The Vibrant Portulaca Flower - a.k.a. Moss Roses

The Vibrant Portulaca Flower


Portulaca is also known as "Moss Roses" - they do resemble a rose in a way.  My dad has grown these beautiful flowers for years and they are so easy to grow because they reseed themselves and come back year after year on their own! 

I am amazed at the vibrancy of these glorious flowers.  The Portulaca flower can be pink, red, orange or yellow.

I just found out that  Portulaca is related to the common "Purslane".  Purslane is considered a weed to many but it is a delicacy to others - Purslane can be eaten in salads & is very healthy (see my post on Purslane - click HERE to view)
(WARNING - I am NOT sure if Portulaca can be eaten even if it is related to the Purslane "weed")

All flowers were grown in my dad's garden & all pictures were taken by me: Angie Ouellette-Tower (please see my copyright at the bottom of this post).

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower



Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

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Change of Season GIVEAWAY with Katherine's Corner

It's autumn - time to start raking those leaves!  & enter this Great Giveaway!!

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Change Of Season Giveaway-

I'm joining Katherines Corner and some of her blog friends for the Change of Season Giveaway

The Prizes are-

Self Cleaning Bath and Kitchen Package provided by Self Cleen

 

and A lovely Super Deluxe Tea Box filled with Shangri La award winning teas

and Two candles, one Pumpkin Caramel and one Orchard Apple from Jewelscent

and $200 PayPal Cash

PayPal Cash provided by Katherine and friends ♥

 

listed in no specific order

Katherines Corner

My Turn For Us

Sew Crafty Angel

I Dig Pinterest

Vintage Mamas Cottage

Gods Growing Garden

Simple Nature Decor

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An Italian In My Kitchen

3 Little Greenwoods

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Entering is easy, log into the entry form using your email address or facebook and click on the first entry on the rafflecopter form. Then read the terms and conditions and write yes. Follow Katherines Corner and her blog Partners and enter as many bonus entries as you would like. Open to all over 18. Giveaway starts September 5th and ends September 30th.

Copy the button for The Change Of Season Giveaway below and paste it to your blog with a link back to the giveaway for extra entries.

Or copy the code from Katherines sidebar ( remember to let us know where to find it ).

Good luck in the Change Of Season Giveaway.

 

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Dehydrating Rose Hips for a Healthy Winter Tea

Dehydrating Rose Hips for a Healthy Winter Tea

Rose Hips are very healthy: Nutritional value of Rose Hips - This amazing plant is "jam" packed with Vitamin C (Rose Hip jam is my favorite ;-)  ), it is one of the most richest plant sources of Vitamin C.  Rose Hips also contain Vitamins E, A, B & K.  The Haw also contains lycopene which is a fantastic antioxidant protecting against heart disease, cancer and lycopene also helps protect our eyes.  (again - I'm not a doctor - please see my "disclaimer" at the bottom of this post).

Rose Hips are the fruit/berries that appear after the flower has finished blooming and they make a delicious tea!  Please visit this post to see how to prepare rosehips (click on title the below):
Preparing Rose Hips for Preserving



After you have prepared the rose hips simply spread them out on your dehydrating trays (see picture below)




Turn on your dehydrator at the manufacturers suggested setting until dehydrated (it took my rose hips a couple of days before they were dry).






Store in an air tight container until you are ready to make tea!  I steep a small handful of hips in a cup of tea with a few Stevia leaves for a natural sweetener, strain & then ENJOY!



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The Great Blog Train 21 & Giveaway - Destination: DISNEYLAND, CA

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All Aboard!!!

The Great Blog Train

A monthly blog hop departing from your online train station on the first Wednesday of every month!

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The Great Blog Train has 5 Engineers

plus a "Destination Co-host"!!

If you link up that means your blog will be seen on 6 different blogs!!!

Please meet our Destination Co-host:
Cathy from "A Peek Into My Paradise"

This month we will be travelling to Disneyland, CALIFORNIA
Also, remember to visit the DINING CAR on one of the Engineer's blogs!

If you are interested in being a Co-host for the Great Blog Train then please click HERE and fill out the form (THANK YOU!!)

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The Great Blog Train's 14th Great Giveaway!!!

1 Lucky winner will win the following:

- $15 Starbucks Coffee (Gift Certificate) from Angel
- 1 Crocheted Fall Colored Coffee Cozy by Kaitlyn
(you must live in the lower 48 of the U.S.A. to win this prize - otherwise it becomes a second place prize)

- 1 Sidebar Ad Space on Angie's blog (you must have a blog to win this prize - otherwise it becomes a second place prize)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Remember to join the fun even if you are running a little late.  The last entry will receive the Caboose Feature! 

August's Caboose and featured blog happens to be:

"Adorned From Above" Congratulations!
Debi has a wonderfully inspiring blog!  This is how she describes herself & her blog:  "My name is Debi.  I wear many hats in life, but the most important things are: I am a Christian, I am a wife, and a mom.  I am many other things also, I am a designer, an artist, a baker, a chef, a photographer, and a writer.  I work in my husband's law office part time and I work at home full time.  I have named this blog Adorned From Above, because I feel that God truly adorns our lives.'

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Linking up to the Train is as easy as

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After the Great Blog Train has arrived to it's destination we will be featuring 3 boxcars with the most "clicks".  By linking up you agree to allow us to promote your blog through Twitter, Google+ & Pinterest


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Time To Link Up! Tuesdays with a Twist (Blog Hop) 74

Time to Link Up to "Tuesdays with a Twist"!!
Checkout this great Giveaway! 

Click HERE to Enter

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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!

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We're your hosts & co-hosts 

Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Debra @ MsMoozys Open House

Deb @ Kneaded Creations
Carole @ Garden Up Green

Checkout our awesome Pinterest Board

(click HERE to view & follow)

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. "5 Ways To Experience His Presence" by Faithful Feet

2. "Garden Fresh Zucchini Fritters" by Pure Grace Farms

3.  "Vacation Souvenir Rock Paperweight Tutorial" by Make It Easy Crafts

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

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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!

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Contributing Angel Post#6 - September = SUNFLOWERS

Once a month - all of us "Angels" (see picture above) have the privilege of writing a post for "Sew Crafty Angel" - The person behind that blog is an amazing person whose name happens to be Angel and who is also my dear friend.

My sixth "Contributing Angel" post is live today on "Sew Crafty Angel" - please head over there to read:
September = SUNFLOWERS

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Click the button below to enter the Great Giveaways going on now!!:

Coffee 4 College Giveaway - a M.O.O.N. Event!

This fantastic Giveaway is a M.O.O.N. Event (Make Our Own Network) & runs from today (9/1/14) until 9/15/14 - ENJOY!!

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Prize: 

Xpressivo WHITE X1 Machine with FOAMER, plus 60 coffee capsules 

 Prize Value: $103

Hosted by:
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and 

Co-Hosted by:
Monica's Rants, Raves, and Reviews