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, September 2, 2021

Just the Bits

 

I'll be honest, I am ready for fall weather.  The sky in the morning has been beautiful as the weather has been changing lately.


Spicy BBQ sauce was canned.  That used 12# of tomatoes, but I'm still bringing in a few a day in hopes of canning tomato sauce.


I got a bit of bell peppers frozen while the canner was busy too.  


We visited Mom last night and chatted for a while. Her cats are so funny.  They typically stay hidden, but always come out to sniff our shoes and pants and get a bit of love.  Mom isn't feeling any better.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Why I Wear Cowboy Boots. . . Tidbits





It took me a while to figure out how to get this saved to my computer from social media, but I got it done.  It was too long to be able to upload the entire song. I had to save it in 3 short videos to post it on my blog.  I will try and make it a video on YouTube later when I have more time and upload the entire song.  My younger brother is working on a slideshow possibly for this song.

This is my Dad singing and playing his guitar.  He used to take song requests and play at a radio station in the 50's.  Happy birthday in Heaven to my Dad!

I thought I would spread some goodness and love today.  Hope you enjoyed it.  

Dad was a true cowboy.


My husband leaned over this basket and said, "it's like Christmas in a basket" ha ha!  I'll be out picking more over the next few days, but this has to be the worst tomato harvest we've ever had.  In 2016 we had a 300# year.  This year I'm barely bringing in enough to can small batch recipes. 

As for Mom, she had another fall.  Her 14 meals were delivered but had to be thrown out.  They must have sat on the Fed Ex truck way too long.  They delivered a wet, soggy box.  The dry ice had melted.  More meals are arriving Friday.  Praying they arrive cold this time.  We are taking care of meals today.  The delivery/mail systems are having staffing issues and of course slow right now.


Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Front Porch Musings

 

I really miss the island life.  No service....just normal life, live music, the beach, waves, good friends, and peace of mind.  It was so hard to adjust when we got back home.  How hard?

First, I was utterly frustrated to see that my kitchen was filled with processed foods.  Daughter K went on a shopping binge, and there was junk food and pop everywhere.  On the floor, on the fridge, counters and table.  That was even before I had check the front room.  I had a feeling she had a friend over while we were on vacation.

Breakfast scramble was made - sweet potatoes, onions, green bell pepper, jalapeno, spices, eggs and bacon.


Got the green and wax beans blanched and in the freezer.



Here is a photo of the winter hats I worked on over the weekend (my travel project).  Although I am still not booked for any holiday craft show at this time, I am still doing handiwork when I can.  I try and set an hour or half hour for myself daily.  I have to, or I'll lose my mind.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Happy Homemaker Monday



We had a superb weekend on the island.  Our last sanity saver trip over this year.  Maybe. If they have an opening, I'm taking it.  We were literally off grid.  There is no service where we stay, and we like it that way.

On the way home we stopped at a large produce stand and brought home some green and wax beans.  I will be stopping there every year we head to the island from now on.  They have a large variety of everything.

Came home to find out one of my chickens died.  

We literally unpacked the truck, threw everything on the bed and kitchen counters, ran out to pick a tomato, and headed to the "Big City" to check on Mom.  We took her some chocolates a woman makes on the island, one tomato (only one turning red that was a beefsteak type), and some popcorn she loves.

Mom looks much better, but has a long way to go to recovery.  She still cannot drive herself anywhere, so between our Daughter K, her neighbor, my younger brother and I, we are trying to do our best, but we all have jobs/work/kids/garden to put up etc.  It's been rough, so hence the trip to the island.


Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  I'll link up if my brain remembers to.

The weather . . .
Hot and humid.  No rain in sight.

Right now I am . . .
Dragging my feet trying to get the day started

Thinking . . .
I wanna go back to the island. There is too much going on here, and too much needing done.

On my reading pile . . .
Nothing.

On my TV . . .
Bloodline

On the menu . . .
Have no idea.  Just got back from a weekend vacation.

On my to-do list . . .
Everything.
-put away dishes (life with a lazy young adult kid)
-run dishwasher
-pick garden
-water all gardens
-laundry
-clean entire kitchen
-label and put away canned items
-unpack from the trip
-vacuum
-sweep and mop
-clean out fridge (may be a week long job)
-clean green beans and blanch and freeze
-water house plants
-clean bedroom(yikes!)
-water porch plants
-dehydrate some herbs
-the. list. is. endless....

In the craft basket . . .
Winter hats.  I'll post a picture later when it's light out. Maybe even tomorrow if my brain remembers.

Looking forward to this week . . .
A clean house???

Looking around the house . . .
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!  Ugh.


From the camera . . .
A photo while driving the golf cart on the north side of the island.



Prayer list . . .
Mom.  Right now there are no other special requests.

Friday, August 27, 2021

Freezing Tomatoes




I decided to freeze the last of the picked tomatoes.  I didn't have enough to make or can anything, so they went into the freezer until the next harvest.  

I canned another round of hot pepper jelly.  My mad hatter peppers are finally turning red.

On a good note, I talked to my Mom about Life Alert, and I think she will be getting an Apple Watch that detects falls, and calls so many phone numbers when it happens. I'm just happy we have come up with a solution.  The cost is way less than Life Alert too.  In the meantime, her insurance is delivering her 14 free meals (great news)!

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Taco Sauce ~ Seed Saving



(before running it thru the sauce maker)

I canned a batch of homemade taco sauce.  I picked fresh jalapenos for it, and boy are my hot peppers doing great in this heat.  It has zero corn starch and only 1/4 cup of sugar (no corn syrup) and only real food.


10 glorious jars of taco sauce done. Checked that off the list.  Hoping to get more tomatoes.


Seed saving has begun.  I have bell pepper seeds drying and a bit of jalapeno seeds.  It's harder to save my hot pepper seeds, as I freeze and can with the seeds in, but will get them dried as well.  I have some Amish paste seeds drying as well.

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Heat Wave ~ Canning ~ Tidbits

The water hose was working overtime due to the heat and no rain. In fact, schools closed and will not be open until the 30th for now (due to the heat).  

However, we woke up to thunderstorms.  Glorious rain is falling on the gardens this morning.



My first batch of hot pepper jelly was done, but I will need to do more canning today with a small amount of tomatoes.



Froze more bell peppers and jalapenos, and made egg salad for a cold meal.

Mom was released from the hospital a few days ago, but since then has had a bad fall, which required stitches.  I'm very worried about her health right now.  She is a very stubborn person and we keep telling her to take her cell phone with her when she is outside. 

She was even out shopping prior to the fall, which I need to get after her to use the scooter in the store from now on.

First, we scolded her for being outside in 90 degree weather doing yard work at 8pm.  Second, I need to see what phone she has to get her a holder or shoulder strap to carry her phone.  Somehow during the day we managed to get a meal ordered and delivered to Mom.  She was very very happy.