Portable Water Filtration System

Here's the story: I love water. Fresh tasting clear water. When I go to other cities, often the water taste bad, feels bad in my mouth. I believe we here in Victorville have pretty tasty water. I drink it from the tap. I , though, am aware of the chemicals they put in water here-we get a report from the Water Department regularly. Sometimes it scares me to see that long list of chemicals.

I am aware that when I am traveling, there may not be a source of clean good tasting water. Or we might have a natural disaster that will prevent us from having clean water.

To be a more prepared person, I have decided to purchase a portable water system.

Why?

Well...I don't like buying and using all those clear plastic water bottles: Long story for another post.

Also..another thing that motivated me was listening to my son who, for his work, had to do some survival activities up in the mountains which included using a portable water filtration system. They had to use water from a lake, some streams.

So, curious to see if the LDS Church Distribution Center offered something like this, I checked it out.

I bought the Seychelle Water Filtration Kit (my son used a different name brand system) from the online LDS store and was pleased to find it was a lot cheaper on that site than it was on other sites. I paid $16.50 about 6 months ago and the price recently went up to $22.00. On other sites, this same item costs $59.95!

Here it is...very nice .The plastic bottles Seychelle uses are environmentally safe, re-usable, can be recycled. They will not leach and are BPA free. Yippee! I'm in!

Water Filtration Bottle Kit

This advanced bottle removes up to 99.99 percent of pollutants and contaminants found in drinking water. Produces up to 100 gallons of filtered water. Kit contains one 28-ounce water bottle and two filters. Bottle includes an insulator sleeve and clip.

Water Filtration Kit

(1 Each)

$22.00 USD Item # 08381000

Purchase this item from... store.lds.org

This would make a great Christmas gift, don't you think?

A Prophet Speaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhIQZGxeY6E&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Prepare Yourself For The Great Day of The Lord

Fiery accident on the 110

Girl, 2, dies in fiery accident on the 110 Freeway in Highland Park

This story has consumed me most of the day. I kept trying to think what could have been done?

Doors were locked so no one could open them to get the girl. Someone broke the window to try to get the girl. Flames kept people from getting the girl. What if it was me? What if I was the mother?The car bursts into flame. This is so hard to deal with. Maybe have good sharp scissors handy to cut the straps and get her out of the car seat fast and drag her to the front of the car and out the door with you. Split second timing. But you are in shock. Whta if there was a fir extinguisher handy?

But everything is on fire. This is just a tragedy.

I believe every car should have a fire extinguisher.

And a good heavy sharp pair of scissors to use to cut child's seat belt in a hurry.

Girl, 2, dies in fiery accident on the 110 Freeway in Highland Park

This story has consumed me most of the day. I kept trying to think what could have been done?

Doors were locked so no one could open them to get the girl. Someone broke the window to try to get the girl. Flames kept people from getting the girl. What if it was me? What if I was the mother?The car bursts into flame. This is so hard to deal with. Maybe have good sharp scissors handy to cut the straps and get her out of the car seat fast and drag her to the front of the car and out the door with you. Split second timing. But you are in shock. Whta if there was a fir extinguisher handy?

But everything is on fire. This is just a tragedy.

After Christmas Sales-Chocolate

This morning at WinCo, I noticed the Guittard Chocolate Chips (Butterscotch and Mint, also) were all priced at 98 cents. Last week, I paid $1.78 per bag. I like to buy the 63% dark since it is more healthy. I do not know how long this sale will last...they have tall stacks of all flavors of these delicious treats. A food storage plan should include some treat items. The chocolate chips can be melted and mixed with oatmeal or different cereals to make dessert clusters.


This is how the display looks at WinCO, part of an endcap. Now, that's a lot of chocolate chips!

Some bags are also on the shelf. I snapped this picture as proof of the price. I bought several bags this morning and I know they will stay good for quite a few months in my food storage pantry. I have discovered if I open a bag of chocolate chips and they have started to turn white-ish, I can melt them down to get them to harden up dark and snappy again.

EXPIRATION DATE ON THESE? There was just a code. I have at the same time purchased a bag of Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips that
have an actual expiration date stamped on it: 10-31-12. So I am assuming the Guittard expiration date is about the same. In other words, these chips should be good until mid 2012! And on into Halloween of that year.

Canstruction !

Canstruction is one way to store your canned goods and also provides material for the creative construction people in your family. Cans in the toybox? Make a can city, a can mountain. Speaking of cans, I just paid 50 cents each for Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup at Target.

Can Organizer Systems

Much of our food storage happens to be canned goods. Canned goods should be stored in a "First In First Out" method. You want to use the older cans up first.

One way to do this is with the systems described below.

The unit below is from http://www.thecanorganizer.com/pantry.html

They come in packages of 4, mailed flat and you assemble them. They are made of cardboard and are quite inexpensive. You can fill your pantry with them. The site has good ideas on how to use these.

I was thrilled to discover these smaller, cardboard organizers since we did not have room in our house for the big metal units as shown below.
This is one version of the many versions of the "First In First Out" style can organizers found at www.shelfreliance.com. The red bags are 72 hour backpacks ready to go. The site has a feature where you can enter information to build a customized 72 hour kit.

Solar Cooking

Today I watched a program on byutv.org about solar cooking. I printed off the free pdf file of the booklet the Wendy DeWitt authored that explained the different cookers and had lots of yummy recipes. See side bar for the link.

This is a Sun Oven.

Sun Oven Description
Helps You Harness the Power of the SunWhether you're dealing with a power outage, or just plain conserving energy, the Sun Oven can cook anything that can be baked in a conventional oven. It lets you harness the power of the sun to cook without fuel.
Lets You Create Your Favorite RecipesWith the Sun Oven you can cook almost anything - breads, cakes, muffins, pizza, vegetables, poultry, fish, meats, casseroles, grains, pasta and desserts, just to name a few.
Provides High Cooking TemperaturesOur Sun Ovens reach temperatures of 360 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which are more than sufficient to bake, boil or steam your favorite foods - wherever you happen to take your Sun Oven.
Makes Foods Taste BetterSun-baked foods stay moister and have less shrinkage than conventional oven-cooked foods. Also, with the Sun Oven there is never any burning or scorching to ruin a meal.
Is Totally SafeBecause of the unique way the Sun Oven operates, there is never a danger of fire.
Is Ruggedly BuiltThe Sun Oven is not a toy. It is a serious appliance that is made for years of trouble-free use. Each Sun Oven is constructed with a strong plastic case that is both durable and easy to clean. It uses Reflexo specular-finish reflectors and a tempered glass door to retain the sun's powerful heat. The Sun Oven features an easily adjustable, self-contained leveling leg to maintain the oven's maximum exposure to the sun, while a built-in Levelator keeps foods level inside the oven to avoid spills.
Is Totally PortableYou can take and use the Sun Oven virtually anywhere there is sunshine. When the oven is closed it is as portable as a small suitcase. It measures just 19'' x 19'' and weighs only 21 pounds. It even has a convenient built-in carry-handle.
Is a Great Hedge Against Power InterruptionsWith a Sun Oven, you will be prepared for any interruption to traditional power sources. You will be able to cook any kind of food as well as boiling water. You can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that as long as there is sunshine, you will have all the power you need to cook your meals.

For the past 14 years, these ovens have been used successfully in 126 countries around the world. Thousands of cooking enthusiasts in the United States and around the world are using them and appreciate the unparalleled features and benefits of using the best manufactured solar cooking device in the world.
Whether you are preparing for emergencies, or you just want to experience the superior taste and nutritional benefits of sun-baked foods, the sun oven will prove to be a wise investment.
http://www.pureenergysystems.com/store/Sun_Oven/