As this year comes to an end and a new year begins, I wanted to take a brief moment to reflect. This past summer, I started this blog as a way to share the joy I was finding in exploring canning and cooking with different fruits, vegetables, and meats. And, I have found joy in sharing these experiences with you all.

My posts have become significantly less frequent, in large part because reality has exerted its influence on my time. With my child active in his high school’s theatre department, and my own job teaching band, I’ve filled my evenings with rehearsals, pep band games, and concerts through the holiday season. I’ve arrived home with enough energy to prepare my coffee for the following day, ensure my pets are fed and cared for, and then collapse into bed. I appreciate your patience with me as I haven’t been cooking or experimenting hardly at all, and have definitely not been documenting it when I have been able to cook or experiment.

I’m looking forward to a return to a calmer pace as sports seasons wrap up, and I am anxiously awaiting the return of sunshine. I am hoping to begin to delve into some of the gaming foods at least once a week through the rest of the school year. The process of experimenting and sharing has been beneficial to my own mental health, helping me lean more fully into the parts of myself that find comfort in creating and sharing love, whether in food or crafted items.

I am also hoping to be able to share my gardening adventures through this blog as I explore more fiscally feasible ways to feed myself and my child healthy, delicious, and nourishing food. I am hoping to grow enough berries for my canning plans, and to be able to grow root vegetables and squashes to save and eat later. I look forward to what 2026 will bring, and hope you will continue to come along on this journey with me.

From my home to yours, Happy Holidays, and Prosperous New Year!