Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Our house has been a mess since Christmas.  Covid kept us from tidy work, and before that a sprained ankle, then Mom's health and total focus on her.  I miss her already, and often reach for my cell phone a certain time of time, and realize I won't be calling her like I used to.   Back to the messy house part.  I feel like the more I try to clean up, the worse it looks, as Daughter K has started the moving out process. Boxes of stuff everywhere. We, due to limited vehicles (still), moved her bed last night.  It felt like it was a drive across country for us.  My husband and I slept in past the sunrise (almost never happens). We are just exhausted with everything that has recently happened, that we just needed the rest. I can't say, that I personally, have gotten enough rest. In fact, things have been so out of whack, that I guess I missed paying the January internet bill.  The internet went out the other day, and when I called to report an ...

  I went to the porch to get the garden cart, to fill with wood, and found 2 boxes delivered.  One contained sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies, which were sent from Daughter K's boyfriend's mother and grandmother.  What a nice surprise (sent due to the passing of Mom/Grandma). The other bigger box was sent to Daughter K from the business she works.  It was a grant that they had for employees getting covid.  They were a month late, but it was mostly food, but also contained disinfectant wipes, tissues and chapstick. We woke up to a very cold morning, snow and a lot of ice.  Lovely.   My green bell pepper seeds are finally sprouting, as well as some of the hot pepper seeds.  I am looking forward to spring.

  (Mom and Aunt J at her favorite place - the beach) Thank you all for your condolences, kind words and prayers during this difficult time.  I really do appreciate you all. I know there will be things/places that will come across in my future that will bring back memories of Mom.  Her favorite travel spots, foods, books, flowers, popcorn from Amish country trips, wine, color....all good memories. If any of us missed a family get together she would be mad for a few days, but I can guarantee you'd make the next one (ha ha!). I know there will be things/places that will come across in my future that will bring back memories of Mom.  Her favorite travel spots, foods, books, flowers, popcorn from Amish country trips, wine, color....all good memories.   If any of us missed a family get together she would be mad for a few days, but I can guarantee you'd make the next one (ha ha!).   It's been a huge whirlwind of grief and emotions.   She absolutel...

  My mother passed away on Saturday, February 19th.  It's been a whirlwind of emotions.  I'll be back when I am able to.

Here are a few photos from the ice storm.  The sun was shining and everything looked so beautiful.  These photos do't show the true beauty that it created. I finally made dinner for us three.  I tried a new recipe too, and it was delicious  - Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower (Ahead of Thyme).  I used home grown garlic and it was so good.  I can't wait to make it with summer bounty and add fresh herbs to it as well. It's only going to be a high of 20 degrees today.  Our low around 9 degrees.  I can hear the nasty wind whistling outside already.  I tried to sleep in, but yeah 7am was it.  My husband however, is snoring.  

Our rain turned to ice, sleet and snow.  It's an ice rink out there today.  Windows are frozen over and we can't even see out them.  There is a level 1 road emergency in place today, and roads are slick, some schools closed, and many, many power outages around our area.  Thank goodness ours is on. Daughter K has secured an apartment with her boyfriend (until they buy a house of their own).  I hope I'm not repeating myself, but my brain is over loaded with emotions right now.  She's been filling up her car with items to donate before the big move. We are literally hanging on emotion-wise.  Hospice is taking good care of Mom.  I have been up to sit with her almost daily, and all of us are overwhelmed with a roller coaster of emotions. Most nights we don't even eat dinner.  I still haven't made dinner, but tonight I will use every last energy zap I have to make something.  I was reminded to take care of ourselves, and eat properly, take bre...

The weather is typical for us right now.  It's 55°F and 100% rain. Tomorrow high is 26°F.  We still have snow.  In fact, I had a horrible time trying to muck the coop yesterday.  The huge snow drifts turned into icebergs.  It was halfway done until the snow melts. I'm gifting my niece and nephew (my younger brother's kids) a crocheted tic-tac-toe game.  It will keep them occupied, and is great for traveling.  The board is a bag that holds the pieces for the game.

The "has been in the closet for years" project is now finished!  I love the border.  You chose yellow for the last round.  It has been washed and is drying to pack up for the next grand child.  It was a fun pattern to do, but a long project.  I am just glad it's done and off the "unfinished" list. Daughter K picked this yarn out for a house warming gift (full size blanket).  I'm not sure her boyfriend will like it, but ha!  I will need to go back to the store for more, but first need to calculate how much will be needed. I think I will also buy them a wine rack and some wine.  I have some time to think about it, but the blanket must get started now, as we are heading into the garden season next. I have a lot to knock off the to-do list, but first outside stuff.  Rain is on the way, and in a bad way.  We  need to cut more wood and get it split, and I promised to cook dinner tonight.  There is literally so much going on in our mi...

Valentine's Day did not go by without making something special.  I whipped up some crocheted hanging hearts, in two different colors.  I put them on the bulletin board in Mom's nursing home room.  She loves hearts.  The quick pattern is on this blogspot:   http://threadbarecreations.blogspot.com/2021/01/easy-crochet-heart.html

  Yesterday's rain turned everything to slush, which froze over last night.  It's a sheet of ice out there now.  I warned our daughter before taking the dogs out this morning.   We had a visit with Mom, and will be visiting again today.  My younger brother took one of her cats into her room for her to see. Daughter E surprised us with a visit last night, and just in time for dinner.  Daughter K made us chicken alfredo last night for dinner and it was delicious.  I was thrilled she offered to cook, and she said she needs to do it more to prepare moving out with her boyfriend. Daughter E tried on her halter top I crocheted and it fits.  She was tickled pink to take leftovers home with her. I was happy to see her and the fact I didn't have to cook dinner. I will need to cook this weekend though.  Not sure what yet, but first I need to wake up with some coffee.  We all slept in this morning. Oh, while shopping at Wal-mart the other day,...

My husband, the sweet man that he is, secretly booked a B & B for the night prior to Valentine's Day.  Yesterday morning he canceled it in lieu of the updates regarding Mom's health.  They were very kind, and did not charge a fee to cancel.  We will re-book in the future. Daughter K and I went to visit Mom (Gram) at the nursing home.  My heart breaks for Mom right now.  It took every millimeter in my body not to cry in front of her.  We had to get nurses to help her with something, and I have to say that they are so nice.  They came in the room ASAP and helped Mom with getting her comfortable.  Just a really good staff to have for her right now. We were so emotionally exhausted arriving home, that I sent a text to my husband begging him to bring home dinner.  I was in no condition to cook dinner.  I was literally in PJ's by 3:30pm, fired stoked, chickens tended, mail brought in, and by 4:00pm, had an adult drinky drink in my han...

Yesterday's challenge?  Walk to where we dump the ash pail without having to walk miles around more drifts left from the storm. (Old Photo) I know Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, but the football game will be on for sure.  I think this is the first year I have not been motivated to create nor start a Valentine's Day crochet project.  Mom's favorite items are heart shaped and made with mostly pink yarns.  I'm just emotionally spent this season. Are you creating anything for the holiday? Our friends continue to ask us to join them again for a trip to Daytona Bike Week.  We have told them no.  One, Mom's health is not good, and two I personally didn't want to go (two times was enough for me).  I guess a few people have backed out on the trip, leaving rooms available to fill, so hopefully they will find someone else to go.  They are all flying this year, and one person is trailering the bikes.  Speaking of Mom, she was given an antibiotic...

  Making things easier, I decided on a steel cut oats breakfast (crock pot) recipe.  I had apples and raisins and all the other ingredients needed.   I also made a pan of kamut flake bars for snacking (recipe is online with the Kamut brand).  Once that was checked off the list, housework resumed. We had a full day of beautiful sunshine.  It felt great to be out in it.  I however, forgot to take my camera.  I did snap a photo of the early sunrise. I lied about the baby blanket border.  After finishing round 1, I looked at the pattern and saw that it has 4 rounds.  It's been the longest baby blanket project, but will be able to soon say I finished it.  I'm on round 3 right now.   I'm trying to decide what color of baby blanket to gift our grand-niece.  I have a baby green one done, and a light purple one.  I'll check on what color booties I already have, but I think I depleted the supply (lots of babies this year)...

I made good strides yesterday, but once again fizzled out about noon-ish.  Oh my gosh, I have to get a photo of the drift in front of the coop.  Maybe today I'll take the camera out.  Thankfully, it stopped short of about a foot from the coop, so I can just narrowly squeeze between the drift the coop to get into it. There is no melting going on either, and we could use it.   I managed to make a meatloaf, mashed potatoes and dug a bag of frozen corn off the cob for dinner last night.  I however, now have a sink full of dishes to do (again).  It's never ending.  The dishwasher is full of clean dishes, so it's a rinse and repeat of yesterday.  I didn't even get the vacuum out, so that is still on the to-do list. I am up early, so fire is stoked, and coffee is brewed.  I am thankful to have breakfast leftovers for my husband's to-go meal, but will have to bake something for the rest of the week. Daughter K is back home, but working full days...

It's still cold here, and we got more snow.  My husband I spent most of the day at the hospital visiting Mom.  They allow two people in the building, but one at a time at her bedside.  They will do more testing with her today.  Her memory is still hit and miss, and she's feeling exhausted. When I first went into Mom's room, she asked where she was and why.  She said she didn't know how to use her TV, so I helped her with that, showed her the button to turn it off and on, and so forth.  She said she loves to watch the cooking channels, so I found one for her.  I think it got her hungry, because she ordered herself a good lunch before we left.  She hasn't been eating much lately. We couldn't stay at the hospital the entire full day, as we had animal duty back home.  Daughter K is still out of town, so we had dogs to take out, a cat and rabbit to feed etc.  We fed and watered the chickens before we left the house. I have collected a few rec...

The boys came out and plowed out the 3-4 foot drifts that buried a few cars.  They sped off before I could pay them though.  Little turds that they are.  We'll catch up with them soon.  Thankfully, they plowed out the mailbox area for us as well. Woke up to a wind chill of 1°F this morning. I have a 5 foot drift blocking my chicken coop, so after I slowly wake up with some coffee, and get a warm shower, I'll be outside shoveling a path for that. Daughter K is out of town visiting with her boyfriend.  They are looking at more apartments.  That means I have dog, cat and rabbit duty.  Jasper (cat) is already meowing at me from the stairs. My sinus medications have not kicked in just yet.  Hopefully today will be the day.  I'm getting tired of being tired (and sick). We are having trouble getting someone affordable to replace the brakes on the car.  Normally, my mechanic husband does the repairs, but we have the Chevelle in the garage r...

I did the usual "storm prep" Wednesday- washed, dried and put away all the dishes, ran dishwasher, emptied dishwasher, finished any laundry etc.  We just got rain all day, but snow moved in the last two days.  In fact, Daughter K's car is buried in a snow drift this morning.  Smart husband parked out at the end of the drive and got out this morning.  I'm waiting to make sure he made it to work though.  Some roads he takes to work are impassable if not cleared. Daughter K made an attempt to get to work yesterday.  She called and was stuck in a drift between two main roads to get there.  She ended up coming home and calling off work.  Our county Sheriff only called a road emergency level 1 at the time, later changing it to a 2, but said "he'd never call a level 3" and this is why we all tried to vote him out of his position.  He just can't do his job. There were too many accidents yesterday just during the level 1 warning.  Some businesses...

We are expected to get up to 16 inches of snow in our area.  Over the next two days, the weather is said to be bad, but no snow is falling as of this morning. I attempted to clean the coop, but could not get the barn doors open to get the cleaning tools, nor the straw.  By the time my husband got home, it was too late (after unloading more firewood from the truck). I am pretty sure I have a sinus infection.  I've battled laryngitis for almost 2 weeks now.  Just one more thing to deal with.  I'll call my doctor first, but most likely will have to deal with the bad weather/roads and an urgent care visit. Until then, it's loading up on vitamins, lots of water, sipping teas, gargling, and salt water nasal spray. As of right now, we don't even see rain in the area (forecasted first).  It will be interesting what actually happens in our area. In the meantime, if you are a praying sort, please pray for my Mom.  She is now back in the hospital in ICU....

We continue to have crazy weather.  Snow fog so bad you can't see the driveway or the highway.  Crazy (yesterday morning). I'm already making a to-do list in regards to homesteading/food stock-age etc.  I've depleted some homemade freezer items.   Beautiful sky this morning.  There is an advantage of having to go out early for wood for the wood stove.