Pioneer Woman at Heart

I'll be pulling all of the remaining turnips, blanching and freezing them tonight. If the good Lord blesses us, we'll have more zucchini to blanch and freeze also. Maybe even beets. I am making the eggplant/zucchini casserole tonight, but instead of whole wheat spaghetti noodles, I am using baked spaghetti squash. The kids don't like the squash that much, so it's a good way to sneak it in. I hope it tastes good. I cannot wait to grow this bountiful garden again, and of course with God's blessing.

I'm on the search again for new recipes. I have beets roasting to go with our Spinach/yogurt/tomato pizzas. With the cooler weather suddenly arriving, I am a little sad to the zucchini slow in growth. I really enjoyed being able to just walk outside and pick something to make dinner with. I may substitute the spaghetti noodles in the eggplant/zucchini bake, with the spaghetti squash. Not sure yet. I found a few that looked good too. I can't wait to can tomato sauce. I use it so much during the summer with vegetables. I'm even using my green onion to top the pizzas for tonight. We went through all of my dried Thyme and Oregano, so I had to cut more to dry. I also cut Rosemary to flavor the beets that are roasting. I brought a sprig of thyme into the house and potted it. I have never grown my herbs inside, other than rosemary, which I usually kill before spring. I'm heading out tomorrow to cut some oregano to grow inside also. I have grown basil inside since s...

Here's is another finished crocheted Christmas gift - Reusable Shopping bag (book bag or purse).

We moved to the country for privacy and more room. However, we have had health insurance salesmen stop twice now to sell insurance. I think they own a secret satellite up in the sky, that instant messages them when someone moves to the country. It beeps and blurps until they run their little shiny cars to your house and knock on your doors wearing their suits and ties. I'd like to see them get out of their car when all of the dogs are outside - ha ha ha ha! "Opps! I accidentally let the dogs out sir! You'll have to get in your cars and leave now!" Good grief. It's bad enough to have sales calls on the phone, but door to door in the country? I'm moving to the high hills next.

In a hurry, while in between buses coming and going, I signed onto the computer. Bad move. I should have never thought that I could check e-mail and check on my articles at the same time the kids were getting ready for school. I had one child left home (other than the one going to on-line school). She was late getting up because of me. I was trying desperately to get my writing done, and did not pay attention to my motherly responsibilities. The bus rolled in, and she had no lunch packed. I scooted her out with a bag that had only a few items. I felt absolutely horrible to have her so upset at the beginning of the day. I logged off everything, and finished getting dressed. Feeling so horrible, I decided to not only pack her a lunch and deliver it, but to deliver it in my special pink ribbon lunch cooler. I wrote her a small note that I hoped it would bless her day and that it was packed with love. I added a neat sticker too. When I got home, I decided I wasn't goi...

I just started the baking zucchini pancake receipe x 6. I still have zucchini for dinner as well. I'm not sure yet what I will do with it. I am usually on target and have meals planned for the week. It will take a while to make the pancakes, so I am reading my school work in between flipping pancakes, and also while the washer is going. I have a feeling that road work is about to start on the 2-lane highway in front of the house. I keep seeing men in florescent colors measuring, driving back and forth, planting sticks with bright pink flags, and even measuring from the road to the trees and barn. Out of curiosity I almost went out and asked what they were doing. Wouldn't you? If you saw 3 men walking a great distance onto your property, you might too. The kittens think my " hippy " skirt is a play toy today. They never did it before, but today they are playing with the hem of it. To them it's probably a moving target. Four pancakes made, and about 100 t...

I got another 32 cups of sweet corn frozen yesterday. I had planned to make a quadruple batch of zucchini pancakes, but didn't get that far. I plan to get the pancakes made today. I have already put dinner in the crock-pot, and have one load of laundry on the line. I'm a bit behind and still have to do my homework. The kids think it's funny- watching me try to juggle everything and go back to college. They laugh at the fact Mom has homework too. I think, as I find ways to grow and freeze or can our own vegetables, the kids are starting to feel the same "pioneer" spirits that I do. They are already talking about how they don't really get to "live" there own life if they are forced to work a job they really don't like, just to survive. They are imagining running a farm, raising their own meat, dairy, vegetables, etc. It's interesting to see them consider schooling, college, and the final outcome. Is it really worth it? I know I will fi...

Blackberries and Raspberries: Power Foods Shared via AddThis

I wrote another book review yesterday. While on my mission for a simpler holiday, I found one more way to use up leftover ribbon - making gift tags with them. If you get the chance, check out the book reviews in the sidebar of my blog.

Whew! After enlisting the help from 4 of the kids, we froze 32 cups of sweet corn. I bought a bushel for $12.00 and we are still having corn for dinner tonight. And after all of that, we still have corn to clean, cut and freeze tomorrow. My freezer is filling up for winter and it sure feels good to have good, healthy food. Maybe next year we will grow better corn. My husband's job was to plan the corn this year and only one stalk grew.

When our oldest daughter found out that I wrote about the younger two (on my blog), she attempted to get up early this morning. She set her alarm clock to join the other girls to watch the sunrise this morning. I'm not surprised, but all of them slept in. Either way it didn't matter. It's raining and very cloudy today. Thank goodness we are getting rain. The vegetable, herb, and flower gardens needed water badly. Already this morning, my 12 year old is making a dog leash with her macrame board. It's wonderful to see each child find something to improve themselves with. I may even make a second macrame board for myself. I learned something from my oldest daughter, regarding preparing our 10 year old for middle school. Buying her a bra had not been on my mind, but new socks and underwear were. She advised me that in Middle School the girls all change for gym in the same room, where everyone can see every one's everything. She let me know I should buy ...

This morning I was stunned to see two of my daughters up before me. They were sitting outside waiting to watch the sunrise. My son, who already started school was out there also, but his bus picked him up before the sun was up. I wrote a somewhat funny and very true story about parking spaces on www.helium.com. It was from my mother's view, and if you happen to go to helium and read it, she now has a handicapped sticker (thank goodness). Note: I'm moving this article on helium to another category. I'll post when I have the link. Tonight we are benefiting from the vegetable garden once again. I pulled several zucchini so we can make another quadruple batch of zucchini pancakes, I pulled several tomatoes, which will be added to our ground turkey burgers, I pulled two acorn squash, and 2 cantaloupe. Since we do not water our garden ourselves, some items are smaller, but I'm so glad we don't use chemicals of any sort to grow it. Tomorrow I'll be pulling mor...

Well, it's come to the point where we are needing to make a decision. One or both of the kittens killed the goldfish last night, one messed on the floor, and both of them destroyed my room last night. Evidently they think it's the main playground for their rambunctious lives. I know they would both be good mousers, even though they are males. The seek to destroy. The girls are already outside giving poor "Caspian" a proper funeral. Cat claw marks are evident on the poor little guys sides. Today I have the joy of paying $105.00 in school fees for 3 kids. Plus, I get the joy of paying a student fee for my son, who does not even attend the school. He's bussed to a career center school, but because we are in this school's district, I am required to pay a $7.00 student fee and a $1.00 guidance fee. Evidently, some of it goes to pay for the prom. I had no idea that, we the parents, are paying for that. The kids have now managed to destroy the PS3. It...

Encourage your kids in school with printable certificates you can print at home: Free Printable Certificates Free Printable Bookmarks

While attending a middle school orientation, the social studies teacher mentioned that the first topic to be discussed will be geography. She also mentioned that the kids may find it "boring". I went on-line to find fun sites to help at home, while she is learning at school and found these: Free Geography Publications Geography Quiz Bowl Questions Free Printable Geography Worksheets Scholastic Free Printables (register to print) National Geographic for Kids Free and Inexpensive Geography Materials Fact Monster - Geography Guide Knowledge House - Study Resources: Geography Free Federal Resources - Geography Printable Outline Maps Geography Study Resources Fifth Grade SS Geography and Map Skills - On-line Flash Cards

I've passed the canning course and now have my own certificate. I can't wait to purchase all the supplies and start canning. It will be new for the kids too. To learn how to take this course read an article I have written on how to register for it (on-line).

Crocheted lip balm holders for each of the girls. I'm using leftover slipper yarn, so each girl will have matching slippers and lip balm holder. I'll be attaching a lanyard clip and ring to each one before I wrap them. These will be stocking stuffers. Here are 3 pairs of slippers completed. I found buttons from $2.00-3.50 (2 per package), on clearance from $.50 to $.97! What a deal! The camo slippers have deer crossing buttons I found in clearance for $.50! I'm working on the 4th and 5th pair. They know they are getting them. They picked their color of yarn and they picked out their buttons. I had to size them as I crocheted them, so I needed their feet anyway. Believe it or not, but they are trying to make me give them the slippers now. Ha, ha, ha! Now the challenge remains on what to make my 17 year old son. I'm looking for more bootie type slipper patterns for him.

Whew! Talk about hot weather! I told the kids to come water me down every five minutes. Luckily the garden is doing okay. It could be better, but it's still producing. The herb garden is looking wonderful and I have already dried more rosemary for bus driver and teacher gifts. The flower beds are needing a good weeding and the rose bushes. We really need rain. School starts tomorrow for one daughter and for myself. Jasper has been at it again. So has Tiger. They have chewed on books, tried to eat a plastic fly swatter, and more. Argh! Yesterday we attended another fair and our youngest brought home a gold fish. Adding more animal in the house. At least it doesn't need brushed and doesn't need a litter box.

This year I am contemplating teacher gifts early. One gift may be dried herbs in a cute glass spice jar or recycled jar. I'm drying rosemary for these cute jars I found in clearance. I grow rosemary in my herb garden without chemicals. What's better than home grown?

If you are a curious reader, and have been wondering what stay-at-home mothers do all day, then you've come to the right place. You can put the stereotype that we are all couch potatoes, watch soap operas and eat bon bon's all day, into the toilet. We are all different. We all have a different size of family and the demands and responsibilities are all different. I can't even say there is a "typical" day for us either. To give you a sneak peek into my day, this is what today amounted to. We've had zucchini for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Now it's time for Braised turnips over brown rice or barley. See how the day went: 1. got up showered, dressed, ate breakfast 2. made bed 3. wrote for 2 hours (my time) 4. put laundry on the line outside 5. vacuumed 6. watered outside plants 7. did dishes 8. called financial aid office regarding application 9. cleaned up bathroom floor 10. went through yesterday's mail, sorted and shredded etc. 11. ...

Regarding the crocheted slippers with the button closure: I could not find the pattern on-line. Here is the link to other free patterns that are in the same issue of "Makin' Hay" and other issues - Mary Jane Butters Patterns and Instructions . If you have access to a fram supply store such as a TSC store (Tractor Supply), you might find the Aug-Sept 2009 "Makin' Hay" Issue of this magazine. In it, you find patterns for knitting and for crocheting the slippers.

All of this healthier cooking and baking, has allowed us to lose weight, even when we forget or have little time to exercise. Ever since I started making heart healthy meals, I've noticed most of us slimming a bit, and having a lot more energy. I love doing research, so I'm spending quite a bit of time reading about every food I cook with, and learning the benefits to our bodies. I've researched and continue to research about the foods we grow ourselves. I've learned a great deal about the affects of sodium and how we were including way too much of it with canned foods. I've taken a free home study course on how to preserve foods, and passed the course. It was fun and I learned something new. Next year, I will be canning - something my grandmother used to do. I've learned to blanch my cut zucchini before freezing, and so much more. It's been fun! All of this has led me to write so many new articles. On eHow I wrote how to register for the free home ...

Jasper (black tiger) and Tiger (gold Tiger) I've been working on handmade Christmas ornaments and each one requires drying time. Each morning, for the last two days, Jasper (dubbed Marley) has taken off with my Seashell Milk Ring Ornaments . Grr ! Luckily, I've been able to rescue the ornament, but that kitten can still find trouble. He's taken off with my son's earphones to his MP3 Player, he's knocked over 2 plants and has successfully broken one pot, he's dug into each and every plant in the house, and he's pulled curtains down off the windows. This is all minimal damage compared to other things he's capable of. I've used an entire roll of masking tape to tape across the tops of all the plant pots that are left. Even though it's there, I still find dirt outside the pot - Grr ! Masking tape has not worked, mothballs have not even bothered him, and a spray with jalapeno sauce onto the plants has not worked either. He's unbreakable. ...

My 12 year old is baking a quadruple zucchini pancake recipe. We will be freezing them for the upcoming school year. We are taking advantage of the overload of zucchini so that when school starts, I won't have to buy frozen waffles. These will be much more healthier and are absolutely delicious! The kids and I can just pop them in the toaster or microwave to heat them up in the morning. The recipe link is in the zucchini recipes post. My computer area is cleaned and organized now too. I have a family life planner and I'm getting ready to add more pages to it. I love the weekly meal planner sheets. They are wonderful to keep my meals organized. It saves us money too.

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,...

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!

"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 re...

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 j...

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 "b...

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. ...

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.