February welcomed us with a proper snow and even some sunshine, both which have been sparse around here lately. If it’s going to be cold, we ought to have all the snow, ice, and wind possible in my opinion. Next week the forecasted highs are only in the teens. I sure hope that brings us more snow!

I am looking forward to spring, but more so hoping that winter will slow down a bit. I feel like I have hardly had time to tackle all the winter projects I planned, and not even to mention my audacious to-read pile that’s growing by the day. The snow and cold gives me sort of permission to continue enjoying winter. I know come March I will have renewed energy for the garden, so for now my focus is on on home and business projects at a slower pace. I’ve ordered seeds and have begun thinking about what our gardens will grow this year, but I’m hoping to hold out at least one more month before I have to think about starting seeds indoors and preparing the beds. To be honest, I don’t think I’d want to be a gardener if it weren’t for winter. I enjoy the reprieve.

I will admit, I did get my hands dirty planting some pre-chilled bulbs in pots and crocks around the house. After Christmas was packed up and put away, the house has been so bare and desperately needs some life. By March we will have beautiful blooms to tide us over til spring. But aside from that, I am content to spend my time in books, playing card games, or doing crafts that only the colder months seem to lend time for. I thought I’d share what I’ve been up to and how the rest of my winter will be spent here on our homestead.

I’ve shared our homesteading story before, and mentioned in my most recent podcast episode, the frustration of facing another growing season in our limited space. However, even though we aren’t quite where we want to be in our homesteading journey, there is still plenty to put our hand to. So while I dream of the day there are chickens to feed, eggs to collect, and cows to milk even on the coldest of winter mornings, well, we aren’t there yet, and that’s okay. We’re finding other ways to be fruitful with our hands.

The parable in Luke 16 shows us that those that are faithful in little, are faithful in much. Elisabeth Elliot once said “A quiet heart is content with what God gives. It is enough. All is grace.”

And surely so, it is enough. More than enough. And with a quiet heart, I plod on!

Garden

Plant bulbs indoors

Plant microgreens in the cold frame

Go through seeds

Order seeds

Plan what seeds to start inside and when

Fertilize garden beds with Theo’s poop (my bunny!)

Apothecary

Make a big batch of body butter

Make soap

Make salves for the shop

Make chapsticks for the shop

Make lotion bars for the shop

Homemaking

Declutter dining room bookshelves

Declutter clothes

Organize attic

Crafting

Make bird seed suets

Plaid curtains for the kitchen

Curtains for upstairs hallway and dining room

Make pot holders

Knit a shawl

Pantry

Organize pantry

Figure out a place to store empty mason jars

March Azure order and pickup

Strain fire cider and store

Shopkeeping

Begin working on spring and summer recipe ebook

Work on sourdough ebook

Apothecary release

Sew aprons

Make more cat toys

“she looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

— proverbs 31:27

My mom and I are both homesteading and business partners, so I’m not tackling all of this by myself! I do a lot of the “pantrying” as I like to call it— keeping things organized, well stocked, and cooking what we have into yummy meals, while my mom is enjoying diving into apothecary things like making soap, salves for the shop, and other herbal goodies. I’m sewing aprons while she’s sewing cat toys. Willing hands truly do make the work light. Some of these to-do’s shared here have already been crossed off, others are still to be done. I think this will hold us through til spring, wouldn’t ya say?

What are you up to this winter? What’s been getting you through? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Until then…

Stay warm,

Kaetlyn