Woke up to mornings in the upper 30's. Brr. Rain flooded our asparagus patch. I am hoping I will have some more asparagus to harvest today. The continuation of cold nights, has my green onions looking drab.
Food is the topic today, as I have very little to share.
I've been thinking how much fun it was last year to try new Christmas holiday recipes. We loved the sunflower seed brittle recipe we tried last year. You may get a "Christmas" post out of me this year.
New recipe we tried and absolutely love it. I have made many, many breakfast casseroles/quiches and frittatas, and this one is a keeper. I do believe it is a "first" mushroom type quiche to make as well. I'm officially saying it's a "first time" event this year.
I takes an entire box of frozen spinach, but once you squeeze all that water out, you don't have much left.
I used organic baby bella mushrooms, but otherwise did not change any of the recipe. It is from The Stay at Home Chef (recipe is online), called Easy Crustless Spinach Quiche.
I was given a packet of information, as a thank you for my crocheted baby blanket donation (first time to donate to this organization). I, honestly, did not expect anything in return. They asked. I had the yarn. I donated.
Inside the packet of information, was a chocolate bar, which is from an area business that makes it.
A future fall possibility - "allergy" tincture with a combination of mullein, goldenrod and stinging nettle (all in one vs. individual). Tinctures are best with fresh herbs, so this will be interesting. It all depends on locating all three plants.
I'm doing more research on this mixture, as I cannot drink stinging nettle tea daily, all summer long, for seasonal allergies. Nettle is a "drying" tea, as it also works as a diuretic.
My allergies are bothering my sinus pressure and eyes (itchy, red) this year. It's been years since this has been a problem too.
I started an oil infused with rosemary (I used organic jojoba oil for this one). It is a "first time" for us to make this. It's not only good for hair/scalp, but for a brain boost(cognitive) and other uses (according to what I am researching). We'll find out if a dab on my forehead will spark some alertness when needed.
I have not had a hot minute to look for the fruit cake recipe. We have been working on outdoor work, while we had a big break from the rain - mowing, digging up trees that the birds planted in flower beds, cleaning up a flower bed, cleaning off patio/porch, etc.
I did a quick look-see and our wild violet season is about over, with the sporadic weather this year. I am dehydrating more wild violet leaves for tea and hopefully future salve making.
This and That © May 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
Whelp. The rain and cold is still with us. Early morning temperature was 33°F. My rosemary looks fine however. We may actually see a day with zero rain today. Crossing fingers.
Not sure if you can really see the below recipe, which came from the cookbook I shared in my last post (scroll back to see).
I guess, because I have never made garlic aioli, I did not realize it is basically fresh mayonnaise with a bit of spice to it.
Happy first day of May! May is a very fun-packed month for us. If you were wondering, yes another day of rain here. There is more coming, and our day started at 37°F this morning. Brr.
What I did. . .
Instead of cane sugar, I used a Tbsp. of lemon infused honey.
I used a full organic English cucumber.
I used both fresh parsley and cilantro (had some that needed used up, as it's not garden season and I have to buy it).
I used red onion.
I chilled the salad for a few hours before serving.
We added crumbled feta to the salad when I served it. Yum!
Rain is here again. It's due to come down off and on later and even tomorrow morning. Our evenings will start dipping into the 30's (hopefully no hard freeze). Thankfully, my three cilantro plants, that came up by themselves, from last year's seeds, are still thriving in the herb garden.
Kidney Bean Salad © April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
A few years ago, a pine tree died and fell down, breaking off half of our lilac bush. It's still blooming, but barely.
Lilacs smell so wonderful. I remember, as a young teen, my Grandma bringing cuttings from her lilac bush.
You can make a lot of things with lilacs, but I have yet to try any recipes. You can make syrups, infused sugars, jelly, teas, tinctures, and even body care. Do you make anything with lilac blooms?
There is a possibility to plant another lilac this spring, but the rain is still an issue.
I had "plans" to do some weeding, but we are saturated here still. Rain is not ending today again either. I think we may even see rain a bit Thursday, but hopefully not.
The plant is springing up pretty well, and was large enough to get enough leaves cut for the poultices. I used a freshly made poultice right away, and froze two more. The frozen ones work to also reduce the swelling.
I also used my homemade comfrey salve, and the bruising is very quickly healing, and pain was gone after day one of poultices. Thankfully, it was a sprain and not a break.
A strong thunderstorm, with rain and wind, moved into our area last night. Only about half the mowing was completed before the rain arrived. I have yet to harvest more dandelions due to the abundance of rain. The last dandelions all went to seed very quickly.
I'm hoping we will get more chickweed, as I have yet to weed three more flower beds (actually four, but we have a plan to work on that one this year). Anyway, I typically pull the chickweed to save, as I weed the flower beds this time of year.
Our cold weather apparently does not want to leave yet. We will be dipping to the 30's for three or four nights. I'm just hoping it's not a hard freeze.
The abundance of rain is a problem for our vegetable gardens. One, it's too wet to even walk in, which means zero tilling or weed pulling to prepare the beds, and two, we've not been able to even obtain tomato plants this spring (yet). I do not start my own tomato plants, because we plant so many (and indoor space is limited to start every single plant).
Rain is in the forecast yet this morning, and more tomorrow.
Sprained Toe ~ Weather Woes and Garden Prep Flooding © April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
Do you ever notice how it's hard to be around people who are negative about "Monday" and the start of the week?
Monday gets a bad name all around. I used to tackle so much around the house, but I have since then created a cleaning/housework schedule, and it's been working out fantastically. Monday's are not bombarded with overwhelming to-do lists any longer.
My husband had a recent conversation about how his co-workers complain on and on about "Monday" and how terrible it is. Is it?
Every year I look forward to learn something new. A new trail to walk, new herbal remedy to make, new handiwork to learn, or just about anything. It's not only rewarding in most cases, but fun.
My "firsts" this month:
-dehydrating wild violets, and leaves
-dehydrating dandelion flowers
-read a new author, picked up another at the library (yet to read - gulp!)
-reading a new devotional
-learned the words to a song, and inadvertently learned words (memorized) to two other songs.
-went to our first Bingo "purse" raffle (had fishing poles for the men) and fundraiser benefit.
-saw Moe Bandy in concert (now 82 years old).
-walked one out of 15 new walking trails (new to us).
(possible new salves using the above dehydrated items later).
Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom (will link up when she posts).
Hard to believe I was picking dandelions, wild violets and even chickweed a few days ago.
We've been seeing a lot of lily of the valley, wild geraniums, and mayapples on our trail walks.
Planted rosemary and spearmint. Weeded another smaller rose bed, and asparagus patch. Planted 9 more Mary Washington asparagus starts, and dug a tree out of the berry bush area. Trimmed two rose bushes, and weeded half the herb garden.
The Weather . . .
Last week started with hard freeze warnings. 31°F with a windchill of 27°F. We will get thunderstorms again tonight and possible 50 mph winds.
Right now I am . . .
Sipping coffee and writing this post fairly quickly.
How I am feeling . . .
Tired of the weather fluctuation, but otherwise revived over the weekend. We found another trail walk and loved it. (In our new personal challenge) One walking trail visited, and 14 more to go on our list. Despite a sprained toe, walking was fine (more on that in another post).
On the breakfast plate . . .
Eggs, and real Canadian bacon.
On the menu . . .
-crock pot Four Beans and Sausage
-leftovers, Kidney bean salad (new recipe
- not sure on the rest just yet
On my reading pile . . .
I'll have to get back my current/finished books. Forgot to take photos. However......
Finished this one. First time to read this author. I laughed to my husband, as I only had this book, and realized it is part of a series. Sigh. I had no intentions of buying more books. I liked this book.
On my TV . . .
Elvis movies - King Creole, Blue Hawaii
Doc - Netflix
Sarah's Oil, Netflix
Looking around the house . . .
-Good! Took a trunk full of clothing to donate. Clothes that were too big, not worn, etc. Decluttered more areas and re-organized.
To-do list . . .
-I'll be honest, I have yet to figure out the to-do's for the week. The weather may change my list.
What I am creating . . .
I finished the purple/white shell stitch blanket. Delivered four crocheted baby blankets to an area pregnancy center.
Sharing . . .
From my camera . . .
Devotional, prayer, Bible verses . . .
No prayer requests asked of me currently.
My newest devotional to share.
Happy Homemaker Monday © April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
I purchased a travel tumbler with tea infuser. I randomly chose one based on reviews. It can become frustrating, when you cannot find one person who drinks herbal teas/medicinal herbal teas. If we like it, I'll post an update on it. By the way, there are several options to buy one, with several sizes too.
Something new I learned from a book:
-I can brew my herbal tea, cool it, and freeze it in freezer safe vessels. Pack them for a picnic or travel and it will keep food cold, then thaw for enjoying. Another perfect idea to travel with your brewed herbal iced tea.
-I once watched an "expert" on a video (maybe youtube, not sure) say brewed teas were only good for 48 hours. I'm reading in a book that brewed teas, cooled for iced tea, are good for up to 4 days. Anyone know the actual truth to either of these findings?
I'm hoping the spring rains will provide us with chickweed, cleavers, plantain, and mullein.
The rain has been continuing, and my boots sunk every step into the garden recently. I have already had to cut the flower buds off my rhubarb, and boy is the garden saturated.
Comfrey is up nicely, as well as lemon balm, in my new "weed" garden. No sign of anything else (possibly did not survive the move last year).
The clothesline has been being used in full force, but on days in between the rainfall. Very thankful to have use of it, and it saves us on our electric bill (which is the highest in the area). Not to mention, that it smells good too.
Time has been getting away from me this month, but I hope to keep you all entertained. My husband finally sorted a huge pile of his clothing, and the donation pile has increased. I told my husband the other day, that I do not know how anyone who works full time, has time to do their housework. I am constantly racing the clock to keep bathrooms cleaned, laundry washed (on the line, back down and folded and put away), homemade meals prepared (not to mention all the dishes), errands, shopping, appts, and the like, all in the mix of it. I'm working on creating a "schedule" to give myself more grace with free time. We (ha ha!) shall see if I am successful.
I can say, I'm the queen of sticky notes right now. Staying on task is happening. I have also purchased a new devotional that I love. It's short and to the point, but if I remember, I'll take a photo of it to share. I might have a handiwork update too, but it's been less and less in my days, as the weather is taking us outdoors much more often.
Travel Tea Infuser Tumbler and Tidbits © April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
The spring herbs and flowers are working my creative mind. I've been dehydrating, infusing and such. I'm also doing more reading (herbal books). There is much to learn yet. I am learning of two new salves I may make and try, and have been learning more with creative herbal seasoning mixes.
It's not time consuming because of the stitch, but because the weather outside is nicer (so much we can do now, and jobs to work on), and I am spending a lot less time with the crochet hook.
The yarn was in the mass amount of yarn given to me last year. I know the variegated yarn in this blanket is discontinued, so I dug through the stash she gave me, and came up with a rotation to use up 4 of the colors (using up all of the variegated, and darker purple I added in with a few rows). I am using the shell stitch and a "J" hook for the blanket. It's a bit too large and thick for a baby blanket, so I will donate this one to an area assisted living facility per a request. I'll get a finished photo as soon as it's finished.
We are getting more 80 degree days, but we are also getting more rain. Our tornado warning alarm went off due to an area spotted tornado last night. We are getting more rain, which will put a damper in my herb collecting, garden clean up, and garden prep work.
Spring Blooms © April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
We love homemade wild violet jelly, but I have other possibilities this Spring.
Wild Violets © April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart
Brisk 14°F and high of 38°F. I used my clothesline yesterday, but the wind was crazy.
A small, removeable fence has been placed around the "weed" and herb garden. Thankfully, I had the fencing, and did not have to purchase any. Hopefully, it will keep the rabbits out of it, but I have seen a chipmunk who runs among the outdoors.
Ordered a few books and DVD's from the library inter-loan program. Just doing my part to keep the library open, but also to use the free resources.
Speaking of resources, you never know what freebie you can utilize, and one fell right into my lap last week. More on that later.
Finished this book. As a result, I learned a few new fun facts. Like the fact that Elvis sang with Kitty White in a duet to make a movie. You never know what you'll learn in any non-fiction book.
I am 3 granny squares behind on my crochet book blanket. Lacking the crochet mojo. It could be that, I have been making blankets all winter and I am burned out. Seriously burned out, so my attention will be elsewhere for a bit.
