Pioneer Woman at Heart

Our frozen green peppers are still supplying us, as well as the celery cubes I froze, and home grown garlic.  My homemade beef "bullion" cubes are running low though. Guess what I found?  It was the only book allowed back on the shelf.  Now to find Volume one.  The book store called me back finally, saying the signature couldn't be verified on the book and it was for sale for $39.00.  I found it elsewhere for almost half that price. We had to head out to the hardware store, and after two stores, I finally found two more seed starter trays (apparently these are selling out fast in our area).  I bought the last two of these.  Canning jars are available everywhere, but absolutely no sign of canning lids.  I sure hope they are in stores soon, I need them.  Yeah, I can freeze sauces, but I can only fit so much in the freezer. Work resumed on the hallway yesterday, but due to "technical difficulties" of another nature, it's on hold (again).

I have been getting creative with my freezer and pantry stash.  I am trying to rotate out, so I am prepared for the new garden stash to go back in. I made another new breakfast recipe - Blueberry Baked Oatmeal (Cookie and Kate online).  I followed the recipe completely, other than adding a bit more blueberries.  I am going to need to re-stock my organic oats soon though.   I'm looking into making herbal packets to sell for facial steams.  Has anyone done one?  There are so many recipes for different skin types. I haven't heard back from the General Store on selling an item.  Hopefully today I will.  I sent another email in case it got missed for some reason. A few deer came to see us the other night.  They were scrambling to find grass and found it just outside our house.  Look at all those mole mounds!!!  Sigh....haven't had those in years.  Guess I'll have to take care of those before the garden gets planted.

We have a lot going on now.  Woot!  I heard it from my husband's mouth!  His goal is to finish the hallway completely this weekend.  What's on the list?  Well, for starters, I have boxes in the hall (again) that need delivered.  After that we finish the hallway flooring and trim.  I'm excited to see him motivated, but the weather may have something to do with that too, ha ha!  Although it's a bit chilly this morning. The purge continues, but at a slower pace unfortunately.  I have done it again - printed new recipes to try.  I want to switch up our breakfast meals, try a few for larger group meals, and some for potlucks/summer cook outs.  I'm having a family get together one way or another (for whoever wants to come).  I miss family. You may see lack of posts from now until later in March.  There are two possibilities for the bathroom remodel.  Not sure which way we'll go.   New Recipe!  Baked Swee...

Nothing much going on here lately.  We were conserving hot water until our propane was delivered.  Someone forgot to check the tank, but thankfully we prepaid last fall and delivery was the same day.  However, that meant dirty dishes piled up, ha ha!  Oh boy, I guess we'll keep a better eye on it. At least we didn't run completely out. I felt bad for the guy delivering the propane too.  He had to walk through a 4 foot drift of snow around the garage to do it.  The snow is slowly melting here.  I've been busy shoveling snow away from the house foundation, garage doors, entryway etc. Our propane company pulled in the drive again yesterday.  I went out with our receipt and told him they already filled us up.  He wasn't happy about it, but that's not my problem.  Their company had routes double booked I guess. We are melting away here.  Love the weather, but the one side of our drive was pretty much flooded.  I had to tell Daughter...

  Good news!  I am looking into selling my jar openers in a smaller town with a general store.  I have to raise the price due to the percentage they want to sell consignment, but happy they are considering. Whoops!  I did it again!  While waiting on my husband to open the wall access, I came up with another craft.  By the way a fitting came apart and yes, another water leak as we guessed.  Kitchen drain is thawed.  Two down one to go today - fix the wood splitter. You can find the easy instructions for the mini-sun catchers on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot . They are perfect as they are, or can be Christmas ornaments or given as sun catchers (random act of kindness during these uncertain worldly conditions). Our warmer weather is arriving starting today.  It's a brisk 7°F so I am thrilled we are moving to warmer weather.  I haven't been able to put anything on the clothesline this winter.  It feels so wrong ha ha!

  Although they say we'll dip to a low of 5°F tonight, yesterday the sun was out all day and the icicles started to melt.  What a joy that was to see.   I knocked them down over the door to avoid any falling on us.  The warm up is approaching thankfully.  I am prepared for a big muddy mess, but so glad to be moving out of the cold spell. I had a lot of indoor house chores, and after doing laundry all day, I pulled the rug from the washer only to notice water on the floor.  Yep.  Guess what my husband is doing today?  Ha ha ha!  Fixing the softener line that runs into the water lines behind the utility room sink.  Water is shut off, so thankfully I had jugs of water to make coffee this morning. Speaking of rugs, the rug at my master bath shower is a rag rug, crocheted from old bedding.  I do think it's time to make a new one, but time will tell.  I was exhausted from housework, but at least that is done and will free u...

Not sure if we will get more snow yet today, but we definitely got at least 3 inches yesterday.  Had to shovel out the mailbox (again).  After getting sweet potatoes in a crock pot, and walking 2 miles on the treadmill, I piddle-dinked around with the scraps of wall paper.  I just want this particular project done so I can really resume the purge.  Got one more dish scrubbie crocheted too. My new switch plates arrived for my kitchen.  USA made.  I just need my handyman husband to replace the receptacles to match the color.  Although, after he saw them he thinks the color of receptacles we have may look okay.  I'll be putting one up to day to see. There was of course more shoveling of snow to do, so I warmed up with a mug of homemade hot chocolate and a splash of peppermint vodka.    

  Just a few days before yesterday, I sat in the Verizon parking lot waiting on my husband to get a new cell phone.  His phone was 5 years old and got a free trade in thankfully.  However, if you have a cell phone, you know buying a new one takes about an hour or more.  I had no projects with me that day either. Yesterday morning, I had zero plans to leave the house.  It's cold, snow covered, and I didn't need a lick of anything important.  I him-hawed around in my slippers and pj's sipping coffee, stoking the fire, feeding the cats etc. Hubby gets up and says, "Your daughter's phone died so you need to go with her to get a new one."  My best eye-rolling moment happened.  Sigh.  Another day of sitting in the parking lot. We rolled in at 11:02am.  I see a truck pull in, and Daughter K was taking her time getting out of the car.  I literally ran in the store to make sure we got in there first (knowing the wait time). I go in, sign (wh...

  The boys also shoveled me a path to get to the other side of the drive, but I needed to shovel out getting into the coop.  There was snow in the coop and a huge drift in the run.  Lovely. We got 12 inches of snow by Tuesday morning.   We have 17 inches on the ground.  A nephew came and plowed us out, but more snow is coming.  Sigh. They predicted -8°F last night.  I filled water jugs.  Woke up to a wind-chill of -11°F.  I made sure there was plenty of food for leftovers for today too. Daughter K made it to work yesterday, as the downgraded us before she had to be to work (level 3 is a level the Sheriff can give you a ticket for being on the road). She got to work, but said all the stores in the strip she works in were closed.  She just wanted to go home, as the roads are still not good and no one was shopping (as should be). Youngest was told she should not go to work, and if the salon opened, they'd just have two people there....

Not good.  Opened the door to a 2 foot drift blocking my way, and the barn cat's food box buried.   Yesterday, before the roads got bad, we drove clothing and items to our Youngest at her work.  She stayed in town over night with my Mom.  Daughter K works in the opposite direction, and I begged her to get off work early.  The roads were horrible.  She did and barely got into our giant U-shaped driveway.  She said some drifts on the road were taller than her car. Husband tried to plow thru the drifts with the truck to get to work.  Truck is stuck and awaiting to see if the boys can plow us out. We are at the highest level on our road emergency plan.  There is no one on the road right now.  It's very bad.  The worst part?  If we can't get the snow plowed, we have to hand shovel before it goes to a very cold temp tonight (-7°F).   I officially can say I dislike winter.  It's 15, but feels like 2°F....

Another upgrade for the kitchen (front door).  I replaced the plain sheer with a lace one. It's scalloped all around.  I love it!  I have more plans to upgrade the kitchen, so those will be posted as they unfold. Sunday we needed to cut more wood.  They are saying we'll dip again on Tuesday below zero. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I'll link up as soon as she posts (or later after a trip to town). The weather outside is . . . 15°F (feels like 4°F). Snow moving in by the bucket loads, starting tonight. However, there is snow coming down as I type up this blog post and the snow plow has been past the house several times already. How I am feeling this morning. . . Happy that my husband is off work today.  We may make a trip into town for a part we need for the hallway.  Just depends on how long he sleeps in and what else needs done today.  I forgot to pick up cat food for the barn cat, and we could stand to re-stock toilet pape...

We got more snow.  Not what we wanted, but then it's great for the garden (poor man's fertilizer).  Work on the hallway project was delayed.  One toilet kept running, and after checking it we discovered it needed a new float.  While we were out and about, I picked up a new 5 gallon bucket and lid for my homemade laundry detergent.  It needed replaced. I finally talked my husband into buying a new mail box.  After it was beat up last year by someone, it wasn't latching and the flag was beat off.  It's not good weather however to put it up.  Freezing cold weather, and by the time we returned home the roads were drifting pretty badly. We got some work done on the hallway before retiring for the night.  I'm thankful for that.  We are not finished, but we are gaining. Good news for our state!  The state-wide curfew was completely lifted, but not with the threat he'd do it again if he "needs" to.  I hope this Gov. is not voted back i...

. . .got more fridge magnets made and packaging them. There were more that didn't get in the photo. . . . more recipe card holders in the making.  They need embellished with buttons, and packages up for a craft show this year. (sorry no photo yet) . . . finishing up the back panel and started one sleeve on the cardigan. . . .more progress on the wine cork ornaments . . . got the black netting cut and rolled into balls for the order I received.  It took me almost 3 hours to cut and roll the entire 10 yards, but I got it done. . . . finished my latest craft project.  If I have enough scrap wood, I will make these to sell as well as gift.  I love it.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot .  I may make some with coffee packets too.  Maybe even small packages of candy or mints?  Lots of ideas for this one.  Makes a nice random act of kindness too.  While cleaning my craft supplies, I had everything already packed up to give to our daugh...

Yesterday we delivered Youngest her car before she had got off work.  She was so happy that we not only got the tire fixed, but she had her car back before her shift was over. I also delivered a large box of "doodle" paper to my niece and nephew.  I had to laugh, because my niece showed me a book she made with a lot of paper.  The are well supplied now, ha ha!  I also gave them 3 boxes of colored pencils and two of markers. When we got back home, we had some time to do a few things around the house, and I am a happy gal. My husband helped me put up the window film.  I also put up my new lace valance.  I absolutely love it.  I may do the front door this way too.  That framing on the window is inside the window.  I am glad I found window film I liked and was long enough to only have to cut one piece as well.  The window is next to the side door.  I'm not putting it on the door (which looks just like the window), because the dogs ...

I noticed we had a visitor when I went out to empty the ash pail.  We got more snow yesterday. The leak ended up 2 leaks, and since we had to turn the water off, the other water pipes froze.  It's not been fun.  My counter is full of dirty dishes.  The drain froze too.  It'll be a long day for me.  When I do get water and a clear drain, it'll take me a week to catch up.  So frustrating, but leak was repaired, just not the softener line. I spent most of my day on handicrafts, although I attempted to purge.  I didn't get very much put in the box for our daughter and grandkids.  My husband got a chuckle watching me though.  He said, "aren't you supposed to be cooking cabbage?" Ha ha ha!  We'll, I'll have some items for a fall craft show, prepared well in advance anyway. Anyway, I heard my husband talking to himself over and over for not heat taping those water lines.  I tried to get him to do it several times over summer, and he w...

  The two curtains I ordered for the hallway windows arrived.  These are different than the fiasco for the long window in the hallway.  I love them!  It's hard to see, but the sun hasn't been shining.  I have ordered a new curtain for the other window, so stay tuned on that. Pipes are thawed.  However, we had another flood in the utility room.  It stumped us, as it wasn't when the water was running to the washer or sink in there.  I told my husband it looked like it was coming from the wall behind the sink.  I told him the last flood we had.  We opened up the wall (thankfully we made an access).  The hose coming from the salt softener came loose and was leaking.  Guess who is off work today just to fix the leak?  Yep.  Sigh.  Water has been shut off until then, so I am glad we had the jugs filled.  Plus, Daughter K brought home more drinking water just in case. My Amazon curtain (rag) has been labeled on on ...

  Sorry for all the laughing in the video, but it was so hilarious!  King got winter boots for the first time.  Hoping it puts a smile on your face, or makes you laugh.

I'm up again before my husband gets home, but the worst part is that today he works a double.  Meaning he won't be home this morning, it'll be after he works another shift (1st).  It'll be a long day for sure. Woke up to 9°F and frozen water pipes in the kitchen area.  Thankfully, I was prepared and filled large jugs.  The rest of the house has water. Oh, and he is sick now too.  He works outside in this frigid weather, and working midnight runs you down.  He's getting medicinal teas, essential oils, Four Thieves and dandelions in his egg scramble. Forgot to post 5 of these yesterday. Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.): 36. Dress the way that feels right. 37. Practice good posture. 38. Utilize medical checkups. 39. Seek out good friends 40. Share yourself with significant I'll admit purging my crafting supplies has been hard.  I'm finding fun items that make me sit down to figure out if I can or want to make gifts with them (or...