How Does Your Garden Grow?

“Overcooked Herbs” (Gwenelle on Flickr)

Last year,  I started a little container garden on my deck. I thought that having fresh, homegrown veggies so easily accessible might help Hubby and I eat healthier and save money, too. Sadly, my green thumb is sorely undeveloped and although my plants prospered for a while. In the end, nothing but the oregano made it onto the dinner table. And that’s one of the spices we use least!

One of the biggest obstacles I faced with my first gardening attempt was the timing.  I started my plants, from seed, too late in the year.  Nearly everything sprouted, but few had reached the harvest stage before they fried during a rare streak of 100-degree days, drowned in the infamous Oregon rain, or froze during an early frost.

Just give me Christmas this year! (12 Pearls of Christmas, Day 11)

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Are you all ready for Christmas this weekend? Even if you’re not, take a break and enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom”.  Written by a best-selling Christian author, each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year.

And don’t forget … there’s also a giveaway!! Fill out the quick form linked to at the end of this post or any other 12 Pearls of Christmas posts to be entered to win a pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings! You may enter once a day. The winner will be announced on New Year’s Day! Pearls – a tangible reminder of God’s grace to us all.

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All I Want for Christmas…
Is to be able to have Christmas this Year
by Melissa Mashburn

This is a simple request, isn’t it? In the previous years, we had great big bountiful Christmases with our family. Gifts, goodies and general Christmas cheer but this year it was different. The year before has been chock full of disappointments, failing businesses and severe cutbacks for our family. 

Reminded of why I love this job

Image © JGoode Designs. Find more penguin characters at Lil' Penguin Shop!

Last week God reminded me how faithful He is to provide for all our needs, and how much He has blessed me.  He has shown me once again that, when He doesn’t stop difficult circumstances from knocking us down once in a while, it’s not to be mean or because He doesn’t care.  He does it so that when He picks us back up, we’re that much more thankful, and so we know it’s His hand that lifts us, not our own words or actions (Isaiah 42:10-11).

At a company meeting last week, the CEO announced that our company is making plans that will mean raises all around, hopefully by the end of the year.

Forbes’ Top 100 Celebs: Oprah is back on top

Photo by Evan Agostini, Associated Press

Yesterday, Forbes magazine announced its annual “Power List,”  ranking the Top 100 celebrities’ in order of their fame & fortune.  The yearly list is based on each star’s earnings in the past 12 months as well as his or her visibility in the media, including print, television, radio, online, and social networking.

Though Angelina Jolie stole the No. 1 slot from her last year, Oprah Winfrey has once again reached the pinnacle of the Top 100 .  Her earnings over the past 12 months reached $315 million, or an average of $900,000 a day.  With that kind of cash, one almost wonders why she didn’t retire sooner.

Silly Souvenirs?

Today I was creating travel offers for special events throughout the U.S.

I noticed that most of the packages included some type of souvenir plaque or pin. Based on my own experience with such “collectibles,” I feel their inclusion is nothing more than an opportunity to increase the charge to the traveler, for after the event, what good is a pin or plaque other than to collect dust? Or more likely, collect dust for a few months on a shelf or bookcase, then end up in the Goodwill box so some other useless trinket can take its place?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m a sentimental pack rat on my best days, but this particular keepsake seems pointless. Why not lower the price for the consumer, letting each one choose to either purchase a souvenir that has personal significance, or save a few bucks to put toward next year’s trip.

Personally, I like to collect decorative shot glasses everywhere I travel.  Never use them, but they’re small and generally inexpensive.   Every tourist trap offers  several varieties to choose from, and many other places do too.  And when on display, they make a great conversation starter.