Homesteaders aren’t always the most fun people to be around – have you noticed? Not only do we have too many demands on our time to stay late at parties or take surprise trips to the coast, but we like to talk about those demands ad nauseam. If you say to your homesteading friend “I…
Tag: homestead
Lenten Notes
How on earth can I ever put anything useful up here if all I’m doing is updating occasionally? My poor, neglected blog-friends! How is your Lent going? Mine is delightful, though I’ve gotten distracted these past few days by a visit from my sweet parents. They’re here to celebrate my son’s upcoming birthday, to put…
Winter Gloom
It’s been a gray, gloomy winter so far. We’ve had one, glorious snowstorm and tons of heavy rain. The skies are overcast and the air is heavy. It feels very much like what I imagine a British winter would be. But I miss my wild, snowy, New England winters. I’m hoping January and February feel…
Making & Making Do
Are we in a recession? Who knows – I certainly don’t. Labels and certainties have never really been my strong point. And anyway, the answers vary depending on who you ask. All I know is that whether I’m going to the grocery store, filling up the gas tank, or buying feed for the animals –…
Seven Sleepers for Summertime Sleepiness
I’ve spent the past few days running around away from home – errands, baking day at the parish, van repairs, and waiting for rides from friends to get me where I need to go. This morning, I woke up knowing there was nowhere to be and nothing to do but the homey tasks that bring…
Saturday Snapshot
The beaver pond is a perfect place for ice-skating. Recently, on Sundays after Mass, the kids have been spending afternoons skating with friends while the dogs harass each other and the adults huddle around the fire. This week, after two bouts of snow, the pond is covered, and we’re debating whether to go shovel it…
So I Finally Ditched My Smartphone
It’s weird to think of off-grid life with a smartphone, isn’t it? When we first moved to our land, in July of 2010 smartphones seemed like just another annoying fad. We drove to local cafes when we wanted to check something online. I wasn’t freelancing, Seth wasn’t selling his art, and only about 20% of…
Wintertime Puppy
Yesterday, friends from Ohio brought us a puppy. Actually, they brought up two puppies. One for us, one for a friend. Puppies are expensive around here. Too many people paying too much for faux-kids maybe? Whatever the cause, finding an affordable puppy that will fit in well with our life was a challenge. But in…
Candlemas and the Waning of Winter
We’ve had a strange winter this year. The warm days are unnaturally warm and the cold days are surprisingly bitter. The coyotes in the woods seem hungrier than usual this year. At night, they lurk just inside the tree line, yipping and calling to each other in the dark. I’m locking my animals up tightly…
Goodbye August
Even before the end of August, we could feel the summer fading. The nights are cool enough to cook indoors, and the mornings are cold. We wear sweaters in the morning while eating oatmeal sprinkled with cinnamon and dotted with new apples. The first morning of September dawned colder than any morning since May. Despite…
Y is For Home! 