Hi friends!
I hope you’re well.
Things are heating up here in the Middle East and it looks like we won’t be going anywhere again over summer (temperatures are regularly in the high 40s to 50 C or around 120F and families with kids often try to go home because outside is unbearable).
So, what’s a family to do? Adopt a puppy of course*… Introducing our newest family member, Teddy. She’s had about four or five names by now, but I’m hoping this one sticks 😊 I’m happy to say she fits right in with our family and is such a joy.
*I’m only kidding. We’ve been thinking about adopting a dog for a while now.
Any tips for toilet learning for dogs? We have no idea other than the many confusing tips we've read on google.
Other than playing with our new pup, I saw a really simple idea for distilling water while researching for Book 6 in the Aftermath series that I wanted to share with you.
Sidebar: It’s hard to believe that Misty and I are already nearing the midway point of the last book. It’s been a lot of hard work, but also very fun and rewarding. Misty is an amazing co-writer (and human!), and I feel so blessed to have written this series with her.
If you haven't checked out the Aftermath series, you can find it here.
Anyway, back to the water distillation. As you all know, during disaster situations, it may not be safe to use water from the tap or your normal supply may be interrupted. Once you’ve sourced water, you’ll need to make it safe to drink.
First of all, if it has any particles in it, be sure to let them settle at the bottom, then strain or filter the water using a clean cloth.
Boiling (rolling for at least a couple of minutes) and liquid bleach (1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water) are two methods of making water safe to drink. Another is distillation, which involves collecting vapor from heated water as it condenses back to a liquid.
The method below requires no fancy equipment, just a source of heat, a pot with a lid, and a cup or bowl that fits inside the pot.
- Place the dirty water in your pot. Make sure the level of the water is lower than the top of the bowl or cup when placed inside the pot.
- Bring the water to a rolling boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer.
- Place the bowl or cup inside the pot, being careful not to splash the dirty water inside.
- Place the lid upside down on the pot so the handle is the lowest point. The cup or bowl should be below the handle to catch all the lovely, clean drips.
- Wait for the collected water to cool and you have clean drinking water.
Why go to the extra effort to distil your water? Boiling will only kill microorganisms like viruses and bacteria. Many dissolved minerals and chemicals in the water will remain. Distilling results in (almost) pure water, which may be safer to drink depending on the kind of emergency or contamination you’re facing.
Free books? Yes please :D
Have a lovely weekend!
Steph x
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