Cozy Car in the Winter

I am already loving the cold crisp Fall air.  I am hoping this means a bundle of snow isn't too far away.  I can picture it now:

Sitting in my comfy chair in my bunny slippers, sipping hot cocoa and watching the gigantic snowflakes fall to the ground.  Getting snowed in would be so much fun!

Wait!  Unless you happen to be in your car somewhere not quite home yet.  Are you prepared for a situation like this?

To help us get prepared, I will post some simple instructions from ehow.com on how to make an inexpensive car heater should you be stranded for a long period of time. 

Now you can have a cozy car while you wait out the storm.  Storing bunny slippers and hot cocoa is optional.

Next week we'll get into other essential items that would be of value in this situation.

Definition

• A homemade car heater is a small device placed in your car that heats it up when your car has broken down. They can be used to avoid the excessive carbon monoxide produced by your car if you leave it on to use the heater, which may end up killing you.

Materials

• You will need a roll of unscented toilet paper, six bottles unscented isopropyl alcohol, an empty metal can just taller than the toilet paper roll, matches, a 3 lb. coffee can and an aluminum pot wider than the coffee can. Store these in a large, sealed container in the trunk of your car.

Building Method

• Start by adding your toilet paper roll into the smaller empty metal can. Remove the cardboard core and any sheets necessary to fit the roll snugly in the can. Place this can into the coffee can and place this on the passenger seat floor. Pour several ounces but not a whole bottle of the alcohol onto the toilet paper and crack a window for ventilation. Light a match and throw it on the toilet paper. Conserve fuel by covering the can with the aluminum pot when your car is comfortably warm. Continue using your heater in this method until help arrives.

Read more: Homemade Car Heater | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_7980686_homemade-car-heater.html#ixzz27iAZp6w0

Even Easier Water Storage - the Caselot Sale!

Check out Smith's caselot sale.  It runs through next Tuesday, the 18th. 
http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com/Pages/default.aspx
Follow that link and click on the 'weekly ad' button in the top right corner of the page.  The caselot is on page 7.

During the caselot you can get a 24 pk of bottled water for $2.50!  Now there's an easy way to stock up on water storage!

I noticed there are a lot of caselot items in the store that I didn't see in the ad.   I saw brown and powdered sugar, brownie mixes, vegetables, fruit, mac n cheese, etc.  Drop by Smiths and check it out.

Also, on a great sale is Kraft Mayo and Miracle Whip.  When you buy 10 particpating items, they are only $2.50 each.  In addition, if you buy 10 quailifying Kraft items, you will get a $10 off your next shopping order coupon printed at checkout.  That makes each container or Mayo/Miracle Whip only $1.50.  Not too bad.

One more thing to remember, last year I was able to price match the caselot price on single items at Walmart.  I assume they would do this again if you take your ad in.  It doesn't hurt to try.

Have fun stocking your food and water storage!

Quick Water Storage

So far this year we have talked about food storage, 72 hour kits, and evacuation plans.  Next up is water storage.

For a quick and easy way to store water and build up a supply gradually, simple rinse out (you may use 1tsp bleach to sanitize if you wish) and re-fill any plastic container with the letters "PETE" on the bottom of the bottle with water.  Label the lid with a date and place it in your storage room.  Old water bottles, Gatorade bottles, and 2 liter soda bottles work well for this purpose.  Milk jugs and juice bottles are not recommended.

If your water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine (not from a well), you don't need to add bleach to the water to keep it clean.  Just go ahead and store it.

It is recommended you rotate your self-filled water storage every 6 months.  However, water stored longer is safe in emergency situations, it just won't taste as good.

For more extensive information on water storage, visit: http://www.caltriplecrown.com/HarborHillsWard/WaterPurificationandStorage.pdf

Lindon Cannery Meat Canning

Read through the information from the cannery below if you are interested in canning chicken or pork at the Lindon Cannery in October.  There is one link for each day available to can.  You will need to purchase 5 cases of meat after canning so you may want to go in on cases together with some friends.

"We are sending out the links to the next family canning opportunity (Chicken Chunks & Pork Chunks) a little earlier than normal. The links aren't due to become active for scheduling until Saturday, September 8th @ 6:00 a.m., but you can click on the links and carefully read all of the instructions before that time. You will be accountable for everything said in the online instructions. "

You can see the day and date at the end of each link.

http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=meat_chunks_wed_oct_10

http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=meat_chunks_thu_oct_11

http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=meat_chunks_fri_oct_12

http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=meat_chunks_tue_oct_16

http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=meat_chunks_wed_oct_17

http://www2.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=meat_chunks_thu_oct_18