Pioneer Woman at Heart

I have had a few requests for the knitted dishcloth pattern.  I sell these at the Farmer's Market and our family store site (new site under construction). I've adjusted it to the size that I like, but you can do the same as well. Note: for dishcloth I knit to 52 on my needle, for a larger dishcloth or washcloth, knit 72

The next time you mix up a big salad, consider this homemade dressing recipe:

Today I'm am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. We have a pretty nice weekend, yet cold.  We had a family wedding to attend, which was held outdoors (yes we froze our bums off, but the sun was out too), cut up more barn wood,  and Hubby got up Sunday morning and cooked me breakfast (even though he had to work nights starting last night).   We actually have started putting wood up (cut and ready) for this next winter.  It's a small start, but a start, and it makes me feel so relieved.  Say a prayer Hubby sticks with it this spring, summer and fall.  He's notorious for putting it off.  We finally picked up our seed potatoes, although it was "slim pickin's."  No red potatoes this year, just white.  Red hasn't been that great with lasting long without a root cellar or basement, and white does better in my kitchen bin.  We'll see how it goes this year. My routine will be discombobulated this week. I need to do things ...

  I do not have a craft room in my house.  A few years ago, I started to move totes of yarn upstairs, on shelves on one wall of the "gym" room.  I have always used our walk-in closet for such items, along with shelves in my utility room. I have started the process of cleaning it all out of the closet, and oh my word, did things get buried in there.  I have used a  bookshelf full of crafting items.  I am attempting to empty it, come up with an organized storage upstairs, and move the bookshelf to the "guest" bedroom or spare room. Unfinished Christmas ornaments in a kitchen soup bowl.  Gulp!  I started these in 2017!!!!  That was six years ago.  I was making them for the kids for Christmas, and even wrote a blog post for making them on my other blog:  HERE Under those above ornaments a pair of unfinished candy corn earrings.  Have no idea why that tiny spool was in there. Unfinished granny square scarf, and one water balloon. Un...

I can finally share two starfish dishcloths I gifted to my mother.  She re ceived these yesterday.  They are thick enough to be table top/counter hot pa ds as well.  The pattern is free on-line.  I'll post the link as soon as I locate it a gain.

Remember all those English Walnuts we bartered for?  I was still cracking them this month.  Apparently , the kids have lost their mojo with helping me. The shells are always saved from these walnuts.  My older brother and his wife gift me their cardboard egg cartons.   Four dozen campfire starters are in the making today, and I have more shells.

The cat blanket is finally finished.  I got the ends sewn in, and it's on the couch....out of the closet and into good use.

Canning season started early for me this year (giddy excitement).  I canned jelly yesterday.   This was the first time canning with my new stove.  It heats up much faster.  I wanted to get a feel for it, before I start canning fruit jams, which tend to be the beginning of my yearly canning.

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Sunday we got "Big Red" fired up.  Here's hoping she'll keep starting now.  It (the truck) could need a few parts yet. We drove "Big Red" to the "Big City" and delivered a gift and Christmas cookies, picked up load of straw and headed back home.  I forgot to renew my library books, but it looks like only a few are late (this time). On the breakfast plate . . .  Homemade breakfast burrito and coffee The weather outside is . . . Rain is on the way, with a high of 56°F, but will quickly go back to the low 20's at night for the next week. As I look out my window . . . It's still dark out. On the to-do list . . . -take care of the chickens -feed barn cats (Leo still comes once every often) -put away clean dishes -vacuum -empty ash pan (depends on the rain today) -start another tincture -knock down some cobwebs -put a few Christmas decorations away -put a Ch...

Although I posted today already, I decided to join the Happy Homemaker Monday today.  I have a few minutes before the laundry needs to go out on the line.

Despite deep cleaning, I've managed to sign up for not one, but two craft shows in December.  And even though I've been doing so much organizing, purging and cleaning, I've managed to whip up these cuties . . . Scrap yarn Christmas ornaments.   I believe I got the pattern from a library book.  I'll post it if I can locate the book.  I apologize for the bad photo, it was pretty dark out and I turned on a pretty bright light. I'm also putting the finishing touches on the Starbucks ornaments, and wine cork keychains.   I've finished another washcloth and scrubbie set, and have another knitted dishcloth almost finished.  I would like to get a few more ornaments made before the shows too. Hubby is tickled pink to see the deep cleaning getting done.  I'm hoping it will motivate him to get started on other bigger projects that need done here too.  I finally got my antique rug beaters up on the wall.  We've actually used...

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. My kitchen has been pretty busy lately.   Hubby had to work 10 hours on Saturday and 12 hours on Father's Day, so his "dinner" was made Saturday night for him.  The kids seriously need to learn to cook.   I made homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and fried potatoes.  English muffins on the side with home canned strawberry margarita jam .  Already sold 2 jars of the jam too, although selling any more is halted.  The rain is halting u-pick farms from operating.  Unless I can get another flat of strawberries, the remaining will be for just us. I also made whiskey butterscotch sauce and a half batch of flourless brownies - Family Circle, recipe is also online (we still have strawberry pie to eat).  I was in my pj's by 5pm.  I was just whipped from canning, baking and cooking. The weather outside is . . . (view off the porch on Sunda...

. . . finished the last two cup coasters for one of the kitchen tables.

I finished the lap afghan in the green yarns.  It will be the last blanket to be crocheted until fall/winter time.  I prefer small projects during hot weather here. Finished the current knitted dishcloth.  I had forgotten about it, as it got tucked in the midst of my projects.  There isn't much yarn left on the yarn cone, so I'm not sure what I'll use the remaining yarn for yet (this color was discontinued). I finished another book, hence another book blanket granny square.  I don't know how people can read 200 plus books a year.  I do not have the time to sit, and sit to read that much, but there has been progress this year (much more than last year).   A few of you have given me a few ideas for audio books too.  Like combining an outdoor walk/hike with such books, or while cleaning house.  It's a year of new things and "first times" this year, so it may happen.  This is the first year to read an ebook and could be the first year t...