Author: Julia

I am a retired software solutions architect. I have been married to my husband, Bruce, for over forty years. We went full-time RVing for 3.5 years and saw much of the United States. After deciding to stop RVing, we bought a ranch house halfway up a hill on five acres. After Bruce and I talked about names for our five acres, we settled on Blackberry Homestead as a homage to the wild blackberries on the hill. We are working on creating our homestead. I love cooking and enjoy sharing recipes. I am also an artist, and I’ll share my current projects. Gardening and reading are my favorite hobbies.

One Day’s Sunset

August 30, 2026 On August 19, I picked more cucumbers. So many cucumbers. The sunset was beautiful!

Tadpoles, Chainsawing, and Butterflies

August 29, 2026 On August 18, I felt well enough to walk around Blackberry Homestead. Bruce had been talking about frog eggs and then tadpoles in the blue half-barrel. Once the tadpoles hatched, Bruce mentioned the green layer on the half barrel was gone. The tadpoles had eaten it. In the picture, you can see […]

Still Recovering, Branch Down, and a Frog

August 23, 2026 From August 14 to 16, I was still having digestive trouble. I had no appetite. Bruce wanted me to try to drink some broth. Since I knew staying hydrated was important, I drank the broth. The broth zipped right through! I didn’t feel like doing anything. On August 17, I went to […]

Close Encounter of the Skunk Kind

August 23, 2026 On August 14, Bruce went outside for the nightly check for tomato hornworms. He heard a rustling noise and shined his flashlight toward the noise. The flashlight revealed a skunk in one of the lower raised bed. Bruce was very, very quiet as he moved back several yards. He did not want […]

Sad Tomatoes

August 23, 2026 On August 13, I happened to catch the sunrise through the dew on the window. I stepped out the back door to get a clearer picture. you can see a light fog in the background. After the dew dried, I went to harvest the garden. The okra is beautiful. I love the […]

And Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, Heeere’s Bruce!

August 16, 2026 In Bruce’s own words and pictures, the removal of the pig pen fence from the start of the project to today. Where the entry gate was, but the right-hand gate post was broken off before we bought the place. This small paddock includes what we think is an 8-place pig feeder, and […]

Finally Finished Weeding the Blueberry Ring

August 16, 2026 On August 12, I got up early and took a look at the vegetable garden. I noticed two butterflies in the garden. This butterfly was on a pepper plant. I often see it flitting about. It seems to be the only one right now. I know butterflies can stay in the same […]

Resuming Work on Blueberry Ring

August 15, 2026 On August 11, I resumed weeding the blueberry ring. I made good progress on getting towards the other end. While I was weeding, Bruce found another use for the tractor. Wait until you see what he did! I finally remembered to take pictures of the blueberry ring. The end was in sight, […]

Mulching Made Easier Using Tractor

August 14, 2026 Updated on August 15, 2026 On August 10, I got up and put the collapsed cardboard boxes into the wagon. I put a knife in my pocket to cut the cardboard. It was the start of mulching time. I cut and put the cardboard around the newly planted pawpaw and around the […]

Cucumber and Mint Water

This recipe is a modification of the Cucumber Lime Mocktail from the Vibrant Plate by Hofer Slovenia. While the recipe normally serves 4 with the addition of carbonated water or mineral water, Bruce drinks it straight and loves it. He does not want it diluted. If served without carbonated water, it serves 2. Serves 4