Growing up on a farm in Iowa, I have vivid memories of my hard-working dad. He was up every morning to milk the cow, then tending to the rest of the of the livestock, and finally… the rest of the chores in order of importance. This cycle repeated itself every day. It didn’t matter of […]
Life on the Homestead
5 Easy Steps to Using a Percolator
In this modern age of espresso machines, single pack coffee makers, and French presses, there is one device that I reach for over and over again. It doesn’t rely on steam pressure, special coffee packets or even a particular roast of coffee. In fact, I don’t think that this device will ever wear out since […]
Fireplace Ash: A Great Glass Cleaner
We have a wood burning fireplace. Now while that isn’t news, we do use it to help heat our house. And if you have any experience with wood fires, having one means that cleaning it is part of your regular house maintenance. Besides providing warmth, wood fires generate ash. A lot of ash. Our fireplace […]
How to Cook in a Bean Pot
It was the original crock pot (slow cooker). Imagine, preparing something savory that took hours to cook down into a luscious, creamy texture? What device could perform this task? Folks, it is the bean pot! As the name implies, bean pots were created to cook beans. In case you are not familiar with one; it […]
New Life for Old-Fashioned Cooking Measurements
Cookbooks. I love them. Each book tells its own story between the covers. Will I unlock the secrets to a smooth gravy? Figure how to make biscuits that are feather-light? Or perhaps read how to make a mayonnaise without it separating in the process? I collect them and read them like novels. In my opinion, […]
Storing and Drying Firewood for Winter
As someone who lives in a climate prone to cold weather and snow, one item comes to mind when staying warm is a priority. It’s firewood! Colorado winters just wouldn’t be the same without it. Yet some people pass on it because of the work or they just aren’t certain what to do. Freshly cut […]