Pioneer Woman at Heart

  We are contemplating membership with Costco.  Sam's Club is just too far of a drive, and Costco is as well, but a shorter drive. Prices are just so high, it is ridiculous.  I have to literally go online, and price compare, and then write out 2-3 different store lists.  It's time consuming, but I have started to price compare online before going to the stores.  Big Lots is great for some items, but not for others.  The same goes for Aldi, Wal-mart, Meijer etc.   The bottle takes two hands to pour, but still the least expensive we've found. I can tell you, that I found white vinegar by the gallon to be the least expensive at Menard's.  We were heading that way anyway, and had rebates to use.  $2.66/gallon with rebate.  I also found their cotton balls, toilet paper, and paper towels to be less than the grocery or Wal-mart.  My research paid off, as I also found the next least expensive place for white vinegar - Big Lots.  I...

  The tool on the left is used for removing the garlic skins.  you place the garlic inside the tube and roll it with your hand.  The tool on the right is used to slice the garlic. You put the top piece of the slicer back on top and twist the bottom as you press down the top. I have learned to not over fill this, making it much easier. I know this is a repeat post, and I do make it yearly most garden seasons.  If you have never made garlic powder you can click on my post below on how I make it, after the garlic is dehydrated.   My very first years making garlic powder, I would hand peel, and hand slice.   How to Dehydrate Garlic and Make Garlic Powder Tips: -Use latex gloves. -Rinse all the tools/knife if you are not going to do dishes right away.  Garlic dries rock hard, making washing things difficult. -I only have 4 mats for my dehydrator, so I use parchment paper some times, so that I don't lose the very small bits of the garlic.  I d...

  I thought we were going to have a very dreary, dark day yesterday, but the sun came out, and I got some fresh air.  It was a bit cooler and breezy, but we are to warm back up thankfully.  Getting outside this time of year is good for the soul. Later, I went into my office for something, and found that I buried my crochet hooks in there.   I quickly got those back in their proper home, but I realized that I have more "stuff" in there to put away.  By "stuff" I mean stuff shoved in there from ripping up the entire flooring in the living.  I unpacked two more boxes I found from the bedroom project. I am also filling another box for donations. Just pack up an entire room in a hurry, and then unpack it all.  You'd be surprised on what you really need or use vs. what you have.   I found a cookbook I didn't even know I had.  I may try a few, but it is old and falling apart. I have used my "hidden" screwdriver several times already, and h...

  I've been spending a lot of time tidying up, putting stuff away, preserving and stocking up, and just regular ol' housework. I've had to deliver some homemade ginger-ale to one of my daughters.  By the way, her cyst is draining thankfully.  However, her antibiotics are making her sick.  Thank you for all of your prayers. More greens are being blanched and frozen for the winter months.  Spinach and dandelion greens.  I have to remind myself to focus on one at a time, and not bring home different ones.  It's time consuming to switch water out and ice bath water.  I'm still looking for swiss chard in stores.  I have not found any yet. I've been searching for my holiday mojo.  It's been lost.  Poof!  Disappeared.  Not one iota of it lingering this year. I used to be the one that insisted on a tree in every room of the house, including the master bathroom.  I had lights everywhere, in rooms, on the trees, in the hal...

One thing I keep in my freezer:  ginger root (and cranberries) One thing I keep in my pantry:  honey Homemade Ginger-ale is often requested, although I give the recipe out to the family so many times.  It truly is a staple for when anyone is sick or experiencing nausea.  I wish there was a way to make a giant batch, and can it.   I would also buy my fresh cranberries in October, and put them in the freezer for Christmas.  The cranberries would be used for Mom's Hot Cranberry Punch recipe every year.  I however, did not buy any cranberries this year. So, cranberries were often found in my freezer too. Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal - another new recipe tried. The recipe is online with The Real Food Dietitians.  I borrowed their cookbook from our library, but the recipes they post online are not in the cookbook.  We are very much enjoying the breakfast oatmeal bake recipes.  There are about two more of their recipes to try. The ...

  We were able to get some work done on the new chicken coop over the weekend.   We actually had help on Sunday.  We were so thankful for the help.  The door is built now, but the roof still needs put on it.   We have had some rather warmer fall days, which were great for outdoor work, other than the mutant ladybugs were out in full force (and they bite).  I finally got my kitchen sink leak fixed!  The gasket had broken off and fallen down into the drain pipe.  I'm drying out the cupboard (again) and will be using this situation to purge, clean and sort what goes back in the cupboard.  I just have to get it it good and dry, put the mat in, and get everything back into the cupboard.  Until then, I'm sort of tripping over stuff in the kitchen. Although I am thankful for the work on the coop, it always puts my indoor work behind.  I have a long week ahead of me.  I also realized I don't have a planner nor calendar for 20...

Is anyone else having trouble with the photo icon button uploading photos from your computer?  It's different now, and when I click on it, browse button shows up and will go to my photos on the computer, but will not upload.  Any suggestions on this?  I will try emptying cookies etc.   I've been using the library more often lately.  However, I catch myself loaning handiwork books or cookbooks, and that gets me into trouble with new projects.  The crochet project book has 3 different crochet patterns for baby washcloths.  I may have found a way to use up some discontinued yarn I have.  I'll update you on that later.  I will use them for gifting.  There are a lot of babies being born around us lately. The cook book underneath has a great recipes to try.  I found their breakfast baked oatmeal recipes very good.  I have two more to try.  One with pears and another  I think with mixed berries. Had to laugh the other d...