Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Showing posts with label Writing updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing updates. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Teabag Tidbits

Did I ever mention, that years ago I wrote a free newsletter when I was homeschooling?  I also belonged to a writer's club.  Well, kids moved on, and we moved.  Anyway, it was one page, front and back, titled "Teabag Tidbits."  

I will have to dig one out, as I will be looking at my stories hopefully today.  I had so much fun writing the newsletter.  I would copy it and put it in libraries where they had a place to put them. 

Good Advice

It's day two of National Novel Writing Month.  Over the years I lost my mojo.  I'm digging out old stories I wrote too.  Should be interesting.  Not sure I will do it this year, but it's day 3 now.  

I loved to hand write letters too.  I used to correspond with my Aunt. We'd send a letter, sometimes a surprise box and other fun snail mail.  She passed away, I no longer had letters to send.  No fun snail mail.  No surprises for her grandkids.  

She would send me teabags.  I would send her jars of jam/jelly.  She'd send the jars back filled with goodies.  She'd mail me her hand written recipes, and I would send her something hand crocheted or other surprise.  I do miss those days a lot. 

Anyway, once in a while I will post a "Teabag Tidbits" post, with my latest teabag saying.  Today it got me thinking about my passion to write. My laptop broke down a long time ago.  I just haven't had the motivation to spend the cash for a new one, since all the kids are out of school, and we don't fight over the desktop computer.

I remember a website that was called something like "write on" and I won a contest.  I can't remember what I won, but that was fun to do too.

Today's economy is forcing so many print publications to go out of business (or go online with a fee).  I do miss my library for research, and I don't see that happening for many months to years at this point.  

Back to writing, I am looking forward to reading through some work, but it will be limited, so I can still be caught up with the house, splitting wood (parts for the chainsaw are to arrive today), and other stuff.




Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Romeo Takes a Run ~ First Submission Done ~ Tiger's High Space Won!

After Romeo just about gave me a heart attack, by getting the zoomies and zooming right out of his collar in 4 degree weather (and putting me on a chase in pajamas and a carhartt), I finished up the housework. 

So thankful for leftovers on a Monday yesterday, which left me time to write.  It was a small story, and submitted yesterday.  It's not for pay, but a byline and free copy of their publication (if published).  It's something to get me started up again.  I feel so good about writing again, but I know summer will bring a lot of work time.


I didn't get papers filed.  Tiger was not having anything to do with Romeo.  He took to my computer area and up he went.  Away from the dog, ha ha!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Winter Journaling

....from the gratitude journal 

Five things that made me happy (yesterday):

1. music, it's pretty boring without it
2. Romeo, he's such a good dog and offers his love 
3. Getting things organized.  Makes me feel awesome.
4. Leftovers - soup beans were so good and I didn't have to cook, so I got a bit more done
5. Slippers.  They keep my tootsies warm while indoors.



....from the wine tasting journal 
Tried a new Pinot.  Expensive, but not that great as far as taste.  I use wine label removers to remove the label and then it goes in my wine tasting journal.




.....from the inspirational quote journal

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
― Maya Angelou




Nothing has gone into my "book reading journal" just yet.  I need to finish that book first.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Just Can't Make it Up

Everything that could go wrong in the last 24 hours has.  I just can't make this stuff up, and I won't dump it on all of you with boredom.  It more likely would make your jaw drop.

I put on my big girl panties and only concentrated on what I could, which wasn't a lot.   Due to Hubby's schedule and major overtime, he has not yet repaired the truck ignition.  We can jump it, but you can't shut it off until you are back home, so a trip to town was not possible, and putting a call out to the kids failed with kid #1, sent a text to #2 - hooray!  A ride.

At this point, I'm thinking I need to go to school to learn about auto mechanics.

On top of that Tiger is now throwing up all over because he keeps eating Aurora's food and I have no way to separate them in the house.  I cannot, I repeat cannot wait for warmer temps to put Aurora back outside.

The one thing I could do, was put new ink in the printer and print my seed list.  

On top of all of that (leaving out all the bad stuff), I have to watch for the mail and it varies.  We may have a mail thief.  Just by chance I caught someone at the mailbox as I went out to get wood.  He left quickly and of course I did not have my phone to get a photo of the plates.  Thankfully, my mail lady put some recent packages in the inside of the truck the other day.  It's good to have people looking out for your deliveries anymore.  I am home 24 hours/day, but it's winter and like I said, delivery varies.  And I may not her her honk when she has a package that won't fit inside the mailbox.

I'm saving all the "bad" stuff for my book.  I was writing again yesterday.  I have a cousin in CA, that has connections, so I am hoping she knows someone with a publisher/editor that would look at it down the road.  I'm seriously jumping in on this.  I have some other ideas brewing as well.  Please cheer me on, because the way I see it, you can't succeed without trying.

Friday, February 1, 2019

Better Prep ~ Writing Muse ~ Jesse

Hubby couldn't find his thick socks when the cold arrived, so I loaned him my thermal thick socks.  Later I found another pair - note to self - buy a few more pairs for next winter.  I also ground the coffee beans in advance, just in case the power went off.  

Something else I did - filled every bucket and pot with water just in case.  That way I can also hand wash Hubby's long underwear and socks for work - note to self - buy extra pairs of long underwear for the both of us.

We are running electric heat, along with the wood stove to prevent frozen pipes.  If we stay here, we'll be looking into alternatives to electric heat.  I'm not looking forward to getting the electric bill.





Recent breakfast (chocolate chip buttermilk waffles with real butter and real maple syrup, and organic bacon), but lacking eggs and potatoes.  I am conserving those ingredients for other meals during this cold blast, and saving the bacon grease for one of them.


While making breakfast, I suddenly got a surge of inspiration to write again (hasn't happened in a long, long time).  I literally dusted off my dinosaur of a laptop and tapped away.  boy it felt good.  The laptop is missing buttons and the one to open it is broken in half, but she works. and I know there is a book inside of my brain somewhere.  Not sure if the cold weather forcing me to stay in was my muse, or just knowing I can't go anywhere and I can really relax was.  I am grateful it returned.  



I spent most of my day curled up watching TV, crocheting, layered in two pairs of flannel PJ's.

I watched so many cooking shows, I hopped out of bed from my comfy zone and heated up the kitchen by baking coffee cake.  That was before we put a drizzle of whiskey butterscotch sauce on it.

I had heard that the USPS halted service, but not to our area code.  I had to layer up just to fetch it so the wind didn't blow it away.  I feel awful for the USPS people who have to work in this weather.  I can do without my mail for a few days.  And by the way, the only thing in my mailbox was a magazine.  All those layers for a magazine.  Sigh.

The most frustrating part of this weather is not so much dripping the faucets, it's taking the dog outside.  I don't know how any of you do this in colder temps.  It takes me so long to get Jesse's booties on, sweater, coat and scarf.  Without the booties, he'd get frostbite.  I keep praying they stay on until he's ready to come in, and so far so good, and thankful I have the booties.  They have rubber bottoms, so they are completely waterproof, but he slides all around on the ice.  Poor guy.
Friday we woke up to a windchill of -20 (temp -8) degrees.  We were lucky on Wednesday to only reach -28°F, considering predictions of possible -50°.  Windchill Thursday was -27°F. 

School is delayed today, as of now.  We are getting a bit of snow now.  Rain later in the week.  

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Arctic Blast Moves In ~ Crochet/Knit bucket list

The news continues to warn us that if we are outside longer than 10 minutes, uncovered skin can get frost bite.  I'm not sure I can get to the barn, take care of the chickens and get back inside in 10 minutes.  I guess we'll be finding out.  My eyeballs are gonna hurt.

Of course the Mom in me, took to calling some of the kids to be prepared for frozen pipes.  The apartment complex that two live in, has this problem.


Barn kitty Aurora hanging out on the sofa with Jesse.  They all get along, even with Tiger.  

To keep warm, I am cleaning and tidying and just organizing where it's needed.  The movement will help warm this gal.

On the hooks:
...and getting marked off my "bucket list" for crochet/knit projects.  I am finally, finally getting these cup coasters off my list.  I think they are gorgeous, and can't wait to get them all made.  I've had this pattern on my list for a few years now, and this winter weather finally gave me the chance.  There is hope for more on the list.

There have been some positive vibes from this cold weather:

1. getting more inside work done
2. getting more crochet/knit items done
3. getting more time to write and read

Oddly school is not even delayed, however Michigan has declared a sate of emergency for tomorrow.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Teabag Tidbits


I have been drinking organic, store bought dandelion root tea.  I have depleted my homegrown stash of dehydrated root.  I love the little tags that come on them.  So inspiring.


I finished another scarf order last night, and have one left to do.  Then it's onto making new stuff to add to the inventory, plus one daughter's requested scarf.

Friday, November 3, 2017

November Writing Month ~ Pear Butter with Sherry


NaNoWriMo 2017 Participant Flair

November 1st sparked the start of National Novel Writing Month, and I am back to it this year.  Last year I didn't get to participate, but this year I am fired up. 

Of course it helps to know that I need to submit a contest short story piece, but that will only entail 8,000 words.  NaNoWriMo requires 50,000 words in 30 days.

Baking continues . . . 




English muffins for some breakfast sandwiches.  A sausage/potato/kale frittata as well.

All of my regular chores are still in action too, so I'm hoping to keep a balance somehow.   And of course our Staywell health insurance program has a bonus day on Nov.1st to obtain 15,000 steps (to earn 50 points).  So exercise was not left out either.

Garden work continues, although cold.  I'm yanking green bean plants, weeds, and a few last tomato plants/stakes.  If there is a will, there is a way. . . and I call it quits when I can't feel my fingers any more.  The days are getting colder. 

Although rain arrived again, so that put a delay on it (again).  But the rain brought us a 64°F day too (smiling).  The wind was wicked, so I hope it dried up the garden.  It was pretty wet out there yesterday.  It's very dark out still, so I can't see yet if what I heard at midnight was rain or not.

Speaking of green beans.  I left some pods on the table before taking Youngest Daughter to the doctor the other day.  Even though the older daughter was here, the dogs got into those beans.  I found chewed up seeds at the doorway.  I picked them up and reached my hand out to see who was the culprit.  Zuri licked my hand, and King went around the table and hid behind Zuri.  Hm.  I pretty sure King swiped my seeds.  

When we picked the pears, I placed a few into a brown paper bag to speed up the ripening time.  Pears ripen after they are picked, so every one we picked directly from the tree was rock hard.  Those from the ground were halfway ripe.
  

Pear butter was made.  Although I love the pear butter with star anise, I made a new recipe this time. Because I have sherry to use up.

The chickens loved their sweet treat of peelings too.



3 lbs. pears, peeled, diced
1 cup dry sherry
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Place all ingredients, but the cinnamon, in large pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat 1 hour or until liquid evaporates.  Find something to do near the kitchen - deep clean a drawer, wash a window, as for me?  I wrote. I put towels on the line, I made herbal tea for my sick daughter, and made myself lunch.


Process in a food processor until smooth.  Stir in cinnamon.  Don't forget the cinnamon.  I did, ha ha!  Darn multi-tasking failure!  I had to stir it in after I had the jars filled.


I'm not sure if you can freeze this.  Does anyone know?  I know you can make it with pectin and freeze it. Hm.  I put mine in the fridge to enjoy right now.

I love my homemade calendula cream.  It's a nice spreadable lotion that soaks in after a minute or so. Probably the best combination of ingredients I've tried for a lotion.  I'm using it on my varicose veins too, as winter is arriving and my legs are getting dry skin. The site has a ton of adds, but if you want the recipe it is online with Natural Living Ideas.  It's basically made with calendula infused oil, beeswax, water, and essential oil.  I purchased a hand blender just for making these lotions too.  I have labeled the box it's stored in, so no one uses it with a food recipe.  I have another one I have stored that I use only for soap making too (with lye).  Just some info.

I love the make up remover wipes I made.  They work great, but you have to use a cleanser afterwards, or a bar of goat's milk soap (thankful to still have some). 

I have to buy more vitamin E oil now, as my bottle is down to the bottom.  Does anyone have a resource to purchase it (a good quality of oil)?  This last bottle came from Mountain Rose Herbs, and was rather expensive.

Have a good weekend.


Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Beets, Housework, Preparing for Winter, and Handiwork


While beets boiled in their skins, I read a short story in a magazine to get an idea of what is expected of submissions.  


And laundry was washed and put out on the line.  

Bathrooms were scrubbed by help from the kids, and floors cleaned.  By the way, my Grad Daughter has now been taught to boil potatoes and eggs both.  I hope she keeps up on her learning skills.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Random Tidbits

The weather is turning a bit cooler today, so I as up early to make sure the fire was going (or started).  We had some lovely sunshine yesterday, and I found excuses to go outside - dump the egg shells, walk the dogs, feed the barn animals, let the goats out, get the mail.  It was so nice to see the sun for a while.

Hubby and I got a laugh out of this.  It's a writing magazine that I found, opened to this page, stuffed in the desk I am cleaning out.  Ha ha!  Oh the laugh we got.  So fitting for the cleaning I am doing.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

It's all good!

The "mason jar" challenge:


I have a cousin, who lives in CA, who has been in TV commercials and even been included as a character in her friend's published novel.  She is now a life coach.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

On the home front....

Although I don't have a photo of the soup, we recently enjoyed some crusty baked bread with some homemade potato leek soup.  Our leeks did not do well, but we found an organic source this fall. Leeks provide cardiovascular support, and we love the soup.   Homemade bread baking has resumed.


Two chairs now have a fresh coat of paint on them.  One more job off the to-do list.  Although, the wicker sofa remains to be painted.  We had a few days in the lower 70's.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Random Tidbits

Today's weather is not as cold as yesterday.  I'm going to put a few folding lawn chairs back on the front porch.  I hear Thanksgiving day will be warm enough to sit there and relax a bit.

Hubby plans on working all day Thanksgiving day.  Not at his full-time job, but here.  We have a lot of brush to take care of yet.  Most likely I'll be working in the kitchen in outdoor work clothes, joining him when I can as well.  

I'm typing like a mad woman, to get caught back up with National Novel Writing Month.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Testing the new... Tidbits


I filled my new dehydrator with organic dandelion greens.  I still want to put more in the freezer, but I will be utilizing the dried greens too.  They dried faster than in the old dehydrator too.

The dried greens will be used for dog food, to make tea, to add to any dish we eat, to make dandelion vinegar, and other herbal mixtures.  I won't have to buy dandelion tea any more now.  Oh, I can use the dandelion for poultices too.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Dandelion Greens for Dogs ~ Crocheted Cowls ~ Writing Update

I picked up more dandelion greens on my trip to town delivering meals to Dad.  With my dehydrator due to arrive any day now, I plan to dehydrate some for Jesse.  The one dog remaining from the original pack of ours.

He has tumors, and some were removed, but are growing back.  They are "fatty" tumors, but with that in mind, I'm drying dandelion, to sprinkle over his food (1 tsp. per every 20 lbs. of weight).  

His dog treats are made with kale, so he's getting more vitamins and nutrients that way as well.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Wine Journal ~ Journal Junkie

This journal junkie has yet another journal to share.  I had to blow the dust off of this one.  I had so much trouble removing wine labels that I put this journal away for years.

I was talking to my sister-in-law, and found out she has one, and has these nifty label removers.  I went in search for some, and gave them a whirl.

Friday, July 31, 2015

Catching Up ~ Embroidery ~ The Write Time ~ Random Tidbits

In case inquiring minds want to know...

I think I finally caught up on the laundry.  I may have one load yet to finish today.  During my next trip however, whoever is home will get laundry chores.

Yesterday, I had to make a mad dash to the rain barrel to try and save my flowers and herbs.  The younger two did not do their chores as asked, and my porch pots are either dead, dying or look terrible.  They just about let my organic herbs die too.  I desperately worked away, watering and removing dead leaves. 

I just realized that my water trough flower bed of sunflower seeds, has no sunflowers this year.  Those must of died in the masses of rain too.
 

I had picked up some more green beans on the recent road trip, and blanched and froze those (adding 5 more quart bags to the freezer).  I do need more. 

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Typewriter Tidbits

While the snow came down yesterday, I put my crocheting down to log in some writing hours.

I managed to send off my contest entry, revise one short article, and brain storm for three or four more new ones.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

New Foods ~ Tidbits

(organic tofu soaking in organic vegetable broth)

Over the years, I've kept track of new foods we've tried.  It looks like the only thing I journaled for 2014, was millet.  I'm sure there were a few other new foods.
Our vegetarian daughter, asked for us to buy tofu for her.  I've never tried it, so we bought organic tofu when it went on sale.