Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Has anyone tried this with your tomato plants?  I keep seeing it shared online.  You put a banana peel in a jar, add water, let it sit for 1-2 days then pour it at the base of you tomato plant for a better harvest, bigger plant etc.  There are so many different directions to make this as well.  Some say cut the peel up, only let it sit one hour.  Then there are dehydrated recipes to chop the peel up with egg shells.  Any tips on this would be appreciated.  I already crush and drop egg shells in the garden. It's going to be even hotter today, and my husband insisted I stay out of the garden today.  I'll water, even though it says it will rain, because if I don't it won't rain. I actually got some crochet time in yesterday, and created something new.  I'll be sure to share a picture soon.

I've been busy weeding the tomatoes.  All 112 of them.  I am using a hand hoe until my smaller tiller arrives.  I have to stay on top of it.  Yes, the flower beds and herb garden are still waiting on me.  I am working solo.  My husband had to work Sunday and today.  No outdoor get together for us this year.  No grilling, no anything but garden work. However, the heat sent me inside.  I finally finished this order for a shop.  I had all but one already made, so that was nice.  I do need more buttons for making more though.  A trip to the craft store is on the agenda, but not soon. The heat will be worse today.  I'll be out there early to beat the heat and keeping an eye on things.  Yesterday I found that something dug up my cherry tomato plant, but left it.  It's been replanted and watered.  Praying it comes back to life, as I do not want to spend more money on a new plant.  It already had cherry tomatoe...

I had just finished a mountain of dishes, when I remembered I needed to find an un-finished project that needs done ASAP.  I spent about a half hour  finding the project, but no pattern. Well, I need to organize my patterns on a day I have nothing important on the to-do list.  I could not, for the life of me, find the pattern anywhere.  Of course, the house is in chaotic order right now, but I am thankful it was still on the internet.  Whew! Today's morning project - bagging garlic to fend of raccoons and deer.  Be sure not to put this near some vegetables that do not like garlic.  I am also hanging in the fruit trees.  Someone told us they do this and it works.  We'll find out if it works or not.  I bought some cheap garlic from the store to do this project. I have spent some time searching for close, fun destinations for my husband and I.  He sometimes has a day off, some weeks not.  I am having fun finding about new things t...

  Although we didn't get a lot of rain during the day yesterday, we got a good amount last night. I took advantage of it, and did some baking.  I make Mom's favorite snack (just because), and I tried a new recipe (as well as a 2 crock pot dinner - hot pepper mustard sauce over meatballs in one and sweet potatoes/thyme/garlic in another). The new recipe?  Bacon, cheese, jalapeno bread.  I used the frozen jalapenos from last year's garden, estimating "2" jalapenos, and left the seeds in (that is the way I freeze them).  We both loved it!  I'm adding the recipe to my "taco" night family get together.  It took time to make it, and a lot of ingredients, but so good!  I added the optional green onion, because the herb garden is producing well, although needs weeded badly. Daughter K arrived for another pick up, but did not bring her trash bags down stairs.  I was busy in the kitchen, and didn't realize it until she already left.  Anyway, more ...

  The garden is finally in.  I just have to drop some zinnia and dill seeds this morning before it rains, and put my garden cart back where it belongs. I bought a pack of 25 wooden, 5 foot tomato stakes online and got it shipped free to the house.  Funny story about the tomatoes.   I was planting when Daughter K called.  She asked if she would be the one getting any extra slicer tomatoes.  I would always grow them for Mom.  Guess who hopped in the truck and went and bought her a plant in the middle of planting?  Yep. That was me, but I also got me an extra hot banana, as mine did not all sprout. You know it was a long day in the garden, when you don't see me post so early today.  I slept very well, ha ha! Our friend came over and cleaned all the metal out of the burn pile.  He loaded up his truck and that job is done as well. I painted one more cabinet door, and cleaned some of a junk drawer out.  Then I called it a night. We h...

Last week I tried a new all-in-one crock pot meal - spaghetti and meatballs (with homemade ingredients).  We did not like it.  The pasta cooked too long for our taste. My husband and I enjoyed another harvest of asparagus.  I don't know that we'll gut much more.  I'm so glad we tilled and are expanding this in the garden. My to-do list has increased like you would not believe.  I am being told that my husband may not get the holiday off work now.  Not sure the honey-do list will happen.  So frustrated with this schedule this year. I happened to check my fit bit and account associated with our insurance and his work.  They increased the points from 3000 to 4000, so I have to find out if the absolute required increased from 1000.  That would not be good, considering the amount of work I am doing on my own with the gardens.

I am so thankful I have my husband, and his full and complete support in life.  No matter what is stressing me, he is always there for me, even with this long, long hours at work. He continues to work (coffee pot is pre-set for 4:15am) 12 hour days, 6 days a week, with about an hour to work and back.  If someone asks for his help with something, it needs to be super important, because he is exhausted when he arrives home.  He only gets one day off, and yesterday we had a date. Many people also assume I have all the free time in the world, because I am not employed.  I'm frankly tried of explaining how busy I am lately as well.  Between the garden, the kitchen painting, herb garden, and flower beds, I am exhausted by 6pm.  Sunday was a well over due sanity saver day off with my husband. Well, most of the day off.  We worked on a list of things that had to be done up until about 11:30am, and I got 3 things out of the garage we don't use anymore as well. ...

I finally moved my Mom's plants from my bedroom to the living room. However, they will have to be moved to the kitchen somewhere to start ripping out the carpet and investigating the floor issue in that room.   We are delayed on the kitchen bathroom, due to our hired help continuing to heal from a hernia surgery.  I am delaying the painting of that bathroom door until that is completed.  It will be easier to paint the door off the hinges anyway, and easier to gut it with the door off. I got 99 tomato plants planted (yes, by myself), but 11 more need tomato stakes.  I went to one TSC location and they wanted $4.59 per 5 foot wooden stake.  Let's just say I'm still looking for them at a reasonable price. I picked up my kitchen cabinet door that I had a piece of glass installed.  They only charged me $15.00 for it, and I was so happy.  I'll be back there to have screens re-screened soon.  They are local and do a great job. I plan to cover the gl...

  Update on my desk area in the kitchen.  I absolutely love it!  I painted the inside of the kitchen front door the same color as well. I have to paint above the window, and the computer can be finally moved back where it was.  I put peel and stick barnwood on the computer keyboard tray as well. On top of the kitchen painting, I have the gardens to work in.  I still need to get the peppers in, have to weed and plant in the herb garden and flower beds. I spent the day painting, putting laundry out, and cleaning more upstairs.  I took 3 garbage bags down, plus brought 3 large boxes down to use in the garden under the grow bags.  I took a small shelf unit downstairs to the roadside and hope someone will take it. We are not liking these long work hours my husband has.  His to-do list is growing, so I am googling on the "how to" and doing some things myself. Once I'm done in the kitchen we start on gutting the rest of the smaller bathroom.  W...

Although we have been told that the latest spike of covid is an actual common cold, we are watching our health right now, as a family member was tested positive.  My best friend also told me her friend tested positive last Sunday. Afternoons are the hardest lately, if I chose to quit working early.  I miss my afternoon calls to Mom horribly.  I just want to pick up my phone and call her most days. Not one of my serrano pepper plants sprouted, and I finally (after a long search) found one. I've been very busy every day, so I surprised my husband with a meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn.  I also tried a new recipe - peanut butter pie.  I wanted to try this for family gatherings.  It was delicious!  The peanut butter pie we ate in Amish country was terrible.  As well as the one in town at a local business.  Both of them tasted like it was all marshmallow.  The new recipe is a keeper.  It is not overly sweet and filling like a cheeseca...

Sharing some early blooms.  Don't mind the weeds, I haven't had time to get to that yet. Planting the vegetable garden has begun.  All by my little ol' self, and I was not looking forward to doing it alone this year. Spent the entire (well most of it) out there, and I'm not done.  I still have to plant the bell peppers and all of the hot peppers yet. There is a lot we are not able to plan due to my husband's miserable long hours. He hired someone to till for us, and even tried to hire me help with the "take back the kitchen" painting project, and attempted to hire me help with the garden.  The truth is, is that everyone we know works, works and has a garden, has a garden, or is busy with other such stuff. I'm more than exhausted and welcome today's rain. It better rain anyway. We have had some beautiful 70's weather lately, and I'm thrilled we haven't had a reason to turn the AC on yet.  I got the vents cleaned, but not the filters and ...

I'm so not used to this new work schedule for my husband.  It's crazy on Sunday's.  We had plans to take a motorcycle ride to de-stress, and due to morning must-do's, we never got one in. The garden however, is tilled.  Not but us.  We literally had to hire someone, and it was done in about a half hour.  Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather . . .  Rain, 75°/52°, looks like we'll linger around the upper 70's all week, but will have to dodge the rain to plant. As I look outside the window . . .  see above, rain... Right now I am . . . Posting this. Thinking and pondering . . .  ...which part of the kitchen to start with this morning. How I am feeling . . .  Exhausted.  I asked Daughter E if she would help  me plant my tomatoes.  She has to work. On the breakfast plate . . . Leftover Southern Sausage Enchiladas with homemade sausage gravy.  Coffee. On my reading pile . . . Trick or Treat ...

  All those egg shells from the breakfast I made, plus more, made their way to the garden area where the tomatoes will be planted.  I don't even crush them up, because the tiller does that job. We have not turned on the AC, although it's been hot and humid.  Mainly because I have not had time to clean the vents and filters yet. 

My husband and his crew are getting taco breakfast burritos.  I had to cheat and use tater tots vs. real potatoes, but it's their heat and eat meal this morning. I spent the entire day painting.  I have officially used almost an entire roll of frog tape.  The trim on the ceiling takes the most work.  I have a second coat to do on one window and start on the very last window. Window blinds arrived, but I'm only ready to install one for the moment.  I am still doing painting on the wood above the window and sink area. My new drawer knobs arrived.  I have to buy longer screws for the desk drawers, but what an amazing new look with just paint and knobs. Before After, but still in progress I'm still painting floor trim and corner trims, so those in the back ground are the darker wood I am painting white. Our asparagus is still coming in.  So thankful for that.  

  We've been having beautiful weather lately.  My garden starts are loving it too.  I'm just starting to get worried about getting the tilling and planting done. I played hooky and went to the "big city" and had lunch with my bestie from high school.  It was nice for a change, because I have been so busy in the kitchen lately. I'm seeing more businesses closed, and I'm seeing more shortages of different items as well.   I may need to make my own ricotta.  The last few times I needed some, I had a terrible time finding it.  I filled up the truck yesterday - $4.30/gallon.  Toilet paper we typically by on sale for $7.99 was on sale for $13.99. I tried a new recipe - Lasagna stuffed chicken. Organic chicken is very expensive as well, but my husband loved it.  Recipe is online with The Stay at Home Chef.

  It has been nice weather to get the laundry and bedding out on the line.  I had it out early and painted for 3 hours.  Painting trim is a pain, but I am getting more done if I stay home ha ha!  I'm almost done with the upper cabinets.  I have about 3 to go, and paint the doors as well.  Four doors went back up last night. Progress is being made. I know we are ripping out the carpet, but I wanted to spot clean in case we sell the other 2 pieces of furniture.  Put the plants out to harden, and totally forgot to put my mail in the mailbox.  Oops. I got to enjoy a few minutes of porch time and could smell my lilacs all the way out there.  I went and cut some before they were gone for the season.  I picked a bit more asparagus.  Hopefully it will be a side dish in a few days if I get enough. I worked in the master bath, purging another cabinet.  I think I have a few drawers to go, but more progress there as well.

Not very often, but when we have leftover coffee, I freeze it into cubes for my husband's coffee (he likes to cool it down enough to drink right away).  You lift that white tab, and pour it right it.  Works great. Prices on everything are going up.  We paid $8 a package for brats to grill on Mother's Day, gas was $4.09 last week and is up more this week to $4.19, propane went up, and many more things.   I saw beautiful hanging baskets a few days before Mother's Day and didn't buy them. Went back after Mother's Day and nothing left.  Hmpf.  I should have known better.  I went to Menards, and the same situation.  Plus their prices are horrible this year. I'm so happy I can use my clothesline to lower our electric bill, plus the laundry smells so good.

It's going to be a warm, gorgeous day today.  We'll hit the 80's. I picked more asparagus, so I roasted some last night with rosemary.  Oh my gosh!  Delicious!  So much more flavor than from the store.  It's been a year waiting for this bounty. My favorite garlic to plant in our area is Music garlic.  The first year we spring planted, and every year after that we fall planted. I'm so depressed.  I went out to the garden to start prepping for the year, and found all of my garlic eaten but 3.  My guess, from research, is that a squirrel (or more than one) was the culprit.  Never in all the years here has this happened. Rabbits, deer and ground hogs do not like garlic, so I am just guessing.  They have plenty of black walnuts to provide, so I am stumped as to why it happened, other than the smell of the dogs is not out there anymore (guess I'm gettin' a dog). I want to now spring plant my garlic, so it cost me an arm and a leg to order some...

Mother's Day this year was a bit on the rough side, but my wonderful family got me thru it. First, we talked about my husband booking an appointment with Daughter E for a much needed haircut.  She was booked solid, so I texted and asked if she could make a special house call, considering Sunday is his only (and only) day off. Second, we needed to be home at noon.  A lady was coming with her Dad to look at the pie safe, and she was out the door with it in minutes.  She loved it.  One piece of furniture sold and two more to go now. My husband cleaned up the front porch, Daughter K helped put furniture on it, and the burn pile was finally burned down. My husband, myself, and Daughter K drove to the cemetery to visit Mom.  I wasn't surprised to see that my previous flowers were gone (that was a terrible wind storm in March).  I will need to buy more for Grandma and Grandpa's now. I have to say, I think this year was the best Mother's Day I've had in a...

  I'm starting to panic about the garden getting planted.  We should have tilled last Sunday.  It's been nothing but rain, rain, and more rain.  Rain today and tomorrow as well.  I'm not sure any tilling will get done Sunday, and that was the plan.  We will not be planting peas either (sad face here).  It's too late.  They would be coming up by now. I spent most of my day cooking for my husband's birthday, so I start today with a sink full of dirty dishes, but worth it. He was so happy to come home, after a 12 hour day, and get homemade Einkorn peanut butter cookies, and homemade sloppy joes and sweet potato fries. I picked a few more asparagus, so that is on the menu soon.  I feel like we are not getting as much this year for some reason. I am relieved however, to find out that work is buying my husband's crew brunch on Saturday.  I thought I would be cooking all day today, but thankfully not.  I will be painting again. When I was ...