Welcome to DreamChallenge

Having a dream to share my knitting creations, cooking adventures and caregiving stories with others is now a reality. I bet you know someone right now who is at home taking care of someone they love. A phone call, e-mail, note card or some food would all be appreciated. Sometimes an offer to stand in for that person is a wonderful gift. Think about getting a hair cut, what if there is no time or person to sit with your loved one? What can you do to help someone else, or if you are that caregiver, how can you get people to understand you would like to see them or have their help? Knitting helps me stay calm. Knitting helps my blood pressure stay normal. What helps you? Cooking is an adventure for me. My husband is a dedicated 'clean-up' person. Join us on this part of our life's journey.

Choosing to send out cards is one way I stay in touch with others. I address cards on Sunday and my husband puts them in the mail on Monday. There is always someone who needs a card.

After several months of blogging there is a reality that lots of people really enjoy this activity. Positively delightful people, living life to the best of their ability. There is such fun in hearing from others who have ideas, stories, crafts all to share with those who choose to read. Thank you my new friends in this unknown world/way of communicating.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Welcome to the Grow Your Blog Party

Welcome to the Grow OUR Blogs Party.  Here is our precious Host "Ms. Vicki" and Me (Jan).  That handsome dude between us joined a Tea Party on board the last cruise.  Notice the Pearls.  They were from our trip to Hawaii.  (One must wear pearls to a Tea Party, Right :)

 Yes, I love to travel and especially with friends and family. Here are the 'girls' in our lives.  We (My husband Bob and I) took everyone to sail along the Rhine river starting and stopping in Paris,France.  Fabulous river cruise and trip for us all.  
Me, Daughter Amy and granddaughter Sophia in Honfleur France.
Yes, I did ride a lovely horse and so did Sophia.

Beloved Husband Bob, sitting in the park across from the Eiffel Tower

Daughter Cathy and granddaughter Sydney on a farm in France.









Knitting, Cooking and Reading are all my passions.  I have an Esty shop please visit me.  Special orders are welcome.  My shop  link.  This is my latest gift.  Praying as I knit.  That's what I do.
This is my Italian Chicken made in the Crock Pot. The recipe is in a      post in November.  Check it out here, delicious.

 The Widow File by Sheila Redling is my latest read.  Mystery novel written by one of our local young women in our church.  It is a best seller on Amazon.  Good for her.  I really like to support local artists.

 As a professional educator, my focus has a wide range from prenatal to the young at heart.  Right now I'm working with Child Nutrition in the state of West Virginia even though we live in Ohio.  Our latest book was written for School Parties to center around games and activities rather than foods.  There are recipes, all good and standardized and delicious.

 Enough about me.  Here is my 'give away' for the party.    It will keep your head warm no matter where you are in our world or you can give it away to someone in the battle against cancer.  Please leave me a comment so I can reach you when the winner is chosen.
Blessings and Peace to you all,
Jan
Join the Fun : )  
















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39 comments:

  1. Vickie LynnJanuary 25, 2014 at 10:21 AM

    How fun, a tea party on a cruise, mixes two of my favorite things, tea and boating in a BIG boat! Enjoyed your GYB post.

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  2. Val's Quilting StudioJanuary 25, 2014 at 1:25 PM

    Hi Vickie! I’m a GYB party volunteer stopping by to say WELCOME and leave well wishes in the event! Thanks for participating. You post looks great. With smiles, Val:)

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  3. SharonJanuary 25, 2014 at 2:11 PM

    Hello from another GYB partier! I'm glad to find you. I'm a wife, mom, and grandma too. And I write about nutrition in my job. We have a lot in common! Blessings to you!

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    Replies
    1. DreamChallengeJanuary 26, 2014 at 12:18 PM

      Sharon, I visited your blog but could not leave u a message. Will visit again. Jan

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  4. UnknownJanuary 25, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    Two of my loves are cooking and reading. So nice to see you share your recipes. It was nice to meet you.

    Hugs
    Caroline

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  5. Vicki BosterJanuary 25, 2014 at 6:06 PM

    Love you girlfriend ---- so nice to see our smiling faces here -- some happy and wonderful times~
    Vicki

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  6. Cache-MireJanuary 25, 2014 at 6:07 PM

    Hi Jan, I thought the lady in the pic looked familiar! How fun to have met Vicki! Enjoyed your post and will be following! Hugs, Terri

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  7. BecaJanuary 25, 2014 at 8:02 PM

    I'm a yarnie too. I'll be following you now. Will be back to pay you another visit soon. I'm here from Grow Your Blog.

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  8. JeanneJanuary 26, 2014 at 10:08 AM

    Totally enjoyed your blog post and will stop back in to see you. I loved your shot in Honfleur. I have also been there, but not for nearly long enough. I am also one who loves reading and traveling, and your riverboat cruise looks amazing. I am going on my first riverboat tour in may, and am quite excited about it. Will join in your blog, and hope to also see you in mine. best to you! By the way, if you stop by, there is a link on the bottom of my current blog post that will take you to the Grow Your Blog post. Have a lovely sunday.

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  9. JeanneJanuary 26, 2014 at 11:48 AM

    Have just visited you an dhope to get to know you... I did sign up to follow you. God's word can help us through some of the most difficult times. hope that things are now better for you!

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  10. Dirty Martini QueenJanuary 26, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    Hi Jan and it's nice to meet you and your beautiful family. As a new follower I look forward to making some of your delicious looking recipes.
    Donna

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2014 at 3:24 PM

    That day in Honfleur was one of my most favorite days on the whole trip to France. Your determination to ride that horse was inspiring. I hope someone loves your giveaway. I am glad to see you back at blogging. :)
    Your baby, Amy

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  12. Thistle Cove FarmJanuary 26, 2014 at 5:12 PM

    Oh, I'm so envious you know Vicki! I can't say anything about her that you don't already know...in person -grin-. Loved visiting your blog via her GYBP...envious also of the trip to France. Heck, my new skin color is green!

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  13. Kathy HJanuary 26, 2014 at 6:52 PM

    Glad I found your blog. Looks like lots of fun things to see and read about.

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  14. hula-laJanuary 26, 2014 at 7:56 PM

    Wow, your knits are gorgeous! And I just joined our ACS Relay For LIfe for the 9th straight year! Having a great time along the blog party route! Enjoy. And yes, the pearls do any tea party justice! Aloha

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  15. Tisha DoltonJanuary 26, 2014 at 8:06 PM

    Thanks for sharing your blog. I am an embroiderer participating in Grow Your Blog too.

    aprilsongstress

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  16. Judy Cooper Textile ArtistJanuary 26, 2014 at 10:00 PM

    Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Great blog hop!

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  17. Caitlin @ Naughts Cross StitchesJanuary 27, 2014 at 1:19 AM

    Hello It's nice to meet you your projects look lovely.

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  18. lynetJanuary 27, 2014 at 8:47 AM

    Hello.. I'm Lynet, your blog is beautiful, I following now, nice to meet you ,I love to share with you from now on and we are good friends!Happy grow your blog

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  19. Cheeky Rose BoutiqueJanuary 27, 2014 at 7:24 PM

    Greetings Jan! I am also Jan, can't knit or crochet for the life of me! I'm a doll maker who loves to read others' blogs. Happy blogging!

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  20. EvalinaMariaJanuary 28, 2014 at 3:44 PM

    Hello from the Yukon. I hope you're enjoying this party as much as I do :)
    Evalina, This and that...

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  21. macmillanmarieJanuary 30, 2014 at 10:09 PM

    Hi, so nice to meet you. I love your travel photos. Your work is also wonderful. Happy hopping!

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  22. nicolesenderFebruary 1, 2014 at 5:09 AM

    Enjoyed visiting your blog. Really like the baby boy sweater. I also like to knit sweater from the top down.

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  23. judithFebruary 2, 2014 at 1:36 AM

    Here visiting thru GYB. So happy to hear how you care for people. Enjoy your travels. Glad to meet you.

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  24. DebraKay NeimanFebruary 2, 2014 at 5:16 PM

    Hello, New Follower. I am having fun finding new bloggers to follow...love sewing and quilting. Greetings from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  25. LJRandolphFebruary 3, 2014 at 12:38 AM

    Enjoyed reading your blog

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  26. janFebruary 3, 2014 at 11:42 PM

    Hi!
    I am visiting from the GYB hop. It is very nice to meet you. My name is Jan :)! You have a very nice and inspiring blog!
    xo jan@http://sewandsowfarm.blogspot.com/

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  27. Roses, Lace and BrocanteFebruary 5, 2014 at 4:12 AM

    Hello Jan
    How lovely to meet you at Vicki's GYB party!
    Love those pearls and the photo of you and Vicki!
    Nice to know you've travelled in France - we've done a canal trip on one of our trips and had lots of fun.

    I'm following you and I'll be back to look about some more once the party starts winding down!

    I would love you to pop over and meet me and enter my giveaway.

    Hugs
    Shane

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  28. Roses, Lace and BrocanteFebruary 5, 2014 at 4:18 AM

    Sorry Jan, I meant to add what a lovely giveaway - gorgeous knitting and love the colours too!
    Shane

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  29. Patty AntleFebruary 5, 2014 at 7:13 PM

    Hi Jan, nice to meet you! The hat is lovely and your work is beautiful.

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  30. lynn cockrellFebruary 7, 2014 at 12:52 PM

    I am visiting you today via sweet Vicki's GYB party. It was a pleasure checking out some of your posts and seeing all the lovely knitted projects you created. I must say I am a little jealous, since I find you took one of my dream trips(the river cruise in France). We hope to do that one day, but it is on the back burner. My precious son-in-law suffers from metastatic renal cell carcinoma and, along with my daughter-in-law who struggles to maintain her teaching career and take care of 3 active children, age 6,12 and 16. So, I guess you can say our family and extended family are all care-givers.

    Your blog is lovely and I am signing up to follow you. Thank you, Vicki, for helping me to meet yet another friend!

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  31. RedSetterFebruary 8, 2014 at 8:54 PM

    HI Jan, I'm visiting from GYB and just want to say what a lovely blog you have. I'm looking forward to following you and reading more of your posts. I have just recently got back into crochet and knitting but will give most things a go.
    Love and best
    RedSetter
    Craft blog http://gonebeading.blogspot.co.uk/
    Cat blog http://pepsimaxaddict.blogspot.co.uk/

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  32. Kristen KingFebruary 9, 2014 at 6:30 PM

    I am visiting you via the Grow Your Blog Hop and am now your newest follower with Bloglovin. Please visit me at http://meadowbrook-Kristen.blogspot.com/. Happy Stitching!!

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  33. Fit and Healthy Baby BoomersFebruary 10, 2014 at 10:32 PM

    Hi, visiting from GYP and will be following you. I'll enjoy traveling along with you. My son in law is 4th grade teacher and they have lots and lots of cupcakes. I hope your new book is received well.
    Sharon

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  34. GillieFebruary 12, 2014 at 4:04 PM

    Why did I wait so long to visit blogs, I will be back, would love to be in the giveaway!

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  35. BluMoonFebruary 13, 2014 at 6:06 PM

    Hello Jan, what an interesting blog you write, your knitting is lovely, I hope you will come over and visit me too1
    Jackie

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  36. BirgitFebruary 14, 2014 at 12:13 PM

    Hi Jan,

    What a pleasure to meet you and your lovely family. It was nice to see how many great adventures you had in the last few months -- including meeting our dear host Vicki! :)

    Thanks for the chance to win the great hat -- sweet color!

    Lots of greetings from Germany (though not from the Rhine -- I live in Munich),
    Birgit

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  37. Jennifer's Vintage PaperieFebruary 28, 2014 at 10:58 PM

    Your knitting looks amazing! It was nice to meet you thru the GYB hop.

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  38. BohemianMarch 18, 2014 at 1:38 AM

    Just discovered your Blog this Evening and as a Caregiver and Guardian of two Special Needs G-Kids and a Disabled Husband I could certainly Connect to your Dream Challenge. I also Hope that Connecting to other Caregivers thru the Wonderful Land of Blog will help me to avoid Caregiver Burnout again since I've been doing this for almost a couple of Decades now and it can sometimes be quite Isolating and Consuming. My Blog is a Happy Place to Retreat to each Evening when I get everyone down for the Night and can relax and take some 'Me Time'... and my Art and Junquing are Passions I have been able to pursue after taking an early Retirement from the Corporate Life to give the Family more of my focus, attention and time. It has opened up a New World for me and I'm rather liking it. Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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