Sickly "Sonja Branching" Sunflower

 photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Sonja Branching Sunflower

Today starts the Sunflower Series of 2018 where I share with you the four sunflower varieties that I grew in my garden this year.

This first variety I call "sickly" because it was attacked by everything possible.  The rabbits ate the small tender shoots just after they germinated (this was before we put up the fence), then it developed blight, also many different bugs enjoyed dining on this variety.  Finally the birds just devoured these flowers.  The pictures below show these unfortunate attacks.

What I did like about this variety was the lush green back as seen in the first picture below.

ENJOY the following pictures!

All photos were taken by me (Angie Ouellette-Tower) and the sunflowers were all grown in my garden.
© (2018)

 photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

 photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

 photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

You will notice that the birds cut flower heads in half or chopped the entire stalk in two!
(see next two picture below)

 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

Quite the worm dangling from the inside of the flower below.

 photo by Angie Ouellette-Tower

Sunflowers from 2019:
Dwarf Evening Sun Mix - Part 2

Dwarf Evening Sun Mix - Part 1

Tall Evening Sun

Procut "Dark" Plum Sunflower

Procut "Light" Plum Sunflower

Sun-Fill Purple

Sunflowers from 2018:

Orange Mahogany Sunflower - Part 2

Orange Mahogany Sunflower - Part 1

Lemon Queen Sunflower

Procut Bicolor Sunflower - Part 2

Procut Bicolor Sunflower - Part 1

Sickly "Sonja Branching" Sunflower

Sunflowers from 2017:

Bugs & the Magic Roundabout Sunflower

Magic Roundabout - Part 2

Magic Roundabout - Part 1

Peach Passion Sunflower

Sunflowers from 2016:

Vincent's Choice - Part 1

Vincent's Choice - Part 2

Tithonia Torch - a.k.a. Mexican Sunflower

Sunflowers from 2015:

Tiny "Giant Sungold"

Strawberry Blonde#2 - The Best

Strawberry Blonde#1 - Loved By Insects

Red Hedge

Jade Sunflower

Sunflowers from 2014:

Prado Sunflower

Sunflower Disaster

Sunflowers from 2013:

Giant Gray Stripe Sunflower - Part 1

Giant Gray Stripe Sunflower - Part 2

Giant Gray Strip Sunflower - Part 3

Soraya Sunflower

Italian White Sunflowers

Starburst Blaze Sunflowers

Sunflowers from 2012:

Mammoth Sunflowers

VanGogh Sunflowers

Floristan Sunflowers

Cherry Rose Sunflowers

Monet's Palette Mixture Sunflowers

Sunflowers from 2011:

Sunflowers, Black Velvet Queen

Sunflowers, Autumn Beauty

Sunflowers, Royal Flush

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Shared with:
Over the Moon Link Party
Happiness is Homemade
Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
You're the STAR
Tuesdays with a Twist

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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.
Travel along the shoreline with Cynthia

(Please click on the ad above to view her shop)

Cherry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Cherry Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Recently my cousin gifted me with some dried cherries and I thought "what could I create with this delicious dried fruit?"  Since it's "back-to-school" season I decided that a possible after school snack would be a good idea - so I came up with this recipe.



Printable Recipe

2 eggs

1 cup butter (softened)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon almond extract (or a little more if you like that flavor)

3 cups oats (I used old fashion rolled oats)

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup dried cherries 
(1/2 cup slivered almonds - optional.  I did not add for the pictures in this post).

In a large mixing bowl begin by creaming together the butter and sugars (brown & granulated) until well combined.  Mix in the eggs and almond extract - just until combined.  With a wooden spoon, stir in the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt.  Stir in the oats (dough will be somewhat sticky).  Finally stir in the chocolate chips, cherries and almonds.

On a parchment lined cookie sheet - drop large heaping spoonfuls of dough leaving some room for the cookies to spread out in the oven (I fit about 13 cookies on my large sheet) (see picture below).  Continue until all the dough has been used up (The entire recipe should fill 2 large cookie sheets) 

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 9 to 10 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.



Serve & ENJOY!



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Linked to:
Oh My Heartsie Girl's Wonderful Wednesday
Friday Feature Linky Party
Happiness is Homemade
Over the Moon Link Party
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop
Tuesdays with a Twist
You're the STAR

______________________________________________________________

(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.
Travel along the shoreline with Cynthia

(Please click on the ad above to view her shop)

Tuesdays with a Twist Blog Hop #279

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist #279!
Checkout the many great giveaways going on right now!

Click the button below to enter each Giveaway!!:

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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
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. "Define Universalism" by A Narrow-Minded Woman

2. "Hollywood & the Stigma of Mental Illness" by An Ordinary Mom's Musings

3. "Pumpkin Hummus Dip" by All That's Jas

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 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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Grow your own!

Many wonderful garden products from
 "Mary's Heirloom Seeds"!!
click to view

You're the STAR - Week#5 EXTRA (August 2018)

It is certainly feeling like the "dog days" of summer here in Michigan - I hope that you are all staying cool!

Thank you again for joining us!
There are many ways to follow me:

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

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

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WELCOME to the August "You're the Star" Blog Hop!
Before we continue onto the Linky party I wanted to share from my blog:

Peach Paradise Squares Dessert RECIPE
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WELCOME to EXTRA feature week of the August "You're the STAR" blog hop!
(Sometimes we will have 5 Mondays in a month - these 5th special Mondays are called "EXTRA feature" days)
Meet all of your STAR Hosts 

Swing by the STAR Hosts blogs:
Angie @ God's Growing Garden
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Colleen @ Butterfly in the Attic
Darlene @ Let It Shine
Miranda @ The Myrabev Life
Elizabeth @ Family Farm School
Michelle @ Moms Are Frugal
Bev @ Eclectic Red Barn
Heidi @ Heidi's Wanderings
This is a month long Linky party featuring YOU!

There will be 4 different features each week and 4 different feature categories (except for this special EXTRA day - we will be featuring 2 extra).  Just to be clear - this is NOT a themed party - you may link up ANY family-friendly blog posts any day of each month. 
The "theme" occurs in our weekly features:
WEEK#1 GARDEN - gardening, homesteading, recycling &/or preserving (this can include any type of green living,  while remaining family friendly),
WEEK#2 CREATIVE - arts & crafts, music, writing &/or dramatic arts (this can include sewing, dance, art history, handmade jewelry, computer art, fashion etc - anything creative while remaining family friendly)
WEEK#3 FAMILY - parenting, fitness, finances & inspirational (this can include anything about children like: education ideas for children, also self help, beauty etc -  anything family friendly)
WEEK#4 HOME - recipes, home décor, antique/DIY &/or travel (this can include anything about your home - even history posts - all while remaining family friendly)




(All features were chosen from the July "You're the Star" blog hop)

Pursue Hospitality by Living Our Days

DIY Stenciled Picnic Waterproof Blanket by Simple Nature Decor

Rich and Creamy Avocado Chocolate Mousse by This Happy Mommy

Orchestra by Of Mice and Ramen

Josh (right)

If you've been featured then please grab a STAR button below:

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All Hosts/CoHosts will post this blog hop on every Monday of each week.
Please link up your family friendly blog posts below!
It wouldn't be a linky party with YOU!
(IMPORTANT NOTE: by linking up you understand that you might be featured next month and if so, we will use some of your photos from your post - rest assured - we will always link back to your lovely blog.  We might also share your fantastic posts on social media.  Also, you may link up as many family-friendly posts as you like & YES - other blog hops &/or giveaways are welcome {giveaways and blog hops will NOT be featured though}  Thank You & ENJOY! )

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

Becoming a Christian Soldier - STRENGTH FROM GOD

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  Ephesians 6:10-12

 Today we continue learning about "Becoming A Christian Soldier." - Now, I have to be very clear - I am NOT talking about becoming a physical soldier and I am NOT saying that you should go out and physically fight (although I appreciate and respect anybody who has served or is serving in our army, navy or air force) - what I'm talking about in this series is on a spiritual level.  If you look above in verse 12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." that is the exact point - we are not talking about a physical fight and we are not talking about physical training.  Becoming a Christian soldier is all about our relationship with God;  about our spiritual training and about our spiritual self.

The first thing that we need to know and understand is: "Who are we fighting?"  and

"Who is our enemy?"

The answer is Satan - the devil - and all of his demonic subjects are our enemies.

This enemy comes in many different forms........as we read on in verse 12:  "...against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  The secular world is against Christians.  Look at how Christians are portrayed on TV, ,in movies or on the Internet - we are always depicted as crazy and ignorant hate-mongers who force our beliefs down people's throats - Nothing could be further from the truth!!!  Look at how Christian Conservative viewpoints are being censored and shut down on social media and in many public platforms.  I'm not saying that Christians are perfect but we all strive to live like Christ and we strive to love everyone.  What the world does not understand is that you can still love someone even if you don't agree with them.  I believe that these "worldly powers" and "spiritual forces" have even infiltrated the mainstream of how we think.  Take for instance the "Political Correctness Movement" - what one group has this Movement totally ignored?......That would be the Christians.  Supposedly it is "Politically incorrect" for me to say "Merry Christmas", yet I have to hear my God's name used in vain many times a day by strangers, movie stars, neighbors, politicians and even teens!!!!  This P.C. Movement is so offensive to me as a Christian.  It makes no sense - the truth has been totally twisted!  

Christians are being persecuted around the world  but Do not fear - our God is more powerful than all of Satan's forces!  After all - don't forget that Satan is a fallen angel and was cast out of Heaven.  That is why, in these verses above it starts with: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."  That is step #1 in becoming a Christian Soldier - drawing from God's strength - NEVER OUR OWN STRENGTH.  Since Jesus died for our sins we now have a direct line to God's strength through prayer.  Fear not for God is in total control of every part of our lives.

  

By drawing on God's power we can face anything that the enemy throws our way.

Other posts in the series:

Click HERE to read INTRODUCTION to this series.
Click HERE to read "STRENGTH FROM GOD"
Click HERE to read "4 Ways To STAND"
Click HERE to read "BELT OF TRUTH"
Click HERE to read "BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
Click HERE to read "FEET FITTED WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE"
Click HERE to read "SHIELD OF FAITH"
Click HERE to read "HELMET OF SALVATION"
Click HERE to read "SWORD OF THE SPIRIT"

Click HERE to read "PRAYER"

 

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Linked to:
Over the Moon Linky Party
Happiness is Homemade
Tuesdays with a Twist
You're the STAR
Oh My Heartsie Girls Wonderful Wednesday
Friday Feature Linky Party

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