JULY 2014 Chain "Linky" CLIMB (blog hop) & Giveaway!

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  WELCOME! It's the month long Networking Blog Hop  With our 9th 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:

- $25 Paypal Cash

- 1 Ad Space on A Peek Into My Paradise for 30 days - $30 value - 1 Ad Space on Leapfrog & LipGloss - $20 value - Turbo Sponsor Spot on 100lb Countdown - $10 value

- 1 Ad Space on Cuddlebug Cuties - $7 value
- 1 Ad Space on Hot Momma's Kitchen Chaos - $15 value
- 1 Sidebar Ad Spaces on God's Growing Garden - $10 value - 1 Ad Space on Sew Crafty Angel - $15 value - "My Cookie Creation Countdown" ebook by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Total prize value over $120!!
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 June 30th, 2014 until July 30th, 2014

- Winner must respond within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen

- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - JULY 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:

Angie:  angeliquetower@gmail.com

Angel:  sewcraftyangel@gmail.com

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!!

 

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. 


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)

Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

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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!

(Please click on the ad above)

Forever Friends

Forever Friends


Do you have a "Forever Friend"? or a "bff" (best friend forever)?  These of course are modern terms but actually there really is such a thing as a "Forever Friend".  Those dear souls that you meet in life who happen to be close Christian friends are literally Forever Friends.

Last week we talked about caring for our family and today I just want to touch on caring for our friends. 

The verse that we are focusing on today is so simple - only 6 words but it covers everything.  "A friend loves at all times" - that means we must care for our friends during the good times, the difficult times and the boring everyday bland times.  This verse also means that not only must we care for our friends always but we also must accept their care of us - the caring goes both ways. 

Are you caring for your friends in every situation?


&


Are you allowing your friends to care for you? 

Copyright, Permissions& Disclaimer

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Click HERE to view or join this community

If you need prayer please fill out this

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3 Prizes, 3 Winners & 3 Celebrations in the Triple Celebration #Giveaway

If you have not entered yet then now is the time!!  There will be 3 Winners!

3 Reasons to Celebrate , 3 Prize Packs & 3 Winners!!! 

Lasting 3 weeks long - starting June19th, 2014 until July 9th, 2014

Celebration#1 – God’s Growing Garden turns 3 on June 19^th, 2014

Celebration#2 – Canada Day on July 1^st – Canada turns 147 years old

Celebration#3 – July 4^th – USA turns 238 years old!!

To help celebrate - the following amazing Bloggers have joined forces to provide you with this great Giveaway:
Angel @ Sew Crafty Angel |  Nannette @ Hope in the Healing  |  Laura @ Mice in the Kitchen  |  Anna @ Cuddlebug Cuties  |  Cathy @ A Peek Into My Paradise  |  Vidya @ Interior Design Principles  |  Marilyn @ Marilyn's Treats  |  Jenn @ Enter Here Canada  |  Lanaya @ Raising Reagan  |  Debra @ Ms Moozy  |  Natasha @ Epic Mommy Adventures  |  Debbie @ Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains  |  Beverly @ Eclectic Red Barn  | Katherine @ Katherine's Corner  |  April @ 100 lb Countdown  |  Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Since God's Growing Garden is 3 years old we thought that it would be fun to share childhood pictures of the cohosts - please click on each picture to see who it is! & have fun!!  
(NOTE - those cohosts who were unable to make it for picture day (hahaha) are represented by a flower from God's Growing Garden)

3 Different Prize Packs & 3 Winners!!
(one prize pack per winner!!)
The first winner gets to choose which Prize Pack they would like, then the second winner chooses from the remaining 2 prizes & then the third winner receives the last remaining prize.
(IMPORTANT - if the third winner does not qualify (for example - if the third prize is the Ad Space Prize Pack but the third winner doesn't have a blog then that winner forfeits any prize & a fourth winner will be chosen) 

Part of this AD SPACE Prize Pack is a Sidebar Ad on my blog - well, actually 2 Sidebar Ads - total value $20!!  The Ad size is 200x100 & will run for 16 weeks with 1 tweet per week (if you have an online shop as well as a blog then you could split this Ad - 1 for your blog & the other for your shop - if you split the Ad Prize then each would run for 8 weeks instead of 1 Ad running for 16 weeks)

Gifts included in the GIFT Prize Pack are:

- STAR STUDDED - Beachstone Links, Sterling Silver Starfish, Gunmetal Fishing Swivels, Stainless Steel Findings, Nautical Charm Bracelet

by Cynthia Tessmer from ShorelineDesigned

Cindy's description:  "I had a lot of fun making this pretty and nautical charm bracelet. It is studded with sterling silver starfish charms and interlocked with beachstones and gunmetal fishing swivels as connector links. A stainless steel lobster clasp and findings complete the put-together look of this bracelet.  The three beachstones are ones I found in Lake Michigan and have double drilled with 2.1 mm holes. They measure about 1 inch x 3/4 inch.The bracelet is almost 8 inches long. I can shorten this if you like.  It is clicky, lightweight, and fun to wear!"
- $25 Gift Card to Angie's Etsy Shop "Gourdonville"
- 3 ebooks by Angie Ouellette-Tower


Giveaway Rules - You must be 18 years or older to enter -This is open worldwide HOWEVER to win the GIFT Prize Pack you must live in the lower 48 of the USA  - This Giveaway is open from June 19th, 2014 until July 9th, 2014 - Only 1 Prize pack per winner - There will be 3 winners - To win the CASH Prize Pack you must have a Paypal account - To win the AD SPACE Prize Pack you must h ave a blog - To win the GIFT Prize pack you must live in the lower 48 of the USA - If you are the third winner & do not qualify for the last remaining prize then you forfeit your winning & a 4th winner will be chosen

- Each winner must respond within 48 hours or a different winner will be chosen

- Giveaway entries will be validated

- Giveaway Hosts & Co-hosts can NOT enter this Giveaway! 

- you must enter a valid email address to win

- 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.

- a shipping address will be requested should you win the GIFT Prize Pack

- Angie from God's Growing Garden is responsible for delivering the CASH Prize Pack

- CASH Prize Pack will be given in US Dollars.  Any fees or currency exchange associated with this Prize Pack will be the sole responsibility of the winner.

- all other prizes will be delivered/setup by the participating Giveaway Bloggers/Cohosts

- if you have any questions or concerns about this Giveaway please email Angie:  angeliquetower@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linked to:
#GrowingCirclesHop

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Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

"Garden Delights Online Plant Nursery" is a wonderful website full of the best quality plants.  They have trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, ferns, mosses - even driftwood!! - This is a must visit site!

(Please click on the ad above)

Growing Sage As a Flower - It's Not Just a Tasty Herb

Growing Sage as a Flower

It's true - Sage is not just another tasty herb - it's also a beautiful flower!

When we think of the herb Sage most of us think of Thanksgiving because stuffing just wouldn't be the same without sage. 

The sage flower might resemble the snapdragon but the color is so unique - in a certain light it looks pale blue but then at different times of the day it is almost opaque with a purple tint and a small white detail in the middle.

All of the sage plants that you see in these pictures are from my garden and all pictures were taken by Angie Ouellette-Tower - see my copyright here: Copyright, Permissions& Disclaimer

ENJOY looking at all of these pictures!

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

Copyright, Permissions &Disclaimer

Linked to:
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HomeAcre Hop
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Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

"TN Online Nursery" - This Online Plant Nursery provides a variety of garden plants, trees, shrubs and perennials selling to every state in the USA & 13 Foreign Countries!!

(Please click on the ad above)

Lemon Mulberry & Pecan Muffins with a Crumb Topping

Lemon Mulberry & Pecan Muffins with Crumb Topping

"Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" - actually the "Mulberry bush" is more of a tree - maybe in the mid 1800's when this Nursery Rhyme originated they were smaller (hahaha).  We have a volunteer Mulberry plant in our yard and it was loaded with wonderful berries this year.  I created this recipe - I hope you like it as much as we did.




Printable Recipe

Lemon Mulberry & Pecan Muffins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mulberries (rinsed & strained)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg (lightly whisked)
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flour
1/2 cup melted butter (cooled to lukewarm temperature)
1/2 cup milk

Begin by melting the butter - set aside to cool.  Now is a good time to rinse & strain the Mulberries and set aside until later.  In a large mixing bowl mix the cooled melted butter, egg, sugar & milk - stir until combined.  Add the lemon zest & the lemon juice to this mixture.  Now mix in the flour, salt & baking powder and stir just until combined.  Finally add the pecans & the mulberries - again just lightly stirring until combined (see picture below on the left)

 

Spray/butter a 12 piece muffin tin and spoon a little of the batter in each space until all of the dough has been used (see picture below).  Next step is to make the streussel Crumb Topping.

Streussel Crumb Topping
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Butter
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl stir together the sugar & flour and then cut in the butter & vanilla until it is crumbly.  Sprinkle a little of the crumb topping on top of each muffin (see below).

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or test & when a toothpick is inserted & comes out clean - then it is perfectly baked.  Cool on a baking rack in the pan for a few minutes & then remove from the pan. 


Serve warm or cool & ENJOY!

Copyright, Permissions &Disclaimer

Featured on:
Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report #71

Linked to:
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The TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop
Fabulous Friday Party
Creative Style Link Up
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LouLou Girls
Thursday Favorite Things
Freedom Friday
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Happiness is Homemade
The Homemaking Party
Tickle My Tastebuds



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Please checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!!

"Garden Delights Online Plant Nursery" is a wonderful website full of the best quality plants.  They have trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers, ferns, mosses - even driftwood!! - This is a must visit site!

(Please click on the ad above)