Quemado WNMTC Voice Mail alert!

If you haven't gotten any voice mail messages lately, here's why:

At least three weeks and maybe more ago, Western NM Telephone did an equipment "upgrade" that screwed up voice mail (and possibly other services) for Quemado customers, though they didn't see fit to bother to tell any of us.  This resulted in a loss of the stutter dial tone that tells you you've got messages waiting, AND it changed your PIN number back to default, which is the last four digits of your phone number.

Now, knowing that everyone with 773 phone prefixes with voice mail was going to have the problem, you'd think that they'd at least fix the stuttering dial tone problem, but noooooo.  You have to call them and ask them to fix it all.  Call them at 800 535-0611 during regular business hours (you can call at other times and leave a message, too, though I left the message first and they still didn't bother to fix the problem till I called and talked with Lenore).

Meanwhile, check for voice mail that might have accumulated without your knowing it by dialing *98 and use the last 4 digits of your phone number as the PIN. Then call the phone company and get them to fix it.  You might also ask them about your caller ID and your call waiting, if you've got those services - I don't know if they were affected and I forgot to ask when I talked to them.

52 Weeks to Preparedness Week 40

52 WEEKS TO FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR TWO

WEEK #40
Follow this for painless preparedness that will get you going on the path to being ready for catastrophic events and that, at the end of the year, will leave you in the best position to thrive in the event of any emergency.

You can do this! The cost is spread out over a full year, plus you will have a year to work out your storage. Substitute where appropriate depending on personal needs/requirements.


Food Storage  8 cans of vegetables
 
Extra Item    Multi-vitamins for two people to last six months

52 Weeks to Preparedness Week 39

52 WEEKS TO FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR TWO

WEEK #39
Follow this for painless preparedness that will get you going on the path to being ready for catastrophic events and that, at the end of the year, will leave you in the best position to thrive in the event of any emergency.

You can do this! The cost is spread out over a full year, plus you will have a year to work out your storage. Substitute where appropriate depending on personal needs/requirements.


Food Storage  8 cans of fruit
 
Extra Item    8 rolls of toilet paper

52 Weeks to Preparedness Week 38

52 WEEKS TO FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR TWO

WEEK #38
Follow this for painless preparedness that will get you going on the path to being ready for catastrophic events and that, at the end of the year, will leave you in the best position to thrive in the event of any emergency.

You can do this! The cost is spread out over a full year, plus you will have a year to work out your storage. Substitute where appropriate depending on personal needs/requirements.


Food Storage  30 lbs of wheat or flour
 
Extra Item    11 lbs of macaroni or spaghetti

Sauerkraut - success!

I am pleased as can be to report sauerkraut success.  I opened the crock and carefully spooned out the nasty slimy gray stuff (still didn't look like mold but it sure didn't look like anything I wanted associated with food I was going to eat!).  I carefully peeled off the blanket of cabbage leaves and looked down in at... sauerkraut!  It looks just like the real stuff!

Next test - and the most important one, of course - was to taste it.  Hmmm.  Well, I don't think this would be a favorite at your local deli.  It tastes... strange.  A nice sauerkraut tang and great aftertaste, but that initial flavor... well, I don't recommend the cumin.  I like that spice a lot, but I think not for sauerkraut.

All told I have just about 2 quarts.  It is in glass containers, tightly sealed for storage in my fridge, where the fermentation process will slow to a crawl - enough to keep the sauerkraut "alive" but not enough to get even more sour.

I consumed a healthy amount of my experiment just now because strange flavor or not, it really does taste good.  Therefore I am calling this project done, aside from washing the crock, weight plate and glass. Assuming I don't get food poisoning from my taste test, of course.  Just kidding!

Sauerkraut - week 2

I don't know.  The bubbles have pretty much collapsed and look like whitish mold, and now there are floating white things on the brine.  And the brine isn't clear any more.  The smell is good but still not very sour/tangy, so I still have hope.

Some friends who know more about this sauerkraut business than I do are going to get me some more info. Right now I have no desire to taste it - I need a little more encouragement I think!

52 Weeks to Preparedness Week 37

52 WEEKS TO FAMILY PREPAREDNESS FOR TWO

WEEK #37
Follow this for painless preparedness that will get you going on the path to being ready for catastrophic events and that, at the end of the year, will leave you in the best position to thrive in the event of any emergency.

You can do this! The cost is spread out over a full year, plus you will have a year to work out your storage. Substitute where appropriate depending on personal needs/requirements.


Food Storage  Fruit or other powdered drink to make 30 quarts
 
Extra Item    Shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste to last six months