Tech Days and Blog Updates

I have some posts planned with the corresponding pictures already organized into web albums.  You know -- the pretty kind of posts that we all like to read and look at.  But I haven't written them yet for a couple of reasons.  One reason is that we are tackling a few projects around the house (more about that later), and the other reason is "techie" stuff.

You see, I felt the need to do some blog maintenance.  Yep, pretty dull, huh?  I think we're all aware that things are in the process of changing at Google Blogger.  I see lots of posts about it and lots of parties out there inviting people to get on board with the new Linky Follower tool.  It seems a bit confusing and at times, overwhelming.  While I may not try every new fad and feature that comes along, I do plan to continue blogging.  I've put a lot of work into my blog, as we all have.  It gives me a lot of gratification, so I hope I'll be able to understand the new changes to Google Blogger.

Anyway, the upshot of this rather rambling discussion is that I now have Linky Followers installed on my blog, even though I'm not sure I really understand how it works.  DH installed the new Linky Follower application a few weeks ago.  Previously I had installed the "Feedburner" and "Subscribe in a Reader" applications.  Well, technically, I started installing them, got a little more than halfway through, and reached the limit of my computer expertise.  Then DH was kind enough to finish for me.  As usual I said, "It doesn't look very hard; I think I can do it myself."  I really did believe that when I said it, but I don't think he's going to believe me next time.  Are we having fun yet?  Thankfully, DH is a patient man.

We still have to install the NetworkedBlogs application.  I've read about it in my blogging book, and I'm not looking forward to that little exercise.  Sigh.

But the exciting news (to me) is that I now have a blog button for House at Forest Manor.

That's right; it's at the very top of my sidebar, being a show-off at the moment.  I'll probably move it later.  That particular application I did not attempt to do myself.  I showed DH Susan's (at BNOTP) tutorial on how to make a button with HTML code, and he created mine for me.  I chose the image and the font.  I did observe the process, though, and I think I learned a lot.

I've taught myself a lot in Blogger and Picasa just by trying different things on my own.  I typically go to my Picasa and Blogging reference books first, and if that doesn't help, I just start clicking on different headings and icons.  As my husband says, "You're not going to break the Internet."

Tonight, I installed a Favicon on my blog, without DH having to assist.  Yay!  Rita May of May Days posted about Favicons back in September, and that caught my interest.  Rita May provided a link to a tutorial by Janet at Today's Fabulous Finds.  The tutorial really is clear and easy to follow.  The first picture I chose didn't show up very well once it shrunk to the tiny size needed for the Favicon.  But I was happy with my next choice.   I used my "Old Britain Pink Castles" heart plate, which you can see in This Post.

So now I feel like I can write some fun posts again.  Until then, thank you for your visit, and I hope you're having a great week.

Denise

Bird Talk

Last month I posted about our new bird feeders at the back of our house. I included some pictures of some of the birds we've seen there, but all those pictures were downloaded from the Internet because we hadn't been able to get any decent pictures of our own at that time.  Recently, my husband had the opportunity to borrow a fancy camera lens from a friend.  It enabled him to snap some photos from a good distance away and not scare the birds off.  After they were loaded into Picasa, I edited and cropped some of the pics in order to get some close-ups of of our fine, feathered friends.  :)

 

Have you ever observed an animal and wondered what it might be thinking at that moment?  I do that a lot (mostly with our dog).  It's fun to imagine what the birds at the feeder might be thinking... and saying.  I wonder if they gossip like employees at the water cooler?  I definitely get the meaning of "pecking order" now.  ;)

We managed to capture some funny expressions in these pics, especially of the male cardinal.  The next few photos were taken from inside our kitchen, unlike the others, which were taken from the lower end of our backyard.  Sorry, the screen on the porch makes these pictures a little fuzzy.

You can almost see his thought processes here. 

"Well, what are you staring at?"

"Do you mind not pointing that contraption at me?"

At this point, he's worked his way around to the middle of the feeder -- the better to stare us down.  

"Don't make me come in there."

 

Below is the Carolina Wren.

"Oh boy -- Bark Butter, my favorite!"

"Does this pose make me look dignified?"

"How about now?"

I think the Chickadees are adorable.  They're such fun little birds...all puffed up in this picture.

He looks like he's wearing a little black, velvet cap. :)

"Shoot -- I dropped it and that was my favorite flavor."

 

"Ta-Daaa!  Just like they do in the circus."

Haven't decided what this titmouse is saying, but I'm pretty sure he's getting someone told.

Sideline spectators...

This last picture is pretty fuzzy, but I wanted to include it; it's a Downy Woodpecker, who has been visiting every day.  The Downies are a smaller variety of woodpecker and the male has a small red patch on the back of his head.

In other bird news :), this fellow has also been visiting our seed feeder (Red-bellied Woodpecker), but we haven't gotten a picture of him.  So here's one I downloaded from Wikipedia. 

source

A great online site for identifying and learning about various birds is called:  all about birds.org.  This website features information, pictures, videos, and you can also hear the various bird calls.  The website is hosted by Cornell University. 

Do you like to watch the birds?  I find most animals fascinating.  It seems when we have the chance to observe them, it's a relaxing, therapeutic, and often entertaining exercise.  Which backyard animal do you like best?

Thank you for your visit and I always love hearing from you.  I'll be joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays and Shannon at Cozy Home Scenes for Your Cozy Home Party.  Thanks to both of these ladies for hosting! 

Denise 

I Heart Valentines

I haven't done my Valentine Tablescape yet for this year.  Instead, I wanted to show some Valentine images that I captured throughout the house -- just some heart-shaped objects here and there, touches of pink and red, and romantic roses.

 

Potpourri made with petals from our David Austin roses

 

Heart-shaped potpourri bowl

 

Heart napkin fold. (Tutorial HERE)

 

Royal Doulton "Juliet" bowl holds heart candies

 

Valentine wreath

Conversation Hearts :)

 

David Austin roses

 

2011 Valentine Tablescape

 "Old Britain Castles" heart plate

 "Old Country Roses" and Laura Ashley

This snow lady's red, painted heart is almost hidden by her scarf...

An Austrian cow bell and wheat ornament with simple heart designs

An early Valentine card

Wedgwood Jasperware sweetheart plate was a wedding gift

Our David Austin roses...

I'm joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Valentine Pink Saturday , Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting With Laurie for her Valentines Party, The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays, Marty at A Stroll Through Life for Tabletop Tuesdays, Kathy at A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursdays, and Shannon at Cozy Home Scenes for Your Cozy Home Party. Thanks to all of these ladies for hosting and thank you for your visit!

Denise

Counting The Days

I like to mark the passage of days and weeks with a pretty calendar in our home.  When I was growing up, my mom used to give my sister and I a pretty wall calendar for our rooms every Christmas.  I saved those calendars for years because of the pictures, and also because I'm sentimental and have a hard time throwing away anything that was given to me by a loved one.

I still like to buy my upcoming year's calendar by Christmas every year -- just one of my little quirky habits.  Almost 20 years ago, I discovered the "French Country Diary" engagement calendar, and since then, I've always had one in our home.

 

They're hard-backed with a fabric-like cover and are packaged in a decorative case.  They have beautiful end pages, and are filled with wonderful photos of French Country interiors, food, gardens, antiques, and gorgeous French countryside.  It's a treat to look at the photos every week.  These calendars are so attractive, you can stack them and use for decorating, just as you would regular hard cover books.

 

 

This engagement calendar resides on the baker's rack in our kitchen where it's easily accessible, and I can enjoy the pretty photos every day.

 

I've never shown pictures of my kitchen in this blog, because it's pretty dated.  Hopefully, that's getting ready to change (more about that later).  :)

I also have a wall calendar...just because I always have.  For many, many years, I've bought the Lang calendars.  They're so well made with nice heavy paper and beautiful illustrations.  Lang even makes wooden frames to fit these calendars if you want to display yours that way.  I used to buy the Lang "Folk Art" Calendar with illustrations of little New England villages, but I finally decided it was time to try something different.  So my whimsical side took over, and now I get the Lang "Cows Cows Cows" Calendar.  ;-)

 

  

The illustrations are still pretty, but they make me laugh as well.

  For some reason, I just seem to like cows. ;)  You can read my post about Oreo cows HERE.  I never write on my wall calendar; I use my engagement calendar to jot down dates, appointments, etc.  And what doesn't get written in the engagement calendar goes into my trusty Daytimer.

This little organizer I couldn't do without.  I use it to write down my to do lists, appointments, grocery lists, projects, etc.  I also use it to keep up with addresses and phone numbers.  So that's how I try to stay organized.  I often jot down appointments or phone numbers on a handy piece of paper, but I've learned the hard way if I don't put it in my Daytimer or engagement calendar, it gets lost or forgotten.

How about you?  Do you like pretty calendars, or do you just prefer to use something more business-like?

Thank you for your visit.  I'm joining Sherry at The Charm of Home for Friday's Home Sweet Home party, The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays, and Kathy at A Delightsome Life for Home and Garden Thursday.  Hope you'll stop by to see the other posts.

Denise