What am I reading?

Another yet cold day here.  A bit warmer but still in the negatives.  -6°F, but we may now be in the clear and rise above zero this next week. I'm still crocheting a current blanket for ourselves (odd occurrence, as it's usually for donation).  I do need to check in my back ordered yarn.  It's the very last day of January today, and it was said to be shipped a week ago.  Then again, roads are not in good condition, and the temperatures are cold.  I think a new soup should be tried with more snow on the way (oh joy!).

I am getting caught up with crochet book blanket granny squares.  I'll try and remember take a photo of them.

 

Funny story to share.  One year I was so pumped for a new "thing" to do (a new venture with gusto), I decided to read all of Ernest Hemingway's books in one year.  I had them on my shelf of course (why wouldn't I? Ha ha ha!).

You can see the original post HERE and HERE if you need some winter time entertainment.  

The funny part?  After a few books, I ditched his books and said nope, not reading anymore.  He was either drinking, on the way to the bar, or with women, or both drinking and with women.  I soon disliked his writing, no matter how famous the author became.  I should have picked another author, but it is a funny story to share.  If you read his books, you know what I'm talking about.

Cheers to the blog poster who shared this book!  I love a good book that is not a romance, and just literally a good story overall.

Sigh.  I am embarrassed to admit, that I've had it for a while, but I am finally reading it and I love it so far!  Thank you to whomever it was, but I think it was Far Side of Fifty.

Winter time limits outdoor physical activity for us, but we do have some winter hikes on the agenda (weather permitted).  Do you try to get outside or get moving in the winter?  Do you do daily indoor exercise?  Daily stretching?  Do you weigh yourself weekly, or do you just have it checked at the doctor when you are there? The doctor cleared me for exercise, but I'm still waiting on more information from the doctor's suggestions (to see if they are better, different or more helpful).

Do you do anything intentional for your mental health over winter?  Herbal, uplifting teas, meeting with friends/family, or possibly journaling?  Make travel plans of some fashion?  Visit the library more often?

New word I learned for the month:  Parsimonious.  Overly stingy or frugal, unwilling to spend money/resources.

Ending the month with some thoughts to chew on so to speak.  I did absolutely nothing for a Christmas countdown for 2026.  I can say, that when I did this last year (countdown), it was a lot of fun trying new recipes for the holidays.

What am I reading?  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Celery Seed ~ When you have an abundance (whoops) ~ Homemade Celery Salt

Winter weather continues, but slightly better I guess.  However, we continue to have below zero temperatures.  The cold spell has been the longest, below zero, cold spell I ever remember.

 On the downside, more people are getting sick.  My poor husband has to ride in a truck with a co-worker (part of the job), and his co-worker for the day was coughing.  The worker wore a mask, and then took it off and left in on the console of the truck.  My husband had to sanitize the inside of the truck after that.  Praying he does not catch any of those nasty germs.

I've been dealing with sinus issues, and thankful for goldenrod tincture, mullein tea, ginger and peppermint teas and so forth.  I never got any Four Thieves Vinegar (Rosemary Gladstar's recipe) made this past fall, and I do plan on making some next fall.  I think "life" just took over my brain cells for a while.  I am very thankful I had made homemade vapo-rub.

Deep cleaning?  Well, not really.  Mostly regular cleaning this week - running cleaner in the dishwasher, and the washing machine.  You could say I'm cooking/baking my way through a kitchen cupboard too.  I removed my recipe boxes before surgery, and placed them on the counter top to avoid lifting. 

 Apparently, while the recipe boxes were on the counter, groceries were placed in the cupboard, filling the space up.  My oh my.  It is sort of fun to meal plan, in order to free up that cupboard again.  We also had a lot of ingredients, that I only purchase in abundance for holiday cooking, and we did not bake any cookies or treats at all.  So far, I've reduced the all-purpose flour, some pasta, and peas.  I also purchased more organic celery seed, and whoops, we already had enough for this upcoming garden year.

Sigh, it's so hard to believe that this is the last day of January already.  Where did this month go?

 I use organic celery seed often, and especially during garden canning season.  If you watch prices (and use celery seed), you will notice that "ground" celery seed of any kind, is twice the price of whole celery seed (organic or not).

I don't use celery salt too often, but I do use it, so I made celery salt from whole, organic celery seed.  A "first" for me this year (woohoo to another "first time").

4 Tbsp. Ground Organic Celery Seed (grind and measure first)

3 Tbsp. Kosher Salt

Simply mix the following ingredients, and place in a spice grinder, or coffee bean grinder, and grind into a fine mix.

If you have a better mix of the two (different measurements for a better flavored salt), please leave a comment.

I use a smaller coffee grinder that is specifically used for grinding dehydrated or dry whole spices.

I store the celery salt in, either re-purposed spice jars (friends, family or neighbors can save these for you), or new spice jars.

Celery Seed ~ When you have an abundance (whoops) ~ Homemade Celery Salt  ©  January 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart