VOTING IS CLOSED... PLEASE DO NOT VOTE. OFFICIAL VOTING PAGE FOR THE $16,000 BACKYARD MAKEOVER!!

[admin]

Please Note: Typo Correction.
There was a typo on this page. The Last Date of Voting is September 18th according to the original contest page. It is not the 21st which was posted earlier on this page. This page has been corrected and is current and up to date. Please take note of the correction and plan your voting accordingly.

We would like to thank all of the participants who took the time to enter our giveaway...all of the entries were great!!

10 FINALISTS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

Below are the 10 Backyard Makeover FINALISTS
Please View Below and Cast A Vote For Your Favorite In The Reply Box at the Bottom of The Page. You must a be signed in and be a wqmag.com member to vote. Not a member? Join for Free Today! Just Click Here! Cast Vote by Using The Entry number. Entry Number is located right next to the Entry's name. Numbers range from 1-10.


PLEASE READ

VOTING RULES

1) You must be wqmag.com member and be "LOGGED OR SIGNED IN" to see the reply box to vote. Once signed in the Reply box is located after the last entry.

2) Go To The Reply box and Enter The Entry Number of the entry you want to vote on.
Entry Numbers are 1-10 and are located next to the ENTRY Below.

3) Limit one vote per wqmag member per day. Limit one wqmag.com account per person in the voting process.

4) No one is permitted to SPAM "VOTING REQUESTS" ON wqmag.com member's "comment wall". This prevents any solicitation to members who may not want to participate in the voting process. Inviting people that you know to join wqmag.com so that they will vote for you is encouraged.

5)Entry With the Most VALID Votes Wins The Backyard Makeover!!!

6)Voting Begins Thursday September 3rd and Voting Ends September 18th at 11:59pm.
Winner Announced September 23,2009.

7)Backyard Makeover Officials reserve the right to add or make adjustment to
any of the rules at any time during the contest voting period should the need arise. Please feel free to check back daily.








BELOW ARE OUR 10 FINALISTS!!!
WQ|mag Members You Get To Decide Who Wins!!!


#1 Gale

Please HELP!!!! I tried a paver outside the back door.But as you can see after alot of blisters and sweating it really needs to be done by a professional.I have a dog and granddaughters who can not use the back yard together,LOTS of sand.I can not seem to get anything to grow except WEEDS!!!!!! We would like to cook out and have friends over,and use the space we have to relax after a hard day at work.Thank you the Valleys on too Much Sunniland St

#2 Tracey

Hi, my name is Moose and I am a very good boy. I like to play, play, play (and play). This is my back yard. You can see it is dry and I have no grass to play in. I also need a tree or two so i can have some shade and somewhere to "you know what." I hate these sunglasses so shade would really be nice. I overheard my humans saying they need an irrigation system plus a pool for me to swim in. I am a very good swimmer and I can dive, too. Thank you. Woof.

#3 Cathie D. Meyer


An Ode to My Backyard

Just look at these pictures and you will see
Why the backyard prize should go to me!

We have a nice home that really looks great,
But our backyard terrain would frighten a snake!

Raccoons and dogs hide in our grass,
They jump out and scare us whenever we pass!

We'd love to have a pond or a fountain,
Instead of this dirt that looks like a mountain.

My husband's no help, he's allergic to grass,
He'd rather stay in the house and sit on his chair!!!

#4 Heather Patoray

We define “a barren, dirt wasteland.” We’ve NO grass, 3 mismatched fences, with overgrown bushes that serve as yet another fence. We’ve tried planting flowers, but they're dead, so we'll have to return them to Lowes. When our dog steps outside, she needs a bath because she‘s covered in dirt and has been attacked by ants. She’s beginning to contemplate using the indoors as a better place to potty! We’re newlyweds, new homeowners, teachers, and we’ve no cash to transform our yard into a desirable place to spend time together. Mother Nature just called and said we’re a disgrace! (Sniffle)!!!!

#5 Michelle

The listing enticed: "Hansel and Gretel path to charming guest house". Shadows danced seductively from oak canopies. "I must have this house. I won't look at any others!" I was shushed by my Realtor, but too little, too late. It was love at first sight... SUCKER!

Single female with intensive travel schedule harbors delusions of green-thumb grandeur, tendency to wander thru back yard with drink in-hand, overwhelmed and shaking head. Seeks rescue by team of daring professionals to produce desperately needed backyard getaway. No guarantee that "guest house" (aka Airstream) does not contain raccoon family or stray Ringling art students…

#6 Lisa Mirman
We’re a joyous family of five
With passion to help our earth thrive
Our household runs green and clean
But the outside is not so pristine

When we go outside to work and play
The yard is too barren and hot to stay
An outdoor oasis would be great
So we could play, grow and create

We’d be proud to nurture a garden space
With organic elements and art to embrace
And how we would be so very fond
Of a new fish friendly water pond

We’d be honored to welcome ya’ll to takeover
And do a backyard Florida-friendly makeover!!

#7 Tracy O Neill

Ahhh. The Florida life. Baby blue skies, a green, insect free lawn, multi-colored tropical plants, the sound of a trickling waterfall in the background, and a large hammock gently swinging in the breeze under the shade of palm trees. Wait! That’s my neighbors’ yard. I abruptly wake up; covered in dirt and dog drool, after tripping in a hole I thought I just buried poop in. Maybe I slipped on the wet leaves used as a disguise to cover the fact that we have no grass. Help! My yard needs a makeover.

#8 Derek Smith

THE BANJOS BEGIN TO PLAY...

My life and backyard has never been quite the same since my girlfriend introduced me to ANIMAL RESCUE. Now nicknamed “FOSTER BLOKE”, I’ve had over 150 'death row' dogs come through my home, to be cared for until finding them a permanent loving home.

Between diggers, jumpers and chewers of all sizes and shapes my backyard has turned into a Hillbilly Haven. The love and joy these dogs have given me has been irreplaceable. Please make my foster backyard as 'purty as a speckled pup' and silence the sound of the banjos.

#9 Cindy Fieberts

Why we need a Back Yard Makeover!


Our yard has no grass but kudzu abound
And lots of black dirt and holes all around
The trees are not trimmed and one actually leans
On the porch roof it pushes busting the seams

And of course you won’t find a brick patio
But there is an old deck with a green algae “glow”
There’s a picnic table all cracked and dusty
And a swing with a chain that’s way too rusty

Our dog thinks it’s great she can run and bark
Of course she thinks she lives in Myakka State Park!

#10 Jim

"Loneliness - an ode to poop." Help me! I am alone in a plain and dull backyard with no comfortable surroundings. There is no shade to keep me cool and from crusting nor is there any water to keep me moist. My two friends are Diesel and Donner who sometimes make new friends for me. I would like beautiful Florida Friendly surroundings to make things beautiful. I am located in Lakewood Ranch which is great exposure for all contributing sponsors and I will host a margarita/beer party for all contestants. Please keep me from being lonely. :)

[fred]

#4 for sure.

it looks like they need some green. plus they are newlyweds and look like they need some help.

[Denni]

vote for #4 all day:)

[Augustin Peter]

#5 to win

[rani]

#5 to win

[Vijay]

#5 to win

[Jim]

#5 to win

[Robin]

my sister says one more day till #4 wins!!!!!!! So Ohio votes for #4

[Casey Chadwick]

#5

[Robin]

I agree with Laura, Heather and Joey are the type of friends that everyone wants. They have touched lives all over. I am honored to say that they are my friends, and you know all of my friends that voted for them ,agree. No where does it say that your friends and their friends can't vote for them. So one more day guys and you have this makeover.

Michelle said:

Thank you Joanne. I do have an Indian friend and the environmental non-profit I work for has an office in India. China too for that matter. We share this planet and everyone needs to do their part to keep it a clean, healthy and safe place to live.

"We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children"

Joanne D said:

Actually its a pity #4 has these racist scum with their 'Proud to be American, I vote America, etc' voting for them just because one of the contestents has some friends from India and these uneducated, close-minded people are calling that contestent a cheat. - As YOU say "Contestents are encouraged to get people they know to join wg....."

--I vote for #4 heather and joe ...well sorry to hear about the votes coming in from India to help one of the other contestants. if people from India suddenly can vote for one of the other yards on this page then i smell a rat, speaking of which, i think we should all begin to sign up our pets with e-mail accounts and have them vote or maybe someone from this magazine should investigate.--

laura said:

I vote for #4. It makes me so sad to hear all these accusations about #4 being investigated for fraud, cheating, etc. The rules clearly state that the contestants are encouraged to get people they know to join mqmag and vote. Did it ever occur to any of you that Heather and Joey are WONDERFUL, deserving people who have touched the lives of MANY people, and THAT is why they are winning this contest? THAT is why we have all joined this magazine and continue to vote for them everyday.

[joey patoray]

I just want to add in that we cannot control what other voters say, just as we (#4) were harassed throughout most of this contest; Our voters watched everyone call us cheaters, frauds,and making malicious accusations. It was certainly disheartening to see people write those comments repeatedly, and watch a $16,000 makeover bring out the worst in people, and all the while we were working as hard as we could. Our voters are also reading the comments and votes, and many were suspicious to see a number votes that were in a short amount of time, and all containing the same exact message. Our voters messaged us to tell us it appeared very unusual and asking if somebody was using a list of peoples names(from India) and started inputting them... We can't give the answers to those questions, nor can we anticipate how they will express their interpretations in this open discussion board. After all, people questioned our voting intensity and I think it is going to happen whether we like it or not; not just for us, but for any contestant. One voter said "they smell a rat" contemplating a potential automatic voting with repetitive responses. The voter expressing a frustration is not something that we can control. In this contest there have been a few supporters from every team including our own that are clearly opinionated. I firmly believe that all contestants are maintaining their integrity, and are working hard to get the votes in(and would not sacrifice that for a $16,000 backyard addition). It is definitely evident that us, Michelle, and Derek, and all #'s are working extremely hard in this contest. The scrutiny on us continued until the moderator reminded all of us that this contest is designed to do something nice for a deserving individual. I believe every contestant is deserving of this makeover. I want to add that I agree with Michelle about preserving the environment. I have an enormous amount of respect for her and her environmental work. I support your efforts in combating the detriments of our fish species. I have my students do an entire Unit on overfishing (among other environmental issues), and the negative effects it induces. I hope it will increase awareness for the realities that our Earth faces. Perhaps, I can even send you a copy of one of their overfishing presentations sometime to offer a perspective from our future leaders. I also have a "Save the Reef" license plate. Aside from this there are no personal vendettas in this contest, and I hope that no matter who the winner is, they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor in their new backyard.

[joey patoray]

... I almost forgot.. #4

[Jamie]

#5!!!!!