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, November 18, 2021

Roaming thoughts ~ Question and other Ramblings

We have a couple of Thanksgiving meals planned, and I'm working on what I'm going to make and take.  We are actually having a meal with my side of the family this year.

Best and cheapest place (in store or online) place to buy Lion Brand 24/7 cotton yarn?  I'm currently looking at $4.99 a skein, but it'd be great to find it less than that.  I haven't been to our Wal-mart lately, so I haven't checked there in store yet.



I baked us a loaf of banana bread.  Kitchen smelled so good.

I found local pasture fed meat, and it is super close to the homestead.  I'm working up my order.  


Wednesday, November 17, 2021

. . . from the handiwork journal

 

I was tickled pink to get a message with an order for 8 of my hand crocheted dish scrubbies the other day.  Shipping, however, has gone up again.

(older photo)

I have about 15 more rows to finish this lap afghan for Mom.



Daughter E asked me to make her a handmade ornament for their salon.  I crocheted her a nail polish bottle.

Did anyone see yesterday's cooking show on Create TV?  They baked a pork shoulder, bake a side dish with red cabbage (in the oven) and homemade BBQ sauce?  I can't remember what they called the red cabbage dish and cannot find the episode or recipe.  If you watched can you help me find it?  I was crocheting Mom's blanket and my husband got home.  I missed the end and missed the name of the dish and BBQ sauce.  I missed the names of the people cooking them, so I have no idea how to find it all.  I checked the TV schedule, and it won't go backwards, only forwards on the schedule.  I even tried searching the recipes on Create TV.  I cannot find it.

Update:  It's Farmer and the Foodie episode 104, but I can't view the show anywhere nor find the recipes.

Update again!  I finally found it.  Now to find a local farmer with a pork shoulder.....


Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Tuesday Tidbits

We had our once a year craft show over the weekend.  It did poorly.  No one has the money to spend, or they just don't prefer homemade/handmade anymore.  I typically sell out of the dish scrubbies.  Not the case this time.  Most bought the $1.00 and $2.00 items or didn't buy anything.   Until our economy is in better shape I am pretty much out of business.  The cost of the space was higher, my cost to buy supplies is higher and it appeared more people were more interested in the china made stuff (jewelry, scentsy and things like that).

I had more people soliciting their business to me, and I saw one woman writing notes after looking at stuff.  Possibly getting ideas from my own items to sell herself?  Sheesh.  I was so greatly disappointed.

It didn't help that it was cold and snowing and there was football to watch at home either.  I had Daughter K helping, my husband helped for a bit after he got off work, then Daughter E came out.  We packed up an hour early and left.  Daughter E helped pack up.

We literally had less customers, and even the person selling the raffle tickets walked right past us.  I truly felt invisible.  Vendors were all asked to donate a raffle item. Since the raffle ticket person didn't come to our table, I didn't have to stick around for the end either.  What a joke of a show.

I came home to a mess of a house, because I focused on getting things in order, priced and extra made.  Monday was literally a sweatpants type of day, with cleaning up the house, figuring out a dinner, baking a breakfast and what not.  


Monday, November 15, 2021

R.I.P. Aurora

 




















Aurora was named after the colors of her coat.  She was so pretty.  She was a great hunter.  She was so friendly.  We will miss her so much.  She came with the house when we moved here 13 years ago.  The last people who lived here left her here.  We fed her daily, but she hunted mouse and rabbits.  She loved my husband, and spent many hours in his arms.

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Dehydrated Chives ~ Scrap Lapghan ~ Going Paperless with Coffee Brewing

 

I did something different this year.  I dehydrated my chives vs. freeze them.  I had a bit of trouble though.  I thought  dicing them up first would help dehydrate faster.  My dehydrator fan sort of blew them forward, but they did dry.


I dug out this unfinished lapghan.  I took a completed one over to Mom's house.  It will keep her legs warm in her transport chair, however she loves it so much she wants another one for the house while she rests in her recliner.  I'll be working on this at the craft show.

Why I have not thought of doing this, is beyond my mind.  I noticed that the paper filters at the store were pretty low, and I checked Amazon for a reusable one.  I bought one that said it would fit my coffee maker.

We finally cut the last of a tree down and starting cutting it to move to the splitter.  It's finally time to fire up that wood stove soon.

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Grounded ~ Barn Cat ~ Craft Show Prep and more

I 've been grounded.  Our November adventure has been postponed until next year.  We simply have too much to get done, and my husband hasn't had a day off in literally weeks.  He's exhausted, and more exhausted knowing what we need to get done.  I'll just have something to look forward to next year.

Sadly, we have not seen our barn cat Aurora in 4 days now.  I'll do another attempt to call for her, and look around, but there is not a day she does not come to the door to eat.  I know she is old, but she still had spunk.  We are all worried.

I dug out all my handiwork, and am making sure items are packaged and priced.  My bedroom looks like a hurricane went through it, ha ha!  I told my husband, it'll all disappear soon, and hopefully in the way of a lot of sales.



Made another apple crisp.  My daughter ate the last of the last one for breakfast, and I heard about it for days from my husband.  He's happy.

Friday, November 12, 2021

Getting Caught Up. . . .



 I got a small amount of garden swiss chard blanched and froze.



Blanched 2 heads of cauliflower and froze them.



Blanched 2# of carrots and froze those too.


Tried to catch up with laundry and washed kitchen towels.


Did final touches on the ornaments, earrings and one necklace.