Wicked Rural Homestead
Live Simply
Tag: homesteading
Ashes of Sweetgrass
What was the step too far? Where have we gone so wrong?! At what time did we lose sight of that essential thing that kept us in balance with everything else? Was it when we stopped roaming with the seasons and started cultivating fields? When we settled into towns and then cities? Was it the arrogance of proclaiming ourselves better than all the other beings on this earth? What would living in line with our nature even look like in modern times?! Braiding Sweetgrass really flushed out these questions, systematically untangling the roots of the tree that is ‘modern man’ and explored how we can once again participate in the Honorable Harvest.
Well, That Stinks!
Three days ago, I decided I would get some writing done! I was going to pen (type) beautiful pros about motherhood, growth, life and other profound stuff. Things did not go as planned. I thought I could accomplish this feat because Ry is home… Continue Reading “Well, That Stinks!”
Spring Break, Homestead Edition
This week proved once again (and still) how awesome the boys are. 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. Most of the snow in the yard had gone liquid and returned to the land… Continue Reading “Spring is Upon Us!”
My Hands
Have never known a manicure or file. They are bitten rather than clipped. They have been painted less times than there are fingers to paint. In many places they are more scar than skin. The fingers on the right appear to have been badly… Continue Reading “My Hands”
Gruesome Gratitude
All night I tossed the turned, dreaming fitfully of the morning’s macabre task. Each time I woke- my stomach dropped as I realized it had been a dream and the deed still lay before me. I woke up before dawn and headed out to… Continue Reading “Gruesome Gratitude”
Reflections of Summer
This morning marked a rare day off, sans kids. I had a moment to reflect on a summer filled with work; most of my time spent away from our little homestead. Sitting with the birds in the sun, many thoughts passed through me. I… Continue Reading “Reflections of Summer”
Photo Challenge 2016- Still
The normal cycle of snow, melt, snow, repeat– skipped us this year and we have entered the frozen season with no dress rehearsal. Barring some serious weirdness, the snow that has fallen over the last week will remain till spring. Goodbye ground! I have come… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Still”
2016 Garden Recap (Better Late Than Never. Right?)
Sometime in June I blinked, and BLAMO! It’s October. Most of my writing efforts this summer have focused on becoming unexpected duck farmers and The Scattering. The homestead vegetation has been unaffected by my lack of record keeping. Our fence worked wonders for the vegetable production this year!… Continue Reading “2016 Garden Recap (Better Late Than Never. Right?)”
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”
Photo Challenge 2016- Water
This summer has been a whirlwind. Work fills my days + the homestead and boys fill the days off. It has been difficult to find time to breath, never mind write anything coherent or take any pictures. With a few dozen employs and a hefty commute, it seems like I am… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Water”
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!”
The Best Laid Plans
… of ducks and women often go awry. This spring, we decided NOT to add anything to the menagerie. Then our ducks went ahead and veto that decision. Of course, it is my fault for letting them sit on the eggs but if you have ever encountered… Continue Reading “The Best Laid Plans”
Photo Challenge 2016- Work
The photo prompt for this week is ‘work.’ Oddly enough, I find myself with time off from work. It has been amazing. Of course, I made a bunch of lofty promises to myself about how productive I was going to be with my vacation. There… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Work”
Photo Challenge 2016- Path
Growing up the martial arts community it is almost impossible for me to think of “a path” without the concept of the Tao or Dao. Contrary to the notion of a well defined boulevard or road The Way or The Path has always been explained to… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge 2016- Path”
2016 Photo Challenge- Solid
Even the heart brake can yield a harvest. Fredrick, the last guinea fowl died Valentines day, which is rather fitting. I think he might have been a little suicidal after the death of his flock at the paws of the husky. He was… Continue Reading “2016 Photo Challenge- Solid”
A Daisy Story
That last photo prompt; tension, got me thinking of a story I have been meaning to put down for more than a year. 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”
Photo Challenge- Tension
As the land thaws and spring approaches- there are many interesting moments on the homestead. I picked the picture below for the word of the week “tension.” Thus far the two roosters have shown little aggression towards each other, but then again I have been keeping them apart.… Continue Reading “Photo Challenge- Tension”
Time May Heal All Wounds- But It Makes Homesickness Worse
My little town has always been the core of who I am. Even now as I sit thousands of miles away-it feels close enough for me to touch. It still stings my heart that I am too far away to do so. Boulder Creek… Continue Reading “Time May Heal All Wounds- But It Makes Homesickness Worse”
Survival Sundays
I think it is safe to say that most male persons have a secret (or as in the case of my cousin, not so secret) crush on Bear Grylls. I mean the guys gets to run around the world, climbing trees, starting fires and drinking/wearing his… Continue Reading “Survival Sundays”
TBT: My Surrender to a Lack of Expectations
“The more things change…” This journey is far from over and the things I have learned are immeasurable and priceless. Every once in a while I am privileged to have some positive reinforcement that my thoughts and I are on the right path. Surrender… Continue Reading “TBT: My Surrender to a Lack of Expectations”
Year Of The Sheep
It is a trip to think that the year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat is more than halfway over! Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The winter solstice always falls on December 21st. This year the next new moon is… Continue Reading “Year Of The Sheep”
The Prettiest Fungi Of All.
I am astounded by the constant change of the forest here, in Maine. There is a time for everything and everything has its time. We have an incredible amount of fungi in the woods that surround us. Most start fruit in the middle of summer and continue… Continue Reading “The Prettiest Fungi Of All.”
TBT
The Swell Again and again I tread the same water passing it over my body and going nowhere, suspended between what is and what is to be. Then change comes as a wave out of the abyss consuming everything. Shifting your entire bodily universe… Continue Reading “TBT”
“Once In A Blue Moon”
It feels apt that July began with a full moon and will end with one too. The first moon can be called a ‘Blessing Moon’ (an old term for July’s full moon) the one on the 31st of July, will be the second full moon this month and thus-… Continue Reading ““Once In A Blue Moon””
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!””
This little Piggy…
This little piggy went to the market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy rigged a jail break and got everyone out.
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.”
Snow Anyone?
This should give you some clue about the amount of snow we have. The husky can almost climb the drift to the roof…
Snowed-in Cauliflower
Over the past few weeks our area has received over 70 inches of the white stuff, with more on the way next week. Consequently we have spent A LOT of time indoors, unable to leave the house. We have taken turns doing the shopping- depending… Continue Reading “Snowed-in Cauliflower”
Petroglyphs and Pyramids and Aliens?! Oh My!
Last winter we got really into Antiques Roadshow. We have been doing better this winter at not driving ourselves crazy with marathons of random Netflix shows, until now. After four hours of the show Ancient Aliens; I lost it and started yelling at the idiot… Continue Reading “Petroglyphs and Pyramids and Aliens?! Oh My!”
“I Only Know Enough To Know I Don’t Know Much.”
Because the beginning of next year starts with the end of this one I thought the end of last year was a good place to start the next. Confused yet? Don’t be. The changes this year held for us have been immense. We have done… Continue Reading ““I Only Know Enough To Know I Don’t Know Much.””
Snow, Rain, Sleet, Repeat.
The weather here the past week has been a bit indecisive. It seems as soon as we get some decent powder we get ice on top of it. The lakes and ponds have frozen, thawed. and frozen again. Most mornings we have woken up… Continue Reading “Snow, Rain, Sleet, Repeat.”
Glazed Maine
Some people start their morning with glazed donuts. Here in Maine, some mornings everything wakes up glazed. The only difference is how you drive.
“Looks Cold…”
We had our first real snow of this year. It’s really amazing that silently over night the yard can go from- to- I think the lettuce is finally done. The back garden is also out of commission till next year, season over. The chickens stayed… Continue Reading ““Looks Cold…””
A Quick Pumpkin Hack.
Our Sugar Pumpkin harvest left us with an issue. I wanted to get into all those little pumpkins, save the seeds to plant and cook the flesh, without making a huge pupkiny mess I would have to clean up. When it comes to cooking pumpkin,… Continue Reading “A Quick Pumpkin Hack.”
What IS Homesteading Anyway?
When we tell people that we live on a homestead we get a verity of reactions. They range from “oh, you live on a farm” to “so, you are like one of those doomsday preppers.” While both reactions are not wrong they do miss the mark- for… Continue Reading “What IS Homesteading Anyway?”
Lessons From The Garden
Patients is one of those things I am going to spend the rest of my life learning (or trying to learn, as the case may be.) Growing anything from a seed teaches you a lot- if you are willing to listen. The good thing about… Continue Reading “Lessons From The Garden”
September’s flower: Morning Glory
Even though I didn’t plant any this year, they are blooming all over the yard from last- with some scarlet runner beans for good measure. Along with more of our confused ‘bean’ pumpkin. Have a great day!
“Ch-Ch-Ch- Changes.”
Here in Maine the feeling of change is tangible, like someone flipped a switch overnight and summer on its way out. There is a new crispness to the air at the beginning and end of the day. You can see it clearly in the trees,… Continue Reading ““Ch-Ch-Ch- Changes.””
Why? Because I Felt Like It.
Sorry, I can’t keep all of them in, all the time. After a late night binge of The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings I woke up and REALLY REALY wanted a felt hat. A wizard hat! I found some wool roving online and ordered… Continue Reading “Why? Because I Felt Like It.”
Homesteading Math 101: Counting Chickens.
Does anyone remember that old riddle about how to get a cabbage, a goat and a wolf across a river with one boat? That is what it feels like we have been trying to do recently. I have decided to call it homesteading math. With… Continue Reading “Homesteading Math 101: Counting Chickens.”
Foul! Guinea Fowl That Is…
When we left for my sister’s wedding we had 11 eggs going in the incubator. For the first time this summer they were not chicken eggs. I declared my desire for guiena fowl one night this past winter. Thanks to the magic of the internet I was… Continue Reading “Foul! Guinea Fowl That Is…”
“Know When To Hold ‘Em. Know When To Fold ‘Em.” Know When To Rip Them All Out And Start Over.
Once uopn a time my husband and I went to the store. When we left our corn was tall and happy: While we were gone there was a pocket thunderstorm and when we returned to the homestead, we found this had happened: My husband had… Continue Reading ““Know When To Hold ‘Em. Know When To Fold ‘Em.” Know When To Rip Them All Out And Start Over.”
Is There Such A Thing As ‘Gardener’s Anonymous?’
What felt like the shortest week ever in California looks like it was the longest seven days back in Maine. We knew it would be fun to see how much our garden had grown while we were away but neither of us was ready… Continue Reading “Is There Such A Thing As ‘Gardener’s Anonymous?’”
The garden today.
When we moved in, we became the proud owners of a beautiful lawn. A lawn we had no interest in maintaing. It surrounded the house. Far from being a blank canvas- this was canvas with someone else’s painting on it. I have mentioned before that I don’t… Continue Reading “The garden today.”
Eggs Of A Different Type
We celebrated Easter this year with colored eggs that we filled with chocolate (but not dyed. They are colorful to start.) LOTS of seeds, gardening tools, a sunny day and frog eggs. After our egg hunt we took a walk. At the bottom of the property… Continue Reading “Eggs Of A Different Type”
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