Thriving in the Summer Heat Without Air Conditioning: How We Stay Cool in the Midwest Living in the Midwest—southeast Indiana to be exact—our summers are no joke. We regularly see temperatures in the high 80s and 90s, and it’s not unusual to hit 100°F during peak heat waves. But here’s the thing: we’re living without…
I Asked for Help: What Happened When I Said “I Can’t Do It All”
Let me just say it plain: This week I asked for help. And if you’re anything like me—a stay-at-home mom juggling homeschool, homemaking, garden work, and trying to keep your family healthy— you know how loaded that sentence can feel. We’re the ones who hold it down. The figure-it-outers. The ones who hold the vision…
Creativity in the Cracks: Prioritizing Beauty as a Busy Mom
There’s this moment—right after the baby drifts off during a contact nap, when the house is (almost kinda) quiet except for the big kids playing or watching Wild Krats—and I pull out my phone or notebook and write another sentence of my novel. Not a whole chapter. Not even a full paragraph sometimes. Just a…
What Garden Lessons (and a Broken Incubator) Taught Me About Starting Over
The garden was supposed to be peaceful this week. After days and days of relentless spring rain, some so heavy that towns near us had to evacuate, I was just grateful to see the sun again. We didn’t have any flooding in the house, thank God. But road closures and detours were enough of a…
When Your Home Feels Overwhelming: Simple Steps to Regain Control
Feel Like You’re Living in Chaos When Your Home Feels Overwhelming? You ever look around your house and just… sigh? Maybe even groan? Yeah, me too. It’s so easy to let yourself fall even further into the hole when your home feels overwhelming. Right now, as I sit here writing this, I have dishes in…
How to Make Tallow in a Crockpot (Wet Rendering Method)
Why You Should Make Your Own Tallow Tallow is one of those old-fashioned, tried-and-true homestead staples that has made a comeback—for good reason! It’s packed with healthy fats, has a high smoke point for cooking, and is amazing for homemade skincare. I learned how to make tallow in a crockpot, and I’m excited to share…