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~

Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Friday, March 8, 2024

Local Eats ~ Book Goals ~ Sweet Energy Treat

 

The sun finally made an appearance!  Boy it was nice.  I got out of the house and got a few smallish errands done.  The library was first, but I also made a visit to the local orchard.  The only thing we needed was local honey, but I picked up some locally made apple cider and some red delicious apples that were on sale.  I'm thinking apple oatmeal breakfast bake, pork chops and apples, and more.

I also made a trip to a Dollar General, but for specific things, and to price check (to see if digital coupons were worth it).  I did notice that they have kitchen sponge/scrubbers and cleaning brushes in two different locations in the store. One had them at $1.00 each, and the other area had them more expensive.  

I stocked up on kitchen sponges, cleaning brushes (they come in handy for cleaning chicken watering units, the bathtub, and other things), and some very inexpensive toothbrushes for cleaning purposes.  I keep a few toothbrushes in my cleaning caddy for smaller space/area cleaning.

As for the digital coupons with Dollar General, I am on the fence so to speak.  I'm going to price check a few things, but for now I am not signing up.


I'm on a roll with reading through my bookshelf books this year.  I am still using the library, but for non-fiction books mostly.  I like to help keep them in business.

Anyway, I was able to start this book on the porch, although the sun was out, the wind was a bit chilly.   After talking to my husband, I think I bought this book a few years ago at an antique store, that had a book seller.  It just got put in a hidden location when we started ripping carpet out to repair floors and joists.  Well, the book  was found, and I'm almost halfway through it already.

Energy bites.  They are light and delicious.  I have made so many different recipes for these, but after buying some while in Amish country, reading the ingredients, and trying to find a copycat recipe, we did.  The ones sold in Amish country are much denser (thickly rolled), and have a few more ingredients.  

These were a bit tricky to roll, but after cooling the ingredients in the fridge first, they rolled up nicely.  They are light, not dense, and boy are they good.  I may even cut back on the mini chocolate chips.  The recipe is online at Gimme some Oven - No-Bake Energy Bites.  I adapted the recipe with organic/non-gmo ingredients.

I plan to make the energy bites this summer, and put some in the freezer, to have on hand for hot work days in the garden.

Monday, February 19, 2024

Happy Homemaker Monday

Do any of you own one of those box style choppers, that also work as a mandolin?  I have a hand chopper and food processer, but I'm thinking the box chopper would be easier to use, and wash and store.  It could utilize it in the camper as well.

I'm just thinking ahead for garden season, when we bring in tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and the like.  I need to replace my mandolin this year, so I'm curious about this type of chopper/mandolin.

I have been getting outside for fresh air as often as I can. I think this is mentally and physically important.  Whether it is to pick up trash thrown in the yard from people driving by, to muck the coop, pick up or clean up the porch/patio, or ...


...to simply put on a jacket and sip a hot beverage and sit and enjoy the sunshine.


Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.


The weather . . .

We still have a bit of snow on the ground, but we are to get up into the 50's again this week.


Right now I am . . .

Drinking coffee, and writing this post.


Thinking and pondering . . .

What project to do next.  We need to paint the master bathroom, and we also need to install a window in another room, with drywall repair work and a new electrical outlet.  We may be hiring someone for the window/drywall job.  Depends on if we are close to a finish on the hallway before the end of the month.


How I am feeling . . .

Terrific.  I did buy an elbow brace for my aching elbow (from slipping on ice while stepping out of the truck).

We make ourselves goals, we give ourselves rewards, and my husband said he hasn't felt this good in maybe 30 years.  

Last weeks pamper me moment?  Painted my nails at the end of a very nasty weather day.  Dressed up and went out for breakfast one day.


On the breakfast plate . . .

A new recipe!!  Breakfast Lasagna!  It's a layer of scrambled eggs, a different type of sausage gravy, applegate low sodium/no sugar ham, and cheeses.  I'll post my review on this later this week (to keep this post short, ha ha!).


On the lunch plate . . .

Leftovers.


On the dinner plate . . .

Not sure just yet.  It could be leftovers again.


On the menu. . .

Breakfast:  Einkorn Pumpkin Pancakes, maybe bacon to go with them?  Blueberries.  

-Mexican Lasagna, Crockpot creamed Corn (using frozen off the cob corn)

-Meatball casserole (using homemade frozen meatballs, that are made with oats vs. bread crumbs, home canned sauce, and some cheeses, Green Beans (also from the garden freezer goodies)

-Spaghetti squash pesto chicken, veggie side (maybe roasted rutabaga)

-Leftovers


On my reading pile . . .

I needed a break from reading the Leslie Meier series.   I am about half way into this book, and I am very much enjoying it.

On my TV . . .

Anything that looks good.


Looking around the house . . .

I'll have an update on the hallway progress this week.  It's coming along nicely.

One box of donations was packed and delivered.  We donated to a Habitat Restore, as the items were used light fixtures, switch plates and the like.  

I have another box started for donations, but it's not full enough to deliver.


To-do list . . .

-clean the washing mashing filter


My washing machine filter is not exactly easy to clean.  This is what it looks like after I remove the full bottom panel under the front loading door (some of you have a cute little access door).  You can see the filter is behind wires, and is back inside, making it much more difficult to get a bucket under it to catch the water that comes out.  I will be looking to see where the filter is when we ever do need to buy a new washing machine.  Did you know that you should clean your washing machine filter 4 times a year?  I don't clean ours that often.  There is just the two of us, and no pets, so the filter stays pretty clean.

-laundry after the washer is put back together
-prepare a few days of breakfast
-dust
-sweep/mop floors
-sort more yarn totes
-prime side hallway entry door (the inside of it for now)
-pick up hallway floor trim

Deep clean for the week:
-finish cleaning the kitchen blinds/windows

From the camera . . .



What I am crocheting . . .

I posted an update on handiwork yesterday.  You can see the post HERE.  

I also started another lap afghan, but these will dwindle as the weather warms up.  I will switch to projects for me/us when the cold weather leaves.



On-the-go projects are baby wash clothes for gifting, an XL pot holder for our own kitchen (all these years I never made one for us), and eventually baby booties to gift.


Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses. . .

Psalm 28:7

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."

Happy Homemaker Monday  © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Bits and Pieces



Good morning my blog world readers.  The cold weather is still lingering, to remind us that winter is not over just yet. 

Happy Valentine's Day!  Hard to believe we are at mid-February already.

Each trip upstairs, I try to pull open craft drawers, and pick anything that needs to be donated.  It feels good to get things organized again, after all these repairs/renovations.  



I'm being pretty successful at purging books.  Funny story.  I was reading a book and realized I had already read it.  I then went to flip through my book journal, and found not only did I read it, but I read two books that my Mom had given me (obviously books I had read, and gave to her).  I had read one in 2004 and the other in 2007.   Those are going to be passed on to a sibling.

I'll be doing better at rotating books out, as they come in. 


I've been busy in the kitchen, more than other work lately.  Pumpkin Oat Breakfast bake.  I love this too!  Not only does it use up that delicious frozen pumpkin puree from the garden, but it's a one bowl mix recipe.  I'll be making some more egg/sausage and cheese cups to go with it.

I also took some blueberries and strawberries out of the freezer to thaw for future dishes.  I have more butternut squash in the freezer I need to use up too.  Not sure what for yet.  

The first recipient (senior center trivia winner, who receives meals on wheels) of one of my crocheted lap afghans and jar openers this winter.  I'm so glad I can make someone happy, and comfortable.








Tuesday, February 13, 2024

This and That

 


We've been blessed with some beautiful sun-shiny days, and we are so thankful.  We get more clouds this time of year in our area.  It really does make a difference in your mood.

Hallway update:  all of the door and window trim has been painted. 

Plugs have been ordered for the entry door off the hall.  I guess I never noticed they were missing, until I scrubbed the door and window for priming.  





The plugs have been shipped.  One side had them, and the other did not have them.  We just need to install them before priming.  I didn't have to do this, but future cleaning and any future painting will be much easier.  It will look nicer too.  I used an old toothbrush/vinegar water to clean the holes out.

I finished painting the entire upstairs flooring.  Stairs will be next, but only when I have time.  The hallway is getting full attention right now.



I little ditty about this book.  Mom gave it to me a while back, and it got packed up when we ripped out carpet, and found again.  The back story - Mom handed it to me with a grin on her face, and said "just read it" explaining it was about an autistic boy, and his mother is a vet and brings home a baby skunk.

I read it, and it's getting passed on.  I just need to locate a shipping vessel to get it on its way.  It was a cute book.  A kids book, and I have no idea how or why Mom had it.  

We had a hankering for garden goodies, so I made us a salad.  We sure do miss going out and picking it all fresh.  It'll all be happening again soon.


Bad photo, but do you all remember me blogging, that I was growing sprouts for the chickens?  Well, they are not sprouting. Well, some are just now starting to sprout.  It's been taking forever, and I'm not doing anything different, other than it's a different brand of lentils.  The expiration date is '26 so I'm not sure what's going on.  Bad batch?  I started a second jar to be sure.  If they don't sprout, I'm going back to the store for a different brand.



Fun information to share.  My sister-in-law sent me this photo, and asked if I knew what they were?  They were in some crochet/tatting supplies of her Mothers.  The first person I asked said they were for making bias tape, but the next person told me they were "braid-aids" for making braided rugs, and I do think that is what they are.  If any of you think they are for something else, please comment, but I do (after looking online) think they are for running the fabric through (like a bias tape), to then braid the fabric into a rug.  Very fun stuff if you ask me.  Did you know these existed?  I did not.

I don't make braided rugs anymore, but wanted to share, as I know some of my blog followers still make them.

I got the last of our pre-paid propane ordered.  They only give us so many months to have it delivered, and then it's put as a credit if we do not.  The pre-paid cost is much lower, so we are still trying to gauge what we think we will need each winter.  I'm hoping we are on track, and that the heaters will be off in a month or so.  We've had 60 degree weather in march before.

I have not found a widget of gadget to add to my blog, to all an email contact form.  I want one that will send the email to me, but one that will keep the actual email address private.  Is that even possible?  I'm working on it anyway.  




Monday, February 12, 2024

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

A sunrise from last week.  We've been blessed with some beautiful sunrises lately.  We actually grilled out on Sunday.  It was slightly chilly, but the sun was out.

Do you remember my post on the Butterscotch Sugar cookies (from a Joanne Fluke book)?  I froze some of them, to see if they froze well, and they do!  Just sharing in case you like to have something in the freezer for unexpected guests, or need to quickly take a treat to someone.





Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather. . .

Highs in the 40's and lows in the 20's for the week.


Right now I am . . .

Making a pot of coffee.


Thinking and pondering . . .

Butter beans.  Do you use butter beans?  I do.  I have to order them online, as our stores here do not carry them.  Weird right?  I see that Meijer sells them (via looking online), but they add sugar to their canned beans for some reason.  Do you have access to butter beans (organic, non-gmo)?  I currently by Eden Butter beans (USA grown, only contains Kombu seaweed for better digestion).

Just when I am thinking of purging some writing books, a "freelancing" article comes up in my reading list today.  Hm.

So many blogs I follow/followed have ended or are coming to an end lately.  I go to where my reading page is and there is mostly blogs on crochet or writing anymore.


How I am feeling . . .

Coffee made, music on, and ready to tackle the day.


On the breakfast plate . . .

-Breakfast:  Egg/Sausage/Cheese breakfast sandwiches, coffee

On the lunch plate . . .

Maybe chicken salad/boiled egg, grapes.


On the dinner plate . . .

Chicken quesadillas possibly.


On the menu . . .


-Southern Beefy Skillet (Eating Well Recipe, formally from Diabetic Living), but the recipe does not list the tomato sauce in the ingredients, so read the entire recipe and instructions first.

-Pork loin, roasted green beans, and wild rice blend, made with organic stock and pre-blanched kale.  Home canned BBQ sauce to pour over the pork over rice blend.

-Mexican Lasagna, Crockpot Creamed Corn (using frozen off the cob corn)



Beverage:  a gallon of homemade iced green tea infused with dehydrated spearmint from the garden.  Did you know spearmint is good for helping memory?  I just learned this.

When the current Mediterranean Orzo salad is gone, I plan to make another salad.


On my reading pile . . .



Thanks to two 65°F days (and mostly sunny) that lured me to the porch to actually sit and read, I finished this book.  

Currently reading this:




I also borrowed some interesting books from our library. 



 The "swap" book has some very interesting ideas in it.  I'm still waiting on a Sally Fallon book, and it is taking forever to get a copy from the library.  I thought for sure I owned a copy, but I do not.  I'm hoping it comes in soon.


On the TV this week . . .

Movies:  The Ice Road


Looking around the house. . .

What I purged - 16 books, 1 pair of 1.50 readers, 1 cast iron griddle, and gave away the last of my nail polish Christmas tree ornaments to a friend who does nails for a living (she loved them).

The house is pretty tidy, as we had guests over the weekend.

I'm very slowly purging items from the office, which may end up not an office.  That is topic for "thinking and pondering" I guess.

I finished giving my quilt rack a fresh coat of paint, and it's back up on a wall.  I am looking for a new quilt now.  The current one does not match (it's a knock off, cheap version quilt)


The to-do list . . .

-put another paint chip in the home journal
-order propane
-place an order for items I cannot get in the grocery store
-laundry
-dishes, run dishwasher


For the week (moved from last week, as I did not get it done)

-clean kitchen window, window blinds, wash curtains

-the hallway project is still on-going


From the camera . . .


I finished this lap afghan. It is packaged up to donate to the senior center.   I started another.  I keep getting notified (by friends) that there is a need for shawls for a group in our state called Shawls of Support for organ/tissue/eye donors.  One specific wanted purple ones.  I have yet to check my yarn stash, but the senior center was thrilled to get what I have already donated, I really would like to finish a few more lap afghans for them, before winter is over.  Then again, they may be able to use them in the summer if they have the AC on too.  Anyway, there are two great ways to help others with my yarn stash.


Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses. . .

It's not a prayer or bible verse, but a strongly written statement.   It's possibly encouragement to someone today.








Friday, February 9, 2024

Reading Books

 



It was about the time Mom started to get worse, and rotated from Emergency room to the nursing home, to home and back around again, that I completely lost my reading mojo (2021)

I think more than half of the books Mom had, were from me.  I used to read so often.

I am just starting to get back to reading.  However, with all of the home repairs and renovations going on, I often put it off or completely off for the day.  I often feel guilty for sitting down to read, when I know there is a window trim that needs painted, or a counter full of dishes that need put away, or laundry that needs folded (but more so the home repairs/renovations).

How do you not feel guilty to sit and read on a daily basis?

I am currently reading a book I started back in December.  Seriously.

So....in light of all of that....

Ha!  Trying to squeeze in a few pages when I can.  I was waiting for the blanch water to boil.  

We shall see how this goes.  My one Grandma (Mom's Mom) used to have a book with her all of the time, and I was told she'd even read a book while standing in line (say at the bank or wherever).

We hit a high of 64°F yesterday, and it was warm enough to read on the porch for once.  Getting some fresh air was just a bonus.  We are to hit another 60-ish degree day today (winds as much as  35mph), but it will return to cold again.


Reading Books © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart




Tuesday, December 26, 2023

This and That ~ Finishing the Unfinished

 









Although only for one night, we were able to travel a few hours away, to visit a 4.8 million Christmas light display, stay at a Historic hotel (which we loved), and visit some local shops, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.  It rained on us, but we were still happy to travel and celebrate.

Christmas is over with, and we have had the strangest weather.  We hit 64°F I think they said, and today it's rain and in the high 50's.  The nice part of not having a lot of decorations up, is we have very little to put away this year.

Christmas has been much different, with Mom not here to celebrate, so we will need to work on new traditions for next year.  I've come to terms with the fact, it will not be the same, and we will make changes.  It's hard to believe I made it past Christmas, and only baked one Christmas cookie.  I've had a request to make one more, before the month is over.



I don't know how, but I managed to finally finish this book.  I started reading it early in the spring. The garden/other projects keep me busy, with little time to read.  

I finished this one as well.  I know, a bit shocker.  I think this makes book 5 for this year.  I typically read a lot more.

I read most of Leslie Meier Mystery books years ago, but our library did not have some of the series.  I do enjoy them, but would like to venture into other books I have at home.

If you are looking for a Christmas movie to watch, try Netflix movie Holiday in the Vineyards.  We very much enjoyed it.




We tried a new deviled egg recipe, and we really like it.  The recipe says to put the extra filling on crackers, and it would be delicious on a cracker.  We loaded it all on the eggs.  It is a recipe from The Southern Lady Cooks, and the pimentos make it colorful for a Christmas side dish.  

I used my homemade garlic powder for the recipe, and just the small amount adds a good amount of flavor.  They are not low in calories, but I'm glad we tried them.


This and That ~ Finishing the Unfinished © Dec 2023 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart


Friday, November 10, 2023

Chit Chat on the Porch ~ Library Loot

 


I thought we were going to have a very dreary, dark day yesterday, but the sun came out, and I got some fresh air.  It was a bit cooler and breezy, but we are to warm back up thankfully.  Getting outside this time of year is good for the soul.

Later, I went into my office for something, and found that I buried my crochet hooks in there.  

I quickly got those back in their proper home, but I realized that I have more "stuff" in there to put away.  By "stuff" I mean stuff shoved in there from ripping up the entire flooring in the living.  I unpacked two more boxes I found from the bedroom project. I am also filling another box for donations.

Just pack up an entire room in a hurry, and then unpack it all.  You'd be surprised on what you really need or use vs. what you have.  

I found a cookbook I didn't even know I had.  I may try a few, but it is old and falling apart.

I have used my "hidden" screwdriver several times already, and have installed a new curtain rod for my hallway (so it matches the one on the door).




I have used up all of the pumpkin, that we did not freeze, but I borrowed some books from the library for new ideas.




I have yet to talk with anyone who makes fire cider.  It's been years since we made it, so I guess I'm on my own for finding a "good" tasting recipe.

The skills book would be a nice gift for a teenager.  Easy instructions.  I'm not sure why I inter-loaned it ha ha!

The Christmas book was brought home on a whim.  Not sure I'll have the time to read it, or if it will restore my holiday mojo.  I guess we'll find out.




I really have no business getting fiction books from the library.  Seriously.  I have stacks all over my office, and in other rooms, ha ha!  In my defense, some were given to me.  These are not even all of the "stacks" I  have around the house.  My goal is to get back to reading this winter.