Hey y’all,

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before on here, but I took a little break from my sourdough journey. Life got busy, and since I had plenty of dehydrated starter, I figured I’d pause and pick it back up when I was ready. Well, let me tell you—my starter did not come to play. I mixed it with a little water last night, just to ease back in, and BAM! This thick girl was ready for action. Like, fully alive and kicking. I mean, I won’t rush it—I’ll still feed it for a couple of days—but let’s just say I was thoroughly impressed with myself.

Not to brag (okay, maybe a little), but I have three different starters: one with all-purpose flour, one with rye, and one with oat flour for the oat girlies. And now I’m wondering… should I start selling it? Maybe that’s a little too ambitious, but with the quality of this stuff, it’s tempting. Any of y’all into sourdough? Are you in your homesteader era?

Speaking of homesteading, as spring creeps in, I’m getting all kinds of excited about gardening again. My husband is supposed to be redoing my garden (hint, hint, if you’re reading this, babe), and I can’t wait to grow veggies and herbs again. Growing food takes me back to summers with my grandparents in Iowa. As kids, my sister and I saw the garden as “work,” but now, as an adult, I appreciate the magic of picking a fresh strawberry or snapping a green bean straight from the plant. The stuff in grocery stores just doesn’t compare.

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with shows like The Lost Kitchen and Floret on Magnolia Network. They make me feel so inspired—like I need to get my hands in the dirt, make homemade meals, and just slow down. It reminds me how much value there is in simple, intentional living. Do you guys feel that way too? I love seeing our generation bring back these old-school skills.

Now, on a much heavier note—our pack is one less. We had to say goodbye to our sweet Babygirl, and while my heart is broken, I’m relieved she’s finally at peace. Watching her transition was incredibly hard, and my husband had to make a call he never wanted to make. Keep him in your thoughts—he’s taking this one especially hard. And please send love to the rest of our crew. They don’t fully understand what’s happened yet, but I know they’ll feel the loss soon.

In lighter news, our spring break plans are shaping up. Teeny girl isn’t exactly thrilled (typical teenager), but I have a feeling she’ll end up having fun once we get going. A little break from school will do her good.

So that’s where we’re at—back to baking, looking forward to spring, and holding onto the good memories while we navigate the hard ones. Thanks for being here with us. If you’re in your homemaking era, tell me—what are you growing, baking, or creating right now? Let’s chat in the comments.

Until next time,
Karissa