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~
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
....from the handiwork journal
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Collecting Recipes Addiction ~ Deep Clean Continues ~ Tea Healing Trick ~ Longest Egg Laying Hiatus Ever!
I've been going thru a box of recipes from Mom's house. I know where I get the collection addiction from now. Golly.
This winter was the longest hiatus from egg laying in history. Not one egg since last October. So it got me thinking. I checked the ingredients on the organic feed we buy. I am pretty sure they dropped the amount of protein in it, so we switched it up, and I picked up some black sunflower seeds. Of course they get kitchen treats from me too. Never, have we ever,gone this long without fresh laid eggs.
Monday, February 6, 2023
Happy Homemaker Monday
The museum gift shop has closed their doors. Water damage from back in December. I sold my jar openers, dish scrubbies and soap saver bags at the museum gift shop, and with success. I picked my inventory up over the weekend. They will be seeking fund raisers to repair the historical building.
The weekend, which was to be one full trip for errands, ended up two days. We had to stop at the feed store, pick up groceries, make a drop, donate stuff, get my hair cut, and so on.
I also saw a doctor at our Urgent care. I wanted to make sure there was no infection. There was not. She said to "not talk" and that would clear the laryngitis. So frustrating. The only possibility is it was stress induced in Jan (makes sense).
We have put a larger humidifier next to my bed, but now we may put one in near the living room as well. It should help. Anyway, no infection. I asked the pharmacy for suggestions, and came home with two different throat lozenges.
Update: all of the stairway, upstairs carpet has been removed. We are deciding on how to sand and paint the stairs, and flooring for up there. I have a dresser in storage here, I still need to sand and stain, but have come up with some other ideas to get it nice and pretty this summer. It will go upstairs in the spare bedroom. It's been added to the "get'r done" list.
I'm slowly clearing up the mess we made by moving stuff from one room to another, putting paint cans away, and the tools away.
Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.
The Weather. . .
We are getting up in the 50's, and several days of rain.
As I look outside my window . . .
It's still dark out.
Right now I am . . .
Sipping hot coffee, trying to wake up.
Thinking and pondering . . .
The menu this week, what needs done, and cleaned.
On my bedside table . . .
New throat lozenges to try. Hoping to get relief this week.
On my TV . . .
Right now the weather.
Listening to . . .
Rhythm and blues today.
On the breakfast plate . . .
Scrambled eggs, blueberry sausage and french toast.
On the lunch plate . . .
Ham/cheese sandwich.
On the dinner plate . . .
Mexican chicken most likely.
On the menu. . .
Breakfast - crock pot steel cut oats/apples/cinnamon
Dinners-
-???
On the reading pile . . .
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Elderberry Elixir ~ Immune Booster
I was given this recipe from a friend several years ago. It is similar to the one online with Mountain Rose Herbs.
In a stove top pot mix:
4 inch piece of fresh ginger sliced
8 - 10 inches of cinnamon stick
Bring to a simmer and simmer 1 hour. Press juice from berries.
Strain and let cool completely, and add:
2/3 cup of honey
Note: To make this last longer you can add 1 cup brandy (after you stir in honey and lemon)
Store in a cool dark place. Adults: take 1 Tbsp. daily, or up to 3-4 a day when feeling ill.
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Homemade "Bisquick" and other ramblings
In order to try a new recipe (thank you M. Meyers), I needed a new batch of "Baking Mix" for it. Basically, it's homemade "Bisquick."
I've used the below (link is below photo) recipe often, and as she states, you can store part of the mix in our fridge or freezer if you don't use it within the month.
The recipe is from Lazy J bar c farm - Baking Mix.She has other recipes I love to make, including the zucchini muffins with shredded zucchini (I like to freeze shredded zucchini over summer for this in the fall/winter/spring time). It's a great go-do muffin recipe for taking to gatherings or potlucks.
The other day I threw together a soup, because I had expected leftovers on our meatloaf dinner night (kids came and devoured it all).
It actually turned out delicious. I just threw it together with some organic Hannah sweet potatoes (they are white, not orange), ground Italian sausage, and kale. I also added onion, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Oh, a bit of dry white wine as well. We both loved it. I did not add any milk or cream, but that could be added possibly. Either way, it turned out delicious.
We are noticing day light has been longer the last few days. It is so nice to see that again.
I finally got back to lining more of the kitchen cupboards. I got 4 more shelves cleaned, and now have new shelf liner. I also have metal shelves in a few that also got a good cleaning, before putting back in the cupboards. I have a few more to do.
Friday, February 3, 2023
Cold Day ~ Pouring Travel Soap
We are to have a very cold day today (yesterday's sunrise). However, we are to warm up after that, so it's not staying long.
One more winter job off the to-do list - making travel soap.
I am slowly working items out of my closet (total chaos).
I decided, after trying both sizes, that the rectangle soap makes a smaller soap, and better for travel. the oval is perfect for a spare bathroom or gift giving.
I decided to get those made, and soap stored for any traveling this year. Very easy to make and are great for adding to gifts such as a crocheted washcloth and face scrubbie pad.
Not all of the soap is in that photo, but the bars came out to about $.57/each minus adding essential oil. I did not (obviously) add any coloring. I am also sharing some with the kids, but perfect for travel trips/camping and gifting.
In hindsight, I should have made a few regular sized bars, but that job is done. I have had the soap base for at least 2-3 years now. The last few years have been rough, so I guess 2022-2023 is a "get'r done" year for us.
A reader asked about melting down slivers of leftover soap. I do not know about store bought soap (non handmade). I mentioned you could put your soap slivers into a soap saver bag made with 100% cotton.
Once you add the essential oil and pour to a mold and then use, I don't think you can melt them down again (with the oil in them).
Photo of a soap saver bag: HERE
I could not find a photo in my computer photos, so I went looking for a blogpost. I do not have any here at the homestead. What I have left is still at the museum gift shop. There are several patterns online for them as well.
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Finishing up homemade garlic powder ~ Growing Rhubarb Question