Back to the basics

I sit outside most every morning after the chores are done and enjoy my coffee....and think....I think about the state of our country and our world a lot....I think about how we are so connected to our phones, iPads, computers etc...I’m not so different...I blog from my phone!....I’ve pondered lately what would happen if we all suddenly lost our technology....maybe through a grid down situation, or internet crash...any manner of things that could take away our “life line”....I sit out side this morning in the quiet and just looked around...I mean really looked around...paying attention to the sounds, the colors, the smells, the feeling of the sun on my skin, the blue sky....I made it a point to do this....I left my phone in the house this morning....I wanted NO distractions...it was nice....I realized all the things we miss every single day because we are so tied to technology...I was really eye opening to me...people would go crazy in a short period of time these days if we lost phone service, internet, power...I’ve felt that way before when our phone service went down...it really is a good idea to have backup communication for at least your family...I think it’s really time to wean ourselves from our dependence on so much technology...I believe it’s going to be our undoing...lay your phones, iPads, computers aside...go outside....listen...breathe...relax....learn to do this regularly...unplug...things aren’t going to get better anytime soon...learn to be ok without your phone 24/7...figure out a way to communicate with your family if you have no cell phone...let’s get back to the basics...our lives may depend on it! Took this video this morning after my quiet time....total silence except for sounds of nature...I loved it!

Things are changing

Mornings are getting a bit cooler and the days getting shorter here on the homestead. Preparations for fall are underway. Barns/sheds will be winterized, hay purchased, extra feed put up. Heat lights tested, replaced and ready to go in anticipation of a long, hard cold winter here. 

We too make sure we have things we need so we need not venture out in the ice/snow, cold & covid...lol. 

The leaves have begun their descent to the ground, lightly dancing in the gentle breeze as they fall...their season has come to an end of providing shade for us, and will now act as a ground cover to help keep delicate plants warm during the cold winter months...

We will soon be chased inside, tucked away quietly enjoying the slumber and slowness that winter seems to bring to the homestead. We will enjoy the winter scents of apple and pumpkin as I bake to bring a bit of comfort in those cold winter days. 

Until Next Time... The Homestead Lady

Snapshot of our life

Snapped these while out on my morning walk. Snapshot of our life.

Gratefulness

Summer is quickly coming to close here. The signs are showing everywhere. The orb weavers(garden spiders) are out in full force as are other kinds of spiders. The leaves gently dance to the ground in the morning breeze. I look around and see the slight changes taking place...the underbrush that once was lush and green has been weathered and is tired....the grass has begun to lose its vibrancy as well. The garden is all but done producing...The birds, while they can still be heard have been replaced by singing of the late summer cicadas...these are all signs it’s time for us to began our winter preparations for ourselves and the critters. 

There’s always sadness for me this time of year...I much prefer the spring...that time of newness and renewal...fall reminds me of death I guess...this has been a particularly hard year for us on many fronts...spring and summer for us seemed almost non existent with all we had going on...I think I somehow feel cheated.🙂

 It won’t be long until the autumn chill will chase us inside and life will become slower paced in some ways...I tell myself seasons are needed for mother nature to continue to do her job...things cycle and those cycles are needed...I think that makes it a bit easier to deal with...lol...for now I will continue to sit outside and enjoy my coffee while the weather is nice and be grateful for it....when the autumn and winter temps chase us indoors I’ll find myself baking and cooking comfort foods in order to get through the cold days....

I really am thankful for the fact we can be home during these uncertain times. We are all facing so much uncertainty it’s becoming difficult to find the good some days it seems...during those times we need to unplug and take a walk in nature if you can or meditate...read, pray whatever it is you do to find peace...these things shall pass. I need to remind myself there’s much to be grateful for even in turbulent times. 

Until Next Time... The Homestead Lady

Proceed accordingly

As you probably have figured out by now, I think a lot...I am constantly in a state of thought it seems. Since late December 2019 when I first heard about covid my radar has been on overdrive. I watch, I listen, I think....like everyone else I have my opinions but don’t freely share...I get upset if I read certain in things, there’s much about people I just simply don’t understand...I always look at both sides of a coin, read/listen to all sides of an argument and draw my own conclusions...sometimes I agree with one side or the other and sometimes I agree with none...I read something this morning that just absolutely floored me...I couldn’t believe I was actually reading it...so of course that got my mind to going...there’s so many sides to this whole covid-19 thing...mask/no mask, vaccine/no vaccine, dems/repubs...it’s just crazy...so my thinking was...what if we all just quit arguing and realized that this is exactly how things are suppost be at this time...what if we just accepted this is the world we live in right now and we all just decided to do what needed done to help each other...what if instead of arguing with one another we put our differences aside and worked to find common ground...if we would all work as hard at finding common ground as we do finding our differences things could be far different...I believe in all situations there’s a lot of gray area...nothing is black and white...this virus is no different...there’s a lot of gray area! A LOT! Maybe we were all put here, in this time, in this place for a purpose...what is your purpose? To bring unity or cause division? You can bring unity but still hold different beliefs! We are all going through this for a reason...many lessons to be learned...this really is just a season...at some point it will end...at the end how do you want to be remembered? A safe place? A place of divide? Causing division or working towards unity? You hold the all the cards. What you believe doesn’t really matter because the truth is there is a power much higher than any of us that has total control! Let that power do what needs done! That power(God) has the ultimate say! I choose to believe that we are meant to be a light in the darkness...light brings happiness, unity, healing, words of kindness...darkness brings the opposite ...division, hate, sickness, meanness...we are to be salt and LIGHT!...next time someone disagrees with you, bless them...smile and say I’ll truly consider your point of view. Wish them health and happiness and be on your way. No need to argue. It serves no good purpose. You will never change a mind that is closed, I spent so much time trying...in the end it was truly time and energy wasted. Speaking my mind once was enough...if someone doesn’t understand the first time, they won’t understand the second or third. They won’t understand until they choose to do so. But the best part is, you can still love them, be kind to them and get along. We have to understand we all have the right to an opinion...but opinion doesn’t equal facts...opinion is just merely a collection of ideas and a strong personal belief about something. That’s it! It’s not fact! The next time you want to engage someone in a debate ask what your goal is? What is your end game? Then, proceed accordingly!

Above all else, prepare...prepare your heart, your mind and your home!

Until next time...

Love & Light

True dat!

Very true!😁 Our lives really didn’t change much at all!

Until Next Time... The Homestead Lady

Old worn out chair

I sit here outside in my old worn out patio chair that has been a constant in my life for years that I’ve sat in so many times pondering over any given situation, coffee sitting on my outdoor side table listening to the roosters crow, the goats bleat in the distance and an occasional mooo from the calves I feel a sense of gratitude...things here are not perfect, we are not immune to the bad things of life...in fact we experience things all the time we’d rather not! Being at peace doesn’t mean all is well, it means you are at peace in your soul in the midst of the trials. In each trial we encounter, I believe there are lessons to be learned. We all have a choice in how we look at any situation, good or bad. If we can just learn to except all experiences for what they are and not try to find reasons for them, or place blame for them we are much more likely to learn the lessons intended. In learning the lessons we grow as a person. My lessons in recent months have been many! I’ve learned what I want in my life and what I don’t, if it disturbs my peace it needs gone. If I feel like saying something that could have consequences maybe not intended I ask myself what is my goal in saying it. Before I add to the menagerie here on the homestead, again I ask what is my goal. 

Will it help or hinder? Will it build up or tear down? Will it bless or curse? Will it show love and acceptance or hate and division? Is the beneficial for the greater good in our life.

During this pandemic my hermit tendencies have really come to the forefront. Some will never understand that I have chosen to be home and it’s not from fear...no, it’s because I have chosen to take this time and just be still, to find me again...to reignite my spark that had gotten so dim over the past few years...to reconnect with what’s important to me...I truly enjoy being home, with no outside distractions. I enjoy tending to my home and critters it gives me a sense of purpose and meaning. 

If you are in a place be it online or in real life that takes your peace, your sense of identity, skews your vision, makes you feel ‘less than’, is non accepting, and just overall makes you feel icky...LEAVE! Same with relationships....That’s not what the creator intended for our lives. I have had to leave online situations that were very toxic, I stayed far to long in most of those situations...lesson learned. 

So, as I sit here in my old worn out chair, looking at the clouds so gently floating by, I hear my critters being happy my heart is once again finding it’s peace. Take sometime to be still today, maybe find your own worn out chair, sit, find the good, be grateful & learn the lessons meant for you! 

  Until Next Time... The Homestead Lady

Be wise

Since the beginning of the pandemic there’s been so much negativity associated with it. It has been turned into a political issue rather than one of health. I am not a political person so I will not even share my opinion here as it really not going to change a thing other than possibly alienate what few readers I have...so I’ll just keep my opinion to myself...wink

I will say that during most of this last 18 months we have remained home with a few trips that were work related. While we are tired of all the “drama” that has surrounded this virus we have pretty much just kept to ourselves.

We have tried to remain positive and look for the blessings in amongst the upheaval and chaos. We have 2 choices...look at the good or the bad...we choose to see the good...the positive opportunity in this pandemic...we have been home more so more projects have gotten done...we have spent more time together....our oldest daughter and her family have decided to move here, on our land to be better prepared for the future.

Early on we made a decision that this was possibly a time for some of us to reconnect to our creator. A time to just be still, prepare our hearts, minds and home for what lies ahead.

We have felt it best to use our time, energy and money to do what needs done rather than wasting time, energy and resources on things that will not be of any great benefit in the long term. Like involving ourselves in debates!

Years ago preppers talked of such a time as this...a global pandemic. There were warnings given...many didn’t heed the warnings...when the pandemic hit people had to rush to the supermarkets to buy basic necessities such as toilet paper...for those that listened, we were prepared years ahead...we are not the hoarders you saw on TV...no, most of us were sitting in our recliners watching the chaos while we had plenty of TP that we stocked up on years ago...jus’ sayin’

My hope is that lessons have been learned and taken to heart...prepare...use your time wisely...rather than arguing on Facebook or pushing your agenda, take that time, use it wisely and research preparedness, then put that research into action. Things are not going to get better from here...I think things will get worse and worse. Unfortunately arguing politics or this side or that is not beneficial to anyone...it further divides...spend your time wisely...prepare yourself and your family...plan ahead...take time to be quiet daily...reflect...calm your heart and mind...get your house in order...be a wise steward of your resources. The next big thing could be much worse than this pandemic.

Watch and pay attention. 

Until Next Time... The Homestead Lady

Pictures

While farm life is certainly not easy there’s just something so rewarding about watching & feeding babies. I look forward each morning to getting up and feeding these little critters, feeding chickens and gathering eggs....then I meander to the goats and give them a quick head scratch and pet...I dump their feed as they bleat telling me thank you... Can’t help but take a few pictures in the process. 

Orginally Posted 10/26/2012

I orginally wrote this on October of 2012. Interesting to read it now. I very much feel covid-19 is not done with us and the worst is yet to be seen. Please prepare if you haven't already.

Back to our future...sounds similar to the 80's movie, Back to THE future...This has been on my mind a lot lately, maybe do to the economy or the election and maybe because I think to much...LOL....I am a thinker...whatever the reason it has really weighed on my mind that our ancestors can teach us what I think may well be our future...If you have ever sit for very long at all and pondered what would happen if our economy actually failed, or we were hit with a global pandemic or ______(you fill in the blank) We could actually be plunged back in the early days...There is no way to know that if in any of our lifetimes that would actually happen, it is all mere speculation, but farm man and I do feel it wise to invest our time and energy into learning the skills of days of old...Even if nothing globally catastrophic ever happens in our life time, there are the daily ups and down's of life that many of us have experienced...I know in our own personal life when we moved here and things took a downward turn we were so glad to have the knowledge we had, many would not have been able to stick with it and make it through...So many today rely on the modern gadgets and conveniences that today's world offers they cannot fathom not having a phone, computer, television, anything electric... many homes across America are total electric and most people just think that it will always be there...We are not that naive...we were over night thrust into a way of living had not been seen or touched by most in 60+ years...

We feel there was a reason...was it to show us a glimpse of our past? Maybe a glimpse into our future? Whatever the reason it was hard, but blessed...I am ever so grateful to have had that experience...One thing I loved was the simpleness of it all...there seemed to be more hours in the day, the reality of course is that days were not longer, we just did not have all the distractions that we have in 'modern' lives. There was no television to sit and watch, or computer to sit in front of for hours, we spent our time enjoying what God had given us...nature, time, each other, gardening, hiking and learning new skills.  It was during this time that the words God had spoken to us so long ago "Be prepared, the time is nigh" came to life and began to take shape in our minds and lives....we came to understand what we were to do...its been an amazing journey thus far...hard, but amazing...Farm man and I are forever grateful for the journey, in spite of the many tears, wondering why us, and sometimes thinking we could not go on...We have learned that with Gods amazing strength we can do all things, through prayer we find a friend that never fails, through trials we grow, and through faith we have peace and when we fall short he gives us undying grace...Our life looks different to many out there, and there are some on the other side of the fence that will never understand how things like this can change you...and that's ok...someday we may all be faced with the challenges farm man and I have already experienced...it will make you bitter, or it will make you better...I have become a little bitter and a lot better...Through this amazing journey we had each other to live, love and laugh with and our Lord to lead, guide and sustain us...I can honestly say if and when things go awry we will be ok...We are grateful to have been able to go back and continue to live what might be future.

Simplicity

Simplicity is wonderful! Just enjoying all life has to offer without the complications and worries is such a blessing! These critters just enjoy being alive, eating, sleeping and a bit of human interaction! All the rest is just unimportant! Lesson learned!

My heart is full!

We all have a way of life that just suits who we are at our core. Sometimes we are detoured off the path to experience other things that grow us and help us find who we really are. That’s what I think happened with us. We went through so much trauma that we took a detour...we learned so much so it wasn’t a bad thing but we have come full circle back to who we are...I’m so glad to be back, living our simple farm life! My heart is full!

The calves 

Until next time...

The homestead Lady

We’re growing fast!

After my best friend passed away 4 years ago, my heart was not much into to homesteading. I kinda lost my “umpff.  I still gardened and canned but all the critters were rehomed. I was tired and nothing felt right anymore. 

Over the past months I’ve began to feel the pull towards farming again. I miss it. I miss the critters talking to us, I miss the antics the simpleness of it all.

We added chickens several months ago and then the goats a week ago...now calves are being added! I’m so excited. With the kids moving out here it will be wonderful to know we are somewhat food independent...farm man and I are in a better place to do all this now. He’s semi-retired from his job...he still works when a call comes in but he’s mainly home with me since covid. I still raise my puppies and he helps with that. 

We are doing some remodeling on the house these days. Covid has given us the opportunity to be home far more which gives us the time to do projects that have been put off for so long due to time constraints. 

I’ll post about the projects in the future. 

Until next time..

The homestead lady

Love reading this

Back to the land movement

It’s finally happening

Son in law working on their 
plot of ROH.

For years now I’ve felt the need to have my kids here on the homestead. When covid hit the urge became stronger. I didn’t really say much to my kids as they are adults with lives of their own. But interestingly in the early days of covid my oldest made the announcement she was ready to leave the city and move out here on the homestead. I was elated! They should be out here within the next few weeks. Being younger, my son in law will be a great asset. He’s very back to the land minded and would love to be self sufficient. They are also somewhat prepper minded but still have a ways to go.🙂 I’d still like my youngest to move out here and with time I believe she will. She knows her and her family are welcome to move here at anytime. I’m very excited about this new chapter for us all. I feel it’s important in times of uncertainty to be together with your tribe! This is our sanctuary, our safe haven...our compound.🙂 More as things develope!

Stay positive, test negative

Until next time...

Meet the kids!

They are Nigerian dwarf. I am so excited to have goats again.

Simplifying

I’m back!

The homestead is peaceful this morning as I sit under my favorite tree enjoying the quiet. It almost feels as if I am the only one on earth. It’s a feeling of awe but also a bit of weirdness if you will. It feels like a different world out here away from the towns and cities with all the business. I sit and ponder all that is going on within our world and it’s mind boggling. I feel saddened by what is happening. I also feel a bit confused by it all. Farm man and I work from home most of the time, on occasion he has to go out to do a job, he’s outside so a bit safer than being inside a facility with lots of people. 

Years ago on this very blog I blogged many times about a pandemic and preparedness, most of those post have been hidden now. I was thinking the other day that back then I think some of us knew this could always happen but perhaps not really in our lifetime....here we are...I will not get into the political spectrum of it all but will simply say...stay safe & be prepared! It’s not to late to prepare your family with food and supplies. Anything is better than nothing! 

I’m glad to be back here, I’ve honestly missed it! Life took a detour for us for awhile but we are now back! There are lots of new post I’ve added from my other blog I had for awhile! If you have time to catch up, please do!

Comment too😊I’ve missed you all! 

Stay positive, test negative!

Until next time...

Love this man!

 https://fb.watch/79giZQaGCM/

Inside my heaven

Most will never understand the peace I have here. It’s something I can’t really put into words. When we first visited this land in 2008 I knew it was special, I had an overwhelming feeling of peace on this slice of earth. I’ve never lost that feeling. It’s almost a feeling of  sacredness. I walked down from the house to visit my precious little goats and was overcome with emotion...the emotion of pure joy. I love this life, my life, the farm life...it’s a way of life many have no clue about anymore. I felt the pull to leave facebook just for my own sanity. There was/is so much negativity, political turmoil and hate that I was losing sight of what's important....peace, peace is important no matter whats going on around you!  Will I ever return to facebook? I don't know. My life is full at this time. I need to focus on our goals here at this homestead. Things aren't going to get any easier...I need, we need to keep our focus and maintain our peace during these turbulent times. 

This kind of lifestyle has been lost to concrete and corporations. Money has become more important than peace and happiness. It's really a tragedy.

As I walked I took a few pictures. Here they are.

Inside my heaven

Most will never understand the peace I have here. It’s something I can’t really put into words. When we first visited this land in 2008 I knew it was special, I had an overwhelming feeling of peace on this slice of earth. I’ve never lost that feeling. It’s almost a feeling of  sacredness. I walked down from the house to visit my precious little goats and was overcome with emotion...the emotion of pure joy. I love this life, my life, the farm life...it’s a way of life many have no clue about anymore. I felt the pull to leave facebook just for my own sanity. There was/is so much negativity, political turmoil and hate that I was losing sight of what's important....peace, peace is important no matter whats going on around you!  Will I ever return to facebook? I don't know. My life is full at this time. I need to focus on our goals here at this homestead. Things aren't going to get any easier...I need, we need to keep our focus and maintain our peace during these turbulent times. 

This kind of lifestyle has been lost to concrete and corporations. Money has become more important than peace and happiness. It's really a tragedy.

As I walked I took a few pictures. Here they are.

They’re heeerrreee!

 I cannot put into words how happy I am! I have missed my goats so much! These are super friendly like dogs! It’s possible the lightest colored female is bred but not 100% sure. My heart is so very happy!

They’re heeerrreee!

 I cannot put into words how happy I am! I have missed my goats so much! These are super friendly like dogs! It’s possible the lightest colored female is bred but not 100% sure. My heart is so very happy!