Wicked Rural Homestead
Live Simply
Category: Our story
Stir Crazy
PJ and I are very fortunate to be able to stay home, so we do. During the warm months it was easy to spend the days outside; walking in the woods, playing with the chickens and tending the garden. Winter has given those outdoor… Continue Reading “Stir Crazy”
Sharp Knifes and Powerful Herbs
With our Christmas money I got us a present, a new set of Global knifes. After over 20 years of professional kitchen work, I have found there is no better kitchen tool than a very sharp knife. Globals are my favorite. All metal, light, perfectly… Continue Reading “Sharp Knifes and Powerful Herbs”
Tales of a Toddler
Most days during this pandemic, I start by calling my mom and telling her all the things her granddaughter did to me the day before. More often than not, she laughs at me without remorse. After she regains her composure, she tells me I… Continue Reading “Tales of a Toddler”
Elderberry Kind of Year
Last year, at the first herbal apprenticeship class, we each drew a card from a plant tarot deck. I drew Elder. A plant of wisdom, magic and powerful medicine. I was aware of its existence, but had very little experience with it. I vowed… Continue Reading “Elderberry Kind of Year”
She’s Got the Whole World in Her Hands
*I wrote this a while back. It has taken this long to edit and post. All accounts of the gardens and sheep are not current 🙂 Summer 2018- Adjusting to having a daughter has been surreal and overwhelming in every way possible. There is anxiety that… Continue Reading “She’s Got the Whole World in Her Hands”
 A Letter From Baby Jail
Dear mom, I hope this letter reaches you.  My warden/guard/fellow prisoner will no doubt try to intercept this correspondence. (To date- she has postponed it’s creation by a week, using nothing more than dirty diapers and grunts of discontent.)  She will stop at nothing… Continue Reading ” A Letter From Baby Jail”
Well, That Stinks!
Three days ago, I decided I would get some writing done! Â I was going to pen (type) beautiful pros about motherhood, growth, life and other profound stuff. Â Things did not go as planned. Â I thought I could accomplish this feat because Ry is home… Continue Reading “Well, That Stinks!”
May? What May?
I don’t know how it happened, but May is almost over. Â Shoot, it might BE over by the time I hit ‘publish’ (I have been working on this post for a couple days). Â Somewhere in-between midnight feedings and dirty diapers a whole month slipped… Continue Reading “May? What May?”
All-You-Can-Take Mother’s Day Pain Buffet
Child birth is often touted as the most pain a person can experience and I can’t say that I disagree. Â I can say that it is a fortunate thing the body has no capacity to remember that pain. Â I remember it happened and that… Continue Reading “All-You-Can-Take Mother’s Day Pain Buffet”
Spring Break, Homestead Edition
This week proved once again (and still) how awesome the boys are. Â I am officially 8 3/4 months pregnant and in this state it could be a real drain to have two rambunctious kids running round for ten days, but true to form the… Continue Reading “Spring Break, Homestead Edition”
Spring is Upon Us!
I see the ground! Before I moved to New England, this would have seemed like a very odd statement indeed, but now it is an event to be celebrated. Â Most of the snow in the yard had gone liquid and returned to the land… Continue Reading “Spring is Upon Us!”
What Produce Section are They Shopping In?!
I am expecting my first biological child this spring. We had been trying for many years.  Just when I had decided it was not in the cards and turned my attention to enjoying all the advantages that came with my step children getting older, we… Continue Reading “What Produce Section are They Shopping In?!”
Just a Spoon Full of Honey
For my husband and me, a spoon full of honey does more than just help “the medicine go down” often the honey is the medicine.  For colds and coughs we combine it with summer tinctures or it’s eaten with pineapple (Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain… Continue Reading “Just a Spoon Full of Honey”
♥ Read Mine ♥
*Almost four years ago…* Yesterday, the internet filled to capacity with pictures and stories both good and bad about Valentines Day.  Most of my friends on FB posted pictures of the flowers or gifts that their sweeties had given them.  AWWW (truly no sarcasm,… Continue Reading “♥ Read Mine ♥”
January Surf in Maine
This last round of storms was followed by strong wind resulting in some AMAZING drifts!
It’s a… Middle Finger!?
My husband and the boys had me brainwashed into thinking it was going to be a boy. All the conversations we had about the new baby used the pronoun “he.” My husband kept insisting that he “only makes boys” (he was kidding, kind of) and with two… Continue Reading “It’s a… Middle Finger!?”
A Little Big News
It might be a bit of a shock that over the last four years of this blog I have left out one of the major aspects of our life together. One of the main reasons behind leaving my job for a simpler life after my… Continue Reading “A Little Big News”
So Close and Yet So Far
My little cousin got married last month. Â Though truth be told, he can hardly be called “little” by any stretch of the imagination. Â He now looks a little like Clark Kent, can bench press an obscene amount of weight and will some day soon… Continue Reading “So Close and Yet So Far”
Reflections of Summer
This morning marked a rare day off, sans kids. Â I had a moment to reflect on a summer filled with work; most of my time spent away from our little homestead. Â Sitting with the birds in the sun, many thoughts passed through me. Â I… Continue Reading “Reflections of Summer”
No Dogs Allowed!
At its worst; losing a family member can be seem like a bottomless pit of sorrow, at it best it is a empty hollow place- either way it is an unavoidable ‘adjustment.’ Â Our own recent transition has been… as smooth as a thing that… Continue Reading “No Dogs Allowed!”
All Good Dogs Must Come To An End.
For over two months normal greetings between my husband and I have been replaced with one question. “How is she?” At first, the answers were hopeful but as time went on we both had to accept that we had gotten to THAT place. Â The… Continue Reading “All Good Dogs Must Come To An End.”
I Met a Young Man
I met a young man this morning, staring out of my stepson’s eyes. When had they started looking so wise?! What happened I can not say, only that I know for sure it was different yesterday. Or… Had that been last week? Maybe the one before? Hard to… Continue Reading “I Met a Young Man”
Getting All Our Ducks in a Row
I mean literally. My figurative ducks are all over the place!  However, I have found that actual ducks are easy to get in a row.  Step 1: Put down a line of food… that pretty much does the trick. Fun fact: it works for chickens too. It is… Continue Reading “Getting All Our Ducks in a Row”
Best Present EVER!
This week is my birthday and yesterday I got the most amazing gift I have ever received. We have a tradition of handmade gifts here on the homestead.  Money is always tight and gifts are usually better when thought and effort create them, rather than a factory somewhere… Continue Reading “Best Present EVER!”
Ent Tears
On top of the mountain behind our house; is an amazing view of Great East Lake.  We have spent a lot of time hiking to this lookout over the past few years.  It has been a part of our routine, it was even the first… Continue Reading “Ent Tears”
Eastward Ho! Part V. New Beginnings At The End Of The Road
This April will mark five (six, oh my god!) years since we packed up the truck and headed the wrong way across the country.  After half a decade of winters I can promise you that people headed west for more than the chance to strike it… Continue Reading “Eastward Ho! Part V. New Beginnings At The End Of The Road”
Eastward Ho Part IV-Yellowstone
The day after our mining adventure in Helena Montana, we headed for the North entrance of Yellowstone.  We had planned our route cross country based mostly on national parks, geology and a vow to wander as much as possible. Having set out at the very brink of spring; the West entrance… Continue Reading “Eastward Ho Part IV-Yellowstone”
Eastward Ho Part III. Our Little Mine.
When we drove across the country four years ago– one of the only things we DID plan was to stop in Montana and mine for sapphires.  Both of us totally dig (no pun I swear!) rocks and minerals.  There are few better ways to spend… Continue Reading “Eastward Ho Part III. Our Little Mine.”
Eastward Ho! Part III (Actually Part II.) Confused Yet? Good, so am I. Onward!
Six years ago… The first day journey was relatively uneventful (except for my love shipping ALL our shoes to upstate NY.) Most aspects of the move were completely unplanned.  One of the few things we DID plan (besides mine sapphires in MT) was to visit as… Continue Reading “Eastward Ho! Part III (Actually Part II.) Confused Yet? Good, so am I. Onward!”
That Time I Brought a Hawk Home
I’m not kidding. I don’t know if it was a good thing my husband was unsurprised and (to my dismay) rather unimpressed He was actually said “that sound about right” Seriously?! Â What do I have to do to get a reaction around here?! When… Continue Reading “That Time I Brought a Hawk Home”
A Daisy Story
That last photo prompt;Â tension, got me thinking of a story I have been meaning to put down for more than a year. Â I have written quite a bit about Lulu’s early life and drama but I have not said much about our other sheep,… Continue Reading “A Daisy Story”
It’s all fun and games till someone calls “NIYDEK!”
I wrote this well over a year ago and I am glad (?) to say it is just as true to day as it was then… I have often heard people talking about activities and situations that they “could never do with a spouse… Continue Reading “It’s all fun and games till someone calls “NIYDEK!””
Fort McClary
Kittery, Maine. We wandered, caressing the ruins. Touching stone hewn before our grandparents were born.
On The Road Again
Since my dad passed two years ago a great many things have changed. Most of these differences have nothing to do with my dad or his death.  In some ways that makes his absence that much more surreal.  In the uncharted country of time yet to come,… Continue Reading “On The Road Again”
Woolly Stalkers Precede Woolly Stockings.
For a few days last week, the changing trees made us feel like we were living in a lemon. Most of the maples on our property don’t go crimson.  Instead they yellow and then rust. It makes the lighting at dawn and sunset pretty epic. This… Continue Reading “Woolly Stalkers Precede Woolly Stockings.”
Autumn Eggs
For anyone that has never experienced fall foliage in New England, do it. The view is one of a kind and the only time during the year I don’t miss my forest back home.  Everyday, around every corner is a new combination of color and… Continue Reading “Autumn Eggs”
Our Forest Pharmacy
Today, I grabbed my basket and headed up the hill in search of some medicinal plants.   The trees are turning and I felt it time to do some gathering before the leaves and inevitably, snow cover the forest floor for the coming months. The woods surrounding the… Continue Reading “Our Forest Pharmacy”
I Spoke Too Soon…
Some days are not as fun as others and some downright F*cking suck.  This Tuesday was one of the latter. We were so excited about our new family members but the excitement was short lived.  Tuesday morning, I went out to tend the lambs and my… Continue Reading “I Spoke Too Soon…”
Our new Lawnmowers
This past week has been beyond exciting for a number of reasons.  The new restaurant was a completely unexpected surprise, one we never saw coming.  Something we had dreamed about. This week marked the homecoming of another dream; two more members of the family.  These were… Continue Reading “Our new Lawnmowers”
BAD DOG!!! “No Soup For YOU!”
Well, I went and jinxed it. After a few posts about how well behaved Isis has been and posting a survival skills article that included “knowing how to dress and butcher an animal.”  I have to admit; I was kind of asking for it. Like… Continue Reading “BAD DOG!!! “No Soup For YOU!””
The Amazing Adventure Of The Underwear Wizard.
On our drive home, the boys and I started talking about a character the Little One invented during the week we were snowed in, the Underwear Wizard. Â Things got out of hand (as all good stories do) and the next thing I knew; we… Continue Reading “The Amazing Adventure Of The Underwear Wizard.”
Ode To Honey.
After a family trip to the vet, I was overwhelmed by two polarizing emotions. Â The first was payment shock at the almost five hundred dollar bill. This outrage was tempered by the knowledge that it was all the shots our four domestics should need… Continue Reading “Ode To Honey.”
A Murder Mystery, Most Fowl.
Living close to the land reminds you constantly that death is a daily part of life.  The best example of this has been our experiences with the flock(s.) Our first young flock was decimated by a family of raccoons; two springs ago. One night 17 dead chickens. There… Continue Reading “A Murder Mystery, Most Fowl.”
Winter Is Over!…?
It may not look like it but I am declaring today to be the last day of winter! I know, I know, it really doesn’t look like winter is done but trust me; it’s on the way out!  Today we saw a liquid substance on… Continue Reading “Winter Is Over!…?”
No Candy, No Cards, No Diamonds; No Problem.
For Valentine’s Day we got- another blizzard. Shocking, I know but great for snow forts! I have already posted my feelings about today’s holiday and they have not changed one bit.  In fact, I am ever more convinced with each passing year that romance is overrated.   It… Continue Reading “No Candy, No Cards, No Diamonds; No Problem.”
“Well, There’s Your Problem…”
Yep, we have reached the point in the winter when the parking lot snow is over the top of the trucks, rack and all. Every other row of parking spots turn into ski slopes. And everyone is running out of places to put new snow.… Continue Reading ““Well, There’s Your Problem…””
Pysanky 2015-The Pysankydome.
IT’S SNOWING!  Still.  The greenhouses are almost gone and every couple hours there is a new drift knocking on our door. Adding to the fun it has been bitterly cold.  Any plans I have had to do something fun outside are reconsidered after the ten minutes… Continue Reading “Pysanky 2015-The Pysankydome.”
“Lord, Deliver Us from Commercials.”
Our greenhouses are in the process of being swallowed by snow. Most of the surrounding area is under hip deep drifts, we have been snowed-in for the better part of a month but I am at my wits end with the commercials that interrupt our… Continue Reading ““Lord, Deliver Us from Commercials.””
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