This librarian's heart swells with happiness...

Isn't this a lovely picture?

Getting Inspired....

Well, after a wonderful and relatively relaxing vacation, it's time to reflect a little on what I got done, things I worked on, and some plans I've made. I did get to do a little reading, which I hardly ever get to do. I read several books:

--The Shack

--The latest Mitford Book (the one where Father Tim goes back to his hometown...I can't remember the title...)

--Revolutionary Road

--Some scrap booking books that had to do with using color in your layouts...I got them to use for my card making.

--Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer

--Making the Best of Basics - Family Preparedness Handbook

--Frozen Assets

--Pantry Cooking

--And about 5 other books on food storage and preparedness

Do you know how it feels when you have this desire to do something, and you just need to kick yourself in the fanny and get it done? You know...when you look at your garage and think that you need to get it cleaned up. Or you see your closet with all the clothes from the last 20 years and think that you just need to weed and simplify. Those projects that you know would be such a benefit, but seem huge and overwhelming. I'm feeling that way about food. Now that I'm pretty adept at coupon use and the Grocery Game, I've developed quite a stash of some necessities, like shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, chocolate chips, peanut butter, cereal, etc... As I've become a more savvy shopper, I'm feeling a desire to become more organized in my food storage. As I began to do a little research, I've been pleasantly surprised to find that there are lots (and lots!) of blogs out there done by women who already have a great plan in place to help people with food storage. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not a gloom and doom sort of gal and am not feeling this way out of fear. But, with prices skyrocketing and our system of food delivery/transportation so delicate, it would be nice to have a few months of food stored up, not only in emergencies, but just because it's so much easier to have food on hand. Plus, it really makes sense to have at least a 72-hour emergency kit. Our illustrious FEMA recommends a 72-hour kit because it usually doesn't take any more than 72 hours to get basic utilities back on after some sort of outage...(unless, of course, if you live in a hurricane prone area...). So, that's what I've been "studyin' up" on. I found a blog,www.funwithfoodstorage.net, that will send out an email that helps me with a plan for building up my storage. If found that website through another blog called everydayfoodstorage.net .

I'm also making plans to use my new freezer and do some bulk cooking. With that in mind, here's a picture of one of the things I did over vacation. I price matched ground beef at Walmart and cooked it up. I had almost 6 lbs. of meat.

I brown it up, then drain it, then put it into sandwich bags. I made the little bags into 1/2 lb. and 1/4 lb. portions. Aren't they cute!

We usually only eat ground beef in chili/soup, spaghetti sauce, and tacos. In the summer we grill quite a bit, but for now I just browned it and then froze it. Now, I just get the amount I need and add it to my recipe.

And, for Christmas I got a handy-dandy ziplock bag sucker (I'm sure it has a really catchy name, but I don't have the gumption to go look at it and see what it is...and I certainly didn't waste any brain cells to remember it's name!) It makes it really air-tight to keep any freezer burn out.

So, that's about it right now. I wonder if you have any food storage ideas? Let me know!

Summer Transitions

Do you ever have one of those days when all is right with the world? As the kids are finishing one subject in school after another, our homeschooling time is less and less. And, with the beautiful weather, it's a good thing that we're spending less time on school, because then I would be very grouchy! I have finished some major, time consuming projects in the last week, and I can really feel the weight lifted. It's funny, because I don't feel particularly weighted down during that time, but when it's over, it's obvious to me that I've been a little stressed. And, my family thinks I'm a lot nicer afterwards :-)

Anyway, there have been some afternoons where I actually didn't really have anything to do, or plan, or ponder, etc... (except of course the regular household stuff, which I promptly put off!). I've been doing less driving too, which I LOVE to not do...OK Becky, I'm certain that is NOT the way to write that, but I'm going to go with it...you all know what I mean. One afternoon I took my magazine and my drink out to the chair under our big tree and sat there for a full 30 minutes. The dogs slept at my feet while I looked at a couple of outdated magazines and catalogs. Then, I threw them away! The weather has been glorious...perfect in my opinion. Not too hot, nice breezes...wonderful.

I got my suitcase down last night. One list that I have enjoyed making is what to take on my trip. I'm so very excited, but I'm already missing my family. I've never been away from all of them for this long...8 days. And, I must say, I feel a little guilty for being so excited to do something they aren't going to be a part of. Not guilty enough to stay home, mind you :-) I'd classify it has a healthy guilt. I figured the kids wouldn't really be too excited for me to leave, but they've entered into all the preparation. And, they're excited to get to visit some of their friends during the day while I'm gone. ...I suppose they have no idea what it will be like with me not here to do all the dishes and laundry. But, I know they all know how to do it, so they'll all just have to pitch in. Perhaps this will be a double blessing... I get to go on a great trip, AND perhaps they will be VERY excited, and VERY appreciative to have me home.