This and That ~ Medjool Dates

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 iffy, and I worry about the wind destroying the flowers I leave.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

A tip for those who knit, or are beginners with knitting:

Bind off knitting with a crochet hook!

I cannot believe I did not even think of this myself, after all those years of knitting dishcloths.  The worst part for me, was binding off, and not messing it up.  It was the first item for me to learn to knit as a beginner.

I wish I knew this all of these years I have had trouble keeping tension and binding off my knitting, with knitting needles.

  So much easier!!  Oh my.  What a game changer for me.

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  

We finally tried Medjool dates for the first time.  I decided that the rotten, dreary, misty and cold days were perfect to get them out and making a sweet treat I have been reading about.

I bought pitted medjool dates.  I opened each one and filled them with organic peanut butter (the stir kind that is made with  only peanuts).  I gently closed them, and dipped them each in melted semi-sweet chocolate (I used Lily's as that is what I had on hand).  

By the way, I picked up a few bags of different Lily baking chips, at a health store, during our last trip to Amish.  I had plans for them this past Christmas holiday, but never got around to using them.

Okay, back to the dates. . .

I dipped them using forks and place them on waxed paper on a lined baking dish.  I put them in the freezer for a few hours to harden, and stored them in an airtight container.

We tried them yesterday, and they are delicious!  I think crunchy peanut butter would be divine also.  They taste as if there is a layer of caramel inside them.  We both agree that these are a very good sweet treat to have on hand.

I also think the dates are a bit large, so you may want to cut them in half for a serving.  I have also seen these being made using a layer method (chocolate spread over waxed paper, topped with all the dates flat, with a layer of peanut butter and another layer of chocolate), and cut into smaller portions.  Either way to you try these, I think you'll like them.  I'm glad I bought the dates to try this. 

Do you have a favorite use for medjool dates?

This and That ~ Medjool Dates ~ Update  © Mar 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Knitting Socks Questions ~ It's a 2 post day today!

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?

Knitting Basket Christmas Tree Ornament

These are one of my favorite handmade ornaments to make at Christmas.  It's not really made from "scraps" so I decided to post it here.

What you need:

Knitting Needles in My Cupboards ~ Self Defense

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 needed?"  Why lots of stuff, of course.

I can rip out the metal rod that holds the fold-out bed roofs up, and use that as a weapon.  

The same goes for my home.  What can I creatively use in a shooter attack situation?  In my bedroom I can use my knitting needles.

However, my 11 year-old asked me, "but are your knitting needles in a place where you can get them in an emergency?"

Ugh...probably not.  So, I asked her, "do I have to hide some in my kitchen cupboards now?"

....I'd rather stash a shotgun or two in my cupboards. This day and age anyway. 

Either way, I am glad they are teaching the kids to fight back, and fight for their life (I think), if it were to ever happen. In fact, this is one of the reasons I want Hubby to train me to box again.  I want to be in very good shape, in case there was a reason to quickly defend myself, or my family, in any situation.  

Have you been taught self defense?

Knitting Progress

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!

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

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 . . .

-water garden
-bake a breakfast casserole

-dehydrate oregano

-boil eggs

-freeze more strawberries

-laundry

-sweep front porch and get more furniture put out

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating . . .

Working on the XL hot pad in this color, still crocheting water balloons too, and getting some yarn back on the knitting needles.

From the camera . . .

More snapdragons are blooming, but I am a bit disappointed that they are mostly white or yellow.  I hope they produce more color as they continue to bloom.

Something fun to share . . .

Fun for us anyway...found another Mom and Pop eatery to take a motorcycle ride too.  I'm so happy we found new rides to take this year.

On my prayer list . . .

A young girl named Annabelle with health issues, Daughter K who got tonsillitis

Happy Homemaker Monday

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?  Everyone is selling and no one is buying?  Times are tough, so wait it out?  I was up there going thru stuff, and felt an overwhelming feeling of being burned out for trying. I love crocheting and knitting, but I just felt like it wasn't the same anymore.  Maybe it's because I am burned out making the blanket?  Maybe it's because Mom is not here to give me ideas?  I don't know.  

The blanket could be the reason.  I am not one to sit that long.  Not even in winter, but it has given me the reason to rest to get my voice back.

Also, the museum gift shop (where I sell 3 different items), emailed and wants me to come pick up my stuff.  They are closed permanently right now.  The building suffered tremendous damage from water lines breaking during that last cold spell we had (frozen water lines damaged many businesses).  So...there goes my business resource, and it was a pretty good one too.

On my bedside table . . .

-a mess of crochet hooks, needles, throat drops and bottles of water 

On my TV today. . .

What catches our interest.

Listening to . . .

Mostly 80's.

On the lunch plate . . .

Have no idea yet.

On the dinner plate . . .

Oh golly, I have not decided.

On the menu this week . . .

-need to work on this today

On  my reading pile . . .

On my to-do list . . .

-finish up last week's to-do list first
-wash bedding
-make homemade baking mix

-

Plans for this week . . .

Set up stand, grow lights and start garden seeds.  I went out to the barn and collected my seed trays.  I wanted to buy a few new ones, but the ones in our stores are being sold without the clear tops.  I ended up ordering some online.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating . . .

I crocheted myself some pink heart earrings.  We are fast approaching Valentine's Day.

I spent quite a bit of time crocheting this blanket, and hope to get it finished soon.

My simple pleasure . . .

A walk outside in the sunshine.

Looking around the house . . .

I wrote out a short "honey" to-do list.  On the weekends, he can do small jobs, that will in the end clean up chaos created from all these repairs/remodels (but so worth being done).

From the camera. . .

Prayer list . . .

Our friend Hope and her family as they grieve.  She last updated he was saving many lives (organ donation).  She and her husband were married 24 years.  So sad for their family.

Me.  I would love to have my voice back completely, and be back to "normal" once again.

Bible Verse, Devotional . . .

Surprise Mail and Other Homestead Happenings

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."

Happy Homemaker Monday

It's already a very busy Monday.  I'm joining Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.

The weather . . .
Cool, sunny and delightful.

Handmade Christmas Ornaments

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.  

Hot Pepper Haul ~ Camping

 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 left one knitting needle in the grass by the fire pit.  It must have rolled off my lawn chair and neither of us noticed it.  

As for the cooler weather, it will be much nicer to work on the "Chicken Castle" vs. when it was in the 90's.

Happy Homemaker Monday

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 backwards, like make a pot of coffee at dinner, which we never do.  I need to make sure something else is leftover for Hubby's lunch too, or more like breakfast.  It's gonna be a crazy week for us.


On the breakfast table . . .

Leaves are falling

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.....

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.

Backyard Camping

This is the lean-to or "wall tent" the kids made last year.

We washed up some rugs, aprons, towels, tablecloths and sheets.

Happy Homemaker Monday

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 menu . . .

-grilled brats, camper potatoes

-sheet pan fajitas

-grilled marinated steak kabobs

-have no idea, ha ha

On my to-do list . . .

-water the garden (unless it rains)

-run to town for errands

-take stuff to donate

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating . . .

Still working on crocheted water balloons (just soak and toss - eco-friendly).  I haven't had time to work on anything much.

Looking around the house . . .

Daughter K told us she would clean up her messes.  We shall see if that happens.

From the camera . . . 

A few new blooms on the homestead.

Something fun to share . . .

My husband bought me one of these tools from a school fundraiser.  I have had it almost 10 years and used it once.  Didn't like it.

Last week, I was watching a cooking show and learned something new.  The good ol' potato masher works better at working ground meat than the tool I used to have.  I tried the cook's tip out on some ground sausage and it worked so much better.  Why haven't I ever thought of this?  Ha ha!

On my prayer list . . .

No requests right now.