[stillafreemind]

Sadly, the only woman I know that cans extensively, lives right here. I think ALL women should learn the art of the "old ways". A huge emergency is but a disaster away. It's also been good for our house budget that she preserves so much food.

[AirForceMom]

We stared canning two years ago and love it. Just made a batch of laundry soap last week that works great. Should last about 9 months and only cost 18 bucks to make!

[Olog-hai]

Steinem and her Aufhebung der Familie stance really wrecked home life. You don't have strong, stable families, society’s going to fall apart.

[chris_bdba]

I wish I’d have hd the foresight to see that this info was needed.I’ve canned for about 12 years and have dehydrated for about 22 years.I’ve always used coupons and stoked the freezer during sales.All of this seems to be a lost art.IMHO just basic cooking classes telling them different terms and what they mean are badly needed.For instance I was shocked when my youngest sister told me she didn’t use the cookbook I bought her years ago.I asked her why because if was a very basic cookbook.She said well it uses things I can’t find....I asked like what....she said like quartered chicken wth is that no one has heard of that.I calmly told her it means a chicken that has been cut into 4 parts and that any of the recipes that called for chicken she could really substitute any part that she had that it wasn’t that important.

[Ellendra]

I love canning, it’s a great way to use leftovers. One year we had so much turkey left over from Thanksgiving, that after canning it all up we had turkey still the next June. I especially like canning meat and broth in little 1/4-pint jars, when poured over a baked potato it’s just right for a 1-person meal.

I’ve always like making my own costumes, but now I’m learning to draft patterns from scratch for everyday clothes. I got tired of not being able to find the styles I like in my size, then having to pay through the nose for something that doesn’t last worth a darn. I have a pair of stretch pants I bought 10 years ago that’s in better shape than a pair I bought 4 months ago. I’ve found t-shirts stitched so close to the edges that the manufacturer completely missed the fabric in places. Add a fabric allergy into the mix, and sewing my own just makes sense anymore.

Of course, the costume-making experience helps, I make my own brassieres using a modified bodice pattern, because I’ve found it easier to make and it fits me better than the cup-style patterns. Any ladies who’ve had trouble with the straps digging into their skin may want to consider making their own, too. Wide straps don’t dig in.