After not having enough T-paper and dog food (with two hugh dogs) during the blizzard in Indianapolis in the late seventies and having to walk 10 blocks to get some to hold us over, I swore that would never happen again so I always have a good supply of both. Then, after we first moved down here to the boonies on top of a high hill and experiencing many power outages while living in a mobile, I decided what I would do and get to be prepared when we got our house built. The first thing I did was research woodburning stoves until I found one that didn't take up all the room in the world yet would provide all the heat we could want, light and plus I'd be able to cook on it. Bought it a little over a year before the house was done and stored it. Then we bought a generator which the one dog tore all of the wiring out of before it could ever be used much. Lesson learned. The next generator we bought is encased. I also started stocking my pantry, overstocking it as DH always complains. I don't think there is such a thing as overstocking it. Also put in a good supply of flashlights, batteries and candles. Since we were on a well, everytime they predicted a good storm or tornado or the wind just got up high, I'd fill the bathtubs and washer plus have drinking water on hand. About two months or so ago we went on county water. Just in time. No more problems with flushing. We heard this storm was coming in and got extra gas for the generator. I'd just bought a 40 lb. bag of dogfood and had my normal back ups of everything else. Didn't need to go to the grocery at all. The ice storm hit but power didn't go out until about 1:30 a.m. so the generator, already set up and filled, was fired up and we already had the woodstove going strong. We watched some weather reports on television for a little while, then on to bed where our CPAP machines worked great off the generator. When we lose power, we also lose our land line, so we make sure our cell phones are always well charged and we can always contact relatives to make sure they are well and let them know we're okay. We do have our backpacking stoves and some battery operated Coleman lanterns as well. When we got up, the house was pretty much as warm as we always keep it. The young man from the place down the road came over to make sure we were okay. He said no one could get up the steep hill that we live on or down it. I heated water on the woodstove for hot drinks and we had cereal and fruit. Later I started dinner on the woodstove, smoked sausage, onions, carrots and potatoes, and the power came back on. This was around 4:30 p.m. Finished cooking on the kitchen stove and its just like nothing out of the ordinary never happened. When we first found out this storm was coming, DH went out to the 5th wheel, put the slide in and started up the furnace. We figured we'd just move into it if the power went out. He'd just had the two big propane tanks filled so we'd be able to stay warm and cook in there. However, he didn't like the way the furnace sounded so decided to turn it off and stick it out in the house. I'd say the first thing we were going to do once we can get out of here was take the 5th wheel to have the furnace checked, but I know better. We were supposed to leave here for a warmer climate shortly after Christmas and kept getting delayed. When we can get it out of here, we're getting in that RV and heading south or southwest. We can get that furnace checked wherever we wind up and our ceramic heater or two will work until then. Something else everyone should think of is sleeping bags. Even with heat and blankets, my DH has been putting his Marmot -20 sleeping bag over the bed. He chills so easily and can't easily warm up. I, however, do not have that problem. Anyway, sleeping bags could be life savers for some and kids love them.

Chicagoans, your egg story is as funny as Marcolo's pie weights! (My own ketchup story is just sad, not funny.) For those who've never heard of them, pie weights (which have been around in one form or another for at least a hundred years), beans, rice, or a second pie tin, are put in a pie shell that one is pre-baking to keep it from bubbling. There are some kinds of pie that you make in the raw dough, and some for which you bake the (bottom) crust before filling. From Chef's Catalog:

Back when we used roll film, the canisters the film came in were great for all sorts of things. I still have some, filled with Bobby pins, quarters, buttons, spare thread that came with clothing, pins, tacks, and probably more that are not coming to mind. We use a plastic photo box with dividers for playstation games. It's great because the dividers keep the games from falling over so the spines are always visible, and the lid keeps the dust out so it is easy to clean. We also use one of them for our Christmas cards. I repurposed a small cosmetics case for a dental kit for my invisalign supplies. It's just right to hold the tray case, a toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, pocket mirror, floss, Outtie removal aid, and numbing gel (just in case). It goes in my purse each morning so I am prepared for lunch at work, then I let it air out overnight. I also use a small cosmetics case for all my chargers when traveling. A small rectangle holds my headphones, headphone splitter, iPod charger and cell phone charger. Much easier to tuck in my carry on than a tangle of wires and they stay together and relatively neat. We used to make banks out of containers with plastic lids when I was little. The ones like Nestle Quick comes in. We would taper paper over them and decorate however we wanted, then cut a slot in the lid. In most places, hard plastic bottles with hard, screw on lids, such as laundry detergent, can be used as a sharps container. They still need to be labelled and handled as hazardous waste like any other sharps container, and must be disposed of appropriately (not in the regular trash or recycling). My great grandmother had an assortment of cool whip, country crock, and similar containers filled with her crafting supplies. Assorted beads, pompoms, etc. Tackle and tool boxes also work well for crafts, often cheaper too depending on what you need.

It was long so maybe over a word limit? I'll try breaking it up into 2 posts. Ahhh.... I bet I know. I used the word that's like a nail but you don't use a hammer you use a tool to turn it. I even wrote the word using a 3 instead of the E trying to be clever with filters. part 1 So sorry! Did not mean to ask for help then disappear - had a couple of minor crises to deal with (all is well) and now I'm back reading through all your suggestions. First I want to address what oly said about women who seem trapped in a role - can't speak for anyone else but you're not wrong in my case. I have absolutely been the one in my marriage who is (for the most part) responsible for deciding about food. It was different BK (before kids) but ever since and continuing empty nest, it has been my role. It's neither good nor bad, it's what worked for us but I am well and truly tired of it now! That said, it's not going to change at the moment, maybe at all. DH is not retired, I am the one with more interest in different foods and here we are. It's not about his expectation that I cook because if I say we're having turkey sandwiches for dinner he's perfectly content to make his plain with turkey and mayo while I make mine with tomato, lettuce, aoli etc on toasted sourdough rye. You're correct again that I don't want to make two meals and could leave him to fend for himself but cooking something that's beyond basic food for just me is a hassle and not something I'm going to do regularly if at all. Sometimes I will say "that word" it and make something using an ingredient he doesn't like - he can pick it out - but it still irks me seeing things get pushed aside and thrown out. He is who he is, he is never going to eat asparagus or scallops or raw tomatoes or, or, or. Being the Chief Food Officer is at least 50% mental and I'm mentally depleted, hence looking for ideas but obviously there was more rant inside me. Tina we're in the same boat - we're a team and although the chore division is very much along traditional lines, I have no intention of cleaning the gutters or changing the oil so cooking it is! Tell me about your cooked apples and do you have a specific frittata combo you use? DH always has eggs for breakfast (work is physical, he needs the protein and calories) so egg based dinners are infrequent for us but once in a while it works. Jinx I can't tell you how jealous I am of your cocktails and nibbles! That's my kind of evening. The green beans sound yum. eld I do need a break and DH does like simple which is fine much of the time but I get bored with it. Appetizers are my favorite way to do dinner - little bits of really tasty things. 4kids I have made that cafe delites chicken many times! I have almost stopped buying chicken breasts because they have no flavor and are often dry so will def try that recipe from OUAC - I like her recipes but for some reason never tried that. My sons both cook and love experimenting with different foods - generational for sure but I also had them in the kitchen with me early on.