Pioneer Woman at Heart

By 1:30pm, the wind chill was 41°F but man it felt so much colder even with the sunshine.   I took Romeo out about 2:30pm and this gal was in the yard. Romeo just stopped and sniffed the air, and was like "what the heck is that?" Seeing all the beautiful colors of fall leaves, reminds me of my one Aunt.  We'd hand write letters and I do miss that so much, and I'd save leaves and press them and mail them to her in FL.  She missed the fall leaves.  We had so much fun exchanging letters.   Christmas card idea?  He he!  I love my Christmas socks, but with my size 11 feet, I have to buy men's Christmas socks (pair on the right, which fit much better). We are getting winter weather too quickly.  I had a lot on my plate with dinner prep, so I wasn't sure I'd get out to the garden.  Here's what got done . . . ✔Laundry on the line ✔Blanched organic spinach for the freezer.  Winter food prep. ✔Blanched organic...

While we are getting things checked off the to-do list, one thing remains - chimney sweep.  They called and canceled on me.  They guy called in sick.  They later called back and rescheduled me for Saturday, so any Saturday afternoon plans are now off the books. We got new solar lights on our driveway poles have been installed.  I also put two reflector poles near the new trees we planted, so plowing won't destroy them this winter.  I got my garden house unscrewed from the outside spigot, but still need to put it away.  Today, I'm taking down my shower curtain and liner and washing them both. It was cloudy yesterday, but windy.  Although I am down to two clotheslines (we took the 3rd one down), I crammed it all on including bedding. While laundry was getting washed and put on the line, I delegated some chores to Hubby and Youngest.  They now have their own to-do list, and it frees me up and less stressed. Since Plan A didn't pan out, Pl...

Fall bug patrol. (photo taken before all the rain dumped on us) November is National Novel Writing Month, where writers are challenged to write 50,000 words in the month of November.  It's been a few years since I participated in this, but I think it's a good year to join again.  I need to brush up on my writing skills.  Although my laptop has gone to laptop heaven, I can still use our desktop or even a pen and paper. There is another challenge going on, via a website called B hooked.  A challenge to crochet men's gloves and a hat for those in need (Warm Up America).  In the past, I've donated boxes of crocheted scarves to homeless projects.  Just sharing for those who have the time to help out.  Saturday, our youngest daughter set up a surprise birthday party at our house, for her boyfriend and his friends.  Hubby, who said he'd clean clean, grill and organize, left us high and dry.  He left to make a trip 2 hours to see our SIL....

I was gifted this large bag of misc. hot peppers.  Does anyone have a good, tried and true, recipe for hot pepper jam?  I have made habanero/apricot that was good, but not a "hot pepper" jam using a variety (that actually has heat in it).  I won't have time to get to the library to look at recipe books, and my ball book only has jalapeno jelly.  I am going to leave all the seeds in the hot peppers and swap out the cold for more hot and hope that helps. Friday was a big shopping day.  Man oh man.  It was chilly out too.  Like winter chilly.  I went to six stores.  I had to replace my chicken watering unit, so that was one of the stops.  Romeo was not happy with my absence either.  I made sure I picked up an extra bag of carrots, so I could treat him one when I arrived back home. Three and a half hours later, I was back home to unload.  It was close to 2pm when I arrived home (left at 8:30am).  Whew!  I was exhaus...

I realized I am behind on most everything, including homemade Christmas gifts.  I need to get cracking on this. I am writing a to-do list for Hubby.  We need to get cracking on cutting wood, getting the air conditioners put to bed, and he needs to look at my dishwasher.  If it's not fixable, I'm considering taking it out and putting in another cupboard.  I don't want to invest in another one, especially with the holidays coming.  Hopefully it's an easy fix. The rain fell all day yesterday, temps dropped and snow was predicted.  I don't even have the rest of the potatoes dug up (if there are any out there). Today I am thankful for . . .  Dirty Dishes  -  a well fed family Sore muscles -  I'm alive - hot coffee in the early 5am hour - running water, running hot water for that power shower - warm cozy slippers and slipper socks - trees to cut and split - my journals, I love to write

Rain moved in yesterday as predicted. Our temperature is to drop considerably tonight.  They say the rain will go on for 36 hours. I went from "I'll just clean the hallway" (where people just drop stuff on the floor coming in and the boot pile is a mess), to "I think I should make...." and here is what got done . . . Homemade English Muffins were made. Einkorn Peanut Butter Cookies were made. Einkorn pizza dough was made for the freezer. I would have made pie crust crumbles, but I need to get some flour.  It remains on the re-stock it list. I got zero cleaning done, other than dishes.  Our 20 year-old daughter came out for dinner, and helped with making it.  I was totally excited she wanted to help.  Although I told my husband he would only get homemade corn dogs once a year, he got them.  I told them no "french fries" though.  They got oven roasted potato wedges and they were fantastic.  I used a recipe online (...

We are seeing some beautiful fall colors right now.  Yesterday, we were blessed with another dry, but cooler and cloudy day.  Dry is the key word.  I put on snow boots (still can't get my ankle in my muck books, and high tailed it out to pull tomato stakes.  Rain arrives today, and for about 24 hours straight.  Inside work resumes today. Yesterday I finally (finally, as my family patiently waited), got homemade (organic) sausage put into a dandelion/egg/jalapeno/potato and egg scramble. Speaking of potatoes, I pulled the sweet potatoes from my grow pot.  They are pretty long, but only the diameter of about a quarter or less.  They needed a longer growing season.    I'm saving them for another breakfast. The tomato stakes and wimpy tomato plants have been yanked.  I was utterly and fantastically surprised to see jalapenos.  I'm not sure how hot they are, but we are about to find out.  Yum.  ...