Saturday, December 26, 2009

Just Breathe





Well now we can all just breathe.
Christmas is
over and if you were like so many
people the
returns were made today and the
clearance
aisles were cleared and left in shambles
in the
departments stores for those Christmas
bargains
to start you off next year.
Today was just one of the three days I stay away
from the departments stores including, black Friday
and Christmas Eve.
After working so many years in retail I know just
not to venture back into the abyss.

How many of you got lots of pretty gardening
presents for Christmas this year?
A am going to love seeing what everyone got.

I did not get any gardening presents this year but
I did get a plant present that I just love.





This little snowman is made from a small
gourd. Isn't he precious. LOL
The painting of it and dressing him was so
wonderful. Some people have so much talent.
Unbeknownst I really picked it out for myself.
At the Bob Evans Farm Festival this year I had
picked him up and thought he was so sweet but
then but it back. I do that a lot and then
when I get home I wish I had gotten it.
My daughter then looks at it and

she bought it as if it was for a co-worker. So I was
tickled to see it as my present this Christmas.

We had an inch of rain yesterday and it melted
and washed away all of our pretty snow.
I am sure that it will be replaced in the next couple
of days.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with
family and friends and I will be watching for
those gardening presents you all received.




Everyone Just Breathe
And Have a Great Weekend!





31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona~~ Beautiful snow photos! Your gourd-snowman/ice skater is a cutie pie. A friend of mine did this for me a few years ago. It was a really cool wicker wastebasket. We both admired it in the shop then she went back and bought it for me. ... This year I "got" [code for, picked out for myself and had kids wrap it] a digital wireless outdoor thermometer. It will record the minimum nighttime temp. It's one of those things I've always wanted but never thought to buy until I saw it on sale a few weeks ago.

Stay warm!

Rebecca @ In The Garden said...

Hi Lona, Merry Christmas to you, your gourd is lovely, and a great story to go with it!! I will do a little post about gardening gifts, I was trying to decide whether to or not, but you've helped me decide. I'll get to it today or tomorrow. Lovely red poinsettia. ;)

Helen said...

Glad that some of that snow is getting gone. I stay out of the store myself when they are going to be busy. I love the snow person skier.
No gardening things here for Christmas. I can't do that anymore except for some pot plants on account of this bad back.
Helen

Helen/patientgardener said...

Love your plant present - very sweet

Lynn said...

I'm like you I stay away from the malls, right before and after. There is nothing I need that bad!!!LOL Hope you had a great holiday and Have a Happy New Year!!! Spring will be here before we know it!!!

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Hi Lona! This is exactly what I am doing - just breathing... Well, since it's warm and green here, I spent a couple of hours in the garden. Love the first picture - wonderful! The snowman is adorable! Your daughter is very smart and thoughtful, and she knows you well! Stay warm!

Adrienne Zwart said...

Hi, Lona.
Christmas isn't quite over for us yet. Jeff's family all lives out of state (he's a transplant to Ohio), so we'll be celebrating next weekend, too.
Your header photos are stunning!
Blessings,
Adrienne

Corner Gardener Sue said...

That is a cute gourd guy!

My gift was a new garage door opener, which I picked out myself. I am still not used to the door staying shut by itself, but am pleased I don't have to get out of the car to push the button again.

I did get some flower frogs and a gift certificate to buy a garden book.

Christine B. said...

The description of retail on the day after was funny and accurate. Glad to know I am not the only one who fears to venture into stores on certain days of the year. This year I celebrated Black Friday by not going out at all and it was wonderful. I enjoyed the winter pictures, thanks.

Christine

Carol said...

Sweet little skater! To just be able to Breathe ... is a good thing! Hope you are enjoying the holidays. Carol

Lona said...

Grace; we get exactly what we want that way and it is fun. Your digital thermometer sounds very nice I have never really checked them out to see what all they did. Hopefully yours won't have to read any real low temps.

Rebecca: yes we have to share are gardening presents. Will be looking forward to seeing your post.

Helen: I sure know about these old backs. I have a little red wagon I use and the potting bench helps me in the not bending too much.
A hurting back sure puts a halt to a lot of things we wish we could do. Take care of yours friend.

PG: Thanks, I thought he was a cutie.I may have to leave him out all year though ;-)

Lynn: Girl I can hardly wait. I always thought the same thing' what do I need so badly that I would face the madness' LOL. I understand though that some people enjoy it.

Tatyana; I am glad you are having a warm spell. Getting out in the fresh air always makes one feel better.My daughter and I took a walk into the park in the snow and it made me feel so much better to be out in the air even if my nose froze ;-)

Adrienne: Thanks and enjoy your Christmas this weekend.
We accept all transplants ;-)

Sue: oh, you are going to love your garage door opener. I love mine never having to get in and out of the car in bad weather to open the doors. A great gift idea for a new gardening book to keep you over the winter.

Christine; ah, a fellow shopper or non shopper at heart ;-)
Thanks for dropping by.

Carol: thank you so much for watching my spelling. I get in a hurry and never even noticed it ;-) The first thing to go is the mind you know.I sure miss mine some days ;-)

Unknown said...

Yes breath is right after having the kids and grandkids over a couple of days. But it's such fun watching them get so excited! Sometimes I think maybe I'm more excited to watch them than they are to open presents.
I want to go outside and get freezing (Brrrrrrr) pictures so bad but I'm such a wuz I can't bring myself to go out and freeze my bumper off to do it. So I must enjoy yours and every one elses until I get my nerve/temperature up.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and hope for a great new year for all of you. It's been so fantastic getting to know you through blogging this last 10 months or so.

Terra said...

How lovely for you to admire the snowman and receive him as a surprise gift.
I did get one garden gift this Christmas, my dh surprised me with a cement Celtic cross for my garden. I LOVE it, it is about 16 inches tall.
Terra

Unknown said...

I forgot to tell you my gardening Christmas present. Bob got me some beautiful 'purple' gardening shoes so my feet won't get wet. Love them! And 3 tiny diggers were found inside of them for using at my potting table in the greenhouse.
And I am soooooooooooooo not a shopper especially when it's a fight from beginning to end before and after the holidays!!!!!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

What a darling snowman, Lona. Yes, just breathe. Isn't it nice to have this quiet weekend to relax and rejuvenate? Happy New Year!

Debra Howard said...

He is indeed very cute.
Debbie

Kelly said...

...you are so right--just breathe....

That first photo is gorgeous. I love snow...

Sunita Mohan said...

Merry Christmas, Lona (a bit late, I know but I was in my other garden where I dont get internet coverage).
Your Snowman is so cute! What a lovely gift from your daughter.

Autumn Belle said...

Lona, your daughter certainly knows your mind and it was very sweet and thoughtful of her. I'm sure this is a wonderful gift. My final post for 2009 is dedicated to you. Happy New Year 2010!

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Hi Lona, your header photo is really beautiful in an icy frosty kind of way. All your snow still looks so pretty and white-- almost makes me miss snow........almost!
Cute little gourd snowman, how nice your daughter got it for you. My big gardening gift this year was a new camera!! Look for lots of photos.

Gail said...

Hi Lona, I had a wonderful Christmas. Isn't it a delight when folks notice we like something and then surprise us with the very thing! I didn't get any real garden gifts~~Although the new tripod might improve my photos! have a happy New year! gail

D said...

Lona, what a delightful present! that makes you smile. Thank you for allowing us to get to know you this year and look forward to 2010. May it be filled with good health for you and much Joy! Diana

Lona said...

RG:It is so fun to watch them unwrap or rip through the packages. LOL. We cannot have you freezing your bumper off in the cold now so stay in warm and cozy.Purple or grape-el is one of my favorite colors. I have an old pair of sandals I wear outdoors. I would probably break my neck in gardening shoes.Happy New Year to you too RG it has been a fun year.

Terra: Oh, a Celtic garden cross sounds beautiful.What a terrific gift. Cannot wait to see it in your garden. Thanks for dropping by.

Kate: I thought he was a cutie and Happy New Year in the Garden to you.

Debbie: Hello and thanks for dropping by. Have a wonderful New Year in the garden.

Kelly: Thanks so much!Breathing is good for you ;-)

Sunita: Thank you and it was a wonderful Christmas.I am now looking forward to spring.Happy New Year to you.

Autumn: Thank you bunches. This year sure has flown by but it has been a good one.

Janet: It kind of gives you cold chills to look at doesn't it? ;-) Oh, wonderful we all will get to see all of your pictures with your new camera. A good year for us all.

Gail:A new tripod that is great! I need one as shaky as I am ;-) or a lens with a stabilizer on it.I delete more than I keep anymore LOL.
Happy New Year Gail!

Di: Thank you so much. It has been so much fun to get to know people and great gardeners from everywhere. You all have taught me so much.

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

What a sweet daughter! That snowman is just so cute.
We had a very nice Christmas, but now I'm ready to start thinking about Spring.
Your blog was one of my first I found and I remember looking at all of your beautiful pictures last winter of the winter scenery. It's so pretty there.
PS I love the slide show and music, I hadn't seen it before.

Noelle Johnson said...

I love your new Christmas decoration. Who knew you could make a snowman from a gourd? I am glad you had a wonderful Christmas...I am looking forward to the new gardening year!

Bren Haas said...

Ahhh..... I love the winter in Hocking Hills! WAIT... I love all seasons in your neck of the woods.
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to sharing the new Year with you dear Ohio Friend.

Unknown said...

Just breathing sounds like a good plan to me for the whole week, actually. I'm in uberrelax mode which is kinda fun.

Balisha said...

I love your "icy header."
Balisha

Darla said...

Love the gourd skater!! Breathing is good....gardening gifts: Does a one hundred dollar gift card to Lowe's count? Heck yes Baby!!

Barbara said...

"Just breathe" is also good advice for getting through New Year's Eve. I enjoyed your post and wish you all the best for the New Year. P.S. I got some great gardening books as gifts, including one on edible blossoms and one on identifying wild herbs. Perfect for inducing calm breathing.

Lona said...

Catherine: Thank you. It has been so much fun following your postings and I am looking forward to more. Thanks for the seeds this fall and wishes for a wonderful New Year to you and your family in 2010.

Plantlady: I know who ever knew a gourd could be a snowman. I am so envious of people who are creative. Have a wonderful New Year.

Bren: Have a wonderful 2010 and I will be looking forward to all the goodies growing in your greenhouse this winter.

Jodi: LOL, have a wonderful New Year and I am looking forward to your wonderful postings in 2010.

Balisha: Thank you. Most of the pictures are from the Ice storm we had last winter. Have a wonderful New Year and looking forward to those great poems of yours in 2010.

Darla: Oh, yes, go crazy girl and run to Lowes. LOL

Barbara: Sounds like wonderful books. I love to read about the herbs used back in the day. My great great grandma use to use herbs to treat the locals and I would love to have the knowledge she had on plants.
Breathing is good for your health LOL.
Have a wonderful 2010 and I will be looking forward to your postings.