Family Preparedness

As some of you may know Kent and I are into preparedness for any contingency; so to motivate myself and share what I am doing each week I am writing this blog. Here are some recent activities:

I have baked brownies in the sun oven a couple- maybe three times. They've turned out just great. If the electricity goes out for long I can still make comfort food.

Mmm-Mmm Better Brownies
Original recipe makes 1 9x9 inch pan
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease & flour a 9x9 inch baking pan or use parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares. Toothpick test about 2 ½ inches from edge.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mmm-mmm-better-brownies/


Today was my first time baking a loaf of whole wheat bread in it.

I adjusted the oven position toward the sun to maintain 350 degrees. I had read on-line that the bread wouldn't brown up as well in a sun oven, but as you can see, it definately did!

One Loaf Whole Wheat Bread
Makes aproximately a 1.75 lb. loaf
1 cup warm water (temperature is about like a baby’s bath water)
1 ½ tsp. SAF instant yeast
2 tbls. oil
2 tbls. honey
2 1/3 cups *Freshly Milled Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp. Vital Wheat Gluten
1 tsp. Dough Enhancer
1 tsp. Real salt
2 tsp. liquid lecithin (optional)
*may need additional Freshly Milled Whole Wheat Flour

PROOF YEAST: In a small bowl combine the warm water, yeast and honey and let stand in warm place 5-10 minutes until yeast bubbles up to make sure the yeast is active.
Meanwhile, combine 2 2/3 cup of the wheat flour, Vital Wheat Gluten, Dough Enhancer and salt in large mixing bowl (or in an electric mixing bowl). Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour the yeast mixture, oil and lecithin (optional) into the well of dry ingredients. Mix all wet ingredients slowly pulling in the flour mixture from the sides of the well until smooth.
ADDITIONAL FLOUR: The amount of flour you add next will depend on the moisture and protein levels in your wheat. Add the flour until the dough doesn’t stick to your floured finger when you “tap” it lightly. You might stop stirring and tap the dough gently with your floured finger occasionally to see if it sticks. If it does just add a little more flour.
Knead the dough on surface dusted with flour for 5-10 minutes until gluten forms. **Let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes to one hour or until doubled. Then punch it down and form dough into one loaf to place into a 4x6 greased loaf pan. When it has doubled in size again in the loaf pan you should be able to put a small dent in the side of the loaf with your finger and the dent will not come back out, or it will come back out very slowly.
Place loaf into the preheated sun oven or if baking indoors a cool oven (not preheated).
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Keep rotating the sun oven to keep the temperature up to 350 degrees. Remove baked bread from oven onto cooling rack. If desired, brush butter over top of loaf. Let cool slightly before cutting with serrated edged knife.
**Proofing Tip:
Place dough to rise in an oven with the oven light turned on, this brings the oven temperature up to around 100 degrees, the desired temperature for rising dough.

DIY DIRECTIONAL FAN:
Here is another idea I found in a book titled Nuclear War Survival Skills. You can download it free from the internet. Last week I made this 2-handled fan for sheltering-in-place so you can circulate the air inside your shelter easily. Using this simple fan you will be able to pull some oxygen back into the shelter to replace the carbon dioxide being exhaled into the shelter by its occupants. The first symptoms of carbon dioxide poisoning are a headache and labored breathing. You might want to make a couple of these fans.

You will need:
a hammer; wood saw; Needle nose Pliers; lightweight wire; work gloves

For the frame you will need:
2 dowels or sticks 14 inches long- about ¾ inches wide or in diameter
2 dowels or sticks 22 inches long- ¾ inches wide or in diameter
4 pieces of wire or strong string about 15 inches each
4 very small nails

For the blade you will need:
Glue; scissors; 1 piece of old pillowcase or bed sheet cut to about 16 x 18 inches

Instructions:
You may want to use work gloves. Start by making the frame. Measure and mark the wooden rods to the designated length and cut with a saw. (Two 14 inches and two 22 inches) Mark the 22 inch long pieces at 6 inches from the end.

This is where you will nail the crosspiece which leaves two 6 inch handles. Be consistent so that the cross pieces are nailed to the same sides of the long pieces.
Use one very small nail to connect each corner;

Then tie securely with wire or string.

Now you can attach a cloth blade to your frame. Use waterproof construction glue and attach a small piece of fabric to the sticks of the frame and let it dry.

For comfort using the fan wear lightweight gloves or you can do as I did and tape the handles with Duct tape. You're now better prepared for sheltering-in-place.

First RV Camping Trip

For this maiden voyage we stayed five days at Red Canyon campground, nestled among the Ponderosa Pines and under the towering Red rock formations called Hoodoo’s - elevation around 7,000 ft.

Getting there was tricky dodging semi’s stopped on the sides and in the middle of the road putting chains on their wheels. Luckily we tucked in behind a snow plow to get down the other side of the summit.


We set up camp before the snow storm hit, settled into the warmth of the trailer with hot chocolate in hand snuggled under our Vellux blankets from J.C. Penny’s.

By the next afternoon Kent and I were out exploring the red rocks of Southern Utah. We drove to Panguich, and then to Kanab. We stopped at a Moqui (pronounced Mow-as in mowing the lawn and Key) Cave with indian artifacts and dinosaur tracks, then hiked up to see the Pink Sand Dunes Park.

We stood over the stunning sights at Bryce Canyon Point, and then drove from Escalante to Boulder.

My favorite part of sightseeing was called Long Canyon Slot; a narrow place in the red rock canyon wall that we discovered in an unmarked section of road.





One night the evening weather cooperated so we had pizza at an out of the way outdoor café where they promised live Friday night music. Unfortunately we couldn’t stay long enough for the entertainment to arrive but we did enjoy visiting with the locals.

When the weather cleared up we got the chance to enjoy the campsite outdoors. We enjoyed our new hammock and Kent and I read. Kent read a law thriller and I purused short stories by an Indian author who won the Pulizer Prize. Kent bought me some of my favorite kind of jewelry -turquoise- at an Indian shop on main street.

On the Sabbath, Kent and I went to the Panguich Second ward for sacrament meeting. For being such a tiny community of under 2,000 people we were surprised to see around 250 in attendance. Made us yearn to live in a tiny town as we listened to how much they loved their little city way of life.

Our last afternoon we ate a scrumptious meal of Dutch Oven chicken, hash browns with onions, corn on the cob, Caesar salad and lemonade. Kent made Peach Cobbler for dessert. It was delicious.

Now that’s what I call camping!

Signs of The Times of Christ's Second Coming

This short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTVECvTYpN0
reminds me that we are living in perilous times, as the God of the Universe foretold would precede the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every day we see evidence that He is calling for his children to turn back to him for guidance and protection.

Christ lamented over the people in his day who were headed for destruction in the city of Jerusalem,

"How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and you would not!" (Matt 23:37)

He continues to beckon to each of us today to turn to him for a place of peace and safety amid the gathering storms. My prayer is that we will hear His voice and follow him safely in.

Easter Time

If there ever was a time the world needed to have hope in life after death, it is today. I am so grateful to know Jesus Christ did indeed rise from his burial tomb that first Easter long ago. Thankful that he was seen of many, and that the graves of the righteous were opened; that they were allowed to show themselves to their loved ones who bore witness of it, which we may read of in the Bible today.

I have heard it said that death is the greatest test of a person’s faith in God. Sometimes death comes suddenly, shockingly. Sometimes we welcome it as a release for the suffering. Knowing the plan of our Lord has always been that we may all be resurrected into eternal life, and that our associations may continue on in joy forever is a great comfort.

Even in the midst of a grieving heart, after the loss of a loved one, there still can be that glimmer of hope that we are only separated for a short while, and that one day we will throw our arms around each other and look into each other’s eyes and never have to face separation again.

For this gift I am indebted to my Savior, and revere his holy name during this Easter time. May you feel the peace of this gift in your life today and always!

Standing Ovation!

This morning the gym parking lot was crammed with the cars of "New Year Resolutioners." My hat is off to everyone who has the fortitude to reprogram the old brain stem, yet one more time. I myself had downloaded a new goal program into my android phone called The Habit Factor, and listed eight new habits to track this year.

There is something encouraging about beginning again, when we resolve to do just a little bit better than last year!

One thing I have discovered about overcoming old habits and replacing them with better ones, is the age old idea of accountability. If I report to you and you report to me on our own goals at an appointed time, and we keep our appointment regularly we are both more likely to accomplish our goals.

My most effective use of this was to combine a reward and punishment with accountability.

If I did as I promised that I would do, I gave myself a reward, and if I didn't I set up for myself a punishment. For example, money in the travel kitty for fun, vs. washing and vacuuming out the car of my goal buddy if I didn't make it. There were many times just the thought of having to do that unsavory chore kept me in check.

Good luck on your quest to become a better than ever member of the human family! You deserve a standing ovation!

A Love for All Seasons

Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas! I am sure it has occured to you, as it has to me, that just as we celebrate this month with a commitment to love a grouchy neighbor, forgive an errant co-worker, be kinder to fellow commuters, spend more time together around the dinner table, all done in rememberance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we could, if we really wanted, extend more love every day of the year.

Yes, there are more triggers in the music and colored lights of the season to remind us to be a little more gentle in our treatment of each other, but if we could keep Christ in our hearts after we take down the Christmas tree and heft the decorations to the attic, we know we would experience more joy all year long.

Perhaps this year we ought to place a small gift under the Christmas tree for the Christ Child, a handwritten note, an offering of the heart declaring our resolve to love more as He loved. Just imagine what our lives might be like if we developed that kind of a love for all seasons.

God Bless and Keep You Safe,
Jeanette

Sabbath Day

I love the Sabbath day. Long ago church was filled with color crayons, Cheerios and quiet books. Today it is a place for quiet reflection and searching the scriptures for messages that apply to my own situations in life.

I need the Sabbath lessons that help me stay centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, reminding me how I should act and what to think to become more like Christ. Teachings that help me prepare for the trials that lie ahead in mortality.

I will never forget how I longed to gather together on the Sabbath for church the day after the Teton Dam burst in Idaho, when church was completely canceled. How I wished we could meet as saints to receive comfort and inspiration. We had just lost everything of a material nature, many of us were frightened, even ill.

The following week the saints were called together for a meeting with President Spencer W. Kimball and Elder Boyd K. Packer and given instructions and inspiration as we began to rebuild our lives. Meeting together as saints to hear the word of God and to feel of His love is one of the greatest blessings of my life.