Pioneer Woman at Heart

After days and days of dark and dreary, the sun finally came out all day yesterday.  We took advantage of it, and got out to cut and split more wood.  We installed one nesting box inside the coop too.  We'll see today if they are using it, and will add at least one more for them. I also had a nice visit with Mom. She sent me home with a folder and when I opened at home, it was full of family photos.  Many of her, her parents, my family, many baby photos of my kids etc.  I will be making a trip to the craft store for a scrapbook.  That will be either a project for the girls or a rainy day project.  It will be kept to pass on family history, so I'll be sure to write who is who and dates if possible. We needed a few things from the store, and headed back home.  I totally forgot to pick up supplies to put new rungs on the chicken ramp.   Speaking of the coop, we are already getting help from my Dad.  When he passed, my husband and I inh...

I went right back to deep cleaning Friday.  I'm beginning to work on the hallway where I have two bookshelves (hallway is wide and was added on for a person in a wheel chair).  I am super excited to start on this.  I have to decide if I want to paint the hallway after I get it all cleared out though.  I need warmer weather to paint too. First, I completely emptied my pantry shelving unit my husband built, cleaned it, moved it to another room and filled it back up.  I'll be moving one hallway bookshelf to take is place next.   Question.  I am looking for a small (travel size) iron for making my crafting purposes.  Do any of you have suggestions?  I found one on Amazon about $4 cheaper than on one I saw at our local Meijer.  Our random act of kindness.  While on our cabin trip we stopped at an art gallery where they did glass blowing.  We picked this cute pair if earrings up for my husband's co-worker's wife.  She loves...

Wednesday kept me so busy in the kitchen, I totally forgot to purge two dresser drawers.  I literally dumped them out in the early morning to ensure that I would complete that job.  My goal is to get more extreme cleaning done, purging, and tidying up done daily.  I want to be stress free come planting time. I also did a quick look-see, to see if I had the right crochet thread for another new project (like I need one, ha ha!), and I did.  I put that out on my bed to reward me with some handiwork time. Boy, was I fired up with energy and a long to-do list and the intent to get it done.  I had towels to fold, more laundry to do, so many things needed put away that were in the wrong place, sticky notes to put on things to remind the girls to get something done, seeds to inventory for the new year, emails to send, items to clean to donate, items that needed to be trashed, and a recipe to hunt for (lost another one, ha ha!). Speaking of seeds, Baker Creek has their o...

  I still have a supply of home grown sweet potatoes, so I decided to mix up a casserole with those, sausage, kale, broccoli, mushrooms and garlic for breakfast. Dinner was a big 'ol crock pot of chili.  Dessert was Einkorn applesauce cake (Jovial recipe is online).  Nothing better for a cold and busy day yesterday.  The best part?  Leftovers today. Both dishes required quite a bit of time in the kitchen early in the day.  Leftovers give me more time for other things today, and hopefully some handiwork time. I'm already on the hunt for more crochet patterns.  I'm filling up the Christmas binder too with gifting ideas and recipes. First little something special for the girls.  These are about 3 x 4 inches and perfect to carry in their purse to jot notes or write a list.  So cute.  I'll tuck one in their lunches for work with a special note to cheer them up for the day.   

My husband started Sunday out with working on my car with replacing the brakes.   First order of business on Sunday for me?  Secure some boxes for next week.  I'll need them to move books from point A to B and then back to A.  I'm so excited to get some bigger projects checked off the books this year. Second order was to put more kale in the freezer.  My stash of greens were getting low. Third to make room in two other rooms for the books and bookshelves before I start moving them.  I may do a purge if needed, but one entire bookshelf is canning, medicinal, homesteading and self sufficiency books and I know those will all stay. Fourth?  Clean out our travel case of toiletries.  I've had it in the bathroom since our last overnight vacation, and decided it needed cleaned out (purge out any old stuff, reorganize). Fifth order of business was to get a few more rows crocheted into Daughter's cardigan.  I'm gaining on it. I also had some banan...

  January 1st was a day to catch back up on things.  Laundry was caught up, Hubby finished replacing the brakes on the truck, I mended a shirt, and cleaned up "party central" in the kitchen.  We started the new year by trying a new recipe.  Had to laugh though.  It was a crock pot recipe, and all day I thought it was not.  I had to make a few changes and wha-la, black eyed pea casserole baked in the oven.  It tasted good too.  Original recipe is online with Food.com.  I used fire roasted tomatoes and added my own jalapeno's that I froze (and cooked along with the ground beef and onions first).  Healthy and delicious.  Will it bring us good luck all year?  I guess we'll find out.  I've never been one to believe in such things, but after last year it was worth a try. My new 2021 planner is being filled up with plans of travel, and a bright shining year of possibilities.  The weather was absolutely miserable ye...

It's a new year!  The beginning of something new I hope for all of us.  I spent yesterday (New Year's Eve Day) driving my 21 year-old to her therapy and surgery.  She had the pins removed from her hand.  She is completely healed and has no restrictions using her hand.  So thankful for that.   Today, I am making black eyed pea casserole for dinner.  It just sounded good.  I'm thinking of rolling out the pastry cloth and making us some biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I inherited this door from my Dad.  He was a pharmacist.  It's very old.  I grew up working in the store.  The store had a fountain, photo center, cigar counter, penny candy and sold other items.  The fountain (what we called it) is where there were booths to sit and eat, and a long counter with seats to sit and eat.  We sold sandwiches, ice cream, snacks, soda etc.  We had the best hot fudge sundaes.  Anyway, Dad's pharmacy had a swinging ...