This has been a very unusual summer on our homestead. We are still getting settled into our fixer-upper house and busily working on garden plans. But perhaps the most important part of this summer was receiving the devastating news that my mom’s breast cancer has spread to her brain. In an instant, my image of the future changed forever. She was diagnosed last fall with
DIY Baby Garden Gnome Costume
Attention busy garden-loving parents! Save this super cute and easy-peasy kid’s costume idea for next Halloween. I found an adorable version on Etsy (which is no longer available otherwise I would link to it!), but opted to spend $5 bucks at the craft store to make a a still-adorable-knock-off. First of all, this requires no sewing. I dream of learning how to sew one day.
Homestead Baby Care
Adding a baby to the homestead has presented new challenges in our quest to live simply. When it comes to baby care, I ask myself the same questions I ask about other homestead care: how can we create the least amount of waste, save some money and minimize our environmental impact? Here are some of our strategies for natural, simple baby care. Disclaimer: I’ll mention
DIY Baby Chick Costume
A few weeks ago, I spotted this adorable baby chick costume on Etsy and it sealed the deal: Juniper has to be a baby chick for Halloween. It’s just too cute and too farmy to pass up. I decided to make a shabbier, yet cheaper, version on my own. I think it turned out pretty cute and wanted to pass along the step-by-step method. To
Farmy Baby Shower
Graduate school gives you a shortage of both time and money. Yet somehow, my classmates in Eugene put together a super-sweet baby shower for us that I just have to share with you. The theme was “Springtime on the Farm” and they came up with the most adorable and creative ways to fill us with love before Bug arrives. Exhibit A: baby chick cupcakes. I
My Book: Modern Homestead
I am very excited to share the news that I wrote a book that will be released shortly! The book is called Modern Homestead: Grow, Raise, Create. The book is designed to give readers everything they need to know to get their homesteads up and running or expand their current homesteading horizon with new, fun projects. My inspiration for the book came from you guys
Marking the Solstice
Today is the winter solstice which marks the beginning of winter, the darkest day of the year and the hope of lighter days ahead. I am celebrating the solstice with some quiet time today. I’ll stretch myself in yoga, take some long walks and inhale the cold, crisp air. The pets are celebrating the solstice with some extra long naps. The New York Times had
Returning My Key
This weekend was long, relaxing and wonderful – with one exception. Sunday was my last day as a member of Radius Studio, the ceramics studio I have been a partner at for the last four years. It was in the back of my mind all weekend, the dread of moving my stuff out of the space and saying goodbye. Trying to balance my day job,
Muddy days are here again!
Radius Studio has now become Radius Community Art Studio, and I just can’t wait to get in there and start throwing clay again! The studio announced this past summer they were moving locations, and I had finally decided to bow out as a studio partner. Instead I planned to buy my own wheel and convert part of our unfinished basement into a home studio. Poor