Hi there! I’m Lexi, the main blogger, canner, and lover of anything homestead-related. Our home is filled with belly laughs and tail wags. I live with my boyfriend, Chris, his three kiddos, and our always-busy pets in this old home. We’ve had hobbies aligned with this lifestyle for some time now. I’ve always enjoyed baking, Chris loves to cook. Canning is a favorite of mine, and he makes fantastic hot sauce. You’ll find him smoking pounds of meat outside while I’m in the kitchen making some sort of bread as a side. Put simply, many of our interests complement one another.
Not too long ago, we had the blessing of buying what I’d consider to be my dream home. This is our first house and provided just the right amount of space and land for us to get started. We live in a 1930 Craftsman Bungalow on the outskirts of town in Iowa. It’s wonderful because we have a little taste of country life away from commotion but can easily access stores if needed.
This blog will be dedicated to so many aspects related to homesteading and homemaking. My goal is to give you some of my tried and true canning recipes (like cranberry juice), baking ideas, farmhouse enhancements, and more. I’m no expert but can give you my honest thoughts on whatever I write. It may not be aesthetic but it’s a real peek into what we’re up to. Join us on this journey as we create a beautiful life in this muddy home.
Meet This home’s Muddy Paw Prints
These are the housemates that inspired this blog’s name. One day it dawned on me that I spend a bit of time cleaning up dirt and mud from our floors. It may add to the daily routine, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Enzo
This is Enzo. He is the leader of all things mud. He can walk in with paws clear as day and will still leave some dirt on the floor. Luckily he’s absolutely adorable and is with me all day long as I work from home. We were blessed to get him from a litter my family had with their golden retriever.
Enzo is just over a year old and is a great protector of our cats. Anyone is his best friend except for birds and squirrels. He’s obsessed with meat and cheese. He is a follower and will join anyone who is having fun. This guy never misses out on fun. Enzo also likes to bring me deer antlers he finds in the woods.
Bonnie
This is Bonnie. Someone near us had a pregnant cat show up and give birth in her garage. Needing to get rid of a bunch of kittens, we got Bonnie and Clyde. Our cats are primarily outdoor but come indoor a bit too, especially in inclement weather. Bonnie receives utmost respect as she’s highly intelligent and protects our home from mice.
We got cats with the intention of them being mousers since we moved in and lost a bit of food in the basement to mice (oops). Bonnie is the cat we can easily trust throughout the whole house. Superior to all and she knows it. BUT, is very affectionate and adores Enzo (they’re a funny pair). She tries to resist love and affection but secretly enjoys it and purrs. Feisty is the perfect word.
Clyde
This is Clyde, brother to Bonnie from the same litter. He is well-loved but doesn’t do much. The only time he ever killed a mouse was by pure accident when the mouse got caught on his claw, he panicked, and flung it. We are pretty sure our girl cats kill the mice and Clyde eats them.
He’s about 9 months old but is over 10 pounds. Let’s just say he’s always a little too relaxed and always has the munchies. I tried finding a photo with his eyes open, but he’s usually just making this face. Clyde is known for peeing behind speakers on the living room carpet. Clyde is the kind of guy to go to the bathroom right next to the litter box instead of in it, while you’re watching. I do love him though and couldn’t imagine life without him.
Dahlia
This is our beautiful baby Dahlia. She’s from a different litter and is the youngest of all. She’s always been quite tiny compared to the others but is close in age. She came from a local bar/restaurant that has feral cats running around outside in a nearby barn. One of them had a litter of kittens and one of the nice workers was trying to rehome them all (and she was successful!). We knew we wanted a girl, and she picked up our sweet baby Dahlia. She was a perfect match for us instantly. However, we got her home and she had a rough time adjusting.
She was affectionate at first, but became overwhelmed and hissed/defended herself to everyone. A couple days later everything changed and she was wonderful with the kids. I kept her inside with me mostly and carried her around in my arms or a baby sling. A few days after that all cats started to get along and eventually play. Now, she is the most affectionate little thing one can imagine. She’s great with independent time outside, then comes in and wants love. Dahlia is definitely our baby.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to read about us. We appreciate you visiting Our Muddy Home. Each member of our family contributes to all of the love and chaos that happens in this old house. We’re happy to share it with you.