Emma is a single lady in her 60s who shares what it is like to live on a rural property and become more self-sufficient.
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Sep 30, 2026 · 27:43
Do you have a household inventory? I confess that I do not, but I want to rectify that. It sounds like an overwhelming task. Hopefully, if I break it down into small, individual…
Sep 29, 2026 · 24:49
U-shaped single-piece scissors have been around since around 1500 BC. However, the Romans invented the current scissor design, consisting of 2 pieces connected by a pin or pivot…
Sep 28, 2026 · 25:49
This is a go-to for work lunch.
Sep 25, 2026 · 23:47
I took not one, not two, but THREE naps after work this week, and the results were amazing! Why We Sleep
Sep 24, 2026 · 27:47
A discussion of what the Greatest Generation did differently from what we do today. There are fewer than 0.2% of US WW2 veterans alive today. They were our only witnesses to the…
Sep 23, 2026 · 25:19
Nothing about our current situation shows any signs of becoming less unstable. Where should we be focusing our preps? Being able to generate at least some power would make a huge…
Sep 22, 2026 · 23:19
Spreadsheets are just good for financial use, but they're also a great way to track a variety of things. You can track time, workouts, and even household inventory.
Sep 22, 2026 · 28:38
Our most precious resource is time. This episode is a discussion of ways toy use it effectively. 168 Hours Off the Clock
Sep 18, 2026 · 19:20
The price and availability of gas and diesel will soon curtail not only our travel but also what we can purchase. There's actually a lot to be said for staying at home.
Sep 17, 2026 · 24:36
Yesterday was an interesting day... all the way from talking to coworkers who had no idea there was a problem with the global energy supply to getting attacked by the seat belt…
Sep 16, 2026 · 27:01
As a baby boomer, I was in college during the last energy crisis. It changed how we lived. We adapted and continued to function as humans. We'll do the same this time. We have…
Sep 15, 2026 · 24:52
Earbuds might sound like an odd choice for tool of the week, but I literally use them every day. They allow me to listen to content and learn new things while I'm going about my…
Sep 15, 2026 · 22:43
The hand quilting class went so well that they want to do another one. I didn't get as far with the actual stitching as I wanted to, but that would be due to my talking too much.…
Sep 13, 2026 · 25:33
This is a crazy time of the year in my work so podcasts have been few and fastest between. Hopefully, I'll be able to get more consistent. The hand quilting class that I'm…
Aug 27, 2026 · 26:57
Spoiler alert: THEY ARE WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aug 26, 2026 · 23:44
Different needles have different purposes. Here's a short explanation of which needle you should use for specific tasks.
Aug 26, 2026 · 19:33
Using a levain, basically a subset of a starter gives more control over the baking process and the taste of the bread. Making a Levain
Aug 21, 2026 · 23:02
It's Friday, it's hot, and I plan to stay in as much as possible this weekend. There's still plenty to do though.
Aug 21, 2026 · 43:20
Flossie shares her experiences during the Battle of Britain during WWII.
Aug 19, 2026 · 16:23
I'm still dealing with the aftermath of the fire ant/ hornet attack from Saturday. Basically, I'm walking around with an ice pack on my arm. This is a prep I don't think I've…
Aug 17, 2026 · 24:40
We had breakfast at church on Sunday, so I made Pigs in a Blanket with exactly two ingredients: Crescent Rolls and Eckridge Breakfast Sausages. The hardest is doing the math! In…
Aug 15, 2026 · 15:21
Catching up on what's going on at the property.
Aug 15, 2026 · 40:21
The headlines in 1938 sound eerily similar to today.
Aug 12, 2026 · 23:33
In this new world of AI and digital everything, it is still vital that we keep physical documents and create new ones ourselves through journaling or keeping a diary.
Aug 11, 2026 · 21:13
The humble Mason jar is more versatile than I can say! How do you use them?
Aug 7, 2026 · 23:14
I'm back from a whirlwind trip to Amarillo. I can't lie...I much prefer my area of Texas, even with the humidity.
Aug 3, 2026 · 25:29
I started out to talk about hand quilting, but it ended up being more generic. Here is a link to Esther Miller's hand quilting videos: Hand Quilting
Jul 31, 2026 · 21:05
Catching up on what's going on in the country.
Jul 28, 2026 · 24:16
Irrigation is a requirement this time of year in Texas. Hose splitters make that process easier and more efficient. They are not all created equal. Hose Splitter I Like
Jul 22, 2026 · 22:49
One of my sweet coworkers made a zippered pouch for my birthday last week. This is a great beginner project, and she did a fabulous job!
Jul 21, 2026 · 22:23
This is a very handy tool, particularly when preparing food for the freezer. Bag Holder
Jul 20, 2026 · 22:26
Not everything is the end of the world, but it can still be a problem. For example, our power outage last week was caused by a snake in the substation. In addition to the…
Jul 17, 2026 · 22:49
It's Friday, and I have an exciting weekend ahead! Well, exciting might be a little too strong a word. What's on tap? Gardening, chores, and quilting!
Jul 17, 2026 · 39:44
There are many options for marking a quilt for hand quilting. Here are some links: Hera Marker Sewline Pencil Chalk Sticky Lint Roller
Jul 13, 2026 · 23:51
Good morning from Texas! It's raining and the weather today will be cool. We will not see 90 degrees until Friday. We can always celebrate that!
Jul 10, 2026 · 21:32
On Fridays, we usually look ahead to the weekend and what I hope to get done!
Jul 8, 2026 · 23:37
Here is the recipe for Irish Potato Farls
Jul 7, 2026 · 22:58
Today, all tools and appliances are designed and created to save us from ourselves. In the 50's, they were designed to work. One of my favorite appliances/tools is my 1952 red…
Jul 6, 2026 · 22:12
I was off work for the last week, busy doing things on the property. Here's what I did on my staycation!
Jun 26, 2026 · 21:16
I've been gone most of this week on a work trip. Time to get stuff done this weekend. Plus, I'm planning a personal quilting retreat staycation!
Jun 19, 2026 · 33:53
This is the last episode of Allie's story and the last episode of the book, "Texas Tears, Texas Sunshine".
Jun 17, 2026 · 26:51
Making fruit butter, i.e., apple butter, is a great way to get started in canning and food preservation.
Jun 16, 2026 · 20:13
These are so handy and I really like how little space they take up when they are flattened.
Jun 16, 2026 · 22:47
Yes, I really did get this monstrosity of a quilt basted!
Jun 12, 2026 · 24:38
Quilt Progress: Top is done Backing is sewn together Plans for the Weekend: Starch & Iron back Baste quilt
Jun 10, 2026 · 23:12
Some of my earliest episodes are about learning to do sourdough. Here are some websites that I have found to be helpful: Farmhouse on Boone Amy Bakes Bread
Jun 10, 2026 · 26:13
Completing my current quilt project has necessitated using a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler. These really haven't been around that long. I was an adult when the rotary cutter for…
Jun 8, 2026 · 22:33
One issue in my life I have never solved in nearly 70 years is underestimating how much time it's going to take me to get something done.
May 29, 2026 · 24:27
It's Friday, and my big goal for the weekend is to get my Civil War BOM quilt basted and ready to take on the road next week to start quilting.
May 29, 2026 · 35:08
Allie and her family settle into life on the prairie.
May 27, 2026 · 21:56
We're starting a new series about things you can make yourself. Our first entry is mayonnaise .
May 26, 2026 · 27:37
The lowly steam iron may seem like an unlikely tool of the week, but I used mine a lot this weekend while working on my Civil War BOM quilt top. A good iron is essential for…
May 22, 2026 · 20:58
In short, it depends. Some produce is more cost-effective than others.
May 22, 2026 · 49:38
Allie is another West Texas pioneer. She and her husband built a homestead on the Llano Estacado.
May 19, 2026 · 25:10
I love hand sewing tools and this one should save my finger from endless pricks when hand quilting. Needleslide
May 18, 2026 · 26:59
A recap of the weekend. What's happening in the garden and in the world.
May 15, 2026 · 33:05
Typical Friday chat about the coming weekend, quilting plans, and more about the Women's Institute.
May 15, 2026 · 39:37
Mary and the cowboys complete the castle drive and end up in Coolidge, Kansas.
May 13, 2026 · 26:28
We can always learn more about how to navigate our current time in history by studying how people coped in challenging times in the past.
May 12, 2026 · 32:11
Cooking from scratch is probably the first skill that we think of when we talk about self-sufficiency. Clearly, if we can't feed ourselves, we're in trouble. A good set of…
May 11, 2026 · 28:10
It's hard to stay alert to threats, cyber and general, all the time. Now is not the time to relax.
May 8, 2026 · 26:30
We're catching up on garden progress and plans for the weekend.
May 8, 2026 · 30:28
Mary hits the Chisholm Trail with the cowboys and whole bunch of cattle.
May 6, 2026 · 19:56
One of the best ways to combat stress is to be grateful. There's even a website: Gratefulness.org
May 5, 2026 · 23:21
Canning time is right around the corner. The jar opener tool is so handy!
May 4, 2026 · 27:11
The Transcontinental Railroad was an engineering feat unprecedented at the time, and it had to be built by hand. May 10th is the 157th anniversary of its completion. In the 21st…
May 1, 2026 · 25:41
Working with our hands accomplishes many things, including important brain functions.
May 1, 2026 · 46:18
We're starting a new story today. Mary was one of the few women to participate in a cattle drive up the Chisholm Trail.
Apr 29, 2026 · 24:16
I love my treadle sewing machine, but no electricity means no built-in light. The Flexible Gooseneck Arm Work Lamp with Magnetic Mounting Base solves that problem! Also, I use a…
Apr 28, 2026 · 24:27
I had the opportunity over the weekend to take a younger coworker friend to her very first quilt show. I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did. It's always fun for those of us who…
Apr 28, 2026 · 33:38
We finish up Ella's story today with the death of her first husband and her 2nd marriage.
Apr 23, 2026 · 27:02
In the first part, I talked about specific examples of hard situations we may have in our lifetimes. In this part, I'll discuss ways to deal with the stress.
Apr 23, 2026 · 24:25
We all go through hard times. They may be personal or collective, but they're still stressful. We need to be prepared to deal with the stress.
Apr 21, 2026 · 20:40
As we age, it's important to make things easier to do. I added the planter boxes to the railing on my side porch to grow herbs, although you can grow anything in them. Making…
Apr 20, 2026 · 26:50
My work world is high-tech, and my personal world is very low-tech. It's an interesting dynamic. People in the high-tech world don't get low-tech, and the same goes for the…
Apr 3, 2026 · 32:44
Ella and her husband take up ranch life.
Apr 1, 2026 · 24:09
With all the chaos going on around us, what can we do right now?
Mar 31, 2026 · 29:57
Automating garden tasks is a game-changer. Last week, I highlighted irrigation timers. This week, I want to discuss a great hose option to go with the timer. Sprinkler Hose
Mar 30, 2026 · 33:53
All the disruptions in the world are having an adverse affect of the supply chain. No matter the cause, ordinary people end up bearing the consequences. This is a good time for…
Mar 28, 2026 · 24:18
We Baby Boomers remember the original energy crisis when gas was rationed based on your license plate.
Mar 26, 2026 · 34:37
Ella and her neighbors at the camp have an encounter with Comanches.
Mar 26, 2026 · 21:16
The blog, Prep School Daily, is a great resource for preparedness. Here are some articles detailing the benefits of gardening. Cognitive Benefits Psychological Benefits…
Mar 25, 2026 · 18:45
Automating garden tasks like watering is a huge help. Here is a link to an irrigation timer that can really help. Irrigation Timer
Mar 20, 2026 · 25:12
People and merch watching at Walmart can be very educational. You can learn a lot about the society in an area by what goes on at Walmart.
Mar 19, 2026 · 47:32
Ella, like Louvenia, married a Texas Ranger and lived in the Ranger camps. However, she and her husband went on to other adventures, including buffalo hunting!
Mar 19, 2026 · 24:49
Tuesday morning our low was 25° F! That's chilly for us in Winter, much less Spring! The ability to cover and protect new plants in the garden is important. Here's a link to the…
Mar 13, 2026 · 34:59
This is the time to learn gardening. It can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose. There is loads of free information on gardening online and available from your county…
Mar 13, 2026 · 42:47
We finish up Lou's adventures with the Texas Rangers.
Mar 11, 2026 · 27:42
Today is the 52nd anniversary of a day that fundamentally changed my life. I was 17 years old. "New normal" wasn't a thing then, but that's exactly what happened.
Mar 10, 2026 · 35:32
We will finish up talking about various textile skills that were handy during wartime. Tool of the Week: Needle Puller Aunt Becky
Mar 9, 2026 · 29:54
How did our ancestors produce textile during times when supply chains were interrupted by war?
Mar 6, 2026 · 24:57
Developing a can-do attitude and mindset is free, but is invaluable in challenging circumstances. Prepper Princess YouTube Channel
Mar 6, 2026 · 35:56
The Rangers go to Laredo and Louvenia goes to San Antonio. The soldiers at Fort McKavett were paid less than $15 per month which would be less than $500 in today's dollar. The…
Mar 4, 2026 · 25:22
This episode is all over the place, but mostly it's about how we are more likely to experience a personal SHTF than a societal one.
Mar 3, 2026 · 22:15
2 days without water due to the pressure switch on the well going out. The tool of the week, the battery-powered siphon pump, was a big help for transferring water from one…
Feb 27, 2026 · 26:30
We're starting Frugal Fridays with knitting and crocheting. There are many sources for yarn, and even needles and hooks. Look for supplies in garage sales, estate sales, and even…
Feb 26, 2026 · 38:05
I'm this episode, Louvenia takes her chances with the Indians and moves to Ranger camp at Menard.
Feb 25, 2026 · 32:00
Homesteading is hard work. What happens when we get old and can't do what we used to do?
Feb 23, 2026 · 24:10
One tool I use a lot is a vacuum sealer for food going in the freezer. It greatly increases the shelf life. Here's the one I currently use: Nesco Vacuum Sealer
Feb 23, 2026 · 26:25
I attended a funeral for a friend's mom this weekend. She was a strong Texas woman, respected and admired by all who knew her. What will people remember about us when we're gone?
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