by Texas Homesteader ~
It’s been a very strange winter indeed this year. Oh we’ve had some blustery cold days alright but for the most part it’s been very mild. Heck here it is the middle of February and it was 80 degrees with sunshine today! But such wonderful weather lends itself well to working in the garden. I want to prepare it for a super-productive harvest this year. Come see what my February chores entailed.
by Texas Homesteader ~
Who doesn’t love a hearty stew when the weather’s cold? And if you’re using leftover roast to make it, that meal can be on the table in minutes.
Recently I wrote about the benefit of planned leftovers. That’s the method of cooking when you purposely cook more of an item than you will eat at one time.
Then bibbidy-bobbedy-boo presto-changeo remake the leftovers into brand new and delicious recipes.
But today I’m sharing the quickest & most basic delicious leftover idea: a Hearty Stew!
by Texas Homesteader ~
Got leftover chicken and wondering how to use it? I use Planned Leftovers cooking!
Turn leftover chicken, a few dried out corn tortillas and a few cans of veggies into delicious, hot & satisfying Chicken Tortilla Soup FAST!
by Texas Homesteader ~
Sometimes your beehives still need to be fed during the winter months. There can be many reasons for this, including a late-season swarm reducing the number of worker bees in the hive, etc. But you don’t want to feed sugar/water syrup when it could freeze. Here’s what we do.
by Texas Homesteader ~
One day RancherMan took my hand & suggested we enjoy an unseasonably warm day & take a walk around the homestead.
As I often do this time of year when the poison ivy and snakes are (for the most part) dormant, I found myself once again at the location where the previous owners used to take their household discards.
Although our barn and some of the barbed wire on our property dates back to the 1880’s, the last residents before us had their house burn down because of a lightening strike sometime in the late 1950’s.
So this area where they tossed their no-longer usable household items so long ago is like a mini time travel for me and I love it!
It seems I can learn about those inhabitants from so long ago from what they left behind, a broken child’s die-cast car, broken household trinkets and glass jars.
by Texas Homesteader ~
Well spring is coming y’all. But just because it’s still cold outside doesn’t mean there’s not lots to be done to prepare for a successful garden. Gardeners know that gardening starts way before planting time.
And during the cold months of winter is when I’m able to start making plans and taking steps to assure a bountiful harvest this year. Come on, let’s see what we’re up to…
by Texas Homesteader ~
RancherMan & I are able to live & work here on our Homestead – a place that speaks to our hearts – because we are very careful with our finances. You know what they say, “small leaks sink great ships” or, you know, something like that…
Anyway, my point is that by paying attention to the smaller things, living frugally just becomes a way of life. There’s really no sacrifice, just a consciousness of frugal tasks that make sense in the flow of our days. In my case frugality is only part of the reason I’m paying attention – many times those same tasks are also environmentally friendly too. And that’s a two-fer win for me!
by Texas Homesteader ~
This meaty, creamy potato soup recipe has plenty of smoked sausage, loads of potatoes and a burst of flavor. Yet it costs just pennies to make. Perfect comfort food for a chilly day.
