Treasure Hunting for GOLD part 2

If you didn’t read yesterday’s blog, it is part one of today’s blog. I was pondering on what to do in a financial breakdown. I now had something for a medical breakdown and had items stored for a food breakdown. I have gotten out of debt but would have no way to pay for needed items if the dollar were to be of no value. I prayed on this matter.

I had been looking for a silver chain to go on a butterfly charm that I bought while serving a service mission to Peru. I had been looking for some time and hadn’t found the exact thing I was looking for. One day, I went to a second hand store and they brought out a cart of items to put on the shelf. A woman picked up a necklace, looked at it and threw it down right in front of me. It was the necklace I had been wanting. EXACTLY the one I wanted. Not close, exactly. I had never even seen what I had been wanting. I just hoped it existed. I wanted it choker length but thick so the charm wouldn’t hang onto a shirt but up on the neck. It was $2. It was Italian silver marked with 925.

When I got home, it was tarnished. I pulled out a jewelry cloth and started to polish it. As I did, a dream I had the night before came back into my mind.


Here is the actual journal entry from that day:

"Tuesday, February 24, 2009 - I was there when a cart came out and a lady picked up a silver necklace and looked at it quickly and threw it back down. I grabbed it as it was just what I was looking for for the Peru butterfly necklace. It was Italian silver and was $2. In Kmart it would have been $100. I was so excited to get it. I looked at the silver and put it on the butterfly charm and it looked great.

I remembered a dream I had while looking at it and called Amy to tell her about it. I dreamt that we were somewhere and walking down the street, times were bad. There was someone selling silver coins. Lenny stopped and bought some saying it was a good price. I started looking at them from a lady thinking maybe I should get some also. I wasn’t sure about sizes and she didn’t have exactly what I wanted but just in bigger pieces so I started walking away and the guy that sold to Lenny said something about not buying from the lady because her stuff wasn’t pure and she couldn’t be trusted.

I didn’t have a good feeling still so I said to myself, “I am going to trust in the Lord that if he wants me to have silver, he will provide it for me. I am going to let Him take care of it for me.” End of dream. I didn’t remember that dream until I had the silver in my hand. It is amazing how the Lord teaches us or blesses us when we choose to trust him. I don’t know if the dream was a test of sorts to see where I put my trust or what but I called both my older girls and shared with them." End of journal entry.

Since that time, I go to yard sales, second hand stores and buy silver and gold if it is priced cheaply. Safety deposit boxes are great for this type of stuff. Within one week, I ran into a man who purifies gold, two that pan for gold, one that melts silver plate off silver by using a rose-bud welding tips to heat the silver enough that it drips off the silver plate. Within a month, I found this great book I am really enjoying called “The Great Gold Comeback” by James R. Cook.

He talks about the value of gold and why all other investments can lose money but if you buy gold, it always has some value, even if just the melted down value.

He specifically talks about coin and bullion collecting and investing. The thing that stood out to me in the book is that in the 1930’s the government forced collectors to turn in their gold and told them what it would pay. It only let them keep coins old enough to be considered “rare and unusual to collectors.” It was called the “Emergency Banking Act.” Gold coins, bullion and certificates were to be surrendered within 25 days punishable with a $10,000 fine or 10 years in prison or both.

After that, the government then raised Gold prices by $10 an ounce making the government a lot of money. It was to help strengthen the economy. Thinking about the current economic status in our nation, I realized that it could happen again and in his book he gives several scenarios how that could happen. The government has certain reporting required on gold investors so even if I did buy, the government would then know how much I had.

Since I don’t have money to buy bullion, rare or gold coins, the answer the Lord gave me is feasible to me. Also, they won’t take “heirloom family jewelry” as everyone has gold for wedding rings and other jewelry. Also, in a barter system, gold coins would have to be broken down into smaller forms for buying as there would be few things one would need a whole gold coin to buy.

I also learned that women in the olden days wore their gold coins on the front of their veils because in a purse or bag or pocket they could be taken or lost easily. On the face, everyone would see if it was missing. Silver and gold are heavy to carry. If in an emergency you needed to leave quickly, jewelry can be spread out and worn by everyone and rings can be worn on necklaces. This would make the weight distribution easy. The pieces are small enough to trade and barter for things and if someone is robbed, they don’t have all the silver and gold for the group minimizing the risk for the group or family.

I think safety deposit boxes are the way to go to store them as even if the bank fails as in the depression, you can still access the box.

So, it may have been a long blog but I hope it is worth it. After having the dream I had and meeting the gold refiner, 2 gold panners in one week and then having found the book a few weeks later, I think God is trying to get me prepared in all ways.

Gold and silver is something we all should have access to for some financial stability. I lost $100,000 investing and more in my retirement accounts in the past 2 years. I wish I had bought gold with it. Think of the return now that gold is at $1114 an ounce. The best part is it gives women lots of options to accentuate her beauty and wear something new!

I give each of my girls silver items for each holiday and birthday as a sort of dowry.

Just some thoughts…. Happy treasure hunting!

Treasure Hunting for GOLD Part 1

I have had some weird experiences in the past year or so when it comes to being prepared financially in a crisis. I am very prepared in many ways for an emergency. I have a year supply of food, clothes, fabric, candles and other items.

One day, my daughter asked if we had everything we would need in an emergency. I told her “yes.” Then, as I pondered on that situation, I realized that I may not be as prepared as I thought. I thought that I had everything I thought I needed but did I have everything God KNEW I may need.

That day, I prayed that God would tell me if there were anything I may need other than what I had already acquired for an emergency. I got the feeling that I needed to gather medical supplies.


Being an RN and a massage therapist, I get calls weekly about health issues and people asking for advice. I know in a disaster, if there were no hospital, people would seek out those they know who maybe able to help. I went out that week and bought about 5 boxes of different types of rubber gloves, disinfectant, many bottles of antibacterial soap and a few other small medical supplies.


I then felt that I need ed to get oxygen equipment. I doubted that I would ever get this and when I found some new oxygen tubing and masks at a thrift store, I didn’t buy them thinking I would never be able to afford an oxygen machine. Within a month, I found a used oxygen machine at a second hand store.

Journal entry below:

"Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - I then shopped and found an oxygen making machine for $40. I turned it on and it worked." I shook my head in disbelief as I have never seen one before or since. I bought it for $40.

The next thought that came was I needed suction equipment. Once again, I doubted the prompting or feeling doubting that I would be able to find such a thing. Within a week, I found a portable suction machine in great condition for $6 at a similar second hand store. I have never seen one before or since. After that, I didn’t question when I found a portable humidifier with both ac and dc plugs and water bottles and oxygen masks and extra tubing.

Being a nurse and a massage therapist, I enjoy learning about alternative healing methods such as herbs, therapies and natural cures. I also went out and bought bulk herbs, essential oils and GSE (grapefruit seed extract) all of which I am familiar. If for some reason the medical community was non-existent, I would be able to provide many services to friends and loved because God let me know what I may need that I didn’t have.

Do you have what your family MAY need?

I had to tell you that story to explain how tomorrows blog works in and came to be.

Dehydrating Fruits and Veggies

I have been dehydrating for over 20 years. It is so easy to do and those who know me regularly ask me for dehydrated fruit for holidays and birthdays as my gift to them.

I have dehydrated apples, grapefruit, mushroom, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears, melons, kiwi, pineapple, chicken, beef, onions, parsley, kale, bananas, potatoes, carrots, berries etc.

A few years ago, I got some nuts as a gift which brought little fruit moths into my house. At that time, I was using number 10 cans with lids to store my fruit. I also used yogurt containers and ziplock bags and had purchase some of the containers that you pump the air out to "seal" them. Within a few weeks I had thousands of little moths around my house and when we cleaned out the house we found that the moth larva can eat through plastic. They are small enough to get under a sealed plastic container if it is not on all the way and sometimes even if it is on all the way. The "Sealable" containers allowed them in and ended up as a breading ground. So, since that time, I learned to put everything in Tupperware.

Tupperware has a lid that inserts inside a slot and keeps anything out. It will also give in an earthquake. I know some that store their dehydrated items in glass jars vacuum packed but in an earthquake, they could break wasting your food. Tupperware is quite tough and I have actually dropped mine several times and the lid is tight and stays on and it is very difficult to break.

I have come up with a quick way to dehydrate bananas. The first time I did them in little round chips which took forever to turn. I didn't do that again. Also, the less you touch your food, the longer it will last. I peel the top of the banana and then take a knife and make 3-4 cuts lengthwise down the banana trying to keep the sections of the banana equal. I slide them onto the dehydrator using the peel and a knife so I don't have to touch them. I always wash my hands before I touch food to dehydrate or taking it off the tray and putting it into the Tupperware.

I have burnt out about 4 dehydrators over the years and gotten rid of a few I didn't like. I usually have several running at a time. I tried canning but it is stored in glass and if it breaks in an earthquake it is wasted. Also, if you move, it is heavy, it has a shorter shelf life, it loses nutrients and flavor for each year it is stored and lastly, we like the taste and that dehydrated it is a finger snack we can eat while playing a game or doing a puzzle.

There are hundreds of videos on youtube showing dehydrating. Many use the Excalibur dehydrator. I don't like this one as the trays go in sideways and if you are doing something leafy or thick like Portobello mushrooms, you can't put them in without cutting them up. Many times I have dried things that were sticking up or thicker than the tray allows sideways and as I tried to slide it in, everything squished together. I like the stacking trays for that reason.

The Excalibur is expensive but some others are as well. It is heavy and takes up lots of counter space. The stacking round one's are easily placed in a fabric bag or larger shopping bag and not so heavy. The one nice thing about the Excalibur is that it is supposed to dry evenly as the heat is in the back. On the stack trays you have to rotate. I don't like how the front of the Excalibur hangs on the front either. It is just my preference. I like the newer modlels that the heat comes from the top as no fluids are dripping on the heating element and fan. I tried two different types a few months ago and both were excellent and had fan and heat regulators.

I also like that on the stacking trays, you can add as many trays as drying will allow. On the Excalibur, you are limited and some people I know have two on their counters which is a huge counter hog.

As long as the dehydrator has a fan of some type and a heat element, you are fine. The one's that you can adjust the temperature are nicer but unless you are a raw foodist or the heat on the one you buy is too high, it should be fine. I will probably get some backlash on that information but I have used probably 15 different types of dehydrators through the years and they all work. A fan is a must however.

I buy all Tupperware at yard sales, estate sales or second hand stores. Eventually you will need all sizes of containers as hot peppers are usually in a smaller container and once you store them in a container; it is good to keep that container for them. I stopped pulling out the containers after the counter was full. I counted and I have almost 100 Tupperware containers.

I have two sectioned Tupperware on my counter at all times. One if full of fruit that the kids eat as snacks and we use for company or pot luck. It is easy to grab and I always get comments on how good it is. The second container has the stuff to make omelets. It has all the veggies we like and each person just pulls out a little handful of each item wanted and puts it in a bowl with 3 eggs and let it sit for 10 minutes and then cook it and we have a wonderful omelet made to order.

On the veggies, if you are going to mix veggies in a container, always put strong smelling ones in baggies so that the whole container doesn't smell like peppers or onions. You can always put those stronger items in baggies before putting them in the Tupperware to save your Tupperware. I don't use old Tupperware that has a smell or your items will smell like old Tupperware. Most colored Tupperware is fine; it is the old clear type that has a smell.

We have some older fruit from 2004 and on. Today, I had my kids do a taste test and none could tell this years fruit from older fruit. It has maintained its color, smell and taste. I have some canned fruit from two years ago I probably couldn't get them to try. lol

I wish you well on your dehydrating. I think everyone should at least know how to do it and learn the basics in case of emergency. I do have several outside hanging dehydrators if we have no electricity. I have yet to use them as I usually am dehydrating volumes as when someone gives me a box of fruit; they know they will get back a container of dried fruit in return. That keeps me in fruit and veggies most of the summer and fall. Always give a gift of thanks for someone's thoughtfulness in thinking of you rather than letting the fruit or veggies go to waste.

I always ask at the store if they have old bananas or fruit they will sell at a discount. I would buy boxes of fruit for $1-2. Most of the exotic fruit I have dried was purchased in season that way. Also, I became friends with the food bank as they often get pallets of fruit or orchard donations that they can't give away fast enough. I dry some and take it back for the workers to enjoy in gratitude for them thinking to call me with their excess fruit.

One more thing, I have dried pumpkin and ground it into flower to make nutmeg pumpkin waffles. You can do that with most root veggies and squashes. I just use the Vitamix and make flour and keep it in a Tupperware. It store more compact than the fruit if it is just dried.

Some acidic fruit will brown if not dried quickly. Pineapple and tomatoes are big for that. Put them closest to the drying source. They taste the same but look black. You can spray them with lemon juice if you don't like the black look. You can also blanch them but I don't like doing that as you lose some nutrients.

If you have any questions, just ask. Here's to being healthy and prepared!

Day of Rest Dragon Quest!

I will probably take most Sundays off blogging but may from time to time post thoughts and feelings as in my mind Sunday is a day of rest. I do think and ponder on the Sabbath and often like to share with others the thoughts I have.

Today, I was reading in the bible in Numbers 21:6 and it referenced 1 Nephi 17:41. Both scriptures talk of a fiery serpent and one of a "flying fiery serpent" and it made me wonder if this is where "dragons" come from in mythology. I googled this and in this breakdown the author thinks it is a snake red in color and whose bite "is fiery" and burns. Also, they are "flying" fast and strike quickly where as the Cobra is a slow moving snake.

Funny true story from my past...
Once, I was looking at an old church in New England to possibly buy to renovate for a house. It had been empty for years. We were measuring the outside using the belt my ex had been wearing to measure the length. Halfway through the measuring a VERY long black snake came up (I don't know that "reared" is appropriate for a snake) waist high and lunged at us which made it look like it was "flying." Our "Laurel and Hardy" streak from the yard with faces of terror while my ex's pants are falling down must have been a sight from a black and white movie.

We must have looked so funny as a cop pulled up just as we were tearing out of the yard. He stopped us and asked what we were doing. We were so freaked out we couldn't tell him. We just stood there holding up a belt with big eyes. He tried not to laugh as we calmed enough to tell him of the flying black snake.

Here is what the expert had to say: "What Fiery Flying Serpent Symbolized Christ? It would not be expected to find one snake which fits all of the possible criteria because there are only a four or five species of venomous snakes that live in the Arava valley, and the Egyptian cobra is not one of them. The candidates are the Israeli saw-scale viper, the black desert cobra and the horned viper and its relatives. Surprisingly, one of those choices, the Israeli saw-scale viper, fits all the criteria. Hence, it is the clear front runner and most likely was the serpent which attacked the Israelites." Here is a link to the whole article. http://www.meridianmagazine.com/sci_rel/000609serpent.html

So, having my "flying black snake" experience from the past, I can see why a reddish color snake could be considered a "flying fiery serpent" However, I do like the dragon idea. Kind of painted a nice picture from a fairytale movie thinking these fire breathing snake like creatures with wings moving through the camps of Israel. It would make a great epic movie..... Happy Sabbath!

The Hall Wall of Fame

Years ago we had some friends that were moving out of state. At the time, her three girls were very close to my kids. I tried to think of a way to keep these friends in our minds and make us not miss them as much. We came up with the “Hall Wall of Fame!”

We had each person in their family pick something that represented them. One of the girls loved Strawberry Shortcake. And, another loved horses. So, we had them choose the color they wanted their character to be. We put it a dab on their thumb or another finger. They then dabbed off the paint making sure the entire finger tip was covered. Then, we had them place their fingerprint on the wall. Once the paint dried, we had them use a Sharpie pen and draw the print into a character. Eyes, arms, ears etc.

When I had spare time waiting for carpool kids etc, I would make up characters out of circles and ovals just for ideas when company would come. Later we found the book, “Finger Print,” by Ed Emberley which has some great ideas. However, I found that as we let our guests ponder on what represents them, most came up with something very creative on their own.

Some made musical instruments, others little dancers. My brother-in-law made a table saw blade. My brother makes custom cars and made his into a yellow car traveling over a mountain. Another sister has twin girls and made two babies in blankets using pink. Our company enjoys looking at what others have made and get excited thinking about what represents them that they can put on the wall. We also have them sign underneath with the Sharpie pen. We have about 20 colors of Sharpie pens so sometimes it is fun to use different colors. I have found that black is the best for outlines so you can see it from down the hall.

This can also be done on a piece of furniture, cabinet fronts, on a paper to frame or on the mat of a frame with everyone in the picture putting their print and signature on the mat.

For one of the girls birthday parties, we put a print of all the kids who attended on the front of a hat and made a little scene with all the prints making them into cowboys, flowers, sun, animals etc. It was a very fun party favor for the kids to take home.

For a twist, we have used a baby foot for the stem of a flower in green and have other grandkids do the fingers for leaves or just a thumb print for the petals on a flower and give it to grandma with each child’s name in each petal. This can be done on a shirt, apron, or sweat shirt. It can also work on paper with a cute mat and frame or for the front of a scrapbook with all the kids’ pictures in it.
The options are endless and I enjoy seeing what everyone comes up with to represent themselves. It is a fun tradition our family enjoys.

This is one fingerprint you won’t be trying to wash off! Try leaving your “print” on the world!

BIG WIN part 1- My First Valentines Again part 1

When I first became single, I started using the law of attraction. If I needed something, it would show up. I didn't at that time understand as clearly the Law of Gratitude and how it affected the Law of Attraction.

My first bigger understanding of this was the week of Valentines Day in 2003. I was standing at the kitchen sink getting dinner ready. I was pondering that I didn't get any flowers for Valentines Day. I was having a pity moment. I quickly turned that around and started thinking about how blessed I was to have flowers in my yard and flowering plants in my house.



From those thought, I began to think how blessed I was to have a yard when many living in cities will never own a yard. I then thought how blessed I was that I had grass and flowers and how blessed I was to live in a quiet dead end street with a fenced yard and grass. It went on from there about how grateful I am to live in a state where I have family who love and support me and to be in a church congregation that are good to my children and helpful to me.



The next morning, I was working on my checkbook and it wasn't looking good. I was wondering how I was going to pay for the replacement picture window that was cracked. The window man was supposed to arrive any minute. I was hoping he would take payments.


Actual journal entry: "Saturday, February 15, 2003 - At about 9:30 the phone rang and I checked the caller ID and it said Mountain America on it. I answered it. It was the bank President that had been in Rotary club with my dad. He said something about the money tree and how they had been looking at the guesses and there were two that were right on and many close. He asked me if I remembered how much I guessed and I said $600 something. He said that in the case of a tie they were going to have a drawing. He said they had the drawing and I won the cash. $685!!!!!!!



I wanted to cry. I told him that it would cover my hot water heater and the broken window that I was getting replaced today! He said they weren't going to tell anyone until Tuesday because of the holiday on Monday but when they saw it was me they thought I would like to know. I couldn't thank him enough. I called Amy right away and told her and then Michelle.



While I was on the phone with Michelle and doing laundry, my daughter said that there were two guys at the door with flowers. It was the two men from the bank I had worked with in the past to keep my ex out of my accounts. They said that since the bank was closed on Monday, they thought I may like the flowers. I asked if I could hug them both and did so. I showed them my broken window and told them the guy would be here to fix it at any minute. I told them I wasn't sure how to pay for it. They told me to come in on Tuesday for a photo and a check! They looked like Santa to me.

I figured out in my checkbook all of the charges that I hadn't entered and before I paid for the window, I had exactly $1.42 in my bank account. I can't believe how much the Lord loves me. I wrote a tithing check right off the winnings and the money back from the chocolates. Then, I paid my bills and for the window. I have a -$1,100 in my account until next check. This money will save me from going neg. I had been pondering on the fact of the Lord telling the missionaries to not worry about physical things and decided that I was going to leave it up to him to provide and not to worry about it. I got the gifts from friends at Christmas that is sustaining me and now this. Very BLESSED!

I then had the window guy come and he put in a beautiful vinyl window. It looks so much nicer. I got the mail and got my electric bill. It was $7 less than last month. In the bill was a donation envelope. I was about to throw it out but felt impressed to donate. I then thought that if you give to others you will receive 100 fold back. I thought I would donate the $7 that I saved in electricity to the fund and then I laughed when I realized I had already received the $700 in the past 2 days!! So when I was writing out my bills I donated."

I got my flowers for Valentines Day!

Little did I know, that was just the beginning..... Valentines Day has become a very special day in my life.....

Photograph, Christ or "Brag table"

Yesterday, when I was taking a picture of my Gratitude Frame, my children had friends over. I overhead one of them commenting to my daughter that they liked our coffee table. I thought after her comment that I would blog about the table and show how I made it.

You can do this on the top of any table, dresser, counter, or even put it in a frame. I picked a color of paint that I used on one of the walls in my home. I turned the table upside down on newspaper to trace the size of wood I would need for the top. However, if you are doing this on a table such as your dinner table, you don't need to do any prep.

The top of my table isn't solid so I had to use wood. You could also just add a thin layer of wood to paint if you had a nice finish to your dresser and didn't want to change that but wanted to add some color to your room. Get a thin piece of wood from the hardware store and trace the size needed for the top you are making. Then, paint it the color you want. I went with the darker color from the walls rather than the lighter as I wanted the pictures to "pop" when you looked at them. I also added texture by removing some of the paint while it was still wet using an old t-shirt cut into pieces. I crumbled it up in my hand and just dabbed it on the wet paint removing some of the paint leaving a texture behind.

Next, plan the photos you want to use. If the item you are doing is a dresser you inherited from grandma, then pictures from Grandma's life may be just the thing to put on the top.

I used pictures of Christ that I had collected over the years and tried to put them in order from birth on. In a baby's room, you could use pictures of each of your children and parents as babies.

You could go to the park and give everyone a camera and have them take pictures once a season and then change the pictures out each season. The ideas go on and on. This would be a great way for you to display your children's artwork from school. It is on the coffee table where all who enter to visit will get to see and comment on your little artists work!

Once you have the pictures in the order you want them, lay them on the top. You can also add quotes or a sampler that you enjoy. This last part is also something you can decide depending on what works for you. Over the years I have used three main ways of covering them.

The first is permanent. If you want to put something down that is going to stay, Modge Podge is a wonderful way to make it permanent and this way the pictures won't move. I would use this method if I was making a mosaic or some other work that takes a lot of time to create.

The second way, is something I still use for several tables and desk tops in my home. I buy the thickest clear plastic covering they sell at Wal-Mart or another hardware/craft or Home Decor store such as JoAnnes and make sure I buy enough for the item I wish to cover. If the table has a sharp corner or edge, I lay the plastic directly on top starting at one edge. I take scissors and start cutting as close to the actual edge of the table as I can. If the scissors are sharp enough, you don't have to do anything but glide them along similar to how you cut wrapping paper.

The third way and the way I used for my coffee table knowing that people may put up their feet, was to get glass cut to fit. If you choose the thin wood top, you can actually take that to the glass shop and have them use that as a pattern for cutting the glass. I think I laid the wood on a roll of paper and traced it so that they could get the rounded corners right. If it is a square top such as a dresser, you can just measure it and give them that and they will be able to cut you a top.

Wouldn't this be a fun way to show off all your grandchildren without having different frames on the wall and have to match mats and frames and finding new spots for each new addition? Just put them all over the top of your dining room table and change out the plastic when you add a new addition or need to update the photos!

Happy Decorating!