{Essential Oils} dōTERRA

Look what I got in the mail today!! I am super excited to try out my new essential oils!
 

My husband brought home eucalyptus oil one day when my girls had this horrid cough. He just put a few drops in the pot of water that we keep on the wood burning stove, instantly the air smelled refreshing and I could feel my nasal passages open up. After a few days, the girls coughs were still lingering, so I decided to boil some water on the stove and pour it into a bowl with two drops of eucalyptus oil. I had my girls breathe in the steam and the very next day, I kid you not, their coughs were gone!

We have been using eucalyptus oil for a few years now but I really didn't know there were other oils out there that could benefit us. I like to make my own cleaning supplies and have read a lot of recipes using lemon essential oil, so I have been wanting to get some for quite some time, but just kept putting it off. That is until my sister in-law was introduced to dōTERRA essential oils. She ordered me some lemon essential oil, and in all honesty it sat on a shelf collecting dust for a few months...

My sister in-law has been sharing fantastic testimonials with me for many months and sent me home with a few oils to try.

 

I have been struggling with digestive issues for years and fairly recently figured out I can no longer have certain forms of dairy (no it is not the lactose) or beef. Which, well is very ironic, since we own a milk cow and raise our own beef. One of the oils she sent with me is dōTERRA's DigestZen. I cannot express enough how amazing this is! Just the other day I was able to eat a big, fat, juicy burger without pain or discomfort!!! I can't even remember the last time I was able to do that!

Remember that lemon essential oil that was collecting dust, well I now use it everyday. I just put one drop in a glass of water every morning and enjoy! While I am not 100% certain if the lemon is the reason, but my skin has never been this soft before, ever!

So, with all that said, I decided to order my very own dōTERRA essential oil kit and become a Wellness Advocate! I can't wait to see and experience the benefits all essential oils have to offer me and my family!

I would love to hear your experiences as well, or if you are interested in how essential oils can benefit you, just leave a comment or email me! You can also visit my dōTERRA website here. Would love to hear from you!

 

 

{Elly May} Our New Puppy

This is Elly May!

Isn't she just the sweetest little thing you ever did see?

 

We welcomed her to our family about a month ago! She is a 'Schnaussie' or 'Confetti Schnauzer'

 or 'Mutt' if you prefer.

She is a Mini Schnauzer and Mini Australian Shepherd cross. She loves her bed, her ball,

and her toys.

Elly loves running around outside, playing with sticks, eating chicken poop,

teasing the geese through the fence, playing keep away with horse 'apples' and

playing tug-a-war with our pants.

Oh, we love her so!

{Breathtaking}

I can never find the right words to express what I see when God's beautiful creation takes my breath away....this is why I speak through photographs.

 

 

Happy Thursday!

 

 

{Slow Cooker Applesauce & Apple Butter}

Slow Cooker Applesauce:

Peel and Core enough apples to fill your crockpot.

Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, or until your apple sauce is the texture you want.

Stirring every so often.

 

Slow Cooker Apple Butter:

courtesy of littlehouseonthevalley.com

Peel and Core enough apples to fill your crock pot.

In a separate bowl combine, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1tblsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. ground cloves, 1/4 tsp. salt

Pour sugar mixture over apples and cook on low for 2 hours then stir.

Cook for 8 more hours (I slept while the crockpot did all the work)

Stir in 2tsp. lemon juice and 1tblsp. vanilla

Taste - add more sugar if needed.

Cook 1 to 2 more hours with the lid off to allow for thickening.

 

 

{Freezing Corn}

We just love fresh corn around here but can never eat it all before it goes to waste. I really enjoy preserving our food for later either by freezing it or canning it. This way we can enjoy it all year long.

 

How we freeze corn on the cob:

Prep:

-Bring a pot of water to a boil

-Fill kitchen sink with ice water

-Remove Husks from the corn

Blanch:

-Place cobs in boiling water

-Bring the water back to a boil

-Blanch for 4-7 minutes

-Remove cobs from boiling water and place directly into ice water

-Allow cobs to cool for 4-7 minutes

Store:

-Label and fill storage bags

-Store for up to 12 months

 

Enjoy!

{Apples Apples Apples}

Many signs of Autumn have presented themselves here on the homestead. We have picked our apples and are ready for homemade applesauce, apple butter, apple crisp, apple pie, caramel apples, just to name a few...

 

 

Photo Bomb by Darcy...

 



{Spring has Sprung}

The ladies and I found a nest of these little cuties :) We are so ready for spring and all that it brings with it.

 

 

 

Happy Spring!!!

{Fun with Fondant}

The ladies and I decided to try our hand at baking a beautiful cake (we used the store bought mix). We really wanted to make something fun and colorful. I have been wanting to try out fondant for a while now, and decided we would try out this marshmallow fondant recipe I found.

16 ounces of marshmallows

4 tablespoons Water

2 pounds Powdered Sugar

Gel Food Coloring

Put Marshmallows and water in a microwave safe bowl, Microwave for about 2 mins, stirring every 30 seconds or so. When your marshmallow mix is no longer lumpy, mix in 3/4 of the powdered sugar, mixing, mixing, folding, mixing, until workable, then knead on a greased surface, adding sugar as needed until the texture is smooth and no longer sticky. Cover in plastic wrap and let cool for at least an hour. We kneaded in the food coloring after it cooled in small portions because we wanted multiple colors, but if you are wanting just one color add the the food coloring after you melt the marshmallows and before you add the sugar.

*we put vegetable oil on our hands to prevent it from sticking to us.

We sure had a ton of fun with the fondant but I don't think I will be going professional anytime soon. The Ladies and I think it turned out Great for a Baby Shower! 

Happy Sunday!

{County Fair}

 

 

 

 

 

{Summer Storm}

The Ladies and I enjoyed watching this storm slowly move across the Black Hills. To the west, the sun was peaking through beautiful white puffy clouds, in the east was a beautiful rainbow, but to the north west there were angry clouds, flashes of lightning, and thunder pounding.

 

 

 

 

 

I was even lucky enough to capture a bolt of lightning!



{Ministry}

I spent the week working up in Sturgis, SD during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I just loved being across from this vendor booth.

 

http://awakeninginhimministry.com/

 

 

These are some of the nicest people you could hope to meet at the Rally. Their motorcycles were absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I found myself staring at details and scripture on the bikes throughout the day. One bike read:

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

 ~John 10:10                                              

 



 

 With everyone that passed, they took special notice to the ones with handicaps and to the children. They were giving out T-Shirts and Books. The books are a set with scripture and stories. The first edition contains the New Testament followed by teachings with scripture references. I have flipped through the series, but have yet to look close to what they contain. As soon as I finish reading the first one I will let y'all know what the second book contains.

 

Happy Friday!

 



{Love Nebraska}

 

Reasons to Fall in Love with Nebraska!

 

{Ladies Day Out}

Took the Ladies bowling and out for ice cream!

 

 

Life is Good!!

{Foreseen}

Hubby painted this when he was a little boy....

 

 

 

It looks really familiar to me...

 

 



{Welcome to the World}

 

We welcomed two new boys to the 'Farm'

 

Baby's Boy ~ April 15th

Mama's Boy ~ April 25th

{Fun Filled Day}

Today was filled with all sorts of ADVENTURES!

 

Climbing Trees...

 

 

Mud Pies...



 

Water Cans...

 

Hiking in the Hills...

Reminiscing...

 

Playing in the Woods...

 

 

& Just Having Fun!