• Fireplace - Home Update - Kitchen

    Home Update Remodel

    January 28, 2026

    We always wanted a home in the country, and we finally were able to purchase one in 2021. It sits on 10 acres of mostly wooded land. The house sits in middle with five acres in front and five in the back. We are super grateful for this property-even with all it’s quirks. When I say quirks, I mean the crazy things previous owners do. For example, when your outlet cover doesn’t fit-just cut the corner off. It’s no big deal. Ha. Things like that. All the quirks, along with the age-makes it a bit wonky and outdated. But even…

  • wilted flower, study of job
    Bible Study - Encouragement - The Book Of Job

    Studying Job

    January 22, 2026

    The last post about Job was all about marking the text. We mark the text so that we can better comprehend what is being said. And our comprehension is connected to our perspective. You will not comprehend correctly with the wrong perspective. Studying Job: Perspective & Comprehension Perspective cannot be emphasized too much. One of my favorite quotes from CS Lewis says, “What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on what sort of person you are.” Two people, standing in two different places- with two different hearts- will…

  • soil in a garden shovel
    Homeschool

    Soil Testing For A Flower Garden

    January 15, 2026

    Soil Testing: What is it? Soil testing is collecting a sample of the soil where you plan to garden and testing it for nitrogen content, phosphorus, potash, and it’s ph level. Then based on the results, you amend (or change) it so you maximize the health of your plants. Good soil means a good garden; bad soil means a bad garden. Simple. We are planting a flower garden for our new honey bees, so I decided to use a Rapitest Soil Test Kit. There are also many different options on Amazon. Soil Testing: How to do it? Soil testing is…

  • Honey Bee on Echinacea Flower
    Beekeeping - Flower Gardening

    Steps To Seed Starting

    January 8, 2026

    I’m officially starting to learn beekeeping! This spring, I’m getting my first bees! I’m so excited-but also really nervous. I want my bees to live! And not just to live, but to thrive. I’m envisioning myself as a natural bee whisperer. Listening to the bees and having an innate ability to give them exactly what they need. Oh boy. Probably not gonna happen. But I want to learn as much as possible so that when the bees do “speak” to me, then I know what they are saying. Since learning about bees, one thing many people recommend is having a…

  • my journey into beekeeping
    bee venom therapy - chronic illness - Michigan Beekeeper - Natural Beekeeping

    My Journey into Beekeeping

    January 5, 2026

    My Journey into beekeeping began with discovering bee venom therapy. My journey into beekeeping started with researching bee venom therapy. I’ve mentioned here before that I’ll be starting bee venom therapy soon. I’m still waiting on test results from blood work. But once we get all the results squared away, I’ll start ordering my bees. When I first researched honey bee venom therapy, I admit to being a bit skeptical. But the more I learned, the more I was in awe. Honey bees are tiny little miracles that create such an incredible difference in our world. It’s incredible how God…

  • Homeschool

    Life Update & Watercolor

    January 1, 2026

    Life Update & Watercolor It’s time for a life update and some watercolor. These are sort of like therapy sessions with my imaginary therapist. All At Once I can’t explain the relief I feel on New Year’s Day morning. Does anyone else out there in internet land understand? The newness. The hope. Anticipation. But also, the looking back. We humans always hope for less hard. We look for the good and easy. Don’t we? It’s weird. We hope for the simple, uncomplicated, zero struggle-but every single time, we find that the good is always mixed in with the hard. “That…

  • purple flowers in a field
    chronic illness - Encouragement

    Chronic Illness: Blood Work Appointment

    December 22, 2025

    My gut ached with knots. I picked up my wide leg jeans to keep them from getting soaked in the slushy parking lot. What in the world are we doing with all these clothing trends? We are literally wearing skirts on each leg.  I inhaled deeply and went in. The receptionist smiled, and after a short conversation, we both realized I was in the wrong place. “Go to suite A. It’s right across the hall.”  I held my breath…does anyone else do that when they are stressed? I don’t even realize I’m doing it. Opening the door, I put on…

  • Book of Job Study
    Bible Study - The Book Of Job

    Studying Job: Reviewing the Outline & Marking the Text

    December 18, 2025

    So, did you make an outline of the book of Job? How did it go? The first time I went through it, I actually found it exhausting. Ha. It’s a long book. It also made me realize just how much dialogue there was. Job must have been so tired after each of his friends’ monologues! Right!? I wouldn’t have noticed all this without first writing an outline. But out of all the steps in Bible study, I think my favorite is the one we are going over today! I can’t wait! I’m going over how to mark the text. What…

  • Life Update - Watercolor

    Life Update & Watercolor Video

    December 15, 2025

    Life Update We are still in the trenches of the flu. These viruses are tricky. We went a whole 4 days without any signs of illness. We even got our Christmas tree from The Old Grove and were able to decorate. It’s amazing. How is it that when the Christmas tree is lit you just feel calmer? You think the world is finally at peace. The sickness is really done. That you really lucked out. You are in the clear. Maybe it was something he ate? But then you get a call from the caseworker. “He threw up. We’re gonna…

  • Materia Medica Painting sitting on a table
    Herbalism - Materia Medica - Watercolor

    Eleuthero: Materia Medica & Art

    December 11, 2025

    Eleuthero. If Ashwagandha is a gentle hug, then Eleuthero provides a sort of tenacity for endurance. Eleuthero, or Eleutherococcus senticosus, is about restoration. A refresh. This herb is an adaptogen. Adaptogens are herbs that give the body the ability to adapt to stress. Adapting means that it helps the body systems stay regulated under pressure. Eleuthero & The Doshas Eleuthero is an herb mostly used by the Chinese and the Russians. In fact, in the 1940’s, the Russians discovered that Eleuthero gave soldiers stamina in difficult conditions. Eleuthero brings tenacity to the body. There is an ability to fight in…