The pilgrims that boarded the sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and the pioneers that traveled this way and even further west all shared the do-it-yourself spirit.  The pilgrims knew that they would have to be self-sufficient as supplies from Europe would take a long time to reach their colony.  When they did not know how to do something, they learned... »

The day after Thanksgiving means different things to different people.  Some are watching football.  Some are fighting for good deals in retail stores.  Some are trimmiing their house with Christmas decorations.  Some are completely sick to their stomachs due to overindulgence. If you are not feeling well today, then you might try a detoxification diet for a week.  There is not... »

From the smell of my kitchen, you can guess that it is the day before Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  The food is delicious and plentiful.  Since the days of the pilgrims and Indians, we have altered the menu from the first celebration.  But who can complain?  Turkey, dressing (stuffing), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes,  green beans, squash,... »

For some time now, I have been saving up to purchase an essential oil diffuser.  I wanted to be able to fill the air in my home with the refreshing and healing scents of my essential oils.  Since Jake is allergic to formaldehyde, I have steered away from store-bought air fresheners.  I have... »

Last Saturday my whole family began feeling under the weather.  We had scratchy throats and stuffy noses.  I immediately began giving everyone garlic, vitamin D3, and astragalus. Early Sunday morning I woke up with the worst sore throat I have had since I was a little girl.  It hurt so bad that I decided to get up at this insane hour... »

When I was pregnant with each of my five children, there was always a time when I was so sick that I could not fix dinner.  I laid on the couch with a bowl in my hand trying to ignore my family's question, "Hey, mom, what's for dinner?"  Thank goodness my husband can... »

It is deer season and my oldest son brought home an eight-point buck last week.  He is very proud to be able to provide some meat for our family.  A neighbor has already given us one of his deer.  Two to three deer can help feed our family year-round.  We do not eat venison daily, but we do enjoy it... »

Hoping to bring the joy of food into the lives of those who cannot eat wheat, I decided to write the Texas Homesteader Wheat-Free Cookbook.  I know what it is like to receive the diagnosis of a food allergy.  It is a sad moment.  I have said it before,... »

When my family was diagnosed with food allergies, it was a somewhat depressing event.  However, hope was in the air as we felt we were on the road to better health.  We do not have wheat or cow milk in our home.  Fortunately, our doctor was able to pinpoint which part of the cow milk we could not tolerate.  Surprisingly,... »

I refer constantly to the book, Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon.  I have always wondered how people groups were able to preserve their food without freezers or refrigeration.  The answer I learned is partly through lacto-fermentation.  Lactic acid naturally inhibits bad bacteria from growing.  It creates lactobacilli by converting the sugars and starches of the vegetables.  And we all know... »

The holidays are fast approaching whether I like it or not.  As a family who has various food allergies, especially to wheat and cow milk, the holiday meals can be more stressful than usual.  "Who made this dish?"  "What is in it?"  "What brand did you use?"  If you have food allergies, you completely understand the round of questioning that... »

The other day my family volunteered to work at our church's pumpkin patch.  It was the day before Halloween and the lot had very few good pumpkins left to sell.  It reminded me of going to a Christmas tree lot on Christmas Eve.  Slim pickins.  We have had rain storm after rain storm for the last month and the rain... »

Being a homesteading family, we have to help each other out all the time.  If someone is absent, someone else has to pick up the slack.  The animals cannot go without eating or water.  The goats have to be milked.  The weeds in the garden do not wait either.  Homesteading is a lot of work.  If it was not so... »