Hello, I’m Ruby. It’s so lovely to have you here!

Welcome to Thyme On Our Hands, a place where I love to share what we’re currently eating, the projects I’m working on, and the skills I’m learning to live as self-sufficiently as we can.

I am married to my incredibly handy, amazingly supportive husband, Rick. He makes all of my dreams come true and challenges me to become 1% better every day. He is my everything.

In 2018, we bought a small 40s mill house on a quarter acre, intending to update it, sell it, and move on. Five years later, we’re still here — making do with what we have and making our little house a home. 

We spend our free time gardening, preserving food, working on DIY projects, taking care of our backyard chickens, and loving our hound, Red. Rick has his own handyman business, and I work a 9-5 remote job in marketing, branding, and design. 

I was born in England, but have called the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina my home for the majority of my life. Somehow, I kept my funny Yorkshire accent — a blessing and a curse, living in the South. 

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve called myself an “old lady stuck in a young person’s body”. I’ve tried following my generation, but it never felt like me. I long for a slow life and relish completing everyday tasks. I find fulfillment in homemaking, living with less, and making those around me feel truly special. 

I have long dreamt of sharing my from-scratch recipes, DIY projects, and intentional approach to life with the world. In fact, Rick and I even toyed with the idea of hosting Airbnb events in our area to share our knowledge with others!

I’ve launched this blog to inspire others to slow down. It’s my one and only hope that you, too, can bring intention into our modern, fast-paced lives and carve out time for the things that matter most — making real, nourishing food for the people we love and creating things with our own two hands.