Homemaking on the Homestead

My original plan was to take last week off of blogging to spend time with my grandson and it's been wonderful :).   It's been wonderful and busy! :D I thought I'd share a few pictures... Having fun with Legos and some cousin fun time.. He helped Grandpa pull some weeds and earned a little money (to buy more Legos :D ) And he's enjoyed spending time at his cousins house.... He also likes to cook and has helped me in the kitchen, and we've played card games, worked together on home things (helping me prep for family coming), and gone on walks. All in all the whole family is having a great time with him. ************ As for this update.. I have several family members arriving this week and a family get together planned for Saturday and a list of things to get done to prepare for it all. SO, I will be taking this week off as well. Most of my family will be leaving on Monday (except ...

Hello Friends! I wanted to give you a blog update. My 12 year old grandson arrived on Friday night and we've been so enjoying our time with him. I've decided to take the week off of my regular blogging so I can continue to focus on him. I may pop in with some other blog posts, but I'll get back to my regular weekly blogs next week.  He says he doesn't like to smile for pictures :D and doesn't like his picture taken, but he did let grandpa take this one of the two of us. Despite his face, he is having a great time here!    Crystal :)

Blogs have become very interesting in the last 10 years. I started blogging almost 10 years ago. Back then blogs were all about the person and their life and sharing. Today blogs have mostly become 'professional'. Very “cookie cutter” like, not always as personal. Something (in my humble opinion) has been lost along the way.. but maybe that is just me .. reminiscing about how it use to be.. ~smile~ My goal in blogging has never been to be a professional blogger. That said, I occasionally do put affiliate links on my site. Besides this blog I have a very large website ( The Family Homestead )  that I've had for over 10 years. It costs me money to keep that going and to store my photos and such. Plus I spend a lot of my time working on my blog. Which is fine by me, I enjoy it.. and have enjoyed it for the last (almost) 10 years. When I post an affiliate link and then make a little money from it, I appreciate that. It helps me to pay for my website, storag...

Please excuse a bit of disorganization while I make some changes to my blog!  My blog has been in need of an update for some time now. Hopefully the changes will make it easier for my readers. I’ve added a few extra pages to my blog. The “About Me” , “Recipe” & “Family” pages are what I’ve accomplished thus far. My desire with the “Recipe” page will be a place that lists all of the recipes that are here on my blog. This is a BIG job as I have been blogging for about 9 years! :) But many of my older recipes (that I still use) can be found on my website The Family Homestead . I will continue to add recipes to this blogs “Recipe” page. I realize also a little more organization is in order on that page… one step at a time.. It’ll be under construction for bit… There is also now a little tiny Pinterest button at the bottom of each post. Some ladies have written and asked about that, it is now there to share. Also for printing.. if you want to print a page of m...

  As 2013 is coming to an end I’ve been contemplating my blog and what direction to go with it. I love blogging, I enjoy sharing and find a great deal of satisfaction from it. I’m excited for the New Year and what will unfold, not only in my life but here on my blog, which for me go hand in hand. I’ve always gotten the inspiration for my blog from my own life. I’m not a “professional blogger” and have no desire to be. My preference has always been to share real life. From the beginning my goal for my blog, website, forums, etc. has been to encourage homemakers in their daily walk. And that is what I will continue to strive to do for this coming year. I’ve been blogging now since 2006 (I started my blog in December of 2005 ) and one thing that has gone through my mind a lot is how my life has changed so much in the last 8 years. When I started blogging I had a house full of little ones, tweens and teens. I was homeschooling them all, I raised goats, milked goats,...