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 Quotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quotes. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Chicken Necks ~ Stress Related to Allergies? ~ Canned Tuna


I finally took the chicken necks from my freezer the other day, and today I will make homemade broth.  I will freeze it instead of can it, and most likely use about half of it before the current chickens are butchered.

I have never made broth from scratch (strangely), so this is a new step for me.  I've always purchased it (gmo-free, organic) from the grocer.  However, prices have gone up to over $4/box.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Cheesy Potatoes from Scratch ~ How they Rated and Other Self-Sufficient Tidbits

Easter Sunday I decided to make my cheesy potatoes from organic potatoes (not frozen), and eliminate all the processed ingredients (canned mushroom soup, Velveeta cheese etc).

The results?

Friday, February 21, 2014

A new page, A new possibility


To take over the goats or not to. 

That is the possibility over the next 2 years.  Daughter is talking about moving out after she graduates (and go off to college) and won't be able to take the goats with her.  If she leaves them, I would have to take over all duties that she took care of. Which is everything - all goat care, milking, and soap making.  I was simply the goat milker back-up.  And of course, watered them during the school year when needed.



This is only a "possibility" as I have a very large garden to plant, weed, harvest and stock up with.  Not to mention chicken duties, splitting wood and so forth.   And then there is possible employment outside of the home, and my freelance work inside the home.  And "Big Boy" is another element to the decision.  I'm not sure if I can handle his smell and attend his care.  And lastly, there is the issue of never leaving to travel anywhere, and being tied down to the homestead.



But, then again, we have somewhat of a goat history in the family.  Here is my mother with her goat Buttsey and cat named Dusty. 

Saying it's just a possibility, makes it easier to simply let sit for a while. 



Monday, March 18, 2013

Always Something. . .


We ran into "snags" with the goat fencing.  We could not drive t-posts, due to cement around the foundation, so we nailed up 2 x4's against the barn and then ran the fencing out.  However, once we started getting on a "roll" we ran into needing another tool.

My 16 year-old finished putting up some last boards, to keep the stalls baby safe, and started moving her supplies last night.  She finally finished about 9:00pm.  

Do you see that little gal on the outside of the pen?  That little escape artist got through the boards.  My daughter had to go back out after dinner, and put metal fencing all around the stall. 

We still need to board up the "birthing" stall that is on the very right, and then the outside (temporary) fencing (back of the stall).  Thank goodness the barn has a small animal door that slides, that we took advantage of, and the fencing will be directly on the outside of that door.

After that we have a motion sensored light fixture that will be mounted on the barn too.  And possibly a predator light.  We get a lot of rats, weasels, raccoons, hawks, owls, and what not. If you have bought such a light, and have a review, I'd love to hear it.


We woke up today to freezing rain and a layer of ice everywhere.  School is closed today as well.  I have yet to find out if driver's education closed. Even the community college closed.

The weather man got the weather wrong yesterday.  Brrr!  When we all came in about dinner time (Hubby, myself, our 16 and 13 year-old daughters), my cough had already returned.  So did the congestion and runny nose.  The chance to sleep in today, was a wonderful surprise.  

Our 13 year-old is back from her class trip, and I am sure she is enjoying the chance to rest up this morning as well.  Her feet are still swollen from all the walking they did.

A Year of Quotes:
"Setting a goal is not the main thing.  It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan."
    ~ Tom Landry
   

 

Friday, March 15, 2013

What are you . . .

(my snack while cleaning yesterday...a girl has to have her chocolate)

I'm not one to "blog hop" or the like, but I found the most recent post on Henningsen Happenings a fun one. 

Here's mine:

What are you. . .


Listening to:  the rabbit shake his watering unit, and my oldest daughter's cell phone vibrate (she should know that her alarm won't wake her up that way) Not exciting information I know.

Eating: Nothing at the moment, but just ate two farm fresh eggs over easy for breakfast.

WatchingHubby and I are in the 6th episode of 8, of McLeod's Daughters.

Reading: Naked, Drunk,and Writing (see?  It really is a book)

Making:  Another dishcloth and more rag rugs.

Planning: What chickens to buy soon, what cool weather vegetables to plant, and what cheeses to make this year.  What to build to house our meat chickens.  New item ideas for Farmer's Market and what dates to attend.

Doing:  Right now I am blogging while I wait for the washing machine to finish.

Feeling: Tired. Overwhelmed with today's mundane chores.

Loving: The sunshine this week

WantingA completely clean house all in one day.  A sun room for hubby and myself. To get back to the gym.   To screen in a side porch.  To rip out all carpet and put in wood flooring.  Another weekend getaway with hubby.  My extra weight to miraculously fall off  (hey....you asked what I "wanted").  To buy a camper.  To build or create a "writing" room of my own.  To...to....to...this list is endless.

Thinking: Wondering what my 13 year-old is doing in D.C. right now.  Thinking that I should already be on the treadmill, and not sitting my bum in this chair. 

And looking forward to:  A much needed, relaxing trip to the island, camping, sipping iced tea on my front porch, and opening the windows.


A Year of Quotes:
"Well done is better than well said."
  ~ Benjamin Franklin 

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Handiwork Progress ~ Moving Onward



When my older brother stopped in recently, he also brought me a bag of old jeans from his wife.  I have already started cutting them into strips for another denim rag rug.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

From the Homesteading Journal. . . (work, work, and work)


. . . Hubby and my 16 year-old worked on building the new goat stalls.  Only a few more boards to go.



. . . meet the newest member on the farm.  She's from a good bloodline of purebred lamancha dairy goats.  She is not named yet, but will be increasing our goat's milk, soap production, and homemade cheeses.  She's such a cutie.  This little gal follows my daughter everywhereI had to laugh when Sadie (black lab mix) brought her rope toy to the goat, to play with.  She was even (the dog) growling at Jesse to warn him to stay away for "her" baby goat playmate.  


. . . purchased early spring seeds (peas etc), but still need our potatoes and onions.





. . . worked on painting more of the kitchen cupboards.  With the temperature change, I hope to finish this project this month.


. . . washed up a vintage feed sack, and reused it for a curtain for one lower cupboard

. . . mixed up 5 more jars of homemade vanilla extract, and more homemade ginger ale.


The weather has quickly changed from 50 degrees and sunny, to 40-50 degrees and rainy, and now to the 30's, 100% cloud cove,r and a teensy bit of snow (or is that drizzle out there?).

Either way, I have a load of towels going on the line today.

It's a good day to get out my writing gear, and get something down on paper (or computer).  I've put it off way too long.  The kids can cook dinner tonight.  They joke why I haven't "written" my book yet, but they consistently leave me a very messy house.  Who can write with a clear mind, when the house is a chaotic mess?  I need my "office" out at the back of the property....and soon.

I may just make a big pot of hot cranberry punch to get me in the "mood."  That is, after I re-start the wood stove (hmpf - kids!), and bring in more wood.   Looks like we'll need it this week.



   

A Year of Quotes:

"In life, all good things come hard, but wisdom is the hardest to come by."
   ~ Lucille Ball  

   

Monday, March 11, 2013

Teabag Tidbits


It's Monday, and I have lots of work to get done - dishes the kids did not do (again), painting, laundry, floors, bathroom, design new business cards, do research on the possibilities (it may not happen due to cost) of a new easy-up canopy for Farmer's Market, and a few quick checks on the wee one we brought home yesterday (more on that later).

It's raining, dark and dreary today

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Lola is Not Happy ~ Road Trip

I finally found a chicken saddle/apron for Lola.  Sparta has ripped out her backside feathers completely.  She is the only chicken so far, that is like this.
 
Lola does not like her saddle/apron.  Once the kids put it on her, she went "bananas" and squawked and squawked.  She went running around, trying to get it off.  The other chickens followed and chased, wondering what that thing was on her.  In the photo you can see they are all staring at her, in curiosity.

However, by evening, she was still upset.  I hope she has gotten used to it by this morning, and will agree to wear it.


Hubby was called in again for more repairs at work.  This time it was 3:50am.  He's still not home yet, and it will be a long Sunday for him.

Today we have a road trip scheduled. 
 

A Year of Quotes:
"You have to have a dream, so you can get up in the morning."
  ~ Billy Wilder

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Singing Birds ~ Wall Tent Memories

This male cardinal was singing his heart out last night.  My older brother stopped in for a visit, and gifted us wood and fencing, and we were still all standing outside.  My 11 year-old daughter encouraged me to run in and grab my camera.  Birds are the most difficult animal for me to photograph.  They are there one second, and gone the next.  However, I got lucky this time.  What a beautiful sound he made too.


We may have a change of plans today.  Hubby got called into work for a  repair, sometime around 4-5am.  He's still not back home, so I best get started on plan B.  

The weather is even better today than yesterday.  However, like most days in our state, we'll probably be back to colder days soon.  It's a good day to wash the kids bedding and put it on the line.  Not to mention, air out the house.

I'm not drinking a green veggie smoothie drink, that contains spirulina, and blue green algae.   It doesn't taste very good, but it will replenish my body with a good dose of vitamins and minerals, protein, and so forth.  I also read that the spirulina helps with allergies.  I am feeling better each day, but I am really not sure if the smoothie is the source of it yet.

Yesterday, I was able to take my crocheting project on the road.  And during my daughter's dental visit, my Mother met up with me.  She surprised me, and gifted us with two bags of delicious breads.

Days like today make me wish we had our backyard wall tent up.  

I will need to replace our tent, as well as our easy-up, as both are ruined by wear and tear.


 I'm not one to take all this stuff camping, so we look forward to relaxing in it, in the backyard. See the chicken in the photo in the upper right?  Even the chickens join us.

And of course the dogs (which Gus will be missed) join us.....

 And the barn cats too.


A Year Of Quotes:
"Courage is grace under pressure."
~ Ernest Hemingway  



Thursday, February 21, 2013

Pampering Myself ~ More Snow


Hubby had to work late, so I decided to do foot soaks and pedicures with the girls.  Well, some of them.  With 5 kiddos still in the house, I plan to do more self-pampering for stress reducing reasons.

I failed to get housework finished, but did get the bedding on the clothesline yesterday.  I'm not stressing over it, but will write down what I do get done vs. a "to-do" list.  Then tackle what I haven't completed.

Also, with the older two (19, and almost 21) not being employed yet, I have a list of chores for them too - chicken coop cleaning, taking donations to the thrift store, taking recycling to the recycling center, taking returns to the library, picking up jugs of water, and a few other jobs.  

The snow is still falling, and is making laundry day havoc.  




 
We had some strong winds prior to this snow arriving, and have tree branches to pick up now.

As you can see the days have been cloudy, and the sunrises have been hidden most mornings.

Hubby and I started discussing our spring plan for ordering more layers and meat chickens, however, I lost my copy of Backwood's Home Magazine (detailing the types to buy for meat).  I hope to find it this week.

Yesterday I baked banana muffins that were absolutely wonderful.  I've been baking banana bread for a long time, but never got the rave reviews I got over this recipe:  Banana Muffins II

I still have one rotten banana to deal with, and may make our zucchini-banana brownies.  

 





A year of quotes:
"There is nothing we cannot live down, rise above, and overcome."
   ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Cold and Cozy ~ Vehicle Repairs/Sales


Last night I attempted to get my jammies on early (very early at 5pm), and read my new Folk magazine.  A dear friend gifted me a subscription, and I have never read this magazine before.

However, last night, we had a lot of traffic in and out.  Thus, my jammies never went on early, and I didn't get to enjoy this magazine with a cup of tea.

This morning, it's a different story.  I plan to read with peace and quiet, as all the kids are in school/college, but one.  It's freezing here, and snow on the ground from yesterday, so it's a perfect day to "cozy" up and read.

With so many leftovers, I won't need to make dinner tonight either.  Yay!  I do need to use up 4 more bananas.

Yesterday I baked a blueberry/banana muffin recipe to use up both, then baked a batch of homemade granola, and then started a crock pot of beef stew.  I tossed in frozen Kohlrabi I had in the freezer from last summer's garden too.

We sold both the van and the car yesterday.  There's good and bad news.  We discovered the intake was cracked on the van (could have been done by the last guy we hired to install the last parts), and it would cost about $289.00 to replace.  Then we discovered a strut broken on my son's old car.  If driven this way, could cause the driver to have a bad accident.  We informed the buyers, they offered much lower prices, we sold them as is, as they offered to do the repairs.   However, overall, I am glad we discovered it prior to selling.  We are honest folks, and want to keep it that way.

   


A Year of Quotes:

"What's important is that one strives to achieve a goal."
    ~ Ronald Reagan

Friday, September 7, 2012

Friday's Ramble ~ Turning Zucchini into an Instrument

Conversation between me and hubby:

"Uh, honey? Did you know you can use a zucchini stalk like a recorder? You know like an instrument?" (Me)

"Honey, you are just not normal." (hubby sighs and lowers his head with a smile, shaking his head from side to side)

Crazy as it sounds, it's true.  If you still have zucchini in your garden give this a try.  According to this page in my book Log Cabin Cooking, Pioneer recipes and Food Lore" you can. 

It's a ramble kind of day today.  Grab a cup of tea or coffee for this one.

Yesterday I changed up my day.  I actually cooked dinner.  The family is so used to seeing me standing at the stove canning, or out in the garden.  I was not driving out for supplies, so I surfed the net for recipes.  Allrecipes is always a nice one.  I can search for recipes by the ingredients I have.

I made Cheesy Sausage Zucchini Casserole, but changed some of the ingredients - used cream cheese and cottage cheese vs. processed cheese food, and used jasmine rice in place of regular white rice.  Delicious!

I still have some pears, and didn't have enough ripe ones for jam.  I made Pear Bar Cookies.  Yum!  I doubled the recipe, and it was out of the oven just before the school bus pulled in.  We ate them warm, and they tasted like a pie.  So good!  And so naughty.  I made these with the organic pears from my hubby's family and organic, unsalted butter.  This family is so spoiled.

I started weeding my flower beds.  I spent over an hour out there and came in soaked in sweat.  Yuck.  It's been so humid here lately, but my flower beds look terrible. 

The kids are getting lazy.  Every day I have to go upstairs and turn off lights and fans.  Dishes are being left everywhere and floors covered with whatnot.  It's no wonder my youngest could not find her shoes this morning, almost missing the bus.  And they think that when I remind them to pick something up, that I am nagging.  

One of these days they will realize what responsibility is.  They have one job chart - dinner dishes. Yet, every night I have to remind them.   Pretty soon, I'm going to have to give each of them an assigned set of dishes.  I'll engrave names so they can't say, "I don't know who left that there" and "I didn't do it."  You know?  That just might work!  Ha ha!

Speaking of that, they not respecting each other.  Guess they need a dose of reading from the virtues and morals book.  

Our youngest daughter is running for student council this year (again).  Last year she was not voted in.  Hopefully she will this year.

Update on my hubby's kidney donation:
The hospital that they were to have this done at, and then rejected for no good explanation, was recently written up in the paper.  A nurse placed a kidney with waste when it was to go to a recipient.  Some 900 transplant patients are being sent to other hospitals.  I guess that's why they continued to avoid his sister's calls.  They literally did not return any calls to her and to her case worker.  

I started writing exercises to gear up for that novel the kids keep reminding me about.  With a large family, it's tough to concentrate here anymore.  Hubby and I see how much we need a place of our own, so we are working on that.

Technology.  I dislike it tremendously.  E-mails.  Texting.  If used correctly, it's great.  Not used correctly, it's all out negative.  

I've only had to use my dryer once this summer.  I had put out two large loads of towels etc. and it rained.  I could have left them out, but rained the next day too. I love my clothesline.

I may be donating scarves to the homeless again this year.  The granny square pattern I have been using, can be made with all of my scrap yarns.

I need to get my l laundry out, and will be back to sip coffee and read blogs.   Enjoy your day!


"No one lives on the top of the mountain. It’s fine to go there occasionally —for inspiration, for new perspectives. But you have to come down. Life is lived in the valleys. That’s where the farms and gardens and orchards are, and where the plowing and the work is done. That’s where you apply the visions you may have glimpsed from the peaks."
~ Arthur Gordon