It is amazing to me how adding music to a great poem can bring more life to it. This is the final in a series of four versions of the Night Before Christmas with a special song, performed live on Dec 3, 2017 in Cookeville, TN, by the Cookeville Mastersingers and the music wsa arranged by Simone.
Merry Christmas all!
Today may be the night before the night before Christmas for us here in the US, but our friends in Australia are already there. For them, it IS the night before Christmas. A friend from down under recorded this version of the poem for us with a few adjustments made for her local environment. Thank you AussieRo.
Join us for the second in a series for 2017 of poems read from throughout the world. This version of The Night Before Christmas comes from me, recording from Tennessee. It is followed by a performance of Jingle Bells, recorded live on December 3, 2017 in the Wanntenbarger Auditorium by the Cookeville Mastersingers and arranged by Don Large.
Join us in the series in the first in a series for 2017 of poems read from throughout the world. This version of The Night Before Christmas comes from our friend "Jaggy Little Thistle" who listens from Scotland. Thanks for the recording Jaggy!
Today’s show is the last one until next year! In this episode, we will take a look at 2017. The good, the bad, the sad. We will also cover holidays, navigating them, being with your family who you may love, may find frustrating, or may even find abusive. I’ll share what this time means to all of us here in the Holler Homestead. Share some recipes we will try this year. Marvel at the bounty that surrounds us, talk about bitcoin and two-factor authentication, share some cool thoughts from listeners. Today, the show is about you, about us, and about the learning from the past, letting it go, and making our future.
Direct Download
What mother nature is providing
Tales from the prepper pantry
Operation Independence
Frugal Feasting - the turkey tale:
Ok, time to talk about 2017. Remember what I was talking about this time last year?
How much change a year makes!
Steps along the way:
Holiday Recipes
IF YOU HAVE COINBASE - turn on two factor authentication
Looking forward to 2018
Thought for 2018 from a fried:
I'm walking into 2018 with a clear heart and mind...If you owe me, don't worry about it - you're welcome...If you wronged me, it's all good - lesson learned...If you're angry with me, you've won...If we aren't speaking, its cool (I love you and I wish you well)...If you feel I wronged you, I apologize...Life is too short for all the penned up anger, holding grudges and extra pain!...Here's to 2018!!!...Spread the positive forgiveness! Love to all.
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Make it a great week!
Song: Grandpas Song, Sauce
Today, we have a special episode with Kurt Dugger to discuss bitcoin and crypto currency basics. In Simple terms. This is a beginner's intro to bitcoin starting with "What it bitcoin anyway?"
Resources
Make it a great week!
Song: Learning What Leaving Is by Sauce
Today, we have a fun one cued up. We will review the pig processing workshop over at Cider Hollow Farm and I will describe for you some of the things that David Oswalt built that made the whole day go a bit easier, we will dive a bit further in the the independence fund assessment for the year and what that has meant for all of us here at the Holler Homestead, and I will walk give you a much-needed goat update!
What mother nature is providing
Tales from the prepper pantry
Operation Independence
YTD Independence fund update:
Pig Processing Workshop Walkthrough
Infrastructure that David installed over at Cider Hollow Farm
Upshot: Hope the charcuterie workshop is scheduled soon. Goat Update
Find coffee at LivingFreeInTennessee.com Make it a great week! Song: Burned by Sauce
Today, I want to go back to our core mission with this podcast and talk about building independence into your life. It all started with an article I read aimed at this new tax bill that congress is considering. It left me wondering when we all became so spineless and unable to take care of ourselves, quite frankly! We will examine the totally missed point of the author of the article, and learn from that for use in our own lives. Also today, I am bringing back an old segment while we can: What mother nature is providing for us.
Resources:
What mother nature is providing
Tales from the prepper pantry
Operation Independence
$100,000 income stories by NPR
https://www.npr.org/2017/12/03/567602293/what-living-on-100-000-a-year-looks-like
Two consistent things I saw that the author did not:
Took time to look at my 2017 and how much I actually earned. And the number is a little sad.
So why do I go on about this? Because the NPR article made it seem like it was not in the control of the people who earn 100k to change their lives - that it was something that needed to be fixed from outside. To which I call bullshit. Bull. Shit. Yes. Sometimes you are in a position where you need to earn more. And you need to find ways to do it. And yes, earning more helps you become more financially independent. But that can be done at 40k, 50k and 60k if you look for opportunities, keep control of your wild spending - and realize that you ARE in control.
So do me a favor? If you haven’t looked in a long time, take a little extra time this month to write it all out. Track where your money goes. Look at your tax burden, your cost of living where you are. And take control. Shed the things that are less important to your lifestyle. Do you really need that new car each year? Can you push down on the cell bill a bit? Is there a better health coverage plan for you? Did you ask the doctor to go down in price. Can you make room for a side hustle without spending more on the side hustle than you earn back from it? Look at your life and ask: How can I take control?
And if the answer is that you need a new job, well, go get it! If it is that you need to get the hell out of Seattle - figure out a way to do it with a soft landing. If you just need to stop the instant gratification for a bit - go for it - start practicing now. In December. When other people spend beyond their means to keep up with the joneses. Because when you find the end of your life, will you really care what kind of car you have?
With that my friends, I want to remind you that you can support the show while enjoying a luxurious, but not too pricey, cup of coffee. Just go to livingfreeintennessee.com and click on “Coffee.”
Make it a great week!
Song: Anonymous by Sauce
Today, I address a number of questions about turkey, stock, try a new coffee from Australia, talk about freedom, and much more as we head into a rural American winter. Holler Roast is growing and we are finding new pathways to standing on our own, without steady employer oversight. There is still a pig here who wandered onto the land. And, while the goats do not make an appearance in the podcast, I do say the word goat at least one time.
Also, I didn't burn the house down on Sunday, so ...
It’s Thanksgiving week and you all know what that means. We are in full holiday season mode. It’s time to buy the children of all your friends some cheap plastic toys, go into debt buying that heirloom ham, and run frantically around attending all the parties and gatherings, including a thing called “Friendsgiving” so that by January 3rd you are broke, sick, and surrounded by clutter. This is one of my favorite times of year because if you get it under control, there is so much fun to be had.
We will talk about that and all of the fun recipes we will be trying, along with a ridiculous list of things that have been going on since we last spoke in today’s show. Because, what is a Thanksgiving show without hunger pains in your stomach, as well as a bit of recipe inspiration.
References:
CiderHollow.com
Today we replay an important episode, "Why Build Resilience in Your Life," from the past, but there are a few new announcements.
Cider Hollow Pig Processing Event
Direct Download
Why Build Resilience in Your Life
Part of our lifestyle here on the homestead is about building resilience into our day to day activities. Because no matter what happens, we only know one thing: change is coming. This idea that you work one job your whole life and retire to play golf – and that this is the norm – was a nice dream, but it is really a fiction.
Four ways to get started:
Holler Homestead Business Progress
Center Hill Sun Update
And with that, remember, if like the show you can support us while drinking a marvelous cup of hand-roasted coffee – order here. Youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-PX-bHfC3AEOUPWgJ5d40g/playlists
Well my friends, next week it is a 50-50 chance that the podcast will be skipped – sorry about that. I will be down at Jack Spirko’s not getting enough sleep for five days, giving a presentation and learning a TON from other homesteaders. And in two weeks, we may have a very special interview lines up with one of our listeners who is this very moment one her brand new pice of land. That should be fun. Anyway – go out and make it a great week!
Song: Sauce, Tripped Out.
Today I want to talk with you about stress and more importantly letting it go because life is too precious to waste on worry and fussing. And this year has been a doozy of a year for stress in my personal life, as well as professionally. So many ups and downs, so many reasons to lose confidence, so many reasons to thank friends and family, and so much potential for new things to come.
Direct Download
Tales from the prepper pantry Sweet potatoes really should come out of the ground and be set aside to cure in the mud room. All squashes are dead and we just have radishes left in the the gardens The first venison infusion has arrived and we still have some from last year that we want to eat up We got a banana tree! It has to go in the tunnel I am starting to assess winter stores of animal food to ensure we have a month’s worth extra at a time Oysters are coming on and the watercress looks about ready to harvest There is still wild mint!
What we are preserving this week Loofah Preservation
Song: Calling Your Name by Sauce
Today, I will give you a big goaty update - loosely organized around five things that the goats have taught me about fencing. I also have an update on the caramel recipe I covered last week, and someone asked me a question about vanilla extract.
Remember folks, if you want to drop a comment or question to me, you can do so my emailing me at nicolesauce@gmail.com, or leave a comment over at livingfreeintennessee.com
Tales from the prepper pantry
What we are preserving this week
Caramel Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/24952/caramel-popcorn/
Vanilla Extract Ratio: 13 oz to 1 gallon booze
Today, we talk now about some homemade holiday gift ideas that you can start now so that they are fantastic by December! Also today, we have a coffee business update, and a special announcement!
Tales from the prepper pantry
What we are preserving this week
Stories from the Holler
Four Holiday Gift Ideas
Kahlua 1 liter vodka, everclear or other 100 proof clear liquor 2 vanilla beans (where to get them) 4 cups strongly brewed coffee - i mean really strong man 8 cups brown sugar
Homemade salve Comfrey, mint Coconut oil (where to get) Crockpot for 5 days Mix in beeswax (where to get) Pour into small jelly jars and make pretty labels
Tea Mixes Roobius Mint Beebalm Teaball
Knitted or crocheted washcloths a la Mamma Sauce: Pattern
Holler Roast Coffee Update
We have a new brew!
Holiday gift packaging
New website launches tomorrow: HollerRoast.com
Patreon Link: patreon.com/livingfreeinTN
Make it a Great Week!
Song: Strange Child by Sauce Word
Lots of things happened in the last week, including my first time in a hurricane, more goat hijinks, and success in preserving food. But even more interesting is a new interview with Dori. Remember Dori? She reached out earlier this year because she had purchased a dreamy sounding property in Missouri complete with deteriorating cabins and a home built onto the side of a cliff and into a cave! We had a fun interview right after her first weekend at the property and talked about her plans for the land. Dori will be on after our regular segments to give us an update on how things have developed in the last six months.
Support us on Patreon. Tales from the prepper pantry
What we are preserving this week
Garden Economics Update Stories from the Holler
Dori is a real go-getter and her family found what looked like it would be a great retirement property with the added benefit of being fun to visit now. 6 months ago, we heard from Dori after her first weekend on the property, talked a bit about priorities and infrastructure.
Dori's First Interview with Living Free in Tennessee: New Land, New Adventure
Song: Special, by Sauce
As we rutch into fall season, and to prepare you for the coming night where the screen between the world of the dead and the world of the living, I thought we could talk about the most important of homesteading plants to foster on your land: Garlic. Garlic is one of those cure-all vegetable with its antiseptic properties, bug deterring scent, sauce-flavor-boosting characteristics, and it even keeps vampires at bay!
Resources
Tales from the prepper pantry
What we are preserving this week
Make it a great week! Song: Feed My Hunger by Sauce
Today we will take a look at what fall means on the homestead - or rather falling into winter. The sprint has started. Everything is ripe. Animals must have winter-ready food, water and shelter. Firewood must be cut and stored. Harvest festivals are in full swing. And this year, things are about a month early in Tennessee by my reckoning. I already have chestnuts. For those of you who do not live on a homestead, fall feels more busy than spring because each week, the weather gets a little colder. And the last two weeks have been zingers at the Holler Homestead, especially with a new coffee business this year, the need to sell more ads for the Center Hill Sun, and my being a bit behind on canning this year.
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
What we are preserving this week
Resources
Stories
As you can see, sometimes things get pretty busy when you are living seasonally, working side hustles as your main gig, and generally living life. So it’s head down, priorities straight, one thing at a time - one thing that is until everything falls apart - and remember to have fun. I hope you are all having a great slide into the fall season too.
Make it a great week!
Song: Every Way by Sauce
Today, I run through stories and do a debrief after having spent a week helping with logistics (from Tennessee) for bringing aid to victims of Hurricane Harvey. This was recorded from my car using the Zello app because with all the time needed to help with on the ground logistics, the only time I could carve out to record was in the car, driving someone to the airport.
Some things we talk about:
Resources
Song: 9/11 by Sauce
Today, we will talk about one way you can help people in Houston immediately, as well as 2 things you should be prepared for in your own life in case a weather disaster ever strikes your home.
So, before we jump into our regular segments, I want to share with you what I plan to do to help Texas recover from the terrible damage it received from Hurricane Harvey. Some people who I personally know started an organization with a very simple mission right after Hurricane Katrina. I well remember wishing I could just rent a bus, drive down to New Orleans, and start picking people up and getting them the hell out after that Hurricane, don’t you? All the while, we heard about how long it was taking FEMA to get their resources to that part of the country. Heck. Walmart was able to move water in faster than the feds and George Bush took one heck of a beating over what seemed like a slow response to we the citizens, and seemed like a fast response to bureaucrats in Washington. What followed was horrifying.
Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I don’t believe that the government is better at doing things than people. And while I am open to discussions on this topic over the campfire - we don’t have time for that right now. The developing crisis in Houston is something that can benefit from small efforts by individuals right now - not tomorrow - while the big, bulky machine that comes under the heading of “disaster relief” gets itself booted up, deployed, and providing aid.
And it just so happens that there is a small organization looking for volunteers, supplies, and financial support so that they can send small teams into Texas armed with water, food, diapers, wet wipes, and cell phone charging stations. And the best part about the organization? 100% of all financial donations go to the supplies that are being distributed, and gas to get the supplies to Texas, and the delivery drivers back out for more supplies. It’s called Citizens Assisting Citizens. They are a 501(c)3. And it just so happens that one of my local Tennessee friends, Jake Robinson, is heading out tomorrow or Wednesday to begin delivering supplies.
Why am I supporting this charity over others? It’s because they already have people there RIGHT NOW giving out water, food, and helping folks get in touch with their loved ones. They are basically serving as the bridge between the current crisis, and the time when other aid becomes possible -- all while local officials are focusing on getting people off roofs, into shelters and rescued and alive. These guys and gals are the first wave of help the some people will see between being physically safe, and physically comfortable. So here is an interview I did with Jake right before the show.
Link to Citizens Assisting Citizens: http://www.cacteam.com/
Zello Channel: https://zello.com/cacteam
Article about CAC from Jack Spirko: http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/cac-teams-a-call-out-to-help-hurricane-refugees-in-texas
Eating Seasonally and Tales from the Prepper Pantry
This is where we share what we are eating as it comes to us - and talk about ways to use what we store.
Watercress
Cucumber Salad - the recipe of the week -
Tomatoes gave a second wave, as did green beans
Apples! Yay!
This week’s Holler Stew
Have reorganized canned goods for the fall
What we are preserving this week
Where we share what we are preserving for winter storage
Apple Sauce
Lemon balm
Green beans
Keeping an eye out for mushrooms
Garden Economics project
Where I share what the garden is bringing our way.
Winter is Coming 17
Where we share what we are doing in the Holler to prepare for winter.
Goat hay - now it is cheap - in a few months it will be expensive
Rearranging the prepper pantry for winter storage
Beginning putting growing beds to rest for the spring
Must repair the damn greenhouse
2 ways to Prepare In Advance of a Disaster: A minimalist’s list.
Bug In
Food
Do you have enough and some to share
How are you going to cook and serve it?
Nice to have: spirits can raise spirits when times are hard
Water
Stored
Filtration
Heating and Cooling
What if there is no power and it is too cold or hot? What is your plan
Propane/kerosene/wood
The Creek or a generator and window as in one room
Animals
Food for the animals
Care/aid for the animals
Nice to have: Extras for other people’s animals
First Aid
Wounds, illnesses, medicines
Hygene!
Reference book
Communications
Cell phone
Land line
Radio
Plan
Ability to Charge
Fuel
Gas tanks full
Extra credit: Some storage of fuel
Bug Out
Prepack
Mobile supplies packed and ready to go that cover: food, water, communications, shelter, first aid.
Plans for leaving
Where you will go
How you will get there
Multiple ways to get there and places to go
Meet up locations
Transportation
Access to money
How you will communicate with your loved ones or way points
Today, we talk through a collection of stories from the Eclipse adventure that illustrate how sometimes spontaneous order is the best way to organize. Or said another way: How no organization at all can be the best organization if the folks involved have the same shared goal.
Today, I am joined by Whitney and John Athayde to tell us about a project they built together: HomesteadOji.com. This colorful set of emojis for iPhone tell the day to day story of a homesteader, from "Fox in my coop" to "goat kicked over the milk bucket."
Eating Seasonally and Tales from the Prepper Pantry
This is where we share what we are eating as it comes to us - and talk about ways to use what we store.
What we are preserving this week
Where we share what we are preserving for winter storage
Garden Economics project
Resources:
Next week we are at ground 0 here in the Holler for the Solar Eclipse, so the show will not be recorded until Tuesday. Why? Because I am going to don my eclipse glasses and check out this once in a lifetime experience!
Make it a great week.
Song: Strange Child
Today, I will share with you some ideas on what you can put in your fall garden - and share the fall mix of seeds that we are hoping will grow a nice fall garden here at the Holler Homestead. Along with this I will share the garden update - Because it is time to get that planted here in Tennessee. Indeed, I think I am a bit late, but usually these things work themselves out. Also today, we will hear from Samantha the Savings Ninja with a tip for all of us. And I will share with you a few recipes we are working on this week.
Eating Seasonally and Tales from the Prepper Pantry
This is where we share what we are eating as it comes to us - and talk about ways to use what we store.
What we are preserving this week
Where we share what we are preserving for winter storage
Eight things to plant in August. Song: Feed My Hunger by Sauce
In today's episode, we replay a timely episode from last year. Because squash happens. And because Nicole Sauce is traveling.
Make it a great week!
The Dog Days of summer are upon us and winter is coming. Are you ready for it? Today, we will talk about what you should can do now to prepare for the winter, whether you are in the city or on a homestead like we are. Next week’s show will be a replay of a former episode because I will be out of town for my grandmother’s funeral.
Become a Show Patron! patreon.com/livingfreeinTN
Eating Seasonally and Tales from the Prepper Pantry
What we are preserving this week Where we share what we are preserving for winter storage
Handy summer checklist for winter preparation in the summer:
Make a list of what you should be ready for
Audit your list - and take care of the things now that are better done when it is light out, warm out, and important. Here is my list:
Audit the food stored - pantry and freezers - because I am most likely to get iced in for a week or so
Use up the old and plan to replenish the new
The can of sauerkraut in the back
Animal feed and bedding
Medications
Maintenance on winter technology
Flashlights
Batteries
Backup heaters
Winter equipment like snow shovels, blowers, etc
Anti-freeze set up for animal’s water
Do the chores now that are rough in a snow storm
Get your firewood going and stored
Water filters in the pump house and general pipe maintenance
Gutter check, paint, decks, etc
Clean out the clutter
Make it so you can easily access the important things
Winter seems so far away right now, but it is coming faster than you think. A little care now will help your transition into the cold, dark part of the year. And in Winter is when we catch our breath on the Homestead. Make it a great week!
Song: Grandpa's Song by Sauce
You’re in for a good show today, it’s a variety show! That’s right, today I will roll through feedback and questions sent in by you, our listeners!
Become a Show Patron! patreon.com/livingfreeinTN
Eating Seasonally and Tales from the Prepper Pantry This is where we share what we are eating as it comes to us - and talk about ways to use what we store.
What we are preserving this week Where we share what we are preserving for winter storage
Wow! Last week’s podcast seemed to strike a nerve with many of you - You gave me lots of follow up questions and feedback on it. I suppose that’s because most of us just want something that is ours to foster, to grow and to learn from. And with all the extra daylight right now it is a perfect time to jump in.
Make it a great week!
Song: Dr Feeley Dr Skinner, Sauce