Sunday, April 26, 2020

COVID19, Shortages and Trusting God


It's hard to believe it's been 3 years since my last post.  I never anticipated that I would write again due to changes in my health. But, the recent Coronavirus pandemic has moved frugality to a necessity in our household. So, as I have been brushing off some of my old skills of frugality, I have also been thinking of you and wondering how you are doing in providing for your household when many shelves are bare in the stores? (Please let me know below in the comments).


My husband and I have lived through several lean times over 36 years of marriage. The leanest season was when he became disabled about 10 years ago. He filed for disability but we had no guarantee he would be approved. So, for 1 1/2 years we waited and prayed. After two denial letters he was finally approved.




I learned many lessons during that time which have served me well in the recent years. By far, the spiritual lessons were the most valuable. When fear would try to choke out my peace,  I would remind myself of the faithfulness of God to the children of Israel in the desert. And then I would set my thoughts on the present moment and thank God for what He had provided TODAY. Learning how to live in the present moment is a great practice to calm our fears along with recalling the faithfulness of God in past trials. 



So then, do not worry about tomorrow,
 for tomorrow will worry about itself. 
            Today has enough trouble of its own.  

Matthew 6:34
 NET


 We are living to see that our prosperity is not dependent on the president in office, how hard we work, the stock market or even the position we hold in our current job.  Now we are given the opportunity to trust God and not trust in man or ourselves. 

There is a lot of suffering that has been connected with this virus. A lot of fear, loss of jobs, loneliness, uncertainties and the loss of loved ones. We have little control over some of these things. But, we do have a measure of control over the atmosphere in our homes.  I was thinking about the value of 'making a home' during hard times and the value of a homemaker. We are given the privilege of bringing comfort to our families while everything outside may be raging outside. A favorite meal and special dessert go a long way in bringing some joy to a family's heart. Clean sheets and a tidy bedroom are by far one of my favorite comforts of home. Soft, encouraging words. Singing hymns. Praying for each other.  Purposefully looking for ways to serve those we love within our walls. A favorite television show to watch together. And my favorite, the Word of God being read each day to instruct, comfort, and encourage us. 

 It may be tempting to spend all our time watching the news or searching the internet for the current death toll. But, what a waste of our days this would be. Instead, God has work for us to do today. We have a family to care for, neighbors to serve through prayer and sharing resources if needed and most importantly sharing peace with God which is found through faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. We may never live through another time like this the remainder of our days. Let's not waste it. 




One day (if God gives us life and breath) we will tell the story of God's faithfulness through the 2020 pandemic. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*


She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. Proverbs 31:14





 Here are some things I am doing to stretch what we have and make things last longer. 

1. Use less mayo and mustard on sandwiches. Apply this with most things. I'm using less toothpaste for each brushing, less shampoo, less dish soaps,etc. I get just as clean and end up stretching what I already have. 

2. Use beans to replace one protein source at a meal. The meat isles were looking pretty bare the last time I was in a grocery store over three weeks ago. There were very little canned beans but I did find some dry beans in the bag. I had started buying beans in bulk before this crisis because they are less expensive. I would cook them in my Instant Pot and then freeze in half cup portions. Lentils did not cook well in the Instant Pot but garbanzos did great and held their shape. I made a large batch and froze them in 1/2 cup portions. 

3. Toilet Paper. Due to health reasons, my husband and I would have a very difficult time standing in line for 1-2 hours to buy toilet paper. My girls and their husbands and my nephew and niece have been shopping for us.  I do not want to ask them to stand in lines for us because they have their own families to provide for (we are only allowed 1 package of toilet paper per store visit). So, I have come up with a method that is stretching what we have on hand. 

Personal Bidet

 If you are out of TP or want to make yours last longer then you can try these ideas. 

 Use a hand held bidet or find plastic squirt bottles (think YELLOW MUSTARD plastic squeeze bottles or something similar. A plastic bottle with a bulb type bottom is preferred but others will work) instead of toilet paper. Fill them with water and store close to the toilet for the big jobs. There is a learning curve here. You may need to refill it 3 or 4 times to get clean. 

Cut up old T shirts and put in a small, pretty box with a lid near the toilet. 

 Those of you who are old like me will remember how we handled cloth diapers when our children were young. Do the same thing with the big job cloths. I keep a bucket with water and bleach in the garage for soiled cloth. For small jobs you can just put the cloths in a plastic bag and hang on the shower faucet until you wash. Transfer to another bag daily that you put in the garage until you have a load to wash. 

* Now, don't get grossed out at this because over 75% of the world does not use T.P. We have been spoiled in the US. By using these methods I have been able to make one roll stretch for 5 days in our 2 person household.





4. Use perishables first. Examples would be fresh bread, fruit, veggies... anything that would perish.  Next, use the freezer items and lastly use your canned goods.

5. Save leftover coffee for the next day. Use in some cakes. 

6. VEGETABLES: I thought we were over our gardening days (except for a few plants) but this crisis has put vegetable gardening back to the front of our thinking.  Seeds are sprouting of kale, melons, Okra, 2 kinds of squashes. Hope to buy more seeds for carrots, spinach and lettuce. There is no way to know how long this virus will last. President Trump initially said he expected it to 'wash through' by July or August. A garden is a good idea to plant now. 




7. NAPKINS:  Another item that is hard to find.  I found some material in my fabric stash to make cloth napkins. You can use kitchen wash cloths, too. You can also use wash clothes or cloth napkins instead of Kleenex and paper towels (set aside for this specific use). 

8. KOTEX:  I made cloth pads when my husband became disabled nearly 10 years ago. This is another item that is very difficult to find on the shelves right now. You can find patterns online or even make your own. I used old towels for the inside to provide an absorbent lining.  I did not sew on snaps but just use a safety pin to secure it in place. 

9.  MEAT: Use smaller amounts of meat in your recipes. You can cut your meat in a recipe in half or three quarters in most casserole recipes without noticing a difference.  Be creative and look for new recipes from other cultures that use meat as a garnish rather than the main star.  Replace the meat with more vegetables or starches you may have on hand if it's not a casserole... think stir fry.  Go meatless every other night by making a pot of beans. 

We can't eat too many beans for blood sugar reasons but this was a favorite recipe I used to make all the time when the children were young. Laine used to have a frugal website. I learned so much from her. 

Laine's Beans

3 cups of pinto beans (cleaned and washed)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 an onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. oil (sometimes I used to use bacon fat)
Water to cover about 2 inches above beans in a big pot

Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cover for 1 1/2 - 2 hours.  After the beans are tender and cooked, add 1 1/2 Tbsp. of salt. (This is the secret to beans that are not tough.  The salt is added at the end of the cooking process).  My note: I would mash about 1/4 of the beans to make it's own 'gravy'. These freeze beautifully to use in other recipes or eat alone with a batch of cornbread. Top with shredded cheese and tortillas on the side. 




10. BREAD:  I rarely eat bread but my husband and mother still do. Thankfully I still have 3 bread machines so my daughter picked up some bread flour and yeast and I will be making some homemade bread when our bread runs out.  When my children were living at home I used to make a lot of homemade bread and pizza dough to stretch our budget.

This is Laine's bread recipe. I've used this recipe for years. 

LAINE'S BREAD

1 cup warm water
2 Tbsp. oil
3 Tbsp. brown sugar 
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 cup whole wheat flour or white flour
2 cups bread flour (or skip the whole wheat and use 3 cups of bread flour) 
2 1/2 tsp. yeast. 

I put this in my bread machine in the order given. Place on DOUGH CYCLE. Once the dough cycle is finished, place in a greased bread pan. Let rise about 30 minutes in a warm oven. Turn oven to 375 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is brown. 

Quote from Laine, "It's not the money that comes in but the money that goes out that counts." 


Use water pitchers instead of bottled water

11. CLEANERS:   I am running low on Ajax to clean my sinks and my toilet. We have gone over our monthly budget in preparation for this virus so I am trying not to spend anything else until our next paycheck. I checked my cleaning supplies and found a large box of baking soda that I used for homemade laundry soap (which I no longer make). I was happy to find a replacement to swish in my toilets.

12. Double and triple batches of food and then freeze in meal portions. This helps prevent the temptation to pick up fast food. 

13. Hand wipes: There are many tutorials on YouTube. I'll share just one. 

https://youtu.be/SVZh7JJpuP4

14. Dairy: Add water to stretch your milk. Make your own yogurt. Use jam in place of butter. 


15. Make your own face mask. Tons of tutorials on YouTube. Here is a no sew one. 

https://youtu.be/inJQexwK8Yg



16.  What else can you stretch by adding water? Liquid hand soap, liquid dish soap, floor cleaner? I've been using a tablespoon of floor cleaner in a squirt bottle for years. It works just as well as if I used the recommended amount. Same thing goes for laundry detergent. 

17. Save vegetables peels and ends in a bag in the freezer and extra liquid from canned vegetables. Chicken or beef bones. When you have a full bag then make broth soup. Save leftover juices from chicken and beef to add to broth for flavor. I make a lot of soups when we are trying to save money. Homemade broth reduces the cost even more. One piece of meat added to canned and fresh veggies will feed a family for several days if not longer, depending on if you add homemade bread of rolls or rice or noodles to the soup. 

18. I use the envelope method in my budget planning. There are many small areas where I save monthly for a possible upcoming bill.   For instance, I set aside a certain amount of money a month to build the veterinary bill. I also have a household savings (different from our monthly savings for big items) where I save for household needs like a new throw rug or new sheets. During this crisis I have chosen to use this money to stock up on commonly used items instead. This way my girls don't have to shop as much for us because I am buying extra's for the upcoming month.   

19. I have been trying new recipes since I have more time at home. I try to make as much as I can from scratch. My list will look different than yours since I have food intolerances. But, here are some ideas to cook from scratch that might work for your family:  spaghetti sauce, hummus, Sloppy Joes, Ranch dressing, any kind of soup you buy can be made homemade and is healthier and less expensive, salsa, granola instead of boxed cereal, bread crumbs from the end pieces of bread (freeze until you have enough to make one batch), hamburger buns, homemade tortillas... these are just a few ideas. 

20. Buy blocked cheese and grate it yourself. It's usually less expensive this way. Freeze in baggies in 1 cup portions for recipes. 





21. LAUNDRY DETERGENT: I used to make my own detergent for years but I stopped because it wasn't getting our clothes clean smelling. I think it was the well water we were using at the time. But, I am prepared to go back to using that recipe if I run out of detergent. There are tons of recipes online. Here is one I used to use from the Duggars: 


Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap



  • 4 cups hot tap water
  • 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (grated)
  • 1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
  • 1/2 cup Borax
  • You can add 10 drops of essential oils but it's optional

Directions:

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken. Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of the way with water.

I have never stopped making my own laundry stain remover because it works better than what I have found in the store and it's simple to make. I always have the ingredients on hand. 


Spot Remover


2/3 c. Dawn detergent

2/3 c. ammonia
6 Tbsp. baking soda
2 cups warm water

I mix it together in a quart canning jar and leave it on the shelf above my washing machine with an old toothbrush in it to scrub the stain. I don't leave it on the stain overnight. 


22. I think all barber shops are shut down. I did a blog post years ago on how to cut a boy/man's hair. Here is a link to it. Cutting my husband and boy's hair saved me so much money.

http://www.awomanthatfearsthelord.com/2011/10/frugal-fridays-how-to-give-haircut.html



23. Use water to stretch make up items. Add water to your foundation. Wash your face first with a washrag and THEN add moisturizer, using half as much. Put foundation on while your face is still moist. Or better yet, don't wear make up as often while you are home. Mascara can be also used to line your eyes with a small eyeliner brush. Depending on the color of the mascara you might be able to use it for eyebrows. Lipstick can be used as blush. 

24. Lower electric output in your home. If you have 4 light bulbs in a ceiling fan, then unscrew 3 of them. Hand wash dishes or let air dry if using dishwasher. Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees. Turn off heat during the day and turn down lower than normal at night/or off. Open drapes to let the sun shine in and avoid using lights during the day.  We rarely turn on the lights during the day.

25. Save plastic bags to use instead of freezer and sandwich bags. For instance: empty plastic liners from cereal boxes, bread bags, vegetable plastic bags given in the produce section, reuse sandwich and freezer bags by washing them and drying them. Just don't use ones previous used for meat or dairy products or eggs. 

26. Wash your own car. 

27. Bathe in much less water (2 or 3 inches) or time your showers for 3-5 minutes. 

28. If you just need fruit and veggies between shopping trips, then try your local fruit stands. Ours are in the country and are outside under tarps so it's hopefully safer concerning the virus. 




29. Make all your bread items: Hamburger buns, hot dog buns, tortillas, naan bread, muffins and sandwich bread. 


30. Use substitutes if you run out of an item. Eggs can be replaced with gelatin eggs, oil can be replaced in baking items with applesauce. Here is a substitute list that may be helpful. 

https://www.browneyedbaker.com/common-baking-substitutions/



Last but certainly not least... GIVE what you can to help others. Use the methods above to stretch what YOU use so you will have extra to give to others. 


Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.   Luke 6:38 ESV

*~*~*~*~*~*

 Here are just a few ideas to serve your family and others in the coming weeks. What a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity for many to be home with the family without all the interruptions that this busy world throws at us. I would love to hear if you have any ideas to add to this list. 

~  Read bible stories as a family (especially stories of faith in the face of danger like Daniel in the lion's den, Esther, The Passover story in Exodus, and so many more)
~ Pick a character trait of Jesus to study as a family. 
~ The Bible Project has a lot of great YouTube videos on tons of topics that your whole family will enjoy. They also have special ones just for children.
~ Quiz each other on bible facts at the dinner table. You can find questions on the internet.
~ Memorize a passage of Scripture together that relates to this trial (verses on topics such as peace, trusting God, do not worry,etc.)
~ Listen to the audio bible together at your meals,
~ Send cards and scripture notes to members of your church family.
~ Encourage your children to call their grandparents and check on them.
~ Shop for your parents, grandparents and chronically ill so that the most vulnerable do not have to leave the house.
~ Begin praying together for those in authority over us as a nation. Pray for our spiritual leaders.
~ Call family, friends and neighbors for their prayer requests. Pray for them at the dinner table as a family.
~ Our church has a directory so our pastor has asked us to call 3 people before and after our picture in the directory. This is a creative way to stay in touch with church family. 
~ Call and check on the elderly and disabled in your church. If you can't meet their needs then find someone who can.
- Call neighbors weekly to see if they have everything they need. Ask how you can pray for their family. 


She is unafraid of winter's effect on her household,
 because all of them are warmly clothed.
Proverbs 31:21
 ISV


It was lovely chatting with you again after all these years. I would love to hear from you. How are you providing for your household during this pandemic? How are you doing with the Shelter in Place? 

Blessed to be home!
Georgene















58 comments:

  1. I have missed your blog! I am at home due to my dr insisting My son shops for me. I have gone out to meet up with people when I buy or sell things online. My son ok’s that so long as I take precautions when I do it. It is done outside so less dangerous, and also keep my distance.
    My daughter in law and I have got a garden going.
    I purchased a good food dehydrator when I had some extra money, I want to rely less on the freezer.
    We are lucky to have toilet paper as my son had the foresight to buy a case of it online when this all began.
    I have shop rags from harbor freight, for napkins and cleaning. They replace paper towel. I also have old rags I use for most cleaning and for dishes.
    I bought 3 food grade large plastic barrels. I am making rain barrels with them. I am always concerned about water this is the best I can do and so I am doing it.
    My chickens are providing eggs and enhance my ‘wellbeing’ when watching their antics. I have a broody hen and might buy some hatching eggs for her to set on. I do not have a rooster anymore.
    I am using bars of fels naptha to wash my clothes. I just grate a very small amout into the water as well as just a small amount of washing soda. I tried zote but it makes my skin itch. I don’t buy detergent any more and I hang my clothes to dry on wooden dryer racks.
    I want to prepare for the next thing to come as best as I can, and also for now.
    Some times I have anxiety about the future and think, What if this or that catastrophe happens. To stop this kind of thinking I use my ‘what ifs’ to inspire me to do more things for preparing, and do so with the knowledge that I am never alone, that the Holy Spirit is with me to help me. That bad things can inspire good things.
    There are many small things I do which I cannot recall right now.



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  2. So good to see this post from you again. Wonderful, thrifty ideas and I thank you for sharing from your heart and home.

    God's continued blessings on you and your husband ~ FlowerLady

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  3. Good to read this helpful post! I am making to masks to mail today and preparing to speak virtually at Toastmasters Tuesday night.

    Hugs,

    Mrs. Patterson

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  4. The current situation has families looking for areas to better use their resources and not spend frivolously like they have been doing. Sadly 70% of Americans are one paycheck away from financial ruin and a 6 week shutdown is seriously hurting people of all incomes, as most never included savings as a priority.
    Turning down the thermostat, taking short showers, skipping the makeup, cooking with single ingredients versus prepared foods are things that make a difference. Sadly people have never learned to cook and feel they are entitled to spend money without thinking about their long term financial well being. As I was growing up, we never thought about going out to eat as an option. We had a lot of meals that were pasta and vegetables from the garden either fresh or frozen/canned from the summer before. I think the old ways are finding a comeback.

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  5. ...your children will rise up and call you blessed! Truly!

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  6. So wonderful to see a post from you! I always enjoyed your blogging.
    Our stores are hanging in there - it's hard to find toilet paper, but not completely impossible. Depending on when you shop, you may find some things sparse or empty, but they are usually in stock the next time you go. Neighbors, friends and family all try to help each other find the things they need or share from what they have. A true blessing!
    My DH is an essential worker, another blessing. I am home a lot anyway, so nothing much different for me as far as daily routine.
    I sure hope everyone soon realizes this situation is nowhere near what it has been made out to be. The mainstream media is full of lies and politics anymore. We need to get the country back to work and quarantine only those who are vulnerable. Many doctors are beginning to speak out about this.
    Now that I'm off my soapbox, thank you for the wonderful list of suggestions at the end of your post.
    God bless you!

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    1. Hi Jo! It sounds like you are doing well! I am so thankful to hear that! What a blessing your husband is still working. It sounds like we are moving towards getting back to our new normal. I understand what you are saying. I am hearing the same thing things. Take care, Jo! Keep in touch!

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  7. Wow, so nice to see a post from you again. I learned a lot from you in old posts and I am going back to those extreme frugal ways now that we are retired. Things are really tight now that we rely on SS. Keep posting. I will follow :) Nannie

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    1. Hi, Nannie! It's good to hear from you! I can identify with things being tight on SS.It's a challenge for sure. It sounds like you are meeting the challenge. I hope to continue some of the more 'radical' frugal tasks after this pandemic. I had become lazy in my old age. :-) Keep safe! Good to hear from you!

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  8. How wonderful to find you back again after so long. You always had so many good ideas for practicing frugality. Hope that you will continue to write. You have so much to offer those of us looking to find new ways to be frugal. Diane

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    1. Hi Diane, Great to hear from you! I'm not sure about future posts. Maybe! :-) We will see! Thank you for the encouragement. Take care and be safe!

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  9. How lovely to hear from you again.
    I was thinking of you. Decided to take a look and there you were!
    Like you I know how to be resourceful, even more important during these times.
    Keep safe, hope you write again soon. Angela

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    1. Hi Angela! How kind that you were thinking of me! :-) It's great to hear that you are doing well and keeping safe! Thanks for dropping by!

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  10. I was going through my Bookmarks on my Kindle and decided to read a few old posts on your blog. I am happy to see a new post. I am glad that you and your Husband are doing okay. Stay safe.

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    1. Hello! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you and your family are well, too! Hopefully, we are slowing going to be getting back to normal...maybe a new normal?! Stay safe!

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  11. Hello Georgene, it’s so very nice to see a post from you, I just wish it wasn’t because of this pandemic. I ask myself all the time if this pandemic is really real.
    I don’t think it is over by any means and we need to be as prepared as possible.
    I’m glad your family is shopping for you.
    Hugs to you ❤️

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    1. Hi Rhonda! So good to hear from you. Yes, we were just talking about this with a neighbor who researched the Spanish Flu pandemic. She said it made it rounds 4 times. Hoping that will not be the case with this one. I am trying to think ahead on how to prepare. Toilet paper is back in the stores but now the meat has tripled in price. We also have the electrical outages hanging over our head now that wildfire season is coming up. So many opportunities to trust the Lord. :-) Are you well?

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    2. Georgene, we are all fine here. I’m a homebody so I haven’t minded staying home too much but I do miss my grandchildren.
      Husband had some back treatments postponed because of shutdowns and we are hoping those are rescheduled soon but he is getting by though some days are much worse than others.
      My parents still can’t leave their retirement home but they are as OK with as they can be.
      We are not seeing any changes in our utilities but we are set up differently than CA.
      We are enjoying online worship services. We watch a church in Australia on Saturday afternoons and then a local church on Sunday morning.
      In Oklahoma, businesses are reopening but we won’t be changing our staying at home much. I’ve added even more to our pantry.
      God has taken care of this long, I see no reason to not trust now. :)

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    3. So thankful you are doing well! I'm sorry your husband's back treatments were postponed. I hope that has changed by now. Sorry this is late in replying. I missed that you had posted. You are right... another opportunity to trust God.

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  12. Nice to read from you again and to hear everything you have learned. Keep safe.

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    1. It's great to hear from you, too! Thankful you are safe, too. Take care!

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  13. So happy to see you here again, Georgene. Planning to make up a batch of your spot remover!

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    1. Hi Linda! Good to hear from you. Be sure to not leave it on for a long time before you wash. I've never done this so I'm not sure what would happen.

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  14. I stopped in to find a recipe and saw your post. Thanks for writing, I was wondering how you were doing.

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    1. Hi Amy! We are doing great in the Lord. How are you doing?

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  15. I loved hearing from you. We'd love to hear from you if only a short note every once in awhile.
    Hugs,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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    1. Thank you, Laura! I will be waiting on the Lord. Thank you for your encouragement! I always enjoy visiting your blog, too! God bless you!

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  16. I was so happy to see a new post today! with great ideas and encouragement as usual.i was checking in to get motivation for money saving ideas, and found your new post.toilet paper and cleaning and sewing supplies are very scarce here.so definitely going back to make my own.
    .thank you!!! stay well, lots of love, K.

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    1. Hi Karen! I am so thankful that the post encouraged you. I hope things are getting better in your city. Our stores are pretty well stocked except for meat. Stay safe! And thanks for stopping by!

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  17. I was so happy when I saw that you had a very recent post!! I've so missed your blog over the last couple of years and have wondered how you are doing.
    Would love to see more posts!
    Have a great day!

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    1. Hi Lee Ann,
      Thank you for the kind words. We will see where the Lord leads. I hope you are well!

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  18. So happy to see you back! Thought of you over the last few years. I hope all is well with you and your family! Been focusing on starting a small garden. Every little bit helps. Working on canning to build up the pantry again. Switched to cloth napkins and breaking out the bread machine. Focusing on what we can do at home the most and trying to be prepared if things take a turn. Wishing the best to everyone.

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    1. Thank you for thinking of me. It sounds like you are doing well. You're right... it all helps. I used some kale from our garden to put in a dish tonight. Apricots are almost ready to pick and I will be making some low sugar jam for gifts. It's so fun to be able to 'shop' in my backyard. Take care and thanks for the reply.

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  19. I was so glad to come here and find you had posted ! Thank you for coming back to try to help out. I live also in California. I was happy that earlier you had found some yeast. I haven't seen any for sale since Covid 19 hit. Flour is only seen in stores here off and on and no self raising or bread flours when you do find any. Is there a way to make regular unbleached white flour into it ? Well, stores may not have some things but most we can do without most ,..but faith is one thing we surely need and it is not in short supply. !! Sarah

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    1. Hi Sarah. How kind of you to write. I'm so glad you were able to find some yeast. Supplies seem to be better now that is is July. I'm still surprised when I go into the stores because some shelves are very sparse. I don't remember seeing that before. I'm sorry it has taken so long to reply. I appreciate you stopping by for a visit.

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  20. I forgot to tell you that Laine's letters are still on line...the old ones. Not all but many. Also the women who has the blog: thebluebirdsarenesting.blogspot.com Laine corresponds with off and on and she publishes it with Laine's ok. This lady lives in Australia. I copied off so many letters Laine sent so long ago. I wish I had done all of them. Like you she reached out to help so many others. Sharing so much and her deep faith. Sarah

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    1. Yes, thank you for posting that information so others will know. I learned so much from Laine. I copied Laine's Letters and put some in a binder. She is a precious woman of God and I'm so thankful for her willingness to share her knowledge with us. Take care and thank you!

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  21. Hi again. Hope and pray you are both well. Our daughter has been sick for a week now, got tested for Covid and she does have it. Finally after a week she was breathing better today. She never had to go to the hospital. She is a nurse so she knew what to watch out for. Now we are praying the rest of the family stays well. Her husband is diabetic so it would be worse for him. They are in their 40's and have two girls, 15 and 4. Nannie

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    1. Oh, Nannie! I am so sorry to hear your daughter has been so sick. I hope she is feeling better by now and that the rest of the family and especially her husband did not get the virus. Please update when you have time. I am stopping to pray for your family now.

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    2. Oh my, just saw this. Our daughter recovered pretty well but she did notice some breathing problems for a while, like not being able to get a deep breath. The rest of the family stayed well, so blessed by that. Thank you for praying for them.

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  22. Your blog was one of my absolute favourite so I was thrilled to see a post from you. Glad you are doing well.

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    1. What a kind thing to say. Thank you. May God receive the glory. It is very well with my soul. How are you?

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  23. I used wash cloths for about 20 years instead of tp. I do keep tp for when I think/know that solid waste will be much. I felt good about how clean they were after I hung them on the clothesline in the blazing sun. Some people were grossed out, but others did not.

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    1. I've heard that most of the world does not use TP. It has been a great saver.

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  24. I enjoyed reading this again dearie. I do wish you'd consider writing a short post once or twice a month to help us keep up with you. God bless you.
    Laura Lane
    Harvest Lane Cottage
    Carthage, Missouri

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  25. Hi Laura! So good to hear from you. You are such an encourager. Thank you! I posted a question about laundry soap but I don't see it posted on your site.

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  26. How wonderful to hear from you again! Hope that you and yours are continuing to do well.

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  27. You always have the best tips! Surely miss your post, have referenced your blog many times. Was so happy to hear from you again.Hope you and your family have stayed well during this time. My husband and I both had the virus. 104 fever, severe muscle fatigue, loss of taste and then vomiting for 2 days straight. It was awful and thank the Lord for seeing us thru.......Take care, Patti

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    1. Hi Patti! I am so sorry to hear you caught that awful virus! How in the world do you think you caught it? I'm so thankful the Lord saw you through it and gave you strength! Glad to hear from you.

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  28. So glad to hear from you. I’ve missed reading your blog. I pray you continue.

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  29. It’s been almost a year since your last post. How are you doing? I’m rediscovering your blog again. I see why I liked it so much.

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  30. Thank you again for all the knowledge you distribute,Good post. I was very interested in the article, it's quite inspiring I should admit. I like visiting you site since I always come across interesting articles like this one.Great Job, I greatly appreciate that.Do Keep sharing! Regards, קאַנאַדע וויזאַ אַפּלאַקיישאַן אָנליין

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  31. Nice to read your article! I am looking forward to sharing your adventures and experiences. ינדיאַ-ביזנעס-וויזאַ

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  32. This is one of the most helpful and encouraging blogs I have read.
    I am so pleased that you left your posts online so we can read through them and glean inspiration and comfort.

    I hope you will be back again to share more wisdom and encouragement.

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  33. Hope you and yours are doing well. I love to read through your posts. So far we are doing great. Living on our social security money and hubby is still able to do odd jobs and he loves to tinker/ restore broken things and sell them. God is good to us and provides always.

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  34. These are great ideas.

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Thank you for your comment.