Pioneer Woman at Heart

Kingsley is an early riser, and when I took the dogs out I snapped some photos of the moon yesterday morning. After hearing suggestions to put the website on my scrubbie packaging, I came up with an idea.  I have address labels.  I'll print the contact info on them and slap them on the backside of the cardstock. It's another weekend of working on the hallway.  We are praying for no interruptions this weekend.  We'd like a full weekend to finish up as much as we can. We will have to split wood, because we need restocked before the snow storm rolls in too. I already have 3 more purge areas to dive into next.  One being a top shelf in a kitchen cupboard.  Two is back to the utility room, and three is the entryway from hallway to garage (I still have a tote of goat milking stuff in there). Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself: 6. Make use of helping professions 7. Keep track of our lonely periods 8. Find out what is controllable in your life 9. B...

I grated and froze some romano cheese.  I am constantly putting up as we take something out of the freezer.  The way this world is being run, I'm working on preparedness constantly. I am cleaning out one binder I had on my bookshelf with writing prompts.  I have no idea why I saved this one, but I am sharing considering the lack of sunshine this winter.   I have no idea where it was from, but I am sure I've had it for over 15 years.   I never thought that putting in new flooring would lead to all of this other purging, but I'm glad it's happening.  I have more binders to clean out. Also, in my binder, I have a list of 83 ways to revitalize and energize yourself.  I'll try and lit 5 each day until I reach 83.   1. Listen to the voice in your body 2. Make a list of your present goals 3. Write a diary or a journal 4. Analyze your successes 5. Get feedback from others on how they see you. Ha ha, we warmed up.  Yep.  "Feel...

  Brr!  It's 20°F out this morning, but feels like 9°F with the wind.  We'll only get up to 26 and a low of 15°F today.  Fire is stoked and animals fed, other than the chickens.   My husband has to work outside, and comes home exhausted from the cold weather. I am sure the chicken's water has froze.  In the new coop I want a watering unit the heats in winter and I may spring for one for the barn cat next winter.  She is getting older and it's hard to keep water out for her when she needs it. On a good note, our state curfew was lifted from 10pm to 11pm.  That is good news for businesses and their employees.  If the number of hospitalizations drop again, they will do away with the entire curfew. Daughter K took a covid test after returning from her trip to NJ/NY out of respect to others (especially because of Mom).  It was negative. I came across another reading challenge.  Just wanted to share it, although January is about over...

Although I thought winter would be a restful time and much handiwork would be done, it hasn't been.  We have been prosperous with starting small on remodeling.  It however, puts me behind in regular chores. Instead of snow, we got something in between, like a mix of freezing rain/sleet.  There was a layer of ice on everything.   Tuesday was a busy day in the kitchen.  First on the list - infuse a hearty nettle tea.   Second, clean up the kitchen to boil chicken for our dinner casserole.  I had to boil eggs, make a breakfast scramble with greens, and make organic pudding for a side dish. There was laundry to do, kindling to fetch, firewood to fetch, chickens to tend, rugs to spot clean, carpets to vacuum.....long day. By the way, fetching the firewood was a bit tricking with the driveway a total sheet of ice.  I have spikes on my boots, but I still had trouble getting the cart back to the house. Dinner was Mexican Chicken Casserole , so I...

Our new project (not my photo).  We will be building a boot rack out of old barn wood.  It will be taller than the one in the photo, so muck boots, work boots and snow boots will all fit.  We'll start on it after we finish the hallway flooring and trim work. I was asked to find my post with the Little House inspired shawl I crocheted.  Here is the link to the pattern . 5 more boxes of books have left the house.  Yay to that. Woke up to a layer of ice outside.  Not much snow as predicted.  Not sure if we'll get much today, but I'll be inside anyway.

Woke up to a stone cold wood stove.  Hurumph!  We both worked so hard Sunday, we woke up feeling like we just spent the first day in the garden kind of feeling.  I feel like I'm feeding an army of animals too.  Thankfully our daughter K has a flight home today. The tree the county cut down a year ago is still providing for this winter.  We cut it on better weather days, move those cut pieces to the barn and split any day we need it.  Not the best plan, but it's working.  One of these days we'll be prepared over summer if I can motivate my husband. I sent an email to the one place in the "Big City" I sell my soap saver bags at.  I'm inquiring on selling another item there, and crossing my fingers.  I miss having craft shows, and the cash it brings in.  I received a check this past week for items sold on consignment there (happy for that). I have another project for us to do.  More on that tomorrow. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary ...

It's been cold here lately.  Like waking up to 16°F cold.  Brr.  Saturday was a wash as far as working on the hallway.  We finally had a Christmas with the grandkids.  There have been so many close calls with the virus at my husband's work, we haven't been going around too many people. While out looking at new trim, I picked up new toys for the dogs.  I laughed so hard upon walking in the door.  King literally jumped up and grabbed a long stuff dog toy I had in a shopping bag.  He is so happy.   Saturday morning, my husband and I had breakfast at a local restaurant that has been open for 75 years.  Good food, homemade and delicious.  We thought we wouldn't get a table, as it is small and a dinner type setting, but we did.  So good!  The best part?  I didn't have to cook nor do any dishes. I got rid of 3 of the boxes of books I purged as well, while we were in that particular city.  Woohoo to that. We picked ...

I decided to take a break from purging Friday.  I did a few tidy up areas, but focused on a day without dust (ha ha!).  I can't believe how many books I really had.  Oye. I cleaned up part of the other kitchen table.  We have two tables, because I use them a lot during tomato season.  One way or another I want a Christmas gathering here too.  They are saying with the vaccine now, we should be back to almost "normal" this year.   Anyway, I made room to cut more netting.  I've had a few requests for scrubbies and needed netting cut first. I'm thinking about doing a give-away soon.  I think I can part with some things I found that I've just decided I don't want, need or will make. Maybe that will boost my spirits by making someone else happy?  I just ordered some shipping boxes from the usps store, so when they arrive I will post pictures of the give-away. Here is a photo of the embellished paperclips I made with tiny crochet flowers....

(old photo, but you can see I'm working from bottom to top) . . . .   Up to row 81 (out of 84) on the crocheted cardigan, with the sleeves getting started after that.  Just a basic pattern, but my first clothing for adults to even crochet. . . .started new Christmas tree ornaments for the 2021 Christmas (using up wine corks in my stash). . . .got one "scrap" Christmas ornament crocheted.  . . .finished a set of hot pads . . .started another set of hot pads  . . . got more dish scrubbies made to sell.

I am taking this dog watching as a test to see if I really do want one of my own then the girls (if they ever) move out.  One morning it was 20-something, but felt like 13°F.  Of course the two dogs of hers woke up at different times - two trips out in the dark early morning cold and snow.   Two blank journals went to each of the girls.  I found them on my other bookshelves.  One was a holiday journal I haven't used since 2007.  It basically had a few comments, lists of foods, guests and a few photos - it went to the trash.  I don't keep up with it.  Photos go in albums now and journal in one main journal.  Two or three were empty, and one was short stories I've donated 2 boxes of books and now filled 10 more.  I had so many handed down, some I still had from homeschooling, and other topics that needed to go to a new home.  I parted with a few series that I bought from library book sales too.  I just have to find places to...

I had to laugh at this.  I took the photos, because of the odd snow formation.  As Youngest's car sits to be looked at, the car grew a mustache!  Ha ha ha!  I just thought it was pretty cool (and funny). The to-do list for the week: -call library to see if they take book donations for book sale -call charity to see if they take books and do pick ups next -purge books -do dishes -laundry -trash out -bake a breakfast  -boil chicken and shred for another dinner -bring more wood in -clean table off -purge utility room cabinets -fold towels -write a list for crochet/knit items that need restocked first (f-bombs, scrubbies, baby booties etc)  I need to do this to stay on task -install knobs on some utility room cupboards (still haven't done that) -sweep kitchen -mop kitchen -clean hallway windows  -install new window blinds -dust small bookshelf  One table got a fresh tablecloth on it, but the other awaits as I purge books/binders and journals. We got s...

I'm so glad we are getting rid of what carpet we can.  Man the dust!  Cough, cough!  My allergies will be so much better.   I had to laugh about the whole thing though.  Hubby said, "no problem, we can knock this out in a few hours."  Ha!  That didn't happen, but we are glad we are going it.  We have two steps in the hallway, and those take a bit more work to get it right. We haven't done anything like this for almost 15 years.  I'm so, so glad we dove into into it.  I have no idea what made me all the sudden want to do the updating on the house, other than it keeps me busy and my mind off of the world and what horrible things the government is doing to us.   It's hard to get a good photo of the actual flooring, as it was cloudy and snowing.  You can see in the top photo that halfway thru putting in the flooring, that my husband had the idea to beautify the walls a bit.  We started the lower half, but still need ...

I'm up at 5am to stoke the fire and brew the coffee.  We are continuing to work on the downstairs hallway flooring.  It's looking great too.   It snowed most of the day Sunday.  Big soft flakes that pretty much melted away as they fell.  We had zero sun sadly. I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.   I will link up later when she posts.   The weather outside is . . .  33°F/24°F, cloudy On the breakfast plate this morning. . . Egg/cheese sandwich with Ezekiel bread and a sprinkle of herbs we use that goes great with eggs, adds flavor and a touch of healthiness. As I look outside my window . . . It's still dark out. Posting early. As I look around the house . . . It's a mess, but it will look that way until we have things back in their places and the flooring done. What I am wearing today . . . PJ's and robe right now. Currently reading . . . Expiration dates.  Yep.  On food supply and on medical supplies - sto...

  We have started ripping out the carpet in the hallway.  We started on the lower level due to the baseboard heater.  However, once the carpet was out, we realized the builders put the heater flush with cement, so we'll have to do some cutting that we didn't expect (of the flooring).  Also the tack boards were installed with nails into the cement, so it took a hours to pull them all out.  King says "Hello."   So far it's been 3 trips to Home Depot.  I know there will be another one, but this morning we will be cutting and splitting wood first.  Then it's back to the hallway if we have time. We will be replacing the blinds in both large hallway windows as well, so I must add that to my list or it'll be yet another trip to town.  The blinds are broken (just old).   There was a request for the recipe for Hot Pepper Mustard Sauce.  Here is the recipe link .  I was given this recipe by a family friend's mother who has sinc...

  Craft supplies are being purged now.  Gulp.  Sorry for the boring posts lately. The kids are grown.  I do enjoy making homemade Christmas ornaments to sell and gift, but I am letting some things go to another home.  I just found out about a charity that takes anything but items that has cloth on it (like couches, clothes).  They will even pick it up  I've taken note of that.  It may come in handy. What I used them for - Handmade Christmas Ornaments (snowglobe)   And you can bet, I was going through craft supplies, and thinking up what else I could put inside those cute capsules as ornaments (before tossing in the box).  The capsules are only 1 1/4 inch tall, so you can imagine the work that went into that tiny snowman. Old film containers left too.  I can't believe I still had these.  I, yes again, went to pinterest to see if I could make anything before tossing in the box.  I think I had saved them for when my husband w...

The best time to sanitize my washing machine is when it's colder outside.  I actually have a "sanitize" cycle on my washer.  It uses the hottest water and bleach.   In order to do the remodel in the utility room (adding a bathroom), I will need to purge.  There will be a trip to the antique store and the thrift store this weekend. My utility room/craft storage is a fairly large but oddly built room. I'll lose my coat rack, so I may talk him into building an room over the side porch for coats and boots etc.  An enclosed area before entering the side door. Anyway, what's getting purged? -antique sewing machine -antique sewing chair (that has a compartment in the seat for storage -antique table for 2, 2 matching chairs -2 antique travel cases (from Dad's place) -antique small TV (from Dad's place) -egg carton lamp (I will never use it and no one in the family wants it and I can't be the one who saves everything just because) -two boxes of books, one of od...

I love January.  A new beginning for the year, a new start and it's the best time for me to deep clean.  I am more excited this year, as we are starting to update the flooring etc.  Most of you are excited to sit and read, relax and whatnot, but I can't do all my deep cleaning over spring, summer and fall.  There is simply too much work with the garden, as I am the only person on weekdays to work it. We located some flooring on sale, but need to see if other stores have more of it.  My husband is super fired up and motivated now.  I'm so happy for that. However, my house looks like a hot mess. Boxes of books in three rooms right now, ha ha!  I know it will all piece back together when we are done, but boy oh boy. My hometown is starting to crack down even more regarding this virus.  It's becoming a less appealing town to visit anymore.  They also have their own mask mandate they continue to update.  It's so frustrating to shop there....

I had to get back to the kitchen yesterday first.  I had dishes to deal with, books all over one table, and of course the meals for the day. Dinner was beef stew (another change in the menu) in the crock pot. Breakfast was a sweet potato and kale frittata.  I started that later, so I could get the stew in the crocky.  I used the last of our home grown sweet potatoes. My husband started researching new flooring last night.  I'm praying we find enough of one type at a good price for the hallway. I am not prepared for Valentine's day, as far as selling handiwork this year.  I just realized how close it is, and I have sold all the heart bookmarks, almost all the heart cup coasters, heart dishcloths etc.  I may have some embellished paperclips, but that is about it.  I'm not going to rush into making anything either.  If I get anything made, I will post it.  I didn't realize how much work I'd be doing just to prep the hallway to be ready for a fac...

Question for those who grow medicinal herbs in raised beds - can I grow comfrey and mullein in the same bed?  Or should they be in their own raised bed? Another question?  Is there a difference in planting white or black horehound?  Which is better to plant for medicinal purposes? I've been busy beautifying the homestead, and so grateful I am out of my depressing "funk" I was in.  I can't believe I didn't do any of this work last year when I was "stuck" at home.  Anyway, I think my husband is happy, other than spending the money (ha ha!) on new flooring and possibly more paint. I'm looking forward to shopping for the flooring. I haven't had much handiwork time, but I hope to get a handiwork post go up soon.  Last nights dinner was changed to chicken breast and home canned mustard pepper sauce, over red quinoa (what I had), and a side of garden green beans.  I needed something easy, as it took the entire day up until 1pm to go through and remo...

The sun was shining bright Sunday.  Woot!  We got outside for more wood cutting and splitting.  My husband also did some updates on one daughter's car (changed wires), while I emptied a bookshelf, dusted it and moved it to the living room corner.  I have a box getting filled to donate to the thrift store soon too.   My husband built me this many years ago and I love it!  I just have to dust the screens on it, but love it.  I am now in the process of purging more books, dusting them off and putting them back on the shelves.  I came across some of my freelance work, and that got me to sort for an entirely new organizing project.  So glad I am doing this.  You would not believe the dust behind that bookshelf.  Hasn't been moved in 12 years.  I have one more larger bookshelf to empty, move, vacuum, dust etc and then go look at flooring for the hallway. So, Thelma got an F on using the nesting box.  If they pick up on it, ...