Google Reader's pulling the plug on July 1st. This is a huge blow to me because it's how I keep up with RSS feeds. So far, I have found the best alternative (for me) is feedly. If you sign up before July 1st with your Google account, it will automatically import your feed (blog) list, and they say that when Google Reader goes dark, they will continue to function "seamlessly" by transitioning you to feedly Normandy. Well, here's hoping!!
Meanwhile, I see that a lot of you are switching over to Bloglovin. So here's how you can follow me there:
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
PS--Happy Pi Day! =D
Edited to add: Bloglovin can be used as a reader, too...I just liked the interface better on feedly. But that's my personal preference. I think either will work great. I don't know if the Blogger dashboard will be going away or not...or what they'll do with any non-Blogger subscriptions you added there. It seems weird to me that they'd leave that in place and do away with Reader, but if they haven't said it's going away, I'd assume it will continue. If I find out anything else, I'll let you all know!
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Orchid Daze 2013
Click now for JiffNotes
I am in the process of going through all the Disney/LA photos (I was doing pretty well marking favorites, but then I kind of lost the will to live when I hit the Small World pictures...I had the camera on auto-advance to try and get at least a few good ones, so those account for probably 800 of the 1300...I jest. =) The recap posts will be coming soon, but until then, let me distract you with beautiful orchids!
Orchid Daze started February 3rd at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and it goes until April 14th, so you have plenty of time to go check it out. Bonus: If you go soon, you'll also see all the tulips blooming outside! The theme this year is "Surreal Beauty", so they have styled the various displays after the work of different surrealist artists.
First, up, Salvador Dali...
The quote is kind of difficult to read; it's "Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision."
The whole entry hallway is mirrored. No melting clocks, though. =) This section had the colors that popped the most, like this...
...and this...
...and this!
This section also has some glass cases with jungle frogs in them (always there). The frogs were in high visibility mode rather than hiding beneath leaves...I think they felt the competition from the extra orchids!
This shot was made possible by the flexible spot focus feature of my lovely camera. =)
In the main orchid house, I'm not exactly sure who the inspirational artist was...the doors leading in had artwork by Giorgio de Chirico, but I don't find a lot of women's shoes in his work.
I understand they were working with the Surrealism theme (Orchids in Shoes! CRAZY!), but this is my least favorite center display...it lacks the impact of last year's hanging gardens. It's not the fact that it relies upon a gimmick that I dislike, it's that the orchids get lost in clever-clever land and you can't get close enough to appreciate the individual blooms they used to fill the shoes.
But you're not hear to read my pseudo-intellectualblather critique. You're here to see gorgeous orchids! The orchids in here were well-lit with sunshiny day we had. More pops of color...
Can I get a dress in this lovely purple??
Some really fantastic shapes, as well...
These orchids were like a foreshadowing of daffodils (remember this was the beginning of February)...
The large central space between greenhouses was an homage to Renee Magritte.
It was really "raining" from under that suspended umbrella on the pole.
It's raining orchids! Hallelujah! =)
I loved the density of these rosy-pink blooms. They reminded me of gladiolas (only prettier!)
It was kind of hilarious to watch how many people took pictures of themselves in front of that cloudy background. Like they'd never been outside and were in some kind of museum of beautiful weather. =)
Some of Magritte's common symbols were a male figure in a bowler hat, or just a bowler hat, so I loved what they did here in the entryway to the High Elevation House.
I think this part of the collection, with the mountain-dwelling orchids, had some of the most surreal shapes!
The constant misting was getting a little annoying, but it made for great back lit pictures!
OK, this last one just looks alien!
I am in the process of going through all the Disney/LA photos (I was doing pretty well marking favorites, but then I kind of lost the will to live when I hit the Small World pictures...I had the camera on auto-advance to try and get at least a few good ones, so those account for probably 800 of the 1300...I jest. =) The recap posts will be coming soon, but until then, let me distract you with beautiful orchids!
Orchid Daze started February 3rd at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and it goes until April 14th, so you have plenty of time to go check it out. Bonus: If you go soon, you'll also see all the tulips blooming outside! The theme this year is "Surreal Beauty", so they have styled the various displays after the work of different surrealist artists.
In the main orchid house, I'm not exactly sure who the inspirational artist was...the doors leading in had artwork by Giorgio de Chirico, but I don't find a lot of women's shoes in his work.
But you're not hear to read my pseudo-intellectual
I loved the density of these rosy-pink blooms. They reminded me of gladiolas (only prettier!)
Some of Magritte's common symbols were a male figure in a bowler hat, or just a bowler hat, so I loved what they did here in the entryway to the High Elevation House.
| JiffNotes |
|---|
| You have until April 14th to go enjoy these beauties in person! Go soon to also enjoy Atlanta Blooms! where the garden is swimming in just-bloomed bulbs. |
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Geekend That Was, 3/10 (Road to Recovery edition)
Click now for JiffNotes
Thank you all for the well wishes for Michael's health. His fever broke Friday morning (he had been hovering in the 101-103 F range, even with medication), which was a huge relief to me, and he seemed alert. I was going to say, "much more alert," but that would imply that he had been more than just barely conscious the rest of the week. Thursday night, I slept for TWELVE HOURS STRAIGHT! I almost fell out of bed when I looked at the time Friday "morning"!
My DF Teresa was in town, so after I had "breakfast", I shockingly abandoned my sick husband and went to hang out and stitch at DF Jill's place. Don't worry; I made sure he was stocked with tissues, meds, chicken soup and ginger ale before I took off. And I didn't stay too long.
What's that? You want to know what I stitched on? Well, perhaps we'd better talk about the state of March Madness, then?
On March 1st and 2nd, I was at Disneyland, so, as I had (with great skill and finesse) predicted, I did nothing craft-related (unless you count watching my spouse sketch). On the 3rd, we were on a plane for four hours, so I worked on my Cookie A Sock Club club socks. =) On odd days, I'll continue to work on those socks until they are done (because if I get them done before the next shipment, I could win FABULOUS! PRIZES! or something). Then, on odd days I'll work on my EGA chapter's project...or my March ornament!
On March 4th, the Sparkly Compote of Decree decided to add insult to the injury of my super-sick spouse by smacking me upside the head with Magical Night.
Ah, Magical Night. I started you fifteen years ago (FIFTEEN!) and then decided that your backstitch colors weren't working for me. The amount of frogging overwhelmed me, and you got set aside. So, this was kind of depressing for my first March Madness project, but frogging was less depressing than admitting defeat, so frog I did.
The 5th saw me turn the heel of the sock and start charging down the foot. I really need to get a picture of that sock!
On the 6th, the SCOD decided that its torture was not complete and gifted me with a one-over-one piece on silk gauze.
On the 8th, once I staggered out of bed, I was pretty sure the SCOD and I were going to have to have words. Or, I was going to have some words for it. The Sparkly Compote of Decree does not, despite continual personification, talk. I drew out a project. I stared at the slip of paper. I had no idea what it was. I was about to Google it when I realized it was a hat I'd already finished. So I drew again. (And possibly AGAIN, but you don't want to hear the whole sordid story.) Suffice it to say that the SCOD finally coughed up the coveted blank slip, the carte blanche, as it were. (Does anyone really know what "as it were" actually means? Enlighten me if you do.)
So, I chose Sapphire Star and got a good bit done on pattern one (the two colorful vertical sections).
Saturday we made a brief trek to lunch and the Botanical Gardens, where I sadly forgot my camera...very sadly, since the orchid show was going on. I still have orchid pictures I need to post! Michael only lasted about an hour at the Gardens. He was pretty wiped out afterward.
Sunday after church and grocery shopping, there was exhaustion on the couch. But then there were cookies!
Thank you all for the well wishes for Michael's health. His fever broke Friday morning (he had been hovering in the 101-103 F range, even with medication), which was a huge relief to me, and he seemed alert. I was going to say, "much more alert," but that would imply that he had been more than just barely conscious the rest of the week. Thursday night, I slept for TWELVE HOURS STRAIGHT! I almost fell out of bed when I looked at the time Friday "morning"!
My DF Teresa was in town, so after I had "breakfast", I shockingly abandoned my sick husband and went to hang out and stitch at DF Jill's place. Don't worry; I made sure he was stocked with tissues, meds, chicken soup and ginger ale before I took off. And I didn't stay too long.
What's that? You want to know what I stitched on? Well, perhaps we'd better talk about the state of March Madness, then?
On March 1st and 2nd, I was at Disneyland, so, as I had (with great skill and finesse) predicted, I did nothing craft-related (unless you count watching my spouse sketch). On the 3rd, we were on a plane for four hours, so I worked on my Cookie A Sock Club club socks. =) On odd days, I'll continue to work on those socks until they are done (because if I get them done before the next shipment, I could win FABULOUS! PRIZES! or something). Then, on odd days I'll work on my EGA chapter's project...or my March ornament!
On March 4th, the Sparkly Compote of Decree decided to add insult to the injury of my super-sick spouse by smacking me upside the head with Magical Night.
Ah, Magical Night. I started you fifteen years ago (FIFTEEN!) and then decided that your backstitch colors weren't working for me. The amount of frogging overwhelmed me, and you got set aside. So, this was kind of depressing for my first March Madness project, but frogging was less depressing than admitting defeat, so frog I did.
The 5th saw me turn the heel of the sock and start charging down the foot. I really need to get a picture of that sock!
On the 6th, the SCOD decided that its torture was not complete and gifted me with a one-over-one piece on silk gauze.
On the 8th, once I staggered out of bed, I was pretty sure the SCOD and I were going to have to have words. Or, I was going to have some words for it. The Sparkly Compote of Decree does not, despite continual personification, talk. I drew out a project. I stared at the slip of paper. I had no idea what it was. I was about to Google it when I realized it was a hat I'd already finished. So I drew again. (And possibly AGAIN, but you don't want to hear the whole sordid story.) Suffice it to say that the SCOD finally coughed up the coveted blank slip, the carte blanche, as it were. (Does anyone really know what "as it were" actually means? Enlighten me if you do.)
So, I chose Sapphire Star and got a good bit done on pattern one (the two colorful vertical sections).
Saturday we made a brief trek to lunch and the Botanical Gardens, where I sadly forgot my camera...very sadly, since the orchid show was going on. I still have orchid pictures I need to post! Michael only lasted about an hour at the Gardens. He was pretty wiped out afterward.
Sunday after church and grocery shopping, there was exhaustion on the couch. But then there were cookies!
| JiffNotes |
|---|
| Hmmm...this is starting to sound like a Christmas carol..."On the 6th day of Madness, the Compote gave to me..." |
It's a Small TUSAL After All
(What the heck is a TUSAL?)
Being away for a week didn't help with the volume of orts around here, but at least there's something.
Expect the Disney puns to continue for a while! See ya real soon!
Being away for a week didn't help with the volume of orts around here, but at least there's something.
Expect the Disney puns to continue for a while! See ya real soon!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Did You Miss Me?
Click now for JiffNotes
I'm betting you didn't even know you were supposed to be missing me.
In fact, I wasn't gone this past week, I was gone the week before that. February 27th is my birthday, and the only appropriate way to spend your birthday is at Disney, where you are wearing a big button declaring that everyone must wish you a happy day and getting Mickey-shaped sweets at the end of every meal. Being in Atlanta, we usually head to Walt Disney World, where I hang out in the Magic Kingdom. This year, though, we traveled to LA and I hung out in Disneyland.
I have a lot to say about how awesome Disneyland was (in the form of about 1300 pictures (PS-I am NOT joking)), and also how awesome Hollywood was, and, to a lesser extent, Palm Springs. But first I have to sort through those 1300 pictures. That was going to happen on Monday, when I was going to also unpack, write a stunning blog post, and do approximately two mountains of laundry. Unfortunately, poor Michael got a cold while we were in California that turned into the flu when we got back. So Monday was spent at the doctor's office and at Walgreens (where we will NEVER EVER be going back), and the rest of the week was spent leaving work early to go try and find a new medicine that might make Michael's fever drop below 102 (F). Poor guy. He feels a bit better now.
Anyway, I promise better updates this week...or at least this weekend!
I'm betting you didn't even know you were supposed to be missing me.
In fact, I wasn't gone this past week, I was gone the week before that. February 27th is my birthday, and the only appropriate way to spend your birthday is at Disney, where you are wearing a big button declaring that everyone must wish you a happy day and getting Mickey-shaped sweets at the end of every meal. Being in Atlanta, we usually head to Walt Disney World, where I hang out in the Magic Kingdom. This year, though, we traveled to LA and I hung out in Disneyland.
I have a lot to say about how awesome Disneyland was (in the form of about 1300 pictures (PS-I am NOT joking)), and also how awesome Hollywood was, and, to a lesser extent, Palm Springs. But first I have to sort through those 1300 pictures. That was going to happen on Monday, when I was going to also unpack, write a stunning blog post, and do approximately two mountains of laundry. Unfortunately, poor Michael got a cold while we were in California that turned into the flu when we got back. So Monday was spent at the doctor's office and at Walgreens (where we will NEVER EVER be going back), and the rest of the week was spent leaving work early to go try and find a new medicine that might make Michael's fever drop below 102 (F). Poor guy. He feels a bit better now.
Anyway, I promise better updates this week...or at least this weekend!
| JiffNotes |
|---|
| It's a small world...speaking of which, 800 of the pictures might be from It's a Small World.... |
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