A Mother's Day Gift to You...

Hello Friends!

I feel so blessed by the many friendships I have made through my blog...and feel lucky to know so many wonderful people!

This Mother's Day, I hope that you are surrounded by the special Mothers in your lives and are able to show your love to them in small ways.

Mothers have such a special place in our lives!
If you are a reader, you know how near and dear motherhood is to me.

Here is a little gift to you for Mother's Day...

to show my appreciation to you, my friend. 

My sweet sister in law, Dani, helped me to create this publication.

She is amazing!! I admire her so much, and she is not only a best buddy, but I admire her tremendously as a Mother!

So thank you for reading my posts and being a friend!

And thank you Dani for all of your help :).

Making Homemade Yogurt

I think I have quite possibly stumbled upon the most perfect yogurt in the world.

I owe my gratitude to Roller Mill Farms  who posted the recipe not long ago.

And, oh my, it is simply creamy, delectable, full of good bacteria to help balance flora in your gut, and 

irresistible.

 There are so many reasons to love real yogurt. By making your own, you ensure that you are indeed including live, active cultures that are quintessential to a healthy belly.

You can also flavor it to your palate and even make it sugar free!

Homemade Vanilla Yogurt

1 gallon organic whole milk

3 TBS. yogurt with LIVE CULTURES to use as a starter {I used vanilla Tillamook brand}

3 TBS. real vanilla extract

stevia or honey to taste

4 sanitized quart canning jars with lids

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Heat your milk in a heavy stainless steel pot to 180 degrees, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat immediately...don't let it cook long at 180....it will have a different taste if you do.

Put pot in sink of ice water and cool milk to 120 degrees. 

Add starter, vanilla, and honey or stevia. 

I usually taste the batch to see if it is sweet enough.

Whisk milk until ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.

Heat oven to 200 degrees, then turn off. 

Fill jars with milk, seal, and let sit in oven for 8 hours.

You will want to heat the oven to 200 degrees again after 4 hours, and then turn off.

DO NOT DISTURB the yogurt...or try to "check on it."

After 8 hours, remove from oven and put in refrigerator until completely cool.

My yogurt always turns out creamy and thick.

If you want a Greek style yogurt, simply pour into a colander lined with 2 layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter. 

Strain off the whey for 15 - 30 minutes.

The longer you strain, the thicker the yogurt.

If you have lumps you can't get with stirring, you can use an immersion blender to smooth it out.

Don't forget to keep 2 tablespoons yogurt starter for the next batch.

 You can even freeze the starter!

* For plain yogurt, emit sweetener and vanilla.

For fruit flavors, be sure to add after the yogurt is made, before enjoying it.

The possibilities are endless...

Yogurt pairs so well with crunchy,homemade granola.

What a healthy little breakfast when you are in a rush.

Have you tried my granola recipe?

It is divine....click here.

For the crockpot method of making yogurt, click HERE.

Happy yogurt making!

Enjoy!

~Julia

Spring Around the Farm

The weather has warmed and the breezy days are here. 

Spring is such a  glorious season.

The kids have been busy with many projects.

Baby bunnies...

Baby calves, who aren't looking quite like babies anymore.

I think we have baby kittens coming soon.

That one is my fault....I brought home another cat because I can't seem to find our farm cats anywhere. 

They just up and left one day.

We were feeding them, and petting them daily, so I don't know what happened.

I found a free cat at a yard sale, and the next day a tom cat was here.

Beatrice is about a year old...I just thought I had more than a day to bring her into the vet :).

That's OK...kittens will be fun!

The apple trees have blossoms...

My garden is slowly growing.

Oh, I can't wait for fresh vegetables!

Kids spend the day in the water.
They think it is summer :).

The sandbox turns into a myriad of ponds and rivers.

Chip, our pony, is getting a little more exercise in.

Life right now is like looking at everything for the first time.

Fresh perspective.

New growth in us and around us.

Hope your day is warm and wonderful!

~Julia

Advertise on Blissfully Content

This is all new to me, but I felt led to start advertising for a very small fee on Blissfully Content.

There are so many mothers who desire to help provide extra income, and I thought this would be such a great way to help those of you who are contemplating growing your business or blog.

I love to promote and help fellow mothers at home, the handmade community, bloggers, and small businesses that appeal to Blissfully Content's lovely readership {we're a family friendly bunch...and fairly conservative}. 

You have all been such dear friends, so I wanted to offer 2 people a FREE spot for one month!

No commitment necessary, just a free month.

It will have to be first come, first serve!

Read HERE about the particulars and how to place an ad.

When checking out, enter in the code BLISSFUL and get a whole month free!!

*The two free spots have been filled...thank you!!

I look forward to your "company" here at Blissfully Content.

~Julia

Chicken Wire Canning Jars

The lovely warm Spring days are giving way to the first flowers of the season.

I thought this was such a darling way to display flowers and use old canning jars or other containers you have saved.

You will need just a few supplies.

Carefully measure your jar from the rim down.
Add 1/2 inch for the bottom of the jar.
Use the closed end {one side} of the chicken wire for the top and  cut the wire down the middle of the hexagons on both sides.

For the bottom edge, just try and snip so there are no loose wires.

Starting with the top, tightly wind the chicken wire to the rim and secure by folding back one of the loose ends under a corresponding hexagon.
Use your needle nose pliers to bend back and secure so that no wires are turning outward.

Mold the wire around the jar, and fold the bottom edge under firmly.

Continue latching and folding the wires back all the way down, until you have reached the base.
It should look something like this...

It really does not have to be the epitome of perfection.
The rustic imperfections add to the charming look of the jar!

When you are finished, make sure to really press the wire on the underside down.
Test it to see if the jar stands flat.
Your finished product is ready for candles, tea lights, or flowers!

Spring Blessings,

~Julia

Linked to Jen Rizzo.

Make Your Own Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum

Who doesn't want dewy, youthful, glowing skin all year long?

I know I do. 

As I age I am finding that my skin feels dry, though I nourish it with lots of water and good moisturizers.

We live in an area full of wind, hot summer weather, and low moisture...so I have a few things against my skin when I step outside.

But we have lots of glorious sunshine, which in small doses, is so good for you...even your skin!

In an effort to begin a new routine of toxic free skin care, I have been researching products....and my findings have been downright scary.

From sunscreen to moisturizers and common makeup on the market....all I find are products laden with heavy chemicals known to disrupt hormone levels, cause cancer, and promote other diseases.

Ouch!

Our skin is the largest organ in our body and why not tenderly nourish it with products that gently promote rejuvenation and healing.

Forget the products out there that cause damage and are filled with chemicals designed to lengthen shelf life.

There are just a handful of companies that truly do use fresh, organic, nourishing natural ingredients.

Anderson Family Farm happens to be one of my favorites!

Their long line of spectacular moisturizers and other beauty products are all natural and beautifully formulated.

My favorite lotion...

I love that my skin feels like it just had a long, nutritious drink after using their products.

Everything is fresh and easily absorbed into your skin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you know that the cosmetics industry is unregulated and many products are made from poorly tested chemicals?

Makers can use almost any ingredient they choose AND the FDA can't require safety tests or recall harmful products.

Source here...

I found a high quality makeup company and feel like their line is quite possibly the best on the market.

I was introduced through a wonderful blog, Roost. 

RMS Beauty has a line of makeup that heals and nourishes the skin and is completely non toxic.

Slowly, I am ordering as the budget allows :). 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you know me, you know that I am also a "do it your selfer", and of course, I love it when I can create something that has impeccable quality and is easy on the pocket book.

I am planning an upcoming post on homemade sunscreen.

There is a lot of controversy right now as to if you even need it, but we tend to have longer exposure to the sun and I feel like it is a good thing to have on hand. 

We have also generously increased our antioxidant levels and good Omega's....but I will talk more about that later.

Today I will share a most amazing serum that requires very few ingredients...some of which you may already have on hand.

It is quite easy to make and your skin will feel renewed and moisturized.

Wrinkles will fade and the serum is chock full of vitamins and antioxidants formulated in smaller molecules so that they can absorb deep into the skin.

Serums are designed to penetrate and treat various skin conditions, such as redness, dehydration or lack of firmness, wrinkles, dark spots or to brighten the skin.

They tend to also be a fairly expensive purchase!

Serums do not replace moisturizers, so you will want to keep a good moisturizer in your routine.

Rather, serums are designed to deliver rich nutrients deep into the skin because they are made from smaller molecules.

For the best results, apply this serum after cleansing and toning and then follow up with a moisturizer to seal it in and increase the potency.

The serum contains:

Vitamin C {L Ascorbic Acid}: 
Improves the appearance of skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles and protects and lessens the effects of sunburns. 

It also protects the skin from free-radical attack, and prevents skin cell damage due to ultraviolet radiation. 

Once L-Ascorbic acid penetrates the skin, it stays there for up to 72 hours.

 This means that a properly formulated topical vitamin-C product can have a long lasting effect in the skin.

Fast acting, results can be seen in just a few days or weeks of use. 

Improvement in skin texture and skin tone is easily noticeable after several days of use. 

Depressed scars may take several months to be normalized.

Source

Almond Oil: 
protects the skin from sun damage, relieves inflammation and irritation, rejuvenates and softens skin, reduces scarring.

Olive Oil: 
Rich in vitamin E, plumps and moisturizes skin, fights free radicals, calms irritations.

Geranium Essential Oil {Optional}: 
helps scars and other spots on skin to fade, facilitates blood circulation just below the skin surface, encourages regeneration of new cells, and tones up muscles and skin.

Lavender Essential Oil {optional}: 
antifungal and great for eczema added to chamomile, reduces wrinkles and scars, very soothing.

Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum

1/2 tsp L Ascorbic Acid {Buy HERE}

5 tsp. distilled water {this is important as the high oxygen content in tap water will cause the Vit. C to break down faster.} OR 5 tsp. rose water

3 tsp. almond oil {source}

1/2 tsp. olive oil

3 drops geranium essential oil 

3 drops lavender essential oil

2 oz. small dark dropper bottle {I bought mine HERE}

{You need a dark bottle as the light can cause the ascorbic acid to fade in potency.}

First mix the Vit. C crystals with the distilled water.

Stir frequently until completely dissolved. This may take up to 20 minutes, but you want to make sure you don't have a grainy mixture.

Also, do not heat the distilled water. Heat will cause the Vit. C to break down and you want the maximum effectiveness on your skin.

Add the rest of the ingredients and then stir until mixed well.

Carefully pour into your bottle and store for up to two weeks.
After that, the serum loses potency.

{ I used my cream container to pour.}

Ascorbic acid breaks down fast and you want it to be super fresh for maximum absorption.

Apply at night after cleansing and follow up with a moisturizer.

I love how this serum feels on my skin.

Instantly everything feels firm, yet moisture rich!

Best of all the ingredients are fresh, natural, and healing to the skin.

*Please note: it is wise to test a small area on your skin first. Some people are sensitive to ascorbic acid. This product has worked wonders on my skin, but you should always test a small area first!

I also give the bottle a little shake before applying.

Looking for more great recipes for skin care...click HERE for a really good resource!

Enjoy!

~Julia

Linked to Homestead Barn Hop!

Pondering Easter

Easter week.

I can't believe we are here already!

A full season of Lenten reflection and activity coming to a climax with the resurrection on Sunday.

For Lent, I've been reflecting upon my gratitude for family.

The Holy family was such an example of love and simplicity and I can't imagine how Mary felt as she watched her Son crucified and killed on a cross.

Oh, her heart must have broken into an inexplicable shatter.

But three days later, there was lively celebration that He was risen and renewed.

A promise that they would be together forever in heaven one day.

That joyful scenario has played over and over in my mind this season.

Losing my Dad was epic, but healing has started for our family and I realize how prominent and precious our upbringing was.

I am so grateful that the Lord so graciously shows us that there is hope eternal...gently through the Easter season.

 {Kids fetching the packer for Dad at the bottom of the field.}

Growing up, we had parents and grandparents who made time for us.

Lots of time to talk and pass on morals and values, skills, full of praise as well as heed.

They weren't rich monetarily and didn't give us a lot of material items, but what they did do was create in us a sense of value, worth, and confidence.

Life was simple and Darren and I hope to follow that example with our own children...

Things weren't always perfect or smooth, but I am grateful for each experience God allowed.

Just like the Holy family, there were trials and tribulations, but God's plan painted a beautiful portrait of togetherness.

Each day is a gift...

 My parents followed our "gifts" and nurtured our God given talents.

 {Tim's calves are gaining weight and growing nicely.}

We spent ever so many days just tromping through the woods and building forts.

My Dad would bulldoze us trails and my Mom would make new little paths for us to explore even deeper.

 Dad was always working on something and he was never alone...we were always by his side.

This is something he forever practiced with his grandkids, too.

We could do anything...and were so capable in his eyes.

 {Look at those eyelashes!}

We were blessed with grandparents who dedicated copious amounts of time thoroughly interested in just being with us.

They unabashedly talked and listened and passed on memories.

{Tim building a new rabbit cage for his future rabbits...he is in the business now:).}

Their faith and TIME in us was immeasurable.

Time was worth more than any extra curricular activity {although we selectively had those, too} or new toy that they could give us.

{We dyed eggs with natural dyes this year...but aren't the colors so pretty straight from the hens?}

Faith was nurtured in our hearts as well as our souls and I believe my loved ones heartfelt praise helped to shape us into who we are today.

{Getting ready for a shower to welcome a new cousin into the family...}

I am ever so thankful this Easter season for the simplicity and lack of material possessions that we were blessed with as kids.

It allowed us to create.

It allowed us to grow and have quiet moments to ponder faith.

Simplicity cultivated many opportunities to focus our attention on things of value in life: God, relationships, forgiveness, and joy....and hard work.

{Jack is building planes...and selling them. His price was $90,000...whew...but I chewed him down to $10...hehe.}

There is an exceptional closeness between us.

We are forgiving and encouraging...and I love that those qualities are being passed down to the next generation.

The cousins are more like brothers and sisters:).

{They love art!}

 I am grateful for the TIME my parents spent with us... and the time we have together still.

For family closeness and ties that bind.

My thankfulness runs deep for the precious family God has given me. 

My husband and children make me want to soak up every last minute with them.  

{I promise...they all wear helmets when they are riding! Aren't they darling?} 

 {My boys helping their cousin get his 4 wheeler running :).}

{My Dad gifted me these little chickies on my 10th birthday.}

I whole heartedly wish you the very best Easter this Sunday.

I hope it is a day filled with sweet memories, joy in our risen Lord, and pirouetted with the cheerful serenade of family.

Happy Easter!

~Julia

Sour Cream Red Apple and Blueberry Pie

I love this pie recipe...sweet and creamy with a touch of tart from lovely early apples.
It is a recipe out of the Depression Era and has a delightful old fashioned aura.
I made a couple this morning for the cousins coming over tonight...but we did have a little taste for lunch this afternoon.
It was mighty wonderful!

 

I am joining Anne Marie for Pie*ography Thursday.

It is so much fun to share so many decadent pie recipes.

I am still waiting for my Pieography book to come in the mail.

It is beautifully photographed by Traci Thorson and styled by Anne Marie.

This pie was so delicious and a nice turn on the traditional apple pie.

Sour Cream Red Apple and Blueberry Pie

1 pastry crust
Butter Cinnamon Topping {Recipe to Follow}
3 cups tart, early summer apples peeled and finely chopped
1 cup bleberries
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 cups sour cream
1 egg, well beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. cornstarch

{Butter Cinnamon Topping}
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter at room temperature

Blend all ingredients in a small bowl thoroughly until it is crumbly.
I use my fingers :).

Line a 9 inch pie plate, greased, with pie shell.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Set chopped apples and blueberries aside and combine flour, cinnamon, and sugar together.
 Add sour cream, egg, vanilla, salt, and cornstarch; beat until smooth.
Add apples and blueberries and mix well.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for 20 minutes more.
Remove from oven and  top with Butter Cinnamon Topping.
Bake for another 25 minutes.
Let cool before serving.

Enjoy!

~Julia