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~

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Moving Out and other ramblings

 

Daughter E moved out.  She will be back next week to clean up the remainder of what she left (but I'm insisting it all goes with her).  I've already started to clean the carpet on one side of her room, and in the same process, purging the garage.

Our workout equipment may get moved to her old room.  I guess we'll see.  We got rid of a lot of stuff in the garage, put some things out for free by the road, and took a huge truck load of stuff to recycling.  Thankfully, recycling is still open.

I'll be back out to water all the gardens this morning.  Once again, the rain did not arrive.  I may check out some road side produce stands today.  Our zucchini and yellow squash is doing terrible.  If they are bad (because they grow like weeds), you can tell how bad it is this year for us.

I purged a large storage cupboard in my utility room, and sanitized it, washed up everything (dust), and have it all ready for the canning/freezing (if that happens).

The new printer arrived early, and is all set up.  I just need to scan a few recipes for a co-worker of my husband's, and make sure that feature works.

I went to Wal-mart for totes for yarn (to also move upstairs).  They had 2 of the size I needed, but no lids.

The products are just not available.

Oh, and I found out why there is a chip shortage for cars.  Our close friend works for a vehicle manufacturer.  He said they stopped making them when everything was shutdown, anticipating low or zero sales.  When everything opened back up, people starting buying again, and they didn't have the supply ready.

We talked to a local restaurant owner over the weekend.  She said she is "done" with all of this nonsense.  She said they will not put up partitions, nor require masks.  The owner said they are all just tired of it.


Saturday, August 7, 2021

Discovery for the Camper ~ More Hot Banana Peppers

 I found these while looking for a portable table for the camper.


They are very cool!  They are compact when not in use (store in the camper easily), and turn into a stool.  We use them in the camper for nightstands next the camper bed, and they have a strap to carry on hiking and fishing.

I dug out my camping journal, because I forgot to take it the last time we went camping.  I have it updated now.  I cannot wait to add more trips to this journal.  We first used to borrow a pop-up camper in our first family camping trips, and made our coffee over the campfire.



I had 4 hot banana peppers, so those were put in the freezer.  They are coming on early this year, so hopefully I will have more for canning and jelly making.

Good news!  Blogger is fixed, so I can view my reading list now.  I'll be back around to read blogs.


Friday, August 6, 2021

Freezer Check ~ When Things Go Wrong ~ Garden ~ Easy Layered Tomato Dip

I did a check in the freezer, and I think we have enough corn for the winter.  I will not be buying my usual 3 bushels this year.  I also had enough blueberries, so I did not buy my typical 10# box this year either.  I'm finally gaining on stocking up for 2 years vs. 1, but home canned tomato soup needs eaten within a year.


I'm concerned with the garden this year. The above photos is a roma tomato.  After planting the paste tomatoes I grew from seed, some died in the storms we got, so my husband went out and found one last flat of roma's.  Plants are small and yield is small (other than hot peppers).  I'm seriously considering not planting a garden at all next year.  Possibly adding compost and covering it with tarps and giving it a rest for a year.  



....and then I have these thoughts and find this in the garden.  Finally!  Watering has paid off.




I also made some easy layered tomato dip with some garden goodness.  So good!  I had a handful of my dinky roma tomatoes and didn't want them to go to waste.


We are in a long week or more of no rain (again).  I have 4 rain barrels of rain water, but I can't really water with well water, when the well is not being re-filled either.  That is always a concern in a drought.




Hot peppers are the only thing getting harvested right now, so they are going in the freezer until I have them all growing in sync.  I froze jalapenos and hot banana and picked a few serrano peppers.

I finally got around to plant some indoor cilantro and parsley planted.


When things go bad, they go all at the same time.....

Weed whacker is broke down and the worst time.  Daughter K borrowed my truck and was stuck in the "Big City" with a flat - rusty nail in the tire. Stray cat showed up.  I don't need more cats.  Especially female.  Garden sprinkler is not working right. My only outside water spigot is dripping and now needs replaced....

What's your favorite fresh salsa recipe?  I typically only can it, but we want some fresh made salsa this year.



Thursday, August 5, 2021

Breakfast Scramble and just some random bits

I watered the flower beds and herb garden first thing in the morning. We are once again lacking rainfall.




Scramble - hannah sweet potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, jalapeno, sausage, eggs and kale.

Extreme clean update:  a box of my oldest daughter's left behind items left the house, and more doodle paper for my niece and nephew.  

Daughter K is helping babysit my niece and nephew this month, as well as her regular job.  Good for her to pocket some savings for her move out.

I told both girls, that when they move they need to take everything.  Leave nothing behind.  If there are things they don't want, it's their job to take it to donation or toss out.  

Daughter E started boxing up her bedroom to move this coming weekend.  My first plan was to move my totes of yarn to her room, but I think I'll clean the entire carpet first, then add shelving units for now.

Sad news.  A local salon is closing their doors after 47 years (due to the building owner).  Thankfully, they all have new jobs in other salons.  My thoughts on this, is that the people who own the building are selling, considering they had tenants who were forced to close and meanwhile the owners need to pay bills.  I feel this is the same reason the Holmes county flea market owner sold his building for $3 million to a factory.  I'm guessing they didn't want to pay bills when all the people paying rent inside the building were forced to close, and are concerned we will face another statewide shut down.  Scary world we live in right now.


Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Garden ~ Cleaning and other Tidbits

I'm back back to gardening, weeding, and indoor clean up.  We haven't had rain, so my week started with watering everything before indoor cleaning started.

The weather has been a beautiful fall like weather.  Cool mornings and gorgeous evenings.  We went on a bike ride last night with two other bikers and I slept like a baby last night.  

However, we may be heading into very hot weather again.




More blooms to share.

I finally had some ripe blackberries to pick.


The egg basket filled up over last weekend, so I may be putting some aside to boil again.


My husband fixed the problem with the camper hot water heater.  Big hooh-rah to that!  I tried to get us a campsite for another park this month.  They are booked solid (as most are this year).

Our hometown fair is in full swing.  First time in two years.  I am so happy to see it happening.  Not sure if we will actually get to go, but happy it's going on this year.

I'm still unable to view my blogger reading list. I sent a message for help on this.  We'll see if they can fix the issue soon.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

I can't make this stuff up! Camping Trip, Adventure Mishaps and other things that went wrong

 

First, our first camping trip this year in the pop-up camper was our last.  It was getting too much for us two (all that cranking up and down), and too much bed space for the two of us.




Our nephew and his wife were selling their hard sided camper, and said they just don't go camping anymore.  They had not used it for a year.  We went and looked at it, but next time we buy a camper we'll make sure we double check some things.  We simply trusted their word ("everything works" but again they had not used it for a year).  Thankfully, we were able to simply transfer our camper plates.  Oh, and it only sleeps 2 (he he!)

We sold the pop-up the same day it was for sale, and made back half of what we paid for the hard sided camper.  Oh boy.  What a difference in camping.  Just back it in, put up the jacks, pull out the awning and relax.  I do like the fact that it did not keep us inside, and we still did campfire meals.  We do have a propane stove in case of bad weather while camping. 

Anyway, here is the saga of our story.  My husband put the hitch in, backed up, hooked up the camper and we started to pull out of the driveway.

KA-BAM!

We stop, get out and guess what he did?  Again, I can't make this up.  He put the pin in behind the hitch, so the camper pulled the hitch out, then bounced of the bumper of the truck (now he has another thing to fix, ha ha!).  Our first maiden voyage didn't start out that great.

We get to the campground, set up and start hooking up water and electric.  This was our first time to use water with a camper and we were excited to have hot showers etc.  Well, he hooks up water and water starts spraying out of the handle of the kitchen sink and down to the floor.

We scramble to use our towels to mop up up the floor.  We didn't have the right tools to remove the faucet, and we needed the hot water tank drained to remove the faucet (or water would come out of the faucet. 

The next morning, we got our campfire breakfast made, but were exhausted with the issue with no water in the camper.

We had met our neighbors, and in conversion, we were told who to ask for help.  We walk over a few more campsites and low and behold we got help.  Water tank emptied, faucet taken out, we headed to the hardware store.

Thankfully, we found help and found a new faucet for the camper.  Back at the camper, we install it, check for leaks again, and we were back in action.

We however could not get the pilot light on the hot water tank to light.  Frustrated we decided to go for a drive and get some delicious local chicken.  

Ha!!!!



Nope.  We went to larger restaurants and found lines out the door with anywhere from 30-50 people standing in line.  After trying two, we headed back to another town and tried a brewery.  Nope.  30 minute wait and we were starving.  We went next door to another one and after a short wait got in.  We were exhausted just trying to get a meal.  I told him next time we camp in Amish country, we cook all meals at the campground.

So we finally get back to the camper and get the pilot light going and the hot water tank kicks on.  Shortly after?  It kicks off.  This went on all evening and the next day.  

No hot showers for the either of us, because we used our towels to clean up the earlier mess (shower house was there, but we didn't want to drive out for more towels).  We just dealt with no showers, packed 'er up and headed home.

By the way, the campground was packed full, and on the way home, we stop at a gas station that had a dump station - jam packed with campers.  Everyone and their brother was camping (best weather ever for it).

Now for the rest of the story.  If you are still reading this ..ha ha!  Long story.

We return Sunday, unload the food from the camper, and unhook it.  Our new mattress and box springs were in.  Our daughter got us a very good deal and ours were almost 20 years old (springs sticking out of my husband's side of the box springs).

First, Hubby insisted our bed was a California King.  I told him no, it's a King.  I ordered it his way, we haul it home, haul it all into the house.  Nope.  Too big.  We call our daughter who luckily was at work, and they had a king in stock.  We load that heavy pain in the rump all back up (a LOT of work there), drive it back, unload it, do the exchange, load the new one in, drive home and unload.  Mind you, this is all way late evening and we had not had dinner, nor had either of us had a shower since Friday morning.

It fit perfect.  Thankfully, daughter K got off work and rescued our hungry stomachs with some dinner.  Thankfully, we have the proper electrical outlet to hook up the camper's electric and water to work on the hot water heater.  Another job for him to work on ha ha!  What a weekend!!  I never did get my shower until Monday morning, but boy oh' boy did it feel good.

At least we can laugh about it, and my husband is already telling people the story too (and laughing while telling it).

Monday, August 2, 2021

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend, although we got our 2nd camping trip squeezed in.  I'll have the full report on that tomorrow ha ha.  Oh boy it's too much to fit into today's post.  It's not just about camping, but the entire weekend, returning home and stuff I just can't make up.

However I have photos down below for you all.

By the way, blogger is still not working correctly for me.  My reading list is zero.  It keeps telling me no posts to read at all, and it's frustrating.  I have found a way to search for your blogs one at a time, but it's easier for me if you comment. Then I can click on your blog (if you have one) and read updates.  Hopefully they will fix it soon.


Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'll link up when she posts.

The weather . . . 

Absolutely gorgeous!!  What I call perfect camping weather.  In the 70's and so nice out.  


How I am feeling this morning . . .

Well, rested yet exhausted and feeling grimy.  Read tomorrow's post to find out why ha ha!


On the breakfast plate . . .

Coffee so far, ha ha!  Most likely a few eggs and toast. 


Looking around the house. . . 

What a mess!  Daughter K worked long shifts so nothing was done, and she put all her dirty dishes in the sink vs. the dishwasher.  It'll be a long day cleaning up everything.


On my reading pile . . .

A campground magazine that contains all of the campground in our state.


On my TV . . .

Nothing in particular.  However, today after I clean, I plan to have some down time watching cooking shows and doing some handiwork.


On the menu . . .

-fried cabbage, buttermilk cornbread
-grilled philly's
-possibly chickpea stuffed shells
-hummus (a meal on it's own and perfect for very hot days)
-leftovers


From the camera . . .
Herb garden at the campground for anyone to use for cooking.  I thought this was pretty neat, considering I love foil pack campfire beets with fresh rosemary.  






Just a few photos of our camping trip.   We had to go to Wal-mart and buy a grill cover for the campfire ring.  All campfire rings did not have a grill grate on them to do any campfire cooking.

I am thankful for . . .
Music.  I love to have the radio playing while cleaning the house.


I am hoping to . . .
Get some more camping trips planned.


Prayer list . . .
Niece A, who is pregnant and nearly passed out for some reason yesterday and niece L who was in a single car accident near our house (while we were gone), totaled her car, but is okay.