"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.

Monday, December 2, 2024

We Skipped Thanksgiving

 

Instead of the traditional frenzy and hustle of baking, cooking and washing a ton of dirty dishes (and house cleaning), we took off this past holiday, and enjoyed it on a larger scale of relaxation.

Our adult kids do not cook.  They rely (and expect me) to do all of the cleaning, hosting, cooking and baking.  One year one kiddo brought the ham, and one brought a fruit dip.  My fruits of my labor walk out the door at the end of the traditional big meal as well (pratically zero leftovers for us).  I get tired of the lack of help, and needed a break.  Cooking/baking from scratch is work, and does have it's limits.

Thankfully, my husband was on board with me, and we instead, relaxed in the midst of a cabin in the high wooded hills.  The best part?  A hot tub.  The snow arrived, and it was  a cozy retreat.

We have discovered new places to hike, and new adventures with nature in the future.  We did not miss the traditional holiday feasting one iota.  All of the kids had their own meals with other family, so they did not lack a large meal.

Reality is back in full swing on the homestead.   Coffee is brewing.  The sun is rising, and we are looking at finishing another home project, with another one moving up on the list.

The Christmas tree has yet to be put up, but it's on the list in the next week or so. Although our retreat put us behind on the chicken run build, the weather here was way too cold anyway.

Two solar chargeable light bulbs have arrived, and I will be testing them to make sure they work.  If these work out (for the new coop), we may invest in a few for power outage use as well.

December is here already, and it brings new adventures.  

We Skipped Thanksgiving  © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Thursday, November 28, 2024

A day of making . . .face cream and yarrow salve

 

How each container looks before I mix the "water" solution into the oil mixture.  I use a hand held immersion blender (specifically for non-food mixing).

I use Rosemary Gladstar's recipe for this, using grapeseed oil/apricot oil and shea butter (vs. cocoa butter or coconut oil).  The recipe is now online (video with Mother Earth News, as whipped face cream) as well as in her book.



New to the medicine stash - yarrow salve.  I've already used it for a scraped up arm.  Works great to stop bleeding, but has other uses.  You can find free recipes online for different amounts, and you can add essential oils in the end if you'd like to.  It's a basic melt down and pour type making, and very easy to make (you'll need to infuse an oil with the yarrow first).

Both are very easy to make. I do have utensils that I only use for making homemade items such as these, and the face cream requires a blender or hand held immersion blender (which is what I use for an easier clean up).  I do need to visit a thrift store, for a spatula for the face cream however.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A day of making . . . face cream and yarrow salve  © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart