Award Thanks

Many Thanks for the thoughtfulness of
Pam at Pam's English Cottage Garden,
also Shady at Does Everything Grow Better in My Neighbor's Yard?
for this Award.
Apology for not passing this award or other awards along to many that deserve it...
but THANKS are in order.

Counter ???

Think this is misleading ? Over 500 Hits a day...I don't think so.
This crazy counter used to be what I felt was accurate but now...it's just bizarre !!

None have been to my satisfaction so far....tried them all.
Contacted Clustrmaps and the problem was corrected for a short time.
Wonder how all these different IP addresses are showing up ?
Used "Sitemeter" for awhile which gives the IP Address
and that showed mostly business addresses and google images.
Go figure.

Can view this counter on side bar.

Total since 12 Oct 2009: 25,564. Previous 24hrs: 979."


Happy Weekend Everyone !
ps... no comments needed...take the week off :)

HAPPY TURKEY WEEKEND !!!

Congrats !

Congrats everyone at Blotanical!

The 2009 Blotanical Awards Winners

Have to say I'm sad that some of you I love didn't get an award.
BUT You're still the best in my book !!


Again...Congrats to the winners...hoo hoo !!

No Two Blogs Look The Same

My ranting on things you can do with Blogger Pages.
Content is the most important part of blogging.
The author and their interest is what brings you back.
But what about your template ? Or just your Header ?
The look has little importance in blogging but regardless...
I must talk about it ! This is not a tutorial just an observation.
As you can see I've changed my page again.
Think I'll only fuss with the header from now on and maybe get the spots off of this page.
But then again maybe not ! Drats, at a glance my header looks like it has birds on it...hmmm.
Anyway it's nice to do seasonal headers. I see quite a few people doing that.
Blogger/Blogspot does offer a lot of choices for making your own blog page
but you can also tweak that a little, which is fun !

Using blogger templates and tools is the easiest way to create a page.



First pick a Template.




Then maybe change the page colors from blue to green or whatever you like,
and change the font style, size and color..... so no two blogs look the same.







There's all kinds of useful stuff that can be added to your side bar.
Using what blogger has to offer is pretty good... or find your own gadgets/elements maybe at Google.

Can you make enough money with Ad Sense or Monetize to buy plants for the season?
If so that might be a good idea ! (Not really sure how the details of that work).







Now this is where you can get creative but it can be a challenge.


Most seem to like adding a picture header.
Yet some get right to the point and type their blog title and choose a font,
size and color to their liking.


















How about those pictures you take ?


Uploaded pictures from Picasso is fairly fast with your picture being about this size without clicking on them.























But then you can cut and paste URL from your photo album which takes one minute and also change the size. I used the URL for large pictures to create the picture below.

The URL looks like this below.
(img src="http://thumb6.webshots.net/t/66/766/8/14/34/2367814340095447466iYmFto_th.jpg")
but the brackets are replaced with these brackets > < .
If you want big I'll be glad to show you this simple method using the URL of the your pictures.
I personally like Webshots.








Or you can make it even larger. You pick the size !
There are other ways of making them larger...just don't know what they are yet !










Also there are a million different backs and borders if you want to edit the blogger template. Or make your own. I can tell you how to change the background for individual posts with a little tweaking of the HTML... but other than that I believe the entire template needs replacing.
....








Or just download a template. Some are really nice, others are really busy.
Some are free. I always think there's a catch to free templates...so I won't download.





So what's the bottom line ?
There are all different looks you can give a blog,
but what's MOST important is what makes you happy.
Unfortunately I just can't leave things alone.
I'm sure it's some kind of strange disorder.
I'll try this.. then that...love it..... then hate it.
And believe it or not just about every time I tell myself..."that's it"!
Guess I'm hopelessly forever changing, just as in my garden.
Maybe that's a good thing.
Anything to add ? Go right ahead !

Have to take a short break from blogging, but will be back to visit everyone before long.

Happy gardening,

Patsi

Blogger Question-Post Keepers

Have a question.
So many of you wonderful bloggers did posts that I like to call "keepers".
What I mean is that you did a post on a subject that I like to do or dream about doing someday.
I think you know the kind of post I'm talking about.

Have failed to save in past months certain posts from garden bloggers and now I just don't remember who did them or where to find them and it's been driving me crazy.
Soooo... on "My Links" page located on side bar is a list of just 2 (right now)that I feel are needed for future reference.
Need to know if it's ok with everyone?
If it's a problem I'll remove it.

Looks like this below:









Niels
Dreamy Plant Combination


Genie
Camera flash diffuser

Friendship Award

Many thanks to Kim at Wishnik Woods for this award.

"It is a friendship award meant to be given to deserving fellow bloggers that reach out and touch other bloggers."
I am honored to have received this.

My responsibility now is to nominate 8 bloggers that I think also deserve this recognition.
So therefore I hope you will personally accept the same award from me !.

Congratulations.
Joey,
Joy,
Chad and Brandy,
Katrina,
Cheryl,
Marnie,
Genie,
Kim and Victoria,


You are welcome to pass this award forward.

Send Some Cheer !

It's all about the kids....
Visit Rachel at Rosemary's Blogspot.

Blooming Friday

Sharing Katarina's "Blooming Friday"
Please visit her at Roses and Stuff
for info and to see more blooms.











Dahlberg daisy/golden fleece is a full sun annual that I started from seed for the past two years. The plant has tiny upright yellow flowers that are about one inch wide. These plants were put in pots by themselves and some were added with other flowers. I understand they're great for rock gardens.
Love the feathery look of the leaves and the dainty bright yellow flowers.

Must See !!!

These pictures will knock your socks off !

Please visit Katarina at Roses and Stuff.



Don't forget to leave her a comment !

Two Thoughts

I think we all get a million seed catalogs through the mail. Here's one of them, as well as Garden Gate magazine, which has terrific ideas...wish I could show you some photos from the inside but that may be illegal.



Also I'd like to introduce two fun young bloggers Chad and Brandy at
My Backyard Life.They are certified as NWF BackYard Habitat.

Yes, I said "young"...not that any of us aren't young. :)

"Fabulous Fall Decor Award"

An Award for me...you shouldn't have. :)
Thank you Kim.
This is called the "Fabulous Fall Decor Award".
Presented to me by Kim at Wishnik Woods.
I have little in the way of "fall decor"... but get the idea.





Guess what happens now ? You got it ! Now I pick 6 people to be the lucky recipients.
All of you created beautiful fall decorations and or great fall posts.
I think everyone has some wonderful fall/autumn posts but I can only pick six.
Anyway here goes...

Joy @ Garden Joy 4 Me

Giddy @ Crafty Gardener

Angelika @ Fushsienrot"s Gartentraum

Shady @ Does Everything Grow Better In My Neighbors Yard

Cameron @ Defining Your Home

Robin @ Robin's Nesting Place

Frances @ Faire Garden

"The rules are simple...you pick up this award photo and post it on your blog. Nominate six people/blogs of your choice for this same award. Then finally, you need to let the winners know that they have been chosen!"

Gadget

Weather Gadget
I see different gadgets from all over the place.
You might like this one. I think it's cute.
Below are some samples of different pixies.
"The characters clothes will reflect the weather and the graphic will show rain, snow, airborne particles and changes in cloud cover. Daylight, sunset and current moon phase are also displayed."
It's sooo easy to do. Find your location anywhere in the world then cut and paste the HTML for your blog.
Click on my girl(pixie)on side bar for more information. Or Here

......

Shady's Meme

Things I've discovered while surfing the www of bloggers.
Please feel free to correct me if if wrong.
I'm sure there's a million more out there.

Meme is defined as any idea or behavior that can pass from one person to another by learning or imitation.
For bloggers "meme" can be defined as an interesting or amusing form of link tag which may include something to make it more attractive. Some may have rules to follow if used and some don't.

examples

Name your 5 favorite whatever
Quizzes
Awards
Wordless Wednesday,Something Friday

Ok, now back to this blog's title.

Here's one you might enjoy since the gardening season is almost over
but we can't stop blogging !

Check out Shady's "Inspiration 2008 Posts"

Look on the right side of her page.

Special Days

Another Question about garden bloggers.
I noticed not all bloggers choose to use these subjects.
And I believe you don't have to link back to the inventor or host.
Are these all the Special Blogger Day Titles?



Musing Mondays-Muse Day
-sweethomeandgardenchicago


Wordless Wednesday
-just pictures


Thursday Thoughts
-craftygardener


Bloom Day-Blogger's Bloom Day
-maydreamsgardens the 15th of every month
Is this day for what's currently blooming?

Also
Is there a "question day" for people like me who ask questions all the time ?
I'm not trying to be funny.
Maybe there's a place to go with questions?
Google Groups are very limited in their help department.
But I did find this very helpful-Dummies Guide to Google Blogger Beta
Anyway having special days is a clever idea. I like them.
Thanks for any help.

Question about Awards

I understand the "mouse & trowel"award...Bloggers Vote.

But how do the other awards work?

Can any blogger nominate anyone they want?

Whats the story?

Here are the most common ones I've noticed.


Also


Can I give awards to other bloggers with something like this below ?
Their are so many bloggers who just make me chuckle.
Here's an award that I think is fitting.
It's something I made playing around with a few free images,which can be changed.
It's nothing fancy...just a cup of fun.
Let me know what you think?
All comments are welcome.

Thanks,
Patsi

Your Zone

Please tell me your zone.

This link should help.
Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Thanks,
Patsi