Hello, friends! It has been a "coon's age" since posting on my blog spot, so I have decided to give it another shot. If you previously followed my blog, you will notice that I have changed the name from "Simply Tori Lynne" to "Lybarger Homestead". Why the change? Well, I was greatly inspired and rejuvenated a couple weeks ago after making a trip to the "Ijams Homestead" in IL, to visit my dear friend, Stephanie. The Ijams own a few acres and are working toward a self sufficient lifestyle. Can you guess where they caught the homesteading bug? They caught it from the Lybarger's! Yep! We left IL and moved to a 50 acre farm in Sigourney, IA. The Ijams helped us move and visited us several times. That homesteading bug sure is contagious! Caused the Ijams to aspire the country life. A few years later, they left small town living and became country folk; and we left the country to become small town folk. Not by choice mind you.
I am going to fast forward through details and give you the skinny... I have been pining away for the country life again, missing it something fierce. Many tears that first year. We talked about moving back out, but feel it is not our time to sell yet. So 5 years ago, we began bringing some of our country living ways to town by starting a garden. We have extended it every year, and have also planted fruit trees and many varieties of berry bushes. I started canning as well. But, it just hasn't felt the same, ya know? Well, after my visit to IL, I had a renewed vision of what once was and what could be.
You do not need to live in the country to have a homestead. You can live in an apartment in the city, suburbia, a few acres, or a nice, large corner lot in a small Amish town like me. ;) "The homesteading spirit is really about returning to our roots of simplicity, of making do with what you have." - The Prairie Homestead.
On this blog I will talk about everything "home". After all, as Laura Ingalls Wilder says, "Home is the nicest word there is." I will talk about our homestead, homeschool, things homemade, Lybarger happenings with my hubby, children, and grandchildren, my times with God, share pics... you get the picture. Home.
I did not erase any of my prior blog posts. There are years worth. I encourage you to go back and read some of them. You will get to know me better that way. The most popular posts read were the ones from 2016. I did a series on Miracles, which starts with the post, "Come and See What God Will Do." I love re-reading that series. God is so faithful.
If I set this up right, you should be able to click to follow my blog and share comments as well. I hope to catch you all up on the "Lybarger Homestead" once or twice a week.
Have a great rest of your week!
