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 3, 2015

An apple in my pocket ~ The iPod eating box ~ Floor Rug

School closed today, so watch out.  This post will be a doozy.  I've got a pot of coffee all to myself, and all the kids are still in bed.

I guess, although we are to warm up to the 38°F, they are predicting ice covered roads until noon today.
 
Aside from animal feed, which I may run out before the end of the week, I'm declaring this week a no-spend week.  Toilet paper is stocked up so we are good in that department.

I'll try to remember to give you an update after week 1.  I may stretch our no spend week, into two weeks.  I've already been told that poster board is needed for school this week.  I've warned the girls that makeup does not constitute as an necessity.  It's more of a do-without-it-week-unless-absolutely necessary.

When I did barn chores yesterday, I had an apple that was going beyond it's freshness.  I sliced it up and wrapped it and put it in my coat pocket.  With buckets in both hands, I headed out.  When I got to "Big Boy" he usually minds his own business and goes for the fresh water first.  Not yesterday.  I thought he would he was going to rub me to death with that awful smell, trying to get that apple from my pocket.  Lesson learned. 

I have a 15 year-old that won't talk back any day soon.  I have a box, and in the inside bottom, are the words "I eat ipods and laptops."  It ate a few electronics, and the funny part is, that the kids created this plan.  Mostly,  the plan was for when jobs were not completed 100%, but I took it to a new level.  

Of course she was required to apologize to get them back, and after a lengthy time period, but required one more thing.  She had to find one thing to do that did not involve using an electronic of any sort.  


She spent some time drawing.  She did complain, but she didn't use an electronic either. 

I had a very busy day yesterday. Busy is a good thing right now.


It was already noon and I had not even finished half of my to-do list.  Rue would not stand still for a good picture today. 

Barn chores.
Cleaned the pellet stove.
Brought in wood. 
 Made spreadable butter.
 Made liquid laundry detergent.
Laundry.
Scrubbed a toilet.
Vacuumed.
Wrote an email to Son.
Baked zucchini muffins. Note:  I love this recipe, because it utilizes homemade baking mix, using very little wet ingredients, and only one egg.  On top of that, it makes 18 vs. 12 muffins.  It's perfect for lunch packings.


....finishing half is better than nothing I guess.

Here is another finished crocheted floor rug....
The color is actually more of a cantaloupe than an orange, and has mixes of yellow and white, with greens and light blue. You can see my Scrap Rug here, and my first rug (with better instructions) here.








11 comments:

Mama Pea said...

I don't know how you get everything done that you do and still have time to sit and crochet a rug!

By the looks of your daughter's drawing, I'd say there's more than one person in the family that has some serious artistic ability!

We're getting snow today but supposedly it's only going to be 1 to 4 inches.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, I crochet at night, when my eyes are so tired, I have to put on reading glasses to focus. With all the kiddos home today, I'll have much more help.

M.E. Masterson said...

It's hard to put the brain to bed! I can understand.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

M.E., I think I will try sipping some Valerian root tea tonight. Maybe that will help me sleep better.

Susan said...

Someone told me to drink diluted sour cherry juice at night - and, by golly, it worked! I'm with Mama Pea - I don't know how you get so much done! Your daughter has talent!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Susan, thanks for that tip. Next grocery allowance, I'll check on prices.

HeatherD76 said...

We did a no spending month once. It was tough, but made us all realize the crap we use to spend our money on. All we bought was medication, milk, and bread (I have yet to find a recipe to make that we like). Oh and we paid the bills. I have enough food saved in our pantry where we don't have to buy groceries for a few months.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Heather, that is great! You are right about little item purchases too. Hubby used to buy a newspaper every day. Now we don't. That was $180.00 a year to buy ($.75 each/Mon-Friday, and sometimes Sat).

RB said...

The rugs are getting more beautiful each time. I'm going to have to give them a try sooner or later. Lord knows I have enough yarn to get going on one.

Was very warm here today, in the 70s which was a shocker. But there's cold and sleet coming tomorrow night, so our celebration outdoors which was lovely, was short, but wasa blessing nonetheless.

God bless.

RB
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Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

RB, thanks. I'll be saving my yarn scraps over the next few years for another scrap rug.

RB said...

You can sometimes get odd yarn scraps at thrift stores cheap, especially non-profit thrift stores that benefit a charity because people will donate what they have left over at the end of projects.
God bless.
RB
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