Thriftiness #1

 I've gotten off the path of sharing my "thrifty" or "frugal" anything on my blog.  Many of these are repeats, but each time I go the thrifty route, we save.

Used my clothesline instead of the electric dryer.  Free solar dryer.  I use the clothesline year round, but from Spring to Fall it's used in place of the dryer.  I'm thankful to have a clothesline.

Made breakfast with steel cut oats we bulk buy (cost is a lot less), and only a cup makes enough for us two for a few mornings.

I brew my own teas, and tea infusions with bulk ingredients or free foraged ingredients.

I use the library to look for new recipes, books, movies, etc.  Free.  Our library also provides free bookmarks. I try to go to the library during their book sales, because they give their magazines away free.  Yes, you can borrow them for free too, but I can read them at my own pace, and/or pass them on to someone who uses them for crafting.

On my most recent visit to the library, I not only brought home free borrowed books, but more free magazines, free bookmarks, and a free adult bookmark craft. We could choose which one we wanted to bring home to make.  

I bulk buy (saves us $$) many of our spices.  I refill the jars instead of buying new jars (cinnamon, chili powder, cumin, paprika etc.). 

I was inspired to share frugal living tips again, thanks to the thrifty week posts by Harvest Lane Cottage Blog.

Thriftiness #1   ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Spring Blooms

 

Our weather continues to go up and down, but the spring flowers are either blooming or about to bloom.  The herb garden is waking up from it's winter slumber.  Although we had a 73 degree day early this week, it went quickly back to 36°F and very windy.  I am sure my blooms are struggling with  29°F weather.

Daffodils with orange centers.

And for a bit of foraging . . .

Purple dead nettle.

Wild violets.  Dandelions are coming up too.

Spring Blooms  ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Homemade Biscuits

                       

I am on a biscuit mission, to enhance side options for breakfast sandwiches, soup dinners and even get togethers.  These were Cheddar and Chive Biscuits.

We once, on our adventures this year, tasted the most delicious breakfast sandwiches, there were served on a cheddar and chive biscuit (made in the restaurant from scratch).

Results:  Delicious! I used all organic ingredients, and cut the chives fresh from our herb garden.  

The recipe uses a different method to incorporate the butter and makes a very light and fluffy dough (a tip from Cooks Illustrated?).

Note:  The above biscuit recipe is online if you are interested:  Ridiculously Easy Cheddar Chive Biscuits (The Café Sucre Farine)

Note 2:  Be sure to flour your biscuit cutter (or it will stick a bit).

Homemade Biscuits  ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Just the Bits

April 9th - rain and snow mix, morning temperature was 21°F!
April 10th - 38°, high of 44°F, rain
April 11th - 30°, low chance of rain, partly sunny

We should be picking asparagus, wild violets and wild dead nettle right now, but the weather is delaying it.  I surely hope we still get them all.  Time will tell.

Despite freezing cold weather that is freezing my chickens water at night, my potted comfrey is already coming to life again.  The weather is to warm up again thankfully.

I need help with deterring rabbits.

Does anyone have any tried and true (non toxic) ways to deter rabbits from your flower beds and herb garden?  I read coffee grounds deter them, but they are not good for my herb garden.  I had motion sensor noise gadgets, but they did not work for the rabbits last year.

A tree of some sort is growing in the edging (between the landscaping stone and chives of all places) of the herb garden, and it has thorns.  It needs to be dug out thanks to the birds.

I have wild growing wineberry starts (again thanks to the birds) to yank from the asparagus patch, and have already put straw in the newer asparagus patch (to keep those weeds down for harvest).  I will need to add more straw before Spring harvest.

(oatstaw in a jar)

I've been brewing nettle tea for us here lately.  It's a powerhouse, but it's great for allergies too. I'm no doctor, but you can do your own research on stinging nettle.

Homesteading/Self Sufficiency goes hand in hand with being physically fit.  If anyone is interested, I can write up a post on this.

Garden or no garden is the question.  We purchased not-so-inexpensive fencing to fence one garden area last year.  We need fencing to protect the other (larger) garden area, and it's now in limbo.  The cost to buy fencing is not low, by all means, but we can install it ourselves.  

A lot has affected the purchase of the fencing.  Our electric cost doubled, and we are not even heating the upstairs (as we did when the kids lived here).  We are not even using heat in two downstairs rooms either, yet our cost doubled.

Groceries more than doubled.  Home repair supplies are up.  I mean it's just a rough time for everyone right now.

Home Repairs/Updates:

-purchased one window blind and installed it (was thankfully under $30)

-one last blind is needed for another room, but the window itself will need replaced at some point soon.  I'm on a list to be notified when they are in stock (has to be custom cut to fit).   I already got one email stating they were in stock, but when I went to order it, it said "out of stock" (again).  I called, and yes in fact, they are out of stock (again).

-lined more wire closet shelving. I have a few more to line.

-started stairway project by scraping tape and adhesive off the walls (kids!!) This job will take a while to get done.

Just the Bits ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

37 weeks until Christmas

I now have 8 of the inexpensive items for 3 sets of Advent Calendars.  For those who do this, do you include Christmas Day?  Or just December 1-24th?  I think I am going to do the traditional 24 days.

These are photos from different stores/shops/boutiques we came across over the last two/three months.  There were so many Christmas shopping options available.

I bought myself this absolutely cute "crochet" Christmas tree ornament. I love it! Even my husband thought it was cute.

I purchased this cutie at a thrift store. It's actually a cookie jar, but I'll be using it for decoration most likely. I just love the bright blue color on it. Yes, my husband loves it too, and he rarely gets excited about Christmas. I take that back. The first year after Mom passed, he was all fired up on Christmas spirit, and that particular year I wanted nothing to do with it.

I had to laugh at the fact it was carrying a suitcase, and I never noticed it until we got home. A sign to "skip" Christmas? Ha ha ha! Traveling in December is iffy with the iffy weather too. Anyway, the snowman was inexpensive, and my husband even approved. We don't have a lot of Christmas decor, and we do like it that way, but I did buy the guy.

Books borrowed from the library. No new recipes saved yet. I may have one recipe, but we'll see what I decide later.

(source: Google)

I have discovered I need gift boxes (possibly a 4 x 4 by 2 inch high size) for many of the advent gifts, and I have no idea where to look for them (besides online). I'll have to check Hobby Lobby or Michael's stores maybe? Not sure if Walmart or Meijer craft sections would have them either. Any suggestions?

37 Weeks until Christmas ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Small Harvest and Other Fun

I harvested a handful of green onions and chives before the very cold weather moved in (more so than before).  The chickens are not happy.  I'm not happy, but trying to find the joy in the days either way.

My kitchen has been in full force the last few days.  My goodness, I have never felt overwhelmed with baking and cooking, but it has taken over in whirlwind lately.  These photos were not even everything that was getting baked/cooked or mixed up.

Despite the need to get meals made around here, I managed to squeeze in a trip to the library book sale.  I only brought home three books, but snagged some free magazines too.  

I used to read magazines when Mom was with us.  She'd pass her magazines onto me to read.  When she passed, I no longer read magazines.  I never thought to borrow some from our library.  

In light of garden season moving in slowly (thanks to this colder weather), we've been enjoying our empty nest life.  Yes, we have repairs, a coop to finish building and so on, but some times we need a little fun too.

Johnny Cash/June Carter Tribute band

Righteous Brothers Concert

Over the last three months, we've been enjoying outdoor walks, hikes, hiking trails in other towns/cities, and we even hiked a not-so-easy waterfall (so proud of our healthy lifestyle, and progress in staying fit).

We have also been to a few concerts too.  We have not been to concerts during all of our long, busy years (and years) of raising all the kids and working jobs, so it's been a huge enjoyment.

One concert was a Johnny Cash Tribute band (very good, the guy was from Nashville), and we had the priviledge to see the Farewell tour concert of the Righteous Brothers.  Bill Medley is 84 years old, and he put on a fantastic concert.

Bill Medley also wrote a book, and you know I bought a copy.  It's on my list to read after a few more books.  In fact, I have had fun window shopping on our outings too, and that is how I have found advent gifts for Christmas.

My newest suncatcher I purchased recently.  Just ignore my dirty winter window.  It's not been conducive weather to clean the outside of the windows just yet.

Nothing earth shattering news for blogland today, and I bought myself some fun pens. One of my daughter's bought me a pen set for my birthday/Mother's Day(?) and I am down to one pen now.

The one on the top in gold says "Good Days Start with Coffee" the next says "Drink Coffee.  Be Nice" (ha ha!), and the last says "Caffeinated and Motivated."

Small Harvest and Other Fun ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Cold Weather ~ Baked Perch ~ Homemade Kimchi (update)

My goodness!  It's 13°F this morning.  Spring can't make up it's mind around here.  I have the newly purchased tulips and hyacinths (in pots) indoors for now.  I had high hopes to plant them by now.

I am praying this early cold spell in April does not kill my wild violet harvest, or fruit tree blossoms.  I have yet to see one asparagus up either.  It was up much earlier last Spring.

A new recipe tried.  Baked Perch.  Recipe is from allrecipes, but I adapted organic/non-gmo ingredients.  Perch (lake perch from our state) was gifted to us, and instead of frying it this time (vs. beef tallow), I baked it.  In the past I have baked walleye and it turned out delicious.

By the way, in the past I have baked walleye, and it was very good.  I did read the recipe reviews. Some people used panko instead of crushed saltines, some used all grated parmesan cheese.  I found organic/non-gmo saltines, but I'm thinking all parmesan cheese would be healthier and delicious.  Just my thoughts on this.

Note to self:  dry more herb garden oregano this summer

Homemade tarter sauce using home canned sweet pickle relish.

The results?  Well, we both said we liked it, but a thicker fish would be better for baking, like walleye or cod.  It was good, and obviously healthier, but for perch we feel it's better fried.

You most likely could bake any white fish with their recipe (I would think).

I am fairly certain, my husband will insist the next batch of perch be fried in beef tallow.  It's a lighter coating to the fish than the baked, but that's just our reviews on baking vs. frying perch.

Note:  Reheated leftovers in an air fryer make this a more crispy coating and delicious.   I have yet to try it reheated in the oven.

I forgot to give you an update on the homemade kimchi (fermented vegetables).

The recipe for kimchi is found in this book (which I own, but your local library may have it too).

I tasted it as is, and then we strained any liquid, added a bit of mayo to make up a "slaw" and it was very good.  By itself, it is a bit spicy, but overall, we will be making this recipe again for a good healthy addition to our meals.

Cold Weather ~ Baked Perch ~ Homemade Kimchi (update) ©  April 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart