Pioneer Woman at Heart

There were a few requests interested in the recipe for the breakfast casserole.  The recipe is online from AllRecipes (Easy Broccoli-Cheese Casserole).  I simply used organic ingredients, and added 1 tsp. homemade garlic powder and a 1/4 tsp. homemade fire powder to add flavor.  In all honesty, I think this recipe would make a great side dish as well for family get togethers.  I like this one particularly because it uses less eggs.   As for the family's recipe for Hot Cranberry Punch.  I have the recipe on my blog - HERE .  It's been a tradition in our family for years and years, and my youngest daughter wanted to have some with her cookies I baked (and wanted to learn how to make it).  It was sort of something to take her mind to a peaceful place I think, and I was thrilled she wanted to make it herself. How to make Fire Powder: Dehydrate a mix of hot peppers according to your dehydrator instruction book.  Grind the dried peppe...

I can't say we area carrying on my childhood traditions, but I wanted to write today and share them.  My kids are older now, and well, I can't really stay up that late (ha ha ha!). As a child, Mom would fill the kitchen table with leftover Christmas cookies, chips and dips, cheese ball and crackers, and punch. Lights would be off and candles would be lit. The real Christmas tree would still be up, covered with that thin, silver tinsel, homemade ornaments and blinking lights.  There was a star light on the top.

Friday was like my typical Monday - busy, busy, busy.  I removed everything from kitchen counters, sorted, washed, washed and dried and put away, washed some more and scrubbed and .....reclaiming my kitchen.   I set the rules straight with the girls, but this morning I woke up to dishes drying on a towel.  Sigh.  I had high hopes they'd get the message when I told them the kitchen was closed until they finished their "to-do" list I gave them.  I want to wake up to a clean kitchen every morning now.  That is the goal anyway. I posted a few days ago, that I made our traditional Hot Cranberry Punch on Christmas this year.   I guess over the years I have forgotten to share the recipe.   Although it's a Christmas/New Year's tradition,  I have made this punch throughout winter.  Just be sure to stock up your fresh cranberries while they are in season in the fall first.  I freeze mine, and they work just fine for this reci...

As I sit here with a late start today, two baby goats are romping around the kitchen, trying to jump into my lap, and sucking on my bathrobe.   Nothing like starting your day with hot coffee and baby goat slobber. We had a load of wood to pick up, with more to pick up later.  We have not slowed down too much this spring.

SPLAT! I broke my flyswatter smacking spiders.  Eww, right? My shopping list now has "flyswatters" on it.  I don't like seeing those mutant orange so-called lady bugs around either.  My chickens won't even eat them.  

When tension brews, I brew a cup of Holy Basil tea.  I'm now growing Holy Basil in my garden.  I'm patiently waiting to harvest it. We are tea and coffee enthusiasts (if you want to call us that), and love to try new varieties.

When my 17 year-old had asked me, "do we have to do anything today?"  I responded with "eat, drink, and be merry!" I got my crafting mojo flowing yesterday, and created a fun planner for 2014.  Thanks to Patty, at Lemon Lane Cottage , I dug out my scraps, decoupage and glue, and put some pizazz into a plain covered planner.  I'll admit, it felt good to craft without a plan, and without a deadline.   Read more by clicking on "read more" below....

My 17 year-old helped a lot with this year's cookie tradition.  She also wanted to add a "lemon" cookie to our baking this year.  We searched the internet and found Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze (Giada, Food Network) . These were delicious.  We will keep this recipe for future holiday baking (and more).  We will however, make them half the size next time.  And of course we used organic lemon juice too. During summer, I plan to bake these using our homemade ricotta cheese (made from our goat's milk), and organic (or homemade butter). Tidbits . . .  It's a whopping 2°F wind chill today.  We got a bit of snow last night too.  Thank goodness my son re-stocked the wood pile. I went and got myself a head cold, and am sorry I didn't get my elderberry elixir made yet.  I best get on that.  Nobody likes it when Mom is sick around here.  I tend to get grouchy. I was actually up early this morning, searching pattern sit...

We now call ourselves "popupologists."  (Snort) The definition is a devotee of camping with a pop-up camper.  Pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage, and join us while we show you are camping adventure. We took another camping trip.  This is the back of our campsite, where there is a secluded area for more tents or simply "chilling out."

As you know, I am a very low-tech, or no-tech person.  I do not read books on electroni c de vices, nor read them on-line on my computer.  I like to hold the rea l thing in my hands, and enjoy it without batteries.  T hat's jus t me. (note:  In no way, I am writing this to be hurtful to those who do use electronic reading devices.) 

I can finally share two starfish dishcloths I gifted to my mother.  She re ceived these yesterday.  They are thick enough to be table top/counter hot pa ds as well.  The pattern is free on-line.  I'll post the link as soon as I locate it a gain.

We had a Salsa Party, to taste all four of the salsa recipes I canned this year.  The Peach Salsa recipe used a small amount of honey. 

In the process of slowly cleaning clutter, in between gardening and stocking up, I created a way to preserve the letters my 10 year-old daughter writes to me.  Over the years, she has written me many letters.  I tend to put a note in the kid's lunches when I can, and add a small piece of candy.  In the process of that, she started to write me letters and put them all over the house.  In the past she'd pop popcorn, and put a "treat" down inside the bowl.  We'd enjoy the popcorn, and she would pretend to be surprised when we got to the "treat" at the bottom. Each of my kids have a unique personality, and I just could not throw these notes away. I purchased an inexpensive photo album with the pages that peel back.  I inserted the letters so I can re-read them like a book. For the cover, I mixed 50/50 of white glue and decoupage, and covered the front with a piece of scrapbooking paper.  I don't scrap book very much, but do journalin...

Where can you find someone willing to sell you a truck load of wood for $25.00? It's rare indeed.  Thankfully, my son can lift these heavy pieces and put them on the wood splitter for me to split.  He unloaded the truck too.  Most of the wood was in stump pieces about 3 feet wide, the kind that no person really wants to mess with.  We, on the other hand, were very thankful to God for this wood.  Regardless of size.  We spent the afternoon splitting about half of it, until we needed to go inside and thaw out our finger tips. Now, if we could just find wood pellets.  Clerks were giving my husband a weird look when he asked if they had any.  So far, we are not finding them.   One store even told us they are not ordering any more this season.   This morning, we are off on a venture, to locate a store that has some.  Thankfully, we can call ahead, but even that isn't always accurate.  One time we called, they said ye...

My first granny square scarf.  I had fun with this and plan to make another one for gifting.   This one went to the same daughter, that this hat (another finished project)....

We finally got snow.  The younger two girls have been playing in it, getting pulled around in sleds, with chasing dogs behind them. Today the sun is trying to peak out, but the wind is swift enough to dry my larger items outside on the line.  The rest are on drying racks in front of the wood stove. And if you are wondering if our family motto is really true or not ( "Eat it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or go without.") check out those pink flannel sheets on the line.  Those used to be mine as a kid.  Mom gave them to me several years ago, and now my own kids are using them.  The elastic is giving out on the bottom sheet, but they sure come in handy in this old farm house. As for the "Project Runway" part of the post, think "projects." I have a list of more crafting projects that need finished or completed, and I'll post them as I complete them. Over the school winter break, I finished a set of cup coasters, a few ornaments and dishcloths. ...

The new year aftermath - indoors. Ha ha ha ha ha! The new year aftermath - outdoors......I'm sure the barn cats are trying to figure out what that funny string stuff is. Ha ha ha! Despite one daughter having to work at 4am the morning of New Year's Eve, and my son working New Year's Eve and this morning, I think they all had a good time last night. We added more healthier foods to our festive night this year - a fruit tray.   Growing up, Mom always had tables full of snacks she baked for Christmas, Chex mix was a must, and punch in the punch bowl.  As a tradition, we would all sleep underneath and around the Christmas tree.  In the morning it would come down.  It was a real tree every year.  I look forward to putting up a real tree here (once the cats learn not to climb it). When we took down the tree, and after the ornaments came off and were put away, we would take down (what we called) the tinsel.  You know, those tiny slivers of silver t...

 Cat, Tat and Note I went into my bedroom to find Tiger with a note gently attached to him.  My 9 year-old daughter used a small section of my first tatting I ever did, and gently but Tiger on my bed to deliver the "noter." She wrote "Enjoy your made bed, and cat, as a wonderful bonus.  Oh what a joy he is (he likes it when you scratch his tummy).  If you come to the kitchen for a spa treatment you can choose manicure, pedicure or both.  It will only cost you one all nighter.  Then you can enjoy yourself to any treatment. Oh and there's also a hair-do." Well, she never did stay up late.  She fell asleep before I did.  It's just having the idea that she can stay up that makes her happy.  I never did cash in on that spa treatment either.  Maybe she'll be in "business" today. 

I am not sure on the details of this quilt, and have sent e-mails to extended family for help.  I do know that my Mom, and two Aunt's used it on their bed as girls.  And yes they shared one bed.   Backside I'm waiting to find out if my grandmother or my great grandmother made this.  I think I was told it was made from old clothes and rags.  Back then, nothing was thrown out, so you know this is very old.  I was worried about taking it out and putting it on the line for the photos, but wanted to e-mail the historical society.  Which brings me to the "road trip" part.  Because of the quilts history and fragile state, I am attempting to donate it to a historical society in my grandparents county.  Their original house burned down several years ago, and is not even standing.  Gosh that brings back memories.  Grandma's house smell, is still in the blanket.  I have not washed it, because the material would just fall apart....

“Why do you even put one on the table Mom?”  That is a good question.   I love to add a touch of “home” to my kitchen with an antique table cloth.   It’s a new tradition in our home, and one that I think will stay. I don’t intentionally shop for them.   For some reason, they seem to show up here and there on there own.    The second one from the left, has a 1961 pattern date on it.  I did not pay more than $4 for each of these larger ones, and no more than $2.00 for the square or round smaller ones.  The kids seeing them on the table too.  And although these are "antique" I buy them to use them.  I also came across a large cloth seed bag that will most likely be re-purposed into something new.