"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.

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Welcome May! What's Growing?

 

We a getting more asparagus thankfully, but I need to (again) plant more this year.  We are also getting rhubarb from the garden.  Yum!  



The lilac bush is blooming, and it smells wonderful when I am outside.  You can even smell it clear on the front porch.   I"m so glad the pine tree did not ruin the bush.  It did some damage, but I think it's recovering.  It just doesn't have as many blooms, but boy it smells divine.


Herbs in the herb garden.  Just ignore the weeds for now.  I hope to be back to that job sooner than later.

Green Onions

Sage

Thyme

Oregano

Chives

Lemon balm

Peppermint

My bleeding heart is blooming.  Terrible photo.  It was very windy when I took the photo.


I have so many volunteer chives just about in every crack and nook around the herb garden this year.


Yarrow


What is this?  Wild garlic?  Wild onion?  They are growing up singular, and all over my flower beds this spring.  I can't even tell from smelling the bulb, and cutting a bulb to smell.  These are tall, but the bulb is small.


They do not look like green onions or chives, so I'm stumped.  



Meanwhile.....




The rosebed with hostas from h-e-double hockey sticks.  If I wanted to harvest clevers, this would be a great time for that ha ha ha!  I see a mullein plant in there too.  I see several days of weeding this one too.  I don't think I could pay someone to weed for me ha ha!

I have a few spring perennials coming up, but have not bloomed yet too.  It's not quite time to plant any annual flowers, herbs or plants/seeds in the vegetable garden just yet.  I am pretty sure we are not planting any peas, considering I can't get out there to put up my pea fence right now.

Welcome May!  What's Growing?  © May 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Port Wine Jelly

Sharing another blog draft.  I guess I had plans to make another batch of this jelly, but never did.  I used to make it for gifting family and friends.  The first time making this jelly, was back in August of 2013.  There used to be a link to a free online recipe for this, and since then, the link no longer works.

It's actually called Balsamic Vinegar-Ruby Port Jelly, from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications (2013).

I did not do a lot of searching online, but I did see this magazine for sale on ebay and other locations, including an ebook option.  


The same magazine also contains a recipe for strawberry margarita jam, that is so good!  It's not reduced sugar, but it is also great for gifting (or for yourself).

It is a magazine, but I cannot remember where I picked it up either.  If you search on Bing for the jelly recipe it comes up, but not on Google Chrome (as of this post anyway).




The jelly is great for snacking, as in an appetizer with cream cheese and crackers, but it is not good at all for a PB and J sandwich.

If you are looking for a different jelly to gift, or take along to gatherings for an appetizer, this is a good one.  Also,  I originally canned this in half pint jars, but for gifting, I would use the 4 oz. canning jars.