Madison is an artist living on a deer farm in the Canterbury hills of New Zealand. Raising two capable & adorable farm kids.
She is an amazing artist specializing in wildlife and countryside art.
Finding the time for my creative practice completely changed motherhood for me. After my first Olivia I dove straight into full time mothering, and slowly let my time for my artwork fade. The dishes just had to be done, those floors were filthy they needed attention and let’s not forget the weeds that are forever taking over my gardens. And I loved (and still do) spending our days with Sam on the farm. What I didn’t realize was I was missing a huge part of me, I had tucked it away till another time.
It was only when I was very pregnant with my son Harry. That something clicked and I threw myself back at my drawing board and spent every moment there when Olivia was either napping or with her dad on the farm. And I can’t tell you how good it felt. When Harry was a newborn I continued on with my little cherub In the front sling, I was so tired but I needed that creative burst to help me feel human.
What I’m hoping is that if you read and could understand the difference having a creative outlet was for me that maybe you could try and find those small moments in your day and fill them with creativity. In any way that could be drawing like myself or flower gardens, beautiful bread scoring, pottery, music anything that brings excitement into your day.
To me there is nothing more incredible than to make something from nothing, a blank piece of paper into a work of art or sourdough from flour and water. Whatever that thing is I promise if you prioritize it for yourself I will pay off in how you feel as an individual. And that amazing energy you get from that will just flourish and cary on through your day. There will always be jobs that need doing, but will they make you feel the same way?
If you want to be self-sufficient and feed your family healthy hearty meals from scratch, you’ve got to
start milling at home. I know, I know, it sounds complicated and al little bit scary, right? But it doesn’t
have to be!
I am not well traveled. I’ve never flown on a plane. I’ve never been north of Ohio or west of Texas.I’m not as well traveled as some may say one should be, but this piece of land has housed all of my fondest memories…
Do you ever worry that your kids will miss out because of this homesteading lifestyle choice? This fear crosses my mind time to time. I’m sure many, if not most of you, could agree that it can be extremely difficult to get extended time away from the homestead for more than a full day, especially in the busy summer months when daily chores demand our regular attention…
“In some Native languages the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us’ … the land knows you, even when you are lost.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass…
Babies, Business, and Bumper Crops: How I am Learning to Homestead with Babies in Tow
Have you ever had one of those days? You know the days when you are cleaning the baby’s diaper, milking the cow, scooping poop in the barn, wiping noses, and cleaning more poop off of kids’ shoes…
Hey there, Homesteading Mama’s!
I’m Rachel from @frontier_homesteading. My husband Ryan, three children and I have been homesteading for about 10 years now, first in Wyoming and now in Alaska.
We currently have milk goats, pack goats, sheep, a pig, a cow, chickens, rabbits, bees and a dog. Seasonally, we also have more pigs, meat chickens and turkeys….
Stained glass windows date back to the 7th century. With the earliest known reference dating
from 675 AD when workmen were imported from France to Britain to Glaze the windows of a
monastery…
Homesteading and growing food is not the easy way out of this life, i would say it is the hard way as there’s nothing convenient about it. It’s a lifestyle, a life change not a trend or hobby. Well, that’s my opinion any way…
Awakino Station is a child’s dream. There is the river to splash in, tussock covered hills to explore, animals to raise and a bustling kitchen with a baking tin full of something yummy to eat…
