From the Garden Spot - Betsy's Business blog

My Spring and Summer 2025 Garden.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:54:00 +0000

Attn: The trees have grown too high around the Garden Spot!

I hope to have them cut this Spring.

Will be going over my seeds and putting up raised beds in the Spring, too.

It will be an adventure.

Have many projects all spinning about at the same time.

But that is good. I am getting a lot done.

Comment on your doings as a comment, if you have time.

I hope to get my blogs on a different platform next year. Nothing seems to be easy to do here on Blogger. I have tried to put photos and etc. on two other blogs, but I have not had luck with that.

Oh, well.

The weather here is COLD, but it should warm up later this week.

My apple tree thought it was Spring earlier, and actually started a tiny apple! Wow. Will be cutting this tree back and many others later on.

What are your plans? I would love to know.

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads (Just Betsyanne works right now.... I have to update the others...)

Also: try Nontraditional Students, http://www.nontradstudents.com/, and Betsyanne.com too. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betsyanne, and look for needed changes here and on other blogs in 2025.

I am also blogging here at: Nontraditional Students, and The Moon and the Willow Tree.

Can't wait to do a new look. It will be a good learning experience...

Betsyanne

Cleaning and Organizing... the Latest on The Garden, Reminiscing about Teaching, What I Found, more.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:56:00 +0000

I have had a VERY productive day.

I am cleaning out paper boxes, clothing boxes, miscellaneous boxes, and lots more, plus am keeping up with a growing laundry work area. This is all a good thing.

I am still on Blogger, and plan to move over to another platform later.

I tried to put some photos/images here, but it's a no go today. Things I have found today: Interesting clothes, some too big, some too small, plus Lesson Plans, Lists, and plenty of scratch paper to use and make into notepads.

More news and bragging, too:

1. I made a Bill Sheet and listed everything - EVERYTHING on it. This has proved VERY helpful. Now I just print one out each month, and go from there. This has streamlined my time some!

2. Have done more trimming in the back yard, concentrating on lower branches and bushes. Have lots more to do.

3. Vacuumed! A lot!

4. Put things on the Calendar - - which is a usual thing. But trying to spread things out more. Calendar victories include contacting NAMI to let them know of their website glitch, checking more dates, and finally getting on the Democrats in BG Mailing List. Hopefully. I have made my calendar 11 x 8 1/2, which folds just right, but the boxes to list events on are very small. Am learning to print neater, so I can read it easier. Sending cards and letters out as much as possible. My goal was one a day, but this is hard to do. If I count emails as letters, I am doing well. But the letters and cards are better to do.

5. I am posting a lot of exciting memes online. This is fun. I have a lot of Friends on FB who post neat things, so this is not hard.

6. I found some teaching resources and kept a few. It was fun to reminisce some about my rollercoaster ride into teaching a while back. It was so stressful - - and they REALLY needed a good Induction Program. I may not teach professionally again, but learned a lot. There were some fun days, but most NOT. I did not stop working after going through these papers.

THE LATEST ON THE GARDEN:

The Garden work is progressing. I raked and then mowed all the weeds down nicely. My sister gave me some great boards and side fasteners, so I will be able to do some planters in the Garden Area by next year IF I can get the sun-blocking trees down by then. I hope to fill them with smallish branches, some great un-chemicalized soil, and more.

WHAT I FOUND: I found some neat stamps - - plus some Stamp Pages for a book, more medium and large Clippies (that held daily Lessons from my short Teaching stint that I don't need). Also a beautiful Victoria's Secret light robe. All it needs is a belt. So will be either making one, or finding one that matches later. In the meantime, I have a nice skinny belt that will work. I also found a Chair Exercise pamphlet! This will work until I find my class online or in person.

MORE: I threw a bunch of stuff away. Also will cut a homemade terrycloth robe up in LARGE pieces to use for shoe drying, etc.

So what is new with you? Did you also have a productive day?

Starting up my blogs again. Wow! Getting my Garden Plot ready, planting some Memorial flowers, more.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:49:00 +0000

Hey, hey, hey! A big welcome to all my readers. Will be posting more.

It is a good time to make a Posting on all my blogs.

I am a semi-new Widow, so will write about that later here or on another Blog. It was a hard time after my husband died in late April. It has been about 7 months now, going into Month 8. First Thanksgiving without him, and soon to be First Christmas without him, too.

Right now I am dreaming about growing some tomatoes. And maybe also some sunflowers.

My sister had some raised beds I can try out in the Spring.

She and my other sister helped me get stuff OUT of my storage unit. This is helped me a lot. We also had a Thanksgiving together earlier. It was fun.

I have lots to do. But have a head start this Fall because I and my sister have done some pruning of the trees that will come down in the Spring to let the sun into the Garden Area.

I still have houseplants and brought one plant inside, after putting it in the ground. Not sure what kind it is, but will try to save it.

Will be selling books again, and have many great seeds I can start, also this Spring.

Comment if you are doing a garden next year. I think it will really help with savings!

Adding: Almost forgot. Will be getting back into Ebay, selling books and more, soon, also. Here I am there: https://www.ebay.com/str/bestbooksandcollectibles and on FB: https://www.facebook.com/willowtreemoon. Come visit!

All for today,

Betsyanne

#widow #updates #gardening #blogging #grief #Christmas #Thanksgiving #trains #sisters #love

Posting this train in honor of my late husband, Rickey Sheppard. He loved trains!

My other blogs (some not posted to for awhile - look for updates soon):

The Moon and the Willow Tree (2022)

Unofficial GS news for South Central KY (2023, earlier)

The Non-traditional Student Blog (2022)

The BGAMUG Computer Club Remembrance Blog (2022)

(A co-blog) Drumming My Own Song (2020!) (A Co-blog with my Aunt Joyce)

Find Scholarships and Grants (2019!)

Comment below on this posting and what you would like to hear about here later.

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

My garden - - waiting on the sun. I am MORE prepared now, and concentrating on the positive things.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:31:00 +0000

Well, a few trees next to the fence have taken over the garden area in a big way.

(It all happened so fast!)

These are not them. BUT they are pretty big.

I am slowly getting rid of them. It is not easy. This shows that you must be vigilant and do things while they are easier.

I have more seeds now, for a GREAT garden when it happen (and the sun gets in...) and found a spading fork I did not even know I had.

Everything is a Learning Experience, I know.

How is YOUR garden coming? I am closer to my goal, although it is a slow process.

LESSONS:

1. Stay positive

2. Don't give up.

3. Make lists.

4. Find a good book to read, and read it every day. I like series books, because they continue on for awhile.

These are a few of my methods to feel OK about what may be not a great garden this year.

We shall see.

It's not like there is not anything else to do around here.

YARD POSITIVES:

1. My front yard is better, AND my 2 lawn mowers are working. Yay!

2. I am getting some trimming done, and plan to do more.

3. I am using a phrase I read online, when I have worked, and everything is STILL not finished.

This useful phrase is:

"It's better than it was."

I hope things are going well with you, my awesome readers.

Betsyanne

PS Leave a comment here using the comment area below - - how is your garden coming? Or your plans for a garden?

To garden... or not to garden. First, I will tidy up the yard. And... someday, a fence?

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 20:52:00 +0000

Hi, friends!

First of all: Happy First Day of Spring!

I've been thinking (again) about gardening plans. I hope to start some plants from seed this year.

Also, maybe buy some plants.

A line of cute flowers. Love the faces.

AND start back working on my art, for sure. (Maybe pottery AND painting, plus collage, and maybe some jewelry, too.)

AND... do some painting on the house. AND neaten up the yard. And that's just the start.

A flower, via Clikr.com.

Are you like me, having a list that just seems to get bigger and bigger?

I used to let that bother me. But I'm not letting this bother me any more. I will get done what I get done.

It is OK to have a lot on my list. Because I have a lot of ideas.

I will get done what I get done. And hopefully share it here!

My old logo. Another one is at my sites.

I also will be changing my selling sites to Willow Tree Moon: Betsy's Books and Collectibles. (Adding the first part.)

So, will have a NEW logo and name also, later on.

Will also be looking for a nice mini-light table, and making some stationery. Will share that too.

I hope you have a GREAT Spring... and here is hoping you get a lot done on YOUR list, too.

Sincerely,

Betsyanne

PS: Come visit if you like vintage books or other things. (It's on my list to also add more things this year, also.) My Ebay store is here: https://www.ebay.com/str/bestbooksandcollectibles.

Are you going back to school after a break? My Nontraditional Student pages are here: http://www.nontradstudents.com/ - - and my Nontrad Blog is here: https://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/.

I hope things are going well where you are.

Leave a comment below, here, if you have time! And thanks for stopping by.

Getting ready for my Garden. Have some seeds, will list! Maybe will trade some later. Also: cutting to make things ready.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:29:00 +0000

Hi, all! Checking in... with news about this summer's garden.

It's time to start seeds for the garden - - now or soon, depending on what you want to grow.

I have grown tomatoes and peppers before. Before Covid, I could wait until after most people bought plants, then buy some for me at a discount. This was a wise and fun method, until Covid.

Now, I plan to plant seeds instead. I have a grow mat, and some seeds for this year. I hope to save some of the seeds for next year also.

Before planting seedlings, though, I have some work to do. :-)

The saplings around the garden area must be cut, as well as trimmed. Then I will need to also rake the area, and turn the soil over.

But all will be worth it.

Whether I do some, or a lot of planting, it will be a good thing.

I am looking forward to it!

I hope this posting finds you well and happy. Stay safe!

Betsyanne

Join me on Twitter at @betsyanne or @nontrads

Join me on my Betsyanne site, my Selling Page,

and the Nontraditional Student website and blog too.

Things to think about... and do! Plus some fun things I am sharing.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 18:57:00 +0000

My list is LONG of things I need to do.

I keep making lists to keep myself on the MOST important jobs first.

Up near the top are Overdue Letters, Tax preparation, Blog Writing (doing now!), and card writing, too.

I have ONE button to sew on for my semi-official Girl Scout Uniform - - more places to organize - - things to go through - - spaces to de-clutter - - and once Spring comes for sure (and it's not raining hopefully) - - trees and bushes to cut, outdoor spaces to tidy, lots more.

It is deceptively nice outside today. Many customers are stopping by at the Pots Place downtown and going around the square. I am writing more lists. Zeroing in on Projects can be fun, because actually getting some done can be interesting. For instance, I found some things at home yesterday while organizing shipping boxes! A pencil, a sharpener, shoes, and more.

Some things I have learned this and last week, that I hope to look into later:

1. Using a Bank Service when next I want to buy a car,

2. $60 will buy a PBS Passport, so this may be very worth it if we cancel cable,

3. Amazon Prime MIGHT be worth it.

4. John Denver's WindStar group might still be doing good things.

5. I have a couple of Memory Slots on my computer, and I MIGHT be able to put new Memory in there myself. Interesting.

6. The Rachel Maddow show "Bag Man" (done in Podcast format) is well worth listening to!

I'm sure there are more. I will note them to share next time!

Betsyanne

I sent away for another Garden Catalog today for a great reason - a possible Recession.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 19:54:00 +0000

Every year I plan a garden, whether I actually do one or not.

Which means (on the very good side) I have many seeds and ideas.

I do have room, share a gated enclosure with a rabbit family.

I have some catalogs that come to me every year, and one I must order. But I can get along with what I have already.

Ideas for this year include:
1. Planting tomatoes
2. Planting corn? Squash? Peppers? Potatoes?
3. Going from Maybe to Yes.

There is much to think about.

Will there be another recession? Who knows. But having a garden sounds practical to me, whatever happens this summer. If the President has another Government Shutdown, I want to be more ready.

I hope all my readers are doing fine. I will see if this blog is going to another address, then will change it back. I think it will be a good thing to do this year. PLUS it will help me get my writing going again.

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Betsyanne

Switch Day is almost here! Very soon, I will be pointing this blog over to my other one.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 23:10:00 +0000

I am getting ready to point this fun blog over to my OTHER blog called the Moon and the Willow Tree.

I will be blogging more often then. This blog will automatically go over there. I still plan to write about writing, books, gardening, things going on here, and more there.

You will be able to search for old posting too.

Here is the other link, just in case.

The Moon and the Willow Tree.

You are great readers, and I hope you continue to read me at the Moon and the Willow Tree blog, which will be a LOT like this one - - a combination of both!

The only thing that will not copy over are the photos and etc. from here. But I plan to post many more photos at the new site, and also post more often! So I think you will like that a lot.

All for now,
Betsyanne

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

PS I have already moved it now. (adding...) So I did a Welcome blog entry there already, and talked about books again. Fun!

Save the Monarch butterfly! Plant Milkweed.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 20 May 2015 18:38:00 +0000

The word is out.

Monarchs need more habitat and milkweed plants to eat. Milkweed is their preferred food, so people are planting them when they can in their own backyards and gardens.

I've seen milkweed plants. They are not the most beautiful in the world. But you can plant them and other plants Monarch butterflies like too.

Make sure you buy a seed that is not coated with any chemicals and is all-natural.

And did you know that there are different kinds of milkweed? I think the one I was thinking of was Northeast Common Milkweed. There is a chart below from the US Forest Service article that will tell you what kind of milkweed grows best in YOUR area.

I love all kinds of butterflies, so I hope that many people plant milkweed this year to help save them.

Betsyanne

Some articles you might like:

About Milkweed: from About.com

Plant Milkweed for Monarchs - from the US Forest Service

Monarchs and Milkweed on the Audubon Agenda

Project Milkweed/Xerces Society

Some more recent postings from this blog:

Flowers vs. weeds

Wildflowers/Violets

and

Do you want this job rushed now, or the OTHER rush job?

And an FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Flowers vs. Weeds - - I think they are ALL flowers. If they have a flower on them. Right?

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 06 May 2015 20:31:00 +0000

It's definitely a value judgement calling some flowers weeds.

If you want a flower there where it is, it's a flower.

If you don't like a plant where it is, it is a weed.

But weeds can be beautiful.

Take this "weed": it DOES have flowers on it.

I love the little yellow flowers of this plant.

It makes the area where they is growing so much more beautiful.

So, it is NOT a weed. Not in my book.

You may like my last posting too:
Wildflowers/Violets

And an FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

I love wildflowers... especially violets. Some flower pictures!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 21:32:00 +0000

Gotta share.

About 2 weeks ago, we were able to go into the yard and take some photos of the beautiful violets.

I thought they would not be there - - because our weeping willow tree fell down. This is the place MOST of the violets used to be.

So, this was a most happy surprise.

Here are some photos.

A yellow flower is mustering up courage here.

A carpet.

The beginning of some dandelions.

Flowers like stars...

My favorite.

Betsyanne

Here is another posting from this blog: Do you want this rushed now, or rush the other rush job first?

And an FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Later!

Do you want this rushed now, or rush the other rush job first?

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 21:41:00 +0000

Rush jobs can be hard to sort out, in my opinion.

Photo by Mo Risa via Flickr.

I do know that if I am doing a rush job for somebody else, it become more important, for many reasons.

I want to do a GREAT job and show others that I can work from a schedule.

However, when it comes to a job for MYSELF... things get tricky.

It does not matter how often I write a "rush order" <to myself, of course...> for something I am doing just for myself, it just does not get the urgency it needs.

Is this procrastination? No... it's prioritizing other things, rush jobs for others, before my own rush jobs. If I got my rush jobs done... I could start on other projects.

So... as some signs say,

Do I rush this job now, or rush the rush job I was rushing before?

I think the answer could be not to accept any more rush jobs before MY OWN rush jobs are done.

It sounds good anyhow!

We'll see if I can do this. Right after the rush job I have been given today. Ack!!!

-Betsyanne

And an FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Snow today, digging out, I-65, A snowplow/snow removal service, a new Songbook, photos, projects...

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 17:46:00 +0000

Making a List... sometimes it's just the way to go.

I have two photos to share today. They are of the snow before the plow came by.

Over towards the farm...

The road with only tire tracks.

Digging out... we found a service that will plow your driveway. He's good, and fast.
Here is his information (though he's probably pretty busy today with company parking lots):

Via Tracy. Thanks, Tracy!

My new songs and games booklet
I have a little book of camp songs to make this week for a Girl Scout workshop, it will be full of NON-copyrighted material. Should be fun. I will try to share a link to purchase it later. Of course, if you are going to the workshop as a Girl Scout leader or volunteer, it will be free for you. :-)

Projects
I have a long list of projects, including some snail mail. One of these things is WRITING on my blogs, which I am doing now. So... thus the list. It does help, as does the two calendars I use.

Stay safe and hunker down if you can!

Betsyanne

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

And an FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

The Resident's Freak Show, the Missing Notebook, Professor Solomon, more.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:23:00 +0000

My Notebook Update

Update: The Notebook does not want to be found right now. But I will let you know when it turns up.

I have looked high and low. However, on the good side, I have found another blue notebook with some computer links and sites in it too.

The Find Lost Things Professor Solomon Website
This link was also in the old Notebook.

I have given this link to others... but have not found out if it works or not.

Maybe I will try it out later on.

Resident's Freak Show
This link is from the old notebook. It was for a 1994 game about Circuses called Resident's Freak Show. I never did order and play it. Here is a link about it .

It looks like a history of this band (as much of the CD had music on it) and graphics are here on their website: http://www.residents.com/historical4/freakshow/index.html.

Strange stuff. But it looked like it would be a good game.

AND it is available on Amazon, starting at $19.95. Glad I found it. I would like to see it, not sure if I want to buy it though.


This looks a lot neater than my file cabinets. Just saying.

Other recent postings:

Discoveries from the Secret (and Forgotten) Notebook

Ping your blog postings: Ping services I use

Great Catalogs: Part 3: Victorian Trading, Caretaker Gazette, National Geo, Vermont Country Store

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

Discoveries from the Secret (and Forgotten) Notebook - Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 22:44:00 +0000

My Secret Notebook is really old.

I will guess and say it is maybe 15-20 years old or even older. I will make a logo for it to use at the top of these blog postings next.

It's one of the neat notebooks I used to like, perfect bound on the left, 10 1/2 x 8, with wide rulings printed on each page - - a "Neatbook". I like the little sized ones too, they make terrific diaries. But I have not been able to find the bigger ones. NOT that I have looked really hard - like online or anything.

I had fun pasting different things in it, like articles about online sites, software, top websites, etc. I knew I enjoyed exploring the internet. But I made this notebook WAY before I tried to do beginning websites or even blogs.

NOW I am reading it and want to share some of these. Others I will be looking at. As you know, many sites come and go. I hope some of the most interesting ones are still there, in some form or another.

I will start at the beginning: CYBERPLAY: an article about searching the web, mentions stalwart search engines we use today, like Yahoo. It ALSO mentions Mining Company. So what is this? I am looking it up.

Well! It now is About.com - - who must have bought the site. I like About.com and just wrote about it on other blog, Find Scholarships and Grants, today. Interesting. Both sites use Guides to write about different subjects. So it's a good fit. AND there is a story there... somewhere. I am guessing that About.com bought the Mining Company. I'm wrong though!

The site started AS the Mining Company, then changed their name. And YES, I think we will see many changes on the sites in this notebook.

OK - one more.

Midrealm

http://www.midrealm.org/midrealm - Oh my! It MAYBE is supposed to look like an old-fashioned text adventure game. BUT it does not work.

Now to put something else on here that DOES work. How about: The Tolkien Society? I'm not a member, but this site used to have some neat areas on it.]

Which makes me want to also put the Last Homely House on here. But there are a few of them!

http://scv.bu.edu/~aarondf/

http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php

I have a feeling the ORIGINAL Last Homely House site is no more. Darn.

Leave a comment!

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Find out more:
Sources:
About.com on Wikipedia

FYI: Some of my other websites and blogs are: The Nontraditional Student Blog and website, GS Betsy's E-blast (for Kentuckiana Area 17 and Beyond), The Moon and the Willow Tree (another Betsyanne blog), The Find Scholarships and Grants blog, and The Teacher Tree (I will be working more on this one later this year).

I hav

Ping your blog postings - - Ping services I use.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 18:06:00 +0000

PING! How to let others know your blog has published.
My favs.

I try to ping my websites every time I post. Sometimes I wind up actually doing that, but other times, not. I DO ping my most popular blog, which is the Nontraditional Students blog, every time. And usually the others (like this one!) too. I really should ping EVERY blog I do. It helps get readers to the blog.

I DO notice a difference in traffic when I ping at least 3 services after doing a posting. So it IS worth it to me to do it.

A Ping service will notify blog service sites (and some websites that show blog links) and let them know that you have published another posting. It refreshes your blog too (in readers) which can let more people come to your blog posting to read it.

Here are the best ones that are easy to use and reliable so far. (And are FREE, although you can also sign up for a paid membership on some.)

#1. Feedburner - - a must if you are signed up here. And the site has MANY other free services to help people sign up for your blog too.

#2. Pingler - - a nice site, has a captcha service at the bottom which can be a bit annoying, but OK once you are finished. It usually goes right to work.

#3. Ping-o-matic - - a quality, nice ping site that allows you to also share your blog's RSS URL. (Note: for a Blogger blog, this is located at the bottom of your blog, where it says, Subscribe to: Posts (Atom). Just mouse over this area for your RSS address.

#4. FeedShark - - Also takes your RSS feed, and it's easy to fill out. Make sure to enable the Turbo Mode box and click that you have read the Terms of Service (i.e. put a link to them on your blog). I have not put a link to them on my blogs yet, but it might be really required one of these days, hopefully not soon.

Well, I must publish this and go PING this blog for today. Have a good one!

-Betsyanne

- See more at: http://non-traditional-students.blogspot.com/#sthash.DECYr5Jl.dpu

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads .

AND come join me on Pinterest too!

Here are some of my other blogs:
The Nontraditional Student blog - helping nontraditional students (going back to school after a break) find help and advice.
The Moon and the Willow Tree - my blog about news, goings on in my life, fun links, more.
Girl Scout Betsy (A GS of Kentuckiana Volunteer blog for Area 17 and Beyond)- Events, trainings, etc., and
Find Scholarships and Grants - Of all kinds.

Great Catalogs, Part 3 - Victorian Trading, Caretaker Gazette, National Geo, Vermont Country Store

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 20:44:00 +0000

MORE great catalogs.

1. Victorian Trading Company: Ooh, la la. Love old-fashioned things? You will LOVE this catalog. Prepare to fall in love with all the clothing, accessories, furniture, prints, gloves, and SO much more here. I love this catalog, and could spend a LOT of time and money picking out fun things here. Luckily, they are online too: http://www.victoriantradingco.com/

AND this is not their ONLY catalog. There are 6 more. They include: Jewelry, Castle and Cottage Romantic Home Collection, Hopeless Romantic Clothing, Jewelry, & Accessories, and Victorian Papers, Literature and fine Correspondence. Check them out here: http://www.victoriantradingco.com/request_catalog.asp

2. The Caretaker Gazette. More like a circular, the Caretaker Gazette features listings for caretaking positions around the world, both on and off the grid, as well as featured autobiographies from current caretakers, and a wonderful Classified Ads section. Their website is here: http://www.caretaker.org.

3. The National Geographic Holiday Catalog: The gifts here are so fun to look at. Samples are handcrafted jewelry, replicas of old-fashioned games, and traveler's vests. Check some of their gifts out here too at the Gift Blog: http://www.shopng.com/blog.

4. The Vermont Country Store. Love delicious candy, cookies, household items, classic games, functional and pretty clothing, and much more? I do. It's a really fun catalog with unique items that are sure to please your List. And guess what? They are online too. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/ :-).

-Betsyanne

Check out Great Catalogs, Part 1: Bargain Books, Adventures Unlimited, and L.L. Bean.

And Great Catalogs, Part 2: MaryJane's Farm, Burgess Seed & Plant Co., and Harriett Carter.

And join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Part Two of Great Catalogs: MaryJane's Farm, Burgess, Rare Seeds, and Harriet Carter

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:21:00 +0000

More Catalogs! Great Catalogs, Part Two.

I am including one magazine, because it includes some catalog-type links in it. I have found links to these online so you can check them out too.

It is MaryJanes Farm. This is a great magazine, and also has a catalog you can look at that has MaryJane's Farm products in it. These are natural and organic fiber sheets, towels, and more. They also have a group called MaryJane's Farmgirl Sisterhood that reminds me of Girl Scouts, because they (from the page in the magazine) "share stories, ...craft,...garden, and... nurture the next generation of Farmerettes and Young Cultivators." Okay, it's like Girl Scouting a little bit because you can earn badges. But the emphasis is very much on country things, including knitting, glamping (glamourous camping), and living a rural life.

Burgess Seed and Plant Company: I like this catalog. I usually just buy heirloom or non-GMO seeds, so I was happy to see that Burgess is adding heirloom varieties or identifying them in their catalog. They have some things here I don't see in other garden catalogs I get, like nut trees, and also good hybrids, if you are putting off growing your heirloom garden for awhile. The photos here are good too. It's a terrific garden planning idea book - - along with Rare Seeds, of course, which has both a free and low-cost catalog. You can request a Burgess catalog here.

Harriet Carter: This catalog is a true classic in my book. My mom used to get this one, and I enjoyed reading it for many years at her house. There are things here that I really like. One is the Wireless Porch Light (to use before we get another one - we already got it via Publisher's Clearing House, but it looks neat), the long Dryer Brush, Magnetic Blinds (easy on and off), Flameless Timer Candles (for Girl Scout Thinking Day), Adhesive Caulk Tape (looks very handy) the Ultrasonic Pest Repeller, an Indoor Dryer Vent Kit, Spin Mop, and a One Second Needle all look very interesting. The Make Your Own Coffee Pod looks cool too, although I don't have that kind of coffee maker (yet).

I hope you like these, too. List your favorite catalogs as comments too!

Here is my first posting, Great Catalogs, Part One. It has these catalogs on it: Bargain Books, Adventures Unlimited, and L.L Bean catalogs.

Betsyanne

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Great catalogs! Part One. 2 books catalogs, one clothing catalog.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 21:29:00 +0000

I love to read catalogs of all different kinds. They are great for dreaming and finding great deals too.

Okay. Here are some GREAT catalogs you may also like. I am reading them right now. They are worth getting.

#1. Bargain Books: This catalog is a totally great time-waster, and fun. It has categories of books, all on sale, including Crafts-Needlecrafts, Cookbooks, Miltary History, and Biography. It is the Bargain Books/Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller catalog. And here is the online version.

#2. Adventures Unlimited. This is a kind of scary site with many Crytozoological/UFO and Conspiracy books and magazines. It is connected to a group called the World Explorers Club. Find out more here: AdventuresUnlimitedPress.com.

#3. L.L. Bean. Yes, this company has new owners. But the products are still very fun to browse through. The best things here are the dresses, men's and women's shirts, shoes, and coats. AND they have some great fleece and flannel combinations with supreme comfort in mind. http://www.llbean.com.

I will list more great catalogs next posting. Until then, have a great month!

-Betsyanne

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Have a GREAT New Year! Going to party? Or not? Have resolutions? Or not? Either way can be fun.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 21:36:00 +0000

Hello! And happy New Year's Eve Day.

I want to wish everyone a GREAT New Year in 2015.

I posted this on Facebook yesterday.

I imagine this company gave out their cards to help their business out.

To me, this is the closest I had to a party illustration. I must get some New Year's postcards for next year to post, for sure.

Whether you party hearty tonight, (or not...), have resolutions for 2015 (or not...) have a great day and wonderful New Year.

-Betsyanne

My Personal Page and blog

The Nontrads site and blog
(for nontraditional students and people who help them...)

My Pinterest boards

Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook

Join me on Twitter at @betsyanne or @nontrads

The best online selling advice - sharing!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 21:08:00 +0000

It CAN be all about the quantity.

Two weeks ago, I read an awesome posting about selling online on Etsy. AND I think this advice can be translated to every selling site, like Ebay, Amazon, etc.

The advice is, have at LEAST 100 items in your store.

Simple as that.

I'm going to try it.

Betsyanne

PS If you were curious, I have nowhere near that amount in my stores. I am thinking it would be a good idea. I don't know when I will do it, but it's a GREAT, GREAT idea.

And here are more current sites and projects: (besides my books, organizing, and more...)

The <unofficial> Outdoor Journey Project Facebook Page and Website. "Putting the Outing back into Girl Scouting!"

My Personal Page and blog

The Nontrads site and blog

My Squidoo pages

Check out my Pinterest boards

Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Garden Dreaming... Fall 2014, getting ready for Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:58:00 +0000

There is no better time to dream of a garden than fall or wintertime.

A peacock at the garden gate. Via Clickr.com

I want to send off for some catalogs very soon, so I can dream about what I want to plant next year.

Will I actually DO it? Depends.

But it's SO fun to think about it.

I take these catalogs from a former posting, the BIG list of catalogs.

Let me know of any broken links - - I will go through it later too. AND list your favorites I should add, AND if you try any of these, please let me know if you like them.

ORGANIC AND HEIRLOOM SEEDS

Baker Creek - now Rare Seeds
Their catalog is great, and has super illustrations. Here is a review of their 2008 catalog. It has some illustrations in it.
http://www.rareseeds.com/ - they have two kinds of catalogs now. One is free, and the other is not, but is bigger.

Grandma’s Gardens catalog and endangered species seeds
http://underwoodgardens.com/index1.php

Hudson Seeds, California
http://www.JLHudsonseeds.net

The International Seed Saving Institute
http://www.seedsave.org/

Seeds Trust for high altitude gardens
http://www.seedstrust.com/

Flowers from nursery sources
by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/handbooks/flowers/9.html

Redwood City Seed Company
California
http://www.ecoseeds.com

Redwood City Seed (California) #2 site
This features pepper varieties.
http://www.lovepeppers.com/catalog.welcome.html

Heirloom tomato seeds – These have letter codes indicating resistance
to different diseases – and includes Seed Swap 101, how to swap seeds.
http://www.vegetableseedwarehouse.com/heirtom/html

Fantastic Findings lists of seeds
http://www.fantasticfindings.com/results.aspx?cat=seeds

Heirloom Acres, Missouri
http://www.heirloomacresseeds.com/
Takes PayPal.

Whatcom rare seeds
http://seedrack.com/

Sources for organic and heirloom seeds by mail:
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/organic.html

Heirloom flower bulbs
http://www.oldhousegardens.com/

Heirloom seeds on Ebay
http://stores.ebay.com/Blue-Ribbon-Tomatoes_seeds_W0QQfsubZ2QQstorecachemissZblueribbontomatoesQ5fseedsQQtZkm

The Heirloom Sampler site – this site shows pictures of heirloom varieties and explains about each one. "The Heirloom Vegetable Gardener's Assistant".
http://www.halcyon.com/tmend/sampler.htm

Amishland Heirloom Seeds
http://www.amishlandseeds.com/index.htm

Thomas Jefferson’s seeds
from Monticello
http://monticellostore.stores.yahoo.net/plants---seeds-seeds.html

Bill Best’s article from Appalachian Heritage magazine
http://www.heirlooms.org/beans.html - this article features descriptions of heritage beans from Kentucky. You pick out the kinds you want and then send them a check.
http://www.heirlooms.org/catalog.html

Local Harvest Seeds
http://www.localharvest.org/store/seeds.jsp
also: herbs, honey products, soaps, more

Rutgers University tomatoes - these include the Ramapo tomato:
http://www.njfarmfresh.rutgers.edu/JerseyTomato.html

Grow Shitake mushrooms
http://www.mushroompeople.com/

REGIONAL SEED EXCHANGES
Saving, storing, and growing seeds
http://www.freetechsupport.com/csr/seeds.htm

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html

Seed exchanges for each state
http://www.blossomswap.com/exchanges

FARMERS PRODUCE SHARE CO-OPS
AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SITES

Local Harvest – buy foods grown close to your location
http://www.localharvest.org/

The Farm Eco-Village Training Center
offers classes and apprenticeships
2008 Calendar
http://www.thefarm.org/general/calendar.html

INTERNSHIPS

Sustainable farming internships
http://www.attrainternships.ncat.org/

ORGANIC FOOD STORES
Goodness Greeness
http://www.goodnessgreeness.com/

INTERNATIONAL GROUPS

Equal Exchange
Massachusetts
A Fair Trade site – coffee a specialty
http://www.equalexchange.com

Global Exchange
includes Fair Trade items, too
http://www.globalexchange.org/

NATURAL MAKEUP, HEALING REMEDIES, MORE
Marsha Mason's company, River Herbs
http://restingintheriver.com/

Herbal Healer Company
http://www.herbalhealer.com

INTERESTING ONLINE STORES
Hoegger Supply Company
http://hoeggergoatsupply.com/xcart/home.php

Raven's Nest Herbals
http://www.ravensnestherbals.com
They have a downloadable catalog.

(A neat Chicken Coop for sale)
Horizon Structures
http://www.HorizonStructures.com/coop.asp

My Amish Goods
More Chicken Coops, more
http://www.myamishgoods.com

Cosmic Connections, 1701 Portland Avenue, Nashville, TN
615-463-7677
http://www.YourCosmicConnections.com

HOLISTIC and ALTERNATIVE/COMBO DOCTORS and CLINICS
See listings at http://www.NANashville.com

LOCAL – KENTUCKY
Kentucky only
Farmers Market Directory
http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/farmmarket/directory.htm

Agriculture links
http://www.kyagr.com/forms/aglinks.htm

HOW TO SAVE YOUR OWN SEEDS FROM YOUR GARDEN
From Natural Life Magazine
http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/9504/seeds.htm

Looking for BG Events? Go here: BG Event Sites.

This is at my other blog: The Moon and the Willow Tree.
(I will be combining my personal blogs soon hopefully!.)

And here are more current sites and projects: (besides my books, organizing, and more...)

The <unofficial> Outdoor Journey Project Facebook Page and Website. "Putting the Outing back into Girl Scouting!"

My Personal Page and blog

The Nontrads site and blog

My Pinterest boards

Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Etsy, Ebay, and Amazon... what works for you? I hope to get all going very soon.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:50:00 +0000

Hello, readers! Here is an update on my online selling.

What I've been doing lately: I have been doing organizing my inventory! And going to some great book sales too.

So... be on the lookout for some great deals here soon.

Ebay Listings
I have just relisted my Pam Tillis Mystic Biscuit Cook Book on Ebay. This has country music star autographs in it. I do not collect autographs (except sometimes in books!) but I now others do, so when I saw this I knew I should get it.

Also I have relisted my Best Brand Sewing Pin, which is head and shoulders better than the other ones I have seen online for sale. Cute, good for a Christmas present. Just saying. I used to have a Best Brand charm, which I wish I still had. It was gorgeous. It was a boot with little diamond chips in it.

I think it's good to have listings going on Ebay, even as place keepers. A store would be nice (because of the automatic boost store pages get) but I'm not sure I want to do that YET. It would be sort of fun though, especially doing a newsletter.

My New Store on Etsy
I have several things on Etsy, and plan to list more soon too. I love looking through all the shops here, and favoriting my favorite Etsy stores.

Some people say Etsy is getting too commercial - - but I don't know. I didn't join until lately, so was not there when it was mostly one at a time handmade things. I think probably it has gotten very popular, so unless you do some advertising, it's hard to get noticed. I do really like some of the stores here.

Here is my shop - Betsyanne77. I just have a few items on there, paintings, a book about Life after Death, some science fiction collectible books, and pottery figurines too.

Amazon
I closed my Amazon listings for now... because I didn't have many on there. I will go there to check them out again soon, and see how I can list the page here also as a store. I liked Amazon best for book selling, and may try it out again.

Are you selling online? Please let me know in a comment what site you like the best, and works best for you. It's the time to ramp up for the Christmas selling time!

Betsyanne

My last posting: Books I like, the First Six, plus amazon links

The <unofficial> Outdoor Journey Project Facebook Page and Website. "Putting the Outing back into Girl Scouting!"

My Personal Page and blog

The Nontrads site and blog

Check out my Pinterest boards

Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads

Books I like, #1. The first six, plus Amazon links.

noreply@blogger.com (Betsyanne (E Sheppard)) — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 17:50:00 +0000

#1 posting: Six books I like - Sept., 2014

The one I JUST read is W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton. I love all of her alphabet mysteries. This one has Kinsey finding out even more about her family, which is NOT all good.

These books (available at Amazon.com) can be ordered new or used.

I usually check the used books and get one that is "like new" at least in very good condition when I buy there. But you can see the covers here, no matter where you get them.

Walter Mosley is a new author I am reading. I read this one about a month ago. He really doesn't want to be a private investigator, but gets caught up in money making schemes he can't say no to. The Feng Shui information is fun to check out. It is also helping me organize at home. Did you know that keeping your toilet tank cover down saves money?

The Lillian Too book description says this is the same book as the one I have, it's just a different title (above). Hopefully it includes the 128 Easy Tips for Wealth and Prosperity. The next book Ancient Rome, has the best illustrations typical food, buildings, trade, festivals, wars, all kinds of the kind of photos DK is famous for. PLus, like the Feng Shui books, they are mini-books, which don't take up as much room. I keep the Feng Shui books handy.

You can count on any Sword and Sorceress collection of short stories to astound and amuse. This is #18. I have NOT read them all yet, thank goodness. I found out in this book that Marion Zimmer Bradley died before this book was published. Her friend, Elisabeth Waters, finished up this edition and wrote the Introduction. I was sad to hear that there wouldn't be any more of these. Marion Zimmer Bradley chose all the stories in this book.

I will be looking for the whole set now, and making sure I read them all.

-Betsyanne

And here are more of my website and blogs:

The Outdoor Journey Project Facebook Page and Website. Working for more official Outdoor Program in Girl Scouting.

My Personal Page and blog

The Nontrads site and blog

My Squidoo pages

Check out my Pinterest boards

Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads