Our time at MacDill FamCamp was coming to a close. We were able to accomplish a few important tasks while enjoying our escape from winter. Our 2022 Homestead garden got a head-start. Tomato, pepper and sugar snaps are just some of the seedlings that germinated then travelled from Florida back to North Carolina with us.…
The sun has set on 2021. It’s been a great year at the Ballard Homestead…a year marked by growth, grace, lots of learning and LOVE. God has continually provided for our EVERY need. Mark harvested a buck and a doe at the Homestead this deer season, providing quite a bit of delicious venison. We are…
Happy Birthday Mark! I love you and love doing this crazy, something new every day, never boring, life with you! May you have many more blessed, amazing trips around the sun 🥰 This past year has been full of new experiences! It’s hard to believe that just over 1 year ago North Carolina became our…
Once upon a time, a little baby girl named Leilalynn brought her parents and puppies to North Carolina all the way from Maryland. She let her daddy drive while she rode all snug in her car seat. Her mommy sat beside her and her puppies rode in back. They were going to visit her Grandpa…
After returning from Oklahoma there were a few events, appointments and tasks on our calendar. Not the least of these, was preserving some of our garden harvest. It was time to make pickles and relish and more pickles. The garden did not take a vacation. It was working overtime while we were away in Oklahoma.…
It’s more than a place on a map, “Home” is a place you can return to and people there are happy to see you. Home is also where the people, places and memories you love the most reside. Home has been many places for us throughout the course of our married life and one of…
There are all kinds of songs and sayings about time. If I could save time in a bottle. We had the time of our lives. So much to do, so little time. What we value most is what we spend most of our time doing and thinking about. Well, it’s about time…that we write this…
It has been 6 months since we officially transitioned from Nomads and Full-time RVers to North Carolina Homesteaders, and life on the Ballard Homestead continues to thrill and amaze us. So, “What is a Homesteader?” you may ask. You will find multiple definitions on-line but our definition of choice is: “a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It…
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV This St. Patty’s Day golden Daffodils and Dandelions are popping up everywhere. We didn’t plant them but we are enjoying their unique beauty. The previous homeowner planted daffodils at…