Pioneer Woman at Heart

  I did more research on the door knockers the other day.  No one we know (in the area) knows anything about them.  One family member said two guys stopped at their house trying to sell them meat.  Their dogs scared them off after their persistence to sell. Update on the washing machine boot seal - It's on and washer is running.  A few parts need to go back on though.  I think he just wanted to make sure it worked again before putting all major parts back on (like the top of the washer, ha ha!). We got another very cute Christmas card.  Love it!  I wish I had been able to send more out myself.   Today, if it's the only thing I do, I will be taking down the outside Christmas lights.  I have meant to turn them off the last 2-3 days and have failed.  I normally leave them up until after the 1st of the year, but weather is always an issue. My younger brother gave me a huge stack of dark chocolate bars (which have been suggeste...

My husband and Daughter K worked on replacing the new washing machine seal.  You would not believe everything that had to be taken off of it to get the new one on.  I should have filmed them working on it.  Bickering back and forth, while I was leaning on the half door (with King up with one paw on the door and one on my back and a toy in his mouth, while Zuri was sneaking chicken feed out of a container on the floor waiting to go outside).  It was somewhat comical. However, once they put the door on, the spring snapped off the seal. Expletives were dispersed, heads lowered, and heavy sighs exhaled. The washing machine will be torn apart again tonight, so no the laundry isn't being done today.  Thankfully, Daughter K is off work today and can help my husband. We've been offered a barn cat.  We declined for now.  We are too close to a busy highway.  Speaking of that, we had a stray show up yesterday too.  We can also hear activity of eith...

The younger two girls really out did themselves for Christmas.  We said no gifts, and they didn't listen.  They gave us fun stuff, useful stuff and I got books from one of them. I love books, but try to contain the collection with the space I have allowed.  Daughter E got me all of these. I spent an hour on the computer, and finally located a pattern for a top for Daughter E.  Yarn has been ordered, but the kind I need was not available from JoAnn's nor Michaels (they were curbside only for some reason). The cost of shipping was horrible. I did 2 loads of laundry and came to an abrupt stop.  Daughter K said, "um Mom?  Why is there water all over the floor and in the laundry basket?"  The seal needs replaced, has been ordered from a local business, and should be in today (thankfully).  Whirlpool direct, wanted $100 more than our local resource. Daughter E locked her keys in her car.  The boys rescued her. The wood stove continues to provide....

Normally I leave Christmas lights up until January 1st, but this year they are coming down early. We woke up to a lot of rain and cold weather today.  More rain tomorrow. Yes, my ankle is still a bit swollen. I'm still doing foot soaks but today I need to get some things done around the house.   I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I'll link up when she posts. The weather . . . 55°F/33°F and lots of rain, possibly snow tomorrow. How I am feeling this morning . . . Started the day in a bad mood.  Hopefully that will change. On my mind . . . Trying to just focus on what needs done today. What I am wearing . . .  Cozy clothes. On my reading pile . . . (I'll share later when I get a photo of them) Daughter E gifted me books on Christmas day. On today's to-do list . . . -Laundry -put dishes away -master bath -vacuum carpets -water plants -soak foot -pay bills On my TV . . . Anything good on Netflix or Amazon prime. What I am listening to . . . Rock musi...

 

  Yes, that is our youngest in a stocking the hospital gave us.  She was born on the 23rd and we came home on the 24th of Dec. Gosh, it's hard to believe we didn't have the farm house back then.  I did grow an herb garden and loved it.  In fact, I pulled all of it and moved the herb garden two times before we landed where we are.  Time flies for sure. Update on my ankle.  I took a chance and left the boot off for a day.  In the evening I however, needed an ice pack.  Boot went back on, but I will do a half day today and see how it goes.  My husband is going to split wood by himself this morning.  Daughter K is off work, so I hope she gets up in time to help him. Merry Christmas everyone!

  I'm making progress on the baby blanket.  I'm thankful I had a few very old unfinished projects in my closet.  I will need to ask Daughter K to check my yarn stash upstairs.  I will be keeping this one for any future grandkids.   Updates on Mom are good thankfully.   Woke up to a brisk 27°F this morning.  My wonderful husband got more wood for me.  I can load the wood stove, but getting the wood inside is a bit tough right now. The Christmas meal is planned now.  My chickens are still on strike.  Not sure what the mailman did, but Daughter K found half of it all over the ground yesterday. My wonderful husband, although rushed for time, made us breakfast before he left for work - sausage/egg/cheese breakfast sandwiches.

  I'm making progress with my ankle.  The top of my foot no longer swells at all.  I still need to do soaks, and now my knee on the same leg hurts from the boot.  I am bio-freezing the heck out of my knee and putting a epsom salt soaked rag on it when I soak my ankle.  My right wrist is getting sore from the constant crocheting (sigh). Sunday my husband had errands to run, and while he was out, they called and said the wood stove door was done - $150!  With tax!  Ugh.  He however got a good deal on a brand new garden cart at a pawn shop for us (half the price that TSC was selling them at).  We will give the old beat up one to a biker friend to scrap. Hubby was literally gone the entire day, and Daughter K was at her boyfriend's college graduation.  During that time, Mom fell again, so I asked my husband to buy her some flowers and check on her.  I called, but wanted someone to check on her physically.  By the way, Mom has an sm...

I heard we were to get up to 50 mph wind last night.  We got it and I can still hear it from inside the house.  Last night I had to ask my husband to go latch a lock on a barn door.  I didn't want to, but the wind would have whipped that door upwards.  He did go out and latch it. I am thankful for the easy meal ideas I put in the freezer.  I thought we had bought a cauliflower, but after looking around I don't think I ended up getting one.  If I remember right, the organic were sold out. Anyway, I put meatballs in the crockpot yesterday, with home canned BBQ sauce, and then later roasted asparagus and made easy quinoa.  We have enough of two meals to do all leftovers tonight.  Yay for that. I called Mom.  We shared our high's and low's from her recliner and from my bed.  We got a few chuckles.  She has been looking for her favorite nail polish.  The stores are sold out.   I helped her find it online, and it's shi...

I'm getting used to a different routine, but not by choice.  The boot definitely helps my foot, but at night when it's off my ankle swells in the night. I'm up getting an ice pack (or my husband hears me and gets it), and taking pain meds to get back to sleep.  I wish this on no one. I also realized that my yarn totes were moved upstairs.  Sigh. I however, had not finished the bedroom closet, so I found a few unfinished projects to keep me busy. I found a knitted dishcloth to finish, another set of hot pads, I can restock blue baby booties (I had that yarn downstairs), I have a scrap lap afghan to finish, and I found a baby blanket that I started probably over 5 years ago.  I must have buried it unseen.   I also, ordered me some books on thriftbooks.com.  I am still waiting on them. I got my Christmas binder out and added patterns for homemade gift ideas for next year. I also want to get back to doing some journaling, but on the computer vs. hand write...

The comfrey poultices were working great on my ankle, so as I said we went to town and visited Mom.  However, I could barely get my fuzzy, comfy boots on (thought they had the most room).   We also went to the grocery store, picked up chicken food, visited Daughter E, and went out to lunch with Daughter E and K.  I was exhausted and couldn't wait to get my foot up and iced. I think I aggravated my ankle.  I woke up yesterday and it was so swollen.  I iced it and decided it was best to call my doctor to be sure what was going on. I couldn't get into the doctor until Thursday, so I went to the urgent care where they have the ability to take x-rays (they are literally downstairs from where my doctor is).  I didn't want to go that route, but it was better than the ER. I was so nervous, because I could hear people checking in asking for a covid test.  I made sure I stayed far away from anyone I could.  The nurse laughed when she took my blood pres...

  I didn't get any comments on if a poultice can be made using dried comfrey.  I did some research myself.  I found that if you are making one for the healing of a broken bone you can make a "tea" with the comfrey and apply the compress 3 times a day. I decided to make a poultice for my sprained ankle.  I poured enough boiling water over dried comfrey, and blended into a "mash" using my blender.   I then used a thin layer of cheesecloth and created a poultice.  day one I used the two poultices and iced and wrapped.  Day two it was much better but still a bit swollen (way less pain). I am still applying a poultice daily, and yesterday was unable to get my ankle in my much boots to go to the coop.  Doctor Daughter K sternly told me that if it's not better "in 3 days" I need to get x-rays done on it.  However, the swelling has gone down each day so far.  The count down is on.... I was able to get on a pair of soft dress boots to head t...

Yesterday we literally hunkered in and did nothing but watch movies, and sip hot coffee.  My husband baked some no-bake cookies. The wind gusts were anywhere up to 60mph.  Although the temperature was in the low 60's, it was not conducive to outdoor anything. My ankle is a bit better, but still sore.  No one answered my question about dried comfrey, so I went online and dug into my herbal books and made several poultices (update on that later). I located a person who makes handmade kitchen tools.  I emailed him, but have not gotten a response.  Hopefully I will hear from him soon.  I hope my email didn't go into his "junk" mail. The glass cutter called me.  He wanted to make sure the cost was okay before he special ordered the glass for the wood stove door.  The prices have gone up 4 times he said over the last year alone.  What cost us under $50 will now cost us $138.78, and it will take much longer to get the glass.  I get so frus...

I started to crochet ornaments for next year, but realized I need one more color of the yarn.  It's now on hold. I  have however, switched things up a bit and got out my embroidery.  I will attempt to get the rest of a set of tea towels finished for a present for Daughter K.  We are not "gifting" as usual this year, but I thought at least one thing to open for her would be nice.  I told her the cardigan was her present too.  It was supposed to be her present a few years ago (ha ha, it took me that long to make it). . . . a scrap lap afghan on the crochet hook. 

Our wood stove door got dropped off, but not by me.  I had Daughter K drop it off for me.  I had something that was irritating my eye, and didn't feel up to that long drive.  Door is there, but the glass cutter was not.  Not sure when it'll be done.  My husband brought me home eye drops and my eye feels a bit better today. On the sprained ankle.  I can't recall anything I was doing that would cause it,  other than I tripped on Daughter K's boots in the hallway this week.  I am guessing because I walked on it, fetching fire wood, tending the hens, etc.  I made it irritated, because I was not icing it, or wrapping it for 2 days. Go figure, I have zero comfrey poultices in my freezer, but I do have comfrey salve.  The ice pack will be used for now.  Thankfully, I have a cane to get around, but foot will be up most of this day (sigh).   Does anyone know if I can make a poultice using dried comfrey and comfrey root?  ...

I seem to be spending the first half of my day in the kitchen.  I threw together a zucchini breakfast bake and topped it with freshly grated parmesan cheese.  There is spinach in it too.  I didn't use a recipe.  I just tossed some things together. I had some thawed pumpkin to use up, and got out my old trusty cookbook. Wow!  I haven't made pumpkin bread in years, and it called for 3 cups of sugar.  That is a lot of sugar for one loaf.   I went online of course and found one that was a low-sugar recipe.  I didn't have white whole wheat flour, but adjusted to what I had on hand. I totally forgot to take a photo of it, but it was delicious.  I swapped out the coconut oil for canola.  I just didn't see it staying in a liquid form after adding cold milk and cold pumpkin puree.  It turned out good and my pumpkin puree didn't go to waste. Recipe is called Healthy Pumpkin Bread from Cookie and Kate. Daughter E is now volunteering for t...

Our warm and toasty home just went to cold and not very comfortable.  Guess the heat will be back on until the wood stove door glass is replaced.  Yeah, my husband went to shut it and bam!  Glass broke for some reason.  I just had it replaced about 4-5 years ago.  Sigh. I'm looking for a USA made pepper corer.  Not the ring type, but the metal gadget with handle.  I have found zero.  I wanted one for garden season next year for bell peppers.  Amazon is no help.  They put "USA" in titles of items, but when you go to the description it says "made in china."  I tried Lehman's as well. Nothing.  I saw it on a cooking channel and have emailed, but haven't gotten an answer back. It looks something like this, but with a wooden handle and handmade in the USA.  If you know where to get one, please comment.

I ended up making a breakfast soufflé yesterday, using up leftover sausage patties diced, and leftover homemade bread.  While I was in the kitchen I tossed together a meatloaf for dinner. I finally (finally) finished Daughter K's cardigan!!!!!!  She is so happy and so am I.  She said, "do you want a photo for your blog?"  Ha ha ha!  Of course! The cardigan was the biggest project I have ever attempted.  I frogged several times, and learned a lot from doing this project.  I learned to crocheted "hidden" pockets and more.  It's very comfortable and warm, and perfect timing as we woke up to 20°F (feels like 11°F). The wood stove is warming up the house nicely, but I have zero intentions of going outside, other than to tend the hens, and get the mail today.  I have a cough now.  Most likely from being out in the wind all weekend, but treating it with medicinal teas and what not. The world has already gone mad, and now 3 men have been se...

I am starting to dread weekends.  I write out the to-do list, and my husband completely changes it.   I literally had to wait for 5 hours for him to return from helping cut pine for grave blankets.  He admitted his help wasn't needed, and he mostly did visiting.  I was not happy.  Anyway, he did get a few small must do jobs done at the house, but the list remains and I'm starting to add to it. Sunday morning there was no sleeping in for us.  At 7:30am a dump truck and back hoe pulled in to do repairs on the driveway.  While the boys were here they went out to the "back 40" and hauled some trees up to split (that had fallen down over the summer). While he installed a new pull string on the splitter, I knocked nails out of old barn wood to cut for kindling.  Later in the day I went out for kindling and saw 3 hawks circling.  I had good timing with that and locked up the chickens. We split enough wood for about a week, before we quit for th...

It's confirmed that one family member will raise the meat birds in the spring for extended family.  We will all chip in for how many we want.  We are thankful for that. I finally finished the sleeves on the cardigan.  I am now finishing up the back panel and have one shoulder panel to do, then I can sew it up. I'm tickled pink that my husband bought me this as an early Christmas present.  I can keep a few projects organized and not sitting all over in different project bags. Question for those who buy faux fir balls for hats:  where is the best place, for the best price, for the best quality to buy online?  Neutral colors?  I don't want 4 inch ones either.  I am looking for the ones that are a bit smaller and less awkward looking. I finally got around to getting some more homemade seasoned salt made.  It's great for a lot of recipes.

  It's been a few rough weeks, and after my surprise roses, candy and card from my husband, I made an attempt to draw in the spirit of Christmas.  Master bath tree, shower curtain is up, and one door had decor.  I'm not sure I'll be putting every single decoration, or tree up this year.  I'm just dragging mentally, but at least trying. I got my first Christmas card, and love it!  So cute.  I'll have to look for cards like this. The weather was great for getting outside last minute stuff put away, although I made a second trip back out to retrieve the sprinklers. I had to chuckle when Daughter K told me that a co-worker wants to exchange a Christmas card with a hand written recipe.  Daughter said she is pretty excited, ha ha!  Now, hm....which recipe do I pick?  I guess I'll do some digging and see what would be good to share. Daughter K applied for a much higher paying job.  It would be full-time if she is hired.  Praying she gets t...