Happy Homemaker Monday

 Do you ever notice how it's hard to be around people who are negative about "Monday" and the start of the week?  

Monday gets a bad name all around.  I used to tackle so much around the house, but I have since then created a cleaning/housework schedule, and it's been working out fantastically.  Monday's are not bombarded with overwhelming to-do lists any longer.

My husband had a recent conversation about how his co-workers complain on and on about "Monday" and how terrible it is.  Is it?  

Every year I look forward to learn something new.  A new trail to walk, new herbal remedy to make, new handiwork to learn, or just about anything.  It's not only rewarding in most cases, but fun.

My "firsts" this month:

-dehydrating wild violets, and leaves

-dehydrating dandelion flowers 

-read a new author, picked up another at the library (yet to read - gulp!)

-reading a new devotional

-learned the words to a song, and inadvertently learned words (memorized) to two other songs.

-went to our first Bingo "purse" raffle (had fishing poles for the men) and fundraiser benefit.

-saw Moe Bandy in concert (now 82 years old).

-walked one out of 15 new walking trails (new to us).

(possible new salves using the above dehydrated items later).

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom (will link up when she posts).

Hard to believe I was picking dandelions, wild violets and even chickweed a few days ago.  

We've been seeing a lot of lily of the valley, wild geraniums, and mayapples on our trail walks.

Planted rosemary and spearmint.  Weeded another smaller rose bed, and asparagus patch.  Planted 9 more Mary Washington asparagus starts, and dug a tree out of the berry bush area.  Trimmed two rose bushes, and weeded half the herb garden.

The Weather . . .

Last week started with hard freeze warnings.  31°F with a windchill of 27°F.    We will get thunderstorms again tonight and possible 50 mph winds.

Right now I am . . .

Sipping coffee and writing this post fairly quickly.

How I am feeling . . .

Tired of the weather fluctuation, but otherwise revived over the weekend.  We found another trail walk and loved it. (In our new personal challenge) One walking trail visited, and 14 more to go on our list.  Despite a sprained toe, walking was fine (more on that in another post).

On the breakfast plate . . .

Eggs, and real Canadian bacon.

On the menu . . .

-crock pot Four Beans and Sausage

-leftovers, Kidney bean salad (new recipe

- not sure on the rest just yet

On my reading pile . . .

I'll have to get back my current/finished books.  Forgot to take photos.  However......

Finished this one.  First time to read this author.  I laughed to my husband, as I only had this book, and realized it is part of a series.  Sigh.  I had no intentions of buying more books.  I liked this book.

On my TV . . .

Elvis movies - King Creole, Blue Hawaii

Doc - Netflix

Sarah's Oil, Netflix

Looking around the house . . .

-Good!  Took a trunk full of clothing to donate.  Clothes that were too big, not worn, etc.   Decluttered more areas and re-organized.

To-do list . . .

-make breakfast
-laundry

-make tick repellant oil

-dehydrate all of the volunteer herbs I yanked (anything growing in areas where it spread)

-Weed the rest of the herb garden, and flower beds (maybe)

-I'll be honest, I have yet to figure out the to-do's for the week.  The weather may change my list.  

What I am creating . . .

I finished the purple/white shell stitch blanket.  Delivered four crocheted baby blankets to an area pregnancy center.

Sharing . . .

Salve with wild violets, comfrey and plantain.

Watching videos like these to possibly start learning to quilt (small things right now ha ha!)

From my camera . . .

Devotional, prayer, Bible verses . . .

No prayer requests asked of me currently.

My newest devotional to share.

Happy Homemaker Monday ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Travel Tea Infuser Tumbler and Tidbits

 I purchased a travel tumbler with tea infuser.  I randomly chose one based on reviews.  It can become frustrating, when you cannot find one person who drinks herbal teas/medicinal herbal teas.  If we like it, I'll post an update on it. By the way, there are several options to buy one, with several sizes too.

Something new I learned from a book:

-I can brew my herbal tea, cool it, and freeze it in freezer safe vessels.  Pack them for a picnic or travel and it will keep food cold, then thaw for enjoying.  Another perfect idea to travel with your brewed herbal iced tea.

-I once watched an "expert" on a video (maybe youtube, not sure) say brewed teas were only good for 48 hours.  I'm reading in a book that brewed teas, cooled for iced tea, are good for up to 4 days.  Anyone know the actual truth to either of these findings?

I've been busy dehydrating dandelion flowers.  I, apparently, need to dehydrate more.  They shrink up to about nothing when they are completely dry.  First time to dehydrate dandelion flowers (for a future salve and whatever else I decide).

In the past, we have made dandelion flower bread, which is delicious by the way.  It's time consuming, so I have yet to make it this spring.  We do not make dandelion jelly anymore.  We tend to made reduced sugar jams now.  It does make a nice gift for others though.

I've also been working on starting tinctures for the season, using seasonal spring goodies.  

I'm hoping the spring rains will provide us with chickweed, cleavers, plantain, and mullein.

The rain has been continuing, and my boots sunk every step into the garden recently.  I have already had to cut the flower buds off my rhubarb, and boy is the garden saturated.

Comfrey is up nicely, as well as lemon balm, in my new "weed" garden.  No sign of anything else (possibly did not survive the move last year).

The clothesline has been being used in full force, but on days in between the rainfall.  Very thankful to have use of it, and it saves us on our electric bill (which is the highest in the area). Not to mention, that it smells good too.

Time has been getting away from me this month, but I hope to keep you all entertained.   My husband finally sorted a huge pile of his clothing, and the donation pile has increased.  I told my husband the other day, that I do not know how anyone who works full time, has time to do their housework.  I am constantly racing the clock to keep bathrooms cleaned, laundry washed (on the line, back down and folded and put away), homemade meals prepared (not to mention all the dishes), errands, shopping, appts, and the like, all in the mix of it.  I'm working on creating a "schedule" to give myself more grace with free time.  We (ha ha!) shall see if I am successful.

I can say, I'm the queen of sticky notes right now.  Staying on task is happening.  I have also purchased a new devotional that I love.  It's short and to the point, but if I remember, I'll take a photo of it to share. I might have a handiwork update too, but it's been less and less in my days, as the weather is taking us outdoors much more often.

Travel Tea Infuser Tumbler and Tidbits ©  April 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart