Pioneer Woman at Heart

  The weather has been beautiful.  Today the high is 71°F.  Porch weather, and we are loving it. I have not run out of things to catch up on or clean.  My kitchen is full of door wreaths of Mom's I put one on each door, and plan to donate the remainder.  She had a knack for finding the most beautiful ones. Considering my brain has not yet re-charged, I will be relying on notepads to keep me in check. I'm considering getting a barn cat this year.  We are getting a few field mice.  I think Jasper, who is a great mouser, is on leave ha ha!  Country life at it's best. My homemaking tip today:  sure fire way to catch a mouse in 24 hours or less.  Use the snap traps.  Put a small piece of cheese on it, covered by clear tape, poke a few holes in it and wa-la!  Their teeth catch in the tape and tripper the trap.  Otherwise they get away with the snack and trap never goes off. How long does arrowroot powder last?  My bulk buy ...

The boys came out and plowed out the 3-4 foot drifts that buried a few cars.  They sped off before I could pay them though.  Little turds that they are.  We'll catch up with them soon.  Thankfully, they plowed out the mailbox area for us as well. Woke up to a wind chill of 1°F this morning. I have a 5 foot drift blocking my chicken coop, so after I slowly wake up with some coffee, and get a warm shower, I'll be outside shoveling a path for that. Daughter K is out of town visiting with her boyfriend.  They are looking at more apartments.  That means I have dog, cat and rabbit duty.  Jasper (cat) is already meowing at me from the stairs. My sinus medications have not kicked in just yet.  Hopefully today will be the day.  I'm getting tired of being tired (and sick). We are having trouble getting someone affordable to replace the brakes on the car.  Normally, my mechanic husband does the repairs, but we have the Chevelle in the garage r...

  My newest project - baby pacifier leash.  I have a grand-niece about to give birth, and will hopefully get a few more made in different colors.  Sadly, I do not have a finished baby blanket/booties to gift her right now. I am working on the un-finished baby blanket that I found in my closet.  It's hit or miss, depending on how I feel.  We sipped hot peppermint leaf tea yesterday, and it opened up our nasal passages better than nasal spray. On a good note, the nursing home has not called again with any more cases, but more friends of ours have it now. If anything gets done today, it'll be hitting the "sanitize" button on the washing machine and the "self-clean" button on the oven.  It's a good (wind chill 4°F) cold day to do it. My ankle feels normal again. Finally.  Not sure if the immune boost pills we are taking helped heal it up, but it is nice to have my regular walk/movement back. Daughter K goes back to work today.  I know she is still fee...

We have a couple of Thanksgiving meals planned, and I'm working on what I'm going to make and take.  We are actually having a meal with my side of the family this year. Best and cheapest place (in store or online) place to buy Lion Brand 24/7 cotton yarn?  I'm currently looking at $4.99 a skein, but it'd be great to find it less than that.  I haven't been to our Wal-mart lately, so I haven't checked there in store yet. I baked us a loaf of banana bread.  Kitchen smelled so good. I found local pasture fed meat, and it is super close to the homestead.  I'm working up my order.  

Froze the last of the green bell peppers. Jalapenos and green bell pepper went into this breakfast, topped with freshly cut chives. Froze the last of the mad hatters and some more hot banana peppers. Made hot sauce with some of the habaneros.  New recipe.  I'll let you know if it's good or not. Filled the dehydrator with a mess of peppers for more fire powder. Dinner last night.  Something I haven't made in a long, long time - pumpkin/ricotta stuffed shells (recipe is still online with Country Living) with basil and sage.  I sliced home grown carrots and put them in the crockpot with honey, butter and thyme. Sadly, another extended family member on my husband's side of the family, had passed away from covid.  

  My sister-in-law, Patty, has passed away.  I will not be posting for a few days.  Patty is in heaven now.  

  Utterly exhausted and overwhelmed.  I will be back with posting soon.

  Our weather continues to swelter us.  The storms continue, so weeding is not happening yet again today. The world has gone mad (again).  Daughter K was forced to once again don a face mask at work.   Daughter K's job involved loading and unloading heavy furniture in our 102°F heat index heat.    Although she found this very nice, rechargeable neck fan, she continues to struggle to breathe in the heat and of course out breath from her work.  Within a week however, she is sick.  Congested, runny nose, cough, etc.  It breaks my heart that this is happening again.  She does have the possibility to get a new job, but she plans to move in about 4-5 months too. I have no new updates on the garden today.  I'll be out to check it today though.   My husband's best friend's father's funeral was yesterday, and when we got home it was late and we were pretty tired. He's having issues with one eye contac and one eye, so I'm ...

  I managed to finish the rag rug I started this year.  It's for the bathtub.  Sorry about the lighting, I took the photo just before dinner time. The book store never called me back on the book they were waiting to price.  I'm assuming it was a legit signed copy and they were selling it for well more than I could afford.  I don't want a signed copy anyway.  I just wanted the recipes. Happy New Year! 2020 has been a total bunch of hot garbage.  It can only get better from here, as I see it.  Dad's place is empty.  I can't explain how I feel after seeing it that way.  On a funny note, he had several typewriters - electric and manual.  There were 4 typewriters when I arrived with one daughter.  I told her "load 'em up, they are your project now."  She was fascinated that people used to use them. May 2021 (but I said this in 2020 too) be better than the year before.  We can only hope right?

There might be some peppermint schnapps in my coffee this morning. Today is the last day to clean out Dad's place. I got the last of Christmas decorations put away, drained an infused oil, got most of the kitchen back in order (whew! thankful for that), got more wood split after Hubby got home from work, and other cleaning caught up with.  I put a fresh vintage tablecloth on one table, but I'm still working on the other table.   I still haven't found a box of Christmas cards I lost.  However, I found my husband's missing truck keys. The sun was out most of the morning yesterday.  I was also thankful for that.  Snow was predicted, so was rain. Woke up to a level 1 emergency, so I'm praying roads are okay later when we need to be out.

Snow arrived early yesterday morning.  It sort of made me feel like staying in jammies all day, sipping hot cocoa and watching America's Test Kitchen (love that show).  However, I had to tend the hens, fetch a load of wood, get the mail and whatnot, which required getting dressed and putting on snow boots. I was a bit motivated by wanting to try a new crochet pattern.  Although my bedroom was/is a hot mess and needed tidied up.  I have crafting supplies all over it.  I'm not sure how my husband puts up with me, ha ha! Well, everything is on hold here.  Our one daughter who works retail, said one co-worker is off awaiting a test for the virus (his wife is sick).  She (daughter) is in a panic and went to test as well, and results come in today or tomorrow.  Praying she is fine, but all plans are on hold until then.  It's pretty frustrating how anyone who is around anyone sick has to fear for their lives right now.  

What's been going on here?  Well, I realized when I was short of one box, I could go online and order them for free from the USPS.  It's been shipped, but my books have not arrived. Dirtiest election year ever.  With so much uncertainty for our country, there could be the possibility of my husband losing his job (as well as many other Americans). There is voter fraud.  It's real.  Friends of my best friend (of many many years who I email every single day) went to vote.  The wife was told she could not vote, because she had already voted.  She said "no I didn't vote."  She had to verify that the ballot that was mailed in was not her signature.   Haven't started on the bathroom renovation.  My husband has had no time and also no motivation.  He's been working 10 hour days and more overtime is possible next week as well. No word on the car.  I think my husband has been too busy to even think about calling about it. Chainsaw p...

I literally have nothing to blog today.  I was so busy yesterday though, and we got one car picked up and paid for (this guy repairs from his home and does an awesome job on "big" jobs).  However, there is no room in his driveway to tow my car over for the new engine.  Story of my life.  I'm told Monday or Tuesday we can bring it over. In the meantime, our 21 year-old is happy now that she has her "own" car now.  We are all tickled pink that our 18 year-old is back home.  Her job is keeping her busy and she is doing very well at the hair salon.  Her dog is so happy too, that we sent her flowers to her work and asked that the card read, "Thank you for coming back home Mommy,"  signed Romeo.   Romeo was so excited that he was zooming from room to room and could not sleep the first night she was here.  Anyway, we had a very long but productive day I guess.  First, even though my husband is working nights, we drove an hour to a cit...

I brought in more green and wax beans, but boy are they not as large as they should be.  Watering has been almost daily with this drought and heat index, it's so frustrating. I put 1 1/2 cups of blackberries in the freezer too.  The green beans need cleaned and put in the freezer today.  Not sure how I'll have time for all my work today. My 21 year-old knew that I have been having a very difficult time lately, so after diligent watering, and prepping dinner for 2 crock pots, she swooped me off to a day of fun.  However, we found several of the local shops closed on a Monday (and Tues).  That sort of put us in a depressed mood, but we located another town with a general store open and drove there for some local shopping.  Then.... We hit Adli's for some much needed adult beverages and picked up some hard root beers to try as well. Returning home, I had to batten down the hatches for a storm rolling in.  First they said 75mph wind, then 60...

I woke up emotionally exhausted this morning.  Yesterday was the service and celebration of life, followed by a private dinner.  We stayed with the family until late and I think I went to bed at almost midnight.  Unheard of. It was the hardest day of our lives.  Youngest was given the strength to get up in front of everyone and share her story.  She also shared a song her boyfriend sent her when she was having a hard time and played that. Youngest's boyfriend was the hardest working young adult I have ever met.  He was so kind and positive and always willing to help when needed.  He will be missed. Not sure how we'll get through the day today.  Thank you all for you kind words, prayers, good thoughts and mojo.  It's been a rough, rough time lately.

Well, we made it through the funeral for the best friend.  Rough, rough week I tell ya'.   We have arranged a drive thru graduation gift drop off for our youngest (since we canceled her grad/prom party).  We asked her first and she loved the idea. My new project!  Jar Gripper/Jar Opener.  I'll be making more and getting them up for sale soon.  It's about 6 x 7 inches. I caught the raccoon.  I have a bad feeling there are more so the trap is re-set.  Sigh. Our favorite organic coffee beans have been swapped with something else.  We just brewed a bag and it tastes horrible. I guess we switch coffee now (after years of buying it).  Blech. It's back to watering the garden again.  No news there. I have been trying to catch up on laundry, but I keep forgetting I have it in the washer.  My mind is just all over the place lately.

It's been a very rough week.  Some days are just trying to do something to stay busy, others are tough as h-e-double hockey sticks. I hadn't washed dishes since last Friday, so we are taking turns on the rounds to catch up.  Movement helps. Project supplies arrived, so there is more that can keep me occupied, other than the garden.  The chicken coop needs mucked as well. Picked another round of beans - almost 2# Black beans are finally climbing and the blossoms are on.  We got rain, but not enough.  Just enough to give them a dose of goodness.  Many people who are watering with city water are losing their gardens in this drought. On another note, I have been trying to order a replacement part for my sauce maker since last fall.  I pulled up their site, and it's still out of stock.  I emailed them, and guess what?  They asked for my address and shipped me one FREE!  How awesome is that? My side bar bible verse has bee...

My bell peppers are starting to come on.  I just hope I am watering enough to plump them up in size.  It's still a drought at our homestead (even though surrounding areas are getting rain). The trees are starting to lose their leaves, and my berry bushes look terrible. We spent most of the day with our daughter's boyfriend's family.  We took them dinner and went to the funeral home with them.  Long day, but I know they appreciated us being there. It's another hot day here. 

I have a nothing new post today.  Strange.  I'm always so pumped to get something posted, but not today.  So much on my mind right now. We got spit on yesterday.  The storm came through and it literally sprinkled for less than a minute.  I am so sad on top of everything else.  We are in drought conditions and now I am worried about the garden. Hubby is out watering flowers.  When he's done I'll start on the garden.  My root veggies are not getting what they need.  I can't remember a year like this.  Ever. We had visitors all day yesterday, and even had a meal delivered.  Our daughter is not okay.  Youngest.  We are doing our best to keep her around someone.  She is not allowed to drive herself anywhere right now either.  She is having the most horrible time right now.

Hubby made us omelets with veggies and leftover ham.  The muffins are organic from the store since I still cannot find wholewheat flour anywhere . We did a grocery pick up (no toilet paper...again).  It's limited now, and we never know if we'll get what we need.  I try to get some sort of greens in each order we need to do. Pan of veggies we had one night. I got an email that stated one seed order was shipped.  The other order came back with "out of stock" on about 4 of my items.  Sadly, I had to go and reorder them from another source, crossing my fingers this all arrives timely.  We did not start any seeds indoors this year, so that means relying on our garden resource for a few other items, especially tomatoes.   Hubby dropped a jar of 4 thieves vinegar and spilled the remaining goodness.  He looked like he was going to cry.  Literally.  I had another jar, so he was relieved, and I'm making more, but using th...