March Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the March edition of the Country Fair Blog Party! Please take a minute to look over some of the blog posts linked up in February. You will find more recipes, art, book reviews and great photography! You CAN find it all at the Country Fair!

My Other More Exciting Self – The Basics of Egg Nutrition
“I’m here to tell you that whatever eggs you pick, you’re getting an excellent source of protein and other nutrients. You really can’t go wrong and a simple comparison of two egg brands will show you that an egg really is an egg.” – Lara

Green Grass Girl – Confessions of a Rookie Farm Wife
“They say confession is good for the soul. I’m a rookie farm wife, and I need to do some confessing:” – Rachel

The Stories I Meet – Spring in Huasna Valley
“And I’ll never believe that heaven could be anything other than this: sleek cattle on rolling hills blanketed by new grass, the murmur of water bubbling over rocks in the river, and a meal under the oak trees after a hard day’s work.” – Katie

Just like a local Country Fair, we have friends, food, family, farming, animals, crafts, cooking and comedy!

Be sure and check the link to this month’s blog party to see what great blogs link up. If you are a blogger, then please link up to three of your posts. It does not have to be new, just one you love or one that you want to share.

Blessings to you,
Laurie – Country Link

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts blogs!

Jan of Tip Garden  Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom  Val of Corn, Beans, Kids and Pigs

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February Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the February edition of the Country Fair Blog Party! Please take a minute to look over all of the great linkups from January. Once again our bloggers did not disappoint! They shared with us their top posts from 2015, plans and thoughts on the new year, more great recipes and pictures of cute barnyard animals. You CAN find it all at the Country Fair!

Here are my Purple Ribbon Winners from the January Linkup. (Yes, there are a lot of recipes this time. Yes, they all looked fantastic!)

Of Kids and Cows – Homemade Marshmallows
“For those of you unfamiliar with homemade marshmallows, you’re in for a treat. They are nothing like the store bought variety. Soft, pillowy and flavorful best describe this little delights.” – Jodi

Blogdacious – Light & Creamy Mocha Cheesecake
“For this recipe, I opened up the Steele family cookbook and found a classic vanilla cheesecake recipe and just modified it to be what I wanted.” – Chantal

Just Plain Living – Living Without Refrigeration
“The first step to going fridge-less, no matter where you live, is going to be seasonal, local eating. The more seasonal and the more local, the better.” – Marie

Diaries From the Dirt Road – German Chocolate Cake
“I recently learned that German Chocolate Cake does not originate from the country Germany but rather a man by the name of Samuel German who formulated the bittersweet blend of chocolate that they use!”  – Erin

Just like a local Country Fair, we have friends, food, family, farming, animals, crafts, cooking and comedy!

Be sure and check the link to this month’s blog party to see what great blogs link up. If you are a blogger, then please link up to three of your posts. It does not have to be new, just one you love or one that you want to share.

Blessings to you,
Laurie – Country Link

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts blogs!
Jan of Tip Garden  Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom  Val of Corn, Beans, Kids and Pigs

January Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the 1st Country Fair Blog Party of 2016! We are so happy that you are here to ring in the New Year with us. Please take a minute to look over all of the great linkups from December. We had everything from Christmas gift ideas, to crafting fun, to tasty recipes, to chicken coops! You find it all at the Country Fair!

Here are my Purple Ribbon Winners from all of the great posts:

Vickie’s Kitchen and Garden – Christmas Gifts I’ve Made this Week 11/11/15
“I have little imagination so I kind of have to rely on other people’s ideas. Thank goodness for Pinterest!” – Vickie

Kimmi’s Dairyland – Cherry Mint Sugar Cookies
“Back to those cookies! I’m sure the cows would gladly steal a few if we’d let them.” – Kimmi

Just like a local Country Fair, we have friends, food, family, farming, animals, crafts, cooking and comedy!

Be sure and click the little blue frog to see the January blog party. If you are a blogger, then please link up to three of your posts. It does not have to be new, just one you love or one that you want to share.

Blessings to you,
Laurie – Country Link

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts blogs!
Jan of Tip Garden  Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom  Val of Corn, Beans, Kids and Pigs

December Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the December addition of the Country Fair Blog Party! My apologies for being late with this months linkup. I planned ahead to have this done because we are always breeding cows the 1st of December, and then at the last minute, I forgot. I am always honest with my readers and this gal just forgot to get this posted. So, here is the December Linkup and my Purple Ribbon Winners!

 

In Between the Sunsets of Life – Adoption Series 2015

“Today begins the Adoption Series 2015 on the blog!  We are excited to let you know that we have four adoption stories to share with you this month!  Please be sure to check back every Monday for those!  We hope to add some other adoption related posts of our own too!” – Julie

Farm Fit Living – 7 Reasons Teamwork Makes or Breaks FarmLife

“It’s extremely important to understand that farming is not just a job. It is a lifestyle. Teamwork must be there to make or break farmlife. The life you want to live.” – Mindy

Cooking With Carlee – Pumpkin Slab Pie – A Guest Post by MiMi

 “I found no recipe for a slab pie that fit my criteria.  That’s okay.  I have fun creating new recipes and Carlee can share them on her blog.  That’s a win win for us and a very special birthday treat for Steve.” – MiMi

Now it is time to linkup your posts for December! Please share up to three of your favorite posts form the past or present. I am always on the look out for great gift ideas and Christmas crafts, so PLEASE share those! Just click on the little blue frog icon below to take you to the linkup.

Blessings to you,
Laurie – Country Link

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts blogs!

Jan of Tip Garden  Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom  Val of Corn, Beans, Kids and Pigs

November Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the November addition of the Country Fair Blog Party! A month has already passed since the last party and we are still in harvest mode. I wish I could report that the combines are tucked away for another year, but not yet. Soon I hope! The very wet spring and summer lead to a very late planing date for our soybeans, and they are just now ready for harvesting. Yields are not going to be as good as we hopped, but we feel very blessed to have gotten our fields planted and that there is a crop to harvest.

On to the Country Fair!

Here are my October Purple Ribbon Winners:

LAURA UNEARTHED – Why I Want My Children to be Losers

“My girls need a desire to win, or they won’t try their best.  It’s okay to fail, but not to set out being okay with failing.  But, then again, I guess “winning” is achieving the goal you started with… so maybe I’d be a wise parent to not dictate the goal.”  – Laura

NEBRASKA WHEATIE – Love in the Shape of a Red Balloon

“Maybe I feel a connection because of my own children. I can’t imagine having to go through what his family is going through – trying to figure out their new “normal”. The only thing that would/could get me through something as painful as this would be the knowledge that I would see him again one day. God says so.” – Tracy

COOKING WITH CARLEE – Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sheet Cake – A Guest Post by MiMi

“I did not want this to be like a cookie but rather a cake that tastes like cookie dough.  Cookie dough and brownie batter are two of my favorite things.  It doesn’t seem right to serve a bowl of cookie dough to your guests, so this cake was the best alternative.” – MiMi

GIFTIE ETCETERA – When Kids Are Exceptional, But Adults Can’t Tell

“Kids are the same way. Some are so sweet. Others are funny. Each has their own set of strengths and weaknesses, regardless of disabilities and abilities. Sometimes, challenging kids make it hard to remember that. Sometimes, we don’t see the exceptionalities. We are too busy not looking or judging. It’s time to change that and start making the world a better, more accepting place, especially for children facing special struggles.” – Etcetera

Just like a local Country Fair, we have friends, food, family, farming, animals, crafts, cooking and comedy!

Be sure and check the link to this month’s blog party to see what great blogs link up. If you are a blogger, then please link up to three of your posts. It does not have to be new, just one you love or one that you want to share!

Blessings to you,

Laurie – Country Link

Blog Party Link-up

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts blogs!

Jan of Tip Garden  Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom  Val of Corn, Beans, Kids and Pigs

October Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the October edition of the Country Fair Blog Party! We are in full harvest swing here. So far things are running good and we are making a “dent” in the corn acres. I have been able to be in the combine more this corn harvest then the previous two. (Go Me!) Gpa’s presence was requested at the school for Grandparent Days this week, so I was handed the reins to keep things going. I kept things rolling, but still have a way to go before I can shell as fast and as efficiently as Gpa or my husband. Now, beans, I am much better at cutting them. Have you ever watched a combine in motion across a field? It really is a sight to see, especially when they come to the end of the row and make a turn. As big as combines are, they can move with such ease in the filed. Not so much on the blacktops and highways, so if you see equipment on the road, PLEASE slow down and give them room.

On to last months Purple Ribbon winners! Did you see the September Blog Party? It really does get harder and harder to choose my favorites. If at any time you see one that you think is Purple Ribbon quality, let me know by leaving a comment.

Here are my September Purple Ribbon Winners:

Little Blog on the Homestead – Emergency Kit for your College Dorm

“So whether you’re going away to school yourself, or are sending off your loved one this Dorm Room Emergency Kit will help get them through the possible emergencies they might encounter!” – Nicole

Devastate Boredom – How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe

“This series is for non-models and other “normal” females, who like to look good without spending ridiculous amounts of time and money on it.  Hence the “rest of us” in the title.” – Sarah

Dirt Under My Fingernails – From Scratch

“But a well worn recipe is family history…and legacy. Every time we cook a dish that begins with ‘Mom’s’ or ‘Grandma’s’, we reinforce the memories of our common past and honor all the backs of envelopes and dog eared recipe cards stuck inside the stained and sticky pages of the church cookbooks.” – Julie

Just like a local Country Fair, we have friends, food, family, farming, animals, crafts, cooking and comedy!

Be sure and check the link to this month’s blog party to see what great blogs link up. If you are a blogger, then please link up to three of your posts. It does not have to be new, just one you love or one that you want to share.

Blessings to you,

Laurie – Country Link

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts blogs! 

Jan of Tip Garden  Nicole of Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom  Val of Corn, Beans, Kids and Pigs

October Country Fair Link-Up

September Country Fair Blog Party

Welcome to the September addition of the Country Fair Blog Party! Now that school is back in swing, things around here have changed. We are getting back on a school schedule with the kids adjusting better than this farm mama. With this shift in change, also comes a shift in the seasons and soon harvest will be here! If you are feeling the change of the seasons like we are, then join us at the Country Fair where all are welcome!

During the August Party I was inspired by all of the great blog posts! Thank you everyone for your continued participation! What a joy it is to know that we will have a successful link-up each and every month.

Here are my August Purple Ribbon Winners:

CHARMING FARMING – The Problems With Dress Code Defiance

“Surely there are better ways to help our daughters change the culture than encouraging them to defiantly bare their bellies. If this generation of young women would use some of their anger and energy to take on the entertainment and advertising industry, they might someday make real progress in the fight to empower women.” – LC

FOR FARM AND RANCH WOMEN – Tying off the Rain

 “With our own throbbing, cold fingers, absence of arguing, and with the redeeming smell of rain on our skin, we stood in the weather and admired not what we expected, but instead the humbling experience God gave us that day.” – Jessie

FARM GIRL COOK’N – Grandma Charlie’s Purple Ribbon Cinnamon Bread

“A simple recipe with quality ingredients is always a winner!
This recipe is reminiscent Amish Friendship bread, without the long term commitment.” – Mary

MINNESOTA FARM LIVING – Agvoacy Through Baseball and “Big City” Foodies

“And our goal? To have a conversation, make connections and learn from each other. Many of our guests have no connection to farms or farmers, just as many of us pig farmers have no connection to foodie urbanites.” – Wanda

Now be sure and come back though out the month and check out all of the posts that are added. This month we will not be having a theme, so share up to three of your favorite posts. Recent or last month or last year. As long as you have not linked it up before, then we want to see it!

Just like a local Country Fair, we have friends, food, family, farming, animals, crafts, cooking and comedy!

Be sure and check out my lovely co-hosts too! They each pick their favorites from the month and one of theirs might be one of yours!

Blessings to you,

Laurie – Country Link

September Link-Up

December CFBP – “Baby It’s Cold Outside”

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” is the December theme for the COUNTRY FAIR BLOG PARTY!

Who is ready to share their posts about the chill of December?  Maybe you have a great winter time recipe? Or how about sharing your posts about all of the cute holiday decorating that you do? Bring them all to the Country Fair!  (Remember each blog can link-up to three posts.)

We have seen a little of winter’s chill here in Missouri.  We have had snow, which was earlier than usual for us, and have had some temps in the 20’s.  Since those winter chills, we have seen temps back up in the 60’s and lots of sunshine.  If you don’t like the weather today in Missouri, just wait, it will be different tomorrow.

Be sure to check out the other co-hosts blogs and if you link-up grab the Country Fair Blog Party Button that Kelly from Old Blue Silo designed for us.

Blessings to you,

Laurie – Country Link

 

 

Co-hosts:

Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom

High Heels & Shotgun Shells

Dirt Road Charm

Tip Garden

This Uncharted Rhoade

Belong with Wildflowers

 

My Favorite Five for November – CFBP

On what happens to be a very chilly November day, I am looking through all of the blog posts that have been added so far to the November Country Fair Blog Party and I am once again amazed at the array and talent of all of the bloggers who have linked-up.

We have a blogger who lives in Australia!  We have a blogger who lives within a hour of me.  We have a blogger who is writing a series on adoption.  We have bloggers who must be FANTASTIC cooks because their recipes look FANTASTIC!  We have bloggers who are Thankful!  And we have bloggers who are also very giving.

Here are my Favorite Five/Grand Champion Ribbon Winners for November: (Click on the picture to go to the blog post.  Click on the name under the picture to go to the blog.)

GIVING: Release Ministries

“Isn’t this like God – long suffering, patient, filled with loving kindness? I almost lost out on a precious gift, sent by God to heal my heart and bring me something I didn’t know I needed. A companion, a healer, a best friend.” – Susan

THANKFULNESS: Hasekamps of Tulip

“As I prepare for tonight’s meeting and juggling all that makes up our busy life, I am ALWAYS thankful that 4-H is one of those things in it.” – Kathy

AGRICULTURE/FARMING: This Farm Family’s Life

“Even though we have had a pretty major hiccup this fall, there are still things to be thankful for: the yields this year are good.  We didn’t experience a drought this summer and we haven’t had any personal injuries.” – Sarah

FAMILY:  Dirt Under My Fingernails

“And my mother in law takes her joys on a daily basis….her priorities are clear; life, love, and laughter trump order, and everything can wait for tomorrow if there are grandkids to cuddle. “ – Julie

SNACKS: Food & Swine 

“This is the fluffiest popcorn with a delicate crisp sugar coating and a hint of salt.  It is the perfect snack, if you ask me and is exactly like the kettle corn you can buy at the Farmer’s Market, which is stirred in giant drums with a wooden paddle.” – Cristen

There you have it!  My Favorite Five for the month of November.  Be sure to come back in December for the next Link-up.  The December theme will be: Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Have fun with this one!

Blessings to you,

Laurie – Country Link

 

 

*Tales of a Kansas Farm Moms – November Favorites

*Dirt Road Charm – November Favorites

*High Heels & Shotgun Shells – November Favorites

*The Tip Garden – November Favorites

*This Uncharted Rhoade – November Favorites

*Belong With Wildflowers – November Favorites

November CFBP – A Time of Giving

Here we are at the first day of November and it is time for a new Country Fair Blog Party! Thank you to everyone who come to the October Party to check out all of the great linkups and to those who added their posts.  So many interesting things to read!

Now it is time to award the Purple Ribbon!  You all helped and it was unanimous!  The COUNTRY LINKED October Grand Champion is – Diaries From the Dirt Road

Erin’s Pumpkin Roll was a hit!  Now I just need to find a nice calm day where I can attempt to make one.

On to the November Party!  This month the theme is; A Time of Giving – Share with us your posts of Thanksgiving and Gift-giving.  Be creative with this!  Bring us your posts about any type of giving or of thanks.  Have a fun Thanksgiving tradition?  Maybe you took a mission trip and are thankful for the experience?  Whatever you are thankful for please share here at the Country Fair!  Don’t forget the holidays are right around the corner, so bring us your best gift giving ideas or projects too.

Remember all you have to do to link up is to click on the little blue frog at the bottom and then add your post link, not your page URL, but the specific post URL. From there add your email and then chose your thumbnail.  (With adding your link to the party, you are giving us your permission to use a picture in a feature post.) Add the Country Fair Blog Party button to your post so that others know you are partying with us!

To view all of the great posts in this months party, just click on the little blue frog and you will see them all! Check back often because new ones are added all during the month.

This month I would like to introduce you to all of our co-hosts.  You will see some familiar faces and we have added some new ones too! I am so excited that these ladies are co-hosts. We are a unique and divers group who all love the simple things in life and love the country. Please visit them when you have a chance and let them know that Country Link sent you their way.

Country Fair Blog Party Co-Hosts:

Jan, the chick behind Tip Garden, grew up a Kansas farm girl. She now lives in the big city out in the South East. She works 2 jobs outside the home, in addition to her favorite “jobs” of wife and mother! She knows what being a busy woman is, short on time, and always feeling 2 steps behind and she loves time & money-saving ideas!

Jamie, of This Uncharted Rhoade, is a Midwestern girl. 25 years old. She is married to her best friend and is very passionate about agriculture. She has  a fantastic job working with animals and amazing, smart people. Right now Jamie and her husband are fixing up their one bedroom house into a home. She is happiest when surrounded by open fields and cows. She’s been known to exaggerate a bit and sometimes has potty mouth (sorry mom).

Caitlin is a 20-something living on the East Coast of the United States. After a decade chasing college degrees and career ladders, she began blogging as a creative outlet to reconnect with myself. Blogging pushed her to look at what happiness meant to her (and it was found in the most surprising of places). She is learning about agriculture, beekeeping, chickens, goats, herbalism, and organic farming to begin a farm and homestead in the next year. In the meantime, Caitlin spends her days chasing adventures with Michael (lovingly called ‘my guy’ and ‘my beau’),with an awfully adorable fur-little family in tow.

Danielle was born an Urban Cajun, transformed into a Rural Okie and now blazing through life as a Kentucky Wife. She writes about her life, faith, her fur-child Oliver, over shares about the handsome fella she married and mixes it all in with some agriculture flavor on the (sometimes hysterical, but always honest) High Heels and Shotgun Shells.

Taysha is a Midwestern girl trying to make the most out of every minute and is the voice behind Dirt Road Charm. She has a full-time job in the Ag industry as well as splitting her time with cattle shows, travel, advocating, and family. She shares her experiences and passion with Ag.  Some of her obsessions are cowboy boots, the Michigan State Spartans, the color turquoise,  and bacon…..you can’t forget the bacon!

Nicole shares about her life on a Kansas farm and ranch over at Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom. Her and her husband raise boys, cattle, wheat, corn, grass and soybeans on their family farm. Her days can be unpredictable, sometimes comical, sometimes heart wrenching, but always fulfilling to those who are lucky to be farmers.

Didn’t I say were and a unique and diverse group!  Enjoy the November Country Fair Blog Party!

Blessings to you,

Laurie – Country Link