OK, it's a new month and we should be moving more on prepping and stockpiling while things are going out of control out there.
So let us know what you have been doing.

March 1st

I went to one of my favorite thrift stores, here is want I picked up.
How to make home wines and beers by francis pinnegar 33 cents
Out of Vermonth kitchens copyright 1939, handwritten recipes, not typed in. 25 cents
HP Books, The Book of Pasta 25 cents
Gifts from a Jar cookies and Muffins, including raffia and material for jar topping 25 cents
The Great Barbeque Cookbook by the Austtralian Women's Weekly 25 cents
Better Homes and Gardens Cajun Cooking 25 cents
HPBooks Breads 25 cents
Sunset Italian Cook Book 25 cents
Sunset Homemade Soups 25 cents
Salad Days, Salads and Dressings 33 cents

A Sewing Book on Curtains, Drapes and Shades 25 cents

A Stainless Steel Soup Ladel $1.00
Kitchen-aid tongs, with pink tips $1.00
3 skeins of crochet thread at 69 cents each

I still need to go out Drug store shopping this week, so will fill you in after that.
Almost forgot to post:
1 bread cutting board that catches the crumbs and lets you cut the same size slices for $2

Okay haven't been off farm for over a week now, so I guess my preps would be; the seeds we started indoors, getting composted manure hauled to spread on the gardens and enjoying our freshly dug parsnips( overwintered and ground thawed enough to dig'em)

Also going through things and double checking. Oh! I almost forgot we did get our order for an extra set of cast iron burrs for our mill and another set of filters for our Big Berkley.

Our next and close to last big ticket prep is a 16x20ft hoophouse, getting all the materials ordered( that we don't have on hand) in accordance to Dh's design. YEAH!!!!!!

We're also rethinking our feed for animals, we've been gradually moving toward a more natural solution. We've been away from commercial feeds for years, but now are making the move away from grains entirely, even for poultry. If we do feed grains will will be grown here on the farm such as Millet, wild oats, amaranth, wheat hay, flax, etc.... Add to this root crops and squash, plus alfafla hay, house leftovers, sprouts, kelp, herbs and garlic and they should fair fine. Plus they free range too!

ordered my veggie seeds and placed the order for my fruit..have 4 rhubarb, 25 asperagus, 8 blueberries, 2 cherries and 2 peaches coming.
Also got in onan order for 50# cornmeal, and 3 packs of quick clot.
Haven't gone shopping yet, but may pick up a few things on sale tomorrow.

OK, since I am in the surburbs now, I am taking advantage of it, as in cheap and free shopping.
Went into Walgreens and bought the following:


Tylenol Cold Nighttime 24ct reg. $7.49 on sale for $4.99
Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom 24 ct Re. $6.99 on sale for $4.99 = $9.98 - $2 x 2 coupons = $5.98 - $5 gift card = 98 cents and got back $5 in register rewards
So FREE with a profit of $4.02

Next at Walgreens:
2 216ct Puffs facial tissue 2 x $2.49
2 DayQuil Sinus 20ct. 2 x $5.00
2 NyQuil Cold & Flu 24ct 2 x $5.00
=$24.98 - $1.50 x 4 coupons = $18.98 - $2.49 x 2 coupons = $14.00 - $5.00 Register Reward = $9 - $2 mess up by manager = $7.00 and got back $10 Gift Card and the manager gave me the $5 register reward that printed out
So Free with a profit of $8.00

Walgreens was my last store this morning, IU was tired and hungry, just wanted to come home.

Rite-aid was interesting to say the least.
The Manager definitely recognized me due to our last meeting over 3 weeks ago. He remembered he owed me 10 game of life tickets, so he gave me 20 and also gave me the $5.00 that he owed me. he was very nice.

OK this was interesting because I needed to buy something to get over the negative figure on the register tape, so I bought a cadbury cream egg.
1 J&J Tough pads 4ct $6.49 minus $5.00 coupon
1 Cabury Cream Egg 88 cents
1 Carefree 18ct liners 99 cents - $1.00 coupon
2 Nature's Bounty Vitamin C 1000mg 100 ct $11.99 each - 2 x $5.00 coupon - $2.00 store coupon - B/G sale
2 Nature's Bounty Vitamin E 1,000IU pure dl-Alpha $12.99 each - 2 x $5.00 coupon - B/G sale
- $5 off $20 purchase coupon
= 34 Cents for all plus will get a $25 Gift Card in mail for buying the vitamins

Next run through the register:
2 Carefree liners 18 ct 99 cents each - 2 x $1.00 coupon
4 Kotex liners 18 ct 99 cents each - 2 x $1.50/2 coupons
3 J&J Cooling Relief Pads Bandages 5ct $6.49 each - 3 x $5.00 coupons
2 Nature's Bounty Tea Tree Oil 1 oz. $9.99 each - 2 x $5.00 coupon - B/G sale
2 Nature's Bounty Coral Calcium 1000mg 60 ct $7.49 each - 2 x $3.00 coupons - B/G sale
-$5 off $20 purchase
= $1.89

Next run through register:
6 Snickers Candy Bars $3.00 - $2.00 in coupons
1 Olay Ribbons Body Wash 18 oz $7.49 - $7.49 coupon - $2 store coupon
1 Venus Breeze Razor $9.49 - $2.00 coupon
1 Olay Quenchers body Lotion 11.8oz $7.49 - $7.79 coupon for buying razor - $2 store coupon
- $5 off $20 purchase coupon
= -51 cents off my taxes = 37 cents

Last run through register:
6 Snicker Candy Bars $3.00 - $3.00 in coupons
1 Olay Ribbons Body Wash 18 oz $7.49 - $7.49 coupon - $2 store coupon
1 Olay Quenchers body Lotion 11.8oz $7.49 - $7.79 coupon for buying razor - $2 store coupon
1 Venus Breeze Razor $9.49 - $2.00 coupon
-$5 off $20 purchase coupon
= 49 cents
To tired to do anymore.

The manager laughed because I spent over $2.00
Also went to Thrift Store but that's another post.
If I add it all up, I'll let you know what I saved.

At the thrift Store;

An Elizabeth Austen Bag, Quilted yellow and gray design $1.99 regular price is $40
A Charter Club Classics Bag Spring cream shades $1.99 regular price $89
3 Pfaltzgraff naturewood serenity coffee mugs 29 cents each http://www.amazon.com/Pfaltzgraff-Natur ... B0000UCTRC $14.99 regular price
A Twin size double Wool Blanket, blue and cream plaid $4.99 great as blanket or quilt stuffing.
An Italian cookbook 50 cents
A Gourmet Guide to Dried Fruits and Nut cookbook 50 cents, great drying tips, recipes
$2.99 for a bag of 1 Green Oval Tablecloth, 4 large dark yellow/mustard (A dark shade, no ugly looking color) placemats, 8 large pink vinyl placemats & 4 large woven earth tone placemats.
4 Winter hats, 50 cents each, 1 for me, 1 for Son, 1 for Granddaughter, 1 for Grandson.

Did a 5 mi hike with a 25lb pack. Read half the book, Economics in One Lesson, by Henry Hazlitt

Way to go Rubies. You did really well. Congrats!

Sealed 20 pounds of various beans in old mayo jars and hide medical supplies away.

It's March 8th!!
It's a Monday, beginning of a new week.

I went to my thrift store today, Wow! with sunshine and warmer weather, everyone is out.
I found a Vitantonio Pasta Perfetto 900 Pasta Machine for $3.99 with all parts and manual included.
Also found a nice Stainless Steel Ladel for 49 cents, great for canning season or just soup or sauce.

Then I went to Rite-Aid, oh boy did I get tired, I never got to the part where I was shopping for me, I gave up and came home, I was so tired.
I do need to go back.

OK, I had 12 coupons for Cover Girl Make-Up, yes I know it isn't a prep item to most, but there are times a girl wants to look good and how can a man complain when she didn't even pay for the make-up. I pretty much came home with a year supply for nothing since the sale this week was buy one get one free and I had buy one/get one free coupons. Now I did add a Rite-aid coupon for $5.00 off $20.00 just to be able to pick up a few other items for free or cheap. I know you guys are rolling your eyes right now. Look I am a woman and all woman, I wear make-up when I go out.

Before cashing out I did go to the store manager and warn him what I was doing and also asked him to have at least 12 bottles of welch's grape juice for me for next weeks sale.

First time through register:
2 Outlast Double berry Blast Lip Shines at $10.99 each
2 Outlast Spring Wine Lip Shines at $10.99 each
1 Crystal Body Deodorant $6.79 (I have fallen in love with this deodorant, no scent, all natural and it lasts over a year. it's a solid crystal of mineral salts)
Paid $1.79 but saved $26.98 in coupons and $21.98 in sale prices, So for $1.79, I came home with $48.96 worth of merchandise.

Second time through the register:
2 TruBlend Micromineral Blush at $12.99 each
2 TruBlend Micromineral Foundation at $12.99 each
1 Crystal Body Deodorant $6.79
Paid $1.79 but saved $30.98 in coupons and $25.98 in sale prices, So for $1.79, I came home with $56.96 worth of merchandise.

Third Time:
2 Smoky Shadow Blasts $8.49 each
2 Last Blast Mascara $8.99 each
2 Liquid Bandage $4.49 each but on buy/get sale
1 Altoids Mints $1.99
Paid $1.48 but saved $22.48 in coupons and $21.97 in sale prices, So for $1.48, I came home with $44.45 in merchandise.

Fourth TIme:
2 Oral-B Advantage Toothbrushes at $2.74 each
1 Gillette Fusion Power Razor with bonus sampoo & Gel at $10.49 though free for buying cartridges
1 Gillette Fusion Gel at $4.49 though free for buying cartridges
1 4-pk of Gillette Fusion Power Catridges at $15.99
1 Crest with scope Toothpast 6.2 oz $2.74
Paid 47 cents but saved $34.23 in coupons and $6.74 in sale prices, So for 47 cents I came home with $40.97 in merchandise.

Fifth Time:
I'm getting tired!!
2 TruBlends Microminerals Foundation $12.99 each
2 TruBlends Microminerals Blush at $12.99 each
2 Nivea Lip Balm 99cents each
1 Mercuroclear 2 fl.oz. $3.59
Paid a - 43 cents but also saved $31.98 in coupons and $30.38 in sale prices, So with a Minus 43 cents I came home with $62.36 in merchandise.

Sixth Time:
2 Smoky Shadow Blasts $8.49 each
1 Crystal Body Deodorant $6.79
2 Volume Exact mascara at $8.19 each
Paid $1.79 but also saved $21.68 in coupons and $16.68 in sale prices, So for $1.79, I came home with $38.36 in merchandise.

Seventh Time:
1 4 oz Bottle of Sweet Oil at $4.99
2 TrueBlends Microminerals Fondation at $12.99 each
2 CoverGirl Olay Simply Ageless Blush at $13.99 each
Paid - 51 cents but saved $31.98 in coupons and $27.48 in sale prices, So for Miinus 51 cents, I came home with $59.46 in merchandise.

So I do feel bad that I spent some money at Rite-aid today, but I did come home with quite a few things.
Grand Total was $351.52 in Merchandise.

I spent $6.38 Total

But I am also getting a $1.00 Rebate & a $10.00 Gift Card, So really I made a profit of $4.62

I also went to Target:

For a Total of $5.06, I cam home with the following:

2 - Kids Crest 4.6oz Toothpaste Sparkle Fun Flavor
2 - Tums Extra Strength 24 tablets
2 - J&J Reach Dental Floss 55 yds.
2 - Dove Men+ Care 4 pk Bar Soap with Body Wash Attached
1 - Band-Aid Flexible Fabric 20 ct Bandages
1 - Band-Aid Bandages 26 ct Sponge Bob
1 - McCormick Sea Salt Grinder
1 - McCormick Pure Vanilla extract
1 - Mc Cormick Italian Seasoning.

Sale prices on everything added up to $28.98, so at least I saved $23.92

ordered from Emergency Essentials:
#10 can buttermilk powder
1 6 gal superpail of oats
6 5 gal superpails of wheat

forgot, also ordered 25# of sea salt and 25# of cornmeal

Got my ham antenna put up

I had to throw out alot of my dried goods because of bugs, not sure what happened, but could be because we moved in the winter and somehow the banging around ripped some of the bags opened..also the buckets had moisture in them....

I have been tearing down walls in the house, fixing holes(mice can,t get in) and painting and re-trimming...yesterday new splash guard went up in the kitchen...and I started re-covering the dining room chairs(get rid of the 50,s green and yellow) aded new cushy for the tushy and I am doing the coverings in dark blue...

18 year old clean the back yard and I removed the rest of the snow from the deck and we set up the outdoor patio table and couple of the chairs....

Today I have to et a 12 foot ground extension cord to plug in the second freezer it is filled with rice,flour and powdered milk..hopefully all of that stuff is still ok...its only couple of months old, the dried food I did have to throw out was 3 ears or more older...

well back to sipping morning coffee and then on with my day