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.

Wait, What? Was that a Bird?

October 27, 2024 I was sitting in the breakfast nook in the kitchen reading, when I heard a noise. I looked up and there was a sparrow on the kitchen floor. My first thought was, “What? Is that a bird?” My movement scared it and it flew into the picture window in the living room. […]

Limestone Shell Fossils

October 26, 2024 When I was picking up rocks out of the yard, I noticed most of the rocks were limestone. I was delighted to notice fossils in some of the rocks. The mussel fossils are pretty and easy to recognize. Based on my limited research of using Google Glass, this appears to be several […]

Figured Out How to Put Together Bruce’s Computer Desk

October 25, 2024 Yesterday, Bruce’s $50 computer desk arrived. He started to put it together while I was at the RV doing laundry. He figured out he had put something together wrong on the desk, so he decided to leave it and go hang out with me at the RV. Today, we went to the […]

Flower of the Day

October 25, 2024 As I was walking Nox this morning, I noticed the morning glories blooming.

A Two Egg Omelette for Bruce

October 24, 2024 Bruce enjoys an omelette for breakfast, so I decided to make him one on my new induction range. I cut up the ingredients for the omelette filling. Mushroom, jalapeño, scallion and goat cheese. I just did chopped what felt about right, but I did manage to chop too much mushroom. I put […]

Donkey and Sheep in Pasture Behind Us

October 24, 2024 On October 20th, Bruce spotted movement in the pasture behind our back pasture. We walked over to our back fence, carrying Nox. The donkey was very curious and so was Nox. I held Nox safely out of reach of the donkey, since the donkey wanted to sniff (and maybe nip) Nox. The […]

A Bucket of Nox

October 23, 2024 Nox wanted to go with me as I head outside to pick up rocks. Nox wanted to come with me. I couldn’t carry her safely with one hand while I carried the bucket. This is what resulted. I let Nox out of the bucket and picked up rocks. I continued to build […]

Cooking on the Flex Burner on my Induction Stove

October 22, 2024 Last night, I wanted to try out my flex burner on my new induction stove. The flex burner can hold different sized pans and if the flex burner is joined, a griddle can be used on it. First, I put down some parchment paper on the flex burner. Next, I carefully paced […]

It’s Leveling Time!

October 20, 2024 Nox came to visit this morning around sunrise. She is use to the blackout shades at the RV. The sunrise seems to wake her up at the house and she’s ready to join us. She was very happy to be allowed in bed with us this morning. Bruce and I went back […]

Positive News on Bruce’s Poison Ivy Rash

October 20, 2024 Since Bruce has been putting the extra strength Benadryl cream and Calamine lotion on his horrific poison ivy rash, it is starting to heal up. He is much less itchy and he can go much longer between putting on the cream and lotion. He is no longer in pain from the rash. […]