u/featheredzebra

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post about rats getting into my preps. I ended up buying the metal cabinet someone recommended and thrift store hunting for metal and glass canisters. I also tried out a local international grocery store for the first time and tried some awesome new foods.

It was nice to be part of a community that didn't judge or push conspiracies. It's nice to be reminded that this is a process for all of us and not everyone is able to just fill their basement and that's okay. Prep where you are.

I live in a 100+ year old house near railroad tracks. This is not the first time we've gotten rodents. It's actually fairly common in spring and fall, so I keep everything in thick plastic tubs, keep food put up, and keep dogs and/or cats that hunt. The house behind us is abandoned and host to a (small) feral cat colony.

But this is the first time they got my deep pantry.

I got all glass and metal replacement cannisters for rice, flour, etc. But I don't know how to do larger scale prepping in an old house with next to no closet/basement type storage space. I'm financially at the point that I could afford a 20 lb bag of rice on top of normal groceries, or half a cow occasionally. But I have no space for a deep freezer or metal shelving for food storage.

Had to cancel a ride for the first time because the driver couldn't find us at the pick up/unloading area on Maryland and kept screaming at me over the phone to "go to the corner". I get that issues happen, but I even told them what door we were at and that there were unloading signs all down that side walk.

Before I complain about the cancellation fee because the whole yelling and make me run from corner to corner on Maryland made me feel unsafe, has it been hard for your drivers to find you? Has the app dropped service a lot or messed up locations? I'm generally pro workers.

I have some questions about entering the state fair, if anyone has ever done it before.

-I have a crochet duster and am not sure if it should go in the "Wearable-accessory", "Shawl/Poncho", or "Adult sweater" category

-How does one enter vegetables by July 9th which might not even be grown until the fair itself in mid August??

-How much does one need to deviate from a recipe or pattern for it to be considered your own pattern? I mean, there are only so many base patterns for crochet caps and hats and shawls lol Only so many stitches to make certain amigurimi shapes.

My strawberries commonly get eaten by pill bugs. I usually feed them to my bearded dragon, but I replanted last year and would love to figure out how to get some myself. Any tips? So far I've just tried mulching them.