Hey there! I’m Autumn and I help homemakers find a sense of purpose and accomplishment in their at-home life by teaching traditional homemaking skills.
Here on this little blog o’ mine, I’ll take you back to the basics that women have practiced for centuries and show you how to nurture your home and family from the inside out. From keeping a natural home to whole food cooking, gardening, preserving and creating a home you can take pride in, I’m here to guide you to a meaningful, satisfying life at home!
A Bit About Me
I was literally born in a farmhouse, in the little bedroom just off the kitchen in my parent’s home. I loved every aspect of the farm chores and also, the activities that took place within the farmhouse: cooking, baking and preserving.
But like most farm kids, I left it all behind to attend college. Immediately after, I pursued a job that took me far away and kept me living in town where I worked an office job.
I often longed for country life but as a single working girl, I knew a country home wouldn’t be feasible for a long, long time.
A Total Health Collapse
While working a job in town, I began to experience some alarming health issues. Even after seeing doctors for months on end, no diagnosis was given. Things became worse. And worse. In my early 20’s, I had a total health collapse. I lost my job, my livelihood and nearly everything I had.
About a year later, I finally received a diagnosis of advanced Lyme disease, thanks to a tick bite I’d received on my parent’s farm several years earlier. And they didn’t try to fool me. My condition was permanent and I was advised to start making some serious lifestyle changes.
To say I was devastated would be an understatement. There was no hope of a complete recovering. In that time of grieving, 3 things came clear to me.
- I was going to have to learn how to slow down and live my life in new, healthier way.
- My soul longed for the peace and quiet of a country life.
- I did want to marry the good man I was dating and start keeping a home for both of us!
Creating a Whole New Life
It’s been a long journey, but I started embracing a whole new way of life. With a new focus and emphasis on quality instead of quantity, I learned to slow down, simplify and began working to create a healthier version of myself.
It was a very difficult time in my life. But everything began to look up when my man asked me to marry him. I said “yes!” with teary eyes and about 8 months later, we started life afresh…together.
And my new husband took me to a home in the countryside.
My Struggle With Becoming a Homemaker
While it all sounds lovely, I confess that after a while, I struggled with being at home full time. Oh, don’t get me wrong! It was an indescribable relief to be able to put down the burden of providing for myself. And I loved living in the country.
The issue was that I lacked a sense of purpose. Prior to getting sick, I had always thought I would work until I had children. But there I was, with my sickness holding me back from a job and from having children.
For the first year or two, I felt stuck and empty. But interestingly enough, it was my pursuit of a healthier life that helped me find my footing once again.
Finding a Sense of Purpose At Home
Because of my compromised immune system, I had to make healthy living a priority. Instead of just existing at home, I learned how to manage it efficiently and worked to create a simple, nourishing environment.
In effort to naturalize my home, I started handcrafting my own cleaners, soaps and body care products. I continually learned more about traditionally prepared food.
Cooking from scratch was important and when I realized that raising and consuming our own food improved my health, gardening and keeping poultry became a priority.
I learned about herbs and home remedies, even started canning and preserving our home grown food for winter eating!
My knowledge and abilities increased with every month’s passing. And one day, I realized I didn’t have those feelings of purposelessness anymore.
I had moved from being a consumer to a contributor. The old fashioned skills I had learned not only made a difference in our health, home and finances, but they gave me a sense of purpose as a homemaker.
That’s why I’m here in this little corner of the internet!
Helping You Find Your Feet
I want to help you find purpose in your at-home life by teaching traditional homemaking skills that will 1) build your confidence, 2) give you a place to contribute, 3) help you look after and provide for your family, 4) save money while creating a better life.
The reward is real, folks. This at-home life is a good one, if you’ll only embrace it.
Change doesn’t happen overnight. But I’d be willing to bet if you perused this little blog o’ mind, you’d find something, some skill that catches your eye and your interest.
And then I’d recommend you begin there!
All the best,
Autumn
