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~

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Canning is in full swing



Big weather change here.




Canning is going daily lately.  I have to label all of this and put it in the pantry before I start chopping more tomatoes.  I brought in more.



The weather dipped to 45°F last night, so I brought in everything I could that was above ground.  The green bell peppers are about done.  I brought in 5 more bell peppers.  I have a few small ones on, but with the weather, they may not develop.  Hot peppers are on, but it's hard to tell how much more I'll get.

My life as I know it. 


Saturday, September 12, 2020

Pizza Sauce and other tidbits

I got 25# of tomatoes off my tables, but went out and picked more, bringing 22.5# more back in.


Pizza sauce is restocked now.



Somehow, in all that work of canning, I put chili in the crock pot for dinner, but did not have the time or energy to make my delicious buttermilk cornbread.


I made this spread the other day, and haven't made it since we had dairy goats I think.  The recipe is on my blog:  Easy Layered Dip.


This was at our local area Meijer the other day.  I sent it to a friend who was looking for wide mouth quart jars.  They also had other sizes, but no lids.




My indoor rosemary plant got a new pot.  My cilantro did as well, but you don't a picture of that one.  I sort of neglected it, so hopefully, it will spring back having been re-potted for winter.

I haven't had any time to do handiwork.  Hopefully soon, as the garden is starting to slow down a bit.  I brought in another dozen bell peppers, another 2# of jalapenos, a few ounces of hot banana peppers as well.

Friday, September 11, 2020

Plantain Dehydrated and other randomness

It's been on the cold side here.  We will be a high of 69°F today.

Due to some last minute business I had to do in the afternoon yesterday, I could not can with tomatoes as planned.  I instead took a slower day and tackled other jobs.  I folded neglected towels, washed bedding, made homemade laundry detergent, refilled our homemade foaming hand soap and other stuff.


I went out and picked some plantain and dried it in the dehydrator.  It wasn't as much as I wanted, but it's been slim pickings with the drought.  The recent rain brought some up, and I wanted it done before the mowing resumed and colder weather gets here.  I will be infusing a plantain oil, which I will use later this winter to make a salve.


I got all those bell peppers put up.  I'll be picking a few more to try a new recipe I found.  Hopefully, I will have time one of these days to do it.



I haven't had time (or the space, with all the tomatoes in the kitchen) to make a good breakfast.  I am only getting small eggs, so I just tossed some veggies, herbs, etc. into a small baking pan.



How is everyone doing?  Well I hope.  The Governor is now doing covid testing on sewage in nearby towns and cities.  He also signed an order for setting up Fema camps (that part is true, as I read it).  There is talk that they are pushing kids to take extra supplies (emergency) to school, so if they get sick they can ship the kids off to these camps and take them away from the parents.  Not sure if that is true or not.  The college students are back.  Cases are rising with off campus students.  They are talking about another outbreak.  Now they are randomly testing students, so the testing just keeps going and going.  Also, if you have a procedure at the hospital, they test you before that as well.  Again, more testing.  Just a very scary world right now.

I have been talking to my husband about selling the house and moving.  We decided it was not a good idea right now.  Houses are selling like hot cakes right now in our area, however the buyers are paying higher than asking price to get a house.  There is a housing shortage, and even if we found one, we'd be paying a premium for it.  We also talked about the fact we have a septic and well, and with the way things are going, it'd be safer where we are.  Not sure what project we'll start first, but I have 3 on the "first list."  

Meanwhile, we are busy with the garden, and then there is wood to cut.  Mostly trying to stay home, but I do want to go camping before the season ends.

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Lemony Tomato-Basil Soup




My sauce maker is in full swing right now.  I restocked our tomato soup.  It's so good too.  The photo makes the jars look weird, but it's just that I took the photo when it was dark out.  The recipe is in the Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications - Canning, Preserving+Freezing and drying issue.

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Garden Goodness







Eggs are rolling in good.  Fixing the sides of the coop so I don't have to crawl in there is on top of the list.


Ka-Bam!  41# of paste tomatoes, brought in a few big boy type, cherry tomatoes, some zucchini, 1# hot banana peppers, #3 of jalapenos, and 24 bell peppers.   The jalapenos were canned yesterday, but today I tackle some of the tomatoes.  

I was lacking time for laundry, but managed to get a pork loin (not my favorite, need to re-stock roasts) in the crock pot.

I sliced the zucchini and baked them with herbs and parm cheese.  I totally forgot to take a photo.  I was just plum tired. 

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Weekend Getaway






While I should have been canning, my husband and I took off for a getaway, and took a boat tour.  Well worth it.  

I am up early to wash dishes that were left on last Friday, and the one daughter who was home and on vacation, left more.  Everything I need to can was still dirty.  My mental health vacation needs another one.  All I can say at this point, is that I am pretty sure my husband is on board with the lack of help and respect around here.  He finally sees what I have been dealing with.

It's been a long day already. Yesterday was the one year mark we lost our 4 month old grandson, so we made a quick trip over to see them before retiring for the night last night.

Oh, while out on our getaway, I scored canning jars.  There were no lids to be had, but I got myself jars with lids (which I needed, as I am down to my last 9 jars or so of half-pints).  I also finished a crochet project during our drive.  I hope to have a handiwork update soon.


Saturday, September 5, 2020

Bell Peppers ~ BBQ Sauce ~ Sunrise


The bell peppers are one thing that is doing well in the garden as well as the tomatoes.  I was able to do a half batch of stuffed peppers and got them in the freezer.  




A few were used to can BBQ sauce yesterday.




I caught a few beautiful photos just before the sun came up the other day.

The dogs were barking about 3pm while I was reducing the BBQ sauce.  Guess what?  Another raccoon.  I got the ladies in safe, but lost sight of the dang raccoon.  Sigh.  It's definitely been a rough year.