Pioneer Woman at Heart

It's been cold here lately. Tuesday (1-14-25) we woke up to -3°F.   It snowed the entire day, making all of the roadways slick. Accidents, multiple car pile up's, and my husband stuck in traffic on his way home (due to another pile up).  I'm not kidding, it was that bad on the roads. I was out on them.  The doctor found no fractures, but I have an injured hamstring.  No wonder I have been in pain.  My husband missed his own doctor appt due to the accidents delaying him. Today we woke up to a brisk -7°F, and we are in for a really cold snap next week.  Like below -20 or something.  I had the delight to watch a herd of deer this morning, and will post those photos in another post.  We had a front porch visitor.  A raccoon.   It's been fun with the snow on the ground lately. I can track the animals so easily.  There are rabbit prints and deer prints all around the chicken coop, and all over the property.  I see the fat s...

  I enjoyed yet another spectacular sunrise, and this particular day the temperture got up to 80°F.  I don't remember November ever getting that warm before. I'm am enjoying the "down" time here lately too.  I spent more time searching the local library catalog, and have ordered a few books via their interloan borrowing system. I even have had some "me" time, and finished another lap afghan.  It is the right width at the bottom.  It looks weird due to the angle I was holding the camera.  Anyway, another one done. I cook from scratch, so most days here involve some sort of  kitchen duty, so I relish leftover days.  I tried a new recipe for pumpkin oat pancakes.  The chickens are still on hiatus, so I switch to oatmeal bakes, steel cut oats, pancakes, waffles, or anything using less eggs.  Bacon is very expensive now, so we have been swapping it with Canadian bacon. (one of the recipes - Tahini Date cookies, recipe from Thrive Market) I ha...

Thanks to the rain, dreary skies, and much cooler weather here, I have managed to get some handiwork done.  In fact, last night we got down to 47°F, after a full day of thunderstorms and downpours.  Crazy cold nights for May, but not unheard of. The sun is shining today, but it will take a few days for the gardens to dry out.  In fact, a portion of one of our vegetable gardens actually flooded.  We have taken note, and plan to fill it in more with soil (but that will have to wait, as the price to have a truck load delivered has more than doubled). . . . crocheted 3 baby washcloths.  I need to sew in the ends and block them. . . .crocheted a bookmark.  I have blocked it, but I am wondering if I should starch it or dip it in 50/50 Elmer's glue and water?  I have made many bookmarks in the past, but I have never once stiffened them.  I feel this one needs it.  I just think if it was completely stiff it would be an odd bookmark.   I onl...