Bank Failure

How eerie, coming the same day as the post above.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/12/news/companies/indymac_fdic/index.htm?postversion=2008071210

and then there is this building to a boil:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/11/news/companies/fannie_freddie_shares/index.htm?postversion=2008071209


Well, yesterday I was paid and sent $850 dollars to my last outstanding debt. Today I am going with friends to pick berries. The cherries and blueberries are in season, as well as raspberries. Theses cost as much as $5 or more in stores but are around $1 a pound if you pick yourself. I am planning to can 12 pints and 3 quarts of blueberries and around 4 pints or so of raspberries as jam and/or jelly. That will allow for 2 batches of blueberry muffins each month (1 cup per batch, freezing the second cup til needed) and 3 pies for special occasions. I estimate we go through maybe 2 jars of jam a year, but that will go up as the eating of cheap peanut butter and jelly sandwiches rises as well as cheap toast and tea breakfasts and so forth so I am can a little more. Also homemake baking for potlucks will increase, along with the actual potlucks so I may can more. Raspberry perserves lend themselves well to baking. I am also considering canning small jars for Christmas gifts.

Next week I will go for cherries and I want to check the local forests and see where the huckleberries and blackberries stand. Those are free so I will can quite a bit if I can find it. I also want to check a particular apple tree I know of in a state park. It used to be part of a homestead but still grows lovely apples.

Some of my friends have lately taken to laughing in their sleeves at my preparations, thinking them unnecessary. To them I respond "Maybe you are right. Maybe it will be nothing worse than a rise in prices. In that case I will have no debt and a well stocked panty, which will be just as useful in good times as in bad." Prepare for the worse but expect the best. Trust in God and do not fear.

Proverbs 27:12
A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty.