Author: Country Girl Homestead

As I learn to come to terms with the fact that mom is no longer here, I find myself facing an uncertain future…

Recently, I woke from a bad dream that left me feeling lost and alone – leaving me deluged with questions about what my uncertain future will look like! Questions that include whether or not I will be continuing life in our little homestead on wheels!

While I admit to crying myself to sleep… and shedding tears at the most inopportune moments, my faith reminds me that I am the daughter of the King. His word promises that He will provide for my needs of food, clothing and shelter! (See Matthew 6:25-34 and Isaiah 32:18)

Since a steady income is necessary to pay the bills, part of my days have been spent seeking employment and filling out job applications. And while income is an essential need right now, I find myself wondering about this journey that mom and I began over 6 years ago…

Should I stay in my current location to seek out a more traditional homestead? Or should I try to continue living my life in our little homestead on wheels – enjoying the homesteading lifestyle wherever the road takes me?!?

My first thought is to secure steady income in the traditional manner – working for someone else. However, I am continuing to work my side hustle as an independent consultant with this company.

After the dust settles, I’ll figure out what to do regarding this little homestead on wheels…

Having to face an uncertain future is scary! I just need to remember to take each day as it comes!

Thankfully, Gods word promises that He’s our helper in times of trouble. So, there is no need to worry about tomorrow… because tomorrow will have enough to worry about!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

~ Sheri

Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! I appreciate your support! ❤

The grief I’ve been feeling since the unexpected passing of my mother has been hard to process… Wading through paperwork and her personal belongings has put my emotions into a tailspin!

I am not okay…

Adding to my emotional turmoil is the stress of finding a job – and quickly!

To make matters worse, my truck has decided to act up! And trust me when I say that finding a decent mechanic – within my current budget – has been like trying to find a needle in a haystack!

Moving forward has not been easy!

And there’s something else that’s been bamboozling me recently… my well-meaning friends expect me to be ‘okay,’ – when clearly, I am not!

Don’t they understand that I am mourning?!?

My grief is not a switch that I can turn on and off at random! Each person grieves in their own way and in their own time!

I understand they want me to be ‘okay.’ But sometimes their kind words do more harm than good…

For example… someone was kind enough to check in on me, asking me how I was doing. So, I told them… they basically told me that I need to be over it already!

Seriously?!?

I wanted to scream at them through the phone!

It’s times like these that I just want to close myself off from the rest of the world… yet I know that I need people in my life… even when they don’t understand that my grief comes in waves… one minute I might be fine… and the next, I feel like the rug’s been pulled out from under me!

What I am most thankful for is my faith. It keeps me going even when I don’t think I can get through another day!

Today, I’m not okay… but I will be… eventually!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels!

Although I was born and raised a “city chick,” mom and I had been living on a traditional homestead, raising chickens and growing our own food, when mom made the decision to hit the open road. She wanted to travel while she still had her health!

Because mom was always there for me growing up, I supported her decision to travel. That’s when she purchased our little homestead on wheels, sight unseen!

When mom decided to do something, she didn’t let any grass grow under feet. She went forward full speed ahead!

As I child, I remember her making the decision to be a stay-at-home mom. Once the decision had been made, she went on to become the first woman in our home state to have a state sanctioned daycare in our home. By doing so, not only was she able to bring something to the table financially, she made sure she was always there for her family, guiding us every step of the way!

During our adventures on the road, we did everything together. We shopped… we explored… we even shared the chore of emptying the nasty black tank! A necessity in RV living!

Although I was the one who did the driving of our little homestead on wheels, as navigator, she was the driving force that always made sure we didn’t lose our way!

That’s the way it was all my life. I was always able to count on her to steer me in the right direction. I could always trust her to guide me along lifes’ journey…

She wasn’t just my mother… she was a beacon… a source of strength… a confidant… my best friend… and I miss her very much!

Until next time,

Peace, love and safe travels,

I cherish the wonderful memories of my childhood – memories of mom and I spending time in the kitchen baking various types of breads, rolls and pastries. However, mealtime menus left me wanting! This ultimately set me up to become a culinary catastrophe in later years.

Don’t get me wrong, I can follow a recipe with the best of them! However, growing up in a household with a father who believed mealtime fare should only consist of “meat and potatoes and oodles of noodles,” was a challenge!

Seasonings and certain vegetables – especially the spicier ones – were considered “verboten” – not allowed! This was mainly due to his stomach issues, however, sometimes I wonder if he just didn’t want to try something new?!?

Because of this, I had no idea how to incorporate herbs and seasonings into my meals when I ventured out on my own!

I eventually dated a man who loved to cook! Almost everything he made was delicious! Almost…

Once, there was the huge pancake that was burnt on one side and runny on the other… the orange chicken that no one wanted to eat… and the gravy that was so thick you could cut it with a fork!

Over the course of 5+ years, that’s an amazing record!

In fact, we could take the same 3 ingredients – ground beef, peas and noodles – and I would make hamburgers with a side of buttered noodles and peas, while he created Beef Stroganoff!

I was envious of his skill!

It wasn’t until I became an independent consultant with this company, that I truly started to discover how to create delicious meals for my family. For this, I am grateful!

I wouldn’t say I’m ready to call myself a Mealtime Maestro, but I do believe Culinary Catastrophe is a thing of the past!

Until next time,

Peace, love, safe travels and happy homesteading!

~ Sheri

Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤

Deciding what to grow in your garden is not always an easy decision! For example, when I look through seed catalogs or go to the local garden center, I’m mesmerized by all the delicious varieties I can choose from! Is it any wonder that I want to purchase everything I see?!?

But then I come back to earth and remember I’m working with very limited space!

Since we travel in our little homestead on wheels, we choose to stay in campgrounds that allow us to have a small garden… and even though we’re planning to move, we’re still looking forward to another garden this spring!

However, this year we’re using our Green Stalk planter – this allows us to grow a larger garden in a smaller amount of space!

Yet no matter the size, our gardens take a lot of planning and preparation! For instance, I’m already devising a plan on what we’re going to grow!

To start with, we’ll begin with what we like to eat!

When it’s too hot to cook, we take pleasure in Tomato and Mayo sandwiches! So, of course, you’ll find several Beef Steak Tomato plants! And since I enjoy cooking from scratch, you’ll find Roma Tomatoes for my homemade spaghetti sauce!

We’ll add bell peppers – all colors – and spinach too! Plus, my favorite ‘go-to’ herbs such as oregano, parsley and thyme! And, if space allows, we’ll include zucchini and watermelon!

Having unearthed last years seed packets, we’ll test them to see they’re still viable and make a list of seeds we’ll need to purchase!

Since the south has a longer growing season, we’re researching cool weather plants that can be planted in containers – in February – such as potatoes, carrots, peas and radishes. I may even try a few things I’ve never grown before such as turnips and mustard.

Ultimately, our goal is to improve our skillsets and correct mistakes of the past!

Until next time,

Peace, love, safe travels and happy homesteading!

~ Sheri

Although mom and I are in the process of preparing to move, I’m taking time to review the previous year. Looking back, I want to see what worked and what didn’t.

Since moms health forced us off the road, we chose to ‘bloom where we were planted!’

We focused on our square foot garden. However, being unfamiliar with the sandy soil of the south, we had more challenges than expected!

Reviewing the past allows me to reflect… to revise… and resolve to improve… allowing myself to learn from past mistakes!

As I’ve examined our former efforts, I’ve realized our goals were unrealistic… and, I’ve come to the conclusion that I didn’t really have a plan… Instead, I just left things happen…

What’s more, when circumstances happened that were beyond my control, I basically got knocked on my can!

This newfound knowledge has me revising my plans for our garden this year. I’m also taking the time to educate myself with essential information needed for growth – both personally and in the garden!

Take last year’s garden for example… We had some issues with our tomato plants that could have been avoided had we simply put a self-watering system into place!

Before this years growing season begins, I’m asking myself some all-important questions:

• Do I need to test my soil? Is there something happening that’s not visible to the naked eye?
• Are my seeds still viable or should I order more?
• Am I growing the right crops for our soil?
• Are there techniques I can put into place that will cut down on my weeding and watering?
• Should I stick to a 4×4 square foot garden or expand?
• Is there a better time of day to work around our little homestead on wheels?

Wanting to make the most of our garden this year, I’m doing everything possible to set myself up for a successful year of gardening!

Until next time,

Peace, love and happy homesteading,

~ Sheri

It’s hard to believe how much stuff the two of us have crammed into our little homestead on wheels! Now, as we begin preparing for travel, I find that I need to do some necessary downsizing!

While it’s true that traveling in an RV allows us to take along most of the comforts of home, we do have to limit what we take due to weight restrictions while traveling. For example: certain roadways or bridges have ‘maximum weight limits,’ therefore, anything over a certain weight is forbidden.

With this in mind, we like to pack light.

When it comes to clothing, we stick to the “sevens rule.” Seven pairs of pants, seven shirts, seven pairs of socks… you get the idea!

And as for dishes, since there is only the two of us, we usually take 4 of everything… 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 cups and 4 sets of silverware… two for us, and two for any guests we have over for dinner!

While we’re good in those areas, we do have other items we’ve accumulated. So now, we have to figure out what we can live without! Once that’s reckoned with, we’ll donate to local charities, or see if someone we know can make use of our bits and bobs!

One area I personally need to scale down is the amount of books I’ve collected since arriving! I enjoy reading, and although I know I can read books online, there is just something special about turning the pages of a cherished book!

Another area is my beloved kitchen gadgets! As an independent consultant, I enjoy sharing products that make life easier in the kitchen! Therefore, I have accumulated a number of items for my own kitchen! I mean really, is there such a thing as having too many kitchen tools?!?

Until next time,

Peace, love and happy homesteading!

~ Sheri

Thank you for using my affiliate links. I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support! ❤)

Lately, I’ve had a hankerin’ for spaghetti! Unfortunately, our garden is done producing for the season, therefore I have to make the long trek into town to get the desired ingredients for our favorite spaghetti sauce!

Preferring a thicker sauce, we like to bulk it up with our favorite veggies – peppers, onions and carrots, just to name a few! Gotta get those veggies in!

What’s really nice is that this recipe is so quick and easy – and kid friendly to boot! You can use it whenever a recipe calls for tomato sauce, such as lasagna… or, you can simply dip your favorite crusty garlic bread into this tasty sauce!

Since this particular recipe includes ground beef, simply leave it out if you don’t do meat!

Our Favorite Thick & Hearty Tomato Sauce

Here’s what you need:

• 1 cup cooked ground beef
• 1/2 cup mushroom pieces
• 1/4 cup chopped onions
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Let’s put it all together!

1. First, heat a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat with a small amount of oil.
2. Briefly sauté’ the mushrooms and onions.
3. Add the ground beef and cook until all the pink is gone.
4. Next, add the beef broth.
5. Then, slowly whisk in the canned tomatoes and seasonings.
6. Let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Pour onto your favorite pasta and serve!

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do! Hungry now, talk later!

Until next time,

Peace, love and happy homesteading!

– Sheri

Thank you for using my affiliate links! I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you! Both mom and I appreciate your support on this journey! ❤️ 

Now that the weather is starting to get chilly, it’s the perfect time of year to get out the Dutch oven or slow-cooker and start making a big batch of homemade soup!

Feeling a little under the weather, I thought it was the perfect time to make my favorite comfort food – Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup! It’s so hearty and comforting – just like mom used to make!

Chicken Noodle Soup is a meal in and of itself, so you don’t really need to pair it with anything – unless you like to add some saltine crackers in your soup!

However, if you feel the need to add a little something extra, try pairing it with a crusty French baguette for dipping. Or, you could pair it with some toasted garlic bread.

But if you really feel like going the extra mile, you can combine it with a grilled cheese sandwich! Grilled cheese isn’t just for Tomato Soup!

This particular recipe is for using a Dutch oven – but any large pot will do! And, if you don’t have a lot of time to stand at the stove, feel free to toss all the ingredients except the noodles in the slow-cooker before you head out to work. By the time you get home, all you’ll need to do is add the noodles about 20 minutes before you’re ready to eat!

So, let’s get started!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Here’s what you need:

• 1 medium onion, sliced and diced
• 1-2 celery stalks, sliced and diced
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 2 cloves fresh garlic
• 2-4 medium carrots, sliced (about 1-1 ½ cups)
• 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped and cooked
• 8 cups homemade chicken bone broth
• 5 oz. dried wide egg noodles (about 2 cups)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp dried thyme leaves
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Let’s put it all together:

1. Melt butter with oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic and carrots and cook until veggies are fork tender.
2. Next, add the chicken broth, cooked chicken, egg noodles, salt and thyme. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until pasta is cooked to your liking.
4. Add parsley to garnish. Serve and enjoy!

Cooks Tips:

• Try using basil and oregano for a mildly different flavor.
• Instead of cooking the chicken beforehand, you can cook the chicken in the broth and build the soup from there. This makes the broth a bit richer and the chicken more tender.
• You can also try using turmeric to season your soup, which is great for digestion.
• This recipe can be made in the slow-cooker as well, simply wait to add the noodles until the last 20 minutes before serving.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

Until next time,

Peace, Love and Happy Homesteading!