April Begins

 We ended March with a high 77°F with an evening of thunderstorms.  We started April with temperatures in the low 30's, with a lot more rain.

I've started my infused oil with horsetail.  I'm reading through my herbal books, watching Youtube videos and the like.  It's an herb/weed new to use.   I did not buy my horsetail online.  I purchased at an herbal health store.  However, the one store nearest us, does not carry it, and another apothecary does not grow it or carry it (40 minute drive). 

We are very limited to access to stores or apothecaries with medicinal herbs, tea herbs, and the like.  It's frustrating, but in some cases, forces me to simply grow some of them myself.  It is depressing to not have any like-minded folks in our lives.  Most people we talk to about it, just laugh and act like it's all a waste of time or a joke.

Speaking of Youtube, I'm watching several videos on spring wild violets right now (tinctures, teas, lemonades, and so forth).  I'm watching them in between moments of sit time or coffee time.  I did learn something about which type of alcohol to make a tincture with one specific wild plant.

By the way, I used my homemade goldenrod tincture 3 days in a row recently, due to bad sinus pressure.  It worked great to drain the sinuses and the pressure.  I also used my mullein tincture once).  My research, by reading books borrowed from the library, and books I own, state that goldenrod is great for treating sinus infections (or sinus issues).  

Ended March with harvesting more green onions in the herb garden.   It feels so good to get outside and do this again, especially after a very, very long winter.

  

Baking and cooking from scratch, as well as the dish washing, drying and putting away take a good chunk of my daily time.  I am still using up the blueberries we froze last summer (Einkorn flour pancakes - upper photo), and I mixed another batch of black bean and corn "salsa" for any meal or in between meals.  I like to have a healthy go-to light meal on hand each week.  Or for those moments of needed a quick snack to eat before a hike/walk or when needed..

Our daffodils are mostly up now, and the hyacinths are right behind.  Not the best photo, but it was raining out and dark.  It's so nice to see the flowers in bloom again.

Speaking of spring colors, I have one more lap afghan on the hooks in the colorway of purples and white.  I'll try and get a photo for you.  It will be the last blanket of the season, of this size.  It's been a very slow going crochet project, with spring weather here now (spending much more time out of the house).

Before the rain, we hiked a new-to-us trail, and we loved it. A little background info on these hikes/walks.  It's all part of my physical therapy, and also for my husband's.  We don't have the liberty to walk on the road where we live, so as a bonus, we get to travel for our walks, and locate new and more interesting places. 

One of our area libraries started a seed library.  It's not the first one to come across, but it is nice to see more libraries offering this to patrons.  I have not visited this one yet, so I do not know if they are organic/heirloom varieties of seeds.

April Begins  ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Spring Blooms

 

Our weather continues to go up and down, but the spring flowers are either blooming or about to bloom.  The herb garden is waking up from it's winter slumber.  Although we had a 73 degree day early this week, it went quickly back to 36°F and very windy.  I am sure my blooms are struggling with  29°F weather.

Daffodils with orange centers.

And for a bit of foraging . . .

Purple dead nettle.

Wild violets.  Dandelions are coming up too.

Spring Blooms  ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Spring Flowers

 

(wild violets)

The flower beds are full of spring blooms, but boy are they full of chickweed and other weeds.  I took these photos over two weeks ago, and forgot about them.  Other than tulip photos.

 We did not mulch them last year for some reason, and we will be this year.  It will be hit or miss, as the rain comes and goes, and everything continues to remain wet around here.  I do have plans to add some new spring colors for next year.  The only reason I have very little tulips, is due to moles.  The new windmill is going up soon, and hopefully we can fall plant some more tulips next fall.

Many, years ago, I was out weeding the flower beds, and a van pulled into the drive.  The older gentleman opened his window, and said not to mind them, as his wife loves to drive thru and see the flowers in the flower beds. He said it made her happy.  It was a couple that lives down the road from us.  That was a feel good moment.  

We woke up to rain again.  I mean, it's great for all the spring herbs/veggies and flowers, but it's very wet out there.

Spring Flowers © April 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday

March rolled in quicker than expected.  It brought rain, cloudy skies, followed by some warmer weather.  The tree buds are already over winter.

Our green onions are starting to produce new growth with all the recent rain, and the sight is welcoming.

The weather was nice enough to grill out for dinner.  

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

The weather . . .

Well, they say it will be a high of 74°F and sunny today, then we cool back down the rest of the week.

Right now I am . . .

Brewing coffee late, and posting this blog post.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Wondering if we are getting thunderstorms today.  

How I am feeling . . .

Good!

On the breakfast plate . . .

I'm thinking I'll make a ham and cheese crust-less quiche, to use ham we froze, and some garden zucchini we froze as well. I'll toss in some of those frozen garden green peppers too.

On the lunch menu . . .

Not sure yet.

On the dinner menu . . .

Not sure yet.

On the menu . . . 

(concentrating on what's in the freezer/pantry this week)

-homemade meatballs in home canned tomato sauce (with dollops of ricotta), over frozen and thawed garden spaghetti squash, and roasted frozen garden green beans

-Italian sausage pasta dish (with green lentil pasta), with added frozen asparagus and frozen garden bell peppers, roasted rutabaga

-chicken salad (chicken from the freezer) for lunches, made with home canned sweet pickle and hot pepper relishes

-strawberry bread, using frozen strawberries from last summer

On my reading pile . . .

On my TV . . .

Willie Nelson Movies - Red Headed Stranger

Looking around the house . . .

We got one coat of paint on the interior hallway garage and entry doors done.  They'll need a second coat.

On the to-do list . . .

-clean microwave
-dishes
-muck coop

-library returns

From the camera . . .

What I am crocheting . . .

I forgot to get photos.  Will get an update in another blogpost soon.

Devotional, Bible Verses, Prayers . . .

If you sent up prayers for our youngest daughter, she is feeling much better and back to work.  Thank you!

Happy Homemaker Monday  ~ Update  © Mar 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Einkorn Waffles ~ Purge/Extreme Clean Update ~ Spring Flowers

 

There is so much going on here right now.  Crazy busy with purging and re-organizing a lot of "stuff" in our closet.  I decided to take a slower morning, and tried Jovial's Einkorn (recipe is on their website) waffle recipe that uses yogurt in the recipe.  I had to use more dishes than I would like in the morning, but they were good.  They turned out nice and fluffy, but need cooked about 1 minute longer than traditional recipes (or they will be doughy in the center).  Delicious!

We are going through every single tote that was in the closet.  Together we emptied 5 totes (so far).  I am washing them out and putting them aside for now (I may be able to use some for yarn).  We will not get rid of them for sure.  They are too expensive to buy right now (like about everything else).

We are once again having wonderful weather, and the spring flowers are blooming on the homestead.

Update on the chickens and barley grass.  They don't seem interested in it.  They like the lentil sprouts the best, but all chickens are different.