Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Don't mind my reflection in the bowl, ha ha!  I took the picture outside.  I cracked it outside.  Just in case things went bad with this water glassing process. I put them in the solution back in October of 2020. I followed the instructions from Backyard Poultry .  I took one out to bake something.  The process worked great.  You do need fresh clean eggs and cannot use store bought eggs to do this. I baked strawberry banana bread with the egg.

Only in our state.  We had very hot temps, followed by a downpour day, and now we are cooling down to nights being in the upper 40's.  Ugh.  Not good for the garden, but I'm still planting.  There is so much to get in the ground and the tiller still needs a new belt.   Today we woke up to more rain. The flowers are looking great, and my glady's are starting to come up. I un-earthed these while cleaning.  They are paper book covers I had moved two times and still had them.  They are going to a family friend for her kids that are still in school. I apologize, I forgot to post the winner of the Mystery box.  I had one the daughter's pull from a "hat" and that person is Amy.  Send me you info via email (contact email is on my blog).  Or comment here.  Congratulations and I hope you enjoy the mystery box of fun.

  Wednesday was a rainy day work day.  I picked the utility room to purge, deep clean and organize.  I am getting rid of a box of school supplies to a good friend - writing paper, graph paper, pocket folders, a binder, book covers and a locker shelf unit. I filled a garbage bag too, and gave some colored paper to Daughter T.  I have much more to purge, but we don't have the AC in yet and it was getting too warm to work.  I quit just after noon. Daughter E got stung by a bee.  It's always a proud moment when I'm asked, "Hey Mom?   You got anything for this?"  Why yes I do, and out the door I go to pick plantain.  If you didn't know this, crushed up plantain is a great way to draw out the poison from a sting or bug bite.  I used it for a wasp sting and after 20 minutes it reduced the redness to zero and no pain. Question.   Where is the best place to buy a crock with a spigot for kombucha making (best price/quality)?  A...

  We cooked up of what may be the last of of this year's harvest of asparagus.  My favorite way to prepare this for a dinner side is to bake it 20 minutes with olive oil, crushed rosemary, salt and pepper at 400°F. Tried another new recipe.  Daughter K had bought some pasta shells that needed used up.  It takes beef stock, tomato sauce and other ingredients.  I adjusted it with homemade and organic ingredients and the family loved it.  I used the recipe at Damn Delicious called Creamy Beef and Shells.  I will be adding more garlic next time. Tomatoes finally made it in the ground.  I was done by 10am, as it was already very hot (90°F day).  I planted way less than normal, so it will be interesting.  I planted 35 Amish Paste (not my usual San Marzano), 1 Big boy and 1 cherry tomato.  The planting resumes after the rain stops.  I'm tickled pink for the rain today though.  We needed it and the tomatoes love it. I'm getting mo...

  Here is the fan box the fan came in, that I bought for the camper.  I think I got it on Amazon. I knocked a lot off the to-do list yesterday.  Planted a flat of snapdragons and 3 lavender plants.  Planted a few more marigolds.  Dropped zinnia, calendula, basil, thyme, cilantro, and parsley seeds. The hot weather returns today.  We will get up to the 90's and last night we got more tilling done, however the belt on the tiller broke.  Lovely. I had planned to give myself crochet time yesterday, but I ended up searching for a pattern (something for my Mom) until dinner prep time.

We had a very hot weekend, so tilling didn't happen.  It was so dry out.  We had to water the flower beds daily. I am very frustrated getting the vegetable garden in this year.  It's either the weather or my husband is not available to till.  He won't let me till when I am home alone.  We asked someone if they were interested in tilling for me for some cash.  Didn't happen. The weather was perfect for starting some jars of comfrey oil.  I'll be trying a new salve recipe and giving it a try before I put a review on here about it. We are somewhat feeling like normal in our state again.  We noticed however, when eating out they still give those annoying packets of ketchup vs. a bottle.  I'm putting one in the fridge just for when we are on the road from now on.   We had a busy weekend.  There was a baby shower we attended, and delivered gifts for two grand niece birthdays we missed.  I forgot to take a picture, but we gifted ...

  A recent sunrise before the heat wave rolled in the area. A good way to use up leftover corn - sheet pan quesadillas. Crispy deliciousness, and we dipped slices into sour cream.  Salsa would be good on them too. A honeysuckle is growing in my back patio flower bed.  The birds must be the culprit.

  . . . still working on the cardigan, and one sleeve is done. . . . xl hot pad set in the making . . .off the afghan hook - set of hot pads . . .new project (like I need another, ha ha!) lanyards . . .I found a bracelet that I didn't finish, so it's on the list again (Couldn't get a photo because this project is buried in my mess of a closet) . . .a scrap yarn rug in the making  . . .a lapghan in the making. . . .eco-friendly water balloons.  The grandkids will love theses, and so will their Mom with no mess.  Just toss in the washer if they get dirty.  Soak them in a bucket of water and toss. . . .a thin crochet thread dishcloth on a hook. I'm sure there are more on the hook, but I most likely won't get them all found until later this fall.  Garden season has taken over most of my time right now.

  I froze several cubes of pesto last summer, and needed to use some up.  I just "melted" it down in a skillet first. I then cracked a couple of eggs over it.  There is already oil in the pesto. Cover the pan for a bit, and then flip.  Top crusty bread.  Next time I will add a layer of cheese over the bread first.  Maybe ricotta or something to go with the pesto. 

  Garden goodness yesterday.  More asparagus and first cutting of rhubarb this year. Although I need a trip to the "big city" for supplies, I decided to surprise my husband with a strawberry rhubarb pie.  It's been quite a long time since I have baked any pie.  Oh my, I must not have had enough coffee before starting on this, ha ha ha!  I grabbed my deep dish pan and didn't realize it until I put the filling in, then I didn't cut the lattice pieces that even.   However, I cut exactly enough rhubarb for the recipe.  I use the recipe found at Sally's Baking Addition .  I use pie crust crumble crust recipe from King Arthur (where you freeze the dough and add ice water when you pull it from the freezer to use). Rain has not arrived as predicted, and things are very very dry outside.  Watering it all by hand, and thankful I haven't yet got the vegetable garden in.  However, the dry ground is making it difficult for tilling.

Gah, it may be a bad tick year here this year.  I mixed up some tick oil for us when we are outside (can be put on the dogs as well).    I put my laundry out on the line (sheets/towels), and when I went to get them down, I saw my plush bath towels covered in ticks.  I have never (ever) in my time living here have had ticks on my laundry.   I'm seriously considering getting some guinea hens.  It won't happen this year, but it's on the wish list.  The plan may be to use the coop I have for them, after building the new one for the chickens. (photo taken on my phone and transferred to computer, and they transfer distorted now.  Ugh.  Sorry, will try and stick with my camera) My poor husband is still recovering from working two midnight shifts followed by a first shift, so I made a nettle tea infusion for exhaustion. It's time to give this mystery box (crafting misc./books) away.  Comment below(that you want in on it), and I will draw a...

  I was weeding the mailbox flower bed and this guy scared the crap out of me.  I literally almost grabbed it thinking it was a stick.  I told my husband he has to weed it for me now. I literally did a back roll when I noticed it.  I'm sure anyone driving by got a laugh out of it. The barn birds have been busy making nests in the barns.  They will be taken down soon.  They are bombing me on the front porch now.  Sheesh. We bought a mole chasing windmill when we visited Amish country.  It works 75 yards in all directions.  I think we'll buy another one if we make another trip. I found one last bag of garden zucchini, so I whipped up a breakfast casserole yesterday.  This morning I will have more time to get other things done.