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~

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Making Tea Bags

 


To make tea making a bit quicker (and travel friendly), I made some homemade medicinal tea bags.  Chickory root works great in these.  Anyway, I tried out my new smaller (travel size) iron for this job.  A hair straightener will work to seal them too.  I bought my bags for the teas from Mountain Rose Herbs.  I can easily put these in my husband's or girl's lunches when needed.  I have amber glass jars to store extra pre-made teabags in.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

. . .from the handiwork journal



 . . . progress on one sleeve of the cardigan.  My husband was right.  I may not get it done until summer.  I sort of lost my mojo on this project.  Too many "irons in the fire" right now.



. . .started another rag rug for one shower.  The rug is using up bedding I had in the closet, which also helps clear out the closet a bit.  The very center brown color is actually an old apron.


. . .got all the scrubbies finished for the order I received (new color to work with)

. . .cut netting for scrubbies (cut all of this color)



. . .got more recipe card holders finished and a set of fridge magnets.  I got them packaged for any future craft show.



. . .making a bit of progress with these ornaments.  I just have to paint on the faces and add hangers.

Monday, March 1, 2021

Happy Homemaker Monday

We hit 60°F on Sunday.  Although the day started out with rain, it quit and we got the chicken coop mucked.  Boy oh boy did it need it too.  The ladies are happy.  I had to shovel a snow drift to get the wheelbarrow through, but it's all nice and clean for now.  The rain and temperature did not melt all of our snow.

It was such a busy weekend, that much of the inside work was delayed, but that's okay.  It'll be a busy day inside today.

Welcome March!  February was just cold, cold, cold.


Makes me smile!  My garden seeds are starting to sprout!  Without a green house, I am unable to start all of what I plant, but it's a great start this year.


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


The weather outside is . . .

38°F/18°F, cold mostly all week, but next week it warms back up for us.


How I am feeling this morning . . .

Rested.  Sunday I was wide awake at 4am (for no reason at all).


On the breakfast plate . . .

Cheesy Pepper Sausage and Asparagus Breakfast Bake

(online, SmallTownWoman) I just changed the cheeses to what I had on hand.  I used green bell vs. red bell pepper (what I got from the garden last summer), and I added greens to it.  I used half of my last bag of frozen asparagus.  I'll be getting some in the garden come May.


On my reading pile . . .

As the Earth Turns (haven't really been in the mood to read a lot, as the weather is nicer, so hence outside more often).


On my TV . . .

Netflix - Queen South


On menu this week . . .

-Tacos, using home canned taco sauce

-BBQ (home canned) Turkey Cutlets, wild rice, green beans

-Homemade pizza with home canned pizza sauce and green peppers we froze from the garden

-Either cod or flounder, veggie (haven't decided), home canned corn relish

-Breakfast - Cheesy Pepper Sausage and Asparagus Breakfast Casserole

-Snacks - Fruit Muffins of some sort, maybe using some strawberries we froze


From the camera this week . . .


In about a week our days will be longer again.  More sunshine is definitely what we need too.


Looking around the house . . .

We finally delivered 5 boxes of crafting doo-dads to Daughter T.  She is excited and basically a craft nut like me.  I have a few more boxes that are slightly filled at this point, but house is looking better.


To relax this week I will . . .

Crochet, maybe read


Something I want to share . . .

Random Acts of Kindness (cont):

11.  Out of the blue, send flowers to a friend

12. Say "please" and "thank you" and really mean it

13. Don't interrupt when someone is explaining to you

14. Offer to babysit for a single Mom

15. Put your shopping car back in it's place


Devotional, Inspirational quote, Prayers or Bible Verse . . .

Prayers for extended family in KY (C and S), they had to abandon their home due to flooding.

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Random Tidbits

Our frozen green peppers are still supplying us, as well as the celery cubes I froze, and home grown garlic.  My homemade beef "bullion" cubes are running low though.


Guess what I found?  It was the only book allowed back on the shelf.  Now to find Volume one.  The book store called me back finally, saying the signature couldn't be verified on the book and it was for sale for $39.00.  I found it elsewhere for almost half that price.

We had to head out to the hardware store, and after two stores, I finally found two more seed starter trays (apparently these are selling out fast in our area).  I bought the last two of these.  Canning jars are available everywhere, but absolutely no sign of canning lids.  I sure hope they are in stores soon, I need them.  Yeah, I can freeze sauces, but I can only fit so much in the freezer.

Work resumed on the hallway yesterday, but due to "technical difficulties" of another nature, it's on hold (again).


Friday, February 26, 2021

Freezer/Pantry Stash

I have been getting creative with my freezer and pantry stash.  I am trying to rotate out, so I am prepared for the new garden stash to go back in.



I made another new breakfast recipe - Blueberry Baked Oatmeal (Cookie and Kate online).  I followed the recipe completely, other than adding a bit more blueberries.  I am going to need to re-stock my organic oats soon though.  

I'm looking into making herbal packets to sell for facial steams.  Has anyone done one?  There are so many recipes for different skin types.

I haven't heard back from the General Store on selling an item.  Hopefully today I will.  I sent another email in case it got missed for some reason.

A few deer came to see us the other night.  They were scrambling to find grass and found it just outside our house.  Look at all those mole mounds!!!  Sigh....haven't had those in years.  Guess I'll have to take care of those before the garden gets planted.


Thursday, February 25, 2021

Motivation Returns ~ From Pile to File Recipe (Sweet Potato Egg Cups)

We have a lot going on now.  Woot!  I heard it from my husband's mouth!  His goal is to finish the hallway completely this weekend.  What's on the list?  Well, for starters, I have boxes in the hall (again) that need delivered.  After that we finish the hallway flooring and trim.  I'm excited to see him motivated, but the weather may have something to do with that too, ha ha!  Although it's a bit chilly this morning.

The purge continues, but at a slower pace unfortunately.  I have done it again - printed new recipes to try.  I want to switch up our breakfast meals, try a few for larger group meals, and some for potlucks/summer cook outs.  I'm having a family get together one way or another (for whoever wants to come).  I miss family.

You may see lack of posts from now until later in March.  There are two possibilities for the bathroom remodel.  Not sure which way we'll go.  


New Recipe!  Baked Sweet Potato Cups (Skinny Taste online).  The next time I will add garlic powder.  So good!  It's a keeper!  The only difference with the instructions, is that I had to bake the eggs longer (18 minutes for mostly cooked yolks), and I rotated the pan.  The one egg that was under the oven light was baking faster.  Will definitely keep this on the breakfast menu.  Oh, I also used parchment paper cups vs. non-stick spray, and it worked great.  The sweet potatoes do not look orange because they were organic hannah sweet potatoes (have a white color to them).

Finally got around to making kamut flake bars.  I added dried cherries, pecans and hemp seeds.

Had to drain a jar of homemade vanilla to make the bars though.

I have more recipes to try, but need a few ingredients.

I've started two trays of seeds, but need two more trays and soil.  The sun is shining most days and it's been so enjoyable.





Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Nothin' Much.....

Nothing much going on here lately.  We were conserving hot water until our propane was delivered.  Someone forgot to check the tank, but thankfully we prepaid last fall and delivery was the same day.  However, that meant dirty dishes piled up, ha ha!  Oh boy, I guess we'll keep a better eye on it. At least we didn't run completely out.

I felt bad for the guy delivering the propane too.  He had to walk through a 4 foot drift of snow around the garage to do it.  The snow is slowly melting here.  I've been busy shoveling snow away from the house foundation, garage doors, entryway etc.

Our propane company pulled in the drive again yesterday.  I went out with our receipt and told him they already filled us up.  He wasn't happy about it, but that's not my problem.  Their company had routes double booked I guess.

We are melting away here.  Love the weather, but the one side of our drive was pretty much flooded.  I had to tell Daughter T to not come over unless she had rain boots.  She opted to stay home.  Later last night the water receded.  Thankfully, it's melting at a nice pace, but a muddy mess as predicted.

The chickens are going stir-crazy.  We are upon coyote mating season.  I can't let them out and alone for too long at a time, and the gigantic snow drift in their run has not melted.  The younger ones absolutely hate the snow, ha ha!