Often we feel we are "kedging." This sailing terms describes a maneuvered used when the boat is "becalmed" or in still waters with no wind, the sailors would put the anchor in a row boat, row as far as they could, drop the anchor then pull the ship along the rope to the new position. Repeating this tedious task the sailors would slowly move until the wind blew again. During the Revolutionary War, the US Constitution found itself becalmed and surrounded by British warships who were also stuck in the calm sea. Keeping an American spirit of optimism the sailors "kedged." After three exhausting days they had put enough distance between themselves and the enemy that when the winds picked up, they had a head start and could out run the British.
We did not plan every meal for three months, we did not shop to cover all the bases. I wanted to run out of eggs; I wanted to have no milk for three months, I wanted to not have fresh produce for a few weeks. I wanted the experience to be challenging for our family but not impossible. I wanted for us to be forced to put on our creative hats and invent meals. Our intestinal fortitude is being tested. In these calm waters as we try new strategies, we are growing more self reliant. When the real challenge comes we will be out ahead of the game and be in better shape financially, emotionally and hopefully have increased unity in our family.
Sometimes we feel like we are pulling a war ship from a little row boat. The kitchen looks like a laboratory with the sprouts, wheat grinder, yogurt, and pressure cooker all in action. We have every plate in the cupboard on the table and we have used every burner on the stove to make dinner. The dishes never end. Not all the family is behind the effort every day exclaiming "Can't we buy milk? There is nothing for lunches! I am Calcium deprived" It takes hours to plan, prepare and cook. Yet with every effort we have grown in experience and fortitude. My daughter said yesterday she wished to continue taking lunch. It is healthier, it is more convenient to eat when she is hungry, it is cheaper. I recognized a breakthrough.
Breakfast: Christmas Pudding pilaf - I tried to substitute rice in the carrot pudding. If you like the carrot pudding flavors, this is a good recipe to try.
Lunch: Tamale Pie out of the freezer
Dinner: Leftovers with a fruit salad made of whipped cream, pineapple, coconut, ricotta cheese from dried milk, and jello for flavoring
Have you ever seen this blog? It is packed with wonderful ideas on saving on food. ~
ReplyDeletehttp://theprudenthomemaker.com/default.aspx
Thanks for the link. This is a very informative site. I especially enjoyed the garden links because I am an amateur gardener even though I have been trying for twenty years!
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of Bruce Gibby's book, "Valiant Young Men of Courage: Heros of Flight" in which he presents biographies of three early pilots with commentary. One of the pilots is Eddie Rickenbacker. His father died and he left school to work in a glass factory when he was eight. Because he accepted the challenge of his situation, he enjoyed a distinguished career, owned several companies, was a WW Ace and realized many of his dreams. In short, he accomplished more from less because he was allowed to try.
ReplyDeleteI worry that in today's society we are so anxious to make life pleasant or "equal" for all that we fail to let thriving spirits fly. When we ask or permit the government to "give" or legislate that we have to have, anything, we take away the individual's right to work for it. The result is that of the high school student who, upon graduation was endowed by an unknown benefactor with just enough monthly income to survive for the rest of his life. The student never went to college, never held a steady job, etc. The gift robbed him of the challenge of life that would have allowed him to test his metal.
got a recipe for making cheese from dried milk? dod you use whole dried milk...like Nestle's NIDO?
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