Little of This ~ Little of That

 

Mondays are always hard, as it's back to the grind, and no sleeping in.  I, however, took advantage of the day and the 60-some degree weather.  Laundry went on the line, I worked a bit in one of the vegetable gardens, and I did some indoor painting.  I also got some porch reading time in, and boy the weather was fantastic.

I've learned in our area, that you need to just drop whatever you indoor plans are on good spring days, and get outside.  The weather has quickly turned to rain, thunderstorms, and high wind warnings.

Breakfasts were finally decided on, and I pulled more frozen garden pumpkin puree from the freezer, along with some holiday diced ham we froze, and frozen garden grown bell peppers.

Freezer meal planning progress . . .

Meaning using the freezer items as a meal prep start.

(Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole:  The Real Food Dietitians online.  I had to put foil on top and bake longer, because the center was not cooked all the way).

I made us some Einkorn flour pumpkin pancakes and a ham and egg breakfast casserole.  I have more frozen garden pumpkin puree, so I'll be looking for more new recipes to try. 

The ham and egg casserole was a new recipe to try.  It was similar to the egg cups with ham, but in a 9 x 9 pan instead.  

The bottom layer of it requires flour, so the next time I will try Einkorn flour and reduce the milk.  Any advice for swapping all purpose flour with Einkorn all-purpose flour when baking?

Has anyone made their own date syrup?  I bought organic dates, but I need a small batch recipe, not one with a pound of dates.  I did not get medjool either, they simply say "organic" on the label.  I'm thinking of making some for pancakes/waffles, but would need a recipe for 1 cup of dates.  Just not sure on the amount of water to use.

We've located a resource for "lightly" pasteurized goat milk.  It's a bit of a drive, but we will stock up soon.  We have yet to locate "raw" goat milk.  Does anyone know if I can make cheese with this type of milk?  I used to make all sorts of cheese when we had raw milk from our own Lamancha goats, and I do miss it.

Garden notes for the end of March:

-any and all plastic/stakes were removed from the garden for tilling

-chives and green onions have recovered from the recent snow

-garlic looks a bit dry, but there is rain falling now

-more egg shells were added to another area of the vegetable garden

-potato starts have been purchased, and I'll be placing them in a cardboard box to grow sprouts for planting

-rhubarb is up and look good, it's too early for asparagus just yet, and we need a new raised bed, as we plan to move the rhubarb plants this spring, asparagus bed needs weeded, but I will wait for the shoots to come up first

-I will not be putting out my mole-chasing windmill until these high winds stop, but it will be going up after that.

Little of This ~ Little of That  © Mar 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Participation Plummet and Random Thoughts

 

March rolled in quicker than I expected.  I had some goals for the end of February, and here we are at March.

There seems to be a blogger participation plummet for whatever reasons.  So many blogs I used to follow, with such interesting and useful homesteading content (sometimes humorous), have left the blogging scene.  I get it for the most part.   It can be time consuming, and in winter the writing content can be very limited.  Things change for some as well.

I mean, we used to raise dairy goats (Lamancha), and we stopped doing that years ago, so I do understand change.  Life changes constantly.

I'm experiencing the humdrum of blogging.  I know spring is around the corner, but maybe like all the other blogs I used to read (and now don't post anymore),  I'm sort of falling off the blogging "thing" lately as well.  

Maybe I am the one who needs a new change.  Although we are still undergoing home repairs, and staying busy, sometimes change is a good thing.  

The rain held off, and we had a few very nice 70 degree days here.  It may stay in the upper 60's today, but thunderstorms may actually roll in later.  The weather causes that itch to clean up gardens, but I know I need to refrain for now.  It's still too early.

For the first time this year, I was able to wash and dry the bedding and quilts outside on the clothesline.

We also blew the dust off our motorcycle, and got our first ride of the year in.  The weather has been that nice. 

Here is an update on "what I am crocheting" for the time being.  I have to admit though, as the warmer days stay, I'm on hold for this blanket.  If we cool back down, I'll be back to work on it some more, and in hopes to finish before the cooler days disappear for the year.  The photo doesn't really show the colors very well.  

That is a burgundy yarn, leftover from crocheting a cardigan, and the others are heather gray, teal, and soft white.  The gray and white are also leftover project yarns.  The colors remind me of a cabin.  I wanted to use the other pattern, but his one has less ends to sew in.  

Blogger is once again having hiccups with posting.  I am having trouble with photos loading, and for the font to stay the way I type it.  I have to constantly go back and fix the post.  

I may also remove the "popular post" widget.  I am getting some outrageous view counts on some very old posts, that is not normal.  Most of my posts barely get 100 views within a few years, and some showing up in the "popular" post widget are well over that.

I am using the stats and google analytics to watch those this week.  Another reason I am contemplating continuing to blog - a lot of work to maintain for all reasons. 

By the way blogger "stats" is not working properly.  It was working the other day, but now it is not.  Anyone else having blogger issues?  Also, I tried adding a jump break on a post, and it would not work either.   I may try an entirely new blog theme.

Participation Plummet and Random Thoughts  © Mar 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

 The weather . . .

We went from 60-70's to 50's and rain, and this week we'll barely see 50°F with lows in the 30's.  I was successful at crossing off "wash rugs" and they dried outside before the weather turned.

Right now I am . . .

Posting this blog post and sipping coffee.

Thinking and pondering . . .

Well for starters, I'm searching to see if they sell metal ridge caps that are wider than 10 x 10 inches, and possibly covering the coop with a tarp until we figure things out.

We have another set back with the chicken coop roofing.  He hand built the rafters, and the roofing he cut is too short for the ridge cap by about 2 inches.   Not what we needed with the holidays and such.  Otherwise the ridge cap would have been up last night.  

How I am feeling . . .

Tired.  However, I taught my granddaughter how to crochet.  In the amount of time she was here, she learned to chain stitch and by the end of the night, I taught her how to go back the second row using single crochet.  She left with a bag of yarn and a crochet hook, and a happy kiddo.  I  fear though, she will drive her Mom mad with questions now (ha ha!).

On the breakfast plate . . .

Egg, bacon, and cheese breakfast sandwich.

On the lunch plate . . .

Have no idea yet.

On the dinner plate . . .

Leftovers thankfully.

On the menu . . .

-have no idea yet
-

What I am wearing . . .

PJ's - still sipping coffee and getting this posted.

On my reading pile . . .

On my TV this week . . .

Christmas on Mistletoe Farm (Netflix).  I picked this randomly, when I my husband worked overtime, and found it quite fun to watch.  Very quirky, and at one point you'd think of it as a musical.  A father with 5 kids inherits a farm and the animals with it.  The town is very small, and the funny part is there is a woman in the town who crochets/knits for everyone and everything, including kid goats.  Everything in this movie is surrounded by something crocheted in the scene.  Family friendly.

Looking around the house . . .

Update on the home renovations/repairs/improvements:

When we moved in this house, the entire kitchen, and master bath had zero hardware on the cabinets.  I bought plain wood knobs, and hand painted them with acrylic paints to appear like weather paint.  They have lasted 14 years, and still look the same as the day I painted them.  

I've been installing new hardware in the master bath.  I've had it in a box since last year, and we got so far behind, painting in there did not happen (yet).  I decided to install all the new hardware, and will beautify as the weather sees fit.  Now I'm not shuffling the box around to sweep and mop.  

To-do list . . .

-laundry
-make a breakfast dish

-finish cleaning out the fridge (started it, but didn't finish)
-put trash out, including a lawn chair I keep forgetting about
-work on menu/grocery list for the week

-dust

-work on pricing craft show items

From the camera . . .

Marinated cheese.  A first time trying, and why I wanted a basil plant indoors.  You can't buy fresh basil this time of year (atleast here anyway).  Delicious.

Something to share . . .

Nothing to share today, but asking if anyone has a tried and true crock pot, good, macaroni and cheese recipe to share?  Or an oven baked recipe that re-heats nicely.  One that travels well, re-heats well or stays heated in a crock pot.

Devotional, Quote, Prayers . . .

Our friend Jill - her Dad is in a nursing home due to a fall, but now they discovered cancer, and there are health issues with her daughter's pregnancy.

New Tea ~ Down Memory Lane

 

Giving this new tea a try.  It is similar to the Traditional Medicinal teas, and it is good.  I have also ordered something new to try.

The carpet is all out upstairs.  It is almost completely out of the stairway as well.  It may be an all year long project, but at least the carpet is gone.

I got my stand for my starter seeds moved.  I'm starting seeds two weeks earlier than last year.  I do need to check the grow lights today.

There were a total of 9 deer out early evening last night.  I heard my husband talking and looking out the window saying, "you all better stay over there."  Ha ha!  They were all out eating the winter wheat.  The temperatures have dropped to the single digits, so it is back to cold here.

Down memory lane:   

I was looking for a specific photo and remembered I made flan for a fiesta/salsa party/tasting night.  That was the first and last time I made flan, but it was good!  You can read about the year I canned several different salsas and our fun food fest  HERE.

Our first goats!  Golly what a memory!  Reflections of 2011 can be read HERE.  We haven't had goats now for many years.  I do miss the milk, soap and cheeses.

Happy Homemaker Monday

Daughter K came over to do more cleaning upstairs.  She had intentions of bringing me 3 dozen hears of corn from a community garden near her.  Twenty minutes into her drive, she realized she forgot them.  Sigh.

We have horse flies bad this year.  I have no idea why either.  No goats, no horses, nothing but chickens here.  Best we figure, is that there is a dead animal in the woods.  Urgh.  Every time I kill one, another shows up and drives me off the porch.

I was very glad to have Daughter K over, even for a few hours.  I got to thinking, and I think I have felt depressed because Mom's birthday is coming up.  Either way, I am was glad to have company.  My husband had to work Sunday as well.

• 
  
  

• Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather . . .

85/65°F, thunderstorms.

As I look outside my window  . . .

Dark clouds are moving in.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to wash dishes and purge some cigar boxes that Daughter K left.  I'll be donating the boxes to a friend who has an antique store in a small town about 30 minutes from out home.

Thinking and pondering . . . 

The prices of yarn have gotten so ridiculously high.  My online resource now has cotton balls at $3.49!!!  I used to get them at Wal-mart for $1.50!  Wal-mart hasn't had anything I need lately either.

I'm considering starting to prime the master bath cupboards, but I think I want to paint the walls first.  Not sure.  I still have to clean up the debris left by mainly one kid upstairs.

How I am feeling . . . 

Good.  Pretty good actually.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Eggs, toast and coffee.

On the dinner plate . . .

I actually made the chicken fajitas last night, so leftovers tonight.

What I am wearing . . .

T-shirt, yoga pants - looking forward to a rainy day inside.

On the reading pile . . .

Mom's recipe books.  She kept a lot of recipes.  I'm looking for notes on the recipes she tried and found delicious.  I may be trying a few, adjusting them with organic/home grown ingredients.

On my TV this week . . . 

We just finished watching Alone.  I had a hard time finding good movies, but now that my husband is done with long, exhausting hours at work, we can spend evening out on the motorcycle hopefully.

On the menu . . .

-Black bean cakes with mango salsa, yellow squash patties
-tacos, homemade salsa
-chicken fajitas
-crockpot bbq pork chops, beets

-something grilled, grilled onion for a side

Looking around the house . . . 

Well, handyman came to finish installing the shower, and the bathroom door is now back on where it belongs.  

To do list . . .

(for the week)

-can pickles

-can grape jelly

-can applesauce

-freeze corn

-purge living room, bedroom and upstairs

-buy paint for master bath

-finish weeding flower beds

-clean out fridge

-crochet new item for holiday craft show

-take a trip to donate more stuff that the kids left

From the camera . . .

Daughter K brought her boyfriend with her Sunday, so I gave them Mom's tea spoons.  They will be a nice addition to their black/white themed kitchen.

We finally got my husband's Father's Day gift (from Daughter K) put up on the porch.

Prayers . . .

Daughter K's dog King has had 4 seizures in one month.  Prayers for him.  He may be going to the vet.  He gets a natural calming oil every morning, but he is getting worse and it makes me sad.  He never had them until they moved to an apartment way back in the day.  Poor Kingsley.

Prayers for those dealing with flooding and lost lives in Jackson, KY.

Path in Life and Changes Along the Way . . .

My post today is in reference to Mama Pea's post the other day about "A Different Choice."  Thanks for the inspiration to write this, but you may want a hot beverage to sip. It's sort of long, ha ha!

My first career, and very happy with it at the time, was a Travel Agent.  I went straight to Travel School (right out of high school), which was about an hour drive from home (I was still living with my Mom).  I loved it.

I worked my school hours on the River (up north), where I worked as a sales ticket person, where river boat rides went up and down the river.  I had a fancy uniform too.

I also did internship with other Travel Agencies.  I LOVED it!  I worked my way through a few Travel Agencies, and landed in a bigger agency.  I took additional classes and earned my DS on many destinations (specialist on certain travel locations).  These were serious designations to earn (testing was difficult as well).

I took outside classes and earned my CTC first.  That stands for "Certified Travel Consultant" and you could only use that designation as long as you were working for an agency with a true iata agency number (and worked full time).  Today, this course is over $500.00!  My agency at the time paid us, as long as we passed the courses.  The designation was up and beyond the travel school certificate I earned from the first school.

I loved it so much, I became a "teacher" for the next few DS (Destination Specialist) courses.  I think I even still have my books from it somewhere.  I loved teaching the course, and toted my briefcase to work every day.  I began to wear suits to work, handed down by my Mother as well (she worked at a bank at the time).  I felt that great about my career.

Well, then they hired a woman as an "agent" who literally turned psycho on my manager, and put her out of a job.  My boss was THE BEST EVER BOSS!  The woman they hired had mental issues and control issues, and didn't want anyone to do the job as agent better than her (I did, and she didn't like it). 

I had a large clientele.  I was the type of person who studied the available travel packages, and only sold the customer what they could afford, but a good quality company as well.  We worked on commission, and the "psycho" lady they hired sold only high commission packages to clients (expensive for costumers).  It meant, I had to work more customers in a day to pay my bills, but I had repeat customers who trusted me.

I got tired of "psycho" woman (who stole my bosses job) to the point I was mentally sick and threw up on the job, and I walked out on the job (while a single mother raising 3 kids).  I was later hired at the plastic injection molding company, where I worked in the office (best income I ever had).  My title was Purchasing Coordinator.  It's were I met my current husband.  Best thing I ever did.

Later, down the road, after a few more kids, I went to college for Journalism.  I ended up leaving that college and caring for the family.  Journalism is not even offered there anymore.  I do not regret staying home to care for the kids and family at all.  I do miss my Travel Agent days, but as of today, those are not even needed as much as they were back in the day.

During my course of a stay-at-home Mom, I built beautiful flower beds around our first new home using natural stones that had been dug up.  I dedicated one section by the back door for my first ever herb garden.  I have since dug up that garden and moved it twice to where we are now, and wa-la now a garden grower, chicken raiser (even raised dairy goats and meat-birds).  I would not change a thing, but have to admit, I miss my Travel Agent days.  Those would be totally different, and more difficult today with the internet and people booking their own travel.

Thanks for the inspiration to write this post.  I hope I didn't make the post too long.

It's still snowing and very cold here this morning.  I have hot water, so I'm a happy gal.  I'll be happier once the wood stove is in full swing.  Coffee is brewing, and breakfast just needs heated up.

Sunrise ~ Lamancha Goats ~ Wonderful Surprise and other Tidbits

 

Beautiful sunrise.

Good memories.  Our first Lamancha doeling.  We have had a few discussions about raising them again (along with other meat sources).

My husband brought me home a surprise!  Man I love him so much.  It's been a rough couple of weeks for sure.

The weather will be up in the 50's today, so I am heading outside for anything that needs done, aside from splitting wood.  I can't do that without my husband.

Update on Mom:  she finally got her own room and will possibly be discharged today.  However, we are adding another doctor appt. to her schedule.  The doctor that did the surgery, is the only doctor to handle her wound on that leg.

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

I cut the entire 10 yards of green netting I bought, but now have a blister on my thumb from cutting so much netting.  I will need to raise my prices next year on handmade items.  My supplies have all gone up in price.

My husband was not able to leave work early yesterday, so I have much to do today on my own.  It's going to be much nicer out today, so that will help.

I worked a bit more on my Christmas ornaments.  I'll take them to the craft show this weekend.  I would love to keep one for our tree, but we'll see.  I will be sure to post a photo when they are all done.

Bottle Cap Earrings I made.

I'm making more for the craft show, but I still need to balance outside work with inside work.  Instructions on the ornaments can be found on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.

I went out to find something dug up the yard looking for grubs I assume.  I'm thinking either skunk or raccoon.  I guess we don't have to worry about army worms, but the rodents left the grass a total mess.  In all the 13 years living here, this is the first time to see this.

I have been putting my homemade comfrey salve on a bruise, and it's been working great!  I'm so glad I made it this year.  Do you make a comfrey salve?

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

I'll link up when she posts.  I need to get the outdoor stuff done before I can start playing with handiwork.

The weather . . . 

68°F/ 43°F

How I am feeling this morning . . .

Ready to tackle the days work.

On my mind . . .

Homemade Christmas presents. I have a few to gift, and a few ideas.  I would like to make some things to surprise gift my Aunt M.  

On the breakfast plate . . .

I'm leaning towards a crock pot steel cut oats recipe with apples and raisins.

Right now I am . . .

Getting ready to post this, and get this day going.

What I am wearing today. . .

Outdoor work clothes, muck boots, then changing clothes.

On my reading pile . . .

Letters written to my Dad, so I can start passing them onto the next sibling.

On today's to-do list . . .

-put dishes away

-bake a breakfast casserole, maybe steel cut oats breakfast

-muck the chicken coop

-put tomato stakes back in storage

-dump flower pots

-pull glady bulbs

-check greens in the garden

-work on crocheting more dish scrubbies, finish a set of boot cuffs, and work on the ornaments and earrings

On the TV . . .

Comanche Moon, Lonesome Dove, Return to Lonesome Dove

On the menu this week . . .

-chicken chili

-turkey, steamed broccoli

-roast, potatoes, carrots and onions

-leftovers

From the camera . . .

Old photo of when we had the last goats (he was a wether).  He was always finding a way to jump out of his stall or over the fence.  

Looking around the house . . .

I have the larger kitchen table cleaned off to cut one more color of netting. 

Something fun to share . . .

Recipes to try.  The brazil nut one has me intrigued.

To relax this week I will . . .

Read letters and crochet, call Mom.

On the prayer list . . .

Mom.  Her memory is getting worse.  She also canceled her meals on wheels and now relies on friends and family.  Winter is coming and I think she'll need to get those meals delivered again.  I get snowed in, and most everyone works.

Homesteader Chit Chat

 

The weather has been questionable.  I don't watch any news, so I rely on weather reports by searching it online or on my phone.  Woke up to "feels like" 2°F and very windy.  We got more snow last night too.  Just fed our barn cat and I think there may be a stray out there this morning.  The wind is wicked.

Apparently you can get sick-sick.  My girls are the only two getting upper respiratory/bronchial illnesses.  Illnesses that the doctors don't prescribe medications, and send them home, kind of illnesses.  

The girls wear a mask daily, all day long and one does heavy lifting.  I feel awful for them.  Both have had to visit the Urgent care, had to test for covid (always negative, and never test them for flu either), and have been sent home with over the counter suggestions.  Even though daughter K was diagnosed with a sinus infection, she was sent home with over the counter medications.  I have never heard of that - always a prescription of some sort.  Thank goodness for natural remedies that do help quicken recovery and relieve symptoms.  Which reminds me, I need to restock ginger root.

The purge continues here, and thankful I'm doing it.  However, the craft supplies are getting me into trouble.  More on that later.  My first attempt to purge, was anything wooden for crafts. Ha ha, oh boy. 

I filled a box of writing paper, graph paper, and markers to give to my younger brother.  My niece and nephew go thru a lot of paper.  Thankful it could be used.  They are getting oodles of doodle paper.

I have a tote of goat supplies and I'm hesitant to purge those.  I just don't know if we'll raise dairy goats again or not, and I hate to re-purchase.  I'm hanging on to them for now.

My dish scrubbies and soap saver bags were delivered to the gift shop.  I am thrilled they are selling them, as we didn't have one craft show last year.  I received an additional order for 6, but I have to get to the store to see if they sell netting in the color she wants.  It's an odd color request.

King got his first winter booties.  I took a video, but can't get it to load here.  I will try again later.  It was hilarious.  We could all use a good laugh.

My favorite firewood fetcher machine.  Works great until I hit a patch of clean concrete or grass.  It's more trips to restock the porch, but so much less heavy work.  Good exercise I guess.

Today, is the first day I have not been prepared for a dinner, but I'm sure I can come up with something this morning.  I love crock pot dinners.  I can relax with crochet or crafting or reading and not be at the stove in the evenings.  I guess I'll see when I check the freezer and pantry.

Ideas for revitalizing and energizing yourself (cont.):

26. Practice self-expression

27. Work off your anger

28. Face your fears

29. Experiment with acting your way to a new feeling

30. Learn to relax

This and That

 

Let's talk about English Muffin rings.  I had no idea these things even existed.  Do any of you have them and use them, and if you have them, do they help in the rising/baking process?

Where is a good place to purchase a wool pressing mat?

Let's talk pie.  Does anyone have a really good homemade butterscotch pie recipe?  I will be checking my cookbooks, but I really don't want to use a pudding to make it.  I'd like to try a homemade one.

I found another use for my home canned pizza sauce.  One day last week I made chicken parmigiana in the crock pot.  So easy and tasted awesome.

I sliced two organic chicken breasts in half, making 4 filets of chicken.  Dipped them into an egg beaten with salt and pepper, then dipped them in Italian panko, seared 3 minutes on each side in butter in a stove top pan.  Transferred them to the crockpot, poured a pint of home canned pizza sauce over it.  Put the crock pot on low for about 7-8 hours, then hand shredded mozzarella cheese over it at the end until melted.  Delish!

My 21 year-old daughter bought me a very cute camper blanket.  She also bought me a box of Christmas cards she found at the dollar store.  So cute!

I finally figured out what I can make for Mom for Christmas.  I will be digging out my sewing machine for part of the making.  I haven't gotten it out since I sewed goat coats for our baby goats.  I'll update as I work on it.  This should be fun.  I never figured out how to thread a bobbin with it, so I sure hope YouTube has some videos.  The book that came with it doesn't have directions.  Mom gave me the sewing machine, so I am thankful for that.  I still have her old one that I used for years until it just got to the point of not being useable.

Dad, Mom, me and my siblings with my Dad's horse Sugar.  We lived in the city, and his horse was kept at a barn nearby.  I remember us driving home one time and Dad road Sugar into town to our house.  The first kiddo on Sugar is me at the age of 2.  Such precious memories.

His service was Wednesday afternoon.  It was graveside.  It started with an honor salute, as Dad was in the Navy during the Korean war.  It was very cold and raining the entire service, but we shared many, many funny and happy stories (and we all had different ones).

By the way, not sure if I shared, but our daughter (who has our grandkids), was tested positive for covid.  She got pretty sick.  We are really worried about her family, as her husband has many health issues.

We plan to do a driveway drop today for my Mom and one daughter (meal).  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.