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gfreiherr
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Recent Entries to this Blog Reflections on a Wedding
Posted: 02 Nov 2010
It's almost here!
Posted: 30 Sep 2010
I'm ready and waiting
Posted: 27 Sep 2010
The Wedding Planners
Posted: 14 Sep 2010
Spring fling in New Jersey
Posted: 31 Mar 2010

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Gail's Garden Blog




Fun at the Feeder

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:24 pm

While we were on vacation the bird feeders were emptied so it took a few days for all the regulars to realize we were back open for business. Before we left we were up to 16 morning doves, as of this morning we only have 4 back! They seem to multiply every day. Our two pair of cardinals are back, as well as the two bluejays, two squirrels and miscellaneous varieties of chickadees, finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, titmouse, wrens and all those little brown & black birds that look alike and blend into the mulch.


( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

We had some snow flurries this morning so everyone was out stocking up.

I was trying to put all the remaining Christmas decorations but kept getting distracted by all the activity.


( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



The watering hole is frozen! ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



Is the squirrel ever going to leave! ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Okay...step away from the window...there is still work to be done!



packing up the holidays ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





Last edited: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:32 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 315 times


The dawn of a new year

Category: Holidays | Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 9:44 pm


The dawn of a New Year ...2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )



New Year's Eve 2009 ended with a blue moon. I was not sure what a blue moon was, so I googled it. A blue moon is a full moon that is not timed to the regular monthly pattern. Most years have twelve full moons which occur approximately monthly, but in addition to those twelve full lunar cycles, each solar calendar year contains an excess of roughly eleven days compared to the lunar year. The extra days accumulate, so every two or three years there is an extra full moon. The extra moon is called a "blue moon." Different definitions place the "extra" moon at different times.

We could not see the moon because of the cloud cover but it was still visible as the New Year dawned.

I'm not a great believer in New Year Resolutions. If you want to make a change in your life, why wait until the new year to do it? Life is a constant process of trial and error, evaluation and adjustment.

I do find it is a good time for reflection and change. I get get better organized and complete some projects on my to do list. It usually lasts until the end of February and then the weather is warmer and my thoughts return to the garaden and everything else gets put on hold until next year.

Listed below are 10 good thoughts to remember. They are not my thoughts...they came to me in an email and I copied it from my saved emails. (Because I need a refresher at least once in a blue moon.

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is God & ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

I hope that 2010 will be a great year for you.






This blog entry has been viewed 301 times


Christmas Vacation road trip

Category: Holidays | Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:59 am

We are back from our trip to NJ. We had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays with family. The weather was good for our 24 hours of driving (round trip). The scenery was beautiful in the mountains & valleys with the 20+ inches of snow covering the mountains & fields. We have made the trip many times in the spring, summer & fall but this was our first winter trip.

Taking photos was challenging at 70 miles per hour. Watching out for trucks, cars, signs, trees & then judging the distance. Digital cameras are great..you just delete all your mistakes.
I put some of the photos in the smile box link below.


http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d544d354e4467774f54633d0d0a&blogview=true

This blog entry has been viewed 393 times


Gail's blog closing for the Christmas holidays

Category: Holidays | Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:55 pm

Merry Christmas to all of my Garden Stew Friends.

We are heading out early tomorrow for our 12 hour drive to NJ. We have not gone home to NJ for Christmas since we moved to Tennessee 9 years ago.

I am the oldest of 6 children so there is always a big crowd on Christmas eve.

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." ~Burton Hillis


Merry Christmas to All ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

We will be gone for a week so I won't be posting but I will check in if I have a chance. I just wanted to say how much I enjoy this garden community and all the friends I have made here.

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,
The warmth of Christmas grant you love.
~Author Unknown



Last edited: Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:57 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 572 times


Cardinal Capers

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:43 am

The birds were very busy at the feeders today. The sun was shining and the temperatures were warmer. I guess they are stocking up for the cold winter to come. I was suppose to be wrapping presents and packing for our trip to NJ but everytime I passed the kitchen window there was lots of activity and I had to stop & watch with my camera handy.


Scouting the area ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Utt Ohh...company's coming ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Who invited them? ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I'll just send the Mrs. for takeout





I think I'm being followed ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






I'm out of here ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







The crew waiting in the wings ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 302 times


Snowmen collection

Category: Holidays | Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:12 pm

There is nothing like a snowman
To make a person smile.
His eyes of coal, his carrot nose,
His pipe with so much style.
We all have special memories
Of fun in the snow and slush
And this will be renewed
With a little help from us!
unknown source

I collected snowmen since my girls were little. I don't actively collect them anymore but if I see a really cute one... I still can not resist.




Snowmen collection ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







snowmen collection ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






snowmen collection ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






snowmen collection ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






snowmen collection ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 370 times


Flowers for Christmas

Category: Holidays | Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:53 pm

My favorite gift to give or receive is flowers. I love creating flower arrangements, especially for Christmas. Here are a few of the arrangements I made this year.


( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )


Now the fun part...delivering them to friends and family.



This blog entry has been viewed 319 times


The Breakfast Club

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:47 pm

It was a busy morning at the feeder. The birds were lined up waiting for their turn.


Waiting their turn ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )







The lookout ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






My turn ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






I need a bigger feeder! ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I could sit here all day but there is oly 12 days until Christmas and I have a long list of things to do! Have a great day.




This blog entry has been viewed 305 times


Photobooks

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:41 pm

Since I bought my digital camera I have loaded more than a thousand photos to my computer. I post some of them to My facebook, the Garden Stew, Smilebox and I do print some. I don't print a lot because I am not good at putting them in albums!

This year I started making photobooks on-line. There are many options on-line. My personal experience has been with Shutterly and Snapfish which I also use to print my photos. The photobook I have posted the link for is from Shutterfly and it is an 8x8 hardcover book of my garden photos. After you open the link, click on the rose and in the right hand corner is a button for full screen to view larger.

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/projectdetail.sfly?fid=422e0495ad683b930031ecd658bfd733&sid=8AYs27Nu1buWHO

I have also made soft cover books of family pictures, my nephew's wedding and of course my garden.

I like the quality of the Shutterfly books. After you join (its free) they run specials all the time. You also get 50 free 4x6 prints just for joining. The photobook sizes run from 5X7 to 12x12. There are over 500 background designs and layouts to choose from. You can also use the Simple Path or autofill option and then make changes.

Just something to think about when you are looking for a project while your garden is hibernating.



Last edited: Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:54 pm

This blog entry has been viewed 486 times


It's beginning to look a "bit" like Christmas

Category: Holidays | Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:36 pm

Since we will be with our family in New Jersey for Christmas, I was just going to put up our tree and decorate the mantle to have a little Christmas spirt.
However...Yesterday I went to a Christmas luncheon and was inspired by my friends decorations or maybe it was the Jack Daniels lemonade. So when I came home I dragged out some more boxes to make things a little more festive. This is my friends dining table.


My friend's dining room ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )
She belongs to the "Red Hat" group and had a luncheon for them the day before so she decorated in their purple and red colors.
Back to my house. I am attaching some photos of my decorations.






2009 Tree ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Mantle 2009 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )











dining room ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )






Violets and pointsettias ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I still have a few more boxes of snowmen to put out but it's still 12 days before we drive to NJ so I will get to enjoy some holiday spirit in TN.





This blog entry has been viewed 329 times




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