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About the
"other side of the river"

Welcome!   I am Amber, a 40-something year old mom of three, wife to a woodworker, teacher, and lover of all things Milwaukee.

I was raised in a small town near the Wolf River.  My mom died when I was in high school, and no one ever really talked about her after her death.  I lost so many memories of her; another driving force in creating this website.

 

I spent my college years in La Crosse, and enjoyed everything the Mississippi River had to offer.  I spent many nights camping on the sandbars.

In 2009, I moved to Milwaukee to student teach.  My roommates at the time found an awesome rental in a cul-de-sac with trails to the Milwaukee River right in our backyard.  I loved having the natural beauty of the river and the life of a city.  

It seemed like no matter where I lived, I was destined to be near a river.

Amber is carrying her daughter and posing with the Bronze Fonz and her husband Graham

After many years of living in Milwaukee, a year traveling Asia, marriage and three kids, I wanted a small town feel again--without being in a small town.  We found this old farmhouse duplex in River Hills, which is a perfect blend of city and country living.

1920s farmhouse on hidden behind huge trees in River Hills Wisconsin

At our previous property in Riverwest, we built a small garden, greenhouse, and play area for our kids.  We remodeled the interior with custom craftsmanship and created a really unique space.  We enjoyed transforming that little property, and it was difficult for us to sell because we had so many more ideas! We are thrilled to replicate this process on a larger scale at our new location, on the other side of the Milwaukee River. 

The kids overlook the Milwaukee River waterfall in Kletzsch Park

 

On this site, you will find information about:

  • homesteading - both urban and suburban 

  • all things homemaking - recipes, health and fitness,  marriage, schedules and routines, cleaning and organization, and kid activities 

  • articles highlighting our home renovations

  • tutoring services and teaching ideas

  • building plans or step-by-step instructions so you can to replicate some of our projects ​

Thank you for visiting.  I hope you find something here that is helpful, inspiring, useful, or funny.  Cheers!

Amber and Graham cheers as a camel sits behind them while on their Indian desert camping experience
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