There are some trips that leave you feeling rested, inspired, and deeply grateful all at the same time. That is exactly how my husband Ted and I felt after spending several wonderful days visiting our dear friends Michele and Sam at their charming homestead in the mountains outside of Medford, Oregon.
From cozy cottage mornings and homemade meals to mountain drives, fresh-milled grain, and long conversations on the porch, this little getaway was everything we hoped it would be and more.
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Table of Contents
- A Quick Glance
- Heading West to Oregon
- A Warm Welcome at the Homestead
- A Day at Crater Lake
- Fresh-Milled Grain and Huckleberry Muffins
- Exploring the Homestead
- Rest, Conversation, and Mountain Air
- Heading Home Grateful
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Start Your Traditional Foods Journey
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
- Kitchen Academy Videos
- Shop for My Favorite Items
A Quick Glance
- Flew from Austin to Portland and then on to Medford, Oregon
- Drove through breathtaking mountain scenery to Michele and Sam’s homestead
- Stayed in “The Cottage” on their property
- Enjoyed homemade traditional foods and fresh-milled breads
- Visited Crater Lake National Park
- Had dinner and pie à la mode at the charming Beckie’s diner
- Explored the homestead gardens, apothecary, and animal areas
- Ground Einkorn flour by hand in a Diamant grain mill
- Made homemade huckleberry muffins
- Shared wonderful conversations, tea, and restful evenings
Heading West to Oregon
Ted and I began our adventure before dawn with an early drive to the Austin airport. There’s something exciting about traveling while the world is still quiet and dark. After checking our bags and making our way through security, we boarded our flight feeling full of anticipation.
We flew first to Portland and then on to Medford, where we picked up our rental car and officially began the mountain portion of our journey.
As we drove farther from the city and into the mountains, the scenery became more and more breathtaking. Towering evergreens lined the roads, the skies were a brilliant blue, and cool mountain air drifted through the slightly open windows. After the Texas heat, it felt absolutely glorious.
A Warm Welcome at the Homestead
When we arrived at Michele and Sam’s homestead, we were welcomed with such warmth and hospitality. Their home is charming and cozy, and tucked away on the property is “The Cottage,” where Ted and I stayed during our visit.
The Cottage was absolutely adorable and peaceful with a wonderfully soft, cozy bed that gave us some of the best sleep we’ve had in a long time.
That first evening, Michele served a delicious homemade dinner of chicken soup, mixed greens salad with homemade balsamic vinaigrette, traditional German rye bread, and a lovely spelt buttermilk bread. Everything was absolutely scrumptious.
As the sun began to set, the four of us sat on the porch enjoying cool mountain breezes and wonderful conversation. It was the perfect beginning to our visit.
- Visit Michele’s homestead: Chocolate Box Cottage
A Day at Crater Lake
The next morning, we enjoyed a beautiful breakfast of homemade applesauce with granola topping, hard-boiled eggs, homemade turkey sausage, and buttermilk spelt toast before heading out for a drive to Crater Lake National Park.
And oh my goodness…Crater Lake is breathtaking beyond words.
The deep blue water surrounded by mountains and evergreens was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. We spent the afternoon exploring and enjoying the incredible scenery.
On the drive back down the mountain, we stopped at Beckie’s, the cutest country-style mountain diner. We all squeezed into a cozy booth and enjoyed comfort food dinners and giant slices of pie à la mode.
Ted and I had chicken pot pie, Sam enjoyed a hamburger, and Michele had a chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans. Then came dessert! Sam had cherry pie, while Michele, Ted, and I all chose to enjoy the most delicious very-berry pie overflowing with mixed berries and topped with melting vanilla ice cream.
It was one of those simple, happy meals that you remember forever.
Fresh-Milled Grain and Huckleberry Muffins
One of my favorite parts of the trip was spending the morning in Michele’s kitchen grinding einkorn berries by hand in her beautiful Diamant grain mill.
Together, we made homemade huckleberry muffins with the fresh-milled einkorn flour, along with scrambled eggs and coffee for breakfast. There is something so deeply satisfying about baking with flour you have freshly ground yourself.
Later that morning, we enjoyed Irish breakfast tea with raw cream and honey while talking about homemaking, traditional foods, and homestead life.
Exploring the Homestead
Michele and Sam then gave us a tour of their beautiful three-acre homestead. Their gardens were absolutely amazing and filled with vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
One of my favorite parts was Michele’s apothecary garden, where she grows herbs for homemade remedies and natural preparations.
And then there were the bunnies! They have four adorable rabbits, including one especially unusual little bunny named Violet, whose fur has the softest lavender-gray coloring imaginable.
For lunch, Michele prepared vegetable soup made with produce from the garden, a fresh mixed greens salad topped with chicken and sorrel, and another delicious homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Dessert was homemade carrot cake made with einkorn flour and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Everything was nourishing, comforting, and made with such love and care.
Rest, Conversation, and Mountain Air
One of the loveliest things about this trip was simply slowing down.
There were no rushing schedules, no distractions, and no pressure to do anything except enjoy one another’s company, eat nourishing food, and appreciate the beauty around us.
By early evening each day, we found ourselves wonderfully sleepy from the fresh mountain air, wholesome meals, and long conversations.
It reminded me how healing it can be to step away from the busyness of modern life and reconnect with old-fashioned rhythms and simple pleasures.
Heading Home Grateful
On our final morning, we shared one last breakfast of coffee and a homemade whole-grain Dutch Baby before saying our goodbyes and heading back toward the airport.
Ted and I returned home feeling deeply grateful for this special time with dear friends.
This trip reminded me that some of life’s greatest joys are wonderfully simple: fresh bread, good conversation, mountain air, homemade meals, and friendships that feel like family.
And those are the moments that truly nourish the soul.
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Kitchen Academy Videos
Baking with Whole Grains: The Maslin Method, Grain Mills, and America’s Bread Basket
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A Sweet Season of Celebration and New Beginnings with The Maslin Method Baking School Series
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Why We Should Incorporate Mackerel Into Our Diet
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