Hot Mess Express

 

Hot mess express checking in for a quick minute.  October has been, and still is a crammed month of commitments, projects and whatnot.  More so on the commitments (preventing other work to be done).

I feel like the days are so out of control, but I dug out my new jars and recipes.  I realized I had not dehydrated comfrey or plantain, and needed it for one recipe.  Of course, we just mowed too.

The kitchen is full of baskets of herbs and medicinal weeds, which are all waiting their moment in the dehydrator.

Our weather changed rapidly, so I am working quickly.  

Sticky notes to the rescue!  Without them, I would be a double hot mess express.  I finally made a phone call for a quote, that should have been done a year ago.  I was to complete that job today, but someone took the wrong vehicle to work this morning.

Purging continues, but not as productive as it should be.  Garage clean out remains on the to-do list (did I mention too many commitments this month?).

Of course, in the midst of trying to stay sane, and cooking/baking from scratch, it appears that many of my homemade baking items need refilled at once - pumpkin pie spice, taco seasoning, and vanilla extract etc.

Saw this deer as we returned home from the farm/feed store.  It was literally walking to us.  We have seen quite a bit of deer this year.

I would say, that I still have about 80% of the garden to pull yet.  I need to hire help possibly.

I have a few new recipes to hopefully share soon.  Like I said, it's been a wild and crazy month here.

Hot Mess Express  © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Chicken Feeder Cover Tip

 

Years ago, someone suggested to put an old funnel over the top of the chicken feeder, to keep the chickens from sitting on the top and poo'ing into the feeder.

Well, we finally found a metal funnel that fits over the feeder.  Considering we have not yet finished the new coop (story of my life, ha ha!) we had to come up with a solution.  

We did find some very old feeders at an antique store, but they were all rusted.  However, they had a metal piece in the center top, with a hook to hang them.  I will be searching more places to find them in decent shape.  Or we may build our own.  

Anyway, for now, the funnel is a perfect way to keep them from roosting at the top of the feeder.

Chicken Feeder Cover Tip © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Skunk Odor

 

I have to share this, as the skunks are on the move at night here.  Something upset one the other night and it sprayed near the house.  I woke up at 5am to a nasty odor lingering into the house.

I got out my diffuser and put even amounts (per my diffuser, as some only hold so much water) of ecualyptus, lemon and tea tree essential oils.  

The diffuser rids the indoor skunk odor that lingers in through a window etc.

However, once I had that odor removed, I went outside to let the chickens out and smelled not one iota of skunk smell.  Strange how it can spray, and the odor wafts into the house, and by the time I got out there, there was no odor.

I was prepared to mix up a skunk spray and spray under windows, but I did not have to do that.  Anyway, the essential oil trick works great.

Skunk Odor © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Chicken Predator ~ Current Crochet Project ~ Prayers for Florida

 

A quick post.  My chickens would not leave their run the last few days, and now I know why.  I had a feeling something was a threat to them.  It was literally watching them, so I may need to come up with a way to net the entire coop to cover their current run.  I'm hoping it just moves on.  Between everything needing done or going on around here, we have not finished the new coop yet (and I wish we had).

I picked these balls of yarn to decide on my next go-to project (with very limited free time).  All of them were in my stash.  The color on the left may end up a winter hat/scraf for my husband, and the right was chosen to crochet a new baby blanket pattern.  My husband was shocked the white and pick were in my stash (huge on pound from Caron).  Yes they were.  I was an ambitious person when I did baby items for craft shows.

Current crochet project.  A big thank you to Betsy at Blogspot The Simple Life of a Queen.  She had shared her crocheted blankets on her blog, and graciously shared where to find the pattern.  I don't think I have any blue in my stash, but this one is turning out stunning.  Plus, my husband is happy to see me de-stash the stash.  I'm not sure yet if I will keep this one, or donate it.  I do like to have a few on hand for gifting.

A big thank you to Leigh for her post on 5 Acres and a Dream blogspot, for her Prepper Check post.  We are currently working on more prepping.  The hurricane, and everything else going on in this world, has us concerned.  If you haven't read her post, it has some very good information.  

Rebecca's Hearth and Home blogspot is doing a giveaway for a very nice planner.  Be sure to go and enter.   She has several options for your entry.

Prayers for Florida, as they prepare for another devastating hurricane.  Prayers for all of Florida and any surrounding areas.

Chicken Predator ~ Current Crochet Project ~ Prayers for Florida © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

End of September Garden ~ Winter Medicinal Prep ~ Tidbits

 We finally got rain on September 22nd, and it just kept coming, and coming.  The hurricane rolling in by Florida is bringing us much of the rain our way, forcing us to cancel our third planned camping trip.  There was no point in hauling the camper over an hour away, only to spend the entire weekend inside the small camper (there was not much to do in the area indoors either).  No campfires, no campfire meals, and no hiking.  I was pretty sad hitting that "cancel" button.

(husband's packed breakfast with daikon root hashbrowns)

One vegetable I did not get to plant this garden season - daikon radish.  I am however experimenting with it in recipes, and actually grating it for a healthier hashbrown, and using it cubed in place of potatoes in some soup recipes.  I have yet to make kimchi, but it is still on my list.

New to the garden this year, and new to us - Mashed Potato Squash.

One mashed potato squash came off the vine, so I brought it in a second one and roasted them.  I have never grown these, so I am relying on whatever baking instructions I can find online. 

We tasted it by itself, and then we seasoned it with salt, pepper and a bit of butter.  Oh my goodness!  Tastes better than mashed potatoes.  So good!  I will be planting these again.  It is a squash you cannot find at any produce stand or grocery store.  I have a few more to roast, and may even try mixing in some pesto.  We are both amazed at how good these squash taste.  I cannot believe, that not one produce stand grows and sells them.

The bell peppers rolled in all month long.  I made stuffed peppers for breakfast, stuffed peppers for dinner, froze stuffed peppers, froze the peppers diced and sliced, and made other "stuffed" recipes with them.

Dug up the last of the garden potatoes.

I tried a new crustless quiche and we loved it.  I am taking advantage of the herb garden as long as the season lasts. The quiche had asaparagus, dried oregano (from the herb garden), fresh green onions, and chives (I measured those fresh herbs with my heart).

I was harvesting goldenrod for one of the kids, and learned that it not only helps heal a runny nose, but also sinus infections, and helps treat the flu.  I also started a tincture.

Tips:  I keep extra lids from my mayo/peanut butter jars, as they fit any regular lid canning jar.  When I give dried herbs for cooking or teas to a friend/family, the lids come in handy.

I also keep disposable teabags on hand.  I gift them with the dehydrated teas when someone is sick or needs a tea (most people do not own a teaball or such).

Pickled radishes with a garden jalapeno.  These won't last long, but they are good for up to 6 months, according to the recipe.

My husband finally got his homemade corndogs.  I told him I would only make them once a year, as he is diabetic, but it has been about 3-4 years since I made them.  I use all organic ingredients in the batter (all beef hotdogs), and this time we made homemade fries with home grown potatoes and fried them in local beef tallow.

I started a jar of Four Thieves Vinegar.  It will last up to one year, and we like to have it on hand "just in case" for feeling ill or preventing illnesses.

A "sleepy time" tincture started (we still like our evening tea too), and a new honey based elixir for a new "cure all" for winter/spring.  It will last up to 2 years, so we are trying something new, along with the Four Thieves.

Walking is the elixir to mental health, overall health, and just feeling physically healthy.  I'm so glad we are spending more time with nature this year.

We have been getting a few hikes in this month (until the rain rolled in).

The only handiwork that got made during the later part of the month  - another dish scrubbie for us.

Strawberry Margarita Pie

I am still purging books, and am trying new recipes from one of the cookbooks (deciding on donating or keeping), and other home updates/repairs.  The dishwasher (we bought used) quit working, and now the dryer is on the fritz.  I had to use it, as the mowing was getting done, and the rain was arriving, but glad I used it.  I had not used it all summer long, and it is almost 16 years old.  Time to start looking for a new washer and dryer.

I hope all is well with everyone.  We will be getting rain until the very last day fo the month (maybe more).

End of September Garden ~ Winter Medicinal Prep ~ Tidbits© September 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Just the Bits

 

I'm not sure who is happier when all the canning supplies go back in storage. . . my husband or myself, ha ha!  We got very little canned this year.  In fact, I only canned ketchup and tomato sauce.  Very strange garden year this year.

The majority of our own tomatoes were very very small.  Most likely due to the second planting (rabbits ate the entire first before we fenced it), and the drought we are having.  I was gifted enough tomatoes to can what I did this year.

The hot peppers are nearing the end of the season, and if you have been following my blog, you read that our "hot" banana peppers were not hot this year.  I yanked the plants and pickled the rest for the season.  These were not canned, but will last 3 months in the refrigerator.

I bought us a new tool for when we stuff jalapenos, or when I need to de-seed any hot peppers.  Call it being prepared for the next garden year, as we decided to freeze the jalapenos this round of picking.  I leave the seeds in when I freeze hot peppers.

I have pulled half of the bell pepper plants this season, as they are at the end of their harvest as well.  I have never seen this on a bell pepper until this year.  I am guessing it's sun scald.  It appears "burned" and a few other ones had it.

It's the end of the garden season, so we are pulling plants when we have the time.  I have already pulled some tomato plants, but hoping for a rain soon, so I can get those stakes out of the ground.

I started my yarrow infused oil.  I will eventually use it to make a yarrow healing salve.  I am learning a lot about yarrow this year.  If you have a tried and true salve recipe, please share.

Last year I made garlic honey, to use as a medicial if we needed it, but we did not, so I'm contemplating what to make instead.  I typically have Four Thieves Vinegar on hand every year, or even Fire Cider.  I'm just not sure yet.  What do you have on hand for the "in case" you need it medicinal?

My attempt to propagate our Thai basil failed.  They grew mold and zero roots.  The cuttings also attracted flies and that drove me nuts.  Out they went.

I have more herbs to stock up for winter.  It's on the to-do list.

The chickens have slowed down with egg production, as it is the typical time of year.  I will start rotating in our breakfast oatmeal bakes, to stretch those eggs out in our meals.

I can't remember if I shared this new recipe we tried.  It is a cookie recipe that uses tahini in place of the "oil" and has dates in them, oats (no flour), and honey.  At first, I thought I'd never make them again, but we love them!  A soft, chewy goodness.

We purchased some local beef tallow for the first time.  If you have used it for cooking, let me know what you used it for. 

Our weather is surging up to the 90's this weekend (making any outdoor recreation or work miserable).  We have not had rain all month long, and many parts of our state now have burn bans, including some campgrounds.  The drought has been pretty bad this year.

On the book front, I have only purchased one book since May. I'm so proud of myself.  I have purged more that I need to get rid of, and have more to read.  I started the year off great using the library, but have not been back since May I think.

Oh, and I used to be a hoarder of printing new recipes to try.  Way back in the spring, I started using a notebook.  Instead of printing the recipe, or holding it up in my tabs on the computer, I write the recipe name and location in a notebook.  When I have time to try it, I locate it, and try the recipe.  Nine times  out of ten, we don't keep the recipe.  I have only printed one recipe since spring.  I have hand written a few down on recipe cards.  No more wasting paper, ink and time.  I am pretty proud to end that cycle of waste and time (not to mention clutter).

Why do I look for new recipes?  Well, for starters, if we have a bumper crop of bell peppers like this year.  I look for new ways to make stuffed peppers for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Or I look for recipes regarding herbs, or medicinal herbs, or the like.

We also have a bumper crop of basil, and for the first year ever, I can freeze either pesto or just the basil.  

Now I am on the hunt for a new, and better tasting pie crust recipe for the holidays and other entertainment.

Just the Bits © September 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

What?! Learned something with my sauce maker

                                       

The sauce comes out of the center piece and into a pan (white part), and the "trash" comes out the left side and I put a pot there to catch it.  It's the seeds and peelings of the tomatoes.  Basically, anything sauce made, I do not have to de-seed or remove peels, as this hand cranked machine does it for me.

However, I always assumed it was doing it's job well the first time.

(second time running it thru)

I have no idea why no one, who uses a sauce maker, ever told me this tidbit!   I always "assumed" that my sauce maker worked well enough to give me the "goods" when saucing anything.  Wrong!  Run your "trash" thru the sauce maker a second time to get the most of those tomatoes.  I am still using my old sauce maker, as the new one has not arrived yet, and boy did I get more doing it twice.  I found out about this information, by reading comments on reviews of other sauce makers.  

It was the first time canning this year, hence the first time trying this.  Just wanted to share for anyone with a cheaper version of a sauce maker.

What?!  Learned soemthing new with my sauce maker © September 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart