1/20 Tablescape Tuesday

It’s Tuesday which means it is time for Tablescape Tuesday hosted by Susan and her blog Between Naps on the Porch.

When I went to move Mr. Rooster and Mrs. Chicken from the center of the kitchen table I was asked, “Can’t you change the table and let them stay another week?” So if the table looks similar to last weeks Tablescape Tuesday …. yes..it is similar…but different!

I removed the platter they were both sitting on, and placed Mrs. Chicken on a small pedestal (I do hope Mr. Rooster puts her on a pedestal every once and awhile). I removed the three eggs and added the orange glass ball (I have a feeling Mrs. Chicken is eyeing it and thinking, “I did NOT do THAT!)

For the place settings I used my square Tuscan sunflower plates. The sunflowers go well with the one at the base of Mr. Rooster…..

I love the big sunflower on the salad plate…..

and the four little sunflowers in the corners of the dinner plates…..

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my Tablescape Tuesday and don't forget to visit Susan's blog Between Naps on the Porch to see more wonderful table settings!

Reminder: Wednesday is “Outdoor Wednesday”! (Post will be up by 11:00 pm EST Tuesday night). To Learn More about Outdoor Wednesday, click on the button below!

Technorati Tags: tablescape,Tablescape Tuesday

Blue Monday

It’s Blue Monday hosted by Sally at Smiling Sally. Don’t forget to visit her site to see links to more participants!

Today I am going to share a blue needlework piece I finished about 5 years ago. The design is 15” x 15” and framed it is even larger! I loved working on it because I loved the blues!

and a closer look at the design(had over 1000 beads on it)……

and a closer look at the blues!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog …… Happy Blue Monday!

Technorati Tags: Blue Monday

Is your computer sick?

I spent quite a few hours Friday restoring my daughter’s computer. It shut itself down every 5-10 minutes. It had Trojan horses, viruses, malware, and all kinds of problems….MANY of which could be avoided if she had updated and run some FREE programs on her computer.

She said “I didn’t know”… so I thought I would share these programs with you…. just in case…. “you didn’t know”

I use all of these programs myself. The companies provide a free version and sell a commercial version (with a few more features). I have used the free versions for YEARS…. and have avoided any major issues with computer virus’ or spyware/malware…

You need anti-virus and anti-spyware. Many anti-virus can find spyware/malware but they often can’t fix/heal them (but the anti-spyware/malware software can).

[Clicking on names will take you to site]

Anti-Spyware Software

• Spybot S & D – for Windows 98 & later; latest version is 1.6.0.30
• MalwareByte's Anti-Malware - for Windows 2000, NT, XP & Vista; latest version 1.25

Anti-Virus Software

• AVG 8 - AVG Technologies Free Edition - for Windows 2000, XP & Vista; latest version 8.0.176

It’s really easy…..

1. Download each of the above programs
2. Install programs
3. Update each of the programs (a MUST)
4. Run each program, one at a time…

I run these at least once a week……

There are many other programs that will do the same thing. I mentioned these because I am familiar with them. It doesn’t really matter which programs you use….just make sure you run them regularly!! You might just save yourself a trip to the repair shop!

My daughter’s computer is up and running better than before….. after about 6 hours of diagnosing and problem-solving by me (Thanks Dad for the stubborn gene that wouldn’t allow me to give in…or toss it out the window). A happy ending (this time) for me vs. machine!

Technorati Tags: anti-virus,anti-spyware

1/18 A Southern Daydreamer Week in Review

This weeks posts: (clicking on post title will open link in a new window)

• Pink Saturday
• To Follow or Not to Follow....
• Proximidade Award from.....
• Welcome to "Outdoor Wednesday"
• 1/13 Tablescape Tuesday
• Blue Monday
• 1/11 A Southern Daydreamer Week in Review

We had 18 participants in the first Outdoor Wednesday !  I want to thank again the following for posting (clicking on their name will take you to their Outdoor Wednesday post):Charlotte, Ellen B, Gloria, Jeanne, Judybug, Katherinellen, Kim, Lisa, Lynda, Marsha, Onceinabluemoon, Sheila, skoots1mom, Tam. Terrie, the Muse. Theresa, and Vicki. Since I was a newcomer to blog land I was a little nervous to host an event. These ladies helped make it a success and I really appreciated it!

Comment Questions Answered:  

• “You mentioned that you have been working on your kitchen for a long time...do you have photos on your blog of your kitchen? “ from Darlene at Our Creative Life- Not yet. I have only been blogging a month. I don’t know if I have any before pictures! Our house is 20 years old…so every room needs some updating…and we will be doing a little at a time (we are doing it ourselves)
• “I can't believe you have camellias with buds that big !! What state do you live in ?” from Theresa at Take a Sentimental Journey- We live in central/middle Georgia.

I am still learning the ins and outs of blogging and the comments of everyone’s thoughts on followers and following blogs….. and how they follow them was very interesting! I have found Google Reader works for me…but different bloggers like following different ways!

I enjoyed reading all the comments left by everyone. It is very humbling to get compliments from the bloggers whom I have admired for a long time and who are the inspiration behind me finally starting my very own blog!

A Southern Daydreamer Visitors: Thank you to all  the visitors who left wonderful comments this week: Alfazema, Alica B, Alisa, Amy, Angela, Angie, Ann, Becky, Becky G, Belinda, Betty, Beverly, BJ, Bo, Bobbi Jo, Cami, Carol, CC Catherine, ceekay, Charlotte, Cielo, Claudie, Cynthia, Dana, Darlene, Dawnie, Debbie, Diane, Diane W, Donna Marie, Ellen B, envoy-ette, Fifi Flowers, Gabriela, Glenda, Gloria, Gollum, Helen, Imerie, Jain, Jana, Jane, Janie, Jean,Jeanne, JennyS, Jillian, Jorgelina, Joy, Joyce, Judith S,Judy, Katherine Ellen, Kathleen, Kathleen Ellis, Kathy, kdottidesigns, Kim, knitting nice, kymber, Kris, Lady Jane, Lady Katherine, Lady Loves Cakes,Lady Lynn, Lana, Laurie, Linda,  Lisa, Liz, Lorie, Lynda, Lynn, Lynne, Lynette, Ma'dame French, mamapippa, Mariana, Marina, Mary Lou, Mary Rose, Melissa M, Melissa W, Mishelle, Miss Janice, Mo, Mojo, Nancy, Neabar, Nicole, onceinabluemoon, Pat, Patty S, pcb, Rechelle, Rhonda, Riet, Roberta Anne, Rose, Sally, Shari, Sheila, Sheila. Sherrie, Sherrlyn, Shirl, skoots1mom, smilingsal, Stephanie, Sue, Susan, Susie Q, Suzie B, Sweetie, Syndee, Tam, Tammy, Teri, Terrie, The Muse, Theresa, Trish, Victoria, Wendy, Zoey

I appreciate all of the wonderful things you had to say! I hope you all will stop by again soon!

I host “Outdoor Wednesday”! Learn more about it HERE

Pink Saturday

It’s Pink Saturday, hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. Be sure to visit Beverly's blog to see a complete list of all the participants in today's Pink Saturday. (clicking on picture will open a link to her site in a new window)

Today I am sharing Pink Flowers!

Not my photos (I wish!) I love all the different shades of pink in the flowers. I am ready for spring!

 

Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog and don't forget to visit Beverly’s blog How Sweet the Sound to see more pink!

Technorati Tags: Pink Saturday

To Follow or Not to Follow……

To follow, or not to follow…… THAT became the question last week. Did you know there is a limit to the number of blogs you can follow by selecting “Follow This Blog”? Well, there is… 200 is the limit!

I was enjoying the Blogger gadget “My Blog List”. I posted "Help with Blog List" a couple weeks ago to share with you how to add and update the list. I was surprised when I reached the limit so quickly. I visit EVERY blogger who comments on my blog, and I was adding them all to my blog list. Now what was I going to do? How do I decide who to follow and who not to follow? I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings…and I don’t want to miss a good post!

Solution?  Google Reader  !

I moved all the blogs I was following from my dashboard at Blogger to Google Reader…… and then created folders (labels) to sort the blogs…..

Some of the labels I used  …blog follower, Georgia blogger, Blue Monday, Tablescape Tuesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Pink Saturday, Food, Garden, etc. Some blogs have more than one label….. but they are all organized now!

So if you recently saw me “disappear” from your “Followers” list…. don’t worry… I am still “there”!

How do you keep up with the blogs you follow? I am always open to new ideas…and would love to hear what others do!

Technorati Tags: Blog tips,Google Reader

Proximidade Award from…

I received the Proximidade Award today from Carrie at Carolina Nativity Gallery for “providing much warmth to blog land”. Thank you Carrie!

This award focuses on the friendships that blossom here in blog land.

Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I would like to share this award with the participants of the first “Outdoor Wednesday”. (Yes, I know there were more than eight!) Being a newcomer to blog land, I was a little nervous to host an event…and these ladies help make it a success….. and I appreciate it!

Some of them have already received this award (more than once). I don’t want any of these bloggers to feel they HAVE to pass it along…. so I am relieving all of them from “deliver this award to eight more bloggers”. Simply take the award and enjoy it…because you deserve it!

1. Charlotte at Charlotte's Weblog 
2. Ellen B at The Happy Wonderer
3. Gloria at Happy to Be
4. Jeanne at The Backyard Neighbor
5. Judy Bug at A Southern Belle Dishes on Decor
6. Katherine Ellen at Welcome to Kat's Corner
7. Kim at Ticklish Mermaids
8. Lisa at AKAWEST
9. Lynda at Lonestar Lady
10. Marsha at Marsha's Garden
11. Once in a Blue Moon
12. Sheila at The Quintessential Magpie
13. skoots1mom at My Hands, His Glory
14. Tam at The Gypsy's Corner
15. Terrie at Terrie's Lil Piece of Serenity
16. the Muse at A Diva's Hammer
17. Theresa at Take a Sentimental Journey
18. Vicki at Hooked on Photo Memes

I hope they all return to future Outdoor Wednesdays!

Thanks again to Carrie for the award!