"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

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.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

This and That

 It's February, so there is not much activity going on here at the homestead.  Not even home repairs at the moment.  Weather is the cause with freezing rain and bad roads.  Weather continues to jump all over the map.  We still need a trip for home repair supplies.  The freezing rain put a thick layer of ice on everything over night last night.  

My entire day was just changed thanks to the ice covered roads.  If we lived in town, it would be a different story, but we live in the country.  Nothing is just a hop, skip and jump to get to. 

You get blessed with a rambling sort of post today.

I've made a bit of progress on the blue and white baby blanket.  I haven't really devoted much time to it lately.  I do need to verify her due date, so I can get this finished in time.


My intention this month, was to work in the utility room (purging first), while our affordable hired hand, worked in another area with wall repairs/painting, and stairway work, but that is changing.

We have once again have to locate a new handyman.  Until we locate another reliable, and trusted person, the repair work falls on us, and when we can work on it.



The beauty of having a local library, is that you can borrow free books and movies.  Of course libraries offer more than that, but I love that I can borrow a book to see if it is worthy to buy as a guide for our adventures with nature.  I have ordered us more movies on DVD and more non-fiction books.  I'm still waiting on some DVD's we ordered via the free library inter-loan program.



I love tea samples.  I have already tried the British Black Tea.  Yum.  I have yet to try the other one yet. I can't remember how I got them, but I will be enjoying them.



A purchase for the camper.  It is a foldable drying rack that can hang on a door, or for instance, the back of a camper to dry kitchen/bath towels etc. outside the camper.  We can also bring it indoors to use in the house on rainy or wintery days.


A few new items from the Dollar Tree - notepad and magnetic bookmarks.  The notepad is convenient for short list days, and not a sticky type notepad.  I shared some bookmarks with one of the kids.  They are great for traveling books or on-the-go reading.

Speaking of bookmarks, do you prefer a flat bookmark or have you ever used or purchased a crocheted bookmark?  Or have you been gifted a crocheted bookmark?  Do you use it?  Like it?  Prefer not to use it, due to it's thickness?



The "blind date" puzzle has been opened. The puzzle is not a new puzzle.  We were surprised at this, as the clerk never advertised this at the store, and didn't say anything.  We literally paid a higher price for it, but apparently, because the puzzle is an art portrait from a famous artist.  The box was falling apart, so we had to tape the sides and ends to re-box it later.   I am hoping all the pieces are there, but we'll find out.  The pieces are smaller, and not uniform to size.  I see a headache instead of relaxation.  Should be interesting.  I may, or may not, be back with an updated photo.

Don't panic if you don't see a post for a week or so.  Again, it's February, ha ha!  Winter at it's best. I may be trying a few recipes, we have doctor appointments to check off our calendar, and now my husband is not feeling well (adding another doctor appointment to the list).  I really want to tackle the home repairs, so we'll see if anything happens in that department, along with more installation of new shelf liner put in three other areas of the house.  Not to mention, if we get a break in the weather, I need to muck the chicken coop.

7 comments:

Anne in the kitchen said...

Have fun with the mystery puzzle. It would drive me nuts!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

I guess that "blind date with a puzzle" was a real "puzzler" for sure! But I guess that's what blind dates are...you just never know what you might get! I hope it turns out to be a lovely picture when it is done and not a dud after all! Remember, sometimes great things come in not so great packages! Sounds like you are getting the winter storm weather that was predicted up north. Praying you will get better weather soon so you can take care of important errands. The baby blanket looks so nice. Some sweet baby will love it for sure, and so will the Mama! What a lovely gift!

Betsy said...

The blanket looks like it coming along perfectly. It's one of my favorite baby blanket patterns as you well know. I like those kind of bookmarks and have a few myself. I have also crocheted many out of crochet thread and all use them in their Bibles. Most I cross-stitched their name onto the bookmark.
I've been thinking of buying a drying rack for the condo. I miss my clothelines I've had at our houses and I miss drying our sheets outside.
I saw the endroconolgist yesterday and she ordered me to take a medication at 11:00 last night and be at the lab at 8:00 this morning for a blood draw. They took 11 vials of blood and my veins kept stopping so they had to try again. It was still a lot less pokes than the CT scan last week with 7 needle sticks. Oh the joys of getting old.
We had freezing rain yesterday and last evening too but it's all been melted away today.
Take care and I hope you get all of your projects done!
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Anne in the kitchen, it is going to be an interesting puzzle for sure.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Pamela, thanks, the puzzle will be very interesting. Thanks on the baby blanket too. We know two now that are due at the same time, but thankfully I have another blanket already made.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Betsy, 11 viles? wow! 7 needle sticks? My word. I hope your arm is feeling better after all of that. Goodness. Our ice melted, but it re-froze again. A cold spell is coming this next week.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Sorry you were disappointed with the puzzle, maybe it will be a Masterpiece!