The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

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Sunday 9 April 2017

Pantries and Preparedness with Glenda. Storage buckets etc.

This week we are continuing on with help from Glenda.  She said to me how pleased she is that we have a good pantry and also several income streams rather than just one.  
When we started building up the pantry I mainly focused on storms and power outages as they were my main worries.  Now here I am surrounded by a series of good reasons to be prepared...  the cyclone and seeing what happens in the aftermath, rising food prices as a consequence, Andy's job loss and now they tell us we might be in for a mouse plague!  
I couldn't make this stuff up!  And I won't even get into what is happening in the world right now...  (which seems to be escalating even since I started to write this)
I will just get back to my goal and that is to get ahead as we can, learn as much as I can, and encourage you to take every opportunity to have a well prepared household.  And to make hay while the sun shines! 

Now over to Glenda and to where we left off last week.  We are looking at pantry storage.  (The photos are all Glenda's pantry and storage that she and her husband took for us!)



The large food safe buckets with air tight lids (whether tight seal or gamma) can be purchased in various sizes from businesses that sell them brand new or bakeries that sell them used. If purchasing new, the bucket and lid are usually sold separately and they can be costly. The new one's, though, are BPA free and the buyer can choose either the regular tight seal lid or the gamma lid to go on it. We have a mixture of both. If using the tight seal lid, remember to purchase a Bucket Lid Wrench to open it. The gamma lids are great for people with arthritis or if someone is going to be getting in and out of the bucket frequently. Once purchased, the buckets last a lifetime, whether they are used bakery buckets or the new BPA free buckets.




    When we first started buying in bulk to save money, about 35 years ago, we went to the bakery section of the grocery stores and they gave them away at that time. They were used for frosting, so we took them home, washed them up thoroughly and dried them really good. We would let them sit out to continue air drying for a couple of hours just to make sure there was no moisture left. The lids were the hardest to completely get dry. It's important to make sure the lids have the rubber rings on them and that they are removable for washing. We ultimately replaced all of those buckets with the BPA free buckets, but no one should feel that is necessary to do. The buckets allow for large poundage storage. 
    A five gallon bucket holds about 37 lbs. of wheat berries.  The same size bucket holds 37 lbs of popcorn. We use the organic popcorn, instead of purchasing cornmeal. The popcorn will store for 30 years in the bucket and when we want to make corn muffins or cornbread, I can just grind what I want; it's delicious. It is, also, much less expensive to buy the popcorn in the bulk and grind it than to buy cornbread muffin mix or cornmeal. Freshness is an issue with store bought ground grains that have sat on the shelf. 

   The Sam's Club, near us, sells 50 lbs of Premium popcorn for $23.98. That amount of popcorn will last a very, very long time, unless a family eats a lot of cornbread, corn muffins, and popcorn as a snack. When storing items, it is always wise to consider their versatility. Whole Popcorn can be used for a snack; ground for breads and muffins; and it stores very long term safely. For us, that makes it a wise investment in storage. I don't have to worry about running out of that grain and I have a variety of ways to fix it. Plus, by buying it in the bulk, now, it saves me money, time, worry, and effort in the future. Any purchase now is a hedge against future inflation.



We will leave it there and wait until part three and part four... 
Thank you so much Glenda.


I can say that in Australia you can certainly get free food grade buckets and large containers pretty easily.  Ask at any bakery,  restaurant,  cafe....  if you know someone with any kind of food business you are set.  Vicky covers her buckets with vinyl or you can use contact if you like as well.  You are getting a lot of food storage containers for free this way. 
It is also very possible to get free glass jars especially if you know instant coffee drinkers who will save them for you.  I have always saved jars and the old style ones with screw top lids that I just love I have mostly found in op shops.  I have been to plastic ware type sales parties where you could buy a small car cheaper than outfitting your pantry with plastic containers,  pfft!  I would rather fit out my pantry for free or very little and spend the money on stocking it.  But storing things properly is vital so that they last and are not raided by pests etc. 

We are going well and finding ways to use our time wisely, getting lots of things done that need doing. Now my clothes line is up!  
I want to encourage you to be like a little ant and work on your preparedness.  Also to be watchful and prudent!  
Have a good week! xxx



66 comments:

  1. Thank you I have reread your preparedness posts and taking notes. I believe the more I know and gather the better my family will be. Sickness weather financial who knows.

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    1. Dear Anonymous,
      You are exactly right. The more knowledge we acquire in the area of preparedness, the more we serve our family and protect them.
      Have a wonderful week.
      Glenda

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    2. Well done, your are right. Many many things can be done for free or very little too. It all adds up.xxx

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  2. Glenda thankyou for this. It's really worthwhile information. I think it's important to recognise too, as you say Annabel, that much of this is baby steps. It's easy to find it all a bit overwhelming, but week by week, you really can build an enviable pantry stock, and be prepared for anything. My 'shop' is the envy of many of my friends, but they don't seem inclined to replicate the idea, because it's all a bit too hard. I don't understand it. But who do they come to, when they need something...lol! Maybe I'm taking the idea of a 'shop' too far, and they think I'm KMart...hahaha! I find shallow boxes help me to organise things neatly into categories too, and a couple of years ago, I bought 50 such boxes, ubiquitously named 'hamper boxes' for 50c each, and they keep things looking tidy, and this helps my husband and his neatness gene, accept my little stash...hehehe! You could do something similar by cutting boxes down and painting them or covering them with paper or contact. It's very gratifying to see everything lined up and contained in matching boxes. I hope that things are okay for you and Andy. You're in my thoughts and I'm praying hard that something new and exciting is in the wings for you both. Love, Mimi xxx

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    1. Dear Mimi,
      Thank you for your comment. I don't understand the 'too hard' part either (LOL). Most people go shopping, so it's a matter of picking up one or two extras each time.
      I have that 'neatness gene,' also :):). There are so many wonderful ways to store preparedness items. Your boxes were a good bargain!
      Have a wonderful week.
      Blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    2. Dear Mimi, I love the sound of your boxes. The storage places have wonderful ideas but many of theme are very expensive. Yet ordinary things can work and as you say we can cover things as we wish and have all matching etc. Very good project ideas here! With love and thanks, Annabel.xxx

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  3. Dear Annabel and Glenda and the rest of the beautiful bluebirds, Firstly Annabel and Glenda , thank you for another lovely post . My Dad recently got given some large white buckets and I think he is going to give me one.
    In other preparedness news ,last week I bought myself a new light to use in case of power outages . It is really good , very bright but it also has another setting on it which is a dimmed light. I have a long way to go in the way of preparedness but I am making progress. I hope everyone has a great week . Love BarbW.

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    1. I like that you have a new orchid on the way, Barb! This is special!!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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    2. Dear Barb,
      Thank you for your comment. Good for your Dad on the buckets. That is a great free gift.
      Sounds like you are working right along on your preparedness. Good for you.
      Have a wonderful week.
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    3. Dear Barb, Well done! The buckets can be very handy for a to of things. I have a big one for all my bread making flour in the kitchen too.
      Keep working on it all as it adds up! With love Annabel.xxx

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  4. Thank you Annabel and Glenda for a very thoughtful post.

    Glenda, your storage shelves are amazing. I have a small area under the stairs that I'm using to store some pantry items - I'd like to increase this area, but it is going to need some serious decluttering (namely the camping gear that is no longer used). I don't know about anyone else, but I find it extremely hard to part with 'useful' items even if they are no longer useful to me :-(.
    Have a great week
    Janine

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    1. Janine,

      Remember you'll be glad you stashed some of that camping gear elsewhere during an electricity brown-out (what we called it in the Philippines).

      *hugs*
      Kelley~

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    2. Oh no, not the camping gear!!!!
      Regards,
      Rachel

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    3. See if a Boy/Girl Scouts units could use the camping gear. My kids were in both and we always took anything that was offered. It gets beat up fast when teenagers use it all the time.
      -Marybeth

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    4. Dear Janine,
      Thank you for your comment. We have worked on our storage for a very long time. Actually, we started buying in bulk and storing in the white pails about 35 years ago, when our children were in grade school.
      The past six years we have upped the amount and added medical, dental, household, and personal items in larger amounts to the storage.
      Have a wonderful week.
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    5. Dear Janine, mmm some camping gear is extremely good emergency preparedness equipment. Review it from that point of view i.e. anything that is an alternative way to cook etc. Under start storage can be really good, I had that in a house I was in a few years back.
      Good luck! With love Annabel.xxx

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  5. Dear Annabel and Glenda, Thank you for the useful information on pantries and preparedness. Your pantries are lovely, Glenda! I like the way you both give examples of free or inexpensive storage solutions.

    Annabel, I was sorry to hear that Andy lost his job. It sounds like you are both doing well and keeping busy, but I know that it is also a stressful time. I'm glad you have done so much to be prepared. I'll be praying for you both and that something better opens up.

    Wishing all the bluebirds a lovely week!
    Elaine from Arizona, USA

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    1. Dear Elaine,
      Thank you for your comment. The storage shelves currently need straightened up and the inventory done. I don't know why but the older we get the faster time flies by and our 'to do' list doesn't get done as quickly as twenty years ago (LOL).
      Have a wonderful week.
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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  6. Thank you Glenda and Annabel for this post. I have been feeling the urge to 'nest' big time. Cupboards have been cleaned out and shopping lists have been adjusted.
    I agree with you Annabel that some of the storage plastics you can buy are simply over priced. I have quite a store of one well known brand that I have collected from op shops over the years. I have noticed, of late, that this brand is now nearly as expensive in the ops shops as it is to purchase new. I'm a bit cheeky and take advantage of the lifetime warranty on this brand. If one of my containers or lids has a crack or loses a piece I contact a provider and have it replaced.
    I have quite a collection of large Marcona jars. These came from the Office in which I used to work. No one else wanted them so they were saved for me. I have given many away but still have plenty for our use.
    We also have some peg like clips that my sister initially introduced me to. She got them from Ikea. There was no Ikea in the NT so my sister sent me some. I have since found them in Woolworths. They are wonderful for sealing the frozen corn and vege packets in the freezer.
    I love seeing how other people organise their homes. Glenda your pantry is quite amazing. Thank you for sharing the photos and your knowledge.
    The wind has gone away, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Happy week Bluebirders
    Life is good.

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    1. Dear Jane,
      Thank you for your comment. Feeling the urge to 'nest' is always good and productive.
      I got rid of plastics, for storing food, years ago. Yes, some of those companies are very proud of their items :). I honestly can't believe the cost for one large container that is BPA free.
      I like to use the glass canning jars for storage and canning. I always have plenty of empty jars around, so it saves me in the long run on both money and space. Plus, I can vacuum seal the canning jars for long term storage. Of course, that doesn't apply to all things we store, but for all bulk items or items I want to repackage the jars work great.
      Any time the wind is gone is good (LOL). We get winds up to 60 mph some days here during the winter and that is not fun at all!
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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  7. Dear Annabel and Glenda, such timely advice. My husband purchased some extra strong shelving to store things on in the shed. The existing shelving that he was using has now been swung around to the end of the shed and is now waiting for me to fill up.

    I am literally coming out of the cupboard. The gentleman's wardrobe that I had been using was way too small for everything I wanted to store so now I have loads more storage available.

    Tomorrow I have a naturopath's appointment,right out the front is a bakery so I am going to ask about some buckets.These will be good to store packet items in.

    The new shelves that my husband purchased are industrial strength and being last years model they were heavily reduced. Got to love a bargain like that.

    Hope everyone is well in Bluebird land


    Lynette
    XXXXX

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    1. Dear Lynette,
      What a blessing extra storage is for items. I hope you get some of the buckets from the bakery.
      I hope your Naturopath appointment went well. I was a Board Certified Naturopath and Nutritional Counselor before retiring.
      Have a wonderful week.
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    2. Glenda, I'm glad you're telling us all these useful things! I'd love to discuss natural medicine with you, particularly since I am keen to learn older, American ways. Maybe Annabel would be interested in producing some posts on natural medicine (herbal medicine, hydrotherapy/water therapy, ..) as a nonprofessional topic? Do you have favourite modalities, yourself?
      Keenly,
      Rachel

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    3. Dear Lynette, The shelves will be excellent. Let us know how you go with the request at the bakery.
      I am giving some thought to what you said to me about the temperatures in an outdoor shed. We have had to re think storage a few times. If you have sealed containers then toilet paper, paper products, laundry products etc can be in the shed possibly freeing up space inside which can then be for perishables.
      Rachel.... yes this is a very good suggestion! Thank you! With love Annabel.xxx

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    4. No luck with the bakery - in fact the woman I asked was quite rude. Never fear I have other places to ask, I know the local IGA have had the big containers out for a couple of dollars so will pop in and talk to them. There is also a cafe I that I will approach, the fish and chip shop and that is without leaving my small town.

      I have already been thinking about swapping storage about. The coolest shelves are in the hallway over the top of the broom cupboard. Reaching things and keeping track of what is in there may be a problem though as we have 10 foot 6 inch high ceilings and I have a cupboard that goes right to the ceiling above the broom cupboard.

      Rachel and Glenda, I have been seeing my naturopath for about 4 years. Originally it was because I wasn't feeling quite 100%. Hadn't for a long time and having been to the local GP I just knew that I needed to go elsewhere. Let's just say that the GP honed in on 1 thing but neglected to listen to me when I was giving him my recent history.

      It took a lot for me to go to the naturopath and I have been lucky because she is a really good one. We have become more friends than practioner and client. Some of the things we talk about you would all enjoy because it is not just health issues but also leading the Blue Bird life.

      I have a new GP who is prepared to work with the naturopath and I now feel that I have the perfect team with the inclusion of my chiropractor.

      My natural inclination has been to lean towards natural ways of dealing with things, if possible. Even more so after I read a book about the petrochemical industry in the 1990's.

      Lynette
      XXXXXX

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  8. Thanks Annabel and Glenda for this wonderful imformation i recently bought shelves that look like the ones in the picture at bunnings on sale for $12.00 and this is where i will start to store items up stairs in the kitchen and then i will work on down stairs still a bit of sorting to do in that space too
    Have a wonderful week xox

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    1. Dear Melissa,
      I am so glad you have some new shelving. Having some shelving right in the kitchen is always a blessing.
      We have the big food storage downstairs and various places upstairs for what we use on a regular basis. It really helps to have that extra storage upstairs to cut down on the up and down of steps :).
      Have a wonderful week!
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    2. Dear Melissa, The shelves sound great. As you sort out your space you will find a lot of room. It is all a big job I find but if you tackle a bit at a time it is amazing how it gets done. I am very big on doing a bit every day or a bit every week and soon it is done! But as you get things done it sort of gains momentum! I have amazed myself and we are in a much better position that 2 years ago. With lots of love, Annabel.xxx

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  9. Hi Annabel, Glenda and Beautiful Bluebirds!!

    Such beautiful, beautiful jars .... with beautiful, beautiful food!! You're doing beautiful pantry building, Glenda! I know from experience that grinding old-fashioned whole wheat can be such a breeze with an electric mill. The resulting flour is so, so soft, and can be made into wonderful bread - even as whole wheat flour. Admittedly, I only got as far as bread for toasting, and date-cinnamon bread/buns (ie not sandwich bread!). We also preferred the whole wheat flour for all baking. It was not stodgy, but very enjoyable and satisfying! I am aiming to take this up again.
    We are avoiding the diatomaceous earth that organic grains here are in silo with.

    This morning, my husband woke up wondering if there was any space at the kitchen table for him!! There were fifteen large jars of olives crowding him! Ha ha!! One of my first jobs, while the bread was rising and baking, was to find a home for olives, and I did! - on that strong bottom shelf that had appeared full! Another bucket of olives is just beginning the curing process!
    That should take the large jar count up to twenty! Ha ha!! We love these olives!

    I have found lush clumps of plantain taking off, and started using these with parsley, that survived summer, as our salad greens! I don't see plantain in the shops! I am gradually harvesting our macadamia nuts, down on the ground, using tongs to avoid nettle stings, and to provide more stretch! We haven't had crops from these two main trees for years, and this is a decent crop. I got a box full this afternoon. I need to beat 'chewy chomper', the native marsupial that chews effectively through the wooden shells, to the nuts!

    I am feeling very grateful to those Americans who have held on to the richness of the Word down through generations. I am grateful for scripture, itself, which restores the basic truths that generations before me had lost. I hadn't known that there was a difference in the Ten Commandments (Exodus chapter 20) that Moses first brought down from Mount Sinai and the second tablets of commandments that Moses brought down the second time (Exodus chapter 34). In the latter, we are told to start our years with Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread. In scripture, this is described as a WATCH for the Eternal, age after age, as He watches over us. It was relevant at Christ's atonement, it is relevant as practice now, and it will certainly be relevant in the future when His people will finally be rescued as a second exodus. It is reassuring that He, in His faithfulness, is in control. In our household, we practise having someone awake all through Passover night, out of respect for the command to stay awake and WATCH.

    With warm regards to all,
    Rachel Holt

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    1. Rachel,

      Yes, avoid those stinging nettles. They are terrible.

      I am very grateful for YOU today and always. I love your words, and your wording. It's so hard to hold on to the richness of the word in my own generation, and I have been in a battle about it. But you are grateful for that very thing, so onward!

      I am also grateful for your mention of the WATCH. It is something about which I have been thinking often. It seems that it was once the way of some, especially small, churches. It seems as if the idea and the action of it is being lost in our time. But O the value of the WATCH. The very great worth of it! It boggles the mind how important it is. In these days of desperate times, it is just the medicine the world needs. But who will obey in this important (and perhaps even life saving/changing) task? Obviously, the answer is you will. You and your family. For that I am grateful. Thank you. And bless you and your family for it.

      And to you Dear Annabel,

      I am sorry about the job loss in the family and I am praying for you.

      love to all,
      Cristy

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    2. Dear Rachel,
      The olives sound wonderful!! You are most industrious.
      Thank you for your comment. We have worked on the food storage since our daughter was nine and she will be 45 in three months. That's how I keep track of time (LOL). Our daughter was very ill when she was nine and, after much prayer, I was led to cook and bake everything from scratch; including grinding the grains. That is when I started canning, dehydrating, grinding, etc. So, when talking about food storage I use that turning point to calculate the time. As a side note, within nine months she was illness free. At one point she could not walk or use her arms, so that was a true blessing from Hashem.
      Have a wonderful week and a blessed Passover.
      Hugs,
      Glenda

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    3. Thank you, Glenda! I love stories, and yours is a beautifully touching one! It speaks much of simple living? Wow!
      Rachel

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    4. Glenda,
      Your story blesses me. How wonderful that God directed you to a simpler food path and your daughter was healed.

      Love this!

      Cristy

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    5. Dear Rachel, Jars of olives all over the table, macadamia nuts to pick and herbs in the garden! This all paints a lovely picture.
      I was so interested in what you said about the watch. I am going to read up and study on this. Being watchful is a theme for me and on several levels. Very interesting. Also I love your celebration of the Passover. I am going to end my day re reading some of these scriptures, thank you, with love Annabel.xxx

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    6. Thank you, Christy. It was a true blessing in our lives. We are so grateful for God's love, grace, and mercy.
      Have a nice week.
      Blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    7. Dear Annabel,
      There are helpful scriptures which describe how this watch fits in relation to His people into the future.
      I find Exodus 12:42 to be a good start - "It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations." (RSV)
      The main themes of scripture are simple. His ways bring beauty, pleasantness, healing and reassurance, I find.
      Regards,
      Rachel

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  10. My husband brought home a metal shelving unit just the other day. A store next door to where he works was getting rid of some things. He asked could he take it. The manager told him to help himself. He also took some steel that was being tossed.
    I work at a movie theatre that sells food. I always take the five and two gallon buckets. They hold coleslaw, potato salads, macaroni salad, dressings, etc. I wash them really well and usually sit them out in the sun for a day or 2. Then rewash and let dry for a day. I have gotten so many I have given them to my parents and sisters.
    I grow a garden and lots of herbs. I use glass jars for all of my dried herbs. My mom and sisters give me their empty jars. I also make refrigerator pickles and jelly that go in these jars.
    I have to pay for most of the food that goes into my food storage, but when I don't have to pay for the storage containers it really helps save money.
    Annabel & Andy, you are in my prayers.
    -Marybeth

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    1. Dear Marybeth,
      It's always nicer to be able to apply the money to actual food and find the containers for free. It sounds like the metal shelving was a blessing.
      Have a nice week.
      Glenda

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  11. A mouse plague? How terrible.
    I hope the forecasters are wrong.
    All these jars are so pretty, I'm very impressed and learning from Glenda's tips. Thanks, Annabel, for sharing.

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    1. Dear Rhonda,
      I don't think my first reply went out correctly to you and Vicky, so I will try again :). A bit of computer problems on my end.
      Thank you for your comment. I am so glad the information is helpful to others.
      Have a wonderful week.
      Hugs,
      Glenda

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  12. Annabel.
    Having different streams of income is a definite plus! It has kept us going and you for sure don't take it for granted and appreciate it much more. You are a good steward of your resources and do a fantastic job with your household. And you lift up so many that I hope now you are being lifted in return.
    Glenda,
    Your food storage is awesome! Everything is so organized and neat it is a sight to behold! Thank you so much for sharing and all of your good advice and tips. It is a pleasure to see! Thank you for encouraging us all and showing us how it's done!
    XOXO
    Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky,
      As I mentioned to Rhonda, I had a bit of a computer glitch here, so apparently the replies to you and her didn't go through.
      Thanks for commenting. Your pantry will be done very soon and it will be awesome. Never enough space for food storage, is there (LOL).
      Love and hugs,
      Glenda

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  13. Great information. What a beautiful pantry! I have pantry envy now.
    Thank you.

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl. It's time to straighten it up again :).
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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  14. Dear Annabel and Glenda,
    Thank you for this very informative post. I've never used the large plastic buckets for pantry storage but now I'm going to be on the lookout for them. We live in a very small town, but we have small family run bakeries here so the possibility exists finding some.

    Spring is starting to appear here and there are lots of dandelions in bloom so I'm hoping to harvest them and make some salve to put in our supplies. It's a little too soon yet to plant the garden but everything is at the ready. The most of the garden produce gets dehydrated and vacuum sealed in mason jars. I store my herbs, spices and flours and yeast vacuumed sealed and in the freezer. Blessings, Cookie

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    1. Thank you, Cookie, for your comment. Do you ever use the Dandelion leaves in salad? It sounds like you are very organized in your preps.
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    2. Hi Glenda,
      I haven't used the leaves as yet but do use the roasted root as a tea, as well as roasted and granulated chicory root. Many blessings to you too. Cookie

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  15. That is a well stocked pantry and pretty too.
    I was able to add canned foods last week due to an unexpected cost reduction thanks to a junior bluebird!I had budgted $300 total for dd's prom dress and shoes. I thought that was a reasonable amount considering the costs nowdays. Well she decided on her own to go under budget. She found a gorgeous dress at a resale shop that fit her perfectly for $21, and new shoes for $45. She told me to keep the savings for "the family". I am so proud of her. She understands how to live well on less and at a young age too.
    Ginger

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    1. Dear Ginger,
      Your daughter is impressive and it will bode her well in the future. Congratulations on adding canned foods to your food storage.
      Have a great week.
      Many blessings to you,
      Glenda

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    2. Ginger, What a wonderful daughter! She is a great asset to you!
      Rachel

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    3. Congratulations on this wonderful experience, Ginger! How wonderful! I am proud of your daughter and of you. You did a good job!

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    4. Thank you both for your kind words.
      Ginger

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    5. Dear Ginger, This is wonderful and I am sure she looked beautiful! Well done on adding to your storage too! With love Annabel.xxx

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  16. Dear Annabel and Glenda, I have lots of 5 gallon buckets, most being rescued from a local bakery and some smaller ones that were once filled with ice cream that were given to us. They are so nice to have and I use gamma lids on some of them so they are easier to open and refill my smaller containers and jars.

    Glenda, I love all your lovely jars and shelves of food!! Just beautiful!! I'm wondering if you could answer a question for me. About 2, maybe 3 years ago we were given boxes and boxes of corn. I blanched and dehydrated most of it. I have an older grain grinder (magic mill I think). Could I grind my dried corn and use it like you do your ground popcorn? I would like to start grinding it as needed for corn bread, muffins, etc. This would be better than buying it from the store, since that doesn't have a long shelf life. Thanks! :)

    Annabel, I had a good laugh at your comment about the plastic storage containers! So true! And I like Mimi's comment about the boxes she found. I do use baskets in my pantry to contain small packets, etc. So much easier.

    I will continue to pray for you and Andy! I'm glad you are so prepared! Love, Teri

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    1. Teri,
      I will pop in here and tell you yes you can! You may have to sift it is all, but it is great that you blanched it first because just dried corn is almost impossible to grind! I made that mistake one year.
      XOXO
      Vicky

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    2. Dear Teri,
      I have never ground corn done that way, but Vicky is an expert, so if she says it will work; it will.
      Gamma lids are so much easier on the body as we age (LOL). I honestly can't pry the others off, so I have to have the gamma lids for the buckets we refill the baking supplies out of, for the kitchen.
      Thanks, Teri, for your comment.
      Have a wonderful week.
      Love and hugs,
      Glenda

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    3. Vicky, Now you tell me! Ha ha!! Just as well I didn't get my crop of corn! Ha ha!!
      Rachel

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    4. Thank you, Vicky! I will try :) Teri

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  17. Hi, Annabel! I wanted to share a free printable that has an adorable rooster on it and nice quote by Nancy Luce. You can find it here on Susan Branch's site (the link below). I love to print Susan's free bookmarks on card stock and give them as gifts inside a book or if they fit inside a greeting card.

    http://www.susanbranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ChickenBookmark.pdf

    *hugs*
    ~Kelley

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  18. One more! A free Mother's Day printable crown from Susan Branch! Adorable!

    http://www.susanbranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/MothersDayCrown.pdf

    *hugs*
    Kelley~

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  19. We are having a terrible time with mice in our garage. It started last year and became worse over the winter. I just bought more mice poison. We've had to throw away food in the pantry because they got on top shelves where we never had mice before.

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  20. Dear Annabel and Glenda,
    Thank you for this post. Glenda, your pantry is so neat and organized! I love seeing food that has been home-canned and dried. I also use five-gallon buckets for bulk storage. Mine were free from the bakery and they hold rice, pinto beans, flour, and sugar. I need to pick up a smaller bucket for black beans, as we like them and I have quite a few bags in the pantry. I do the same as you and use glass canning jars for storage and seal them with my vacuum sealer. It is an investment up front, but once you have them, you are set. Yours look so nice lined up and labeled. Thank you for showing us your pantry, and for sharing the story about your daughter in the comments. That is quite remarkable.
    Annabel, I had been dwelling on the recent world news and it was making me very uneasy. Finally I decided that there is nothing I can do but look after my family and prepare as best as I can as you have always suggested. This sets my mind more at ease to know that what I do can make a difference in our home, whatever may come, and that God is in control of it all.
    I am praying for you and Andy during this job loss. Even if expected, I know firsthand how that type of news can really get you down. But you are prepared and that just makes a world of difference. I know you are prudent, resourceful, and a good steward of what God has given you, and I know he will provide all your needs because that is what He promises and that is what He has always done for us. And Andy has other skills, which is just another example of how knowledge is getting ahead.
    I hope all of the Bluebirds have a lovely week!
    Love, Kelsey

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  21. I had never heard of grinding popcorn to make corn bread, muffins, etc. Does Glenda have other ideas to use the popcorn for? I also see a jar of Bay leaves in her pantry. Does she have a Bay tree or is it a plant? I'd like to find bay leaves that don't cost an arm and a leg. I have bought the plastic buckets from our local Walmart bakery, for either $1 or 50 cents each. I don't know why the cost difference, but I don't say anything as I think they are a wonderful bargain at that price!

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  22. Just now reading about Andy losing his job... I know this is a trying time. I hope he can find some income soon. The Lord has blessed you both and you Annabell with being frugal, this will help until some work comes along. I also wanted to ask Glenda what sort of grinder she uses for grinding the popcorn. Thanks.

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    1. Dear Joy, I just posted a new preparedness post and you will see Glenda's grinder and brand etc.
      Thank you so much for your kind words Joy! With love Annabel.xxx

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