Pioneer Woman at Heart

Sprinkles arrived early yesterday morning, followed by thunder and lightning.  I decided to pull out all of my totes of items I sell at craft shows, take an inventory, write down what needs re-stocked, and price everything that wasn't.  I need to package the remaining items, and print labels for them, but now I need to replace my printer first.   In the process I was looking for salt and pepper shakers a Tupperware dealer gifted me (mini one's) at show we did.  I did not find them.  They were for the camper and as of yet I have not found them.  Hm. Either way, I filled yet another large box for donation.  I now need a storage container for all the camper bedding I am keeping to use for rag rugs. In the process of looking for the salt and pepper shakers, I have found more areas to purge and re-organize.   I also found this unfinished set of pot holders.  I didn't find the crocheted rug I was looking for.  Something in my foggy b...

I don't know if it's my internet or blogger, but I'm unable to read anyone's blog.  Hopefully blogger will fix it soon. More blooms from our glady's.  Oh, by the way, we were sitting on the front porch late evening and two hummingbirds were enjoying my tall purple phlox for the longest time ever.  It was fun to watch them. Rain is in the forecast today, but as of waking up we have zero.  I sure hope it does rain.  My garden actually needs it.  the mosquitoes are horrible this year, but we do need the rain. Road construction has started out in front of our homestead.  They literally just did this in 2012, and it really doesn't need done (there are worse routes that need re-surfaced).  I'm not looking forward to it, and the dogs will bark and bark.  Sigh. We had plans to go to another "big city" and then those plans changed and then we ended up not doing either.  The heat was horrible, and after Hubby worked in it all day, he just wanted t...

The heat returned and watering everything resumed.  The rabbits are horrible this year and have eaten the tops off most of my beets (so mad about this).  I've dumped cayenne pepper on it to deter them, but it may be too late.  Next year I'll have to fence it in.  We've never had this problem in 12-13 years. My mother's neighbor told her a trick - sprinkle cayenne in the garden.  I did this with the grow bags, sweet potatoes and other problem areas and so far it's working!!  So happy to see growth vs. chewed down tops. The green peppers are on thankfully.  So are the green beans.  I'm still waiting on more zucchini and yellow squash, but the tomatoes look great. One zucchini, last year's jalapenos, and last year's green peppers went into making a breakfast scramble for breakfast.  We are on the very last bag of frozen green peppers - just in time for this year's harvest.

Monday was a catch up all day.  Kitchen needed cleaned up, garden needed weeded etc. My hot peppers are loaded and I'm already putting some in the freezer.  The rest of the garden is slow going for some reason. One family member may be raising meat birds for extended family.  We will definitely be in on that, however they want to process them all themselves (we are talking 100-150).  Not sure if it'll happen, but we'll see.

We had a busy weekend, but sheesh, these birthday parties are taking over all our free time.  We have a lot of nieces and nephews that have lots of kids, and again, had a birthday party to attend.  I however, love that we can see family this year. Sunday the weather was awful.  Humidity was over the top.  Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather . . . 88°F/64°, sunny How I am feeling this morning . . . Not ready to take on the week, ha ha!   On the breakfast plate . . . Leftover French toast, coffee Looking around the house . . . I have a lot of extra camping stuff I need to either donate or put away. On my reading pile . . . Nothing this week, nor last week. On the TV . . . Virgin River On the menu . . . Honestly, I have no idea.  I'll need to take a look in the freezer and pantry and come up with some ideas. From the camera . . . I finally got around to try an Aperol Spritzer.  Not bad, but not cheap either.  It...

My first day of the camper purge was pretty successful.  Rain was in the forecast, but very little. The table in the camper folds down, and is a bed for 2.  Under one side of the table bench is a storage area. It's the biggest storage other than the outside front storage bin.   I tackled that area first. I kept extra pillows in there, because we often forgot to pack pillows for camping trips.  Lots of stuff went into a box for goodwill.  Some sheets were washed a saved for those spring frost blasts we get late in May (when we have to cover plants).  I also saved sheets for rag rugs, gave some enamel plates to one of my brothers. Games and doodle books went to Daughter E for her new apartment, along with a pizza pan (have no idea why that was in the camper), some cups/mugs, drawer storage tray, antique counter top mug holder, and other items. Some items went in the trash, like a pot holder that was beyond it's lifetime.  I had 10 pot holders in tha...

  Today is camper clean up day.  Outside and inside.   There is a lot to sort from the inside, but super excited to get it done.  We've attempted to do this for the last 3 days, but my husband has spent every night working on the mower.  I finally convinced him to set the camper up before he work on the mower, so I can work on the camper while he works on the mower. It's time to purge the camper.  We have bedding for 7 people and we don't need it anymore.  I'm sure there are kids games and odd stuff that will need to go to a new home. Out with the old and in with the new.  I've had that tan strainer since pre-kids.  Seriously.  It's cracked, stained and time to replace.  My husband is gonna faint when he finds out.  I kept telling him it was my most used strainer. The new red one is bigger, which I do like. Sunrise from a few days ago.

Yesterday I had more laundry than anticipated, so the clothesline was working over time. Hot peppers are doing great again this year, but darn it all, the rabbits are killing my greens and beets.  I'm so frustrated this year. Oh, the cayenne must only be working to deter the snakes, not the rabbits.  I put two more flood lights out there now, but need about 3 more.  I chased off 3 deer the other morning too. The first year to see wild grapes growing. My mad hatters are getting big and plants are loaded. The ladies are happy with their nicely cleaned up coop.  Yes, they need a new ramp, but it's not high on the list since we plan to build a new one for them.  By evening they had kicked half their straw out the door.

The day our mower guy came out to mow, he hit something and bent the mower blade.   New blades were purchased, but half the mowing was done.  It was a battle to repair, but hopefully it'll be completed tonight.  My husband had a heck of a time getting the old blade off. I made it in to the "Big City" for some errands.  I needed more twine to tie up the tomatoes and other items.  I also needed some items to work on the pop-up camper. Daughter K had the day off, and when she is off all day and home, it typically involves an adult beverage.  Ha ha!  We were just refilling out wine rack at home.  She put another bottle in the cart after I took that photo.  We wanted to try a new cocktail, but one ingredient has been hard to locate so far. Arriving back home, I scrambled to get things done before dinner.  First, I made a batch of coconut (no sugar) flour waffles.  My husband had a to-go breakfast this morning.  In between each ...

 (since the last handiwork post) . . . finished the XL purple pot holder.  It was made to match some hot pads I recently made.  Although, I used the solid color to edge it. . . .spray painted two more mini clip boards for future gift giving.  I decorate them, add a pad of paper.  Instructions are on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot. . . . spraying a clear coat on Daughter E's latest craft project.  I wanted her to buy the ladybug, but she insisted on this one.  It's a garden stone. . . . crocheted a set of pot holders . . .crocheted a matching XL hot pad . . .progress on a knitted dishcloth.

My husband had to work all weekend, but we managed to get to the gathering regarding the loss of one daughter's boyfriend a year ago.  Oh my, we love those families/friends.  It was a good turn out, including classmates of his and daughter E's.  So many good laughs and good times and even tears, but so thankful we all got together. Something I learned (although some of you may already know this). . . I have never cooked with flank steak before (believe it or not).  I bought some last week and sliced it and grilled it for philly's sandwiches.  What did I learn?  Well, I was watching America's Test Kitchen (love that show) and watched them prepare a recipe using flank steak. What did I learn?  I learned it has little fat and you must pound it before cooking, to tenderize it.  I literally did not know this until I watched the show.   I will be buying flank steak again and giving it a try the right way. Ha ha!  It always makes me excite...

I dug in my heals and got to cleaning Friday morning, but boy oh' boy did I keep getting side tracked. I left dishes to soak, went to toss bedding in the washer, started to pick up the bedroom (camping clothes etc) and forgot about the dishes.  Put biker boots in the closet and saw the bag of netting I needed to cut.  You get the picture, ha ha! I got back to dishes and something caught my eye (or thoughts) I need to get my salve made. Well, that didn't happen. We woke up to rain again, and the road is starting to flood.  We had lots of rain yesterday and no time for it to dry up. I've managed to write out some shopping lists for the first dry day we have.  I need twine to tie up tomatoes (again), and some items to do a complete cleaning on the pop up camper (more on that later). Today is the day Daughter E's boyfriend and best friend were killed in a car accident one year ago.  The family is hosting a backyard get together, so both families can be with one anot...

  A bit of rosemary made it's way to the dehydrator. I picked more radishes.  Enough to make dip again, but this time I used garlic powder (garlic scape season is pretty much done). Although hot and humid, and a complete soaking muddy mess, I managed to free the bean plants from their blood sucking weeds.  What a job on such a hot day, but I beat the rain in the process thankfully. We are now under a flash flood alert with rain all day today and tomorrow. Daughter E is leaving the salon she is working for, and moving up to a salon that does hair color/highlights etc.  Risky move (requires booth rent), as she is also getting her apartment next month.  We hope she does very well.   Something I learned - one of the large flea markets located in Amish country in Ohio are closing their doors the end of October 2021.  Holmes County flea market sold their building.  Sad to hear, as it was one of the main reasons to visit the area.  The Walnut C...

  How most days have been lately.  Rain. It's been nice not having to water, and all is doing great other than the rabbits eating my sweet potato tops off.  The weeds are out of control.  We need some dry days so I can get in it and weed.  Oddly, it looks like it could rain this morning, and when I checked the forecast it said high of 89 degrees and sun all day.  Hm.  I guess I will find out soon enough this morning.  It's been very humid here too. We are once again having problems with our internet.  We had to call and have them "ping" our address (again).  Now my husband wants to look into Dish.  The only other option out here in the country, but we'll see how the rest of the week is.

The  weather was not wrong this week.  We are getting rain off and on, but so much on that the weeds will be an issue.   I ordered a very large container of cayenne pepper.  I can't keep up with the rabbits and the snakes are out of control.  I'll be giving it a try to deter both from the garden.  The snakes keep other pests out, but they also keep me out of the garden ha ha! It paid to open every envelope that I had in my old small lock box.  I have now purged that mess of paperwork.  I found an autograph I got as a young child, while in FL at an old motel visiting my Aunt.  It's from Norm Crosby.  Mom saved it and gave it too me years ago and I have uncovered it again.  Not sure what I will do with it ha ha!  Anyway, glad I got that old mess of paperwork gone. We went and looked at a hard sided camper last night.  It doesn't have a slide out, but has a shower, toilet and hot water.

Campfire Beer Cheese 2 - 8 oz. blocks of organic (or homemade) cream cheese 3 cups organic shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup beer (I used Wicked Easy, what I had on hand) 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (or homemade) 1/4 cup organic ranch dressing 1/4 cup organic blue cheese crumbles Melt all ingredients over a campfire in a cast iron skillet.  Top with chopped homegrown chives and serve with veggies, organic tortilla chips or homemade soft pretzels. Note:  I made this in my crockpot to give it a taste test before making it during a camping trip and it worked great.  It only took a few hours.  Leftovers reheated nicely too. What is your favorite way(s) to use pickled carrots? I'm wondering if those last few cold spells killed my red raspberry blossoms - zero berries.  However, the blackberries are doing great.  Squash blossoms are on!

We got our first camping trip in this year.  We haven't camped since 2019. Although we decided (and a good decision) to pack up early before the rain hit, we had a wonderful time. I'm definitely going to be working on new campfire recipes for future trips.  We needed a dose of nature. Yesterday, my husband and I took Mom lunch and had a nice time catching up.   Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather . . . Rain.  Lots of rain. Not sure why the photo is so blurry, but you can see the rain in the forecast anyway. How I am feeling . . . Sad to not be on our weekend vacation, but ready to tackle the housework I guess. On the breakfast plate . . . Blueberry pancakes, sausage and coffee. Looking around the house . . . It's a mess.  I have camping stuff to put away, tidy the kitchen, sweep and mop it, do some dishes, empty dishwasher, do laundry, purge a small lock box, purge a filing cabinet, get Daughter K to clean her stuff off one...