Thursday, September 11, 2008

Hurricane Update

The 8 AM update is just in, and still shows a northern Texas landfall, somewhere between Houston and Beaumont.... Rita II.

This all depends on what the front does. The models show the tail end of the front dissipating, causing the northward turn, but as you can see on the frontal map, that ain't happened yet. It's still wait and see, but if I lived anywhere from Matagorda Bay northward, I'd be gettin' outta Dodge. Keep your eyes peeled, and good luck.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Ike Aims For Texas

Well, we're fully in the "cone" now for Ike's US landfall.

He still has a ways to go, and things can change as we well know. But now is the time to check and recheck your preps, check on your evacuation routes, establish your possible bug out locations, and basically make sure everything is in order. Fill your gas tanks, water containers, and check your tires, belts, hoses, etc. on your car.

Ike has some nice warm water to cover before his arrival, so he'll spin right back up after he clears Cuba. I suspect the catagory 3 forcast shown in the above map is a bit optimistic. Catagory 4 is my bet. Dolly cooled the Gulf a bit, but it's still pretty warm, about the same temperature as where Ike was a catagory 4 just a few days ago. Couple that with little to no wind shear and you've got perfect conditions for a lot of strengthening. Keep an eye on this bugger, and be aware, be informed, be prepared!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Update On Ike

Folks, we really need to look out for this one. I got that sinkin' feelin'..... He's doing everything I don't want him to do. Check out the full update at Keep It Simple Survival, and get ready...

More Bad Financial News

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the U.S. Treasury Department could announce big changes for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as they struggle with the current mortgage and housing crisis.


Here is an excerpt from that story:

“In a statement, the Treasury Department said it would not "comment on rumors." Representatives for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac declined to comment on the report.”

Read the entire story here:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/05/news/companies/freddie_fannie/index.htm?postversion=2008090521

This trend is quickening. Soon it will be GM, Ford, etc.


Pickdog

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Ike Update

Ike is heading southwest like I anticipated he would, and will soon be in the Gulf. There is a frontal system steering Ike in this direction, and low pressure moving in from the west that will help pull Ike along.


At this point it looks like another northern Gulf landfall, but this far out it's anyone's guess. He is a borderline catagory 3 at this time, which is amazing due to the relatively cool water he is over, and the amount of wind shear he's experiencing. But once he moves into the Gulf, he'll have less shear to contend with, and some really nice warm water to feed on. Y'all keep your eyes peeled, he's gonna be a monster. The models show him slipping northward behind the front, but I think the computer model thinks the southern part of the frontal boundary will dissapate. I don't know about that, we'll just have to watch. Me, I think Ike will skirt right along that frontal boundary, staying in the lower Gulf, then turning northward after the front passes...


Either way, this is definitely a storm to keep a close eye on if you live anywhere on the Gulf coast.....

Friday, September 5, 2008

Storage Recipes - Canning Butter

CANNING BUTTER

Jars of Canned Butter & Hamburger Rocks.

Now you can purchase canned butter from The Internet Grocer http://www.internet-grocer.net/butter.htm or make it yourself using the directions below.

1. Use any butter that is on sale. Lesser quality butter requires more shaking (see #5 below), but the results are the same as with the expensive brands.

2. Heat pint jars in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes, without rings or seals. One pound of butter slightly more than fills one pint jar, so if you melt 11 pounds of butter, heat 12 pint jars. A roasting pan works well for holding the pint jars while in the oven.
3. While the jars are heating, melt butter slowly until it comes to a slow boil. Using a large spatula, stir the bottom of the pot often to keep the butter from scorching. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes at least: a good simmer time will lessen the amount of shaking required (see #5 below). Place the lids in a small pot and bring to a boil, leaving the lids in simmering water until needed.

4. Stirring the melted butter from the bottom to the top with a soup ladle or small pot with a handle, pour the melted butter carefully into heated jars through a canning jar funnel. Leave 3/4" of head space in the jar, which allows room for the shaking process.

5. Carefully wipe off the top of the jars, then get a hot lid from the simmering water, add the lid and ring and tighten securely. Lids will seal as they cool. Once a few lids "ping," shake while the jars are still warm, but cool enough to handle easily, because the butter will separate and become foamy on top and white on the bottom. In a few minutes, shake again, and repeat until the butter retains the same consistency throughout the jar.

6. At this point, while still slightly warm, put the jars into a refrigerator. While cooling and hardening, shake again, and the melted butter will then look like butter and become firm. This final shaking is very important! Check every 5 minutes and give the jars a little shake until they are hardened in the jar! Leave in the refrigerator for an hour.

7. Canned butter should store for 3 years or longer on a cool, dark shelf. [It does last a long time. We have just used up the last of the butter we canned in 1999, and it was fine after 5 years..] Canned butter does not "melt" again when opened, so it does not need to be refrigerated upon opening, provided it is used within a reasonable length of time.
A lovely glow seems to emanate from every jar. You will also be glowing with grateful satisfaction while placing this "sunshine in a jar" on your pantry shelves.

We have canned over 75 pints of butter in the past year. Miles loves it and will open a jar when I'm not looking! I buy butter on sale, then keep it frozen until I have enough for canning 2 or 3 batches of a dozen jars each.

Source: http://www.endtimesreport.com/canning_butter.html

Belwether Notes:

The most difficult part of the whole process is coming up with the necessary extra funds to purchase the 11#'s of butter all at one time. I already had the jars. I used "Land-O-Lakes" unsalted.

Keep the temperature as low as possible yet let it simmer so as not to scorch the butter.

Shake, Shake, Shake and Shake some more - Looks good and tastes just fine.


Take Care - Belwether