Pioneer Woman at Heart

  While out fetching firewood I walked out to check on the garlic.  All of the grow bags but one is doing great. I brought in some daffodils to enjoy indoors.  It will drop to the 20's tonight. Tried a new recipe.  Baked  buffalo chicken nuggets (The Stay at Home Chef).   I have to say I didn't follow it completely.  It said to use Frank's Buffalo wing sauce, and I made my own  wing sauce and bread crumbs.  It was not as crunchy as they said it would be, but had great flavor.  I think if I had an air fryer these would be very good.  Now....where would I store an air fryer in this place?  Hm.  Not sure I want to add more appliances, but....

  I finally found a solar light for Dad's grave.  They only had 2 left, and later wished I had bought the last one for my Uncle's too.  I may go back and see if they restocked.  My grandparents are in the same cemetery too. I went out to feed the barn cat this morning and saw the moon.  I decided to grab my camera and take a few photos. The weather is to be so nice today and of course we can't take a motorcycle ride tonight.  He went to work last night to work midnight shift and this morning's first shift.  He'll be tired for sure. Me on the other hand, would love to clean out flower beds, but the weather will dip to the low 20's Wed. and Thurs. in the evening.  We are in what I call "flip-flop" weather, where it flips one way or the other.  I'll be out cleaning off the porches today.  That sun will feel so good today. We haven't been lacking in eggs all winter.  I used all of these the other day for breakfast. I haven't forgotten a...

  (Amazon) The bathroom remodel may just be remodeling it as it is (replacing shower and toilet) vs. moving it to the back of the utility room (so I won't be making the old bathroom into a pantry as planned).  It's just too much work and money to install it in the area as planned (concrete slab).  Due to small space, I am looking into buying a wall mounted towel rack for it.  I found this one on Amazon.  I could not believe the prices of them at Home Depot.  Anyway, it's a start, but there is much to do before I can start painting. I made homemade bread crumbs to use to try two new recipes.  I have since printed out more recipes to try (gulp) and more crochet patterns.  That's what happens when your husband, and two daughter's who still live at home are all at work.  Being unsupervised....one got me off the computer so she could file her taxes ha ha! Random photos.  I'm having trouble getting my camera to load photos to my computer....

  I tried Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts.  The only thing I did not do is add the additional salt or top with salt.  I may try it that way too, but this way was delicious!  I was amazed.  It's replacing traditional buckeye candy this year.  I used all organic/non-gmo ingredients.   It's a keeper.  Recipe is online at Detoxinista .

We have been getting rain here, and high winds.  We are now in the time of year where it's anything can go weather - high, low, rain, you name it.  I'm glad for the rain, as my garlic is getting watered and spring bulbs. I did some quick research on growing figs in our state.  It's difficult because of our winters.  I could look for a small variety, which would be easier to cover over winter.  I'm still contemplating re-planting the elderberry trees the deer ruined.  Possibly some other trees.  It all depends on what the nursery carries near me.   I've planned the Easter menu.  Recipes are all checked and re-checked, and shopping list written out.

  A good friend sent me tomato seeds and I started them this year vs. buying all my plants.  Daughter K did a great job watering them while we were on vacation.  A few didn't come up, but I replanted seeds and they are already up.  I just thought it was much better to try and start as much as I could myself this year.  As more and more people start to grow gardens, plants were hard to find last year (like some hot peppers I only plant a few of). Conversation with myself: "Do not print another recipe to try!  Do not do it!  You have a bunch all over the kitchen already!  Stop!.......too late."  Prints two more. Now that the kitchen is almost completely "reclaimed" after things all over from the craft supply purge (which is not done yet, just halted), I will be back to trying some new recipes.  Hopefully. (backside of the mop cover) I crocheted a re-usable mop cover (pattern is on line with crochet crowd ).  Down the road, when we hav...

I sent an email to Ball canning supplies.  It was pretty much a generic answer.  It listed all the stores they sell them in, which I already checked, and no answer as to when they will have more. They did say they were having a "shortage" so there is that. I've checked 9 Target store within 50 miles - out of stock.  Same with Kroger, Walmart, and Meijer, Ace Hardware, Menard's, Lehman's Hardware, and other stores.  I'll keep trying.  I see they are selling some regular lids on Amazon, but a box of 12 for almost $14.00.  The mentioned sending supplies to Michael's crafts, but they only sell jars with lids not just lids. Talked with a friend and she tried to find some in TN while on vacation and an Amish store.  Nada.  Zero.  I also checked while in FL.  Nada. Extreme clean - magazines are gone. I sort of went down "memory" lane after coming across a notebook of mine.  My Dad used to ask me if it was "tea time in Tanganyika?" when I w...

I'm finally back to putting laundry out on the line.  The weather has been so nice out.  I planted all the bulbs my younger brother gave me last year, and got out for some sunshine. It was supposed to rain last night, but so far this morning it has not.  I'm sure the bulbs could use it, but I'm okay with that.  I need to get a few rain barrels set up.  I use the rain water to water my plant starts. My asparagus seeds have finally arrived.  They'll be planted when the ground stays a good 50°F.  We are expanding the area we have some planted.  I have also decided to plant white potatoes, but only 5# this year.  The rest will be sweet potatoes if I find slips this year.   I decided that we'll have an "adult" Easter Egg Hunt this year with friends/family.  We are hooking up with Daughter E's boyfriend's parents (the one who passed away).  I'm sure it will be a hoot!  We've been locked up too long and need to get with frie...

Breakfast for the next few days - just whipped stuff together.  Eggs, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, jalapenos, garlic, bacon, kale, and oregano. The chickens are still supplying good.  I'm still using last years garlic (but they are getting green tops), frozen green peppers, jalapenos, and other veggies we froze. I finished the rag rug for the shower.  I'm not happy with the edges this time around.  I think it's not exactly square due to the thinner material I used in the very center, but it'll work.  The one I made for the bathtub was much more square on the edges. (the one I made for the bathtub)  

  The weather is warming up, so outside work comes first this week.  Rain is arriving mid-week, so I'll save inside work for those days.   I have a long to-do list, but I have much time to do it.  My husband is working 10 hour days this week....sigh... Two stores and still no canning lids.  I found an empty box where they, at one time, had wide lids but sold out (I need regular lids).  If I can't can and can't freeze, there isn't a reason to grow a garden this year.  I could dehydrate as much as possible, but it's starting to become depressing.  I have seeds started for some, but I sure home things turn around on supplies we need. My husband, for the first time ever, actually suggested we don't plant a garden at all this year.  Well, like I said, some seeds have been started, but we'll see if stores get more canning lids.  Much of my canning is tomato based foods.   Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom....

Sadly, my oldest Araucana has passed away.  I think she was about 6-8 years old (more so leaning towards 8 maybe). I also had to be careful letting the others out.  There was either a hawk or eagle in the area, looking for a meal.   We went to one of the bigger cities to pick up chicken feed, and I found this!  USA product.  Did you know most meal worms are a product of China?  My chickens love the chicken crack. I made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby, but did you know they did away with their 40% coupon?  I asked about it and was told they have to stop offering it until business picks up again.  However, she said when items are on sale now, they are 50% vs. the regular 40%.  Anyway, I'll go back when the item I need to restock is on "sale" in order to get a better price.  The whole idea to get more business by taking away a coupon (good on one item) makes no sense to me. The weather was finally good enough to install our new mailbox....

 Has anyone  purchased this book? “The Medicinal Herb Grower” book–volume 1, by Richo Cech I am unable to borrow it from our library (or interloan).  I am wondering if it's worth purchasing, considering I have purged a log of my books recently. Tried a new dessert recipe.  I had some orange gelatin on hand, so it was a go for me. (Trying this brand for the first time too) I had all the other ingredients oddly.  Results?  Very good!  Although my husband says "more pecans" ha ha!  He does love pecans.

Daughter K had a day off so we decided to go shopping.  Local store shopping in a quaint little town. I picked up some interesting items for the girls for "Easter baskets."  I found locally made honey lollipops, and some old fashioned candies made in the USA (sold at locally owned businesses).   The weather was miserable outside - rain, high winds, gloomy.  It was a perfect reason to get out and enjoy ourselves for once. Some would do the opposite, but out of the house it was. My purge/extreme clean is back in action.  I've filled 3 boxes of books, two more of misc. items, and now donating a travel case.  We had one for camping and one for traveling anywhere else (when we drive).  The bike is different for overnight stuff.  Anyway, I decided the one we use more often holds more in the top tray, and I have one less case to store in my closet. Oh, and because we both started purging clothing, I was much better at shopping on vacation.  I l...

  Yesterday started out with a lot of fog.  The weather warmed up to the 60's and felt so great.  Today it's dropping down again with wind and rain.  We are now in the mixed up time of year where we can get snow, rain, fog, nice days, ugly days....just typical for us. I had high hopes to hang laundry on the line, but the wind was pretty nasty out. I needed more wood on the porch, but someone left the garden cart out by the coop (full of dirty straw that needed dumped).  Wasn't me. I finally got my homemade face lotion made.  I use the recipe in Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs book (A beginner's guide).  I will need to make more oil this summer for the next batch.  I store the extra lotion in the refrigerator until I need it. Signs of spring are showing up in the flower beds now.  Some areas are a bit over crowded, so I may be digging and splitting them up after they are done blooming.   Update on the general store and consignmen...

During the recent road trip, I took along yarn and easy projects.  I got one set of pot holders finished, crocheted two washcloths and two facial scrubbies. While we were gone, the bananas were not eaten, so I tried a new recipe.  It's more of a breakfast, but looked good and healthy too. I made Almond Butter Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal (from A kitchen Addiction ).  We loved this.  No flour and just a bit of either honey or real maple syrup to sweeten it.

  Woke up to one beautiful sunrise yesterday on our first morning back home.  Just gorgeous. The day started with firing up the wood stove, much laundry, housework, putting travel stuff away and baking. Did a quick check on the mailbox, chickens and such.  I'll probably hire someone to chicken sit if I am gone for a week anytime this year.  It was too much for Daughter K, as she worked almost every single day. Breakfast was thrown together with zucchini and dandelion greens.  I need to go shopping for some sweet potatoes. I took yarn for the drive for our recent vacation.  I hope to share updates on what I got made soon. I wrote up a to-do list for when we returned from vacation, but low and behold, I can't remember where I put it.  I'm sure I won't run out of things to do, but found it funny.  

My husband and I, along with Daughter E, took a week long vacation.  It was much needed.  We are sick of feeling like prisoners in our own state. Six states have lifted restrictions now, including mask mandates.  It should be that way across the states.  Anyway, we vacationed mask free!!  Best feeling in the world.  Our first stop in TN to gas trucks up, was the best feeling too - no mask required to enter the gas station. When we ate out, we ate local and shopped local (other than a visit to a Harley store in St. Augustine, Florida). Even coffee shop stops were local. While I was gone, I left my seedlings in the hands of Daughter K.  How did it go? Pretty good I'd say.  I'll be getting the heat lamps on some of them today.   I can say it wasn't the best overall bike week vacation for us.   Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom (will link when she posts) The weather outside is . . . 42/36°F, right now feels l...