Considering the Future

My husband and I are beginning to consider what our lives will be like once our young folks sprout wings and leave our nest.  We are looking at downsizing our home, even though we just moved here last year.  We are looking at possibly having more property, even though it means more work to do the things we'd like to do.

We're realizing that we are limited with how much activity we can participate in at church living almost an hour away.  The special things that happen on days other than Sundays and Wednesdays simply cannot be attended because it isn't just a short jaunt over to the church or to a Couple's Night with our dear folks in our Sunday School class whom we've grown to love.  So we pray.  We'll find out soon enough what the Lord's will is for this as we lay this at His feet.  There is a lot to consider and even still, we consider the necessity of selling our current house when the time comes too.  Lots to consider.

We're realizing that we will be physically limited with how much we can accomplish on a daily basis due to the fact that our young folks will be out of the nest.  I mentioned to my husband that we could get him a good tractor (not to be confused with "new") with accessories that would help him do the work that is needful without needing one or more of the kids around to do it.  But, the other things, like putting up fences or things like that, if course we'd ask the kids to come help.

We're realizing that we'll need a house with 2 master bedroom/bathrooms just in case there is a need for one of our parents to move in with us.  Additionally, we're looking at building an apartment over a garage just in case our oldest son needs a place.  That will give him his own space and as much autonomy as possible.

We've talked about "puttering" with our days on the property.  We've talked about having a garden and having fruit trees and selling the produce.  We've talked about going to different festivals with things that we make to sell.

It's a sweet thought for us to have things like this in mind for our future.  I don't want anything ornate, but simple and all one level, but nothing too big.  I want to be able to have family and friends over to love on them.  I want to bless others and serve the Lord with my husband.

"Ponder the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established." 

(Pro 4:26)

In Christ,

Looking Toward a Homesteading Mindset

For years Mr. G and I have researched a homesteading lifestyle.  We have focused on the work and the sacrifice not only of our time, but our resources as well.  We've researched raising chickens and milk goats for starters.  I know we will eventually branch out from those two types of animals adding in pigs, turkeys, cows--for both milk and meat--as well as horses.

What is the "allure" to this mindset that is drawing us to it?

We have been drawn to a more simple, down-to-earth type of lifestyle for a very long time.  We already can food, hunt, and garden, so the next logical step is to add some chickens, then goats and so forth.

My husband and I have watched a show Alaska: The Last Frontier on Netflix to see what the folks on that show experience.  I know they deal with a lot of hardship and the push for time is extreme in gathering and growing food as well as putting it up for the winter.

Our first move will simply occur once my husband retires.  We'll be able to buy something without debt, after selling our house, that has property.  Property will allow us to have the animals and care for them through the seasons and live off the land.

What about a house?

Right now, while we're concerned about a house, we're not concerned about a house.  Seems like an oxymoron, huh?  Well, we're finding some properties with houses that need some work and/or finishing that sit on over 20 acres.  I know that to some 20 acres doesn't seem like much, but 20+ acres is 20+ acres that we don't have for the larger animals that we'd like to have for our homestead.

We're so very blessed to have our home on a little over an acre.  We have a nice sized garden that we will be fencing in for next year's crops.  We've worked for quite a few years to build up this garden space, but when the deer, bear, ground hogs, and rabbits come along to take bites out of our produce, it makes sense to build a fence.

The day they brazenly came in to the yard to graze on acorns, they leisurely sauntered back to the brush pile, then hit the garden (outside the picture to the left) with a vengeance.  

We were able to get a few cucumbers, 3 cayenne peppers, and enough volunteer cherry tomatoes to get 9 pints of stewed tomatoes.  This coming year we hope and pray to fill our pantry shelves, much like, if not more than, the picture below.

We also grow a lot of our own herbs for usage through the winter.  This year we dehydrated basil, oregano and thyme.  My sage and rosemary didn't over winter very well, so we didn't have it to dehydrate.  We plan to re-add those as well as other medicinal herbs to our herb gardens this coming Spring.

As I have considered homesteading, I've noticed that my husband is already doing the work it takes for this mindset outside, in the garage and fixing things on the house.  

A few weeks ago we went to get firewood, the chainsaw wouldn't start, and the truck got stuck in the mud.  We borrowed a friend's van to get home to get the wench and other materials to get the truck out of the mud, then came home.  We didn't have to call a tow truck.  Working together as a family was what needed to happen and it did.

Many times when things need to happen, even if it's snapping beans, we do it together to get it done.

What a blessing it is to work together to accomplish a common goal.

God Bless,