Mars 🌿

Welcome folks! Spreading love & positivity on X through homestead life, homeschooling with AI, nature hikes, family adventures & wellness journey. Join us! 💛

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Blueberries. 🫐

The berry patch is growing.

Today I planted a second blueberry bush right next to the first one, which many of you know was planted in memory of Boca Chica. 💙

One gardening trick I’ve been seeing everywhere lately actually worked perfectly for this project:

Instead of guessing how big the hole should be, bury the plant (still in its nursery pot) right where you want it, then pull the pot back out. Instant perfectly sized planting hole.

Simple. Fast. No overthinking required.

Now comes the important part: water, water, and more water.

We’re heading into warmer weather, and these little bushes are going to need some extra attention while they get established.

The first bush is doing well, even though I don’t think it’ll produce berries this year. Honestly, that’s okay. The first year is about growing roots, not harvesting fruit.

Sometimes the best growth happens where you can’t see it yet.

For now, the berry patch is small.

But every patch starts with one plant… and then another. 🫐🌱

More garden updates coming soon, like planting strawberries. 🍓

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Home & Garden Update 🌱

Mr. Mars and I are FINALLY putting in the garden.

The tiller has been running most of the day, which means Tallulah has relocated to the back field where she can keep an eye on us from a safe distance, and Misty took one look at the noisy machine and ran for cover.

But we’re almost there.

The garden is nearly ready, the weather is perfect, and after weeks of planning, potting, weeding, and waiting, we’re finally getting plants into the ground.

Today’s high is only in the 60s with a cool north wind, which feels amazing after working outside. Tomorrow jumps into the 80s, so getting everything planted and the watering system set up has suddenly become top priority.

The best part?

This is just the beginning.

Over the next week I’ll be sharing what we’re planting, where we’re planting it, how we’re setting up the garden, and all the homestead projects happening alongside it.

And yes… I may have casually shown Mr. Mars where I want my future berry patch.

Let’s just say he looked at the untouched ground and immediately realized he has another tilling project in his future. 😂

Raspberries are finally getting their forever home.

Now if we can stay ahead of the weeds, we’ll be in good shape. 🌱

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@HeavyMetalShip Well done! I need to do more with Grok to enhance my creativity.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Ticks are one of those things people barely think about until they find one attached.

Now my timeline is full of them.

We’ve found a couple recently, including one that was fully engorged on the dog, but honestly we’re not seeing more than we usually do this time of year.

I do wonder how much of the “tick explosion” people are noticing is real and how much is social media suddenly showing everyone the same thing at once.

Has anyone actually noticed more ticks this year than normal?

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@MerMaeWanders We were inspired to do more exploring this Summer. Stay tuned. 😉

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Cybertruck Adventure! 📐

Three new tires for the Tesla turned into an unexpected adventure.

While the Model Y was at the service center, we borrowed a Cybertruck and decided to let Grok plan the route.

We told it:

“Take us on a scenic drive.”

A few minutes later we found ourselves winding through Oregon farmland and ending up at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge outside Dallas.

Wetlands. Oak trees. Osprey overhead. Wildflowers everywhere. Mount Jefferson in the distance.

Honestly, it felt less like a test drive and more like a mini road trip.

The girls had a blast, I got to experience FSD in a Cybertruck, and we discovered a place we probably wouldn’t have found on our own.

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon while waiting on tires. 📐🌿

[Empress Heavy @HeavyMetalShip]

Things to not do when test driving a Tesla Cybertruck 👇🏻

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@ModernDad Especially when it’s negative. 😬

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Sometimes people tell you exactly who they are.

Not once.
Not by accident.

Over and over again.

The trick isn’t hearing it.
It’s believing it.

I’ve spent years trying to explain away behavior because I understood the hurt behind it.

Sometimes the explanation is useful.

Sometimes the behavior is still the behavior.

Understanding someone and excusing them are not the same thing.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@monetization_x Just like the new and amazing dashboard? 😅💀

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@RichSilver I saw this today and I was like, news breaks here, but it’s the people that make the app!

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@120proofBrandy So glad this post found you today. Your experience today sounds very grounding and healing. Glad your husband was right there with you. 💛This image was full of tears. But it was also full of comfort and family. I can’t share the selfies, but it ended in smiles.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@OrahOnX @JessicaDoyle Yes, we are friends. 💛🥧

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@OffRoadCampBoys @Unlyingeye @Starlink @wildguyoutdoors If you need a referral link @OffRoadCampBoys has one in his Starlink app. I think they’re still doing the first month free.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

This is the original post that inspired the song. 💛

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

North Lake was beautiful this weekend.

The water was calm. The mountains were green. My daughter was fishing. My husband was helping her cast.

I sat there realizing that two people can stand in the exact same place and have completely different experiences.

One notices the breeze, the scenery, and the people they love.

The other notices only the problems, frustrations, and things that still need fixing.

The older I get, the more I think peace has less to do with where you are and more to do with what you choose to see.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Watching my daughter fish this weekend reminded me of something.

People spend a lot of time searching for meaning, purpose, connection, and belonging.

Sometimes it’s sitting right in front of them.

A spouse they’ve known for decades.
Grandchildren growing up.
Family gatherings.
Ordinary afternoons.

Those moments seem small when they’re happening.

Years later, they’re often the things we miss the most.

I think one of life’s biggest challenges is learning to recognize the treasure while it’s still in our hands.

Paul captured the essence of my first post with this song and it’s beautiful. I’ll put the original one in the comments. 💛

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@MerMaeWanders Look @HeavyMetalShip mermaid decor 💛🧜‍♀️💛

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@Gail01858490527 It was beautiful. We’re getting rain this weekend. But I welcome it for the garden.

How you get your sunshine soon.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

Strength is one of the most misunderstood qualities.

A lot of people think strength means not crying.
Not grieving.
Not needing help.
Not showing emotion.

I’ve started to think the opposite is true.

Anyone can shut down.

Real strength is staying open after loss.

It’s answering the phone when you’re lonely.
It’s admitting you’re struggling.
It’s getting out of bed when your heart is broken.
It’s letting yourself grieve someone you loved deeply.

Numbness isn’t strength.

Feeling it and continuing anyway is.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@CorpsicleHeart I really like this, thought. Working through the feelings, not holding them back. Honestly, I like the bed more than dishes. 😅

But I see the point of still caring for yourself, while also experiencing depression. 💛

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@ChrisandOla Everyone deals with loss differently, we weren’t created to grieve. 😔

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@Gail01858490527 Yes it is. We lost my sweet mother in law last year. This was the anniversary. But we spent it together, with grandpa. 💛

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@MandyLSimard There were some tears in there.

Once year anniversary of the loss of wife, mother, grandma. But it’s sweet the 3 generations supporting each-other through it.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@Hillie861401 Thank you for the hugs Hillie.

[Mars 🌿 @MarsHomestead]

@monetization_x Videos editing. Filters and music