Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Here is my post for the pattern link (pattern is free online), that I used for both my makeup and regular washcloths, and for the cleaning cloths.  I use 100% cotton yarn and an "H" hook, although her pattern states to use an "I" hook.  I used leftover small bits of cotton yarn from those smaller balls they sell (maybe 2 to 2.5 oz?).   I actually posted a "review" of all of the washcloths I made over the years.  You can read the post - HERE .  I used to keep the smaller version of the washcloth in our camper, but now take this size. I picked out two different blue crocheted pot holder sets to give to the two families that had the house fire.   I grew anaheim peppers last year, with the plan to can them.  I got the plants to grow, but they produced very late and very small peppers.  I never canned any.  I am just wondering if it's worth the canning hassle?  I mean the little cans of diced chilies are not that expensive....

The weekend was a mix of good and bad weather.  Friday, if you didn't read about it already, we canceled our camping trip over the weekend.  The weather was fantastic Friday, but indeed the storms and rain moved in.  We had both agreed that being stuck in our small camper was a no-go, especially with my medical boot on my foot (already tired of lugging it around).   These posts tend to be long, so grab your cup of java or tea, and hopefully it won't be too long for you today.  Sorry if my posts regarding old drafts are boring. I had over 80 drafts written up, and I'm down to under 30 now.  I have to admit, that some are making scratch my head.  Some have titles, and no content.  Did I have recipes to try?  I have no idea. I had one draft (now deleted) on dehydrating red bell peppers to made homemade paprika.  One, it takes a lot of peppers for a small jar to be made, and two, you need other peppers, not red bell (from my research, a...

We are to heat up to the 80's today.  They sky is looking strange this morning.  One direction looks like a storm brewing, and the other, the sun rising with very dark clouds above it.  We had very bad wind yesterday. Once again, you are being entertained with a blog draft from J une of 2017 .  To be honest, I don't remember buying the book.  I think a blog follower sent me her copy, but anyway, a very old draft to entertain you with.  It does have me thinking about other herbs now.  I have, as of last year, started to harvest our wild growing goldenrod.  I had to laugh reading this draft, because I do not remember growing Gotu Kola seeds indoors either. We are blessed with a lot of wild growing herbs and weeds, but you do have to know what you are picking as well.  Stinging nettle requires some very thick gloves, or your hands will be pricked by the stinging part of the nettle.   When we had barn cats, I never had a problem finding...

Just when I thought I was in shape, I was not.  The very first day outside weeding reminded me of that, ha ha!  Boy, oh boy, you do get a work out outside.   Did anyone else venture out this month to start the garden process, clean up beds and such?  Did you slide out of bed, like a sloth the next morning, and drag yourself to the ever needed delightful coffee you preset to brew the night before? Only to find out you have more muscles than you thought?  And can barely walk, let alone lift your arms? Note:  The above was drafted up prior to my foot fracture ha ha!   The arrival of April has pushed all of our "projects" (indoor anyway) on the back burner for now.  It's that time of year to till the garden ( done ), start weeding and mulching flower beds and the herb garden ( in the works ), and planting the garden.   Our homegrown asapargus is starting to come up!  I have my husband on picking duty for now.  Yum!  No as...

Even though I know spring planting time is not here yet, it was depressing to know that there was a freeze warning out last night for us, and is still in effect until 10am today. We are hoping it won't damage the asparagus or rhubarb.  I'm sure it may damage some of my early spring herbs however.  My sage plants were just starting to produce again too. I found the pattern location for the crocheted rose cup coasters, using crochet thread #10.  Sharing for those who were interested in the pattern. The pattern is in this book, on page 55.  Check your library for the book. Book information:  Creative Crochet, A Leisure Arts Publication, ISBN:  0-942237-63-3 Not wanting to go fetch my recipe binder, I recently just used good ol' google to find a breakfast casserole with sweet potatoes and breakfast sausage (the hubs bought sausage that needed used).  I also thawed and used some kale, added garlic, onions and frozen bell peppers (from last year's garden), a...

Spring herbs are here! Store bought chives are expensive. The cost for the above bottle of dried chives was $4.58!  I freeze my chives, but for the dry Ranch mix recipe, I need dehydrated/dried chives.  The bottle above is .12 oz and when ground makes 7 1/2 teaspoons.   It is horribly expensive, and I have managed to kill the indoor chive plant I brought inside. So....on a mission I went...   I dehydrated chives many years ago, but did not do my research before hand.  I had snipped them, and placed them on parchment paper in the dehydrator, and they the fan blew them all over the inside. Here is what I have researched.   -if you wash your chives, be sure to let they dry or dry them with a towel, or use a vegetable drying pad to let them dry off any water from washing them.  Otherwise, your dehydrator time will be a lot longer. -do not snip them, keep the the chives whole, and place in the dehydrator. -do not use a heat higher than 95°F, and d...

  I tired another new salad recipe, but we really liked this as a meal itself to be honest.  We love the summer orzo salad we found last year, but this one is a keeper too.  It contains kidney, cannellini, and garbanzo beans.  I do suggest you make it ahead of time, so the beans have time to absorb delish dressing flavors.  I added the fresh herbs upon serving time to avoid them wilting.  I used about  a slightly less cup of about 1/4th, of red onion, but will add more next time.  Red onion is so potent, it's easy to over due it in a salad. To minimize standing time on my feet (for now anyway), I broke out my new box chopper (bought over a month ago).  I can see why there is a mixed review on these gadgets.  I mean, if you love to cook, slicing and dicing is very thearaputic, but this gadget really sped up the time prepering the salad. The orignial recipe calls for one red and one green bell pepper.  My husband did the shopping, so ...

  Have you ever made homemade lavender syrup?  Have you purchased this syrup and used it?   I was curious, as I thought it would be good in an evening cup of tea.  I was also intrigued with it as a lemonade, but  wasn't so sure about the floral flavor bit. Note:  I now put a canning label on things I make, and write the expiration date on it vs. the date I made it.  It makes it so much easier to check at a glance than looking over the calender. I chose to use honey, but the recipe states you can use other options if you prefer.  The recipe and instructions are found online with Detoxinista . I also did a bit more research, and you can even make the syrup sugar-free, by using monk fruit in place of the honey/sugar/maple syrup. I also found more recipes with different amounts of honey or suggestions for adding things like vanilla extract.  I will be trying more recipes to find the one we like the best. If you have tried Traditonal Medicina...

What's on the hook?   Well alot!!   To be honest, I am looking forward to trading in my hook for a rake, shovel, and garden trowel.  Crocheting non-stop over the last few weeks has made me realize how much I miss the garden work ha ha!   I finished this baby blanket. I used up3 skeins of baby white, and partial skeins of baby blue and a lighter brown, that were leftover from another baby blanket order (from years ago). I started this baby blanket.  I'm using up some leftover peach and blue baby yarn (F hook, so it's taking some time). Progress on the current scrap yarn lap afghan.  I'm getting down to the last of the last scrap balls of yarn, so it's the last one for now.  By scraps, I mean hand size balls and smaller. I have also been crocheting for a cause - our town's plant bingo and raffle.  It is the town's first one, to help raise money to plant flowers, landscape etc in the town.  They have already gotten over 50 tickets sold...