Simpler Way of Life

I like to do things the old fashioned way. Kind of. The microwave is there and I use it. Toaster, blender, mixer. You name it. If it plugs in and uses electricity I have it.

I also hope that I would never have to give up those conveniences! Then I wonder what exactly I would do if they weren't available to use. I also want to become 'greener.' It doesn't seem like just the two of us could do much to change the world but of course that is the wrong attitude. Everything starts with one.

I can't help but think how much easier a PCS would be if we weren't encumbered by all the appliances we have. We don't hoard things. Except in the kitchen. We both LOVE to cook. I have three sets of pots and pans. A drawer each for utensils, gadgets, knives, measuring cups, etc. And at some point during each year everything in my kitchen gets used. I don't know how to downsize what I have and there is ALWAYS more that I want or need.

I want to expand my knowledge of from scratch foods. That includes buying whole grain and grinding it myself. (hand crank so I don't need to rely on electricity)  Not to mention preserving food which takes all kinds of equipment. The canning, either boiling water bath or pressure does not rely on electricity and could easily be done over a good hot fire or propane flame outside.  The dehydrator on the other hand does use electricity and I'd like to learn more about using screens and ventilation for drying foods.

I decided to check out the MWR and see if they had any classes that would be useful. I was greatly disappointed to find nothing about food. I will check the local colleges and see what they have to offer and hopefully will find something during the day. I am not a night person and night time adult education is not my thing.

For now I will buy books and see what I can learn on my own. While my dear husband is patient and reaps the benefits of whatever I can find to preserve then make into some tasty treat.

Here are some of the tools and books that I am looking at for now:

Re-adjusting

DH has been home for a month now. The horror stories I read about reintegration have not came to light yet. I am by no means complaining but find that sometimes I am looking for the other shoe to fall. To fight and argue and wonder what comes next.

I have a honey do list. It's not getting done. That could be the area that starts an argument so I stay away from it and figure once his month of block leave is up I can start urging for the things on my list to get completed.

We both DID change over the last year. Not for the worse. We have found new interests but nicely enough we share the new interests. Ecuador for one. (I'll write more about that later because it's a big one.) The next one is just getting ourselves ready for whatever may come.

We've always lived for the moment or the day. Things happened to both of us this last year that made us realize that we need to be better prepared for an emergency. Whatever it might be. I'm not going to be all doomsday here. Don't worry. But I do want to mention that the first site that came up when I was searching for preparedness was The Preparedness Pantry blog. So FULL of useful information! Not to mention the store where I can buy food in bulk specifically for long term storage.

They also have a 'food storage analyzer.' What an amazing tool to use! I was able to enter food that I have on hand and see how long what I do have will actually last. (It wasn't long.) Then there are options to create a list of foods they have available and make a shopping list from it. My initial goal is to get three months of food storage, then six months then a year. Using their tool I will be able to keep track of where I am in meeting my goal. Check it out for yourself. (They also have giveaways quite often.)