Bringing Life

Author: bringinglife

  • A Family Tomato Tale

    A Family Tomato Tale

    Welcome back!

    Transplanting makes for an exciting day! Several weeks ago, we started several trays of plants. One of those trays held 80 Napoli tomato seeds we bought from MIGardener (Napoli Tomato – MIgardener).

    We chose this variety for its usefulness in several different ways. It is advertised as an excellent sauce tomato which is pretty high on our list. Tim has a smidgen of Italian in him and it likes to come out in his cooking. So pasta sauce and pizza sauce are definitely on our canning agenda for this year. But Napoli tomatoes are also supposed to be good for slicing, so that means diced tomatoes and salsa as well as just eating in salads or on hamburgers. 

    Now, we weren’t expecting anywhere close to 80 starts from that tray. But, since we have lots of canning plans for our eventual tomato harvest, we were hoping for at least 40. Half is pretty good, right?

    Well, it was finally time to transplant all our Napoli seedlings. So Alayna and I pulled out small plastic cups, a box cutter, a bag of Burpee organic seed starting mix (Burpee Eco Friendly 8 Qt Seed Starting Mix 0.06-0.03-0.03 – Burpee), and of course our tomatoes.

    Alayna had the job of cutting three little 1-inch tall triangles around the base of each cup and then stacking them in another uncut cup. These triangles were for bottom watering so I didn’t have to pour water on the top and increase the chances of fungus. I started teasing the plants out of their cells, dividing all the ones I could, and filling the cups with starter mix.

    Once we got into the rhythm it was not a hard job by any means, but it was a time-consuming one. I had to be careful not to damage the roots and Alayna had to take care not to damage her fingers! One by one the cups started to fill up and orderly rows of amazing-smelling tomato starts began taking up more and more room on the table. Tim had some free time so he jumped in to help, carefully separating the seedlings into their cups. Between him and Alayna, I had to hustle and still ended up woefully behind. 

    When everything was said and done, or every last seedling separated and filled, we had an amazing total of… Drum roll… 75 tomato plants. 75! That means between the seeds that didn’t germinate and the ones that weren’t healthy enough to save, we only lost 5. Those are some amazing results! We have never had tomatoes grow this well. I’m not sure if it was the variety or the quality of seeds or that we started them in coconut coir instead of potting soil or a combination of everything, but we are thrilled.

    Watering them all was the next challenge. I did not water them the evening we transplanted them as they came out of the tray cells rather wet. But the next morning I knew they would be needing water. My options were as follows:

    1. Lift each interior cup, pour water into the outer cup, and replace the inside one.
    2. Find enough trays with rims to hold all the inside cups while I put water in the trays and let the cups soak.
    3.  Run a few inches of water in the bathtub and put all the cups in at once.

    I chose to go with Option 3 for several reasons. Less fuss and chance of mess than Option 1 and I didn’t have to find a place to store that many trays full of water where 6 children were unlikely to bump them.

    So into the tub they went and by the time I had finished getting them in there, the 5 minutes I had been planning to let them soak was up making it time to take them all right back out. 

    So far, none of them look to be in danger of wilting from the transplanting which is wonderful news. It’s moments like these that remind me how much growth—both plant and personal—can come from just a few tiny seeds. And this is only the beginning.

  • Decorating With Dreams And Dirt

    Decorating With Dreams And Dirt

    Hi!

    The thing with building a new house from the ground up is that you also have to decorate the entire house. This may seem strange, but up until now, I have never really had a whole house to decorate. As a result, I am still trying to piece together what styles and themes I like.

    Growing up, decorating always followed a theme. A style was chosen and then stuck with throughout the entire room if not the whole house. This technique is fine and I am not criticizing it. The only problem with it, at least in my case, is that I like too many styles. I like feminine and primitive, elegant and rustic, lace and cast iron.

    For a good while, I tried to wrangle my likes into a specific theme so I could be “normal” but finally I gave up and quit fighting myself. After all, normal is overrated. So I am working on a list of everything I like when it comes to decorating. It’s actually longer than I thought it would be and an interesting mixture of styles that may even fall under the definition of eclectic.

    While I won’t tire you out by including the entire list here, I would like to tell you about one specific part of it and especially the reason behind it.

    I have a collection of ceramic planters that I am in the process of painting. They came from a couple of ceramic businesses that Tim and I cleaned out after they closed.

    So far I only have two painted, but I have several more to go. They range from small to large, from simple to more ornate. I even have two that are owl-themed and one that has raccoons on it. They are fairly good-sized and will probably spend most of their time outside.

    Painting always interested me but seemed too daunting and above my skill level. Tim started painting first

    and pushed me to try it and now here we are! I found that not only do I thoroughly enjoy painting, but it is far easier than I expected. You never know until you try, do you?

    Anyway, all of that brings me to the main point. One thing I want in my house, one thing I am very adamant about having in my house, is an herb corner. Well, it doesn’t have to be a corner, but I want fresh herbs growing inside. I want the freedom to pick a few leaves of thyme for a marinade, a mint leaf for nausea, or fresh basil for a cucumber tomato salad. I want the look and smell of rosemary and lavender and sage growing here and there. I want to have bunches of herbs hanging to dry along the walls or in the kitchen.

    While I cannot lay claim to having the best of green thumbs, I am determined to do my best to keep my herb garden flourishing. Both indoors and outdoors.

    To me, herbs are a vital part of a homestead. There is just so much you can do with them! Each one has its own unique spot in cooking and in homemade medicine.

    When I think of what herbs I want to plant, lavender is usually one of the first that comes to mind. While not often used in cooking (although I have had lavender ice cream, yogurt, and coffee), its many medicinal benefits are amazing. Lavender tea is calming and helps with mild insomnia since it promotes relaxation and encourages restful sleep. It also may ease stomach issues. The scent of lavender can help with tension headaches and is a general mood booster. A lavender wash made from steeping the fresh flowers and then letting the water cool is wonderful for bug bites, bee stings, scrapes, minor cuts, bruises, and more as it is anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever. The plants are also supposed to repel mosquitos. Sounds like a winner to me!

    Thyme is pretty high on the list too. Wonderful on baked chicken, I also like to mix it with rosemary and parsley to make a delicious herb bread. Thyme is another powerhouse herb to have on hand in a home apothecary. Excellent for respiratory and digestive health, it can be used to open sinus passages and soothe coughs. It relaxes the GI tract and is known to help with intestinal parasites. But it doesn’t just kill internal bugs. Thyme is a strong antibacterial and antifungal herb making it great to use in homemade cleaners.

    Honestly, my list of “favorite” herbs is probably too long to talk in detail about them all. Others of note are mint for tea and nausea, rosemary for cooking and headaches, oregano for pasta sauce and immune boosts, and the list goes on and on.

    Needless to say, I have great plans for my herb corner, and I can’t wait to see them play out.

    I may not have it all figured out yet, but piece by piece—style by style and herb by herb—this house is becoming home.

  • Amazing Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Amazing Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Great to Have You Back!

    If any of y’all are like us, you have a go-to dessert recipe for when the sugar cravings hit or you want to relax with a favorite snack. For us, it’s chocolate chip cookies. But, these aren’t just any chocolate chip cookies. When we got married, Tim was very much NOT a fan of chocolate chip cookies. But sometimes I’d try different recipes to see if I could find one he did like. Because, Hello… Chocolate!

    A couple of years ago, I found a recipe that sounded promising and decided to give it another try. Now, when I make something, it is pretty rare for me to follow the recipe exactly. So I did my usual and tweaked these. The original recipe called for nuts, and while I don’t have any problems with nuts, I don’t often use them in cookies. Instead, I increased the amount of flour.

    I mixed up all of the ingredients, placed the cookies on the sheet, and baked them for two minutes less than the recipe said. With bated breath, I pulled the finished cookies out of the oven and watched as Tim sampled one. And something wonderful and new happened!

    Alright, I may have gotten a little dramatic there, but something exciting did happen. Tim quickly proclaimed them the best chocolate chip cookies he had ever eaten, and the rest of the batch quickly followed the first as he and the kids (and me, too) basically inhaled them.

    You might now be curious about what makes this recipe so special—why these cookies stand out from the rest. Well, there are a couple things that I think really made the difference for us.

    1. Dark Chocolate

    I might be stepping into a controversial subject (I don’t know), but my family is of the firm opinion that dark chocolate is VASTLY superior to milk chocolate or even semi-sweet chocolate. It keeps the rich decadent taste of chocolate without overloading on the sweet taste.

    1. Firm Dough

    Again, each to their own, but I like my cookie dough firm enough that it doesn’t spread all out in the oven. That way, the cookies come out thick enough to have soft chewy centers instead of being flat and crispy.

    1. Shorter Bake Time

    I pull these cookies out of the oven before the centers look completely set and dry. It keeps some of the moisture in them so they stay soft and moist for several days. Tim actually likes them best a day or two after baking, when the flavors have had plenty of time to blend.

    So what’s in these cookies? It’s pretty much what you would expect.

    • Butter – I have used both salted and unsalted butter in this recipe and both work. I normally use salted without having to adjust the salt amount.
    • Sugar – I use raw natural sugar, but plain white sugar works too. I also cut the sugar amount as we don’t like them really sweet, but if you prefer a sweeter cookie increase the sugar by a 1/4 cup.
    • Brown Sugar – My preference is dark brown sugar as it adds a deeper taste, almost a caramel-ly taste. Light brown sugar works great too, though. I have even made my own brown sugar by adding molasses to raw sugar.
    • Vanilla – I use real vanilla extract, but imitation vanilla would probably work as well.
    • Eggs – I have only ever used chicken egg for this recipe. Hopefully, one of these days I can let you know how it works with duck eggs! I have never used an egg substitute.
    • Salt – My normal is pink Himalayan salt, but white table salt is fine too.
    • Baking Soda – Pretty basic, I think.
    • Flour – I use organic white flour. I don’t have any experience with whole wheat flour or nut flours in this recipe.
    • Dark Chocolate Chips – And last, but not least, the star of the show! I have used milk chocolate mini chips and semi-sweet chocolate morsels, but my definite favorite is dark chocolate chips. The darker the better. You can use a bit more than the recipe calls for with no problem or can cut it down and use less. I often use less as Tim really likes the taste of the actual cookie dough with only occasional chocolate chips.

    Our Family-Favorite Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    • 1 Cup of Butter, Softened
    • 1/2 Cup Sugar
    • 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
    • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
    • 2 Eggs
    • 1 Teaspoon Salt
    • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 3 Cups Flour
    • 1 1/2 Cups Dark Chocolate Chips

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    2. Cream the butter, sugars, and vanilla together in a stand mixer until creamy.
    1. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each one.
    1. Switch to dough hook and mix in salt, baking soda, and flour. The dough may look crumbly but usually fixes itself once the flour is all mixed in.
    1. Mix in chocolate chips.
    1. Place thick rounds of dough about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
    1. Bake for 8 minutes for soft and chewy cookies. 10 minutes if you want a crispier cookie.
    1. Let them cool—if you can resist! At our house, they rarely last that long.
  • “Spring Cleaning” Tea

    “Spring Cleaning” Tea

    Happy Spring!

    When flowers start blooming, and trees start budding, I start looking for the ingredients to make one of my favorite wildcrafted spring teas. There is something so rewarding about heading outside with a basket and a pair of scissors to harvest the different herbs to wildcraft some tea.

    Wildcrafting is the practice of responsibly harvesting wild plants for food, medicine, or other uses. It encourages sustainability, deepens your understanding of local plant life, and results in fresh, chemical-free ingredients that store-bought teas simply can’t match. Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about brewing a cup of tea from herbs you’ve gathered yourself!

    I use this tea early in the spring to naturally clean out all the accumulated junk that tends to build up internally over the winter. These herbs are created to have the vitamins and minerals needed to do a gentle but deep spring cleaning on our bodies. It helps that they taste great, too! The ingredients in this recipe are simple but may not be naturally available everywhere. 

    1. Dandelions. These bright yellow flowers are among the first to pop up in spring and may bring dismay to some. But to wildcrafters, they are a treasure trove! Not only do they amend the soil wherever they grow, but the flowers are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They work to regulate blood sugar, detox the liver, and in general clean you out after a long winter. The leaves can act as a diuretic, lowering blood pressure and aiding in digestion. So the next time a dandelion shows its golden face, don’t try to dig it up (it’ll just come back anyway), instead look for a way to incorporate it into a tea, salad, or bread recipe.
    1. Cleavers. This sticky plant may not grow everywhere, but if it grows near you consider yourself blessed. Even if it does seem to be trying to take over the whole yard. Cleavers are one of the strongest lymphatic system cleansers in nature. While more potent than over-the-counter medicine, this herb is very gentle with no bad side effects, unless you are a rare creature with an allergy to cleavers. An immune system booster, this funny-looking “weed” is also anti-inflammatory and there is even research to explore its use as a cancer treatment.
    1. Purple Dead Nettle. How often have you driven past an empty field and seen a thick carpet of light purple flowers? Those were likely Purple Dead Nettle, which tends to grow in dense clumps and patches. This edible green belongs to the mint family, contains more nutrients than spinach, and is justly considered a superfood. Amazing! Packed full of Vitamins A, C, K, iron, and fiber, this little plant also holds antioxidants that support a healthy gut and heart. It boosts the immune system and reduces allergy symptoms. I could go on and on, but I think it’s easy to see how this herb earned its place in my recipe.
    2. Organic Orange Peel. I include orange peel in this recipe for an added dose of Vitamin C and flavor. 
    3. Organic Pure Unfiltered Honey. This tea does not have to be sweetened, but I prefer it with a swirl of honey. It brings out the other flavors, tones down the “green” taste, and comes with its own impressive array of benefits.

    When you go to harvest your herbs, be sure to verify what you are picking before you put it in a tea. All of these plants are easy to identify with a little looking online or in an herb book. You also want to pay attention to where you harvest from. You don’t want to use anything that has been sprayed with pesticides, or herbicides or is growing near a busy road or pet areas. No dog tea for me, please!

    Once you have successfully identified your plants the best time to pick them is in the morning before the sun gets hot. This is when they are the most potent. You can dry them if desired by hanging little bunches of them upside down somewhere dark, dry, and well-ventilated or you can use a drying rack or dehydrator for faster drying. Store the dried herbs in airtight glass containers, like a quart jar, away from direct sunlight and label them to avoid later confusion. Whenever possible, I prefer using fresh herbs, as drying reduces their potency.

    Brewing The Tea

    I do not have amounts for this recipe as I always go by what feels/looks right. Something around equal parts of each herb. I do use significantly more dandelion flowers than leaves as the leaves can get bitter quickly. But some might like more and some less, so feel free to adjust. Experiment and find your favorite blend! 

    Brewing the tea is very easy. If you are using fresh ingredients, put water in a saucepan, add the orange peel, anywhere from a few strips up to the whole peel, and bring to a boil. Once it boils, remove from heat, add the herbs, cover, and let steep for 5 minutes. You can let it go longer if you like it stronger, but the longer it sits the more the bitter green taste comes out. Once it reaches the desired strength, strain it into your mug, stir in some honey, and enjoy a mug of delicious wildcrafted tea!

    Wildcrafted tea is a simple yet meaningful way to bring nature into your daily routine. Not only does it offer delicious flavors and health benefits, but it also fosters a deeper appreciation for the plants growing around you. Try this blend or experiment with your own combinations, and let me know what you discover!

    Happy foraging and sipping!

  • Choosing Joy

    Hey There!

    Welcome to one of my musings—thanks for stopping by!

    Ever have one of those days where you can’t quite decide if it’s a good day or a bad one? When the pendulum swings wildly between frustration and happiness without warning? Well, I had one of those days.

    One of the best things about a wood stove? On cold mornings, you get to start a nice, blazing fire and make everything toasty. One of the worst things? On cold mornings, you have to start a fire just to get things toasty. The latest cold snap made for plenty of chilly fingers and toes while waiting for the warmth to catch up.

    Then there’s running water. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve lived with and without it, and I definitely prefer with. But when temperatures drop, pipes can freeze. Thankfully, we installed PEX piping in our new house, so they expand without breaking. Still, waking up to no water is… well, waking up to no water. Not exactly the best start to the day, even if it was confined to the upstairs and not our living area.

    To make matters more interesting, my washing machine must’ve taken offense to the cold and flat-out refused to run. And when you’re cloth diapering, laundry isn’t just a nice thing—it’s a must. But today? Nope. Not happening.

    And as if that weren’t enough, most of the kids must have secretly conspired to wake up on the wrong side of the bed at the same time.

    So I did what any mom of six kids does in a crisis. I kicked it into SuperMom Gear, ready to conquer the chaos with lightning speed. In my mind, I was about to whip up gourmet breakfasts, negotiate peace among the grumpy troops, fix the laundry situation with a single touch, and maybe even defrost the pipes using sheer willpower. It was going to be legendary!

    Only… not exactly.

    I did manage to get breakfasts made for all concerned and that did help out childish dispositions. But there was one more issue—a truly dire one. Coffee. Or rather, the lack of it. In a well-intentioned attempt to save money and cut back on caffeine, Tim and I had decided to limit coffee to Saturdays and special occasions. This decision, unfortunately, affected not just us but also Micah and Alayna.

    So there we were, facing a morning of freezing temperatures, broken appliances, grumpy kids, and—perhaps worst of all—no coffee. The realization hit me like a cruel joke: This was a special occasion if I’d ever seen one.

    Well, I looked around and surveyed things and decided something had to change. No day goes well when everyone is feeling depressed and discouraged.

    Somehow the conversation got onto nutmeg and I decided to see if there was a way to make nutmeg tea. So I whipped out my phone and sure enough, a delicious-sounding nutmeg tea recipe!

    Out came the mugs, the tea kettle, the grater, and the fresh nutmeg. Soon all four mugs had a quarter of amazing-smelling grated nutmeg and the tea kettle was whistling on the wood stove. We all crowded around the stove to watch impatiently as the tea steeped. Then, after adding a little cream, we each had a steaming mug of liquid joy. Finally!

    It honestly didn’t take very long for the mood-boosting qualities of nutmeg to kick in, and we all started feeling like we might actually make it through the day. All too soon we finished our mugs, with even the kids drinking the dregs so as not to waste a single drop. As I was cleaning up the mess, I read the rest of the recipe article and down at the end, you know, where everyone puts the disclaimers, it said that nutmeg tea is not to be drunk by pregnant women.

    To be completely honest, I got a little miffed at that. I mean, who were they to tell me I couldn’t drink this wonderful, mood-saving potion? I had just discovered a cheaper, tastier alternative to coffee—a rare thing in the world of budget-friendly life hacks—and now, apparently, it was a forbidden elixir of doom because I was pregnant. Of all the nerve!

    So I started researching to see if nutmeg was harmful to pregnant women. The first five or so articles all said that nutmeg in excess was indeed harmful but didn’t give any reasons why or even explain what they meant by excess. Finally, I found an article that said nutmeg contains something called “myristicin,” which can cause nausea, hallucinations, and in the worst cases, miscarriage. Well, there went that excellent idea. Now the day felt worse than ever. I stared at my empty mug, mourning the loss of what could have been my new morning ritual. With a sigh, I determined not to let the day completely unravel and decided I needed to find something—anything—to lift the mood again.

    That’s when I noticed them. Not one, not even two, but three little bursts of unexpected joy.

    The day before, while shopping, we found that the cut flower arrangements were all one dollar. So I grabbed three and put them in vases around the office area. When I say vases, I mean my style of vases. One beautiful bouquet was in a glass pitcher, and the others looked stunning in two vintage silver-plated ornate footed teapots. They might have seemed inconsequential to some, but I love flowers and beautiful things and even knowing I had managed to arrange them so nicely helped. I made sure I noticed them every time I walked past my desk for the rest of the day.

    And just like that, the day took a turn for the better. Did the washer magically fix itself? No. Was everyone else in a more encouraged mood? Again, no. But I realized that having a “good” day or a “bad” day was not based on circumstances but on my choices. How I reacted to frustrating things made the difference in how the day went.

    That was honestly pretty eye-opening. I knew it in my head, but knowing a thing and putting the thing into action are two very different things. Intentionally choosing to have a good day regardless seems to go a long way toward making any day work smoothly.

    Two verses from my devotions that morning really stood out and helped me keep my focus where it should be as well. I had just started the book of Psalms and the fifth chapter ends with these two beautiful verses.

    But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
    and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may exult in you.

    For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you cover him with favor as with a shield. –Psalms 5:11, 12

    By taking these verses to heart, I found joy in God’s loving care—even when circumstances offered little else to be thankful for. And God’s blessings are an awful lot to be grateful for. Tim and I often try to run through every blessing we can think of. In just the ten years we’ve been married the number is staggering.

    At the end of the day, nothing about my circumstances had really changed. The pipes were still frozen, the washer still wasn’t working, and we were still coffee-less. But my perspective had shifted. Instead of focusing on the inconveniences, I had chosen to focus on the little joys—flowers on my desk, a warm wood stove, and the simple fact that despite the chaos, we were making it through.

    Life on the homestead (and life in general) isn’t always smooth sailing. But I’m learning that joy isn’t found in perfect circumstances—it’s found in gratitude, in choosing to see God’s goodness even when things don’t go as planned. And hey, if nothing else, at least I got a great story out of it.

  • Homestead Dreams

    Homestead Dreams

    Hello Again!

    Taking up just under half an acre in Southwest Indiana, Tim and I are still in the early stages of building our homestead. If you’re like me, you might see a homesteading family on YouTube or read a blog post and assume they must have grown up as country kids. But that’s not always the case! Tim spent his childhood in various cities across the United States, and I grew up in a closely packed neighborhood in Japan—so neither of us had a traditional country upbringing. However, at heart, where it truly matters, we both feel a deep connection to nature and the homesteading lifestyle.

    Over our ten years of marriage, Tim and I have developed a deep longing to return to a simpler, more self-sufficient way of living—one that echoes the past. Progress has often been slow and measured, but we hold tightly to our vision of creating a thriving homestead.

    Today, we share our property with Tim’s elderly father and disabled sister, making this homestead not just a place of growth but also a home filled with family. While there is some existing infrastructure, much of what we envision will be built from the ground up.

    The property itself is shaped like a triangle, bordered on one side by train tracks and on the other by a quiet dirt road, frequented by turkey and deer. A small stand of white pines adds a touch of charm to the landscape. Originally, Tim’s parents and younger sister bought the land, settling into the doublewide trailer that came with it. As our own family grew, my mother-in-law encouraged us to build a home here, hoping to keep us all close. We had plans in motion, but heartbreakingly, she passed away before we could even break ground.

    Now, we are living in the house we built—a home filled with love, determination, and a story of faith and miracles that I’ll have to share another time. There is still much work to be done before it’s truly finished, but moving in last October before the cold hit was a huge milestone for us.

    We were recently given some used rabbit hutches, and after a bit of repair work, we’re gearing up to welcome our first small flock of meat rabbits. Raising rabbits will be a new experience for us, but we’re excited about the possibilities—both for sustainable meat production and for their rich compost contributions to our garden. We’re researching the best feeding practices, housing setups, and breeding cycles to ensure we provide them with a healthy, well-maintained space.

    Meanwhile, progress is coming along on our duck and chicken enclosure, though we still have a lot to do—especially building the coop itself. The area we’ve designated for the birds has a small creek running through it, which will provide a natural water source, particularly for the ducks. We’re planning to dig out part of the creekbed a bit deeper, creating a more reliable water source year-round. To keep our feathered friends contained and safe from predators, we’re considering anchoring chicken wire into the streambed, ensuring that they can enjoy the water without wandering too far.

    Tim’s dad planted a few small fruit trees, and we’re now taking over their care, hoping that with time and attention, we’ll see some fruits from our labors. Literally. It’s a simple but meaningful part of our homestead—one that connects us to the past while nourishing our future.

    A large garage on the property currently serves as a storage space, filled with Tim’s dad’s tools, extra supplies, and shelves stocked with Tim’s eBay inventory. Nearby, a small cinder block foundation sits waiting for its purpose—originally intended to house goats, though every time we revisit the idea, we find ourselves considering something different. Perhaps it will become a feed storage area, a workshop, or even a small greenhouse. Plans evolve as our needs change, and for now, it remains a blank slate waiting for inspiration.

    Another small shed is set aside for garden storage, a space that will soon be filled with shovels, seed trays, and bags of compost as we prepare for the growing season.

    Overseeing it all is our ever-vigilant German Shepherd, Willow. With sharp eyes and a keen sense of duty, she takes her job as protector seriously—alerting us to every visitor, whether it’s a squirrel scurrying by or a delivery driver pulling up. She’s not just our guard dog; she’s a beloved part of our homestead, always eager to be a part of everything we do.

    Each step forward comes with its share of challenges—learning what works, what doesn’t, and how to adapt. Homesteading requires patience, creativity, and perseverance, but the rewards are worth it. With time, effort, and a fair bit of trial and error, we’re slowly shaping a thriving setup that will provide eggs, meat, and natural fertilizer for our growing homestead. We dream of expanding even further—adding goats, bees, and more fruit trees—gradually creating a space that not only sustains our family but enriches our lives. The road ahead is long, but every small step brings us closer to the dream we’re building together. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey!

    Homestead Hilarity

    Trying to casually hint that he wanted some, 2-year-old Micah did his best to read the yogurt container. “It says, ‘All good kids should get yogurt.’”

  • Meeting The Family

    Hello, dear readers and new friends!

    Welcome to my blog—a little part of my life where I’ll be sharing everything from funny stories and family adventures to the lessons we’re learning along the way. Along with my husband and our ever-growing crew of six kids (soon to be seven come July!), we’ve got lots to share! I’ve always loved storytelling. As our family grows and we embrace homesteading, I felt called to document our journey—not just for us, but for anyone who might find encouragement, inspiration, or even just a good laugh along the way.

    Here, you can expect a blend of heartwarming recipes, honest reflections on biblically raising a big family, and stories from our day-to-day journey. Some posts will be lighthearted and fun, while others might get a little deeper. But my hope is that something here will resonate with you—whether it sparks a smile, inspires you to try something new, or simply makes you feel a little more connected to the crazy, beautiful journey we’re all on.

    I’m so honored to have you along for the trip. Let’s dive into life’s joys, challenges, and flavors together!

    I’d love for you to meet the people who make this homestead feel like home. I’m not sure if there’s a correct or best way to do this, so I’ll just start.

    Tim

    At the head of the family is Tim. He’s 29 years old and runs an eBay business from his basement office. What started as a fun side hobby quickly became our family’s livelihood when sickness suddenly changed everything.

    In a matter of days, Tim went from being completely independent to needing a wheelchair, unable to button his shirts or cut his food. The shift was overwhelming, but in the middle of it all, we watched God move in miraculous ways to provide for us. What started as a side project on eBay was soon our only source of income. We are incredibly thankful for his complete healing last February.

    Now, his shop focuses on ceramic slip molds, keeping him busy all week (and sometimes even on Saturdays!).

    Tim enjoys reading, gardening, researching things that spark his curiosity, cooking, working with his hands, and teaching the older children. He may seem like the quiet, serious type at first, but don’t be fooled—his sense of humor keeps the kids rolling their eyes as they try to hide their smiles.

    Rachel (Me!)

    Older than Tim by nine months, I like to think of myself as the voice of maturity in the family. Or not.

    I’m the second of four girls and somehow ended up with a slightly sarcastic personality that thrives on making people laugh. A born storyteller, my imagination has a mind of its own, which isn’t always helpful when you’re a full-time stay-at-home mom. Let your mind wander for too long, and—boom!—chaos unfolds in a blink!

    According to my family, I have a knack for cooking and baking, and judging by the lack of leftovers, I’d say they’re right.

    I’m also passionate about foraging and using herbs for natural remedies. There’s still so much to learn, but I get a thrill every time I can use “weeds” from the yard or essential oils to care for our physical ailments instead of relying on medicine. It’s incredible to discover all the healing plants God has provided for us!

    My next big adventure? Helping Tim get our homestead off the ground.

    Micah (9 years old)

    Micah’s mind and mouth rarely stop running, and he devours books the way some kids do candy. He loves helping and working with Tim, is fascinated by taking things apart, and—thankfully—is learning how to put them back together, too! It’s hard to pin down Micah’s exact interests because he wants to learn about everything. His zest for life is both inspiring to watch and exhausting to keep up with.

    Alayna (8 years old)

    Our blue-eyed bundle of energy, Alayna, has a warm, bubbly personality and is always looking for ways to help—whether in the kitchen or with her younger siblings. Her love for gardening runs deep, and she jumps at any chance to tend to the plants. She also seems to have inherited her daddy’s quick wit and she’s learning to dish it back just as well as she gets it!

    Micah and Alayna seem to be locked in a never-ending contest to see who can read the most. At this point, there’s no clear winner!

    Kaitlynn (6 years old)

    Kaitlynn is our go-getter with a face full of freckles and a giggle always at the ready. She does her best to keep up with the older two and is determined to be big, taking on tasks that often require a little ingenuity to finish. If I need something cleaned, Kaitlynn is the first to roll up her sleeves and dive in—no hesitation, just pure enthusiasm. She has a huge love for animals and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of our rabbits, ducks, and chickens.

    Harold (5 years old)

    Harold could hardly wait for March when he could turn that “measly” 4 into a great big 5. As the self-proclaimed clown of the family, Harold keeps life interesting! Lately, he’s been testing the waters with some bigger-kid jobs, like helping with dishes and hauling wood. Though he may not move as fast as Micah, Harold is his own person through and through, always holding his own opinions. He is far more likely to do his own thing rather than simply follow the crowd.

    Elsie (3 years old)

    Elsie proudly announces to everyone that she’s “free” now (she means three). With a head full of bouncy blonde curls, she throws herself enthusiastically into everything—including eating and teaming up with Harold to make plenty of noise. She loves snuggling, coloring, and “helping” the others with their chores. She’s also working on learning her letters and numbers and already enjoys “reading” alongside her older siblings.

    Niel (2 years old)

    For now, Niel is the baby of the family—at least until July! He’s a happy little guy, always eager for new adventures. With his growing vocabulary and deep love for playing with his siblings, he’s quickly finding his place in our lively family dynamic.

    Thank you for taking the time to meet our family! I hope you stick around as we share more about our homesteading journey, the projects we take on, and the lessons we learn along the way. If you’d like, drop a comment and introduce yourself—I’d love to hear from you!