Pioneer Woman at Heart

From the Homesteading Journal . . . While hanging laundry on my clothesline, I kept hearing a woodpecker nearby.  My clotheslines are run off of 3 large, older trees.  They were there from the previous owners.   I stopped what I was doing, and walked in the direction of the middle tree.     In the top portion of where a tree limb was broken off, I found this. The last few tornado seasons, brought in bad winds and tore down many thick branches.  Birds now make a home in this portion.  I sure hope the barn cats don't see it. We are drying Peanut (our goat in milk) off for breeding.  We are down to 1 pint of milk a day.   I will sure miss it over the winter, but will be blessed with more milk next year. Wood splitting came to a halt.  Our chainsaw blade went bad.  Now, it's just a matter of hubby getting the time to put the new one on.    From the Family Journal . . . This past weekend was full of surprise...

Do you remember Jasper, the cat who loves to play under my rag rug? Well, a few days after I deep cleaned one entire wall area in my bedroom, I noticed small items behind my book shelve again.  I asked who was in my room and why there were items knocked down behind it.  No one knew. A few days ago, I figured it out.   I saw Jasper, the sneaky cat, running through the house with my cow!  My oldest daughter brought this home for me after an FFA trip for school (after two daughters have made trips, I have a 3 cow collection of different types). Do you see the discolored face on the cow?  It's all dirty compared to the rest of the cow? That is how Jasper is carrying my cow around the house.  I put it back, and he got it out again yesterday morning.  I actually had to hide it in a dresser drawer so he would find another toy to play with.  For some reason, Jasper loves to carry around small stuffed animals.   I wish I had a photo so s...

The one reason we don't raise rabbits for meat is Milo.  He's our indoor pet bunny and he's as pampered as the rest of the gang. In the photo, Milo is having bunny yoga on one of my daughter's legs.  He's so relaxed in this position, he simply takes a nap.  He so funny.  As for me.....ugh.... I have been keeping our meals very healthy, I have increased my liquids, swept up the allergy causing dust and dander, and went to bed early. I woke up feeling worse than yesterday.   It has been raining here, during the day, and at night it's not too cool.  The moisture is so bad inside, that my bathroom rugs are still wet after 3 days.   I woke up very tired (even though I got more sleep), congested, watery eyes, a continued cough, and a runny nose.  Over the counter allergy medication just doesn't cut it.  I even mixed my raw honey/organic apple cider vinegar mix yesterday.     I love the country, but the count...

I just read this on another site, and had to share.  JUST A MOM? A woman, renewing her driver's license , was asked by the woman to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at Registry, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?' 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.' 'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation.. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'City Registrar..' 'What is your occupation?' she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations....

My mother gave me the celery leaves she cut from her celery over the weekend.  I dehydrated them for several uses. I will use them to add flavor and color to soups, saute them in with onions for many recipes, and they can be added to salads also. I did some quick research after dehydrating my celery leaves, and this is one vegetable I will want to continue to buy organic from now on.  It is in the top two of the "Dirty Dozen" list. My dehydrated, garden grown jalapeno peppers came in handy over the weekend also. I cooked up a pot of cabbage and bean soup, and added about 4 crushed rings of these peppers.  I didn't have a recipe really, I simply used broth, water, cooked dry beans (whatever I had at the time, which was navy and pinto), cooked up some fresh picked Swiss chard, added chopped cabbage, and even about 3 Tbsp. of our canned Zucchini Salsa.  I used garlic and dehydrated jalapeno's for flavor.  It turned out to be delicious and healthy.

I am very late at passing this award on.  I received this award from The Fearless Farmgirl . "Liebster" is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.  The Liebster is awarded to spotlight up to coming bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers. Now that I have won this award, I not only want to pass it on, but need to do the following:  1. Thank the giver and link to the blogger who gave it to you - Check 2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving them a comment on their blog - Check 3.Copy and paste the award on your blog - Check 4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers - CHECK 5. And most of all - have fun!  Check! Here is who I awarded (these reasons are not limited to the few I posted, they all have exceeded in earning this award): The 3 Foragers , for their unending help in foraging, their kindness, quick respons...

My family already thinks I'm nuts, but thanks to The 3 Foragers , I have collected foxtail grass seeds to dry and eat (see disclaimer on blog, always get expert advice when foraging).

This is what a hedge apple tree looks like.  My mother brought me 3 more bags of hedge apples today.  I will spread them out tomorrow.  I had a garden spider, a little bigger than a quarter, in my shower this morning.  So far, other the finding one in my shower, the hedge apples are working at keeping the spiders out.  I will also use chestnuts in our drawers, as suggested by another follower. 

I love a bread recipe that makes 2 loaves.  With our family size, it's the best way for me to make the most of a recipe.  I love this recipe, as it contains two items from my garden, is another use for our eggs, and uses butter. Our long term goal is to have a jersey cow and make our own butter. Zucchini Pumpkin Bread 1 cup butter (or stick margarine) 2 cups sugar 3 eggs, beaten (or 3/4 cup egg substitute) 1 Tbsp. vanilla 1 cup grated zucchini 1 cup canned pumpkin (I used pie pumpkin puree) 3 cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. cloves (ground) 1 cup chopped nuts Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla, zucchini, and pumpkin, and mix well.  Combine other ingredients and then add to creamed mixture.  Blend well and pour into 2 greased 8 x 4 inch loaf pans.  Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 2 loaves (Source:  The Zucchin...

In all the strange places pokeberries can be growing, I found them in the loft of one of our barns.  We don't use this part, as it needs major repairs.   I was walking around the property last week and saw these and thought they would make a nice color to dye yarn with.  After doing my research on the wildflowers on our property, I found out that pokeberry juice can be used to write with also.  In fact, I was told the Declaration of Independence was possibly written with it.  I'm not sure if that's completely true, but found it interesting.  Pokeberry is poisonous and I removed a few that had grown near or in my garden this year. Last week I got out the ladder and had one of the kids help me pick a bag full of these berries.  Did you know you can actually freeze these and dye with them later?   I could not locate a local farmer who spins their own wool, so I purchased wool yarn. I chose to use a safe mordant for my yarn....

Pumpkin Fudge 2 cups sugar 3 Tablespoons cooked mashed pumpkin or canned pumpkin puree 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice 1/4 tsp. cornstarch 1/2 cup milk, evaporated milk, or cream 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan. 2. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, cornstarch, and milk.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils.  Still stirring, continue to cook until the mixture reaches 236°F on a candy thermometer (a small piece of fudge will form a soft ball if dropped in a glass of water). 3. Immediately remove from heat.  Add the vanilla and beat with an electric mixture until smooth.  Scrape into the prepared pan and let cool. 4. When the mixture is completely cooled and hardened, cut into squares.  Fudge is best eaten fresh, but it can be wrapped well and kept in the refrigerator for several weeks. Makes 1 pound. Many followers said they could not view the recipe, so I re-posted ...

I am continuing to dehydrate Swiss chard, along with the stalks.   The recent rains brought up some nice green onions.  I am dehydrating some of them today also. We are now at war with spiders.  I clean the webs down, and they rebuild the next day.   We have also seen wolf spiders in the garage about 3 inches in diameter.   My mother has armed us with 3 bags of hedge apples. They do have a funny smell, so I hope they work.  I'll be placing these bad boys around the house, garage and barns today. I am starting to experiment with natural dyes.  We have many outside animals, as well as inside animals, so I am trying to work with dyes that I can easily dispose of without harming them, or our septic tank. I crocheted this flower vase doily with 100% 2 ply cotton yarn.  I then boiled red onion skins in a designated pot for dye purposes.  I discarded the skins, and heated the water with the doily.  I turned the hea...

This is a photo of the mushroom yesterday.   The mushroom today.  Is it Shaggy Mane? Another one growing. I am still deep cleaning.  I actually think that when the kids see me, they are either inspired to help me, or help me out of quilt (watching me do it myself).  My son helped me in the kitchen.  I am now pulling out drawers sweeping inside, inside the drawers/cupboards, removing anything that don't use (using the box method), and reorganizing.  I think we cleaned 6 drawers and 2 sets of cupboards.  Unfortunately, my old kitchen was re-done with mostly drawers (by the last home owner).  I have very little cupboards.  It makes it very difficult to store items.  My mixer and food processor are stored in my living room (in a pie safe). While cleaning yesterday, I started dehydrating my Swiss chard.  I am even considering growing some inside this year.  I think it would work if I grew it in the warmest room, next to the wood...

I have walked around the property (some of it) and found two different types of mushrooms growing.  One was growing on a fallen tree.

I completely forgot to take photos to share, but I baked up 2 spaghetti squash (could have used more, but it was our last ones), and made Baked Spaghetti Squash . It was delicious and we will be keeping this recipe.  I have did not have mushrooms or olives when I baked it, and I used home canned seasoned tomato sauce (thickened with tomato paste).  It was very good. My tip:  Cook the spaghetti earlier, with enough time to drain out the water (to keep the casserole from being to watery).  Home canned sauce is not as thick as store pasta sauce, so I may toss in some dry spaghetti noodles to soak up more liquid next time.

I finally finished it.  Phew!  I crocheted a rag rug with sheets, pillow cases, and other rag-worthy fabric.  I've been saving fabric for approximately a year now.  It measures about 5 1/2 feet long by about 22 inches wide.  I even cut up an old apron my kids used for playing house when they were very young.  I also cut up an old baby crib sheet that I probably used for all the kids.   My Uncle gave us a new set of sheets and pillow cases, and we greatly appreciated them.  It gave me the opportunity to cut my old pillow cases and sheets, and make this very useful rug.  Some of my pillow cases were over 20 years old and worn very thin.  I honestly thought they would rip when I crocheted them, but they held tight.   My 9 year-old was watching me sew the strips together the other day.  She now wants, not one, but two rag rugs for her hope chest.   Now......I better get back to cleaning.  I just hope I d...

My clotheslines were working over time yesterday.  As I cleaned out a cupboard in my utility room, and removed mildew, I discovered blankets had been taken out of their plastic bags. Not only, did the kids just toss the blankets in the cupboard, but put sheets, pillow cases and tablecloths.  Now, I am washing them all and putting them back in their proper homes, and with a clean cupboard. Unfortunately, this year has been a moist, then dry, and moist summer.  I've taken 35 pints of water from one room already, using my dehumidifier.  I'll be rotating it to another room today. In the process of deep cleaning around my bedroom, and wiping mildew from the floor trim, I discovered yet another unfinished project that.  I have been working on it for over a year, and decided it's time to finish it.  I'll post photos when it is finished.  This however, puts me a behind in cleaning.   Either way, I will get both done. I am sharing my latest th...

These were delicious.  We doubled the batch, using our pumpkin puree, and have extra for breakfast.  The kids can toast them, and cook up eggs, and make egg/cheese/waffle sandwiches (or simply eat waffles).

  . . . let the goats mow for you. Peanut is enjoying being rotated around the barn, for some delicious new grass to eat.  Our grass is not treated with any chemicals. Our mower deck has already been welded, and now I'm told that the mower cannot be repaired (long sigh).  However, the goats are enjoying the fresh tall grass.  We got a good laugh yesterday.  Rue cried his eyes out while Peanut was out enjoying her grazing space.  He's so funny to listen to.  He was rolling his head backwards and stomping his feet until Peanut returned to the goat pen.  We plan to expand it and make a second fenced area, so they we can rotate the grazing areas.

My 12 year-old daughter helped me line the dehydrating trays with red cabbage.  When we were done, she used the blanching water for a spontaneous science experiment. She took the blanching water and put some in 5 containers - 4 for experimenting and 1 for a control.  She used ammonia, distilled vinegar, and a baking soda/water mix.  She added it to each container, watching what color the purple/blue water would turn to.  The ammonia turned it green, the vinegar turned it a pink/red color, the baking soda/water mix, turned it a darker blue.  The last one is the control. Zip on over to one of my daughter's blogs.  She posts a "mood of the week" picture, and some are pretty funny to view. Life as a Teen Farmgirl