Pioneer Woman at Heart
One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!
One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
Adopted Motto
"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~
Friday, April 19, 2024
Spring Flowers
Monday, August 14, 2023
New Coop ~ Tidbits
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Gardening reduces stress and anxiety???
Daughter E called us and we talked for an hour. She loves her new job and of course the income, and we can really see a difference in her happiness and way less anxiety.
We both got a chuckle when we were talking about being a stay at home Mom. She said, "after seeing what Mom does every day, I don't want that job, I would rather work outside the home" ha ha ha!
Although some days are extremely busy, there are a few days where I get to take the day slower, but yes, homemade cooking takes a lot of time, produces more dirty dishes, more dishes to wash and whatnot. I do prefer the real foods and prefer home grown, which is also work. I get it, but some day she may change her thoughts on that.
Weeds! Not sure this is a stress reducer or anxiety reducer, ha ha! I'm tired when I'm all done. I am thankful some of the gladiolus are coming up. I only put a dent in one flower bed, but today's rain should make the rest of the job go easier this next week. If it does really rain.
I have a nice mullein plant that showed up in my flower bed. I need to move it or plant it in a pot. So happy to see it though.
Friday, July 14, 2023
I can't believe it's Friday already . . .
One coat cubbie scrubbed clean. These are the only coat closets we have in the house. No linen closets etc. Each one has two hooks in the back. We installed rods to hold coats, jackets, rain coats, and sweaters. These were installed by the last homeowner, and have no doors on the cubbies (other than the one we installed recently. There are small cupboards above and below, and I am going through every single one, purging, cleaning and re-organizing. It will take some time, now that the garden is producing.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
This and That
We have been getting rain, so I'm not doing any garden work currently. I weeded out the larger weeds in the rose bed, but the rest will have to wait until the the rain stops.
I have been successful with my new to-do list (the 7 areas to tidy up). I have now crossed 2 off of my list of 7. My husband hasn't noticed.
Speaking of my husband, there is no sign of the long work hours ending. He promised me a "date" night, which was taking the motorcycle out and dinner out. Didn't happen. They held him over at work. We are all tired of it. He has been forced over every night. One night he was to be home by 8pm, and ended up home at 9pm.
I'm considering going back to work. We never see each other, and there is no sign we will be getting our projects finished.
I still have a list for us when these hours stop, but I not able to vision any of it being accomplished. I'm still upset half of the garden was not planted. Nothing we can do about it. I probably sound like a broken record. It can be very depressing at times.
July is almost here, and the coop materials have not even been bought yet. We still need more supplies for the raised beds. The solar fence is still in the box. I never got my potatoes planted....
I'm getting burned out crocheting. I have been using up some yarn, and making hats for winter. I went on Etsy, and was shocked that some people are selling hats for $50-70!!! What?? And here I was worried that $18 or so was too high. As for that, my husband said he does NOT want me to do any craft show this winter.
I also saw knitted dishcloths being sold for $7.00!! What?? I've also noticed that everyone is selling something, and no one is buying. I read that the area garage sales were a flop as well. They said "no one was into it" this year. Well, no one has the money.
I'll be back when I have something more positive to post. I have just been drained of all positive mojo so far this summer, and feeling like we haven't accomplished anything is mentally draining.
This isn't "throwing in the towel" on homesteading, but the thought is there.
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Spearmint Iced Green Tea ~ Blooms
It was high time to make homemade spearmint iced tea. I love this stuff! My Mom hated it, but her Mom (Grandma), used to make it. Love, love, love it on a hot day. It's nice to have when I come in from the garden. Now that my husband is doing all the mowing after work, he too enjoys this delicious tea. I use organic green tea bags.
My popcorn is not doing that great this year. I may have planted it too late. I hope I did not waste garden space with a fail crop.
Here is what's going on in some of the flower beds.
The two "red" ones are actually two different colors. The last one is more of a burgundy.
Monday, June 12, 2023
Happy Homemaker Monday
Once again my Sunday was my "Monday" so the list on the to-do's around here are short. One day off for my husband is not enough. He is so tired on his day off, he doesn't have the energy to tackle anything around here. I get it, so I don't complain.
In lieu of possibly strong winds with rain yesterday, I was out early to till where needed, and tie up any tomato plants. Just for kicks, and because I bought them, I planted Glady bulbs and a few others. I had not planted them due to the drought we were having. I also dropped some tall zinnia seeds, white daisy seed, and a mixed pink daisy seed. If they come up they come up, if not, we tried.
We still need to install our second mole chasing windmill. The rain should help get that job done, as we need to bury a grounding rod for it. The rain will soften the ground for us.
I did a quick inventory on my canned goods, and made notes on what needs canned in the way of condiments this garden season.
My full blown allergies turned quick on me, so most work was tidied up quick for some afternoon rest.
Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
The weather . . .
Rain! We got rain yesterday later in the evening! We cooled down the high 60's today, but will be in the 70's with several days of possible rain.
As I look outside my window . . .
Everything is wet out there. The birds are singing. It's slightly windy, and very cloudy.
Right now I am . . .
Brewing a pot of coffee, getting ready to eat breakfast (maybe), then maybe do dishes.
Thinking and pondering . . .
I need a cleaning supply caddy. I hand carry supplies from bathroom to bathroom, and room to room. I looked at reviews online, but will go check in stores when I am out and about. I need one to carry wipes, gloves, brushes, box of borax, spray bottle of homemade cleaner and whatnot.
Listening to . . .
80's rock, or nothing today
How I am feeling . . .
Sinus pressure is the worst. I will be doing more rest and self care this week than any extra work for sure. I slept in today, and felt I needed it too.
On the breakfast plate . . .
Egg/bacon/cheese sandwiches if I get hungry, coffee, herbal teas later.
On the lunch plate . . .
Maybe soup.
On the dinner plate . . .
Have no idea. Depends on my energy level.
On my reading pile . . .
On my TV this week . . .
Mick on Netflix
On the menu . . .
-have no idea yet
Looking around the house . . .
I've moved my paper shredder to my living room. I can sit on the floor and shred up what needs to be taken care of (that was boxed and moved for floor repairs).
To-do list . . .
From the camera . . .
Devotional, verse, thoughts . . .
Could you all pray I get over this, whatever it is? Please send good mojo, prayers and good thoughts. I plan to do some essential oil inhalations today, and hope it will clear my sinuses a bit. I have mullein and ginger tea, lemons, and 4 thieves, but out of organic oil of oregano gel caps (those have been ordered).
Saturday, June 3, 2023
This and That ~ Score at the Store
The heat continues. We had a high of 92°F, so I was out pretty early to water the gardens. My sprinkler decided to work when it wanted, so it has to be replaced now. It will not rotate all the time, and handling the hose to water everything is a 2 hour job.
I let the chickens out pretty early now as well, put frozen water bottles in their watering units and then later re-do it again when the heat hits the worst. Let's just say, there is no porch time going on right now. We could use a nice breeze.
We had some excitement in our parts. Two inmates escaped the jail in my hometown. I was on alert, and yesterday they caught them in a town I go to often. Anyway......
I'm finally all caught up with dental appointments. It took them a month to get my permanent crown done. Glad that is all over with. I went in for a cleaning, and they found I had chipped a tooth, which ended with 4 total visits. I went ahead and booked my next cleaning, as they are booking almost a year out. I'm not kidding either.
I went into town to get new hand weights, and a few other things, and came home with these beauties. I bought three for the flower beds (perennials). I may go back for at least one more. I have always wanted to add "blue" to the flower beds.
I also scored some good deals I was not looking for. First, 2# organic ground turkey for $3.49. I cooked them up, and froze them for this next week. I also got 3# organic baby bella mushrooms - all dehydrated. I paid $1.34/a pound for the mushrooms.
I finally got my eggs boiled. I have a dinner dish to use them with, and I wanted them on hand for snacking. Now I need to start stashing more fresh eggs in the carton for the next time, but they are not all laying in this heat. One is slacking out there.
It looks like we will have to replace our main AC. We are hoping it will last this summer, but the buttons on the front will not work anymore. Thankfully, I found the remote that went to it, so I can at least change the settings from that.
I found a recipe book with Mom's notes on it. There are a few strange ones that I will try soon. By strange, I mean different.
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Blooms and more planting . . .
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Getting Outdoors ~ Doily Finished
The chicks are about 7 weeks old now, so they got a day of introduction to the hens. They say your chicks should be as large as the smallest hen, before putting them in the coop together. I had to laugh, as the hens were scared of the chicks and they were on the other side of the run fence ha ha!
Updates with the garden(s):
-planted about 100 cloves of garlic for spring planting (it was very difficult to locate organic garlic for spring planting too). As some of you read, voles ate our entire 80 fall planted cloves, so we moved the grow bags this year.
-started weeding the larger rose bed (this one is terrible)
-rhubarb is ready to harvest as well
Friday, April 21, 2023
Einkorn Waffles ~ Purge/Extreme Clean Update ~ Spring Flowers