🐰 Only One Easter Cake Recipe You’ll Ever Need + Listening 101

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Sunday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: An Honest-to-Goodness Easter Treat: Carrot Cake 🥕

4. Personal Development: The Gentle Art of Listening: How to Truly Hear the People You Love 🧡

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY

If you could grow only ONE crop this season, what would it be?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Tomatoes

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Potatoes

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Lettuce or greens

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Beans

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Herbs

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our social media accounts for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

An Honest-to-Goodness Easter Treat: Carrot Cake 🥕

Carrot cake might not sound like a showstopper, but when made right, it’s the kind of cake that has everyone asking for seconds. And if you’ve ever been disappointed by a dry, bland slice, this recipe is your redemption. We’re talking soft, sweet, spiced, and just enough texture. Perfect for Easter or any spring table.

Here’s the full breakdown, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

What You’ll Need

For the cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 4 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 cups grated carrots (fresh, not pre-shredded)

• 1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained

• Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

For the frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar

Let’s Bake It Step by Step

1. Prep your pans and oven.
   Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans or line with parchment. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Mix the dry ingredients.
   In one bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

3. Blend the wet ingredients.
   In another large bowl, mix sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.

4. Combine both.
   Slowly add the dry mix into the wet ingredients. Stir just until it comes together—don’t overmix.

5. Add carrots and extras.
   Gently fold in grated carrots, pineapple, and nuts if using. Make sure it’s evenly mixed.

6. Bake.
   Divide the batter between the pans and smooth the tops. Bake for 25–30 minutes. They’re done when a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Cool completely.
   This part’s important. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then move them to wire racks.

8. Make the frosting.
   Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add vanilla, then slowly mix in powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.

9. Frost and assemble.
   Once the cakes are cool, spread frosting on one layer, add the second cake, and cover the whole thing.

10. Store it right.
    Keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. It also freezes well without the frosting.

Homestead Tip: Double the recipe and bake it in a sheet pan for a crowd. It slices easier and travels better if you're headed to a potluck or church gathering.

A Little Checklist for Easter Bakers

• Grate your carrots fresh (skip the bagged kind, they’re too dry)

• Use crushed pineapple, not chunks

• Let the cake cool all the way before frosting

• Use full-fat cream cheese and real butter

• Store leftovers in the fridge (but there probably won’t be any)

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Gentle Art of Listening: How to Truly Hear the People You Love 🧡

Most people listen to respond… not to understand. And if we’re honest, a lot of us do the same. We hear the words, but we’re already forming a reply in our head. Or we’re distracted. Or we assume we already know what’s coming.

But real listening, the kind that makes people feel seen and safe, is a skill. And for women running homes, raising children, nurturing communities, and tending to relationships, it’s one worth learning.

Let’s walk through simple, practical ways to become better listeners, right here, right now.

Why Listening Matters (More Than We Think)

• Listening builds trust and safety: People open up when they know they’re not being judged, rushed, or interrupted.

• It helps avoid arguments: Many disagreements come from misunderstandings. Better listening helps prevent that.

• It models respect and teaches empathy: Kids especially learn how to listen by watching us. Grown-ups do too, whether they admit it or not.

Real Steps for Becoming a Better Listener

Here’s how to shift your habits so people feel heard and valued.

1. Slow down before jumping in. When someone is speaking, resist the urge to fill silence. Let them finish. Let them breathe. Pause before you speak, even if it feels awkward at first.

2. Make space for the conversation. Put your phone down. Stop stirring the soup for a minute. Turn toward the person. Listening well requires more than ears, it needs attention.

3. Watch for the emotion under the words. Sometimes what someone says isn’t the whole story. Look at their face. Listen for their tone. Notice their body language. Ask, “Is there more you want to say?”

4. Repeat back what you hear. This shows you’re following along and gives them a chance to correct anything. Try, “So what I’m hearing is…” or “It sounds like you feel…”

5. Stop fixing. Just be with them. Especially with kids, spouses, or close friends, we rush to offer advice or solutions. But most people don’t need answers. They need to feel understood.

6. Be curious, not controlling. Ask open-ended questions that keep the other person talking. Try “Tell me more about that” instead of “Why did you do that?”

7. Notice your face. Sometimes our expressions give away more than our words. Try to keep a soft, calm look so others feel safe sharing with you.

8. Don’t let your mind wander. It’s easy to mentally drift to what’s for dinner or what’s next on your list. Bring yourself back gently with a breath and a quiet nod.

9. Save judgment for later. You can sort through your opinions after the conversation ends. For now, listen without correcting, comparing, or criticizing.

10. Thank them for sharing. This might feel silly, but it closes the loop and shows respect. Say, “Thanks for trusting me with that,” or “I’m really glad you told me.”

A Real-Life Example

Let’s say your teenager comes home and says, “School was awful.” It’s tempting to jump in with questions or say, “Well, tomorrow will be better.”

But a better path might be to stop what you’re doing and say, “Sounds like a rough day. Want to talk about it?”

Let them speak without rushing them along. Maybe they’ll tell you about a friend who was unkind. You don’t need to fix it. Instead, just say, “That sounds hard. I’d feel that way too.”

That’s how connection grows.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why did the tomato refuse to grow in April?

It said, “I’m not ready to ketchup just yet!”

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. When someone said “No more chicks,” but all you heard was “More chicks!” 😅

@simplychickensofficial

This is a joke- he loves them as much as I do! 🥰🐥✨ #crazychickenlady #chicks #chickensoftiktok #farmtok #farmlife #homestead #funny #fyp

2. You can bet I’m doing a full-on photoshoot every time I nail a sourdough bread, because why not? 😂

@halfacregoods

Taking pictures with my sourdough like men do with their fish. 🐠🥖 #trending #sourdough #fishing #funny #jokes #homesteading

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