Raising boys is one of my greatest privileges. Our boys are rambunctious, ornery, silly and often stubborn little human beings, and I am in awe of each one of them. I love their energy, their passion and how unique each personality is from the other. We have our moments of conflict (see above comment about... Continue Reading →
Finding a reason to rally the family together around the dinner is a creative exercise. You know what I mean? Sure, you can frequently fall back to everybody's favorite meals when in a pinch for time. We do this quite a bit actually. Pancakes, tacos and tater tot casserole are all staples in our house.... Continue Reading →
College football. It's a big deal in our house. It's the gateway to autumn. No pumpkin spiced lattes necessary. If you're like me, when it's game day you want something tasty but simple to make. Comfort food without too much indulgence. And if you've got friends over, you want something that satisfies every stomach and... Continue Reading →
Oh Autumn...you've been missed. You really are my favorite time of year. Okay, I know autumn doesn't officially start until later this month. But there is something magical about how August dissolves into September, isn't there? It's a feeling in the air. A slow release of a long, hot summer. A sudden chill in the... Continue Reading →
If I'm entirely honest, I had no intention of ever becoming a homesteader. I didn't understand homesteading. I thought it was a fad, and it wasn't something I was going to be interested in. But little did I know that homesteading was so much more than what I thought it was. It was exactly what... Continue Reading →
I'll trade you a pig for a summer's worth of pulling weeds. Sound like a deal? And if you'll babysit our kids once a month I'll make sure you never run out of homemade jam. Shouldn't life be that simple? What if we could do more of the things we want to do without always... Continue Reading →
I used to think that canning pickles was next to impossible. But you know what? It ain't no big thang! Seriously. Canning pickles is pretty easy. Once you break down the steps, set aside the initial fear of messing up, and just give it a try you'll probably wonder why in the world you... Continue Reading →
Three of my favorite things are fresh blueberries, tasty almonds and...muffins. And we've combined them all together to make this delicious treat! I mean, how can you go wrong with blueberries? They go good in almost everything, right? Pancakes. Scones. Yogurt. Really the sky is the limit when it comes to this healthy fruit. We... Continue Reading →
It goes without saying that this self-sufficient lifestyle comes with certain characteristics. Like determination. Persistence. And plain old stubbornness. You know the kind of stubbornness I'm talking about. Right? Grit. Stick-to-it-iveness. Refusing to quit by all means. Even when that might be the best thing to do. I understand that all too well. I don't... Continue Reading →
You know that feeling when you plant all the things...but nothing comes up? Spring finally comes after a long winter, and you're anxious to get out to plant the garden. You're looking forward to fresh veggies, and you can almost taste them as you're putting seed in the ground. You plant. You water. You wait.... Continue Reading →