A No-Sew Face Mask, Two Ways.

Do you want to make face masks but you don't sew?   You can make these from tee shirts.  They fit your face and only take 5 minutes to make.

 They are not ideal, but they are better than nothing.  You can make them from clean tee shirts or from the long sleeves of your work-out shirts; long tee shirts or something similar.  You can even tuck some sort of filter in the mask.

There is now no reason to go out in public without some protection for you and the other guy.
Take the time to protect yourself and your family.
Good luck everyone.

Texas Two-Step Potatoes Recipe

I call these Texas 2-step taters because I usually make them in a super large skillet so I can have lots of leftovers.  Otherwise, you can just call them simply 2-step potatoes.

INGREDIENTS

A Large Skillet
4-5 Large Russet Potatoes
4-5 tablespoons vegetable oil
3-4 pats Butter
salt and pepper
Roasted Garlic with Herbs Seasoning
About 3 Tablespoons cold water

Wash and scrub your potatoes and wipe them dry.  Put oil and butter in skillet.  Turn on Med-High.  

Cut off the 2 short ends and any bad spots and trim some of the peel away but leaving some peel for added flavor.  I usually trim downward 4-5 times around the potato.  Discard the ends and trimmings.
 Cut your potatoes in half lengthwise and the slice them just under a quarter inch thick.

Place your slices in the skillet (the First Step in this procedure), add salt and pepper.  Then add some Roasted Garlic and Herb Seasoning as seen here above.  An alternative would be some garlic powder and some Italian seasoning. Turn heat down to Med-High.  Cover with a lid but leave the vent open if it has one, or leave a bit of space uncovered around the rim.

Turn the potatoes every few mins.  Some will brown and some won't but its fine.  Cook until some of them are fork tender.

Now for steaming them which is the Second Step.  Make a space in the center of your skillet and pour about 3 T. water into that center.  

Place your lid back on the skillet and close any vents.  You want the lid tight.  Turn up the heat to High and let it cook and steam for about 3 minutes or until all the water evaporates.  The steam softens the potatoes.  Remove from heat.  Its done.

The result are tasty potatoes that are a bit crisp here and there but soft in the centers due to the steaming.  Add more salt and pepper to taste before serving.

I put the leftovers in a covered container and heat what I need in the microwave.  They will keep well for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Enjoy. 

Have You Thought About Foraging For Food in the Wild or the Lawn?

There are many edibles around that folks pass by every day.  Check out this video to see a few of them.  You can saute them, eat them in salads and snack on them raw.  This video covers only a few of the wild things you can eat safely.
Always, always check further online to read about the plant and check out images of them to be sure you are choosing the correct ones for your table.

Above is a youtube channel that is very popular and gives lots of good advice, its Living Traditions Homestead.  Worth a look.

There is one weed that seems to grow everywhere and is very recognizable as well as tasty.  Here follows a video showing the plants and a recipe of how to cook them and then how to serve them.  Its another good source of wild food.....

These I have shown you are not all of the wild things that you can find out there.

If you go to this online site listed below, you will find a list of 62 edibles along with their pictures. …

   https://matteroftrust.org/62-edible-wild-plants-that-you-didnt-know-you-can-eat/

Just click on the URL to hilite it, then click on it to "copy" then 'paste' it at the top to post it.

When it comes to eating, we may have to forage when it gets too difficult to get to the grocery store or have our foods delivered and when items are just not available as much as they have been in the past.

Its worth having some ideas at your fingertips that might help in the future.  Good luck everyone.

An Easy Face Mask With Filter Space, Nose Wire, and Ties

This looks like another good face mask.  I like the fact that you can tie this one so that its snug and also it gathers around your face so germs can't enter.

Check it out.  Looks like a easy maker.

I will continue to look for things that may help us get thru this pandemic safer.

I know there are online shopping groups to get groceries, but something important to remember..... They all have a long waiting list so if you are thinking of placing an order, it will take 2 wks or more to get your food.  When you make out your list, make it out so that it includes enough foodstuffs to last you around 3 weeks to be prepared.

Good luck everyone.

Gardens Are Something To Think About

In these trying times, a garden would be a good idea.  Whether you have some land, or just a suburban lawn, or maybe only a porch or deck is in your realm of possibility, you can grow some food.
The following is a video made by a gardener who gives some very good ideas.  He is a regular on youtube showing folks how to grow food whether its on acreage, a small plot, a raised bed, a simple earth bed sometimes called a berm,  or just in pots.  His video here is updated to show that you, too, can have your own Victory Garden.  Its worth a look.....

Take a few minutes to check this out.  Remember, for a larger screen, click the lower right-hand corner of the video for full-screen viewing.

For those of us who needed to move from our suburban homes and are now without garden space and living in a small apt or in a busy city, there is the probability of growing your own sprouts.  All you need is a jar, seeds, water and a kitchen cupboard.

For this endeavor, watch the following video about growing Sprouts......

We have to think of our future.  Food is of upmost importance.  Even after this tough time passes, there may be other times that test our lives.  Its always good to have a way to grow a bit of food.  Try sprouts or a few pots to grow fast-growing greens or even microgreens on your windowsill.  Its worth a try.

Remember, too, that in many areas, if you have the room, you can raise a few hens for eggs.  No roosters, which would disturb the neighbors, but hens/pullets. A clutch of pullet chicks will start laying eggs at about 5-6 months of age.   Check your local ordinances.   

Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs.  The rooster is only needed to raise future chicks.

Another possibility for meat is rabbits.  Very quiet.  Tasty meat if you are able to handle what getting it entails, or you can have your local butcher do the deed.  Remember, if you do not name the animal, it is easier to handle when it leaves.

The other is raising quail.  The hens lay eggs in about 4 months and their meat, though small in stature, is tasty.  If you are thinking of quail, check out Slightly Rednecked on youtube.  He is very knowledgeable about rabbits and quail both.

 Possibilities to grow your own food exist if you look for them.

Good Luck

An Update on Face Masks That May Help....

This mask may be better for you....

Leah Day is a trusted online quilter.  She is good at what she does.  In this video she makes a mask that uses a wire or pipe cleaner to mold to one's face and there is a pocket so a filter can be removed for disinfecting.  Surely very useful in these trying times.

This video is more about what materials to use and what may be safer.  Its a good view that may help in making better homemade face masks.

I hope these are somewhat helpful to my friends and readers.  

Notes: 

1.  You could leave one of the openings open, where you insert the wire or pipecleaner or whatever bendy object, maybe even a piece of aluminum foil folder over a few times or folded over a piece of bread twisty tie.  This way you can remove it when you want to wash your mask or disinfect it.

2.  Remember, if you disinfect it in the microwave, all parts must be 100% cotton, from fabric to thread.  If not, it will most likely cause a fire.  Be Ultra Careful about Microwaving.

I wish you all good health and good days.

FACE MASKS FOR THIS DIRE TIME

If you can sew and have the materials, you could make some germ masks for your family, friends, and even for hospitals.  They are not respirator nor N95 masks, but they are good in a pinch.

Here's a few extra tips:
1)  Use 2 layers of a close-weave fabric like pillow cases and sheets for top and inside.
2)  Use flannel or an interfacing as used in dressmaking for the inner lining.
3)  I prefer making them 9" by 7" thereby making them a bit larger to fit all faces.
4)  Always use 2 different colored fabrics for front and back so you always know which one is the front.  When using them it would be better to always have the inner side against your nose being the same fabric and not the other side.  If you did, you would be then breathing any germs laden on if it was turned wrong-side out.

REMEMBER, THESE MUST BE BREATHABLE.  TRY THEM BEFORE DISPERSING THEM TO OTHERS.

Dishtowels are a good filter, but they make breathing difficult.
Vacuum cleaner bags, which have been suggested, are made with chemicals I would rather not be breathing so I would not use those.

Thank you for you attention.  I wish you all well.