Wondering Why I was there</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">§<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Was I doing what I needed to do?</b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">§<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Was I being what I needed to be?</b></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Joys:</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing all of the Ward leaders: Bishop, Mas and Pas, Stake leaders from our ward</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Tireless Brother Earl, whom I never saw sit, rest or eat, though he promised he did</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing my old Webelos---(turns out that 20 of the 23 of our Ward boys were in my Webelos Dens). I especially like those who came and hung out with us around our camp)</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Getting discouraged and overwhelmed, and being tired enough that I was scared to sit down, then </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">walking through the camp and seeing my Ward daughters, especially my Laurels.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I spoke with many of them, but saw others laughing and talking with their new families.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">That inspired me too.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Having James in my Cooking group, which meant that he was with us the entire time, singing and </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">impressing me with his strength and endurance.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Not seeing John much, meaning he had a great time, even though he is slightly embarrassed to admit he enjoyed camping.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing Katie and Ben around when they wandered by.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing my 2<sup>nd</sup> daughter, third daughter, </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">and again, all of my daughters from Young Women.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Listening to Michael challenge the kids with riddles, and being happy when I finally could remember the solutions before they figured them out, especially because I have heard them all </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">before.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Finally figuring out how to work together as a cooking group to set up shade and camp, and getting to know people better.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing my trek daughter, who was battling the effects of a broken arm and homesickness, stick it out and help in the Women’s pull, and staying and finding joy in her experience.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Singing hymns with my Trek family</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Waiting for the second group of the Women’s Pull so I could see Katie come up, and see her smiling and happy at the end</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Walking alone for 3 miles to catch up to my company after the Women’s Pull and having time to process things alone and in the quiet.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Having a Trek family who wanted to go to bed at night</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing 2 girls from our ward reach out to another from our ward sitting alone, and go sit with her, and then bring their whole trek family the next day to stand with her again.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Increased testimony of the inspirations of our Bishop and previous Bishops, who helped me to stand and serve in the places I have, for reasons that I am only seeing now that I have time, increased wisdom, and spiritual maturity to focus and widen my previously cloudy and narrow view.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Hearing words of encouragement from so many, especially the Young Men of our ward.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Serving Michael in his time of need.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Marriage is a partnership that is not always equal, and me doing more than him at this time just needed to happen for everything to work.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Seeing my sons, my trek sons and my ward sons at the top of the Women’s Pull.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Saying to many of them “When you find a girl who you think is THE GIRL, let me know and I will take her for a walk up this hill.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">If she makes it, marry her.”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And saying to my girls, “Find a man who will look at you with the love and respect that these men showed and marry him.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">These men looked into your heart and soul, and did not care what you looked like.”</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><i style="">Knowing why I went to Trek</i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">§<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Read Journal #3</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.5in; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">“I know why I am here now.<span style=""> </span>It was to see the good and potential of the kids in my ward.<span style=""> </span>To see Dakota there to support me, to see Tanner bear his testimony, to see Jean Louise and Christine, to see Hannah shine, to see all the good of the youth of the Welby 1<sup>st</sup> Ward and to keep that with me as I continue to serve as Laurel Advisor, or as something else in the future.<span style=""> </span>To know that as I walk the gauntlet of the hall in the church by the bathroom on Sundays, and these big, strapping, and intimidating Young Men, and these gorgeous and equally intimidating Young Women are on both sides, that they would stand for me and help me if I fall, and strengthen me in my efforts to serve the Lord and do his will, or would do even something as simple as pick up my pen if I dropped it.<span style=""> </span>My love for these inspiring youth has increased tremendously.<span style=""> </span>It is another connection with all my old Webelos, my Young Women Daughters, and the neighbors on my street and in the ward.”</i></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Testimony</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;" 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style="">On being the slowest person in a handcart company</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">First day lagging behind -- somewhat disheartening.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Felt alone and not a part.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Passed into the next company.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> What about the person who is spiritually being left behind?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Who looks "forward" at those "ahead" and doesn't feel like they are able or worthy to be a part of that, but long to be.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> 2 Nephi 4:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Nephi states:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> What does the rest of the Company do for them?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">What do we as quorums and classes do?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Christ admonished Peter:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">When thou art converted, strengthen thy bretheren.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The Stake Presidency, The Bishopric, Brother Earl and other leaders on trek -- always lifting up, always looking for the good, always telling me that my contribution counted.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Not patronizing</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The power of a smiling face and an outstretched hand.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The first and most important thing for an individual to learn is we are worthy of God's love now.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Period.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Satan would have us believe differently, but it is a lie.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Easier to keep up if you keep a hand on the cart.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Once I was detached from the cart I fell further and further behind.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Sometimes you push the cart, sometimes the cart pushes you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We all carry weights of different magnitudes.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Elder Neil A Maxwell: “We can...<a name="_GoBack"></a>keep moving.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Only the Lord can compare crosses, but all crosses are easier to carry when we keep moving.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">The problem with superlatives and the danger of comparisons</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I wanted to be Eric Johnson – Strong and running along with the cart at the end of the day’s journey.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Advertising and the world teach us that unless something is the most, greatest, fastest, strongest, -est-est, it is of no value.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> We cannot compare strengths, weaknesses, trials, gifts, talents, opportunities, or levels of service.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The only worthwhile comparison we can make is how far we have come on our own path to salvation.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Elder Maxwell: We can know that when we have <span class="emphasis">truly</span> given what we have, it is like paying a full tithe; it is, in that respect, <span class="emphasis">all</span> that was asked. The widow who cast in her two mites was neither self-conscious nor searching for mortal approval.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What do you call the person who had to repent of the most sins in order to obtain the Celestial Kingdom?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">-- <i style="">Exalted</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> We can all make it to the Celestial Kingdom.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">In the end, we all made it to camp.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Last day, 3<sup>rd</sup> day without blood pressure medication.</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Dizzy, lightheaded, labored breathing.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Didn’t know what it was.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Prayed.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Received a priesthood blessing.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Carried forward.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Brother Arneson was very watchful of our cart.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I started to protest, but then didn’t because I realized – That is what Christ does for us.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But we must be willing to let him carry our load.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Once we have repented of our sins, we must let them go and let Him carry our load.</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">For only then can we move forward to our final goal.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="georgia" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Christ invited "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."</span></p>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-17587535937477971532011-03-02T08:12:00.002-07:002011-03-02T08:19:23.994-07:00Megan's Baby Shower<span xmlns=""><p></p>This blog post is supposed to be a copy of the invitation to Megan's baby shower on March 19th at 11:00 a.m. at my house, RSVP, please, especially if interested in going in on a group gift. I can't get it to work :(<br /></span>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-20119462693884045862011-01-16T23:11:00.003-07:002011-01-16T23:34:41.822-07:00LAWKI Month UpdatesAunt Denise, you will be happy to hear that I am speaking at a Relief Society Activity Night about our LAWKI Month experiment. It is Tuesday, January 25 at 7:00 p.m. at our ward building if anyone is interested.<br /><br />As I have been preparing for this, I have reread everything I posted and realized that I never did mention my 15 minutes of fame from this on the blog. (Remember from the beginning, this is really my non-existent blog that I don't regularly post to, and notice how many times I have posted since LAWKI month.) When I wrote during that month, I did not know how to have the comments people made emailed to me. I would just check every now and again and respond when people said something. (I figured it out now, thanks)<br /><br />Because of that, I did not notice for a few days that a lady (Karen) from the agency that published the book<span style="font-style: italic;"> Life As We Knew It</span> had commented and asked me to get in contact with her. It took my friend Emily mentioning it for me to go and check and follow up with her. Karen asked more about our experiment and why we had done it. She also asked if she could send my name and blog info to a person from Publishers Weekly to write an article about the whole thing. I said yes, wondering if this really was a prank call.<br /><br />A few days later, a journalist from Publishers Weekly did call and interview me. She also spoke with Mette Ivie Harrison, the author who had the original idea of LAWKI month, Susan Pfeffer, the author of the book. The article was printed on November 4th and can be read here:<br /><br />http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/45060-bloggers-emulate-susan-beth-pfeffer-s-life-as-we-knew-it-.html<br /><br />Anyway, that is the update from the LAWKI Month front. I have 20 slides done on my PowerPoint for the RS activity. I am trying to not bore people while sharing some lessons learned. If anyone has suggestions for things that you most remembered, or things that made you think about your situations and even better, do some emergency prop or food storage, please comment. I could use the advice.<br /><br />Thanks!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-37708809504606077672010-12-19T09:24:00.007-07:002010-12-22T10:04:24.631-07:00Merry Christmas<div style="text-align: center;">As I am slow this year with Christmas Cards, and they just might not get to you before Christmas, I thought I might post my card here, just in case.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Wright Family Life Lessons of 2010<br />Can you guess the pupil?</span><br /><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Severe sleep apnea bad, CPAP good</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Writing petitions and gathering 450 signatures is exciting</span><br />Facebook is Satan*s plan to waste our free time<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">On occasion, teachers don*t like it when you read a lot</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Good things come after a week at camp, like a new kitten, Miso</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">and a new fridge</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">When playing tag around a stream bed, the stepping stone is not always where you remember</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">School is</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">friends,</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">tiring,</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">annoying,</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> *perfect*,</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">busy</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Locked keys in car on your first date is cause for a lifetime of teasing</span><br />M.L. Foreman, Michael Scott, Connie Willis, and Brandon Mull are great authors<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Doing a marathon is easy*on a bike</span><br />The Mentalist, Star Trek, White Collar, Adventure Time, Pretender, Avengers, Dr. Who, Castle, Burn Notice, Eureka and No Ordinary Family are fun TV shows<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Horton can hear a Who, and sing and dance in Seussical*and gamble in Guys and Dolls</span><br />Older, independent Sushi cats do not appreciate new kittens<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Many hours installing new perennial garden leads to a Master Gardener Course</span><br />Once again, minor disaster in basement brings home improvements<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Letting go of the rope too soon when repelling is stupid</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Missing a scout campout is a relief</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Some Sunday School classes will never be talked about in General Conference</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Blogging about bizarre family food storage experiments brings interesting results (and a year*s supply of food lasts at least one month!)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Ramen noodles and</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Cologne are both emergency necessities</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Getting the sportsmanship award in church volleyball is cooler than it sounds</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Dad*s Costco Card + impersonation skills = food court hot dogs</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv1Llke6WuI4zUs5qFF-RUe_OwIN7oy-J_ODt55j2S7BXBfelw0gbkc4BVAMtJ4m_y9UFIe_XVc9-LLa1ypvewue2m3NYikWyrvmoOgQlXGMRfbgV9AkdOuzETAIMNr8o_ux3n8q8z-0/s1600/Wright_family-1690-Edit.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Friends, Family and Faith are the center of our lives.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Michael</span> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);">Shannon</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> James</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">John</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Katie</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Ben</span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv1Llke6WuI4zUs5qFF-RUe_OwIN7oy-J_ODt55j2S7BXBfelw0gbkc4BVAMtJ4m_y9UFIe_XVc9-LLa1ypvewue2m3NYikWyrvmoOgQlXGMRfbgV9AkdOuzETAIMNr8o_ux3n8q8z-0/s1600/Wright_family-1690-Edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv1Llke6WuI4zUs5qFF-RUe_OwIN7oy-J_ODt55j2S7BXBfelw0gbkc4BVAMtJ4m_y9UFIe_XVc9-LLa1ypvewue2m3NYikWyrvmoOgQlXGMRfbgV9AkdOuzETAIMNr8o_ux3n8q8z-0/s320/Wright_family-1690-Edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553551936620845602" border="0" /></a>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-51856000707522249972010-10-22T08:24:00.002-06:002010-10-22T08:26:12.584-06:00Final LAWKI Post<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">LAWKI Month</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Final Thoughts</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> September 26th</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I had hoped that a week or two would give me more perspective on the whole LAWKI experiment.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately, I think that life is so busy that it already feels like it was about 3 months ago that we did this crazy thing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> A few answers for questions asked of us:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 31.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>No one lost any weight.<span style=""> </span>We still had plenty to eat, including the ability to eat lots of unhealthy stuff.<span style=""> </span>While we had the will power not to food shop, I don’t know that that helped the eating will power, at least on my part.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 31.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We did not really save any money.<span style=""> </span>Although we did not spend our normal food budget money during that month, except on Smith’s case lot sale, we sure spent it all last week.<span style=""> </span>$300 at Costco filled our fridges nicely!<span style=""> </span>Most of that was just replacing fresh foods, but there was some stocking up of things that I knew we needed more of in storage.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 31.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>We did get our flu shots on Monday, and went to Arctic Circle for dinner and shakes after that.<span style=""> </span>I was not feeling well and everything tasted gross to me, but the kids were in heaven.<span style=""> </span>I did enjoy my Costco hotdog when I went Tuesday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The final day of LAWKI Month was an interesting one here in West Jordan.<span style=""> </span>We got home from church around 3 pm and I was in the kitchen for the next few hours.<span style=""> </span>As I was cooking, it became abundantly clear that there was a fire burning somewhere close.<span style=""> </span>The smell became overpowering and the sky had a weird yellow/orange tint to it.<span style=""> </span>I could not see the fire from my house, but soon found on the news that the mountain side was burning in Herriman.<span style=""> </span>That is about 8-10 miles from my home.<span style=""> </span>By dark, the smoke was overpowering, even in our house.<span style=""> </span>I felt like I had been sitting next to a campfire for 2 days.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> I spent the later part of the night watching the news coverage of the fire.<span style=""> </span>It was a sober reminder of how quickly life could change.<span style=""> </span>We, like most people, thought of what we would do if we got the 10 minute evacuation order that so many thousands of people got.<span style=""> </span>Having just practiced it, we felt pretty good about it.<span style=""> </span>However, we also learned a few things from it.<span style=""> </span>It seemed that everyone who was interviewed said that the message they got from city officials/fire department was to get their important medications and get out.<span style=""> </span>When we thought that through, we realized that we do not have our prescription medications in our 72-hour kits, nor in our travel bags that we had just decided to include in our evacuation plans.<span style=""> </span>Michael has now put a week supply of medication in both of his bags and I will do so when I get my brain working.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> It was also interesting to see the pet situation.<span style=""> </span>I read a fantastic book about a year and a half ago called <u>The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why</u> by Amanda Ripley.<span style=""> </span>It was the first time I remember hearing that so many people had stayed behind in Hurricane Katrina because they did not want to leave their pets.<span style=""> </span>I always just planned to leave plenty of food and water out for them and leave them behind.<span style=""> </span>Now it seems that people are told to plan on taking them with us in an evacuation.<span style=""> </span>Emergency shelters are even supposed to have a plan for people’s pets.<span style=""> </span>So, at a garage sale on Saturday, I bought another pet travel carrier thing.<span style=""> </span>This one is even big enough for a small litter box, if it came to that.<span style=""> </span>It would not be so much fun to catch both cats and put them in carriers and then have them in the car with us.<span style=""> </span>I don’t think that we could get out of the house quit so fast if we were dealing with cats.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Of course, a big fire like that wiping out the neighborhood would really put a damper on our food storage situation.<span style=""> </span>It would either be all thoroughly cooked, or soaked in the prevention of a fire.<span style=""> </span>Here is hoping and praying that that never happens.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The Tuesday after LAWKI Month ended, I had the great opportunity to sit down with a neighbor and talk about preparedness and food storage.<span style=""> </span>She moved to Utah about 10 years ago and was not previously familiar with the Mormon traditions of food storage.<span style=""> </span>It was fun to chat with her and show-and-tell about this.<span style=""> </span>I am not sure how helpful it was to her, but I enjoyed it.<span style=""> </span>Towards the end, she asked a question, which I will now ask all of you, and would love to hear what you have to say about it.<span style=""> </span>She asked why the official position of the Church on food storage has gone from 2 years to 1 year to now 3 months of the food you regularly eat and a year of the grains and beans if possible.<span style=""> </span>I gave her my answer, which I am purposefully not saying here because I want to get your answers untainted by mine.<span style=""> </span>If you have a minute, please help me out here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">October 22, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Yes, a month later… </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Finishing this has been on my to-do list and finally surfaced to the top part.<span style=""> </span>School has kicked up a notch, school volunteer responsibilities have increased, I am taking the Master Gardener course and most days I am running all the time.<span style=""> </span>How did I ever find time to make tortillas from scratch and then journal about it?!<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> It is hard to sum up LAWKI Month.<span style=""> </span>If I were to write what I am feeling now, it would be a sentimental review of modern conveniences, with a nod to our great friends and family...kind of an early Thanksgiving moment.<span style=""> </span>I have no regrets about doing LAWKI month, and am excited for the new things we did and tried.<span style=""> </span>I will end this LAWKI blog with the following experience/thought.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style=""> </span>I have had such an abundance of tomatoes that I did salsa one more time, and then gave away the final 50+ tomatoes this week so I would not have to look at them anymore.<span style=""> </span>I guess with the snow and cold coming this weekend that will be the end of it.<span style=""> </span>I also did 3 rounds of applesauce, getting about 24 Quarts of it total.<span style=""> </span>What a process.<span style=""> </span>I am not converted to canning.<span style=""> </span>While I enjoy the novelty of the first batch each year, it sure gets old fast.<span style=""> </span>The apples were free, and so were my jars, so it was a matter of lids, a few cups of sugar, and my time.<span style=""> </span>It’s that time thing that is the biggest expense.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> When I was whining about that to Michael, he reminded me of the thing that finally pushed us to do the whole LAWKI Month.<span style=""> </span>We had debated it, wondered about it, schemed about it, talked ourselves into and out of it for a long time.<span style=""> </span>We did not really decide until the first of August to go through with it.<span style=""> </span>My Sun Oven, which I got on my birthday the end of July, came with a cook book: <u>The Morning Hill Solar Cookery Book</u> by Jennifer Stein Barker.<span style=""> </span>It is one of those self-published books, written from a very “granola” point of view. (It is also a vegetarian cookbook, so it does not cover all aspects of solar cooking.)<span style=""> </span>The author and her husband live in the mountains of Oregon in a small cabin, with all electricity coming from solar panels.<span style=""> </span>They live off what they can grow in their three acre organic garden, which is a lot of ingenuity and hard work, considering they live at such a high elevation that their growing season is a matter of days and weeks instead of months.<span style=""> </span>The cookbook has a few stories from their gardening experiences in it.<span style=""> </span>After sharing one story, the author wrote the following, which has stayed with me since I first read it, and is, in the end, what pushed us that last little bit to do LAWKI Month:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 58.5pt 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> “Now when Lance says, “What do you think of this idea?<span style=""> </span>Shall I try it?”<span style=""> </span>I say, “Sure, go ahead!” and <i style="">I think how little we have to lose, and how much we have to gain.<span style=""> </span>A few plants or a day’s work is a small price to pay when our most important harvest is knowledge</i>.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> So when Michael rides his bike 5 miles to work, stands for 13 hours filling prescriptions, and then rides his bike uphill the long 5 miles home, or I spend countless hours of the spring and summer gardening and then 5 hours canning 12 pints of salsa that would cost $10 to buy at the store, or we go off the deep end and do something like LAWKI Month, we remind ourselves that it is but a small price to pay when our most important harvest is knowledge.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Three cheers for an abundant harvest!</p>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-79577339804170924032010-09-23T07:36:00.007-06:002010-09-23T07:55:04.103-06:00The Last Day and Final Survey Results<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> 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priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">LAWKI Day 31</p> <p class="MsoNormal">September 19, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast: Ben made waffles</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lunch: snacks, sandwiches after church</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dinner: tacos, tortillas, refried beans, horrible Mexican rice</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, I knew I could not do LAWKI month if I did not try to cook beans at least once. <span style=""> </span>Even though we ate canned ones many times, I needed to get over the psychological barrier of starting from the dried bean.<span style=""> </span>I soaked them Friday night and then cooked them on Saturday.<span style=""> </span>On Sunday, I made refried beans.<span style=""> </span>A friend talked me through how her mother-in-law made them and I started out relatively confidant.<span style=""> </span>It did not last for long.<span style=""> </span>The recipe said I could add more water if necessary, but I felt like I was adding too much.<span style=""> </span>And no matter how long I mashed them and fried the, the skins were still in big chunky pieces.<span style=""> </span>I think they tasted okay, but I was not a fan of the consistency, and I have tasted much better.<span style=""> </span>I am thinking of asking my favorite Mexican restaurant if they give out recipes.<span style=""> </span>As for the Mexican Rice, let me just say that making it with Oriental style sticky rice ruined it before anything else could.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Things overheard in my house in the last 24 hours:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“We have real milk?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“My trusty egg pan, I have missed you.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Yes! It’s real milk!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Grapes! Oh yum, oh yum.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Hey mom, did you forget what a grocery store looks like?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yes, we are done with LAWKI Month.<span style=""> </span>There was much rejoicing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Final LAWKI Family Survey:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""> What 3 words would you use to describe your final thoughts on LAWKI month</i>:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Positive, thought-provoking, Done!; Annoying, mean, cruel; Over Over Over; Good, French Fries!!!, Skim Milk!; I hate quizzes; Wasteful, neutral, stupid</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">What food did you miss the most:</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Milk; meat; Eggs! Chocolate Milk!; Beef, Fast Food; Cookies; Fresh chicken, salad, the potential foods from fresh ground beef</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">What non-food thing did you miss the most?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Freedom, quick dinners; Shopping; Eating out; The Fast Food Drive Thru; Nothing; Driving to church.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">What lessons do you think we learned from LAWKI Month?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">None; Be grateful; We have a lot of food; That we can adapt, how much eating out is a part of socializing; How to make powdered eggs; Learned to try new recipes and that sometimes they don’t work on the first try, how glad I am to live at this point in time with modern conveniences such as electricity, dishwashers, microwaves, stove/oven, abundant clean water, farmers who grow my food so gardening can be a hobby instead of a way of life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Did you eat all of your Crazy Shopping Day Food?<span style=""> </span>When did you eat it?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">No-ate my Fritos early, potato chips last few days, and did not open the pretzels; No-ate my puddings, but did not use all of the Ramen; No-still had tortillas and Nutella and string cheese (this brand was gross!) left over; No; Nope, but I did not buy any; Yes, finished my Fuze drinks yesterday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Would you buy the same things again?<span style=""> </span>What would you get instead?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Same drinks but Ramen instead of rice cakes; Yeah, but better stuff (cologne); No, I wouldn’t buy Ramen, I would buy my own eggs!; I would not get tortillas (Shannon can make them <span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span>), but I would buy French fries or other baked snacky items; I would get more pudding cups; I was happy about the chips and sour cream, but I would have bought beef and chicken.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">What did you hate eating and would never eat again, even if you were starving?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Canned meats all mixed up in things; Tuna casserole, Fried zucchini; Nothing; Rice, canned chicken, nothing I would not eat if I was starving; Beans; Tuna casserole.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">What did you like eating and would not mind having, even if it was not LAWKI Month?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Powdered chocolate milk; tortillas; Potatoes fried with bacon; everything; tortillas, homemade pita and tortillas, spam is a tolerable substitute.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">What surprised you the most about LAWKI Month?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The traditions of food, the psychology of food; The amount of food we have; How good powdered milk can be; We had regular meals all month; Nothing; How good powdered chocolate milk tastes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">On a scale of 1-10, how crazy are your parents/we for doing this?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">7.5</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">On a scale of 1-10, how angry are you to participate in this?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">2 (yes! The 10 was finally a 1!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think this affected life?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">3.6</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">On a scale of 1-10, how much did LAWKI Month worry you? What worried you?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">4</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Worries: worried about being “stumped” about what to cook, worried about giving up or running out of an essential thing that would make us quit; I was a 9 at the start; I was worried we would have to eat rice everyday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">On a scale of 1-10, how much would you want to try this again?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">5.5 (2-10s, 2-1s, a 5 and a 6)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">On a scale of 1-10, how prepared do you think our family is for an emergency? Do you think LAWKI affected your answer?</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">8.8<span style=""> </span>(yes, yes, kind of, yes-but I can see more clearly the holes so it is hard to judge)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I am going to post this much now.<span style=""> </span>It is only 4 days late already.<span style=""> </span>I do have more thoughts I want to write, but that may be another day or two until I get to that.<span style=""> </span>Thanks for the comments and ideas you have shared.<span style=""> </span>They have been one of the highlights of this month.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">This was in yesterday's paper (Sept 22). It made me think of when I went downstairs mid-LAWKI Month and discovered that the kids had gone through all of the sodas in the mini fridge and most of the microwave popcorn.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Pearls Before Swine<br /></p><a href="http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/2010-09-22/" title="Pearls Before Swine"><img src="http://c0389161.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/dyn/str_strip/336239.full.gif" alt="Pearls Before Swine" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And, because I figured out how to do this, I wanted to put this strip in from September 20th. It is commonly stated at our house, and mentioned in a post last week, that all foods can be improved by adding either cream, butter or cheese.<br /><br /><a href="http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/2010-09-20/" title="Pearls Before Swine"><img src="http://c0389161.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/dyn/str_strip/336237.full.gif" border="0" alt="Pearls Before Swine" /></a>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-14454602881244962122010-09-19T15:05:00.004-06:002010-09-19T15:25:21.702-06:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvTW8yHHBTCp-PZjPT37PhXNRGLtb5JnpINAf27DrO66Zf_-Yygr-Mxd29PSMwxFYPzHz-vixC0dVc3HA44LWYlZaI3dJ1lisJ32Iru2Qh0WkHIZBa_CAsVDSMsXJoe60nPx076ioj48/s1600/DSC02249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvTW8yHHBTCp-PZjPT37PhXNRGLtb5JnpINAf27DrO66Zf_-Yygr-Mxd29PSMwxFYPzHz-vixC0dVc3HA44LWYlZaI3dJ1lisJ32Iru2Qh0WkHIZBa_CAsVDSMsXJoe60nPx076ioj48/s320/DSC02249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518736555302916098" border="0" /></a>Picture of the main part of the fridge: some salsa (no more chips), sour cream, yeast, left over spaghetti sauce, enchiladas, a few peaches, some grated cheese, and some apples from neighbors. 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">LAWKI Day 29</p> <p class="MsoNormal">September 25, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast:<span style=""> </span>The last 5 eggs, scrambled (I did not have any because I ate the stuff yesterday)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lunch: K-school, M-his crazy shopping tortillas with peanut butter and Nuttela, S-leftover rice casserole, crackers & tuna</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dinner: John & Ben on camp out, Ramen and Spaghettios, Angel Hair pasta and leftover sauce or butter</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We went shopping for James’ birthday present at Smith’s Marketplace.<span style=""> </span>I had done a bit of preview shopping the day before.<span style=""> </span>Both times it was right before lunch that I left.<span style=""> </span>As I was walking out the door yesterday, I had the thought that I would probably get hungry while I was out, and that I would want to stop and buy something to eat.<span style=""> </span>My first counter thought was that I would not go to a fast food restaurant, but I could just grab something at the store.<span style=""> </span>Then I realized I couldn’t do that either.<span style=""> </span>So, I turned around and went back in and ate lunch.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have heard plenty of times that you should never shop hungry because you will buy more, and I agreed with this before LAWKI month.<span style=""> </span>However, being both very contented hunger wise, and being hyper-sensitive about shopping, it was remarkable how dispassionate I was when I went through the case-lot sale things again.<span style=""> </span>There was no emotion tied to it, it was more of a likable chore than anything else.<span style=""> </span>I did look fondly toward the produce section of the store, but it was easy to tell myself that it is only next week and I can go shop there.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">True confessions here: I am a fan of Survivor.<span style=""> </span>I have watched, off and on, for the last 20 seasons, and now have 2 kids watching with me.<span style=""> </span>Ben is totally into it, hoping it will still be around when he is 18.<span style=""> </span>I remember back in the first season or two, they spent a lot more air time talking about food, what they missed, craved and how hungry they were.<span style=""> </span>The food reward challenges seemed even more important then.<span style=""> </span>(I think now they spend more time back stabbing each other and showing how spoiled and arrogant the contestants are.)<span style=""> </span>I have thought about that some during LAWKI.<span style=""> </span>Do I spend all of my time obsessing about this?<span style=""> </span>Do I talk about it too much with people?<span style=""> </span>Are my friend and neighbors happy that we are in the final days?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXT-RHCUMYHDugw6Jvh-RuChmg5gSCV0f1pQTAX6Qv58Fi5RaXMDuCQqEN1rl1plLrjIyxI9WxLuZ-yfUzvORDJ6C9AtC3cF59wIRUYMcb3_R_oXLM0jz0E1QDUq8SCksanl9p8D6lGU/s1600/DSC02251.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXT-RHCUMYHDugw6Jvh-RuChmg5gSCV0f1pQTAX6Qv58Fi5RaXMDuCQqEN1rl1plLrjIyxI9WxLuZ-yfUzvORDJ6C9AtC3cF59wIRUYMcb3_R_oXLM0jz0E1QDUq8SCksanl9p8D6lGU/s320/DSC02251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518736547589137826" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Cream cheese bars and cookie bars, made with powdered eggs</p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We made 3 kinds of treats today: Michael and Katie made caramel covered puffy treats and I made chocolate chip cookie bars and cream cheese bars for the funeral dinner.<span style=""> </span>Both of my desserts were made with powdered eggs.<span style=""> </span>There was no discernible difference in them.<span style=""> </span>I still had butter from the freezer.<span style=""> </span>I am sure I could make both with shortening instead of the butter, but boy did the butter taste good in them.<span style=""> </span>Once again, I think that dairy products such as butter, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, whipping cream, etc, are the group of food that I would miss most.<span style=""> </span>I dare you to name a food that cannot be improved by one of those things.<span style=""> </span>I could live vegetarian if I had no other choice, but living vegan would not be worth it.<span style=""> </span>(The author who came up with LAWKI Month, eats vegan most of the time.<span style=""> </span>She wrote in her experiences about LAWKI that by the end, she was craving enough of the food they had run out of that she no longer cared if she was eating vegan, and that she was certain that eventually she would reach a point where Fluffy would look good.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">LAWKI Day 30</p> <p class="MsoNormal">September 18, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast: Boys-scout camp, others-?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lunch: Fresh baked bread, everyone just ate what they wanted and could find before and after the funeral</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dinner: Hawaiian Haystacks with friends</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Michael came up with the idea of Hawaiian Haystacks.<span style=""> </span>It really is a good food storage meal, rice with chicken sauce and then cans of pineapple, mandarin oranges, olives, etc., with fresh tomatoes.<span style=""> </span>Our friends brought the Chinese noodles, celery, almonds, coconut and some ice cream, bananas and toppings to go with the left over dessert bars.<span style=""> </span>I kept the canned chicken separate until the last possible minute and then mixed them together gently.<span style=""> </span>It stayed as chunks instead of mushing up in the sauce and that really helped it taste a bit better.<span style=""> </span>I could eat that again for dinner today.<span style=""> </span>It was nice to have an easier meal that was yummy, and nice to have a new meal to put on the food storage meal rotation.</p>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-89258475919932504372010-09-16T22:41:00.005-06:002010-09-17T08:49:07.481-06:00Craziness and SadnessLAWKI Day 26 <p class="MsoNormal">September 14, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast:<span style=""> </span>Oatmeal (pretty much panned by the kids)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lunch: Kids-school, M&S-?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dinner: Spaghetti and Meatballs, homemade breadsticks</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This was one crazy busy day, with 2 evening school meetings and 1 church one where the Relief Society was coming to see the puzzle on the wall and the new cabinets in the basement.<span style=""> </span>As I am writing this 2 days later, I just don’t remember much.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">LAWKI Day 27</p> <p class="MsoNormal">September 15, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Today was a sad day.<span style=""> </span>Barry Diamond, the 1<sup>st</sup> Counselor in my ward’s Bishopric, died after a 8 month battle with cancer.<span style=""> </span>He was just 51.<span style=""> </span>I found that I wanted to cook and eat all day, which is what I pretty much did.<span style=""> </span>It seems callous to keep writing about something so dumb as LAWKI Month when a real tragedy has touched so many in my circle.<span style=""> </span>It also takes me back to Michael’s cancer and makes so much of our daily business and “struggles” so unimportant.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I sat at my desk pondering things, I distracted myself with trying to clean up my computer files a bi.<span style=""> </span>I found a file in my recipes that was titled “main dishes I want to try.”<span style=""> </span>One was a ham (spam), rice, and broccoli casserole. <span style=""> </span>I had a bit of rice in the fridge, and I knew I still had a bit of frozen broccoli left so I decided to try that.<span style=""> </span>It called for the broccoli to be frozen still as it was put into the oven.<span style=""> </span>I mixed it all in a glass pan, thinking I would just put it in the fridge until the kids got home from school and then bake it.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just before I put the plastic wrap on, I looked over into the family room and saw the Sun Oven there.<span style=""> </span>I switched it to a round Corel dish with a lid and put it in the Sun Oven instead.<span style=""> </span>I have my back “porch,” all 9 sq of it, and that is where I put my Sun Oven.<span style=""> </span>It was about 11:30 when I stuck it out there, and due to the angle of the sun and height of my house, it was still in the shade.<span style=""> </span>I pointed it toward where I thought it would get the most in the next few hours and left it.<span style=""> </span>It was probably about 2 before I checked it again, only to find that the sky had a very wispy thin cloud cover and the oven was barely at 200 degrees.<span style=""> </span>I forgot about it again until about 3pm, and when I checked it this time, I could tell the broccoli was turning an unappetizing brown color.<span style=""> </span>It was a bit sunnier, but still only about 230 degrees.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I decided to pull it out and see how it looked and felt.<span style=""> </span>When I opened the lid, it was very hot and completely warmed through.<span style=""> </span>The cheese had melted and the flavors blended.<span style=""> </span>The Spam was really quite good in this.<span style=""> </span>While the broccoli on the top of the casserole was brown and not pretty to see, it was perfectly cooked through, as was the all of the casserole.<span style=""> </span>This really turned out well, and I ate bites from the bowl for the next 3 hours.<span style=""> </span>All of the kids tried bites of it, but none of them really liked it much.<span style=""> </span>Michael did not try it, but will take it in his lunch for tomorrow.<span style=""> </span>Funny how in the end, this was 4-1 against it taste wise, but because I am the 1 for it, I think it was a success. <span style=""> </span>I am such a control freak.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">James had to make cinnamon rolls for his scouts tonight.<span style=""> </span>We did the sour cream cinnamon rolls that are to die for.<span style=""> </span>It was worth using the last bits of sour cream (minus the one I have) for these.<span style=""> </span>He actually did most of the making on these, until he had to go early and I finished rolling the last batches out.<span style=""> </span>I wonder how I could “sour” milk to make these without sour cream and how easy it would be to make with oil instead of butter.<span style=""> </span>I am just grateful for the fact that cream cheese lasts for 4-6 months in the fridge and butter indefinitely in the freezer.<span style=""> </span>That is my kind of food storage.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast: kids-cereal, toast<span style=""> </span>M-? S-fried egg and bacon sandwich (after everyone was gone, shame on me for not sharing)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lunch: kids-school, M-at work, lunch from home, S-BLT (did I mention I ate all day? We had 8 half pieces of bacon left over from something, and it was turning brown so it had to be eaten, right?), broccoli</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dinner: K-toast, sandwiches, forced bites of casserole, cinnamon rolls, M-work, S-casserole and anything else I could find, including too many cinnamon rolls.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh, and one fortunate timing benefit of LAWKI month…an empty fridge when the Young Women from church needed to store the 600 sandwiches they made for the homeless shelter for tomorrow’s dinner.<span style=""> </span>I fit about 40 bread bags filled with sandwiches in the outside fridge and another 10 in the inside one.<span style=""> </span>Yeah!</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mv7Q5RX-HCnZxSMl6BHO57dA3mgxjjI_fRdpEWM0C3h51VN1L8GCsre35YwOzmGt8i8e19foTHuKNWJFKLX2_HgBANVJFLGlOplOi123xEU01EsqE9RHw6IGAQafXFcQt9wKqrcjBSE/s1600/DSC02244.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mv7Q5RX-HCnZxSMl6BHO57dA3mgxjjI_fRdpEWM0C3h51VN1L8GCsre35YwOzmGt8i8e19foTHuKNWJFKLX2_HgBANVJFLGlOplOi123xEU01EsqE9RHw6IGAQafXFcQt9wKqrcjBSE/s320/DSC02244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517739726557344930" border="0" /></a>The casserole as it was first in the Sun Oven, and me taking the picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LiZbXcgDgfSBCpneu6iE0I292NyPTx6xHoYm3LT52M78PUt8a5hdwYwln7gANXYE4KiZV26ZtAQ3dbr5BAdHQYjnZOG5_SY9trg8V18JmS6OoP72_cbnm3usmfXljEw7RD3v12pFNiM/s1600/DSC02243.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LiZbXcgDgfSBCpneu6iE0I292NyPTx6xHoYm3LT52M78PUt8a5hdwYwln7gANXYE4KiZV26ZtAQ3dbr5BAdHQYjnZOG5_SY9trg8V18JmS6OoP72_cbnm3usmfXljEw7RD3v12pFNiM/s320/DSC02243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517739721398068338" border="0" /></a>A bigger View of the oven and our porch still in shade.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLVwNL1Xx3iDR8vAfuk6rRqw9W_N5tjYtpo-PafNZyceFoOSh64AL11ZmiuP4GKDPBdmjsSMPcCW62wLJblnHoVnZayuVGt-KWXDpBQCBBWrJu3jdcK4sXsC2z8Xrsu1xADqyAW9iuDo/s1600/DSC02242.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLVwNL1Xx3iDR8vAfuk6rRqw9W_N5tjYtpo-PafNZyceFoOSh64AL11ZmiuP4GKDPBdmjsSMPcCW62wLJblnHoVnZayuVGt-KWXDpBQCBBWrJu3jdcK4sXsC2z8Xrsu1xADqyAW9iuDo/s320/DSC02242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517739713462196514" border="0" /></a><br /></div>This is actually the casserole before it was cooked. 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mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z8qeRA-JrmG0BqnqU0XKhWR0uSggfqvamfH58pmBg8URCZff2g2XDmEc-edxI7bgJvifQ4btvgFfJxZtQ94l6jUm5XQRJMCMzJxH-hnvylw1omm8UUGqY07w5rIQCKDZdBd3d-Q1qqw/s1600/DSC02245.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z8qeRA-JrmG0BqnqU0XKhWR0uSggfqvamfH58pmBg8URCZff2g2XDmEc-edxI7bgJvifQ4btvgFfJxZtQ94l6jUm5XQRJMCMzJxH-hnvylw1omm8UUGqY07w5rIQCKDZdBd3d-Q1qqw/s320/DSC02245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517741186244371394" border="0" /></a>This is the casserole after cooking.<br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">LAWKI Day 28</p> <p class="MsoNormal">September 16, 2010</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast: Cinnamon rolls</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lunch:<span style=""> </span>Kids-school, M- lunch casserole (he liked it), S-tuna with crackers-we are out of bread</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dinner: Bean Enchiladas with different sauce, homemade tortillas</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The tortillas were not as good this time, but I had a lot of things going on at the same time, including needing to do carpool in the middle of rolling them out.<span style=""> </span>The enchiladas were really boring and unimpressive.<span style=""> </span>I think now that the TVP in the first batch I made 2 weeks ago made more of a difference than I thought.<span style=""> </span>It was hard to spend so much time making them and have them be less than stellar.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">My neighbor brought me a huge box of apples, a small fraction of what her farmer dad brought to her.<span style=""> </span>I spent some time looking online for applesauce recipes.<span style=""> </span>In doing so, I stumbled across a fun web site:<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/<span style=""> </span>It was interesting to see some of the things that I have talked about in this LAWKI blog on that web site.<span style=""> </span>This week the ladies who run it are doing their own daily challenges: no water today, no electricity tomorrow, etc. I guess September is National Emergency Prep Month.<span style=""> </span>And I thought it was just an advertising scheme that Macey’s bulk sale and Emergency Essentials had made up.<span style=""> </span>Seems we picked the right month to do this in after all.<span style=""> </span>Does this mean that October is National Emergency Month?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I debated what I would do if the phone call came asking if I could help with food for the funeral, and they asked me to make a salad or potatoes.<span style=""> </span>Would I feel bad shopping for food for this purpose? <span style=""> </span>I decided that as I would not be eating the food, it really did not matter.<span style=""> </span>And really, it does not matter either way.<span style=""> </span>I would not keep playing a stupid game when something important happened.<span style=""> </span>As it was, I lucked out and they asked me if I would make a dessert.<span style=""> </span>That I can do.</p>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-71517868484069714062010-09-13T23:44:00.003-06:002010-09-13T23:56:34.173-06:00Tuna Casserole and Dreaming of the EndLAWKI Day 24<br />September 12, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast: Pancakes<br />Lunch: After church grazing, including pancakes, pasta salad, sandwiches<br />Dinner: Shepherd’s Pie, canned pears, peaches<br /><br />I love Shepherd’s Pie. I hardly ever made it until I started using the cannery potato pearls with it. That makes it so easy to get in the oven quick. My family likes it most with creamy gravy, but sometimes I crave the tomato one so I will make that too. The best part of that is that there are more leftovers that way. They don’t like that much.<br /><br />This is one of my big food storage meals. Of course, there is the issue of the ground beef, which I skirted using my frozen stuff. I really did not want to try another TVP today. Otherwise, it is an open cans, insert dinner sort of meal. <br /><br />We had to beg milk jugs off of neighbors today. Though we have plenty of pitchers, there is nothing like a milk jug. It is easier, less messy, and adds to the appearance of milk. We are now back to using almost a gallon of milk a day, as the kids are eating cereal and having it with dinner and Michael is drinking it like normal milk. The chocolate is still popular with the kids. To me, the chocolate tastes an awful lot like Chocolate Quick. It has that mix sort-of flavor that Quick has mixed into regular milk. I predict the kids will miss it after we are done with LAWKI month.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BQ758A_-ur06Y0vI3YcneMZDIZH8oQdoP2XnNoEUIO-_XkqYFwiCcFJ4v6pVWy15Ga_DUhiM1ifF40MPKSFUc9alcExV0G20A2FQhhCfmDBy6BGTsb0t4mR2nZp6nGLRYLQIK5g8Qhs/s1600/DSC02234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BQ758A_-ur06Y0vI3YcneMZDIZH8oQdoP2XnNoEUIO-_XkqYFwiCcFJ4v6pVWy15Ga_DUhiM1ifF40MPKSFUc9alcExV0G20A2FQhhCfmDBy6BGTsb0t4mR2nZp6nGLRYLQIK5g8Qhs/s320/DSC02234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516642829077356370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fXpiE1tZb-l2gHK5ArxfjhsLkjbchks_nsm37vR_tOmpGdRleKL4Fg39NWEr13-Qy07cGy9L1913DqhOy8ydfUNlaLVr3J66wo6PH5GY0M42BDJsCe13w9lmiQ4pbgcA4clOiX6XjB0/s1600/DSC02232.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fXpiE1tZb-l2gHK5ArxfjhsLkjbchks_nsm37vR_tOmpGdRleKL4Fg39NWEr13-Qy07cGy9L1913DqhOy8ydfUNlaLVr3J66wo6PH5GY0M42BDJsCe13w9lmiQ4pbgcA4clOiX6XjB0/s320/DSC02232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516642821425739554" border="0" /></a>Garden Watermelon<br /></div><br /><br />LAWKI Day 25<br />September 13, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast: toast, kids ate cold cereal<br />Lunch: kids-school, S-leftover beans M-I don’t remember-maybe Nutella tortillas?<br />Dinner: Tuna casserole, watermelon from the garden, bread, frozen broccoli<br />Dessert: Almond Poppy Seed Bundt Cake<br /><br />I made the dreaded Tuna Casserole. The kids kept asking what was for dinner and all I would say was noodle casserole. When James saw it out of the oven, he said, “Tell me that is canned chicken.” So I did. After all, he asked me to. He proceeded to bet Katie $10 that it was chicken and not tuna. While it would have been amusing to watch that play out, I confessed and ended the bet. <br /><br />The reactions were so much better than I expected. James hated it, but I expected that as he does not like tuna in any form. John had issues with the celery (from Katie’s garden as the stuff in the fridge was moldy) so he had plenty of reservations trying it and did not like it. That is the one who most surprised me---he eats a tuna sandwich almost every day, and will only get tuna at Subway. Katie could not eat more that a bite without gagging. Ben was the only hold out who not only liked it, but took seconds. Sorry Michael, but it is 4-2, and we will not ever have tuna casserole again. And no one will fight you for the leftovers.<br /><br />I asked Katie to pick a fruit to have with dinner. She wanted to try the watermelon. I have been worried about it because I thought it was supposed to be one of the giant, 20 pounders and it is far closer to the little personal size ones at the store. I figured that as it was a runt, it would not be ripe. To our surprise and delight, it was delicious in flavor. The texture was only so-so, but it was such a treat. We only ate half and are saving the other for tomorrow.<br /><br />I really needed something to look forward to with dinner, so while the casserole was baking, I decided to make a lemon bundt cake. I searched the internet until I found a yummy looking, highly rated recipe. I used 4 of our precious eggs and a pound of our last butters, and creamed them with the sugar. And then I found that we did not have any lemon extract. After searching Maretta’s cabinets as well, I finally gave up that dream. It was back to Google to find another recipe that used 4 eggs and 2 cups of sugar. I finally found the almond poppy seed one. It was really yummy. John, Katie and I licked the bowl clean and everyone took a turn scraping the pan of all the stuck on parts (stupid bundt cake pan). James called it a Costco muffin on steroids. The best part was, I could make this again completely with food storage. It called for oil originally, and might not be quite as rich as this one made with butter, but I think we would all eat it again. I wonder if that pan would fit in the sun oven…<br /><br />The kids are already discussing what we will do to celebrate the end of LAWKI month. They are voting for going out to eat while I am voting for hamburgers on the BBQ, assuming I can fix it. Michael is really sad that he will be at work that day. I felt sorry for him, thinking he would get stuck taking one more pathetic lunch to work until I found that he had thought ahead. He arraigned for a drug rep to bring in lunch next Monday. I alternate between admiring how clever he is to being jealous. Oh well, I plan to do shopping that day and think I just might have to hit the Costco food court.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-58753708052188955202010-09-12T23:00:00.000-06:002010-09-12T23:01:59.673-06:00LAWKI Fast Food, Meal PlanningLAWKI Day 22<br />September 10, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast: Biscuits and Gravy<br />Lunch: Kids-school, M&S- leftovers<br />Dinner: Tater tots, Little Smokies, other junk food<br /><br />I tried another kind of TVP today. I used a package mix for the sausage gravy and then used the sausage TVP. This one was pretty good. Michael and James like it, Ben and Katie preferred the gravy without the sausage. I would make that again, and maybe even use the TVP instead of cooking real sausage. Everyone likes the biscuits, and they are about the quickest baked thing to make in the morning. All told, this was less than 20 minutes start to finish. Not a bad breakfast.<br /><br />I took James to the football game tonight and drove by about 250 fast food restaurants there and back. By the time I got home, I did not want a boring meal. We dug into the freezer and came up with Tater tots and Little Smokies. Not the healthiest meal, but boy was it nice to have some “fast” food for a change.<br /><br /><br />LAWKI Day 23<br />September 11, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast: Hashbrowns, sausage, eggs<br />Lunch: Angel Hair Pasta and sauce<br />Dinner: M&S-Church Adult BBQ<br /><br />Our family got to put up flags this morning. After the exercise in frustration that that was, and knowing we were facing a good day of housecleaning, we went to the freezer again and got the last bags of hashbrowns and a thing of sausage. We cooked that up and everyone got 1 fried egg with it. The eggs are past the use by date, but I assure you, they will not go in the garbage. We have about a dozen left and we are all dreaming of eating them.<br /><br />I spent about 4 hours cleaning in the food storage room today. It has been about 6 months since I last went through it. After buying some things at the Smith’s case lot sale and Macey’s bulk food sale, I needed to get it all in and rotated. John was my helper, vacuuming out the spider’s webs and loading up cases of spaghetti sauce. It was satisfying work, and it helped me to check up on our stock of things. <br /><br />About a year ago I made a spread sheet that listed all of the things I could think of that I would ever want to store. The list was based off of one that I had seen about 10 years ago. It has food, spices, baking supplies, cleaners, paper products, first aid, etc. I have columns for how much food I think we need, what we have, what we still need to get, and notes on it. More than being a 100% up to date catalog of what we have, it was the process of creating it that was most useful. It forced me to plan out how I would use the food we have.<br /><br />I have modified an idea that I saw presented at a food storage something that was called the 19x19 plan. It suggested you plan 19 different daily menus, make sure you have enough food to make those meals 19 times, and you have a year’s supply of food. That idea made a lot of sense, and broke down the mystery of how much to store and then how do you use it. For me, I know there are really only about 7 breakfasts I can think of in terms of food storage and traditional breakfast foods: pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, cream of wheat cereal, cracked wheat cereal, muffins and biscuits. If I plan to make those 52 times, that is a year of breakfasts. After watching my general laziness in the morning, even this month when there is not a constant supply of easy breakfasts for the kids, I should probably include toast and fruit as breakfast options. That has been a staple.<br /><br />I plan for lunch to be one of three things: leftovers, bread/tortillas/pita for sandwiches, and/or beans. That means at least a loaf of bread a day, maybe 2, depending on what other bread like foods we have around. One thing I have considered this month is whether I would need to move lunch and dinner around. Part of that is wondering if the “big” meal should be at lunch and part is thinking in terms of alternate energy sources. Using the sun oven means focusing on the part of the day with the strongest sun. Using any other source means trying to do all of your cooking at the same time, or at least one right after another in the case of charcoal.<br /><br />That leaves dinner. I planned a list of 24 main dishes I thought I could make from food storage. Some are just soups, some are pasta or rice with sauce, and some are more meal-like. If I plan to do each one 12-13 times, that is my year’s supply. I also plan so that I can have a can of vegetables and a can of fruit at least once a day. That is pretty slim pickings for 6 adults, but that is what seems reasonable to me in terms of storage room and all. <br /><br />And, because it is me after all, I have planned out what desserts I could make from food storage. I think that is almost as important as everything else. It’s back to the idea that a cookie with beans and bread is exponentially better than just beans and bread. I figure I can make cookies, cake, cobbler, crisp, brownies, pie, pudding, Jell-o and sweet quick breads. There are probably more, but these would give a great variety. One thing I have found I am lacking is in the whipped cream department. I remember using powdered whip cream when we lived in Saudi Arabia but I don’t think I have used it much since. That is one thing I would like to have a small bit of. <br /><br />I am not exactly sure why I started rambling about this meal plan, but I have been checking things off of the list of meals as we use them. Because it is not soup weather, I have not done much in that department. And so far, I have put off making the tuna casserole. I have never in my life made that, and honestly, I am not happy thinking about it. It has much to do with eating it a lot as a kid, and the texture issues I have with other similar things, such as the canned chicken. The last time I ate it was when someone brought me a meal when I was on bed rest with the triplets. I remember liking it for the first few bites and then not being able to eat much more. I have a husband who love tuna casserole and 3 kids who love tuna, so I predict it will be a hit. In fact, I am slightly worried that they will like it enough to want it again and then where will I be? Ick. Anyway, I will be happy to be able to check that meal idea off of the list.<br /><br />I have crossed a few things off the list, so I am hunting for ideas again. If you have a great “food storage meal” or can suggest something that can be modified to use easy-to-store foods, please share!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-19533505556573784432010-09-09T21:11:00.000-06:002010-09-09T21:12:10.530-06:00Canned ChickenLAWKI Day 21<br />September 9, 2010<br /><br />Today I caught a friend ‘anonymously’ dumping fruit and vegetables on the front porch. I have 2 bags of squash, a bucket of tomatoes, and a bag of apples. Michael took the last apple in his lunch today so those came just in time. I think it was just an overabundance of stuff and neighborly generosity vs. feeling sorry for us. Either way, thanks Rachael.<br /><br /><br />I cannot explain it, but I have a fear of canned chicken. I have a whole case that my grandparents gave me from when they worked in the church cannery, and I have some that I have bought from Costco and other stores on sale. The thought of using it has always turned my stomach so it sits in my storeroom and waits for me. I conquered my fears today, with mixed results.<br /><br />I gathered one of each type we had (minus the really daunting case that I could not bring myself to open). We had a Kroger brand, a Sam’s Club one and a Valley Fresh can from Smiths. Only the Sam’s was white meat, the other two were white and dark. I made Katie and Ben come try them all with me. I did not like the Valley Fresh much at all. The Kroger was actually tolerable and I did not mind the dark or white meat. The Sam’s one was the superior choice of all and looked the best as well. Ben thought they were “not bad” while Katie could not get over the fact that it was not canned tuna. <br /><br />I felt dumb for my previous bias and fear and then proceeded to make chicken enchiladas with them. They were not the best in the world. They were mushy and tasted off. I was using the tortillas that I made on Monday, so I cannot be sure that it was just the chicken. The same could be said for the powdered milk. In the end, I have mixed feelings about planning for this meal in a food storage situation. It would be calories and especially good protein ones, but I just did not like the combo. I think I would rather eat the chicken plain. I might try later making the sauce for the Café Rio chicken and then soak the canned chicken in it and try that with tortillas as a chicken taco thing. I still like the idea of the canned chicken in storage, but want someway to use it that doesn’t make me cringe.<br /><br />Breakfast: Kids-cereal, toast, apples; S- Tuna sandwich (I was making Michael one and it looked so good!)<br />Lunch: Kids-school, M-tuna sandwiches, S-Bookclub lunch, yummy salad, muffins, pie<br />Dinner: Chicken Enchiladas, zucchini, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, peaches<br /><br />I have the back of my car filled with food I bought at the Smiths case lot sale yesterday. My kids are dying for the instant oatmeal and the “little shrimpies” in the Cup of Soup. 11 more days.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-15178363340575206292010-09-09T09:22:00.004-06:002010-09-09T11:10:27.066-06:00Milk, Medicine and GarbageLAWKI Day 20<br /><br />Breakfast: Toast, John had cereal with powdered milk, applesauce<br />Lunch: kids-school, M – left over enchiladas, S-leftover beans<br />Dinner: Macaroni and Cheese, Ben soup and sandwiches on hike, M –work, packed dinner<br /><br />Michael took the powdered Milk today with his lunch, and John is back to his regularly scheduled bowls of cereal in the morning. I guess the Morning Moo brand milk is passing the cooking and drinking tests.<br /><br />I spent a couple hours at the dentist today. When I am lying there, trying hard to think about anything else but what is going on in my mouth, I often think about strange things. I spent this time wondering what would happen in an emergency if I was left with a huge hole in my teeth. I only hope they would fill the hole with their emergency power before they closed the office and rushed home to check on things. I think anyone who has seen the movie with Tom Hanks where he is stranded on an island in the pacific with a tooth that needs a root canal has shared that thought before.<br /><br />Michael and I often talk about what might happen to him at work in an emergency. He has talked to his bosses about what he could expect from an earthquake emergency and was very disappointed that there seemed to be no plans. They just said, "Take care of your family first." Nice sentiments, but not very wise or helpful. He spoke to the Utah Pharmacy Association as well, trying to find out if there are guidelines in place for how to dispense in an emergency where computers are off line and people need both regular, life maintaining medications and emergency pain relief. Do you go with your regular customers first, the ones you know by site and know they have standing prescriptions or do you give it to the new prescriptions that can't be verified or billed or even paid for? Is there any hope that it will be done in order or do they just expect looters to take everything? Then we get into the scenarios of pandemic influenza. You would think that after the mess with the swine flu last year that new procedures would be in place. It is frustrating to him and to me. Maybe in such a populated area this kind of planning is done at the warehouse level, not each individual store. Even still, it is disappointing that this element of the medical system is going to be left hanging and unused, and that people will suffer so much because of it.<br /><br />With that, we have tried to be as prepared as we can for medicine in an emergency. One insider trick that Michael shares with anyone who is interested is how to create an emergency buffer with your prescriptions. If you have a regular medicine (not a narcotic) that you always get a monthly supply of, the he recommends you should get it refilled every 24-25 days. Insurances will let you refill when you have used 80% of the medicine. If you do this consistently, by the end of the year, you should have at least a 2-month supply of your medicine. Be smart in doing this and make sure you are using your oldest medicine first, and make sure you are keeping the extras in a secure, child resistant way. Of courses, some medicines do not have a shelf life that can support building up a year’s supply of medicine, such as insulin. But when it is such a necessity of life, it is critical to have enough to see you through the crazy days that would follow an earthquake or other major emergency.<br /><br />We also have a supply of over-the-counter meds, such as Tylenol, Advil, antihistamines, cold medicine, anti-diarrheal, etc. I must admit that I am loath to throw out the few narcotics that we have left over from a couple of prescriptions. <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">It is absolutely against the law to use another person’s medicine and I do not suggest you do.</span></span> However, with my pharmacist around and dispensing information at all hours for me, I do keep them in the event of an emergency. <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">I keep them locked in the safe</span></span>, because I also have kids in the house and I don’t want to be a supplier for a pharm-party. (Not that I am overly worried about my kids---then again, who is?---, but they have friends who have friends, and if word got around, like some idiot posting this information on a blog on the internet, I would not want to be the target of unscrupulous people.) Gee, have I said too much or would my <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">warnings and bold writing</span></span> hold up in court? One more then…<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">My husband, an honest and law-abiding pharmacist, knows nothing about any of this.</span></span> Better? Good.<br /><br />One more complexly not related observation from LAWKI month is our kitchen garbage is not as full as usual. John came in from taking the cans to the curb happy that there was only one. I think we are generating less garbage from food than usual. Of course, there are a lot more empty cans and boxes in the recycling than usual, so maybe it is a wash. I know that I have been much better about scraping the bottoms of the cans this month. I am certain that if food was low, I would be drinking the liquid from every can and licking the inside as far as I could. Nothing would go to waste.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-63169775971313525152010-09-08T09:14:00.006-06:002010-09-08T09:21:53.364-06:00The Psychological Affect of LAWKI on Children, or How the Kids Surprise MeLAWKI Day 19<br />September 7, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast: Oatmeal, with sugar or jam or both<br />Lunch: Kids-school, M & S-Sandwiches, brownies<br />Dinner: Bean dip, chips, peaches, John-soup<br /><br />I imagine 7 layer bean dip would not always be possible if we still did not have some fresh stuff. As it was, it was a good way to use the Romaine we still have that is old, and we have plenty of tomatoes. We still have sour cream, mostly due to my rationing of it. It will be gone soon, except for my own personal container. I am not sure if I will use that for a certain meal, or if it will be used as dip for my bag of chips. Yum!<br /><br />Michael actually poured and drank a glass of the Morning Moo powdered milk today. The chocolate has been a big hit, so long as you remember to shake before pouring. Until now, the plain milk was avoided, but Michael said that he had drunk regular milk that tastes worse than this. I even took a sip, and found it to be tolerable. Katie thinks it just tastes like 2% vs the skim we usually have.<br /><br />Maretta, my 2nd pantry neighbor, called and asked if I had bread, offering to trade peaches for it. They were tasty. While everyone else thinks they are not ripe, I love crunchy peaches with just enough sweetness to off set the tart. It was a nice change to have with dinner. We do still have about 4-5 apples, which I am letting the kids and Michael have. We also have some nectarines, but they are old enough that they ought to be thrown out. I just can’t bring myself to do it. Same with the grapes. There are a few good ones, but the others are so bad that it scares me away from eating them. But I still do not want to throw them out.<br /><br />It seems that the kids are not missing things as much as Michael and I. They don’t seem to crave things, they just miss the idea of things. For instance, Ben says he misses desserts the most. We have had cake twice, cobbler, chocolate zucchini bread, brownies, cookies, ice cream and cereal bars in the last 19 days. I am sure we do not have that much on the regular days. Maybe it is the same thing that am feeling, more trapped because there are limitation to what we can eat and make, when in reality, we still have so many choices available.<br /><br />I assumed that another reason they were doing fine is that they have the choices for school lunch. They can take the standard lunch or they can go through the fast food lines and get pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, or they can go through a salad bar or a sandwich line. I asked what they have been eating and was surprised to find that 3 of the 4 are basically just having a sandwich every day. Amazing. I would be in that pizza line a lot more than that. The roast beef line does have its own appeal right now... <br /><br />Another thing about the kids. They hang out in the basement a lot, and I still smell microwave popcorn almost daily. They also went through the soda in the mini-fridge down there and the rest of the granola bars and snacks. I think most everything is gone now, except the popcorn. I might have to go and remove the rest of that and see if they switch to the air popper or find another snack.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-51167063548227429932010-09-07T17:17:00.003-06:002010-09-07T19:03:49.398-06:00Family Survey #3, Oil and Why Food StorageLAWKI Day 18<br />September 6, 2010<br /><br />Family Survey #3<br /><br />Three words to describe LAWKI month:<br />Tired of bread; not much change; enduring, tedious, interesting; indifferent, uncaring, unchanging; horrible, evil, awful; the surveys suck.<br /><br />What do you miss the most:<br />Nothing; nothing; milk, meat, fast food, fresh fruits/vegetables; meat, French fries, the freedom to have whatever whenever, food traditions-especially with friends; desserts.<br /><br />What lessons are we learning:<br />We need more oil than I thought, it takes more time to cook meals without convenience foods, learned how to make tortillas; how to be more healthy; what holes are in our plans; nothing, no idea; how to survive, how to make new foods.<br /><br />How crazy are we for doing this:<br />8.3<br /><br />How angry are you to have to participate?<br />2.8 (our regular 10 went to a 5, but a few others upped their anger)<br /><br />How much do you think this affects life?<br />6<br /><br /><br />I made more bread today and more tortillas, this time saving some for enchiladas in the next day or two. I hope that will make things go faster for dinner. <br /><br />I made the Roberts BBQ Beans today to take to our Labor Day BBQ with friends. I also brought brownies and a loaf of bread and a box of Girl Scout Cookies, which I guess was enough to once again buy dinner. They spoiled us with yummy food and great company (thanks, Houses!). We talked again about the Bountiful Baskets food co-op. They showed me the ordering process, and after trying the best mango I have ever had, I think I will give it a try in 2 weeks. They also buy beef from a relative’s dairy herd in Idaho and we plan to buy with them next time. <br /><br />Breakfast: toast, fruit, left-overs<br />Lunch: sandwiches and tortillas<br />Dinner: with friends<br /><br />In reference to the oil in lessons learned, I am very surprised how much we are using. Making bread every 3 days or so takes 2/3 cup, pancakes and waffles take ¼ to ½ c, biscuits take 1 c, etc. If we were to use it for frying things, it could take between 2 T and 4 cups, if deep-frying. I think to be safe, I want to plan for a cup of oil every day, which is 23 gallons or 60 48oz bottles. That is a lot of oil, and far too much for a year if you are not using it at the rate we are this month. Of all of the food we store, the oil and other fats have the shortest shelf life.<br /> <br />This is the real quandary we face when planning a year’s worth of food: do we buy things that we will use and eat at a normal, go-to-the-store-anytime rate, or do we buy for the this-is-all-we-have-for-a-year rate? The smartest people would be the ones who can eat the same both ways, and buy accordingly, the “store what you eat and eat what you store” crowd. The path we have chosen is kind of a bridge between the two. If we over buy, and some goes bad before we will use it, then at least we bought peace of mind with the otherwise wasted money. If we buy lots of stuff, and then we discover we can’t use it or don’t like it, there are always food drives to donate it too. <br /><br />We figure that our food storage serves multiple purposes:<br /><br />1-It is our food insurance. If we don’t use our life insurance policy this year, (yea!—we are still alive) we don’t consider it a waste to have purchased it. If this year the health insurance company makes money from us, then we have been blessed with good health. (We have lived through a year where the cancer bills would have bankrupted us, and we figure we still have not paid more in insurance than we used in that particular year, let alone the year the triplets were born.) If we never use all of our food insurance, we have lived a blessed life. I am certain that we have never thrown out enough spoiled food from the food storage that adds up to one month’s food budget, especially these days with 4 teenagers.<br /><br />2-It is our on-site food store. How wonderful it is to not run out of things on a regular basis. Now Maretta may laugh when she sees this, knowing how many times a month I am calling to borrow this and that. However, much of that is the fresh stuff, like eggs, sour cream, green onions, etc. Sometimes it is the novelty items that I thought I still had one more can of, such as coleslaw dressing or cheese wiz. I don’t think I have ever had to borrow sugar or flour or oil or salt or pasta etc. Maybe that is common with everyone, and everyone else has a greater sense of what they have and what they need than I do. Who knows? I do know that I love having my own c-store in the basement.<br /><br />3- It saves us money. Being able to buy in bulk when there are sales, instead of when we run out, saves considerable amounts of money. This was very apparent during our “crazy shopping day”. The kids were thrilled to find they could get 5 packages Ramen for $1. What they don’t realize is that is expensive for Ramen, which I hope to get during the case lot sale for 10/$1. I even flinched when I had to pay $3.89 for a bag of Lays potato chips that I know sales for $1.88. Buying in bulk in season and/or on sale can save so much.<br /><br />4-It could save us from a real “crazy shopping day” that might happen. Who really wants to be caught in a food riot, whether it be the grocery store right after an emergency or the relief food truck delivery weeks after? I want that time to have one less worry, when there will be a world full of worries around me. <br /><br />5- It could make money stretch a whole lot further in the event of a money emergency, such as unemployment or disability or long term health issues or whatever. If all we have to buy are the fresh things, then we can make that food budget cover many more things than it does now.<br /><br />6-This last one is so hard to put into word, so I am now going to use far more than necessary to explain it. Having a year’s supply of food is believing in the principles of self reliance, provident living and preparedness. It is believing that we can and should be ready for the emergencies that life brings, that we read about everyday in the news. It is about charity, knowing that not everyone in our extended family has enough, that not everyone on our street has enough, and that we may be storing food and water for more than us. <br /><br />It is believing that God has inspired living prophets to teach, guide and warn us that these principals will benefit our lives and may even save them. It is the faith of the Widow of Zarephath. It is the faith that if we are prepared, we will not fear, even if we might be afraid. It is recognizing how blessed we are in our material things, in our freedoms and our peace and safety, and how little God asks for in return. It is wanting to be one of the wise of the 10 Virgins, to be included in the marriage feast. <br /><br />If and when our “oil” does run out, I want to know that I gave it my best effort. Last fall as I surveyed our storage room after cleaning and restocking, I stood overwhelmed with it all. I cried silently in prayer, thanking God for His Bounteous Mercy. I remember asking Him to guide me to see the weaknesses in our preparations so that we could fix them. I begged Him to protect my family from want and need, promising to use the food and knowledge and experience I had gained for the good of our family and others. It was a very moving experience for me, as I felt the feeling of peace and calm and of the Spirit, and a confirming that my efforts would be enough, if I would be constant in it.<br /><br />While I think of this at times when I am putting things away in the food room, I don’t think I have contemplated this in terms of LAWKI month before. Maybe my faith in that “confirmation” was not great enough and so I am artificially reaching for that assurance that we are prepared enough. Maybe this is the right way to find the holes in our preparation. Maybe this is my time to inspire other to be more prepared. Maybe it is all just my insanity. All I can say is that going into this month, we were excited about it, felt good about doing it, and did not think it would hurt anything. Whether or not it would do any good is still debatable. <br /><br /><br />Sorry for the rambling today, hope it wasn't too preachy. I am long winded, even in my “journal”. If you are interested, I recommend poking around www.providentliving.org for self-reliance and preparedness and food storage information. It is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, www.lds.org or www.mormon.com.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-2792561936697244372010-09-06T16:37:00.006-06:002010-09-06T17:02:53.175-06:00Bribes and TVP<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 9"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/User/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --></style><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >LAWKI Day17</span><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">September 5, 2010</span></p><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />On the way into the Chapel for Sacrament Meeting, James pulled me aside saying he now had "bribe stuff".<span style=""> </span>When I asked for clarification, he said that he had scammed the fluffy white bread that was leftover from filling the Sacrament Trays and then asked what he could get from me for it.<span style=""> </span>(Obnoxious child, who raised you?<span style=""> </span>Oh, wait, that was me.)<span style=""> </span>After being rejected, he brought it home and made peanut butter jelly sandwiches and gave out slices to his siblings who were in his good graces. He swears it has nothing to do with him missing things due to LAWKI month, so I guess he thinks I am missing things more. Maybe he just read my earlier post on white bread.</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >
<br />
<br /><o:p></o:p></span><!--[endif]--> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I found my tortilla recipe!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">After church, I watched a YouTube video on making tortillas and tried the recipe she used.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">They worked very well, have a great taste and got approval from the family.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I used them to make dinner, a version of my Beef Topped Bean Enchiladas.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I put Taco TVP in the salsa sauce with mixed results.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">While it did not make a taste difference, the texture was weird.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I think I would rather just try it without.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I am now much more hesitant to try the other TVP recipes I have. Otherwise, it is a recipe I could keep in the food storage rotation, so long as we had grated cheese.</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here is the tortilla recipe:</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> 3 ½ c flour</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 t. salt</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">½ t baking powder</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">½ c shortening, or 7-8 T oil (used shortening, but want to try oil sometime)</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 c hot water</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cut the shortening into the flour mixture, add hot water, and then knead for 3 minutes.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Let the dough rest for 15 minutes.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Divide into 16 balls, about golf ball size.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Flatten into disk, dip in flour, and roll.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Bake in a medium hot pan on stove, about one minute on each side.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">(With two pans cooking, you can roll one and put it to cook, roll another one and as you put it in, flip the other.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">When the next one is rolled, take the first one off.)</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now, does anyone have a good refried beans recipe?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">What about just baked beans… I have a good BBQ style beans recipe, but how do you make good black beans to just eat as a side dish?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I can eat kidney beans just plain, but what else do you do with them?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Anything kids might eventually get used to eating?</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Breakfast:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Fasting</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lunch:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Fasting, some ate sandwiches, tortillas</span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dinner:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Bean Enchiladas, green beans, honeydew, tomato mozzarella cheese salad, squash</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It was very sad to have the honeydew that we have saved until now be crunchy and not very good.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">It was also obnoxious how long it took to make the enchiladas when I had to make the tortillas first.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Usually I can get this in the oven in about 20 minutes if I have cooked and frozen ground beef. This batch took about an hour and a half to get into the oven, even with both James and Katie's help.</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >We went to Michael’s brother’s house for games and fun after dinner. We took left over cake from Friday and ate plenty of yummy cereal bars and snacks there.</span><span style="">
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<br /></span></span>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-32321239830483645252010-09-04T22:06:00.005-06:002010-09-05T09:45:02.257-06:00Water Storage Tanks and Spam Fried Rice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQbcySdDeiWhmYMr-wVvzbmxeSPP-ErfTA0YM4QU67Pkw1gCJuC9w7atcbx-lzzYyWG9uy26vYllGUaJjd4zenu0THBLWt9gMUfkhOBEaO3v176HN3W3M1X-Hx7uIy1nY857QbO1S-Is/s1600/LAWKI+start+015.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQbcySdDeiWhmYMr-wVvzbmxeSPP-ErfTA0YM4QU67Pkw1gCJuC9w7atcbx-lzzYyWG9uy26vYllGUaJjd4zenu0THBLWt9gMUfkhOBEaO3v176HN3W3M1X-Hx7uIy1nY857QbO1S-Is/s320/LAWKI+start+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513278861813560802" border="0" /></a><br />LAWKI Day 15<br />September 3, 2010<br /><br />I included the updated picture of our fridge today. Someone emailed me and asked for it. In all reality, it doesn’t look too bad. The fridge still has fruit in it and then all the bottles of condiments that will never be gone. It is sad to see it more empty. Most people don’t know this, but this fridge is brand new and was delivered only 2 days before LAWKI month started. It held so much food those first 2 days! I look forward to being able to use it normally in 2 weeks.<br /><br />What is really shocking is the completely empty outside fridge. It is where we usually have the 6 gallons of milk and 3-5 dozen eggs and the extra meat and cheese. There is nothing on the shelves now but the last container of eggs and the cream cheese in the door.<br /><br />Our first real break with the LAWKI month came last night as we went to friend’s house for dinner. We took a loaf of bread, microwave popcorn, a box of chocolates and dessert (Jell-o Poke Cake with cool whip from the freezer) to trade for the dinner. I think the thing that sealed the deal was the box of Samoa Girl Scout Cookies. That bought us dinner plus some garden produce to bring home. Thanks, Showalters!<br /><br />Breakfast: Whatever<br />Lunch: M & S pita roll-ups, Kids school<br />Dinner: With friends<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO65HyswHScpohuKlAkWnMqP2APk5RSdV2AUYpKwDymA5I41_SKz6oTYKq3J9xAWMveK53dMpyy8J5ee5-PeJTjZiqNumKXxkGTz9vB1B40EkjFsg_1yUFqyZNnlCU5Kof4tPI6d-1oc/s1600/LAWKI+start+008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTO65HyswHScpohuKlAkWnMqP2APk5RSdV2AUYpKwDymA5I41_SKz6oTYKq3J9xAWMveK53dMpyy8J5ee5-PeJTjZiqNumKXxkGTz9vB1B40EkjFsg_1yUFqyZNnlCU5Kof4tPI6d-1oc/s320/LAWKI+start+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513277928864011170" border="0" /></a><br />Here is Michael next to our new water storage tanks. The general recommendations that we based our initial water storage on was a gallon of water, per person, for two weeks. So we have 60 gallons of water in Mylar bags/boxes in the storage room. Then we felt like we needed 2 five-gallon jugs that sit full by the back door ready to go in an emergency evacuation. We also have had 2 of the 55-gallon storage tanks in the garage, with washing and sanitation in mind, but still never felt like it was enough. I think we have reached the point where we have done about all we can do short of having a swimming pool in the back yard.<br /><br />We bought these 275-gallon tanks last week. On Wednesday, Michael and I spent the afternoon rearranging the garage to fit them into the corner. He then attached them to the garage wall studs with earthquake straps that are made for securing water heaters, figuring they would be very useless, destructive hood ornaments on his car after an earthquake. It took 33 minutes to fill each one up---yes, Michael timed it--- and we only filled it to the 250-gallon line to allow for expansion in the event they freeze in the winter. We are hoping they won’t do that in the garage, especially if we ever need them in the winter months.<br /><br />One of the first comments from friends/family was, “That ought to keep you in water long enough to bury everyone else and then die.” Here’s hoping the water is back on after an emergency long before that day comes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJJUAuTpu3XLqxPnW8XLSy2NAWh6Pm13XmPPUcYMupFdxSaS4dN6_Hs5VEKojIHPe-zQWlsw2cZvND2aIRr3eoMGPrImGHkgRpyEpGGxL_dgG1r4euplCV2tZ2SJDPayryJIcuXdFtEQ/s1600/LAWKI+start+015.jpg"><br /></a><br />LAWKI Day 16<br />September 4, 2010<br /><br />I opened the first can of Morning Moo powdered milk product this morning. As you can see by the picture of our last gallon in the fridge taken Friday morning, we are out now. I mixed up a pitcher of the chocolate stuff as well. John and Katie both tried it, with Katie finding it tolerable and John thinking it tasted like “powdery evaporated milk”, whatever that is. I don’t plan on tasting it unless it is mixed in with pancakes or something else. I use powdered milk when making my own pancake mix or Kinder candy (peanut butter and honey treats) so everyone knows what it smells like, and vaguely what it tastes like. It will be interesting to see if the milk lovers in the family will ever just pour a glass to drink or if will only be used in cooking. Personally, I think we will be drinking a lot more Kool-aid and Tang the next 2 weeks.<br /><br />I went through with my threat on Thursday and made the Spam Fried Rice for dinner tonight. It was surprisingly good. Of course, with Trinh’s fantastic Vietnamese Fried Rice recipe, even Spam tastes good. If I do it again, I would fry it just a bit longer to make it crispy on all sides. That would counter the mushy texture a bit better. I’m interested to see what Michael will think of it when he gets home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9DqhVgnXYRNvQmHyd6tIGuqWm-532F5JPNko_PuJxPMfRq9YiKvvAfBLJqojPlWppbavAuTWuPwNx0toZu1tM7BkhVHIVjWs53DiWUSi0Of38aD3ILWEISimrMHfaxHDAZzv43ffpiY/s1600/LAWKI+start.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9DqhVgnXYRNvQmHyd6tIGuqWm-532F5JPNko_PuJxPMfRq9YiKvvAfBLJqojPlWppbavAuTWuPwNx0toZu1tM7BkhVHIVjWs53DiWUSi0Of38aD3ILWEISimrMHfaxHDAZzv43ffpiY/s320/LAWKI+start.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513277908451994834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Breakfast: Toast & whatever, complaints about no more instant oatmeal<br />Lunch: Turkey Sandwiches, Michael sandwiches and stuff<br />Dinner: Spam Fried Rice<br /><br />Things heard around the house tonight:<br />“Seriously, it’s only day 15?”<br />“We are going to day 31?!”<br />“Write that you died of starvation and that this is [child’s name] writing this entry.”<br />When told it was flu shot time, “No, not this month. We have to be able to go get ice cream after!”Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-16879066530546864032010-09-03T09:14:00.003-06:002010-09-03T09:19:27.672-06:00Baking Day and My Own Personal Bread ChallengeLAWKI Day 14<br />September 2, 2010<br /><br />It was baking day again. I made 4 loaves of bread, not 100% wheat, but close. I have been making bread regularly for about 3-4 years. I had toyed with making bread before that, doing it as a novelty when I thought about it. It was more a skill I wanted to have vs. a need I was filling. That went on until I had a teenage boy in my house. <br /><br />When the day came that James would eat 6-8 slices of white bread toast as a snack, I threatened to make whole wheat bread and stop buying the other. He pretty much dared me too, saying it would not last more than a few months. He stopped eating bread at home for a good year or so. About the only time he would is if he had scrambled eggs---then he needed toast. After the first year, he started eating slices when it was still warm from the oven. With butter and jam, that is good stuff. Finally, about a year ago, he completely gave in and now eats sandwiches, toast, and even just as a snack. I am not sure if it is a badge of honor to prove a 12-year-old wrong, but I won. Neener, neener.<br /><br />Most of the time making bread, I use 1-3 cups of white flour and the other 10-12 cups fresh ground wheat. Katie has loved making bread and will often volunteer to make it, sometimes even without me knowing. It is a real treat to come home and smell fresh baked bread when I’m not expecting it. She does tend to add significantly more white flour, but that is chef’s prerogative. <br /><br />There are still times that I miss fluffy white bread. Some things just do not seem as good to me with homemade bread…French toast, BLTs, egg salad sandwiches, and I have never wanted to try stuffing made from homemade bread. I usually buy bread when I have a craving or need for one of those dishes. Otherwise, we do the homemade thing. <br /><br />Yesterday I also made more tabouli, so I had to make more pita bread. This time I made it 1/3 wheat to give it a more hearty flavor. I still can’t figure out what the secret is to getting it to puff so there is the pita “pocket.” It only happened on one of the 16. In the end, it was still tasty and the kids enjoyed it plain and with peanut butter and chocolate syrup. So much for healthy.<br /><br />I also tried making tortillas. I made one batch that seemed okay, but cooked up really hard. I was using my griddle so I could cook 2 at a time. They were not very good. My kids would have tolerated them crunchy but they did not like the garlic flavor or the bit of sugar that was in them, especially when eating them plain. I tried another recipe and the flavor was more acceptable to everyone. The real difference came when I cooked them in a pan on the stove. It is the one we use to cook the Costco yummy ones. They were much better cooked this way. I think it is the higher, constant heat that cooks them faster and keeps them tender after cooking. In the end, the second batch passed the plain tortilla, the tortilla and cheese and the quesadilla test. I have no worries about them working for tacos or fajitas. I will have to try it with enchiladas sometime soon.<br /><br />Because some have asked for it, here is the link to the pita recipe I used. It is a simple recipe, but has a lot of great advice and pictures so I think it is easier to link to the site than copy it.<br /><br />http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread<br /><br />The tortilla recipe that I liked was a fake up of a few I found online and in a book. It was pretty much 4 cups of flour, 2 t. of salt, ½ cup of shortening and 1 ¼ cups of hot water. Google is the best advice I have for a real recipe and how to make them. I will pay closer attention and write a recipe the next time I make it. Sorry.<br /><br /><br />Breakfast: Scrambled eggs<br />Lunch: Kids- school, Michael-leftover potatoes and stuff, Shannon-left over salad, tabouli, pita, tortillas<br />Dinner: Tortillas with peanutbutter, butter, cheese, quesadilla style, or plain; with fruit and other scavengable things<br /><br />BTW, in my fresh food inventory, I did not include grated cheese. We always have one of the big Costco 5 lb ones around and I decided that we are going to keep using it this month. It is something that will make everything easier.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-83144571297451645982010-09-02T06:43:00.005-06:002010-09-02T09:05:18.562-06:00Family Survey, Round 2LAWKI Day 13<br />September 1, 2010<br /><br />Family LAWKI Survey Round 2:<br /><br />What 3 words describe your feelings about LAWKI:<br />slow, daunting, doable; annoying, lame, busy; easy, smart, surprising; bad, annoying, horrible, hungry, never full; long, tedious, smart<br /><br />What food do you miss the most:<br />Milk, beef, fast food, cheese!!!, shopping, nothing really, nothing, steak, dairy, eating out<br /><br />What lessons are we learning?<br />Stretching out food, cautions about food waste; nothing; how lucky we are; that we hate this; how to base and eat a healthy meal; what places food takes in my life.<br /><br />How crazy are your parents to do this? 8.3 <br /> (to be fair, 2 of the kids wrote things like “in a good way” and “smart” instead of crazy)<br /><br />How angry are you to participate? 3.2 (again, one 10)<br /><br />How much is this affecting life? 5.6<br /><br />Breakfast: Blueberry Muffins<br />Lunch: M & S leftovers & salad, Kids school<br />Dinner: BLT Sandwiches, fried potatoes <br /><br /><br />We had a neighbor offer to drop fast food anonymously on our front porch yesterday. Another friend we are visiting on Friday for dinner said that the “train wreck” was nowhere near her house so to let her know what we want for dinner and from the store to trade. Both made me laugh. And while I did not turn down the ride to the church last night when I had started walking too late to make it to the Court of Honor on time (would have made it---its not like it started on time), and I did not turn down the offer of left over salad from Maretta (it was one of those yummy girl-food salads that the rest of her family would not eat), we are still trying to be good and play by the rules we created. I hope my whining about craving beef and complaining about cooking from scratch every day does not make people think we really are suffering. We are just lazy, spoiled rotten people who are trying to live slightly less lazy, spoiled lives. <br /><br />For a month. <br /><br />Only for a month.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-89657405140417019332010-09-01T09:28:00.004-06:002010-09-01T10:35:26.157-06:00Pancakes, Pita and Farmer's Markets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XaJ6l2MsREbdUmhXyD9ukZhV0ql7PXdQ3-S-s9RKg04MNJlRyiDmUcp2-44A3z3Q0twlGiBi2PAYjDOYa3HNIWHxAT3MqNHk8gUPeMM65mGoRd5lzYq6780NJntH2NOlQR8ZrDjSgvo/s1600/LAWKI+start+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XaJ6l2MsREbdUmhXyD9ukZhV0ql7PXdQ3-S-s9RKg04MNJlRyiDmUcp2-44A3z3Q0twlGiBi2PAYjDOYa3HNIWHxAT3MqNHk8gUPeMM65mGoRd5lzYq6780NJntH2NOlQR8ZrDjSgvo/s320/LAWKI+start+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511982191155135090" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfk3Mdoh6l7nqoFju5SzRJyDalqffVXXKq6EOFC2Ec5pCAnGvIpLgrn_3TaC2xJQ1gTa6dF1LmPl31VbBpSxiYTo8dKEB8aE3a9ryn-lfmMuhWNQvo7nCfBQSwxZqnVehn3dgn5A7AEkw/s1600/LAWKI+start+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfk3Mdoh6l7nqoFju5SzRJyDalqffVXXKq6EOFC2Ec5pCAnGvIpLgrn_3TaC2xJQ1gTa6dF1LmPl31VbBpSxiYTo8dKEB8aE3a9ryn-lfmMuhWNQvo7nCfBQSwxZqnVehn3dgn5A7AEkw/s320/LAWKI+start+005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511982185069750722" /></a><br /><br /><br />LAWKI Day 11<br />August 30, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast Pankcakes<br />Lunch Michael-Leftover Pasta and stuff, Shannon-Leftover soup and bread, Kids-school<br />Dinner Tator Tot casserole, tomatoes, cucumber, cantaloupe, canned green beans<br /><br />Ben asked for pancakes for breakfast. Even though I have made pancakes from scratch for many years, it still surprised me that it only took about 15 minutes from start to 1st pancake. Usually in my mind, making pancakes is such a big production that I talk myself out of it. This was a pleasant reminder that it is not that hard to do.<br /><br />I had to take a friend to a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. On the way home, I stopped by Michael’s work to say hi. I found myself looking at things on sale and then having to stop thinking about that. Smith’s is having their case lot sale starting next week. It will be interesting to see what we may buy.<br /><br /><br />LAWKI Day 12<br />August 31, 2010<br /><br />Breakfast Kids-cereal, toast, fruit, Michael and Shannon-scramble eggs and toast<br />Lunch Kids-school, Michael-leftover tator tot and stuff, Shannon-leftover pasta<br />Dinner Kids-sandwiches, Ramen, Shannon-Relief Society Salad Dinner, Michael-leftover lunch, sandwich when he got home<br /><br />I made pita bread and Tabouli today. It was my first time making pita and it was fun and easy, if not entirely successful. Only one puffed right and formed a pocket. It was one of the first cooked and I am guessing the oven did not stay hot enough as I switched in and out the bread, to bake the others right. They all tasted good, but were more like odd shaped gorditas than pitas. The family ate them plain, with butter, and as a sandwich. I was heartened to hear Ben ask where the pita dip was, looking for the hummus. I only wish I had tahini to make some. I think I need a jar of that in the food storage.<br /><br />The Tabouli was really good. It was one of the few salads I could make with what I have around. The mint and parsley in my herb garden are taking over so I had plenty of that. I also had some bulgar wheat from making this in the past, and the other ingredients are things I just have on hand. It was hard not to eat it as it was in the fridge all afternoon. Both the pitas and the tabouli were all eaten at the Salad Social. I will have to make more this week. I must admit I enjoyed the variety of salads at the dinner, most of which I will not have for another 3 weeks. <br /><br />There was a discussion at the Salad Social about Bountiful Baskets, a fresh produce co-op that is gaining popularity here in the greater Salt Lake Area. We debated whether that or a farmer’s market would be in the spirit of LAWKI month. I think it would be acceptable, as it is the most basic of shopping and trading, and a farmer's market might be around when a chain grocery store could no longer be restocked. However, for the purposes of this month, we will not. It is more to test our resources and resourcefulness than whether or not we can be creative or local shoppers. I will still trade with neighbors so maybe I am being a hypocrite. In the end, if there was an influenza epidemic that closed stores and public gatherings, those things would go away, while my neighbors would still be there, and hopefully still trading so we both can survive. Maretta and I have already agreed to break quarantine with each other from the beginning for just that purpose.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-16691870556107115492010-08-29T22:30:00.005-06:002010-09-01T10:30:33.051-06:00Food Inventory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdth7lsJtBjHNk3V8z-wNffBwRnBIuy4aJu6N7Mmk3sFonGxnxuSGL7CvKRgWXqchfYA0haGJAzQFz-uowqPuwnspf43poA7UORvD95deNeT2c3xOuTucaXqA9ZT18UQ0BlXy1lG6u-U/s1600/LAWKI+start+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdth7lsJtBjHNk3V8z-wNffBwRnBIuy4aJu6N7Mmk3sFonGxnxuSGL7CvKRgWXqchfYA0haGJAzQFz-uowqPuwnspf43poA7UORvD95deNeT2c3xOuTucaXqA9ZT18UQ0BlXy1lG6u-U/s320/LAWKI+start+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511983276192857170" /></a><br /><br />LAWKI Day 9<br />August 28, 2010<br /><br />It was another Salsa Saturday. This time I picked about 50 tomatoes and canned 12 pints of Salsa. I had to beg 2 green peppers from my neighbor, but I will take her a bottle of salsa tomorrow to make up for it. I also made another 4 loaves of bread.<br /><br />Michael went on a long bike ride across town and back. He enjoyed it tremendously, but the smell of fast food restaurants was very hard to ignore. I must admit that I would love a hamburger of any kind right now. Steak is still the other real craving. I think it may have something to do with the fact that our grill has not been used since it caught the porch on fire on Father’s Day. That means that we have not had hamburgers or steak for 2 ½ months. I don’t attribute all of my beef cravings to LAWKI month, just another kind of withdrawal.<br /><br />Breakfast: Cereal, toast, whatever people wanted<br />Lunch: Sandwiches, Salsa and chips, Ramen<br />Dinner: Bean and Cheese Quesadillas<br /><br />We used the last of the tortillas tonight. I pulled out the recipe book and will try to make some this week from my friend’s recipe. Between my sophomore and junior years of high school, I attended a month long camp thing at the University of Wyoming. One of my classes was about world hunger and we had the challenge to cook a meal for 150 people using only the staples that so many live on everyday. I must have rolled out 100 tortillas that day to serve with the rice and beans that were the meal. While I remember it being easy, but it is just one more step to dinner that I don’t usually have to take. This cooking from scratch everyday is getting old.<br /><br /><br />LAWKI Day 10<br />August 29, 2010<br /><br />It was much cooler on the walk to church today. I wore my Birkenstocks and my feet don’t hurt. Somehow more people were late to choir practice from our family than made it on time. Either we are still adjusting to how long it takes to walk or there are a bunch of kids who have found a new way to put off church.<br /><br />Breakfast: Bread, Cereal<br />Food after Church: Sandwiches<br />Dinner: Chicken and sauce with pasta, cucumbers, carrots, cantaloupe, peach cobbler<br /><br />We ate the last of the fresh meat today. The debate between rice and pasta was great, with everyone thinking of the next few weeks of rice and pasta with canned chicken or no meat at all. <br /><br />Fresh fruit left: a few sick looking grapes, a bag of nectarines, a honeydew, some blueberries that may only be good for smoothies or muffins, very brown bananas and about 15 apples. James actually ate an apple on his own free will today. That has not happened in a few years. I am not sure if that means they are very good apples or he is trying new things.<br /><br />Fresh Veggies left: one head of ice burg lettuce, 3 romaine hearts, 2 pounds of baby carrots, sad celery, one store cucumber (hope for more from the garden, but no edible ones yet), plenty of tomatoes, and some hot peppers. Garden hopes include celery, zucchini, squash, carrots, onions, and a watermelon.<br /><br />Dairy: 2 gallons of milk with sell by dates on Tuesday, 20 slices of cheddar cheese, a few slices of provolone and Swiss, one package of fresh mozzarella to go with the tomatoes and basil---yum!, 2 ½ cartons of sour cream, about 2 lbs of fresh butter with about 12 old packages in the freezer, 4 packages of cream cheese and a can of spray whipped cream.<br /><br />Other: 1 ½ packs of lunch-meat turkey, 2 lbs of bacon, 4 dozen eggs, left over soup, left over chicken and pasta.<br /><br />Michael’s mom and brother and family came over tonight for fun and to celebrate the summer birthdays. We shared our peach cobbler (freshly made by James and me) and they shared ice cream, cake and cookies. It was a good time.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-18570626823779154602010-08-27T08:56:00.001-06:002010-08-27T08:58:43.060-06:00First Day of School and a few AnswersLAWKI Day 7 & 8<br /><br />Day 7<br />August 26, 2010<br /><br />The first day of school! After the last week, I was very happy for this day to come. Everyone had reached the emotional breaking point of summer. We still wanted to be lazy and have no school, but we could no longer stand being home with no purpose and no schedule. <br /><br />I imagine that in a long lasting emergency, this sort of chaotic nothingness could also get old. During the busy days of school and all of the kid’s activities, my neighbor Maretta and I often dream about a 3-month quarantine. However, after spending the last 6 weeks reading a couple of books about the 1918 Influenza pandemic, I am pretty sure I don’t want that kind of situation, even if it gave us months of “vacation” with the family. When it comes to actual real emergencies that might cause us to live off of our food storage, Michael and I debate what will come first, the big earthquake or the pandemic flu. Either way, I find it interesting that the Church guidelines for food storage are now a year of life sustaining food (the grains, beans, etc) and 3 months of the food you regularly eat.<br /><br />Day 7 Menu<br />Breakfast Bacon, 2 Eggs and Toast---1st day of school splurge<br />Lunch School lunch for the kids, packed lunch for Michael, Café Rio for Shannon<br />Dinner Leftovers, 1st day of school cookies, fruit and bread<br /><br />The Café Rio was a birthday lunch from my good friend Shelly. We set the plans about a month ago, before we even were sure we would do this. I asked everyone’s opinion about it and they all voted it was acceptable. <br /><br /><br />Day 8<br />August 27, 2010<br /><br />A couple of answers…<br /><br />Slrpycow is a nickname from High School. I used to tease my sister Megan that with her initials of MAAR, she should make sure to marry a Smith so she could be Mars for the rest of her life. One day she came back with telling me that I should marry someone with a P last name so I could be SLRP. My friend overheard that conversations, laughed herself silly, and then called me Slrpycow for the rest of the year, in reference to Megan’s comeback and my liking cow collectibles. I have used that as an online user name/log in/etc since the Internet came of age. <br /><br />James, in buying cologne with his “crazy shopping day” money, is not quite as vain as you think. Okay, he is that vain, but he is also mature. I was very shocked that he did not choose to buy steak or beef jerky or some other meat thing that he could hoard. When I asked him about it, he said he would rather go cold turkey than try to drag things out. He has been very supportive of this whole venture, so we let him buy the cologne. <br /><br />We did get the cell phone and the book at Costco. James drove and then bought himself a “black market” hot dog. I must admit it was very hard to be in Costco and not want to go shopping. Everything looked and smelled really good. I am glad it was this week and not 2 weeks from now.<br /><br />Menu:<br />Breakfast Cereal and bread<br />Lunch School for kids, sandwiches for Michael, sandwiches or leftovers for Shannon<br />Dinner Soup (I think)Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-40705190839606381542010-08-25T22:24:00.006-06:002010-08-27T16:11:59.903-06:00Shampoo and Cat TreatsLAWKI Day 6<br />August 25, 2010<br /><br />Menu<br />Breakfast Wheat Waffles<br />Lunch Left over Chicken Pot Pie, Ramen<br />Dinner Spaghetti w/sauce and meatballs, Salad, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Cucumbers<br /><br />A few years ago, a friend who was the emergency preparedness coordinator for our church talked about how she determined what was a year’s supply of non-food necessities. She labeled with a sharpie marker bottles of shampoo, laundry soap, dish soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc, with the date it was opened and then she would know how long it lasted.<br /><br />I have done that with many things. We use a big Costco box of Tide every 78 days. Michael uses a bottle of shampoo every 2 months. My tube of toothpaste was opened on April 10 and is about 2/3 gone. I fill the main floor bathroom with 8 4-packs of toilet paper every 2-3 months, knowing we use 3-4 rolls a week there, and plan for 2-3 rolls a week for the other bathrooms. (That is a lot of toilet paper to store! I have often joked that my food storage would be easier if I just had a basement full of toilet paper and traded with everyone else for all of my food needs.) <br /><br />I think about all of the personal and household things I would hate to not have if life was miserable in so many other ways: shampoo, hand soap, toilet paper, tampons, toothpaste, deodorant, paper towels, light bulbs, laundry soap, cleaners, etc. In the LAWKI book series, they had the supplies they got on “crazy shopping day” and then began to raid abandoned homes for toiletries. They found empty bottles in most houses, but soon discovered that people would often have half jars of the travel-sized shampoos in suitcases and would take those. Imagine relying on free hotel bottles of shampoos. How miserable.<br /><br />All of this rambling does have a point. Monday morning, day 3 of our experiment, Katie came downstairs and told me that the kid’s bathroom was out of shampoo. Boy do I feel dumb. I thought there were a couple of bottles of the big Costco ones, but as it turns out, me buying the shampoo and conditioner as a set only meant a huge supply of conditioner and no shampoo. I guess the boy to girl ratio on that shower means conditioner is over-rated. In the end, there was one extra bottle in the basement bathroom, but definitely not a year’s supply. It is now on the top of my stock up list.<br /><br />On a lighter note, Katie ate a cat treat Monday night. She was bribing the cats to play nice with each other while we were playing a game. She made the mistake of wondering out loud what the treats tasted like. After much encouragement, and taking up a collection of 50 point chips in the game to bribe her, she ate it. <br /><br />She does not recommend the clover flavored ones.<br /><br />We are down to eating cat food....send supplies!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-47499978961446963312010-08-24T10:56:00.001-06:002010-08-26T08:55:47.888-06:00Gas, Cell Phone and MockingjayLAWKI Day 5<br />August 24, 2010<br /><br />So yesterday, Day 4, was a yucky day. Not much to do with the whole LAWKI thing, more with not enough sleep and general end-of-summer snipping at each other. It is days like yesterday that make me want school to start. Otherwise I am sad that summer has come to an end. <br /><br />I think I did 10 loads of laundry. Yuck. Of course, with it now being a new day, I again have laundry to do. Fun. I am glad, however, that I am not doing it by hand. Love electricity.<br /><br />Day 4 Menu<br />Breakfast Pancakes <br />Lunch Soup for some, sandwiches for some, crackers and cheese for some<br />Dinner Pork Chops and mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, tomatoes from the garden<br />Snacks eaten all day long: microwave popcorn, blueberries, and granola bars<br /><br />Day 5 (planned menu)<br />Breakfast Toast, cereal<br />Lunch Sandwiches<br />Dinner chicken pot pie (stretch those last chicken breasts!)<br /><br />We had our first instance of kids hoarding food. James took the sliced cheddar cheese and hid it behind the tall items in the fridge. I laughed and put it back in the drawer. <br /><br />For the last 5 years or so, Michael and I have made an honest effort to not let our gas tanks go under ½ full. That way, in a true emergency, we could have one tank of gas between the two cars. We both started LAWKI with full tanks and thought it would be fun to see how long we could make them last. Now however, our hopes are gone. We realized that James still needs to get 15 hours of driving in before his birthday so he can get his license. We might make a trip up to Sheridan or Pocatello to avoid just driving around town for the time. <br /><br />I just talked to a lady in my neighborhood that buys the meat from a pig and a cow each year. The meat is delivered right to her door, wrapped to her quantity specifications. The prices seem very good, but I am always nervous about how much money could be lost due to a freezer door left open or a long-term power outage. I think LAWKI has made both sides of this debate very vivid right now. I would love to have that much meat stored at my home, but I don’t feel like I can count on electricity during an emergency. Even the windstorm on Sunday left thousands in the Salt Lake area without power. <br /><br />One solution is a generator, with stored gas to run it. But then we start worrying about keeping and using the gas so it stays good, and the fact that no one in my family has mechanical skills. Would not using it regularly hurt it? What happens if it breaks? <br /><br />Two other planned purchases that might happen today include another cell phone for the triples. We decided that $10 a month buys peace of mind for us with the kids riding their bikes to school and other various activities. James took over the phone that all of them shared last year during the musical and has never given it up. He is now paying for that one. <br /><br />The other purchase, I still am debating. Mockingjay, the third Hunger Games book, came out today. I will get it tomorrow at the library, but I have had this on the calendar since April. Ben is dying to get it and read it before school starts. I am torn. I guess if I can get it at Costco where I am buying the phone, then I will probably buy it. I know that I will not go all over town looking for it….unless James is driving and then maybe it will be a justified use of the gas.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-50435402232836985442010-08-22T16:41:00.005-06:002010-08-27T16:14:46.427-06:00Salsa, Sun Oven Bread and Walking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjvh5MbkpCT85P20Xu3BhUJvqBBeRlQf2CokzFAu_yXt1A1Ru4HbpoQYoCRoszzOYvhK6pXIHtmm-yq1g3mxtp2szlaKEcJdCeuWvQV_EBSuqodSekm-nvyV63AU7gaTMCilRuvZWdxs/s1600/LAWKI+start+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjvh5MbkpCT85P20Xu3BhUJvqBBeRlQf2CokzFAu_yXt1A1Ru4HbpoQYoCRoszzOYvhK6pXIHtmm-yq1g3mxtp2szlaKEcJdCeuWvQV_EBSuqodSekm-nvyV63AU7gaTMCilRuvZWdxs/s320/LAWKI+start+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508418974122035986" /></a><br />LAWKI DAY 3<br />August 22, 2010<br /><br />Yesterday was a fun day. I woke up and started making salsa. I had about 30 tomatoes and onions, hot peppers, and garlic from the garden. I had bought green peppers before LAWKI started just for this purpose. (By the time I have more tomatoes ripe, I hope I have some green peppers ready too.) After all the work, I only had enough for 5 pints of salsa, plus the bowl of fresh stuff I kept out. In case you are wondering, we do have one package of tortilla chips left, so we can have salsa for a bit longer.<br /><br />As that was cooking, I made bread. It has been almost 2 months since I last made bread. Katie has done it most of the summer, or I have been too busy with stuff and just bought it. I made 3 regular loaves and then cooked 2 smaller (8-inch) loaves in my Sun Oven. It was so cool! It took about 40-50 minutes to bake and the bread never browned, but it tasted just the same. It was fun to do. I am planning to try a casserole, pasteurizing water and making a soup in it as well. So far it did okay on the bread, bread sticks, frozen pizzas and refrigerated cinnamon rolls.<br /><br />I also grated garden zucchini, froze 4 quarts of it, and used one more quart to make 2 loaves of regular zucchini bread and 2 chocolate zucchini bread loaves. Yum.<br /><br /><br />Day 2 Menu:<br /><br />Breakfast: cold cereal<br />Lunch: salsa, fruit, chips<br />Dinner: chicken fajitas, watermelon, zucchini bread desert<br /><br /><br />We only have 7 chicken breasts, and another round of pork chops left in the fresh meats. We do still have bacon and lunch meat turkey, and 4 packages of already cooked frozen ground beef in the freezer. We also have some sausage in the freezer, a turkey, ribs and various other meat things that we likely will not get into. On the other hand, the turkey is sounding better and better all the time! Think of the soup!<br /><br />I lectured the kids this afternoon about only using 2 slices of turkey per sandwich. I wonder if it is better to just say that, or just use it up. I debate that with the eggs too. Limit them or use them. Is the lesson in want/scarcity or in stretching things out further than we want them to go?<br /><br />The walk to church today was not as bad as I thought it might be. I think it took until the middle of Sunday School until I stopped sweating though. It was 85 and sunny, but the wind was pleasant. On the way home, it was very windy and mostly cloudy, with the occasional raindrop. I don’t think I will mind walking, but I will either have to carry dress shoes or keep wearing my more casual and more comfortable in the future. I am not thrilled that we get to walk back for the fireside tonight, but I guess we do it anyway. We discussed if we would ride bikes to church or let the kids ride and agreed that it was an acceptable transportation option. Now we just need to figure out how make it work in a skirt.<br /><br /><br />Day 3 Menu:<br /><br />Sunday Brunch: hash browns, 1 slice of bacon, 1 egg, watermelon<br />Sunday after church: fruit, bread, other various foraging<br />Sunday dinner: pork chops, rice, blueberries, broccoli<br /><br />Overheard at our house:<br />"I would have used my $10 on salt if I thought we were going to run out of that." (we won't)<br />"Pudding is such buttery, fatty goodness." (made with skim milk)<br /><br /><br />Overheard twice, from 2 different families, at church:<br />"Interesting idea" from a parent, quickly followed by "don't get any ideas," from the kids.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8721224660795027440.post-60704981725742217872010-08-21T16:27:00.007-06:002010-09-07T17:31:36.627-06:00LAWKI Month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQiEUjpXqDtYxITT-iHgulmA6XsI14db_DhmPLpztA0gyup4wlkMCxScfw4603PS9HQdDpmzmRlEIddRCFm-ApV3XjI4lh21_V4yhDho9jgIvEEkITOjrdja3SdzA7KWQ_xtHrpH7Xek/s1600/LAWKI+start+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQiEUjpXqDtYxITT-iHgulmA6XsI14db_DhmPLpztA0gyup4wlkMCxScfw4603PS9HQdDpmzmRlEIddRCFm-ApV3XjI4lh21_V4yhDho9jgIvEEkITOjrdja3SdzA7KWQ_xtHrpH7Xek/s320/LAWKI+start+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508419769289029762" /></a><br />The "before" picture of our fridge.<br /><br /><br />Yesterday we started our Life As We Knew It Month. The name comes from the book by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Here is how I described that book on my Goodreads account when I first read it in September of 2008:<br /><br /><span id="reviewTextContainer32335445" style=""><span id="freeText16189723372012317914" style="" class="reviewText">"This seemed more like an experience than a book. It is the story of 15 year-old Miranda's life after a catastrophic event that changed the climate of the earth and plunges life into a volcanic winter of food and fuel shortages and death all around. While the science is shaky and it feels a bit like watching The Day After, it takes you through a roller coaster of emotions. Miranda is still a teenager, dealing with her brothers and mother and normal teen angst, but also goes through a harsh maturing that made me wonder how I would have done, and how I would do now in the mother role. It also makes me want to inventory my food storage carefully, and makes me glad that I don't live on the coast."<br /><br />***Warning---book spoilers***<br /></span></span>In the book, the moon is hit by a giant asteroid and is knocked closer to the earth. For a while, life is normal, until people realize that some of the changes will be permanent. There is no re-stocking the grocery stores so they do a "crazy shopping day" where they frantically fill cart after cart with whatever they can fight people for. The electricity becomes unreliable, then off completely. School is eventually closed when too few students and teachers come and when there is no more food for lunches. Their garden fails and all they have left to do is ration food and cut firewood. Epidemic flu hits, bitter cold, and every worst nightmare situation happens. Finally, when the mom reaches the point of starving herself, and then choosing which of her children she wants to live, they are able to find a steady food supply and hope for the future.<br />***Spoilers over***<br /><br /><br />I think I first heard about this book from the blog postings of Mette Ivie Harrison, a local Utah author. She has done LAWKI month 3 times with her family. Summed up, it is no shopping for one month, live with what you have in the house now. I was fascinated reading about her experiences and lessons learned with her family and have wanted to try this for about a year now. It finally has happened.<br /><br />Yesterday, Michael called the family together and announced an "emergency"---chemical spill at the railroad that is a quarter mile from our house. We had 15 minutes to evacuate. We have a set emergency plan that includes a list of quick jobs to do (put out extra food for the cats, adjust the thermostat, call our emergency contacts, etc) and then a list of items everyone is responsible for gathering (5 gallon water jug, small tent, external hard drive, small fire safe with important documents, mp3 players, books, and 72 hour kits). We have these lists printed so we can hand each person their instructions and get right to work. They also include less items and more items, depending on how quickly we have to go and if we have time to put the roof carrier on the van for more room. In the end, it was just over 14 minutes from the first call to leaving the garage.<br /><br />We evacuated to a local grocery store where, over ice cream cones, we explained what the real situation was...that we were simulating a more extensive emergency, such as a major earthquake where supplies might be limited for days, weeks, or months. The bottom line is that we would not be able to go shopping for the next month, food or otherwise. We gave them each $10 and said they could buy whatever they wanted with it, what they thought they might miss the most or what they would want to have just to themselves. The choices were surprising. Ben bought Ramen in every flavor and pudding, some already made in cups and some boxes to make. John bought 4 Fuze drinks and a bag of Quaker rice treats. Katie and Michael combined their money and bought Ramen, Nutella, tortillas, Doritos and string cheese for lunches and oysters. James bought cologne. I bought a bag of Fritos, a bag of pretzels, a bag of Lays and a container of sour cream.<br /><br />When we got home, we unpacked everything and then gave everyone a survey to fill out. We will do it once a week during the month:<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />What three words would you use to describe your thoughts on LAWKI Month</span>: understandable, smart, surprising; good idea mom; stupid, wasteful pathetic; creepy, horrible, awful; intense, educational, FOOD!; nuts, wise, harsh.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What will you miss the most:</span><br />Milk!, easy food, cheese, sour cream, free-for-all dinners (my version of everyone fix what you want and can find), pudding, pizza, milk!!!, no idea.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What lessons do you think that we will learn from LAWKI Month?<br /></span>How lucky we are<span style="font-style: italic;">,</span> what else we need in food storage, none, how to ration food, commitments, whether planned meals will work, how to cook some foods, how prepared we really are.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On a scale of 1-10, how crazy are we to do this?</span><br />8.3 (7.6 if just the kids)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On a scale of 1-10, how angry are you to have to participate?</span><br />3.1 (most were 1 or 2, but we did have a 10)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think this will affect life?</span><br />7.25<br /><br /><br />We do have some rules, and exceptions to those rules planned.<br /><br />1. Kids get to eat school lunch if they want, but cannot gorge, just the standard meal.<br />2. All garden produce we have growing we get to eat.<br />3. We can barter with our neighbors for things, but <span style="font-weight: bold;">must </span>offer something in return. For example, my neighbor borrowed a package of butter today, but brought back 7 ears of fresh corn in return. We are blessed with a great neighbor family who we regularly trade with and I can't imagine that stopping in an emergency.<br />4. We will try to walk when we can. As we are not going to stores anytime soon, this should not be too bad. It is only about a mile to church and a mile to the library, and 2 miles to the schools. The kids will ride bikes to school so we are fine there. Michael will drive to work, and we will get gas as needed for that. It will be interesting to see how long the gas lasts.<br />5. With school starting next week, we understand that we will be shopping for school supplies once they get lists from their individual teachers. They have backpacks and binders, but some teachers are specific in what they want and we will get what is needed.<br />6. Some stores have "case lot" sales this time of year that we usually purchase from. It is how we stock and maintain our food storage. I am too cheap to not shop during these sales, so we will be doing this. We will not use any of this food/supplies in the next month, however.<br />7. We are in the process of buying a new water heater and new computer. We will continue as planned with these purchases.<br />8. James' 16th birthday is 3 days after LAWKI month is done. If we need to shop a bit to make that what we want, we will.<br />9. Because we have, in theory, a years supply of food, we will absolutely not run out of food. In some respects, one month is not long enough. We intentionally might limit what we can get into, such as when the real eggs are gone, I don't think we will open the powdered ones. We will just do without. We will breach the powdered milk though, even if it is just for cooking. I also don't think we will use everything in the freezer, as I want to try some of the meatless meals that we would have to do if the electricity was out for an extended length of time.<br />10. We are totally making this up as we go along, so everything might change. Hopefully, it will stay in the spirit of what we are trying to do.<br /><br />I am going to try posting regularly in the next month. I really don't think all that many people care about this, but it will be a forced journal for this and I think that will be useful. <br /><br />Wish us luck.Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15922149156576839084noreply@blogger.com5