Healing Salve

This year I plan on making more. Getting my business up and running again. I got out out my dried flowers that have been infusing in grape seed oil for sometime now and made a beautiful healing salve. Infused Calendula & Lavender with tea tree oil and essential oils. Perfect for healing/soothing eczema, dried skin/cracked skin. A great staple to have in our healing cabinet!

Wildroot Cakery

Local Fort Wayne Peeps!

I recently started a lil side home bakery. Anyone needing a pretty naked cake, or mini cakes, cuppies (cupcakes) or smash cakes? I make good old fashion gluten cakes and cater to Gluten Free Peeps as well as Vegan Peeps. OOAK naked pretty homemade cakes! 

You can fid me on Facebook and Instagram!

Easter Cake

Carrot Cake

My Birthday Cake

This year I made my own birthday cake! 

Isn't it a beauty???

Gluten Free red velvet with raspberry preserves, raspberry curd, and chocolate pudding layers...And iced with buttercream/cream cheese frosting. Oh YUMMMMY!

Eat Cake

Here is my second cake decorating attempt. 

All from scratch, gluten free chocolate raspberry cake with cream cheese buttercream frosting layered with lavender blueberry preserves, drizzled with chocolate gnache. And it was delightful!!!!

Naked Cake

I love baking and making things pretty but I didn't realize I may have a little knack for actually decorating cakes. I have made cakes but never really tried my hand at decorating techniques. I have been drawn to the beauty of the naked cake you see all over Pinterest that people do for weddings and such. I was also asked to do my son and fiance's cake for their upcoming wedding in May. An honor to be asked by them. I thought it may be a good idea to start practicing for it. My soon to be daughter in law requested the naked cake look. 

I did my first practice run the other day. I used a box cake mix for this..Mind you I will be doing their cake by scratch. This was a cheap alternative since it is a practice cake. The look of their cake will also be very different. Again, this is just for practice. And I am quite pleased that I made this thing. It looks professional...(i think) I have a couple months to practice...So I will definitely be baking many more. I even decided I would make our 25th Wedding Anniversary Cake and my birthday cake coming up in April. So I do have an excuse to have some cake...Right?

Who knows maybe this can turn into a lil side business. 

We will see. 

I made a homemade butter cream with the peach preserves I canned up this last Summer. It is layered with Basil Peach jam I also made, then drizzled with peach sauce...also, homemade. I think a cake from scratch would taste best...Cake mix cake is kinda eh..... Still very happy with the turnout. 

Mama Bear~Papa Bear & Baby Bear

I went to a friends baby shower over the weekend and wanted to give her something special. So I decided to paint her a picture for her new baby's room. I like to give gifts that are a lil different than what everyone else would give and this I feel is a keepsake I hope they will treasure for years. I bet it's going to look absolutely adorable in her baby boys room!

I ended up posting the picture of my painting on Insta Gram and already have a commission to do for a family of six. Will share when I complete it! 

Country Girl Sweet Dill Pickles

Pickle time! 

Here is a recipe for my favorite pickles!

Country Girl Sweet Dill Pickles

Bring to a boil: 3 Cups sugar, 2 Tablespoons salt, 2 Cups pure apple cider vinegar, 2 Cups water.

Place in each pint jar (about 4 pint jars): sliced cucumbers

1 whole garlic clove, 1 fresh dill sprig

Pour liquid into sterile jars. Seal. Process in boiling water about 15 minutes in canner.

Allow the pickles to cure for a month before eating! 

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I cheated and dug into them after a week! They were great!!!

Summertime Canning

I've spent the last few days in the kitchen canning jams! So far I made strawberry jam, strawberry rhubarb jam, strawberry lavender jam, and blueberry lavender jam. The house smells wonderful Hours later I am still smelling the lavender! Now I am trying to get my kitchen back in order. It has been nice to finally get back to doing things I love after a long hiatus over the last many many months. It was rough, but I have found the light at the end of the tunnel! Thanks be to God.

Hoping to tackle the garden beds this weekend too...The weeds are a bajillion feet tall....I also managed to start some oil infusions made with lavender and calendula. In a matter of four weeks I will be able to make soap too! Finally feeling accomplished!!!