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Winter slows everything down here on our homestead Winter slows everything down here on our homestead-in-the-making — the chores, the light, even the way the snow seems to fall in slow motion. And I’m learning to slow down with it.

Here are 5 simple winter rituals that have been helping me create a more peaceful home (even in the middle of cozy chaos):

1. Step outside for 5 minutes of winter air

2. A warm drink in hand before the kids wake up

3. Add one handmade touch to the home

4. Tend something living- plants, animals, or even a sourdough starter

5. Bake something simple + comforting

And okay… #2 is absolutely the hardest for me.
Most mornings, the kids are up before I even know what day it is. 😅

But the few times I do manage to catch the quiet, wrap my hands around something warm, and breathe for a minute? It changes the whole rhythm of the day. A tiny pocket of peace that feels like it multiplies.

Slow living is about noticing the little moments that make home feel like home. Not about doing it all perfectly.
Even if we only catch them a few times a week. 🤍

Which of these cozy rituals would you try first?

#slowliving #seasonalliving
BREAKING NEWS: The missing hen has been located. S BREAKING NEWS:
The missing hen has been located.
She is alive, dramatic, and completely unbothered by the emotional damage she caused me. ❄️😂🐓

#chickenshenanigans #WinterOnTheHomestead
After a long day of little hands and big feelings… After a long day of little hands and big feelings… and a rogue chicken... I really did need this.
A blanket, a quiet house, and a simple little paper chain.
Motherhood is loud, but these slow moments save me. ✨❤️🎄
After 40 minutes of chasing her in the cold, she f After 40 minutes of chasing her in the cold, she flew off and I lost her in the dark.
It breaks my heart, but there’s nothing more to do tonight.
In the morning: fresh eyes, warm coffee, gentle hope.
Shoveled the path. Did all the chores. Chased a ch Shoveled the path.
Did all the chores.
Chased a chicken for 40 minutes in the snow.
Did I catch her? Stay tuned.
Homesteading: 1
Heather: 0
Stay tuned for the next episode of “Where in the World Is This Hen?” ❄️🐓😂
#homesteadchaos #winteronthefarm
It was a chilly day, and all I wanted was a little It was a chilly day, and all I wanted was a little baking therapy…
So I made these buttery pecan shortbread bars 🍂✨

Just cozy kitchen sounds, slow moments, and something warm in the oven.
Want the recipe? Just ask below 👇 and I'll send it right over!

#CozyBaking #ASMRCooking #HomesteadKitchen FallRecipes FromScratch
Something big has happened on the homestead 🐑✨ We Something big has happened on the homestead 🐑✨

We finally brought home our first Icelandic sheep — and it feels like the start of something beautiful.

🎥 Full vlog on YouTube!
Me before sheep: normal hobbies, normal conversati Me before sheep: normal hobbies, normal conversations.
Me after sheep: would you like to see 437 photos of my sheep? ☕🐑
Our little homestead is growing 🐑✨ Meet Persephone Our little homestead is growing 🐑✨ Meet Persephone (Penny) and Maple. Watching them graze feels like the sweetest start to this new chapter. 🏡🌿 #homesteadinthemaking

The Sleepy Hollow Homestead

Homesteading, Homemaking, Homemade: The pursuit of good simple living.

I Asked for Help: What Happened When I Said “I Can’t Do It All”

June 19, 2025

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 and carry the weight and keep the wheels turning even when no one notices how much it takes.

But this week?

I dropped the ball. I dropped like… all of them. The house was a mess. The garden was demanding attention. I was behind on homeschool prep, behind on meals, behind on pretty much everything. And I was exhausted.

So I did something that used to feel scary and shameful: I asked for help.


The Week Everything Felt Like Too Much

You know that feeling when the clutter is louder than your thoughts? That’s where I was.

Between:

Weeding the gardens (how do weeds grow faster than I can pull them??)

Keeping up with reading lessons

Planning next year’s homeschool curriculum (we’re diving into Ambleside Online and I’m so excited!)

Adopting a brand new food philosophy to help our family get healthier

Trying to revamp the kitchen and meal rhythms

And still keeping three kids fed, clothed, and emotionally supported…

…I was stretched thin. Like, translucent. And the house? An absolute disaster. Piles on piles. Laundry on laundry. Dishes in the sink that made me want to cry.

It felt like I was doing a hundred things—badly—and nothing well. And honestly? I started resenting everything I actually love. That’s when I knew I couldn’t keep white-knuckling it.


So I Asked My Husband for Help

Not in a meltdown. Not in a dramatic moment. Just… calmly. Honestly. With a deep sigh and tired eyes.

“I need help. I’m not doing okay. I’m behind on everything, and I can’t catch up alone.”

And you know what he said?

“Okay. Where do we start?”

Not judgment. Not guilt. Not a lecture. Just love.

Together, we kicked some serious housework butt. We cleared counters, reset rooms, caught up on laundry. He took the kids into the garden to get some bonding in while tackling weeds. He swept while I sat down to plan our homeschool year. He gave me the gift of margin again.

I could breathe.


Why Asking for Help Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing

We carry so much as mothers—especially stay-at-home and homeschooling moms. There’s no clocking out. No shift change. No “handing it off.”

But the truth is:

Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re wise enough to know your limits.

It means you’re willing to stay in the game without burning out.
It means you trust your people enough to let them in.
It means you value your family enough to want to show up whole—not as a shell of yourself.


L I’m Finding My Bearings Again

Since asking for help, I’ve been able to:

Catch up on homeschool planning (and get super excited about Ambleside Online!)

Clear enough mental clutter to recommit to our new food journey

Actually enjoy our home again

Sit down and breathe without guilt

Feel like me again

The plates are still spinning—but now my husband is helping me carry the tray.


If You feel Like You’re Drowning

Friend, maybe your week has looked a lot like mine.
Maybe you’re managing so much that you’ve stopped managing yourself.
Maybe your house looks like a hurricane came through, and your thoughts are even messier.
Maybe you haven’t asked for help because you’re afraid that means you’re failing.

Let me tell you:
You are not failing. You are full.
And it’s okay to need a hand.


A Little Encouragement for You (and Me)

🧺 It’s okay if your house is a mess.
📚 It’s okay if your lesson plans are behind.
🌿 It’s okay if your garden has weeds.
🍳 It’s okay if your food philosophy is still a work in progress.
🫶 It’s okay to not be okay—but it’s also okay to ask for help.

And maybe you won’t get the help you need right away. But maybe you can ask your spouse. Your friend. Your mom. Your church. Your kids. God.

Ask for the support you need. You deserve to feel supported in the life you’re building.


Let’s Be Women Who Ask

Let’s normalize moms saying:

“Can you help me today?”

“I need a break.”

“I can’t do this alone.”

“I’m overwhelmed and I need support.”

Let’s be women who let our homes and families see our humanity, not just our hustle.
Because we’re building beautiful things here—homeschools, homes, families, and futures.
But we don’t have to build it alone.


You’re doing beautiful work—even if you had to ask for help this week. Especially because you did. 💛


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Welcome to The Sleepy Hollow Homestead : a home centered lifestyle blog

Welcome to The Sleepy Hollow Homestead : a home centered lifestyle blog

I'm Heather - a wife and stay at home mama of 3. I'm on a journey to thrive at home & cultivate a home-centered life. Join our young homesteading family of four as we start a Zone 6 garden in Indiana, turn our aging 80 acre farm into a sustainable homestead using permaculture and regenerative agricultural practices, and DIY our 1865 Colonial revival Farmhouse into the home of our dreams. Along the way we're going to DIY, garden, cook from scratch, learn to be frugal, homeschool, thrift, eat healthier, and learn to really enjoy this thing called life.
I'm thriving after a rectovaginal fistula and am passionate about physiological childbirth.
Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get cozy: I'm so glad you're here! Thanks for visiting!

Recent Posts

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  • How to Get Your House Under Control When You’re Overwhelmed by the Mess
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