Stylish Blogger Award

Southern Meadows awared me the Stylish Blogger Award.  I am honored that she would think of my blog as deserving of an award.  Southern Meadows has been one of my favorite blogs, with beautiful photos.

The Stylish Blogger Award is an award given by fellow bloggers to blogs that they feel offer a little something more...  Here is how it works:

• You post a link back to the person who gave you the award;
• Share 7 random things about yourself;
• Award 15 recently discovered bloggers and drop them a note to tell them about it!

7 Random Things

1. I like to read, and my favorite author is, yes, Douglas Adams - I especially like Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
2. I recently took up photography and yearn for a better camera.
3. I enjoy writing but struggle with the dedication to write every day.
4. I enjoy gardening and the garden (or yard) is my favorite place to be.
5. I am a gamer - usually in the winter when I can't go outside.
6. I have been blessed with a wonderful family who I love to spend time with. 
7. I have 3 dogs, 1 cat, 2 Oscars, 7 African Cichlids and 4 Chickens.

 I follow a lot of clever blogs...
...some for their writing, some for their photos and some for all of the above.  Here are some of my favorites (in no specific order):

Ink & Penstemon
Fennel & Fern
The Whimsical Gardener
Great Stems
Coopette.com (The Alternative Kitchen Garden)
Fergus the Forager
Weed Whackin' Wenches
Garden Walk Garden Talk
High Altitude Gardening
This Grandmother's Garden
Muum's Musings
Along Life's Highway
Aberdeen Gardening - from Bonnie Scotland
The Garden-Roof Coop
Bay Area Tendrils


Thanks again Southern Meadows for the nice shout-out.  Happy gardening to all - Only 32 days to Spring - WOO HOO!!

Get your hands dirty!

2011 - A Year for Inspiration

As I pondered my plans, goals, resolutions and new words (see Espy - Adventures of Tufa Girl) I gave some thought to the question, "Why do I blog?"  And I had an epiphany - a flash!  I enjoy the interaction I get to have with other bloggers who have similar interests to mine.  (earth shattering - I know...)  I enjoy sharing pictures that inspire, make me laugh, or just provide a peek into the world in which I live.  I like to share tips and techniques that have worked for me, or in some way made life a little easier.

I have met so many helpful, inspirational, and just plain fun people since I started this blog in July.  Big thanks go out to Tufa Girl, Meredehuit- This Grandmother's Garden, Pinkhat - Ink and Penstemon, Tatyana - My Secret Garden, Cat - The Whimsical Gardener, Garden Walk Garden Talk,  Southern Meadows,  Meredith - Great Stems,  and Along Life's Highway (I am really looking forward to the 2011 game).

Thanks to all of you for your help, inspiration and your online friendship.  As this new year blossoms, may the journey of your life be fragrant with new opportunities, your days be bright with new hopes and your heart be filled with love.  Happy New Year!

Get your hands dirty!


P.S.  If you want to see some interesting pictures and get more information on hypertufa visit Tufa Girls blog - Tufa Things.  Great Stuff!

Along Life's Highway

There is a wonderful blog called Along Life's Highway that you have got to go see.  For any of you out there who have even the slightest sense of humor and are looking for some good old fashioned fun - here it is!

It started as a driving game.  Enjoying the scenery as drive down rural country roads you keep your eyes peeled for yards offering eclectic yard art.  You might see a goose wearing clothes, a birdbath, or even a gnome.  As you see them you shout out what you see and tally your points.  The winner is the one with the most points when you get to where your going, or you can set a point limit.  Either way - a lot of fun!

Along Life's Highway has taken it a (hilarious) step further!  Take pictures of the yard art you find along life's highway and submit them to lifeshighwaygame@gmail.com .  The point system is always displayed in the right column of the blog and you can win great awards like a Golden Manatee.

It's great fun and something you can get all of your friends involved with.  I personally just found some Gnomes in a yard near here and am on my way to take the photos today!  So, the game is afoot!

Get your hands dirty!

10 Must Read Garden Blogs

What do you want in a garden blog?  Beautiful pictures?  Articles about recent events or new products?  "How-To" information?  Or, just a good old fashioned friendly conversation?  There are as many reasons to read a blog as there are blogs. 

I started my blog to help gardeners find useful information about gardening, to show off some of my photos, and maybe learn something myself along the way. 

Here are 10 blogs that have caught my eye.  I found them useful, entertaining and just plain fun.  Stop over, visit them,  then come back and let me know what you think.  If you have a favorite garden blog that you read (or visit) on a regular basis I would love to hear about it.  It's hard to get started in blogging and if there is a great new blog out there that needs some attention please let me know!

1. Garden Rant
• "Uprooting the gardening world" is right! and they live up to it in all of their posts.  Four women from different parts of the country not afraid to tell it like it is.  They work hard and they play hard - what more can one ask?!
2. The Garden of Eaden
• A great site for many "How-To" articles and videos.
3. This Grandmothers Garden
• Some beautiful pictures and masterful musings - a must see!
4. Herb Gardening
• A simple yet succinct site about herbs.  Check out their other site (Herbarium) for various services they offer.
5. Ink & Penstemon
• An excellent read.  For those of us that are looking for more than just pictures - clean, concise and informative.
6. Muddy Boot Dreams
• Some down-home fun.  Great pictures with friendly conversation - you'll always feel at home here!
7. Life in a Day
• "A thought for every day in between the business of life"  A calm, reflective site offering beautiful photos and inspirational thoughts to help us relax and regroup.
8. Wisteria and Cow Parsley
• A fascinating view from the United Kingdom (England).  A bonus if you are a cat lover too!
9. Gardening Know How
• A great "How To" sight with a plethora of great ideas.
10. Thanks For Today
• A nice blog that reminds us to be thankful for what we have - Stop and smell the flowers!

Well, there are the ten gardening blogs to give you a taste of the many different ways we garden and blog.  Please do come back to comment on what you liked (or dis-liked) about these blogs.  While you are commenting leave me a note on what you like best about my blog too - and let me know what changes you would like to see.  I'm still a work in progress in many ways!

Get your hands dirty!

Blotanical.com - It's where you want to be!

If you enjoy reading garden blogs and seeing the phenomenal pictures that get posted - you have got to stop over at Blotanical.com.  It is a website devoted to gathering in one place all of the best garden blogs and bloggers in the world!

There is soooo much to see there - you may want to pack a lunch!  Sign up to become a member and vote for your favorite blogs and pick your favorite posts daily.

Some of my favorites are:
This Grandmother's Garden

Get your hands dirty!

Butterfly Blooms

I found this blog today that has some great pictures of butterfly blooms.  Check it out!

http://thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/2010/09/wordless-wednesday-butterfly-blooms-in.html

Zero Waste Week

In the UK (England) they are having a "Zero Waste Week" the week of September 6th, 2010.  Basically they are asking everyone to not waste food.  This year’s theme is ‘Cooking for Victory’.  An organization called WRAP did a survey in England and found that they throw away 8.3 million tons of food and drink every year. "Most of this is avoidable and could have been eaten if we had planned, stored and managed it better. This amount of food waste costs the average family in Britain £50 per month."  Just imagine if they are throwing away that much in England how much we are wasting in the U.S.

So, I am pledging for the Zero Waste Week to waste less food.  You can pledge too!  Here are some ideas for you to do that will help make an impact:

•      Identify a particular food that gets thrown away every week and plan a great recipe to use it up
•      View your leftovers as ingredients
•      Say no to prepacked food and buy only the amount you need
•      Get your scales out for measuring rice and pasta rather than guessing and ending up with waste
•      Start a compost heap, wormery or bokashi bin.

 If you would like more information click on the links provided.  Let's do our part for a greener environment!

http://myzerowaste.com/zero-waste-week/
http://coopette.com/blog/zero-waste-week-is-coming