Grow your blog party January 2015

Hello!  Come on in   ... dont be shy!


I am once again joining with Vicki at Grow your blog to discover more wonderful blogs to read and follow and also to expose my blog to more readers.  thanks so much for hosting this, Vicki,
 I did it in 2013  and it was such fun!

Firstly, an introduction:
My dear hubby and I (my name is Gillian) live in the tropical north- east of Australia.  We both grew up in South Africa, lived our separate lives for 20 years, and then "found" each other 10 years ago.
7 years ago we moved in to a unit with a very small backyard, which was dominated by a huge lychee tree, and nothing else.  Slowly I have added more and more small fruit trees, anything that flowers, and a food forest.  I am lucky enough to be able to tuck orchids into the trees, and they often surprise me with their flowers:

There is nothing I love more than wandering out into the garden and picking some eggplant, sweet potato, ginger, lemongrass, tumeric and a few curry leaves, and then coming inside and making a curry for dinner!  Once that is simmering I will nip out and pick a few salad greens and some cherry tomatoes, and voila we have dinner.  I share some of my recipes on the recipe tab of this blog.



We walk every day, mostly on the beach, and love to explore the local area we are lucky to live in, you can see some posts on the explore the tropics tab.


I hope you enjoy finding out more about life in the tropics from my blog, and I look forward to discovering even more exciting blogs to follow worldwide.  It is a little like armchair exploring.

I love to sew, craft, knit and crochet whenever I get a spare minute.  I like to make things that are useful as we live a clutter free life.  You can find some projects on the crafts tab on this blog. I recently made this quilt for my grandson created from heirloom garments from past generations of his family.  As I was sewing it, I felt that all these women represented would be hugging and nurturing our new little arrival.  I felt truly blessed while I was making this.


 I have two step grandchildren here in Australia and a grandson in America, and occasionally will post about grandparenting from afar.  I really love finger puppets, in person or on skype, in fact any time I am with the grandkids I turn into a rather silly grandma making rhymes or stories about anything and everything.

Sooo.... a giveaway!   I have this set of duck finger puppets, hand knitted by me.
the rhyme goes like this:

Five little ducks went out to play,
over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack.....
Four little ducks came running back.
Four little ducks went out to play,
over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack.....
Three little ducks came running back.
Three little ducks went out to play,
over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack.....
Two little ducks came running back.
Two little ducks went out to play,
over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack.....
One little duck came running back.
One little duck went out to play,
over the hill and far away.
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack.....quack quack QUACK......
Five little ducks came running back. :)

 This giveaway is open worldwide, and please just tell me in your comment if you want to enter.  I know it takes forever to go through all the blogs on grow my blog but all the giveaways are to be announced on the same day - February 15th, so make sure you get your entries in.  

Comments

  1. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit through Vickie's GYBP - so much that I am now a follower and look forward to coming back and having really long prowl around!!! Have a fabulous week! - Kerrie B - channelbankcreations.blogspot.com.au

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    1. Kerrie,
      Wonderful to "meet" you too Kerrie, and i just spend some most enjoyable time wandering through your blog. Wow you are so talented, I love those bags you made. I tried a bit of stitchery over the holidays and it came out quite wonky so will have to see if I can get some tips from you!

      Delete
  2. I'm already a follower Gill, just popped in to read your post. Love that quilt, so beautiful!!

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    1. Hi Sami,
      Thanks for always being so inspiring, I really enjoyed making that quilt..

      Delete
  3. Visiting from the GYB party and I really appreciate a glimpse of the tropics today - we got another foot of snow on top of the existing ice yesterday. Your quilt is lovely in every way - materials and design and heart!

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    1. Oh gosh that does sound cold, I saw on the news that you have had another big storm. Stay warm!

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  4. Hey Girlfriend! I am happy to see you in the party again this year! I haven't been over here forever... I am so terrible on keeping up with all of my blogging sisters! Please know that even if I don't visit often I think of you frequently! I was thinking about you just this morning before I began my duties as one of Vicki's helpers. I finished my duties for now and was running through the list of blogs when I found you there. So, of course I had to get over here quick as a bunny to say a big HELLO from a very brrrrrr New Hampshire! You are in the peak of summer right about now aren't you? Lucky you! :D
    Hope all is well and that you have a blast with the blog party this year... talk again soon but always in my thoughts,
    Beth P one of your many blogging sisters! :D

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    1. Hi Beth,
      Thank you for your kind thoughts. Wow that is nice that you are helping Vicki out as it must be a huge job. I dont think I ever get to the end of the list as there are so many lovely blogs, and i often get waylaid looking at past posts. :) Good to connect again, take care

      Delete
  5. Hi Gillian! Welcome to the blog party and it's so nice to meet you! I enjoyed browsing through your blog!
    Kelly

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    1. kelly,
      thanks for visiting - your link does not seem to be working, so i couldnt see your blog :(

      Delete
  6. Hi Gillian,
    Just stopped by to read your blog. Beautiful photos! I love the quilt.

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    1. hi Debbie,
      This is fun isnt it? I envy you being retired and am sure you are going to come up with lots of lovely creations.

      Delete
  7. Hi Gillian! So nice to meet you. Just popping by on the Grow Your Blog party. I'll be back again for a longer look around. Waving Hello from cold snowy eastern Canada where we are expecting about a foot of snow tomorrow!
    Cheers, Linda

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    Replies
    1. Hi linda,
      I hope your little venture into the tropics warmed you up a bit. That does look like a big storm heading your way.

      Delete
  8. I got so caught up in your life, I just kept reading and reading. What a fun post and a simply GORGEOUS place you live in. That quilt you made for your grandson is beautiful beyond words.

    I enjoyed seeing your garden, and also reading about your worms and worm castings. I have what is known as a lasagna garden, where I lay down layers of newspaper or cardboard, then green stuff (veggie waste and grass clippings), then brown waste (dead leaves). Water every layer well, then start over again, but this time use only newspapers, not cardboard. Continue layering until you have no more materials to spread over the garden. Use shredded paper for top layer.

    I really enjoyed visiting your blog. It was a genuine breath of fresh air.
    http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2015/01/grow-your-blog-blog-hop-event.html

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    Replies
    1. thank you and nice to meet you, I had fun looking at all your wonderful creations, you are certainly busy! Yes I have used the lasagne method when I first set up the garden, and it created some awesome soil. amazing isnt it?.

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  9. Lovely post and that pic of the beach is very special. How nice to wander along that stretch daily. Love those duck puppets. Aren't you clever! :)

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    1. Frog,
      It was nice to gather all the different aspects of my blogging together. We often say we should not get too blase about where we live. Making finger puppets is fun and fast!

      Delete
  10. Now I understand your name. It sounds like you have your own piece of heaven where you live. I'm in Canada which is a long way from Australia both in distance and weather patterns. We are in the midst of a bit of a snow blizzard now since it's been snowing continuously for 24 hours and promises to keep going for a while yet. We've had to shovel 3 times today just to keep the front walk and city sidewalk clear. We would get fined if we didn't since it makes it hazardous for walking. I'm sure this sounds just as foreign to you as growing orchids and walking the beach everyday sounds to me. That's what I love about this blog party. It's wonderful to meet other artists and crafts people from so many parts of this lovely planet we share.I'm following you and would love to be entered in you giveaway.

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    1. Hi Nan,
      Excellent, I am following you too. Hopefully one day I will start making some jewelry and your blog is such an inspiration. Stay warm! Our sidewalk is full of fallen mangoes!

      Delete
  11. You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

    So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands!

    What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen I'd love for you to follow and subscribe to.

    Happy crafting!
    SuZeQ

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    Replies
    1. Sue,
      I am following your blog now on bloglovin, your cards are awesome.

      Delete
  12. Hi I am here visiting you through the GYB party and thanks for your lovely visit to my blog Julie's Lifestyle yesterday. You have a lovely giveaway and thanks.
    Julie at Julie's Lifestyle

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    1. Hi Julie,
      welcome and glad you enjoyed the visit

      Delete
  13. From the party and stopping in to admire the view! Great pics and the quilt is a beauty.
    Thanks for sharing...

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  14. My young sons love ducks! I will share this poem with them. Much thanks.

    alexis at cobcottagecraft.com

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    1. Alexis,
      My daughter is duck crazy too! your little cobb cottage is awesome. We had a friend who lived on Ganges Island and we stayed with them for a month over Christmas - ti was awesome.

      Delete
  15. I was taken back by your comment on my blog. In fact, it scared me a bit. You said I must have written something wrong: 450 rocking CHAIRS. Nope, I wrote 450 rocking HORSES. There wouldn't be enough room in my house for more than the two rocking chairs I have (grin). But thanks for enjoying my blog and leaving such an otherwise sweet comment, even if I did get near heart failure when I thought I had written something wrong.

    http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2015/01/grow-your-blog-blog-hop-event.html

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    Replies
    1. Elizabeth,
      Oh now I see the rocking horse, read it worng the first time!

      Delete
  16. What a wonderful place you live in, I'm going to love reading about your crafts and life

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    1. Nice to have met you too through your blog, Karin.

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  17. Visiting, via GYB, from St. John's, NL Canada. Lovely photos! Great giveaway. I know of one little granddaughter who would love the finger puppets!

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    1. Judy,
      I find my grandchildren all love finger puppets. Love all the ideas on your blog.

      Delete
  18. I love your finger puppets! but I shall leave them for someone with children or grandchildren.
    it was lovely getting to know you a bit more, AA :-)

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    Replies
    1. e,
      good to see you visiting again, I always enjoy the updates of your lovely garden.

      Delete
  19. Hi Gillian, I'm here returning your visit from the party! I was especially interested in coming to visit when you mentioned about being from up north! We lived for a short time in Townsville & one of our sons still lives there with his wife & 3 children, so our grandies are afar as well! Love your finger puppets & would love to be in your giveaway, and will also be adding myself to your followers list.
    Take care, sharm

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    1. Sharm,
      welcome, yes that is the way isnt it - either we move away or our children move away! I am very grateful though for skype.

      Delete
  20. What fun - I love the poem and the sweet little puppets - something I'm sure my grandson would be charmed by. Thank you so much for welcoming us in for a lovely visit!

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    Replies
    1. I am glad you enjoyed visiting, children really seem to relate to finger puppets, and they are fun to make. .

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  21. Hello Gillian... just a return visit... Oh I love your heirloom garment quilt ... and the finger puppets are so cute, love the rhyme too!!!
    Kind regards, Annett

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    Replies
    1. thanks Annett, I will be looking for the perfect fabric to send for your quilt, so pleased to have met you.

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  22. Visiting from the GYB party. Admire all the cooking and gardening you do. My new little grandson would love the little finger puppets and the poem. So cute! Thanks for the chance to win them.

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    1. Hi Carol, and welcome. It looks as though I am not the only new grandma here!

      Delete
  23. Visiting from GYB, it is taking a long time to get around as I keep getting involved with all the great posts and projects, and your blog is so interesting too. I love to garden and cook too. Your part of the world is so gorgeous.

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  24. Hi Carole,
    Welcome here to my little corner of blogland! We have a lot of the same interests, isnt this a fun way to find new blogs to follow? Your quilts are awesome!

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  25. Your duck puppets are so cute!

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    1. I couldnt see a blog associated with your link so sorry I couldnt visit you!

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  26. That's one of my favorite songs to sing to the DGKs when they were small. Would love to win them. Thanks for the chance, and hellow from Riverside, CA, USA. PS: I have a book giveway on my GYB.

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    1. Hi, oh what wonderful quilts you make. I have itchy fingers now....

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  27. Your garden sounds divine and so does tropical living - I am looking out my window at a foot of snow - ugh! The little finger puppets are adorable and I know just the child that would love them and the little rhyme. Thank you for the opportunity to win them! Susan

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    1. Your knitting and quilting is very inspirational. A foot of snow sounds very cold!

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  28. Lovely to find you through GYB 2015, as you will see I love 'Wandering' too! Your beach looks amazing! We are living the city life down here so happy to have a bit of the tropics to enjoy!
    I know and love that rhyme, please enter me in your giveaway!
    Wren x

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    1. I just spent ages perusing your blog, and we do have a lot in common. Other than being sports mad!

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