Moments

We all have had those moments in time that will be with us forever.  Moments we will remember - moments we captured on film - moments of happiness and moments of sadness.

Moments like - where we were the day President Kennedy was assassinated.
Moments like - where we were when we heard Princess Diana was killed.
Moments like - where we were on Sept. 11, 2001

Then there are moments for some, such as hurricanes and tornados that they experienced.
There are moments of births and deaths.
There are moments of marriage or divorce.

I remember the days my parents passed away and the days my siblings passed like they were yesterday. 
I remember the first time I experienced seeing a baby born (a niece and later a nephew).
I remember the day I married my ex and I remember the day I had to leave.
I remember the day I met my wonderful G and the day we married.
I remember the moment I met my first and most long time friend on the first day of first grade.
I remember wonderful friends that have left this world for a better place.
I also remember special moments, holidays, and celebrations experienced all through my life.

I am so thankful that God has chosen to give the gift of memories to each of us.  There are so many moments that we cherish our entire lives and that give us both joy and sadness.
That is something that no amount of money or riches can ever buy.

Over the years I have always enjoyed taking pictures - pictures of everything and anything!  Mostly they were pictures of things that have made me smile or laugh.
I have shown you old family pictures (I didn't take those) - kitty pictures (I love me some fur babies) and pictures of flowers and garden, meals and bargains.
Today I want to post a few pictures from over the years that just make me smile!  I hope you enjoy.

This just always makes me feel as if it were a walkway to heaven.  God speaks to us in so many ways
                                                         Click on pictures to enlarge.

This picture makes me smile every time I look at it.  Driving in southern Indiana and had to stop and take this from the side of the road.  A rather big gal had hung her dainties out to dry for all the world to see.  I smile because she "owned" it and didn't worry about what any one would think.  I still think - you go girl!

When we camped, we used to wonder the back roads and small towns.  We came upon this little town (no bigger than a minute) and saw this painted on the side of a building.  I guess we know what occupied the young folks time! 
OK, some odd things strike me funny!

Do you see what I see?
I see a head, neck and part of a body of a big cat - eyes, nose, and ear.  This is a tree root that became uncovered at the river we camped at - when water was low.  It is a natural formation - not carved or anything.  I just find it fascinating.

That moment when you can capture nature at it's best.

Flowers always make me happy and make me smile.  This display in our back flower garden is probably one of the prettiest I ever had.  This was a few years ago - but it is one of my favorites.
So much color and variety.


Todays post is merely to show everyone that it takes NO money whatsoever to enjoy, smile, and take a little journey through time.
We all have had different journeys - both good and bad and happy and sad - but they are parts of our lives and have shaped us into who we are today.

Take a moment or three to reflect and remember.  Take a quiet seat outside and enjoy the beauty that God has given us in large and small ways.  Look at each flower or leaf, watch the birds, listen, smell, partake.
Take a moment to remember those who have gone on before us - because as long as we remember they are never truly gone.
Take a moment to take a picture of something that just makes you smile!

We get one ride on this ticket of life - experience it to the fullest!
It can be done in ways that cost nothing!
I hope you smiled a little today - I know I did.

Blessings from me to you.

Cost of Convenience

It is amazing how convenient things are to us on an everyday basis.  We are totally used to it, and in most instances have come to expect it.
We can see a gas station on about every corner in town, find grocery stores or convenience stores every few blocks, and fast food is every where.
We can walk into a grocery and buy just about anything our hearts desire.
It has become a way of life.

What would happen if that all came to an end?
The people in the south, Texas and Louisiana have lost it all.  Their homes are gone, their businesses are gone, their jobs are gone, and the basic essentials of a comfortable life are gone.  Never was it expected - but it happened and continues to grow.

We have all heard that gasoline prices are expected to increase - and they will.  The refineries were at a point to change over from gasoline refining to heating oil.  That can be expected to go up. 
Lot's of people in TX are cattle ranchers.  I can't help but wonder how much cattle has died and not been saved to higher ground.  That means beef will go up. 
Feed reserves for animals were most likely destroyed by water.  More will be needed from else where for animals to survive.
Lot's of crops we all buy, are grown in these areas - we will pay more for those.
If you plan on remodeling or building - it is suggested you buy materials NOW - because every available piece of building material will be needed in coming months and probably years in that area.
Infrastructure is bound to be destroyed - so travel and shipping will be altered.
Houston harbor is one of the largest in the world for chemical deliveries for things we all buy and use every day.
The list goes on and on.  It is amazing how an event in one area can affect people all over the country and maybe the world.
I can not imagine the horror those poor people are going through and how they will manage.  We all need to pray that God caresses them and gets them through.

I have a feeling that financially and materialistically this will be the costliest storm ever.  Katrina had tremendous loss of life - which so far this storm hasn't - but there are so many more metropolitan areas destroyed this time.  Things will never be the same.

    Everything we have can be gone in an instant.  You can't take it with you any way.

On a daily basis  we  LOVE convenience, but we sure do  pay the price for it - and most people don't even think about it.  When you have spent your life being frugal, it just makes one shutter!  At least it does me.

I stopped by the farm market last week to look around - WOW was I surprised at the prices.  Quarts of canned peaches and cherries were 8.95.  Kraut and applesauce was 6.95 a quart.  Salsa and dilly beans were 6.95 a pint.
Jams and jellies were 5.95 a half pint.
Good gracious - we have all canned a fortune!
I was stunned at the cost of fresh picked local produce as well.  My garden  has produced a lot of dollars!

At the grocery I got to looking around and was astounded at some things people buy and the prices they pay EVERY DAY!
Eight pieces of fried chicken at the deli is going for 7.99 - 8.99.  I can buy whole chickens just about every day for $5 (or less) and cut them into 8 pieces and fry myself.

6 hard boiled eggs at WM sell for 3.99 - I can make a dozen for less than $1 every day.

Three  6" mini pizza crusts with 3 little packets of sauce (nothing else) was 4.49!  I can make a 16"-18" pizza at home with a multitude of toppings for far less than that.

Hummus runs about 4.99 for a 10 oz. container and 6.99 for a bigger 17 oz. size.  I can make my own with garbanzo beans (and any flavorings I want) for maybe .69 for a 15 oz. can of beans.

Guacamole is very expensive at the deli - averaging 7.99 - 8.99 a pound.  It can be made for pennies when you watch for a sale on avocado.

A 1 lb. or less bag on dried Amish noodles run approximately 4.99.  I can make several meals worth of noodles with a dozen eggs and less than 5 lbs. of flour - which is approx. less than $3 total here.

A huge pot of soup or stew can be made a home with items on hand for next to nothing and provide many servings or meals.  It you think about how many cans of soup it would take to equal yours - the dollar value is tremendous.

Tuna salad and egg salad at the deli runs about 5.99/lb. here.  I can sure make a lot of each for less than a third that amount.

Fast food - those burgers and fries can be tasty, but think about how many burgers and homemade fries you could make for the same amount of money.  You could feed a lot of people for the amount we spend to feed two.
I love the idea of folks making up freezer meals for this very reason.  You always have something on hand at home.

Stopping for a Starbuck's coffee is 3.99 - 4.99 a cup from what I hear. (I don't drink it - so I don't know), but I can buy a whole can of coffee for G for 4.99/5.99 on sale.  That gives dozens and dozens of cups, and I can fancy them up all I want.
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Isn't it amazing?  I know lots of people buy these things, and that is fine, I am not trying to judge - it just isn't for me.  My mindset just won't let me go there.  When we do get dinner from the diner or Chinese, I feel guilty for days for spending that kind of money of something that could be made here for pennies on the dollar.  I guess that is just my frugal upbringing coming through!
I love my gift card dinners that I can get for FREE!  There is nothing like getting a gift card in my opinion - it lets us indulge on things we probably wouldn't otherwise.

Those of us who garden, can, freeze, barter, glean, etc. are so far ahead of the game.  We know how yummy all that food is and will be in the future, and we know exactly what is in our food.  That is huge in my opinion!
I know everyone doesn't have that opportunity - but if you do - it is the way to go.

We ALL have items we purchase for convenience - that is a given.  I know I do.
The next time you grab for something - just stop and think how much you could save by doing it yourself.  It may be a bit less convenient - but it sure can save.

CAN WE splurge on those convenient items?  Most of us probably can.
Just because we can do something - doesn't necessarily mean we have to or that we should!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Frugal Happenings 8/27

Happy Sunday all.  I hope you all had a good week.
Here we are on the down side of another month - wow!  Time sure has been flying by.  It is so hard for me to believe that September is just a few days away.
Less than 4 months till Christmas!!!!!  YIKES

We have had lovely weather this past week.  The AC has been off for a large part of the week and windows open.  Loving the fresh air.  The same is expected this coming week.  Highs in upper 70's to 80 and lows in the 50's and 60's.  Sure makes great sleeping weather.

The cucumbers are finally setting fruit and starting to grow again now that it is cooler.  Second round of peppers setting and the plants are loaded.  Tomatoes have slowed down, but tons of new growth and smallish to large tomatoes on that growth, so we will get a second round of those as well.  New shoots on zucchini are popping up and loaded with bloom.  Broccoli and cabbage round 2 in the works.  This is really the first time that we have had EVERYTHING go into a second growing and will be viable before frost.  HAPPY DANCE!

Our days are getting shorter.  Light later in the morning and dark earlier in the evening.  That is the part of fall I dislike.
Needing rain again, although we did get some one day this past week.

Many of our flowers are still going strong and look so pretty.
The corn the squirrels 'planted' is doing great and they have been harvesting!  It is so cute to watch them shuck it and carry around ears of corn to hide somewhere.  Saves on my feed right now!  They planted - they get to harvest.

MY frugal week:
It has been kind of quiet this week and just doing a lot of small things to stay frugal.

• Line dried laundry
• Canned 12 more jars of salsa (we use a lot of salsa in eating/cooking)
• Picked more grapes.  5 lbs. after de-stemming.  I should have weighed with stems as that is how you buy them.  Oh well.
• My brother gifted me with 2 quarts of home canned green beans and a quart of home canned carrots - just because!
• Did lots of yard work.  Mowing and trimming = good exercise.  I just can't keep ahead of things - so much to do.
• Meals from home and scratch - using what we have on hand this week
• Froze several over ripe bananas for bread and smoothies later on
• Made a kidney bean salad that G has been asking for - he was a happy camper
• Made a batch of savory polenta for easy breakfasts or side dish
• Made up a quart of refrigerator dilled jalapenos (re-used pickle juice).  I brought leftover juice to a boil and poured over sliced peppers and set in frig. after it cooled
• Got caught up on monthly paperwork
• Made up another bottle of diluted shampoo and a new bottle of foaming hand soap
• Got out a small roast from freezer dated early 2015!  OOPS.  I was looking for some meat for stew and noticed the date - thawed and cut it up - perfect for stew. 
• Have the crockpot going this morning with a large pot of stew.  YUM.

Just doing all the regular stuff as well.  So much we do on a daily basis, is just second nature but still frugal.  That is MY LIFE!

Meals this week:
Leftover taco casserole
Mac n cheese with salsa added and hamburgers
Chicken strips, mashed potatoes, salad
Breakfast - toast and country gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage
Fried chicken and salad
Grilled cheese/tomato sandwiches, sautéed zucchini in salsa (yum)
Tuna patty sandwiches, bean salad, sliced tomatoes

Melon, apples, yogurt
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Now that fall is getting closer and the days are cooler, I get in the mood for soups and stews.  Comfort food!  I may even make a loaf of beer bread today to go with the stew.  I found a couple beers in frig. (been there for ages) and a mix someone gave us at Christmas - so bread it will become. Mmmm Mmmm good!

I have been looking over some cookbooks this week - need some new inspirations!  LOL

What have you been doing to stay frugal this week?
Any great deals or harvests to brag about????  Let us know. 
We need to inspire each other!

May the Lord bless and keep you in the comfort of His protective arms this week.  Stay safe my friends.
Blessings from my humble and frugal home to yours.

Frugal or Cheap

I know we have all been called cheap!  That is a given.  Most fugal people have been.
What do you think?  Is there a difference in your mind?

Look up CHEAP in the dictionary and it doesn't really say what I think it means.  I saw expressions like:  low in price, a good bargain, inexpensive, costing little...........in my mind's eye those MEAN FRUGAL!
Cheap to me is someone who will not spend ANY money - tries to get something for nothing no matter the consequence - doesn't mind cheating people or companies - not willing to help others - being nasty about hygiene or food - greedy.........................on and on!

My definition of frugal is about getting the best price you can, looking for a bargain, using things up and not wasting, helping others when able, charity, saving for a time when things aren't looking up/or retirement, and MOSTLY being a good steward of all we have (money and things)!

I do a ton of things that people have called me cheap for doing.  I just think I am being smart.  You tell me - what do you think?

Yep - I keep my bacon grease for seasoning.  As you can see, the band is not really viable for canning, but can be used for this purpose, and that lid is 2nd use as well.  I also strain and keep other oils for a second or third use - as long as I haven't used for something strong tasting like fish.

It is not often that we eat out - but when we do, I keep all the extra condiments (in a baggie in frig), napkins, straws (I even wash and re-use), packets of plastic ware (great if kids come over or donate), and pop bottles that any leaves at our house.  If we get delivery Chinese - they have great containers. which I keep to store leftovers or send things home with others.  I also keep those cottage cheese and sour cream containers for giving leftovers away.

I keep twist ties and rubbers bands in a section of my junk drawer.  They sure do come in handy.  I LOVE the produce rubber bands - but they get used quickly at our house.
I also have containers in a drawer with nails, screws, nuts, bolts, tacks, any misc. piece that comes with something.  It comes in so handy. 

In the bathroom there are so many frugal items.  I use coconut oil as skin cream and get it out with a spoon (washable) instead of putting body germs in container.
Hair dye gives me 2 - 3 dye jobs since I have short hair.  I only mix what I want to use.
Face powder when getting to that ring around the compact stage, gets scraped into container and used as loose powder.
Mix scrapings from lipstick & Vasoline together for lip gloss.
Tons of lip color samples I got for a quarter a bag at a yard sale 2 years ago (I must have had 75 - 100).  Says one use - I get at least 2.
Lipstick tube still has color in it - been using a Q-Tip for lip brush and using the remains for over a year.
Jar of cotton balls - that all came out of baby aspirin bottles.  I have never bought a cotton ball.
Baking soda used as toothpaste once in a while also as cleanser
Hankies made from old t-shirts.
Sponge/scrundgy cut in half.  Lasts for ages.
Old tooth brushes that I use when coloring my hair.  Have others for cleaning.
Plastic gloves from hair color.  I have dozens that haven't been used from over the years- I use one set over and over till I puncture.
I also have probably a dozen tubes of conditioner that comes with hair color.  I only use a dab once in a while.

Basket came as a gift years ago.  Holds my necessaries.  Old pop bottle with Himalayan salt water (used as mouth wash).  Cotton ball jar, small jar with Q-tips, clips use to hold towel around shoulders when coloring hair (also makes a great tweezers holder) and of course room spray, brush, a hand mirror (have had it for 30 years).

I water down shampoo to make it last longer - experts say it is too strong from bottle any how.
Dish soap - mixed with water and vinegar
Laundry soap - use less than called for and add water at the end. 
Baking soda - becomes tooth paste, odor absorber in litter, use in stinky laundry, odor absorber in frig. (oh I bake with it too!)
Scraps from candles get saved and become new candles or pieces used as melts
Any heavy box I receive is used for storage
Keep all tissue paper, pretty gift bags and boxes from year to year
Ice cream buckets used as storage or a gift 'buckets'
Used computer paper and envelopes received in mail get used for scrap paper, lists, or coupon holders
Any plastic grocery bag gets recycled.  I use as bags to collect garden harvest as well
Large cat food or seed bags are used as trash bags or made into grocery totes
Pickle juice/olive juice is either drank or re-used to pickle other veggies.  Can be used as a meat tenderizer as well
Magazines I received are donated to nursing homes
Larger snack containers (1 - 2 lb. size) are kept and cleaned to keep other homemade snacks in
Old t-shirts clothes - become hankies, rags, material for throws, pillow, etc.
Scalding water is used as a weed/grass killer (it works)
NO food scraps are wasted.  They are either eaten, turned into new meals, composted, or put out for stray cats/opossums to eat


I could go on and on - you know I can!!!!!! 
I learned so many of these practices from my folks, picked up others when we had little money, and learned from others. 
Do I still need to do these things - NO - but why not?  I am not too proud to be careful with our resources.

So what do you think?  Cheap or frugal?
Are you the same way?  If anyone has some new and different ideas for staying frugal and re-using, re-purposing, using up, and not wasting let us know.

Blessings from my frugal and humble home!

 

A Little This and A Little That

Today I am going to list a couple recipes that I thought you all might be interested in.  I will also try to explain the veggie bouillon I made.
As indicated by the title - each recipe contains a little of this and that!  That is just kind of the way I cook!  I read a recipe and have basic idea I like - then I just go and do my thing!

SKILLET GOULASH
This is how I made it!

1 lb. ground beef - browned
3 potatoes  - cut into bite size cubes
1 - 15 oz. can of corn (drained)
1 15 oz. can of red or black beans (could even use chili beans if desired)
1 - 8 -10 oz. can of diced tomatoes (with chili's if desired)
1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
Seasoning
OPT:  shredded cheese
(of course home canned can be substituted)
Brown your ground beef, then 'fry' up the potatoes till almost done.  Add the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer till potatoes are done.  Serve with shredded cheese on top of each serving if desired.
This is a very hardy and filling dish.  We will definitely make again!


TACO IN A PAN
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 C chopped bell pepper
2 C water
1 pkg. of taco seasoning
1 1/2 C instant rice - uncooked
1 C salsa (or to taste)
1 C shredded cheese
1 tomato chopped
GARNISH;  Crushed tortilla chips, sour cream if desired

Brown ground beef, onion and pepper.  Drain.  Stir in water and taco seasoning into beef mix.  Bring to a boil; add rice.  Cover and cook till rice is tender.
Sprinkle with cheese and salsa over the top.
Top each serving with crushed tortilla chips, diced tomato and sour cream if desired.
YUM and so easy!
VARIATION:  Add a drained can of corn and a can of chili beans to above mixture and call it TACO CASSEROLE!  A complete one skillet meal!!


VEGETABLE BOUILLON
This is an estimation of what I did to make this season mixture.
You will need dehydrated tomato skins (or tomatoes), onion, garlic, herbs, celery, broccoli  leaves (or cabbage) and anything else you want to add!
I made a pint - but I did have a lot of tomato skins dried from canning.
It is hard to tell you how much of everything - I guess it depends on your taste buds!

I used about an inch (at the bottom of a 2 oz. bottle) of dried broccoli leaves.  That was probably one good size leaf.  Could use the same of cabbage if desired.
Also about an inch (at bottom of 2 oz. bottle) of dried garlic
Maybe 1/4 C of  ground basil.  Threw in some thyme as well as rosemary. (Depends on your taste)
I used what could probably be 1/4 C dried onion.
Added the equivalent of a bunch of celery. (a jelly jar - 8 oz. - was 2 bunches of celery I dried)
**Basically it depends on your taste.  You can add any type of dried veggie or herb you desire.  This is a great addition to soups and casseroles - so much flavor.   Your family will be getting added vitamins and minerals without ever knowing it!
I stuck my finger in it and tasted - it has wonderful flavor!!!!!

This is a great way to use up things that might otherwise become compost or trash!
I added a desiccant packet to the jar to absorb any moisture. (I keep them from all pill bottles and such)

So there you have it - a little of this and a little of that!  Something yummy!
Waste not want not.


Don't be afraid to experiment.  I DO follow recipes when baking and canning (most of the time), but when it comes to cooking - well I just go with the flow of whatever my little mind can think up.  I think only once or twice in 32 years have I had a "don't make that again" comment from G!!!
ENJOY!

Frugal Happenings 8/20

Good morning my friends.  Hope you are all safe and well.
I am anxiously waiting for tomorrow to be done - I am so over hearing about this eclipse thing!  I know it is a rare occurance, but I prefer it was even rarer!!!!  LOL
I just know we are going to hear horror stories of people damaging their sight despite ALL the many warnings!

Summer came back to our area this past week with hot temperatures.  We did get rain on Thursday (nice gentle rain) which was desperately needed.  This coming week is supposed to cool off again I believe!
The hummingbirds have been so active and just a delight to watch.

My frugal week:

• I have been diligently preserving my garden produce - I love harvesting from the yard!!!!!
• Chopped and froze a dozen bell peppers
• Stuffed and froze many servings of jalapeno poppers
• Canned 28 jars of tomato products - pasta sauce, pizza sauce, and plain tomatoes
• Dehydrated tomato skins, basil, thyme, and rosemary
• Finished filing a second jar with ground tomato and a 2nd jar with basil
• Made a blend of tomato skins, basil, thyme, dried garlic, dried onion, and broccoli leaves.  Made a full pint jar.  My own homemade veggie bouillon!
• Used the scalding canning water along the drive and killed weeds
• Noticed we have lots of baby cabbage and 2nd round broccoli coming on in the garden.  The peppers are loaded with blooms and baby peppers!
• Picked round 1 of grapes.  De-stemmed and froze enough for a batch of jelly when I am ready to make.  Lots more hanging out there!  YAY
• Line dried laundry
• Made a dozen hard boiled eggs
• Dr. Housecall came this week for G.  Good check-up.
• Used rain water for my potted garden plants - cucumbers are really reviving!
• Went to the Grand Opening of Safeway in the old building of grocery that recently closed (glad they re-used that building)
• At the stands outside store I received 3 - 16 oz. bottles of Prairie Farms chocolate milk FREE, a cheddar brat sandwich and a bottle of water FREE
• Got 8 packages of Colby cheese (8 oz. each) for 1.49 a package!  8 was all they had on the shelf.  2.98 a pound for cheese is a bargain every day here!

• I stopped because ad said they had bananas for .39/pd.  YUM.  I can never find for less than .59.lb.
• I got a ginormous local cantaloupe for 2.99.  I had never seen one that large and took a chance hoping it would be good.  It is wonderful!

This cantaloupe weighed in at 11 1/2 lbs.!!!!!!!!!!!  Mmmmmmmm good.

I love that we are gaining so much harvest and food for our pantry from the yard.  What a wonderful blessing.  Are you adding to your pantry via your garden?  Are you doing any canning?
I have spent an active week canning and dehydrating.  More to do this coming week!  I LOVE IT!

Meals this week:
Had a leftover day to clean out frig
Skillet goulash (new recipe)
Leftover goulash, steak burgers and sliced tomatoes
Dinner from the 50's diner (I was tired from canning)
Spaghetti with meat sauce, coleslaw and sliced tomatoes
Roast beef sandwiches and salad
Taco casserole
Quick snacks - cheese and crackers, pickles, yogurt, and apples

WHAT did you do FRUGAL this week?  Canning, gardening, crafting, special buys???????
I look forward to hearing from you.

THANK YOU ALL for such interesting posts this past week.  I enjoyed everyone's stories and contributions.  I think it was fun for all.

I pray you each have a safe, healthy and frugal week.  May the Lord bless you and keep you in His loving protective arms.

Life Before Grocery Stores

Here is something to ponder.  The first major grocery stores in America didn't show up until 1946!  That was definitely BC (before Cheryl!),  but not by much!  I was born in the 50's.
We had a couple small family owned 'grocery' stores in our area and both were in walking distance.  Those continued to last for several years (into my teen years).

I remember going to Standard grocery and once in a while the A&P.  Green stamps were given at the store and those were saved and used to make special purchases with.  I loved the job of licking them!  I felt so grown up.  LOL

Prior to the major grocery chains opening up, there were the small family stores and general stores in more remote areas.  It is crazy to think you couldn't just run in somewhere every block or so, and buy anything and everything you could imagine.

Most families were like mine.  We grew so much food and preserved it.  Daddy had a quarter acre in garden, and poor Momma had to preserve it all.  We had apple trees, a cherry tree, rhubarb, raspberries, 2 huge grape arbors, strawberries,  and the neighbors had a peach tree.  Apples were bartered and traded for peaches.

Before I arrived on the scene, there were chickens, both for meat and eggs (and selling).  There were goats for milk.  Daddy raised rabbits for years for eating and selling.
He fished and fished when he had free time (mostly in winter and ice fished), as did my brothers.  They hunted squirrel.  I don't remember ever hunting anything larger, as we weren't real close to the woods.
We had a milkman after I arrived, who delivered milk and milk products.
Mom and Daddy would save and save and every few years, they would purchase half a cow or hog from someone they knew.  That was a huge big deal.  Meat was a side like everything else in the meal.  You got a piece of meat with your dinner - no one got to make pigs of themselves! 
Leftovers were used for another meal of some sort.
Absolutely nothing was wasted.  If there were scraps of something, that is what fed the pets.

Mom made all sorts of snacks - cookies, candy, cakes, pies, donuts, you name it.  I don't remember how old I was when I first ate sliced bread from the store!  I do remember it was disappointing!
Never in my Moms house was a store bought noodle ever served - up until her death at almost 91 years old.  I was an adult and married, before I had a store bought noodle - and I was the one who bought them.
Still to this day, store bought cookies just don't satisfy me.  Of course there is nothing like Mom's cooking!

I do remember going to my grandmas, and she lived about 65 miles away - which took forever to get to.  There were NO interstates! 
On the way home, it was an adventure to forage for nuts, pears, mushrooms, persimmons, or whatever was 'in season'.  Sometimes the farmers who were about done with their season would let folks glean corn, field tomatoes, pumpkins, etc.  That was a huge find.

Daddy not only grew every kind of veggie you could imagine, and some I still am not sure about, but he also grew popcorn and melons of all sort.
He made wine as a hobby (much to my Mom's horror) from green tomatoes, dandelions, grapes, elderberries, mulberries (we collected those too), etc.
Mom made jellies and jams from all different types of berries.

Soups were homemade -  NEVER  from a can.  All meals were from scratch.  We did drink tea, water, milk, and the folks had coffee.  Once I came along - soda pop was a once a year treat.  Daddy would take me to the hardware store up the street, and let me pick out a case of Nehi flavors.  It took me forever to decide!!  It lasted all summer/fall and was considered a real treat!  That day would be the highlight of my summer!!!!  LOL
At Christmas we would sometimes get a six pack of those little Cokes because Daddy thought "Santa" might want a change from milk!!!

Never did any of us go hungry (there were 5 older than me) - never did we feel a want for something.  We were happy and didn't really know any different.  Life was simple (albeit hard work).

DID ANY OF YOU have this type of life?
Do you REMEBER  life before big grocery stores?

How many folks could survive today - if trucking stopped, gasoline was short, railways stopped, disaster happened?
We all now grocery stores would be empty within a week or less, so we would be on our own.


COULD YOU SURVIVE? 
I think we definitely could - if for no other reason, than the lessons I learned from my parents growing up.
If we ran out of meat, it would be ok.  That is not something we HAVE to have on a daily basis.  I know how to grow, can, and preserve and we have a nice, nice stockpile built up.  I know people I could barter and trade with, and I could glean and forage.  We would be ok for a long haul., although life would be different.

This sure is something to think about.  I know not everyone would know what to do.  Young folks today would probably die simply for lack of knowledge!
This is why so many of prepare for whatever.

I would love to hear your stories, as I am sure others would.