Maryland living

From Farm to Freezer

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Splitting a Half Steer from Sunnybrook Farm & Apiary

If you know me, you know I like to keep my freezer stocked and support local farms whenever I can. There’s just something satisfying about knowing exactly where your food comes from — and that it was raised with care.

Recently, my cousin and I decided to go in on half a butchered steer from Sunnybrook Farm & Apiary in Elkton, Maryland. Their beef is processed and packaged by ClarkCo Meats in Pennsylvania, and the quality really shows. Everything came vacuum-sealed, clearly labeled, and ready for the freezer. My cousin and I split it evenly, and now I’ve got about 115 pounds of fresh, local beef stuffed in my freezer.

Sunnybrook Farm & Apiary is a gem in the area; they sell beef, pork, eggs, and honey, all produced right on the farm. You can truly taste the quality and care in their products.

The first cut I decided to try was a tri-tip, and oh my goodness — it was delicious! Tender, juicy, and full of flavor. There’s nothing quite like grilling up a piece of beef that was raised just a few miles away. It feels great to support local farmers while stocking the freezer with something wholesome and genuine.

I love the sense of self-sufficiency that comes with this — knowing I have a good supply of quality meat for the months ahead. If you’re near Elkton, MD, I definitely recommend checking out Sunnybrook Farm & Apiary. Local farms like theirs are what keep communities strong, healthy, and connected.

✅ What Caught My Eye

Sunnybrook Farm & Apiary really stood out to me for several reasons:

  • They offer grass-raised, grass-finished beef with no hormones or vaccines.
  • The farm is located right here in Elkton, Maryland.
  • They also raise heritage pork, produce honey from their own apiary, and provide animal feed and farm supplies.
  • Founded in 2018 by Chris and Stephanie Dodds, along with their son, they’ve built a strong family-run operation rooted in quality and care.

Sunnybrook Farm & Apiary
360 Williams Road
Elkton, Maryland 21921
(302) 650-4688
https://sunnybrook.ag/

Bringing Tahoe to Maryland – One Room at a Time

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Yes, I miss living in Tahoe. How could I not? I spent more than half my life surrounded by the beauty of the Sierra Nevadas, and Tahoe will always hold a special place in my heart. But when it came time to move, Maryland was the right choice. Financially, it was the best decision, and truthfully, I love it here too.

Still, I wanted to keep a little piece of Tahoe with me. That’s why I decided to turn my half bathroom into a Tahoe-themed space. Some of the items hanging on the walls actually came from my home in Tahoe, which makes the theme feel authentic and personal.

The only challenge? The bathroom already had shelves, and I haven’t quite figured out what to put on them yet. If you have any Tahoe-esque ideas, send them my way. I’d love to complete the look!

To really tie the room together, I ordered artwork from Headwaters Studio on Etsy. Their Lake Tahoe Snowboard Wood Art Print immediately caught my eye. I had been browsing posters and prints, but the snowboard spoke to me, and it reminded me of my sons’ love for snowboarding, their one true passion back in Tahoe. The best part is that the piece could be personalized, so I chose the phrase: “Home Sweet, Lake Tahoe.”

Now, every time I walk into that bathroom, I smile. It’s more than just décor;7 it’s a reminder that while life has taken me across the country, Tahoe will always be a part of my home.

☕ Support the Journey

If this post resonated with you or made you feel a little less alone on your own path, you’re always welcome to support my writing with a cup of coffee. Your kindness helps me keep sharing real stories and new chapters, one step at a time: 👉 coff.ee/smalltownmichele

DoorDashing Through Maryland

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On Friday, I officially became a Dasher.

With no income coming in just yet and my savings starting to dwindle, I knew I needed to do something — anything — to bridge the gap while I wait to hear back about a position I applied for with the school district. So, I signed up with DoorDash and hit the road.

Over the past two days, I’ve driven from quiet North East, Maryland to the busier streets of Newark, Delaware — and everywhere in between. That’s over 200 miles of exploring neighborhoods, small communities, and lively towns I’d barely noticed before.

It’s been eye-opening in the best way. I’ve now seen more of this area in 48 hours than I did in the entire month prior. And through it all — from winding country roads to packed intersections — I’m reminded that movement, even small, keeps us going.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not easy. But it’s honest work. And for now, it’s helping.

One delivery at a time, I’m moving forward.

☕ Support the Journey:
If you’ve ever found yourself in that strange in-between space — waiting, hoping, and still doing the work anyway — I see you. If this post resonated or reminded you of a chapter you’ve lived through, and you’d like to support the writing behind it, here’s where you can do that: 👉 coff.ee/smalltownmichele


Little by Little, We’re Getting Closer

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The kids and I arrived in Maryland on June 17, and honestly? The drive across the country was a complete blur. We left California on a Saturday and rolled into Maryland by Tuesday, 2700 miles in 4 days. Alex and I were driving 12+ hours some days. She and I were trading off after I started getting tired. Then all of us were sleeping in the car at Travel Rest Stops with it still running, just so we could leave the AC on, thanks to all the rain and humidity we hit in most states.

We were cramped in the car each night, tired, and trying to stay sane… with three kids, two cats, a dog, and a tortoise all packed in.

It was definitely an adventure — one I hope I never have to repeat in this lifetime.

But we made it.

Since getting here, we’ve been knocking out task after task. The boys got their Maryland IDs. Alex and I paid for our driver’s licenses, which should be arriving soon. Medical insurance has been switched over. Prescriptions transferred. The boys are officially registered for high school, and Alex is set for college.

I’m still working on getting the car registrations finished — and trying to fully change our mailing address from California to Maryland. It feels never-ending some days, but we’re doing it.

I’ve also applied for a few school district jobs, but so far, no calls for interviews. I’m doing my best to stay patient and positive. I came to Maryland without a job lined up — just faith, determination, and a whole lot of hope that something will come through soon.

Love, light, and prayers for a job.

Nevertheless, I’m proud of us. Even with a long list of “to-dos” still ahead, we’re here and that’s what matters.

☕ Support the Journey

If this post about moving, waiting, and starting over resonated with you or made you feel a little less alone on your own path, you’re always welcome to support my writing with a cup of coffee. Your kindness helps me keep sharing real stories and new chapters, one step at a time: 👉 coff.ee/smalltownmichele

🚗 A Lesson in Waiting: When the Car Finally Came

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Alex’s car finally arrived! We hadn’t had it since June 11th, but on July 12th, it was loaded onto a transporter and it made the long journey all the way from California to Maryland.

After more than a week of waiting, calls, delays, and vague updates, the car is finally here. And I’m grateful. But I’d be lying if I said the whole experience didn’t test my patience in ways I wasn’t quite prepared for.

The car had made it to Philly a week ago. I knew that much. And then… it just sat. Four whole days of sitting. Not moving, not progressing, not being delivered. Every day I called, asked for an ETA, and got the same uncertain tone on the other end. “Soon.” “Maybe tomorrow.” But tomorrow kept shifting.

And here’s the thing: I may not have had official updates, but I had other ways of knowing where the car was. Let’s just say I had eyes on the situation, aka an AirTag. I didn’t say a word to the delivery company, of course since some things are better left unspoken. But that quiet knowing, that silent tracking, made the waiting somehow feel even longer.

Because I knew it wasn’t stuck in traffic. It wasn’t on the way. It was just sitting still. Close, but not quite home.

And that’s where the real lesson came in – Waiting isn’t always about time, it’s about surrender.
Letting go of control. Resisting the urge to push. Choosing calm even when every part of you wants to scream, “Just deliver the car already!”

It reminded me how uncomfortable patience can be. Not the light, fluffy kind where you say “it’ll happen when it happens”, but the gritty, frustrating kind where you know what’s supposed to be happening, and it still isn’t. Sometimes in life, delays aren’t just setbacks, they’re gentle redirections guiding us exactly where we need to be, even if we don’t see it right away.

But eventually, the wait ended. The car showed up. Alex has wheels, and I’ve got a story (and a little more restraint) under my belt.

Turns out, patience isn’t about sitting still, it’s about what we choose to do while we wait.

☕ Support the Journey:
If you’ve ever waited for something that felt like it should have already arrived, while quietly tracking the chaos in the background, you’re not alone. If this post gave you a moment of “yep, been there,” feel free to support my writing with a cup of coffee: 👉 coff.ee/smalltownmichele

My Maryland Driver’s License Adventure

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Today I did the thing and went to the MVA (that’s right, not DMV… I’m still reprogramming my brain) and applied for my Maryland driver’s license! As a Recovering Californian, this feels like a milestone. I’m slowly shedding my West Coast habits, well, except for saying “the freeway.” I keep calling it that, and while no one here in Maryland has corrected me (yet), I know I’m sticking out like a palm tree in a forest of oaks.

On the East Coast, it’s all “highway” or “route.” You’ll hear people say, “Take 95” or “hop on Route 40”—not a freeway in earshot, linguistically speaking. But old habits die hard. I’m trying, okay?

Now, let’s talk about the real challenge: the vision test. I’ve got a cataract in my right eye that covers my pupil, and those little letters? They looked like alphabet soup. I finally gave in and put on my driving glasses at the suggestion of the MVA clerk for my right eye. I saw a smidge better, just enough to pass. So, yes, “corrective lenses required” will now be part of my driver’s license.

But the good news? I passed. I survived the MVA. And in 7–10 business days, I’ll be holding my shiny new Maryland license, officially making me a licensed East Coaster.

One more step on my “Leaving California” healing journey complete.

Next stop: learning to remember to say “MVA” and “highway”.

☕ Support the Journey:
From failing to call it a “highway” to barely passing the vision test thanks to my right eye doing its own thing, this Maryland chapter is already full of character. If you got a chuckle or felt a little less alone reading about my license saga, you can always fuel the ride with a cup of coffee at:
👉 coff.ee/smalltownmichele