Staple Living the Way of the Shepherd

Sheep Herders, Shepherds, or Flock Managers what ever the name they went by, all had the same traits and skills they honed in on and became good at, to be able to do the jobs at hand and in some cases survive.

One such skill is being able to live off staples.

For those of you who do not know what I mean by staples, staples are (according to the New Webster’s Expanded Dictionary, which I got free when I was in college, many, many, many years ago. I am sure the meaning hasn't change).

“Staple: n. An emporium; a principle commodity; raw materials.”

Too much? I’m sorry, staples are what ever you have around to live off of; food is what we are talking about here.

A shepherd buys supplies forever how long they are going to be in the fields tending the flocks. Since they just can’t leave and go to the store when they are out of peanut butter, they have to do with what they have till the job is done or someone brings them more food.  

Inside of my dream shepherd's wagon
that I did not find under the Christmas tree

Now mind I don’t live out of a Shepherd’s Wagon roaming rolling green hillsides with the flock, I wish. But, things have been a little tight after the holidays and I decided I was not going to the store a dozen times in the next two weeks. This decision was two weeks ago, so we are clear on the time line and all. Every time you go to the store you spend money you don’t need to and buy things you did not go there in the first place to buy.

NO! We will live off our staples; we can do it after all shepherds all over the world had been doing this for thousands of years. This is the point knowing that I had not done any serious grocery shopping for awhile, where my husband and sons melted to the floor with visions of standing at the Food Bank for free food or worse digging in the dumpster behind Pizza Hut for scraps. But I had faith after all I am a Shepherdess.

…Week 1, doing OK, some creative dinners but all in all not bad.

…Week 2, getting down to slim pickings, hot dog buns divided and dipped in an egg and vanilla mixture became French toast dippers for breakfast. I thought this was a great idea.  Kids are starting to have junk food withdraws but one mention of going to the Food bank cured those (not that I would really go unless we truly needed to and never for junk food).

Home made Black Bread
Yummy!!
Will post the recipe for this at later date.

So, you ask did I ever go to the store this last two weeks? I have to admit it, yes. But, it was only once and I took back pop cans, bought only what I needed, butter, lettuce (for Yuri, Tanner’s tortoise), and a beef sausage that I had a free coupon for. Came out of the store with a dollar and some change more then I went in with.

Could I make it on staples while traveling those rolling green hills with my flock? Well the lettuce would have been wild greens found on the way and eaten along side Tortoise soup, sorry Yuri. Sheep milk doesn't have the right fats to make butter so I would have done with out but over all, YES. Best of all my sons have an even greater respect on those who have less then we do and appreciate even more the things we do have even if it is just hot dog buns.