"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.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Random Tidbits

On Monday I totally forgot to post a Happy Homemaker post.  Sorry about that.  I had a "paperwork" day with bill paying, filing. I even filed some recipes I had out and used, filed some of the new ones, and cleaned up the "office" area a bit.

Rain arrived just as they said it would.  It will soften up the soil and make weeding the garden much easier.

Pear picking is on hold until the rain stops, but I hope we get that window of opportunity before our hard freeze arrives this weekend.  I'm collecting new pear recipes to try (like I need more).


The hens have gone from molting and laying 1 egg a day, to 4 now.  However, this little one on the left sure looks like a new layer egg, ha ha!  They are not back up to laying the amount we need on daily basis.  I'm also certain the Araucanas (blue/green eggs) are not laying at all.  Last winter they started laying again.  I guess we'll see.  I don't want to be feeding layers organic grain, and getting zero eggs either.  

I've just learned about Propolis tincture.  Bee keepers, have you made this?  And have you used the tincture, and does it have good results?  Just curious, as I would have to buy it (I can't keep bees here due to the amount of crop spraying next door).  I'm told it's great for keeping sickness away and other things.



I have a new treadmill!!! I just have to clean it up a bit more.   It's a used free one.  Not the best quality of brand, but it works.  I already put miles on it.  Hubby tightened the belt, which was slipping, and we'll have to rig up some higher handles.  They are too short for this tall gal.  Hubby should be able to figure something out for me.

The last dig of sweet potatoes weighed in at 12#. I'll have a post later with how I'll make them last all winter/spring.

The Harley is running again.  As far as Hubby can tell, it was a junk battery.  So far the new battery is charging well, so it's not the charging system.  

We tried a new recipe - Millet stuffed Peppers.  I'll post the recipe tomorrow.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Putting the Garden to Bed

It's been a long few weeks of tearing out the garden.  For me it's been a tough haul.  Due to unfortunate circumstances, I could not keep up with maintaining it this summer, so the aftermath was this:


 There are green pepper plants in that mess. (Before)



Same area (in progress)


My sad looking pea fence (before).

Done!  Still moving on through the garden.





The front of that area is where my potatoes were planted (before).

 Done!  Again...still moving on through the garden.

 The very last of the potatoes were dug up.

Larger Tomato patch all done and ready for winter.  I just have to get my pie pan and metal pole put away for next year.

Rough, tough, and difficult to totally remove before winter.  I'd like to post some pristine looking photos, but this is reality.  I can't do everything, nor can my family.  However, I am sticking to it.



"Biker Sally" is a bit slumped over after a somewhat good garden season.  She is buried in foxtail and ragweed, but with daily diligence, taking rest days, and hard work, she will be dug out and put to bed.

It is taking me a lot longer than previous years.  Achy muscles are now on rest-mode.  After noon today that is.  Rain is arriving.