Box Oven

Box Oven
1 Brick (or flat rock)

1 pk Aluminum foil,heavy-duty

1 Corrugated cardboard box

1 Metal pie pan,old

3 Coat hangers

4 Charcoal briquets,lit

1. Cover the inside and outside of the box completely with 3 or 4
layers of aluminum foil, including the flaps. Lay box on level ground so
that the opening opens oven-style (front-door style is OK, too).

2. Straighten the coat hangers, then run them through the sides of
the box about 2/3 of the way up from the bottom to form a rack.

3. Set brick in bottom. Place live coals into pie pan/pie plate. Put
pan on brick (don't forget, the PIE PAN IS HOT! Use an oven mitt or
hot pad).

4. Place food to be cooked onto coat-hanger rack and close oven door.
Watch carefully, checking often. Each live coal makes about 80
degrees Fahrenheit.





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Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Working with neighbors can save lives and property. Meet with your neighbors
to plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster until help
arrives. If you're a member of a neighborhood organization, such as a home
association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new
activity. Know your neighbors' special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and
consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as disabled
and elderly persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home.



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Make A Braided Rug !

This is a great craft that will use up your fabric scraps and keep your floor warm.
Use old clothes and scrap fabric to make these.

1. Cut strips of cloth approx. 3 inches wide. Sew three strips together at one end to start. Braid these together. t helps to anchor your braid on a chair or something.

2.Keep braiding. As you get to the end of the strips sew on a new one.

3.To make your rug coil one end of the braid into a tight circle. Sew the edges together with strong thread.

4. Keep coiling and adding on to your strips till you get the size braid you want. When you are all done sew the end down.

Here are some great links on making braided rugs:
Make a braided area rug

Make a braided rug

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Make Your Own Heating Pad

Rice Bags are cloth bags filled with raw rice and heated in a microwave. You can use them
just as you would a heating pad. They have the advantage of being able to be made in any
size such as long and narrow for wrapping around a sore neck. Being that they cool down
on their own you need not worry about dropping off to sleep while using one of these bags.

I have given the basic instructions for a square rice bag, but as you will see it will be very
easy to make one in any size or shape that you choose to make.



Inner Bag



Cut a rectangle 9" x 18" out of 100% cotton muslin
(poly blends could melt in microwave)


Fold in half and sew a 1/2" seam as shown at left. Be sure
to leave opening in top for filling. Fill bag 2/3 full of rice
(must be raw rice not instant) Stitch opening closed.


Bag Cover



Out of 100% cotton decorative fabric cut one, 9" square and 2
pieces 6" x 9". Turn under one edge of each of the 6" x 9" pieces
as shown.


With right sides together place the 2 6" x 9" pieces on top of the
9" square. The two smaller pieces will overlap a bit. Sew all the
way around as shown.
Turn right side out and place rice bag inside of cover.


Using your Rice Bag


Place your rice bag (without cover) into microwave and heat 2-3 minutes.
The time will vary depending on the microwave. Start at 2 minutes and if
its not hot enough increase by 30 seconds till you get the desired warmth.
The rice bag should stay warm for about 15 to 20 minutes which is the
recommended amount of time for heat therapy. Place the cover on your
bag and apply to where it hurts. You can wash your cover but NOT the
rice bag itself.

TIP: Use a little dried potpourri in the bag with the rice to give off a
pleasant aroma while you warm away those sore muscles.


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Oil Lamps Are Great!

Have an oil lamp in every room! They are great for light. We use them all of the time, even though we have electric. Put them in safe places and to where they cannot be knocked over. I also have to keep them up to where my toddler cannot get to them or knock them over when he is throwing toys!
Oil lamps are pretty bright and not hard to use. You can get them pretty much anywhere. Most of mine I have gotten at yard sales and thrift stores. I keep a box of wicks on hand and oil lamp fuel! Now we are never in the dark!


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