Sharon Lovejoy writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Marjorie McClure Carnes-One in a zillion

2012-01-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

Margie and Bill smooching in a tree when they visited us on Orcas Island

That laugh, that smile, that twinkle in her eyes. The love she had for family, friends, and the passion of her life, her husband Bill Carnes.We were friends for 30 years and we NEVER ran out of things to talk about, argue about (politics), and agree on. She shared her opinions freely, sometimes when I didn't even want them, and was always there to talk about the vagaries of life.

Within the past month she talked to me of friendship and how we must not try to blame another for the failure of a relationship. At age 89 she still had a great sense of humor and wisdom. She encouraged me to work, work, work, and she said, "I wish I hadn't given up painting." She was a wonderful painter.

I will always miss you dear Margie.

Please, no comments. I just wanted to say good-bye to a cherished friend.

What happiness is...

2012-01-17T15:11:00.000-08:00

It makes me happy to spend time on an illustration. I try to think of the children and what will intrigue them when they look through a book. My granddaughter Sara May gave this her thumbs up endorsement. Then she sat down at her drafting table in the studio, and as I worked on a new scarecrow painting, she did her own rendition of a scarecrow.

Watching Sara work on her illustration made me completely happy.

Dear friends,

I am overwhelmed by your many kindnesses. Your daily doses of e-mails, letters, cards, and gifts have cheered and strengthened me beyond measure. No thank you is enough, but please KNOW that these things all helped beyond the ken and made me realize the power of a simple card or get well wish.

I want to clarify some confusion from my last posting. Believe me, I was out of it when I wrote it and maybe I did not express myself properly. The bump on my forehead did NOT cause my major problem. The bump actually led me to the problem, which was a skin cancer that had grown and turned into the worst one I've ever had. The surgery was to remove a large tumor, and it was successful. I am thankful, but now know that when a wound doesn't heal that is a warning sign of cancer. Take care of yourselves and don't let what could be a minor problem turn into a major one. I had two friends who died of this same skin cancer, so don't think that a skin cancer is nothing to worry about. Tend to them immediately! Please.

What happiness is to me? Being with friends and family. Cooking. Pottering amongst my plants and

hearing from you.

Feeling strong enough to work on a molten lava dessert for friends makes me happy.

Pottering around in my garden with some of my favorite succulents makes me happy.

Watching Ginny, one of my dearest friends, commune with the GIRLS and a rooster.

Seeing Uncle Bruce and the boys sneak away from a party (and all the boring grown-ups) for an adventure.

Ambling along the boardwalk at Moonstone Beach–pure joy.

Susie and Ellis Bassetti (Bassetti Vineyards) made this wonderful olive branch wreath and gave it to us. I think it looks great above the small mantel that Jeff made for me for Christmas. The Bassettis are our dear friends. Some of you may remember the classes I co-taught with Susie at the ranch their family has owned for over 100 years. Susie and I are discussing doing some more classes together in the future. Makes me happy just thinking of the possibilities. (I'll be posting more about the Bassettis in the near future.)

I'm happy that Jeff and I were able to pull it together for a photo shoot here last week. Ed Gohlich, who works with Meredith Publishing, and Matt, his assistant, spent an intense day with us. I won't divulge about what the upcoming COUNTRY GARDENS article is going to be, but it will probably appear in the fall issue of the magazine. Maybe this article will lead you down yet another garden pathway. I'll let you know when the piece will be published as soon as I find out the details.

My writing friend Sharon Christian Aderman of Topeka, Kansas, and Damariscotta, Maine, (she is a food/lifestyle columnist) sent me a journal to start my new year properly. I loved this little tag that she glued inside the cover. I've been writing my lists of five things to be thankful for each week.

What a wonderful exercise. Try doing it yourself and let me know what you think of it. Thanks, dear Sharon, for your thoughtful and heartfelt gift.

A Gardener's Give-Away

Timber Press sent me this copy of garden writer Marty Wingate's newest book, Landscaping for Privacy. Yum. I found some great ideas and inspirational photos and writing that tweaked my imagination and my green thumb. You'll enjoy it too...I promise. So, just leave a comment on my blog and next Tuesday I'll draw a lucky winner.

A view of a couple of pages of this delicious book. Who wouldn't love to own this?

Now it is time for me to get back to my drawing board. Again, I thank you for everything.

Lovingly,

Sharon

Fresh and Eager Eyes (albeit swollen shut)

2012-01-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

Tap lightly at my kitchen door...

Dear Friends,

So much time has passed since I last wrote or answered your e-mails, but I have been tucked away in bed and recuperating for the past few days. I am just sitting up and checking e-mails and a stack of real mails, and for the first time in nearly a week I just padded outside to visit my sweet little garden.

I remember that when I gave birth to my son Noah I experienced the same kind of fresh awakening that I felt today. I had been in the hospital for a few days...and we all know how dull a hospital room can be. When I got home and walked into my garden and colorful house I felt like I was seeing things for the first time. That is how I felt today. Fresh-eyed, although they're still swollen almost shut, but eyes that really saw all the life and color everywhere.

This day reminded me of a portion of a Theodore Roethke poem I have treasured for many years.

The Manifestation

Many arrivals make us live; the tree becoming
Green, a bird tipping the topmost bough,
A seed pushing itself beyond itself,
The mole making its way through darkest ground...

My garden greeted and reassured me with its powerful and comforting thrust of life. Even though yours may be sleeping beneath a mantle of snow, it is there, awaiting the first warmth of spring sunlight, and the touch of your gardener-hand.

The hollyhocks dance on their stems.

Uh oh, what's going on here? My young 'Tropic Beauty' peach tree is blooming months early.

My fuchsia flowered gooseberry is in bloom and the hummers love it. They not only like the nectar, but they often build their nests on the spiny branches, perhaps these spines deter some of their predators.

A long hedge of jade plant is in full bloom and thronged with bees. These flowers are tiny stars, just slightly larger than a honeybee.

I haven't been able to bend over for days, so when I knelt over this patch of dianthus I was shocked by their vibrant color and their piercing clove aroma. Delicious.

The hummingbirds are fighting over the blooms of our native columbines...they've never bloomed this early in my garden.

My first sweet peas. Aren't their tendrils amazing? See the blur of kumquat in background?

I think this stellar pelargonium is 'Fandango," but I'm not sure. The cutting was given to me by my oldest gardening buddy. I love this and he keeps it in his dining room indoors throughout the winter. It just shines in the New Mexico sunlight, but it is happy on the patio here at our house.

These dependable white roses bloom almost continuously. I like to tuck them into tussie mussies of scented pelargoniums.

A big box arrived outside our gate just before Christmas...

and inside was this wonderful bee skep sent from my dear (and opinionated) girlfriend Susan Branch. I used to sell these at my herb and garden shop Heart's Ease many years ago, but never kept one for myself. So now I have one that was a gift and will always think of sweet Sue when I look at it.

Let me end this day of fresh and eager eyes with a cautionary tale. I am usually very private about personal issues, but I think my oversight may somehow help you in the future.

In October I bumped my head on the brass bell outside our Maine cottage. When I lifted my bangs I saw a sore, washed it, added some neosporin and ignored it. The sore persisted. I kept ignoring it. By the first week of December the spot was about the size of a dime. I went to my dermatologist and he said, "this is a bad one."

Last week in a prolonged surgery he removed the tumor and had to make an elliptical incision to sew me back together. Now I have four inches of railroad track stitches on my forehead, and beneath that a row of subcutaneous stitches. The surgery went well, but it was extremely painful afterward. On Saturday, when the big pressure dressing was removed, Jeff discovered an infection. My doctor opened his office for me and did a culture and sent us to the pharmacy. By that night, New Year's eve, my face had swollen until my eyes closed. Jeff took me to the hospital and we found out that I am allergic to sulphur-based antibiotics. The rest is just boring medical information, but what I want to say is that YOU must be pro-active about any abnormalities. If I had let this go another month? Who knows the end of that story? So take good care of yourself. Celebrate life, friends, nature, family, and the miracle that is your own precious body.

Sending love and thanks to all of you who have taken me into your lives-and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012 is going to be a great one.

Sharon

P.S. The winner of the hardcover (twenty year old) edition of Sunflower Houses and my latest book, Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars is Vee of a Haven for Vee. Congratulations dear blogging friend.

Take Peace–Take Joy

2011-12-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

In unison, my grandchildren and I choose one special ornament to begin the decorating of the tree. This year my granddaughter Sara May chose the Christmas tree angel made by artist Julie Whitmore about 15 years ago. Sara cradled it in her arms then reached up and placed her as Asher, Ilyahna, and I hung our favorite things too.

Dear Friends,

"I salute You! There is nothing I can give you which you have not; but there is much, that, while I cannot give, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today. Take Heaven. No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take Peace. The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. Take Joy. And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you, with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away."

Fra Giovanni (from a letter written in 1513)

This was sent to us by our friend Marilyn. I keep it inside one of my Mary Oliver books right by my bedside. I think it is wonderful.

Out came the boxes of ornaments...the dog and badger are bread dough by Julie Whitmore.

This is such an emotional time of the year for many of us. I can't help thinking of friends and family no longer with us, but as we hang their ornaments on the tree and talk about them with the younger members of our family, I can feel that invisible thread of tradition and love continuing, unbroken, into our futures.

The days will be at the shortest this week, but I don't dwell on the darkness. I think of the fact that from December 21st onward, the days will begin to lengthen. I am living in the scents of this season, but almost smelling the sea-scented air of summer time.

This thumb-sized snowman is an antique. I love him and look forward to nestling him into the branches every year.

Finally, after years of not being able to locate it (since we moved from Cambria), Jeff found the old Christmas tree fence for the base of our tree.

Last week a small package arrived from our dear friend Marilyn Brewer of Maine. Inside it were some old-fashioned clip on Christmas ornaments and this small stocking with the work "READ," worked into the knitting. This is a handmade piece from Christmas Cove Designs of Maine. Doesn't every author, librarian, and book lover need one of these?

This year when Jeff asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I said, "Nothing," but then I amended my words, "except I would really LOVE to have a fireplace mantel again." My wish came true. I found a four foot piece of virgin redwood in a dumpster outside an 1890 building renovation downtown. Think of it; they threw out a piece of redwood that was probably 3,000 years old when it was harvested in the 1890s. Jeff milled it, stained it, made the supports, and now I have it...and a place for my beloved German stick sheep that always graced my mantel in Cambria. My grands were so happy to have them back..."just like old times," my 13 year old said.

The fabulous wreath above the mantel is a gift from my talented friend Carol Umbarger of Creekside Farms, who supplies many famous retail companies with her handmade wreaths.

I know this is corny, but I love having the lights reflected against my pots and pans.

Tomorrow evening, eight special people in our lives will gather around the old farm table for a feast. Here is the wonderful thing, my friends know that I'll be working straight through the day for a deadline, and also getting ready for a small surgery, and so they are bringing the entire dinner. All Jeff and I have to supply is seating, etc.. So I just finished setting the table and will deck the center with fresh pine and cedar boughs tomorrow before they all arrive. What a great gift–friendship, a meal shared with people we love, candles flickering, a glowing fireplace, and the sweet scent of evergreen.

Above is my wish for you. Heaven give you many, many merry days!

Love,

Sharon

P.S. Lowe's posted two of my blogs...one on indoor plants, one on gifts for Christmas. Stop by the posting for a quick peek.

"What's new pussycat?"

2011-12-04T10:27:00.001-08:00

What a glorious surprise to find an envelope of handmade Christmas ornaments made and sent by my friend Suzanne Lamprecht (Down in the Meadow) of South Africa. Her card touched me deeply. Sometimes it is hard to imagine the deep and meaningful friendships we form with bloggers all over the world. Thank you, dear Suzanne, for the beauty you create for your family and friends. My family will treasure these for years to come.

Even the envelope is gorgeous!

Dear Friends,

Your sweet e-mails and gifts continue to fill my life with light and love, but the recent e-mail from my long time girlfriend Susan Branch made me realize that just dropping out of blog world isn't an option.

Sue's e mail (received last night) said, "I just went to your blog to see what you've been up to. So now I'm worried. What are you doing? Are you traveling?? Hope everything is OK and you're just having too much fun!!! Let me know, what's new pussycat? Love you, Sue"

Ok Sue. I'm a flake. I have been wanting to write a post, but my life has been boring. Nothing but work and tending to some medical conditions. And about the holidays? YIKES! How will I ever do all the things that need doing, especially for the young ones in my life who expect a fairyland holiday?

My little bird book is time consuming, but lucky for me, my husband Jeff, who has the eye of an eagle and the grammatical finesse of his tough parochial school English teachers, is giving me some much needed help. In the next two weeks, I'll be finished, the book will be in the copy editor's hands, all art will be in the art and production department, and I will collapse and ask the next day, "I wonder who will buy my next book?" Which, by the way, I am working on in the wee hours of the morning and night.

Jeff talks with my editor.

What would I do without dozens of yellow legal pads?

The kitchen table is our command center now.

Lists, lists, check lists, compare, make sure everything is covered.

Catalog all the tiny bits of art and tell the art department where they belong in the text.

We drink lots of water. To jazz up the taste, I slice lemon and lime and add spearmint. This container of water lasts a couple of days. I empty the container, rinse it, and add fresh lemon, lime, and mint. It is wonderful!

To keep myself sane, I stop working, run out to the garden and pick fruit and herbs, make arrangements, pick up fallen leaves to press...and then the voice bellows, "SHARON, where are you? Get in here and let's finish." He always gets me back on track.

My 'Bonanza' peach lost all its leaves last week. I wanted to save all of them, but settled on three!

The little niche in our hallway is where I do a daily display of beautiful bits of nature.

Okay, I got off track here. What I want to say is that I haven't had time to visit many of you, but that doesn't mean I don't care...or that I don't want to. So please bear with me and know that when my time is again my time I will be back on track.

Please take a moment to view my TV interview that aired last month on Central Texas Gardener on KLRU. Watch the complete children's gardening segment, edited by the amazing Linda Lehmusvirta. Linda did a job above and beyond. It's a must watch if you are interested in school gardening. THANK YOU, LINDA.

Sending love across the miles and stay tuned. My first book Sunflower Houses is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this month. I will be doing a give-away after the holidays that includes an original, hard cover copy of SFH and some of my other books.

The original, hardcover, 1st printing in 1991
A true collector's item

The "new" 2001, paperback version now in its 13th printing on its 20th anniversary

Love,

Sharon

The River of Life

2011-11-12T15:34:00.001-08:00

The bounty and beauty of autumn.

Celebrate nature by doing this simple daily ritual: collect natural things you love and arrange them on a saucer. This seasonal saucer has lichens, haws, acorns, oak leaves, a sprig of thyme, and an oak gall, which is also know as an oak apple.

The river of life swept me away the past few weeks. I have a dear friend who is ill and in an assisted living home, friends passing through town and stopping for dinner, family (grands) who are with me all day a few days a week, and when night comes, I collapse. But, I am filled with joy to have so much life around us.

The kitchen has overflowed into the dining room where I am storing the bounty until it is cooked. Gosh, I love some of these so much I don't even want to cook them.

Who wouldn't love the beauty of this Blue of Hungaria...

...or...

the gorgeous Berentina Piacentina?

And personally, although I usually want heirloom varieties...

This beauty, called "One more Time," has become one of my beloveds.

I've been working, trying to catch up with my garden, taking care of my grands, traveling, and writing and rewriting two manuscripts. Now it is time to get ready for my twice a year get together with dear friends, some of whom have been in my life since fourth grade and Brownies. Also, there is the push of the holidays now. Aren't you feeling it? I am trying to do small chores every morning so that I am not slammed to the ground when Thanksgiving arrives.

I'll keep this posting short and sweetened with brown sugar and maple syrup (Maine Grade B, of course). Here is a wonderful, stuffed, baked pumpkin recipe that you must try. Our friend Jane Taylor of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, served it up to a bunch of foodies in October, and it was the hit of the day. I'm doing it for my friends. Now, I just have to decide which pumpkin/squash will be the one?

Stuffed Pumpkin

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

1 pumpkin (about three pounds)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 pound stale bread, thinly sliced and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/4 pound cheese (try Gruyere, Emmenthal, cheddar, or a combination, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
2 to 4 garlic cloves (I go for the 4)
4 strips bacon (I like pancetta)
About 1/4 cup snipped fresh chives or sliced scallions
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
About 1/3 cup heavy cream
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

These are Jane's words and thoughts:

"Center a rack in the oven and preheat it to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment, or find a Dutch oven with a diameter that's just a tiny bit larger than your pumpkin. If you bake the pumpkins in a casserole, it will keep its shape, but it might stick to the casserole, so you'll have to serve it from the pot–which is an appealingly homey way to serve it. If you bake it on a sheet, you can present it freestanding, but maneuvering a heavy stuffed pumpkins with a softened shell isn't so easy. However, since I love the way the unencumbered pumpkin looks in the center of the table, I've always taken my chances with the baked-on-a-sheet-method, and so far, I've been lucky)."

"Using a very sturdy knife–and caution–cut a cap out of the top of the pumpkin (think Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It's easiest to work your knife around the top of the pumpkin at a 45-degree angle. You want to cut off enough of the top to make it easy for you to work inside the pumpkin. Clear away the seeds and strings from the cap and from inside the pumpkin. Season the inside of the pumpkins generously with salt and pepper, and put it on the baking sheet or in the pot. Toss the bread, cheese, garlic, bacon, and herbs together in a bowl. Season with pepper–you probably have enough salt from the bacon and cheese, but taste to be sure–and pack the mix into the pumpkin. The pumpkins should be well filled–you might have a little too much filling, or you might need to add to it. Stir the cream with the nutmeg and some salt and pepper and pour it into the pumpkin. Again, you might have too much or too little–you don't want the ingredients to swim in cream, but you do want them nicely moistened. (But it's hard to go wrong here.)"

"Put the cap in place and bake the pumpkin for about 2 hours–check after 90 minutes–or until everything inside the pumpkin is bubbling and the flesh of the pumpkin is tender enough to be pierced easily with the tip of a knife. Because the pumpkin will have exuded liquid, I like to remove the cap during the last 20 minutes or so, so that the liquid can bake away and the top of the stuffing can brown a little."

Ok friends, there you have it...one of the most delicious baked pumpkin recipes ever. I hope you'll try it and that you are the hit of the Thanksgiving circuit.

Sending love across the miles to you (Ok, Chris, is this posting what you've been checking for?). Sorry to take so long.

Sharon

P.S. The winner (chosen by the random number generator) of the fabulous Hales book of gardens is Grace Peterson of Gardening With Grace. Hey honey, we'll mail it out to you this week. It weighs a ton, better work on those biceps some more.

I love these books (Earth From Above and others) because every day you turn the page to a new discovery.

P.P.S.

Oh, and if you haven't had the chance, please visit my new Lowe's blog posting about attracting birds to your garden. Don't just read my posting; the others are filled with information that you can harvest and use in your own gardens.

Don't Blame Me

2011-11-01T12:19:00.001-07:00

Don't Blame Me!

2011-11-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Don't blame me...I must pick the hips of my California wild roses and scrape out the seeds for planting...

California wild rose

Don't blame me for being away so long...it's the garden! The garden entices me outside every morning and I don't come inside until my nightgown is caked with mud and my body is permanently kinked over in a weeder's crouch.

Don't blame me...the 'Painted Lady' runner beans need to be harvested...

Plants need trimming and feeding...

and blossoms gathered...

Edible flowers must be dried...

Bronze fennel seed heads must be capped with paper bags and processed into herbs de Provence...

The Feijoas (aka pineapple guava) must be made into jelly...

Straw must be spread on the beds of artichokes and herbs (and soon chard)...

My crop of sunflowers must be bundled for the birds...

Tiny clumps of "faerie berries" must be separated and planted...

I'll be pressing the borage flowers for cards and Midsummer Night's blend...

and potting up the Calandrinia...

Harvesting the last of the apples...

and pomegranates (did you know that you can cut them underwater and remove the seeds? Much cleaner and simpler than staining everything)...

and a bumper crop of figs...These are so great cut in half and topped with a triple cream brie...

Oh, and did I mention that whenever I climb into my car I am lured up the canyons to hunt for chanterelles and to pick up yet another variety of apple?

picking apples at a friend's home (isn't the apple ladder great?)...

and foraging for Chanterelles in hidden spots among the hills...

and cooking for friends and family...

Here is a simple recipe that will use some of your supply of sage leaves.

Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and roll a cold block of cream cheese until a thin layer.

Top cream cheese with leaves. Use the plastic wrap to tightly roll the cream cheese. Store in the fridge for a few house till thoroughly chilled. Cut the roll into thin pinwheels. These are great on crostini or crackers.

So there you have it. I have been trying to catch up with life.

Sending love across the miles,

Sharon

P.S. Please leave a comment to be eligible for a give-away of this fabulous big book. You'll open a page every day of the year and become acquainted with a new and wonderful garden.

I'll do a random drawing next Sunday (November 6th). Good luck!

2011-11-01T11:28:00.001-07:00

"An Enormous Suitcase full of Magic"

2011-10-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

C*R*E*A*T*I*V*I*T*Y

"It's like you're around with this enormous suitcase full of magic and you are never allowed to open it because the rules say that the things in that suitcase are not worthy of artistic consideration.

Worlds, childhood memories, pretend, fantasy, archaeology–all that. And so, until I could open that suitcase, I didn't really have anything to work with. It was like trying to paint with your hands tied behind your back."

Melissa Zink

Melissa Zink was a New Mexico artists who thought of artists as "miners and explorers," which is so true. Her work was fantastic. I enjoyed some of it in galleries and some at the Museum of Art in Albuquerque. Her words about the "enormous magical suitcase" were printed on a small card that hung near her creation.

Hello dear friends,

I am home in California and have worn myself to a frazzle working in the garden (what joy!). Topping beds, spreading manure, planting, watering, fertilizing, and just plain enjoying the beauty, the butterflies, and the birds...oh, and a troupe of new baby alligator lizards. Fabulous!

Jeff is helping me weed and top all the beds with mulch and straw (not hay). Next week I'll plant chard, broccoli, cabbage, and lots of herbs. This little birdbath belonged to my Gramma Nonie Clarke. I treasure it as do the Hermit thrushes who visit late in the afternoon

My grands visited, tugged rainbow carrots out of a tin washtub and declared, "Ummm, these are candy." They harvested tomatoes, thyme, guavas, and Pink Lady apples. They sat around our candlelit table and shared an "unbirthday" surprise party with their Grandpa Jeff, and they filled our home with laughter and the simple discoveries of childhood. Hurrah!

This is really a post about creativity. I always love to visit artists in their studios and see if they live their lives creatively, not only in their works, but in all aspects of life.

Fat pieces of chalk are kept nearby for those fleeting moments of inspiration.

Recently we got a peek into the home of two creative people. Their kitchen was my favorite place. Let me share their very un-kitcheny great wall of art. All it took was a can of blackboard paint, some fat, colorful chalks, and creativity. I have one small wall in the kids' room that I could use. I think they'd love it.

Nobody can walk by without stopping to enjoy (or add to) this dynamic wall. Love the calendar.

A rainbow zebra

A close-up

The "Great Wall" of Damariscotta, Maine

This is a short one, but I have so much happening here it is a wonder that I could sit down and do this today. The garden calls...

Love,

Sharon

P.S. Bird lovers come visit the new blog posting on Lowe's Creative Ideas. I'd love to hear from you.

Morning Tea with the Loons

2011-10-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

A few mornings ago the soft tremolo of loons woke me. I sat up in bed, saw the most amazing sunrise, and ran out to the porch to take a photo. The loons called, I called back, they called again, I made my attempt to call just as they did, and they paddled in close to the rocks and woof, woof, woofed quietly to me.

The loons leave the inland fresh water lakes and arrive in John's Bay during September. They usually arrive in pairs (they mate for life), but this year a group of three showed up and they stay very close together. When one paddles too far away, or disappears in the trough of a wave, they begin their soft woofing and looking for the missing bird. I never tire of watching them scull through the water, sometimes with their heads submerged, and then they disappear in a wave and bounce back up hundreds of feet from where they dived.

Jeff and I always eat our breakfast on the porch unless driving winds, salt spray, and rain keep us indoors. This time of year, as our days edge closer to leaving, we make our meals last longer and longer. We take such joy from talking with the loons and seeing how curious they are about us.

Tea for us, coffee for Virginia, toast and cereal with a helping of leftovers for the squirrels, chipmunks, Blue jays, crows, and chickadees.

This morning, after two days of heavy rain and winds, our dear friend Ginny dropped by and ate with us. None of us could believe the size of the waves, the warmth, the beauty. Ginny said, "I am so grateful to be here." We feel the same way.

The Pumpkinfest in Damariscotta was a HOOT! Here are some of my favorite pumpkins, but I am missing some. The one carved by the DeLisle family is great, but when I went to photograph it the mold (from all our rain) had started to form all over it.

Wedding cake pumpkins (see the cake topper?) with books of love sonnets around base.

Outside the bookstore

Debra Arter's teapot.

The little tag on the map says, "you are here."

This is one panel from the pumpkin above.

Another side of the one above.

Humpty Dumpty Pumpkin from artist Susan Bartlett Rice.

Outside Skidompha Library

Inside Porter Hall the contenders are lined up and ready to go. Ginny and Michael are two of the judges.

The four judges pondering the choices (did we ever get sugar highs!)

The cake won first prize of $150.00 and a trophy. I would love to share the recipes, but the contestants did not want to give up their secrets.

The winner of the giant pumpkin contest is smaller than the winner last year, but we had strange weather here all summer and many pumpkins rotted on the vine.

I can't describe the wonderful community spirit of the festival. We had a pumpkin regatta (giant pumpkins hollowed out and were used as boats), we had a pumpkin drop, a pie eating contest, and a parade. On a side street volunteers had pumpkin activities for kids. This small town life is a joy.

I have been out of touch lately and I apologize. So much going on here and now we are packing up for the season. I do not want to leave here and am trying to absorb as much of this beauty as possible. I will try to catch up when we return to California. Promise.

The winner of the Grimy Hands Girls' Club Give-Away of Planting the Dry Shade Garden by Graham Rice (Timber Press) is Lemon Verbena Lady, Nancy Heraud. Congrats dear Nancy!!!

Although I normally only post once weekly I plan to post an amazing art wall I saw in a home in Damariscotta. It is do-able, fun, and creative. I'll post it the day before we leave here.

Sending love across the miles,

Sharon

The Harvest Moon rising over the Eastern Gap in South Bristol, Maine.

Pickles and Publishing

2011-10-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

First thing in the morning and the last thing at night...my books, my friends.

Dear Friends,

We are back from our trip to Florida where I gave a short course at the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association's "Landscape Show." The event was wonderful and filled with great displays, products, and classes. Best of all though was getting a chance to visit with old friends landscape designers and authors Kristin and Stephen Pategas, ASLA. What a treat to wander their gardens, visit their personal nursery, explore the garden room, and linger over one of Kristin's great meals. Check them out on Hortus Oasis and you'll get a taste of their style.

I am bundled up to my earlobes although I am sitting INSIDE our cottage in front of a roaring fire. The skies are clear and star flecked, the moon is waxing, and the temperature is going to drop into the low 30s tonight. Not bad you say?? Well, this old cottage is not insulated and is often colder inside than out. We still eat breakfast and lunch on the porch, but I am usually wrapped in blankets when we're out there.

Low tide seen through our friend's windows.

We were so happy to attend the annual Pickle Contest and Judging at the River Grille in Damariscotta.
After the judging, the attendees were allowed to sample everything. Wonderful.

Activities like this are some of the true joys of living in a small town.

On Risk and Writing and Being Courageous About Putting Yourself Out There

"How quickly the minutes fly when you are writing to please your heart. I pity those who write for money or for fame. Money is debasing, and fame transitory and exacting. But for your own heart...Oh, what a difference!"

The Early Diaries of Anaïs Nin

by Anaïs Nin

Entry dated October 1921

My last posting about risk and writing has generated so many e-mails and questions. Since I haven't been home, I have not had the chance to answer everything, so allow me to post some answers here that may help you a bit.

Re: Writing Groups and Critiques

We do have rules, and then we also have simple rules of etiquette. Be kind, but be truthful. If you're not, the editors will be, and you will feel like someone ran you through a shredder. It is essential that you submit a polished piece. Don't expect the editors to clean up your grammar or figure out what is wrong with your plot.

Keep the size of your group small enough to allow at least 10 minutes of uninterrupted reading and 10 minutes of critiquing per person.

Choose a moderator for the meeting (usually the person hosting the meeting is the moderator). The moderator will keep the meeting on schedule and will time readings and ask for comments.

Provide hard copies of what you will be reading. Fellow members will be able to jot notes and suggestions on your copy. If you do not have the ability to make copies of your manuscript for everyone, then provide notepaper for critique notes.

Never interrupt a reader. Wait till the last word is uttered and the moderator asks for critique.

Stick with business. You're there to read from your work-in-progress, NOT to discuss personal problems.

Provide guidance, not personal opinions, about plot, characters, etc. You're acting as a friendly critic who wants to help a hopeful fellow writer get published.

Allow time in the middle of the meeting for refreshments, announcements about rejections and acceptance of manuscripts, and for marketing news and updates on the publishing industry.

When a member attends a writing conference, set aside some time to find out what was of most value to the attendee. What one learns will benefit you all.

Sign up for Publisher's Weekly Daily and Publisher's Lunch on the internet. They're invaluable sources of publishing information.

Join SCBWI if you are interested in writing for children. They're great and nationwide. You can attend conferences, network, meet editors, marketers, public relations people, and fellow authors and illustrators.

Those are the answers to some of the questions you've asked, but feel free to write if you have more.

THE LUCKY WINNER of The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing Life is Suzanne of Privet and Holly! Hurrah! She really wanted to win this. Suzanne dear, Sellers Publishing will ship this directly to you.

The next few days will be consumed by the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest, which I shared with you last year. I'll write about it and post photos next week. This year I will again be a judge at the pumpkin dessert contest. Just what I need! It is so much fun and the desserts are beautiful. See my old posting about the Pumpkinfest and contest to get a sample of its flavor.

Please stop by my newest Lowe's blog posting for a glimpse into my garden. I love your comments and appreciate your input. (P.S. I just checked my Lowe's blog and it still has my ideas for landscaping around hardscapes. They have just hired someone new to manage the blog and will post my newest writing on landscaping for BIRDS next week).

Thanks for the visit. This was a short one, but life is speeding past, and I am running to keep up. Our days are dwindling here, and I try to extract an hour and ten minutes out of every hour that passes.

Sending love and the image of some Maine grown Jacob's Cattle beans.

Sharon

P.S. ESPECIALLY FOR GRIMY HANDS GIRLS' CLUB MEMBERS.

Leave one of your comments on this posting before October 15 and you will be eligible to win the new book, Planting the Dry Shade Garden (Timber Press), by great writer Graham Rice. It is a wonderful book and for those of you faced with the problem of dry shade gardening. You'll find lots of solutions in Graham's book. Grimy Hands members only.

A huge thank you to my dear friend Susan at My Mother's Apron Strings

My chickadee apron is PERFECT. I am such a slob when I cook...I promise to try and keep it clean. Susan dear, I will be thinking of you and your sweet Kelly on the 8th.

Risk is Essential

2011-09-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

"Risk is essential. It's scary. Every time I sit down and start the first page of a novel I am risking failure...We are encouraged only to do that which we can be successful in. But things are accomplished only by our risk of failure."

Madeleine L'Engle {Herself}: Reflections on a Writing Life, 2001

compiled by Carole F. Chase

Face it. When you put your words on paper or offer them to the world on your blog, you're taking a risk. Will people like your thoughts? Scoff at you? Close the book or click through without giving you a chance to touch them? That's the risk you must take when you are compelled (and it is a compulsion) to communicate.

Writing is my life, but it is scary. I never know how people will react, but I write from my heart, re-write, trim, add, trim again, and finally, I turn to my fellow writers for their sometimes painful assessment of my work.

I miss my Kiddie Writers group the most when I am in Maine. I wrote about them in my blog posting in January 2010. They are my dear friends, confidantes, and know the best and the worst about what I try to do.

When my dear friend Stephanie Roth-Sisson (she is a fabulous illustrator) suggested that we video conference the next meeting of Kiddie Writers with Skype, I was ecstatic. So Jeff set up an account (it is FREE), Stephanie included me on her Skype account, and we tested out the method.

On Thursday afternoon, the computer "rang" and I answered to the hellos of the dear writers who paraded past the screen and greeted me.

For the next three hours, we listened to new stories and re-writes, talked about our goals, and celebrated the work of Juddi Morris who is leaving us and moving to Texas. Give-and-take in equal measure.

When the Skype call began, it was day, albeit a stormy, gray one. When I finally hung up, it was night and I was elated. Here was the solution to the problem of missing my essential group of writing friends who help critique my work until it is ready to go out to the world and face the big RISK.

Here's a peek into our group. I hope you enjoy the video.

"One of the greatest necessities in America (or anywhere) is to discover creative solitude."

Carl Sandburg

A GREAT give-away for a lucky reader:

I keep this inspirational book by my bed. I read it last thing at night and drop off to sleep with hope and a feeling of camaraderie.

Every week I receive e-mails from writers who want to be published, who are facing a creative "block," or who do not know what to do with their passion for writing. I found some of the answers to those questions recently when I discovered the book The Literary Ladies Guide to the Writing: Inspiration and Advice from Celebrated Women Authors Who Paved the Way (Sellers Publishing) by author Nava Atlas.

I copied the title of the book and ordered it from our local Maine Coast Bookshop when we arrived. From the moment I opened the first page, I was enchanted. Here, in personal account after personal account, I found the inspirational and practical words of Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Willa Cather, Edna Ferber, Madelein L'Engle, Lucy Maude Montgomery, Anais Nin, George Sand, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edith Wharton, and Virginia Woolf. This book is not only about the creative process, but also matters of business. I loved every insight, every hurdle the authors faced. I felt this humanized writers in a way I have never experienced. You will love it too, and I am excited to hear what you think of it.

I think this is a MUST read for those of you who want to write. I am happy, thanks to the generosity of Sellers Publishing of South Portland, Maine, to be able to offer one copy in a give-away. For those of you who don't win, you can order it directly from Sellers, your local bookstore, or Amazon. To enter the random drawing, leave a comment on this post before Tuesday, October 4.

Sending love across the miles,

Sharon

P.S. Perhaps I will get to meet some of you in person this week (September 30) when I give a talk in Orlando, Florida, at The Landscape Show, the southeast's premier landscape and horticulture conference and trade event, sponsored by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

P.P.S. Grimy Hands Girls' Club members. Stay tuned. I will have a give-away especially for you when I return from Florida. The give-away is a new Timber Press book, Planting a Dry Shade Garden by Graham Rice. It is wonderful. I adore his fresh and knowledgeable writing style.

Give in to joy-Don't hesitate!

2011-09-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

The first pumpkins of autumn.

The last bouquet of the season.

Lengthening shadows of September.

For years now I have lived this quote–

"To be a professional writer one must be prepared to give up almost everything except living...The first lesson to be learned by a writer is to be able to say, 'Thanks so much. I'd love to, but I can't. I'm working.'"

Edna Ferber

A Kind of Magic, 1963

For a few days, I have taken play time and enjoyed every fleeting second. I know that my time here will be ending in about a month. I am trying to memorize every rock on the roadside, every scent, the sounds of the sea and laughter, the last calls of the terns, the flash of the departing hummingbirds, and the tastes of meals shared with friends.

I am so happy to announce that I am able to offer a chance to win a $50.00 gift card from Amazon for one of you who leave a comment on my blog. I was visited by the Fairy Hobmother, from appliancesonline, who acknowledged my comment on a posting and who let me know that I was the lucky winner. So leave a comment on this short posting and perhaps YOU will be the next lucky winner.

All joys to you...and remember not to hesitate.

Sharon

P.S. Please visit my newest Lowe's blog posting and leave your valued comment. I so appreciate hearing from you!

"It's Just So Maine"

2011-09-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

"I delight in the everyday Way, myself

among mist and vine, rock and cave,

wildlands feeling so boundlessly free,

white clouds companions in idleness."

Han Shan

The Poet of Cold Mountain

8th century

We awoke to tranquility after terrifying surf and high winds. Hard to imagine that things could change so quickly, but look at this perfect Maine day. Or, as Jeff and I have been saying a lot lately, "It's just SO Maine."

Less than 24 hours after the storm.

And less than 24 hours after the storm the boats were put back in the Western Gap.

And the little sailboat with the red sails returns.

And antique dealers set up tents for the wares at the historic old Round Top Farm. They breathed a sigh of relief when the storms passed.

Billy Quinn of Alna, Maine ALWAYS has great country antiques.

And we all breathed a sigh of relief that a wedding, which we worried would be spoiled by storms, took place in the little stone chapel by the sea on a perfect Maine day.

The chapel is steps from the ocean...

The high tide broke against the rocks just a couple hundred feet from the doorway...

...and directly across from the chapel the Ram Island lighthouse foghorn serenaded us. Heck, I am saving my money for a new camera...I can't get good far away shots with this one.

Attendants carried shells filled with Maine offerings.

And the bride (who just might be a mermaid) wore jewels of the sea.

We drove to the old Sprucewold lodge for the reception. A host of birdhouses greeted us on the front porch. Now you will have to forgive me for the quality of the next few photos. I borrowed Jeff's camera and had it on the wrong setting. But I want you to get the feeling of the reception, which was just so quintessentially Maine.

Inside a zillion little lights, flickering candles, great food, and...

...two fireplaces warmed us.

Traditional lodge twig furniture.

The guestbook was a treasure chest.

A Nantucket basket held tiny bags filled with shell-shaped chocolates.

On the tables were candles, shells, and small Nantucket baskets.

We loved every joyous moment with our family friends. Only one other wedding has ever rivaled it for the authentic Maine flavor...and here it is. The wedding of a lobsterman to his bride on a local lobster boat. My friend Jody Holihan had her camera handy and I asked her to photograph the wedding party as it passed through "The Gut" a small body of water between the mainland and our island. The swinging bridge opened and sounded its bells, and the wedding party toasted and waved to us on shore. We cheered. It was just so Maine.

My "office."

So this afternoon of perfect weather I moved my "office" out to our little porch. Here I sit writing, answering e-mails, and composing my newest posting, which is visible on the screen. Could life be any better than this? It is just so Maine.

Sending love across the miles (and a big thank you to Lori times Five for the wonderful antique card),

Sharon

A Lamp in the Window

2011-08-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene approached, and we were as ready as we could be for her unwelcome arrival. All the boats were safely stowed and the harbors emptied. Lobstermen worked frantically and hauled out their traps.

The stern of this lobster boat is piled high with traps he is hauling out before the storm.

We piled firewood onto the porch, bought batteries, extra flashlights, a crank radio, emergency candles, a Coleman lantern, and food for ourselves and the birds. We made a final foray to the South Bristol Town Hall and drew our water out of the town artesian spring.

Gamage Shipyard in the Western Gut is empty!

The winds howled. The surf rose and ripped through beds of seaweed, then hurled it onto the rocks. The waves pounded, roared, thundered against the ledges in front of the cottage, and tossed their spume hundreds of feet from the sea.

These rock ledges protect us from the storm surge.

A Mourning dove feeds on black oil sunflower seeds while the waves crash beside him.

Goldfinch riding out the storm and eating

We were uneasy. Would a tree fall on the cottage? Was our car okay parked in the driveway? Would the old Fresh Air Camp, after years of standing on the edge of the sea, finally be engulfed by waves? And what about the birds? The little warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and hummingbirds were migrating steadily above us. How would they fare in this weather?

Watch closely for the hummingbird trying to visit the feeder

By midnight, the shriek of the wind through every crack and crevice in our house was grating. We crawled into bed and stared out at the gray night, lit by the whiteness of the breaking waves. The flash of the Pemaquid Lighthouse (built in 1827) punctuated the darkness every six seconds. Sleep was impossible.

I wandered the house and thought about the birds. Years ago, the Audubon Society had honored me with a scholarship to Hog Island Ornithology Camp in Maine. I got to help with the banding of warblers, caught birds in mist nets, identified migratory species, and learned so much about their migrations (which still remain mysterious and magical to me).

Late these August nights when we are on our walks, I can hear the sounds of the little birds migrating. Although they usually fly at an altitude of 500 feet (and up to thousands), sometimes they dip lower (depending on weather conditions). I hear their peeping, their whistles, their piping calls. They tug at my heart.

I learned long ago when working on the 102 foot Royal Polaris along the coast and lagoons of Baja, California, how birds will fly toward a light and take shelter during foul weather. We would awaken in the morning after a storm and find scores of rare birds perched on lines, cabins, and equipment. This same phenomenon occurs when night migrants see a lighthouse or a strongly lit building. They fly toward the light for shelter.

So last night I turned on the lamp in the window by the sea. The winds blew and tossed the 'Heavenly Blue' morning glory and tugged it from the trellis. And there in its place? A wood thrush, the bird who serenades us with its overlapping songs of "ee-ooh-ee-ooh-lay." This songster has a syrinx, which on us humans would be like having two sets of vocal chords. (Click here for the song of the Wood thrush.) He is able to sing and trill using both sets at the same time. He had seen my welcoming light and fought his way through the winds to a small harbor of peace.

My 'Heavenly Blue' morning glories are torn to shreds and coated with salt spray. The Wood thrush has taken wing and moved on to feed during the daylight hours.

Tonight I'll sleep lightly and send up a prayer in hopes for safety for all the people along the coast and for all the migrating birds wending their way south. Good luck and faretheewell.

Thank you for all your warm and caring e-mails, letters, and comments. We've made it so far and are thankful for the protective ledge of giant rocks in front of our cottage. Until next time, I wish you well.

Sharon

P.S. Won't you stop by for a quick visit to my Lowe's blog posting? This one is about fragrant plants to include in your garden. Please leave a valued comment.

Faerie Handkerchiefs and a Quiet Mind

2011-08-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Half-Tide Island on left (aka Cupcake Island). Birch Island on the right. The Dawn Treader moored in Little Harbor.

"For every time in stress, you need a recovering time in relaxation."

Emmett E Miller, M.D.,

from Quiet Mind:

One -Minute Retreats

from a Busy World

by David Kundtz

Dear Friends,

Do you ever feel so tired that you're sure you'll never do anything creative or worthwhile again? Well, that is how I felt when we arrived in Maine...emptied out, dull, tired, and frayed. But after a couple of weeks of living a real life here, I feel like Maine has opened its heart and filled me with peace and energy. Thank you, Maine! Now pay attention to yourselves and mind what Dr. Miller said. You need to balance stress time with peace time so that you can function and stay well.

A Maine heart

A few nights ago, the surf thundered and pounded the ledge in front of the cottage. Although the rocks stand about 10 feet above the sea, the waves hitting the rocks shot about 20 feet into the air.
The faint light of the waning moon made a wavering pathway across the sea. We sat outside in our porch rockers and watched the play of water on rocks and the dance of the bats who flew onto the porch, swished up under the eaves, and nabbed moths. The bats are so graceful and do so much good work for us.

The moon path from Pemaquid Peninsula to our house.

I was sure that the roaring surf would keep me awake, but if anything, it lulled me to sleep. What finally woke me in the early morning was silence. Not a sound of wind and leaves, no water against rocks, no thrumming lobster boat engines, and no bird song. I sat up in bed and looked outside at a wall of white. The fog had rolled in and blotted out everything.

We took our tea out onto the porch, and there, spread out before us, like a child's dream, were dozens of what my Grandmother called faerie handkerchiefs everywhere.

Faerie handkerchiefs in the blueberries, bayberries, and on the meadow grasses.

And joining the faerie handkerchiefs were mushrooms of every size and shape.

A parade.

A ghostly Indian Pipe pushes its way through the leaves.

These sweet little faerie seats are tinier than my baby finger.

Yellow Chanterelles...get out the skillet and the sweet butter.

Plump earth buttons

When the fog lifted and the skies shone as blue as the sea, I wanted to kiss the ground (but I was afraid I'd never get up!)

Treat yourself to a quiet walk to replenish your spirit.

Or put your feet up, sip some tea, and watch.

Try to remember how it is to be a child and to notice all the tiny and beautiful gifts that nature offers. I send you peace and joy.

Lovingly,

Sharon

Notes from the Fresh Air Camp

2011-08-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

Summer isn't summer without 'Heavenly Blue' morning glories on our front porch.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."

Marcel Proust

Hello dear friends,

I hope you are all enjoying these last, fleeting moments of summer. I love the summer here in Maine because it is not about hot weather, but about changes in the weather. One minute sunny and blue skies, the next moment foggy and gray, then thunder and lightning, rain, and mists. I love, love, love the changes in the light, and the scents and sounds.

Inside the popcorn popper...so misty outside that I can't see the ocean

Our living room has a peaked roof so the patter or pounding of rain is magnified. Oh, and the red squirrels, who run up and down a tall fir that we call the "elevator tree," drops green cones onto the roof throughout the day. Sometimes it sounds like we are living in a popcorn popper.

Sou'wester and rain boots for our walks (rain or shine)

I don't know if I ever mentioned that our tiny cottage, which in Maine is referred to as a "camp," was once the bunkhouse for the Miles Fresh Air Camp. In the 1920s, children were given the opportunity to have a camp experience/vacation beside the sea. I love the history of this old place and recently learned that Babe Ruth stopped by to visit with the kids. Imagine, the great Babe Ruth may have walked these floors.

I am so happy to be here. Every day holds new adventures, meetings with old and new friends and family from far away. We share meals on the porch, crackling fires, and walks under the stars. Last week we could see the star showers (Perseid Meteor Showers), and we reveled in the beauty of the full
moon over the sea.

We walk a couple of miles every night. Here is our goal, our touchstone; we stop where we have a view of Hay Island on the left and my favorite little Crow Island on the right. Look at that moon!

For many of us, it is a big deal to visit the post office everyday and today WAS a big deal. Waiting in our post box was a gift all beautifully packaged and wrapped from my girlfriend Susan (My Mother's Apron Strings). Inside was a bag of fabulous cookies, a gorgeous California poppy (my favorite flower) necklace made by Susan, who is a well known paper artist, designer, author, chef, gardener, and great mother and grandmother. Tucked inside was also a jar of her own freshly made cherry cranberry jam. How did I get so lucky? Thank you, Susan, for being so giving!

Susan's box of goodies

I received an e-mail from a lovely young mother who wanted me to stop by her garden and see the sunflower house they planted for her daughter. It is a small one in great shape, and it has the requisite morning glory roof. Every summer I receive lots of letters and photos of sunflower houses planted throughout our country and abroad. It is hard for me to believe that my first book Sunflower Houses will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in just a couple of months, and it is still in print.

A bit of canvas cloth for the flooring, a chair, a table, and lots of imagination.

And now my friends, will you forgive me for posting a random group of photos that I think you may enjoy seeing? These are all bits and pieces of why I so love New England, but especially Maine.

This new barn is down the road from us at Bittersweet Landing. I had to include this "topping out" tradition found on homes and barns in Maine (and in many European countries). See the skeleton of a pine tree atop the barn? This is placed on the peak of the building when the last beam is set into place. It is supposed to bring good luck to the owner of the home or barn, but I have heard different versions of this story, too.

Found these great vintage signs (from Cherry Gallery) to hang in the kitchen at our Comfort Found Literary Lodging.

It takes a village? In this case, a village for the birds.

A great visit with a garter snake.

The potager at Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit. I want this garden.

The sweet, front garden at Arrows. Look at that edible windowbox! Well, the windowbox isn't edible, but the contents sure are.

Pie in the Sky Bakery...simply yummy. You'll find it in Cape Neddick, Maine. The aromas will draw you in if the gardens, windowbox, and sign haven't already grabbed you.

The Walpole Barn on the road from our house to Damariscotta. That is Jeff at the counter. You can buy fresh local oysters, wine, local art and handcrafts (my friend Sara Hotchkiss has the big star rug on the wall), gifts, candles, cards, candy, gourmet items....and more. Love this place.

Our Island Grocery has a great sitting deck and flower baskets and pots that will make you drool.

Our farmers' market is surrounded by meadows, gardens, apple trees, and, in the distance, you can see the Great Salt Bay.

And the offerings at our fabulous farmers' market at the Salt Bay Farm in Damariscotta will make you drool, too. Fridays at the market are some of my favorite times.

Although I am managing to work every day, I am also enjoying LOTS of company, lots of cooking, lots of sitting on our porch and enjoying friends, the sea, the birds, and the gentle passage of time. I hope that you are finding your own special peace.

Thanks for your letters and e-mails. You help define my life, and I love you being a part of it, just as I love dropping in to visit with you on your blog postings. If you have the chance, please visit my newest Lowe's blog posting. I value your comments and thoughts both here and at the Lowe's site.

Love from the Fresh Air Camp,

Sharon

P.S. And the Grimy Handed Winner is...

Carol Samsel from Wright City, Missouri, of SilverSpringacres.blogspot.com

Congratulations! We'll mail your book out this week. Thanks for joining in.

The Rhythm of the Tides

2011-08-10T10:11:00.000-07:00

A display at Sweet Pea Gardens and Gallery in Surry, Maine.

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it ecomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself."

Henry Miller

It takes about a week here on our little island before I begin to slow down. I gently ease into the quiet and peace, and realize that the changing tides have swept into my subconscious. I awake in the star flecked darkness and know immediately that the tide has changed and is coming in, going out, or sitting still at slack, where even the sound of a leaping fish is magnified.

Last week, Jeff and I celebrated our 28th anniversary. We took walks, sat out on our porch and watched the sea, and shared dinner at the famed Primo Restaurant in Rockland, Maine. At Primo, they grow their own greens, many veggies, berries, and so much more.

The girls here hope that Primo is thinking of them as egg providers.

"We're here for the eggs, right?" Overheard at the henhouse at Primo.

I had to leave our little cottage and travel downeast to give a talk to the wonderful Castine Garden Club. On the way, we stopped to share lunch with friend and photographer Lynn Karlin and her mom (my adopted mom) Florence.

Lynn's fabulous organic lunch.

Lynn's new calendar. You need it!

In Castine, our hostess Letha Wood, a new friend with a huge passion for the earth, her sweet husband Roger, and her best friend Joan met us for dinner at the Pentagoet Inn, which is where Jeff and I stayed over night. The Pentagoet is an historic inn that serves superb meals. I loved staying there. In the morning, we sat outdoors and enjoyed the beauty of the Pentagoet's bountiful windowboxes and charming gardens.

Oakum Bay, Castine, Maine. View over the rooftops.

Loved this birdhouse mounted over a doorway at the Pentagoet Inn.

My blogging friend Lili of Fearless Nesting and her sweet husband Henri came to my lecture, and we got the chance to visit with them for a few hours afterwards. We were fortunate to be able to visit the elegant home of one of my favorite authors, Katharine "Kitty" Butler Hathaway, who wrote The Little Locksmith in 1942. A highlight for me was seeing her beloved front door with the fanlight she describes in the book.

Also, the owners of this historic gem let us walk into The Thimble, the tiny cottage where she wrote her book and was visited by such notable authors as Henry Beston (The Outermost House), Elizabeth Coatsworth (one of the first winners of the Newbery), and many others.

View of "The Thimble," which is Katharine's little writing house. Adorable, no?

Our visit to Susan Keating's Sweet Pea Gardens and Gallery in Surry, Maine, was a highlight too. I've been hearing about Sweet Pea from my friend Lynn Karlin who has a "Pedestal Series" show hanging there. Susan has an unerring hand when it comes to decorating and arranging flowers. Take a peek at her creations.

Sue's incredibly well designed window box.

Inside you'll meet Sue. Oh, and would I ever love to have this Monson Slate works antique sink. They scored when they found this at the old salvage store in Portland, Maine. Good work!

I love Sue's "table," which is an old oil drum she found.

Sue's tapestries of succulents are breathtaking. Wow.

We spent the late afternoon with dear friends at their family camp on the Eggemoggin Reach (which is Robert McCloskey country, ala Blueberries for Sal).

Looking out at the Eggemoggin Reach.

We didn't get home until nearly midnight, but it felt so good to walk through the front door, throw open the windows, and smell the scent of the sea. Home.

All joys,

Sharon

P.S. Please visit my latest Lowe's blog posting and leave one of your valued comments.

P.S.S. GIVE-AWAY!!!! Hey there Grimy Hands Girls' Club members. Leave a comment on this posting and be eligible for my give-away of Lighthouse Seeds by Pamela Love. This is a charming children's book about bringing soil and seeds to a craggy Maine island. Sorry, Grimy Hands members only. Comments must be dated August 17 or earlier.

A Wind from the Sea

2011-08-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

From the steps to the tidepools.

High tide in my favorite tidepools just steps from our porch. When it is a hot day and the tide goes out, I can harvest my own flaky sea salt.

Dear Friends,

After a hard and hot (temps around 107) media tour in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, we are finally HOME.

We walked in our front door, threw open the windows and screen door, and a gentle, brisk wind from the sea washed all our troubles away.

We filled our birdfeeders, made syrup for the hummingbirds, and talked to the family of crows that came to know us years ago. They assembled, cawed, murmured, clicked their bills, and demanded their food. Within minutes, the goldfinches, nuthatches, white-throated sparrows (who wake me early each morning with their delicious songs), chickadees, red squirrel, and chipmunks appeared. And somehow, the hummingbirds forgave us for our late arrival and the lack of flowers, and feasted almost immediately at their feeder.

On our front porch, we were scolded by an anxious mama and papa caring for a nest full of young. In the old robin's nest where we tended robin babies last year, we found baby Dark-eyed juncos. They fledged just two days after we arrived, and we watched them take their first flight.

The last baby junco

Our patch of wild blueberries is really producing, but we'll probably never taste one with the birds and beasts feasting (they're welcome).

I will be getting settled now, finishing the last illustrations for my new children's bird book, and doing the recommended rewrites.

Here is a poem that fell out of a book I picked up yesterday. It seems so appropriate.

Long Ago
by Eugene Field

I once knew all the birds that came
And nested in our orchard trees;
For every flower I had a name–
My friends were woodchucks, toads, and bees;
I knew where thrived in yonder glen
What plants would soothe a stone-bruised toe-
Oh, I was very learned then;
But that was very long ago!

I knew the spot upon the hill
Where checkerberries could be found,
I knew the rushes near the mill
Where pickerel lay that weighed a pound!
I knew the wood, –the very tree
Where lived the poaching, saucy crow,
And all the woods and crows knew me–
But that was very long ago.

Sending love from Paradise,

Sharon

P.S. THANK YOU for cards and letters, e-mails and gifts. Yuki, my herbal friend from Kentucky, I thank you for the lovely gifts from Japan including The Herbs magazine with the photo of the two of us and the story about my books. Your packet went first to California and was then forwarded to Maine. WISH I COULD READ IT! You are a sweetheart.

Lovejoy's Version of Chaos Theory

2011-07-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

After a long, hard day of cooking and entertaining, I stepped into a fairyland as this wonderful night blooming Cereus did its slow dance of opening for me.

Dear Friends,

We're in full summer regalia here and paddling hard against a current of chaos. The last few days have been filled with family and friends from around the state, country, and France. I learned that the sure way to have total chaos is to have a blend of generations from age 4 to 86 crammed into a small kitchen or terrace and to use cloth napkins, tablecloth, and china for all meals. Yikes. Somehow I made the food and a friend made 4 pounds of pasta pesto. Jeff did hours of clean-up, but the weekend was a success and filled with love and laughter and unforgettable memories.

Won't you join us?

Early morning found us at our local Farmer's Market. Isn't that cauliflower gorgeous? I used it to make Patsy Anderson's warm bean, olive, and cauliflower salad.

The recipe for Patsy's fabulous salad was in a blog entry entitled "Sweet and Southern Comfort" on March 28th. You have to try this recipe, which gets rave reviews.

Great local tomatoes (mine are all still green) which I sliced, topped with some fresh basil and shallots, and dressed with seasoned rice vinegar and olive oil.

My friends Steve and Heli brought me a load of fresh peaches from their tree; you'll see how I used them a bit later. Look at this rainbow of baby bell peppers...

...which I drizzled with olive oil, topped with sea salt, and baked at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Then I stuffed them with a mixture of goat cheese, cream cheese, and herbs, dusted them with smoked paprika, baked them for about 8 more minutes, and slipped them under the broiler for a minute. These were a HUGE hit. I made about 100, and they disappeared quickly.

Hmmm, my helpers seem otherwise occupied.

I buttered the casserole and lined it with sliced peaches, then filled it with about a dozen more peaches mixed with blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

This topping was the crowning glory-country style.

I baked my crumble in a 9" x 14" Le Creuset (aka heavy as heck) casserole.

Ingredients:

14 peaches

1 pint blueberries

1 pint blackberries

1 pint raspberries

1 Tbsp. real vanilla

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 lemon zested and juiced

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup of small pecan pieces (I've used walnut too and they're great)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. fine sea salt

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, diced, room temperature

Place Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix the fruit in a large bowl, add vanilla, brown sugar, zest and juice of lemon, and cinnamon. Toss to coat evenly. Pour the mixture into your casserole and set aside.

Topping:

In a medium bowl, stir the flour, granulated sugar, oats, baking soda, salt, and zest. Add the pieces of butter and use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour mixture until butter is the size of peas. Sprinkle this evenly over the fruit and bake for one hour.

I served this hot with a big bowl of freshly whipped heavy cream and let everyone top their own. This was a gigantic hit. Bonus, the house smelled divine.

The big, old farm table out under the grape arbor was where the guests gathered. This gorgeous clam shell Echeveria was tucked among the glass hurricane lanterns.

A few of them toasting happiness for my niece and her new fiance.

This is Hugo from Paris, France. He wouldn't eat corn ("American food") or sample my cobbler because it had cinnamon in it, and he assured me that people in his country don't eat cinnamon. Is that true?

Chris and Jordan just became engaged. We'll love having Chris in our family.

Chris loves children....HURRAH!

This was the last gathering at our home for the season. Next week our sweet caretaker moves in, we pack up, ship boxes to Maine, and get ready for my book tour in a few weeks. Last Wednesday night at 11 p.m., Jeff did a final editing of my book, and we sent it off to my editor at Workman Publishing. Now it is her turn.

Please visit my new Lowe's blog posting. I have a simple and fun project, which you can do for your own garden. I think you'll like it.

Thanks a million for your loving comments and letters. I hope to see some of you in Austin, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Wichita, Kansas.

In the meantime, tune in to "Gardening Naturally" with host John Dromgoole on KLBJ-AM 590 (live on the internet or on radio if you're near Austin, Texas) Sunday, July 17. Call in to the show at 512-836-0590. His show airs on Saturdays from 9-11 a.m. and Sundays from 8-10 a.m., Central Time. John is the owner of The Natural Gardener in Austin.

Lovingly,

Sharon

Short and Sweet-Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Dear friends,

This will be a short posting because Jeff and I are working on final edits of my manuscript before it goes back to my editor. It doesn't stop there. We will have the manuscript going back and forth between us; we'll talk on the phone for hours as we edit and compose fillers and captions; and then the work really begins. The manuscript goes to a copy editor, then a blind reader (someone unfamiliar with the text) dives into it, then there may be other changes too. The illustrations and text go to the art department, production works on putting things together, and all during the process I'll be getting calls and doing new illustrations and redoing those they don't approve.

Some of the work will be going on when we're on book tour in late July. This is a hectic and overwhelming time in the nascent hours of my bird book. Please keep your fingers crossed for me, oh and for Jeff too; I couldn't do this without his enduring faith and help.

Summer is the time to celebrate traditions, family, friends, and FOOD, of course, and despite the hectic schedule, we're doing just that before we leave California.

The old farm table at our dear friends' ranch always has room for one more.

Out under the pergola, Jeff stops for some peace and the sounds of robins, thrashers, bluebirds feeding their young, barn swallows, and a covey of quail sounding more like my Grandmother Lovejoy's old percolator than birds.

Our dear pal Ginny unwinds under the grape vine.

The view from the kitchen window into the herb garden, vineyard, and hillsides. Susie and I taught some classes in this fabulous kitchen, and we've been kicking around the idea of doing some more when Jeff and I return from Maine. Some of you out there may remember the fabulous Christmas Class that ended up at the ranch. We feasted on freshly cooked California produce.

Whenever I can find a moment for myself I've been doing some wildcrafting, gathering blossoms and berries and drying them or making old fashioned cordials, syrups, and sugars and teas.

This wonderful old book is the source of my cordial and liqueur recipes.

I am gathering the last of the elderberry flowers...

...to dry on my old raisin racks.

Elderberry flowers

Elderberries-NEVER eat them raw.

I love using these beautiful berries in antique glass bottles.

I've been a crazy woman with flowers and herbs, tucking bouquets everywhere. I think I just cut the last of our sweet peas. They are so fragrant and give me such a homey-old fashioned feel.

Scented pelargoniums and white roses in an old enamel pitcher that Ginny brought me.

ALWAYS...herbs in the kitchen ready for plucking and adding to our meals.

Fresh picked baby patty pans and squash for quick stir frying with shallots.

Our entire house smells like roses. I've been gathering trays of tight buds for an array of herbal recipes. These little Cécile Brunners are favorites from memories of my Grandmother Lovejoy. She had big climbing Cécile (Cécile was a lady; it is NOT CECIL) Brunners, some of which covered 40 feet of a tree trunk. These peppery little blooms are great added to salad toppings, dried for pot pourri, layered in sugar, and so much more.

Enough rambling. Back to the manuscript for me, but I did want to say hello and thank you for all the comments and e-mails, and even some great real mail letters.

If you live in Texas, Oklahoma, or Kansas, please check my upcoming appearances at the end of July, and maybe we'll meet in person.

Wish me luck as I sprint (or trudge) toward the finish line.

Pocketful of joys to you and yours and enjoy your Fourth of July!

Sharon

Welcome to Mockingbird Studio

2011-06-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

When we first began searching for a home in town, I naturally gravitated toward old houses with charm, but it seemed like all the houses I loved were in noisy, crowded neighborhoods. When we drove up to a little Spanish Revival home on one of the busiest corners in San Luis Obispo, I said, "NO WAY!" I didn't even want to get out of the car.

We finally stepped inside the door to the house and I loved it, but still I said, "NO WAY!" Well, I lived to eat my words. I could see the possibilities with it all IF we built a high wall around the garden, and if we could find space for a tiny studio for me.

We stepped out a little French door and into the back yard. There stood a small cottage, and I said, "I can't live this close to a neighbor," and turned to go back inside. The co-operating realtor (Jeff is a broker) said, "that's not a neighbor, that's your studio." I nearly collapsed. "Uh oh," I said, "This might be it." and it was.

Follow the sign, stay on the pathway, and walk to Mockingbird Studio with me. This little "commute" video takes a few seconds to load, so please be patient.

Please come inside for a visit and pardon the mess. I am in full production for my new children's bird book for Workman Publishing. Click the arrow to start the video.

Here are a few close-up views.

Thanks so much for the visit. Sorry I've been out of touch, but there aren't enough hours in the day, not enough days in the week! I do so love hearing from you.

Oh, and the WINNER of our gorgeous house numbers give-away is Sara of Whimsical Wonders Nursery. We don't have your e-mail or snail mail address, so please send us an e-mail. CONGRATULATIONS! These handmade Danish porcelain enamel numbers from Ramsign are lovely. I hope you enjoy them!

I wish you a pocketful of joys,

Sharon

P.S. Please visit my new Lowe's blog posting to see a before-and-after video of the transformation of our backyard in my posting "Mud, Sweat and Tears." I value your comments.

A Lizard on my Doorstep-A Dragonfly on my Peach

2011-06-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

I stepped into my slippers and padded outdoors to pick the fresh peach that was near perfection. Waiting for me was something much more magical than anything I'd expected, but then, that is what a garden gives IF you take the time to look.

I sat on the steps next to this fence lizard, and after a few minutes reached over and ran my fingers down his (or her) back a few times. I've never given a back rub to a lizard before.

Dear Friends,

Being ill can slow you until you feel like an insect trapped in amber. That is how I felt this past week as I tried to draw, write, and work. I ended up just crawling back into bed. Sleep is such a powerful healer, and I finally caught up on the hours I've missed the past few months.

The great thing about not being able to do much is that you open like a flower to the tiny changes and life surrounding you.

Whenever I could pull myself out of my cocoon, I would wander the garden for a few minutes with my camera in hand. The most exciting shot was of the dragonfly who remained there in a perfect pose, perched on the ripest peach in my tree. I felt so lucky to catch the shot.

One morning after spending a long night coughing, I could barely make it down the steps, but when I walked out to my herb courtyard, a Monarch was sipping at a verbena. Look closely and you can see the long proboscis probing the bloom.

Below the Monarch, a flighty skipper danced through the flowers. See the clubbed antennae? This is a great way to identify skippers, but once you know them, you know them; the way they hold their wings, their shape, and their flight patterns are simply skipper.

This ragged Mourning Cloak butterfly is an inspiration to me. She has been in my garden for months. She over-wintered somewhere in the tree bark or behind a planter. She is tattered and torn, but she continues to be a butterfly, albeit WALKING from low flower to low flower. Mourning Cloaks (named for their dark wings, which looked like mourning clothes) abounded in my Grandmother Lovejoy's garden. I would catch them, and they would crawl out of my hand and sip at the salt and minerals on my arms.

My paradise

You're looking at what was once a blank canvas. Now hollyhocks jostle with grapes, the apricot stretches its arms, figs nestle against the back wall, and the guava hedge is the center of activity for the mockingbirds who love the flower petals.

We are not able to leave for Maine until later in the summer. We live here; the cove is Little Harbor, our cottage sits on the edge of a huge ledge. My heart is here, but my job and responsibilities keep me in California for awhile. Sigh.

I must finish my book and go on a whirlwind book tour in Austin, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Wichita from July 25-30. Although I am so sad to be arriving in Maine later than usual, I'll be able to attend my sweet granddaughter Sara's birthday earlier in July and also harvest and eat some of the many tree fruits and berries we planted in the past four years. Grapes started from single twigs are now taller than the eight foot arbor and bearing heavily. Figs are bending under the weight of ripening fruits, apples are loaded and just did another flush of bloom so I am hoping for lots of apples. Apricots, nectarines, peaches...ahh, the cobblers I'll make.

Sweet little Pink Ladies bloomed again last week.

I spent lots of time in the apricot trees in my Grandmother's garden. I loved these so much that my best pal Ricky and I ate them green and hard as golf balls, and NO, we never got stomach aches. Isn't that the most glorious color?

And speaking of glorious color and shape and taste, this fresh chard looks like a tree! We're having friends over tomorrow night, and I am going to bake wild Alaskan salmon on a bed of chard. Oh, I don't like cutting this up so I think I'll save some of it and...

...make a kitchen bouquet

I think that the chard is as beautiful as the sweet peas I picked today; they just don't smell quite as good. The artichokes are for tomorrow night's dinner. I trimmed their tips, cut them in half, and added chopped fresh garlic, squeezed fresh picked lime inside them, and drizzled them with Tiber Canyon lemon olive oil topped with sea salt. I covered them with a wet paper towel, squeezed lime on the towel, and microwaved them for ten minutes (which was tooooooo long) try this for a shorter time and test doneness by gently tugging off a leaf. Next batch was 7 minutes...much better. My friend Susie Bassetti does these this way and at the end she tosses them onto a grill....yum. Removed them from the microwave, scooped out the "choke" bristles, squeezed more lime inside them, filled the hollow halves with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, and slipped them into a 400 degree oven for a few minutes. Tomorrow night, just before we sit down to dinner, I will slip them under the broiler for a minute. Yummy.

Today was my first day of feeling like myself. Is that good? I'm not sure, but I've got energy again and I am thrilled with the ever changing, bountiful garden so filled with life. Oh yes, and I must go out and visit the Mourning Cloak butterfly again. She humbles me.

All joys to you. Now back to work!

Sharon

P.S. Please be sure to leave a comment on this blog posting to be entered in the fabulous house number give-away provided by the Danish company Ramsign. The numbers are hand-crafted of porcelain enamel. They'll outlast me. These are going to be shipped to you at no charge-no matter where you live. Your comments must be posted by Saturday, June 18th, and the drawing will be on Sunday.

P.P. S. Thanks for all your wonderful e-mails and letters. Four of you mentioned Teri's request to see my work space in Mockingbird Studio. Uh, let me tidy it up a bit and next week I will share it with you. Right now there are over a hundred bird paintings strewn across every flat surface. Until next week!

Mockingbird Studio

Trimming My Sails and Making Soup

2011-06-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just need to step back, trim my sails, and make soup. Today is my day for peace and quiet. The phone is off, the computer messages are unread, and I am settling back after a hard, but joyful, trip to Oklahoma City to speak to the Oklahoma County Master Gardeners.

I owe a big thanks to Peggy "Powerhouse" Garrett for organizing the talk, picking us up late at night at the airport, taxiing us all over OKC, putting us into a comfy B and B, surprising me with a charming gift, selling lots and lots of my books, and finally, taxiing us back to the airport early, early in the morning. Also, a big thanks to all the people who made us feel so welcome (Debbie, you know that means you too!) and to Robin, who presented me with a bouquet of fabulous garden markers.

Peggy and James at the Thyme Table

Meeting the great people after my talk

Signing books

Today is unusual for June because it is raining!! I don't remember rain in San Luis Obispo in June, but it is coming down steadily, and my garden is humming with contentment for the unexpected drink of fresh water.

Returning from a few days away usually means I'll have triple the amount of work to do in the garden, but the rain has given me (and my plants) a blessed respite. I am happy to stroll the pathways when the storm breaks and look closely at the plants glittering with raindrops. Glorious. I only wish that I could share some of this rain with the plants, animals, and people of Arizona and New Mexico who are suffering from the horrible fires.

The Eriogonum looks like jewelry

The Echeverias glisten

Every web looks like a faerie's cape

Parsley

The redbud leaves are satiny

Cilantro trying to set seed

Enough garden roaming for the day. I am catching a cold, and the soup will be so satisfying and good for our dinner. I'd like to share the recipe with you, but I am not famous for following recipes. Riffing off on my own makes me happy and feels creative, but I have to warn you, it sometimes leads to disaster! Jeff can attest to that.

Get out the huge old skillet, find the Tiber Canyon olive oil, cut lots of onions and garlic...

... and fresh carrots from the garden.

After I sauté the veggies and add the beans and broth, I slip in my secret ingredient–the tasty skin of a hunk of parmesan cheese (after 3 hours of "smiling," I just tasted the soup, and the parmesan, which has a nutty flavor, zips this into success instead of disaster.

Then put the soup pot on a iron heat diffuser, set the gas on low, and tip the lid slightly off so that the soup thickens and the flavor deepens. My Nonie called this "tipping the cap." For the rest of the afternoon, the soup will "smile" on the stove, greeting Jeff with its welcoming aroma.

Tomorrow, if this cold lets me, I'll be back in the studio working on my bird book. This is truly a labor of love for me, and what keeps me going is knowing that someday this will touch the lives of children.

I slip each illustration into a "sheet protector" so that I don't accidentally spill tea on them

Time to curl up in bed with a thick book and lots of honey-laced tea. Sending love across the miles and CONGRATULATIONS to FlowerLady, the winner of The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.

FlowerLady is a member of the Grimy Hands Girls' Club, and she will receive an extra gift packet along with her book. FlowerLady, we have your address and will send the package out on Monday. Hurrah!

Lovingly,

Sharon

P.S. Please visit my new posting "What's Your Point" (about focal points in the garden) on the Lowe's blog and leave a valued comment.

P.P. S. GIVE-AWAY DRAWING. Leave a comment on this blog posting for the next giveaway for a house number sign. These elegant, porcelain enamel signs are handmade in Denmark by Ramsign.

These are so unique, and such an exceptional value, that I am going to run this contest for two weeks. Comments must be dated on or before June 18, 2011, to qualify. Any blogger who posts a link to this page (June 4 posting) on their blog will have a double chance to win. Leave your comment and indicate that you've provided a link.

Tezz Hagelin, Marketing Assistant, told us, "We usually let the winner choose one of our house number signs (not name signs or address plaques) to make the award as personal as possible. There are signs available from 1 digit and up to 5 digits and with five different styles. We do ship worldwide, so everyone can participate in the contest."