Pioneer Woman at Heart

  We've been having beautiful weather lately.  My garden starts are loving it too.  I'm just starting to get worried about getting the tilling and planting done. I played hooky and went to the "big city" and had lunch with my bestie from high school.  It was nice for a change, because I have been so busy in the kitchen lately. I'm seeing more businesses closed, and I'm seeing more shortages of different items as well.   I may need to make my own ricotta.  The last few times I needed some, I had a terrible time finding it.  I filled up the truck yesterday - $4.30/gallon.  Toilet paper we typically by on sale for $7.99 was on sale for $13.99. I tried a new recipe - Lasagna stuffed chicken. Organic chicken is very expensive as well, but my husband loved it.  Recipe is online with The Stay at Home Chef.

I'm joining Sandra today at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.  Now that we have gotten through Hubby's birthday and mine, and Mother's Day, it's back to the grind.  I was lucky to hear from 3 of my kids on Mother's Day, and a few on my birthday, but tickled that one actually came over to visit me yesterday.  I just love the wind chime she brought me, along with all the other goodies. I don't try to expect anything for my birthday nor Mother's Day.  My kids are not the best at calling or even texting, but sure know how to show up when it's their birthdays.   I'll be making changes to that this year.   Hubby is still working a lot of hours.  He worked 2nd shift last night, getting home after midnight and has to return this morning for first.  But bless is heart for giving some cash to our youngest daughter, so she could go out and buy me a birthday card, cheesecake, flowers and a gift card.  She als...

Woke up to a chilly 48°F this morning.  Hubby and I have been getting up earlier and having coffee on the porch.  The sun rises just about the time he rolls out of the driveway for work.  It was beautiful this morning, but right after I took this photo it was cloud cover. Yesterday was my birthday.  I was home all day waiting for Hubby to get off work.  He had a dentist appt. after work too, so for me, it seemed like a looooooooong day.  I literally did not do any garden work.  It was too wet to weed too.  I did some crocheting on the porch, sat and talked with a few of the kids when they were home, and really just chilled all day.  When Hubby pulled in, he called me to the car, and surprised me with this Harley Davidson gift basket.

Not to let this awesome birthday week end without another "bang" of goodness, I made.... Flourless brownies and whiskey butterscotch sauce for sundaes.  Yes, yes and yes.  I ate them both with organic ice cream (too lazy to make homemade ice cream).

I am car-less once again.  The minute I got my own car back, it was gone that fast.  I had just finished my workout a few days ago, and Vet-tech Daughter calls.  Her brake line is broke.  Gah!! Next thing I know, her older sister is driving her to the house to borrow my car.   Again.   Sigh.  So I skipped breakfast, skipped my chores, and high-tailed it to the grocery to stock up.  Then I drove over to the library, who had about 10 books in for me, and not willingly gave her my car keys.

What's been on the breakfast plate lately? Eggs over easy with chives, ancient organic grain bread topped with rhubarb-ginger jam.

The outside Christmas lights have been put up.  Zuri caught a glimpse of Hubby climbing up the ladder and let out a "stranger danger" bark.    Oldest daughter has been over two times with her new puppy Mia (hope I am spelling that right).  She is also 4 months old.  So, here in the photo, is Mia, Zuri and King.  All relaxing after a fun day of puppy play.  Jesse actually showed the first signs of playing with them, by playing with Mia.   It was refreshing to see Jesse join the fun for once.

  I turned 29 (again) ye sterday.  He h e!  My 19 year-old gifted me th ese beaut iful flowers.   Aren't they pretty?  My gifts were a complete surprise .  I never ex pected my ki ds to buy me an ything.  I told them I just wanted a clean house. My 21 year-old son gifted me a Bl ue Ray pla yer.  You s h oul d have seen me trying to use the remote.  W here's the play button ?  W here's the pause button?  Ha ha ha!   The cool part is, is that there is a "netflix " button on it too!  Yay! My mother and kids gifted me th ese beautiful cards.  Mom's card contained a little extra somethin' that I will save for my weekend on the island .  My youngest d aughter gifted me with a coupon for a brea kfast sandwi ch - Yum!  My 13 year-old's card con tain ed wishes from her school friends. And I received many Happy Bi rthday text messages and some Happy Bir thday e-mails. My 11 year-o ld, wit...