"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 1, 2025

May Begins

May is an exciting month.  The calendar is filling up.  At least for me anyway.  


Our redbud trees are blooming.  I planted 24 gladiolus bulbs, 2 rosemary plants, and dug up and moved a few hostas to a new area that has a ton of shade.

I used my homemade jalapeno salt to flavor some scrambled eggs this time around.  So good!  I believe it will be a daily staple in our pantry now.




The garden plans are up in the air to be honest, but some things are slowly progressing.  My husband had one day off work  (had an appt), and of course it rained.  It was the only day we had together to till the garden(s). Go figure.


 May is the month we start planting the vegetables and fruits. We always wait until after Mother's Day (as a weather rule around here).  However, one year, we planted the entire garden, and went on a weekend trip, only for a late frost to swoop in and kill most of our plants.  

(new shoots coming up, planted two years ago)


The rhubarb is looking great, as well as our fall planted garlic.  The asparagus continues to provide (woohoo to that).  The herb garden is looking grand, and it will need cleaned up this month.  I'm looking forward to outdoor time once again.

May Begins  ©  May 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

End of April

                 



I've been spring cleaning so to speak.  Really, the entire house needs swept and mopped, so I'm tackling one room a day when I can.  I am moving furniture and washing any rugs.   I have also been washing bed covers/comforters.   The weather is up and down for using the clothesline.

I pampered myself with a home hair treatment.  It saved me  $$ from going to the salon.  Well water is not my hair's best friend.  We all deserve to pamper ourselves.


Another "finish" for April - set of cotton hot pads to donate.


                             

The deer have started to roam the homestead, and we are not happy.  We have not gotten the fencing up (deer jump fence if it's too short).  There has not been time to do it. Heck, we haven't even had time to buy the rest of the supplies to get the job done. 

In the meantime, my garden solar alarms are up.  They will annoy the heck out of them until we can install a garden fence (on the 2nd garden area).

I may just get my donkey yet.  I already have a name picked out too.  They are great protectors, in case you are wondering.  They have legs that can kill a coyote.

Last Sunday we went back to colder weather, with a frost warning.  The morning started with a brisk 35°F.  Not unusual for us.  Monday was 39°F in the early morning, but we warmed up to the lower 70's.


Thankfully, I have the asparagus patch buried with straw for added protection, and it continues to provide for our meals.   I am almost out of all of the pesto I made last summer and froze.  

(chicken with basil pesto, potatoes and garden asparagus)

The freezer has swallowed the Thai basil pesto however.  I shall find it yet, ha ha!  I had it in the door to located quickly, but someone here moved it on me.  Anyway, we are down to that and some red pepper pesto.


By the way, I used my homemade jalapeno salt (first year to make and try this) in this easy egg/sausage/spinach breakfast casserole.  Delicious too.

April did not pass by without adventures, despite my husband's very long work hours.  We found joy in each day, added some new "first time" events to our lives, did a lot of outdoor walking, more small-ish homestead updates, did some foraging, read more books than April of last year, and was so thankful for everything (April of 2024 was a bit of a bummer).