On the First Day of Christmas . . .

Best wishes for both a wonderful Christmas and happy 2012.

Thank you for visiting the creative cheapskate. I hope I have offered something of value.


                                                                     Simply, Gail

On the Second Day of Christmas . . .

     And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.          

     And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

     And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

     For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. . .

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

                                                                                         St. Luke  2:8-11, 13

We often hear the phrase, referring to the wonder of the Second Coming of our Savior that the "lamb will lie down with the lion.

 When I went searching for the scriptural reference I found the following:

"This is not an exact quote from scripture but rather a combination of thoughts from a couple of verses.

Isaiah 11:6
 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fattling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 65:25
 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Both of these passages deal with the kingdom age on the earth after the Lord Jesus Christ returns to reign on the earth as King of kings. The ferocious beasts (like the lion) will live peaceably with the gentle animals (like the lamb). Certainly, this will be a literal reality on the earth. However, this picture is also symbolic of the peace that will pervade the entire earth. When preachers speak of the lion and the lamb lying down together, they are referring to the time of peace when Jesus will reign as King over the earth."     

David Reagan

LearnTheBible.org.

The inside of this card simply states

Christmas is Love

On the Third Day of Christmas . . .

the Gift of Love was born

On the Fourth day of Christmas . . .

On the Fifth Day of Christmas. . .

For those reading this blog who may not share our beliefs or traditions, I hope that you will feel the love we have for you and all mankind --- and our prayers for peace on earth for everyone.  Jesus Christ loves us all.

For the next five days I am going to post six of my favorite Christmas cards ---- four we received over the years, and two Dave designed, cut from linoleum blocks and individually printed. I wish we had noted the date on the back of the blocks-----but we didn't. It was a long, long time ago, that much I remember.

Having said that, I can't find my special Christmas card of Santa Claus reverently kneeling at the manger. When our children were small we were given a statue similar to the one pictured here. We loved it and thought it was a wonderful way to combine the fun of Santa Claus with the true meaning of Christmas----something that can be difficult to do.

Jesus IS the reason for the season

When I couldn't find the card, which was sent to us by our son Romm in 1984 I started searching for a picture of it on the internet. I was amazed at the vast number of sites portraying different characterizations of the kneeling Santa worshiping the Baby Jesus.

I also discovered three different poems combining the two aspects and have selected one to share.

A Mother's Christmas Wish

Come dear family, gather 'round our Christmas tree:
Let us spend a little time in love and harmony.
Tomorrow we will celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord,
But I've a wish this year to see it's meaning's not ignored.

The gifts are neatly set about with names and tags and bows.
And Christmas goodies are in sight, the stockings are in rows.
But as I look into your faces, what I wish to see,
Is a love for Christ our Savior, not "What's Santa bringing me?"

Each time one of you were born and laid here in my arm,
I thought about the Christ child in the manger safe and warm.
I thought of how His life began, and all the things He taught.
I thought of how He died for us --- that death could conquer not.

I wonder how His face would look, if these gifts to Him we gave---
a shirt, a train, a story book, which of these would He save?
I think He'd rather see us give kindness to one another,
To say our thinks and give our love to Him, our oldest brother.

So, as the colored Christmas lights are blinking in your heads,
I hope to find you each with love, kneeling at your beds,
And giving him a birthday wish that will be sure to please:
And vow to love your fellow man, and promise from your knees.

Then in the morning when you pass your Christmas gifts around,
Give the gift of love and joy. . .let true peace here be found.
For Jesus will be here to join, he's told us so, you see.
"If you do it unto the least of these---you do it unto Me."

by Suzanne Dean


I hope that by now you have completed your holiday busy-ness and are taking time/making time for the beauty of the true reason for the season.

Equivalents: Have you ever needed to know how many smooshed bananas are in a cup....plus more

There are 3 smooshed bananas in a cup
What about the number of teaspoons in a packet of active dry yeast?

Or how many graham crackers are needed to produce 1 cup of crumbs?
Or how many cups do you end up with when you grate a pound of cheese?
Or many other equivalents?


Ponder no more!

• YEAST: 1 packet active dry yeast = 2-1/4 teaspoons
• GRAHAM CRACKERS: 14 graham cracker squares = 1 cup fine crumbs
• CHEESE: 1 pound cheese = 4-1/2 cups grated
• CORN FLAKES: 3 cups corn flakes = 1 cup crushed
• SALTINE CRACKERS: 28 saltine crackers = 1 cup crumbs
• BREAD: 3 slices bread = 1 cup crumbs
• CHOCOLATE WAFERS: 19 chocolate wafers = 1 cup crumbs
• VANILLA WAFERS: 22 vanilla wafers = 1 cup crumbs

• NUTS: 4 ounces chopped nuts = 1 cup
• CHOCOLATE CHIPS: 12 ounces chocolate chips = 2 cups
• BUTTER OR MARGARINE: 1 stick butter or margarine = 1/2 cup or 1/4 pound
• MARSHMALLOWS: 10 miniature marshmallows = 1 large marshmallow

• OATS: 1 pound rolled oats = 4-3/4 cups
• FLOUR:1 pound flour = 3-3/4 cups
• GRANULATED SUGAR: 1 pound white sugar = 2 cups
• BROWN SUGAR: 1 pound brown sugar = 2-1/4 cups, firmly packed
• POWDERED/CONFECTIONER'S SUGAR: 1 pound powdered sugar = 3-1/2 cups

• EGG YOLKS: 1 large egg yolk = 1 T + 1 tsp and 12-14 egg yolks = 1 cup
• EGG WHITES: 1 large egg white = 2 T = 2 tsp  and 8-10 large egg whites = 1 cup
• EGGS: 1 large egg = 4 Tablespoons
• EGG SUBSTITUTE: 1/4 cup egg substitute = 1 egg

• CHICKEN: 3 pounds cooked chicken = 4-1/2 cups chopped
• CHICKEN BREASTS:1-1/2 pounds chicken breasts =3 cups cooked and chopped
• CHOPPED MEATS: 1/2 pound cooked boneless ham, beef or turkey = 2 cups chopped meat

• RICE: 1 cup uncooked white rice = 3 cups cooked white rice
• PASTA: 1 cup uncooked pasta = 2-2/3 cups cooked pasta

• HERBS: 1 tsp dried herbs = 1 T fresh herbs
• LEMONS: 1 lemon = 2 to 4 T juice and 1 tsp grated rind
• ORANGES: 1 medium orange = 6 to 8 T juice and 2 to 3 tsp grated rind
• BANANAS: 3 medium bananas = 1 cup mashed
• CHERRIES: 1 pound cherries = 2-1/2 cup pitted
• RAISINS: 1 pound raisins = 2 cups

• TOMATOES: 1 pound tomatoes = 1-1/2 cups chopped
• SPINACH: 1 pound fresh spinach = 12 cups fresh or 1-1/2 cups cooked
• ONIONS: 1 large onion = 1 cup chopped  
• ONIONS: 1 pound onions = 3 cups chopped

'til we eat again
           Simply, Gail

#11 What If . . . Putting Together a "Grab-N-Go-Bag" or. . .

• backpack 
• duffle bag
•  wagon
•  fisherman's vest
•  5-gallon bucket  or
• whatever works for you

It is likely that sometime you'll be in a situation*  where immediate help of some kind will be needed over a wide-spread area. 
    *Earthquake *Flooding *Tornado *Wildfire *Act of War. . .


It usually takes three days for official assistance to arrive. That could be a life-threatening or, at the very least, miserable 72 hours!


A Grab-N-Go-Bag is a quick and reasonably priced "insurance" for each member of your family. And, just like any other type of insurance, hopefully it will never be needed.


The toughest part of assembling a 72 hour kit is deciding what items are ESSENTIAL.

It would be much easier if we could know what the emergency will be, the time of year, whether we are confined to our home or whether we have to leave our home and area, and if we have to leave---will it be on foot or vehicle. We have to do the best we can without that knowledge.


Please be up to the challenge and prepare now because "when the time of need has arrived---the time of preparation has passed."


I, and many places on the Internet, can give you things to consider and suggestions but the deciding is up to you---and your individual family situation.


Things to consider

• Your family situation---ages, health, specific needs if any--- 
• Physical abilities of the different members of the family --- how much can each carry/will some need their supplies carried or, will someone need to be carried---
• Does your household include infants or elderly or pets---

Suggestions for Basic Bare Minimum Food to SUSTAIN one person for 72 hours: 

• Water! A MINIMUM of 6 liters  is recommended
• Tang powdered drink  -- 1/2 cup (divided into two servings)
• Instant Oatmeal* -- two packets
• 2 granola bars
• Cocoa mix -- 1/2 cup (divided into two servings) or 2 packets
• 1 single serving stew or pasta with "pop top" lid
• 10 sticks of chewing gum
• 9 pieces of hard candy
• 1 single serving can of beanie-weenies or similar with "pop top" lid
• 3 fruit roll ups
• 2 envelopes single serving noodles
• 1 one-ounce package raisins
• 2 one-ounce packages of beef jerky
• 3 plastic spoons
• 1 package matches
• 4 snack-size zip lock bags for divided Tang and cocoa mix
• wing stove or similar to heat water and fuel for same 

Menus using above

Day 1: Breakfast: Tang, oatmeal, 

            Lunch: Beanie Weenies, 1 fruit roll-up

            Dinner: 1 granola bar, 1 beef jerky, hot cocoa

            Snacks: 3 pieces hard candy and 3 pieces gum

Day 2: Breakfast: hot cocoa, 1 granola bar

            Lunch: soup and raisins

            Dinner: stew/pasta, 1 fruit roll-up

            Snacks: 3 pieces hard candy and 3 pieces gum

Day 3: Breakfast: Tang, oatmeal

            Lunch: soup

            Dinner: 1 beef jerky and 1 fruit roll-up

            Snacks: 3 pieces hard candy and 4 pieces gum

• The above menu requires 2 liters of the bottled water.
• Save and reuse the Beanie Weenie can to heat other foods if no other container is available.
• Mix 3/4 cup water each with the Tang and hot cocoa mixes.

* Homemade Instant Oatmeal packets

     3 cups quick cooking oats - divided

     salt

     snack-sized zip-lock baggies

1. Put 1/2 cup oats in a blender and blend on high until powdery. Set aside in a small bowl and repeat procedure with an additional 1/2 cup oats. If you are using a food processor you can do the one cup of oats in one batch. 
2. Into EACH baggie, put the following ingredients: 1/4 cup un-powdered oats, 2 Tablespoons powdered oats and 1/8 teaspoon salt.

You can make a variety of flavors, if desired, and store the filled baggies in an airtight container.

To serve: empty packet into a bowl. Add 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir and let stand for 2 minutes. For thicker oatmeal use less water, for thinner, use more water.

Note: I often eat commercial instant oatmeal by just tearing open the package and stirring in a little room-temperature water to the consistency I want--it works fine!

Variations are limited only by your personal tastes and your imagination. Artificial sweeteners can be used in place of sugar if desired, although I would recommend it for the 72 hour kit unless real sugar is a dietary problem. The measurements are what you add to the above recipe for each packet.

• Sweetened Oatmeal - 1 T sugar
• Brown sugar-cinnamon - 1 T brown sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Apple-cinnamon - 1 T sugar, 1/4 tsp and 2 T very finely chopped dried apples (I use a blender)
• Raisins-brown sugar - 1 T packed brown sugar and 1 T raisins
• Health Nut - 2 T wheat germ, any type
• Fruit and Cream - 1 T powdered non-dairy creamer and 2 T finely chopped dried fruit
• Confetti - 1 tsp decorative cake/cookie sprinkles
• S'More - 6 mini marshmallows and 1 T milk chocolate chips
• Cookies 'n Cream - 1 crushed Oreo (or similar) cookie and 1 T powdered non-dairy creamer
• Exploding - 1 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp 'Pop Rocks' candy. (This one is fun for birthdays and other celebration days)

 Homemade (civil defense recipe) survival ration bar 

Each bar contains 1000 calories and will provide sufficient food for a one day ration.

2 cups whole grain cereal (oatmeal or wheat flakes)

1 cup white sugar

2-1/2 cups powdered milk

3 T water 

3 T honey

1/2 of a 4 ounce package of orange gelatin

Combine first three ingredients and set aside. Combine honey and water and bring to a boil. Add gelatin, stirring until dissolved and then add to the dry ingredients.

Mix well, adding up to 3 more Tablespoons water as needed. Shape into four 1-inch thick bars. Dry in 200 degree oven for two hours. Turn over and dry another 2 hours. 

Make sure the bars are completely dry so they will not sweat and mold. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Then wrap again in aluminum foil, and store. They should keep indefinitely. They can be eaten dry or cooked with about 2/3 cups water.

After Christmas I will continue with other items to consider for your 27 hour kit.  

These would be a fantastic Christmas gift for your loved ones, a great start in preparing for a New Year. Please consider getting started now because. . .