what did you do this week to prepare

[Rick]

I need to fix the flat tires and rehang my panniers.

Rehang your panniers? That's sounds terribly painful!

[Terri]

tacmedic,have you ever tried to make pear jelly?? This year was a first for me on that one,and it was much more time consuming than any other jelly I have ever made.

I did it for a guy who has some pear trees and wanted to try it,but his wife is not the type to put stuff away,so he asked if i would try.

I looked long and hard online to find a recipe for it and finally found one that even attempted it using an apple jelly recipe,the one thing it was correct about was it is a much longer cooking time to get it to the gel stage than just about any other fruit.

This week I picked up another trailer of corn from the farmers field to have ground for feed,will now have about 5 months of feed for the critters. bought 100# pigs last week to feed out for the freezer.

I was given about 12 bushels of pears last fall and I made quite a few things out of them, to make the most of the windfall without getting bored. First I canned them by using an apple peeler (the kind that clamps onto the table and peels, cores, and spirally cuts all at the same time).

Then I took pears and quartered them cut out the cores and pureed them , then I filled up my crock pot, vented the lid with a wooden spoon an let them simmer on low for about 24 hours, and it made pretty good pear butter.

I also made Pear Jam. I peeled and cored pears then pureed them and just followed a basic jam recipe on the box of Sure-Jell using the puree.

I also made some pear syrup (for on pancakes, biscuits, or in smoothies) I doubled the pear jam recipe, but only used the Sure-Jel, and the amount of sugar called for in one recipe. I also used very ripe, almost over-ripe pears, so it was kind of runny, but on purpose.

Lastly I cored some pears and pureed them, then I canned the pureed fruit. I added no sugar or spices. I used it to make a quick bread for breakfasts and lunches. We have also put it in smoothies, and pancake batter.

[Ken]

I was given about 12 bushels of pears last fall and I made quite a few things out of them, to make the most of the windfall without getting bored. First I canned them by using an apple peeler (the kind that clamps onto the table and peels, cores, and spirally cuts all at the same time).

Then I took pears and quartered them cut out the cores and pureed them , then I filled up my crock pot, vented the lid with a wooden spoon an let them simmer on low for about 24 hours, and it made pretty good pear butter.

I also made Pear Jam. I peeled and cored pears then pureed them and just followed a basic jam recipe on the box of Sure-Jell using the puree.

I also made some pear syrup (for on pancakes, biscuits, or in smoothies) I doubled the pear jam recipe, but only used the Sure-Jel, and the amount of sugar called for in one recipe. I also used very ripe, almost over-ripe pears, so it was kind of runny, but on purpose.

Lastly I cored some pears and pureed them, then I canned the pureed fruit. I added no sugar or spices. I used it to make a quick bread for breakfasts and lunches. We have also put it in smoothies, and pancake batter.

Just follow the Rules. Okay? http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ht=gastronomic

[Ponce]

Well, my brother is here now with his family from Cuba......he will be doing the vegetable garden and the pigs and chickens.....his wife the cooking and the two little females (did I say little?) 15 and 19 the cleaning, and me?.......living like a king.

The only thing is that where I had food for one for seven years I now have food for only two years which means at least another 10 trips to CostCo with my truck, lucky for me I do have the money for more food even at today's prices.

You should have seen their first trip to Wallys World hahahahhaaahhaha, to them it was like going to heaven and it cost me a fortune........but what the heck, it was fun.

His wife, sister in law, even took off her shoes to walk into my kictchen lol.

[crashdive123]

Attending a gun and knife show this weekend. I know I shouldn't, but.......

[Rick]

I passed on Indy's last week-end. I would have only went for the ammo. I talked to some guys that went and they said unless you bought a firearm you couldn't buy ammo. They reserved the ammo for the those that bought weapons. Go figure.

[crashdive123]

Wife wants to keep practicing (bless her heart) so I'm still hoarding, er, um buying ammo. A few boxes here and there (got to buy another safe though).

[Rick]

I'm stashing mine in ammo cans. No one will ever think to look there.

[doren]

Discovered an Altoids tin fits inside a canteen cup sleeve.

Took said tin filled it with saw dust and paraffin wax.

Proceeded to boil two cups of water with said tin. I was having trouble boiling two cups of water. One was easy, two was too much for everything else I tried.

Learned to polish aluminum.

Bought a polished chrome Zippo for field use. I decided the limited edition one was too nice for such dirty work. The reasons for my choice... It's chrome so it can produce a reflection similar to a mirror. Even if there is no fluid, as long as you can get a spark you can get fire. The cotton inside could be cannibalized for tinder. Now if I could just get it to cut things and produce shelter...

Made a lean-to using a cheap disposable space blanket to test it's strength. I deliberately made the angle of the lean-to sharp to help it wear out faster.

Tested out my new knife, so far so good. I definitely need a new sheath for it though.

[crashdive123]

With your Zippo - carry about 6 extra flints under the cotton. As you say, even without fluid, you will always be able to make a spark.

[Rick]

Gads. I'd forgotten all about that. You bet. Lift the cotton and stash the flints. I must be getting old. Either that or it's been a loooooong time since I smoked. Okay, both.

In fact, tomorrow will be 20 years since I've had any tobacco. I quit on June 7, 1989. I figured I could remember 6-7-89.

[Schleprok]

hadda think hard to qualify for this one....
I made sure my perimeter had clear fire lines (mowed the lawn)

[doren]

With your Zippo - carry about 6 extra flints under the cotton. As you say, even without fluid, you will always be able to make a spark.

So the fluid and flints will not affect each other?

[Ken]

Nope. The flints will still work fine to create a spark.

[crashdive123]

So the fluid and flints will not affect each other?

As Ken said, it won't hurt them at all. I still have several Zippos around from the days when I smoked (many years ago). The ones that were for using and not collecting still have extra flints in them that work just fine. They havent been used in almost 20 years. Also, if you use alcohol stoves while backpacking and camping you can use that as fuel for the lighter. On the submarines you could not bring bic lighters. Most used either matches or isopropyl alcohol in their Zippos.

[mcfd45]

this thurday i am getting paid to attend a preparedness for the healthcare worker class. four hours of pay and a neat topic.

[Terri]

Just follow the Rules. Okay? http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ht=gastronomic

Ken............Does anyone ever feed you???

[nell67]

Gads. I'd forgotten all about that. You bet. Lift the cotton and stash the flints. I must be getting old. Either that or it's been a loooooong time since I smoked. Okay, both.

In fact, tomorrow will be 20 years since I've had any tobacco. I quit on June 7, 1989. I figured I could remember 6-7-89.

Happy anniversary Rick!

[mcfd45]

found a good deal on ammo at wally world. Got 200 CCI minimags for 12 bucks. 30 12ga slugs for 18. 50 lowbrass for 9 bucks.

[Ken]

Ken............Does anyone ever feed you???

No. Never. 'Cept you can't tell by looking at me.