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, January 24, 2022

Happy Homemaker Monday

I just realized that today is the first time I have been able to participate in this.  Covid stinks!  It spread (and continues to spread) too quickly in our area right now.  Four more staff at Mom's nursing home have tested positive, and the they are going to test the entire nursing home again today.

We recently had to replace the glass in the wood stove door.  On Sunday, we realized the grate needs replaced.  Always something.....


I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
I'll link up later, and sorry for the shortness in this post.  Hey, at least I made an appearance, ha ha!

The Weather . . .
14°F, ground is snow covered, in fact we had a road emergency yesterday due to the snow/wind.


How I am feeling this morning . . .
Miserable.  We are going to look for our cool mist humidifier.  The hospital has not called my husband either.  He is high risk, but the doctor's office told us our local hospital is dealing with shortages of antibodies.  Speaking of that, my home county went from 533 new cases in a week to 2,700 more cases last week.  Sorry if that up date is a repeat.  My friend in town said shelves are almost empty of medicinal supplies as well.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Have no idea other than hot organic coffee, which I can't really taste that well.


On my reading pile . . .
Mail-Order Murder, by Leslie Meier


On my TV . . .
CSI Miami, Football


On the menu this week . . .
Have no energy to even think about it.  Daughter K is off today, and is willing to do what we do not feel up to doing.  She is feeling back to herself thankfully.


From the camera . . .
Nothing.
Unless you missed my post about my newest crochet project - baby pacifier leash.



Looking around the house . . .
Nothing I can do about much until we feel better.  We ordered the new wood stove grate, and it should arrive today (if not, tomorrow).  My medical bills are just now rolling in (when I sprained my ankle).  I need to get those paid this week sometime.  I see that our daughter missed one small Christmas tree when she put everything away.  


Today's to-do list . . .
Nothing, unless I do some dishes.  I started to scrub the master shower yesterday (removing water rust stain), and that didn't last very long.  


Prayers . . .
Our grand-nephew was in a bad snowmobile accident yesterday afternoon.  He had a helmet, but the impact broke up the helmet.   He suffered lacerations to the face, broken nose, broken cheekbone, bruised lung and a few other issues, but thankfully recovering.

Mom.  She continues to lose memory, and is having more issues with dizziness.

Us (husband and I), we just want to feel normal again (covid).  I'm up blogging, to try and attempt a regular wake up time.

Daughter K, she's applying for a new job, in a new town, and moving in the near future.  She'll need a much better paying job to pay for their apartment.


Sunday, January 23, 2022

Sunday Tidbits

My husband and I have been moving around a bit more each day.  I'm not completely back to my normal routine, but managed to tag team with him and put dinner in the crock pot yesterday morning.

Four Beans and Sausage.  I used home canned ketchup, home grown green bell pepper, and home grown garlic in it. I'm hoping for enough leftovers for tonight.  I'll deal with the next meal when I need too.

The highlight of Sunday was watching the Bengals win!  My husband was elated.

The snow has finally arrived in our parts.  However, my husband was to change brakes on the car today and return to work tomorrow.  Not sure the brakes will happen.  I guess we'll see. 

Calls to Mom are hit or miss, as they keep her busy, and assist her with walking.  I do not have plans to visit her until after another full week, and I know we are feeling in out tip-top shape.  



Friday, January 21, 2022

New Project ~ Peppermint Tea

 

My newest project - baby pacifier leash.  I have a grand-niece about to give birth, and will hopefully get a few more made in different colors.  Sadly, I do not have a finished baby blanket/booties to gift her right now.

I am working on the un-finished baby blanket that I found in my closet.  It's hit or miss, depending on how I feel.  We sipped hot peppermint leaf tea yesterday, and it opened up our nasal passages better than nasal spray.

On a good note, the nursing home has not called again with any more cases, but more friends of ours have it now.

If anything gets done today, it'll be hitting the "sanitize" button on the washing machine and the "self-clean" button on the oven.  It's a good (wind chill 4°F) cold day to do it.

My ankle feels normal again. Finally.  Not sure if the immune boost pills we are taking helped heal it up, but it is nice to have my regular walk/movement back.

Daughter K goes back to work today.  I know she is still feeling blah, so I hope her day goes well.

Monday, January 17, 2022

Cold but no snow . . .

The southern area of our state is being slammed with snow, however, we woke up to no snow here.  It continues to remain cold.

My husband is home today (holiday), and has wood split for the week (took great energy to do).

Talked to my Mom yesterday, and she is doing okay.  I plan to find some brain game books for her today online.  

There is another staff member at the nursing home that tested positive with covid.

Daughter K remains down and out.  She literally has been on the sofa for days now.  My husband is taking the dogs out, but he is now feeling fatigue.  We'll find out today if he has covid or not.  I myself, have not been sick for 5 years.  I feel horrible.  The fatigue is keeping me down as well.  We are pulling out all my tricks of the herbal trades, and taking immune boost pills.

I am thankful for crochet quarantine projects, but have no energy to read a book right now.  I am back to working on the baby blanket and watching movies and cooking shows. 

Sunday, January 16, 2022

Finsished Halter Top and Not so good news. . .






I finished Daughter E's halter top.  I hope it fits.  If not, there is one size larger available to crochet.  It was the first time for me to create a "twisted cord" for a crochet project.  Very interesting.

Daughter K tested positive for covid, and she is very sick.  I am up early to make homemade ginger-ale, and start a diffuser in my own bedroom.  Unfortunately, I am congested and feel off.  We only have one home test left, and holding onto it for my husband if needed (he goes to work Monday, and if no symptoms has to work).  We need the last kit for if he gets symptoms.  We are having a terrible time find more home test kits (so they can test negative to return to work if needed).  Every place is completely out of home covid test kits, including the libraries.

I am back to working on the baby blanket and have another scrap lap afghan I can finish.  I may have to order some baby yarn today.  Thank goodness for Amazon.  I need supplies for another crochet project.  I have lots of books to keep me busy too.

Saturday, January 15, 2022

Almost Impossible Medical Care....

Daughter K is very sick.  She actually got into an urgent care, but the man was so rude, he left the room after her covid test and said to pay her bill up front.  He wouldn't even listen to her symptoms, and now her lungs hurt very bad.  The guy wouldn't even give her time to get a slip for work.  I understand they are overwhelmed, but the sick-sick can sometimes need breathing treatments at home, antibiotics, or other medications.

I'm making a steam (eucalyptus) for her this morning, but if she is not better, she'll have to go to the ER today for help.  I made her a hot tea last night with freshly grated ginger and thyme.  She said it felt so good on her throat.  She has a horrible cough as well.  We are worried she has pneumonia or something else.  

Now the nursing home where my Mom is at, has 3 staff and 2 residents with positive covid.  I get calls when they update due to me being an emergency person for Mom.  They said they are testing all residents next Monday.

Our weather is frigid cold.  A cold 1°F windchill.  No snow yet.  I was the first one up, and got the fire stoked.  Brr!

I wanted to make us collard greens, but the store had zero, and I have zero in the freezer.  I'll do another check in the freezer this morning, just to be sure.

The nursing home continues to do "memory" tests with Mom.  She said the air is so dry in her room, but they keep her busy most days.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Reading and other tidbits . . .

 

I've actually been doing some reading.  I finished both of these books.  I passed the James Patterson book on to Daughter E, and I'm keeping the other one.  

Daughter K and her boyfriend are going to look at an apartment this month.  We didn't see this happening until a year from now, but that would help us with home repairs/re-model.  She'd have to re-home her rabbit, but we were happy to hear about this.

I haven't been to the nursing home to visit Mom yet.  I have been calling her daily though.  Daughter K is sick, and it took great lengths to find a home covid test to be sure.  Four people at her work are now out with it.  Her test however showed she was negative.  It's spreading like wildfire in our area.  In fact, I got an automated phone call from the nursing home.  It said two more positive cases at the home Mom is in - one staff and one resident (not what I needed to hear).

Mom has started physical therapy, and they also do a memory test with her.

There has been a lot of thefts in our downtown (little town) area lately, and last night a report of men in hoodies around someone's barn in the country.  Great.  Just what we need.

I called my doctor.  He will not order an MRI for my ankle until he sees me.  Sigh.  I can't get in to see him until the end of the month.  I told my husband, if it heals up before then, I will just cancel the appointment (what I am hoping for).

Snow is heading our way in a few days.  Not sure how much just yet.  I don't watch the news, I just check the weather update, but most days I just look out the window.

Daughter E wants me to gather some healthy crock-pot recipes, so that is on the agenda today.