Pioneer Woman at Heart
One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!
One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
Adopted Motto
"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Garden Clean Up Day ~ Wild Violets
Friday, April 14, 2023
First Day in the Garden ~ My To-Do List Got more To-do-ey ~ Solar Electric Fence Suggestions?
I was up and outside early to beat the 86°F heat yesterday. I first got the chicken coop mucked, and washed the watering unit. Why oh why do the chickens seem to dirty it up in one day?
Anyway, I spent the rest of the morning out in the gardens, pulling plastic, stakes, and anything I missed last fall. I have more to do, and I need to move all the grow bags out before the rain arrives. We are hiring a person to come till both gardens, so we need the pea fence and the bean fence pulled. He is a friend, and doesn't charge a lot, and can get it all done nicely and quickly for us. We keep up after that with the smaller tiller.
Oh, and for 14 some years we've been growing gardens here, we've not had too much to deal with, in the way of critters. We did very well actually.
The last two years have been a headache. Not sure if it's due to not having dogs here or what, but the rabbits and squirrels have been the biggest nuisance. We are installing an electric solar fence this year.
We have never done this, and if you have, and have suggestions for the solar part, I would to hear them.
Thursday, April 13, 2023
How Big? ~ Great Weather and Fresh Air
Back in the darkest corner of the depths of our walk-in closet, I found several bottles of Homemade Kahlua. They were dated 2016! Not sure what happened that holiday season, but they were long forgotten and unseen. Until now. According to my blog, I gifted it that year so maybe I had extra I just completely forgot about?
The closet was part of the addition from the last people who lived here. It was built at the grand size of 8 feet by 16 feet (no one needs a closet this big!) They were odd about shelving placement, so we put in a few portable shelving units, and had to install a rod for hanging clothes. By the way, this old farmhouse has zero linen/towel/coat closets. You can imagine how much was stored in this one single addition closet.
The last family who lived here, had a father who owned a cabinetry and cement business, that eventually went belly up while we lived here.
Anywho, those Kahlua bottles were dumped, soaked and cleaned. Sigh. Like I said, I am so glad we are having to do this, as it gets me even more organized.
Thankfully, I finished the closet. I only have to pull out some empty shelving units prior to the carpet removal. Meanwhile, the grass is getting cut while we have this 86°F day.
Windows are open to get some fresh air circulating with all the dusting going on. I'm taking advantage of the sun and warmer temperature while we are getting it. It won't last past the weekend.
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Copoclephily ~ Not Homesteading Related but Related to Home Keeping (or decluttering)
Copoclephily is what describes the collecting of keychains. I am a Copoclephilist. Yes, and probably the worst habit I started as a young kid.
That is not all of them either. I have counted 998 so far (some duplicates). I gave one away. My husband said he would build a display with a covered plexiglass cover, if we build a new pole barn. He's been saying that for the last 14 years ha ha!
I have not found one museum in our state that displays a collection of this sort. I have no idea where to even start to ask or look to donate. Any ideas?
The weather has been gorgeous this week. The ground it still pretty soft from our last rain storm, but it's been great to hang clothes on the clothesline again.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Camping Tips ~ Vintage Tablecloths
We typically have extra (cloth) tablecloths in our camper, and they are vintage ones.
We've discovered that they not only work nice to cover the picnic tables, but they double as other needs as well.
They work great for extra blankets on cold nights, they are great for placing on the grass for sitting, come in handy if you forgot towels for swimming or showering, help cover wet chairs or benches, and can be hung around the sides of an easy-up or camper awning, to block sun and wind.
I love to shop for them when Hubby and I have the chance to do so. We use them on the kitchen tables, and porch table's too. I don't buy expensive ones, so it's not every year I find one to buy.
A few more tips I came across that may help ease toting the food. I typically cook my ground beef prior, but most of the time the entire pot of whatever to reheat over the fire. We always bring bacon to cook for breakfast, but I wonder if freezing it (pre-cooked) would take the "fun" out of campfire meals and camping. Hm. The kids love to cook over a campfire.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Happy Homemaker Monday
I hope you all had a nice Easter. We spent it with my husband's family, but there were so many people, it's hard to talk to every single person.
I can't say I had the day off. I got books back on a bookshelf and towels put on the clothesline to dry, before heading out to see friends and family.
Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
I'll link up later when she posts.
The weather . . .
Gorgeous! In the 60's and sunny, and we will hit the high 70's this weekend.
As I look outside my window . . .
The sunrise is beautiful. There is no wind, and the day should be great for laundry on the clothesline.
Right now I am . . .
Waking up with coffee, and about to start a load of laundry.
Thinking and pondering . . .
Working on a plan to get two doors painted, closet carpet removed, and new flooring installed in there. The garden needs weeded, tilled, compost added etc. This week is perfect, but we'll see, as it will be only me doing the work. My husband is too tired to do much after work during the week days.
On my beside table. . .
Water, a cell charger, a crochet hook and yarn needle.
On my TV . . .
Netflix, whatever looks good when I am watching TV.
Listening to . . .
70's Rock
On the lunch plate . . .
-have no idea
On the dinner plate . . .
-see menu plan
On the menu . . .
-Sheet pan chicken sausage/carrot/potato
-Pasta casserole with ground beef, home canned tomato sauce, asparagus/onion etc.
-Crockpot chops, quinoa and roasted brussel sprouts
On my reading pile . . .
On the to-do list . . .
-sweep and mop floors
-dust
Plans for the week . . .
Extreme Clean:
-Start cleaning front porch
-Clean out fridge
-Continue cleaning bedroom closet/purge
What I am creating . . .
Honestly, I had to frog my current blanket, and I may table it until I have the porch cleaned up, and have a cool weather day.
My simple pleasure . . .
Porch time. Some days it's reading, some days crochet, some playing cards....hence cleaning it up.
Looking around the house . . .
Its somewhat coming back together, but I have a bunch of craft supplies to look at before I lug them upstairs (or get rid of some).
From the camera . . .
Bible Verse, Prayers . . .
-prayers for a friend Tina, her husband is in the hospital on a ventilator. I do not know the details.