Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Cinnamon Blueberry Jam



I ran out of freezer space, so I started canning the last of the blueberries.  I am canning a new blueberry jam recipe - Cinnamon Blueberry Jam.  It's from Taste of Home if you'd like to try it too. 

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Catching Up ~ More Repairs


This week is jam packed with work.  In the process I completely forgot I had library books here.  All is good though.  My fine is only $.60 (this time).

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Tale of Two Washing Machines

Are you a pocket checker?  When it comes to doing the wash?  Well, since I am feeling worse than yesterday, and can't sleep on account of coughing my lungs up, I thought I'd sit around in my jammies this morning, sip some hot tea and tell you a story, not related to my husband's driving or my garden(s).

Monday, July 28, 2014

Bugs Up My Nose, Dirt Between My Toes ~ Free? Is it always a good thing?





Sunday we were back in the garden - heat, humidity, dirt, and sweat. We picked a load of green and wax beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and squash.  We tied up more tomatoes, weeded more of one strawberry bed, and so forth.  I left a few cabbages to pick later. 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

A New U.S. Army National Gaurdsman Soldier ~ Oldest Daughter


Hubby and I drove back to South Carolina, but this time, the drive was about 150 miles less.  We were blessed to see our oldest daughter graduate from the US Army National Guard.  There were three companies graduating that day, and this was her company.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

List Writing ~ Journal Writing


Although I cannot share my homemade Christmas to-do list (and secretly it's not really finished yet), I can share some other lists I have started (my family reads my blog, so I don't want to spoil the gift ideas this early).  Here are shortened versions of a few lists.


List for Winter Handiwork/Activities


1. Crochet myself (not sure what color yet) another "Ma Ingall's" shawl.


2. Finish crocheting hot pads and pot holder sets to go in hope chests for the older kids.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Refrigerator Pickles


The cucumbers did not listen to me.  I brought in 6 over-sized-not-good-to-can cucumbers, along with about 16 more good ones.  I ran to the store and got ingredients to make a few quarts of Refrigerator Pickles.....

10 days ~ Hubby's in the Goat Shed!

It's hard to believe 10 days can pass so quickly.  We had good food, good times, and many (many) movie nights.  

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Could this be your home?


I had to share this postcard.  It was the only one we bought on our recent road trip.  I took a picture of it in the car, on the road trip.  It made Hubby and I laugh pretty good.  However, in reality, we could live in that house and be perfectly happy.  It really made us sigh, as in a happy sigh.  

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Canning Pepper Mustard Sauce ~ Tidbits


I froze more zucchini and squash for winter soups, sauces and casseroles.  Yesterday was a race against the clock.  Trying to put up the garden, and clean house both were a challenge.  

See that straw?  That is my food saver bag method.  It's a bit hillbilly, but it works for now.  I simply seal the bag all the way to one corner, slip the end of the straw in, suck out the air, quickly seal as I pull the straw out.  Boom-ba-da-bing - sealed and most of the air removed.  

Friday, July 18, 2014

Puttin' Up Corn


I've been busy here at the homestead.  Laundry was put out again yesterday and today.  The weather is still very nice.

Yesterday I took a quick road trip to buy sweet corn (we only planted black popcorn this year).  When I arrived, the nice gentleman tells me, "if you buy two burlap bag fulls, you get one free."



Well, of course I was okay with that.   A burlap bag is not quite, but close enough, to a bushel.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Goat's Milk Cream Cheese ~ Take 2


I purchased the culture I needed for cream cheese making, and made homemade cream cheese again.  I am desperately taking advantage of the goat's milk this summer.

How did it turn out (photo included this time)?  

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Squash Patties ~ Talking to the Cucumbers


Last season, due to storms and wind, and rain, we lost our garden.  This year, we are blessed with yellow squash.  YAY!  One of the family's favorites, is a recipe we make using yellow squash - Squash Patties.  By the way, we top these with sour cream.  Absolutely delicious!  We do follow the recipe, but add the sour cream on top.  



You can jazz them up any way you'd like.  Hubby chopped up a jalapeno and added it to a few for himself.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Zucchini-Banana Squares ~ Goat on the Loose


While I was out getting a few groceries, my 17 year-old daughter made Zucchini-Banana Squares.  I had quite a bit of zucchini that I harvested yesterday morning, and had a few soft bananas.  Luckily, I had one bag of mini-chocolate chips too.  These bars are made with flaxseed or wheat germ, and are fairly healthy.  The recipe comes from Heart Healthy Living, and is linked below.  We do buy organic/non-gmo canola oil as well.  I have not made these with applesauce yet, but may try it before the summer is over.  I do plan to freeze some shredded zucchini this year.

I also picked some green peppers for dinner, and made 3 batches of homemade mushroom soup (to make a chicken spaghetti favorite of ours), using our goat's milk.  

Monday, July 14, 2014

A Little Bit of This ~ A Little Bit of That


Sunday the humidity was terrible here.  Even so, I canned one batch of wild black raspberry jam, got caught up with laundry, garden work and even got dinner made before going to the movies with Son and the family.  

This is a "grab a cup of java" kind of post.  I beat my son up this morning.  How?  I have no idea. Ha ha!




We enjoyed our first green and wax beans this season at dinner too.  Yum. 

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Raccoons and Garden Tidbits


The night we pulled into the driveway, after bringing our son home, we saw 4 baby raccoons trying to get catfood at the side door.  Of course there was none to be had, but the stinkin' things would not leave.  Even Timmy (barn cat) came up to see us, and two raccoons charged at him.  

Hubby grabbed water bottles and threw them out the car so we could get into the house.  They would still just run to the door.  Mom Raccoon was not around, that we could see anyway, but we were still careful.  There's nothing worse than a Mad Mom.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

My Son is New Marine!

We brought son home.....for 10 days anyway.  We drove through seven states round trip, driving through three mountains, and covered about 1600 miles.   We brought home not just a son, but a new Marine.  We are very proud.  And yes, I did cry. 

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Monday, July 7, 2014

Fridge Fizzled Out . . .

Although Saturday was a good day, Sunday was not.

First I woke up to a warm refrigerator.  I thought the kids had left a door open all night (bad seals on it, and if one door is shut, the other pops open), but by 4pm we realized the fridge was fizzling out.  Gone.  Pa-toot.  The blasted thing stopped working. 

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Hay Day and Other Tidbits


Hubby spent most of the day wrestling with the mower.  He did have to order a part, which should arrive in a week or so.  I continue to wrestle the weeds in the garden.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Perfecting Sorghum Baked Beans ~ Pickling Sugar Snap Peas


Now that the kids have associated summer gatherings and cookouts with baked beans, I think I have come up with a nice homemade version.  In fact, I think I'll take pre-soaked beans to our next camp-out.  I would love to try cooking these over the campfire all day long.

(They were steaming in the photo.  I had just taken some out of the crock pot)

Friday, July 4, 2014

July 4th ~ Sesame Chicken Strips ~ Rhubarb Chutney

Although very rewarding, gardening can be exhausting work to say the least.  No, we did not go camping (again).   I am just dreaming and looking at some old photos.

We are having the most perfect weather, and where are we today?  

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Winston Update ~ Jam ~ Leftover Chicken

 (Winston, playing under the rug during a snowstorm)

I don't know if you remember or not, but last winter (before last Christmas) we found this cat in one of our barns - declawed, neutered, and the best behaved, loving cat I ever met.

Unfortunately, with 3 indoor cats already, and two that are males, spraying was a huge problem.  Unable to find a home for him myself, he went to a shelter about 1 hour away. I don't think I even blogged about it either.  It was just a sad moment for me.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Homemade Goat's Milk Cream Cheese ~ Whey

(photo of them very young)

Bonnie and Ava are still not sold (the two doelings), but even so, we are getting some goat's milk.  I hopped on the computer and ordered myself some non-gmo vegetable rennet, and waited patiently for it to arrive.

What did I make?