Homestead Happenings

Welcome to the first Homestead Happenings of 2026!

It's been a quiet couple of weeks around here.

The holidays are over, and we are getting back into our groove.

The weather has been wavering from frightfully frigid

to downright delightful.

Christmas day had us at 70 degrees and sunny!

The garden is still growing,

though ever so slightly.

Leeks were harvested for the makings of soup,

but for the most part,

harvesting is just not happening.

I'm starting to gear up for another season of

winter sowing.

I'm currently saving my lettuce containers to use for the project.

Thankfully, the girls are sailing right through winter,

and all have now grown back all of the feathers they lost from molting.

Their coops are still stuffed with straw as needed,

and cracked corn allows them to maintain their body heat.

We look forward to adding to the flock this spring.

Life is just better with chickens.

A few thrifting trips have been taken.

It's one of the things that all of us enjoy.

We actually found a couple of new to us shops,

so it was fun to get out and spend some time together.

I also found a new local feed store,

so that I can pick up rations for the chooks.

We prefer to support small businesses when we can.

The colder weather outside has been the perfect reason

to force me to stay indoors and bake.

The fresh milled flour recipe library

continues to grow.

I never thought it would be so much fun to learn

how to bake all over again!

Bread and rolls are pretty much a weekly task now,

and I don't mind it one bit.

It's absolutely unbelievable how much better I feel

now that I've been making my own bread for these 3 months.

This past week, I tried my hand at making

English muffins, one of my favorite breakfast foods.

They turned out pretty good,

but I have a bit of tweaking to do.

It's so rewarding to know that I am creating food

that nourishes my body and feeds my soul.

This week, honey was purchased from our neighbors,

three doors down from our home.

We've been using this honey for years.

You can't get more local than that!

Their honey is wonderful,

and it is being used in most of the bread recipes.

It seems everyone is recovering from the holidays.

Even one of our resident squirrels was spied

napping on the back deck.

Nothing wrong with a little sunbathing.

I hope that your year has started out on a good note,

and that it just keeps gettin' better!

God bless.

New Year's Day 2026

 

"Celebrate what you want to see more of."

~Tom Peters

Christmas Tidings

 

Homestead Happenings

 

Welcome to Homestead Happenings!

We've had some bitterly cold weather in the last couple of weeks,

but it looks like things are warming up.

Next week's forecast is looking downright mild!

Here are some things happening inside and

outside on our Piedmont homestead.

Some of the crops are a bit worse for wear.

The lemon balm finally succumbed to the freeze,

and the kale and broccoli aren't looking too good.

With the rain we got yesterday,

I'm hoping some of it will perk up.

The cabbage seems to have survived,

and I am still hoping for a harvest

sometime this winter.

Of course, it doesn't help that we have infiltrators

who help themselves to whatever they can find

under cover.

Matilda is one smart chook,

and has now taught her sisters to look for goodies

underneath the row covers.

We've been using the new Omlet waterers 

for a couple of weeks now.

I have to say, there are so many wonderful features

with these, including the "window" on the side

to indicate when they are running low.

I've been pleased with how well they keep the water clean,

as the top is completely closed.

However, when our temps reached 28 overnight,

the cups we had initially installed did freeze.

I prefer using the cups, as it seems to be

a more natural way for the chooks to drink.

We have since replaced them with the 

optional nipple waterers.

We'll probably go back to the cups in warmer weather.

We did a minimal amount of decorating outside,

including adding lights to the chicken runs.

After all, why shouldn't the girls enjoy some of the festivity?

Inside, we keep things very simple.

Our new curtains were added to the living room,

and I really enjoy the farm print.

We had these made by Stephanie at SewManyLinens on Etsy,

and plan to order another for our office window.

You can find her website here.

The curtains that used to hang in the living room

have been repurposed in our "spa" room that we did a

minor makeover on earlier in the year.

They hang just beautifully as is,

and I feel good being able to use them elsewhere.

Our refrigerator always gets the snowman 

treatment when the colder weather hits.

It's so easy to do, having a white fridge.

He always cheers me when I head for the kitchen.

This year, our mantle has the simplest of displays,

simply using what we have around the house

and adding tiny fairy lights.

The white illumination just adds a touch of magic to everything!

The annual Madeleine baking has been done

and they are already being enjoyed by my farmer friends

in Florida.

One more big batch to go for sister

and her peeps.

The Fresh Milled Flour is being incorporated into my

weekly baking routine now.

This bread may not look too pretty, (I'm still learning),

but it's absolutely my favorite sandwich/toasting bread so far.

Recipes may start showing up here in the new year.

The health benefits have been amazing!

This week, chocolate chip cookies were made,

using FMF and coconut sugar instead of the white stuff.

Coconut sugar and maple syrup do not seem to have

a negative effect on my health,

and so that is what I choose to use as a sweetener.

Recently, a bag of date sugar was purchased, and

that will be tried as well in the near future.

These cookies were soft, flavorful, and not too sweet.

Creature comforts are so centering.

The days are full, but not too busy,

and there is always time to slow down

and take in a holiday movie without leaving home.

Here's hoping you are making great memories

with those you love most.

~"God bless us, everyone!"

Wordless Wednesday