Pioneer Woman at Heart
One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!
One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
Adopted Motto
"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Banana Peel/Water for Tomato Plants ~ Hot Day!
Monday, May 30, 2022
Working Solo
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 tomatoes on the plant as well.
My wheelbarrow has a flat tire. Hubby promised to replace it, but he's not had time for that. It may be on my to-do list this week.
I feel like I am juggling all things that need done really. Painting continues, but limited to space (painting floor trim on saw horses). I finally cleaned out the leather trunk that was on our first motorcycle, and it's up for sale. Today, I really need to remember to check on laundry. The garden work makes me forget the regular chores around here.
My trips to the grocery have been very few lately. My last trip was to get some quinoa chips for queso to go with tacos. I was in complete shock to see the price almost $6.00!!! I am so glad we planted what we did, after sticker shock at the store. I'm am, however, keeping an eye on staying stocked up.
Friday, May 27, 2022
This and That
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!
Thursday, May 26, 2022
Rain ~ Baking Day ~ Mowing Day
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 is out of my front room and upstairs.
Painting continues. I can only paint one thing on the saw horses due to humidity, and the AC remains off. The mowing was done. There was a window of opportunity in the day, where the sun came out, before the rain came back.
I worked for a bit in the utility room, but that is limited due to all the bathroom stuff put in there. We are still waiting on our hired help to start gutting the smaller bathroom, which reminds me, we still need to buy the flooring for in there.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
The garden is in!!
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.
I planted 55 hot peppers, and one is new - golden cayenne. Planted 33 bell peppers, and two types of lettuce. We didn't get to plant everything we wanted this year like peas and potatoes, but I'm happy with what I got in considering everything that was going on this year.
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
This and That
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.
Monday, May 23, 2022
Happy Homemaker Monday
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 will join up when she posts.
The weather . . .
Back to beautiful 70's.
As I look outside my window . . .
My herb garden is such a hot mess of weeds, and there is more to be planted in all of the gardens - vegetable, herb and flower.
Right now I am . . .
Getting ready to post this.
Thinking and pondering . . .
...about a long vacation next year due to the long work hours this year, the closing on the sale of Mom's house is tomorrow, not sure we'll get to go camping this year
How I am feeling . . .
Rejuvenated, but not looking forward to the next few weeks. There has been talk of my husband getting no days off now.
On the breakfast plate . . .
Leftover homemade blueberry pancakes, local blueberry sausages and organic coffee.
On my reading pile . . .
Haven't had time to read.
On my TV this week . . .
Smokey and the Bandit
On the menu . . .
-tacos, queso
-have no idea for the rest yet.
Looking around the house . . .
...so much to do yet
The to-do list . . .
-floors
-paint
-start working in the utility room of what I can for now
From the camera . . .
Oddly, nothing
Prayers . . .
Our friend Aaron. He continues to heal from on infection after surgery.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Tidbits
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 glass in the cabinet door with an etched peel and stick design.
The heat will lower tomorrow, after todays storms, so that will be a relief. I need to work on the mess upstairs as well as paint, and it can get hot up there. The nearest Humane Society is doing their big garage sale days and taking donations, so I want to get whatever they left boxed up and donated.
Storms are moving in the area, so I will not being running any errands. I had to move any remaining garden plants indoors until it passes. All outdoor work is delayed for now.
Friday, May 20, 2022
Crazy Busy!
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Ramblings ~ New Recipe Tried
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 so busy, I've been terrible at checking my email that is hooked up to my blog, terrible at commenting on blogs and even reading them. I will try and do better at that as I get the garden and flower beds done.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Let the planting begin!
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Happy Homemaker Monday ~ A Day Late
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.
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Egg Shells in the Garden
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.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Heat and Eat Breakfast ~ Painting Progress ~ Asparagus
Friday, May 13, 2022
Hooky ~ Shortages/Businesses Closed and othe ramblings
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Nice weather ~ Painting and purging continues
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.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
New Kitchen Gadget ~ Coffee Cubes and other ramblings
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Asparagus ~ Garlic....where did it go?!
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 to plant. I didn't record how many I planted last year for some reason. I think it was a crazy fall due to my husband's sister passing away from covid, and Mom's health declining.
I typically plant 80-100 cloves, so this is a tremendous loss with organic garlic. It's just such a shock, because nothing likes the smell of garlic. We toyed with the idea that I forgot to plant them. I did not. I remember planting.
We toyed with the idea that someone stole them. Ha ha! Actually, it's not such a crazy idea. Every day for the last two weeks a car has been stolen in the city about 12 miles from us, and now they are breaking into chicken coops. Seriously. Stealing kids bicycles, and more.
I plan to pull the pea fence. We didn't get any planted with this crazy kitchen floor repair, and we need to till that area as well.
I finally got the carpet spot cleaned from Daughter K's dogs being here, and laundry put on the line, but got zero painting done.
I believe it's finally time to call an exterminator, unless someone has a sure fire way to trap those big bumblebees (a LOT of them). I've tried every year, and they get worse every year. Yesterday they were swarming the doors of the house and porch. I cannot for the life of me find the nests, but I'm guessing they are by one of the barns, by they way they swarm over there.
Monday, May 9, 2022
Happy Homemaker Monday
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 long, long time.
Right now I am . . .
Saturday, May 7, 2022
As Mother's Day Approaches
The first week of May is always a busy one with celebrations. My husband's birthday, and mine, are within 5 days of each other. I always feel we are cheated out of celebrating due to other peoples celebrations. I tried to book us a cabin one year, but we had to cancel it for some reason or another.
Mother's Day is also in between our birthday's, and some year's my birthday lands on Mother's Day. Mom told me once, that I was born on Mother's Day.
It is not a day this year however, that I am looking forward too (Mother's Day). It was always a special day for Mom.
Friday, May 6, 2022
Rain and gloomy days. . .