Hello, November!

Look at me! Posting twice in one week. I honestly should be doing anything else right now. But I happened to have my laptop open for another task I had to do and decided, might as well, since I’m here!

November is here! And I am shooketh. I have so much that I * want* to do, so much I *need* to do. There are lists every where. But you wouldn’t know….

This is my ‘office’. This is the only space I have for anything. Except my baking of course. So from about July/August through December, this is what my living room looks like on any given day. My notebooks fill of lists are under there somewhere. One of these days, I’ll be like the cool kids and either have a dedicated room or a she-shed. A she-shed would be preferable. This is real maker life, friends. I’m not an influencer (nor do I ever want to be). I am a real, small town, God-fearing, God-loving girl. Who would much rather be buried under a pile of yarn, or in the kitchen covered in flour, than be anywhere, or do anything, else.

While in the midst of preparing for next week’s craft show, I went and set up shop! I finally got it set up and somewhat loaded. I have a few items listed and will list a few more once the show is over. Go on over and check it out! I’m super excited to have found this great platform that aligns with my beliefs and values. They are super helpful and go out of their way to support their vendors. Plus, I love that my small business is helping their small business. Win/Win! I hope you will check them out, and if you are a maker with the same values, I hope you will give them a try!

It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year and it’s taking all I have to not drop everything and put the tree up. We would typically be decking the halls this week, but I am so far behind on my prep that I really need to focus on that. I may take a day off (or at least a few hours) on Sunday and do some hall decking then. It’s a busy season already. I want to be able to enjoy my decor for a while! Not just two weeks. I mean, obviously, we’re already watching the movies and listening to the music. And yes, I did in fact, buy some eggnog last night. Merry Christmas! And no, we aren’t skipping Thanksgiving. Silly. Truly the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. Literally no one skips Thanksgiving. We just enjoy our Thanksgiving and give thanks under the glow of Christmas lights. It’s really quite lovely. Maybe you should try it sometime.

PSA: While we’re on the subject… LET PEOPLE DECORATE EARLY AND STOP GIVING THEM GRIEF OVER IT. Let them have their joy, people! It doesn’t affect your life in any way. If you don’t want to decorate early, then don’t. What someone does in THEIR home, with THEIR stuff is NONE of your dang business and absolutely does NOT affect what goes on in YOUR home. You really ought to do some soul searching and figure out why it bothers you so much. Bless your heart.

But, I digress.

I’ve had to really discipline myself to not take on any other social commitments until after the craft show is done. It’s been hard. But I’m standing strong! This isn’t to say that I don’t already have a calendar full of commitments, I’m just not taking on any new ones. I even kind of wish I could back out of some the ones I’ve already made, but…integrity, and all. It’s important to me.

Me and all my delusions of grandeur have decided to try to make a display wall to set atop my table for the craft show. I will try to document the process. If it’s any good, I’ll share it. If it sucks, I’ll probably share that, too. Stay tuned for that.

I’ll leave you with that. And this Scripture.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 ESV

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I suck at this. It’s been 3 months since I last blogged. I can’t tell you how many times I have tried to sit down and write, only to be sidelined or distracted by something else. It’s been a busy 3 months! And the next 3 months will be just as busy.

Next week will be November. I’m sorry. WHAT? I am so not ready! It was literally just July. I blinked. Next week. November. Sigh. Somewhere along the line, I’ve lost 2 months. I’m not sure what happened.

Every single year I think next year will be better and I’ll be more on top of things. And every single year, November sneaks up behind me and clubs me in the head. Anyone else? No? Just me? Carry on, then.

I have SO MANY IDEAS and things I want to implement. They only cost time & money. Time, I’ve got. Resources, not so much. Although, I could be a better steward of my time. It’s something I am constantly striving to improve. I’m light years better than I once was, so let’s call that a win.

I can write my ideas down in a brain dump all day long, but that’s as far as many of them get. I need a better system. I’m open to suggestions! What works well for you? How do you organize your brain dumps/ideas/brainstorms? I have notebooks all over and they get all mixed up and used for other things. This might be a focus for the new year.

It’s fall. Last time I wrote, it was the heat of the summer and I was melting. It’s been a gorgeous fall so far. We’ve had it for a few weeks. I would like for it to last a little longer. But next week, we drop down into the 40s for the high for a few days. I don’t mind it. I’d mind it even less if I had a fireplace. Then Ozarks fall returns for another week or so. Temps should be falling pretty soon. I have a Farmer’s Almanac this year. I’m eager to see how accurate it is.

The annual craft fair is in just a couple of weeks and I am no where near ready for that. I’ll be spending my days with hook and yarn in hand. If you see me with gnarled hands, mind your business.

The bakery has been in a moderately slow period over the last couple of months. I’m hoping that, too, picks up soon with the holidays approaching. I have a bajillion ideas where that is concerned, too.

I started my own apple cider vinegar the other day and will be doing a blog post about that soon, too. I may have to schedule it for after the craft show. It’s terribly late now but had to strike while the iron was hot. I should either be sleeping or crocheting. It has to be one or the other for the next 16 days. It’s that dire. Food? What’s that? Sleep? Meh. I’ll sleep when I’m dead. Crafters gonna craft. Makers gonna make. Hookers gonna hook. *wink wink*

And with that, I shall bid you adieu. Until next time, friends!

Be a Good Steward

Anyone else looking for other shopping alternatives? No? Just me? 👀

Over the last few years, things have shifted, in a big way, for me.

I’ve been more conscious of what we consume, in every way. I’m having to make my dollars stretch a LOT farther. I’ve had to let go a lot of things. I’m reusing and repurposing anything I can. I’m cooking and baking from scratch, gardening, getting chickens, etc. It’s a whole thing! 🌱🐓💐

Since I’m an America First 🇺🇸 kind of girl, I’ve been really conscious of spending my dollars with like minded shops/stores/people, as well as local.

It’s super important to me. God has bestowed upon me blessing after blessing and I must be a good steward of those blessings.

Thankfully, I’ve found one such place that checks many of my boxes.

• Made in the USA
• Clean & non-toxic
• Affordable
  …just to name a few

I am now working to swap all the gross toxic crap with healthier options. Under my kitchen and bathroom sink, in my medicine cabinet, including supplements! I’m really excited to get everything swapped over and share with you my thoughts on it. It’s all part of our journey in going from cottage to farmhouse!

A Simple Saturday

I thought today would be more like, ahhh yes, crochet and TV.

It ended up being more like, AHHH, fidgeting with printing things, a little bit of crochet, slow cooking a chicken for the week, making chili for dinner, visiting with a lovely friend & talking all things homesteading, running to the store, eating dinner, cutting up said chicken, saving bones for chicken stock, baking a cake, making frosting, frosting said cake, and making pie dough for tomorrow’s birthday dinner for my dad. AND doing all the dishes.

I am exhausted and my back hurts. But I’m happy. I got to do ALL the things I love to do. Except dishes. Those I don’t love to do. But, it gives me time to think on things, say little prayers, and just be thankful that I had a reason to dirty those dishes in the first place.

All in all, today turned out just like I’d hoped it would. Feeling accomplished and thankful.

Birthday cake for my daddy. 😊

Season of Change

Just remember that when you grow, the things you once rocked don’t fit you quite the same anymore and it’s ok.

It’s ok to move on and try something new. Think of it as a caterpillar transitioning into a butterfly. We all go through seasons of change.

Some times it’s hard to let go of the familiar to make room for the new. Why? Because change is HARD. Change is scary. But when you hand it off to God and let Him have the reigns, you can rest assured and have peace that everything will be just fine.

So let go of what was and embrace what is to come. Because God’s gotchoo!

Out of Touch

This past Friday my phone just up and died. Out of nowhere, zero warning. It just so happens that it was the same day a big white balloon was spotted floating over our state. Coincidence? Who knows. But I digress. At first, I thought it was the battery, so I took it in to have the battery replaced. That wasn’t it. So that was a waste of fifty bucks. So I ordered a ‘new’ one and it should be here by Thursday. Let me just tell you it’s been a really long 3 days already. I am not ok. 

What this period of darkness has taught me is that we have become grossly dependent upon our devices. I can do NOTHING without my phone. I don’t wear a watch, so unless I’m home or in my car I have no idea what time it is. I can’t just shoot a text to let so and so I’m on my way or look up an address. I can’t look up that recipe I saved for dinner or research that thing I thought of the other day. I can’t just check my email or see how my friends are doing on the socials or watch TV on my Amazon FireTV. Because not only is that thing glued to my hand, it is the source of internet for my entire household when we are home. I have also realized that I can’t even listen to music because my iTunes library hasn’t been synced properly and all I have access to is Christmas music. I can’t even write a blog post! I’m currently using the TextEdit ‘app’ on my MacBook Air. And let’s not even get started on trying to get into websites and apps on your computer because they need to confirm your identity by sending you a code on, you guessed it, your phone. So I can’t even check my bank accounts. That’s pretty scary. Of course, I could call, but…. I don’t have a phone. 

Yes, of course, I could go to the library, my mom’s, or a handful of other places to use their Wi-Fi, but that’s not always convenient when you have other things to do at home, like testing some recipes or working on crochet orders. It’s in between batches or hand/wrist breaks that I catch up on emails, socials, etc.  Quite the conundrum.

I feel like the Lord allowed this to happen for me to come to a deeper realization of the deception and dependency to help encourage others to maybe step back and take a look and see just how dependent they are on their devices and to encourage everyone to take some time unplugged as often as possible.

It’s time to get back to basics, friends. Remember those? Many of you reading this will not. But people my age and older will remember the days of going to the library to research all the things, going to the video store to rent a movie (sadly those are gone, but save a few), calling your friend on the phone to catch up (which sounds really weird going from an introvert who would much rather just send a text), sending a handwritten letter, going out to the movies, reading physical books, taking classes for painting, pottery, knitting or crochet, etc. Meeting friends face to face for lunch or dinner, or even just a coffee. Have people over in your homes to enjoy each other’s company.

We really don’t need ALL the apps and to have the news smack us in the face every time we open it up. There is so much more joy and peace to be had without it. The enemy wants us to be dependent upon these things, upon him. He prowls around looking for whom he can kill and destroy (John 10:10). He has a done a splendid job thus far. Just look around you! 

Perhaps I will only use my cell phone as a modem for the internet for business purposes and remove all social media apps and other time wasters from the device and leave them strictly desktop access only. I don’t know. But I do know that something has to change and I am mad as hell about how dependent they have made us on these things.  

My advice to you: 

Unplug. Often. 

Read The Word. Daily.

Buy chickens. 

Plant a garden.

Buy local, USA made. 

Support your local farmers. 

Avoid big box stores. 

Buy & read out of print history books. 😉 

**Update: I have my ‘new’ phone and am back online. It was a long week!

Thoughtful Thursday

Just a few thoughts this Thursday:

•I am too blessed to be stressed. Repeat.

•I get to bake cupcakes today. Something I LOVE to do.

•The Lord is my Great Provider and will provide ALL my NEEDS according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (and some of my wants, too!)

•I have some of the best and sweetest friends in the world.

•I want a dog. And a cow. And a donkey. And chickens. And ducks. And 20 acres.

•I have a new dream on my heart and mind. More research is needed. And prayer. It may help get the previous bullet point.

•I have a good life. It’s far from perfect, it can be messy, but it’s mine. And I’m thankful for it.

Blessed Thursday, friends. I want to hear what’s on your mind. Share with me in the comments below!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

It’s not even 2:00 and I have all of my sides prepped for Friday’s Thanksgiving dinner. 🙌🏻

Yesterday I made our fudge and Rice Krispies treats and pie dough.

I have yet to do my pies, dinner rolls, and cinnamon rolls. The rolls I will make up to the point where they would need to rest and rise and then I will stick them in the fridge until tomorrow morning and complete the process.

I made our stuffing from scratch this year and I am convinced I will never do it any other way from here on out. It’s all ready for the bird on Friday morning. The only shortcut I took was buying a loaf of French bread. I’ll attempt the French bread for Christmas.

I’m killing myself now so that I can enjoy the next two days instead of driving myself crazy with all the things. I want to be able to relax and watch the Thanksgiving Day parade and eat my cinnamon rolls and drink my coffee and orange juice.

Tomorrow we will have dinner at mom’s and on Friday I will host dinner at my house for my dad and Other Mother.

I’m so looking forward to all the things. Especially the stuffing and pumpkin pie. 😋🥰

May you all have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁

It’s Our Time. Almost.

The BER months are here, friends!! This girl is SO EXCITED. This is MY time of year. From September through December. I love everything about this last quarter of the year. Literally everything.

The sun changes angles. The air shifts. The scents change. The leaves change. Everything changes. And it is glorious.

Time for fall. Time for all the fall things. Soups, stews, chilis, crusty breads. All the pumpkin things, of course. Apple this. Apple that.

It’s me. I’m white people. Also. I desperately need a Golden.

Since my last post, I finished the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy. Which, was a ton of fun and anxiety, all rolled into one. I realized through all that that I really need to get back into shape. 😐 

*I broke my glasses and see nothing. 

*I turned 48. 

*I went and got myself elected as Vice Chair for my legislative district. Can someone tell me how this happened? Kthx. 

*I taught a crochet class.

*We started Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan for discipleship class at church. I took it several years ago and never got through the first or second stage. Now I have to pace myself to not finish it before the rest of the class. I guess I’m ready to read it now.

*Started my Biblical Citizenship class as a Constitution Coach/Lead Learner. I don’t know all the things. I’m just bringing all the things to other people. We’ve had lots of great discussions already! 

*I’m in full fall craft show prep. Almost. I’m still behind. 

*And have attended every meeting unknown to the typical citizen for the central committee. So. Many. Meetings. So much for one hour a month…. #IveBeenHoodwinked

But in alllll of this, I rely on the Lord. He is the One who brought me to it, He will equip me and bring me through it. He has been opening doors for both my son and me. And it’s been really great. Are things where we would love them to be? Of course not. But I can see the doors opening left and right to help us get there. 

Remain faithful, friends. Keep trusting in the Lord. Keep being obedient. He always makes a way. And His way is ALWAYS better than ours. 

Until next time.

Story Time

Let’s do a little story time in pictures, shall we?

Have you ever wanted to try something but didn’t because you thought it would be too hard? Only to later give it a try and find out it wasn’t so bad after all? Just took a little time and work? Yeah…

That’s these churros for me. Ok, if we’re being honest, pretty much most new things for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I thought I had to have all these extra pieces of equipment, this, that, and the other.

As it turns out, I had everything I needed.

And so do you, friend. God has given you everything you need to tackle anything presented to you. And if not, He will equip you.

Make the churros.