Potato Chips, Cookies and Yeast, oh my!

Have you ever bought a bag of potato chips and then had it go stale--or worse, turn rancid? Our tip is to store your chips in the freezer. You can eat them right out of the freezer, the cold "blows your mind" (borrowing from '70s lingo). Since we can't eat a whole package of cookies with the kids gone now, we also store cookies in the freezer, Zingers, Ding Dongs, you name it.

Our last tip comes courtesy of Marty's mom. She told us to store our yeast in the freezer. She said once she did she never had another problem with yeast going bad. We tried it about 10 years ago, and we never have either. Before that it was hit and miss with the yeast proofing. Thanks, grandma Clift, for that great tip!

Emergency Electricity and Gas Shut Off Tutorial

The recent earthquakes in the world reminded us of some instructions that we put together in the last century when we lived in Vacaville. They had an emergency preparedness seminar. Peggy and I put on a tutorial on how to turn off your electricity and gas. This information is taken from the handout we made.
During an earthquake or disaster, an appliance may catch on fire or your natural gas piping may develop a leak. I thought that appliance fires were a thing of the past, but a couple of years ago we got a rather urgent call from Melissa that her TV was on fire.  As fortune would have it, we were in the car and nearby. We told her to shut off the electricity to the house. She said she didn't know how. Well, we got there quickly and took care of things. No damage was done to the house (but the TV was toast). Every now and then you hear about a house explosion--natural gas is the problem. So let's get started.

In an emergency, shut the power off to the whole house. Find your power meter. It should look something like this:














The door is already opened on this one. Figure out how to open your door.  Once you open the door, it should look like the picture. Those switch like things are called breakers. They do two things. In case of an electrical short, they're supposed to trip the power off, and they let you use them as a switch to turn off or on the power.  To turn off the power, flip all of the switches to the off position. They are harder to flip than your standard light switch, but they work basically the same way.

OK, now that you can turn the power off to the house, it's time to learn about turning off the gas. This is a gas meter. We'll wait here while you go find yours.

Shutting off the gas takes a little more preparation. You need a wrench to turn the valve. The above picture shows a valve wrench on the valve. We bought it at a local hardware store for a couple of dollars. You can also use an adjustable end wrench or even a pipe wrench.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If you smell natural gas in your house and your stove and oven are turned off, go outside and turn your gas off. Do not turn your lights on or off (things could explode).

1. To close the valve you need to turn it 90 degrees (90 degrees is like an "L" shape, or a right angle). It will be hard to turn, but if you put the wrench on the valve the way it is shown in the first gas meter picture above, you can stand on the end of the wrench to start to turn it.

2. If you had to step on it to get it to start, then to finish turning the valve, turn the wrench around and close the valve the rest of the way. The stem on the valve lines up with the pipe when it is open (straight up and down--see the hand-drawn picture with the "on"/"off". It will be ninety degress (left/right) to the valve when it is closed.

3. Then call the gas company (from a neighbor’s phone) to locate the leak. Once the leak is fixed, they will relight pilots for you.

4. Air out the house after you make the call by opening doors. Don't go back inside, wait for the gas company.

We like to keep the emergency wrench wired to the gas pipe. That way it will be there if we ever need it. Otherwise you may waste precious time looking for a wrench.












These pictures were taken in the last century at our old house. But everything at our new house is essentially the same.  I was trying to remember if I wired a valve wrench on at this house, so I looked. Sure enough, there it was. We are ready.

Things may be a bit different at your house. Go look. Learn about the electrical panel, learn how to open it and shut off the power. Look at your gas meter; figure out how you can turn it off. You'll be glad you're prepared and can even go help your neighbors in an emergeny situation.

Articles of Faith Mnemonics

Kathy just got called to be the first counselor in the primary presidency. That made us think about our primary class of 10-year-olds (who are now 13!). We developed a mnemonic to help us memorize the Articles of Faith:

Number One: ONE Son of God who was sent to earth to save us:
1 WE believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Number Two: TWO people, Adam and Eve:
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

Number Three: THREE crosses on the hill when Christ was crucified, so this is about the atonement:
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Number Four: FOUR first principles, and FOUR counted phrases are in this article:
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Number Five: FIVE fingers on your hand--picture putting five fingers up. No put your hand how you would for laying on of hands:
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

Number Six: SIX offices in the primitive church, which is the "same" as our church, so over emphazise the "S" in your mind and say SIX--SAME), "same organization". Then count "six" offices (there are six if you count "and so forth" as one of the offices--a little stretch here, but we don't mind).
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

Number Seven: SEVEN gifts. Picture opening seven gifts, each with a gift of the spirit, including "and so forth."  (Things you say and things you see are plural--so the sees and says are plural--tongues and visions, all the others have no "s" on the end).
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

Number Eight: "8" sort of looks like the letter “B.” “B” stands for Bible: Now turn the 8 on its side. It turns into an eternity sign. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are linked eternally.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

Number Nine: NINE rhymes with “Mine”. What do you do in a mine? You dig things out, you reveal things, God reveals things:
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Number Ten: TEN lost tribes (there were twelve original tribes) of Israel.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

Number Eleven: ELEVEN--Put your hands up with your pointer fingers up, other fingers down, the pointer fingers of each hand together, side by side, sort of like the double set of doors found on many different kinds of churches, even other churches that worship differently–so worshiping how, where or what they may:
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Number Twelve: TWELVE jurors in a jury–must be about following the law and who is in charge:
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Number Thirteen: THIRTEEN, it's just the last one that is the longest article of faith. You are on your own here: But there are four sets of 13-word phrases with the fifth set having 14 words; six virtues are listed; then follow the admonition of Paul; next, believe hope and endure. Then four more virtues at the end to seek after.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Bathroom Doily Tutorial

I noticed that because I have a sink that has two handles, I have to adjust the water temperature more often than I would like. It makes for more water all over my sink, and I noticed that my marble was turning yellow under my soap dispensers because of water damage. So I made a cotton doily to put under them. Believe me, I’m very much a beginner at crocheting, and it was really easy for me.

For the pattern I used the first part of “Cloche Hat” by Theresa Richardson. Here’s the link: Crochet Cloche Hat Part 1. I also made some of these cloche hats with a few changes (shorter with no brim and two crochet flowers. Here’s the link for those: http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-crochet-flower-video-tutorial.html. I’ll post my finished cloche hats soon. One is for Cami’s birthday, another is for Katelyn. (Granddaughter and genetic half granddaughter––Great Auntie Patti’s granddaughter––Patti is my twin, so genetically speaking, Cami is my half granddaughter).

Click here for the pattern:http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B9LiexfJqp9sYjIxM2VlMmYtNjdmMy00NDdhLThiNTUtYzYwZDczMGM4YTcw&hl=en

Bulk Hamburger, Boiled

When you buy hamburger in bulk, boil it. Rinse it and then put it into individual bags and freeze it. The boiling (and then rinsing) seems like it washes more of the fat away, but it also doesn’t clump as much when it’s cooking.

1. Put the hamburger in a pot. Just cover with water.

2. Boil the hamburger until browned.

 

3. Measure into bags, either ½ pound or 1 pound each.


 











(One pound, after cooking, is 1⅔ cups. For a half-pound bag, just put in ½ cup and then ⅓ cup.)

Compost Tumbler

Last summer Peggy asked me to build a compost tumbler.  She had done extensive Internet research and found several nice pictures of compost tumblers that involved big drums and such.  But nothing to speak of that used easy-to-find and inexpensive materials.

 

I made a tumbler out of material that we had around the house, an old trash can, wood screws, nails, 2X4s and a chunk of 1" PVC pipe.

 

I first made a drawing of the tumbler, then I cut the wood to size and screwed it all together.  This link "Compost Tumbler drawing" will take you to Google Docs where I stored the drawing.  I added details to the drawing to make it easier to follow.  Just keep in mind that there is nothing sacred to the dimensions.  I made them for my trash can.  I used the same dimensions to make Kerry a compost tumbler.  I bought a trash can at the hardware store for hers, it was about $16.  It was a little shorter, so I just drilled the axle holes a little lower in the can.

I like to use sheet rock-style screws instead of nails.  I found that sometimes, especially in 3/4"-thick wood, it helps to drill a pilot hole to keep the wood from splitting.  If you like nails, then use nails.  It takes four 2 X 4 studs for the wood.  If you have 2 X 4 scraps around the house, just buy three.

 

Here are more pictures:

 

I drilled a hole in the PVC and put a cotter pin through it to keep the axle in place.  For Kerry's I drove a screw through it.

 

 

 

For my tumbler I soaked the grommets in hot wax so they would not decompose with the compost.  For Kerry's I used cedar.  I'm not even sure the grommets are needed, but I figured that they couldn't hurt.

 

This is the type of latch I used for Kerry's tumbler.  It was difficult to get the two latches exactly 180 degrees from each other.  So she has to be careful about which way the lid goes on.

 

One of these days we would like to put a tray under the tumbler to catch the small bits that fall out to turn into compost tea.  But it's actually surprizing how little falls out.

 

We made a starter compost to get us going. We mixed (by volume, not weight) a bag of peat moss, coarse grade vermiculite and blended compost (Shout out to "Mel Bartholomew and Square Foot Gardening"). We dumped in about a five-gallon bucket of this mix to get it started. The rest of the mix we put into our garden.

Compost needs carbon, nitrogen and oxygen (about a third each, total):

1.  Carbon things: dry things like leaves (dry and mowed over several times to chop it up), sawdust; straw (like cornstalks).
2. Nitrogen things: Horse, cow, pig, chicken manure; kitchen vegetable waste, dried grass clippings (no more than a third); Juicing pulp residue; egg shells (crushed well).
3. Aeration: (oxygen).

 Check the moisture level, there should be a small amount of moisture to the touch, but not dripping.

Someday we'll add a tutorial. Unless someone around here has major surgery again. :o

 

We'll be adding to this as we think about it through the week. Right now it's bedtime. Happy composting!