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 wild animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wild animals. Show all posts

Monday, October 2, 2023

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Last Friday night's moon.


Saturday morning fog.

Sunday morning fog.


My husband and I tag-teamed and washed all the dishes that were laying around.   Then we sipped coffee on the front porch, but the bugs are terrible with the heat here again.

I had two of our apples go bad, as I have not felt up to taking care of them.  I am hoping that happens soon, before more go bad.

My husband also did a patchwork job on the chicken coop flooring, in hopes it holds until the new coop is finished. 


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



The weather . . .

We are to get our first possible fall frost this coming weekend.  If we do, it will be the end of the bell peppers and any hot peppers.  We are in the 80's for now, and the rest of the week, but again cooling down after that.


As I look outside my window . . .

It's foggy again, and the sun is up.  We both slept in, and my husband called in sick.  There will be a doctor appt. today.


Right now I am . . .

Making a pot of coffee.


Thinking and Pondering . . .

I haven't baked an apple pie in so many years.  I do not have a recipe in my binder or recipe box either.  Does anyone have a recipe for the innards of the pie?  Instructions on baking temp and time?  I have the crust.  I guess I will be doing some research online if not.  Golly, it's been so long since I have made one.  I may just bake a crisp instead.  I found a few recipes for pies in an old recipe book I have.  It will all depend on my energy level.


How I am feeling . . .

Tired, still congested a bit, still have some body aches, and once again a day with no work out.


On the breakfast plate . . .

Not sure yet.


On the lunch plate . . .

Have no idea yet.  Possible a turkey, lettuce, tomato, mayo roll up sandwich with thin low carb wraps.


On the dinner plate . . .

Have  no idea yet.  It could be leftover chili, so I don't have to freeze it.


What I am wearing . . .

Right now?  Jammies, robe and slippers.  I'm in no hurry.


On the reading pile . . .

Yarn labels is about all right now.  Just wasn't feeling up to reading yet.

I have made another discovery concerning my cotton yarn stash.  It will be a post of it's own, so if you are interested, you can read it or if not, skip over it.  


On my TV this week. . .

Any movies that look interesting.


On the menu . . .

-breakfasts:  Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes, Blueberry (local) Sausages or other sausage, Eggs with spinach or an egg bake
-Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash (still on the menu)
-grilled steaks, oven roasted sweet potatoes with whipped feta dip (this may roll into another week, depending on how we feel)
-will try and work on this later today (or this week)

Looking around the house . . .

It's not tidy again yet.  It will take time.  The AC units will be removed this coming weekend or early next week, and put into storage.  We really need fresh air in this house anyway.

The hallway pile up of tools is still awaiting the complete garage clean out as well.  I also have the binder deep clean job to finish, that was started way back when I started the utility room.  Some jobs just need to be finished and done with before winter.


To do list . . .

-work on stocking up herbs/medicinal herbs/weeds etc
-laundry, wash bedding
-work on a meal plan
-write up grocery/essential shopping needs
-clean camper (still on the weekly list)


From the camera . . .




Devotional, thoughts, prayers . . .

Well, I would say prayers for my husband and I, in regards to getting our health back.  We get to doing something, and start feeling exhausted 30 minutes later.  We are taking breaks, but would really like to feel ourselves again.  We are even taking immune boosters, along with medicinal teas, and whatnot.  I will be making a new medicinal soon, in light of getting sick.

 



Thursday, November 24, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving!

 








We are having beautiful weather in the 60's. The deer are very active in the early evening time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Attack of the Tomatoes and other Tidbits

 The pizza sauce recipe is in this book:



Ball also has a freezer pizza sauce recipe here.  I have not tried the freezer recipe.

As hard as I try, I cannot keep up with anything but canning this week.  I gave up on weeding the flower bed, or the garden.  It's been super crazy busy with tomatoes.

It's raining this morning.  It's dark and dreary, so canning resumes.  Last night I was in a pickle.  I canned pizza sauce, and realized I needed both a breakfast and a dinner.  Problem solved - biscuits and gravy, fried potatoes and scrambled eggs.  Now we have breakfast, but a ton of dirty dishes.  I need to unload and reload the dishwasher and get this day started.  My husband said the tomatoes are screaming for me, ha ha!

We were relaxing on the porch last night, and it got very quiet for a few minutes.  Then we heard a crazy screaming sound coming from the woods across the street.  Most likely a few fox fighting or attacking something.  If you have never heard this sound just google it and YouTube has a few where you can hear this crazy sound.

I have been in contact with the island store.  She's getting back with me soon, in regards of a re-order of camper ornaments.  I asked her because I only have two made right now.  I also had to raise my price, and she may not re-order, but like everything the cost of supplies has gone up terribly.

  Like I said - attack of the tomatoes.


Monday, August 16, 2021

Deer ~ Weekend

 


Chased this bugger off.  She was hanging out with the apple trees and berry bushes.

We had busy weekend.  I worked more in the upstairs, cleaning carpets, and moving totes of yarn.  We attempted to dismantle a desk and move it to Daughter E's apartment, but it basically fell apart.  We do have another desk she can have. 

We picked up a new jack for the camper, so that will get installed soon.  We checked more produce stands as well.

We visited Mom and my husband installed a new dryer cover for her, then took a late birthday gift over to Daughter T.

I'm so glad I am getting my yarn moved and into the upstairs.  I had so much shoved into our closet I can now better see what supply I have.  I had way more #10 thread than I thought.

My closet will soon be much better organized and with space to walk in and out again.  Golly, it was so over due.

Sunday evening we did a quick check on the garden and hauled in 7.14# of tomatoes and a lot of hot peppers.

We have rain and thunderstorms today.

Prayer list:  Daughter T's (my step daughter) sister J who is pregnant and has covid, little man grandson D who is sick with a fever and grand daughter A who has been having stomach problems, and my Mom who hasn't been feeling well and struggling with some issues.  Since she got her jab, she's recently been dealing with more health issues, and one is heart failure.  Three people we know who got the jab are having heart problems (praying for them all).

Friday, February 26, 2021

Freezer/Pantry Stash

I have been getting creative with my freezer and pantry stash.  I am trying to rotate out, so I am prepared for the new garden stash to go back in.



I made another new breakfast recipe - Blueberry Baked Oatmeal (Cookie and Kate online).  I followed the recipe completely, other than adding a bit more blueberries.  I am going to need to re-stock my organic oats soon though.  

I'm looking into making herbal packets to sell for facial steams.  Has anyone done one?  There are so many recipes for different skin types.

I haven't heard back from the General Store on selling an item.  Hopefully today I will.  I sent another email in case it got missed for some reason.

A few deer came to see us the other night.  They were scrambling to find grass and found it just outside our house.  Look at all those mole mounds!!!  Sigh....haven't had those in years.  Guess I'll have to take care of those before the garden gets planted.


Thursday, February 11, 2021

Winter Woes and Wins


I noticed we had a visitor when I went out to empty the ash pail.  We got more snow yesterday.

The leak ended up 2 leaks, and since we had to turn the water off, the other water pipes froze.  It's not been fun.  My counter is full of dirty dishes.  The drain froze too.  It'll be a long day for me.  When I do get water and a clear drain, it'll take me a week to catch up.  So frustrating, but leak was repaired, just not the softener line.

I spent most of my day on handicrafts, although I attempted to purge.  I didn't get very much put in the box for our daughter and grandkids.  My husband got a chuckle watching me though.  He said, "aren't you supposed to be cooking cabbage?" Ha ha ha!  We'll, I'll have some items for a fall craft show, prepared well in advance anyway.

Anyway, I heard my husband talking to himself over and over for not heat taping those water lines.  I tried to get him to do it several times over summer, and he wouldn't listen to me.  I think he got the picture this time.  

While he was trying to thaw out the rest of the house, I started yet another craft project.  More on that later.  I'll probably be purging the last two boxes of books.  I can't control myself when I'm purging crafting items (ha ha ha!).

........

Attempted to get this post up this morning, but had to literally throw on sweatpants and a shirt and head out.  Youngest broke down.  I had to pick her up and take her to work, only to come home and find my husband and a friend in the drive.  He had left work to tow her car home, but found out her tire blew (what happens when you drive too long on a tire with low air, but maybe she'll learn).

We had to go back to the big city and get a new tire, then back to the car and then back home.  I needed a shower and to brush my teeth.  Once we get the fire stoked, we'll make a 3rd trip into town (it's 20-25 minute drive each way).  We'll deliver her car to her work location and head back home.  

What a morning.....hoping the day goes way better now.


Sunday, October 11, 2020

Nothin'

I literally have nothing to blog today.  I was so busy yesterday though, and we got one car picked up and paid for (this guy repairs from his home and does an awesome job on "big" jobs). 

However, there is no room in his driveway to tow my car over for the new engine.  Story of my life.  I'm told Monday or Tuesday we can bring it over.

In the meantime, our 21 year-old is happy now that she has her "own" car now.  We are all tickled pink that our 18 year-old is back home.  Her job is keeping her busy and she is doing very well at the hair salon.  Her dog is so happy too, that we sent her flowers to her work and asked that the card read, "Thank you for coming back home Mommy,"  signed Romeo.  

Romeo was so excited that he was zooming from room to room and could not sleep the first night she was here. 

Anyway, we had a very long but productive day I guess.  First, even though my husband is working nights, we drove an hour to a city to do firearms shopping (just being prepared for whatever happens after election, you just never know in this messed up world we now live in).  We've already had our mailbox (with a USA flag on it) bashed in and our USA flag on our house beat down so bad, the flag holder screws were ripped out.  A flag was set on fire in a close town, that was on their house and could have set the house on fire.

So, while we were shopping, I could not believe all the stores that were all in this city.  I mean they have it all.  Like a Hobby Lobby with a JoAnn's, Lowe's, Menards, Wal-mart, Meijer....like they were super busy and I thought, "man this is the place to get everything you need in one trip."  Too bad it's an hour drive.  

I convinced my husband to stop at either craft store to look for my yarn and lavender netting.  I found neither one.  I came home with 10 yards of teal netting though.

After returning, we drove to pick up the last of our daughter's belongings and retired for the night.  It's a good thing I did not let the chickens out while we were gone all day as well.  I watched an eagle fly right over the house.  I haven't seen one around here in a few years.  However, I did see a coyote around 4pm last Wednesday.  I'm told they will circle around and be back in a few weeks, and to watch for them.  This however was a lone coyote.

Did you know that coyotes will increase their day time hunting as the weather gets colder?  Probably why I saw it at 4pm.  

On a good note, I found out the our 21 year-old is back to working in the store she was hired in this next week.  She's been helping out in another city the last two weeks.  Oh, and I'm told that her store put in a bid to buy a larger (our old Hobby Lobby that went out of business) store to move to.  If they do, I sent them a request to start selling yarn since there is no good source in that town anymore. Crossing my fingers, but you never know.

I haven't been out in the garden lately.  I'm waiting for a round of rain to come down, to make digging easier.  We'll see if we do get the predicted rain or not come Monday.

Friday, October 2, 2020

Rory ~ Hummingbird and other tidbits

 

I planted 4 mums in one of my flower beds and found our barn cat sleeping in my flowers.  She loves my flower beds.




The hummingbird came to give me a visit.  It loves the purple flowers every fall.  It is so hard to get a good photo or even a video.

Recipe I use is online with Eating Well - Slow Cooker Vegetarian Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili (using fire roasted tomatoes).

Meals this week have been switched around from my original plan.  I have little energy at the end of the day.  I recently made us a crock pot full of sweet potato/black bean chili with a side of homemade confetti muffins (contains carrots and green bell pepper). Recipe for the muffins is online (Taste of Home), but I used buttermilk vs. milk.


Instead of breakfast for dinner (which is a lot of work), I put it in the freezer and used turkey sausage to make a crock pot of Four beans and sausage.  I use my home canned ketchup in the recipe and it is so good, as well a garden grown green bell peppers.  Sorry, forgot to take a photo last night.

My ladies were not happy yesterday.  I couldn't let them out in the fenced area due to this out looking for it's next meal.  I heard it several times while in the garden, but watched over the ladies and then put them in when I came in.  It hasn't left the area yet.



Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Seasons Changing and other Ramblings


The leaves are not only changing colors here, but falling to the ground already.  I'm not ready for it, but fall is a beautiful change, and it's when things slow down.  Well, expect for the fact we need to start splitting wood.


The deer are on the move the last few days.  The top two were trying to cross the highway, and the buck was already across the road heading into some woods.  And.....as I sat on the porch sipping coffee a darn raccoon decided to cross over into our property and into the ditch tree line.



. . . and they're out!  All 100-some of them.  Tomato tally for the year - (paste) 220.68#.  Of course I brought in more green ones, but those can wait for now.

I've been terrible about getting around to everyone's blog.  I hope to do that this week.



 

Friday, August 28, 2020

Random Tidbits

The kale in the garden was a complete fail.  No harvest.  What didn't get eaten up by bugs was fried in this years drought.

Collards don't look good, but there is hope for the chard.  Have no idea on the root veggies yet.  The turnips I did pull were small.


Tried a new recipe - frozen peanut butter pie!  Delicious.  Hubby was happy to have a cold dessert after a long hot day.
By the way, we got rain last night.  Not a lot, but more than the last time.




Almost stepped on this guy yesterday.  They day before that I almost stepped on a snake.


Made a batch of homemade Kahlua.  I gifted this one year for Christmas.  Recipe is online and easy to find. I won't be gifting this batch.  Once it's done, strained and re-bottled, I'll be trying a new recipe with it.


Made myself my first mint julep.  Very refreshing.


Made my Mom's Dried Beef casserole for dinner last night. I needed something easy. Recipe is on my blog.  Another recipe I am scanning for the girls for their Recipe Boxes I'll gift.

I'm finally back to deep cleaning my utility room.  As soon as the rain passes, I'll be washing up winter coats, quilts, blankets, and comforters (before outside drying becomes more difficult).

I'm thrilled I don't have to water the gardens this morning.  It gives me more time to deep clean today and tomorrow.  Maybe.  Just maybe.  I'll get a teensy bit of crochet time in today.

I marinated chicken last night (another recipe to pass on to the girls), with homegrown jalapenos and garlic.  I have a very easy dinner again tonight.  Honey Jalapeno Chicken on the counter top grill, and a side of hopefully garden veggie.  I guess we'll see what's out there this morning.




Sunday, July 19, 2020

Ramblings

Update:  no funeral.  He was a tissue donor and will be cremated.  There will be a backyard church service, and a celebration of life later.  Thank you for all your kind words.  My stomach is pretty upset, so homemade ginger ale is brewing on the stove top right now.

Our yard.  It's so dry here, but Queen Anne's Lace is growing all over it.   There is a possibility of rain later today.

Something fun for me.  I wanted them for stitch markers, but the coffee cup one and camper are a bit to heavy (larger than I though).  I will find a use for them though.

My morning visitor, but I didn't get too close either.  

Not sure if I updated on this, but I got the raccoon that was terrorizing my chickens.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Flies ~ Garden Bounty

We have a huge fly problem out by the vegetable gardens.  They are flesh flies and are everywhere.  I'm guessing there is a dead animal near the woods or in the pasture, so I went online and ordered environmentally safe fly traps.  My homemade bug spray doesn't work at all, and it's miserable trying to work out there.  


Garden bounty is starting to roll in.  Jalapenos and bell peppers are on the plants now too.

I went out to the coop yesterday, and low and behold, another hole in the chicken wire.  Just like the last two holes and I'm getting tired of it.  Live trap is set again.  Deer camera is up too just to see if there is more or it's something different doing it.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Deer ~ Gifting a Friend ~ Extremely Dry Week

I watched a group of 3 deer cross the road yesterday morning, but they turned back and went back across to the river that runs behind us. Later another group of two crossed.

Early morning (which brought us home at noon) one daughter and I took Momma cat and her 2 kittens on a road trip.  We found a Humane Society open that would take them.  I gave them a bag of cat food and wrote out a check.  I'm so glad they took them, as our temps will reach up to 96°F this weekend.  It does anger me that I have to pay to have them get a new home, when they were not our cats and 99% sure dumped here.  I believe in karma for people like that.  Kitty's will have a nice place to stay now until they are adopted.


I have a friend who is the wife to a co-worker of my husband, who is so stressed over the possibility of another lockdown (and the recent loss of their long time dog).  I decided to make up a basket of goodies to lift her spirits - 4 pack of KY Bourbon Barrel Beer (they didn't have her favorite), bath salts, kitchen trivet, organic jerky, fireball, candy, a cosmetic bag that says  "This Girl Can," a notebook that says, "You Got This," heart shaped sticky notes, a fridge magnet that says "Lettuce be Calm," (for her kitchen) and other happy stuff.

It's hot here folks.  We need rain every so badly.  I am running the water pump all morning and sometimes at night.  Flower pots have to be watered twice a day or they will die.  It's getting frustrating, and our well isn't filling up right now.  I have one rain barrel of water.

I hope you all have a great weekend. 


Friday, August 16, 2019

This and That

We are gearing up for another heat wave.  It'll be in the high 90's early next week.  No rain here.

Another coyote.  This morning.  It crossed the road and over the country highway.  Urgh.

As for moving, it all depends on location, new job and of course daughter's schooling.  Her school means the world to her and to us too.  Speaking of her, her internship is over with now.  She'll get a few weeks with her pup before school starts.

I did a meet and greet at a rescue with the pup.  The dog was about 1 year old and it was not a good match.  There will be others.  







Monday, August 5, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday

A recent sunrise at the homestead.
Thank you all for your kind words about Jesse.  It's been rough days here since he's been taken to her apt.  I'm trying to stay busy.

Speaking of busy.  Since we were up early again, and I was rattling off my to-do list, Hubby gave me good advice - just focus on one thing today like the kitchen.  That's my focus this morning.  The kitchen.

It's been like "wild kingdom" out here this year.  We've seen a opossum, had a ground hog that had babies and moved on, had one ground hog come to the door (eating cat food), had lots of deer, have 3 red headed wood peckers, a wren that made a nest at our door in a flower pot, have butterflies, and a bat maternity unit in our barn so far this year.  We also have a hummingbird and my yellow finch is back.

If I was writing a book this summer, it would be titled "Saving the Tomatoes and Potatoes and other "GAH!" Gardening Moments."  I may just start writing it.



I have been weeding out the tomatoes.   I was tired one day, I left the chicken water bucket out in the shade with eggs in it.  They were still there in the morning though.

It's been bone dry.  First row causalities were 4.  They are small, but look good.  Photo is before the tilling was done.  Some tomatoes are turning red already and I have picked a handful of wax beans.



Third row had one casualty with the weed whacker.  It happens.  Got it all done now, so it's off to weed the potatoes next.

There are "good" moments out here too.  Like hearing the hen lay an egg, or one of the roosters trying to crow (ha ha!  Made me laugh it sounded so funny!).

I hope to be making homemade cinnamon rolls soon, so I can also share the recipe.  We had a family get together Saturday, so Romeo got to have a doggie day with his buds Zuri and King  (so he didn't have to stay home in his kennel).  He was so worn out when we picked up back up.  He slept all the way home.  

Sunday, we had planned to visit the county fair, but talked ourselves out of it.  We didn't want to pay $14 to get in, only to eat bad food, so we skipped it this year.  I most likely will enter something next year.  If I remember, ha ha!  I totally forgot about it this year.  Instead, we hooked up with a large group of riders and went for a very fun motorcycle adventure.  I had so many laughs I did not even take my phone out to take one photo.





I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today. 



On the breakfast plate . . .
Nothing yet.  It's 5am. Possibly eggs or scramble.


The weather outside is . . .
High of 89°F, no chance of rain (again)


Right now I am. . .
Posting this while Hubby and I sip hot coffee


On my bedside table . . .
I have no idea, and too lazy to go look, ha ha@


Reading . . .
Nothing

Movies I watched . . .
Nothing


On the menu . . . 
-Reubens with homemade sauerkraut
-Tacos (still haven't made them)
-Spaghetti (still haven't made this either - tomatoes thawing)
-Pulled Pork Nachos
-Something grilled with Cowboy Beans
-Leftovers

-a round of blueberry pancakes and side of bacon or sausage


On the to-do list . . . 
-clean out the fridge
-laundry
-garden weeding
-floors
-bathroom
-bake cookies (we are over due for some)


What I am creating . . .
Currently working on trying to finish that pair of hot pads. Oh, and one last bracelet order.


Looking forward to . . . 
A super clean kitchen today.


Looking around the house . . .
I still have lots of cardboard boxes to break down and store to use in the garden.  That's another days "focus."


From the camera. . .




A few of our butterflies.



Two stinkers who were trying to pull the corn out of the bags.


Tiger eating dried up corn husks, ha ha!  In the box!


Close up view of the wren's nest in the flower pot next to our front door.  It's like a cave.  There is a top on the nest to protect them.  Very interesting.  Mom and Dad continue to feed them.  That green part in the photo is part of the plant in the way of my camera. 


One of my simple pleasures . . . 
Crocheting or knitting on the porch.


Praying . . .
That daughter will bring Jesse back to the homestead.  If you didn't read about it, just go back a few posts.