Donating Baby Blankets and Random Tidbits

 

We went from sub zero straight to a week of up to 64°F, and a sloppy, slushy, muddy mess.  I was very tempted, and almost twice, used the clothesline.    

However, with the warmest weather days brought us rain and thunder storms (yes thunder storms in February).  Add that rain to the already mushy mess, and you have slosh yards.

The house was refreshed with several days of open windows, and we are very thankful for that. Nothing better than fresh air circulating indoors.  

Of course, as it is still our winter season, the weather cooled right back down to the 30's and brought a small but of snow.  We got outside anyway, and did our very first "snow" walking trail.

It's been a mish-mash of a February.  Lots of re-organizing, purging, and home repairs.  It seems like the hardware store shopping list is maintaining it's weekly to-do list.

We have not cleaned out clothing in more than two years, so it's been this month's focus, and boy it takes some time.  I'm trying to squeeze in a few minutes in between everything else.

Winter time can become monotonous, so I've changed up some décor (rotated what I have), but found some new bath linens for a great deal.  A new color is like a breath of fresh air, and it balances the mood.

Most days this month have been ending exhausted, but productive. 

It has been very satisfying to cross off long over due home repairs/updates.  However, in the meantime, there are those repairs that get thrown at us, like the tile soap dish falling off the tile shower wall, after 20 years or more.  Replacing the tub drain that just stopped working after 20 years or more.  You know, the wear and tear projects that sneak up on you.  You know, you can't get these jobs completed with one trip to the hardware store.  It takes numerous, because the clerk gives you the wrong tools, so you have to return and get the right ones.

New recipe tried.  It was a result of "use it up" in the pantry.  I had some green lentils that needed used soon, so we tried Lentil Salad and loved it.  Recipe is online from Cooking Classy, and we did not "roast" the red bell pepper.  It contains cooked and cooled green lentils, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, feta, fresh parsley, fresh cilantro, and a homemade dressing with freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, minced garden grown garlic and mustard. 

Finally, a observation by my husband and I both - many people (friends, family, acquaintances) we know have detached themselves from us.  Not sure if it's a result of 2020, where everyone was nervous to be around anyone, or if people are choosing to be so busy they would rather keep their "circle" small or what.  Relationships are a thing of the past for so many people we know.  The best advice from an acquaintance for this concern/unsettled thinking?  Count your blessings and build from that.  Thankful for the few who want to stay connected.  Life is something to celebrate, not bury ourselves in being so busy we forget to really live our lives.  

Please pray for a friend of mine.  Marilyn.  It may be nothing, but it could be serious.  It is a heart concern, but testing is not for a week or so.

Experienced my very first professional pedicure (a gift to me).  What a treat!  

Current Crochet Charity Updates:  Baby blankets

I have been crocheting this pattern for using some of the 27 skeins of Aran colorway yarn I was gifted.  I am using scrap balls to edge them, to add color, and offer options with donated baby blankets.  It's been a very easy pattern to take "on-the-road" for any traveling. I've used this pattern before, but for headbands for winter.  

I think the baby blankets are turning out very nice for the Mom-to-Be resource facility.  I have more yarn stashed, so I am considering adding more "baby" items to this cause.  It all depends on free time.  It has been my on-the-go project, and works very well with the very easy, one-color pattern.

What is left from the two skeins of yarn it took to crochet the center part of the blanket.  It's the closest I have come to using up project yarn for one "project" and it thrills me.  I do not need more scrap balls of yarn, ha ha!  (amount above is leftover per each skein {2} of yarn in Aran colorway)

A friend who works at the pregnancy facility, and is in charge of assisting those in need, reached out to me, so it's on the hook for now, but I will resume lap afghans for senior centers/assisted facilities/single elderly living alone, after that.

I'm still looking for my pattern for one last committed crochet project in the mean time.

February has been a very cold month, with a splash of a summer teaser.  I think we are all ready to see the weather warm up for good.

Donating Baby Blankets and Random Tidbits  ©  February 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

 

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Happy Homemaker Monday {January 27, 2025}

The recent cold snap caused some businesses to deal with burst water pipes.  Some busted water lines flooded streets, and some flooded University dorm basements.

The puzzle has been an addiction.   It is 24 x 30 inches.  Huge!

Meanwhile, I'm patiently waiting for the doctors hands on diagnosis (vs. a phone call diagnosis).  I am patiently waiting for a clear-all, so I can get back to doing regular work around here, and possibly volunteer where needed (and helping my husband's cousin, read below in prayer requests).  A community member is also in need of help, and I can't commit to anything until I am cleared of all/any restrictions.  If you know how active I am, you know it's taking a great amount of patience. **see prayer request at the bottom of the post

Homemaking tip:  how to remove a sticky note stain from a kitchen counter.  Hair spray. 

My husband got a sticky note wet, and it stained my kitchen counter.  Nothing was wiping away the stain, so I tried hairspray.  Not sure if anything else will work, but I gave it a try, and it worked.

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

I will link up when she posts.

The weather in our neck of the woods . . .

17°F with a windchill of 5°F.

Things that make me happy. . .

Books that make me laugh out loud.  The main character in one of my books kept talking about her pet, so I assumed a dog.  About 80 pages into the book, she mentions carrying it in a fanny pack, and it is none other than a recuperating (hit by a car) opossum.  Ha ha ha ha!  Living in the country, this made me laugh, straight up, out loud.

Book I am reading . . .

Yes, I have two books I am reading (in addition to my other morning three small readings).  One for the treadmill for slower days, and one for other times.  Might as well take advantage of winter days.  The "treadmill" book may be the last one, as my hamstring is healing now, and thankfully recovering from my injury.

On my TV . . .

We ordered some movies from the library, so those are on the way soon.  These are movies that charge a fee on all streaming sites, but cost us zero to borrow from our local library.

On my breakfast plate . . .

Sweet potato and black bean frittata (with added greens from the freezer/thawed)

On my lunch plate . . .

Not sure yet.

On my dinner plate . . .

Roast, and vegetables.

On the menu . . .

-Roast and vegetables (crock pot)

-Stuffed bell peppers (frozen with home grown bell peppers from the garden last year)

-Creamy chicken/rice soup

-Leftovers

On the to-do list . . .

Picking 3 things on my written home update/repair list (for the week)

-bake breakfast frittata
-dishes
-any laundry
-sweep and mop floors

New recipe I tried or want to try . . .

We tried the crock pot herbed flounder (a fix-it-and-forget it recipe).  We did not really like it.  It may have been the fish itself in this case, but the flounder did not taste that good.

We also tried a creamy parmesan sausage ditalini soup (several options online), and we love it.  I added extra seasoning. 

We tried an artichoke/mushroom egg casserole for one of our breakfast meals.  Most likely will not make it again.  We both didn't like the artichoke flavor in this.  Healthy, but not tasty enough to keep the recipe.  Do you have any good artichoke recipes?  Other than for breakfast?

We also tried (yes another) new recipe for an appetizer.  To keep this post shorter, I'll post it in a Christmas countdown post (it's a keeper recipe too).

What I am creating . . .

Finished the current lap afghan.  I named it "I love you a Latte" which gave us a chuckle (looks like coffee).

You can read about my "book" blanket HERE.

A community member is seeking crocheted prayer shawls, so I am now searching for patterns.  If you have one, please share in the comments (shawls approx. 30 x 50 inches)

No words needed (favorite photo). . .

Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses . . .

Prayers for my husband's cousin Carol.  Christmas Eve she took a fall, fracturing her right elbow and left wrist, injuring her face, and was in a rehab/nursing home for 3 weeks (we just found out).  She has limitations of upper extremity movements. She is the main care taker for her sister and her sister's husband who live in an assisted living facility, but Carol takes them to appointments etc.

Prayers for those who have doctor appointments this week. Praying for good results, and praying for the hands and minds of the doctors and nurses involved.

 My husband has a regular check up this week, with routine blood work.  I do too, but mine is a combined appt with some more examinations that may be indirectly related to my fall back in December (at least fracture was ruled out). Please pray for good results for the both of us (I'm still on a "no lift restriction).  My appointment is the one that is taking me 6 weeks to get in for (God has a plan). I asked for prayers to get in earlier, but it did not happen.  Apparently, some people are having to wait 3 months to get into a specialist or even a doctor now-a-days.  It's crazy.

Happy Homemaker Monday {January 27, 2025} © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Just the Bits

 I hope the joys in your winter days are pouring in.  I got a teeny tiny sample from Eden Garden Essential oils, and it's in the diffuser today.  It's called "It Smells Amazing."  Photo to show you how tiny and cute the sample bottle is.

One day it was very dreary, but the huge slow falling snowflakes were so pretty.

Another day we started out with snow fog.  Crazy, but it was beautiful with the sunshine.  Love that sunshine.

A few bird photos I took recently.  The sun was shining just a bit too.

The snow is rolling in again, and more until Saturday.  Last I heard they predicted about another 2-3 inches for our area.  I won't complain.  It's poor man's fertilizer.  Good for the garden, because it brings nitrogen to the ground.

The weather however, is delaying our beloved Fluffy Butt Hutt (aka new chicken mansion) from progressing. Even so, the ladies are back to laying us at least one egg a day.  I have been taking scraps and treats to them, and giving them positive mojo talks (yes, I do that).  Focus is directed to other projects for the meantime.

I have gotten all of our Christmas decor put back into totes,  but a few items.  The tree star was taken down and boxed up until next Christmas.  We'll take the tree down together this weekend.  I think I will join Anne in the Kitchen with her count down to Christmas, with trying new recipes for the next winter holiday.  Maybe new gift ideas that come along to print off, and anything else.  Adult games that are not corny would be fun to research as well.  I've had a binder for such things for years, but really have not spent time with it, nor adding anything to it.

The only decoration remaining, is our evergreen door wreath.  It smells so good when I open the door to fetch the mail, that I plan to leave it up for another week or so.

I had to laugh yesterday.  My husband and I were talking about the Breakfast Chicken Sausage Patties I recently made, and he was shocked I made them from scratch.  Insert eye rolling, because he knows I cook from scratch ha ha!  They really are that good.  The sage, thyme and garlic come from the garden.

These are so good, we are considering grinding our own chicken, which means investing in a meat grinder.  I have an old hand crank one, but if you own one and have a suggestion, that would be a great place for us to start.

I think the word for this month should be "perspective" and "consistency" (possibly others).  They keep coming to me in my books, devotionals, blogs from some of you (thank you for that), and even in some TV shows lately.  Your mindset is a powerful tool in navigating life.  When I hit a bump in the road to our plans, I am getting positive reminders to not boo-hoo my day away.

We are delaying any traveling this month.  Not just due to the recent snow storms, but now I have two doctor appointments.  Ha!  Nothing like being told, "we would like to see you, to make sure you did not fracture anything" and "just to be sure" when you are starting to regain momentum with daily exercise.   In the meantime, I have new spike straps for my boots, when I go outside.  On a good note, they do the x-rays in the same building as my doctor's office, so it's much more convenient, and quicker results.  To be honest, I am not worried about having a fracture, but more worried about being able to lift a filled canning pot this summer (only me, right?)

Praying for the LA area in CA right now.  I have a cousin, her husband and their cats living in the area of these fires, and they are greatly affected by it.  Currently without power, damaged roof, dangerous to drive anywhere due the 100mph winds and so forth.  Please pray for Cindy, Chip and their cats (which are rescues that were dumped in a trash can, and very dear to them). Cats names are Ginger and Mary Ann. 

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