Wait. This is retirement?

Wait. This is retirement? Homestead life, sourdough, gardening, slower mornings & discovering what retirement is really like. Marine veteran (Wendy) and Navy veteran (Ray)

Well…apparently this is what happens when I finally put pen to paper and calculate how much food we actually need to pre...
07/22/2026

Well…apparently this is what happens when I finally put pen to paper and calculate how much food we actually need to preserve until next canning season. 😳😂

Also—we got our sweet corn! 🎉🌽

Our farm stand lets you stuff as many ears as possible into one plastic bag. And when I say “in the bag,” apparently only about two inches of each ear actually needs to be inside it. Nearly the whole ear can be sticking out—and the workers encourage the overstuffing! Naturally, we took that assignment very seriously. 😂

Today’s haul also included more beets, more carrots, more green beans, more peaches and plenty of tomatoes and peppers.

I’m still waiting for more of my own cucumbers and tomatoes to come on, but in the meantime…I definitely have my work cut out for me.

Do you preserve enough to last until the next season, or do you usually discover halfway through winter that you should have done more?

I bought a sleep mask that says, “Namast’ay in bed.”Honestly…retirement has never felt so spiritually aligned. 😂🤣Some mo...
07/22/2026

I bought a sleep mask that says, “Namast’ay in bed.”

Honestly…retirement has never felt so spiritually aligned. 😂🤣

Some mornings I’m ready to conquer the garden, bake bread and can everything in sight.

Other mornings?
Namast’ay right here. 😴

I’m still pretty new to growing squash and pumpkins, so today I learned something new. 🐝I noticed this little visitor on...
07/21/2026

I’m still pretty new to growing squash and pumpkins, so today I learned something new. 🐝

I noticed this little visitor on one of my squash flowers and honestly wasn’t sure what I was looking at. It didn’t have the familiar yellow-and-black coloring I expected, so I had to look it up.

It appears to be a female squash bee—or a similar native bee—collecting pollen and helping pollinate the flower. Female squash bees have dark faces, and the bright yellow on her back leg is actually pollen she has gathered.

I’m definitely learning as I grow, so I thought I’d share in case someone else spots one and wonders too. Apparently, this is one garden guest we’re happy to see. 😊

Have you noticed these in your squash or pumpkin flowers?

PS I have my first bicolor pear gourd from seed🎉🎉

Totally random tip—and yes, this is my very glamorous hair-oiling look. 😂Since being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroidi...
07/21/2026

Totally random tip—and yes, this is my very glamorous hair-oiling look. 😂

Since being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, I’ve been paying much more attention to my hair and scalp health.

About twice a month, I massage hair oil into my scalp using this little scalp massager. I’ve been doing this for well over a year, and while I can’t say exactly what has made the difference, I genuinely feel like my hair looks a little thicker and I’m not shedding nearly as much as I was before.

Fair warning: your hair will be very oily afterward! I usually leave the oil on for at least two hours before washing it out—sometimes longer when I’m staying home.

I rotate between these two oils, but the scalp massage may honestly be my favorite part. It feels wonderful and has become a little self-care routine for me.

At some point, I may even try making my own hair oil blend—because apparently retirement has turned me into someone who wants to make everything from scratch. 😂

Has anyone else tried scalp oiling or massage? Have you noticed a difference?

Taco Tuesday starts a little earlier in the day around here! 🌮🍳Homemade tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, extra-cris...
07/21/2026

Taco Tuesday starts a little earlier in the day around here! 🌮🍳

Homemade tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, extra-crispy bacon, sour cream, avocado, cheese, and onion and tomato straight from the garden.

Yes…THIS is Tuesday! 😋🙌

“My Favorite of Grandma’s” series… 💕These little cuties are definitely among my favorites. I only have two, but that som...
07/21/2026

“My Favorite of Grandma’s” series… 💕

These little cuties are definitely among my favorites. I only have two, but that somehow makes them feel even more special. 🥰

What is your favorite hand-me-down from your grandma?

We do have a few bad habits! What movie would you watch again and again? Give us some new suggestions🫶
07/21/2026

We do have a few bad habits! What movie would you watch again and again? Give us some new suggestions🫶

Mondays with Mom🫶it’s a good day!!
07/20/2026

Mondays with Mom🫶it’s a good day!!

Pork chops on the grill quickly turned into pork chops with homemade scalloped potatoes in the oven, thanks to the linge...
07/19/2026

Pork chops on the grill quickly turned into pork chops with homemade scalloped potatoes in the oven, thanks to the lingering wildfire smoke outside.

And when your main course turns into a baked meal, your dessert—pie—turns into no-bake cookies. 😂 You’ve got to stay flexible!

There are so many different ways to make scalloped potatoes. Tonight, I browned onions in butter, added a little garlic and seasoning, then made a creamy sauce with milk and flour before layering it all with the potatoes. This is one of our favorite cool-weather meals, even if we’re having it a little early this year.

Ray is having sweet peas, and I’m opening a jar of my pressure-canned green beans so I can sample them before putting the rest away.

Dinner plans changed, but I’m certainly not complaining. 🥔🐷🍪

People ask if we see our neighbors…Ma’am, I need to zoom in just to see my own house. 😂🤣
07/19/2026

People ask if we see our neighbors…
Ma’am, I need to zoom in just to see my own house. 😂🤣

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