Thanksgiving at the Cottage Homestead

Can you believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving already? It seems to happen quicker every year. Today I thought I would share what we are doing to prepare and share some tips and suggestions with you!

Let’s talk Thanksgiving prep!
Make all of your casserole dishes, cover and pop in the fridge! Bake tomorrow. Saves a lot of prep time tomorrow!

Make and bake your pies today. Stick the pumpkin pie in the fridge and take it out tomorrow morning-ish.

Do whatever you can do today to save yourself the time tomorrow. The more you can do today, the more you can enjoy tomorrow!

I have 7/10 dozen rolls rising for customers to pick up this afternoon.

Two of the ten are staying frozen as requested by the customer. And the final one will be picked up on Saturday.

After these are picked up I will be making our traditional fudge and Krispies treats and making my pies. Usually I will just do two pumpkin pies, but decided to switch it up and make one pumpkin and one pecan. I’ve never had a pecan pie, so I’m super excited!

I’ll be picking up some local homemade cranberry sauce that a local homestead made. Sure, I can do it, but I wanted to support our local farmers and homesteads. It’s super important to keep them running!

I’ll also be preparing our cinnamon rolls for the morning. As is tradition for us, we like to have our cinnamon rolls, coffee, and orange juice while we watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I look forward to that every year.

Then tomorrow we will go to my mom’s and have dinner there.

We look forward to all the deliciousness that comes with tomorrow and the days after.

We have so much to be thankful for. We need to remember these things on the daily. We take so much for granted. I hope tomorrow you take the time to stop and reflect on all the blessings the LORD has bestowed upon you. His mercy and grace for starters! Thank Him for not giving you what you deserve. 🥴😬🫠

“And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! May you all have a blessed holiday with friends and loved ones. 🦃

Glean & Gather

We’re all about dreams and goals here, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. The biggest one we have currently is to be able to find land and build our homestead. Be it a home on the land or one that we build. It’s a HUGE dream for someone who doesn’t have the income, the credit, the savings, etc., to just go make it happen. And unless you’ve been living under a rock, now is NOT the time for buyers to get a deal. At least not one they won’t be house poor under. I mentioned this to a dear sister in Christ a few weeks ago and she reminded me that God can make all that happen. Because, He can do far more than we can ever ask or hope. Nothing is too big for God!

I love how He loves to put people and words in places and times when we need it the most, don’t you? Like my dear friend and sister in Christ. Like the stream of Scripture and devotionals written by women who’ve been there, done that.

This week’s theme seems to be another gentle reminder that God has it all under control. In one daily devotional, Truth for Life 365 Daily Devotions by Alistair Begg, he writes about Ruth, which just so happens to be one of my most favorite books of the Bible and one of my favorite women of the Bible. They, Ruth & Naomi, acted in faith. Ruth went out to glean in the fields of Boaz. She was faithful and dutiful and she found favor in Boaz’s eyes and she and Naomi never had to worry about it again. God provided.

In my Journey for Women, the ‘gather sticks’ devotional reflected 1 Kings 17 where Elijah is sent to a widow who was gathering sticks, presumably for her and her son’s last meal before they died. He instructed her to get him some water and make him a cake of the flour and oil that she had left. She faithfully did so, trusting in the Lord, and she and her son never had to worry about it again. God provided.

Are you sensing a theme here? Gleaning in the fields, gathering sticks. Dutifully doing your job, the mundane little every day things. How often do we grumble and complain about those everyday mundane little things? How we take them for granted? How often do we say we’re going to do something and then just not do it? Even the things, or especially the things, that God has called us to do.

“He assures her the Lord will provide for her needs moving forward. She just needs to gather her sticks. (see 1 Kings 17:8-16)

Sometimes God simply asks for us to do what we said we would do. Obedience to the small tasks is often what activates the blessings God promises to lavishly bestow on His faithful servants.” Author unknown, from Journey for Women (May 16, 2023)

Friends, we just need to gather our sticks and glean the fields as God has called us to do. Joyfully and faithfully, I might add. You know, since we are to do all things as if for Christ. All the mundane, little daily tasks are to be done joyfully. With faith. That’s hard to do when cleaning out the litter box. It’s hard to do when it’s outside your comfort zone. It’s hard to do when you’ve had a really long day and everything hurts. It’s hard to do when you didn’t get a good night’s rest. But we do it anyway. And we trust that the Lord will continue to provide for all of our needs. And some of our wants! I mean, He did put that dream on your heart. He wants to see what you will do with it and how you will respond to it. Will you give Him all the glory He is due? Or will you take the credit? I sure hope it’s the former. Because you can’t even open your eyes in the morning without Him!

Thank you, GOD, for waking me up today and giving me another opportunity to serve You and to give You glory in ALL things. Even the little, mundane, everyday things. Thank YOU for all the sticks and the barley. I trust You, LORD. Thank YOU for your faithful provision!

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. 😊

Let Your Light Shine

One of my Easter devotionals this morning was about Nicodemus and Joseph, two Sanhedrin that had become followers of Jesus. 

It spoke of the enormous sacrifices they made in order to give honor and bury Jesus Christ. 

Those who were crucified weren’t given a proper burial. No. Rather they were discarded into unmarked graves beneath piles of rocks. There was no embalming process, no service, no grave marker. Nothing.

But Nicodemus and Joseph went beyond to honor him.  Joseph gave up his own tomb and Nicodemus offered up myrrh and aloes (a LOT) for embalming. Both of those are extremely costly sacrifices. 

Passover had just started so embalming Jesus would have made Nicodemus ritually impure. Having any contact with the dead would make them unclean. As a religious leader that was just unheard of! But he did it anyway.

Next, they could have risked their reputation. Seeing as their peers just murdered Jesus, the act of burying him and giving him due honor could cost them their stature, their jobs, and possibly their lives. 

This act of faith could have and did cost them much. It got me to thinking about how many leaders (specifically in the social selling industry) encourage you to not share your faith or talk about politics, etc. (“You don’t what to alienate half your audience!”) This morning it hit me so hard that THAT is of the enemy, the destroyer. He doesn’t want you sharing about Jesus, your faith, or the fact that salvation is an ask and belief away. Of course not! He wants you to be as far from it as possible. 

My response to that is this; if I don’t share my faith and my Savior, it’s HIM that I have to answer to. Not any one else. You aren’t going to lose out on business because you share the Truth. If you do, then it wasn’t your business to begin with. Because what is for you, will not pass you. Nothing can stop what God has in store for you! All things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  That means, Christian, you were called to this position, to use your platform, to use your testimony and experience, to do the will of the Father. 

Like in the video I shared yesterday from Alex Bryant, we are not to remain silent. About our faith, our political standings, or our convictions. It’s precisely how we got where we are today. It’s how we let everything just slip away. We must speak up. We must speak Truth. We must share the gospel. 

It’s time to stand up and speak out, Believers. It’s literally our job as Christians. So don’t hide your light under a bushel. Put it out there for the world to see! 

I don’t know about you, but when I stand before the throne on Judgment Day, I don’t want to hear, “Depart from me I never knew you.” *shudders* Ugh, that is the most horrifying thought! Nothing in this world scares me more than that. 

How about you? 

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32

Garden Update! 🌱

Garden update!

Brought the babies out to harden them off and give them some suns and some warms. My gifted basil along with the seeds I started indoors. 3-4 of which are lavender! There are tiny little growths in there! I hope they keep growing. My lavender didn’t make it back for a 3rd year, unfortunately. Tomatoes, green beans (‼️), green peppers, sage, savory, dill, chamomile, and parsley.

My ‘salad bar’ is growing nicely! I wasn’t sure the red lettuce made it, but it’s growing! And I have baby spinaches!

My gifted elderberry are starting to leaf out!

Elderberry row & ‘salad bar’ (far left(

My gifted oregano in the large pot on the table will much enjoy this. It can probably stay out there since it’s already a fairly established

And this week we will be out there foraging in our own backyard for dandelion, violet, clover, and purple nettle (the good kind).

There is a lot of work to be done, but it’s finally warming up enough to be able to get out and get busy. After Easter, though.

This week I will be a busy baker as I prepare 5 cakes (plus our own!) and 4 dozen bunny buns (bunny shaped rolls.) plus our own!) for Easter orders. Plus I have a crochet order to get finished before Easter.

It’s fine! I’m fine! Everything is just fine! Because I GET to do what I love!

Plus, it’s Holy Week! 🙌🏻🌿✝️

So thankful for His amazing grace!

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 With the Old, In With the New

Fair thee well, 2022! Welcome 2023!

Others are waxing tales of woe and angst, some are thankful for a great year. And others still are just feeling quite meh about it all. I, and my son, fall in the latter category. We’re not 100% sure why. I think it mainly has to do with a ton of uncertainty about so many things right now. I can’t say that I’m not looking forward to all the things that God is and will be doing in the next year, because I most definitely am. And also not to say that I am not thankful, because I have had a ton to be thankful for over the past year. I can’t say that it was a terrible year. We’ve been quite blessed and we’ve learned a lot. At least I have.

I, personally, over the last few years have struggled greatly with my goals, visions, and dreams. Not with having any, because trust, I have big ones and lots of them. But I have been struggling with knowing if they align with the Lord’s will. Are these goals and dreams coming from ME, or do they have the hand of God in them? Were they planted there by Him? Or is that just me in my sinful humanity? I have been praying that the Lord give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Daily. All day. I stink at decision making and making sense out of a lot of things, so I’m sure you can see my hesitation.

Until the other day when I came across this Bible study on the YouVersion app. I feel like it ‘gave me permission’. It gave me questions to ask, things to pray over and for, and helped give a little clarity. This one also helped find places in Scripture that were reassuring.

A few verses that repeated throughout both plans (as well as other readings listed below) were…

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” — Proverbs 16:3, ESV

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:6, ESV

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9, ESV

As I do several different little studies and readings in my daily time, I get wisdom shared from lots of places. Such as Lifeway’s Journey; daily devotions for women and Truth for Life by Alistair Begg. (I don’t get anything from these links, just sharing what I love!)

One writer in the Journey devotional shared her thoughts about when they sold their dream home and had to move and how hard it was for her to step out in faith into this new endeavor. She writes, “…but if I wait for perfect clarity, I will never step out in faith. Faith does not often make sense at the onset, but in hindsight we see how God was leading.” (December 16, 2022) That first part hit me in the face. Combined with all that I shared above about needing clarity and discernment, following His will, etc., it just seemed to kind of wrap it up in a big ol bow.

I just need to remain in faith that the Lord has it all under control. He has a plan for me. He sets these desires on my heart, He will make a way. Provided, of course, they align with His will.

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:4-5, ESV

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and you will find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13, ESV

I learned that as Christians, it’s ok to have goals, dreams, and plans. We just need to give them over to the LORD to do with what He wills. We must make sure to pray over our visions, our goals, our lists, our days. Day in, day out. I learned that the dreams that we can’t seem to shake were placed there by God. And whatever God’s will is will find a way. He will make the way and we won’t know what hit us.

So step out in faith this year. Write down those big hairy audacious goals and dreams. Then boldly and specifically ask for them and pray for them. Without ceasing. If you can’t stop thinking about it, take action. Because He doesn’t want us to remain idle! We must do the work He calls us to. It will probably be really hard. It might cost you money you don’t have, but He will provide that, too. 😉 He IS the God of provision, after all.

I haven’t yet gotten to where I’m quite ready to share all my goals and dreams and visions for 2023 yet, but I’ll be sure to return here when I do.

Meanwhile, my wish for you and yours is that you have a healthy and abundantly blessed 2023 and that you go after those dreams that you just can’t shake.

Happy, Happy New Year!

The Waiting Game

Hurry up and wait. Society today knows no patience. Everything is sped up and hurried. Instantaneous. At your fingertips.

Microwaves | Drive thrus | Delivery | Fast food | Instacart | Amazon | Next day shipping | pre-packaged meals | The list goes on and on.

No one has to wait for anything these days. And that has done us a huge disservice.

We need to rely on God’s timing. Because His timing is sheer perfection. I have never been a patient person. God knows this. Therefore, He ensured that my life be a waiting period. And yours, too.

You know how they say, “Good things come to those who wait”? We have been conditioned to bypass that. Instead, these days it’s, “Good things come to those who hustle”. I used to believe that. The last few years have changed my thoughts on the matter. They have taught me to slow down and appreciate things more. Enjoy the process more. And you know what? I rather like it and prefer it. I’ve learned to make things from scratch. To grow things. I’m discovering skills and arts that have gotten lost in the hustle.

It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted the ‘next best thing’, but even in the last few years, the desires of my heart have drastically changed. I no longer seek wealth, I seek joy and peace. I no longer seek the recognition, I seek the fellowship and connection of family, friends, and neighbors.

Do I still have material wants? Of course. Hello farm life! Donkeys, cows, and chickens…Oh my! But they aren’t just things to HAVE. They are a way of life and each serves a purpose.

I’ve gotten a bit off track. Waiting. We were never meant to have ALL THE THINGS RIGHT MEOW. Hello? Moses. Israelites. Wilderness. 40 years. Going in circles because they couldn’t quit complaining and being grateful for what the Lord gave them? Sound familiar? It sure does to me. I have been in my own wilderness for the last 17 years. Because I haven’t been content and thankful for what I have been given. Including the struggles. This isn’t a post about contentment, though we need to have it in the waiting. The last few years the Lord has shown me to be content in the waiting. It wasn’t until today during my devotional reading that it hit me that the waiting is preparing my heart and mind for what He has in store for me.

I know what I think I want and need. But God knows better than I. And I can’t WAIT to see what He has in store for me. Because what I want sounds pretty amazing. A loving godly husband, a farm life, taking care of the family with the things we have grown and raised together. It sounds downright heavenly. But only if it’s the Lord’s will. Naturally, I hope it is. But I will learn to be content in whatever situation He places me. And in HIS time. Not mine.

What are you waiting for God to do in your life? While you wait, prepare for what He has coming, dive into His Word, ask Him boldly and specifically, pray for wisdom and discernment, and wait on the Lord.

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.

Just One More Thing

That phrase, “just one more thing”, has many uses, doesn’t it? It can be a question, it can be added to the end of a sentence to add on to something previously stated, or in the case of me, it’s adding JUST ONE MORE THING to my already teetering plate. Why I do this to myself, I won’t understand. At least not for a while.

Maybe it’s because for so long I did nothing. Maybe it’s me just trying to make the best of my life after not doing much of anything prior to now. Maybe I’m trying to make up for something or fill a void. Maybe I’m just going where the Lord tells me to? I’d like to think it’s the latter, alas, I’m a broken, sinful human and that’s not likely the first thing I’d choose.

It could also be that I am so hungry for change, something I would never have admitted to, or again, chosen, that I am putting myself in front of all these opportunities. This must be that growth thing that happens in the Lord. He puts you in situations to grow you, for His glory and your good.

So here’s what’s happening now:

1. I am an entrepreneur x3. My cosmetics & skincare business, my crochet business, and my newly launched baking business.
2. I am heavily involved in the local political realm. I dove headfirst into grassroots efforts to help restore our republic and became the Republican central committeewoman for my precinct. In addition to that, I am taking classes to educate myself and others on the United States Constitution. (You can get more info here on classes in your area!) And in all that, I volunteer and support our truly conservative local & state candidates.
3. And as of last night, I started the local Sheriff’s Citizens’ Academy. So for the next 4 Saturdays, I will be soaking all that in.
4. Oh! And how can I forget preparing for a craft show in November? Honestly, it should be part of #1, but this is almost extra.

Phew. I’m exhausted just typing it all out. I don’t share this to brag. Hardly. I share as I would in a journal. I share to maybe, hopefully, inspire someone else to get up and take action, to jump headfirst into their dreams or something that’s been on their hearts. Definitely pray about it, listen to what the Holy Spirit is putting onto your heart. If you can’t stop thinking about it, it’s probably something you either need to repent of or take action on. 😉 Or maybe both. Whatever.

In other news, it’s August. It’s my birthday month! 👸🏻🎂I will be accepting cash, gift cards, lunches/dinners/coffee, and yarn all month. Also, that means FALL IS COMING! Fallelujah! 🍁🍂🍁🍂 We are this 🤏🏻close to the BER months, the most wonderful time of the year! The time of year when Beth really comes alive. Because I’m not half passed out and sweating. 🥴 Truly, it’s a thing. I was not made for the heat. And we’ve had higher than normal temps this summer, starting EARLY in June. So I am well past over it.

I can’t wait for the 50s-60s, hoodies, fires in the fire pit and hot cocoa with marshmallows in my mug. I can’t wait for comforting soups and stews and chilis. I can’t wait for shorter days and long cozy nights. I can’t wait for fuzzy boots and hats. Hygge season is coming! ☕️🧣

I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and tell me what your favorite season is and why!