Weekend weather was not too bad on Saturday, but boy it turned nasty on Sunday. Wind, rain, and cold air moved in.
I can't believe January 2024 is already coming to an end. Where in the world did this month go? I know I was/and still am consumed with painting, repairing drywall, and other winter work.
I spent one morning sorting garden seeds, making a plan, and sent out orders. Shipping is free with Baker Creek in the USA, but High Mowing is a whopping $11.95 and Territorial is $8.95! My plan is to save more seeds this season.
The weather . . .
High of 37° and low of 31°F, very little possibility of rain (thankful for that after several days of rain).
Right now I am . . .
Writing up this post, brewing more coffee
Thinking and pondering . . .
What color to paint the hallway.
How I am feeling . . .
Tired. More like just can't wait to get this hallway done.
On the breakfast plate . . .
Not sure yet.
On the lunch plate . . .
Smoked pulled pork, baked beans
On the dinner plate . . .
Chicken, side veggie
On the menu . . .
-Healthy Casserole with Beef and Lentils
-Sheet pan pork loin, brussel sprouts and apples
-Leftovers
-Snack, no bake energy bites
-Breakfast: Einkorn Ricotta Pancakes, Sausage patties, Scrambled eggs
What I am wearing . . .
Still in jammies, running late this morning.
On the reading pile . . .
On the TV . . .
Youtube videos on how to repair/replace larger drywall areas.
Movies on either Netflix or Amazon.
Looking around the house . . .
Everything is looking good. Other than I need to wash and clean the kitchen blinds (adding it to the winter project list).
To-do list . . .
For the week:
From the camera . . .
Devotional, prayers, Bible Verses . . .
What to do with Cotton Yarn Scraps
Do you remember me asking about what to do with my cotton yarn scraps?
Ideas were:
-Facial scrubbies
-cup/mug coasters
-lip balm covers
I made a few many years ago, and the kids put them on their school backpacks. I never sold any.
If you don't crochet, you may find this post boring today.
Other than donate the scraps of yarn, I decided to crochet up some cleaning cloths. These could also be used as washcloths. I used the same pattern I use for the makeup washcloths, but with the cotton scraps leftover from other projects (these are all cotton, not acrylic). It requires more ends to be sewn in, so I will be testing them out with cleaning cloths.
I did however, adjust the original pattern for a longer cloth, when I made the black makeup washcloths. I added a row. They are about 8 x 10 inches before washing/drying them.
The original pattern states they will be larger if you use the "I" hook.
I resurrected yet another old blog draft ( I think I am down to 80 or less of them now). By the way, the last trip to Amish, the same store (below), gave out samples of a "health" bottled blend (called Good Health). My husband took a sample, and he said it tasted just like the Four Thieves Vinegar I make for us.
Enjoy! Let's talk pineapples.
The last time we ventured out, we re-stocked some supplies, like organic oats, organic steel cut oats, sesame seeds (I use them in homemade granola), and other items. We cannot buy them here in bulk, so it's a bit of a drive. We made the most of it.
The cost to buy a pre-cored pineapple is about $5-6 and if you want it all cut up, it's even higher (almost double that).
Do you own a pine apple corer? Do you recommend one? Also, do you have any tips on picking out a fresh whole pineapple? I made a guess.
This and That © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
The fog that rolled in recently. We have been, and are still getting rain.
My husband requested more sausage/egg/cheese cups with sage sausage. One pound of sausage, makes approximately 3 dozen of these egg cups. It helps make the most of your money with the sausage vs. making sausage patties to go with scrambled eggs. I cook up a pound, use 1 cup and freeze the rest for future egg cups for breakfast. They re-heat well too.
Winter Project Progress:
~Hallway~
Window curtains washed, window blinds cleaned, and windows cleaned.
Door to garage painted, but it will need a second coat.
Just the Bits © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
The Weather . . .
19°F with a wind chill of 8°F
Right now I am . . .
Brewing coffee and posting this blog post.
Thinking and pondering . . .
If you have chickens, are you team "fill the roosts with straw/bedding" or nothing team? We put straw in ours, and our eggs are clean. I was given some eggs a few weeks ago (team nothing in the roosts), and the eggs were very dirty. Also, since I have not been putting straw in the roosts, they are laying on the floor of the coop, so I'm going back to putting straw inside the roosts.
How I am feeling . . .
Pretty good.
On the breakfast plate . . .
Egg/sage sausage/cheese cups to go with an oatmeal bake. When I bake the egg cups, I like to put the solid ingredients in each cup first, then mix up the 6 eggs, 1/4 cup heavy cream (I used Greek plain yogurt and a splash of milk, salt/pepper and 1/2 tsp. baking powder, and evenly pour it over the other ingredients. It's just so much easier to evenly distribute the ingredients. I baked this for 18-20 minutes at 350°F.
By the way, this helps make one pound of sausage make more meals. I used 1 cup cooked sausage and 1 cup or less of pepper jack cheese that I hand shredded.
Also, I know they are not cheap, but I use parchment cups, because no matter what I grease my pan with, they always stick.
On the lunch plate . . .
Leftovers.
On the dinner plate . . .
Meatballs over wild rice, asparagus or green beans
On the menu . . .
On the reading pile . . .
On my TV . . .
Netflix - This is Us.
Looking around the house . . .
To-do list . . .
Deep Clean - Clean Washing Machine (it has a "clean washer" cycle), clean microwave. If you do not have a "Clean" cycle on your washing machine, you can buy tablets to toss in your washer and run on a hot cycle to clean your washing machine.
From the camera . . .
Devotional, Quote, Prayers . . .
Snow storms have been moving in all around us, but it's soon turning to nastier weather.
It's a perfect time to use up yarn, and work on larger crochet projects. Large blankets only get crocheted in the cold of winter.
It is the same yarn as the scarf I finished last week. The remaining yarn will be used for scrap lap afghans I think. The pattern for the scarf is by "Hooked by Robin" called Easy Crochet Scarf (online video tutorial). I think this is my favorite scarf pattern so far.
Yarn for both scarf and hat - Sutherland Stripe, Red Heart Super Saver. I used an entire skein for the scarf, but length is always up to you.
. . .another lap afghan on the hook to eventually donate. I donated to two places last winter, but I am getting concerned about not getting a response back from one location this winter. I will have to make a few phone calls. Colors are from Red Heart yarn, soft white, petal pink, and Lt. raspberry.
I have a lot of pink yarn right now. Some of the brighter ones were for crocheting nail polish Christmas ornaments, but the rest I purchased to make Mom a blanket using the first pattern on this post. I never got the chance to even start one, so I may be doing more lap afghans. I guess we'll see.
. . .another larger ripple blanket on the hooks. I'm using up some leftover yarn from my daughter's cardigan, and some from the last blanket and craft show items. I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the color combination, but it's on the hook. By the way, I bought the yarn for the cardigan years ago, based on their suggestion of how much for the size I crocheted. I have more leftover, so I hope this blanket uses it up and looks good. I'll be back to update, and share the colors I used.
I have a feeling this blanket will continue into next winter. I am really working hard on our winter project list right now, so my handiwork time is limited for now.
I dug out my journal, so I can make written records on what colors I used for certain projects, and to note patterns, hook size etc.
There are more projects on the hooks, but I was too lazy to go photograph them. I really need to get the doily finished. It's been a year now, but it's smaller stitches. I just need to get in the mood to work on it.
. . . from the handiwork journal © Jan 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
Colder weather is the perfect time to use the oven, and try a new cookie recipe (for possibly next Christmas).
I don't know how I get into such conversations, but I do, and I did. I not only entertained the dentist at my last appointment, but the dental assistant as well.
It was freezing cold out, so the conversation started there.
I was talking about tending the hens, which led to talking about dressing for the weather. I mentioned that I always take my cell phone and a house key with me, when I go outside for anything. They both giggled at my entertainment, when I told them I was once locked out of the house by one of the dogs, in the heat of summer, and had one dog with me. I had no cell phone, no key and we live in the boonies. Literally.
I guess I'm traumatized enough to continue to carry both a phone and key after that happened. Glad I could make them laugh.
Winter Tea
I recently shared a link for a seasonal stress tea recipe via Mennonites Can Cook blogspot. Well, they shared another recipe the other day for "Winter Blues" tea recipe. It looks interesting. Here is the link: Winter Blues Tea. I think I have all the ingredients to try this, other than the lemongrass and rose buds. I wonder if I could use my lemon balm? Is there a big difference in lemon balm and lemongrass? I used to have lemon grass planted in a pot, but it has since died off.
The wind chill was a perfect time to bake a side dish to go with our big pot of chili. I typically make a buttermilk cornbread, but we have to keep an eye on my husband's diet.
By the way, this morning we woke up to 23°F outside! Wind chill is 14°F. Feels like a heat wave after that sub zero weather we've had.
I resurrected this draft (while looking for something else), that I have had for a few years now. I have no idea who gave me the recipe, but there are so many variations of them.
I can't make this stuff up, ha ha!
First, my "whoopsie" below happened from using my recipe in my recipes, not off of this blog draft (thankfully).
It wasn't until I made them again, that I realized my blog draft said "baking soda" and my home recipe stated "baking powder." Had I not even found this draft, messed them up again, and looked at both recipes, I would have never noticed until someone else baked them.
Here is the recipe for the "Low Carb" Garlic Cheddar Biscuits I made the other day:
