. . . from the handiwork journal

                             

Here is what has been, and is still on the crochet hook . . .

                           

I was asked to crochet a hat with no ball/pom pom on top, and for it to "not" fold up at the bottom.  Mission accomplished.  It's made with yarn stash - Red Heart Super Saver, Newspaper Stripe yarn.  Woot!  Another skein left the stash.  It was for my husband.  He has never had a "winter" coat.  He finally bought one last year, so this matches his coat.  

I have already started crocheting him a scarf, preparing for those very cold days.

I do like the pattern, and have used it for craft shows, but I spent some time looking for charity hat patterns, that I could crank out much faster.  I located one online the other day, but after crocheting several rounds, there was clearly something wrong with the pattern.

I'm going to spend time to look on the crochet crowd, and ravelry, and perhaps a few other places next.  I am just looking for a simple hat (no pom pom) for adults and kids to donate for winter clothing collections.

I also started another lap afghan to donate.  I'll be honest, not I nor my husband thought this color combination would turn out good, but so far it has.  I had plans to do solid 4 color rotation, but later decided to add the tan in between each.  I had some of that saffron color and had no idea what to use it with.  So far, so good.  It's definitely a different combination than I would use, but I'm trying to work on my scrap stash of yarn.

My on-the-go project is still baby washcloths (I'm getting to the end of the discontinued yarn).  

My next on-the go project will be my jar openers/grippers.

I'm also searching for a few patterns for using my cotton yarn scraps.  I'm thinking something with granny squares.  Maybe a book sleeve for when I travel with a book.

I am looking for something like this.  I like the button closure and I have the buttons oddly.  I took a snapshot of a video, but again, this is not a free pattern. 

. . . from the handiwork journal  © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I am finally in a slowdown (or sort of), and decided to start today with joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I will attempt to link up when she posts.  Update:  The link worked!  Thanks for the comment to let me know!

The sugar pie pumpkins have all been processed.  I am thankful for that, but wish I had gone to the produce stand and purchased a few more spaghetti squash.  I missed my window on apple seconds, but will be more mindful next year.

The weather in my neck of the woods . . .

We had a rainy, fall weekend, which is delaying any outdoor work.  I have started filling another box of items to donate (we just don't need or use anymore).  Our highs will be in the 50's all week.

Things that make me happy . . .

-waking up to a clean kitchen

-finding new patterns to use my yarn stash for

-no bills in the mail (ha ha!)

-hot coffee and porch time

-completing a home repair job (some can linger and linger)

Book I'm reading . . .

(photo from thriftbooks)

I just picked up a copy from our local library.  I will be starting this book today.

What's on my TV . . .

Everwood (series), and we are enjoying it, other than the recent episodes have a lot of family fighting, which we do not like.  Otherwise, it's been a nice series.

On the breakfast plate . . .

A breakfast casserole with vegetables and layered in the bottom are diced locally grown potatoes baked with beef tallow.  There is spinach in this one.  We will also be trying locally sourced homemade sausage breakfast patties.

On the lunch plate . . .

Chicken salad with leftover shredded chicken, grapes.

On the dinner plate . . .

Blackened chicken tenders (with locally sourced chicken), BBQ green beans with our garden green beans and local bacon, and our own homegrown roasted mashed potato squash.

On the menu . . .

I have been focusing meals, by what's in the freezer from last garden season, and in the pantry, so the rotation continues.

- Steaks (locally raised, and rare treat), asparagus and any leftover BBQ green beans and mashed potato squash.

The rest has not been decided on, until we see how long the leftovers last.

On the to-do list . . . 

-cook sausage patties to go with breakfast

-mix up a large batch of meatballs to freeze (locally sourced meat this time around).

-wash and put away dishes

-pay bills

-place an order for supplies I cannot buy local

-dust

-make homemade hair detangler

New recipe tried or want to try . . .

I tried a new breakfast casserole with spinach (no meat this time).  We are trying it this morning.

What I am creating . . .

I have a few things on the crochet hook.  I will be sharing pictures tomorrow.  I'm still looking for a hat pattern (suitable to donate), that has a ribbed bottom, and does not fold up, and for kids and adults.

It feels so strange not to be preparing for a craft show, or making homemade gifts.  I was talking to a friend about her opinion on an idea of mine for the kids.  I thought of buying the ingredients for their favorite recipe (any of mine), and gifting them that, along with the recipe (aside from any fresh ingredients).  She poo poo'd my idea and said it "wasn't enough" for them.  

It got me thinking.  Why do people put so much money into some gifts that are dust collectors or items that are "just to give" without thought?  Oh, I'm still looking for the soup starter in a jar recipe.  I know I have one for a bean soup too I think.

Favorite photo . . . 

It's bow hunting season in our neck of the woods, and there are days we see a lot of deer, and days we do not see them. 

Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses . . .

No current prayer requests.  My husband is feeling better (thnk you for your kind thoughts) but he was tired over the weekend.  He sipped hot sage tea, and said he enjoyed the taste.  

Happy Homemaker Monday  © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Sickness Update ~ Fall Cleaning and Tidbits ~ Pie Pumpkin Roasting Begins

Update on my sick husband - he's feeling better, but tired.  His doctor (the nurse said she had the virus recently too) said he caught a virus, and it was very unusual for such a high fever.  Thankfully, the fever broke quicker than we thought it would.  I gave him ibuprofen, a hot cup of feverfew (I grow this) tea, and an ice pack for his neck.  He loved the chicken and wild rice soup for dinner and it set well for him.  He's on the mend, and it's going around in our area.  I have downed our 4 thieves vinegar as a preventative (trust me on this one, it works, but it is not tasty ha ha!).

I am going back to making my own face cream. The most recent one I purchased is irritating one of my eyes, so homemade it is.  I am checking my supplies today.

If you are a self sufficient DIY person, where do you buy organic apricot oil?

The recipe calls for lanolin, but I'm leaving it out.  

Which would be better - shea butter or cocoa butter?  I'm thinking cocoa butter would add too much oil to my skin.  Or another suggestion was coconut oil.

It only took me 16 years, but while my husband rested, I went in search for a tool to remove the pedastal washer and dryer drawers.  I took them outside to clean, since we still have decent weather.  They are srubbed and sanitized, and ready to be re-organized on another day.  I will sort and re-access what we need/use and don't need, or what we need re-supplied.  I may even add a mat inside the drawers (like under the sink type liners).

We have been having cooler days, so I started roasting the pie pumpkins to puree and freeze.  I am sure I have shared this process, but will share again.  

I scrub the pumpkins, slice in half, and scoop out the seeds and innards.  I have always found, that my melon baller tool has been the best tool to remove the pumkin guts and seeds.

I clean the seeds from the guts, rinse them, and dry them to roast later.  The remaining guts go to the chickens.

I use my largest pan, which holds about 3 pumpkins.  I roast home grown on 375°F for 50-60 minutes.  If I buy them, which I did buy some from our produce stand, they seem to be more firm, so they take longer to roast.  I have now only have those pumpkins, so I plan to roast them at 400°F for maybe 35-45 minutes.  I just check them to make sure they are soft.  I also use a fork to pierce the back side of the cut and cleaned pumpkin before roasting. 

I later decided to place the pumpkins on parchment paper.

I let the pumpkins cool, then scoop the pumpkin out with a spoon.

I place the cooked pumpkin in my food processor and process until it turns into a puree.

I used a quart freezer bag, so I can flatten the bag very thin, saving much space in the freezer.  I am using Glad bags, as the bottom is not a flat bottom like some have, making it easier to remove, when frozen, to thaw and cook/bake with.

I simply use my canner lifter tool to hold the bag to fill.  It works, so I have not purchased anything fancier.  

Another photo of how the jar lifter doubles as a bag holder.  In this photo I was bagging roasted spaghetti squash.

I lay the bags flat on a baking sheet, and place it in the freezer until the bags are frozen.  I them place them in the freezer where I have space.

We are down to our last bag of pumpkin in the freezer from last year, so this is good timing.  Although, I would normally have this done by the end of September or early October.  I just made us some pumpkin oat pancakes, and they were delicous (a small batch, perfect for two people).

I took a few bits of time (while the pumpkins were cooling), and enjoyed the library for once.  I also purged some craft supplies I do not use anymore, and donated them to the kids library programs.  They were happy to get them.

Sickness Update ~ Fall Cleaning and Tidbits ~ Pie Pumpkin Roasting Begins © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

This and That ~ Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds

 

I enjoyed yet another spectacular sunrise, and this particular day the temperture got up to 80°F.  I don't remember November ever getting that warm before.

I'm am enjoying the "down" time here lately too.  I spent more time searching the local library catalog, and have ordered a few books via their interloan borrowing system.

I even have had some "me" time, and finished another lap afghan.  It is the right width at the bottom.  It looks weird due to the angle I was holding the camera.  Anyway, another one done.

I cook from scratch, so most days here involve some sort of  kitchen duty, so I relish leftover days.  I tried a new recipe for pumpkin oat pancakes.  The chickens are still on hiatus, so I switch to oatmeal bakes, steel cut oats, pancakes, waffles, or anything using less eggs.  Bacon is very expensive now, so we have been swapping it with Canadian bacon.

(one of the recipes - Tahini Date cookies, recipe from Thrive Market)

I had a day with dates, and made us two recipes to enjoy for the week.  These medjool dates are also getting expensive, but are so healthy.

I also did something new this year - roasted spaghetti squash seeds (waste nothing).  The chickens got their fair share, but we are enjoying these for the first time.  We typically only roast the pumpkin seeds.

We woke up to rain this morning.  Humidity is 86%.  I'm also taking care of my over stressed husband, who woke up abruptly sick today (people at his work place are sick).  His temperature was 104.2° so he's being cared for, and sipping some feverfew tea.  I'm hoping he can keep it down.  

The up and down weather can play a part in fall sicknesses unfortunately.  It's another warm day here, but there may be some homemade chicken and rice soup, or chicken and noodle soup getting made.

I thought I shared a recipe for a soup starter in a jar gift type recipe, but cannot find it.  I think it was for a chicken and rice soup starter.  I'll be looking around for that, as it sounds like it may be useful.

This and That ~ Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Reset ~ Recharge

It wasn't really planned, but the first day of November was dedicated to resetting my home and health, and recharging for the fall/winter chores.

The travel coffee maker (single, but cheap brand) was cleaned up and put away.  The cooler we traveled often with, was also put away.  Counters completely cleaned off and sanitized (I like my homemade 4 Thieves cleaner), extra purchased dry goods were canned and vacuumed sealed, travel totes with paper plates etc. were put back in storage, and the suitcase put back in storage.

I have two absorbant coffee pot/grinder mats.  While one is being washed the other is put out.  It really helps keep the coffee pot area tidy.  We like coffee.

I double checked canning supplies, expiration dates on pectin, and so forth.  Checked the winter tea supply, and even dehydrated more sage.

I had a half bag of sugar sitting on the counter for a few weeks, and finally put it canning jars, and vacuum sealed them.  I did not can a lot of my regular condiments this year, due to lack of garden harvest, and it needed to be stored for future use.

I did the same with some extra oats I purchased as well.  I am, however, running out of wide-mouth canning jars.

There is nothing better, than to wake up to a spic n' span cleaned up kitchen.  It was then, that I could light a candle, relax, re-write my to-do lists, and really recharge physically and mentally.

 Kitchen Tip:  Did you know that if you are out of baking soda, you can substitute 3 teaspoons of baking powder for 1 teaspoon of baking soda?  

I just learned this, but typically we have more baking soda on hand than powder.  I thought I would share this tip, but I have not needed to try it.

The first Sunday morning (time change for us), despite it being 36°F out, I took my coffee to the porch to watch the sunrise.  There were 4 deer that came out for viewing.  There were 3 bucks and a doe grazing in a harvested corn field. You can see the bigger buck the very right.  We saw two more later in the mid-morning (doe and a buck).

We finally did a garage clean out.  Whew!  I could not believe how much we were able to donate, give away and toss out.  It really was a big mess in there.  I even moved all of my empty plastic drawers (used to store yarn) out there to organize things.  

No menu plan yet this week, but I came up with the most delicous breakfast burrito with leftovers.  You could eat this as a scramble too.

(husband added hot sauce to his, but you could also add jalapeno if you froze any, or even fire powder)

I used leftover scrambled eggs from my husband's to-go breakfast, diced up leftover brisket, cooked half of a butternut squash that was already cubed, added bell pepper, onion, garlic, rosemary and sage.  We added just a bit of shredded cheddar cheese.  It turned out so good, and we wasted zero leftovers

The to-do list is pretty much the typical list for November, although much of it was done in October last year.  We are finally getting rain this morning, and we are expecting a warmer month.  I'm still waiting on cooler days to roast and preserve pumpkins, spaghetti squash, acron squash, etc.  I have tinctures in the making, and oils infusing for salve making, so the month will not be idle (but yet a much slower pace).

Until next time.  Toodles.

Reset ~ Recharge © November 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Last Day of October - New Recipes Tried and End of Garden Tidbits

Grab a cup of java.  I apologize, this post ended up too long.

 October was a busy month for us.  We had so many plans, our plans had plans.  Whew!   Three weddings - one in another state up on a hill (they drove us up with a tractor and wagon) over looking a river, the other on a hill at a castle, and the third we didn't make it to.

There were car shows, trunk or treats for the littles, a long distance trip to re-stock baking/cooking supplies (it's hard to find organic non-gmo in our area), garden work,  yard work and more.  

One thing that did not happen, was our last camping trip, and it's probably a good thing considering.  The state put a burn ban on the campground, and the nights were down to the 40's.  The whole point to go camping (for us anyway) is to go off grid, enjoy nature, campfire cook, and enjoy an evening campire.  No being allowed to have a campfire, was the ticker that crossed the last camping trip off the calendar.

Our days are finally approaching a slowdown (yippee!) for us here on homestead.  My kitchen table overflows with squash and pumpkin to roast and freeze, but if you check our weather pattern below, it's been too hot to heat up the kitchen this week.

Weather

October 14th - 55°F High, 40°F Low, Rain, Cloudy

October 16th - Woke up to 37°F (windchill 32°F, Freeze Warning) with a high of 55°F

October 17th - Woke up to 33°F (Freeze Warning), High of 61°F, Sunny 

October 21st - 81°F High, 49°F Low

October 24th - Woke up to 37°F, with a high of 62°F

October 25th - Woke up to 41°F and rain for the first time this month, high of 68°F.

October 28th - 32°F in the morning, High of 66°F, Sunny

October 29th - 81°F high, 63°F low, very windy

October 30th - 80°F High, 67°F Low, Cloudy, Warning day for unharvested crop fires due to drought

October 31st - woke up to 66°F (feels like 76°F due to 75% humidity), forecasted high of 77°F with possible rain (I will believe the rain when we see it - still in a drought here)

I tested our first round of frozen breakfast burritos, that I made late September.  I wanted to make sure we had a breakfast for Monday mornings, after busy weekends and such.  Oddly, I have never frozen breakfast burritos.  I thought it would be better than sandwiches.  Anyway, they tasted great and came in handy all month.  I'd like to try freezing an egg combo muffin of some sort next.

Something else I did during our crazy month. . .

I used a pill keeper to store my daily vitamins in, so when we were on the "run" going places I had them in this handy container to simply grab and go.

The next plan was to get some quick dinners in the freezer, other than stuffed bell peppers.  Typically, I freeze chili or other hearty soups that re-heat nicely.  We ended our bell pepper harvest (harvest was 203 this year) with stuffed bell pepper soup (using up an assortment of odd size peppers).  

Pie pumpkin harvest was pretty sad.  Two rotted, and only one grew to size.  It was a bad drought year for us.

We also planted a new pumpkin, and we got one from that harvest.  Crazy year for sure.  It is a Jarrahdale blue pumpkin.  It weighed in at 13 pounds 14.8 ounces.

The mashed potato squash harvest was a bit better than I thought.  Some of the squash were small, but overall, we are happy with our harvest.  

You can see one small spaghetti squash in that basket.  We actually had 3 out there, but 2 rotted.  Our drought year was a bit difficult this year.  Last year we harvested 9 and it lasted us all winter in the freezer (you can read about my post where I froze them all HERE).

Two types of sage.

It was a race against mother nature, but herbs were put up for winter.  Our freeze/frost came very early this year.  There are so many medicinal properties in so many herbs and wild growing "weeds" for our health.

The month of October brought us a bunch of pesky Minute Pirate Bugs.  They are tiny, but they are a pain in the rump.  They swarm and bite, and will leave you a nasty welt.  I tried to enjoy the porch on the warmer days, but the bugs were horrible.  I found that if I sprayed myself down with homemade bug spray, and then also burned a citronella candle, it helped keep them away.

New recipe tried!  We baked butternut squash fries for the first time, and oh my gosh they were delicious!  We didn't even want to make the dip for them.  The final coating is grated Parmasan Cheese.  I did learn from this, that I need to oil my parchment paper.  These will stick to the paper, and make it difficult to turn, but overall tasted wonderful.

The other new recipe we tried, is called Sweet Potato Chicken Patties, but I used ground turkey.  I'll be back to share the recipe if I can locate it again.  I love an "all real food" recipe.  These froze great too.  I accidently made the patties/burgers too thin, but I re-shaped them after they thawed.  Recipe said 3/4 of an inch thick, and I used our grill burger smasher tool. either way, these were delicious.

We also tried a new 3 bean salad.  The dressing is similar to other dressings, but overall we loved this one.  I used garden jalapenos for it.  The recipe is online from CleanFoodCrush.  It's called Marinated 3 Bean Salad.  There were two things I did not do as instructed by the recipe.  One, I used the juice of one entire lemon (it was maybe 1 Tbsp more juice), and two, I chopped up about 1/2 cup of olives vs. one entire cup.

Other days have been busy in the kitchen, or in the garden.  I have yet to replace my blender, so I made our basil pesto using my food processor instead.  I am just not happy with what I am seeing in stores.  I will keep looking.  

The garden was completely cleaned out and tomato stakes put away.  Our cheap fencing we put up for the green beans was finally taken down and rolled up for next year.  We have tilled it, and fall garlic was planted.

Flower beds are being weeded, as the leaves continued to drop. As of today, the geraniums in our hanging pots are still blooming.  It's crazy!  We've typically taken down dead plants by the end of Septemeber, and put up outside Christmas lights by now.  

Did we get any fun in our month of October?  Well, sort of.  In fact, I have a funny story about visiting an antique store.

We went into the store to look for a small table, and to simply look at kitchen chairs.  We walked by a shelf of used books and my husband randomly pulled a book about a donkey.  He said I should buy it and read it.  To humor him, I agreed.  As we walked to the cashier to pay for the $4 book,  I hear him say I could have a donkey too.  The excited me, turned around, only to see him laughing and holding a glass donkey!  Oh, he thinks he's is so funny some days.  We both got a laugh.  I still want a donkey, ha ha!

I have yet to read the book, as my husband (oddly) has already started reading it and said it is very good so far.  

 I am so happy that we can finally slow down, or rather get things done that need done.   Winter is approaching, where we spend more time inside, so I may be moving some furniture around, changing bed covers, washing curtains, and doing a deep cleaning here and there.

I finished the baby blanket with the new pattern (thanks to so much traveling this month).   The pattern is from the Crochet Crowd online, and the pattern is free.  I'll have to look up the actual name of it for you all.   I love it, but now I want to make one in blue, and I have zero baby yarn in blue ha ha!  Oh, boy.  I may have to sneak some yarn into the house.  

Lastly, I have questions for those who can and preserve. . 

I think someone here mentioned this to me before, but I cannot find it on my blog, but is there a stainless steel water bath canner that is better to buy?  Brand name or location to buy would be helpful in deciding on what to upgrade to.

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe, for making and freezing cold/flu bombs?  I have two recipes, but the comments for both say to change a lot of the recipe.  Anyone?  These are mixed up (lemon, garlic, honey etc.), strained, and frozen in ice cube trays, to drop into hot tea for relief during a cold or flu.

Best cookbooks for sourdough bread baking?  Believe or not, it's the one bread I have yet to even tackle, and I really want to do this.  Tips?  Suggestions?  What not to do?  Starter suggestions?

Last Day of October - New Recipes Tried and End of Garden Tidbits © October 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart