⭐ Welcome to A Slice of Texas!

I'm so glad you're here!

What began over 20 years ago as a way to stay connected with family and friends—long before Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram—has grown into a collection of recipes, gardening, Texas travel, preparedness, living history, sewing, and the everyday adventures of country life.

Unlike many blogs, this isn't a collection of perfectly styled photos or flawless projects. This is real life. You'll find the successes and the failures: gardens damaged by Texas heat, vegetables lost to pests, recipes that may not look magazine-worthy but have become family favorites, and practical solutions we've learned through years of trial and error.

Every article comes from firsthand experience living a simple homestead life in Texas. Whether it's growing food, preserving the harvest, preparing for emergencies, exploring Texas back roads, or learning pioneer skills, I share what has worked for our family—and sometimes what hasn't.

Over the years, this blog became a treasure chest of memories and practical knowledge. I've been organizing more than two decades of posts into easy-to-browse categories, making it simple to find recipes, gardening tips, travel destinations, preparedness ideas, and much more.

So grab a cup of coffee, look around, and make yourself at home. I hope you'll find ideas, inspiration, and perhaps a few stories that remind you of your own journey.

About Me

🧭 Explore the Blog

Browse by topic below to quickly find recipes, gardening tips, travel destinations, preparedness ideas, sewing projects, and more.

📚 My Books

Nonfiction

📖 Mom's Pioneer Living Handbook

Based on my firsthand experience working and living off-grid, this practical guide shares traditional skills that can help create a more self-reliant, prepared home—whether facing an emergency or simply making everyday life a little more resilient.

📖 Pyramids and the Promised Land

A mother-and-daughter travel memoir following an unforgettable journey through Egypt, Israel, and Jordan, filled with history, archaeology, adventure, and personal experiences.

📖 I Closed My Eyes and Went Anyway

A personal memoir about facing fear, taking chances, and discovering that some of life’s greatest experiences begin when we find the courage to move forward.

Fiction

📖 Miles Away

After an EMP brings down the power grid, Joanie is stranded in the Missouri Ozarks and must find a way to make the long journey home to her family in Texas.

📖 Miles Apart

Back home in Texas, Joanie’s son faces the realities of a prolonged grid-down emergency as his small town struggles with food, power, safety, and an uncertain future.

📖 Miles Ahead

As a changed society begins finding its new normal, Joanie continues her journey home while her son takes on new responsibilities and the family’s separate struggles finally begin coming together.

✍️ My Stories

These are true stories from my life that don't quite fit into the other categories. Some have been published in books such as Chicken Soup for the Soul and When Falls the Coliseum.

🌻 Follow Along

Join me on Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for more recipes, Texas travel, gardening, preparedness, homesteading, sewing, and behind-the-scenes adventures.

📘 Facebook – Occasional updates, photos, and behind-the-scenes moments

📺 YouTube – Videos, road trips, recipes, and activities

📌 Pinterest – Save recipes, gardening tips, preparedness ideas, and Texas inspiration