This and That

 

Thankful for the rain that arrived right after I finished planting the garden last week.  I have new garden goodies to try this year, and I have ordered a new item to start in pots (more on that later).

Our AC units are not installed yet.  We have not had anyone to help do that, and one person we reached out to, has not responded.

It's been nice to get back on track again.  It's been nice to "catch my breath" so to speak.

  The house needed a tidy up, I returned my library books, ran errands, and most of all cleaned up clutter.  The refrigerator got a good cleaning (needs a bit more cleaned).   The chicken coop mucked.

I updated the garden journal, made notes, and have made notes for next year as well.  We bought some of our garden plants this year, so I'm saving all the containers and trays.  I plan to use them for seed starting for next year (unless plans change by then).

Harvested:

-chickweed 

-fresh chive blossoms  

-green onions 

-garlic scapes  (have more to cut in a few days)

-wild growing wood sorrel 

Planted:

-onions

-shallots

-more rosemary

-borage

-more dill

-marjoram

-bunching onions

Apparently, we will be putting up some game cameras to see who, or what dog has been coming onto our property.  It's not a coyote and not a fox.  The deer are coming around more often too, so I will need to take measures to deter that as well.  There may be dogs, and maybe even a donkey added to the homestead yet.

Finished these crocheted water balloons in May.

They were gifted.

(another book blanket granny square)

Finished this book in May, and I was certain, I had read it before, but I don't have it listed in my book journal.  I am still sure I borrowed it from the library years ago.  The back of the book contains recipes and craft instructions.  

It was the most difficult (boring) book to finish, because we have already experienced raising chickens, and raising dairy goats.  We experienced hand milking LaMancha goats, making soap and cheeses etc.  We have never had sheep or a milk cow, but it was one of those books you read before you do all these things.  I had picked it up somewhere, and is a used library book, but it's read, and off the shelf (woot!).  It's being passed on, and out of the house.

. . . and another book finished (this month) and another granny square for the book blanket.  Very interesting book, the end was quite a surprise.

. . .finished this ebook from the library.  It was a random pick.  I liked it. It's hard to see the yarn colors, due to having to make a collage photo with the ebook photo and my granny square, but I think it matches very well.  There were recipes at the end of this book, and no, I will not be trying any of them.

. . . another baby blanket in the making. I have a person in line for this one too.

Food for thought. . .

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

This and That  ©  June 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Paperwork ~ Pricing Continues

 Goodness, we went from snow, to freezing conditions, then up to the 50's and then more rain.  The weather is all over the charts.  The outside work awaits us.  

I turned on the outside Christmas lights, the small light up fixtures and the tree now.  My husband is very into Christmas decorating for the first time.  I am still not ready for Christmas spirit. 

Now a days, everything is online, so I spent almost 2 hours on the computer accessing several accounts, downloading forms, scanning them, uploading them...just for getting medical bills paid.  Good gravy!   The worst part is that since I had to print stuff, then I have to file it until the year is over with.  Oh I do not like paper work days like that.  It doesn't help when a site is down or having issues with a claim or what not. 

The good news, is I'll be caught up at the dentist, only to rack the bills back up again.  Long story short, when we first moved here we had to go to a chain dentist due to insurance.  After they ruined teeth on two of my kids (literally verified by another dentist), we got back to our original dentist, but they are still fixing everything they did wrong.  One of my kids had an emergency visit this year, only to find out her new dentist was angry at how the chain dentist so called filled cavities on her teeth.

So after several visits this summer, guess who is having a problem that stems from a crown done by the chain dental location?  Yep.  Me.  An expensive one, but they (my current dentist) say they can do it without replacing the crown with a brand new crown.  Geeze.  Merry Christmas to me!  

Pricing continues.  Golly, I think I started making these over 5 years ago.  Honestly, I don't even know if I still have the pattern.  These are the last of the last of these.  I will not be making anymore.

  They are crocheted mug covers, with matching coaster, and come with a mug or cold beverage travel cup (100% cotton yarn).  Pricing continues. . .

I love the pink and gray one I made.  Totally forgot what colors they were, until I unpacked them to price.

We used to have a pop up camper.  When we went camping with the kids, I had crocheted a specific color for each kid, so the cups/mugs were duly noted (as the camper mugs/cups were all the same).  Plus, the hot cocoa (or coffee) stayed warmer longer.

I  finished this Monstera leaf cup/mug coaster set, that fits in a "clay" pot for a fun look.  I have another pot crocheted.

I had already loaded up and packed a tote with these, and found more in another tote.  I counted 36 more!  These are those fun water balloons that are eco-friendly.  Oh boy.  I think I may gift some to the grandkids.   I doubt I'll sell any during winter time, but these need packaged up yet. 

How do these work?  You soak them in a bucket of water and toss.  Wash, dry and reuse. Summer fun for kids on a hot day.

Happy Homemaker Monday

We had a very hot weekend, so tilling didn't happen.  It was so dry out.  We had to water the flower beds daily. I am very frustrated getting the vegetable garden in this year.  It's either the weather or my husband is not available to till.  He won't let me till when I am home alone.  We asked someone if they were interested in tilling for me for some cash.  Didn't happen.

The weather was perfect for starting some jars of comfrey oil.  I'll be trying a new salve recipe and giving it a try before I put a review on here about it.

We are somewhat feeling like normal in our state again.  We noticed however, when eating out they still give those annoying packets of ketchup vs. a bottle.  I'm putting one in the fridge just for when we are on the road from now on.  

We had a busy weekend.  There was a baby shower we attended, and delivered gifts for two grand niece birthdays we missed.  I forgot to take a picture, but we gifted a crocheted baby blanket and matching baby booties, along with diapers and other items (man the price of diapers - wow!!).

Our Bike Week will be different this year, but it's coming up the same weekend they do an MS charity bike poker run.  Rain is in the forecast for next Friday, so I'm not sure what activities we'll be doing. We are in a race to get the entire garden planted too, so who knows what we'll actually be able to participate in.  Personally, I'd like to work my bum off this week in the garden and try and get at least one day on the bike.

Our mower guy (only charges us $40 for what we mow on our 6 acres), showed up so that is one job taken off our hands.

 

Today, I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather  . . .

83°F/68°F, it finally rained last night.

On my reading pile . . .

On my TV . . .

Heartland

On the menu . . .

-new recipe to try, roasted rosemary asparagus

-crock pot pork chops, crock pot sweet potatoes

-sheesh....have no idea, it's hard to work up the menu without potatoes, rice, bread, pasta etc to keep tabs on my husband's sugar intake.  Last night we had chicken chili, but I hate making a hot dinner like that when it's in the 90's.  I have a pasta recipe with black beans that is basically a cold meal for a hot day, but yeah - pasta.  Salads sound good.  I love to make them with chicken, dried cranberries, sweetened pecans, but yeah sugar.  

On my to-do list . . .

-make a breakfast scramble

-boil eggs

-laundry

-empty dishwasher

-sweep/mop kitchen

-vacuum

-clean master bath

-plant flowers (one flat of snapdragons, 3 lavender plants I bought from a niece - school fundraiser)

-weed a portion of  a flower bed, drop dirt and seeds, add one more bag of mulch to another

-plant in vegetable garden

-check asparagus

-harvest some rhubarb

-muck chicken coop

....oh boy, this is a "Monday" for sure for us

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating . . .

Today's project is crocheted water balloons for the grandkids. To see a complete (or sort of) list of what's on the hooks click here.

Looking around the house . . .

The kitchen stayed looking good thankfully.  The girls worked all weekend, so less chance for a mess here or there.  The living room is another story, and the hallway is not done (we are either out and about, or working outside now).

From the camera . . .

Nothing exciting ha ha!  I got my cherry bomb seeds from an Etsy seller and got them planted.  I know it's late, but I'm hoping the hot weather will encourage fast growth.  One of my habanero plants is up due to the heat we were having.

Something fun to share . . .

If you are interested in how to crochet the water balloons, you need Bernat Blanket yarn and an 9.00mm hook.  The instructions are found on YouTube.  I bought this "bright" solid a year ago, so I can't remember where I bought it. 

I had intentions of making them last year (or maybe the year before, can't remember but found the yarn in the closet.  I went to Wal-mart for more color options, and they did not have solid colors, or the brights in the cake form either.  I picked up some blue variegated, and ordered some other solid color options online.  I haven't had time to check in-store at Meijer yet.  I attempted to order from Michael's online, but depending on the color, it was a forced store pick up or I had to order two of one color so that didn't happen.  I've got too much to plant to drive that far for yarn right now.

Something else fun to share.  A foldable, chargeable fan for the camper.  I bought it a year ago, and never got the camper out, but it's going in it this year.  I've heard from so many people how hard it is to get campground reservations this year, so it may be our only one this summer.  Who knows.  The fan pulls up, so the height is adjustable as well.

On my prayer list . . .

No personal requests at this time, other than the Mother of Daughter E's boyfriend that passed.  Both his family and our daughter still have a rough time.