Just sitting there knitting, and minding my own business

When I realized that I needed to update my food storage inventory in Access. So I did. Renamed some of the items to match the current order sheet at providentliving.org [for family canning like I did with my ward on Saturday]. Updated the expiration dates and will pull a couple of items that should have been rotated by now but are probably still OK. Am also updating my Access to reflect the number of pounds of each basic item that I have in storage, as opposed to the recommended number, so I know just how much I need to do to catch up.

The good brother who coordinated our activity on Saturday commended me when he was ringing up my order. I probably had the smallest order there, and I told him that it was because I’m broke because I’m a single mom, and I have blessings instead of money. [It is going to take me awhile to drop the “mom” part of that label. I won’t ever stop being a mom, thank goodness, but the particular and exquisite challenges of single motherhood would appear -- knock wood -- to be squarely in the rear view mirror.] He said that at least I am doing something to prepare for the future. And I am. It’s slow work, this being obedient.

So, current recommendations are 300 lbs of grain per person per year and 60 lbs of legumes, a two week supply of potable water, and I think the former recommendation of 100 lbs of sugar or honey is still in force. Don’t remember how much oil or powdered milk is necessary. Right now I have 63 lbs of grain and 22 lbs of beans and about 8 lbs of nonfat non-instant milk and 12 lbs of sugar and a whole lot of geriatric honey that needs to be softened up. And about 10 lbs of flour, most of it in #10 cans and some of it in the fridge. So I’m a little more obedient than I thought I was, but I won’t break my arm patting myself on the back.

I think next time I will concentrate on wheat and rice, maybe get a case [six #10 cans] of each. That would give me almost 70 lbs more. And four #10 cans of black beans, if they have them; they were out this time. And then I would have my 60 lbs of dried legumes and could focus elsewhere until the cannery is available to our ward again.

Went to my friend J’s husband’s farewell after church last night. He ships out soon to Iraq. There was a good turnout. I’ve known and liked him since he was a 16 year old kid, and he’s turned into a nice man. Secondborn and 2BDH came and brought the Bitties. Firstborn was there with 1BDH and Lark and one of her friends. And I connected with LittleBit on my way out of town, handed off a deposit slip so she can make her contribution toward the car insurance, met a friend of hers, and sent them over to the party, which had about ten minutes left to run.

When I got home, it was almost dusk. There were dark somethings flitting all over the front lawn. Obviously insects of some sort, and I’m not sure if they were hunting smaller bugs or playing courtship games. They looked a little like drunken helicopters, zipping and wheeling and veering away. They must have decided that I was too big to eat.

Dragonflies, I think. Just really cool. I stood there for a couple of minutes and watched them.

Got a little more feedback on Thursday night’s presentation from a woman in my new ward. She grew up in my old stake and is a friend of Secondborn’s. I mentioned that I’d met another for Secondborn’s friends that night, who said that she read my blog. This woman asked, “You taught at Enrichment Meeting last Thursday? What class?” When I told her, she said, “Oh wow, my sister took your class, and she said it was fabulous.”

Whew. I am so relieved. I must have just been overly tired. Two nights of not-much-sleep, and I put a lot of me into that class.

I had to remember to frisk my purse before going to last night’s party. I didn’t want Firstborn to see her present peeking up out of the bag. I am planning on finishing it today and taking it to Knit Night tomorrow night and then over to her house on my way home.