We're off this morning to Bayfield, Wisconsin. You KNOW I'll take pictures, and we'll see if Blogger lets me post 'em.
Doncha just love a mystery?
Waiting for Mog to get here, I noticed a fairly large bird on the cement block on the corner of the square flowerbed outside my office window. ('Fairly large' means about twice the size of a robin--his beak and feet are tucked in, and he's perfectly centered on the block--the only movement is when the wind ruffles his feathers a bit). What's remarkable about that? Something about him makes me think "hawk"--the fearlessness and serenity of sleeping 2 feet above the ground, out in the open--
Ok, she's here!
See ya later...
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Beta
I'm trying this new beta program from blogger. Evidently, it now goes through my google account, which seems to have bugs of it's own.
I tried to post a photo three times already...just to see if it works...no go. The page freezes when I click "post".
Soooo, we'll try just words, and see if it greases the skids lol
I tried to post a photo three times already...just to see if it works...no go. The page freezes when I click "post".
Soooo, we'll try just words, and see if it greases the skids lol
There's even caramel in my hair
The last three days have been BUSY here in EF Headquarters-land.
Thursday morning, we drove down to Rochester, Mn for a 2 day trade show. The idea was to place orders for a good part of our merchandise mix for next season, and MAN, it was fun! On Thursday, we scoped the place out, getting an idea of what was offered and picking up brochures...then back to the hotel to decide.
In the morning, we had a stack of vendors to visit, place the order, and get on to the next vendor. OMG, that was so cool!
"We need two of this...one of these...a case of this...you have a deal on three cases? Hmm, ok--three. And how do these come? Lots of six? Ok, six of these, these, these and these..." LOL...see?
The ONLY problem with being three hours from home was that Saturday was the opening day of our Fall Sale, and MUCH needed to be done yet. The crew really tried, but with regular customer traffic (PLUS those wanting a pre-sale deal), it's difficult to get merchandise marked and displays set up.
We made it back by about 4:30 on Friday, and dug right in...lol Set up corn shocks on the lawn to cover that bare spot where a big pot was....place signs everywhere....run a cord to the table for the caramel heater and check if the apple corer would actually work there...get the bobcat and haul out pallets of bagged potting soil and mulch...place bales for display and seating...then go home and rest up for the craziness tomorrow!
Whew. Saturday morning, I drove out to Collegeville Orchards to pick up the Paula Red apples--three bushels--when Curtis called to ask that I bring my coffee grinder, too. As he would say, "Done and done!" lol
It was a PERFECT day! Cold and sunny, with wind from the north...geese flying over...the rustle of dried corn, smell of straw and fresh air, and the nearby farmers' last cutting of alfalfa...hot caramel out front, and inside, rich fresh-ground coffee. Mmmm!
When I opened the gates at 7:55, there were six or seven cars waiting to get in, and it stayed that way all day....! A parade of cheery people delighted to be outside for a reason. I really believe that EVERY customer yesterday bought something...lol...and most bought more than that!
Oh, yes! I DID get pictures...don't worry. Dar, the apple server, took lots between chopping apples and pumping hot caramel. Thanks, Dar!
But of course, blogger/my computer isn't cooperating this morning...so click these....
DAR SERVING CARAMELED APPLES
THE CREW
WORKING HARD
BTW....the caramel in my hair? I have no idea HOW it got there, but now I know why that wasp liked me so much!
Thursday morning, we drove down to Rochester, Mn for a 2 day trade show. The idea was to place orders for a good part of our merchandise mix for next season, and MAN, it was fun! On Thursday, we scoped the place out, getting an idea of what was offered and picking up brochures...then back to the hotel to decide.
In the morning, we had a stack of vendors to visit, place the order, and get on to the next vendor. OMG, that was so cool!
"We need two of this...one of these...a case of this...you have a deal on three cases? Hmm, ok--three. And how do these come? Lots of six? Ok, six of these, these, these and these..." LOL...see?
The ONLY problem with being three hours from home was that Saturday was the opening day of our Fall Sale, and MUCH needed to be done yet. The crew really tried, but with regular customer traffic (PLUS those wanting a pre-sale deal), it's difficult to get merchandise marked and displays set up.
We made it back by about 4:30 on Friday, and dug right in...lol Set up corn shocks on the lawn to cover that bare spot where a big pot was....place signs everywhere....run a cord to the table for the caramel heater and check if the apple corer would actually work there...get the bobcat and haul out pallets of bagged potting soil and mulch...place bales for display and seating...then go home and rest up for the craziness tomorrow!
Whew. Saturday morning, I drove out to Collegeville Orchards to pick up the Paula Red apples--three bushels--when Curtis called to ask that I bring my coffee grinder, too. As he would say, "Done and done!" lol
It was a PERFECT day! Cold and sunny, with wind from the north...geese flying over...the rustle of dried corn, smell of straw and fresh air, and the nearby farmers' last cutting of alfalfa...hot caramel out front, and inside, rich fresh-ground coffee. Mmmm!
When I opened the gates at 7:55, there were six or seven cars waiting to get in, and it stayed that way all day....! A parade of cheery people delighted to be outside for a reason. I really believe that EVERY customer yesterday bought something...lol...and most bought more than that!
Oh, yes! I DID get pictures...don't worry. Dar, the apple server, took lots between chopping apples and pumping hot caramel. Thanks, Dar!
But of course, blogger/my computer isn't cooperating this morning...so click these....
DAR SERVING CARAMELED APPLES
THE CREW
WORKING HARD
BTW....the caramel in my hair? I have no idea HOW it got there, but now I know why that wasp liked me so much!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Certain people have been bugging me about updating here...what can I say? It's no longer a florist blog, so I feel "untrue" about keeping the name.
On the other hand, daud says it isn't my problem that web crawlers cherry pick or that I'm listed when someone Googles "rubrum lily". (Hi, rubrum lovers! Thanks for clicking Ephemeral Florist...feel free to scroll around, but be aware that it's more of a 'grandaughter' and 'landscaping' blog these days...the 'florist' stuff is PRE-October 2005...lol).
On the third hand, it's neat to know that both of you CARE whether I blog or not. I could write this stuff in an e-mail, and one cc would suffice, but then, what would late night insomniac random ("Click for next blog") surfers do when they need to sleep?
So, OKAY. You haven't exactly said you LOVE this drivel, but I guess that you want it is good enough....lol
We're having a "Fall Fiesta" at SS next Saturday--the kick-off to a "rest of the season" sale featuring buy-two-get-one-free trees, and twofer shrubs and perennials...(what doesn't sell has to be overwintered), as well as half price fountains, pots, garden tools, etc. AND, there'll be seminars on
Putting Your Pond To Bed For The Winter and Landscaping with Icecicles...(kidding!)
So, this weekend, I made a scarecrow for my displays, and a few crows to go with him.
Wanna see?
(My sister helped with the crows, which you'll have to imagine, so she gets her picture here.)
xoxo to you all!
On the other hand, daud says it isn't my problem that web crawlers cherry pick or that I'm listed when someone Googles "rubrum lily". (Hi, rubrum lovers! Thanks for clicking Ephemeral Florist...feel free to scroll around, but be aware that it's more of a 'grandaughter' and 'landscaping' blog these days...the 'florist' stuff is PRE-October 2005...lol).
On the third hand, it's neat to know that both of you CARE whether I blog or not. I could write this stuff in an e-mail, and one cc would suffice, but then, what would late night insomniac random ("Click for next blog") surfers do when they need to sleep?
So, OKAY. You haven't exactly said you LOVE this drivel, but I guess that you want it is good enough....lol
We're having a "Fall Fiesta" at SS next Saturday--the kick-off to a "rest of the season" sale featuring buy-two-get-one-free trees, and twofer shrubs and perennials...(what doesn't sell has to be overwintered), as well as half price fountains, pots, garden tools, etc. AND, there'll be seminars on
Putting Your Pond To Bed For The Winter and Landscaping with Icecicles...(kidding!)
So, this weekend, I made a scarecrow for my displays, and a few crows to go with him.
Wanna see?
(My sister helped with the crows, which you'll have to imagine, so she gets her picture here.)
xoxo to you all!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
You'll notice I'm in a GREAT mood for a mid-summer Sunday night...three reasons:
1.
Here in the heartland, we're enduring temps in the 90-100 range lately. My sibs know how grouchy that would normally make me, but last Thursday, I had a new furnace AND central air installed--a birthday present to ME...lol
Now, since I've spent the weekend ENJOYING cool non-humid air, we've decided to keep the heat one more day, and then send it East--
LOOK OUT, CHICAGO!
2.
Becky sent pics today of lil' grandaughter managing in the heat...trust me, they're cute, but Blogger won't let me load 'em. I even re-sized them, but no...maybe later tonight, 'k?
3.
Just because I know you'll enjoy this, here's a FUN search engine for when you're just playin' rather than "Researching"...it explains itself: http://www.bananaslug.com/
xoxo
1.
Here in the heartland, we're enduring temps in the 90-100 range lately. My sibs know how grouchy that would normally make me, but last Thursday, I had a new furnace AND central air installed--a birthday present to ME...lol
Now, since I've spent the weekend ENJOYING cool non-humid air, we've decided to keep the heat one more day, and then send it East--
LOOK OUT, CHICAGO!
2.
Becky sent pics today of lil' grandaughter managing in the heat...trust me, they're cute, but Blogger won't let me load 'em. I even re-sized them, but no...maybe later tonight, 'k?
3.
Just because I know you'll enjoy this, here's a FUN search engine for when you're just playin' rather than "Researching"...it explains itself: http://www.bananaslug.com/
xoxo
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
What IS it with me and cameras??
Yes, I DID get new baby pictures today, don't worry...but the thing refuses to flash, so it's really cool that the computer program lets you mess with brightness and contrast...lol
My little sweetie is getting so big! When I saw her last, she couldn't hold her head up...(only a month ago)...and now look at her! She pushes with her legs the second her feet touch something firm, and she much prefers standing to sitting...lol
She's not even 5 months old!
When I arrived this morning, she was in her infantseat in daddys' office...just watching him. When he turned to her, she smiled, and they showed me their newest game: "Where's the baby?" which is J throwing the blanket up over her head, and Kendall kicking and chattering till it's completely off!
(Takes about 5 seconds, start to finish...lol)
Some other pics, ok? Here she is with her auntie....
.....and with her favorite dad...lol
(Sometimes too-dark pictures turn out pretty neat...)
My little sweetie is getting so big! When I saw her last, she couldn't hold her head up...(only a month ago)...and now look at her! She pushes with her legs the second her feet touch something firm, and she much prefers standing to sitting...lolShe's not even 5 months old!
When I arrived this morning, she was in her infantseat in daddys' office...just watching him. When he turned to her, she smiled, and they showed me their newest game: "Where's the baby?" which is J throwing the blanket up over her head, and Kendall kicking and chattering till it's completely off!
(Takes about 5 seconds, start to finish...lol)
Some other pics, ok? Here she is with her auntie....
.....and with her favorite dad...lol(Sometimes too-dark pictures turn out pretty neat...)
Monday, July 17, 2006
Pondemonium 06 is history...
Have you ever considered what it would take to build a pond or waterfall in your yard?
Well, let me tell you, ok?
Beyond a pump, liner and skimmer, you need ROCKS--say, 5 tons of nice big boulders, and another few tons of smaller rocks and pebbles--and you need to dig a hole. We had 65 people in that yard (it was Build-a-Pond Day), but you really need only about five good strong hydrated folks, and you'll be done in a day.
Why YES, I did take pictures...how nice of you to ask!
This is how the pond is laid out--with the garden hose. You play with it and decide how you'd like to see it from the house, and where the waterfall should go. Then, the outline is traced on the grass with a can of orange florescent spray paint (!) and you start digging.
Of course, you need to dig deep--the boulders fill lotsa space and need to be stacked carefully around the edges, propped by the medium stones and filled with pebbles, but only once you've laid in a thick underlayer and a liner.
By lunch, you should be filling the new pond with water.....it'll be cloudy because of all the rock dust, but that settles out or gets caught by the filters, don't worry.
After lunch, you build the waterfall...if you started at six in the morning, by 3 the waterfall could be running.
Umm, this was about 2 PM.
Ahhh, the pump's turned on and the first spill of water is a thrill, promise!
Of course, I forgot to get a long shot of the finished pond, but trust me, it was magnificent!
Well, let me tell you, ok?
Beyond a pump, liner and skimmer, you need ROCKS--say, 5 tons of nice big boulders, and another few tons of smaller rocks and pebbles--and you need to dig a hole. We had 65 people in that yard (it was Build-a-Pond Day), but you really need only about five good strong hydrated folks, and you'll be done in a day.
Why YES, I did take pictures...how nice of you to ask!
This is how the pond is laid out--with the garden hose. You play with it and decide how you'd like to see it from the house, and where the waterfall should go. Then, the outline is traced on the grass with a can of orange florescent spray paint (!) and you start digging.
Of course, you need to dig deep--the boulders fill lotsa space and need to be stacked carefully around the edges, propped by the medium stones and filled with pebbles, but only once you've laid in a thick underlayer and a liner.
By lunch, you should be filling the new pond with water.....it'll be cloudy because of all the rock dust, but that settles out or gets caught by the filters, don't worry.
After lunch, you build the waterfall...if you started at six in the morning, by 3 the waterfall could be running.
Umm, this was about 2 PM.
Ahhh, the pump's turned on and the first spill of water is a thrill, promise!
Of course, I forgot to get a long shot of the finished pond, but trust me, it was magnificent!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Well, yes, it needed it....
.....lol....see the cherries ON the mower? If nanking cherries are ever comercially harvested, they probably use some kind of vibrating machine to accomplish it.....either that, or trained robins.
I keep forgetting to blog....lol
(Hmmm.....I have Monday of a long weekend off...I need to mow the lawn...it's cool outside...and I'll be in Chicago next week for PONDEMONIUM 06 .....what's to write about??)
I am a |
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Ahhhhh!
For those sibs who leave snarky comments, I'd just like to say that having a weekend off does NOT imply incessant blogging. I spent yesterday cleaning my office...(yes, pretty much ALL day)...and yes, there ARE places on the carpet that I haven't seen in a year or so....nothing new there, right? lol
How is it that a person can think many times about an approaching ocassion and then, when the day arrives, forget till evening?? lol...little sister's birthday was yesterday (she's the tall one) and I sent a HBD when I thought about junque from my office that, at one time, she would have begged me for...lol
How is it that a person can think many times about an approaching ocassion and then, when the day arrives, forget till evening?? lol...little sister's birthday was yesterday (she's the tall one) and I sent a HBD when I thought about junque from my office that, at one time, she would have begged me for...lol
Hope you had a GREAT day, Boof....and now, it's six months since, and until, Christmas!
Monday, June 19, 2006
I know--you want MORE pictures!
This is Sue and Lori, cleaning a fountain yesterday...a nice day to be playing outside and getting wet...lol
Of course, I tried the zoom! Glad you asked. Here's Jill, up in the shrub lot, taken from the same place I took the pic of S&L. Cool, huh?
We moved a concrete picnic table under that pine tree, and it's a good place to have lunch. The view of Lake Scenic from there is spectacular...lol
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Various pics, ok?
(Evidently, I can't add pictures to an already posted entry....so we'll start with the paragraph from last Tuesday....)
Here's the place we visit every time I'm watching the baby--
the deck behind the house. She seems fascinated by all the green out there. We sit in one of these chairs and I try to echo the birds, and her little face gets so intense, looking for them...lol She LOVES whistles, finger snapping and clapping in time to music. What a JOY she is!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New subject:
Ya know when you think about the things that mean summer to you? I think about stuff like swimming, mowing, flowers to bring inside, open windows, sweating....but I always forget THIS till I see it again...lol
When a bird nests in a hanging basket, you have to stop watering the plant...especially if it's a robin. This one's outside J&B's house, on their front porch. She let me know that my arrival and departure didn't please her one bit.
Son took this through the front window.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, just so you believe me about how cool my new job is, this is the pond outside the owner's house...he asked if we'd go out and plant a few pots around the yard, and of course, I couldn't resist snapping a few pics...lol
Click to enlarge it--cool, huh?
Here's the place we visit every time I'm watching the baby--
the deck behind the house. She seems fascinated by all the green out there. We sit in one of these chairs and I try to echo the birds, and her little face gets so intense, looking for them...lol She LOVES whistles, finger snapping and clapping in time to music. What a JOY she is!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
New subject:
Ya know when you think about the things that mean summer to you? I think about stuff like swimming, mowing, flowers to bring inside, open windows, sweating....but I always forget THIS till I see it again...lol
When a bird nests in a hanging basket, you have to stop watering the plant...especially if it's a robin. This one's outside J&B's house, on their front porch. She let me know that my arrival and departure didn't please her one bit.
Son took this through the front window.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, just so you believe me about how cool my new job is, this is the pond outside the owner's house...he asked if we'd go out and plant a few pots around the yard, and of course, I couldn't resist snapping a few pics...lol Click to enlarge it--cool, huh?
Monday, June 12, 2006
MORE baby pictures!
LOL..I think my new camera just doesn't DO small pictures, so even the lowest setting, cropped, is still too large for Blogster.
Oh, well, huh?
Son called over the weekend to ask if I could watch the baby while he had appointments with clients today. Of course!
BTW, what ever did I do with my days off before she was born?
When I arrived this morning, she was chatting with her Daddy in his office...she'd been up for a whole hour already, and probably needed some Grandma Time (and a bottle).
Evidently, Grandma's are exhausting.
What a dolly!
Oh, well, huh?
Son called over the weekend to ask if I could watch the baby while he had appointments with clients today. Of course!
BTW, what ever did I do with my days off before she was born?
When I arrived this morning, she was chatting with her Daddy in his office...she'd been up for a whole hour already, and probably needed some Grandma Time (and a bottle).
Evidently, Grandma's are exhausting.
What a dolly!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
MORE baby pics
I wonder if there's a more tender Daddy anywhere? He's showing me that, at 3 months, she can hold her own bottle...lol
lol...see the light yellow shape behind the "sun" there? It's supposed to be a bee, and it's wings make a crinkley sound when they're touched (some kinda plastic under the fabric)...KQ discovered swatting them, though she missed 90% of the time...lol
A day with the baby and the new camera...
Ha!
One of these days, I'll learn NOT to post here first...I did a "NEW pics on the Baby Blog" blurb here, then went to post today's baby pics on Blogster. However, the new camera was set to take dense photos, and Blogster has a size limit...
So, the baby pics from today will be posted here, ok?
Trying the close-up setting...
She was obviously enjoying herself with all the colors and stuff hanging from the purple loops over her head--even the incessant FLASH didn't bother her.
This was one of those cool moments--she smiled and cooed while I stood over her snapping pictures! LOL
(OK, evidently Blogger has a size limit, too...let's try another post, ok?)
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Formal attire on a cruise, please!
My good friends R&D just got back from a cruise, and had this sweet picture taken while they were on board. Some people just get so excited about endless food, dancing, music, sunsets, swimming, shopping, cocktails, chatting, games, relaxing....it took them about a week to 'come down'.
(The hardest thing R had to endure was NO CEL PHONE for four days...but it looks like he finally spent some time in the sun!)
WELCOME HOME, you guys...
Monday, June 05, 2006
Bubble Cam
I think I've posted this before, but here it is again: you can start a blast of bubbles in someone's south Florida garden by clicking the BUBBLES button.
Who knows why this tickles me?
Who knows why this tickles me?
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Now THIS is a cool camera!
Playing with the zoom:
From the back door of the garage...(and YES, those lovely weeds ARE a part of the asthetic. Definitely planned. On purpose. A contrast with the 'real' flowers.....NOT disgusting laziness, ok?)
...zoomed in a bit....
...a little more....
Isn't this COOL?....
Wow...I'm pretty sure I can zoom even more, I just don't know how yet...lol Had to steady the camera on the frame of the door. Too bad the tripod doesn't fit in the camera bag--I can see I'll need it alot!
From the back door of the garage...(and YES, those lovely weeds ARE a part of the asthetic. Definitely planned. On purpose. A contrast with the 'real' flowers.....NOT disgusting laziness, ok?)
...zoomed in a bit....
...a little more....
Isn't this COOL?....
Wow...I'm pretty sure I can zoom even more, I just don't know how yet...lol Had to steady the camera on the frame of the door. Too bad the tripod doesn't fit in the camera bag--I can see I'll need it alot!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
June First
I know you're missing pictures here, but if I have to wait for the camera, so do you.
Today in my little two-college town, we have what I refer to as "Big Chunks" garbage day...two Thursdays in the fall (getting ready for winter) and two in the spring (when the students leave).
I've noticed an increase in traffic in the alley this morning. The 'pickers' are out early--slowly cruisin' piles of crap in case there's any treasure...lol
There's an upholstered chair that I've stored in the garage for more than a decade, and Daud finally said it could go this spring (!) It's closest to one of these, but more squat, with rounded arms and a more oval seat.
Lest you think it's actually a keeper, it in VERY faded pink nubbly fabric worn to black along the front edge--the base fabric was actually black, but the nubs are worn away. LOL...I just checked, and it's GONE!
(Now someone else can keep it in their garage...lol)
Ahhhh, spring!!!!!!
Today in my little two-college town, we have what I refer to as "Big Chunks" garbage day...two Thursdays in the fall (getting ready for winter) and two in the spring (when the students leave).
I've noticed an increase in traffic in the alley this morning. The 'pickers' are out early--slowly cruisin' piles of crap in case there's any treasure...lol
There's an upholstered chair that I've stored in the garage for more than a decade, and Daud finally said it could go this spring (!) It's closest to one of these, but more squat, with rounded arms and a more oval seat.
Lest you think it's actually a keeper, it in VERY faded pink nubbly fabric worn to black along the front edge--the base fabric was actually black, but the nubs are worn away. LOL...I just checked, and it's GONE!
(Now someone else can keep it in their garage...lol)
Ahhhh, spring!!!!!!
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