All of my posts, on one page
… Sitting Around, Eating Bonbons All Day
Three years ago, I applied for a civilian job with the Sheriff’s Department. I have not held a paying job since 2003. So, imagine my surprise when I was called for an interview! I got all gussied up, went in, and had a wonderful time. I thought it went well but I really didn’t care…
New Video Releases: Gardening Naturally & Permaculture
The author has revamped their website and released a collection of 1990s videos, including episodes of “Gardening Naturally” and Bill Mollison’s Permaculture course. These videos, now enhanced for quality and accessibility with subtitles, will be released weekly. The content aims to engage and educate audiences on sustainable gardening and agricultural practices.
What Is Yours To Do?
This question is central to Gordon White’s teachings (of Rune Soup) , and something I ask myself every day when I am beginning to feel the weight of everything (from physical, real-world tasks to news headlines to all of this *waves my hands around in a circle*). Asking myself, “What is mine to do?” grounds…
Reviving My Baking Passion with Fresh Sprouts
The author shares their journey of rediscovering baking and sprouting after a move, focusing on sprouted grains they stored for six years. They demonstrate that white wheat, red wheat, and barley successfully sprouted, with barley being the fastest. Currently, the grains are dehydrating for future baking, sparking excitement for new recipes.
Transforming Our House into a Home: A Journey of Growth
When I first started this website, it was to have an outlet for sharing the things I have learned. I wanted to share my triumphs and failures, all while being as brutally honest as I was comfortable being. This was also a way for me to share my wisdom (that may not come up in…
Why I Chose Convenience Over Preparation in Life
The author reflects on their shift from being a prepper to embracing laziness in daily life. They express disdain for frequent shopping and meal planning, finding joy in easily accessible home food supplies. Ultimately, they argue that their lifestyle change has led to improved health and happiness, challenging the stigma around laziness.
DIY Repair: MSI GE 75 Raider Power Port Solutions
The author describes a DIY repair of their 2019 MSI GE 75 Raider laptop, which had a faulty power port due to a broken plastic support piece. Instead of purchasing a new laptop, they used Super glue and JB Weld to fix the issue. The repair was inexpensive and restored full functionality to the device.
Easy Oven-Roasted Nut Storage Method
To store nuts indefinitely, preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Shell the nuts and place them in clean jars with new lids. Bake the jars on a tray for one hour, then let them cool. Properly sealed jars can keep nuts fresh for a long time.
Transforming Our Front Yard: A Year in Review
After a year of work, the front yard transformation is complete. The owner reflects on the learning journey from the initial mulching process, detailing past maintenance challenges. Significant changes included removing unwanted plants, leveling dirt, and sourcing materials. The effort and time invested have resulted in a yard the owner loves.
Easy Focaccia Croutons Recipe
To make focaccia croutons, cube the focaccia, lay it on baking sheets, spray with oil, and season. Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. For storage, keep refrigerated for immediate use or seal in canning jars and bake at 250°F for an hour for longer preservation.
Easy Baked French Toast: The Perfect Breakfast Treat
The author shares excitement about moving back to town and reflects on a challenging year, marked by significant life changes, including the unexpected death of their sister. Despite family tensions and moving difficulties, they are transforming their house into a true home, looking forward to future improvements and family unity.
Two Years In: Lessons From Living With In-Laws
In January 2024, it will be two years since we moved in with my in-laws. Living together has been challenging due to space constraints and lifestyle differences. Despite initial excitement about more land, we’ve adjusted to caretaking roles rather than farming. However, we’ve discovered our love for cooking, country living, and maintaining our relationship.
Quail and Pheasant Care: Insights from Two Years of Experience
After nearly two years of raising coturnix quail, the author expresses a preference for pheasants, which require less frequent feeding and offer higher profits per chick. Both birds are easy to manage, but pheasants need more space. The author shares insights about housing, feeding, and video resources related to their setup.
Ivy Bromius’ Journey: Cancer and Spirituality
Last year, a friend’s cancer journey inspired a group to pray for her. After her recovery, the author faced a benign diagnosis and discovered Ivy Bromius’ “The Cancer Grimoire.” This beautifully written guide encourages adaptability in spiritual practices, promoting a deeper understanding of cancer as a personal journey rather than an external enemy.
Basic Egg Loaf
For those who don’t know, this is keto/low carb french toast! Today, I made french toast dippers in my corn stick cast iron pans (and they turned out better than I have ever made them). This is one of the easiest recipes! It’s full fat cream cheese, eggs, and melted butter in a ratio is…
Sourdough Starter and Bread
This all began when I read an article (which I can’t find any longer … I wish I could because it was fascinating) in which a chef stated that refrigerated old, neglected sourdough started was completely dead, so reviving it (bringing it to room temperature, then adding flour and water) was no better than starting…
Chicken Soup and Canned Chicken Broth
I did not grow up eating many root vegetables, so when I found a recipe for chicken soup that included parsnips and turnips I was highly skeptical. After I made it, I was hooked! There can be no chicken soup (or broth) without them! In this video, I am not only making soup but am…
Home Canned Meat
Canning meat at home is one of the easiest canning you will ever do! The only special items you need are a pressure canner (not a pressure cooker), jars and pickling salt. If you want to keep canning after you try this, I would also suggest a tool set. I will be including links to…
Basic Meatloaf
I don’t typically crave meatloaf often (it’s not a dish my husband enjoys) but for some reason I had to have some this week. Why? I want a leftover, cold meatloaf “sandwich”. I want the mayonnaise and mustard, mostly. So, I am slapping a slice of this onto a leaf of iceberg lettuce and BAM!…
Sprouted Grain Buttermilk Biscuits
My favorite biscuits are Baking Powder Biscuits from Kraft (https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/051722/baking-powder-biscuits). Out of all of the recipes I have ever tried, these always turn out fantastic. So, I thought I would try to adapt that recipe for my sprouted grain flour. I think I have a winner!
Jerky!
Yes! I made jerky (and since this is low carb, I am posting this everywhere)! Join me for my first time and check out the updated recipe below. I learned a lot. The first thing I learned is it’s not as difficult as I thought it would be. The second thing is, when it comes…
Sprouted Grain Bread
Since the sprouted grain flour is more like whole wheat flour (make sure you watch that video here: Sprouted Grain Flour), that’s the recipe I ended up using. I tried one written for all purposed flour and it did not work at all! This video is almost the entire process, including hand kneading, but in…
Sprouted Grain Flour!
So, I randomly decided to try my hand at sprouted grain flour. I went to the bulk bins at Winco to see what I could find. They didn’t really have as many whole grains as I wanted, but I bought some barley, red Winter wheat, white wheat, and some raw sunflower seeds. I am going…
Do Not Wait For The Middle Finger
Young ones (well, anyone younger than me, aka 50 and younger), please don’t be like me. I treated my body like it was immortal: nothing I did or didn’t do would have a lasting effect. Despite the little things (which just kept building up) I felt when I turned 30 years old, I kept right…
To Learn, You Must Do
It’s rare when I am surprised by anything I read online. The last time I was truly shocked about anything in the public domain was when Trump won the Presidential election. Watching the election night coverage (yes, we watched all night) was true “shock and awe.” That was the best reality show we have ever…
Oven Roasted Tri-tip
One dark and stormy night (a relief in Central California) we really didn’t want to barbecue in the rain (and we were low on charcoal). So, my husband made a tri tip roast in the oven. If you aren’t accustomed to this cut, here’s the Wiki about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-tip. How we (my husband as I…
Finding Balance: Awareness Without Outrage
This post stems from a “I have had enough” post on Facebook. I have a wide variety of friends (or those I follow) on social media. There will always be topics I do not care about and I usually just scroll past those posts. The outrage that began before the last Presidential election meant I…
Meeting the Neighbors
We moved onto this street almost 15 years ago and, despite speaking to everyone on our street, there was one set of neighbors I had never met. It wasn’t that I was scared. On the contrary, they are the most peaceful neighbors I could hope to have! So, 2 1/2 weeks post gallbladder surgery, I…
Loma Prieta Earthquake – 28 years later
I hadn’t realized yesterday marked the 28th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake (that big one that hit San Francisco hard). What most of those outside California may not realize is the epicenter was not in San Francisco but 60 miles south-southeast. You would never know it by the damage it caused. I have experienced…
Good Post Surgery Monday!
Well, I had my gallbladder removed on Thursday and not only is today hubby’s first day back to work but this is my first morning without feeling the need to take any pain pills! I am pretty sure I was a bit paranoid I wouldn’t wake up with the alarm, since I was bright eyed…
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