Pioneer Woman at Heart

The recent days here have been cloudy, cold and dreary.  By cold, I mean cold enough for a winter coat again (and too cold to paint doors).  Brr!  The chickens and I are not exactly happy about it.  I guess I will be taking my vitamin D for a little while longer. It was confirmed that a tornado touched down in a town within an hour of us, when we had those last thunderstorms. I was actually finishing a book out on the porch when the thunder and lightning arrived.  I finished the book, but high tailed it back inside. The tornado did damage to the community area there.  It is said, that there was no warning, nor a watch issued, so the people there had no time to prepare.  Very scary.  It happened between two cities where both my Mom and my Dad grew up, and are now buried. I'll be visiting that area soon, as I gather flowers together to take to the cemeteries this spring.  Spring is a difficult time to go there too, as the weather is so iff...

I'm looking for a knitted sock pattern online for beginners.  Do you of you recommend one?  There are so many online, and what needles will I need?  I have yarn.  I do not have any sock yarn knitting books.  Guess it may be time to order one. I have this yarn.  Is it enough for size 11 socks?  Each ball has 247 yards.   I have no idea what size these knitting needles are nor the circular one.  I have a feeling they are too big anyway.  Why do they not label them?  I'll need to order whatever needles I need too.  Thanks a bunch! Update: Oh Lordy...my printer is now out of ink.  Sigh...ordering ink now if I can just in case one of you have an online pattern for me. Another update:  I found the size 6 double pointed in my knitting stash.  Woohoo.  Do I still need a circular?  and is that the right size?

  Beautiful sunrise, and the weather has been in the 60's, with yesterday almost 70 degrees.  A nice break in the weather. I'm already writing up a list of new herbs to plant next year.  It may be the weather break inspiring me. Winter home repairs are on hold for now, but I'm taking notes, making lists, and so forth. Crazy me, as about 4 crochet blankets on the hooks, but for different occasions (I love a single yarn pattern for "on-the-go" etc.).  No hurry on any of them, other than one for a Christmas present.  I've had more "sit" time than I'd normally prefer, so I'm taking advantage of it. Do any of my blog followers have a knitted hat pattern (easy) for beginners (or links to free online patterns)?  I have knit dishcloths, but would like to expand my ability to knit hats (before I attempt socks).   Maybe a pattern you shared on your blog perhaps?  One of my grandmothers used to knit, but of course I was too young to even think to learn ...

These are one of my favor ite handmade ornaments to make at Christmas.  It's not real ly ma de from "scraps" so I decided to post it here . What you need:

Have you heard of the "ALICE" program yet?  If you have kids in public school, chances are, you may have. A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for,  Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Escape - Active Shooter Response Team. For weeks now, two of our girls have been chatting about it, day after day.  It's beginning to become ingrained in our brains here at Rooster's Crow Farm.  It's a program that teaches "young people" to fight back and not sit and "take it" if a shooter would come into the school.  They have been, as a class (and most of the school from what I am listening too), discussing what they could use as weapons, or do to fight back.  Quite honestly,  I can't wonder if this was created to keep school's from putting guns in our teachers hands.  Anyway.... You know it has been ingrained into your brain, when you go to bed in your camper, and prior to that, you look around and say to yourself "what can I use for a weapon if...

There is an advantage to being home sick ( horrible allergies) in bed - endless hour of crocheting and knitting. I don't know how my youngest daughter sweet talked me into knitting her a scarf, but she did.  This scarf has doubled it's length since I took the photo.  The first trial scarf, I did in scrap brown yarn, was taken apart and put away for another project.  I have to say that this one is turning out better and with a prettier yarn. Now....if I could just finished the crocheted blankets, the hand towel, and ..... and .... and ....  It's all good!

  We've had a few days of fog here lately.  We are moving into a cool down weather-wise. Saturday we got the entire rose bed weeded, weed whacking done, and mailbox flower bed planted.  We also planted an ornamental apple tree that was growing in one of the beds. Yesterday was beautiful.  We finished up outdoor garden work, showered and took off on a motorcycle ride.  We went to a new town and a local eatery.  Delicious, but not cheap.  We'll go back, but to try their breakfast next time. Once home, we made a fresh strawberry pie, and played cards on the porch with adult drinks.  Great day for some R & R.  Today I'll be joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather . . . 80's, slight chance for rain, sunny On my reading pile . . . On my TV . . . Heartland (long series for sure) On the menu . . . -Salmon Romanoff, green beans, fresh strawberry pie -grilled fajitas -walleye, not sure on a side yet -leftovers On the to-do list ....

Good Morning this Monday Morning!  Yes, I still have laryngitis, but it's a bit better.  I am now told to try Oregano tea, and I do have oregano dehydrated from the garden.  I'll be trying it later today. I missed our family get together (my side of the family), due to still not having my voice back, but not talking has helped speed up recovery. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather . . . We are going in the direction of cold.  It will get down to the single digits this week. As I look outside my window . . . It is still pitch dark. Right now I am . . . Drinking coffee and waking up. Thinking and pondering . . . The other day, as I was upstairs trying to find my embellished paper clips, I was digging thru many totes of finished items prepared for a future craft show.  There is a lot up there.  A lot.  I haven't had a good show in many years, and it got me thinking.  Am I ready to retire from doing craft shows? ...

There is a lot going on this weekend.  One surprise I can't tell you about until tomorrow. The mail surprise was a blessing. My cousin messaged me that he had his Mom's knitting needles and crochet hooks and wanted to know if I'd like to have them. I said yes of course.  My Aunt is the Aunt I hand wrote letters to so often, along with "happy boxes."

It's already a very busy Monday.  I'm joining Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today. The weather . . . Cool, sunny and delightful.

I love, love, love to make handmade Christmas tree ornaments.  I've been making them every year for as long as I can remember.  My favorite time of the year to make them, prior to homesteading, was during the summer months.  I'd take my supplies outside and watch the kids play in their small pool.  Now that I garden in the summer, I have to adjust my time.  These are just a few of my handmade Christmas ornaments, but wanted to share a few.  Each one brings back memories of when and where we lived when I made them.  

  It's nearing the end of our garden season.  The rain is arriving here, so I will wait for the garden to dry up before pulling some more plants/stakes. The hot peppers are doing okay this year, but some did not make it.  Oddly, I got one lonely Anaheim pepper from 3 plants I grew from seed.   I brought in another 15 green bell peppers as well. It's getting down to the 40's at night this week, which is perfect weather for camping.  Speaking of that, we got our very first camping trip in this year.  It was so nice and relaxing, and the campfire meals were delicious. One breakfast we made - omelets with garden bell pepper, onion, spinach, bacon and cheese.  The other breakfast contained spinach, feta, bacon, and topped with homemade fresh salsa (made with garden goodies). We took a walk, played cards, I brought handiwork along, and a book.  On the drive home, I pulled out my knitting project, only to find out that we must have accidently l...

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 ...

It was pretty cold yesterday.  However, we are not heating just yet here.  I like how the leaves on the ground make a dark day bright.  I could not rake them up just yet.  These will eventually go on the garden (unless a big wind whips them away before then). See that pot of geraniums?  I have two actually. Mid summer when my original plants died, I bought them at the grocery store, half dead and for pennies.  They are still blooming, while the hostas are turning for the fall season. I was successful in drying an entire.....

This is the lean-to or "wall tent" the kids made last year. We washed up some rugs, aprons, towels, tablecloths and sheets.

I hope your weekend was fantastic!  We had a fabulous getaway to our favorite island, and it was much needed.  We noticed that we feel so much better mentally after a getaway. Every marina on the island was packed with all types of boats.  The weather was great for our getaway.  We listened to live music on the waterfront, had good food (but expensive this year), went to two beaches and visited with our friends over there. A one scoop waffle cone that our one daughter wanted, was $8.00 (cash only).  All food overall was higher in price, and one restaurant is not making their famous wings this summer (due to lack of supply from their personal supplier). Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I will link up when she posts today.  I have to get outside to water the garden and flower beds early.  It's going to be a hot one today. The weather . . . 80's, sunny, slight chance of rain On my reading pile . . . On my TV . . . Heartland On the ...

The day I delivered my 84 year-old Dad some home cooked meals, I gave myself a reason to visit two stores while in town.  Pssst!  You're gonna need a cup of something to sip and read through this today, ha ha! I went straight in, bought what I needed, and headed for the front of the store.  I was in the last store before returning home. I raced down the aisle, hoping the speed would burn more calories, but came to a halt.  The clearance shelves.  Yikes! There in front of me was a beautiful kitchen rug.  The kind you put in front of your sink.

Joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.

Finished a navy headband for my oldest daughter. Finished these knitted dishcloths to sell.  They are almost restocked for the next craft show. Finished another mug/coaster set. Finished a set of elf boot cuffs for Youngest daughter.  I'll most likely adjust this pattern for a shorter top on it, and round the top round in white vs. green yarn.  Small bells will be sewn onto the tips of the red part too.  Or possible leave them as they are, and give buyers an option prior to a craft show.  I guess you could glue on pom poms too.  It'll be interesting to see what Youngest wants on hers.  She can't wear them to school, but can elsewhere.  This pattern is for sale at Etsy by AllieCatsHats (not an affiliate, just sharing). Started this scarf for an order for a Christmas present. Current dishcloth on the knitting needles. Current lapghan on the crochet hook. I got a set of boot cuffs croche...

The summer season is the perfect time to get handmade Christmas gifts made. Especially the smaller ones. It's too hot to crochet a large blanket when temperatures are in the 80's. Here is a photo of crocheted slippers the girls will get in their stockings. I do have to measure their feet for accuracy, and they know they are getting them, but they still have to wait for them. I found the pattern in a farm magazine from the tractor supply store. I happen to see the magazine when I bought the chickens a new feeder, and had no idea that crochet and knit patterns were in the magazine. I believe it was about Mary Jane's Farm magazine. If I locate the pattern on-line I will be sure to post the link. There was both crocheting and knitting patterns for this easy slipper. I found the buttons at a craft store in clearance. Shop around and watch for great deals before buying to keep your costs low. CROCHETED LIP BALM HOLDERS * Pattern #1 * Pattern #2 * Pattern #3 Update: I j...