Pioneer Woman at Heart

I am loving the warmer weather.  It sure dries my laundry faster. I love the smell of bed sheets after they have been out on the clothesline.  I actually think it helps me sleep better too. Speaking of sheets, I had to wash my bedding this morning.  Not because I am trying to de-germ the house, but because the two younger girls got Milo (our rabbit) out of his cage and let him play on my bed this morning.  They gave him a newspaper to rip up and play with, but while they were laughing at his excitement, he left me a little present.  The girls are now cleaning my mattress - ha ha ha!  No resting in there for me today. I've gotten many "do's" this week from my 10 year-old daughter.  She wants to be a hair stylist when she grows up and she has been learning and practicing how to french braid my hair.  She's told me that I can't get more than 2 inches cut off, so she can continue to use me for practice.  I kind of enjoy it anyway....

  I am working on sprucing up my front porch.  Here is my new addition - a wooden porch sign.

I finished my hot pads.  These were fun to make.  I have been wanting to practice some cross stitch embroidery, and this was my chance.  I also used up some scrap material.  Hubby will be glad the "pile" is shrinking. I'll post the other pattern tomorrow.  I had to take another daughter to the doctor, who also ran a fever most of the day and night.  This crazy weather (80° one day and 50° the next) is most likely causing our bad allergy issues and the spread of viruses from their public school.   No baby goat(s) yet...my daughter said "any day now."

It was a much colder day here on Monday. Brr!  Temperatures dropped about 20-30 degrees from Friday's temperature. Monday is my all-out cleaning day, but I had to shampoo a few carpets (thanks to some naughty cats).  I'll have to finish the rest of the house later this week.  However, I was able to get about 4 loads of laundry done, including some of the goodies I bought over the weekend.  Here are a few more items I got:     Here is the sewing box I found at an antique mall.  It's not stained and in great condition. And because it wouldn't be right to return home without some "bling" (ha ha!) I bought this snazzy pair of pink dangles for $5.00 (also from the antique store).

I don't think my husband will ever let me crochet in the car again. He he!  We ended up going South vs. East over the weekend, and we had to stop to get directions.  I trusted myself with my travel journal, and we accidentally, missed the correct exit.  However, it was all good.   This guy wasn't in a hurry to leave, so he's in my photo (sorry guy).  See that cabinet in the truck?  This is all a funny story.   We saw this antique store, once we were on the right road to our location.  We decided to stop and have a "look-see."  While we were shopping, and oohing and ahhhing the entire time, this guy came in to buy that large cabinet you see in the truck.  There were two women working, and they were on their phones attempting to get this guy help, but no one was available.  Hubby overheard, and offered to help.  Thankfully, he was there to help him out.  This was in Centerberg, Ohio.  So if you ever get the...

Have you ever wondered where the phrase "tea time in Tanganyika" came from?  I have yet to find out. It's a saying my Dad used to ask me when I got overwhelmed, frustrated, or just plain upset about something.  He'd ask me, "is it tea time in Tanganika?" and I would profess to him "yes!" Wednesday's "tea time" reminded me of those days, although I was not overwhelmed and frustrated. Having tea on the porch has been a long time enjoyment.  A lot of memories have been, and are, created there.   A view on my porch   A view from my porch. . . ... another view from my porch

Although I had a few errands to run, I pretty much took the rest of the day "off" for once.  I didn't even cook.  We enjoyed leftovers - spaghetti and corn on the cob.  I took the afternoon to catch up on reading and writing both.  Getting "rejections" isn't my problem right now.  I haven't sent out enough to receive rejections.  However, this book is very inspiring and contains many writing exercises.  Even the barn cats joined me for a relaxing afternoon on the front porch.  Those jelly beans you see in the photo are made in the USA, do not contain high fructose syrup, and contain real fruit juice.  A girl has to have candy once in a while.

We all thought our winter here was strange.  Now we are shocked over this early spring weather. My herb gardens are coming in faster this year.  Typically, I would not see my green onions looking this good (and needing thinned out) until April. Even the chives are looking good in March. My rosemary even shows signs of life.  In our climate, rosemary cannot withstand winter.  It has to be dug up and brought inside.  With last year's sickness, and stocking up, I never got around to digging it up.  The mild winter may have saved my rosemary plants. Last year, I planted Swiss chard in my flower beds and herb gardens.  It is already coming up.  I planted some close to the house, so I could just walk out and pick some for breakfast dishes (and treat the female goats a few times). Speaking of goats, my 15 year-old wants to plant a "goat garden" this year for her goats.  Then she can pick fresh produce to treat them. ......

You can see the mud splatters on my daffodils.  The sun is shining and the flooding is over. Short post today.....15 year-old daughter has been running a 102° fever all weekend.   Have a Blessed Day!

from the homesteading journal . . . The seasons are changing again, so my daily chores are changing. Peanut's getting closer and closer to her due date.  I admit, I am a bit nervous. Spent a day sweeping patios and walks - tree buds everywhere.  We had excellent weather to dry all the bedding, then towels, then clothes - all in one day. I am starting to clean out the flower gardens and herb gardens. The garlic is up. The daffodils and tulips are coming up.  The thunderstorms came...and then the flooding.  For the first time ever, the field across the street caused flooding across the street, into our property.  It flooded all the way to the front flower beds, and then downhill to the creek.  Thankfully, a long, thin, flower bed kept the water from going further into our yard, and possibly up against the house. We made signs out of cardboard and sticks, to warn drivers of the high water.  The state department of tr...

"Mom?  Do you know that "R" is putting the play station in the oven?"  "Yeah, tell him not to blow up my oven."

I made these buckwheat flour waffles for the family, and they were delicious.  The kids love to top these with natural peanut butter.   A week ago or so, I found a set of TV trays with stands, at our local thrift store.   I spent the afternoon cleaning the trays on my front porch.  These are wider than your normal TV tray and will be helpful with meals on the porch, and to take camping.  I had planned to spray paint the stands on these, but I may just leave them as they are. I spent time reading a book of writing prompts, and got a laugh out of some of them.  The kids and I shared quick and short verbal stories with these.  I do have a notebook to hand write these in, but would love to "jazz" it up with a fun cover.....adding yet another project to my "project" list (ha ha ha!). While cleaning a bit in my room, I noticed that I left two flowers pressed in my flower press (from last summer/fall).  I really enjoyed lookin...

I was thrilled to move a few wicker rocking chairs back to my front porch again.  Not all of the furniture has been returned to it's rightful place, but enough for all of us to enjoy sitting out there. The furniture will need a good cleaning, but for yesterday, and today, it will do as is.  The weather has been in the 70's, with cool nights.  It's been gorgeous and almost all of us took time to sit for a while, and enjoy the peace that the front porch brings.  Even the barn cats came to visit. I finally submitted my most recent article.  This time it was a contest piece.  It sure felt good to be writing again.  I hope to be writing from my front porch today. ....of course that will be after chores are done.

  I dug through my beads and found a few that match the vintage necklace I bought.  The earrings are simple, yet elegant and will be perfect for a "date night" with hubby. A Year of Quotes: "The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is."  ~ Charles M. Schwab

If you are a parent with teen girls, then you probably know how expensive prom dresses are these days.  I've been praying that the girls find a dress at an inexpensive price.  Well, our prayers were answered for one daughter.  A friend told them about a dress event that a church held in another city.   The event was a "green" event for giving a free donated dress to each girl that attended.  My second oldest daughter went also, but found a Homecoming dress.  Each girl that attended also got one free piece of makeup and one piece of jewelry.   A note came with each dress that asks for the recipient to donate the dress back, and help the program continue. (my oldest daughter in her prom dress in 2011 - beautiful, yet very expensive and worn once) I think this program is wonderful.  My girls only wear their dress one time, and most of the time, they can't be handed down to the next daughter. And of course, toda...

After a long debate, I decided to simply use my vintage serving tray for what it was intended for.  I considered adding a ribbon to hang it for a magnetic board (to hold photos), but did not.  It will come in handy this summer when I take iced tea out to the porch.

Who knew that a gift from my mother would also be my inspiration to write?  For years, "ring bling" has been my writing muse, along with a secluded place. On the left is my grandmother's ring, in the center my mother's ring, and on the right, another vintage spoon ring (also my mother's).   I love these unique rings.  They not only have family ties, but are so fun to wear.  On the far left is my fun, department store bling.  My 10 year-old also uses ring bling for her writing inspiration.  These rings are on one of my mother's vintage hankies. I think I'll spend time writing today.... Yesterday I made a trip to the grocery store.  I came home and filled small lunch size containers with fresh pineapple, grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. I also filled bags with pistachio nuts, almonds, and bought organic raisins. Now I can finally break the kids of grabbing store bought granola bars for breakfast.  I stopped...