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 Recommended Reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recommended Reading. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

March Reading Challenge ~ Fog ~ New Recipe!

I picked a new author to read for March (although I started it last month).  She has a series of books, so I started with her first one.  I borrowed this from the library, but ended up ordering a copy of it.


Mum's the Word, by Kate Collins (Flower Shop Series)

Speaking of books.  TLC book tour emailed me wanting me to read a book, and post a review on my blog.  The book looks interesting, but seriously, my time in March is limited this year.  Has anyone else gotten these emails?  

Nothing much going on considering it's winter and I'm stuck home.  I did manage to make a bucket of homemade laundry detergent amongst regular chores.

We have major fog this morning, but the weather is a bit warmer.  School has a 2 hour delay, and there is hardly any traffic on the country highway of ours.  It's nice to have a quiet morning.  The other night a plane went over us at 3am and woke us up (flying that low).


I almost forgot to take a photo!  It was so good - Sweet Potato and Black bean enchiladas.  I forgot to make the crema sauce for the topping, but oh my gosh, so good.  We'll make these again, and make the topping minus the avocado.  I used a store bought non-gmo/low carb tortilla for these too.  The sweet potatoes have to be pre-cooked for this recipe, but worth it.  I used a recipe online from Ambitious Kitchen (I'm finding some goodies on that site) - Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Lime Crema.  

The sauce can be made with home canned tomato sauce and home canned tomato paste, with spices.  Oh my, I cannot wait to plant sweet potatoes, possibly black beans this year too.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

February Reading Challenge Book Pick ~James Patterson ~ Homemade Meatballs ~ Garlic ?

It continued.

Blog post in January with the most views - This and That ~ Finishes





Kiss the Girls, by James Patterson.  The book is off my own bookshelf (discarded library book, and not in that great of shape), and when it's done, will be passed on to another person.  Most likely my daughter first.  Or recycled if it falls apart while reading it, ha ha!

Considering the weekend, with a possible chance to cut wood, I took Friday off.  Sort of.  They are predicting a "lot" of sunshine on Sunday, but Hubby has to work.




I did the dishes, and made a batch of meatballs (made with ground organic oats vs. bread crumbs).   Three trays went into the freezer. 



Recently, I was able to buy an organic spaghetti squash and made "spaghetti" and meatballs, with home canned tomato sauce for dinner.  Although our daughter wanted pasta, I still used the squash this time around.



I also finished my January book, on January 31st, for the reading challenge.  There are so many good recipes in this book too (I wish I could find more of her books at the library books sales).  Too many that have sweets, but I may save a few of the recipes to try this summer - Blackberry cookies or Blackberry pie perhaps.  By the way, this was the first book I have completely finished since 2017.  Yikes!

I have zero homegrown garlic to plant this spring.  I have searched the internet and have only found one resource that will ship for spring planting, and it's by one bulb per order.  Does anyone know of any online resource (or catalog resource) for spring garlic bulbs?  Organic of course.  Thanks in advance.  All other sources I use ship in October and that is too late to plant for fall anyway for us.  

Friday, May 23, 2014

The Front Porch ~ Our Simple Pleasure

Last night was quiet around here.  We thanked God for that.  Things are in action, and people are working on our situation as well as us.  The Deputy Sheriff called us last night while we were at a school choir concert, and of course I went into panic mode, thinking something happened at the homestead.  However, it was good news.  He caught located the 4-wheeler guy who ran off and charged him with a few violations.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Wear Your Slippers All Day ~ October 14th

October 14th is "Wear Slippers all Day" day.

How fun is that? So make sure you put that on your calendar.


Today is National Diversity Day and World Farm Animals Day.  October is also Diversity Awareness Month, Eat Better, Eat Together Month, National Book Month, and National Cookie Month.


It's raining here today.  A bit dreary, but we needed the rain in the garden.  My sugar snap peas were starting to wilt, and my green beans are about ready to harvest.  


In celebration of National Book Month, I am pulling this off my shelf.  Today is a good day for reading this book.  Hubby bought it for me years ago, and it contains seven novels by Jane Austen.  I may also bake us some cookies and hold a "read and feed" night here with the family. 

I am also making a trip to the library.  I to return this book.  I'm not going to have time to make any of these this year.  However, I do plan on checking this book out again.  Cute stuff!

I finished the 4 scarves that teachers ordered, and making a 5th one for my 10 year-old.  They have a spirit week this week, and she has pleaded for one to wear on Friday.

What book(s) are you reading this month?


Thursday, September 27, 2012

What We Are Reading

My 10 year-old daughter stole this one off my shelf.  I guess my writing is influencing the kids more than I have realized.

Hubby is reading these magazines.

I am reading this book.  A book about how a pickle factory is taken over by a big city guy, trying to change the way of farming and make more money.

 This is what my son is reading.

This is what my 15 year-old daughter is reading.  With all her school work, she doesn't have time to read for fun.

My 13 year-old isn't reading anything but the computer screen.....tsk, tsk.



Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Recommeded Reading ~ Living Smart and Simple

Cookbooks

Tomato, A Fresh-from-the-Vine Cookbook, by Lawrence Davis-Hollander

Quick-Fix Healthy Mix, 225 Healthy and Affordable mix Recipes to Stock Your Kitchen, by Casey Kellar and Nicole Kellar-Munoz.

Gardening Books

The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control, A Complete Guide to Maintaining a Healthy garden and Yard the Earth-Friendly Way, edited by Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis, and Deborah L. Martin