Simpler Thyme Homestead

Directions

Simpler Thyme Homestead We are an Off Grid Homestead in Maine. Grieving parents/
Survivors of an adult child su***de. Mental Health Advocates. Nigerian Goat farm.
(1)

Schnanagins Connoisseur.

MJ will be selling some of her paintings this Saturday at the local craft fair. 🎨Soon our Artstand will be open with all...
09/23/2026

MJ will be selling some of her paintings this Saturday at the local craft fair. 🎨

Soon our Artstand will be open with all her beautiful paintings. Come stop by and let us know what's your favorite. Be sure to give Odysseus 🐐 a treat. ♥️

Homestead/Homeschool

This summer I made elderberry syrup and froze them into individual molds so when we are sick (as we are now) we can just...
09/23/2026

This summer I made elderberry syrup and froze them into individual molds so when we are sick (as we are now) we can just pop an elderberry pod into our mugs, add warm water and a slice of lemon. Fermented honey with cranberry and pineapple are to sip for the sore throat and coughs.
Today we had extra spicy taco soup with lots of homegrown garlic, and a lot of cayenne pepper. We couldn't taste it. But we sure FELT it. 🔥

Applesauce is in the canner, and some saved for the kiddos that can't swallow easily. Apple c***r vinegar is being started. 🙌

The October Slide is already in effect, and we are feeling it. I think I'll make some warm apple c***r with cinnamon sticks, clove, star Anise and an orange sliced to really nourish our bodies as we welcome Autumn and its Dysautonomia Derailment. Stay healthy my friends. 🍁🍂

I am the only one Tolkien comes to. He runs all around for everyone else. I can be away at a football game, or at the g...
09/19/2026

I am the only one Tolkien comes to. He runs all around for everyone else. I can be away at a football game, or at the grocery store... and I will be put on speaker phone calling this dog in the house. 🤣 He's learning that they're tricking him tho. Last night took longer than usual to get him in from playing while I was on the sidelines of my husband coaching a game.

The love of this dog is truly a remarkable gift. He is always by my side and his love is unlike any I've experienced. I didn't want a dog, I didn't think I could handle it in my grief. I didnt think it fair to him or anyone else. But... a promise made is a promise kept. Tolkien saw a broken heart and he's slobbered, pounced, snuggled, sang his way to heal what he didnt break. 🥰

For September "Amber Day" we made paper, and added seeds. Of course I had to bake us some apple c***r donuts to enjoy d...
09/16/2026

For September "Amber Day" we made paper, and added seeds. Of course I had to bake us some apple c***r donuts to enjoy during our visit. ❤️

Amber from Wild Roots Farm should go on the stage as a comedic Gallagher Impersonation. 🤣 The magical way she schlopped paper mush all over me, was awakening, confusing, and comical. I'm still cleaning paper particles off the walls as I find it. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

But this is what happens with two Amber's of the same chaotic energy and excitement for some (mostly) contained messiness, aka crafts.

My Littles love to join us. They watch us with big grins. "There's TWO of YOU!" I know, isn't it wonderful! 💗

October "Amber Day" is in the works! ;) 🍁🍎🍂🍏

09/15/2026

Ok, yall, I'm not ALWAYS an Espresso Depresso...

I've cried a lot in the last few days. Ok, months, whatever ... but I AM a silly goose... not so much a lucky duck. Unfortunately.

MOSTLY, I have a sharp whit and a lot of laughter.

I feel bad that I got some Negative Nelly vibes going on lately... Grief can be super- duper dark. I can't hide this side of me. My mask has fallen to the ground. There's no sense in picking it up and trying to adjust it. It is what it is. But that's not ALL I am...

So, let me share somethings about myself.

My name is Amber.
I'm 51.
Only child- I guess that makes sense to the sibling people. 🤷‍♀️
I refused to learn to read in first grade because "ballerinas dont need to read, they dance."
I gave up the dream of being a ballerina, and then honed in on farm girl. 👩‍🌾
I became a Mom 3 days before my 21st birthday.
I have six beautiful children that are my whole world.
Welcomed my last baby at 40.
Im tired. 🥴
My sons are "Bookends", 19.5 years apart.
I have two grandsons.
I married my best friend, whom I thought was in a Polka band when we met and rejected his concert invite.
Instead he was in a heavy metal band, with an angry Cookie Monster voice lead singer.
I'd prefer polka. 🤷‍♀️
We say "I love you to Neptune and back" because I told my husband "I don't want the sun, moon, stars. All thats been promised before. I want Neptune."
I have Neptune. 🩵

What else... Oh, I CAN read. Dance, not so much. So it was a good choice for me to trade skills there.

Anything else ya wanna know? Ask away!

A year ago today my son's missing body was located and I had to pick what funeral home I wanted him sent to. What "crem...
09/14/2026

A year ago today my son's missing body was located and I had to pick what funeral home I wanted him sent to. What "cremation package" I wanted, I didn't know that was a thing .... what items off his body I wanted. A year ago Life forever shifted and broke me open.

I'm trying to be Present. To feel the pain, the sorrow, the ache in my physical heart. But I'm also trying to be Present in the Now- the Littles are getting older. The Seasonal shift into vibrant Autumn colors and spices.

Trying to rise from the literal ashes of my life like a Phoenix, but most days it seems more like a confused pigeon. 🥴

There's so many continuous days of our Grief Journey. Him Missing. Him Found. Him Arriving Home. Its all such a long process, with so many complicated milestones and struggles.

A whole year. 365 days.

Forever and always, my baby you'll be. 💔 Love, Mum.

In honor of Elijah, I tried something my Sonshine would have loved. We had planted his pear trees before he moved, and...
09/14/2026

In honor of Elijah, I tried something my Sonshine would have loved. We had planted his pear trees before he moved, and he knew they would be waiting for him when he came home.

Mind you, I'm *not* a fan of pears. These were planted with his delight in mind. But ya know, gunna try anyway. So I found this recipe online... and gave it a shot.

We all had a moment where we looked at each other with a puckered face. "Not Bethany" said, "Its like I grabbed Odysseus's beard and licked it. Just got up in there and slurped."

She's not wrong. 🤣😭

Laugh it up Son. We are laughing along with you.
I Love me some goat cheese... but I cheated and bought some. My bad! That is the buckiest cheese I've ever tasted! 🥴

To have a love so pure, so openhearted, so sweet is one of life's beautiful gifts. This little girl was rescued at 3 we...
09/12/2026

To have a love so pure, so openhearted, so sweet is one of life's beautiful gifts.

This little girl was rescued at 3 weeks old. We had to feed her with a dropper, wipe her bottom, truly be her mother around the clock. She's a lil wonky with some undeveloped/ missing organs, and her toe sucking. She was orphaned so young, in a colony of feral barn cats, living her best life.
She tends to be spicy, especially during my therapy sessions over zoom... she takes that literally and gets the zoomies all around me. Smacks my hand and leaps half way across the room in a single bound. But she loves love. She snuggles on my heart when I'm struggling and helps regulate my heart. I'm pretty sure she would crawl inside my chest if she could, just to protect it better. Everyone should have a love like Hazel in their life. 💕



Tonight is Friday Night Under the Lights. As a Coaches Wife, I usually sit on the sidelines, an anchor for my husband a...
09/11/2026

Tonight is Friday Night Under the Lights. As a Coaches Wife, I usually sit on the sidelines, an anchor for my husband as he leads a great group of boys on and off the field. Our youngest son is the Water Boy and leads the Break Down. Losing his older brother, his hero, was exceptionally hard on his little heart. These amazing boys have embraced him and have given him a sacred gift of belonging. 🥹

I have a migraine, day 4, that just wont quit. But Im going to gather up my strength to make it on the field to be beside my husband and my Sonbeam. Ear plugs, sunglasses, and migraine medication ready for kick off. Blanket for the nap in the car after the game.

Any coaches wife will tell ya, Game Day is about a 12 hour day. Set up. Preparation. Arrival. Game. After Game check in. Film. Laundry. Its a whole thing. My Beloved's dedication is far beyond what anyone sees on the field. So, as he stands beside me on the homestead field, I stand beside him on the football field. Besides, there's a Snack Shack... ;)

And Head Coach Seth Johnson is pretty dang cute! 🥰

Address

Denmark, ME

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Simpler Thyme Homestead posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category