Nice!

What a surprise to come over here this morning and find some of you who read my blog. Cool! I really enjoy all of the blogs that everyone has already listed here, and some other not-rose-related garden blogs written by super-knowledgable people. Bloggers can be a very self-serving group ... I work hard to not come across that way, and I try to weed out the ones in my reading list that continually toot their own horn. I only want to keep the ones that are genuinely sharing their gardens and their ideas. Many of my own favorites have been found on the blog roll on the sidebar of other blogs I read. Because of this, I make a point to include my favorites in my own sidebar. If you want to see some pretty pictures this morning, my latest post was yesterday's Friday Flowers feature, with photos of the roses in the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, Virginia. (also see my GW post about Lynchburg's garden symposium in May) Blogging has been a great way for me to make it through the miserable winter we had. It serves as my garden journal, my wish list, and my way to show others what I've been up to. Since the roses are finally leafing out, and I am well into my pruning, I expect to have LOTS more to share as the season progresses. Connie Here is a link that might be useful: BLOG

Jaybird, last year on sale at Michaels I bought some copper colored ornament balls along with hunter green ones. I had seen someone using that theme and it looked gorgeous! I also got some copper feathery birds. I seem drawn to these colors lately for Fall and Christmas, tho I haven't yet used or bought very many. Its sure an easy way to transition from Fall to Christmas too. I've always loved hunter green, one of my very favorite colors, but had never thought to pair it with copper before. For Christmas I've always gone mostly to the dark jewel shades rather than the traditional red and green. Tho I seem to have a bit of everything. LOL. Trying to do Fall decorating day. I have too much stuff and not enough room, it no longer wants to be contained in my familyroom and kitchen (and bathroom). Help!!!! hugs, Karen

The one website I subscribe to - definitely worth the cost - is Cook's Illustrated (www.cooksillustrated.com). They not only have equipment reviews, tasting results (which semi-sweet morsels are the best?), and a great recipe database, their recipes have explanations of what works and what doesn't. They typically begin with a description of a problem, (most breaded pork chops lose their breading etc...) then follow with the phrase "We cooked 100 (roasts, pound cakes, whatever)" and a solution (potato starch!!!). It's a must-have for both the experienced chef and the novice. For healthy recipes I love the free blog Nom-Nom Paleo (link below). Keeps me well fed, rail thin, and smiling :0 I am a culinary legend in my family because of Christmas Dinner, 2010 for which I served Bon Appetit's Mustard-Seed-Crusted Prime Rib Roast with Dijon Créme Fraîche and Roasted Balsamic Onions (recipe at the link below). I subscribe to the magazine for myself and a friend ($20 for 2@one year subscriptions - worth every penny; it's a beautiful mag) but the website is FREE to all. Here is a link that might be useful: Bon Appetit