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~

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Mashed Rutabagas and Green Peas ~ Leftover Mashed Potatoes


In my recent organizing days, I located a recipe that uses leftover mashed potatoes.  Not very often do we have them leftover, but this recipe is a good way to use them to create another healthy dish.

Start by peeling and cutting a large rutabaga into 1/2 inch pieces.  Add them to a pan of water and a bit of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover until rutabagas are tender (30-40 minutes).  Drain.  Mash them.



Combine your

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Our Onion Soup Mix Experiment ~ Tidbits

Why onion soup?  Because I have nothing else to write about today (yet).   

Believe it or not, I am still deep cleaning here and there (three boxes went to the thrift store), and finally got Hubby to replace the old (very old) light fixture in the kitchen.  We've had replacement for it for a long time, but have not had the time to get it up.

Back to the soup. 

Friday, November 28, 2014

A no-rush day. . .

We got a teensy bit of snow last night, and this morning it is so peacefully quiet outside.  The traffic is almost zero.  As I stood sipping a cup of hot coffee while one dog was out and about I could hear Timmy purring up a storm while rubbing his head on my slippers.  It was so nice out there, that I didn't mind Jesse's morning jaunt.  In fact, I think I downed an entire cup of coffee watching him go from tree to tree, while listening to Sparta crow from the coop.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Barbecued green beans are are already in the crock pot.  I decided on that, and a yellow squash and corn casserole today.  The green beans are made with my homemade ketchup, and the casserole with the corn we put up (and homemade baking mix).  Simple. I'm lucky to have found organic yellow squash at the grocery store.

 (sorry for the links to the recipes, I got kind of lazy today)

Today is a good day to post a gratitude list.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

As random as it gets. . .

I have no new recipe to share, no family funny, nor exciting updates today.  It's a cold, cloud covered day here today, and you can tell the snow is on the way.

When the girls got home from school, they could hear gun shots out behind the homestead.  I did my usual walk around the property.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

On the Road Again. . . . 75 plus miles


Monday was a day about everyone else.  You know those days where everyone has needs, and your the one required by your title as Mom to see to the needs?  

I did not even get out of the shower before one of the kids called.  She forgot her "gym clothes."  

Monday, November 24, 2014

Weekend Tidbits ~ Do I hear Jingle Bells?

The weekend did warm up, and it was enough to let the fire go out.  Although we woke up to sunshine and no rain Sunday morning, I was fighting a migraine.

Around 5:00am Sunday morning, I took ibuprofen, and let a dog out.  The ibuprofen took the edge off, but laying there, I knew it was a migraine.  Then a bit after 8:00am, I asked Hubby to go search for my migraine medication.  It had expired.  It had been that long since I had one.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Recipe Find and Other Tidbits

It's 5:30am.  I am up to fill the wood stove.  This morning we've warmed up to 29°F, but it feels like 20°.  Our "warm up" today is about 45°F.  I'm not going out today, even though I had plans.  We are getting freezing rain.  Not fun to drive in.  

My wood splitting partner, aka Hubby, is still at work at this hour.  He left at 10:30pm last night and won't be home until late this afternoon.  

Friday, November 21, 2014

Carrot Sandwich Bread


I'm not really a fan of baking yeast rising breads when it's colder in my house, so I wanted to try this 1969 cookbook recipe for a sandwich bread.


Homemade Bread, By the Food Editors of Farm Journal © 1969.



The recipe caught my eye, because it uses carrots in the recipe.  My first choice in "shortening" in this recipe would be real lard, but I do not have access to any.  I used organic, non-hydrogenated shortening.  If I keep coming up with reasons for lard, Hubby may reconsider raising our own pigs too.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Crazy Weather ~ Scaling Back the Holidays


How cold is it?

Cold enough to freeze eggs in the coop overnight.  Not just one, but three.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Freezing Temps



 (very early this morning)

If you are wondering.   I did not get my wish for school to be closed.  Mom always said, "If wishes where horses, then beggars would ride."

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Warming up with soup. . .

Monday was my typically cleaning day (for the indoors anyway).  My indoor clothesline and all of my drying racks were filled to capacity.  

Monday, November 17, 2014

View of my porch....

We completed a good portion of wood splitting, and our porch is slowly being restocked with wood.  The view of my porch is much different now.  We still have plenty to cut and split.  Unfortunately, a few of those large pieces in the yard, were Ash.  That stuff is terrible to split (stringy).  But, we are thankful to get a good day's work in, although it was Sunday.  

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Splittin' Wood


Although folks tried to get Hubby to go elsewhere over the weekend, I put my foot down, and told him the "boss" says he cannot go.  We are behind in splitting wood, and several trees need cut up now, one that fell over on it's own already (more on that one later).

 
Remember that load of "free" wood that was delivered while we were in South Carolina?

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Muti-tasking Day and Gratitude


I didn't think it was possible, but I decluttered while walking my daily miles on the treadmill.  There is a nearby bookshelf (we have to move things around when we start burning wood for heat) and I simply pulled books off that I no longer need.


I offered these to Youngest who loves to write like her Mom, and a few went into the "thrift" box I am slowly filling up.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Freeze Drying ~ Barn Cat Shelter Update ~ Tidbits


This is a rug (one of two not yet replaced with a homemade rag rug), that Hubby left out to dry overnight.  Ha!  That's what you call "freeze dried" on the clothesline.  It was pretty chilly yesterday, and the snow continued all day, but nothing that was a concern.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Random Tidbits ~ Sausage and Kale Millet Skillet


I was up, and sipping through my first cup of coffee Tuesday morning, when my phone rang about 7:00am.  

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Barn Cat Tote Shelters ~ Tidbits ~ I got "notered"


Our 18 year-old daughter wanted to make new winter shelters for the barn cats, so we decided on making one to see if they will use them.  We've always used totes at the door, packed with blankets, but this time we made these:

Monday, November 10, 2014

Curried Sweet Potato and Millet Soup with Pumpkin Cornbread


In my quest for locating more good millet recipes, I found some in a cookbook I already had.


Although the recipe I tried is in the book, it's also online if you are interested in making it - Curried Sweet Potato and Millet Soup.  I substituted pure maple syrup with our homemade corn cob syrup.

The results?  

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Weekend Tidbits


The kids pretty much eat me out of house and home after school, so Friday morning I baked up some pumpkin pancakes using some of our favorite ingredients, and saved the rest for their after school snack.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Rain, Tea and Me


It rained all day yesterday, but thanks to my multitasking mania mode, I got the dogs walked, all of the remaining pepper plants pulled from the garden, stove ashes dumped, eggs collected, goat's water checked....all before it started raining.  A good warm breakfast was much enjoyed after that.

Nothing new right?  I was very satisfied with the morning progress, but rain makes me lazy.  I tend to gravitate towards a sofa, blanket and a book (or some sort of handiwork).  

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Breakfast ~ Herbal Journey ~ Jasper

We've been eating leftovers for a few days.  I cooked up a crock pot of organic black beans with onion, and those have been going fast too.  I really enjoy eating the beans with scrambled eggs, home canned zucchini salsa and a bit of cheese, all wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla.  Youngest started doing this after school, and they really are delicious.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Reading, Writing and Chicken Chasing

Are you ready to talk over coffee today?  Mom gifted me this recent mug in a bag of odds and ends she sent home with our 17 year-old last week.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

What my kids do to me ~ Sunset and other Tidbits


The other day my younger three girls were raving about muffins I made last year.   I had been discussing making pumpkin pancakes or waffles, so the topic of pumpkin was wafting through their busy brains.

"They were HUGE!"

"They were so good!"

"They were really moist and big!"

Monday, November 3, 2014

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.

Junk Drawer Christmas Tree Ornament

Today I reveal to you the junk drawer inspired Christmas tree ornament. 

Are you ready?  I know, I know.  The suspense has to be driving you nuts.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Random Tidbits


Sunday mornings are my favorite here on the homestead. 

 
There is hardly any traffic whatsoever, and the pure sounds of nature are beautifully making music. 

  The stars could be seen well this morning too.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

National Novel Writing Month ~ Recovery Room ~ My Herbal Journal


Today, I start writing a novel in one month.  It's National Novel Writing Month.  I've been participating in this for a few years now.  One day, one of these quick, fired up novels, will make it to print.  

Of course this month long writing does not suggest preparing ahead, so am starting with a blank slate this morning.