Pioneer Woman at Heart

You know that poem about "if you give a Mom a muffin" and how she gets side tracked?  Well, after I did my morning routine exercise, I headed out to see what needed harvested.  The zucchini looks pretty bad, and I have ants chewing away on them now.  Cucumbers look oh-so, not good either (sad about that), and only one yellow squash to bring in.   One daughter reminded me upon entering the kitchen, that I bought organic cream cheese to make a cracker dip we like.  So, I returned to the herb garden, where I could not even see the green onion I needed.  I'm not sure if passing cars saw me throw my hands in the air and started talking to myself...."where do I start?" Everything was a muddy mess from the rain, and it was hot and humid.  Very humid.   I ended up pulling all the "tall" stuff out.  Then I couldn't stand it, and went around and got more weeds pulled, but had to fight off an onslaught of sweat bees.  Even my ...

This was my first time to actually use comfrey for anything.  You could call this a "pile to file" recipe too.  The first time I planted it (live plant vs. seed), it died.  This year I planted organic/non-gmo seeds and was successful.  This year however, I am making comfrey poultices to put in my freezer. First, I grind the leaves in my food processor (worked better than my blender) with a touch of water.  Most recipes I found said to add flour to make the "paste."  I also read that chia seeds works well too.

Can you tell today is the first day of school for the younger two? Ha ha!   I lost my #3 steel crochet hook.  I have doubles of almost every crochet hook there is, but not my #3.  It was time to go back into the closet to clean and sort.  I had to keep myself busy yesterday, as I waited

The family gathering went well on Saturday, although we could have had better weather.  It was a bit humid.  I sent each family home with a bottle of organic blood orange Italian soda.   Sunday, I never got the chance to even lift one of my library books.

Monday was a day about everyone else.  You know those days where everyone has needs, and your the one required by your title as Mom to see to the needs?   I did not even get out of the shower before one of the kids called.  She forgot her "gym clothes."  

 (very early this morning) If you are wondering.   I did not get my wish for school to be closed.  Mom always said, "If wishes where horses, then beggars would ride."

It rained all day yesterday, but thanks to my multitasking mania mode, I got the dogs walked, all of the remaining pepper plants pulled from the garden, stove ashes dumped, eggs collected, goat's water checked....all before it started raining.  A good warm breakfast was much enjoyed after that. Nothing new right?  I was very satisfied with the morning progress, but rain makes me lazy.  I tend to gravitate towards a sofa, blanket and a book (or some sort of handiwork).  

(Elderberry Oxymel and club soda) I had no idea these even existed, and read about them at Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth .  They mention more information is at Mountain Rose Herbs (where I do buy my elderberries when they are in stock).  If you get a chance, go to their site and read about it.  It's basically a fancy name for a honey/vinegar mixture to help herbs taste better going down (and healthy).  I know honey makes mullein tea taste much better, but anyway.....

This morning's sunrise was nice and bright.  No fog today.  I woke up with no energy.  How is that possible?  A good night's sleep, and I just want to go back to bed.  But I can't. Work must be done. 

I'm up before the sun is again.  The weather is to be in the upper 80's, but it said to feel like 90's.  I need to water flowers before I start canning today. I spent part of the day yesterday on the phone, making appointments. 

The mullein leaves I ordered have arrived.  I mixed up a tea with dried spearmint leaves and a bit of honey.    I downed a cup immediately after it arrived yesterday.  Not too bad either. Once I have a few more days of the tea, I'll let you know if it worked.   Also, the tea was shipped in a clear plastic zip bag, so now I am on the hunt for tins or amber glass containers to store it in.

May is the month that Hubby and I both celebrate our birthdays - "the Good."  I have no idea what I will do for Hubby yet.   It's the month I get to start planting flowers and the vegetable garden. Although I can start planting peas (which are already late), I cannot plant my flowers until after Mother's Day.  Even so, I may wait just a bit later.  Last year we got a second frost, and lost much from garden(s).

(the building of her oven) Our 12 year-old is participating in a second science fair (in two years).   This time, she chose to make a model (they have to pick specific categories, and they cannot repeat the same category from the previous science fair).  Her model?  A solar cooker.  Okay, I admit, her choice made me smile.  I can dig a solar oven. 

Have you heard of the "ALICE" program yet?  If you have kids in public school, chances are, you may have. A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for,  Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Escape - Active Shooter Response Team. For weeks now, two of our girls have been chatting about it, day after day.  It's beginning to become ingrained in our brains here at Rooster's Crow Farm.  It's a program that teaches "young people" to fight back and not sit and "take it" if a shooter would come into the school.  They have been, as a class (and most of the school from what I am listening too), discussing what they could use as weapons, or do to fight back.  Quite honestly,  I can't wonder if this was created to keep school's from putting guns in our teachers hands.  Anyway.... You know it has been ingrained into your brain, when you go to bed in your camper, and prior to that, you look around and say to yourself "what can I use for a weapon if...

These plastic hangers are typically found on packages of socks, kitchen towels, and other linens.   I've been saving them in a recycled glass jar, and keeping them with my craft supplies.  I finally found a way to reuse them.

Remember my van?  It's been in parking mode since last February, getting many repairs including new head gaskets (second time).  Well, it's still sitting in the driveway.  It needs a computer now. Hubby says it needs this other part before I can drive it. Today, my son's car needs the repair job.  Thankfully, he can drive the ol' farm truck to work.  Part of the hardware that holds up the gas tank basically disintegrated on his car.  Yikes!   The trouble with self repairs, is finding the time to get the job done.  However, I'd rather buy a part (and wait patiently) than spend $800.00 of my husband's (and mine) hard earned income to pay for repairs.  I'd rather take another getaway instead.  Sounds selfish, but really it's not selfish.  We both deserve it. Frustration with Public School For the second year in a row, the 8th grade class is sending kids off on a Washington, D.C. trip.  The cost?  $600.00 per k...

After going through some of the photos my son took for a school assignment, I found this one. He has taken some very nice scenery photos. Isn't it peaceful? I love the ripple in the creek too.

Today I am sneaking a snack size bag of Good & Plenty into a few of my kid's lunches. Unfortunately, I didn't get them into two of them, so tomorrow I will try again. With a short note (because they always hate Monday's), I included a small pack of candy. I hope it makes their day better.

I found the most interesting regarding teaching kids geography! It's called "The Everything Kids' Geography Book" . I wish I had this book when I was a kid. The authors combined so many other areas of learning with learning geography . One of the kids may find a copy of it in under the Christmas tree this winter. If you can get a copy at your library, take a look at it. It really is a good teaching tool for kids, and the authors make it fun!

Well, it's come to the point where we are needing to make a decision. One or both of the kittens killed the goldfish last night, one messed on the floor, and both of them destroyed my room last night. Evidently they think it's the main playground for their rambunctious lives. I know they would both be good mousers, even though they are males. The seek to destroy. The girls are already outside giving poor "Caspian" a proper funeral. Cat claw marks are evident on the poor little guys sides. Today I have the joy of paying $105.00 in school fees for 3 kids. Plus, I get the joy of paying a student fee for my son, who does not even attend the school. He's bussed to a career center school, but because we are in this school's district, I am required to pay a $7.00 student fee and a $1.00 guidance fee. Evidently, some of it goes to pay for the prom. I had no idea that, we the parents, are paying for that. The kids have now managed to destroy the PS3. It...