Cajun Night Before Christmas

Tonight we have a reading of the Cajun version of The Night Before Christmas by The Ellender Family - listeners of LFTN. Join us every day at 5pm for a reading of a different version of the poem, "The Night Before Christmas."

Today is the last solo show of 2025. We examine something you may not want to look at: being too sensitive to criticism and ultimately letting other people decide who you are rather than be who you were meant to be. We will also do a final run through our usual Tuesday segments.Featured Event: Combat Midwife Class. March 7 at the Basecamp Lodge. Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: StrongRootsResources.com LFTN UPDATE: Tonight at 6pm is the last Tour Livestream on Youtube with all the festival crews. Nicole is closed BUT - The Night Before Christmas Series starts soon and will run every night ending on Christmas Eve. My3Things Series after Christmas. See you January 2, 2026 I did a thing…. Tales From The Prepper Pantry Beef Math 715 hanging weight Cow 1: 370 pounds: $285 + $2307. $7 a pound 750 hanging weight Cow 2: 325 pounds: $376 + $2420. $8.60 a pound Getting ready to put out pickled things from this year at the Christmas event – we will see what ends up on the table.  Pre-making burger patties, breakfast sausage and meatloafs for convenience Next year I hope to have more cured meats! Frugality Tip The day after Christmas is coming. Need I say more? Featured Forage We had a deep freeze and nothing is left, right? WRONG! Now is a time to look at things below ground. One of my favorites at this time of year requires that you look for the plant in the fall, mark where it is, then dig: Jerusalem Artichoke.  Cleaning Favorite recipe: Steamed into a mash with butter, garlic, salt and pepper. Complements a steak beautifully without the glycemic impact of mashed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichoke for a picture. These grow themselves and a little care will allow you to have many - but be careful about that many! Operation Independence PickTN store at the Dickens of a Christmas last weekend - SOLD OUT of tins! But you can still order them online: https://www.picktnstore.com/ The Exhausting Game No One Wins - Letting Other People Live Your Life For you GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link

  Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to discuss updates from the Holler Homestead: the sheep acting "a little eminent," a surprise community deer drop, and the brass water faucet we dug up while doing chores. We'll cover ongoing projects like the compost bin design, the memory garden plan, the hillside garden reset, mushroom experiments, rabbit breeding, and the ever-important Operation Leaf Collection. We'll wrap up with holiday touches around the Tajmaholler, the new Canoe Rose Bed, alternate routes home, and how we're gearing up to cook a whole lamb. Featured Event: Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com Are the Sheep Really eminent? Community Deer Drop from a neighbor Found Treasure: Brass Water Faucet Explain the Compost Bin Design Planning a Memory Garden Operation Leaf Collection Hillside Garden Reset In Process Mushroom Experiment update Ghost Light Disappointment Rabbits Bred Canoe Rose Bed Christmas Lights and Tajmaholler Alternative Routs Home Preparing to cook a whole lamb   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 Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Advisory Board The Booze Whisperer The Tactical Redneck Chef Brett Samantha the Savings Ninja Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Today, we will talk about the word of the year, how mine went in 2025, why to even choose one and how it related to building the life you choose on your terms. We will also cover our usual Tuesday segments Featured Event: Tonight. 6pm, So You Bought a Whole Pig — Now What? How to read and navigate the cut sheet Ways to save money by doing certain cuts at home Planning storage so nothing goes to waste Light overview of the odd bits and what to ask the butcher for Sponsors 1: Strong Roots Resources — StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: Discount Mylar Bags — DiscountMylarBags.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Two cows added to the freezers Garlic planted; raised beds mulched Mushroom tent producing well Mushroom coffee  block experiment looking promising Burning through green beans at an alarming rate Featured Forage: Watercress Slow moving water - check water quality Fresh green for salads until it gets too too cold Great in a cream of watercress soup or saute as well Tastes like radished Operation Independence The Venison Story Main Topic of the Day: Word of the Year What is the word of the year Why choose one What is the dark side of the word of the year What is the upside of the word of the year How does it fit in with #my3Things My 2025 WOTY update: Enrich SRF changes Holler Hub and Smaller Events Lessons: Focus on fewer things to do them better, invest in learning, sometimes you must take a financial hit to set a better foundation, Holler Roast Holiday progress, RESULT:  stronger inner circle network & connection with God My 2026 word of the year: characteristics - return to home and homestead, hub development, personal physical improvement (invest in mental and physical health), increase wealth. Combat Midwife Course — March 7, 2026 at the Holler Hub Tickets half off right now Make it a great week. GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.  Community Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Facebook Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Stay at  Basecamp Lodge Harvest Right Affiliate Link  

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to talk about updated from the Holler Homestead! Featured Event: Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com

Join me for the December first Tuesday chat with John Willis and Jack Spirko.

Today, I am joined by the Tactical Redneck to talk about Holler Thanksgiving, the stubbornest Ewe and more! Featured Event: Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception - LivingFreeinTennessee.com Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com Sponsor 2: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com

Today we're talking about something that matters more than most of us care to admit: accepting help, and more importantly — taking responsibility for the role we play when help doesn't go the way we imagined. Featured Event Dec 9 – Member Webinar (also available to purchase) "So You Bought A Whole Pig, Now What?"
Details + sign-up: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/so-you-bought-a-whole-pig-now-what-webinar/ Sponsors  Strong Roots Resources If you want solid, boots-on-the-ground homesteading and preparedness consulting, these are your people.
👉 StrongRootsResources.com Holler Roast Coffee Coffee for Doers — roasted right here at the Holler Homestead.
👉 HollerRoast.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry * Pantry challenge update * Pulling from the pantry for Thanksgiving * Using up the last of the 2024 cow – recipes Frugality Tip from Margo "When you are looking at making a large dollar purchase, check multiple websites. I came across an offer that was impossible to refuse. With a purchase of $1000 or more, online only, they were giving a $100 gift card. So we ordered online and picked up in store and got $100 to spend later. With a little time spent looking around, you never know who wants to give you extra money for buying what you were going to buy anyway.
Happy Savings Y'all
Margo
p.s. This was Northern Tool" Operation Independence * 4 lbs of blue oyster mushrooms — testing the market Main Topic: Accepting Help (and Why It Matters) We're talking about help — asking for it, accepting it, and dealing with the truth that when people "do it wrong," it's usually because we didn't set them up for success. This is also where homesteading meets real life meets Thanksgiving — and yes, there will be a cat-and-chipmunk story.

Today I am joined by the Tactical Redneck for an update from the Holler Homestead all about sheep, communication, late fall and more. Featured Event: LFTN Christmas Reception: https://livingfreeintennessee.com/event/lftn-christmas-reception-3/ Sponsor 1: StrongRootsResources.com Sponsor 2: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN

Today, we are diving deep into what it truly means to be fearless—whether you're launching a business, standing up to the local government, or just trying to live a sustainable life. Featured Event: Mark your calendars for the Dec 20 LFTN Christmas Reception—sign up now! Sponsors: Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com DiscountMylarBags.com Tales from the Prepper Pantry Broccoli rip cord TSP left over saute Peppers from Rick Ready for whole cows Shopping Report: Should we reboot this segment? Who wants to start going to Aldi on a weekly basis? Frugality Tip I was randomly looking at Etsy and saw someone selling something I was interested in that was local to me.  I messaged them and asked about local pick up and cash price.  They were very interested in cash money with pick up and I saved some money on my purchase.  So ask, it will never kill you, and might save you a few dollars. Operation Independence 3-Month Rental at Basecamp: $800/month, Event Rental Launch Main Topic: Fearless Living – The Two Sides of "Go For It" We are talking about two forms of courage today: Professional Courage (to launch and critique) and Personal Courage (to be vulnerable and stand up). 1. The Courage to Launch and Critique: The Farm-to-Table AAR The Farm-to-Table Dinner was a huge "Go For It" moment. The real courage is in the fearless honesty of the After Action Review (AAR): Is this financially viable? $155 - 13/hour The Diagnostic Tool: The Homestead Revenue Stack We put the Dinner through our Homestead Revenue Stack to analyze where it sits and what it needs to succeed. The Dinner sits primarily in the Service Layer (Dinner/Class). AAR Findings & Action Plan Logistics Check: Reality vs. plan mismatch. Example: "Sunset on paper vs. Sunset in the holler (30 min BUBBLE)." Venue Needs: The oven/stove at BC needs an upgrade. Experience Flow: Need better arrival/mingling flow. Financial Fixes: We need to Price up, increase numbers at the dinner,  and rely on Upsells. Opportunity: There is an opportunity for a premium cherry add-on for the dinner service. Action: Get the chef on the wild edible walk (to enhance the product layer). Action: If connected to a Farm-to-Table meal delivery service, that would be amazing. 2. The Courage to Stand Up and Be Vulnerable: Local Politics Sometimes "Go For It" means stepping outside your established comfort zone for a cause greater than your business. The Event: Giving public testimony in front of county officials. The Experience: I got nervous! My voice sounded emotional instead of my usual assertive self. The Takeaway: The vulnerability made the testimony more powerful. Being involved in important local matters is one of the few ways we can truly make a difference for our communities, food freedom, and farmers. Bringing it Home: Your Challenge to Go For It Courage is action, not the absence of fear. Don't wait until you're "ready." 1. Fearlessly Audit a Project: Go For It and audit a side hustle or homestead project using a framework like the Revenue Stack. Be honest about where you need to price up, fix it, or drop it. 2. Go For the Hard Conversation: Go For It and speak up about a local issue or personal matter you know you should address. Your passion is more powerful than silence. 3. Take the First Small Step: What is the one small, specific step you can take today to move toward a big goal? Final Thought Sometimes, you just need to go for it.   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 Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b Resources Membership Sign Up Holler Roast Coffee Harvest Right Affiliate Link