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Today is the annual BIG REVEAL of my word of the year. Time to redouble efforts in a new direction for LFTN, for Nicole Sauce and for the community! We will also cover our usual Monday segments.

Sponsor 1: John Pugliano and the Wealthsteading Podcast, InvestableWealth.com

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com

Last new Podcast of the year, Night Before Christmas, Motivation week

Livestream Schedule

Tuesday – not sure if we will have a livestream

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • New Freezer – Luckily no losses, Also YoLink
  • Bone Broth Rotation and what we do with the bones
  • Putting the home back together and the pantry reset

Weekly Shopping Report: None today

Frugality Tip from Margo

It’s holiday baking time!!!!! But not everyone has time, or the funds to make all the cookies. Host a cookie exchange, maybe do it with a potluck. Dinner and a variety of cookies for the price of one batch and one dish. Everyone brings a batch of cookies, and goes home with a variety. Super fun and saves you time and money. 

Happy baking y’all.

~Margo

Operation Independence: Coffee Season, an Update

Main topic of the Show: Word of the Year

Today is the last new show of the year and as I wander off into a time of reflection, rejuvenation, and investment in my family relationships, it is also time to revel my word of the year.

What the word of the year is and why they are helpful

How it integrates with my3things

Past ones

  • Grow
  • Balance
  • Focus
  • Breakthrough

Quick summary of what I learned.

What I thought it would be DL

Words I considered.

HOW I GOT TO MY WORD

What I hope it will bring me

Sharper results

More of less

Steadier hand, communications, balance

Purge

The word:

When to start and wrap up,  you can, you can, you can

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 

One legend explaining the origin of pirogi claims that St. Hyacinth brought the dumpling from Kiev during a time of famine in the thirteenth century. So when a neighbor suggested pirogi for the Holiday table, it wasn’t a matter of “if” but of what to fill them with.

We hope you’ll take this recipe into your household and add comments to tell us all what fillings you’ve developed and loved.

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Today we talk about projects on the homestead, sheep, coyotes, squirrels, homegrown meals and more.

Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast (InvestableWealth.com)

Sponsor 2: Agorist Tax Advice (AgoristTaxAdvice.vcom/LFTN)

Winter is here — brr

Branding talk

Long term picture is coming together, repairing things all the way

Forage

  • Field Hay
  • Jerusalem Artichoke\
  • Ferns – looking into what kind (Sheep are eating it)
  • Watercress got beaten back

Livestock

  • Duck Jail has finally happened
  • Sheep need minerals – staying in again
  • Sheep eating more than expected which is great for clearing
  • Hawk Stories
  • Rabbits – Poop is adding Up
  • LGDS, Guns, and Coyotes
  • Time to process more roosters

Grow

  • Planning to get the indoor lettuce grow operation going in January
  • Still need to plant garlic

Harvest Meals

  • Taco Salad
  • Easy Pork Loin
  • Workshop Leftover Lamb Stew With Radishes

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • Secret Santa
  • Holler Neighbors and DAS PROJECT
  • Squirrel Issue at the Duplex and tapping the network
  • Dan starting a welding/repair business with a friend

Infrastructure

  • Floor Update
  • One more stretch of hard fencing

Finances

  • Cow update likely for the next show
  • Spending $$ on woodworking tools to work on building things from her (Furniture, etc)

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

Advisory Board

Resources

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Today, as promised, we will talk about what is changing as we move into next year, the why, as well as our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event: LFTN Spring Workshop – April 25-27, 2024

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com

Sponsor 2: EMPShield.com Coupon Code LFTN

Livestream Schedule

Tuesday Live, 12:30PM Central, Nicole Sauce and John Willis welcome Porterhouse!

Friday Homestead Happenings, 9:30am Central

Sunday: Monetizing Sunshine – Join us for an INTERVENTION with Willow to help her monetize what she does best – spreading Sunshine. I will be joined by a mastermind panel: Toolman tim Cook, Brian Aleksivich, Kerry Brown and 

TORNADO UPDATE

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • We fit 2.5 cows in the freezer by playing freezer tetris – yolink
  • Pulled a PILE OF MEAT OUT for this week to stay on plan despite the ongoing construction chaos
  • Crockpot roast: onion, garlic, cumin, 1 jar tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Add carrots 4 hours before finish or if you fumble that ball, precook them and add them in

Weekly Shopping Report

12/11/2023

We took our usual trip on Saturday. It was a rather gloomy day, but not truly yucky, and we stayed dry. Traffic was light.
Dollar Tree was first. The coolers (food and drink) are all in decent shape, as though perhaps an effort is being made. The store has become a LOT busier over the past few weeks, and three cashiers were open. Amidst the junk, there are some good finds here. Feel free to listen to Jinne on her “Homestead Corner” YouTube channel; she often does budget Dollar Tree prepper hauls.
Home Depot was second. FYI, they will shake your own paint cans for you, and I don’t think there’s a charge. The tag was missing in the store, but looking online it looks like a 2x4x8 has gone up 7 cents to $3.25.
Aldi was last. We found everything we wanted, but the chocolate is dwindling again. We got the last small piece of Atlantic Salmon, but the cashier said they were expecting a truck. There were some price adjustments. Staple prices were: milk: $3.02, eggs: $1.66, heavy cream: $4.69, OJ: $3.29, butter: $2.99 (-), bacon: $4.25, potatoes: $3.99 (+), sugar: $3.09, four: $1.99, 80% ground beef: $4.19.
A gallon of untainted regular gasoline is $3.699.
I made a quick second trip to Walgreen’s on Sunday to restock vitamin C; somehow our last bottle was nearly empty. FYI, they typically have BOGO deals on vitamins and supplements, or buy one at full price, and the second is half price. The C was BOGO, so we now have a couple years’ worth, for around $21. There were holes here and there for certain brands or sizes of various vitamins and supplements, but overall the selection looked complete.

Frugality Tip: none this week

Operation Independence

Poverty Mindset, Project Fatigue, and the color of my floor

Main topic of the Show: 2024 Changes for LFTN

No – I am not pregnant LOL

Remember my epiphany from this year’s word: Breakthrough? Do Less

Healthier Nicole: fitness, family, food, time, Home

With that in mind and having tapped into some of the data for the podcast, your comments and interactions on social media, email requests and more, I realized that 2024 has to bring some changes so here they are:

LFTN, the podcast and show

  1. Tuesday Lives will Become a Stand Alone Podcast
  2. 3 shows a week on a schedule, Monday 2pm, Wednesday 2pm, Friday. 9:30am
  3. Tactical will join me weekly – sometimes one or the other will be solo
  4. Focus and topics: building freedom as an agorist, homesteading life and how to, community, creating success
  5. Weekly Mail and marketing/clerical help
  6. Increase Playfulness – or rather return to it, New shorts series
  7. Clarity on affiliate promotions

THE HOMESTEAD

Refocusing on the things we love most

Building the event center where Tactical lives

Acquiring more land

Collaboration with Dawn Gorham, Homegrown Cooking: Cooking from snout to tail, video based, membership, etc.

SRF and LFTN Spring Workshop (EVENT PLANNER?)

Fewer speaking engagements – why

THE BOOK – an update

Project Accelerators and Mastermind

Holler Roast Coffee – to the moon! (SELL IT?)

Membership

Membership schedule for the year – 12 webinars, not monthly

New value ads, youtube subscriptions

Rental properties (SELL IT?)

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 


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Today we talk about meat, meat finances, balancing all the things and the phrase “when we catch up on large projects on the homestead

Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com

Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com

Forage

  • Same as last week: tubers, roots, and winter hardy things

A word on SOCIAL

Livestock

  • Everyone has stayed in so far, sheep wise with the high volume of field hay
  • Working them through 3-4 times
  • Rabbits are doing well
  • THE HAWK

Grow

  • Confession about garlic

Harvest Meals

  • Lamb stew in the crock pot
  • Chinese and Mexican food harvested from a local restaurant

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • Trying to keep up while doing this project has gotten particularly hard
  • Christmas Concert this weekend

Infrastructure

  • Need a new fence charger and not sure which to get

Finances

  • Whole cow was $1900 (which is $158 a month)

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

Advisory Board

Resources

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Today we talk about reducing drama in your life, Gen X language and childhoods, The Clown Circus, and energy generation with Jack Spirko and John Willis.

Featured Event: Freedom Cell Event in Medina Ohio: https://www.yorkmeadowfarm.com/medina-freedom-cell-network-december-2023 

Sponsor 1: InvestableWealth.com  

Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com

Show Resources

Special Operations Equipment

Living Free in Tennessee

The Survival Podcast

Main content of the show

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

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Today, we dive more deeply into why having a home that works for you is so important to overall success.

Featured Event: Dec 9, Mastersingers Christmas Concert, Cookeville TN: https://mastersingersinc.com/product/christmas/

Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com

Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com

Livestream Schedule

Tuesday, 9:30 Live with Jack Spirko and John Willis

Friday, 9:30 Live Homestead Happenings

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • 10 pound meatloaf
  • Awesome venison shin stew LOL
  • Waiting on plan despite the chaos went well but took work (The stir fry bail out)
  • Getting set for more cold AND to move back into my home this week
  • There will be a post Christmas Pantry Audit
  • 2 incoming cows this week and the ice cream freezer

Weekly Shopping Report: None posted

Frugality Tip: None Sent

Operation Independence

  • 90% of my focus is on Holler Roast Right Now
  • A work on podcast schedule: Dec 19 is the last show for 2023 aside from the Night Before Christmas series

Main topic of the Show: 

Usually when I talk about this topic, I am explaining how to transform your home from something that costs you money into something that brings YOU money – or at least pays for itself. A cornerstone of homesteading is finding ways to create value from your home no matter if you have 20 acres and a flock of sheep or if you live on a small urban lot or apartment, there are ways to glean value from your home.

But today, we have a different perspective. Remember how I said it is the many small choices you make each day that matter much more than the ones that seem huge?

>Roaster story vs. spending an extra hour each day communicating about what Holler Roast has to offer for the holidays

>Building a root cellar vs making your meal plan each day or week BEFORE you are hungry

Which brings me to today’s true purpose: Your home provides a solid foundation for your success when done right, and it can hinder your progress if done poorly. #funfacts

Look at power couples: often one addresses the domestic foundation either through personal attention or outsourcing so that the other is freed to focus on financial success – but both are successful at what they do.

Each day, we need some things to happen and this list can be different for everyone, but there are themes:

  1. Proper sleep and activity
  2. Nutritious food and hydration
  3. Clean clothing, grooming, etc
  4. Systems for finding information, managing things that happen

And for the solopreneur: Uninterrupted time to accomplish important tasks (I would say this is necessary for everyone, really) which means nOt hAvinG tO Put oUt fYres aLL tHe thYme.)

Why I am thinking about this topic: 

  • I had things set pretty much

Why is this a thing?

  • CEO Story: Leaving on trips to close deals – the extreme example
  • Home chef for Scott – the intermediate example
  • Your domestic situation vastly impacts your day. It sets wether you are tired, healthy, put together, worried and so much more – so while it may seem counter intuitive, puttin attention to your home and how it supports your priorities is rarely discussed but very important.

SOE Land: the brilliance of the Employee Lunch

Thoughts on a MESSY vs a CLEANY and how to transform your home into something that works for you (Choose standards you are OK with vs museum standards – or embrace your museumness) 

Things you can do to address this – my initial list while I put my life back together

  • Follow One Course Until Successful
    • Email
    • Bill and filing system
    • Laundry mountain
    • The one messy room
    • Backlog balance
    • Remember to eat on plan
    • Etc
  • Journaling to identify what is most important – it may be personal habits, it may be a spatial issue
  • You make space for what is important to you – are you making space for success or failure
  • Phone a friend

>Land on something that includes OMG THE CLUTTER

Membership Plug

Make it a great week!

Song:

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

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Today we talk about asking for help on the homestead, escaping sheep, much needed rain and more.

Featured event: Dec 3 gathering at Kerry Brown’s, 12pm-5pm near Knoxville, 

Please RSVP to Kerry: strongrootsresources@gmail.com

Sponsor 1: Discountmylarbags.com

Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com: https://bit.ly/3hDFWpa 

Forage

  • Returned to underground things
  • Wild game

Livestock

  • LGD Story
  • Fence charger issue and discussions of pasture improvement
  • Eggless birds and nutrition

Harvest Meals

  • Final round of deer shin stew
  • Bought commercial food to eat on plan through the next three days

Heating with wood 

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • ADHD Meltdown and Tracy (doubling)

Finances

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

Advisory Board

Resources

 


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Today we have an interview with AJ Harrison from Preparing4Prosperity all about propane and its many applications, safety, and more.

Featured Event: Dec 6-10, Live Free Academy Online Health Summit (1st 2 days are FREE): https://livefree.academy/op/exit-and-build-health-summit/?ref=183

AJ’s BIO

AJ’s life journey began with learning bullet casting and knife making in his youth. At 17, he explored Africa on a six-month safari, a transformative experience. He later became a volunteer firefighter, dedicating two decades to community service while diversifying his career in construction and plumbing. Capitalizing on a business opportunity, AJ acquired a catering company during Covid, focusing on sustainable practices and using homegrown ingredients. He also embraced homesteading, turning a small land into a self-sufficient property. AJ shares his wide-ranging insights and experiences through his podcast, inspiring others in pursuits like homesteading, family life, and entrepreneurial ventures.

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

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Join me for our annual brainstorm for homegrown gift ideas for the holiday – because allowing gift giving season to bring you down is no good. Better is to choose some things you can hand-make and give to a community of others who appreciate the care over the commercialism.

Featured Event: Dec 6-10, Live Free Academy Online Health Summit (1st 2 days are FREE)

Sponsor 1: Paul Wheaton and Permise.com – Stocking Stuffer for the Gardeners in Your Life: https://gardener-gift.com?f=442 (2 for $50, 12 for $140, 100 for $805)

Sponsor 2: StrongRootsReources.com: https://bit.ly/42UPCgJ 

Livestream Schedule

Monday, 2pm: Homegrown Gift Ideas

Tuesday, 12:30pm: Tuesday Live with Toolman Tim Cook and John Willis

Wednesday, 1pm: Interview with AJ Harrison, Using Propane to Be Off Grid

Friday, 9:30am: Homestead Happenings

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • Meal planning strategy, no kitchen: Premade stews from freezer, a chicken, pulled pork
  • Incoming cows – not sure when!
  • Outfitting the camper: Crockpot cutting board, and sioux vide
  • Keeping resupply to a minimum through the renovation

Weekly Shopping Report

Black Friday deals going on.

Dollar Tree was first. Although we found parking easily enough, they were busy enough to have three lines open, which is rare, and I saw at least one person stocking shelves. One of the food coolers in the back appears to have croaked, as it was empty (“66” on its display), but all the others were 3/4 full. The drink coolers were in good shape too, except for one making a bad rattling noise intermittently as it tried to start.

Home Depot was next. Ryobi has a new line of USB-charged tools, and we picked up a rotating brush on the spur of the moment. The new batteries are NOT compatible with their old low-voltage ones. They have USB-C ports on them.

Aldi was last. We found everything we wanted. The only muzzle in sight the whole trip was the woman taking care of her mom with cancer, and she’d be wearing it without the scamdemic. Staple prices were: milk: $3.02, eggs: $1.24 (+), heavy cream: $4.69, OJ: $3.29, butter: $3.49 (+), potatoes: $3.49, bacon: $4.49, sugar: $3.09, flour: $1.99, 80% lean ground beef: $4.49.

A gallon of untainted gasoline remains at $3.899.

Frugality Tip from Margo

You can get yourself, or a friend, prepared for an upcoming surgery, life event, or just a day when you don’t want to think about what’s for dinner, by making up crockpot meals. Chop veggies, add seasonings and bag and freeze. Take the meat out the day before and add the frozen veggies with seasoning to the crockpot. I like to freeze bone broth in ice cube trays and throw a couple in the crockpot with a roast, stew meat or chicken, so add them to the bag of veggies for a quick and easy ready to go meal.  Saves you from ordering that take out, and saves you some time.

Operation Independence

Take advantage of cyber deals that are actual cyber deals – which requires pricing awareness. You can get $.99/lb turkey, 80% off at Wayfair, or other deals this week.

HRC has free gift wrapping through Friday.

Main topic of the Show: Homegrown Gift Ideas

  1. Custom Cutting board
  2. Cookie in a jar: Christmas Macaroon Mix
  3. Soup in a jar: Country Soup in a Jar
  4. Dried herbs in a jar
  5. Home canned goods basket
  6. Aprons and napkins
  7. Shapely Suet Treats
    Materials: 1 1/2 cups shortening (look for palm oil free options),  3/4 cups nut butter (any kind), 3 1/2 cups wild bird seed, 1 cup quick oats, 1/2 cup corn meal, mould
  8. Cookies, quickbreads, treats
  9. Sachet (with your dried herbs)
  10. Homemade tea blends
  11. Freeze Dried Anything (Affiliate Link: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1095.html
  12. Service Coupons

What ideas do you have for homegrown gifts?

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources