Pioneer Woman at Heart

It's definitely back to reality today.  The treadmill, and other work out equipment are all moved to the upstairs.  The table I used for the sewing machine was moved upstairs, and the sofa moved as well.  It'll feel like a zoo around here again, but we are making progress.  The armoire we had used for the TV left the house Friday to a good friend.  Today I will measure an area rug from the living room.  If it's too big for a room upstairs, we'll donate it to the Habitat Re-store. Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'll link up when she posts.   The weather . . . Rain, drizzle, 60's. As I look outside my window . . . It's still dark out. Right now I am . . . Making more coffee , as it shuts off at 6am from the pre-set 4am pot. Thinking and pondering . . . We are considering taking the pellet stove out and replacing it with a gas fireplace.  The cost of pellets compared to gas is the question. How I am feeling . . ....

  We had a beautiful sunny day, but it was cold.  Look at all those leaves.  A dog's dream.  Jesse loved to run and jump in piles of them.  Of course, out in the country, we do not rake these. Mom's Zygo cactus has more buds this time around.  So beautiful.

  I was so busy cleaning, I did not get one photograph for today's post.  The pantry is almost done.  It's been wiped out and re-organized, other than waiting on two containers for my pasta.  We have really cut back on pasta, so the container is getting downsized, and it's cheaper to order online and have delivered than to make a trip all the way to the "Big City" with gas prices. Once those arrive the pantry will be completely done, and much easier to take inventory for grocery days.  Daughter K had lots of stuff in there that had expired.  I imagine she forgot about them after she moved in two years ago.  Anyway, as I was in the process of that job, I found a few items in that room to toss and donate as well. Our handy-man was out.  He tuned up our wood splitter, and we talked about the to-do list a bit.  I explained my washer was on the fritz and we chatted about that in case I need to hire him to help me.  My husband's long hours sho...

  The morning sky was so beautiful the other morning.  Today it's raining.  The cooler weather returns. The battle of the leaves ha ha!  As soon as I blow them off, they are right back on the porches. My rainy day projects are back on track today.  The pantry is still under construction, but I will be so happy when I am done.  It just got out of hand with a kids grocery shopping as well.

  Mom's cactus is blooming again.  It is so, so pretty. I spent most of the day putting laundry on the clothesline until I ran out of room.  My washing machine needs tuned up.  I kept getting an error in regards to water it was adding (not enough apparently).  Not what my husband wanted to hear, but hopefully he can fix that. I started the pantry project.  Daughter K had stuff in there that had expired.  I'm gonna be so happy to finally get some order in those cupboards.   I yanked the last of the hot pepper plants and was surprised at the size of some of them.  It was rather hard to pull them too, as it was pretty dry out there.

  Our stores do not sell organic milk by the quart.  We buy the half gallon, but find that it goes bad before we finish it.  I decided to start freezing half of it, as we buy it.  I'll have it on hand, and it won't be wasted.  We have no access to goat or cow milk in our area either, so it's purchased at the store.  Heck, I couldn't even find goat milk for soap making, so we are back to buying it. Speaking of soap, I think I asked this before, but how much essential oil to add to 1# of soap base?  I have some to use up, and want to make travel size soaps for traveling (and to get the base out of my closet, ha ha!). Spreadable butter was made.  It's great to have on hand when the weather is cold.  We keep our butter on a butter dish in the kitchen, and during colder weather, it's not spreadable on fresh bread, or to grill sandwiches. I am starting to dislike "errand" day ha ha!  I got 'er done though.  I was tickled pink to find gru...

  It was another cold miserable, dreary day.  Of course I am not out of inside work either.  However, I managed to squeeze into my day, by making w hiskey butterscotch sauce .  We drizzled it over the apple crunch cake for dessert.  No we didn't need the sugar in our diet, but it is so good. I only make this once a year if that. Now that my youngest has found out, she wants my flourless brownies for sundaes.  The sauce will last in the fridge for 1 month, so it may happen. We did not plant pinto beans this last summer, so I had to order those (dry).  Our stores do not sell organic brands of those. First it was the mower that broke down (it's old and passed down), then the smaller AC unit died.  Now?  My 20-some year old Kitchenaid mixer.  Sigh.  I use it a lot.  My husband wasn't happy that he couldn't do anything to fix it either.  I guess I will be hoping for fall sales (if we are lucky to get those this year). It's stil...