Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Bible Reading Challenge ~ Day 89 of 90 ~ I Finished today!

I finished the 90 Bible reading challenge with one spare day left.  Having read 12 pages a day created a habit for me to read it daily now.  I finished early and feel like I should be reading it more.  Funny how things work out.

What an awesome day to finish it too.  I am heading outside in the sunshine to journal and read a fiction book.  Who knows, maybe I'll come up with a novel idea.  

Monday, March 29, 2010

"Mom! I wrote a book!"

While resting on my bed most of the weekend, our eight year-old found a way to keep herself occupied.  With a bad cold, a bottle of Vick's Vap-o-rub, a box of Kleenex, and a book, I took advantage of the restful Sunday to regain my health.

Even though rest was not all undisturbed, including an 80 pound dog sitting on my chest pushing her bone up to my face with her tail wagging enough to shake the bed (literally touching my nose) while trying to wake up up, some of the time was peaceful.  By Sunday evening, our eight year-old daughter had taken a small spiral notebook and had written a book.  She even included dialogue and used quotation marks and had her ten year-old sister illustrate it.

Every other page she wrote, prompted her to visit me by reading me her "book." 

Now if I could just get her motivation to motivate me...

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Soap making day ~ A husband funny

I was a bit under the weather yesterday, so I placed the grater and the bar of Fels-Naptha soap on the table.  I told the kids that who ever felt like grating a bit, to go ahead.  It's a hard bar of soap.  The grater was placed onto a plate and each child made an effort to grate the soap for me.  As dinner approached, which was a crock pot dish, the grated soap remained on the table.

My husband sat down at the end of the table where the soap, grater, plate and pot were still sitting.  One daughter had finished the grating, leaving a tiny square of soap.  During dinner I hear my husband say "Oh yuck! That's soap!"

We all busted out in laughter as he reached for something to drink.

"It looks like cheese sitting there," he said.

"Don't you smell the soap?" we all asked in unison, laughing and laughing.

Monday, March 22, 2010

90 Day Bible Reading Challenge ~ Day 81 ~ Nearing the end of a new beginning for me

It's hard to believe I have gotten this far.  Reading 12 pages a day had truly been a challenge to a Mom like myself.  It's so easy to fall behind when turns and twists in they daily schedule can throw me off.  I do my best reading when the kids are all in school.  Once they are home, I literally have to read out loud in order to keep my brain focused on my reading.  This challenge has created a new daily reading habit for me.

I still have about 8 pages to go today.  With 2 kids home for sickness and injury, it's been extremely challenging to read with "Sponge Bob Squarepants...." going on, and being beckoned to sick beside my sick daughter and focus on my Bible. 

Plus, to even concentrate to write period, is a challenge.  I think I need another box of Milk duds and another pot of coffee.  I may be a long afternoon.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Dogs Snoozing

I was going through photos on the computer and located this one.  I'll never forgot this moment.  All three dogs were snoozing together, and no the kids did not put them like this for the sake of a picture.   The kids were watching television and the dogs wanted on the couch too.  They only had a portion to share, so they did indeed share it.  This is truly a picture that shows how well the pets get along with each other.

This morning I had to clean up a spilled plant.  The two newest cats were chasing each other around at 6:00am.  They were zipping here and there and having a blast.  Of course, now that I am up and have cleaned it up, they are snoozing and worn out.

Well, that's okay.  I can exercise and get busy writing early today.  As long as my cough stays away and my nose clears up so I can breath.  The kids brought more germs home again.

As for adding "Mazda" to our small homestead, he's been a delight.  I love to watch him woo the hens and I love to listen to him.  This journey of having a small farm has not been a "bucket list" item, but more so of living our life as we wish.  I'm not sure I am ready for goats this year, but raising chickens and turkeys for meat is definitely on the list.  Growing our own garden and herbs has been a wonderful experience despite the hard work.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

90 day Bible Reading Challenge Update ~ Day 75


It's hard to believe it's been 75 days now.  I started this Bible reading challenge on January 1, 2010.  I have only 15 days left.  It's definitely been a challenge.  Considering how many kids I have, how many requests are made to me, how many mouths are chattering at once, and how many responsibilities I have as a wife and mother, I am thrilled I have gotten this far.  

In reading in Matthew, Mark and Luke, I had to look a few word up in the dictionary.  In one book of the Bible it says Jesus was given wine with "gall" and another said he was given wine with "myrrh," hence the interest to see if they were the same thing.  After looking them up, I am still not sure. In Luke they say it was "sour" wine.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Mazda the Rooster


Last Friday we added another member to our small, but growing homestead.  A rooster.  The kids named him after a famous rooster in a story they read.  If it's so famous that why haven't I read the story?  Mazda?  It sounds like a car to me.

He talks a lot and he is very fast.  And of course the ladies don't like him.

So, what's next to come to our little farm?  Hmmm?  I guess time will tell.  We are living life, that's for sure!

Friday, March 12, 2010

School Delay ~ Fog

I am really enjoying the fog delays we have had, including today's delay.  My son had made me eggs, which I received right after my shower.  One of girls had made a pot of coffee too!  I was so nice to walk out to the kitchen and have a fresh hot cup of coffee.  Mmmmmm!  Now I have no excuse to get things done today.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Spring Cleaning and Making Home a Better Place

Choosing my bedroom closet was probably not the best are to clean today.  My craft supplies are kept in there.  I keep finding craft ideas or craft projects I would like to make or do.  I have a feeling this will take me about a week to do it right.  And then there are the clothes. 

Now I not only have a wish list on my computer desktop, but an on-going craft project list.  Mom's get bored too, so I guess you could call it my "rainy day" fun list.

I feel guilty when I write and don't clean.  My goal is to have order before Thanksgiving.   Giving myself a long challenge and a deadline, I feel it will get done.

Happy Spring Cleaning!  You feel so much better when you have it done, and keep it that way! Phew!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Foxy Loxy is back ~ Close call for one of our dogs

Well, I decided to take the dogs outside, sit in a lawn chair, and soak up the sun  - in my slippers.  Bad move.  I heard it but I didn't know what it was.  One of our dogs kept sniffing the air so I was keeping a close eye on him.

Then, all of the sudden they darted and I screamed until my throat hurt, and chased after them through mud, leaves, and snow.  One of our dogs bolted across the 2 lane highway and would not come back.  Thank goodness there was no traffic was passing.  And then I saw him.  A small animal running across the empty field. 

To make sure of what it was, I googled the sound of a fox.  The dogs went crazy! And yes, it was the fox.  He's back.  Good thing the chickens are still in their pen.  Phew! 

That was a bit scary for me too.  I thought our dog would not come back and he just stood there in the road.  Now I have a headache and dirty slippers.  I guess I better have running shoes on the next time I take them out, and maybe even take a quick walk around.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Drying Clothes Without Electricity in the Winter

I'm taking advantage of the beautiful sunshine and breeze today.  At the end of the day these towels will be dry.  I saved using my dryer on 3 full loads of towels.  It's actually been fun trying to find new wasy to dry clothes inside or outside without electricity.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Sunday Family Fun

I warned the kids that I would blog about them today.  I almost forgot too.   While trying to fight boredom on Sunday, my 16 year-old daughter jumps up on the coffee table and starts singing into my hairbrush - off tune.  Meanwhile, I was trying to read No Plot? No Problem!, while my 10 year-old gave me a hair-do.  This was not easy considering she was ripping my hair out.  My 8 year-old daughter was sitting on the couch, painting her toe nail with a purple sharpie.  That was after I caught her drawing on the palm of her hand with it.  It was a permanent sharpie no less.

Finally, they broke out Hullabaloo and got some of their energy out.  A game of Upwards followed that. Phew! No more singing.

And they think I'm crazy!

Balancing Life

In my midst of walking for 60 minutes, it became the hardest when I hit 45 minutes.  I read No Plot?  No Problem! up to that point.  I decided to put my headphones on and turn up the volume, which indeed pumped up the speed.  Thank you Toby Mac!

Before that, I decided to get up early and write.  Well, that didn't work out so well.  The two younger kids were up at the crack of dawn - bugging me!  Talk about torture.  Hrmmmph!  Give them a day off of school, and they wake up early - too early.  Give them a school day, you can't get them out of bed.

Sunshine Galore!

I could  not resist.  Today I have towels on the line.  The sun is out if full force and there is a breeze.  I have to say it sure looks funny to see the towels on the line, and still have snow on the ground.  One more task that saved us money.

The chickens are outside enjoying the sun too!

Thank you God for this glorious sunshine!