Happy Mother’s Day! My wonderful husband blessed me with a huge rock this year!! Well, actually 11 tons of gravel for my garden!! 🤣 He knows how to talk my love language! After dinner tonight we’re going to cut into this Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk cake I made! If it’s any good, I’ll let you know! 😉 
Good morning, I hope you are all staying healthy during this time of lockdown. Working to keep our immune systems strong is our best defense against any type of sickness. As Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Obviously, good, pure food won’t cure everything that ails us, but poor eating can open up the door to all sorts of problems. I don’t know about you, but I’ve struggled with sadness and total frustration throughout the past month - the emotions coming and going like waves in the ocean during a storm. But again, how I eat affects how I respond to the news articles I try not to read. I’m no authority on healthy eating, but I do know how much eating well helps me as opposed to allowing myself to eat whatever is cheap and easy. Whole grains, fruits, meats, and a little red wine are my staples. Sweets are still a part of my life, but I keep them to a minimum. We had a bit of wind two nights ago, nothing like those in the Deep South, but it was enough to break several branches off my neighbor’s lilac bush. She shared some of the branches with me, and I’m using their fragrant scent as a reminder that though life may feel broken right now, I can use this time to be a blessing - the sweet aroma of God’s love to those around me. @karenraif . . . #eatwellfeelwell #sourdoughbread #lifeinlockdown #april2020 
Annie is officially bored! She actually allowed me to bless her skin with an @realrawbeauty facial mask! I’ve been using these amazing organic skincare products for almost two years and she’s never wanted to try a mask! Silly girl! But today she wore the mask until it dried, washed it off and then let me apply Real Raw Beauty Toner! “Yum, this smells like lemonade!” I finally got to play Spa Ma! . 🧖🏻♀️ . #organicskincare #shelteringinplace #happygoodfriday✝️ 
I feel the weight of Good Friday in a new way this year. I sat with Annie and watched a version she could understand of the Last Supper, the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus. I wept, she hid her eyes, and then we talked about the great Love Jesus poured out for us when He willingly gave His life as a ransom for us. I’m so thankful for the cross and I’m ever so thankful that Sunday is coming! This photo is a re-post from @christybwright 
This is what happens when your governor considers beauty salons to be nonessential: you feel yourself turning into Carol Brady. 
I’m a huge fan of essential oils and have been using All of these Young Living Thieves products for years. As a way to help fight the Corona virus, Young Living put many of their Thieves products together into a Preparedness Kit - and at a great price. My daughter, @theorganicmomma introduced me to these oils several years ago, and she’s offering a special $20 bonus gift to anyone who places an order today. If you’ve never experienced the benefits of using Young Living’s Thieves products, now is the perfect time to see how amazing they are! Let me know if you’re interested in a great deal on a great set of products and Catherine and I will be glad to help you out! 
I wonder if any of you were like me before the required pandemic quarantine? My family was already together a lot. When Garry would take Annie to the gym or to run errands with him was my alone time. So for those of you who are now able to spend more time together as a family, I’m so happy for you! But personally, I just want to go shopping or meet someone for coffee, or send Garry and Annie out of the house for a few hours So I figured out what to do! I care for my plants and seedlings and dream of warmer days when I can work out in my garden. And/or I go in my kitchen, turn on the soundtrack to Momma Mia, and bake bread! I was able to give away four sourdough baguettes yesterday! How are you handling your time of social distancing? . . #sourdoughexchange #bakingsourdough #organicgardener #organicgarden #ilovemyfamily❤️ 
In January, I made a sourdough starter, and I’ve been having tons of fun ever since! Watching flour and water and time create a bubbly natural yeast is like living in a science fiction movie in my kitchen! I still have so much to learn, but I’m having a blast! PLUS! Sourdough bread is better for your gut health, and many people who are unable to eat gluten can eat real sourdough bread. It’s fermented yeast, which makes the bread easier for your body to digest; it’s lower in phytates, which also helps improve mineral absorption. And the slow fermentation process needed to make the bread rise gives the bread a flavor you can’t get with instant yeast. It’s kind of like a good wine - you don’t want to rush the production, or you’ll end up with a bottle of $3-Chuck (does Trader Joes still sell that? I love that sourdough bread goes so well with wine, cheese, and olive oil - all food items that taste better when made without haste. Fermented foods. Yum! And there’s always bread to share! And sourdough starter to share! Do you enjoy slow food? #fermentedfood #sourdoughbaking #timeinmykitchen #letsbake #sourdoughexperiment 
Happy first day of Spring! A season for fresh starts and hearts full of anticipation (not anxiety). I’ve spent my day kneading sourdough bread and planting more seeds in preparation for my garden. These are two of the ways I calm my anxious heart. Watching God take what I have available in my hand and use it to see new life and fresh bread, does my heart my good! There’s nothing quite as relaxing as kneading dough and listening to music! . . . #ilovemyorganicgarden #organicgarden #organicgardening #ilovemyfamily❤️ #ilovetobake 
What if you could have your favorite cake, ANDDDDD eat it too! This chocolate cake is made with coconut flour and is so much more delicious than I can describe with words. I’m sharing the recipe in the latest issue of Be my Guest magazine (link on my profile page) I froze the last piece of this cake to give to my oldest daughter, but oops! I’m not sure what happened, but I “forgot” to give it to her! I was a nice mom, though, and I shared a couple of bites with Annie (because she caught me enjoying it with my coffee). The coconut flour makes the cake a fantastically moist, and even though I find the cake to be a bit crumbly, the crumbles are so moist they load themselves right back onto my fork! You might not want to wait for Easter to try this delicious cake! #onlinemagazine #bakingwithsourdough #eastertablesetting #organicgardeningtips #ilovetobake❤ #ilovemygarden🌱 #coconutflourcake #cookingwithcastiron #perspective