Disclaimer: Some of the products mentioned in this post I received for free - or at a discounted price - in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please proceed with care.
Welcome the survival diary for June 12, here is what is happening today on our homestead.
Two survival diaries in one week?
Yeah, I know.
But sometimes, life has a way of piling up, and I feel like I need to let it out.
To be honest, I don’t often share the daily details of my life—not because I don’t want to, but because I’ve gotten so used to handling things alone.
There’s something about survival, about just pushing forward, that becomes second nature after a while.
But just because I’m used to it doesn’t mean it doesn’t weigh on me.
Weekend Accomplishments – Making Progress, Even If It’s Slow
This past weekend was one of those nonstop, crazy-busy ones where Jeff and I were both around, but working separately.
There was just so much to do.
Jeff had to work Saturday, so I took the time to get out and run some errands.
By the time he got home, I was ready to tackle the yard.
I had hoped he’d get the big garden tilled, but that didn’t happen.
And you know what?
That’s okay.
He did a lot of weed eating, and I truly appreciated that.
Then, just when I thought we were making progress, his sister called.
There was a groundhog in the trap at their mom’s house, and he needed to go deal with it.
So off we went.
We didn’t get home until almost midnight.
We were exhausted, so we skipped supper and just crashed.
Sleepless Nights and the Struggle to Rest
Except, I didn’t actually sleep.
It was one of those nights—hot, sticky, uncomfortable.
The kind where you toss and turn, desperate for relief.
The heat clung to me, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t cool down enough to drift off.
Meanwhile, Jeff slept like a baby.
I envy that sometimes.
I don’t know what it’s like to lay down and just… rest.
By morning, I was running on fumes, but I still got up early.
There were things to do, and I wasn’t about to let exhaustion stop me.
Projects, Reviews, and a Touch of Nostalgia
One thing about my life—it’s never just one thing.
Sunday was spent bouncing between projects.
Jeff helped install the electric fireplace I got for review in the bedroom, and we moved a dresser outside so I could finish painting it and sealing the decoupage drawers.
There’s something deeply satisfying about taking something old and making it new again.
I also painted a small outdoor table and a metal chair that reminds me of the ones my grandparents had when I was a child.
Memories came flooding back—summers spent sitting in those chairs, watching the world move at its own slow, steady pace.
I even managed to stain some wood pieces Jeff will use to make crown molding for the living room.
That project has been a long time coming.
I plan to install LED strip lights inside the molding—another review item that I’m excited to try out.
And because I like to make things my own, I’ll be using my music controller instead of the standard one.
It’s the little details that make a house feel like home.
The Never-Ending Remodel – One Step at a Time
I’ve been working on this house since I bought it in August 2004.
That’s 20 years of slowly trying to make it into what I want—what I need.
And some days, it feels like I’m getting nowhere.
Every time I start making progress, something else comes up, something more urgent.
And I have to put my plans on hold.
But tonight, Jeff is finally tackling one of those long-forgotten projects—the bathroom.
He started it a while ago but had to stop because life, as always, got in the way.
Now, he’s back at it, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally have it finished.
Of course, I’ve got some review items waiting for this project, too.
Two bathroom sink faucets and an aromatherapy showerhead are on the way, all part of my endless cycle of finding ways to afford the things we need.
People don’t always realize how much work goes into this kind of life.
Reviews are stressful.
They take time and effort.
But they also help me get things we wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.
It’s a trade-off, and like everything else, it’s just part of the balancing act of survival.
Final Thoughts
Life doesn’t slow down, no matter how much I wish it would.
There are always things to do, projects waiting, and plans that get pushed back.
But I keep going.
I keep building, fixing, and making do with what I have.
Some days are hard.
Some nights stretch long into the morning hours.
But this is my life—messy, unpredictable, and filled with small victories that no one else may ever see.
And honestly?
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Preserving Herbs For Winter Use eCourse
Do you love fresh herbs but wonder if there is an easy way to preserve them for the winter?
Do you seek other ways to use herbs other than just as a seasoning on food?
There are so many ways to preserve herbs for winter use – from various methods of drying them to freezing them, but it doesn’t end there.
Some of the best ways to preserve herbs in right in the foods you would normally incorporate herbs into – pre-made seasonings, teas, butter or oil.
Then this is the course for you!
What You Will Learn In This Course:
Hang herbs to dry
Use a hanging herb dryer
Dry herbs on a window screen dryer
Dry herbs in a dehydrator
Dry herbs in an oven
Dry herbs in a microwave
Freeze herbs whole
Make herb ice cubes
Add fresh herbs to freezer meals
Add herbs to canned sauces
Preserve herbs in vinegar
Preserve herbs in oil
Preserve herbs in butter
Preserve herbs in salt or sugar
Make pre-made seasonings
Make herbal tea
Make herb jelly (plus tips on how to use these)
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