Happy Thanksgiving to all of my lovely readers!
I hope you are surrounded by family and good food today. 🙂
One thing I love about blogging and social media, is that I get to have a glimpse into a lot of people’s lives that I never would have otherwise.
I’ve greatly enjoyed hearing different folks’ perspectives on the Thanksgiving season, as well as what they are thankful for.
So today, I want to share a list of things that I’m thankful for on my homestead- but IÂ want to dig a little deeper than the usual “I’m thankful for my family, and my house, and my job…”
So without further adieu, here is:
My List of Not-So-Obvious Homestead Blessings
1. I’m thankful for my compost pile. Because without it, I probably would still be ignorant to the joys of a homesteading life.
2. I’m thankful for my Homestead Drying Rack. It’s saved me countless dollars so far, and makes me smile everytime I’m outside hanging laundry on it.
3. I’m thankful for cloth diapers, because on the rare occasions that I have had to buy a pack of disposables, I almost have a panic attack (they are expensive!)
4. I’m thankful for a hubby that allows me to take photos of his meals (for the blog…) while he waits and they get cold.
5. I’m thankful for being able to free-range the chickens. It makes me so happy to watch them scratching around the house.
6. I’m thankful for blizzards. Because there is nothing quite like a cozy night cuddled up with a hot cup of tea while the wind is howling.
7. I’m thankful for my little house. It’s cozy, less to clean, and full of old-fashioned charm.
8. I’m thankful for garage sales & thrift stores. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to redecorate nearly my entire home with re-purposed pieces this summer.
9. I’m thankful for Prairie Baby, my little helper. I never could have imagined what joy a child could bring to our lives. And nothing makes me smile more than watching her ‘helping’ in the garden, kitchen, or barn.
10. I am thankful for Oakley, our milk cow. If we didn’t have her, I have NO idea where I would get raw milk for my family.
11. I’m thankful for manure. It makes my garden grow like crazy- Miracle Gro ain’t got nothin’ on it. 😉
12. I’m thankful for chores. Yeah, they can be a grind sometimes, but they provide structure to my day and are an excellent workout.
13. I’m thankful for our outbuildings. They aren’t new, and they aren’t shiny, but they are solid and have more than served their purpose.
14. I’m thankful for country neighbors who drive over to AI our cow on last minute’s notice.
15. I’m thankful for whole foods. Before discovering the concept of real food, I had little appreciation for a properly seasoned meal. Food brings so much joy to life.
16. I’m thankful for wind (and if you live in Wyoming, you KNOW that is a hard thing to say…). Since hubby is in the Wind Industry, it provides us with our income, as well as sustainable sources of power for nearby cities and towns.
17. I’m thankful for blogs. Through the wonders of the Internet, I’ve met some fabulous friends, learned how to cook real food, and discovered lost-long skills like rendering lard, making soap, and more.
18. I’m thankful for wide, open spaces. Yes, growing trees is one of my greatest struggles here on the homestead… But I still love the view of being able to see for miles and miles and miles…
19. I’m thankful for my horses. Nothing clears my mind like riding does. And, learning horsemanship has given me a foundation of knowledge as I parent Prairie Baby. Horses have been a part of my life for a very long time, and they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
20. And last, but not least, I’m thankful for YOU, my readers. You’ve challenged me, inspired me, encouraged me, and made me laugh over the last year. Thank you for making The Prairie Homestead a success. I look forward to many more years getting to know you all better.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, my dear readers- and eat lots of good food!
What are some of the unlikely blessings you are thankful for today?
Come back bright and early in the morning for some spectacular coupon codes! I’m won’t be going shopping tomorrow, but I will be sharing some wonderful online Black Friday specials. Don’t miss it!
I’m definately thankful for your blog. As a future homesteader, it’ been a pleasure reading, learning, and enjoying your lifestyle. Blessings to you and your family. Kathy
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy. A Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! 🙂
Oh, I LOVE your post today 🙂 🙂 it’s funny you mention drying racks, because I definitely plan on getting one. Although I think we’ve entered the rainy season here on the California coast 😉 🙂 Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Wow!
Where to start…not-so- obvious? That would mean things that we would sometimes take for granted if not careful…right?
I Thankful for…
the internet and getting to learn so much that I might otherwise not have ie: raising chickens, resourcefulness around the home (using what you have on hand,etc)
for… Fresh eggs on a regular basis.
For…Youtube without I’d only have an equivalent of an Associates degree…but because of it…I’m at the head of the class.
FOR… trees on our land that have died …and their many uses! firewood, pickets in our fence, cedar for the closets,
Like you… I’m thankful for the compost bin. It reduces our trash to be carried off, leaving us a little bit off the budget, returns to the ground to enrich our garden!
My clothes line. My Chambers Range, my crockpots…all 3 of them!
Gosh! there is so much.
Thanks for posting it. It gives us great food for thought…things we should think about more than one day a year.
Love your list Pat! It’s amazing how much there truly is when we take a moment to recognize it. 🙂
Hey I am not affiliated with this website I am about to link, but I really like your site and I wanted to give you a resource for growing food with trees in your area.
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/1246-food-forestry-how-it-works
Its about growing a food forest and its a great episode. I lived in Cheyenne for 2 years with the Air Force back in 2002&2003…I know about wind and cold from there. Keep up the good work.
Hey Rick! Thanks for the link–I’m definitely going to check it out! Nothing quite like that lovely WY wind, huh? 😉