Just the Bits

April 9th - rain and snow mix, morning temperature was 21°F!
April 10th - 38°, high of 44°F, rain
April 11th - 30°, low chance of rain, partly sunny

We should be picking asparagus, wild violets and wild dead nettle right now, but the weather is delaying it.  I surely hope we still get them all.  Time will tell.

Despite freezing cold weather that is freezing my chickens water at night, my potted comfrey is already coming to life again.  The weather is to warm up again thankfully.

I need help with deterring rabbits.

Does anyone have any tried and true (non toxic) ways to deter rabbits from your flower beds and herb garden?  I read coffee grounds deter them, but they are not good for my herb garden.  I had motion sensor noise gadgets, but they did not work for the rabbits last year.

A tree of some sort is growing in the edging (between the landscaping stone and chives of all places) of the herb garden, and it has thorns.  It needs to be dug out thanks to the birds.

I have wild growing wineberry starts (again thanks to the birds) to yank from the asparagus patch, and have already put straw in the newer asparagus patch (to keep those weeds down for harvest).  I will need to add more straw before Spring harvest.

(oatstaw in a jar)

I've been brewing nettle tea for us here lately.  It's a powerhouse, but it's great for allergies too. I'm no doctor, but you can do your own research on stinging nettle.

Homesteading/Self Sufficiency goes hand in hand with being physically fit.  If anyone is interested, I can write up a post on this.

Garden or no garden is the question.  We purchased not-so-inexpensive fencing to fence one garden area last year.  We need fencing to protect the other (larger) garden area, and it's now in limbo.  The cost to buy fencing is not low, by all means, but we can install it ourselves.  

A lot has affected the purchase of the fencing.  Our electric cost doubled, and we are not even heating the upstairs (as we did when the kids lived here).  We are not even using heat in two downstairs rooms either, yet our cost doubled.

Groceries more than doubled.  Home repair supplies are up.  I mean it's just a rough time for everyone right now.

Home Repairs/Updates:

-purchased one window blind and installed it (was thankfully under $30)

-one last blind is needed for another room, but the window itself will need replaced at some point soon.  I'm on a list to be notified when they are in stock (has to be custom cut to fit).   I already got one email stating they were in stock, but when I went to order it, it said "out of stock" (again).  I called, and yes in fact, they are out of stock (again).

-lined more wire closet shelving. I have a few more to line.

-started stairway project by scraping tape and adhesive off the walls (kids!!) This job will take a while to get done.

Just the Bits ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Enjoying the Last Days of February

 

It's hard to believe that we are approaching the last day of February 2025 this coming Friday.  The weather was definitely much more "winter" this year, but February is the month we tend to get the most snow.  

There has been some beautiful sunrises this month.  I'm blessed be able to capture a few.  We even squeezed an adventure in this month.  

We have also driven around, and located some new hiking/walking trails to enjoy nature and get exercise (maybe even a few picnics).  

Although we had much of the month in freezing and subzero temperatures, this week it warmed up to a wonderful 53°F.

Seen during the day recently.  Even the deer are enjoying the warmer weather this week.

I had the chance to read a new book on the porch this week, before the month ends.  Oh my gosh, the sun felt so good.

The ground is a very mushy mess this week, so there is no work progressing on the new chicken coop, but we have not forgotten about it either.  However, I did ask my husband where the new wire cutters were for this project.  We both have no idea, but I surely hope we find them.

I did however, take a walk out to the fall planted garlic, and all but a few are up already.   I did not walk on the garden, due to the thawing out here, but will check it again soon. 

Our bunching onions look pretty good for being February too.  I may be harvesting some to go in tonight's dinner.

I finally got all of my medical appointments off the calendar too.  I had to change one twice due to icy roads.  I've been bringing a book along with any travel friendly crochet/knit projects to any appointments or any longer drives, and have finished another book.  More granny squares for the book blanket are in progress (insert happy face).

I rescued our lost roll of shelf liner.  The clerk indeed must of put it down behind the counter, because they had it at the customer service counter.  I had to sign to get it back.  Literally.  Anyway, I took advantage of the store visit, and purchased a few zipper storage bags to help organize the current closet.

Only about 950 pieces to go on this puzzle, ha ha!  It's been too nice outside to work on it.

Here is the newly tried frittata recipe (29.4 grams of protein, cut in 4 servings).  It called for sun dried tomatoes and fresh spinach.  I think feta cheese and cottage too, but we finish it off today. We loved it, but  I felt the fresh spinach added too much moisture to the frittata, so I will wilt it and squeeze it dry next time we make it.   I may be topping mine with home canned cowboy candy too.  Oh, I did add a pinch of homemade "fire powder" to it.  

Recipe:  Cottage Cheese Egg Bake (Frittata in a pie dish)

From:  Sweet as honey online

I also made the homemade chicken breakfast "sausage" patties, but used organic ground turkey.  I left half of the brown sugar out this time, and may even leave it all out next time.  It's basically to carnalize it while making them.

I'll be posting the red lentil hummus recipe and an update on handiwork soon.  I plan to enjoy every minute of the last days of February.

Enjoying the Last Days of February  © February 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Deer ~ New Recipe Tried ~ Mini Flood

 

One day we spotted about 20 "dots" out in a field.  Sure enough it was a larger herd of deer.  The few photos I took were not that great, as they were way out in the field.  I am still looking to upgrade my camera.

New recipe tried.

Einkorn flour Greek yogurt pancakes.

Source online:  Peanut Butter Fingers (name of their site).

Love these, but be aware it makes a lot!  I froze the extras, and it will come in handy for busy mornings or mornings I need a quicker, healthy breakfast.  I added blueberries to ours (I freeze a lot of them in the summer).  Side these with scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, chicken or turkey "sausage" patties, fruit or eat them as they are.  Very filling, high in natural protein (no protein powder), and you can top them with your choice of topping.

I had gone to the kitchen to heat up a cup of tea and noticed water all over the utility room floor, and mostly from coming under the sink in there.  Hm.  Closer look, and we were not sure if the pipes were jostled by one of us, or worse, there was a leak in the wall.  Bingo!  Leak.  We shut off the water softener, until we can get the parts and repair the water line that works the water softener.  It happened before, but many years ago.  We already have an access in the wall to it, so at least that is making the repair easier to do.  I'm glad I kept all of our "dog" towels, because it took a lot of them to clean up the mini-flood.

Deer ~ New Recipe Tried ~ Mini Flood  © February 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

January 2025 Comes to an End

January 2025 comes to an end, and I am thrilled to have met my own goals of staying off social media (less scrolling time), being more consistent with reading, exercise, time better well spent overall.  Although there is more wiggle room to become better at avoiding morning procrastination (winter cold weather can do that to a person).

Winter time gives us zero harvest from the outside world.   We lack a greenhouse.  However, I purchased a cilantro plant for indoor growing.  We are praying we have the funds to fence the other garden, and have been working on a garden plan.  I have toyed with the idea of not growing one, but that thought quickly dissipated.  Our health is important, and I'd miss all that garden goodness.

There is nothing better than to take a red sharpie, and cross off to-do's that have lingered on the list for almost a year.

Do you ever finish a job, and then go back and look at it over and over and smile?  Ha ha!  I finally got the under-sink mats cut and installed in our master bathroom.  It came up on my list over and over, and days would fly by, and it remained on the list. Hence, cutting down the to-do list in January.  The less I had on the list, the easier it was to get them done.   

The job took me about 45 minutes to an hour.  It required taking everything out of the cabinets, sorting and tossing any expired items, washing the cupboards, and finally cutting the "under sink" mats (which are waterproof) and installing them.  A bottle of shampoo or something soap related had spilled under a storage drawer unit, and we didn't even know until I took everything out.  That took the most time to clean up. 

I have to admit, it looks so much better, and I feel better to have crossed that (along with other jobs) off of the list for January.

There has been a lot of joy this month.  Oh, we had glitches, but we plowed thru them.   We have a lot to be thankful for.  I am much better at looking for/finding the joy in every day (even in mundane chores/to-do's), and January did not go buy without noticing.  In the past, days were just about getting thru them.

My hamstring injury is almost completely healed.  I am thrilled to say I am back to wearing my own insulated muck boots again.  Back story on that - when I went to take the right boot off, it would cause excruciating pain up my entire leg (hamstring).  No more sailing over an open dishwasher door. 

Thank you for the prayers in regards to my hamstring healing, and also for our January doctor appointments.  We both have follow appointments in early February now.  I had to stop taking the medication they gave me for my leg (anti-inflammatory medication), as it was causing bad side effects.  I resorted to an anti-inflammatory diet and stretching.  By the way Youtube videos, and stretching moves from a daughter worked better than the one stretch my family doctor gave me.

As for our follow-ups, it's routine, but I am praying for good blood work results, good results overall, and that we just keep doing the best we can with real food, exercise, a good night's sleep, and the like.

In light of my recent hamstring incident, I have decided to keep my floor stretch exercises included in my exercise routine.  The older we get the more flexibility we need I guess.  

Betsy at The Simple Life of a Queen, reminded me to slow down, and I am forever thankful for that.  I have more crossed off the to-do list this month than I did in the last two months, and it was from not being in a frenzy every single day (in a hurry to get it ALL done in a day).

Tomorrow starts a new month, a new plan, new goals, continued plans, and living life to the fullest.  There may be another puzzle involved too, ha ha! 

Here's to new adventures, new exciting discoveries, goals met, and more.  

"Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight."  Psalm 94:19 TPT (from 180 Devotions for Your Best Day, Encouragement and Inspiration for Woman).

January 2025 Comes to an End  © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Winter Homestead Activities

My first post for 2025.

January 2025 started with a clean washing machine, clean oven mitts, and a clean dishwasher.   I got all three cleaned by the afternoon of the last day of 2024.  It rained the entire day, and the temperature was in the 30's.  Awful weather, but the right kind to make it much easier to sit and crochet for a bit. January 1st it snowed.  We got more snow last night, and there is a possibly snow storm later this weekend, but our temperature may be too cold for snow here.

Winter time is a time to rest and re-set.   I do try to embrace the slow down, because those busy garden days will arrive soon enough. 

Winter time pick me ups - smelling the orange or clementine as I peel it (really boosts the mood).  Also, painting my fingernails.  I buy the chemical free brand, and winter is the only time I get to pamper my fingernails.  The rest of the year, I'm busy playing with dirt.

On the home repair front . . .

Hubby replaced some door weather stripping (just in time for cold weather).  I plan to check the other doors this week.  He also installed an adjustable clothing rod for our winter coats.  We have no closets for coats here in this farmhouse.  We have what they installed called "cubbies" that are open with a  few hooks inside each one.  We have a door installed to cover our coats for now.  It's temporary until we completely purge that room, and made decisions prior to painting, installing new lights and flooring.  We were literally using shorter shower rods, but they do not last long, so hence the type that is installed with supports with screws on each side (for now anyway).

I have a small list of indoor home updates to keep myself somewhat "busy" and the goal is to have them done before Spring arrives.

The chickens are patiently waiting for their new home, but the weather has been quite finicky.  Eggs are in low production again.  Our last hired help is leaving on long vacation, so things are a bit delayed in other build it/repair it projects.

                      

I have been utilizing the Blue Jarrahdale pumpkin puree (we grew last summer, roasted it, pureed it and froze it) in our breakfast and in muffins.  The above photo is a pumpkin oat bake for breakfast.

I made hummus differently recently, using part navy beans and part chickpeas.  I added 1/4 tsp. of turmeric this time, and may add more the next them.  It does have a different flavor, but it's delicious.

Meals are being planned by utilizing what we harvested, canned, dried or froze last year.  Tonight's dinner is thawed (previously roasted and frozen) spaghetti squash, topped with home canned tomato sauce, homemade meatballs, quinoa and asparagus.  We'll be eating more garden green beans this weekend as well (blanched and froze from last year's garden).

The next room to purge is our utility room.  The room is larger than most, and also serves for storage of certain items.

I am currently (yes, I'm still reading it) reading this book.  I bought it last year, as my husband joked that I needed to buy it.  Even if it's 2 pages in a day, I'm working on getting over that guilty feeling of "I should be doing this or that" feeling.  Maybe that's just how I am wired?  Anyway.....

When I finish this current book, I will share my new activity for the year.

Garden plans are underway.  I'm checking seeds, flipping thru new seed catalogs, and writing list for new seeds (it's a short list this year).  We will need to buy fencing for the other garden area, and we still need to remove the old raised beds.  Every time we had help arrive, they had the wrong equipment or got side tracked with another job around here. 

Update regarding uses for chickweed - it's great for burns.  I am just learning this.  My husband got sprayed with hot steam, causing a burn. We use chickweed for mosquito bites, rashes and poison ivy as well.  If I don't get more made this coming summer, I do know where I can buy it.  He should have a jar to keep at work.

Update on my homemade yarrow salve - I love this stuff!  My husband used it on a stubbed bleeding toe, and said it really helped.  He said it even felt better later.  If you are like some people, and get bloody noses in the dry heat of winter, it came in handy for that too.  It stopped the bleeding and moisturized the inside of the nose.

There is some handiwork taking place this month, but in short snippets for now.  I'll be back with an update hopefully.  Winter time doesn't usually have anything exciting to post about.

Winter Homestead Activities © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!  

I'm excited about a new crochet project, and it is a sort of a motivation tool for something else.  I'll be posting later about it.  Overall, it will reduce my time wasting internet scrolling, pointless social media scrolling (looking for recipes, patterns, exercises are all good scrolling minutes, he he!), procrastination station, and endless him-hawing.  Not to change the subject, but I mean some scrolling is needed to avoid endless days of shopping in stores looking for something my husband suggested we buy.

I found one close to what he feels we need at Harbor Freight, but it's wall mounted, and runs on batteries.

Does it even exist?  I'll be searching for it, but we may have to buy battery charged or a rechargeable light.  He wants a solar chargeable, motion sensor, small table light (sort of the brightness of a nightlight) for the bathrooms.  We lack outlets by the toilet, and do not want to put in a floor strip light, or wall mount solar lights.  Most motion sensor lights for indoors run on batteries or or rechargeable.  We want the motion sensor, so the light only comes on at night if needed.  I'll update later on this, after we have located and made a decision.

Okay, back to the post....

(sunrise 12-26-2024)

Sunday it rained all day long.  Last year we had warm enough weather the same time in December, that I was washing bedding and putting it on the clothesline.  We are pretty much flooded this year.

We decided together, that it was a good weekend to take down our Christmas tree.  Normally, we would leave it up for New Year's Eve.  The holidays this year hit mid-week, and I would much rather have help with it, than wait for an entire week to take it down and put it all back in storage.  

Well, the tree is still up, ha ha!  We had a few returns to take care of, some grocery shopping for fresh vegetables and fruit, and other errands.  I forgot to look for a plant for my planter, but we are also very limited with selections in the winter time.  I may be planting an herb for indoor winter cooking. 

Before decorations get packed back up, I decided it was time to toss out some very very old Christmas decorations, and donate others.  I added one book to the newest donation box, as my husband gifted me a new book too.

My husband gifted me a new bathrobe, so the old one was literally tossed out (not even worth donating ha ha!).  Sort of feels good to go into a new year with so many completed home projects, and a more organized homestead.

It's been a year since we have baked cookie cut-outs, so when I dug out the container, I purged those before returning them to storage. Good gravy!  I had cutters from when the kids had birthday parties in elementary school.  Whew!  Someone will be enjoying those, as they are being donated.

 

January is my month to focus on my health even more than ever.  It will be a long wait to see the doctor, but I thought about that too. It gives me a month to do specific exercises.  I really did a number on myself when I tripped twice later, after my stairway fall back in April of this year.  Anyway, every day I work on myself, is one day closer to back to normal or even better than normal.  Per a conversation on the phone with the doc's nurse, I am to avoid "heavy lifting" and have been the last two weeks.  It's a tough one, as a bag of chicken feed is not light weight.  I have learned how to lift more properly, so there is that.

I am already feeling signs of muscle improvement, less pain, and more flexibility, so doing these stretches may be a permanent addition to my daily/weekly fitness routine.

I need this body in good working condition, as I have ordered a tool to help start the next home repair project.  The kids left tape, those 3M sticky tapes, and other adhesives on the walls upstairs, and some in the higher to reach walls in the stairway.

It'll be a project for sure, but needs to happen before it's painted. After seeking advice, we need to buy some drywall mud, as the kids (and past hired help) put large gouges in the plaster walls.  It would be great to get this job knocked off the list by the end of January, so we can start working on the stair project (stair project is an entirely new project of it's own).

Speaking of health . . .

Hummus people, I have a quick question.  Do you ever add turmeric to your hummus for added health benefits?  I'm wondering if it tastes good in it, and how much to add?  We love the garlic in ours, so I'm not sure about adding it to our hummus just yet.

I'm already planning some new ideas for next Christmas, as we were so delayed by home repairs/renovations that had to happen.  I follow Betsy on Simple Lift of a Queen blogspot and, she mentioned exchanging advent gifts with her grand daughter.  Betsy, if you are reading this, I would love to know how to prepare the advent gifts.  Do you just wrap each one and place them all in a bag or box with numbers for the day of the month?  Or do you prepare them another way.  My brain is already chugging away at creating new traditions next year.

Also, Betsy where can I find the "Every which way filet" baby blanket pattern?  Thanks!

Sorry for the long boring post to start out this new week.  My kitchen is once again a hot mess from lack of being home, but it'll be spic and span clean this week.

I hope your weekend was good.  I may not be back to post, until the New Year, so Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

New Cookie Recipe Tried ~ Homemade Body Wash

 

I know there is one more holiday approaching, but I hope you all had a very nice Christmas.  Our Christmas week is typically full of celebrations - our youngest's birthday, Christmas Day, and our Wedding Anniversary.  A lot to celebrate in one week for sure.

My husband only got Christmas day off of work this year.  It seems the kids also had to work the same days. 

Our weather is taking a turn for warmer temperatures, and tomorrow they expect it to be around 60°F here.  Crazy for sure.  However, it is the perfect weather to take down all of the outside Christmas lights.  I would love to keep them up for New Year's Eve, but the weather will turn right back to very cold temperatures by next weekend.

It's the perfect weather to work on outdoor projects, but the best weather days are during the week.  The home repair list is dwindling, but it's still lingering ha ha! 

Two of the kids are house shopping, and we are trying to help, but it's not a great time to buy right now.

I have been seeing a lot of cardinals here lately.  I do need to clean my windows ha ha!  Next time I will go outside to snap a photo.

We made one batch of our traditional butter cut out cookies (gave most of them to others), and one batch of a new einkorn recipe from Jovial recipes - Peanut Butter Blossoms.  They contain einkorn flour (no white flour), but they do contain granulated sugar and brown sugar.  I used the Hershey kisses, but these went to work with my husband for a treat.  We kept just a few for us.  They are very good.  Next time I will try breaking up an organic white chocolate or dark chocolate bar, and use those in place of the kiss candy.  I got 43 cookies using my small pampered chef scoop.

We also baked a healthier version of "chex mix" and have already given half of it away (one kiddo loves it).  We all love it, so I'll have a post on that soon.  It's a treat only at Christmas and New Year's Eve for us.

I'm still staying on track with my fitness, and otherwise healthy meals despite the holidays and cookies.  I have a few new salad recipes to try soon, and we are focusing on the freezer and pantry for the next month.  Other than buying  fresh vegetables and fruits, it should be a fun monthly meal plan.

I mixed up a new recipe to try - homemade body wash.  Winter brings dry skin, and I wanted to give it a try.  We do typically only use goat's milk soap, but this may help a bit more.   I'm only making a small amount to make sure I am not allergic to any of the ingredients.  I'll update on it after using it for a while.

In other news . . .

I was washing dishes, and saw something jumping around out in the yard.  It was this cat, and he/she (most likely a he by the coloring), was pouncing on something.  I had to laugh.  It was out hunting for food, and caught it.  I've see it hanging around before, but it's been weeks since I've seen it.  I could not get a close enough photo to see if it was a catch and release (tipped ear) cat.

I have not been watching he morning or evening news, so I really don't know what's going on in the "real" world lately.  I have spent more time sipping herbal tea and reading, and a few minutes of easy crochet work.  Once the weather turns cold again, I will check my yarn stash and start a new lap afghan.  I may have enough to donate by next winter (not enough time this year with home repairs/purging/cleaning, and re-organizing (but so worth it).

I have finally opened my new planner and started filling it in already.  Which reminded me about how people spend their entire day looking forward to the end of the day, or end of the week, instead of embracing the moments as they are in real time.  Don't forget to find joy in the present moments, as you can't get that time back.

Do you do anything "fun" to embrace a moment or moments in your day?  Sit outside and watch the birds?  Watch the sunrise or sunset?  Plant a new plant indoors?  I would love to hear your winter activities or plans.  

I was gifted a new planter container last May (gulp), and have yet to fill it.  I had planned to try and bring in Thai basil, but that failed.  Rosemary is very difficult for me to winterize indoors, so I'm looking into maybe another herbal plant.

I have not yet found any local line dancing, but we are continuously seeking out activities for us this winter.  If anything, we'll get some evening walks in.

New Cookie Recipe Tried ~ Homemade Body Wash © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

A Little Late ~ Attempt to Put the Jolly in the Holidays ~ Homemade Velveeta

 

Yes, we have Christmas themed bedding.  It is coming out of storage today.  I'm very behind, but it's happening.  In fact, I have another King Christmas comforter to give away, but it may be next Christmas.  The kids have apartments, and no room, nor a place to wash a King comforter.  Any who, I'm hoping the new view of the bedding will put a spark in our Christmas spirit. 

We've had some bumps in the road for sure this season.  I think it will make the house a bit "brighter" and happier.  I have a bad habit of worrying about things that rob my sanity and happiness.  Do you have a prayer in regards for not worrying?

As long as we have life, we have problems.  It's how to be able to laugh and smile, to get thru the problems, worry, or setbacks, and what not.

The Christmas tree is up, grocery shopping has taken place (although we had to go to three stores because most were lacking supplies), and we both got haircuts.  The haircuts were very overdue and a much needed day of pampering.  I got a hard water hair treatment, and WOW!  My hair is amazing now.  No brassy hard water.  We do have a water softener, but she sent me home with some hard water treatments too.

The chicken coop was mucked last Friday, so that is off the to-do list this week thankfully.  I have four filled boxes ready to take to donate (with another possibly getting filled today).

The small room we used for an office, is now put back together.  In fact, I can now store extra folding chairs in our storage area under the stairs, along with other items I won't have to take upstairs anymore.  Woohoo to that.  

I need to finish decorating the tree, and I can put the totes away, and tidy up the house.  The plan is to bake some Christmas cookies, and maybe candy in the next few days (maybe today).  I'll be honest, I have not been in a festive mood this year.  A good daily workout keeps me energized, but.....

The recent handyman wanted to start on our next repair project, but it involves part of the kitchen ceiling, so we said it can happen after the holidays.  We removed an old light, so the drywall needs patched, and then half of the ceiling painted and that project will be completed.

We have had one evening of driving around to see Christmas lights, but plan to go see more.  I do miss my jolly holiday self this year, so I'm hoping some Christmas music will do the trick.  I normally would be busy creating a new ornament, but my siblings (most) do not put up a tree anymore.  Even my husband said I haven't been "crafty" lately, and I should work on something.  I don't know.  I can start another lap afghan, but I needed a break from that.

Jar openers are on the list for my on-the-go project. Apparently, I did not write the pattern down correctly, so I will be re-writing that today.  It should not take that long to do.  I have the supplies, and thought I could make these my "crafty" project for now, and donate them along with the lap afghans to senior centers, adult living facilities, and have them on hand for host/hostess gifts or just gifting.

I know what my Mom felt like at the holidays now.  When all of us adult kids started having our own families, she was alone more often.  I get it now, as our kids are building their own families.  However, I am also trying to focus on making our own couple traditions as well.  I really miss calling Mom and discussing life in general, health issues, advice and the like.  I do not have an elderly person left in our family.  I may have to adopt someone's Grandma.

On the try-it list - homemade "Velveeta" 

I made this yesterday, so we plan to taste test it today or tomorrow.  There is a traditional dish that we have (or used to have, as we don't get together at the holidays anymore).  I got the recipe from a friend at work, many, many years ago.  The recipe requires Velveeta in it - Cheesy Baked Potatoes.  I haven't used Velveeta since the kids were born (that long ago).  It is also an ingredient in my Mom's stove top Macaroni and Cheese.  She never had a recipe, but I think I could remember how to make it.  That's the plan if this tastes good and works well when baking and cooking.

We hope it works out well, and I have read that it freezes well too, as it only lasts about two weeks after it's made.  The recipe is very simple, and is made very quickly.  When I processed it, it not only smelled good, but tasted good.  I'll be back with an update.  I just used a container as my mold, as I did not have a 1 pound loaf (mini) pan.  

A Little Late ~ Attempt to Put the Jolly in the Holidays ~ Homemade Velveeta © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Sunrise ~ Tidbits

I had a slow start to yesterday's chores, and was able to capture the sunrise, despite the fact it rained the entire day.  I'm glad I got to see it.  Although my front porch was covered in rain too, thanks to the wind.

Using homemade infused oregano oil is somewhat different for a sinus infection.  Instead of simply taking the oil itself by a dropper, my Dad taught me to drop a few drops onto a teabag, and heat a cup of medicinal tea.  It got me thinking, because this is the 2nd or 3rd time I was reminded oregano can be used to make a tincture too.  There have been some other herbs I ran across this winter, that I will be making tinctures with next spring.  So thank you to all of you for suggestions.  I know I will be dehydrating more goldenrod (some of my adult kids drink the teas too).

Three days now, and our handy-man has still had car repairs to delay is ability to work here.  If he can't commit, I plan to finish it all by myself.  Hopefully, I feel 100% better in a day or two.

In the meantime, my husband has gotten another baseboard heater removed (they are all in bad shape). He's installed a new heater.  He has replaced another outlet (most have already been replaced). 

I have not been into town (very small town) lately, and I am told that due to vandalism, they are removing the town's Blessing Box.  There have been problems in town with people's kids running a-muck, and being unattended causing trouble.  It's really sad, because I have been placing food and non-food items in the box.  

Sunrise ~ Tidbits © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

 

Delays ~ Christmas Memories

The holiday decorating has not even been happening around here as it should, and for two reasons - 1. How I am feeling and 2. The room repairs / renovations.

I have not felt up to doing any holiday shopping, nor even shopping for baking and cooking supplies for the Christmas Day meal.  I have nothing ready.  Nothing.   Also, the handy-man we hired has been a no-show the last few days, due to his car breaking down.  Just lovely.  

By the way, in the meantime, I have put about 5 sticky notes up on the walls for places that need "fixed" and have paint issues.  Splatters, scratches, you name it.

I have not been ill like this for a long long time and it stinks.  It's like the virus that keeps on giving and refuses to go away.  Once I have a good day, the next day something new arrives.  One day it was congested ears.  The next a dry cough with chest pressure.  The next itchy/watery eyes.  The exhaustion comes and goes as it pleases.

The Goldenrod Tea helps a lot with drying up and relieving congestion.  I started adding fresh ginger too, and have now broke out my homemade oregano oil (learned this from my Dad when I had a sinus infection).  I have Four Thieves vinegar as well, and making sure I get enough good vitamins and probiotics, not to mention liquids.  On a good note, it all does seem to be a bit better vs. worse.

Christmas gifts I made in the past  . . .

One year of gifting - jelly, granola, homemade/handmade handmade goodies (in recycled clementine crates).

Some years they got homemade goodies like the unusual and very delicious sorghum candy.  Some years it was homemade vanilla with purchased bottles and hand created and printed labels.

I do miss the art of creating and gifting.  The year I made those boxes of goodies (photo above), I asked my good friend if they liked theirs.  I'm talking a long, long time friend from high school.  She replied, "well there really wasn't anything in there for my husband."  She really said that.  I never made a gift for them again after that.

 In the midst of recovering from this recent bug, I have watched way too many Christmas movies.  It got me thinking about my favorite memories of the holiday.  Childhood memories.  Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year.  It always has been.

As a kid my parents would always buy a fresh cut tree, in a lot that was by a closed, seasonal ice cream stand in town.  We'd bring it home, and put it outside until a said date.

Dad built the raised box with tree holder attached, and we'd bring it in and fill it with sugar water (if I am remember correctly, ha ha).  

(photo from google - they still sell this stuff!!)

We'd wrap the tree with those larger Christmas bulb light strings (I still love those the best), put the ornaments up, and Mom insisted we drape those thin long pieces of tinsel on the tree.

By the way, when we took the tree down, we were required to take the tinsel (icicles) off one piece at a time, and put it back in the box for the next year (not kidding about that either).

The best memory, is taking coloring books and crayons, and laying under the tree (with lights on), and coloring in a Christmas themed coloring book.  The smell of a fresh tree was the best!!

Although that is a good memory, I do not plan on making it a tradition here ha ha ha!  The icicles anyway.  However, as my side of the family doesn't get together for the Christmas holiday anymore, it's time to start creating new traditions for just us.  I think it will be fun too.  

We already have two ideas.  

It's a strange weather day here for mid-December.  Rain and a high of 58°F.  Crazy.

Delays ~ Christmas Memories © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart