Pioneer Woman at Heart

Wednesday required more running around, which I am getting so tired of.  I just want to stay home for an entire day. Breakfast - sweet potato hash with eggs, chives, oregano and basil (bell peppers, onion, jalapeno, and garlic too). It ended up more like mashed sweet potatoes, because Hubby was helping and put a lid on them (instead of crisping them), but it was still very good and healthy.  I topped it with chives. I had to start putting away all my crafting supplies, but made one more wine cork tree.  It was a pain to put everything away just for a meal, as my 2nd kitchen table is my "craft" work station (I do not have a craft room here).  The other table only seats 4 people. I made the roll dough for the upcoming holiday, but will freeze what's left over to minimize carb intake at any meal now.  Thank goodness I picked sweet potatoes over mashed potatoes from the get-go. As the holidays creep in, I can't stop thinking about Jesse and how he's doin...

I'm up at 4am.  Can't sleep, so I'm gluing snowflakes/stars to the tops of a few wine cork Christmas trees and sipping hot coffee.  I've already let Romeo out, as he came to the gate and let me know (I think I woke him up). Meanwhile, over the weekend, Daughter became more ill.  I made her sage tea, and homemade ginger ale .  She's congested and has a sore throat.  I also gave her a eucalyptus steam.  She slept a lot over the weekend too. Sunday we needed wood cut, and it did not get done.  Instead, I pushed the start button on the dishwasher, and water was suddenly flooding the kitchen floor.  Hubby's attention was called to the situation, and he spent a while working on that. All this time the problem wasn't the dishwasher falling apart by it's self.  A mouse chewed through all the rubber hose parts and water wasn't getting to the dishwasher or back to the drain.  Parts may cost up to $50.00.  I may have Hubby convince...

...finished the blueberry hot pad set. . . . finally finished the knitted dishcloth.  Started another set and also finished it.  I literally sold this set I put together right after I put it up on my other blog (who also ordered the second set). ....got more of the yellow netting cut, but still need to cut pink as well. ....finished a coral set of hot pads.  Started a yellow set. . . . finished a hat for myself, and I love it.  It's very warm.  I will use this pattern for making some to sell for next year's craft shows.  I hope I can get more colors at a good price. ...crocheted these paw print ornaments for the fall craft show. ...crocheted a few cows.  Just need to get eyes on the cats next.  . . . got a set of coffee cup coasters done. . . . I got a few more wine cork Christmas trees done. I'll put up a "how-to" soon on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot. The clock is ticking clos...

I put together a "Christmas Eve" bag for the grand kids this year. Here's what's in it: Cozy mermaid slippers for our grand daughter. Cozy Christmas pj's for both, and elmo slippers for our grandson. Fun stuff for them. I'm still filling up the bag, he he!

We had a beautiful sunrise yesterday before the rain arrived.  I had to snap a few photos to capture the beauty. It appears that Yarnspirations has taken over many other yarn companies, and now sells red heart yarn patterns in "kits" using patterns that were once free on Redheart.com? I went looking for a free pattern I made 2-3 years ago, and poof, it's not free, as well as many more they used to have online.  Sad world we live in (in more ways than one).  Their site isn't even there anymore, you are directed to Yarnspirations now.

Daughter woke up with a sore throat, and I went to get my sage tincture, which made me realize I had some infusing and needed strained.  Got that done. I finally made homemade chicken pot pie - amazing!  I used taste of home's recipe online (just cut the recipe in half to try one pie).  My pie crusts were from the freezer crumbles I made (King Arthur Flour recipe). I heard daughter telling Hubby that now that she had homemade pot pie she could never eat what the school serves.  She quickly put some in a container to take for lunch today.   We are to warm up to 54°F today, but rain.  Blah, who wants rain?  

We sold the old truck!  The two guys stopped by again and paid us.  They are coming today to trailer it. I haven't had much to write about, hence the lack of blog posts.  I'm crafting a lot, and hope to remember to take some photos to share. Yesterday was a dreary, misty day.  I made hot cranberry punch, which I don't normally do until a holiday.  I better buy up more cranberries while they are in season. The date has been set for the Thanksgiving with my side of the family.  Now we have one Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Something has to give.  I'm not up to cooking for 3 this year.  I'll have to decide soon. We need wood cut, but will have to rally up the boys to get it done.  I am still not past my 2 weeks of not lifting etc. Hopefully, I'll be back with a more interesting post.  I need to get some homemade Christmas gifts made yet.

Monday we took a huge dip in temperature.  It rained all morning. The weather screamed hot cocoa, hallmark and crochet.  Brr.  Nasty, dreary skies, cold weather, like the kind that keeps you curled up under a blanket with cozy slippers and a cuddly dog and/or cat.   The weather turned to snow all night and then freezing temps, so there was a layer of ice on the snow.  Not what I needed for a drive to the hospital.  Roads were in terrible condition and 95 school districts closed in the area of the winter storm.  I made it to the hospital for my procedure, leaving early with a driver. I'm glad I took handiwork along.  I had to wait about 45 minutes, but was done in 45 minutes and literally was able to walk to the truck. However, this morning, I am sore.  It'll be that way for a few days, and then it's back for another sonogram later this week.  The doc said it all looked good when he was done.  I am not...

Saturday morning we cut this tree down.  We got about 1/4 of the pieces split and stacked.  The chimney guys came, and we now have a clean stove, and new gasket in our door. We took a few hours off to watch the Ohio State game and rejuvenate with some hot tea.  By dinner time we were a moanin' and groanin' - used muscles we hadn't used in a while. Sunday we were back at it, but first finally put the air conditioner in storage. Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom I'm up at 5am. The weather outside . . . It's 36°F and snow is expected to start falling around 7am.  We'll dip into the single digits tomorrow. On the breakfast plate. . . Most likely eggs and toast and organic coffee As I look outside my window. . . Pitch black.  I'm typically up very early to start the day. Right now I am . . . Stoking the fire in the wood stove.  We started our first fire last night. As I look around...

I made a trip to the library.  I picked up some much needed entertainment.  Who needs cable when you have the library for free? My nightstand got the next "extreme clean" done.  I do need to make a trip to the antique store soon.  I use large antique tea towels to cover our nightstands and need Christmas ones.  They are hard to find at a good price. I have collected some homemade Christmas gift ideas.  I just have to decide on which ones to make. Homemade hot cocoa is made.  Just in time for this cold weather. I also got 6 pie crust "crumbles" into the freezer.  Just in time for the up coming holidays.  It looks like cheese, but it's the butter that goes in it.  I use King Flour's recipe online.  Tip:  I chuck the butter, put it in the freezer, then pulse it with a bit of the flour in my food processor.  It makes the process much easier and faster.

(So good, I forgot to take a photo until it was almost gone) 1 can organic black refried beans 8 oz. organic cream cheese (or homemade) 8 oz. organic sour cream (or homemade) 2 Tbsp. homemade dry taco seasoning mix.   (or one packet from the store) Mix all ingredients, spread into a baking dish, top with about 1 1/4 cups of shredded organic cheese of our choice, and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.  Dip organic tortilla chips into the dip and enjoy!  I'll be doubling this next time.  

Yesterday's start of the sunrise.  Too beautiful to not take a few photos.  I was taking Romeo out, who was fired up with energy from the frost on the ground.  He wasn't sure what to do about it, ha ha! First thing I had to do in the morning?  More dishes.  I literally made a mess of them, but after taking down all the laundry off the line, we were all pooped the night prior.   Our 20 year-old came out for a visit.  I fed her leftover homemade enchiladas, spanish rice and hot taco dip (which she loved). I finally got the hot peppers ground into fire powder.  I didn't have time the other day with all the other work.  I'm just glad I got my glady bulbs out of the ground, but the potatoes remain.  They may be there all winter depending on our weather.  Some Christmas presents arrived.  I will thank my husband for buying these for me for an early Christmas present (he he).  Thank you Amazon.😊 ...