Pioneer Woman at Heart

  Quick and short post today.  Betsy at The Simple Life of a Queen blogspot shared with me this pattern.  It is a good friend of hers, and the pattern can use up scrap thread.   It is still a free pattern via Ravelry, and comes up as a free printable PDF.  It is a Scandinavian Heart Ornament.  Perfect for upcoming Valentine's Day or for Christmas tree ornaments.  The pattern calls for #5 cotton thread (I'm sure other thread counts would look fine too). Pattern is by Teresa Kasner, Ravelry, and free. Crochet Hearts    © January 2025 by  Kristina  at  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 compost has all been tilled into the gardens, and they are ready for planting next month.   We still need to build the new raised beds, but we are ahead of schedule thankfully.   We are still working on purchasing an electric solar fence. The recent weather was perfect to catch up on laundry and dry it on the clothesline.   It's been a long week, and we got some rain too. By the way, those Einkorn waffles I posted about the other day?  Well, they taste great re-heated.  They are not a crunchy waffle, and are soft, but so good! A few of you mentioned you were interested in the pattern for the most recent, and newest, afghan I am crocheting.  I have to admit, this pattern is getting rave reviews, and a lot of inquiries.  I had spent time searching for a new pattern to use up yarn colors I had in my stash, and this is the one I came up with.  As I said previously, the woman who wrote the pattern mentions to change your yarn color ...

  Well folks, I have not been on an antibiotic for almost 2 years or longer.  They asked me what I was able to take and could not remember, other than I cannot take the z-pac.   Now I am having other issues, despite eating the BRAT diet, so a call is getting placed to the doctor this morning.  Not sure what he can do, other than change the antibiotic and take another route.   I'm just not taking chances for things to go south, like they did with the z-pac (put me in the hospital for 14 days). I am eating my yogurt and taking a prebiotic, but it's not helping.  My cough is a bit better, but we are also going to seek out a different prescribed cough syrup. In the meantime, I got plenty of rest last night.  I went to bed at 6pm and didn't get up until 7am this morning. I'm still dealing with fatigue. I haven't felt like crocheting, reading a book....nothing. It's foggy here and predicted to reach up into the 60's.  Crazy. I remembered a fam...

In the process of  cleaning the closet, I found 5 crochet hooks, 4 pairs of scissors, one embroidery needle and one yarn needle.  Oh, and one more of my favorite pens!  I also uncovered 4 pints of tinctures that need strained.  They'll be strong ones, ha ha! The garage is next, but I still have a bit to clean up in the utility room.  I'm just glad I got the closet done (other than Hubby purging his clothing). Bad news for our area.  The produce stand (has been open for 91 years) announced they will not be opening for the 2020 season due to numerous road closures.  We get our corn and other various veggies from them.  I'll have to look for a co-op to drive to or other source, but it will be drive if we want corn.  They also sold popcorn, so I may be planting it, and hoping for the best this year. Good news!!! Woohoo!  Mom went to Cleveland Clinic on Monday, and the news came back that she does not have to see a doctor for at least o...

There was so much rain yesterday, the schools closed.  It was pretty nasty weather considering we went from freezing, snow covered to pouring down rain. I've had a request for patterns for the items I make.  Here are a few of them. The pattern for the heart cup/mug coasters is online and free at Red Heart yarn:  Valentine Heart Coaster The heart bookmarks are in this book: Your local library may even have this book. The rugs are simple too.  Here are the instructions on how I make them:   Crochet Scrap Rugs The headbands/ear warmers are for sale on my Rooster's Crow Farm blog, but I have also had requests for the pattern.  The pattern is free online at Yarnspirations:  Bernat Twisted Step-Sister Headband.

I originally posted this back on May 10, 2013 on this blog. Blogger won't allow me to link this post back to my old post, and I want to share the pattern. Evidently, it's becoming quite popular on Pinterest. I continue to receive emails asking for the pattern, so here it is:

Dolly Parton ha d a coat of many colors.  I now have a scarf of many colors.   I need another project, like a need a hole in my head. However. I've wanted to learn the corner to corner (C2C) crochet stitch, and I'm using up leftover, leftover yarn. While I'm crocheting the scrap blanket, there are small balls of yarn.  That would be the "leftover, leftover" yarn balls.  They are too small to even make one row across the blanket, so they are in a basket. My inner, "you can't store that anymore " and "can't waste it mode" (again) kept poking at me .

Remember all those English Walnuts we bartered for?  I was still cracking them this month.  Apparently , the kids have lost their mojo with helping me. The shells are always saved from these walnuts.  My older brother and his wife gift me their cardboard egg cartons.   Four dozen campfire starters are in the making today, and I have more shells.

Oh dear, I have had practically nothing to share lately.  No new recipes, no new concoctions of herbs, or even anything remotely exciting. Unless you count the night that King proudly brought in a dead, flattened mouse.  Two girls went ballistic and screamed for me (or their Dad who conveniently ignored them) to come rescue them.    I found one daughter holding one puppy, and one holding the other and both screaming and pointing to the dead mouse.  I removed it of course, even while they were screaming at me while doing it.  I had gloves on, but they still couldn't watch.  I told them when they grow up and have kids, they'll be able to do almost anything without gagging.  P uppy nap time - Zuri with her head on top of King.  They both are growing so fast already.  King still thinks he's a lap dog, so this will be interesting.  Kin g has learned "speak" already.  He's been easy to train in th at department.  He's v...

Now, first of all, I have no business in starting any o f these new fun projects , but I did.  I still have a baby blanket t hat is not finished .  Re member the granny square one?  I put it away a nd p lum forgot again.  I have to use different white yarn so we'll see if it even turns out right when I do fin ish it.   So ....  Cup of coffee anyone?  This one was a bit of a challenge for me, and my coffee is sitting up a bit too high in the cup, but I'm glad I'm venturing into toys for kids.  This would even make a nice pin cushion for someone who sews and loves coffee.  Heck, it could be hot chocolate.  I could crochet mini marshmallows on to p.   I mean it's a play toy, so we can play all sorts of make believe.

. . . finished the last two cup coasters for one of the kitchen tables.

I'm using leftover scrap yarn from crocheting seat cushions, to make these cup coasters in my very few spare minutes of time (which is about a few nights a week now, ha ha).

Hubby bought this new sign for me.  It's totally me.  It's totally him too.  To start my day requires a heavy dose of organic coffee.   The ironic part, is that we ran out of coffee yesterday.  The last thing I wanted to do was run out to the store.  I truly missed Hubby's help yesterday.

I think these placemats will look nice when I finish them all.  It will work until I have a day to antique shop for some long tablecloths (in spring colors).  I made them as large as our largest dinner plates.  The width is good, but I could crochet less rows and still make them fit nicely.

School closed today, so watch out.  This post will be a doozy.  I've got a pot of coffee all to myself, and all the kids are still in bed. I guess, although we are to warm up to the 38°F, they are predicting ice covered roads until noon today.   Aside from animal feed, which I may run out before the end of the week, I'm declaring this week a no-spend week.  Toilet paper is stocked up so we are good in that department.

I woke up with a hot cup of coffee, and sat down to read my email and discovered I was "notered" by Youngest Daughter. (The history of the "noters":  for years we exchanged uplifting notes.  I'd put them in their lunches, and Youngest loved to write me back often). Here is what I found in my email today:    " Soo I don't really have anything to write about but I love you mommy. You're amazing and you care for me and I love you. Also check facebook :) I couldn't help but brag about how amazing my mom is.. I love you. You do a lot for me and there should be more than one day of the year that I show my gratitude to you and how much I appreciate you, and of course the work you do for me. You are AMAZING. I love you. I love you times 10000000 Sent from my iPod= That just made my day start even better.  I did hack into Hubby's facebook to see what she posted too (Sigh....in a good way).   Lookie, lookie! (just trying to be funny...

Happy Valentine's Day! I wanted to make something useful for the kids this month - a little something to say "I love you."  I don't like to simply wait for February to tell them, so my challenge to myself is to tell them more often. I used scrap fabric to make these homemade cards (right), and old book pages (left) to create the envelope.  I used a fine-line black marker to make dashes around the scrap fabric heart (adhered with fusible web).  What's inside?

I finally broke down and rinsed our home grown pinto beans.  The piddly harvest....we all know that story right?  Either way, I am cooking them to go with breakfast burritos, snacks and after school burritos.   We get creative with breakfast burritos.  Which reminds me, I better open a jar of zucchini salsa too.

The last few mornings, we've has some beautiful sunrise skies.