Fall is Here

 It's officially "fall" here now.  Woke up to 40°F and boy it is very chilly.  The leaves are turning even more, and more are falling.  The tomatoes are done for the garden season too.

5 pints of Lemony-Basil Tomato Soup was canned.  I normally get about 2-3 batches canned, but not this year.  I am thankful for what we did get.  The cold weather has started to diminish the amount of herbs we are getting from the herb garden now.

There are other goals now that the tomatoes are all processed. We will need to pull everything left in the garden(s), and do other prep work to put them to "bed" for the season. 

I still have apples to process, but they are in the fridge for now.  I need to get caught up with other work and I have a strainer full of garden bell peppers to dice and freeze.

I totally forgot that I planted several rosemary plants inside the garden this year, so I will need to process those (have no plans to try for the umpteenth time to keep them alive all winter indoors).

I now have a container labeled "canning" that holds old towels, and hot pads, and one apron.  It is now where I will be keeping all those items involved with canning.  They will not be taking up space in my kitchen, and I can grab the container when needed.  If you have canned with tomatoes or anything that stains or splatters, you'd understand why I would only use the older items to can with.  

In the meantime, I am writing up a plan for winter.

Fall is Here  ©  October 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Rain ~ Spicy Barbeque Sauce

 We finally got rain!  So thankful for it.  There was a field fire near us the night before the rain arrived.   It's been so dry, and the field dust was causing upper respiratory issues for so many people (wind didn't help with that).

Spicy Barbeque Sauce was canned.  It takes a lot of ingredients, so it's not my favorite to can, but it is real ingredients.  Yes, it has brown sugar.  It's a canning recipe from Better Homes and Gardens, that we have been using for several years now.

Rain ~ Spicy Barbeque Sauce ©  October 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Heat Returns ~ Infused Honey ~ Barter

 The area farmers are taking out their crops, and the dust is as thick as fog around here.  My eyes burn when I work outside (trying to stay inside for that).  It's very dry, and very hot right now.  Temperatures are soaring to the upper 80's.  It was 88°F the other day and the heat continues.  If we are lucky, the rain will finally be here this week.  

We picked the very last of the tomatoes.  What is left on the plants are rotting before even ripening.  Very strange year overall.  We are thankful for what harvest we are getting.

Exhausted.  I, ha ha! Am. Exhausted.  Taking a few days off canning, and trying to catch up with cleaning, dusting, putting things away, errands, sweeping, dishes, and laundry......

My favorite morning reading, is called "Just Breathe" Devotions and Prayer for the Overwhelmed Heart (and I am loving all of them so far).

Cranapple Butter and tidbits

 One more "first" for me this year (something new to try/experience). . . 

Cranapple Butter ( A Ball Canning Recipe).  I read this is good to top your turkey at the holidays, but we plan to try it on toast too.  Why did I try it?  Well, we had more apples from our trees.  Yes, I could can apple pie filling, but it may still happen too.

Apples and Tomatoes Oh My!

 The early morning weather here has been downright chilly.  One morning it was 42 degrees.  Flower beds have been weeded.  The herb garden is next in line, but I do need to figure out what to do with all the rosemary plants I planted in the actual vegetable garden.  I have not mastered keeping them alive all winter indoors.  They will not survive the winter if left outside.

Did any of my blog writing followers locate a better "blog" platform online?  Just curious if anyone is moving from blogger. 

Colder Weather (again) ~ 43 degrees! What?!

 I have yet to remedy the websites using my blog for whatever they are using it for.  The views cut down by about 200, but considering I posted a very, very short post yesterday, it's still getting 300 views from advertiser businesses and other businesses.  All to read about how they are using my blog too.

It is very annoying to be honest.  I have not had a lot of time to work on putting a stop to it, but I did look into a few of the sites to "opt" out and there were no options to remove my blog.  Not sure what to do next.  If I do remedy the situation, I will remove the page breaks on my posts.

The majority of viewers are from Hong Kong and Singapore (huh?).  Like it's been suggested, AI may be the reason, and one we cannot avoid, as Blogger has very little privacy options.

Experimental Healthier Zucchini Bread ~ Garden

 Along with an experimental baking, this is my experimental post to see how things go too.  Thank you for all of your advice on the blog issues.  

No Shortage of Boredom

 We finally got rain, after 20 plus days of 90 degree plus weather.  Despite watering the garden, it was looking fried by the heat, humidity and sun.  The zucchini plants are starting to die off with little harvest already.

Embracing the Late Harvest ~ First Canning of the Season ~ Crocheted Cord Keepers

 

(picked one for canning)

All in one day's picking.  The bell peppers are on, but not all  ready yet (very late harvest year).  Those pickling cucumbers can hide so easily, even after making a thorough attempt to check for any.  The chickens were happy with their treat, and the kitchen was busy again.

Both went into meals.  The kale went into a breakfast, and the beans went into a dinner.

The English type (will have to look up the actual name) cucumbers we planted are about between 11 and 12 inches long.

Two large cucumbers went into making a cold salad with some cherry tomatoes from the garden, along with some fresh parsley, dill and peppermint.

We have been pretty creative in consuming the cucumbers.  Needless to say, I am finding some nice salad recipes that we are really enjoying.  

Canning season officially started this late month of August - sweet pickle relish.  We did not get enough of our cucumbers last year to can this, but we did have enough already canned to last 2 years.  We were down to the last 3 jars, so this is a blessing.  We use it to, no only as a condiment, but to make chicken salad, tuna salad, homemade tartar sauce, and more.

                             

 A bit of our lemon balm was dehydrated for tea making.  I'm in the process of starting more plants (for our soon to be designated garden area for perennial weeds/herbs). 

I also ground some dehydrated lemon balm for a lemon balm powder. A "first" time for us to make the powder.  I'll use it for baking, smoothies, and possibly other uses.  Possible uses:  salad dressings, pesto (fresh is best I think though), desserts, infused honey, infused sugar (just a thought), iced tea, and more.

I used some garlic scapes to make compound butter for cooking and grilling.  It is a "first" for us to make and try.

I followed the instructions and blanched the scapes first, and rolled it all into waxed paper to freeze first, then later slice and store for easy access.

Everything else garden related seems to be coming at us all at once.  I'm just taking a deep long breath and taking it one day at a time.  Every day there is garden goodies that need tending to - hot banana peppers, sweet corn, green beans, cucumbers.....you get the idea.  It is a blessing.

Although, the heat is returning for a bit, we have really enjoyed the much cooler weather.  It has been a delight to work outdoors, go for walks, read on the porch, grill outside dinner, and so forth.  Early morning sunrises are the best, and enjoyed, as you cannot get that moment back.

Unfortunately, we are going on a 10-day plus stretch with no rain.  The garden is suffering, so days are spent watering, which takes day off canning, freezing or other needed work done.

(this one was for our travel/camping tea-pot)

A larger amount of do-dads today require so many charging cords (trying to eliminate those with solar charge when we can), and one morning I decided we needed some "cord keepers" to keep things organized.  I crocheted us two to try out, and see who well these snaps will last.  I used no-sew snaps for the first time.  I had cotton yarn in my stash, so that is what I used.  I need about three more, but I am hoping the snaps hold out.  If not, I will be switching to the sew-on snaps.

Book reading has really slowed down, so no new granny squares for our book blanket.  I have added a few titles to my reading list, and (gulp) purchased two more books.

On the news front, a local food pantry distribution closed it's doors earlier this week, do to lack of food to provide those in need.   I offered our extra produce one year, many years ago, and they refused it.

It's been one hum-dinger of an August already, and no camping trips planned to offer some R & R yet.  A busy garden season is a grand happening, but it does tend to rob me of my self-care time.  I'll be working on that this month.

Embracing the Late Harvest ~ First Canning of the Season ~ Crocheted Cord Keepers  ©  August 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Last Day of July

 

Remember the empty jars piling up?

I checked butterfly pea flower facial toner off the to-do list.  One flower per every 1/2 cup of witch hazel (let sit overnight).

Once infused, strained, and only a small bit of glycerin added, it's bottled up to use.  The most easiest thing you can make for yourself.  I have been using it for more than a year, and I have a travel bottle to take it on any sort of overnight trip as well.  

I still need to make more handmade items to re-stock, however, I was also able to get my homemade hair detangler made.  My hair is loving it.

The cucumbers are rolling in now, and I dug out my vegetable chopper, but it's now in the trash sadly.

The top part that is pushed down to send the vegetable into the metal slicer, and then into the catch tray, broke off some plastic pieces (and I can no longer use it).  In hindsight, I should have thought of that before buying it, but it last a few years.  The top parts are not removeable, other than a piece that you slide off to remove any debris.  I sort of liked this chopper, so I'm on the hunt for one that is not "plastic" on the top under part.  If you know of one, or have one that has been good for you, please comment below.  The only downside for me, was extra dishes.

Thankfully, I noticed it, and fished out the black plastic nubs that broke off (ugh).  By the way, I used this thing a lot of times, so it could be just from so many days of using it, but I have not seen any of these box choppers made with metal top undersides.  The next best thing I guess is the hand chopper from Pampered Chef (metal cutting blades), but the plastic outer clear attachment often breaks over time as well.

A cucumber salad made with the above chopper.  

A cucumber hand cut with a knife.  Looks the same, uses less tools, may take a slight bit more time, but for now that's how I am cutting up my salads.  By the way this particular one was diced up to top hummus with (and delicious).  We are getting very creative with using up the cucumbers, because someone planted a wee bit too many for two people (ha ha ha!).

The jalapenos are starting on finally.  Hard to believe it's July 30th, and we are just now picking a few of them.  Again, the craziest, latest harvest year ever I think.

My lemon balm is doing fantastic in this heat (heat advisory), but not so much for the peppermint and spearmint plants.  I don't think my mint plants like the heat, other than my catnip potted plant (it's doing fantastic as well).

I planted borage and rosemary in the squash this year, to deter squash bugs.  I do have squash bugs, but in the plants where nothing was planted in between them (I rotated the borage and rosemary between plants).  I missed one section, so the plants had nothing in the middle, but along the sides.  Everything else is bug free.  So now that we have borage, what should I use it for? Has anyone cooked with it?

(most recent granny square made for the book blanket)

Update on the book blanket I am crocheting - all of the finished granny squares have been crocheted onto the blanket!  I just have to sew in the ends to catch up, unless I finish the next book, ha ha!

Canning?  Nope.  Not yet, but it may happen soon, so July is going by with zero garden canning.  I'll be digging out a few recipes to double check ingredient lists.

As July ends, and I look back at all our successes and joys, I am looking forward to more next month.   Yes, there are regrets for things not "done" and adventures not taken (out of our control), but we are moving forward with good vibes, thoughts and prayers for future happenings, and future decisions.

Praying for a fantastic August ahead.  Happy blogging!

Last Day of July   ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That

 

Two weeks ago we had another heat wave, bringing temperatures up to 104 degrees.  It was very, very humid too.  Following that, we got 5 days of rain.  Good for the garden.  Bad for the weed problems.  We just go with "the flow" of things and do the best we can.

Humidity has been about 100% lately.  The thickness in the air almost takes your breath away.  Too hot and humid for anything outdoors.

Harvested our very first zucchini July 23rd, and our very first yellow squash July 24th (a late harvest year).  They both went into breakfast, and my husband was delighted with his go-to breakfast - Eggs from the ladies, roasted squash with onion and herbs from the herb garden, and smoked bacon from an area butcher store (a breakfast win from the freezer).  So good!

I am making a meat re-stock list of course, but the meals created by randomly picking freezer items has been fun and successful.  I did, however (gulp), find a few bags of frozen green beans from 2023 stuffed into the back of one shelf.  We had a bumper crop that year.

Harvested our first handful of cherry tomatoes July 25th.  I think we may have a chipmunk eating the very low tomatoes.  It could easily get into the fence, so we (gulp) purchased some rodent netting and wrapped the lower fencing for now.  Protecting the garden is becoming expensive.

First basketful harvest of the season and we are almost at the very end of July.  What a strange garden year.  It's almost August.

New to the garden this year - Cocozelle Zucchini.  

No new book blanket granny squares, and no books finished for that matter.  I, however, started another baby blanket.  The last if this particular yarn.  I am behind on the book blanket, and have not started any lap afghans to donate just yet.  The goal is to just get this baby blanket done first.

Everything seems to be running out at the same time as the end of July approaches.  I'll be making several re-stock items that I have found to be my/our favorites.  I am out of witch hazel, and now I am on the hunt to find some sold in stores. 

In the meantime, I have a growing list of to-do's pertaining to the garden, re-stocking freezer foods (thankfully blueberries are done for this season), and the like.  Dehydrating herbs continues as well. 

Have you ever heard of boiling corn on the cob with milk and butter in a large pot?  I'm just learning this, but with just us two, I have not tried it.  Apparently, it creates a very sweet corn, and as you lift the cob from the pot, it butters itself with the butter added to the pot.  

This and That   ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Good Vibes ~ Al Fresco

I have had one run-in with a baby deer this garden season.  I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or him/her.  Off it ran and no damage to the garden.  I do think we may have another ground hog, but have not seen it for a while.  A bug of some sort is having a feast on my garden kale, so once we catch up on the weeds and such, I'll sprinkle some flour with pepper mixed into it (husband's trick).

It's a bit disconcerting to not have much to harvest yet, and hear the sound of locusts announcing fall is around the corner.  The rain is coming down almost every other day or every day, so the weeds are winning I think.  The bonus win is not having to drag 200+feet of garden hose out to water stuff.

Our first Anaheim peppers from the garden.  They are huge as they should be.  However, it's not enough to process, so they are in the crisper drawer to use for current meals.  Or I have plan B too.

The cherry type (heirloom) tomatoes are finally on and turning.  Other tomatoes are on, but nothing not even close to harvesting yet.  We now have some hot peppers on the plants.  There are a few hot banana peppers about ready to pick too (the need is to have them all ready at the same time).

I harvested some Swiss Chard for one dinner too.  The garden is providing.

Garlic was finally dug up, but we had to wait for a dry day to get into the garden.  The garden was actually still pretty wet the day I dug it all up.

I had some chives that spread into my thyme plants, in the herb garden.  I dug those out, but later spotted one more smaller start.  I will get that dug out and into a small pot for now.  Most likely I'll give them to friends or donate to a local person who gives plants away (we have a few people who have bring one, take one plant tables).

It's not really a good week (ha, there never is) to pick up 10# of blueberries (from a nearby state), but I did.  I am pretty sure we'll use them all too.  I love to use frozen blueberries for summer lunch time smoothies, and especially after a long hot day of garden work.

I've been challenging myself to continue to meal prep from the freezer first, then add pantry and garden goodies.

It's sort of been fun, by picking random items and looking up recipes.  Rotation underway . . . preparing any room for garden additions to the freezer.

Good vibes from the herb garden.  Green onion, parsley and basil to add to a cold salad.

Edamame salad - corn and edamame from the freezer (new recipe tried as a result of random freezer rotation).  It utilized the freezer and garden, but it did not give us the "wow" response.  Good, but not great either.  Healthy?  Yes.  I thought the flavor overall was much better after it sat in the fridge overnight too.

A sweet potato breakfast casserole - sausage and bell peppers from the freezer.  Delicious.  I would prep more breakfast meats for this, for easier and quicker baking. I will also be trying this with garden kale.

Stuffed garden bell peppers from the freezer for dinner. 

What's was next?  I randomly pulled some sweet Italian sausage links.  I am sure I had a plan for them, but cannot remember what for.  I did a very simple crock pot meal with potatoes on the bottom, layered the sausage links, topped it with frozen garden green beans from last year, and whipped up my own homemade Italian dressing and poured it over. The sausages fell apart, and it was fantastic.  Two more freezer items used.  Dinner al fresco - weather was fantastic.

It should be fun putting something together for the next dinner.  

Other news . . .

We (by "we" I mean my husband) are starting to clean the gutters out.  I have been after him for weeks, and almost got the ladder out to do some myself (but got scolded).  

We have come up with a plan for the rose bed, but it's on the back burner until we get caught up with the vegetable garden weeds.  It's back on the "list" but so is the chicken coop (story of my life).

The weather was an absolute gorgeous 70's (wish I was camping, but sometimes we have to shuffle life's responsibilities) and cool day early in the week, but the heat is said to return.  Early mornings have been slightly under 60°F, and foggy.  It has helped me get more done in the garden.

Lastly, some good advice from a book I recently finished.

Good Vibes ~ Al Fresco  ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Whirlwind

 Like most garden summers, it's been a whirlwind of activity.  Weeding is hit or miss with the recent downpours and storms here lately.  I can't complain for not having to water anything.  Somehow, in between storms, the mowing and trimming got done.

(leaves are bigger than my hand this year- woohoo to a great crop)

The Red Russian Kale I planted, did very well this year.  I harvested a pretty good lot already.  The kale we grow has a less bitter taste, and more favorable for fresh salads or topping a sandwich.  The frozen kale will be used for smoothies, soups, stews, casseroles, breakfast casseroles and anything I can add greens to add more nutrition.

However, pint freezer bags are very hard to find in our area.  Just a few places sell them.  One year, I was lucky to snag a "bulk" box of them at a nearby Menards (not available this year).

I am still getting a few more radishes, and the Swiss chard is doing great this year.  Everything else in the garden is about 2 weeks or more behind compared to last year.

I got my refund on the stainless steel tomato strainer.  I have not had any thoughts on new resources.

I mended a few pairs of pants, and ran necessary errands, and booked appointments with a new optometrist (based on recommendations).  Our current optometrist wants 6 month visits for contacts and will only write 1 year on prescriptions for glasses (my husband's work will reimburse every 2 years, like most prescriptions for glasses are generally written).  Our family physician retired, so we are having to find a new one there too.  Appointments for "new" patients have a long waitlist too. 

I exchanged 3 books for one (not a bad deal on reducing my bookshelf).  

I went to a local area Dollar Tree for some scrub brushes, and while I was there, I thought I would pick up some more tin pans for the chicken's treats.  The store raised the prices on the tin pans to $1.75 now.  I'll be buying inexpensive bowls and just washing them out over summer instead.  Besides, the ladies tend to smash up the tin after about 3 or 4 treat days.

Meanwhile. . .

Someone is going to all of the free little libraries in one nearby town, and taking out all of the books (or most of them), and replacing them with a bunch of Bibles.  I don't care what belief you have, but seriously???  It always takes one person to ruin a community project that is fun and free.  There has been a volunteer to check those free libraries now.  I have donated more books to those little libraries than to other places lately.

On a side note about little libraries . . .I found an out reach program that puts books, journals, pens, bookmarks etc inside the little libraries every once in a while at part of "service day" with their churches.  Guess who found some bookmarks in a box of misc. stuff?  Yep.  I'll be going thru all of my crafted items leftover, and sending those bookmarks into their new homes soon.  I may even have a few unfinished crocheted bookmarks too.  It's on my charity list, as well as getting back to crocheting more lap afghans this next fall.

Rain is back again this week, but the mornings are in the low 70's, making outdoor work much more comfortable.

I'm on the lookout for seeds to plant yellow cone flowers in the flower beds next year.  The type that grows 3-5 feet.  We used to have them growing here, and we do miss them.

I tried a new pumpkin pancake recipe and loved it.  It used organic Greek yogurt, pumpkin from the freezer (last year's garden), a very small bit of flour (I swapped it for Einkorn flour), and we loved them.  It was a small batch recipe too, which is a win-win for us. Oh, it used some old fashioned oats too in the recipe.

Until next time. . .

Whirlwind  ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I hope your July 4th was an enjoyable holiday.  We spent it by ourselves.   One weekend night we were able to watch fireworks from our front porch at night, and there were about 5-6 different towns or people setting them off (one was spectacular).  

The break in rain finally gave us (I mean "me") a chance to weed the garden, re-tie up the tomatoes (they grew another foot), hill potatoes, harvest some Red Russian Kale and more radishes.  Boy it's still hot here. Sunday it was 94°F with a heat index of (feels like) 97°F (not as hot as it has been).

My homemade bug spray is working great other than it does not work to deter the teeny tiny gnat type bugs flying around.  They seem to be attracted to the body sweat while working in the hot sun (so annoying).

There is not enough work being done in the gardens, in one day, due to the heat, the humidity, the rain, or a combination of these issues.

Overwhelmed.  Frustrated.  Those are few words to describe the current season here (everyone in the area with any type of garden is dealing with it).  I get negative feedback from my full-time working husband, who thinks the garden should be spic-n-span weed free on a constant basis.  In this heat, a person has to be smart, and just show up when you can.

Despite being haggled about what's not getting done (cut me some slack please), I have harvested more kale and radishes, and hopefully more soon.

In the meantime, the rabbits have dug under the garden fence (rabbit dinner?  Get a dog?  Maybe 4? And a donkey?).  On a good note, we have not seen one ground hog in the last few weeks.  Or a deer for that matter.

It's definitely been a week of weeding, and more to do.  I am tired.

The suggestion to plant rosemary and borage in the squash plants, has been questionable.  One day I saw squash bugs, and then weeded out the borage and rosemary plants.  The next day I saw zero.  Not sure if the plants aroma could spread easier after being unburied in the weeds or not.  Time will tell as I check daily.

I also planted collards next to the thyme and green onions (again to deter the bugs).  Something ate it to the ground.  No collards this year.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Will link up when she posts.

The weather . . . 

Hot. Rain is back after a week of drying up.  Possibly rain every other day or so this week.  Say a prayer for my sanity vs. weeds (ha ha!).

As I look outside my window . . .

Sun is coming up and the rain is giving us a break.

Right now I am . . .

Writing this post of course.

Something fun to share . . .

I have zero today.

Thinking and pondering. . . 

What crazy person thought it would be a great idea to plant a garden this year????

On my bedside table . . .

I have no idea.  I'm too lazy (tired) to go look.

On my reading pile . . .

Finally off my "bucket" list (I don't really have one).  Another "first" this year - read a real, paper copy of the New York Times.   I won't be subscribing to it, ha ha!  I can read the digital copies for free with my library (for the recipes only).

I forgot to take a photo of my current book, but if you scroll down to the "what are you creating" prompt, you'll see all the latest books I have finished, and matching book blanket granny squares (yes, I'm behind in attaching some, but caught up with making them).

On my TV . . .

Literally, whatever looks interesting.  We liked Miracles from Heaven (movie on Netflix).

Listening to . . .

Nothing.  Hum of the white noise around here.  Some days the radio if I am actually cooking after a long garden day. Depends on where I am and what I'm/we are doing.

On the menu this week . . . 

-ice cream cones? ha ha ha!

-have no idea, we do have more stuffed bell peppers in the freezer however

On my to do list . . .

-garden work 

-anything after that is pure chance (literally), you know like overdue errands, housework, food preserving, making hand lotion and so forth.

-dehydrate more oregano when the rain stops again

-start oregano infused oil (by the way this is fantastic for cooking anything you love oregano in, not just medicinal).

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting, or creating . . .

ebook

. . .from the box of 18 something Christmas books I bought early in the year at an antique store (gulp!).

My first "blind" date with a book from a coffee store/bookshop.

Bought this several years ago at a flea market in Amish country.  Put it on a shelf and forgot I had it until last winter.  I loved this book, and looked forward to reading one every morning.

Most recent books finished with a matching granny square for my crocheted "book" blanket this year.  Matched the yarn the best I could, and with all yarn from my stash (it was the point to use up small balls in the stash).

I'm still crocheting the pink and white baby blanket (slow going).

My simple pleasure . . .

Lately?  Reading a book. Writing my blog.  Simply resting, ha ha!

Looking around the house . . .

Well, it's as it should look, when the garden work calls.

From the camera . . .

New current blooms (Rose of Sharon), and one about to bloom (forgot what it's called). I think the blue one may be called balloon flowers.  Our bluebells that I dug up and moved from our last home, lived about 16 years, then died off (never found them again).

Bible Verse, Prayer, Devotional . . .

"God, bring me friends who love You so we can encourage one another!  In Jesus's name.  Amen." (from 180 Devotions for Your Best Day)

Happy Homemaker Monday ©  July 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart