The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

November 15, 2021

No.583: Five Good Things // No.07

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1 // AN IMMUNITY BOOST FOR FALL & WINTER

I’ve been on a big immune system research kick the past few months. We already use and love Nuun electrolyte tablets, so I was excited to try their Immunity line. The blend includes vitamin C, elderberry extract, ginger powder, turmeric and echinacea – all good stuff! I really like it when I’m feeling stressed or starting to get a tickle in my throat. You can find these on their website, but they’re also available on Amazon.

2 // ANOTHER WAY TO TRACK WHAT I’M READING

A few months ago, I stumbled on a Youtube video called How I Organize My Reading! In that video, she mentioned Notion and even offered a free template to make a reading tracker like hers. I was intrigued and decided to give it a try. Fast forward to today and I LOVE it. Perfect for a numbers/statistics nerd like me.

3 // A QUICK AND EASY CHILI RECIPE

I have accumulated many different chili recipes over the years, some super simple and some more involved. This recipe is one of my easiest and has been our go-to lately. We use it for everything from chili dogs, poured over baked potatoes or eaten as is with big pans of cornbread.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. browned ground beef
15oz can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
15oz can black beans (drained and rinsed)
14.5oz tomato sauce
14.5oz crushed tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
homemade chili seasoning (recipe below)

CHILI SEASONING
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp onion powder

Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot. Heat on medium-high until the chili starts to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or longer.

4 // A NON-UNDERWIRE BRA THAT WORKS

Not to be too TMI, but I have a really hard time finding a great fitting brassiere. I purchased two of these after reading the glowing recommendation of another blogger and wow, I’m a huge fan. The fabric is so soft and comfortable! This is their website, but you can also order on Amazon. (P.S. Make sure the seller is actually Floatley – bad Chinese knockoffs are being sold under the same listing.)

5 // A NEW-TO-ME FRUGAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I recently found a new Youtube channel called Frugal Jo. From her description: “My videos are based on making a great life without spending a lot, making do with what you have, frugal living hints and tips, with a bit of cast iron cooking and vintage kitchenalia thrown in.” Right up my alley! I’m anxious to catch up on her past videos and learn some new tricks.

November 11, 2021

No.582: A List of November’s Frugal Accomplishments

November’s Frugal Accomplishments
Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without

+ We had a bag of potatoes that were just about to go bad, so I decided to practice a new skill and dehydrate them. The process was a little tedious, but my little kids helped peel and slice and spread on the trays. It was a family event! I ordered an attachment (affiliate link) for my Food Saver that seals mason jars so I can keep them in the pantry for a rainy day. (I found a recipe for scalloped potatoes that I printed to use them up later on.)

+ When we process our chickens, we keep the backs of the ones we cut up into breasts/thighs/wings. (We try to use everything!) I thawed one of the bags of backs and made a big batch of chicken broth. I kept some in the fridge and froze the rest for future soups and stews.

+ At the grocery store, I stocked up on vinegar and baking soda to make homemade cleaners.

+ I made puree from little pie pumpkins I bought at the store. I also roasted the seeds using this delicious tutorial. It’s so awesome to use every part of a vegetable.

+ I saved the seeds from one of the last peppers grown so I can grow them again next spring.

+ When we moved to the farmhouse four years ago, our cell phone reception was very spotty and unreliable so we got a land line. Thankfully, in the years since, the reception has greatly improved (not great, but waaay better than before) so we felt comfortable letting the land line go. That saves us $35 a month and bonus! We just received our final bill and it was actually a $13 credit. I’ll take it!

+ I amended our garden soil with ash from the fireplace, last year’s compost pile and leaves from around the property.

+ The biggest win of the month goes to my pigs. Those little guys eat all of our scraps. Between the pigs, the chickens and our compost pile, we have almost no food waste at this point. Huge!

November 8, 2021

No.581: Homemaking Notes on a Monday // Vol.16

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // I see fallen leaves everywhere! I’m thankful that this week looks to be mild because I’m hoping to work on my garden soil and I’m going to need those leaves for mulch. Further off on the property, my pigs are cozied up in their little house. My chickens will be out braving the chilly morning soon.

As I look around the house // I’m in the middle of a decluttering mission (again) and nothing is safe, ha! I recently heard the phrase “rage purge” and I had to laugh because it’s so true for me right now. Life has been really heavy and stressful lately and I’m taking all of those feelings out on my stuff.

On this week’s to-do list //

– research how to grow fodder
– buy more tree wraps
– start the book for book club
– celebrate the USMC birthday
– order Advent candles

Currently reading //

Fiction: The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor and Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
Nonfiction: Beneath the Tamarind Tree: A Story of Courage, Family, and the Lost Schoolgirls of Boko Haram by Isha Sesay
Religious: Reclaiming our Roman Catholic Birthright by Peter Kwasniewski

On the menu this week //
Monday: chili
Tuesday: creamy beef and shells, salad
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday: biscuit chicken pot pie
Friday: pinto beans and cornbread

November 2, 2021

No.580: Living Intentionally in November

I can’t believe we are entering November already. Our property has exploded in color (which my photos just cannot accurately convey…) and it’s so gorgeous. This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year! On the docket for this beautiful month:

Eating Seasonally

apples
pumpkins
sweet potatoes
squash
cranberries

Celebrating the Liturgical Year

The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. “The Church commemorates her faithful who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven.” (from The Saintmaker)

Solemnity of All Saints (1)
Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (2)
Leo the Great (10)
Martin (11)
Frances Xavier Cabrini (13)
Gertrude (16)
Solemnity of Christ the King (21)
Cecilia (22)
First Sunday of Advent (28)
Andrew (30)

Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency

Pull out any remaining plants and prep the garden beds for winter.
Get the chickens squared away for cold weather.
Keep working on the property fence.
Keep cutting firewood from felled trees.
Wrap apple trees to prevent sunscald.

Homemaking

Put flannel sheets on the beds.
Finish switching over the kids’ wardrobes and pack away for next year.
Tidy up the mudroom.
Clean the coffeemaker.

Christmas Preparation

Brainstorm stocking stuffers.
Start wrapping the presents I’ve already purchased.
Order Advent candles.
Pick a devotional to read for Advent.
Decide what to do about Christmas cards.

Family Fun

Celebrate two birthdays!
Celebrate some silly holidays:
- Book Lover’s Day (6)
- National Nacho Day (6)
- World Origami Day (11)
- Clean Your Refrigerator Day (15)
- Go For a Ride Day (22)
- French Toast Day (28)