Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View

There are days when our slow, simple life gets swept up in a fast, loud, messy whirl of activity. The kind of day where your coffee goes cold before you can drink it, someone forgets to feed the dog, and the to-do list looks like it was written by a caffeinated squirrel. If this is your life, maybe it’s time to learn to reconnect, to relax and enjoy the life you have. Listen in and learn how to ge...

We’ve gotten so tangled up in our gadgets and gizmos that we don’t even realize how loud the world has become. It hums and buzzes and dings and beeps. Our calendars yell at us with reminders, our phones light up like fireflies in a jar, and we’ve got more tabs open—on our browsers and in our brains—than we know what to do with. So, what does it really mean to unplug ? Listen in and find out! Send...

There’s something about pie that just says home. Not the store-bought kind with the perfect crimped edges and the glossy labels—but the kind your mama or your granny used to make. The kind with a little flour on the countertop, maybe a thumbprint in the crust where someone pressed too hard, and the aroma that floats out of the oven and wraps around your soul like a quilt on a chilly morning. Liste...

There are sermons you hear on Sunday morning and ones whispered through your grandmother’s kitchen on a quiet afternoon. I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard some of my best sermons - not from a pulpit, but from a bowl of dough and a warm oven. And if there’s one food that’ll preach, it’s a good, old-fashioned yeast roll. Listen in to this week’s ‘sermon’ and discover where faith and yeast rolls...

When was the last time you had a good, old-fashioned baking day? Not just whipping up a quick banana bread while the laundry tumbles and the kids are hollering, but a real baking day. The kind where the windows fog up from the oven’s heat, the counters are covered in flour, and the radio hums a tune older than your favorite apron. Maybe it’s time to get back to a Baking Day Revival. It’s easy – ju...

There’s something about biscuits that just feels like home. Not the kind you pop from a can and pray won’t explode in your hand, or the ones that come in a plastic bag found in the freezer section of your grocery store. No, I’m talking about real biscuits. The kind Grandma made without ever glancing at a recipe card. Where measurements were eyeballed, flour dust danced in the morning light, and th...

Put on your aprons and head to the starting line with the humble, hearty, and sometimes hilariously unpredictable world of sourdough. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Sourdough? Really? Haven’t we seen enough mason jars of bubbling starter and loaves scored like fine artwork to last us a lifetime? Probably – and to be honest, mine never turn out that artistic. But stick with me, because we’re not...

When we think about homemaking, we often focus on the daily tasks - the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and everything else that’s required to manage our homes well. But when we step back and really look at the bigger picture, homemaking is about so much more. It’s about the atmosphere we create, the memories we build, and the lessons we pass down. Long after we are gone, our homes will continue to te...

Too many people think that homemaking isn’t really a profession, job, or worthwhile end goal. I mean, all it takes to run a home is to do a few loads of laundry, cook meals, and do a bit of tidying up, right? But we as homemakers know better. There’s more to homemaking than stirring a pot or pushing a vacuum. There’s budgeting, problem-solving, time management, conflict resolution, meal planning,...

To me, homemaking is one of the most uncelebrated jobs anyone can have. But it’s also the most important and necessary. We rarely consider what it takes to maintain a home. And today, we’re going to talk a bit more about how to keep it in balance and make our homes a harmonious place to live – not just for you, but for the entire family. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Be Someone's Hero The...

Homemaking is a lot like a diamond. It’s not just one thing - it’s a collection of skills, responsibilities, and heartwarming moments that come together to create something truly special. If you think about it, a diamond shines because of its many facets. Each one catches the light in a different way, reflecting its brilliance from every angle. And in the same way, homemakers have multiple facets—...

There’s something about the rhythmic motion of a needle pulling thread through fabric or the soft clickety-clack of knitting needles that just soothes the soul. In today’s fast-paced world, we often look for ways to slow down, to reconnect with ourselves and our roots, and handwork is a beautiful way to do just that. It’s practical, creative, and—let’s be honest—there’s just something deeply satis...

Take a step back in time—back before dollar bills, bank accounts, and credit cards dictated the way we live. Before we became so dependent on money, communities thrived on something far simpler: bartering and trading. It was the first economy, built not on numbers in a ledger but on relationships, trust, and the value of a hard day’s work. And the funny thing is, even though we’ve moved so far awa...

We all dream of having a garden like Grandma and Grandpa did.  Lush. Green. Loaded with fresh food.  Our memories take us back to visions of Grandma snapping beans on the porch.  And we ask ourselves, “How did they do it?” One way was with tools they couldn’t hold them in their hands.  Those tools were the moon and stars.  Listen in to learn more about this time-honored (but often questioned) way...

Remembering what you’ve gone through, the hardships and the successes, combined with the skills you learned from your parents and grandparents can help when you face obstacles today. You could think of these skills as ‘hand-me-downs’. Just as you cherish having Grandma’s apron, or grandpa’s toolbox, these skills are as beneficial in today’s life as they were yesterday.  Listen in and learn more ab...

We often think about necessities in terms of what we can touch and hold—things like food, water, shelter, and the supplies we might stockpile for the future.  While those are certainly important, what if I told you that the real necessities extend beyond the material? And that the key to living a truly fulfilling life—one that blends the best of prepping and simple living—is to recognize that your...

In this 4th podcast of the Simple Life meets Prepping series, we’ll dig into a topic that’s as important as it is often overlooked: finances. Now, before you roll your eyes and start thinking, “Oh great, here comes the talk about budgeting and saving for a rainy day,” stick with me for a moment. We’re not going to dive into complex spreadsheets or endless number crunching. Instead, I want to take...

Welcome back to the Porch! Grab yourself a few cookies and a cup of coffee and settle in for a bit. Today, we're talking about one of my favorite topics – the skills you need for both prepping and living a simple life. Tune in while we talk about 5 skills that will come in handy – from the basics to the more advanced.   Make Your Own Rope Jig Send us Fan Mail Support the show Be Someone'...

Last week, I introduced you to a new, sweet little town called Simply Prepping. For the rest of the month, we’re going to hang out there, and see how the townsfolk are able to bring prepping and living a simple life together, and have it blend smoothly. This week, it’s going to be all about one of the basic necessities of life: food. Listen in and find out how living a simple life and prepping can...

Imagine a life where your pantry holds jars of home-canned vegetables, your evenings are spent enjoying a quiet sunset with loved ones, and your heart is at ease knowing you’re ready for both today and tomorrow. That’s the harmony of living in a small town called Simply Prepping. Listen in and get directions on how to get to this sweet little place that sits at the intersection of Prepping and a S...

In this digital age, it’s easy to rely on our devices for entertainment. Streaming movies, scrolling through social media, or playing games seem to fill every spare moment. But before blue light was a thing, people found meaningful ways to spend their time—ways that nourished the soul, strengthened relationships, and created lasting memories. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite refreshment, and...

Finding your passion can sometimes feel elusive. Either you have too many ideas to choose from, or you can’t pinpoint a single one. It’s easy to get stuck in uncertainty, but discovering your passion doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on simplicity and breaking the process into manageable steps, you can uncover what truly makes your heart sing. Listen in to discover how to find your pass...

You may think some of Grandma’s time management ideas are old-fashioned, but no matter who you are or what you are doing, it’s inevitable that life will throw you a curve ball – or a broken phone. That’s when you need to sit down on the porch and talk to Grandma. She’ll tell you right quickly that her Plan A is perfect to adapt as your Plan B. Listen in to learn all about Grandma’s Plan A. It migh...

With Valentine’s Day on the 14th of February, it’s no wonder we think about love during this month. We love the exhilaration of a new romance, and the security and comfort of a long-term relationship. But no matter its age, love is a whirlwind of emotions. It’s thrilling, nerve-wracking, full of clarity one moment and questions the next.  And while you may be thinking this sounds like the ups and...

Have you ever been driving along the road and had to swerve to miss a pothole? Sometimes, traffic or timing will prevent you from going around it, and it’s deep enough to make your teeth rattle and wonder if it ripped the muffler off of your car.  The same thing can happen on your life’s journey. I don’t care what lifestyle you live, whether it’s slow and steady or one that is fast paced with no e...