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~

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Rain & Allergies

My cucumbers and peppers are sitting in water.  We continue to get rain, and some times in sparatic, heavy downpours. 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Vulture on Display

This was a very interesting moment.  This vulture was sitting like this for a long time, just looking around (with it's wings out).   It was a very dreary, rainy (again) day, so the sky is pretty dark too.


It's rained every day now.  I continue to battle mud, sweat and giant weeds.  I found Queen Anne's Lace growing in my garden, so two flower heads are now in my freezer awaiting more, for some sweet jelly. 

You may enjoy my post a few years ago, for the Queen Anne's Lace Jelly (click on it to read it).


Saturday, July 6, 2013

Roasted Rabbit ~ Keeping Letter Writing Alive


Hubby and I located a son/father business, who basically raise animals for 4-H and so forth.  However, we were given their business card, because they sell a natural feed for both chickens and goats.  He picks up the feed about a little over an hour from here, and sells it to folks from his house.

Friday, July 5, 2013

When the Kids all Move Out & Other Shocking Moments



This is simply for your entertainment, and the fact I do not have one bit of homesteading news or updates to share.  I will be busy today in the kitchen, but you'll probably hear about that soon enough.  The only really funny news is that Hubby has gone rain barrel crazy.   He's taken "preparedness" to a new level.

He bought a 4th rain barrel, and after he planted a few rose bushes last night in the wet weather, he came inside saying he wants yet another one.  And to think for years I've been asking for just one.  The man has gone wild with these.  We now can save 205 gallons of rain water, and that amount's about to go up. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the kids all move out . . .

. . .I won't find my 9 x 13 glass baking dish "put away" on top of my washing machine (really? eyes rolling, sigh....).

Here's another eye-squinting, nose-wrinkling confusion moment.  I had just put jam in the canning pot, and had walked to my utility room (which has a door across the hallway from a side door to outside).  It was raining pretty good too.  I opened my washer, then went to the basket for clothes.  I could not see out the door from there, when I heard one daughter say "UPS!"  

"It's probably my order from Mountain Rose Herbs," I yell. "Can you get it?"

In a second, the door opens, with both dogs sitting at the door, a box flies in the house and up onto our step into the kitchen, I hear "Delivery!" and the door closes.

I walk into the hall, wide-eyed, and looking at two dogs looking at me wide-eyed, and wondering what just happened.

I go into the kitchen laughing in shock.  

"Did that just really happen?"

Yep. The UPS guy simply opened my door and tossed my box inside and the dogs just sat there.  I think they were as dumbstruck as I was.

I think that story belongs in one of my books I'm writing. Just another reason to keep your doors locked I guess.



Thursday, July 4, 2013

Homemade Italian Dressing with a Dab of Honey


I needed Italian dressing for a steak marinade and did not have any on hand.  I checked my cupboards and made this from scratch.  If you are interested in the recipe, I got it from

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

It's a Crock Pot Day

It's rained here almost every day for a week now.  Yesterday, was my first chance to weed the garden.  I was only out there for about 1 hour, and Hubby called.  He had to work late.  

This meant, stop weeding, go pick up our youngest who was at a sleepover, come home change clothes, go to the store, come home, make dinner, and change clothes and go back out.  Phew!  Did I just put that all in one sentence?  I think I stayed out there until 8pm.


I woke up to fog, which is much thicker now since I took the first (top) photo.  It rained again last night.  My hair is like a Brillo pad, and my body aches like nothing I've felt before.  Or maybe I have, and have forgotten what it felt like.  You know, like child birth pain?  You feel the pain, then afterwards forget?  I wonder if we suffer garden work like that.

Most of the family has been picking wild black raspberries, and I've been canning jam - 15 jars so far.  The weeds in the garden are starting to look like small trees.  Last night, after pulling the taller weeds, I saw we had a few banana peppers in. I wonder if it will dry up enough today, to get another chance to weed?

Remember my mini weight loss goal for July 4th?  Well that is tomorrow and today I have lost 15 pounds.  I may not lose another pound overnight, but I am thrilled I got this far, considering I got sick.  I'm slowly getting back to myself.

Today is definitely a "crock pot" day, but I need to get busy and make part of my marinade from scratch first.  Then just maybe, hopefully, I can grab a few minutes of peace on the front porch.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Clothes Dryer


Here is a photo of the clothes dryer (drying rack, whatever you want to call it), that my Mom and cousin picked up for me.  They happened to be in the right place and the right time.

 The price tag reads $58.95.

They paid $30.00.  You can tell it's handmade (most likely by Amish), and is about 6 feet tall when put up to it's highest setting.

I love the fact they put these rods at the very bottom for support.  All of my smaller ones (metal and wood) start to wobble side to side after months of use.