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

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.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Peace and Serenity

There is nothing more peaceful, at least for a mother of a large family, to be able to sit and relax knowing that her work is done.  Or the the most part, know that there are no other "projects" to be finished, and no piles of clutter that need attending.

My goal is to declutter the clutter, no matter what or where it's at, one day at a time.


Current (and ongoing) project:  Recipe Organization
Each "work" day, I take the time to copy, or cut and paste, at least 5 recipes.  I have a bad habit of printing of or making a copy of a recipe, then clipping it to my fridge magnet.  It got so heavy, it fell off (sigh).  


Step two to this project, is to take the recipe titles and record them on a word document, so that I can simply access it for dinner/meal ideas when planning my meals.  It's hard to remember every good recipe we use or try.

Current Bible Verse:
Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

I have a bad habit of borrowing worry.  Yep.  I do it then beat myself up for stressing myself out.

The vet was here yesterday, and after he spoke to us about our billy goat's horn situation, I did it again.  I worried.  Worried all night, and worried this morning.  

I know that we are doing what we can, but yet I still let myself worry.  You see, his horn is almost touching his head (and had I been told this by our last vet I would have de-horned him at that exact moment in his life...) and the vet cannot cut anymore off.  The only option now is to watch it and wait.  If it continues to grow, we are looking at the possibility of driving him several hours away, and having him dehorned surgically.  His horn span is large and there are many risks.  Cost for surgery is also an issue.  Again...worry.

Worry brings anger and a whole kaboodble of other emotions....."why didn't that lady tell us"  "why didn't someone suggest this earlier" .....why, why, why?

Today, I am reading and praying, and putting my trust in the Lord.

"Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm."


~ Anon.


 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Making Jelly

I've started making more jellies earlier this season.  I'll be ready for when the wild black raspberries and Queen Anne's Lace are in season now.

The organic section at my store had organic juice on sale for buy one-get one free.  I got a few and got busy canning.
Apricot Nectar and Tart Cherry Jelly
 
More Dandelion Jelly
 
 Grape Jelly
 
 Orange-Mango Jelly
 
....and this is only the beginning.