What makes you...you? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes me, me. Sure, I wear a lot of hats and I’m not going to take time to list them. Most women I know where a lot of the same ones. Altogether, I reckon they make me, me. Sometimes I feel lost under them. Sometimes all the roles get to be all too much. But under all the hats is a woman who has her own set of values, goals, desires and dreams. Under all the hats is a woman who loves her God, her family, her freedoms and her place in this life she gets to call hers. I also reckon we all probably share a lot of tho ..read more

  I told my girl recently the best way to learn was by doing. I believe that, because I’ve lived it. ⁣ ⁣ If my 42 year-old self could go back to my 22⁣ year-old self, at first thought I’d tell her what she should do different. But then again, I wouldn’t. ⁣ ⁣ Because every move has led me to where I am today and I’m better for the lessons I’ve learned.⁣ ⁣ The only things I’d change are things I had no control over. I’d rather not have lived through hard losses, but I’m thankful for the years I had building memories and knowing love that made the voids so great. ⁣ ⁣ Instead of telling my y ..read more

Special thanks to the Propane Education and Research Council for sponsoring this post. Keep reading for ways propane brings our family and farm together and can do the same for yours! As our farm transitions from summer to fall, the days may get shorter on sunlight, but they tend to get longer with the demands of harvest. We will be finishing up our hay baling, rolling from silage cutting to corn picking and then on to combining soybeans. In the middle of all of that, our calving season will also begin. “Go-time” is an understatement this time of year around here. ? At the end of these long an ..read more

    “Do what you can, with all you have, wherever you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt⁣ ⁣ This quote speaks to me. I’ve mulled it over a lot. I’ve used it in talks. I’ve shared it with friends. As someone who for a long time felt lost and ill-equipped to follow dreams that seemed out of reach, unattainable and honestly just unseen for the fog of uncertainty of what they even were - this quote grounds me. It reminds me that if I had waited to be an “expert” before I dared to call myself a photographer...writer...speaker...vlogger...I’d still be waiting. ⁣ ⁣ First steps are always the harde ..read more

  Growing up I would often say “I wish...” and my mama would say I was going to wish my life away. Now I often say “Here’s hoping.” Either way, I know wishing and hoping aren’t always the best ways to live, but I can’t always help it. ?‍♀️ Truth is I don’t think wishing and hoping are all that bad when accompanied with some hard work (and a lot of faith.) Truth also is I’ve jumped off a lot of proverbial cliffs the past eight years, and sometimes I’ve landed harder than others, but I’ve always landed. And learned. And found enough strength to keep going and growing. Here’s hoping the s ..read more

One of my favorite treats growing up was my Granny Grace’s fried “apple jacks” which were basically fried apple hand pies. This recipe is my twist on this childhood favorite - but with sweet potatoes! I’ve included directions for baking and frying (but honestly if you have the slightest inclination, you’ve got to try these fried. And you might want to make two batches, because they disappear quickly.) If you want to really take them over the top, you could sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top when you take out of skillet and then serve warm with vanilla ice cream. WHOAH NELLIE. Be sure to chec ..read more

    It’s easy to feel small. Lost. Unimportant. I know. I’ve been there. That voice in your head that says your voice doesn’t matter. Your story isn’t “important” enough to share. Someone else is doing a better job than you could. So why bother? Because that’s a lie. That’s why. The thing is, we all have influence. We all have a story and I promise you nobody else has yours. Nobody else has your voice. Nobody else can share what you can share, because you’re the only you. And thank God He made us all uniquely us. How boring would the world be if we were all the same? Cliché maybe ..read more

    The days are getting longer, but I can’t help but think lately how the days are getting shorter. Maybe it’s my age. This time in life watching my kids grow too fast and time slip by even faster. Some days I let it get the best of me. Worrying the days we’ve had so far haven’t been spent the way they should have been. Worrying I haven’t done the right things to put them on the right track. I was talking with a friend recently struggling with motherhood and I told her she was right on track. That God was still in control and what the enemy means for bad, God can turn and use for g ..read more

When it comes to quick, nutritious (preferably delicious) mid-week meals for our family, I’m all in! This recipe uses something we have a lot of around here (BEEF) and a favorite vegetable that makes North Carolina proud - sweet potatoes! Did you know we are the leading state for producing this sweet gem? We are! Find out more about all the ways this orange super food are not only good for you, but more than good cooked in a million different ways by scrolling around over at NC Sweet Potatoes. BUT FIRST, watch and read below to see how to make this new family favorite and give it a try. Then ..read more

What’s better on a cold winter night than a hot bowl of creamy clam chowder? I’ll wait. ?This recipe is adapted from a recipe my Aunt Susan passed down and has always made for family get togethers over the holidays. For years I’ve been making it for get togethers with friends and it’s always a hit! People never fail to ask for the recipe and I’m usually a little nervous to give it away (because it’s so stinkin’ easy. And sometimes it’s nice to pretend I spent hours laboring over a hot stove even when I haven’t. ?) Trust me. It’s that good! PrintWith ImageWithout ImageEasy Clam Chowder Author ..read more