You might have noticed that I’ve changed to a new layout here on the blog. This idea came to me yesterday and, like a dog with a bone, I spent all day on it. All day. I took a break to take a shower, water the plants and to feed Scout, of course, but the rest of the day? Lost in cyber world. Don was lost in music composing world, so it worked out well. No one felt neglected.
I’m on WordPress and I use the Genesis operating system, which uses what are called ‘child themes’ that individualize websites and blogs. So, changing the blog involved working with a new theme while my current theme was still running. I thought I had it all done but when I hit the button late in the day to change over, it looked like a mess. Back to the drawing board. I still need to tweak it a bit, but I really like the new post font and the amount of white space there is on the blog. The old theme was feeling a bit crowded and cluttery. Having ads can do that. And though I’d still love to cut down on ad clutter, I need them. So, adding some ‘air’ to this space helps a bit.
It’s a change and if you loved the other theme, it may take some getting used to. I loved the other theme, too. But a girl has to try something new every once in a while.
Here’s the one snag. I cannot get Leave a Comment to show below the post. I’ve got a support request in and hopefully will have it figured out soon. But in the meantime, you have to scroll back up to the top of the post to click on ‘Comments’, okay? Scroll back up, click, and you’ll be taken to the comment page. Update: Fixed it!
I strolled down to the mailbox yesterday and glanced at the peony bushes, which had long since stopped blooming. Wait a minute….what is this? A pale pink peony. Neither of the bushes has flowers in this color. I’m amazed. I wonder if it will open?
It was a nice surprise for this girl who hated leaving her cottage when the peonies had just opened.
This is what I got Don for his birthday:
I found it at the Country Living Fair. I saw it on my first day there, didn’t buy it, and kept thinking about it after I got home. So, the first thing I did on Saturday was find the vendor who was selling the sign and grab one.
Don loves signs. He loves the Beatles with a devotion that has never wavered over the years. What could be better than a sign with these lyrics that remind us to avoid fussing and fighting and sweating the small stuff?
Now we have to figure out where to hang it. We’ve used just about every bit of wall space in this little cottage.
The shade side of the big garden bed is full of crown vetch and ground covers and catmint and grasses and soon-to-be-blooming white coneflowers. Every bit of soil that was bare had been taken over by humongous weeds in my absence, so I had to do a lot of weeding on Monday. Everywhere.
How is the weather where you are? Boy, is it hot and humid here! It was that way when I left Chautauqua, too.
Not a fan of humidity. It makes my hair curl and my brain turn to mush.
Not a very attractive picture, is it?
The winner of a copy of Supreme Justice is Donna. Congratulations! I’m sending you an email, Donna.
Happy….wait…let me check the calendar….Wednesday.
The new layout is nice, and I feel your pain in making the changes. I’m impressed it only took you a day! I switched to wordpress a few months ago and . . . Holy Moly it was hard!!! Now, I want to make a few changes so there is more white space (like you have!) My lines all run together, and sometimes a bit of “nothing” is good.
It IS hard, Leslie Anne! When I moved to WP two years ago, designing the blog took a lot of time. Apparently, decluttering it takes just as much time! I feel your pain.
Hi Claudia,
Sorry so long in commenting – I severely strained my back 4 1/2 weeks ago and have been in constant pain ever since whimper whimper and haven’t had the oomph to comment. I have been peeking in though, don’t want to miss any of the news from MHC. :)
I was so sad to read there won’t be a linky party for the critters – I thought it was my old eyeballs, I kept looking at your two blogs and scanning and couldn’t find Mr Linky to see all the ornaments. I finally had the sense to read the comments. I would love to get back to mine – I’ve got so many unfinished projects, that I’m immobilized and can’t get myself started. (My craft room is also in complete upheaval – that’s how I strained my back, attempting a major reorganization.)
Anyway, wanted to say hello and that I’m still here. Happy 4th of July! xo
So sorry you’ve been laid up, Sally. I have back problems and I know how painful that can be. Take care of yourself. Get better soon!
For what it’s worth, I found the comment box at the bottom of the page where it usually is! I guess support responded, eh?
The box isn’t the problem, Leanne, its that you have to scroll back up to the top of the post to click on ‘leave a comment.’
I admire you for having a blog, let alone designing one! I would love to blog, but have no idea how to set one up and I doubt I have the patience to spend a day working on it! The humidity finally broke here in IL, so you should be getting this nice weather in a day or two. Enjoy summer!
Oh good, because it’s really bad here today!
We have gorgeous humidity free cool weather! For now. I have the start of a perennial garden, that I need to get in the ground. Several daylilies, a something or other that is blooming, rhubarb, and another something or other. I got them from my cousin and can’t remember what he dug up.
I wouldn’t know where to begin to design or re-design my blog. It isn’t really like I want it, but it will do.
Telll Don, please that I am the Beattles biggest fan. Of all time.
I bet he’ll challenge you on that one, Trudy!
I like the new design…easier to read! I sent you an email with my address…I am thrilled…thanks again! Love that sign…I think it looks great right where it is. It was quite humid here for days…and then stormy. Now, it’s absolutely gorgeous….high of 67 today…and no humidity! Dare I say almost chilly! Enjoy your Wednesday! ;)
Can’t wait for that break in the humidity!
I, too, like your new design, but I liked the other one, too. Its all good. Your garden is so pretty with all the blues, and that lonely pink peony must have been such a precious surprise.
It was. Now it’s raining and I wish I’d brought it inside!
I need to update my blog for sure. Its on of my goals for the summer. I want simple and fun. The humidity has made my hair curl and it’s usually straight!
hugs, Linda
Boy, I was just outside and you could cut the humidity with a knife. Now we’re getting a thunderstorm.
It’s HOT here in the desert above San Diego. Went out at 6 in the morning to do yard work…
I gathered a lot of hollyhock seeds in St. George, Utah. Went up to Salt Lake City for a few days and dreamed of a garden like the ones planted around the Temple. OMG!
Did you plant those hollyhock seeds?
I will plant the hollyhock seeds in a garden area and when the baby plants get about three inches tall I will transplant them or give them away.
There is a house on a corner in St. George where a hoarder lives! His parkway is filled with all colors and he had oriental poppies also. Last year we were there in May but the seeds weren’t ready…I got up real early, walked across town and filled a quart size bag. Got some poppies seeds too…mine are pink, can’t wait to see what color his are. I saw a poppy plant at some fancy market my daughter shops at and they wanted six dollars for one! I had so many this year the association where I live sited me for weeds…sent a not so friendly note to them…they excused my citation.
My single male neighbor said he doesn’t mind my pink hollyhocks blooming in his yard but could I at least get some red ones. Yeah…I got red ones now!
I didn’t borrow (yeah, that’s a good term) any seeds from the Temple Grounds in Salt Lake. I have to deal with Mother Nature and the dry heat here, don’t need God after me for taking those beautiful flowers!
I love your photos…your yard is so plush and green.
Your association needs to re-examine the word ‘weed’, I think!
I like your new format. It seems to be easier to read -didn’t even need my glasses!
Much easier to read!
LOVE the new font with a passion! Much larger than before in the ‘Comments’ section. I don’t even have to go up a size to write a comment now. I do miss your pretty aqua and of course the vintage look of the page. However, it is YOURS and you should be doing what YOU like with it. That’s exactly what I’d do. Have fun tweaking it some more. In this weather, that’s a nice cool job to work on in the shade on your gorgeous porch… :>)
I’ll figure out a way to get more aqua in there.
Nice work on the new blog layout….and I am glad a peony is still showing…
Have to go take a look – it just stormed pretty heavily!
Absolutely love that sign! So unique and it makes me smile. Can’t wait to see where you two decide to hang it. We’d been having hot and humid weather too – with lots of storms – but today is only 60 degrees! Have no idea where that cold front came from, but it’s a nice break. However…it’s raining again. This has been the stormiest late spring and early summer – ugh. We’ve had our patio furniture cushions stored away for weeks. It’ll be a miracle if the weather dries up and we actually get to sit out on the patio again. Although the mosquitoes are insane! I think they could carry away a small child, lol.
Today we had a whopper of a thunderstorm that lasted for hours! Hoping it brings a break in the humidity, Melanie.
Hot, humid and stormy here in Central Pa too Claudia..of course you know that traps me inside with my breathing problem..I have lots to do anyway as I am trying to box up way to many things that don’t get used anymore..Love Don’s gift..Big Beatles fan here too so I’m sure he loves it..I also like the blog changes..Much nicer..It was so nice of that Peony to wait for you to return home..
I know that you have to stay out of that humidity, Nancy. You’re doing what I should be doing, sorting through things and boxing them up!
The new look is very light and fresh, Claudia! I like it. Love all the blue and green in your garden too. :) My child theme was similar. I thought it very silly for the designer to require readers to scroll back up to the top of a post to comment. It took me forever to figure out the fix, and then it was one of those *duh* moments. :)
I know – what is with these designers? And this designer, it turns out, wrote special code that made it impossible to have the comments at the bottom of the post. I deleted it and now all is well.
Everything is looking good! Doris
Thanks, Doris!
I prefer the new layout as well. I like the cleaner look. The peony is gorgeous just the way it is. Annie
Thanks, Annie!
I absolutely love the sign you bought – I collect hands and love the message. Now I am on a mission to find one.
I like the new layout .great design. Pretty peonies. Mine have been done for quite a while now. Have a good fourth.
Love the new layout. Easier to read. Cute sign. My peonies have been done for weeks now. Have a good fourth.
Sorry you got my comment twice. I got a message error after I did it the first time. Probably wasn’t worth saying twice.l