If you have been feeling like it seems a lot harder to make friends without spending money, then you’re right. It is harder. It’s scary to put ourselves out there and trust someone. We would rather believe that we didn’t need friends and continue to isolate ourselves. It’s just not true. We really do all…
Managing a Home Budget
For years, my husband and I struggled to save money. We would go over the bills, plan out a budget and then slowly slip back into our old habits. Resentment started to build and it was easier to keep our heads in the sand and avoid another argument. Something had to change. We wanted better…
How to Save Money on Laundry
We are all more focused on being more intentional with how we spend our money. Often the best way, isn’t one major shift but small changes made over time. If those choices are healthier and better for the environment, then that is a definite win. Learning to save money on laundry can do just that….
Managing Stress On Your Homestead
There is always so much to think of when managing a homestead. Sometimes it can be hard to just put those thoughts aside and enjoy a few peaceful moments. When the list of tasks to complete is never ending, It’s so important to learn strategies for managing stress on your homestead. Homesteading can feel like…
Scrumptious Cinnamon Apple Streusel Muffins
As we welcome in fall, I find myself wanting to spend more time in the kitchen. The need to reach for a cozy sweater as the sun dips down brings about a renewed desire to create hearty meals that invite the family to linger around the table. Since we are in peak apple season at…
Curtain Calls
My favorite thing to purchase at thrift stores are vintage fabrics. I instantly visualize them as the most luxurious drapes, cushions or perhaps a tablecloth. Unfortunately, most of these beautiful fabric have yet to fulfill their destiny. Why? Well the thought of sitting in front of the sewing machine once filled me with anxiety. Oddly…
How to Make Elderberry Syrup
During a morning walk I saw these clusters of small berries in different patches on the side of the road. The leaves looked like Water Hemlock but those don’t produce berries. I also remembered reading that elderberry plants resemble hemlock. After taking pictures of the plant to double check, I confirmed they were elderberries. I…
Corn Casserole: A Potluck Favorite
Growing up my family was very involved in our church. It very much felt like an extension of our family. It was a wonderful part of my childhood and I have many cherished memories. We moved when I was fifteen, more than thirty years ago, and I can still picture the people that left an…
Planting A Fall Garden
By the end of August most of us start to lose our enthusiasm with gardening. The sun is scorching and there hasn’t been much rain at all in the last couple months. That doesn’t seem to stop the weeds and garden pests from thriving. I have canned all the green beans and tomatoes I want…
Peach Perfect
When my family immigrated to America, we moved to Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. My parents had worked long hours and sacrificed to buy a small farm. As grateful as we were, it was at times lonely to be so far from family and friends. It was especially hard for my mother to leave my grandmother. They…