Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Sunday, February 8, 2009

If You Were Here Today

Diane sings, too

It is absolutely delicious out this morning. 

You can smell spring's teasing scent and every bird that can is singing. I wish you were here~~we could have coffee and talk. It doesn't have to be about gardening, although that would be delightful!  You can tell me about your children, your grandchildren or even your bothersome next door neighbor.  Just visiting is a treat.

It's not warm enough to sit on the porch, but we can have coffee by the french doors and


watch the birds at the feeders. They won't mind the company.

If you were here, this is what I would tell you~~

One year ago today I clicked the publish button and started on an exciting blogging journey. I had no idea that I would meet so many fine people and make such good friends...How delightful that you came into my life. I am honored that you visit me and honored that you comment. There is no way for me to thank you enough for your support this past year.  You were there during my  darkest hours and there during my sunniest.  You are truly the best.  Thank you.

Feed Me Seymour Hellebore

Would you like to see that first post? Other than me and my poor husband, you may be the only folks to ever see it! It was a few sentences long, there were no photos and I knew nothing about html coding. It was thrilling, scary and energizing!

Here it is~~
It's a sunny 48 degrees and like most gardeners I have already been outside working on a garden chore. There are far too many to get to in one sunny day. But this looked manageable. The recent rains had left a pile of dirt on the flagstone path that leads to my mosaic shed. So I cleaned it off and relaid the stones higher. Twenty minutes of work and I felt good. That's the power of gardening....it just makes you feel good.


It still makes me smile.

Some grasses are perfect


That's my hope.  That blogging always makes me smile,  that the thrill of clicking the publishing button  stays with me and  that,  I never forget to honor friendships.  

Gail

Before I go, a special thanks to  Frances, Tina and Dave for their  kindness,  generosity and support.  Thank you for always being here. 

55 comments:

  1. Gail, reading your blog is one of my favorite activities. I always enjoy your sunny personality that shines through. That first post is a good example, and I totally agree about the power of gardening.

    Congratulations on the blogiversary!

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  2. Pam,

    I feel the same about reading your posts!...You were one of the first blogs I ever visited and might even have been "my first comment experience". Clicking the publish button on comments was equally thrilling!

    Thank you always for your kindness and inspiration.

    Gail

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  3. Congrats on your one year milestone Gail! May your blog bring you & us many years of smiles! Frances, Dave & Tina are the best blogging buddies a gardener could hope for. Kudos to them for being your rocks!

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  4. Racquel,

    Thank you! I feel so fortunate to have met so many wonderfully supportive bloggers...I count you among them.

    gail

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  5. It is perfect! And happy Blogiversary to you! Yeah! One year is a long long time and you have such a fun and wonderful blog-just like you! I am so honored to have met you and to have been included in your post. My Tennessee blogging friends are very important to me. I like your first post-it pretty much sums up gardening doesn't it? Which reminds me, my garden is yelling at me-come to me.....:)

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  6. Congrats on your first anniversary. My goodness I would have thought you were blogging for a long time. Your style of writing and your upbeat way of expressing yourself makes for the most wonderful reading. I too hope you continue to find satisfaction of pushing that publish button. Here I have been blogging over a year and i still don'tknow what html codes are. ?? Should I know that??

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  7. Gail, it is spring-like here today, too with temperatures in the 50's. Congratulations on your blogaversary! I remember finding your blog one day and thinking here's another "newbie" (my one-year is soon coming up) and visiting in those early 5-comment days:) I am so glad I found you; your posts always lift me up and make me smile. One of these days--and I mean it--my car will be headed south through Indiana and Kentucky until it finds its way to Nashville and Chez Cedar!

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  8. Gail, I would be delighted to come have coffee with you and talk a spell! It has been such a pleasure to get to know you this past year. Your posts are always such a treat.

    Congratulations and here's to many more years of gardening with friends.

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  9. One year Gail well done.....so glad that you have found friendship and happiness amongst the blogging community.....

    I like your first post.....it was very similar to how I started, it is fun looking back. I am a novice in many ways but enjoy it, and that is the main thing......

    I am so glad to have found your blog, I so enjoy your photography and writings.......

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  10. Congrats on the milestone! Keep on blogging! ;-)
    --Curmudgeon

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  11. I am so glad you did hit that "publish" button so that I could meet you! I truly enjoy your gardening skills and exploits and coming to visit.
    Brenda

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  12. I'll have some sweet tea, please and thank you :-) Are you sure it's not warm enough to sit out? The sun's gotten to my winter-fogged brain, Gail. We've had two days of Spring-like weather here and its hard to concentrate on anything else.

    You've done a marvelous job on your blog and I'm looking forward to many more interesting posts in your second year. Happy anniversary.

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  13. Congratualtions on your anniversary! I rarely comment, but always read and enjoy. You are delightfully informative, and besides, I covet your property, so I can live vicariously through your blog! Thanks for writing and photographing so beautifully.

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  14. Gail,
    Congratulations on your blog! It is one of my favorites.

    Cameron

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  15. Gail,

    Thank you as well and congratulations on your anniversary! You've done a fantastic job on your blog and it's been really fun getting to know my fellow TN garden bloggers.

    Aren't you enjoying this weather! 70 degrees and sunny. I think I was inside yesterday for an hour for eating and about the same today. Spring is teasing us with this visit!

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  16. What a great post and if I were there, not only would we talk of gardening, also the neighbor of mine that called me a White Trash redneck bitch this past Friday night because her dog was in our yard jumping on my kids and I did not like it one bit. Can't post about it because my husbands parents read my blog and it would upset them. This lady is CRAZY!!

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  17. Congrats on the anniversary and may your garden always make you smile.

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  18. Spring is still pretty far away here, but I enjoyed this post and that smokin witch hazel at the top of it.

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  19. What a great post, and many happy more posts to you! And, it seems to me that one of the best gifts of our technological age to be able to exchange thoughts, observations, and commiserations with like-minded folks from so many places.

    Today was such a wonderfully warm day here for us in the SE U.S.- it would have been hard NOT to be out digging or enjoying the winter honeysuckle or the Chinese witch hazel.

    After we came back from the weekend, I went out and planted peas and arugula and fava beans. And sowed a flat of lettuce. We'll see!

    Lisa

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  20. Congratulations on one year, I reached that milestone last month. We have had two glorious days in a row here, yesterday we had a front porch picnic. I wish you happy blogging for as long as you want to blog!

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  21. You wonderful people...I have been gone almost all day and will comment back tomorrow! Thank you for your well wishes! It has been a grand year!

    Gail

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  22. CONGRATULATIONS, Gail. I read & enjoy your blog even tho I don't always comment. I learned from you & I hope you will continue to blog for as long as you get enjoyment from it. That's the best part is what you get out of it.

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  23. And you've always made me smile. I didn't mean to leave such a crazy reply to your reply on my blog. I was a little nutty at the time on cold meds.

    Congrats on your one year. I sure thought that had already past. I remember first meeting you and you've always been awesome! You are a delight to visit. Big hugs!

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  24. Happy Blogiversary Gail. I love your blog; it's one of my very favorites, without a doubt.

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  25. Hey Gail, Happy Blogoversary!
    I still recall fondly your first visit to my place when you were amused by my describing our gardening style as "savage cottage garden," and I knew then and there that I would come to like you very much, not to mention your gloriously sunny blog!

    I'm sorry I've not been around much lately, but I'm under incredible pressures and deadlines at work right now and spent yet another weekend working (about 20 hrs) this weekend, so my visiting time has been severely affected by that. I have been peeking by though, but just haven't had the time to comment, alas.

    Happily, I'm recovering slowly from the flu I got last weekend, Hanna continues to be a joyous presence in our lives and we had a meltdown of the best type these past few days and the snow is receding quickly! I can't believe that our forecast for today is for thundershowers! That will help dispatch that much more of the now hated snowpack that has been darkening the garden mood around her for so long! Now if work would just let up a bit I could get outside to see if anything is starting to peek through the ground ... I bet we'll see snowdrops soon unless we get more of the white nasty stuff!

    Again congrats on the blog! If you really want a hoot and a holler, go back into my archives sometime and look up my very first post from June, 2006! That will likely give you a big guffaw!

    IVG

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  26. Gail, how I wish I were at your place, drinking coffee and chatting away... But the second best is to visit your blog - it's always a pleasure!
    Katarina

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  27. Happy blogaversary Gail. Your first post makes me smile too. It is so you, happy, charming and always a good listener! Thanks for the link love, and your friendship. What did I do without you?
    Frances

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  28. From the first paragraph of your blog to the most recent, you never disappoint. Congrats on a year of blogging and sharing the beauty of your oasis with the rest of us. We are the richer for it.

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  29. Congrats on your anniversary! Time flies ...

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  30. Congratulations, first of all! I've loved your blogs always and jump to it when I see your name on my bloglist with a new post! I wish I can have tea (I don't like coffee... I'm sure you'd have some tea for me, wouldn't you :D) with you, and it'd be a pleasure to watch your birds, and there'd be many things to talk about as we come from different cultures! How fun it'd be!

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  31. What a lovely post, it's raining out this morning and I haven't felt the gardening bug until I caught the scent...I love your blog and it is a delightful way to spend the dark hours of morning...I am actually having a cup of coffee with you now:)

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  32. That witch hazel is to die for!! Happy Blogiversary. Here's to many more...
    Liisa

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  33. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
    Blogging does open up so many door for us doesn't it? It has been a wonderful adventure for me and more to come with each passing day.

    We have the same finch thistle feeder! It is getting a workout this winter.

    Great temps and fun in the yard this weekend. Expecting more this entire week in the 70's...

    Again, Congrats!

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  34. Contrats on your first year! I feel like I've know you longer;) Weather is warm here to but it's so muddy even the dog leaves deep prints in the lawn.
    Marnie

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  35. Happy Blogiversary, Gail! I've so enjoyed your posts and I'm looking forward to seeing you again at Fling!

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  36. Oh Gail!
    Happy blogiversary! I'm sorry I'm a day late!--Randy

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  37. Gail - congratulations - your blog is one of those that has influenced the way I've blogged - it's always a pleasure to visit to see what you're up to - what's growing and how the GOBN is percolating along - may there be many more years of blogging in your future!
    Best wishes,
    Barbarapc

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  38. Gail how wonderful that you began your blogging and gave us an opportunity to stop by and read about and see photos of your passion for nature. I am always looking for kindred spirits..those that look to Mother Nature for inspiration/stopping to take a second glance at all the beauty around us!
    You are one and I greatly appreciate all that you share.Congratulations on your first year of blogging and may you continue.Wishing you much inspiration..love and light NG

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  39. Happy Anniversary to Clay and Limestone! :-) Gail, you have been a lot of fun to read and correspond with. Have I told you that I have four mini-greenhouses (milk jugs) outdoors behind the house? The first one I put out contained Tennessee Coneflower (thanks to you!). The fourth one (just set out) contains your Purple Phacelia. I can hardly wait to see what happens! Keep on keepin' on! Your blogger friend, the "Shady G" :-)

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  40. i can already feel your kinder gentler eye in this post. your images are so lovely of your garden. that grass is perfect.
    i love the hellebore.
    my oldest daughter did little shop of horrors in high school drama club so the hellebore reminded me of that. i had to look back and see when i started blogging, may 08 and like you have enjoyed it thoroughly. as long as i enjoy it i will do it. congrats on your 1 year status.

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  41. I'm a little late to the party, but happy one year blogiversary, Gail! Glad to have discovered you.

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  42. My dear friends, it is 72 degrees outside and I am being called repeatedly to the garden! So I am remiss in commenting back! I do really, really, really mean to
    but I went to the going out of business sale and now have a few plants I want to get into the ground before it rains...You know what I mean, the garden is like a deep reich chocolate and I have to go!

    Thank you for your sweet wishes. I do want you to know that I appreciate your stopping by...I wish you warm days to play in your garden...gail

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  43. Belated congratulations on your blogaversary! I must have found your blog shortly after you started because I remember thinking about how I was going to meet you at Spring Fling in Austin. Quite a year it has been. While I would normally envy your 72 degrees, it's been in the 50s here, and I can't complain about that.
    BTW, I love the Little Shop of Horrors Hellebore.
    BTWW, I have Snowdrops in bloom.

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  44. Cindy,

    I am looking forward to seeing you, too! Thanks for the congrats...I can't believe it's been a year!

    gail

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  45. It was 48 here on Saturday (very unusual, it will not last!) and it felt GOOD, but it's way too early to be working in the garden here.

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  46. Congrats on a year. I have only been following blogs for about 4 months, and really enjoy yours.

    Helen

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  47. Congratulations and what a wonderful post! I always enjoy your posts and photos. Happy blogiversary!

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  48. Gail,
    I hear you singing, Diane and Mr. Goldfinch.

    "That's the power of gardening... it just makes you feel good". Those words could write a post all by themselves.

    I remember when you came on the scene and I knew right away you would forever be one of my favorites. It's been a lovely year shared with you and your garden. I'm certain one day I really will enjoy that cup of coffee with you.

    So glad you had such a delicious day ... you TN folks deserved that blue sky and birds singing. Yes, spring is on its way to you.

    Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

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  49. Hi Gail and happy blogiversary! You're a "veteran" blogger now!! Seriously tho, I'm also so glad you decided to blog. You excel at it like I think you must everywhere else in life. Your blog is so welcoming and you are always very gracious responding to our comments. It would be so fun to chat with you. I have no doubt you'd put us all at ease & we'd leave feeling like old friends. For all our sakes, I hope you continue to be thrilled pushing the "publish" button too.

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  50. My dear friends,

    You have honored me again with your lovely words...I find myself quite overwhelmed and speechless with your kindness and generosity! Thank you, gail

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  51. Your appreciation for blogging is the same way i feel. I have only been here for a little while and its the best thing in a long time!

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  52. Coffee and a chat by the french doors sounds perfect, especially with a little bird watching thrown in.
    Your sunny personality always makes me smile, Gail. Congrats on a year of blogging...and may you enjoy many more :)

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