Goblin Diorama - Part 9- Book recommendation

The diorama is in the same state as it was last time I posted.  I have done some work on creating the window panes for the windows, but I was not satisfied with the result.  The panes were too translucent with the method I was using.  I'll have to come up with some other way to make the window panes.  I was hoping that once the glue was completely dried that it would be clear.  It turned out to be milky.  Since it did not work, I won't describe the process.

I have to figure out another way to make window panes.  I have a couple of ideas.  The article I read about making an aged building was not helpful here.  The author purchased windows manufactured to scale from a company that sells model railroad materials.  I hope to have a prototype window completed in time for my next blog post on Sunday.

Since I am a little short on content today, I would like to recommend a book.  As I have mentioned in a number of posts, we live in an area that is frequently hit by storms that knock out our power.  When the power is out, we have to rely on alternate forms of cooking: camp stove, charcoal grill, propane cooker or when the generator is on we can heat in the microwave.  The book, Apocalypse Chow, by Jon Robertson with Robin Robertson is a cookbook with creative recommendations for what to cook when the power is out.   It is a worthwhile read for anyone who thinks that they might be in a prolonged situation where they are out of power.

The recipes in this book are vegetarian, but you could supplement them your choice of canned tuna, chicken, ham, or spam.  The recipes appear to be creative and flavorful which is a real morale booster in long term power outages.  Better still, for the most part, they can be made with canned goods and packages that you might reasonably expect to have in your pantry.  It also contains lists of items to keep on hand and other useful information.  Having been in a number of storms where I was without power for a couple of weeks, I can definitely say that it would have been  worthwhile to have had these recipes.  It has given me a new mindset on survival food.

My friends sometimes kid me about my emergency preparedness.  No doubt they have tired of my bringing it up in conversation.  One of my friends never took me seriously until a storm knocked out power and damaged the plant that delivers the drinking water for the area.  She told me later that as she and her husband sat alone in the dark, with little drinking water or food and no way to flush the toilet that she thought of me breaking out the MREs (Meals, Ready to Eat).  You should have seen the look on her face when my husband said, "We never got down to the MREs.  Yes, I do keep a few days supply of them.  In a real emergency, they are worth every penny.  Every few years I have to reorder.  In theory, they are good for many years, but loose lose quality over time.  I have heard that they are edible but horrible after five years.  I've never tested out that theory.  I would just rather reorder.

While I am on my emergency preparedness soap box, I would like to suggest to people that they take a good hard look at their first aid kit.  Most people have only a few band-aids and a tube of Neosporin.  If this is you, you should really consider upgrading by adding materials for larger wound care.  Next time you go to your pharmacy or department store, check out how many boxes of first aid supplies they have.  Generally, they have a few of this and a few of that, usually stacked no more than four of five boxes of any one thing.  These days, stores don't keep overflow supplies in the back.  They reorder from a regional warehouse.  In a hurricane, earthquake, or flood those few supplies are going to be gone in an instant; if you can reach them at all.  It could be days before new supplies are delivered.  Be prepared by having the right type of supplies in advance. 

Well, enough said on that.  Check back on Sunday for the latest on the diorama.