Pioneer Woman at Heart

  I got the chance to go on a new outing, and with a surprise outing with one of the kids.   I was over joyed to get out of the house and do something fun.  It really has been a year for "first" times for so many things, and it is bringing me (us) pure joy, adventures, and fulfillment.  Big or small. First, I received gifts!  A bag, new Spring bathrobe, garden gloves and a coffee mug. The garden gloves are touch screen, so I can keep them on to use my cell phone if needed.  They work too!  Fit great! Love them! Oh, and here is the "first time" part of the special day. . .we went to a coffee shop that we have never been too ( first visit ).  It's been open for many a year or so.  It's small, quaint, and oh boy, sells used and new books (gulp!).  They also sell locally made crafted items as well. I got to try hot and iced coffee flights for the first time ever!!  Oh my gosh, these were delightful. My first ever blind date with ...

We are to heat up to the 80's today.  They sky is looking strange this morning.  One direction looks like a storm brewing, and the other, the sun rising with very dark clouds above it.  We had very bad wind yesterday. Once again, you are being entertained with a blog draft from J une of 2017 .  To be honest, I don't remember buying the book.  I think a blog follower sent me her copy, but anyway, a very old draft to entertain you with.  It does have me thinking about other herbs now.  I have, as of last year, started to harvest our wild growing goldenrod.  I had to laugh reading this draft, because I do not remember growing Gotu Kola seeds indoors either. We are blessed with a lot of wild growing herbs and weeds, but you do have to know what you are picking as well.  Stinging nettle requires some very thick gloves, or your hands will be pricked by the stinging part of the nettle.   When we had barn cats, I never had a problem finding...

  A sunrise from last week.  We've been blessed with some beautiful sunrises lately.  We actually grilled out on Sunday.  It was slightly chilly, but the sun was out. Do you remember my post on the Butterscotch Sugar cookies (from a Joanne Fluke book)?  I froze some of them, to see if they froze well, and they do!  Just sharing in case you like to have something in the freezer for unexpected guests, or need to quickly take a treat to someone. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather. . . Highs in the 40's and lows in the 20's for the week. Right now I am . . . Making a pot of coffee. Thinking and pondering . . . Butter beans.  Do you use butter beans?  I do.  I have to order them online, as our stores here do not carry them.  Weird right?  I see that Meijer sells them (via looking online), but they add sugar to their canned beans for some reason.  Do you have access to butter beans (organic, non-gm...

Weekend weather was not too bad on Saturday, but boy it turned nasty on Sunday.  Wind, rain, and cold air moved in.   I can't believe January 2024 is already coming to an end.  Where in the world did this month go?  I know I was/and still am consumed with painting, repairing drywall, and other winter work. My husband insisted on getting out to put my books in the little free library for me.  It was pouring down rain and snow (sleet). I spent one morning sorting garden seeds, making a plan, and sent out orders.  Shipping is free with Baker Creek in the USA, but High Mowing is a whopping $11.95 and Territorial is $8.95!  My plan is to save more seeds this season. I spent one day running errands, and delivered 3 crocheted lap afghans and 3 jar openers to the senior center.  The folks that receive "meals on wheels" are offered a trivia contest, and one person/couple wins each month.  A basket of sorts is donated, and given to the winner(s)....

Sunday weather started out at 12°F (wind chill of 5°F).  It was snowing as well. Stray cat chasing a bird?   I have not seen any cats around here lately.  Interesting.       Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The Weather . . . 19°F  with a wind chill of 8°F Right now I am . . . Brewing coffee and posting this blog post. Thinking and pondering . . . If you have chickens, are you team "fill the roosts with straw/bedding"  or nothing team?  We put straw in ours, and our eggs are clean.  I was given some eggs a few weeks ago (team nothing in the roosts), and the eggs were very dirty.  Also, since I have not been putting straw in the roosts, they are laying on the floor of the coop, so I'm going back to putting straw inside the roosts. How I am feeling . . . Pretty good. On the breakfast plate . . . (before they cooled completely) Egg/sage sausage/cheese cups to go with an oatmeal bake.  When I bake ...

  On the home winter project list, we have decided to completely remove the hallway paneling.   When the carpet was removed a large wooden storage box was moved to the hallway (to get it out of the way of work).  I am now going through it, and hopefully passing it on to other family members.  The box itself will be donated if no one can find a use for it.  I have contacted our historical society in the past, and they were not taking any donations.   There are some old family items in this storage box, and I can no longer store them.   After cleaning my Dad's place and Mom's after they passed, I have a different look on what I keep and do not keep. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I will link up when she posts.  I'm running behind today. The weather . . .  High 30's, low 40's, some weather moving in around towards the weekend, with rain/snow. Right now I am . . . Brewing a late pot of coffee, and posting...

  (this was a few days ago) Me to my husband:  Sure looks like it's about to come down out there. Husband to me:  Oh great!  Another 1000 green beans (ha ha ha!) We have been getting rain off and on.  We are also getting heat.  We canceled our first camping trip as fast as we booked it due to the heat.  What's the fun in camping, if you can't enjoy a campfire meal?  Not only will the heat be here this weekend, so will thunderstorms.   I decided to only freeze shredded zucchini, and not diced this year.  I prefer to be able to squeeze the water out prior to freezing.   I sent a large bag of squash with my husband to work.  I also picked more, and reduced the numbers by about 10 of them with some baking and cooking (and freezing). The muffins are delicious, but a bit sweet.  I may make them again and swap the honey for maple syrup, and only use half amount. Although we recently got a small bit of rain, it was not e...

  We had wonderful weather over the weekend, other than thunderstorms Sunday morning.  I've started to do the plant "shuffle" so they are acclimated to the outdoors prior to planting in the garden.  We are still working on garden fencing, and fixing the truck. I picked a handful of asparagus, and we should be enjoying it in a few more days for dinner.   Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. The weather . . . Cloudy, 60's and more rain.  They are predicting rain all weekend, so if I want peas planted, I need to do it between this rain and the weekend rain (or not at all).  It's getting late for peas here. As I look outside my window . . . It's cloudy, and looks like rain. Right now I am . . . Making a second pot of coffee. Thinking and pondering . . . Just a lot going on between weather and garden. How I am feeling . . .  Tired, but so glad I did a super tidy/clean up before we left for the weekend. On the breakfast plate . . . ...