Elegant Blessings

 It's currently 85 degrees with 70% humidity. A bit stifling and makes this summer cold of mine even harder to bear.  I need to be out there picking green beans, but I was out twice already and had to come back in because I'm wheezing and my chest hurts. I've been on slow for about 3 days now. As you can imagine, it makes me impatient. lol

 Getting ready to finish off the peaches.  Lost part of the second box because I just couldn't get to them. But did can 24  jars of peach jam (some pints) and 4 quarts of frozen peaches, not to mention the peaches and whipped cream we've had for dessert a couple of times.  I may get more and can peach slices, haven't decided yet. I'm feeling like such a slacker this year... and it's partly me but it's mostly the crazy growing season.  Everything is so late and not especially great quality. We had way too hot temps way too soon and then it got downright cold. Then uber hot again and now, in August it's in the low 80's and high 70's. And overcast a lot, so the tomatoes aren't ripening right. I am going to get some tomatoes from my go-to guy who sells at farmers markets just so I can at least can some diced or whole tomatoes. 

  I am in the process of really  inventory-ing my pantry right now...to see what there is and and what I need. I spent an unprecedented amount of money (for me) this past week at the grocer buying stock-up items for the freezer and pantry.  I have a very uncomfortable feeling about world events right now and I think to not keep an eye on these things might be tragic. Last night we watched a really great movie called Into The Forest, about a family of 3 (dad and two sisters) living in the Pacific Northwest  and the power grid went down on the west coast and more. The timeline is about 18 months by the end of the movie.  Really got me thinking (again) about these things.  Definitely recommend this movie... At any rate, I feel like I have been lazy and am looking at the big stack of bags of beans [for one thing] that are sitting here that I could can and use less water, power, etc to be able to make a meal should the need arise.  And those green beans out there aren't going to pick themselves. 


 We have been engaged in a war with a chicken killing raccoon  and finally found the spot last night where he is getting in. Himself went out to put them up and he was inside the coop door, eating another chicken, he scurried out and went up to the very top of the wire roof where he had torn a hole in the chicken wire that we couldn't see when we've been searching for where he was getting in. I only have 2 chickens left.  Unless he's been back since I was out there this morning. I have a heart full of dread every time I go out there...when these hens are gone, there will be no more chickens for at least a year I think, until we can completely rebuild the coop and run.  This is the life we have chosen. It often isn't pretty.  Everybody is food for somebody.  And that includes us, in extreme circumstances (bear ?  sharks ? mountain lions ?)  But I'm having a hard, hard time with this one...

   So tell me...what are your thoughts about the state of the world and what you are doing to ready yourself for unforeseeable circumstances ?  The movie last night brought home some things that I have known but not thought about in a while. Like, if the power grid goes, there will be no gas pumps working.  If there is no gas, there will be no grocery deliveries. Your average big box store carries approximately 3 days of inventory on it's shelves. What then ?  Do you have a water supply ?  Do you have alternate cooking and heating sources ?  Do you have the kinds of food on hand that you can eat without extended cooking ?  Nourishing food, not just lunchables.  Do you have a back up of paper or paper alternative products ?  (Thinking toilet paper mostly--every thing else you can probably live without)  I have a stash of clean rags too, that can be used, washed and reused if necessary.)  Have you thought about your pets ? This is a thing I continuously overlook, and you know how much I love my animals !!   I need to buy some cases of canned food that will keep for a long time. Those could be supplemented with rice or oats if necessary.  There's a lot to think about, when you ponder the possibilities  Do you know enough--or at least have a book or two-- on foraging edible plants ?  I also have a couple of small plastic back-up boxes that contain Vitamin C, a multi vitamin and aspirin...as well as toothbrushes. bandages, neosporin, etc.  And don't forget antacids -- anxieties will be running high I suspect. Do you have an emergency plan in place at your house that your whole family understands and can carry out ?  Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, famine, war,  and even just personal catastrophes...these are things we need to plan for, and not just wait until it's too late to do anything. We have stopped learning things that mean survival because we live in a world of conveniences.  We have dumbed down way too much for own good.

  On that chipper note, I'll go.  But think about these things. Not sure why I woke up thinking along these lines, but it could be the looming  possibility of a nuclear war with North Korea. I am not paralyzed with fear, but I am uneasy. And I am going to do everything I possibly can to make sure my family is alright.  How about you ?