It wasn't until around the year 2000 that the concrete jungle started to get on my last nerve. The constant noise, the anger, the crime—it all just became too much. I started to wonder what it would be like to live in the country again, to get back to my roots. I grew up in a tiny town, and my grandparents and aunts taught me how to cook from scratch—no boxed macaroni and cheese allowed. My health, however, had other plans. Despite my best efforts, I just wasn't feeling my best.

The Big Shift and the Lone Star Tick

So, my husband and I decided it was time for a change. A big change. We’re going as close to off-grid as we can possibly get. Don't worry, we're not total heathens—we still love our indoor plumbing. The main reason for this massive life overhaul? Our health. We truly believe that commercial food, with all its additives and preservatives, is a big part of the problem. (Though I'll be the first to admit, we can't blame it for the Lone Star tick. That little guy is in a league of its own.)

Our health struggles are the real deal. My husband is a type 1 diabetic who's had two organ transplants. As for me, I've battled chronic back pain and severe migraines since I was nine. While I'm not going to get into my whole health story—that's a book for another time—I will say that in my 40s, a slew of autoimmune diseases took over my life. The migraines, chronic pain, and IBS were bad enough, but in January 2023, everything changed with a diagnosis of Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). Suddenly, all my health mysteries were solved, and food took on a whole new meaning.

We are all in on this journey to get our health back. We’re growing our own food and raising our own animals, not as a cure-all, but as a way to be healthier and more in control. No, this isn't going to magically cure my husband's diabetes, but it will make his life—and mine—so much better.

Come Join the Chaos

We’re inviting you to join us on this wild ride. We'll be sharing recipes, cooking from our homestead, and probably a few misadventures along the way. We're also starting a YouTube channel where we'll be sharing even more of our journey. It would be awesome if you'd follow along. You can find us at Simple Life Homestead on YouTube and Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the blog and the occasional bit of country chaos.

You have an awesome day now, you hear?

Just an FYI

All of our wood products are lovingly hand-cut, handmade, and hand-painted. Because of the care we put into each piece, they take a few days to create upon request. Please note that each item may have slight variations in thickness, size, and shape, making each one uniquely yours.

For ornaments, the wood piece with the image on it may not be the exact same shape or look as the one shown in the photo. Some of our other items (non-wood) are purchased pre-made, but are then customized by us. Because each product is made on demand, there may be slight differences in the final product, including fabrics, lace, ribbons, etc.