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Saturday, May 31, 2014

June 2014 Chain "Linky" CLIMB & Giveaway!


God’s Growing Garden
 photo 2toclimb_zps515fa21c.jpg
 
WELCOME!
It's the month long Networking Blog Hop 
With our 8th CLIMB GIVEAWAY!
Networking means helping each other grow!! 
If you want to promote a CLIMB link, then use #ChainLinkyCLIMB on Twitter or Google+ so that we can all help each other grow!
Here's how the Giveaway & Co-hosting works - the co-hosts from the previous month's CLIMB will have the opportunity to participate in a Giveaway during the next CLIMB - that gives co-hosts 2 months in a row of blog growing fun!!  (If you would like to co-host please sign up at the end of this post using the last "Linky") 
Please enter below -one person will win:
- $50 Paypal Cash

- 1 Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise for 30 days - $30 value
- 1 Ad Space on Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains - $20 value

- 1 Ad Space on Cuddlebug Cuties - $7 value

- 2 Sidebar Ad Spaces on God's Growing Garden - $20 value
- Ad Space on Sew Crafty Angel
Total prize value over $100!!

CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions:
- this is open worldwide
- You must be 18 years or older to enter 
- You MUST have a valid Paypal account & a blog to enter
- This Giveaway is open from May 31st, 2014 until June 28th, 2014
- Winner must respond within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen
- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - JUNE 2014 CLIMB blog hop co-hosts ARE allowed to enter this Giveaway (provided they are not also part of the Giveaway)
- correspondence is done through email and the winner's email addresses will only be used to deliver or set-up e-prizes.  Email addresses will NEVER be sold or shared.
- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email one of the hosts:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now onto the CLIMB (blog hop):
We have changed it up a bit - instead of linking your homepage you may now link up to 4 of your family friendly blog posts per month!!

 
CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbIntro_zps6919dad8.jpg


CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbRules_zps77e9b7a4.jpg
By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be promoted on social media.  Also, by participating in this blog hop your email address will be added to our CLIMB list & you will be sent an email reminder next month. 

CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbLink_zpsf527c076.jpg

Remember - If you co-host you will receive a free Weekly Sidebar Ad and your blog button will appear on both Angie's blog & Angel's blog!!

(The Ad will run live a few weeks after you have co-hosted)

CLIMB by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo ClimbCo-host_zpseca2ac09.jpg


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Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

Cynthia Tessmer from "Shoreline Designed" creates Natural Beach Stone Jewelry (Please click on the ad below):
Shoreline Designed on Etsy

Find out more about this amazing artist CLICK HERE 

Friday, May 30, 2014

The Spectacular Spirea Shrub

Spirea by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 002_zps336b33ef.jpg

Spectacular Spirea Shrub


This beautiful shrub will add a touch of class to any yard or landscape.  It has the most detailed & delicate flower bunches.  Most of the time the flowers are white but I have also seen them in pink & purple also
The Spirea shrub should be trimmed every year after the flowers dry up and turn yellow.  As you can see by the picture below I do NOT trim my Spirea bush - I love how the flowers cascade down like a waterfall.

Enjoy the following pictures - all photos were taken by me (Angie Ouellette-Tower) - see copyright at the end of this post.
Spirea by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 001_zps86b69f9d.jpg

Spirea by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 004_zpsf9704a84.jpg

Spirea by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 006_zpsbf1b1313.jpg



by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo Day_zpsb50f87c9.jpg
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Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

"Wholesale Nursery Co" - Is a 56 year old family owned & operated Nursery that sells the best quality trees, shrubs, vines, moss, wetland plants & so much more at Affordable Wholesale Prices!


Wholesale Nursery Co
(Please click on the ad above)

Thursday, May 29, 2014

My Hubby Makes Me Laugh #1 - "Our Dog Gourdon"

Our Dog Gourdon by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 2006AnimalKids_zps0d1d9f85.jpg
Puppyhood


Our Dog Gourdon by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 2011AnimalKids_zpsf5556315.jpg

My Hubby Makes Me Laugh #1

I've been super busy lately because I started a new job (other than Blogging) and my wonderful husband offered to help me out.  My husband is very creative & clever - he is the only person that can make me laugh when I am upset or angry.  So, I decided to make this a monthly post called "My Hubby Makes Me Laugh."
ENJOY!
Since we don't have children our dog & cat are like our animal children - I've been a little down about my dog since he is 8 years old (A Great Pyrenees' lifespan is between 8 to 10 years) and I have noticed him slowing down a bit - but even when I'm in this sad mood my husband is able to make me smile and laugh.
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Our Dog Gourdon
written by my husband © 2014
He came into the world as a Great Pyrenees pup, but just a few short days after we rescued him from the pound we put in the paperwork to have him upgraded to a “Fantastic” Pyrenees.  He was 7 to 9 months old and as far as we knew never had a name.  When we brought him home we watched him intently to try to come up with a name for him.  As soon as we turned our backs on him for two minutes he managed to get his nose bopped by our cat and he destroyed one of my wife’s decorative gourds.  And that’s how he became to be known as “Gourdon.”  A few months later we noticed that he had a knee problem that the vet promptly diagnosed as a luxating patella.  He speculated that that’s why the Breeder dropped him off at the shute in the middle of the night at the pound.  So, now we had a Great Pyrenees with the “not so great pair of knees.”  But after an expensive operation and a difficult recovery he was as good as new.  We should have known from the beginning that knee problems ran in his family.  His father was named “Neil”, his mother “Eileen”, his two brothers: “Tripod” and “Hopalong” and his sister who found a home with a nice Southern family who named her “Patella.”  The family names alone told his story.
His only other malady that we didn’t discover for about a year is that he smells like corn chips from head to foot.  Of course he smells much worse at his extreme eastern and western terminals.  The Vet said that this is a common affliction for large dogs that refuse baths for years at a time.  It’s a two stage disease that starts out as “Fritosis” but can quickly degrade to “Nachosis” if frequent baths are not administered.  So, now Gourdon has Nachosis.  Why corn chips and not imported cheeses or a bakery full of onion buns?  We don’t know and Veterinary Science has no answer for us at this time.
But still he is a good boy and we have learned to live with his condition.  His hobbies are snacking, sleeping (if he doesn’t get his 22 hours a day he gets “all growly”) and securing the perimeter.  He is also huge into “proclaiming and declaring” which is commonly known as “Barking” and is the reason why the neighbors filed a complaint about him a couple summers ago.
He is also the greatest hugging dog ever born, so if you are having a bad day and need a boost, stop by and give him a try (but try not to inhale).
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Our Dog Gourdon by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 2006AnimalKids-001_zpsb5c9918a.jpg
by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo DSCF1065_zps698aa666.jpg
Our Dog Gourdon by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo 2009AnimalKids_zps1df99435.jpg

My Hubby Makes Me Laugh#2 - The Art of the Apple Harvest
My Hubby Makes Me Laugh#3- R.W. Tower- The World's Most Intelligent Gardener


by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo Day_zpsb50f87c9.jpg


Linked to:
Happiness is Homemade
Homemaking Party
Four Seasons Blog Hop
Thursday Favorite Things
#GrowingCirclesHop
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Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

"Wholesale Nursery Co" - Is a 56 year old family owned & operated Nursery that sells the best quality trees, shrubs, vines, moss, wetland plants & so much more at Affordable Wholesale Prices!


Wholesale Nursery Co
(Please click on the ad above)

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Time To Link Up! Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop 60

Time to Link Up to "Tuesdays with a Twist"!!
I wanted to share with you what's been happening in "God's Growing Garden" last week.

BLOGGER OPP!  Help me celebrate my 3rd Blogiversary with the Triple Celebration Giveaway
3 years by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo GiveawayTCG_zps998a35a4.jpg


3 Celebrations , 3 Prize Packs & 3 Winners!!!  (& lasting for 3 weeks)

Celebration#1 – God’s Growing Garden turns 3 on June 19th, 2014
Celebration#2 – Canada Day on July 1st – Canada turns 147 years old
Celebration#3 – July 4th – USA turns 238 years old!! 
The Triple Celebration Giveaway will start on June 19th, 2014 and end on July 9th, 2014 (which just happens to be “Nunavut Day” – it’s the day that “Nunavut” became Canada’s 3rd Territory)
Click HERE to view
Now, please link up & ENJOY this cool hop!
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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!



Back to the Basics

We're your hosts & co-hosts 


Features!
Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured! 
My Features this Week are:


1. "Raised Bed Garden- Concrete Cinder Blocks" by "Lucy's Nashville Nest" (I love the look of these bed gardens - colored blocks or natural - both very cool!)
2. "DIY Button Art" by A Dose of Paige (Beautiful, classy & simple - a great way to use up those old buttons)
3.  "Front Porch Faux Fireplace" by Penny's Vintage Home (This is heavenly! - you must check it out!)




If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

Back to the Basics



The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features.   And now for the party!






by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo Day_zpsb50f87c9.jpg



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(Please checkout this month's Wonderful Sponsor)
Angel from "Sew Crafty Angel
has an amazing blog full of delicious recipes, fun blog hops, great giveaways & crafty ideas!!  It's a place to share.




(Please click on the ad above)

Monday, May 26, 2014

I'm Cohosting Turn It Up Tuesday for the Month of May - Week#4

Welcome to the 36th week of Turn It Up Tuesday!
Thanks so much to everyone that joins us each week and makes this blog hop the best that it could be!
As you may know, Turn It Up Tuesdays is all about being happy, excited, energetic...and having fun! Link up your favorite posts and meet some awesome bloggers in return! Link up your funny stories, DIY posts, recipes, mommy moments -- anything at all, as long as it is family-friendly. We want to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, and have a good time!

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH

Angie from God's Growing Garden

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In addition to being our fabulous guest host this month, Angie is also an amazing blogger. With over 40 years experience gardening, cooking, baking & canning, Angie can definitely be considered somewhat of an expert in her field. Her blog, God's Growing Garden, focuses on helping her fellow 'backyard farmers' and features some great blog hops including The Great Blog Train and Wake Up Wednesday Link Party. Angie is also celebrating her 3rd blogiversary with a big giveaway...make sure to sign up!
Are you interested in having your blog or website featured in this spot? Then, sponsor Turn It Up Tuesday for a month! Click here! It's only $5 for an entire month! Use promo code: MAYFLOWERS all month for 50% off!

Welcome the lovely ladies of Turn It Up Tuesday!

TUT Hosts 5.8.14

And welcome our awesome guest hosts for May!

TUT May 2014 (1)

Interested in being a guest host or becoming a permanent co-host?

Complete the form here! Monthly co-hosts will be chosen on a first come first-serve basis. We're now accepting guest hosts for June and July.

Here are the Featured posts from last week!

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Angie chose Gardening: How To Build A Bean Teepee from Mother 2 Mother. "My Bean Teepees never seem to last the summer so I resorted to putting up a bean fence but I think that the teepee is so much more pleasing to the eye (& so cool!). This Teepee looks like it would be very sturdy & last the entire summer!"
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Karen chose Pom Pom Throw Blanket from Delineate Your Dwelling. "This is a great tutorial and the finished throw looks great with the pom pom detail. I have the same pom pom maker as Amy and like her, I love using it."
Katie also chose this post. "I love this blanket for a number of reasons. First of all, it's a Target clearance find ... My favorite kind! Second of all ... I had NO idea you could buy a Pim Pom Maker! This would have saved me SO much time when I made 80 Poms for a wreath last Christmas! I may need to acquire one ASAP. Plus the Poms add so much fun to the blanket!! Such a simple upgrade, but I love the result!!"
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Rhonda chose Thrift Store Lamp Makeover from Budget Girl. "I fell in love with these lamp shades when I saw them months ago, but they didn't fit into my décor. Imagine my surprise when I found them on these beautifully made over thrift store lamps. Love them!"
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Carolyn chose The Best Italian Pasta Salad Ever! from Put A Bird On It. "This recipe is perfect for summer and it really does look like it would be the BEST pasta salad ever and I can't wait to try it!"
grapefruit and chicken salad with wasabi dressing #CIC #SpatulasOnParade
Debbie chose Chicken Grapefruit Salad with Wasabi Dressing May CIC from Spatulas On Parade. "This recipe sounds so yummy I can't wait to try it. The ingredients are original and I never would have thought to put them together. I also love that the recipe came to be as a crazy ingredient challenge."
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Jessica chose Am I Ready to Buy A Home On My Own? from Surviving and Thriving in the Second Year of My Divorce. "What she's going through reminded me of buying my 1st home after my divorce with the ex. It signified my independence and new life with my son who was 8 at the time. I remembered when it felt soo good to be me again! I hope she enjoys her new found identity :-)."
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Gurvy chose In a rut – Feeling Fat, Frumpy, and Foolish from Failing Perfect. "I can relate, I feel fat, frumpy and foolish a lot! I thank her for reminding me it's a choice & we have the power to change the way we feel! There is no 'perfect', we make 'perfect'."
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Jillian chose Managing Emotions During Pregnancy from Snippets of Inspiration. "While I was pregnant I went through loads of emotions and having a post like this would have helped me understand my emotions much better."
Toy to garden Robin
Rachel chose Upcycled Toy Horse into a Garden Sculpture from Redo It Yourself Inspiration. "I thought this was unique and amazingly well done. I would not even have known it was a toy horse had I not seen the tutorial!"
spring-cleaner
Stacey chose The Spring Cleaner Smoothie from Raia's Recipes. "I have been blessed with a super picky eater for a child and I often worry that he doesn't get enough of the important things that come from fruits and veggies and this is a smoothie that I think he might actually drink, I know that I sure would! Thank you for sharing!"
Starbucks Lemon Loaf by Yesterfood alt 2
Cathy chose Starbucks Lemon Loaf from Yesterfood. "My son worked for Starbucks for 3 years. My favorite sweet treat was their Lemon Cake! I can't wait to try this recipe!"
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Natasha chose The Blogging Blues from Momfever. "I have had my share of blogging blues in the past 1 1/2 years since I started blogging. It's amazing the posts that go popular on my blog - they are mostly those posts that I write in 5 minutes, whereas the posts that I put time, love, and passion into only receives a minimal response. But I love how this post identifies those feelings and talks about how to get past it. Great post!"
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The post with the most clicks is Blogging And Why I'm So Frustrated from Baby Doodah.
If you were featured above, feel free to share the badge below with pride on your blog or website!
Epic Mommy Adventures
<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitupbuttonfeature1_zps09bd5c75.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
 

And the Best of the Best is...

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The Blogging Blues from Momfever
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As the Best of the Best, you win free ad space on Epic Mommy Adventures for 30 days! Please showcase the badge below with pride on your blog!
Please send an e-mail to Natasha at 1EpicMommy @ gmail.com and she will provide you with all the details!
Epic Mommy Adventures
<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitupbuttonbest_zps00692ef1.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

So now that you've seen the Featured and the Best of the Best and met our hosts and co-hosts...

let's get started!

  • Show some love to your hosts and co-hosts simply by following them on social media and leaving a comment so they can follow you back.
  • Link up as many posts as you'd like! The more, the merrier!
  • Check out some of the other posts and make some new friends!
Grab the button below and showcase on your sidebar! Invite your fellow bloggers to join the fun!
Epic Mommy Adventures
<div align="center"><a href="http://epicmommyadventures.com" title="Epic Mommy Adventures" target="_blank"><img src="http://epicmommyadventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/200pxturnitup1_zps05216d89.png" alt="Epic Mommy Adventures" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Link up your posts, make some friends, and earn the chance to be featured or become the Best of the Best on Turn It Up Tuesday! We will feature the favorite posts each week!



Interested in reading all of the Featured Posts on Turn It Up Tuesdays? Or do want to know if your post was featured before we go live next week? Follow Natasha Peter's board Featured on Turn It Up Tuesdays! on Pinterest.
by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo Day_zpsb50f87c9.jpg
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BLOGGER OPP!  Help me celebrate my 3rd Blogiversary with the Triple Celebration Giveaway
3 years by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo GiveawayTCG_zps998a35a4.jpg


3 Celebrations , 3 Prize Packs & 3 Winners!!!  (& lasting for 3 weeks)

Celebration#1 – God’s Growing Garden turns 3 on June 19th, 2014
Celebration#2 – Canada Day on July 1st – Canada turns 147 years old
Celebration#3 – July 4th – USA turns 238 years old!! 
The Triple Celebration Giveaway will start on June 19th, 2014 and end on July 9th, 2014 (which just happens to be “Nunavut Day” – it’s the day that “Nunavut” became Canada’s 3rd Territory)


Click HERE to view