Pioneer Woman at Heart

  March was, not what I call "busy" for us, but adventurous, and filled with more of "living life" than doing all the "doing" stuff we do all day every day.  Warning:  Post is long today (gulp!).  Grab a cup of java or tea. "Busy" is sort of synonymous with negative vibes.  I mean, we still had medical appointments (some regular, some needed), hair appointments, husband's full time job, but only a few commitments.  However, we spent much of the month "enjoying" life  (maintaining balance).  I have not harvested much other than fresh grown green onions.  I do have some oil on order to restock homemade hand/body lotion. Not sure if I will re-stock our homemade lip balm just yet.  We have a plan to build one more item for the chicken castle (more on that later), and we plan to better landscape one flower bed. Planted:  Feverfew, Mullein, Radishes (two types), Beets Harvested: Green onions Purchased:  Seed potatoes On the "to-buy...

  I just wanted to make a quick post to say I'm still here, and our winter is lingering, with teasers days in between.  I took this photo on a nicer day. I'm working on the writing project, with the deadline at the end of the month.  I forgot how much time was involved with such a project, so time is zipping by much too quickly in that sense. We've discovered two new-to-us health stores, and it's refreshing to know we can obtain some items I either cannot make or just don't have time to make (or make in large amounts for our use). A big thank you to Anne in the Kitchen ( Cooking and All that Jazz ), for sharing her list of spring "aims" that motivated us with a list of our own (already checking things off).  It's kept us focusing on new adventures, all-things-positive, and uplifting lifetime events. As "empty nesters" it's been a transition from kids around all the time to absolutely no kids.  The hardest part of the transition is to let ...

  I'm working on keeping the monotonous, un-monotonous.  More so leaning on keeping the variety of these winter days interesting and not boring.  Although one who is constantly "busy" would find forced rest time a blessing.  Or not, ha ha! I am doing well.  I'm not back to reading very much at all, but the "mind" games are a bit refreshing.  Spikes are back on my boots, although we are told Christmas will be in the 50's and rain here this year.  I'm getting a walk in to the mailbox once in a while.  If there is sunshine, it's a win-win. I've been relying on the health benefits of herbal teas, and have been rotating them for restorative benefits.  T eas are always are soothing addition to the winter days. I've discovered that we love a peppermint anything hot in the winter once in a while.  Sort of a treat in the day so to speak.   Homemade peppermint mocha creamer for your coffee!  Yum!  Of course the heavy cream is n...

  Beautiful sunrise, and the weather has been in the 60's, with yesterday almost 70 degrees.  A nice break in the weather. I'm already writing up a list of new herbs to plant next year.  It may be the weather break inspiring me. Winter home repairs are on hold for now, but I'm taking notes, making lists, and so forth. Crazy me, as about 4 crochet blankets on the hooks, but for different occasions (I love a single yarn pattern for "on-the-go" etc.).  No hurry on any of them, other than one for a Christmas present.  I've had more "sit" time than I'd normally prefer, so I'm taking advantage of it. Do any of my blog followers have a knitted hat pattern (easy) for beginners (or links to free online patterns)?  I have knit dishcloths, but would like to expand my ability to knit hats (before I attempt socks).   Maybe a pattern you shared on your blog perhaps?  One of my grandmothers used to knit, but of course I was too young to even think to learn ...

  The last time we had temperatures at -20F° was back in the first week of January of 2014.  Eleven years ago.  According to my blog anyway.  The weatherman on the news channel is saying we had these cold temperatures six years ago.   Tuesday it was -12°F with a windchill (feels like).  Monday we at least had sunshine the entire day.  Tuesday it was dark and cloudy with a bit of sun here and there. Today we didn't quite hit the -20 mark, but we did hit -5°F with a windchill of -19°F.  Thankfully, water is running, as we let the faucets drip overnight.  We restocked on bird seed, and this one has a lever that will shut the feed area if a squirrel tries to hop on for a meal. Garden prep: I had some time to go through my garden planting plan for this year, and I realized we did not plant any type of pea last year.  We never got the pea fence back up. What are you gardeners planting for sugar snap peas?  I am considering trying so...

  I hope you all had a nice Easter.  We spent it with my husband's family, but there were so many people, it's hard to talk to every single person.  I can't say I had the day off.  I got books back on a bookshelf and towels put on the clothesline to dry, before heading out to see friends and family. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I'll link up later when she posts. The weather . . . Gorgeous!  In the 60's and sunny, and we will hit the high 70's this weekend.   As I look outside my window . . . The sunrise is beautiful.  There is no wind, and the day should be great for laundry on the clothesline. Right now I am  . . . Waking up with coffee, and about to start a load of laundry. Thinking and pondering . . . Working on a plan to get two doors painted, closet carpet removed, and new flooring installed in there.  The garden needs weeded, tilled, compost added etc.  This week is perfect, but we'll see, as it wi...

  Using parchment paper on my dehydrator trays makes this grinding part easier.  I push the dried garlic to the center of the paper, and lift the sides to slide it into the coffee grinder. The jar I use fits my canning funnel, making that part easy too.  You could use a smaller funnel for smaller jars.  We use garlic a lot, so hence large jar. I dump out the older garlic powder into a cup with spout, put the new garlic powder in first, then the older on top.  All set for another year (maybe, ha ha!). It's not exactly a quick job.  I wash all the trays after I dehydrate, so tastes and smells do not permeate into the next dehydrated food.  I wash the coffee grinder and clean out anything that blew off the trays inside the dehydrator. Question about rhubarb: Our rhubarb died last year, and we were going to move it anyway.....but... I believe someone on here bought root starts online one year.  I can only find seeds (organic, non-gmo), and our local p...