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~

Monday, September 21, 2015

One Big Job

I took this photo back in March of this year, in hopes to locate a barn salvage person or company.  

This challenge is one of our big jobs on the "to-do" list right now.

Well, the first two did not want the barn - not old enough, not "enough wood" to mess with.  Not long ago few men stopped in after the corner collapsed in a rain storm.  We talked, Hubby got in touch with them.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Homemade Fire Cider ~ Winter Illness Preventative

I decided to leave a few cayenne, jalapeno and our only hot banana pepper plant in the garden a bit longer.


I wanted the peppers to make more ground cayenne powder and also use the jalapenos for making our very first Fire Cider.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

....from the handiwork journal



. . . still working on the scrap crochet blanket.  I had plans to donate it, but Hubby and one daughter are fighting over who will get it.  We'll see.  This is my project to unwind on cooler evenings here. Right now it's 55 inches wide by 42 inches long.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Random Tidbits ~ Camper Everything ~ More Cleaning

Yesterday's chores were still getting worked on when the kids got home from school.  I had to get everything washed and on the line as rain (storms) are expected today.  

I got all the rugs washed and dried too.  Speaking of rugs, our 18 year-old daughter took the peach colored (crocheted in cotton yarn) rug for her dorm.  I just read somewhere that they cannot have rubber backed rugs, so that worked out nicely.  So, if you kiddo is heading to college, a handmade crocheted rug would come in handy for her/him.  The ones you see on my clothesline are from old sheets, old jeans, and scrap cotton yarn.  They all wash up nicely too.
 

I forgot to dump my ice trays and bag it, so I could freeze all the organic collards I had yesterday.  I managed to get half of them froze.  I have more to freeze today.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Homemade Peppermint Hot Chocolate

With cooler weather coming upon us, the kids have been hankering a fall weather beverage.  A nice hot cup of hot chocolate sounded good.  This time we made a mint hot chocolate.


I simply place the peppermint leaves into my tea infuser, then pour boiling water in it.  Close the top, and steep about 3-4 minutes.  You can use fresh or dried leaves.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Homemade Flour Tortillas with Lard ~ From Pile to File ~ Fire Powder

I mentioned a while back that I would try another tortilla recipe, but this time I used lard.  I forgot I even had the recipe until I was looking for my whole wheat pancake recipe one day.  Tip:  Tortilla presses are more for corn tortillas (or masa), so you'll need a rolling pin for this recipe.

This recipe got all thumbs up from the family.  The tortillas are softer and we all like these better than the tortillas I have been making with organic canola oil.