Country Living With Emma

I've talked about what are now referred to as "granny hobbies" before. Now there's evidence that they have cognitive benefits.  https://www.snapdragonlife.com/news/blog/the-neuroscience-of-making-why-your-hands-matter-more-than-you-think/

First part of the writing of Mary Wightman Helm, who came to Texas with her first husband six years after Mary Rabb. They would have been there at the same time. I would love to know if they ever met. 

Thursday, I took a trip to Houston to attend the Houston International Quilt Show. I had a great time! I'll share what I liked best and what I wished was there. 

This is s great tool to deter pests, especially rodents.  Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

A discussion of the dichotomy of prepping and hospitality and the importance of balance.  Hack of the Week: Making Mayonnaise  Ingredients 1 large egg, at room temperature 1 cup neutral-flavored oil (light olive, avocado, or grapeseed) 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp dry mustard  Instructions Combine ingredients. Add the egg, lemon juice or vinegar, salt, and dry mustard to a jar...

Weekend plans and getting ready for future big events. Fall is a busy time! What are you doing this weekend? Take a Cold Tater and Wait

We finish up the adventures of Mary Rabb and her family in the 1820s & 1830s as they build a life in Texas. 

Baby Boomers are familiar with the Civil Defense Agency. In school, we did "duck and cover" and watched many films on what to do in case of emergencies. However, "Civil Defense" is no longer a thing, and FEMA took its place. Was that a good thing? Use your own judgement on that one.

This is a great tool for processing and preserving apples! Apples Peeler & Corer

In the digital age, it's important to have some things in hard copy.  The Bible is one of them. PBS Nova Series "In the Event of Catastrophe

It's Friday, so I thought I'd give an update on what I have going on. Also, I'm going to briefly discuss why it's important to be grateful for the people who came before us. I researched the price of land in the area where Mary Rabb and her family settled. The cost is about $10,000 per acre. That would make the "league and a labor" worth over $46 million today. 

This is the story of Mary Crownover Rabb's journey to Texas in the 1820s. I couldn't find what I think Mary's saddle would have looked like, but this might be close. Insect repellant: Picaridin

I use these with sewing, but they have a thousand uses! Offset Screwdriver Telescoping Magnet Kitchen Utensils - Cosmopolitan Cornbread

Anytime a big event happens, especially if it's a bad thing, the conspiracy theories run rampant. Is that always the answer? 

This is the last chapter in Mary's memoirs, and she gives us a quick history of how her family fared through the Civil War. Needless to say, it's eerily similar to our own time.

Where are we in the current 4th Turning? The headlines from 1938 sure sound similar today!

There's no link for this one, but you can find them on eBay.

The news has been hard this week. It's not always easy to know what to do.

This is the next-to-last chapter of Mary's diary. She covers a lot of time in this chapter, but there is still many things we can use to help us learn to live in hard times.

The playlist linked below is a collaborative playlist produced by multiple prepper channels on YouTube. There is some really good information in these videos. 30 Days of Preparedness

My favorite feature of this ladder is the narrow profile when it is folded. It's only 1.5" wide!

I haven't had a major social event at my house since COVID. That's about to change. Are prepping and exhibiting hospitality in conflict with one another?

How have people in the past made do in hard times?

Mary and her family move back to San Antonio, but tragedy follows them there. 

This monthly publication that I receive as a member of a Texas electrical cooperative has some great prepping info! Texas Coop Power