Cold Again ~ Tidbits

 Brisk 14°F and high of 38°F.  I used my clothesline yesterday, but the wind was crazy.  

We are seeing wild ramps on our walks lately.

Planted:  Mullein (very hard to seed start, so we shall see)

Harvested:  Green onions, Yarrow

Purchased:  Flower seeds

A small, removeable fence has been placed around the "weed" and herb garden.  Thankfully, I had the fencing, and did not have to purchase any.  Hopefully, it will keep the rabbits out of it, but I have seen a chipmunk who runs among the outdoors. 

Ordered a few books and DVD's from the library inter-loan program.  Just doing my part to keep the library open, but also to use the free resources.

Speaking of resources, you never know what freebie you can utilize, and one fell right into my lap last week.  More on that later.

                

Finished this book.  As a result, I learned a few new fun facts.  Like the fact that Elvis sang with Kitty White in a duet to make a movie.  You never know what you'll learn in any non-fiction book.  

I am 3 granny squares behind on my crochet book blanket.  Lacking the crochet mojo.  It could be that, I have been making blankets all winter and I am burned out.  Seriously burned out, so my attention will be elsewhere for a bit.

We finally found some organic buckwheat honey.  I also picked up some lemon infused honey for summer salad dressings.  They had so many different honey options, but many I can make myself.  

Cold Again ~ Tidbits  ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

April Begins

 We ended March with a high 77°F with an evening of thunderstorms.  We started April with temperatures in the low 30's, with a lot more rain.

I've started my infused oil with horsetail.  I'm reading through my herbal books, watching Youtube videos and the like.  It's an herb/weed new to use.   I did not buy my horsetail online.  I purchased at an herbal health store.  However, the one store nearest us, does not carry it, and another apothecary does not grow it or carry it (40 minute drive). 

We are very limited to access to stores or apothecaries with medicinal herbs, tea herbs, and the like.  It's frustrating, but in some cases, forces me to simply grow some of them myself.  It is depressing to not have any like-minded folks in our lives.  Most people we talk to about it, just laugh and act like it's all a waste of time or a joke.

Speaking of Youtube, I'm watching several videos on spring wild violets right now (tinctures, teas, lemonades, and so forth).  I'm watching them in between moments of sit time or coffee time.  I did learn something about which type of alcohol to make a tincture with one specific wild plant.

By the way, I used my homemade goldenrod tincture 3 days in a row recently, due to bad sinus pressure.  It worked great to drain the sinuses and the pressure.  I also used my mullein tincture once).  My research, by reading books borrowed from the library, and books I own, state that goldenrod is great for treating sinus infections (or sinus issues).  

Ended March with harvesting more green onions in the herb garden.   It feels so good to get outside and do this again, especially after a very, very long winter.

  

Baking and cooking from scratch, as well as the dish washing, drying and putting away take a good chunk of my daily time.  I am still using up the blueberries we froze last summer (Einkorn flour pancakes - upper photo), and I mixed another batch of black bean and corn "salsa" for any meal or in between meals.  I like to have a healthy go-to light meal on hand each week.  Or for those moments of needed a quick snack to eat before a hike/walk or when needed..

Our daffodils are mostly up now, and the hyacinths are right behind.  Not the best photo, but it was raining out and dark.  It's so nice to see the flowers in bloom again.

Speaking of spring colors, I have one more lap afghan on the hooks in the colorway of purples and white.  I'll try and get a photo for you.  It will be the last blanket of the season, of this size.  It's been a very slow going crochet project, with spring weather here now (spending much more time out of the house).

Before the rain, we hiked a new-to-us trail, and we loved it. A little background info on these hikes/walks.  It's all part of my physical therapy, and also for my husband's.  We don't have the liberty to walk on the road where we live, so as a bonus, we get to travel for our walks, and locate new and more interesting places. 

One of our area libraries started a seed library.  It's not the first one to come across, but it is nice to see more libraries offering this to patrons.  I have not visited this one yet, so I do not know if they are organic/heirloom varieties of seeds.

April Begins  ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Berzerk Weather

 

Our weather has been bouncing from one extreme to another.  I'm excited to say I had a day to dry laundry out on the clothesline, and even dried bedding, and more.

However, the 70°F quickly moved into a very bad thunderstorm last night, where some areas nearby had hail as well.  This morning?  A brisk 20°F over night.  Ha ha ha!  Oh boy.  Winter just doesn't want to leave.  

Despite the back and forth extremes, my green onions look great in my herb garden, and the thyme is springing back to life.

Something fun to share.  Although the photo is not that great, they are herbal themed stickers.  They are for my new "Herbal Remedies" Journal.  I have a binder with recipes, but when I am experimenting or trying new oils to infuse, with new herbs, the journal will keep me organized with note-taking.

I honestly, do not have one friend who even grows an herb garden for culinary reasons.  It's becoming harder and harder to talk to others who make herbal salves, tinctures, teas, oxymels, vinegars, and such.  

Heck I have two chive plants that I put in pots last year, hoping to find them a new home (they were volunteer plants that grew up in other parts of the herb garden), and they are still sitting in pots.  I am going to look into area community "food" gardens to donate them to this spring.

Are you an herb grower?  Do you make your own herbal concoctions?  Are you a culinary herb grower, tea brewer, or salves and tinctures?  

Berzerk Weather  ©  March 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Yarrow Salve (update #2)

 

                                              

In 2024 I made our first yarrow salve, after learning more about the herb.  I have a lot of it growing here, and have used it many ways.  I'd have to go look into my notes, but I believe I used olive oil, or sweet almond oil.

I have, in the past, pulled off some fresh leaves and rubbed it on my arms in a quick pinch to ward off the mosquitos while gardening (will be added to our homemade bug spray), and I have used it many times for a bloody nose (who knew?).  I read, sometime about 2 years ago, that one can simply put the fresh leaves in their nose to stop a nose bleed (have not tired that, but read it somewhere on an herbal blog or book).

I infused oil, and whipped up some salve in 2024, and the most use over the last two years, has been for a bloody nose brought on by dry heat indoors over winter.

It has helped stop the nose bleed in a matter of a minute or two, vs. 20 minutes without it.  

I also keep the salve in a smaller container to travel with, when staying at hotels for more than one night.  Hotels have very dry air in the winter and summer, and I was glad to have it one trip a few years ago after first making the salve.

I'm not a doctor or herbal specialist.  I am simply sharing my experience with our herbal salves.  

Yarrow is invasive, so if you grow it in a pot, and do not regularly cut the flowers off, the seeds will re-seed on the ground around it and you will have yarrow all over the ground in that area.  Just a heads up on that if you are new to planting the herb.

I have used it in "sleep" tinctures, and in teas, but do your research yourself.  If

What have I learned so far?  Yarrow is well known for it's ability to slow bleeding of cuts or wounds, and works as an astringent for those pesky scratches you many get doing outdoor work or garden work.  I have read a few articles that it is edible, but I have yet to add it to any recipes.  Please comment below if you have any experience with yarrow.

In all the years of growing, harvesting and processing herbs of all types, I have not kept a specific "journal" for it.  Often, I'll infuse an oil with an herb spontaneously, and forget to write what oil I used on the label.  I forgot to keep track of uses, and such, and I am now starting (a new "first" this year) my own journal for my herbal journey/apothecary journey.  A simple notebook works for this note taking, but I see that there are several herbal journal options online as well.

I do not know anything about the salves sold online, or by folks on Etsy, but we have located a good (and true) apothecary in our state, who makes salves (and tinctures, teas, and all sorts of other items).  

Winter is still lingering.  Morning temperatures are about 23°F and the skies have been cloudy and dreary.   Rain again.

Yarrow Salve (update #2)  ©  March 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Tidbits

Our weather is warming up soon, or so they say anyway.  We are looking forward to sunny days again.

We've obtained asparagus roots, and will expand our existing asparagus patch in the vegetable garden this spring.  We will not be planting anything squash related this year, to give the garden a "clean sweep" from squash bugs.  

We are late, but seeds will be started for a few garden goodies, including a few for the herb garden (that are medicinal herbs).

The next room to clean out, prior to giving it a planned new coat of paint, is a room where my canning supplies are stored.  I may be reducing the numbers in there.  

I still have the supplies to can our favorite "Christmas" jelly, which did not happen.  Not sure if it will yet or not.  

The winter has been a long winter, and not much blog content, here are a few fun freebies we snagged.

Free bookmarks.  I absolutely love this one.  It was the last one at one of the area libraries.  No purchase necessary.

Free stickers (these were sent in the mail to me).  Not sure what I'll use them for, but they'd make fun snail mail or I could slap them on a a cover of a notebook, journal, or gift maybe.  I love the barn sticker.  No purchase necessary.  I do have a few more free stickers we picked up at another event last year.  Stickers seem to be the rage right now.

As winter dwindles, we are looking forward to another garden year, but we are reading forecasted dry weather.  We've seen it all, experienced it all, so we will just have to wait and see.

Tidbits  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

The Year of New Beginnings ~ Welcome 2026

 The new year brings new beginnings.  It's a year of ending a few things as well.  

Many of the gatherings this year were small.  Either sickness hit most, some didn't want to be around people, and some did not get together over the holidays.  Either way, I did not cook/bake for the gatherings, and that was actually nice for once.

January brings winter weather.  The weather is doing what it does - wintering.  Wintering in a weird way too.  If I was traveling, it would be a very good month for travel.  The temperatures are warming between 50-60 degrees, and rain.

(shallots and butter)

(homemade condensed mushroom soup, prepared as equal to one can of soup, to freeze)

We are seeing more stores closing as the new year rolls in, and we have also found out that our nearest grocery store will no longer sell shallots.  I use shallots and butter as my starting base when making homemade condensed mushroom soup (which I freeze, one container equals a "can" of mushroom soup).  I am very sad about this, and have to travel to buy any over winter.  I will be looking into growing shallots this garden season. We use them in other recipes as well.

My rosemary plant I brought in last year, is hanging on by a thread.  I have plans to put it outside this week, as we will hit the 60's and get rain.  It may revive it or it may not.  I will take that chance.  No loss trying it either, as the plant has about two green leaves on it.

The chives I brought in are doing pretty good, but not enough to actually harvest yet.  I think the next plant to bring in next year will be green onions.  I really miss the fresh homegrown green onions.  The current ones at the grocery store are bland and look terrible.

The lemon balm seeds are very slow growing.  It's all a trial for learning better ways to bring some herbs indoors over winter.

I inquired on a class to learn a new craft, but it's on delay for now.  

We located a puzzle swap not far from us, but limited to when you can go pick up.  Pretty excited about this.  It's not like we have a ton of them each year, but it keeps the home stash to a manageable amount.

Although our local library does not hold a puzzle swap, I will be attempting to utilize their inter-loan book borrow program more than purchasing new books this year.  I have noticed that the higher rated books (non-fiction) on Amazon are not available to borrow at all through the library program so it may affect my goal of putting borrowing first.

The current crochet project that is going to another family.  It's taking forever, but the colder winter days (when we do have them) are perfect for such a larger project.  I still have a blanket on-going for ourselves, but it's on hold until this is finished.  It will be the last winter project, as I will need a much needed break.

Updated photo of the "on-the-go" crochet project (lap afghan).

It's getting larger, so I may switch to another smaller to-go project or take books to read for now.  The photo looks black and white, but it was a very dreary day.  Color is actually Aran from Red Heart yarn. 

The cotton yarn I ordered way back in November has been delayed once again.  They are telling me to expect it late January or early February now.

Home repairs/renovations are on hold for now. 

I totally forgot about the request for a recipe, and other requests.  I'll try and do my best to get a post for those.

I have not gotten the video yet of the opening of all of the 24 advent gifts, but one kiddo said her favorite item was the green and white knitted dishcloth I made, and her husband's favorite was a multi-use hand held light (it had a hook for hanging, a magnet and many light options).

Thank you for all your prayers, good mojo, good thoughts over the course of surgery and afterwards.  I have yet to get my "green light" from the doctor this month.  My brain cells are returning ha ha! I had thought I bought a new herbal book, and after looking into it, I had not.  I thought I had ordered new herb seeds for the herb garden this spring, and had not as well.  Good gravy.  

...until next time, I hope you enjoyed my first post of the new year.

The Year of New Beginnings ~ Welcome 2026  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Using a Spiralizer and Garden Basil Pesto

 

I tried another new crockpot recipe, and we loved it.   The only thing I discovered, is my crockpot "low" setting is pretty hot, and I can lower the cook time on this, and it lacks "color" due to the homemade basil pesto.  We think adding some red bell pepper next time would be nice.  

Also, it did not make a lot.  It's about a 3-4 serving dish, but it ended up a 3 serving for us, ha ha.  I would double this for leftovers.

What is it?

Chicken with Zucchini Noodles and Basil Pesto

Where is the recipe from?

                         

I prefer to cook my raw chicken separately, and not with other vegetables, when it comes to crockpot cooking.  It's just me.  I cooked the chicken the day before (in the crockpot), shredded it and cooled it (recipe called for chicken breast sliced).

I simply added the chicken at the end of cooking, as well as grated parmesan cheese, because I froze our homemade basil pesto without the cheese this last time.

We thought it was so filling too, and wow, so healthy.

I bought a new hand crank spiralizer about a year ago, and I (gulp) finally used it.  Wow, it is so much easier than the little gizmo I used to use.

Advice:  Grow an herb garden.  Even if you have to grow it in pots.  You will have so many options for your meals, medicinal options, and you will have so much fun in the process.  I'm considering teaching classes for herb gardening, but the actual classes to be "certified" in any way, per say, are expensive.

Using a Spiralizer and Garden Basil Pesto ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

What's Growing?

 

Organic lemon balm sprouting up in an indoor pot, for the first time ever.  I have not planted it indoors before, nor brought in a plant or portion of a plant.  It's being started from organic seeds.

I brought in some chives and rosemary.  We'll see if I can master the ability to keep them both alive indoors this winter.

Sage and Thyme from the herb garden (brought in before our first hard freeze):  dehydrated the thyme, but next year I think it would be useful to make a thyme tincture (for any medicinal reasons).  Do you make a thyme tincture?  If so, what do you keep it on hand to treat?  It totally slipped my mind this year.

I dehydrated most of the sage, but used some fresh to start a tincture (this is great for sore throats when you don't want to/or can't make hot tea).  Just my experience with a sage tincture.  If you have other uses, please share. 

 I ground some ( a first for us ) of the sage and filled a re-purposed jar.  It will be used mostly for mixing up chicken breakfast sausage patties (or turkey).  I will be finding out if it stays pretty good in the ground form or not.  It will make breakfast preparations a bit easier for me.

What's Growing?  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Green Onion ~ Dehydrated and Ground

 Snow is predicted Sunday/Monday.  Nothing new.  It has snowed in October here.  I took one last look at the herb garden, before it rests for the winter.  

I dehydrated more green onions, and froze a bit more.  The dehydrated ones were left whole to dehydrate, then I store them in a canning jar.  I do this with chives as well.  I mostly use the frozen ones for baked egg dishes.

I use a small vacuum that works for regular and wide mouth jars.  So far, it's worked great, and I've had it for a few years now.

I love to make ground vegetables, in cases where I have a larger harvest of something.  It adds flavor to any dish.  I ground some of the dehydrated green onions, and filled a repurposed spice jar.

I had to keep adding the dehydrated green onions to the grinder, as they are so light, it helps the process of grinding it all down to a powder.

A "first" for us this year.  I think it would be great on homemade crackers, and just about anything else.

One year I ground green bell peppers.  It worked nicely, but would only make it when we have a huge harvest.  I only used it for one baked casserole dish.  It might be good for soups and stews.

I love to make, what we call "fire powder" by dehydrated a mix of hot peppers.  Our hot pepper harvest was not that good this year.

I love the jalapeno salt I made, and will continue to keep it next to the salt and pepper.  I use this one a lot.

I brought in more thyme and sage from the herb garden. I forgot to get photos, but I think I will work on keeping more fresh herbs indoors this winter.

Green Onion ~ Dehydrated and Ground  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Garden ~ Canning Halted ~ Butterfly Pea Flower Tea ~ Power Outage Preparedness ~ Lap Afghans Donated

 Garden clean up is very late this year, due to circumstances beyond our control.  Now we are delayed with rain, but we may have a few warmer days this week.  We may only have two days left to finish the removal. In hindsight, we should have hired help, but.....

The sunshine kabocha produced a few, although most do not look completely ripe (by color), and the butternut is pretty small.  The cocozelle zucchini we left on the vines is the perfect size for seed saving.

Although most of the mashed potato squash was cross pollinated, we got a few that produced to enjoy.  We literally got zero spaghetti squash (which is very very rare, but we did have a bad drought year).  The Mashed potato squash is the white one in the above photo.

Russian red kale and a mix of Swiss chard were washed, sliced, blanched and frozen for winter use.  The bugs got to most of the Swiss chard.

Green onions were dehydrated for the first time ever.  I froze some as well, but we now have two options.  To dehydrate the green onions, you want to leave them whole (like I do with chives).  I store them as whole as I can in a canning jar, which is vacuum sealed.  I will snip or grind them as needed.  Each preservation method produces a different flavor and different texture.  

Snow is in the forecast, along with the rain.  Who knows what we'll get.  There are coyote and raccoon droppings all around the property as fall weather turns.

We've been trying to focus meals on meat and vegetables lately.  Easy, healthy and lower cost.  Fruit is always in the mix of course, but we are thrilled to find a new butcher for most of our meat (lowering our cost).  In the photo is a roast I put in a crock pot by itself (veggies in another one), and simply topped it with salt, pepper and a container of homemade mushroom soup (which I pre-make and freeze).  Absolutely delicious.

(Applesauce cake baked with home canned applesauce and a bit of molasses, topped with crock pot baked {similar to fried apples} apples)

Sadly, my canning is halted for the season (again, out of my control).  I have more apples, but we'll be adding them to salads, cooked meals (with vegetables), added to yogurts, crock pot "fried" apples, and such.  I want to try an Einkorn applesauce cake next.

I have already listed plans for apple canning next year.  I'm not sure if we'll get apples every year yet.  We'll find out next season.

Tea time . . .

New medicinal/herbal tea tried.  I have had the flowers, but brewed the tea for my facial toner.  I finally had to the time to brew some, and try it as iced tea.  I have discovered that adding lemon infused honey makes this the best.  It's butterfly pea flower tea (organic).  I will be trying it hot in the future.  I'm on the fence with buying another herbal tea recipe book.

I have since located two stores that specialize with teas, and one particularly with medicinal herbal teas.  Both are a bit of a drive, but on the radar for when there is time to check them both out.  

A recent power outage (actual two days of outages within one week)  gave us the chance to try out some portable, battery operated light bulbs.  I do have chargeable light bulbs in some lamps as well (some charge as they are used daily).  I do see how more canned fruit would come in handy for power outages, so that is on my radar for next year.  We also have two solar chargeable light bulbs, and are interested in expanding more preparedness for such times.  Our portable (small generator) can run the portable electric water pot, coffee pot, or other appliances.

On the handicraft front . . .

Seven crocheted lap afghans were donated to an organization that helps veterans and first responders this year.  I package each one in a zipper bag.  It keeps them clean for transport, and eventually to the new owner.

Started a new lap afghan.  I'm currently searching for new blanket patterns using stripes of different colors of yarn.

I had purchased a snap project bag for another crochet project, and needed one for traveling back and forth for appointments, and they did not have the same one in stock.  I ordered this one, and was not disappointed, although more expensive.  The larger part has a side zipper area, shoulder strap, and comes with a scissor holder and smaller zipper storage bag.  It works perfectly for the size I needed. 

It's been one doozy of a year, and we are so ready for it to be over with, so we can start a new year with renewed inspiration. 

It's time to finish up notes in our garden journal for the year.  We did not plant fall garlic (beyond our control), but we do plan to plant it fall of 2026.  I have dug up two chive starts, and already have someone to gift them to.  Thanks for reading today's, much longer than usual, blog post.

Garden ~ Canning Halted ~ Butterfly Pea Flower Tea ~ Power Outage Preparedness ~ Lap Afghans Donated  ©  November 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Book Blanket ~ Lifting Books and Hooks ~ Garden Clean Up Starts

I finished this book, which I believe I was prompted to read by a blog here I follow (Far Side of Fifty maybe?).  It was good, but it took me forever to read, as it was canning season, and the days were long and tiresome.  The thought of lifting a book or hook was out of the question at the time.

Anyway, I crocheted a granny square to match the cover.  The colors in the square could have been done about a dozen different ways.  I just went with what colors I had in scrap balls. I'll try and get an updated photo of the actual blanket soon.  

Clinking my hot tea cup to yours, to books and hooks again.  I'm hopeful that it will be soon for myself too.  

The weather is pretty warm for fall right now.  We've been in the lower 70's and sunny.  We may even hit the 80's this coming weekend.  It's garden clean up season for us, and those days are hit or miss, with what's on the busier-than-normal fall schedule.

Rosemary plants were pulled out of the actual vegetable garden and placed in the dehydrator.  I have however, left two plants in the herb garden, considering the weather has been so warm, and rain is on the way.  

Book Blanket ~ Lifting Books and Hooks ~ Garden Clean Up Starts  ©  October 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart