it is about more than food

This homesteader wants and strives to become self sustaining. I garden, I can, I freeze, I harvest meat but being a homesteader is more than about food. It is about being independent. Doing things yourself...not looking for someone else to care of you. it is about making repairs, using tools, and sometimes it is scary...very scary because tools are load and you can get hurt using them. When I bought my homestead, the pervious owners left all their tools and machinery for me so I have a lot of stuff that makes a lot of noise. Most are bulky, cumbersome and difficult to control without some practice. A firebrick in my wood burning stove broke and it had to be replaced. I bought a brick and brought it home only to find out it was a couple inches too long. I took it back in hopes of exchanging it but that was the smallest size. When i asked what my options were, i was told I could cut it myself with a masonry blade on a circle saw. Luckily a circle saw was among the left treasures but there was a problem, I did not know how to remove a blade. I love You Tube because I no longer can read directions and understand not since my head injury...I have to see it in my head to do it and YouTube offers a wealth of how to videos that clearly demonstrate a skill. I was able to switch blades and began cutting. The dust was blinding. I could barely see or breathe and I am sure the next time I sneeze, little round bricks will fly out of my nose probably killing whoever is standing before me. The brick got cut and it is now installed and I am ready to safely light a fire. Homesteading is about growing and stretching your limits and finding your own way and doing it scared. It is about so much more than food.