Dehydrated Ginger ~ Baby Blankets for Donation ~ Tidbits

 I freeze fresh ginger often, so that I have it on hand for all sorts of recipes, and it has worked out very nicely.  Many people do not know you can do this with fresh ginger root (we purchase organic).

How I Freeze Ginger Root

I wash the organic ginger root, dry it, wrap it a few times in plastic wrap, and store it inside a freezer bag.  I date each bag and the door of the freezer works best, or it may get lost in your freezer storage.

Back to the dehydrated organic ginger root.

We love herbal/herbal medicinal teas.  I dehydrated a small-ish bit of organic ginger root in May of 2025.  I have been using small bits of it for tea infusing and tea brewing.  It's worked out great, and continues to maintain it's flavor.  I will definitely keep dehydrated, organic ginger root a staple in my pantry. I will be using it to experiment with other recipes.  Considering the amount of power outages this year, I've decided a few more dehydrated (food, herbs, etc.) experiments will be done. 

I used my dehydrator to dry the sliced ginger root, but I am told that some very new models of kitchen ovens, have the "dehydrator" option on them.  I am also told, some air fryers have a dehydrator option.

The baby blankets I have completed, per a request from an area pregnancy center, are a one-color pattern, and a different color edge (all using yarn I was given).  They are all like the one above, but with different edging.

The main part of the blanket is with Aran Redheart yarn.

Three baby blankets ready to donate.  Each one took about 2 full skeins of Aran yarn, but as I got to more of the skeins, I found them shorter in length (even though the ounces were marked the same).  Either way, the edges were scrap yarn as well, but all are ready to donate, and I still have more Aran colored yarn (and more of a few other colors, for more baby blankets). 

It is still cold here.   This morning is was 18°F (windchill), with a temperature of 23°F, so I got them finished in time to be used this winter.

More repairs have been started, and one almost finished.  I'm so thankful to get these jobs done.   More supplies are needed to continue.  I'll be back with a more lengthy update on winter shenanigans. 

I can tell you one thing.  Two side projects developed from my closet purge project, and one is putting letters into a book.  My word, it has become so time consuming.  I'll be honest, I am not sure it will be affordable, so the back up plan is to scan and print them, and put them in a binder for us.  

The only two kids slightly interested in these old letters, cannot read cursive  (nope, our schools stopped teaching it sadly).  All of the letters are to my Dad from 1944 to 1958.  There are many more than span from the 80's to about 2003, but my focus is the first set of letters.

Before I sign off this post today, I can tell you that the yarn I ordered from Herrschners online, back in November of 2025, is still on back order (it was for another project).  It may be getting  canceled.  

Somebody.  I can't say who (gulp!).  Forgot to buy new radish seeds for the garden this spring.   Just a modge podge of life happenings right now, but wanted to pop on here and share a few things today.  Last year ended with several months of chaotic activity (much out of our control).  I have discovered a gallon of outdoor paint, in which neither of us can even come up with one idea of what we bought it for.  The goal this year, is no more chaotic activity.

One question for "writers" here  - what writing resources are available today?  I used to read The Writer magazine, and Writer's Digest magazine.  I see that "The Writer" is no longer printed.

One question for those who bake/cook - any good and interesting ways to use frozen strawberries (prefer healthy recipes, but ....) up?  I think I froze too many last summer, ha ha!  I do make cobblers or crisps, and muffins.

Dehydrated Ginger ~ Baby Blankets for Donation ~ Tidbits  ©  March 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Donating Baby Blankets and Random Tidbits

 

We went from sub zero straight to a week of up to 64°F, and a sloppy, slushy, muddy mess.  I was very tempted, and almost twice, used the clothesline.    

However, with the warmest weather days brought us rain and thunder storms (yes thunder storms in February).  Add that rain to the already mushy mess, and you have slosh yards.

The house was refreshed with several days of open windows, and we are very thankful for that. Nothing better than fresh air circulating indoors.  

Of course, as it is still our winter season, the weather cooled right back down to the 30's and brought a small but of snow.  We got outside anyway, and did our very first "snow" walking trail.

It's been a mish-mash of a February.  Lots of re-organizing, purging, and home repairs.  It seems like the hardware store shopping list is maintaining it's weekly to-do list.

We have not cleaned out clothing in more than two years, so it's been this month's focus, and boy it takes some time.  I'm trying to squeeze in a few minutes in between everything else.

Winter time can become monotonous, so I've changed up some décor (rotated what I have), but found some new bath linens for a great deal.  A new color is like a breath of fresh air, and it balances the mood.

Most days this month have been ending exhausted, but productive. 

It has been very satisfying to cross off long over due home repairs/updates.  However, in the meantime, there are those repairs that get thrown at us, like the tile soap dish falling off the tile shower wall, after 20 years or more.  Replacing the tub drain that just stopped working after 20 years or more.  You know, the wear and tear projects that sneak up on you.  You know, you can't get these jobs completed with one trip to the hardware store.  It takes numerous, because the clerk gives you the wrong tools, so you have to return and get the right ones.

New recipe tried.  It was a result of "use it up" in the pantry.  I had some green lentils that needed used soon, so we tried Lentil Salad and loved it.  Recipe is online from Cooking Classy, and we did not "roast" the red bell pepper.  It contains cooked and cooled green lentils, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, feta, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, and a homemade dressing with freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, minced garden grown garlic and mustard. 

Finally, a observation by my husband and I both - many people (friends, family, acquaintances) we know have detached themselves from us.  Not sure if it's a result of 2020, where everyone was nervous to be around anyone, or if people are choosing to be so busy they would rather keep their "circle" small or what.  Relationships are a thing of the past for so many people we know.  The best advice from an acquaintance for this concern/unsettled thinking?  Count your blessings and build from that.  Thankful for the few who want to stay connected.  Life is something to celebrate, not bury ourselves in being so busy we forget to really live our lives.  

Please pray for a friend of mine.  Marilyn.  It may be nothing, but it could be serious.  It is a heart concern, but testing is not for a week or so.

Experienced my very first professional pedicure (a gift to me).  What a treat!  

Current Crochet Charity Updates:  Baby blankets

I have been crocheting this pattern for using some of the 27 skeins of Aran colorway yarn I was gifted.  I am using scrap balls to edge them, to add color, and offer options with donated baby blankets.  It's been a very easy pattern to take "on-the-road" for any traveling. I've used this pattern before, but for headbands for winter.  

I think the baby blankets are turning out very nice for the Mom-to-Be resource facility.  I have more yarn stashed, so I am considering adding more "baby" items to this cause.  It all depends on free time.  It has been my on-the-go project, and works very well with the very easy, one-color pattern.

What is left from the two skeins of yarn it took to crochet the center part of the blanket.  It's the closest I have come to using up project yarn for one "project" and it thrills me.  I do not need more scrap balls of yarn, ha ha!  (amount above is leftover per each skein {2} of yarn in Aran colorway)

A friend who works at the pregnancy facility, and is in charge of assisting those in need, reached out to me, so it's on the hook for now, but I will resume lap afghans for senior centers/assisted facilities/single elderly living alone, after that.

I'm still looking for my pattern for one last committed crochet project in the mean time.

February has been a very cold month, with a splash of a summer teaser.  I think we are all ready to see the weather warm up for good.

Donating Baby Blankets and Random Tidbits  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

 

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. . . from the handiwork journal

Finished this baby blanket.

 

These bookmarks are not a new project, but a "found" project I found tucked inside a container.  I have no idea how I made the flower part (I assume printed on cardstock and sealed using the library resources).  I simply crocheted the "string" part of them.  I honestly do not know why I made them, but they are stored in a bag to donate to the little library service program.  

I finished these 3 crocheted flower bookmarks (had them in parts for a while now).  I have added them to the service donations for the little libraries as well.

For those who crochet -  Something fun to share!  

Go to the National Park Service (on your computer or phone), and put in "crochet" in the search bar.  They have free crochet patterns for a Beaver, Lighthouse, Walleye, Saguaro Cactus, and a few more. Who knew? 

. . . from the handiwork journal  ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart