Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Our Calendula Resina look fantastic for this fall weather.  They are such a vibrant orange.  Looks so attractive and boosts the mood just looking at it.  Out of all of the flowers and herbs, even my husband pointed them out, and said they are "beautiful."  Double feature is it's medicinal qualities.  I'm saving seeds of course. Posts have been short and not very interesting to most, but I'm dealing with an eye issue.  I'll be back when I am done with doctor appointments and healed up.   Calendula Resina   ©  October 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

  The last of the hot banana peppers, and jalapenos, and we harvested maybe 8 jalapenos this year (vs. 100's).  Sigh.  We can only laugh at this point.  No hot pepper relish, no hot pepper jelly, etc.  We use everything we plant for other recipes that are either canned or made fresh, like salsa.  The potato harvest is not that great either, but we are starting to dig them up.  The basket has potatoes from about 3 plants. It's a harvest no less. The story behind the hot peppers?  If you are a follower, you already know. We planted over 80 plants of different hot peppers.  In our one fenced garden.  For the first year ever, something small enough got thru the holes in this particular fence.  Most likely a baby rabbit.  It chewed every single hot pepper plant top off and they all died. We replanted a few, but it's a pathetic harvest.  We already have smaller hole fencing on a roll, to wrap the garden next spring.  We can...

  One more new bloom from my Strawberry Blonde Calendula.  It looked dark pink before the flower opened.  The blooms are not as pink as the packet displays them as.  Yet.  I'm hoping it just needs time to grow. Calendula   ©  October 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Quick and short post today.  Cute cup coaster pattern on YouTube.  It's called Crochet Pumpkin Pie Coaster, by Kelli's Purpose.  She doesn't explain how many stitches you'll need for the crust part, but I evenly made 6 of the "bumps" in the crust. Very easy pattern for anyone looking for a fall gift, fall home decoration, or even hostess/host gift.   I used 100% cotton yarn I had in my stash, but you could use any orange and tan colors for them. Pumpkin Pie Slice Coaster (Crochet)   ©  September 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

  My Strawberry Blonde Calendula is finally blooming.  The photo is the very first bloom.  They are not as big as the seed packet shows.  It is not as pink as the seed packet shows either. However, after my regular calendula has been blooming for a while, and after taking cuttings, the blooms are starting to get fuller.  I picked some, along with some plantain the other day. What's in the dehydrator? Yarrow.  I have several ways to use this - salve, tea, oil infusions for serum etc. The full moon from a few nights ago.  Beautiful photo. I have been trying to get around to reading your blogs, but blogger has not been updating my reading list, and it is constantly telling me there have been zero posts on blogs I follow.  Hopefully they fix the bugs. My search is not working properly either.  I'm trying to find the oatmeal cake recipe someone posted about. Strawberry Blonde Calendula   ©  September 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman a...

  First year to infuse dandelion flower oil (wild dandelions from our own homestead).  First year to make our own dandelion salve.  It's in trial period.  We have both used it and so far really like it, but we'll have one more person testing it out for me.  I'm getting so much better at keeping notes this year. I used an assortment of vessels, as that is what I had on hand.  I love the smaller tins for travel, or to give as gifts.  I just ran out of tins and used whatever glass jars I still had in my herbal supplies. I already have a new "first" time salve to make next spring as well.   The rain is finally done (at least we hope so), but the wind blew right in last night.  Good grief.  Maybe it will dry up the soggy ground, but our nights are to dip to the 40's.  Fall weather can be so iffy in our area. Dandelion Salve   ©  September 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart