Saturday, January 19, 2013

Welcome to the Grow Your Blog Party!

Back in June, Vicki from 2 Bags Full came up with a wonderful party! . . .

so, along with over 300 others, I signed up! I have 86 followers now, and it's always nice to meet new friends, right? It's fun to peer into others crafty spaces, and kind of "chat over the back fence."

My name is Linda and I live in a house in the woods with my two dogs. What with Hurricane Sandy this year, Irene last year and the wierd snow we had with all the leaves on the trees, I am beginning to feel like "Pioneer Woman," between the 5 day stretches without electricity and hauling wood into the house for my wood stove and getting water from the creek to flush the toilets and wearing a headlamp to read. I have actually started stocking up on canned goods and a three day supply of water - Prepper Linda, for heaven's sake. And Hurricane Sandy dropped a tree on the corner of the House of Beautiful Dogs. The tree is finally cut down and aging for next year's firewood, but the roof isn't fixed yet - soon I hope!

Well, first the dogs. I usually have three, but right now am down to two (I lost my German Shepherd, Marley last July), both ten year old golden retrievers. Sunny was a breeder dog in a puppy mill in her former life. She has been with me for about 5 years.



Duke, has been with me for a month and it has been interesting. Duke - uh - snaps. When he has something of yours he doesn't want to give up. We are working on this, and he is at the point where he will trade for a cookie. Sometimes. He also counter surfs and howls in his sleep. He does NOT walk nicely on a leash. He hates being left alone. But isn't he CUTE?? I didn't want that gardening glove anyway.



I volunteer at the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue where I do canine massage. Yes, I am a licensed Canine Massage Therapist. (If you need a golden retriever they are the place to go!) I have had some success with "troublesome" and "hard to adopt" dogs, so a few weeks ago they loaded Duke into my car.

My day job (or night job in my case) is RN at a local hospital where I do 12 hour shifts as a critical care/trauma nurse. I have been doing this for almost nineteen years now, I know, I can't believe it myself!

So about three years ago I found this house in the woods and moved here. There are sure a lot of bugs in the woods! Spiders, daddy longlegs and those big ones that come in with the wood. Uck! There was a snake last summer! And if you plant anything, tons of worms! I know worms are good, but please, lets be reasonable! But it's quiet. And the birdsong is incredible! I didn't know birds could sing like that. Woodpeckers, owls, deer walking down the driveway. There is a little stream that runs along the edge of the property and the frogs (peepers) start singing in the spring, then the bullfrogs start.



I started the blog because I started a sewing business on Etsy. I love to sew, and I make pillowcase dresses embellished with antique lace, bonnets, teddy bears, and also sell some floral china, mostly rose embellished, along with other little treasures.



I make aprons too, and one of them was featured in apronology last year!



But I have a lot of other things to blog about, my dogs, recipes, my forays into canning, trips and places I have visited. Here's me at the Phila. Flower Show with really flat hair!



Because of blogging, I have met so many creative people, seen their studios and met their pets. I think it's pretty special to be able to talk to people from all over the world. I can't wait to get started with all the new visits!

So Welcome!
Love, Linda

22 comments:

  1. What a nice place to come to! I like your blog, your house in the woods. I even love daddy longlegs and spiders, I'm not bothered by them. Snakes in the house or my yard would be a different thing - and it depends on the snake. We also have canned food and enough water for the three of us for several days - not because of storms but earthquakes. So far so good. I will come back to your lovely place here.

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  2. Hi Linda, Your home is beautiful! You and I share a love of dogs and a profession, nursing. I'm visiting from the Grow Your Blog party and have decided to follow your blog! Looking forward to "getting to know you" better.
    Blessings, Beth

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  3. You live in a beautiful looking place - and I'm sure those two gorgeous dogs of yours love living there. Bless you for taking on a "difficult" dog. I look forward to reading more of your blog.

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  4. Hi Linda, I love your yellow house in the woods! I am glad that you decided to participate in Grow Your Blog party so we could meet you and your lovely dogs! I look forward to coming back for a proper visit after the blog party is over and reading about your adventures with canning and all the other things you have blogged about!
    Hugs,
    Beth P

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  5. What a cute blog you have! I love your house in the woods, it sounds so lovely to be surrounded by nature. And I am seriously jealous of your beautiful dogs! Look forward to hearing more about your life, and your sewing is beautiful! I can't sew to save my life (alas) but your bonnets are lovely! xx

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  6. Found you through the blog party- what a lovely site and sewing!- and your dogs are too precious-
    Cheers
    Christina

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  7. I like to sew also, but I am not the best but I can get through! It will be fun to follow along. I am at http://cottage-wishes.blogspot.com
    Di

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  8. Wow, is the last picture dog cookies. I made dog cookies - liver cookies to be specific - for Christmas.

    I love your blog, I love the tone of it, and the love of animals, of course. So it was a no-brainer to click "join" on your bog.

    Come visit me. I have a few pictures you might enjoy - my 4 legged grand babies.

    Elaine
    Retiredknitter@gmail.com
    http://mynext20yearsofliving.blogspot.com

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  9. Very sweet post :):) I am visiting from 2 bags full blog hop. I LOVE dogs too! I have 3 poodles. 2 toys and one royal standard. Lots of puppy kisses in my house...LOL!!!! Enjoy the hop!!

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  10. Hi Linda,

    It is so nice to meet you! Your dogs are so adorable. I'm still making my way through visiting everyone from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party. I hope you will stop by to say hello.

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  11. Duke is a beautiful boy! Your bonnets are works of art and lov the apron...they are part of my everyday uniform.
    I'm having some giveaways on my GYB post; if you have a chance, come for a visit.

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  12. Hi Linda! Wow, your life sounds very full and I would love a home in the woods (mind you without too many worms et al). Glad to have found you thru Vicki's blog party! Your sewing is absolutely beautiful!

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  13. Linda,

    You have a very interesting and busy life. I am also the mother of a rescue ~ Renegade is a chocolate lab. I could go on and on about his antics and isms. Abuse is horrible on a dog but we are surviving. I really enjoyed seeing your bonnets and apron. The floral bonnet is sooooo cute.
    It is great to meet you through Vicki's GYB party.

    If you have a chance, please drop by nonniescedarchest.wordpress.com

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  14. i loved reading your post.
    in fact, it's my favorite so far and i've visited a lot of GYB blogs.

    your life, the bugs, remind me so much of growing up in michigan.
    now i live in south texas and have other kinds of treasures. lol

    i'm now following your blog and look forward to getting to know you.
    jan

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  15. Hi Linda nice to meet you and your wonderful dogs!
    I'm Mila from Italy and I LOVE Golden dogs! In march I will have my puppy gold (Camilla will be her name).
    I'm little nervous as I have three cats from ten years ...What will ever happen in one single day? My fingers are crossed ...
    Am a Vicki's Party participant as well so stop by if you like ;)
    Hugs,
    Mila :)



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  16. Hey, I'm your 100th follower! What an honor. Your dogs are so sweet! I have an almost 11 year old Lab and a 7ish Beagle. Nice to meet you!

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  17. HI Linda
    Visiting form the GYB party! Love your house and your dogs. I am a medicatilly retired PICU/ped Oncology nurse of 34 years. We have two cats and a a 'grand dog' that is a corgi mix---interestingly enough the mom was a golden lab but this doggie is a little short and looks like a sausage on sticks---smile. Her family had to relocate to south america so oma and opa have her now.
    I love your bonnets and apron. Am a new follower
    catiean

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  18. What a beautiful Blog, Linda. I will join and follow. Love aprons, too. You have a lot of diversity. Hugs from Alaska. Visit me and sign up for my giveaway. Karen

    www.alaskabluemoose.blogspot.com

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  19. Hello Linda, wonderful to visit your blog..What a great way to meet like minded women..Still working my way thru all the blogs..such delight.

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  20. Hello Linda,
    thank you for finding my blog and commenting. I love that shady lane you have a photo of - it looks as though it would be a wonderful place to wander around your property. I cant imagine that you have much time for wandering though - you wound like a busy lady! that apron is sooo beautiful! Glad you found me! I will definitely be following along now.

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  21. Hello Linda - thankyou for visiting me. I am still working my way round all the GYB participants. I love your dogs and was really interested to read about them. I walk dogs for a local terrier/working dog rescue centre for 'last chancers' they have often been given by other rescue homes as unhomable and are to be put down so they come here and stay for ever or get re-homed some bite/snap/don't like being touched - I was interested about the massage. Sometimes I just sit in the dogs basket and chat to him or stroke their eyebrows as not all can be touched much but I bet some would love a massage! how do you do it I wondered?. Nice to meet you - will be back - Betty

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