Pioneer Woman at Heart

Started out yesterday morning with a power outage.  I literally had nothing I could do, but use my neck light and crochet.  I guess I could have read a book too, but anyway it was back on quite soon.   I was at the computer looking over my emails, and Daughter E came running in and said, "Mom!  Mom!  Come help me open my trunk, I wanna show you something!" She was so excited about moving out that she had gone shopping and bought herself kitchen cookware, a coffee pot, toaster, silverware and more.    I'm happy to see her so excited, and hope it really works out for her, but deep down this Mother is not ready to see her "leave the nest" to say. I gifted the younger two girls pastry cloths, a pastry blender and other items last Christmas, in hopes to teach them how to make homemade biscuits, and biscuits and gravy.  So far, it hasn't happened.  Daughter K is never home, and when she is, she has a friend here (and all that friend does is bring T...

I figured it out for those who write posts on your blog.  Look just above your last posted blog post for the word "All" and click on the down arrow next to it.  You can find you drafts that way, and just click on "drafts."  You are welcome. Purged more and cleaned more, filling up 2 more boxes to donate. Planted indoor thyme and basil.  Just have to get more soil and plant rosemary and parsley for indoors too.  I have killed my plants.  I'm terrible at watering them. Boiled more eggs.  Yum!

The ladies (chickens) are laying exhaustingly awesome right now.   I have 2 (not just 1) dozen in the fridge to boil in a week or so.  So excited to be blessed with so many eggs right now. We are adding several perennials to the flower beds this spring.  I have had them in the garage until the snow and freeze was finished.  I know there may be a chance for frost, but with the 80°F days, and rain, I put them all outside.   I don't have very many tulips, but they are blooming.  I'm planting more bulbs this fall.  Look at the size of the dandelions!  I will be doing something before my husband mows again. My husband was tickled pink to see I made strawberry crisp.  I need to rotate out some strawberries before strawberry season gets here.  The recipe is online with Belle of the Kitchen .  I use thawed frozen strawberries and adapted the recipe with organic ingredients.  I do have to bake it a bit longer using the th...

My husband and I took off yet for another adventure and did a one night road trip.   We visited some falls and dined on local food.  We actually found a tavern that has been open for 50 years, known for their large burgers.  We ate a slider, because the sliders were the size of a regular burger and their regular burgers were the size of a dinner plate.  We also found an old 57 diner that was still in business and had a delicious breakfast.  I was surprised to see so many drive-in's along the way and still in business.   Our hotel was attached to a mall.  The mall was pretty much out of business other than the movie theater and there was a walkway (hallway) from the hotel to the mall.   Our morning sunrise this morning. I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'll link up when my blog gets it's head together.  I can't read my blog lists right now. The weather outside is . . . 67°F/54°F, mix of sun and clouds, T...

Something I just realized - you can't click on "draft" any more on the blog.  You know, how you click on "posts" or other ones?  You have to go search for them.  Frustrating.  Anyway... Daughter E is once again looking for an apt.  Sort of sad my baby is looking to get her own place, but I'm working on filling a laundry basket with goodies for her apt. warming gift.  This however, puts a halt to working on the cardigan and other projects.   I am looking into a large vendor show in Sept.  It may be all outside.  Speaking of projects I have tried two new crochet patterns and will be adding these to the fall sale. Thin blue line beanies (to show support for our police officers, my younger brother is one of them) and pizza pan hot pads (or any large round dish).  I'll get a picture of the round hot pad soon. I finally uncovered everything that I covered due to snow and a freeze.  Looks like we'll get up to the 80's next week. ...

  I made Cajun Angel Hair and Sausage .   New recipe tried!  I had some organic angel hair pasta and wanted to use it.  I finally found some non-gmo smoked chicken sausages too.  The recipe includes fresh green onion in the recipe and I used freshly snipped home grown green onion to top it with.  Oh my!  I'll tweek the sauce part (needs more), but the taste was fabulous.  I made homemade Cajun  seasoning for it. This recipe was a favorite.  Normally, you cook meat or brown it first, and this recipe is a toss it all in but the pasta.  Loved it.  I didn't expect it to taste so good on account of lack of ingredients.  I used 2 homemade beef bouillon cubes (because that is what I had). I just added the pasta last, cooked some peas and shredded some cheese.  The recipe is online as well - Slow Cooker Chicken Bolognese Pasta .  Does anyone have a dry homemade mix recipe for chicken bouillon?  Or one for ...

  I finally got a day to make a batch of homemade "neosporin" and some lemon balm lip balm.  The infused oil recipe for the "neosporin" is online .  The recipe for the lip balm is on Mountain Rose Herbs blog , but I make a lemon balm oil infusion vs. calendula. Did some laundry, dishes, and did some tidying in the kitchen. I finally finished making these ornaments.  The instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot . Extreme clean update:  I finally found a person to pick up the scrap stained glass.  First person never showed up.  All of the craft glitter is leaving the house.  Daughter T is taking it all. One pair of sweatpants left the house too. Took this photo the day before the snow arrived.  Dolly Carton was enjoying her dirt bath.  Just a happy photo to share with y'all.  

The bad: I heard that Hobby Lobby is closing all their stores for good, due to government mandate involving health insurance and their beliefs.  Has anyone else heard this?  Or is this just rumor? The good: My dehydrator replacement door was back in stock and has been ordered.  Woohoo to that. Something I learned:  I watched a show on Create TV (cooking), and found out it's healthy to add garlic powder to your chicken feed occasionally.  I caught the 1/4 cup part, but missed per what amount of feed.  I'm trying to find the show online to re-watch it.  I think I found the show, but the station is operating on reduced power, so I'll have to check back later. Something I learned: You can make jelly from the red buds on the red bud tree.  I most likely won't get to try it this spring (the freeze), but will try it next year. My Mom has a tree.  It's also medicinal.  Fun and good to know. I had a request for the recipe for homemade lip ba...

  Yarrow Lilacs are on. Comfrey Feverfew. Bleeding heart. So many signs of spring, but I'll be digging out the old sheets to cover during these next few days.  The daffodils and hyacinths are about done for the season, but will need to cover the asparagus, rhubarb and everything pictured in this post too.  Oh, and my green onions. I went out to pick asparagus for dinner (finally have enough for a meal), I saw that some Russian kale and some collards were up.  Yummy!

Garden work has started.  We had a busy weekend too.  We added another roost to the existing chicken coop.  Plans for the new one involve using barn wood from the knocked down barn.   We replaced the bottom board in one kitchen cupboard and purged what was under it. Installed the new wall towel rack in the smaller bathroom, installed new solar lights outside, and repaired a part on the dishwasher, and Hubby mowed all weekend. We ended the evening by grilling burgers, and toasting the buns on the grill.  We mixed in chopped garden jalapenos, garlic and onion, and topped them with homemade thousand island dressing and blue cheese (we were too exhausted to fry bacon for them).  Oh so good and great way to end the day.  On this week's to-do list: -boil eggs -laundry -sweep/mop kitchen -dishes -start back at the craft purge  -pick an extreme clean project -make homemade lip balm -make homemade "neosporin" -write out a shopping list Today I am join...

  I saw this at the store and thought, why not give it a try.  I mean it can't hurt to try.  Not sure if it will really elevate my mood and energy, but I could use it.   Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy Cookies ( found on Yogi online ). These are buttery and a hint of citrus flavor.  The tea itself smells amazing.  Great way to use up teabags if they are needing used up. I also ordered a copy of this book.  I just gave up on the library for now.  I can always pass on one book to make room for this one.  Also giving it a try to lift my spirits.  I'll let you know if it's any good. Bringing fresh cut flowers indoors helps boost my spirit. So glad I have an abundance to cut from. Having something "good" to look forward to lifts my spirits.  Tending my seedlings give me something to look forward to - growing the garden.  My thyme has sprouted. Taking affordable, spontaneous getaway trips has really helped boost our spirits....

  Wednesday's sunrise started out pretty nice, although they said clouds would move in.  I was slow to start the day, but put on some dance music and got to work. Breakfast ended up a sage sausage/asparagus bake with some home grown basil, garlic, and kale.  I added a bit of freshly grated parmesan cheese too. I canned  jars of wild violet jelly .  I am so glad I picked the violets when I did.  Snow showers are expected today.  Wild violets are medicinal as well as making a delicious jelly.  I have a yard full of the white/purple ones too, but haven't picked any. Wild violet jelly is a very fun process. Violets are picked and steeped.  The color turns to a beautiful blue color.  Once the liquid is strained, and lemon juice added, it turns into a beautiful pink.  It smells wonderful and tastes even better.  A once a year jelly.