Food storage

Well, after the earth quake hit Nevada and shook us up a little here, Jay is feeling even stronger about getting our food storage back up to snuff. We used to keep it pretty well stocked but over the last few years we've let it go. In fact, my food storage area has become more of a place to throw things that no one knows where to put! I can't even get to the shelves without climbing over things. It's not a very big area to begin with so it can get cluttered and disorganized really easily. So...I made the executive decision that tonight for family night we are going to clean out the food storage! I'm sure Jay will love to hear that! It seems that with all the stress of the last year and a half, I have really let things go and it's definitely time to get my house in order.

Yesterday in church it was announced that wheat and flour prices are going to double due to the fact that many of the farmers are producing corn instead of wheat because they can get more money. They are apparently growing the corn for fuel purposes and it was said that bread prices will be doubling and tripling in the next little while. I guess it's time to start making bread! Good thing I have a bread machine. In fact, I think I'll get a loaf going for dinner. YUM! There's nothing better than hot, homemade bread! I remember my mom making bread at least once a week, of course it was all done by hand. I loved bread day because for lunch she would always make scones. Sometimes she would give me a small bit of dough to knead and I loved making my very own loaf. My kids don't have that same memory since their mom rarely makes bread and never makes it by hand. In a pinch I could do it, but it's so much easier to simply throw everything together in the bread machine.

I've thought a lot lately about how dependent I am on all the modern conveniences of life. What would I do in a catastrophy if I didn't have electricity or gas to run everything? I'd be in a world of hurt, that's for sure! I'm so grateful for the things that make my life easier. I know I take much of it for granted, and hope I never have to experience a situation where all I have are the basics. When I've been to the islands, I'm always amazed at the creativity the islanders use to get by. There are days when I wish my kids could experience, for just a bit, what life would be like without TV, computers, play stations. I remember so vividly watching a group of children on the islands playing stick ball with a 2x4 and rocks. They entertain themselves with simple things and have just as much fun, or more so, than our kids do with the miriad of toys in their possession. It's a catch 22. Life is so simple on the islands, and yet so difficult. I just know I'm incredibly blessed!