Homelessness is a big problem in Canada. When I did some research recently, this is the quote I found on the Stat’s Canada’s website. “In 2021, we asked Canadian households if they had ever experienced some form of homelessness in their lifetime. Over one in ten (11.2%) Canadians or 1,690,000 people reported that they had. …
Dear family and friends, Welcome back to my blog. I hope you are all well. I know I haven’t been blogging for awhile now ( a l o n g while) but if anything can bring me back to writing, it’s the excitement I get when a loaf of my own sourdough bread comes out …
Simple Sourdough Bread Making and Life’s Purpose Read More »
Happy May, my dear blogging friends and family. If Spring has arrived in your part of the world, I hope nature is doing her thing and providing a restorative balance for you. Ahhhh, there’s nothing like the feeling of warm sunshine on our faces, fresh air in our lungs and being surrounded by Spring’s beauty. …
Welcome to my blog and Hope’s Homestead. It’s nice to see you. If you are new here, yah! If you haven’t been here in a while, you’re not alone as neither have I. Ha! You’d think that with the current state of the world, (everyone isolating at home due to the COVID-19 global pandemic) I’d …
The words “be safe, have fun,” keep reverberating through my brain. They were the last things I said to my two kids, who left on adventures this week. My son Mitchell, who will be off on a grand adventure to Australia at the first of March, left on a west coast road trip this past …
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.”~ T.S. Eliot~ I started this post at the beginning of January but, alas, did not get around to finishing or posting it. Before I knew it. Chinese New Year had arrived, and once again, I lingered over the keys, …
Have you ever noticed when you do one thing, several other things fall into place at the same time? It’s kind of like the above quote, “A Manifesto for a Simple Life;” when we stress less for instance, we laugh more. Recently, it occurred to me that by becoming a more sustainable family; growing our …
Triple Berry No Sugar Muffins and Five Easy Things to Help Our Planet Read More »
“It is the first mild day of March. Each minute sweeter than before…There is a blessing in the air. ~William Wordsworth~ Guess what? As I knock on my wooden desk, I have to tell you that the last three days have been sunny and glorious. The snow is slowly melting and the birds …
Does this post’s title make you hungry? I know it’s a lot of food all in one place but we need serious comfort food around here. It snowed last night. Again! Now, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate living in a climate where there are four seasons, but this year, I’ve had enough snow. I’m …
Shepherd’s Pie, Cornmeal Muffins, Berry Coffee Cake Read More »
My mom loved to smile. Even though she was a child who lived through the tough depression years, even though she was a young woman during World War Two, even though she became a widow at 39, and was left to care for her daughters, she learned the art of smiling. Random Fact: If you …
Welcome February and welcome you. “Kids and Education” That’s what this post is about. If you’re not interested in listening to some of my thoughts, and just want to make some great banana muffins, then scroll down and I’ll meet you at the bottom of this page. If you ARE interested in hearing my reasons …
What does the wisdom of Gandalf, blessing today and carrot muffins have in common? Well hang in there and I will try to tie them all together. I’m sorry that I haven’t been writing more on my blog. I have been rather depressed since Christmas. Ever since everyone went back to their own lives full …
“New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today, carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams …
Pumpkin Cake Roll and a New Year, a New Day, a New Chapter Read More »
Our valley has once again been covered in a sparkling, blanket of white. Driving my kids to school this morning, I uttered the words I have said several times in the last two days. “Isn’t it breathtaking?” It’s so stunningly, beautiful, it makes me cry. As I write this post, it’s snowing again lightly. You …
My favourite month has arrived! Welcome December! Fa la la la la, la la la la! Oh the joy of season with the twinkling lights and carols playing, fills me with happy anticipation. I’ve always had a quiet faith in the magic of this season and this year is no different. But with only …
Winter arrived on my doorstep today With a frigid, magically stare, She danced on brilliant autumn leaves at her feet, And proclaimed she was the season …
“Whoever hath a seed time of grace pass over his soul, shall have his harvest also of joy.” ~William Gurnall~ I won’t lie, the first day of fall was not a joyful one for me. It’s not that I don’t love the autumn season, for I do. Ah, the cooler days with the fresh smell …
I’ve had him for eighteen years. You’d think that would be enough, but it’s not. And yet, I’m ever so mindful that I have been blessed. I am a blessed, beyond measure mom. I’m blessed, because I know there are women out there, who would have given anything for just one day holding their …
Welcome to my homestead! Gates are a big things around here lately. They keep things in and they allow others to move through them with ease. I hope your summer’s gate is opening gently. Gates allow us to enter an new experience…sometimes that experience is AHHHH! the chickens got out! I don’t know about …
Broccoli and Three Cheese Quiche, New Chicken Run and a Family update Read More »
Welcome! So nice to see you…. Thanks for coming to visit today. I’m sorry I’ve been in ex-communicado. In the last month, A LOT of stuff has been going on at the homestead. Of course, Easter came and went. The kids above, William, Victoria and Kathryn with their eggs they decorated and my classic …
What I Know For Sure, is that HOPE sustains us. Have you been joining Deepak, Oprah and me in the 21 day, “Hope in Uncertain Times.” meditation series? If so, I’m so HAPPY! You are probably heightened to how the feelings of hope sustains you in your life. I can’t imagine life without it. …
Welcome to my homestead. After writing about Grandma Hulda and sharing our family’s recipe for old fashion pinwheel date cookies I thought I would share another great recipe and such a classic; Chocolate Chip cookies! Oh don’t you just love a freshly baked, still warm from the oven, chocolate chip cookie? It takes me …
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies and Hope for Uncertain Times (Part 2) Read More »
My maternal grandmother died 30 years ago in 1987, and yet as I did some research and started to write this piece, it felt like she was across the room, moving rhythmically in her rocking chair and sharing her story in her sing songy, Swedish voice that I loved. If you want to make a …
Pinwheel Date Cookies ~ Hope in Uncertain Times (Part 1, Grandma Hulda’s Story) Read More »
Happy Shrove Tuesday, dear blog friends and family! Did you know that Shrove Tuesday is also called Mardi Gras? And Mardi Gras is french for FAT TUESDAY???? I love learning new things. I always thought Mardi Gras was just a big party down in New Orleans (well it is) but it also refers to the …
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browing 1806-1861 Happy Valentine’s Day! Before this day of love flies by, I did want to stop, wave hi, wish you much love and share a delicious chocolate cake recipe. You may have a homemade classic that you love, but I have …