Pioneer Woman at Heart

  I got the chance to go on a new outing, and with a surprise outing with one of the kids.   I was over joyed to get out of the house and do something fun.  It really has been a year for "first" times for so many things, and it is bringing me (us) pure joy, adventures, and fulfillment.  Big or small. First, I received gifts!  A bag, new Spring bathrobe, garden gloves and a coffee mug. The garden gloves are touch screen, so I can keep them on to use my cell phone if needed.  They work too!  Fit great! Love them! Oh, and here is the "first time" part of the special day. . .we went to a coffee shop that we have never been too ( first visit ).  It's been open for many a year or so.  It's small, quaint, and oh boy, sells used and new books (gulp!).  They also sell locally made crafted items as well. I got to try hot and iced coffee flights for the first time ever!!  Oh my gosh, these were delightful. My first ever blind date with ...

  The aftermath of the Christmas gathering has all been cleaned up.  Dishes are washed and put away, the Christmas tablecloth removed and washed, living room debris picked up, floors swept and mopped.....the worst part of hosting is the clean up.  One thing I have learned, when someone says they are coming early to help, don't count on the help.  Two, don't count on people bringing what food they say they will bring.  Hence the dip I made at the last minute.   I also learned that the day after a gathering is the best morning to have a make-ahead breakfast ready to simply pop in the oven.  We did not, and I did regret not having one ready.  I will definitely remember next time. Finished!  Off the list now.  My husband's scarf is done. I mentioned we tried a new dip recipe - Sausage Artichoke Dip (The Southern Lady Cooks, link goes to the recipe online).  It is very good, although we think we may use "hot" breakfast sausage (or ...

This is an old blog draft I had before all things in life went BAM!   Funeral is over, but we are all hurting.  Again, thank you for your prayers and good thoughts. It is taking all I have to get up and go this morning.  I am slammed with tomatoes, and I should have been up at 4:30am today.  I am so far behind, but I am up, as my husband had to work today as well.  Oh, I am slammed with green bell peppers as well.  I'm still dealing zucchini, and did not have a chance to check on the plants, as we had a day of visitation, and a full day with funeral services.  I thought I just heard the radio mention thunderstorms today, so after I get tomatoes prepped, I may run out and do a very quick look-see. I have to get my morning work out in first, then there is the unloading of the dishwasher, and then moving produce around to make room for a full day of canning.  It's very hot here as well, so that is a double whammy in my kitchen this week. A beaut...

  The days have been long here lately, and thank you for all of your kind words.  Our very loved, 20 year-old grand niece, left behind two beautiful baby boys.  One is 18 months old and the the other is 6 months old.  Our niece and nephew (grandparents) will be raising them.  Funeral arrangements hit hard, as we've gone through the motions way too many times.  It's been so difficult getting through the days.   In the midst of all the mental distress, the garden is throwing a lot a me.  First picking of tomatoes came to 67 pounds.  I'll be very busy.   Not sure what will get canned yet, as my brain is overloaded as it is. I canned way too much tomato soup last year, so I will cut back on that this year.  I am trying to pass the last dozen jars around to the kids, so they are not wasted, as I prepare canned tomato items this season. Green bell peppers are still rolling in and I had a dozen to freeze, and some to eat. The zuc...

  Heaven gained another angel last night.  Our grand niece.  She was so young, and way too early to go in life.  She has two beautiful baby boys.  I will be back soon. Way too many deaths in the family.  

  The back story to the pharmacy door:  My Dad was a pharmacist for a living.   The drug store also had a photo counter, cigar/cigarette counter with candy counter, a general store counter and items sold there, and an old time (what I called) fountain.   (source:  Hometown Library) If you look to back right upper corner, that is the pharmacy, with enclosed windows that were added later in the years.  If I remember correctly, the enclosure was added to lock it up, due to people breaking in and stealing from the store.  I can't recall if it was a business requirement, or because of the breaking and entering and stealing, but the enclosure make it possible to lock that area up. At the "fountain"  there was a counter with stools and booths to sit at.  I grew up working behind that counter at nights and weekends.  I sometimes worked for the main, full time gal Carol that ran the fountain.  If my memory is correct, all of my sib...

  Years ago, my Dad gave me a container of "crafty" items from his mother (my Grandma).  She lived through the Great Depression, and was very creative on recycling "trash" into items to sell (above is a magnet she made). She used to recycle egg cartons, but punching holes out using a single hole punch.  She would make many things with them, and in the container, along with several bags of punched circles, was a magnet she made with other styrofoam trays.  My biggest memory from these punched circles, was her necklaces she made with them, using dental floss to string it and other beads.  Several years ago, I wrote about it.  You can get directions on my S.C.R.A.P. blogspot. She also made beautiful beaded jewelry.  I have completely emptied that container, sorted it and boxed most of it up.  It will be donated to a home where they house women recovering from mental/health and addiction/recovery issues.  They are very "crafty" and were asking fo...

  While cleaning off our breakfast bar, I found the jars my Aunt J packaged up for me (later sent by my Uncle after she passed).  They were tucked behind photos.  I kept them all the way packaged them except for the one that had candy in it, which of course I ate.  The other jars have teabags, popcorn and buttons. In conversation with my daughter K, she advised me that we can't keep everything, and sometimes we need to change things.   The story about the jar, is that I sent her jars of jam.  She packaged and intended to return my jars filled with goodies.  She was the best snail mail buddy I ever had. I used to send her the funniest stuff around Halloween for her grand kids.  So....the jars will be emptied and the buttons saved for something.  The jars will go back into rotation for canning again, but Aunt J will not be forgotten.

  It was not really the best weather day to do this, but we drove to Hobby Lobby and with my wire cutters in hand, made this in the truck on the way to the cemetery.  It wasn't cheap, but worth every penny to put together.  I think it turned out very nice.   We (my husband and I) also put flowers on my Grandparents grave (next to Moms), and drove to the town where Dad is buried and put flowers on his too.   On the way home we realized how many graves we need to yet visit this year - his parents, his sisters, our grandson, his nephew and his nephew's son.....just too many sadly. Today we will be having Christmas with our Daughter T and the grandkids.  I know it's March, but it's been a whirlwind since Christmas (or before that).  The grandkids will be tickled pink to get presents in March.  She was unable to visit with us Christmas day, and she has a busy work schedule. My blue roses are blooming beautifully.  I'll try and remember t...

  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 ...

  I am saving this recipe to try this summer.  I thought I would share it.  Has anyone made this?  I am just now learning about it. I got some organic dandelion greens blanched and in the freezer.  There is only one store that sells them this time of year. It was another day at Mom's house.  I made two trips to the re-sale store in town (benefits area businesses).  It's been difficult, but the busyness keeps my mind off things.  I've been able to pass on some kitchenware to our Daughter K, for her new apartment. Clothing has been donated to a soup kitchen. My house is a crazy mess, so once Daughter K is completely moved out, we will start major repairs and updates.  We also plan to do a major clean up in the garage when the weather gets better.

  We got a card from one of my cousin's, and it was obviously opened by someone in the mail system.  It's sick that this happens.  They probably thought it was a birthday card and were looking for money or a check to steal. We also got cards and a beautiful wind chime from my husband's work.  Mom loved wind chimes too.  In fact, she gifted us one made of shells.  I can't wait to hang them on the porch this spring. I finally got around to baking a healthy breakfast, but forgot to take a photo.  It involved sausage, eggs, bell pepper, onion, jalapenos, garlic and dandelion greens. I've been slowly working on a menu this week, but I am slow joe fizz this week. My asparagus seeds are starting to sprout. My kitchen is filling up with packed boxes, for another move day for Daughter K.

  Our house has been a mess since Christmas.  Covid kept us from tidy work, and before that a sprained ankle, then Mom's health and total focus on her.  I miss her already, and often reach for my cell phone a certain time of time, and realize I won't be calling her like I used to.   Back to the messy house part.  I feel like the more I try to clean up, the worse it looks, as Daughter K has started the moving out process. Boxes of stuff everywhere. We, due to limited vehicles (still), moved her bed last night.  It felt like it was a drive across country for us.  My husband and I slept in past the sunrise (almost never happens). We are just exhausted with everything that has recently happened, that we just needed the rest. I can't say, that I personally, have gotten enough rest. In fact, things have been so out of whack, that I guess I missed paying the January internet bill.  The internet went out the other day, and when I called to report an ...

  I went to the porch to get the garden cart, to fill with wood, and found 2 boxes delivered.  One contained sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies, which were sent from Daughter K's boyfriend's mother and grandmother.  What a nice surprise (sent due to the passing of Mom/Grandma). The other bigger box was sent to Daughter K from the business she works.  It was a grant that they had for employees getting covid.  They were a month late, but it was mostly food, but also contained disinfectant wipes, tissues and chapstick. We woke up to a very cold morning, snow and a lot of ice.  Lovely.   My green bell pepper seeds are finally sprouting, as well as some of the hot pepper seeds.  I am looking forward to spring.

  (Mom and Aunt J at her favorite place - the beach) Thank you all for your condolences, kind words and prayers during this difficult time.  I really do appreciate you all. I know there will be things/places that will come across in my future that will bring back memories of Mom.  Her favorite travel spots, foods, books, flowers, popcorn from Amish country trips, wine, color....all good memories. If any of us missed a family get together she would be mad for a few days, but I can guarantee you'd make the next one (ha ha!). I know there will be things/places that will come across in my future that will bring back memories of Mom.  Her favorite travel spots, foods, books, flowers, popcorn from Amish country trips, wine, color....all good memories.   If any of us missed a family get together she would be mad for a few days, but I can guarantee you'd make the next one (ha ha!).   It's been a huge whirlwind of grief and emotions.   She absolutel...

  My mother passed away on Saturday, February 19th.  It's been a whirlwind of emotions.  I'll be back when I am able to.

Our rain turned to ice, sleet and snow.  It's an ice rink out there today.  Windows are frozen over and we can't even see out them.  There is a level 1 road emergency in place today, and roads are slick, some schools closed, and many, many power outages around our area.  Thank goodness ours is on. Daughter K has secured an apartment with her boyfriend (until they buy a house of their own).  I hope I'm not repeating myself, but my brain is over loaded with emotions right now.  She's been filling up her car with items to donate before the big move. We are literally hanging on emotion-wise.  Hospice is taking good care of Mom.  I have been up to sit with her almost daily, and all of us are overwhelmed with a roller coaster of emotions. Most nights we don't even eat dinner.  I still haven't made dinner, but tonight I will use every last energy zap I have to make something.  I was reminded to take care of ourselves, and eat properly, take bre...

The "has been in the closet for years" project is now finished!  I love the border.  You chose yellow for the last round.  It has been washed and is drying to pack up for the next grand child.  It was a fun pattern to do, but a long project.  I am just glad it's done and off the "unfinished" list. Daughter K picked this yarn out for a house warming gift (full size blanket).  I'm not sure her boyfriend will like it, but ha!  I will need to go back to the store for more, but first need to calculate how much will be needed. I think I will also buy them a wine rack and some wine.  I have some time to think about it, but the blanket must get started now, as we are heading into the garden season next. I have a lot to knock off the to-do list, but first outside stuff.  Rain is on the way, and in a bad way.  We  need to cut more wood and get it split, and I promised to cook dinner tonight.  There is literally so much going on in our mi...

  Yesterday's rain turned everything to slush, which froze over last night.  It's a sheet of ice out there now.  I warned our daughter before taking the dogs out this morning.   We had a visit with Mom, and will be visiting again today.  My younger brother took one of her cats into her room for her to see. Daughter E surprised us with a visit last night, and just in time for dinner.  Daughter K made us chicken alfredo last night for dinner and it was delicious.  I was thrilled she offered to cook, and she said she needs to do it more to prepare moving out with her boyfriend. Daughter E tried on her halter top I crocheted and it fits.  She was tickled pink to take leftovers home with her. I was happy to see her and the fact I didn't have to cook dinner. I will need to cook this weekend though.  Not sure what yet, but first I need to wake up with some coffee.  We all slept in this morning. Oh, while shopping at Wal-mart the other day,...

My husband, the sweet man that he is, secretly booked a B & B for the night prior to Valentine's Day.  Yesterday morning he canceled it in lieu of the updates regarding Mom's health.  They were very kind, and did not charge a fee to cancel.  We will re-book in the future. Daughter K and I went to visit Mom (Gram) at the nursing home.  My heart breaks for Mom right now.  It took every millimeter in my body not to cry in front of her.  We had to get nurses to help her with something, and I have to say that they are so nice.  They came in the room ASAP and helped Mom with getting her comfortable.  Just a really good staff to have for her right now. We were so emotionally exhausted arriving home, that I sent a text to my husband begging him to bring home dinner.  I was in no condition to cook dinner.  I was literally in PJ's by 3:30pm, fired stoked, chickens tended, mail brought in, and by 4:00pm, had an adult drinky drink in my han...