Time To Link Up! Tuesdays with a Twist #164

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist #164!
There are tons of giveaways going on right now - check them out!

Click the button below to enter the Great Giveaways!!:

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Good Morning and Welcome to another No Rules Party!

We're your hosts & co-hosts 

Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Joyce @ Heavenly Bodies

Checkout my amazing "Featured" 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. "Courtyard Potager Garden Design" by The Locust Blossom

2. "8 Healthy Snack Ideas" by Living the Gourmet

3.  "Mason Jars & Vintage Finds"  by Debbie Dabble

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

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt="Tuesdays with a Twist Featured" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Title%20Pages%20or%20Buttons/TWTfeatured_zpsxgfhxhtk.jpg" /></a> 

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Saturday 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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Your monthly ad could be here!

Click the button to see how

The Difference Between Memorial Day & Veterans Day

The Difference Between Memorial Day & Veterans Day


For many years I had mixed-up the meaning of both of these important days and I know that I am not the only one to do so. 


Memorial Day: This is the day when we honor those soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom - those who died in active military service.


Veterans Day:  This day was originally called "Armistice Day" and originally celebrated the end of World War I but since 1954 it is a day to honor all veterans & victims of all wars.


Please take some time today to reflect on all of our fallen heroes.

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"Prayer Warriors United" is a google+ Community where Christians come together in prayer. 

Click HERE to view or join this community

If you need prayer please fill out this

Prayer Request form

Respecting Your Elders & Learning From the Young

Respecting Your Elders & Learning From the Young

Are you at that age when you start noticing that your doctors and bosses are younger than you?  When the "young" start giving you wise advice from their many years of experience?  I'm now middle aged and have just started noticing these situations.

We all have a tendency to look down on those younger than us whether it's a younger sibling, a younger friend or somebody that we work with who happens to be less aged.  Instead of focusing on age differences we should be focusing on our actions and our words.

Let's look at the verse above - "set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."  Yes, even the young can set an example to the older - remember we are only responsible for our own actions and our own words.  We will never be held accountable for what others say or do.  Even parents ultimately have to ask their children to explain their own actions.

To the Younger:  How do you respect someone older than you while giving them advice?

All that matters is the way you act towards that person and the way that you speak to that person.  Rolling your eyes and giving up before even trying to explain something because "older people don't understand the modern age" is insulting.  The key to answering this question is RESPECT, which is a feeling of admiration showing that someone is valuable and important.
(On a similar topic - read: What Ever Happened to Respect?)

To the Older:  Yes there is some truth to "being older equals more experiences and knowledge" but when did "wisdom" become arrogant?

This is just as insulting as what I mentioned above - thinking that you always have the answer because you have lived longer.  Unfortunately, difficult life experiences can happen to the very young also.  Age does not guarantee wisdom.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' "  Matthew 19:14

"Out of the mouth of babes" a saying that was taken from Matthew 21:16 also shows us that God can inspire good actions and wise words from anyone of any age.

We are all at different stages in our earthly Childhood but we are ALL CHILDREN of God.  There will always be somebody younger than our current age - Let's help each other along the way without focusing on age.

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Linked to:
Tuesdays with a Twist
JUNE #ChainLinkyCLIMB
LouLou Girls
Turn It Up Tuesdays

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"Prayer Warriors United" is a google+ Community where Christians come together in prayer. 

Click HERE to view or join this community

If you need prayer please fill out this

Prayer Request form

Featuring the MAY 2016 "Highest CLIMBers"

We have some exciting news!
Please welcome our newest permanent week#3 cohost: Rebeca from LincludenCottageLife
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Tweet #ChainLinkyCLIMB

WELCOME to the final weekend of the May 2016 Chain Linky CLIMB where we feature the Highest CLIMBers!
It's the month long Networking Blog Hop where Cohosts & Guest Cohosts are added each week for ultimate exposure! 
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 & Guest Cohosting works - the hosts, cohosts & Guest cohosts 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 guest cohost please sign up at the end of this post using the last "Linky") We have 2 permanent cohosts for week#2, 3 permanent cohosts for week#3 and eventually we will have 4 permanent cohosts for week#4 making a grand total of 11 hosts/cohosts each month & that's not even including Guest Cohosts!

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/chain-linky-climb.html" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt="God’s Growing Garden" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/Sponsors/Climb200_zps6c2cafff.jpg" /></a> ________________________________________________  Highest CLIMBer Features for MAY 2016!! Each permanent host & cohost has picked their favorite link from the previous month CLIMB! Remember - all Highest CLIMBers are pinned to the ChainLinkyCLIMB Pinterest Board (click to view or follow) Checkout 7 Highest CLIMBers featured in May 2016:

Pallet Wood Planter by Make the Best of Things

Mason Jar Tea Light Sconce by One More Time


Lilac Sugar Recipe by Stone Cottage Adventures

Why I Became a Minimalist by The Lady Prefers 2 Save


15 Plant-Based Meals on a Budget by Healthy Helper


Why Exercise Calories Should NOT Be Added To Labels by Healthy Helper

How To Unify Mismatched Drawer Pulls by Eclectic Red Barn

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Also, our CLIMB GIVEAWAY! Please enter below -one person will win:

- $10 Paypal cash from God's Growing Garden

- Your choice of 2 month small Ad spaces OR 1 month large Spotlighting Ad Space (for Blogs or Online Shops) on Butterfly in the Attic- $30 value

- 1 Sidebar Ad Space (for Blogs or Online Shops) on God's Growing Garden - $10 value

- 1 "Bluestone Inspiration" Necklace by ShorelineDesigned - $20 value

"Bluestone Inspiration" Necklace

This cute little authentic blue with white speckles Leland Bluestone has been found in Lake Michigan and now dangles as an inspirational beaded necklace. I have drilled a 2.1 mm hole into the stone and dangled it from a Faith, Hope, Love, silver word charm onto a 24 inch stainless steel petite ball chain complete with tiny clam clasp. The stone measures 1/2 inch. 

by ShorelineDesigned

Total prize value is $70!!



CLIMB Giveaway Rules & Conditions: - this is open worldwide (void where prohibited) - You must be 18 years or older to enter - You MUST have a blog to win the Ad spaces (otherwise these will become second place prizes) - You MUST have a valid PayPal account to win the Paypal Cash (otherwise this will become a second place prize) - You MUST have a mailing address in the lower 48 states of the USA in order to win the necklace (otherwise these will become a second place prizes) - facebook, google & all other social media are NOT responsible for any part of this giveaway

- This Giveaway is open from April 30th, 2016 until May 30th, 2016

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

- Giveaway Hosts, Cohosts & Guest Cohosts can NOT enter this Giveaway!, however - MAY 2016 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.

- All prizes will be delivered by the contributing Bloggers/Shop Owners.

- 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): There are many ways to follow us:

Angie @ God's Growing Garden
blog  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  twitter  |  bloglovin  |  google+  |  etsy
 Angel @ Sew Crafty Angel

blog  |  google+  |  pinterest  |  twitter  |  bloglovin  |  instagram  |  facebook 









By participating in this blog hop your understand that your link might be featured &/or promoted on our blogs & 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 Guest Cohost 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)

We are looking for amazing Bloggers like you to Guest Cohost the CLIMB! 
Please click the purple button below to sign up to Guest Cohost or click HERE!

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Sign up to receive emails about the CLIMB

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(Checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!) 

Cynthia from "ShorelineDesigned"
Handmade one-of-a-kind jewelry & beads made from beautiful beach stones from the Great Lakes Shoreline.
(click on the button below to visit her shop)

Find out more about this amazing artist CLICK HERE

Turning Electric Company Trimmings into a New Raised Potato Patch

Turning Electric Company Trimmings into a New Raised Potato Patch


We live on a piece of property just short of 1 acre and half of our property is filled with many trees (maple, oak, cottonwood and some fruit trees).  About every 5 years the electric company will come through & trim our trees that might be interfering with their lines.  This year we decided to take this scrap and turn it into something useful and practical - a raised potato bed (actually, this was my husband's idea - he is very clever).


About five years ago we started growing potatoes in a compost pile and we have continued ever since.  That is what inspired us to complete this project - more delicious homegrown potatoes!


Not only will this new potato patch give us more room for growing potatoes but also, since we have so many leaves every Autumn we now have a new spot to put all of our leaves.


Please read the following posts if you are interested in learning how to grow your own potatoes:
Preparing Seed Potatoes for Planting
Planting Potatoes in Compost




We took these scrap piles (see pictures above) and cut them down to create stakes.  We hammered these stakes into the ground at predetermined intervals (see pictures below).









And then we wove other trimmings around these stakes making a very rustic edge/wall (I like the rustic look) (see picture below)





Finally, we filled this "raised bed" with leaves from last year and planted potatoes - the far right row is already up and growing wonderfully! (see picture below)
ENJOY!

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Featured on:
Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report #64

Linked to:
MAY ChainLinkyCLIMB
Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop
Freedom Fridays
LouLou Girls
Turn It Up Tuesdays
 Tuesdays with a Twist
Happiness is Homemade

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(Checkout this month's wonderful Sponsor!) 

Cynthia from "ShorelineDesigned HANDMADE on Amazon"

Great Lakes stones & planet earth nautical jewelry - beautifully Handmade!

(click on the button below to visit her shop)

Find out more about this amazing artist CLICK HERE

Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report #15

#15 - Weekly Thankfulness & Growth Report

If you were following this blog in 2015 then you will be familiar with my "365 Days of Being Thankful" challenge.  I have missed reporting on my thankfulness since I finished my challenge back in November so I decided to at least give a weekly Thankfulness Report & include a Growth Report also.  Growth in our Christian walk, growth in the garden & growth on this blog.  Finally, I am also including a "Posts From the Past" feature - ENJOY!


This week I have been thankful for a working lawn mower, for my husband who makes me laugh every day and most importantly I have been thankful for God's written Word - The Bible.


"But what was sown on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."  Matthew 13:23
Whenever it is time to plant the garden I am always reminded of the Parable of the Sower.
Read: Good Soil = Healthy Harvest


It has really warmed up so we are in full planting mode.  Also, our spirea shrub is in full bloom - click HERE to view entire post. 

- Here are my Follower stats:

GFC (Google Friends Connect) - 2,257

Bloglovin - 4,046
Twitter - 6,027
Pinterest - 5,425
Google+ - 2,268
Facebook - 4,424
Linky Followers - 109
Networked Blog - 1,194
Sverve - 574
That's a grand total of 26,324 followers in some form or another (that's up 28 from last week!).

(click on the title to view the entire post)
Four years ago I shared with you one of my asparagus creations:
Alfredo Asparagus Pizza






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Linked to:
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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!

I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year!  Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog.  If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.

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