Pioneer Woman at Heart

I checked the garden.  It's still too wet to dig potatoes.  I think I will start bringing in corn this week and drying it in the sun on good sunny days.  I picked more jalapenos and hot banana peppers too.    I ended up starting the day yesterday by cleaning up my "work" area by the computer.  I ended up sorting everything into piles before tackling each one.  I had a "file it" pile, a "put it in a binder" pile, a "shred it" pile, a "needs paid" pile, "put it back where it belongs" pile, "ask the kids if they need it any longer" pile, and a "recipe" pile.  Needless to day, a few of those piles were left for today to take care of, but things are looking much tidier.

I really attempted to do a good house cleaning yesterday, but you know how you can get side tracked?  Well, I did.  I happened to end up in my room, where I had just picked up the box my tatting tools are in, and decided to give this tool a try.  It's a bullion hook.  It's used often for what is called cro-tat or crochet tatting. 

Now that the weather is changing my routine and chores are changing.  I really have no business even looking at my crafting projects.  But.  I happened to come across this book in my stash, while cleaning of course.

I am finally getting the chance to do something for myself

I am starting the day with breakfast on the porch, although a bit later than normal for me.  I need a peaceful moment with nature first.  Hubby is home too, so he'll join me too, before the kids get up.  We are letting them all sleep in.  The kids went to the movies in Son's new car last night. Son is happy with anything I cook lately, as the food he has eaten at the chow hall was all processed.  He's pretty proud to see his 16 year-old sister can grill meat very well too.  She's my go-to grill girl now. We are still cleaning the house, but my two younger girls are giving me resistance.  Their 18 year-old sister is working almost every day now, so the work load falls on them now. Today the bathrooms get a top to bottom cleaning.  If the bathrooms are clean, I'll be happy, even if we don't get the rest spotlessly clean. 

Over the past few years I have managed to post reflections of the entire year.  I apologize in advance for the length of this post.  I had no idea how many steps we have taken this year in successfully living a more sustainable, morally earned lifestyle, removing nasty chemicals from our lives, learning more about natural remedies, herbal teas, and so much more.  This lifestyle is not for everyone.  Although splitting wood is both physically and mentally challenging (our source of heat), I would not trade it for a switch on the wall any day.  And I could not have gotten this far without the partnership and support of my husband.

Last winter I attempted to teach myself how to tat.  Just as I did with knitting, I bought a "how to" kit to start, and hated it.  So, I went to the local craft store and purchased my very own tatting needles.

I took my tatting to the dentist appointment this morning.  It's now about a foot long.   It was fun to use my sitting time practicing it.  There was one gentlemen there, taking numerous looks at what my hands were doing.  Maybe I will inspire someone to tat, or once I'm much better at it, offer lessons at our historical center.  It is so fun!  I can't wait to learn more.  I checked my handy dandy bookshelf, and found I had a book on Tatting.  I must have purchased it at a book sale, as it is a discarded library book from another city.  It was written in 1979 by a woman in Iowa.  Most of the photos inside the book are in black and white, but have instructions as well.   I also have the tatting needle instructions from Mary Jane's Stitching Room book.  As soon as I finish this chain (3 feet), I will move on to learning more. As I sit and type this update, my two older daughters are outside, teaching our younge...

We did a lot of hospital hopping in the last few days.  During our visits I couldn't read, and like to keep my hands moving.  I took along a bag of handiwork, whether we went by car or motorcycle.  I visited with family/friends while we all took turns visiting sister "L."  She is still in ICU. Quick update on the sisters.  Sister "L" was getting her heart balloon removed on Sunday, and weaned of heart pump.  They removed the vent Saturday night.  The procedure for the heart pump took several hours, so we didn't get to visit.  The plan is for two stents to go in on Tuesday.   Sister "P" is doing much better and might be going home soon.  Everyone is back to work today, so sister "L" gets a day of rest before the procedure.  However, even though we were called last night and sister "L" was doing well, we got a call at 5:49am this morning.

My finished, piece of tatting, measured out at 3 feet and 9 inches.  I am saving it for a sewing project.  I, however, have started working with a smaller needle.  I was lucky to finish this as quickly as I did.  Our power went out on Saturday for about 3-4 hours.   With no electricity, I could not can pickles, cook, nor run water.  I believe it's time to invest in a generator, and an outdoor kitchen.  We do have the fire pit as a resource also. Anyway, I simply took that time to do my tatting. This time, the power outage was due to work being done over 7 miles from our home.  It's the second time this summer.  We typically have power outage in the winter, or frozen pipes.  We did learn, that we can wrap potatoes in foil, and cook them in our wood burner, if we need to. Sunday around here was not a "rest" day at all.  Our yard trimmers all broke, so the grass around my flower beds badly needed cut away.  We were ...

I'm posting early today.  Hubby brought home another 10 lb. box of blueberries and a box of peaches.  I'll be busy for sure. Here's an update on our journey to being self-sufficient.  Each year it gets better.   In the last 3 1/2 years we have really gained progress with self-sufficiency.  It does require some investments, but those pay off.  So far this year, with making our own soap with our goat's milk, have not had to buy any bars of soap (and have used it to make homemade laundry detergent also). We have not purchased dishwasher detergent either, and I am proud that we have reduced those chemicals and costs. We have not had to buy any onions or potatoes this year.  Last year we did.   We went all winter using green peppers we froze versus buying them from the store. When we are low on eggs, we do without.   We have cut down the cost of buying organic milk by having the goat's, and have drastically cut down the trips to...

As I sit here and reflect on this year, I think about all the experiences I had, as well as my family.  I fed my family weeds.   I learned to stock up more of my garden and invested in a dehydrator.  Took one weekend getaway with hubby and no kids.  Took some kids camping.  Glamped the camper for the first time. Completed many craft/handiwork projects.   Built things with the family.    Took a Hearthside cooking class with my oldest daughter.   Learn to shoot a gun.  Bought dairy goats. Bought more goats. Watched my daughter buy her horse. Added more layers to our chicken coop. Raised our own meat chickens. Got snowed in and had fun in the snow. Sent one daughter to see Washington, D.C. for the her first time. Added new flowers to my flower beds. Built my first scarecrow. Baked homemade bread. Watched many sunrises. Watched many sunsets. Watched the moon. Made the garden larger this ye...

Our library is only open for appointments, and they are not interloaning anything.   It's a small library.  I finally broke down and purchased a few books.  I added this needle tatting book to my bookshelf.   The tiller is finally fixed.  It needed a new belt, which lasted 12 years.  However, while putting it back together, Hubby had a spring he didn't know what to do with.  After dumping out our container of manuals (that's another purge job), we found a free manual online.  Boom! Tiller fixed. We are a bit behind in tilling, so I haven't planted more yet, and it may rain this morning.  Time will tell what gets done, but we are more ahead this year than last year.

W hat is on my knitting needles?   A dishcloth. What's on my crochet hook (s)?