Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Winner: Authors in Bloom Blog Hop



WINNER, WINNER, WINNER



TAYLOR ZANOTTI

Taylor, you didn't leave me your email address, please email me by this Friday at bakerjbrett@aol.com for your copy of Better She Die.


I want to thank everyone that entered the contest and please don't forget to click on BloominThyme to see if you won any of the prizes given away by the Authors in Bloom.



You will have 10 days to enter each individual author contest and then submit your entry for the grand prize!!  To win the grand prize, you must visit each and every author on the hop.  
CLICK HERE for the list of authors to visit and enter to win lots of prizes.


Grand prize entrants will be entered via a Rafflecopter giveaway widget, available on the initial and final landing page of this hop, located on BloominThyme.  All entries (and actions) will be verified to deem winners.

Winners will be announced on the landing page, BloominThyme

To celebrate Spring during the Authors in Bloom blog hop, I’ll be giving away a signed book of the first Silver Sage Creek Novels, Better She Die. All you have to do is leave a comment and I’ll put your name in a hat to be drawn and announce on April 18. And, in addition I’ll add your name to the hat a second time if you sign up to receive my blog.


Do you have a garden? What kind? There was a time in my life that I was too busy to even think about planting flowers much less harvesting vegetables. Twenty years ago, when I had a kid in college and 2 in high school, we moved into a new house that needed a yard. Out of the blue, I decided that one corner of the backyard would be my wildflower garden. I figured if I didn’t enjoy a garden, I’d just plow over it and plant grass. Well, that was twenty years ago. I love my garden and enjoy gardening. Here’s a few pictures.


  Morning coffee in 
Judy's garden






















Several years ago I started growing herbs. I’m now hooked on peppers. The long hot red chili peppers are so pretty in the garden along with sweet red peppers, and yellow peppers. I also grow my favorite, dill and many other herbs that I use in cooking. I can’t believe how fun it is to cook with fresh herbs right from my garden. I’m going to try growing some cucumbers and radishes for salads. Can’t wait for our planting season.



Here’s my favorite summer salad that’s quick and easy. It’s up to you the amount you need and how many people you’re serving.

Diced Cucumbers
Vine Ripe Tomatoes
Diced Red Onions
Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
Toss cucumber, tomato, olive oil, Italian dressing, and red onion together in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until slightly chilled, 10 to 15 minutes.

Garden Tip:  Plant Lavender around your patio and garden to keep mosquitoes away. During hot summer days, did you know that placing pots of Basil around your deck and patio will keep flies away? Try it. It works.

Now hurry and enter for a chance to win several prizes from all the authors listed above during the Authors in Bloom blog hop.




51 comments:

  1. I would love to win and have the chance to read one of your books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by. I'll put your name in the drawing to be announced on April 18.

      Delete
  2. Beautiful garden and the salad looks delicious! So summery! (We just had a huge snow storm here in New England, so anything "summer" is a sight for sore eyes!). I have a lot of land, but it likes to run wild and weeds tend to take over any garden we try to start, but I've had a lot of luck with growboxes from Garden Patch and always have a nice little vegetable garden going every summer. Love those homegrown cucs and tomats. :-) cchant86 @ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's hoping your Spring and Summer aren't too far away. My garden isn't large, but I don't think I could manage a huge garden. So, I do enjoy my small one. Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll put your name in the drawing.

      Delete
  3. We plant flowers that deter deer from eating them, this way we can keep great texture and color in our garden all summer long!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Taylor, you must live where the deer come around often. My sister-in-law lives in Nevada and she has to do the same. During the winter months, her front yard is full of deer. Best of luck in the drawing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your name was drawn from the hat. Congratulations. Please send me your email address.

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the giveaway.
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for stopping by - good luck in the drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't have a garden at the moment, though I used to have a small flower garden.
    I signed up for your newsletter.

    kissedbymidnight AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amber for signing up for my newsletter and for stopping by to participate in the blog hop. I'll put your name in the drawing twice.

      Delete
  8. Thanks for the chance! blueskid29@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for participating. I'll put your name in the drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I enjoy gardening and canning. We usually have a large vegetable garden and canning keeps me busy through the summer.
    lorih824@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Canning is something I've never tried, I'm a freezer person. Everything goes into the freezer. Thanks for participating.

      Delete
  11. Apartment dweller so no garden...actually no plants at all. between me and the cats they don't have a chance.

    acm05atjuno.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a dog and a cat, so what I plant in my garden has to be animal safe. I don't have plants in my house,but what I plant outdoors I check before I plant something new to make sure the plant is safe for animals. I know lots of indoor plants are poisonous to animal, so maybe it's just as well that you don't have plants. Thanks for sharing and participating in the Authors in Bloom blog hop.

      Delete
  12. I love to garden, but sadly mine always seem to die!! I have tried everything to keep them alive and yet I seem to only ever mass produce potatoes!! LOL by the time fall comes around I make quite a few potatoes meals :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hmm, potatoes are good. Thanks for stopping by and paraticipating.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes we have a few gardens. 2 vegetable, a few flower gardens and a pond that we need to finish landscaping around.
    sienkiel1821 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, you must have enough land if you even have a pond. I'd love a pond. Thanks for participating. Best of luck

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  15. I still have my flower garden but I don't plant a vegtable garden anymore. jean60212@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Flowers make me smile. Thanks, good luck in the drawings.

      Delete
  16. I don't have a garden. Your salad looks delicious.

    videoclimber at yahoo dot com

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  17. Try the salad, it delicious even if you have to buy the vegs at the store. Thanks for stopping by and participating.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I do not have a garden, but I make your salad all the time. I love it.
    (mybeach52 at yahoo dot com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you like the salad too. Thanks for leaving a comment and participating in the blog hop.

      Delete
  19. Following GFC Linda Romer
    Hello Judy, what a beautiful garden and a great salad recipe. We grow flowers and vegetables in our garden. Thank you isisthe12th(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy to meet another garden lover. Thanks for stopping by and entering the drawing.

      Delete
  20. Following via Email. The summer salad sounds yummy!
    jeanna_massman at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Jeanna, thanks for visiting the blog hop and entering the drawings.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would like a garden but living in a condo I only have a small patio with a few potted plants.
    JFWisherd(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think even a few potted plants add delight to a place. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing.

      Delete
  23. We have a giant vegetable garden and I make sure to plant flowers too to bring birds and bees into the garden all summer long. Your garden looks so pretty and peaceful. Looks like the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of iced tea on a hot summer day!

    blueberrycrisp@gmail dot com

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  24. I do love drinking ice tea on a hot summer day in my garden. Of course the pictures are from last summer, so I'm looking forward to the flowers when they start to bloom. We're expecting snow again today...I can't wait for those hot summer day. Good luck in winning a prize.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! And... boo!!! on more snow coming your way.

      Delete
  25. Our horticulture efforts lean towards fruit trees...satsumas to be precise.
    rsbrandt44 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  26. I enjoy all kinds of fruits, but never tried grown any. Thanks for stopping by and participating.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Planting herbs today. Thanks for the tips and the blog hop.
    @SorchiaDubois
    Sorchia’s Universe
    sorchiadubois@hughes.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enjoy your planting day. I can't wait. Thanks for participating.

      Delete
  28. Oh, I just love your little corner garden! I have a boring usual vegetable garden and flower beds.
    I am signing up for your blog! Love this hop...finding new blogs!

    Deborah

    sprocket 215 at g mail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and best of luck in the drawing.

      Delete
  29. I dabble at growing things...but only one or two plants of each kind...which is why it's so sad when they suddenly die off! I'm not a pepper eater, but we enjoy our tomatoes (when we can beat the birds, squirrel and pests to them, lol). Thanks for the beautiful pictures and inspiration!
    elewkf at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. You're so welcome and thank you for stopping by and entering the drawings.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the pictures of your garden so cute. Thanks for sharing amybowens34(at) yahoo (dot) com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Amy, for stopping by and participating.

      Delete
  32. One day I'd love to have a garden! The salad looks delicious....I'm definitely going to try it -- maybe with some crumbled feta cheese.

    Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
    elizabeth(at)bookattict(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hope you enjoy the salad. I'm so glad you stopped by and entered the drawing. Best of Luck.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Looking forward to planting the garden, but with all the snow this weekend it's feels like quite a ways off. Great blog hop and giveaway. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I know what you mean about the snow. I'm so tired of cold weather and snow. We haven't had the snow like you, it snow long enough to make the ground white, then it's gone by the end of the day. This week is supposed to be warmer. Hopefully!!

    ReplyDelete

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