Lately I have noticed something about myself. I am making these weekly videos and posts, sharing what I have been doing around the house. And somehow along the way, I stepped into this homesteading and homemaking lifestyle. I cannot even tell you exactly how it started. I just know it feels God inspired.
In these senior years, I find I have so much more free time. However, I love to stay productive.
I never used to enjoy cooking or baking. In fact, I avoided it when I could. But now I have the cooking and baking bug. And I do know why. I want to eat healthier. I want to feed my husband healthier meals. I want us to eat out less. I want fewer processed foods in our bodies. And after watching my daughter walk through cancer, I became much more aware of what I put in my body and even what I put on my body. That changes you.
Homemade Peanut Butter
I decided to make my own peanut butter. I watched a few videos and picked up dry roasted lightly salted peanuts at the store. I tried three different machines before I found the one that worked. My Ninja was a fail. A tiny chopper was a bigger fail. But my Hamilton Beach mini food processor did the trick.
It is more like chunky peanut butter, not super creamy, but I love that it is just peanuts with no added junk. It is a little hard to spread, so I may warm it slightly when I use it. I stored it in a mason jar in a cool cabinet since that cabinet sits on an outside wall. So far so good.
Laundry Booster Experiment
I finally made my own laundry booster. Just borax, washing soda, and baking soda mixed in a large container. I use a small scoop in each load before adding the laundry.
We do not have a bathroom fan, so humidity builds up. I wash a white cloth shower liner every week. This time the stains did not come out. That could mean the liner is just too far gone, or maybe the booster is not strong enough. I will keep testing and see how it goes.
My New Bread Machine
I gifted myself a bread machine. Funny story. After I showed my daughters the loaf I made, my oldest told me she still has my old bread machine. So now I own two, but I am really enjoying this new one. It makes beautiful loaves and my husband is loving the fresh bread. That alone makes it a win.
I also found a YouTuber who uses her bread machine only for dough, then shapes steak rolls and hamburger buns. I plan to try that soon.
Because the bread has no preservatives, it only lasts a few days. I learned to store it loosely in a paper bag. If we do not finish a loaf, I plan to turn it into garlic bread for the freezer or homemade breadcrumbs. I want to make my own stuffing mix and skip the boxed version with all the additives.
Instant Oatmeal Packs
I made instant oatmeal baggies for quick breakfasts. My first batch was a fail. The recipe used powdered milk, and it did not agree with me. So I adjusted the recipe and made a new batch that works much better. I will continue tweaking it because that is part of the fun.
Using ChatGPT for Food Tracking
I finally started tracking my food using ChatGPT, and I am amazed. The hardest part of food tracking has always been figuring out recipes with multiple ingredients. Now I just paste the recipe into ChatGPT, and it breaks down calories and protein per serving. It even recognizes brand names.
Is it perfect? Probably not. But it keeps me mindful, and that matters. It also helped me figure out a daily calorie goal and track a calorie deficit. That kind of feedback keeps me motivated.
A Little 3D Printer Joy
My husband made me a mason jar and lid holder with his 3D printer. I love it. And I love giving him projects because he enjoys learning new things too.
Finally a Good Egg Salad
I found a solid egg salad recipe and stuck with it. Eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, celery seed, garlic powder, and onion powder. Simple and tasty. I am making it often because I want my husband to get more protein and we are avoiding lunch meats.
Scripture Writing Reflections
My scripture writing continues to be a blessing. I am in Genesis where God says it is not good for man to be alone and that He will make a helper corresponding to him. That one word made me pause. Corresponding. So I looked deeper into the meaning. Not a servant. Not beneath. A companion who stands alongside. I love that. These small verses make me slow down and think, and that is why I keep writing Scripture by hand.
Contentment in This Season
As I look around at all these little projects, I realize something. These truly are my favorite years. I am home. I am learning. I am caring for my household. And I believe this is exactly where God designed me to be.
If you are in a similar season of life, I hope this encourages you. Try something new. Stay curious. Stay engaged. And most of all, enjoy the blessing of being home.
As always, I hope you have a wonderful day. God bless you.