Are YOU prepared? Our Short Term Goals

We are NOT!!
We are not prepared at all-- not even for a blizzard. Which is why I always "panic" when I hear a big snow storm is comming-- or worse-- ICE!

I also think our government is leading us into VERY SERIOUS and DANGEROUS ground-- and being prepared is VERY important... when we will need it for THIS reason-- I do not know-- but I do believe we WILL.

Having 6 children I should probably take my Mother-in-Law's warnings about being prepared MUCH more serious. (As I have been thinking about all of this preparing-- I keep thinking-- you know she IS Prepared-- she is right-- I always laughed at/with her worried about being stocked up... but she was the oldest girl of 10 children and she has a LOT of wisdom in this area I can now see).

So I have been reading many homestead blogs-- and dreaming about leaving here and moving into our own little patch of nothing--- (literally) living "off grid" or camping out until we are debt free and then putting up a SMALL home or Pole Building/ home. But thankfully my husband has brought me back to reality- that is a VERY VERY LONG LONG LONG TERM goal-- we need to take many baby steps HERE first. My only real issue with that is-- this is NOT my home (we are renting) so I am not going to spend very much $$ on SOMEONE else's home. Also the advantage to living "out in no where" is we could become debt free VERY VERY FAST vs. paying for this house and all the utiltities. But alas-- I think my husband is right-- many baby steps first....

Although reading some of these simple blogs of families living off grid-- in the middle of no where do seem like a lot of FUN and adventure. Hmmm maybe a long(ish) camping trip would bring me back to reality soon!! ;)

So for the last 2 days I go out my book "Just In Case" and began making lists-- THAT is what I do best-- incase you don't know me-- once I have a plan and a list-- I can rest much better. Otherwise my thoughts are all a jumble and it is not a pretty picture.

So here are my lists (incase you care)-- lol


SHORT Term Goals RED means DONE!!

drying line inside
drying line outside (this was on the list before we had a list-- now we need to do it)
CASH on hand - credit/debt cards aren't going to do much
Home First Aid Kit (just realized what sad shape ours is in)
Car First Aid Kit (x2) (can you believe I do not have a good one??)
Flashlights x6 (I think we have 3)
3 sets of batteries for flashlights ( batteries? Oh dear-- we are in sad shape here)
oil lamps x1
oil for all 3 lamps
preparedness notebook (just a notebook to keep all my lists, and important info in one place)
practice- no electric 2 days
water-- drinking
water-- flushing
wild herb / foraging book
declutter and purge home! (seriously-- i love doing this)
Camp stove w/ gas
grill gas
How will we- keep warm
How will we- cook
How will we- flush
How will we- light our home
How will we handle the freezers
Cast Iron pots x2
Blankets
Hand Crank radio (or battery) w/ cell phone charger
Important phone #'s written down (not in cell or computer)
Learn: to start a fire
Learn: to dress a wound, First Aid
Learn: how to change a tire
Can FOODS -- I am so ashamed in my learning about GOOD NOURISHING foods I have stopped canning knowing it kills a lot of the nutrients-- but really if we are in an emergency-- I need FOOD-- it may not not be fresh but it is what kept our great grandparents going....)
broody chickens -- really I have wanted these for a long time too-- no need to buy more and more if I could get one that would sit and have chicks!!
Tinctures/ medicine
Make OWN cleaning products
COMPOST pile
COOK STOVE