Pioneer Woman at Heart

from the homesteading journal . . . I taught one of the kids how to mix washing soda and borax to make homemade dishwasher detergent....the goat roof is not done, we need one more sheet of tin roofing .....we got a thin layer of snow last night, and need to restock the porch with firewood....Dad was right about prices sky rocketing.....the local paper already went up $.25/an issue and I saw that redbox movies have increased $.20/a day rental.....thankfully the library still loans out free movies.... from the garden journal . . . I am already down to the last few jars of home canned tomato sauce.  I used 3 pints to make a stew with leftover turkey and it turned out very good.      Tomato Sauce and Leftover Turkey Stew    In a crock pot, add: 8 potatoes diced carrots sliced, I didn't count, maybe 5-6? celery, diced, maybe 5 stalks 2 onions, small/med, diced 1- 1/2 cups frozen corn 1/2 cup or so frozen garden green pepper 3-4 cloves garlic min...

I went searching for a cake using my homemade applesauce, and one that also used molasses.    I doubled this Spiced Applesauce Cake Recipe , and baked it in a 9 x 13 inch pan.  The family loved it.  It's a very dense cake and can be eaten with hands too (kid tested).  It could use a layer of frosting for a tea party or coffee gathering, and is perfect for packing in school lunches.

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." Thanksgiving vacation is over.  The kids are heading back to school this morning.  Yesterday, I got up to make sure my oldest daughter was out the door in time for her 7:00am shift at work.   When I met up with her in the living room, I was told "Mom!  Quit being a Mom and making sure I'm up!"   However, today I stayed snuggled in bed with one of the dogs, keeping warm.  I didn't hear any commotion out in the kitchen and thought it was odd.   My husband had been up and out the door at 4:00am for deer hunting (maybe next year it will be the both of us), and I had fallen back asleep.   It was nearing 7:00am, and all the lights were still out.  I remembered yesterday's "Mom!" moment, so I decided to take my time and brew a pot of coffee.  It's a bit chilly in the house, as we did not use the wood burner during the night.   Even after starting the coffee pot, not one of the kids stirred....

I had two bags of orchard apples that needed to be dealt with.  The intended purpose for them, was to make two apple pies for the Thanksgiving meal.  It didn't happen. I peeled and cut

I don't shop for Black Friday sales, and I felt good enough to get some organizing, sewing, crocheting, and cleaning done yesterday.  I took a few of the kids to a local thrift store, and came home with a record storage cabinet.  It's perfect for properly storing my albums and 45's.  They were in a cardboard box previously, that tore apart. Now, they are off the floor, into proper storage, and easily accessible for some afternoon or evening entertainment. I also came home with a $.50 cookbook that contains egg recipes.  Next summer, when I don't feel like making home made noodles or angel food cakes, I have an old recipe book to give me more ideas. I brought home a gently used pair of snow pants for another one of the girls, for only $5.00 also.  Pretty soon, that snow will be here, and the stores will have switched to selling bathing suits (ha ha ha!). I dug out the dog coat pattern yesterday too.  It's the first time sewing with a pattern in a very, v...

"I liked you better when you were sick," said my husband to me today, exasperated at my attempt make up for lost cleaning time. "What?!" "Your zipping around cleaning and talking non-stop today," he added.  That is the truth.  I am up and feeling better today, and we are attempting to de-bug the bugs from this house.  We need to clean chicken coops, pick up straw, hay, and more vinegar for cleaning. The sun is shining so my clotheslines are working overtime with bedding, clothes and linens.  The wind is perfect for drying them today. My chickens are out and about, pecking and scratching and enjoying the sun too. I may even bake a potato dish to go with our leftover turkey.  The Christmas music is playing again today. We may even dig out some Christmas decorations later and hang some up too.

Yesterday, even though it wasn't the Thanksgiving Holiday,  held a lot of things to be thankful for.   The sun was out and I put laundry on the line to dry.  The wind was perfect for it. The kids groan when I put on Christmas music this early, but I love it.  I even dug through my sock drawer and pulled out a fun pair of Christmas socks.  I don't have many, but love to put them on.  They kind of set the mood for the day. Yesterday I had three of four writing partners.  They are taking advantage of me resting more often than not.  They won't know what to do in a few days, when I hope to be up at the crack of dawn, making up for lost time around here. I may have to switch gears and go with a different baby blanket.  While I was sick, I missed a baby shower, for a family member who is due in January.  I may have to drop this project and work up a simple blanket instead.  Who knows, God works miracles every day. We have gai...

I can't keep the kids out of this small batch of old-fashioned candy!  It's actually very good.  Here's the recipe: Cider Vinegar Candy Butter a Jelly roll pan or sided baking sheet.   Set aside on top of a hot pad.

We are so tired of the "plague" returning, we are hoping we are approaching the end of it soon. As soon as one gets a bit better, they go right back to being sick again, and worse.  So frustrating. However, I am spending my non-sleeping moments to catch up on writing (nothing to thought provoking), reading and e-mail.  I am also becoming quite the "list maker." Our first lists consists of all the trials and successes we had with home remedies, the second list is a list of items to buy for the winter (going to try Cold Calm, and Elderberry concentrate), the third is a list for Christmas, and the fourth is a list of ideas for a blog giveaway.   I do feel like the quinea pig of all home remedies right now, but I really want to know what will work, so we are continuing.  I really like the sage tea I made, and will be growing more of that next summer.  I found that breathing in steam a few times a day (over a pot of hot water with either Vicks or honey ...

I just have had some interesting views of the moon recently.  While taking one of the dogs out, I snapped these shots this morning.  These were taken about 9:28am today.  Here is another shot I took on 11-11-2011.  

We have now located a glass business that will cut a ceramic type glass for our stove door.  We have been given an estimate of about $100.00.  That's almost cutting our cost in half.  At first we thought we needed tempered glass, but we have been told we need a ceramic glass.  We hope to have it repaired by Friday.  The temperatures here will be down to 27°F this Thursday.  That's pretty cold here. Although we are trying to heal our family, we struggle along with the rest of the world, in the cost of medication and medical treatment.  Although the doctors typically want to give you an antibiotic that they feel will work, I have been asking each time, for the free ones that our pharmacy will provide.  All but 2 of us have infections of some kind (sinus/bronchitis), and we need to stop if from spreading. Today, I took yet another daughter to the doctor.  As for me, they gave me a shot, a breathing treatment, and sent me home with two more a...

The goat shed is finally getting more work, however they ran out of materials yesterday.   Other than the actual part for the wood stove door ($180.00), we located a glass business, about an hour away, who can cut us the glass for $140.00.  We are calling another business today that was closed all weekend.  It's hard to believe that 12 in. x 15 in. piece of tempered glass can cost so much. Two weekends ago, our hen that was egg bound died.  We did bring her inside, and did whatever we could, but she could not pass her egg.  Over this past weekend, the roosters got into a fight.  We had no idea, until the kids went outside to put them in for the night.  They have never bothered each other until now.  For a short story on that visit my 15 year-old's blog:  Life as a Teen Farmgirl . It's too early to call my doctor today, but now I will be calling two doctors.  My 9 year-old is home sick with the same cough I have and she is wh...

The Bad:  The glass in our wood stove door was broken last night. The Good:  We found glass replacement parts. The Ugly:  The cost is about $180.00 to replace it.  If we don't, we have no choice but to use our floor electric heaters (will run the electric bill $600-900.00/month to run).  We will have to cut back on food, skip Thanksgiving meal and replace the glass in the wood stove.  I am currently searching for local glass businesses as well.  Hopefully, I can cut our cost in half or less.

"Uh, Mom? Look out at the barn and tell me if you see a broom handle sticking up and moving around," my son said this morning. Sure enough the broom handle was sticking out the barn door and moving around. Ha ha ha ha! The culprit?  I thought for sure it was Rue. But it wasn't.  That brown fur I saw moving about, at the other end of the broom, was Peanut. According to my son, who went out to take care of things, said the goats had a "hay day" in the hay.  I guess one daughter will be cleaning up a mess after school.  Maybe she'll double check the gate latches better - ha ha ha! Now that the goats are taken care of, I need to figure out how to get better.   We need to finish the goat shed, move all the porch furniture to the barn, and stock the porch with fire wood......I am out of breath just thinking of the work that needs done and the fact I am still coughing.  If fact, three of us are coughing badly.   Thank goodness it's Fri...

Today I am thankful for: ~ the sharing of old time recipes for remedies and food. ~ hot teas. ~ rain and wind, and not snow yet. ~ books. ~ our pets who comfort me when I am sick. ~ sunshine today. ~ the friends and family that have check in on me. ~ God's promises. ~ a bed to sleep on. ~ Vick's Vap-o-rub.   Okay, I am definitely not good with drugs.  Ugh.  They make me sick and now they make me have very strange dreams.  The kids laughed this morning when I told them I had a dream that our dog Sadie (black lab mix) saved us from a black bear.  How funny is that?  I had to give Sadie a big fat hug this morning. I did mix up the molasses drink yesterday, but only sipped about 1/2 of the mixture before taking a 2 hour nap.  When I woke up however, I was blowing my nose for for the next 3-4 hours.  I haven't been able to do that for days.   I also took homegrown and dried sage, and made a tea with it.  It was very refreshing....

Yesterday was the first day I actually go dressed and left the house.  My son, thankfully, drove us both to go vote.  After that I went back to bed.  The congestion caused me to develop a very bad headache.  I've tried just about everything but the pioneer recipe shared by bluestockingredneck .  Thank you also Denise for the tip with garlic.  And Candy , I have not yet tried a neti pot. Thanks for that tip too. While spending hours resting, I think I will need a bigger box for my donation to the homeless this winter.  This project not only provided me with the opportunity to try new patterns, but to reflect on what I am thankful/grateful for.  Although I am sick and feel miserable, my reflections of my gratitude, kept my thoughts more positive.  I am grateful that I have extra yarn to provide warmth for people who have nothing.  One Warm Coat Crocheted Scarf  Simple Scarf and Hat  Scalloped Edged Scarf  

I have bronchitis and a sinus infection.  Despite medications since Friday night, I am not up to posting anything exciting.  I can't remember the last time I stayed in bed so long, other than giving birth to my kids.  I will post in a few days, when I hope to be feeling better.  I can't breath too well, and despite cough syrup from the pharmacy, I am still coughing.  Also, I don't do well with drugs.  They make me sick.  So....on top of being sick, the drugs make me sick.  In this case, I didn't have a choice.  I got to the doctor before pneumonia set in.  I keep taking my temperature also.  It's been about 98.8.  I can't remember a day when I did have fever.  I've never been this sick. Take care.

Although wood splitting took a halt, until we repair the chainsaw blade, I have been busy preparing crafts for winter projects.  I have started cutting circles from leftover scrap material.  These are mostly from old sheets and pillow cases.  These will be later sewn into yo-yo's for other gifts or for my home. I also volunteered to help crochet and knit scarves for this winter's homeless.  I am getting a box ready, but need to fill it with a few more.  I may need help from the girls to fill the box. Our garden is finished.  The Swiss chard is being consumed by something.  I have no idea, but whatever it is, it sure likes my Swiss chard.  I have failed to bring in my rosemary.  I may try to even though we've had a few frosts here already. The wood burning stove has been cleaned and we have brought wood in.  Today is a good day to start it up, as the temperature in my house is very cold. I haven't felt like doing much baking la...

My son worked 3rd shift, so while he was sleeping, my house was very peaceful.  I decided to take the dogs outside with me, and enjoyed the autumn smells of crisp fall leaves.  It was nice to enjoy time to read a good book, relax and enjoy the outdoors.  Soon, these leaves will be quickly covered in snow.

"Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere."  ~ Glenn Turner  "Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day."  ~ Author Unknown