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~

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Temperature here is in the red!

It's 95°F and feels like 103°F. Phew! Wind is the only thing that is helping my laundry on the line dry. Yep. I have laundry on the line on a Sunday. Monday they are calling for thunderstorms and I won't be able to hang anything out. Plus, I have errands and another hearing appointment for our 12 year old.

I just started a third pair of girl's/woman's slippers and have found a nice manly pattern for my son. He's getting a pair whether or not he wants a pair (ha ha ha ha!).

Today, I had to assign a child to make signs that will be duct taped to the tops of the laundry hampers. For some reason, after 4 years of having them, no one can remember that you don't put wet towels and wash cloths in with the clothes. Ugh!

Well, even though the temperature is horrible, I'm about to make us some of my famous baked snack mix and watch Ghost Busters with the kids. It's been many years since I've seen it, and the kids have requested my company. Fun, fun, fun!

Going Back to College

I'm getting ready to take my on-line orientation for Web based courses. Even though the Community College is not far from the house, I have decided to start with one class per semester and take advantage of any on-line courses I need. I could not believe the cost of my book! Yikes!

Now if I can just get my husband to stop ranting and raving when I am writing, I could concentrate and do a better job.

This beautiful Sunday is a bit too humid. We are taking time to try another zucchini recipe so if it passes the family test, I'll be sure to post it on the zucchini recipes post. The brownies we made last night were pretty good!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Rag Rugs and Cleaning

"Honey did the closet swallow you up?" inquired my husband this morning.

Yes I got swallowed up and chewed up and spit out. However, now we can actually see the floor in there! Ha ha ha! Although there is not enough room for all my craft supplies, I have organized, decluttered and found two purses with stuff in them. One of them has a chewed up strap from a naughty dog.

I've even cut an old pillow case into strips to sew together for another rag rug, put those absolutely wonderful 3M hooks everywhere to get stuff off the floor (like my boxing gloves), and vacuumed up 2 hairy wolf spiders.

Amazingly, I will still have time to finish a second pair of crocheted slippers, close out my on-line pampered chef party, get some writing done, and make dinner. I'm taking advantage of this wonderful rainy day.

Before the snow arrives, I will have rolls of cut rags all ready for a winter rug project. I'll have handmade presents to share and bless with, and I'll be rested knowing that all the Christmas ornaments are made and in their assigned boxes.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Christmas Handmade 2009



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 just made my first crocheted lip balm holder. They are so easy and cute to make. I'm using leftover slipper yarn and making a matching lip balm holder for each of the girls. I'll have to get really creative for homemade gifts for a 17 year old boy.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Encouraging Writing to a soon-to-be Fifth Grader

Here is where I slap myself on the forehead for even trying. Having failed to get a complete communication with her reading teacher last year, I am striving to help her through teaching and encouragement at home.

Today I gave her a prompted paper regarding a snow story on a single lined paper. Immediately the tears poured and, "bam" her hand slams the kitchen table. To humor her I dropped a Christmas CD into the CD player, hoping the music would inspire a "winter" story regarding snow.

..........so far it's not working. We've touched on simile's and metaphor's and use of adjectives, but still her "fountain" of writing is not even dripping out. Even though I have researched and written an article on helping a struggling fourth grader, we continue to have trouble. Could it be that once a child misses the "blooming" process and teachers just let them pass from grade to grade (even if they cannot spell the word "because" at age ten), that there is no recovery possible? If there is, I'm going to find the path to it. Christmas music or not.

Taking a "chill" day, as the kids call it

With the yard work almost done, and the flower and herb beds almost trimmed, I can take a few hours to read through some Writer's Digest magazines. I found a few Writer magazines I had not even opened yet. Tsk! Tsk!

My hands smell like fresh rosemary as I type right now. I just put dried rosemary in spice jars, and put more up to dry. My sage was not very bountiful, but put some of that and dill up to dry today. Winter cooking will be blessed with my home grown herbs.

Speaking of herbs, I am searching for a wonderfully tasting dry Italian herb mix that I can make myself. This year I am cutting costs down by making everything I can, such as dry mixes. I won't be buying those packets anymore, nor will you ever see me buy dry onions - yuck!

I have plenty of library craft books and fiction books to occupy my few hours to myself. This morning started great with time alone on the front porch. With my Bible and a cup of coffee, I spent some time with God. It sure felt good.

Laundry is on the line and we have not used it all summer. It has been great! I am getting bed spreads, linens, and curtains washed and dried before the weather changes to the fall cool temperatures. I don't think I have to worry about that for a few months, but with school starting this month, the 17th for two of us, time will limited.

Eggplant Italian is in the crock-pot for dinner. I'm not sure what to do with the zucchini yet. I'll figure something out later. We still have some cucumbers and spread for snacking. I sure feels good to eat healthy.

I'm heading out to my favorite lawn chair. Send up a few prayers my "brain block" dissipates (that's what I call writer's block when the household atmosphere clouds my brain - ha ha!).

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Cucumber Recipes We've Tried

With being blessed with lots of cucumbers, I went to the library and searched on-line for healthy recipes to use them with. Here is a list of what we have tried so far and found was delicious.

1. Creamy Pepporoni Cucumber Rounds, from The New American Heart Association Cookbook, 7th Edition. I also found the exact same recipe on the Internet (click on the recipe title). These are pretty tasty and are a nice snack idea.

2. to be announced.