Be prepared with generator safety!

It is a given.  In most cases, the only time you will need to use your generator is when you are tired and the weather is less than desirable. 

Be safe while using a generator!

#1 Make sure when using your generator you leave it running outside your home away from flammable materials and far away from open windows.  Generators emit an exhaust similar to that produced from your car and can contain high amounts of carbon monoxide.  Remember carbon monoxide is a deadly odorless tasteless gas.  

#2 Do not overload the generators circuit.  Only plug in the recommended amount of extension cords and do not use an excessive amount of splitters.  Follow the UL listings on your extension cords as well.  If drawing more than the recommended amount of electricity, the cord can quickly become over-heated, melt and possibly start a fire.  

#3 Store any extra gas away from the generator and any pilot lights or flames.  This may seem like common sense but more times than not people leave their extra gas in too close to the running generator making future fill-ups that little bit more convenient.  Keep it far off to the side.

#4 When the temperature is hot, gasoline begins to evaporate and becomes more volatile.  Keep this in mind when the time comes to refill the generators fuel tank.  Shutting off the generator and letting it cool first is a very good idea!

 Following these few simple safety precautions will help you keep the  lights on!

Cheers! ~ Kevin

             

The Best "Bug Out" or "Get Out" Bag.

At a later date, I will be posting a step by step on assembling a "Go Bag" so stay tuned. This article will be an introduction to the topic which will hopefully give you a little bit better understanding if you are a new or even a seasoned prepper.

A Go bag is intended to support you for three days incase you are forced to leave your home. Think of its contents in the same manner as you are going hiking for a few days and may not have a home to return to. 72 hours has been chosen in addition to what FEMA recommends because a human being can only live that long without water, and since there are infinite possibilities when it comes to survival, limitations must be made. Limitations are made simply based on functionality, size/ weight, and reasonable duration.

Since the pack itself will be the framework for your Go bag, there are certain things which must be taken into consideration. Time and time again I hear or see folks running out and dropping $200.00 or more on a streamlined, fancy, all the bells 'n whistles pack. I for one am totally against that for two simple reasons:

#1 That is money better well spent on other preps.

#2 If the time comes where you need to bug out, you are making yourself a target to looters and criminals. You want to think cover and concealment when it comes to your gear no matter how good or basic it may be. Do not advertise "I have the best gear in my fancy pack!" or it will quickly become someone else's.

Medium ALICE Pack is a great foundation for a "Bug out" or "Go Bag".

Medium ALICE Pack outfitted with  frame and straps for easy carry. 

For that reason, I recommend the Medium Alice pack. It can be found very cheap ($30.00) online or in military surplus stores. It has been made from heavy duty materials meant to stand the tests of time, are very comfortable to carry when fitted onto an Alice pack frame, and I have personally had several years experience outfitting and carrying one. It just works. Weight is simply not a problem with this pack as it may be for some with the "Mountain" or Large Alice pack, and it is spacious enough to organize and conceal all of your gear.

Cheers ~ Kevin

Creating a Household Binder/Family Organizer {Part 1}

I have to admit that over the past few days I have been mildly obsessed with starting a "Household Binder" for our family.  Recently life has felt a little hectic and I had finally heard myself say "we need to get more organized"one too many times, so I took to Pinterest to try and find some great ideas on how to become a little more organized.  During my search,  I stumbled across some beautiful Household Binders and was smitten the instant I laid eyes upon them. With guidance from The Flylady, I can vaguely remember throwing together a "Control Journal" in the midst of the chaos that occurred after the birth of my son.  I enjoyed the idea of the journal, but truth be told I NEVER used it.  For those of you who are not familiar with the Flylady, both she and her ideas are really wonderful and if you're  just starting out and feeling overwhelmed by clutter, mess, and disorganization, I would highly recommend seeking her out and reading some of the great information that she has to offer on her website.  The Flylady control journal for me personally was a great starting point, but I really need something that is tailored more to my households needs.  The one thing I will take with me from Flylady and incorporate into My Household Binder is her Zone Cleaning which I'll talk more about later.  As always, this is going to be a learning experience and a work in progress.  I am here to share with you and hopefully inspire some to jump on board and create one with me!  Who's in!?

What you will need to get started:

• - 3 ring binder {I bought mine at Target. They have ADORABLE binders made by Greenroom}
• - top-load sheet protectors {Tip: Buy in bulk. Sams Club is your friend}
• - dividers, preferably with pockets 

Possible Page Ideas To Include In Your Binder: 

*I am currently creating printables for all of the below ideas*

FAMILY:

• Daily Schedule
• Weekly Schedule 
• Monthly Calendar 
• Important Dates
• To-Do List {Daily}
• To-Do List {Weekly}
• To-Do List {By Person}
• To-Do List {Do, Call, Email, Buy}
• Goals List
• Household Project List 
• Child Data Sheet
• Pet Data Sheet
• School Information
• After School Activities 
• Weekend Activities
• Babysitter Data Sheet
• Medical Information
• Internet Password & Login Information
• Wish Lists {By Person}

CLEANING/HOME MAINTENANCE:

• Daily Cleaning Checklist
• Zone Cleaning Checklist 
• Seasonal Cleaning Checklist
• Car Maintenance 
• Blog Ideas 

FINANCES:

• Grocery Shopping List 
• Monthly Bill Pay Checklist 
• Monthly Budget 
• Credit Card and ID Information

MEALS AND HEALTHY LIVING:

• Weekly Menu Planner 
• Freezer Inventory 
• Refrigerator Inventory 
• Pantry Inventory 
• Takeout Numbers and Menus 
• Favorite Meals {By Family Member}
• Exercise Logs 
• Seasonal Produce Lists
• Farmers Market Lists
• Leftover List
• Medication Lists 

CONTACTS:

• Emergency Phone Contact List
• Medical Professional Contact List
• Financial Institution Contact List 

VACATION/ACTIVITIES:

• Movies To See
• DVDs To Buy
• Vacation Ideas
• Packing Lists
• Bucket Lists

Here is the cover page that I made for my Family Binder.  How CUTE is it!? I printed it on to card stock paper,  slipped it into a page protector and just officially added the first page into my Household Binder! 

*PRINTABLES COMING SOON!!!*

Eggnog Pancakes

This morning when the kids woke up and begged me for pancakes I sleepily agreed, got out of bed and went to the fridge only to realize we were out of milk. Thankfully my husband loves eggnog and bought an abundance for Christmas. Who wants some eggnog pancakes?!

Ingredients:

Whisk together in a large bowl:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 3/4 tablespoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

In another bowl combine:
1 1/2 cup of eggnog
3 tablespoons butter melted
2 eggs

Mix the wet ingredients with the dry and cook!

Counting Down the Days Until Christmas with Chippy, The Elf on the Shelf

Day One

Day 2

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Growing Microgreens Grow Along - Part 3

Finally we plant!  It was hard to choose which seeds to start with,  but cilantro is by far the most used herb in my house and I never have luck with it in my garden during the summer.  I later found out that it is also one of the hardest microgreens to grow so here's to hoping it does! ;)

Measure Seeds for Soaking
Most microgreen seeds that grow in soil need to be pre-soaked before planting.  For cilantro we will need one cup of seeds for our tray. 

Pre-Soak Seeds
Fill a large jar or container with with cold water and submerge your seeds. Make sure that there is plenty of water in the  jar/container as some seeds absorb a large amount of water during this step.  Keep your seeds in a cool place while soaking them.  The cilantro seeds that we used were pre-soaked for two hours. 

Prepare Trays with Water
Pour 4 cups of pH balanced water in your growing tray.

Prepare Trays with Soil
Add about an inch to an inch and a half of soil in the growing tray.  

Flatten Soil
Using a spatula, pat the soil flat spread evenly.  Do not compact the soil.  

Mist Soil
Spray your soil so it is damp but not soggy. 

Spread Your Seeds
Spread your seeds evenly 

Tamp Seeds
Gently push seeds flat into the soil making sure that the seeds have made contact with the soil.  Do not smash the seeds.  

Mist Tray
Mist the inside of one of the growing trays.  Because microgreens need humidity and darkness to thrive, you will use this tray to black out and keep in humidity on your seeded tray.  

Water and Cover
Cover your seeded tray and place it in a place where it will stay between 65 and 75 degrees.  Do not place the tray in the sun.  Mist your seeds every 12 hours and re-cover.  Our cilantro will not be ready to uncover until day 7.  

Growing Microgreens Grow Along - Part 2

Balance the pH of Your Water

This first step is VERY IMPORTANT! 

Micgrogreens are very sensitive to the pH of water and will grow best in a water pH of 6.  Although a water pH of 6 is ideal,  the microgreens will do fine in a water pH range of 5.5 to 6.5.  In order to test and adjust the pH of your water, you will need to start by finding what the pH of your water.  You can do this by dipping a pH test strip into the water which you will be using.  In our case, we used the pH test kit that was provided with the Deluxe Microgreens Growing Kit.  You can purchase pH test strips from any health food store or you can order them directly from: www.growingmicrogreens.com 

Our water was as close to a pH of 6 as we could get so we didn't have to adjust our pH levels at all.  If you test your water and find that it does need some adjusting, here are some helpful hints to get your pH levels where you need them to be.

How to Adjust the pH of Your Water

1. Fill a gallon container with water 
2. Dip one of the test strips in the water, wait 30 seconds and compare the key on the container to the strip to determine what the pH of your water is.  
3. Remember you are aiming for a pH of 6, but 5.5 to 6.5 will do just fine.  

If your pH is higher than a 6:

• You can use a household acid, such as lemon juice to bring down the pH balance of the water.  
• Start by adding 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice to your gallon of water, mix, and retest.  
• If your pH is still higher than a 6.5, add more lemon juice and retest until you reach a pH of 6.5 or below 

If your pH is lower than a 6:

• You can use a household base, such as baking soda or an antacid tablet, to bring up the pH balance of your water.
• Start by adding small amounts of base to your gallon of water, mix and retest.  Make sure you measure how much base you use for future reference.  
• Because it is rare for a pH to be lower than 6 your best option may be to purchase a commercial pH adjuster which you can find at a local garden supply store.  

      4.  The amount of household acid or base to adjust the pH levels of your water should be noted.  

Growing Microgreens Grow Along - Part 1

Summer is officially over and we are in the process of pulling our last vegetables out of our raised beds and cleaning them out for next spring.  Sadly, spring is a LONG way away and as much as I enjoy the fall and winter months,  I miss the life that comes along with the warmer weather.  So this year, to curb the gardening itch and keep some green in our lives this winter, I have decided to try my hand at microgreening, something I have watched my Mom love doing for years.  We have never grown microgreens, but promise to do our best to walk you through step by step so you can grow along with us at home!  Let the microgreening begin!

What are microgreens?
Microgreens are small edible greens produced from the seeds of herbs, vegetables and other plants and harvested shortly after germination when they are still young and micro tiny! Microgreens are easy to grow, can be grown in very small spaces and a recent study from the University of Maryland found that microgreens contained nutrients 4 to 6 times higher than their full grown plant!  

How to get started?  

First, I would recommend checking out the website www.growingmicrogreens.com 

Here you will find everything you need to grow microgreens. I would also like to add that all of the seeds sold are non GMO which is a huge bonus!   

During our first growing, we will be using:

The Deluxe Microgreen Growing Kit. You can purchase this kit by clicking here:  

The Deluxe Microgreen Growing Kit

This kit includes everything you need to get started growing microgreens both hydroponically and in soil and includes:

• (10) 21" x 10" Growing Trays
• (10) 21" x 10" Hydroponic Grow Pads
• (2) 5 Quart Bags of Soil
• Spray Bottle 
• pH Test Strip Kit 
• Laminated Growing Instructions
• Hydroponic Microgreens Seeds:
• Basil (4oz)
• Basic Salad Mix (8oz)
• Purple Vienna Kohirabi (4oz)
• Red Acre Cabbage (4oz)
• Sango Radish (4oz)
• Spicy Sprouting Mix (4oz)
• TatSoi (4oz)
• Soil Based Microgreens Seeds:
• Buckwheat (12oz)
• Cilantro (4oz)
• Detroit Red Beet (4oz)
• Dun Pea (9oz)
• Sunflower (36oz)

Check back tomorrow when we begin growing cilantro microgreens! 

Coop Hop #3

“Whatever we possess becomes of double value when we have the opportunity of sharing it with others.”

Join The Coop Hop!

Calling all bloggers, farmers, homesteaders, preppers, do-it-yourselfers and friends. We love sharing our journey with you and would love to invite you to share your journey with us. On Friday mornings we will be opening our blog for you to link your favorite blog post of the week to ours.  All of the blog links will be posted below and will allow for easy hopping from one "coop" to another!  Every week we will pick our favorite post and feature it on the following Coop Hop! 

RULES: There aren't any!

The post you choose to share can be about anything your heart desires so long as it is respectful and helpful to your fellow readers.  

How to Enter:

Below find "You are next…click here to enter." Click the link and fill out the form.  You're done! Now tell your friends and grab a button here to add to your blog so everyone can share and join in!

Our Neck of the Woods - I Love Chicken Butts!

Creamy Autumn Pumpkin Crock Pot Soup

Happy first day of October!  Around here, October marks the beginning of hay rides, corn mazes. pumpkin patches, cold weather, bon fires, s'mores, Halloween and of course....EVERYTHING pumpkin.  So what better way to start of the month than with an amazing pumpkin soup?  This one is so easy and will wrap you up in all of the wonderful flavors of Autumn!

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 (29 ounce) can plain pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 small onion chopped
• 2 celery stalks chopped
• 2 carrots shredded
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice 
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup heavy cream

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker EXCEPT heavy cream and stir
2. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours 
3. Before serving, pour heavy cream into soup, stir well and ladle soup into bowls.  Garnish with shredded carrot and celery.  
4. Enjoy!