"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, March 6, 2025

Mud Season

 March is what we call our "mud" season.  Everything is thawing, or there is rain and flooding, and sometimes a snow shower in the mix.  Mud.  We get lots and lots of of a muddy mess, which prevents any or all outdoor work or play (unless we find paved hiking/walking trails).

Mud season can feel unending and arduous, but also inspiring as the warmer/sunny weather arrives.

Monday - 13°F windchill in the morning

(I attempted to sit in the sunshine for a hot minute, and the clouds moved in of course)


Tuesday - 36°F windwill in the am.  High for the day was 60°F (insert smiling face), but we had am rain.

Wednesday - 53°F (windchill of 48°F), rain

Today?  - 37°F Snow!  


Nothing new going on.  We are patiently waiting for spring to stay put.  If you remember, we were trying to get an online appointment for new tires last weekend?

Well, my husband actually got an appointment made over the phone, and drove there after work to the said appointment.  When he got there, the employee told him he could not and would not put new tires on the vehicle, that we had an appointment for.

After much discussion, my frustrated husband got him to do the job.  The employee literally told my husband that whoever was on the phone that day, should have never agreed to the work to be done.  Needless to say, my husband drove home with new tires.


On the home front . . .

I got two more wire shelves purged, lined, and re-organized.  I cut more pool noodle pieces to place inside my tall boots (it's a cheap way to keep them upright and looking nice).  I have yet to find tall enough storage bags for a few pairs of tall dress/casual boots (that do not have boxes).

I got the one corner kitchen cupboard cleaned, lined and re-organized.

The donation box is filling up much, much slower now, which means I'm much closer to being 100% organized (in the house anyway, the garage is another story).



What's Cooking?

I finally got around to making kimchi for us.  I have no experience with this, and no advice, so I used a recipe from a book I own.  I'll let you know if we like it or not.



Outdoor fun . . .

Despite rain here again, I managed to find a window of time to roll out the coop cleaning tools and muck the stinky winter chicken coop.  The ladies are in pure heaven again, and I got outside.


R & R time . . .

Current book.  I bought this book almost 2 years ago, at an antique store, and while on a weekend getaway.  It is starting out rather mundane and slow.  I sure hope it gets better.  I had shoved it into a living room end table drawer, and completely forgot about it.  I guess I had high ambitions to sit in the living room and read maybe?  Either way, it's on top of the stack right now.


Current progress on the "blind" date with a puzzle.  It's been a doozy of a puzzle.  Pieces are not uniform, It's hard to find the edge pieces, and there are too many of the same color in much of the puzzle.  It's been a challenge, and may be the last puzzle of the "winter" season for us.  My husband, who insisted we buy the "blind" 1000 piece puzzle date, has been of very little help with it too.

Mud Season  ©  March 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Monday, March 3, 2025

Happy Homemaker Monday {March 3, 2025}

 

I inquired about rental space in a store that sells locally make crafts (about a 35 minute drive or more).  There is a wait list, the rental space charge is a whopping $6 per square foot, and a 20% payment to the owners on any of your sales.  Sigh.  I have given up on that route.  Unless I be-friend an owner and strike a deal, it is impossible to continue to make and sell in rented store spaces anymore.  At least in our area anyway.

Does anyone else get tired of businesses having only online bookings?  We have been trying to get new tires on one of our vehicles, and one place won't take appointments, another is online only (very frustrating system according to my husband).

Not to mention, that once you book anything online, they message you a ton of reminder messages (very annoying).

We had a very busy weekend, so it's back to home updates, and regular work around here.  Oh, and we visited the other nearest JoAnn Fabrics store.  They had much more yarn, so I am restocked for baby blankets.  I  did hear one clerk tell someone that the fabric was a minimum of 1 yard per bolt.  




Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

(will link up when she posts later)


The weather in our neck of the woods . . .

23°F/windchill of 14°F this morning, but we may warm up to 57°F by midweek (then down to the 40's).


As I look outside my window . . .

The sun is about to come up soon.


Right now I am . . .

Brewing coffee.


Something fun to share . . .

Nothing today that I can think of. 


Thinking and pondering . . .

-More hiking/walking opportunities in the area, as well day or overnight trips.

-garden plans

-still looking for inexpensive tulip bulbs (have not found any in stores just yet).

-I may try to squeeze in crocheting one more lap afghan before the weather turns to sunny spring warmth (after the baby blanket is done)

-looking for tall boot storage/travel bags that are 24 inches tall.  I bought 21 inch ones, and they are not tall enough (to organize the closet and make travel easier too).


On my bedside table . . .

Same as last week.


On the menu . . .

-Crock pot meatballs with home canned sauce/squash, over quinoa and a side of asparagus

-something with chicken, brussel sprouts

-leftovers

-making us some no-bake protein bites (something nice to have on hand for a healthy snack)


Book I am reading . . .

I finished this book last night, so I'm on to the next book (did not have a photo this morning), and will be crocheting a granny square to match this book cover soon.  Another book off the book shelf here at the homestead.

On the TV . . .

Nurse Jackie, DVD's borrowed from the library

1923, Netflix


On my to-do list . . .

-laundry
-make a breakfast (not sure yet)
-pay a few bills
-dinner prep
-library returns


Happening this week . . .

Buying new tires for one of our vehicles, and we can cross off hair cuts (squeezed them in this past weekend).


What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating . . .

I added a few more rounds on the blue and white baby blanket.  Made a few more pacifier holders, have some on-the-go crochet things in a few bags like jar openers, pot holder set and a few more baby washcloths (I have projects for home and for when we have a drive to anywhere).  The baby blanket is getting larger, so it's my at-home project.


My simple pleasure . . .

Homemade hot cocoa with organic peppermint syrup on a cold day.


Lesson I learned this past week. . .

(reading while waiting at the car wash last month)

Not a lesson from last week, but I learned that if I'm going on a drive or vacation of any sort, take more books than I think I'll read, and also download free books to my tablet before leaving the house (or whenever I have wifi).  You never know when your husband wants to randomly drive thru the car wash, when the lines are a mile long (that time of year, ha ha!).


From the camera . . .



Prayers, Devotional, Bible Verse . . .

Prayers for all my blog followers with upcoming medical appointments, for those not well and for quick recovery, and for overall good health.

Happy Homemaker Monday {March 3, 2025}  ©  March 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart