THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND ME

This is what I will be doing this weekend:

Helping many others to celebrate a 100th Birthday! It's going to be a big P A R T Y

with lots of good people, the guest of honor, delicious food and fine wine.

Maybe we'll be treated to a cake like this one!

{via}

And this is where I will be doing it:

And I will be stopping here:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Of course, a trip to my old stomping grounds just would not be complete with a whirl through Bloomies. Hmmm: daughter will be with me. I see the $$$ adding up already!

On Sunday it's off to points further north to help in a big M O V E

You can bet this will NOT be me! Think I'll stay inside and do the organizing!

I will be gone for a week. You just may see me here.... but then again, you may not. 

FUN WITH "BE FUNKY" FOR PHOTOS

With the imminent demise of Picnik, we're all scrambling to find g o o d substitutes.

On Friday I mentioned Google+.

Today I'll show you BeFunky. The first few times I tried it, my computer froze and I had to restart several times. Then yesterday I played with it on my iPad where it works beautifully...but I have to transfer the photos to my main computer for the blog.

So.. to make a long story even longer..I tried BeFunky again on my main iMac computer and it worked!

It worked beautifully.

Here are some images from my weekend. Let's start with the cherry tree.

Original:

Then I used the "Rounded" Frame and "Cross Process" effect:

A panorama of one of the ponds in the village. Love the reflection.

Here I used the "Vignette" frame and "Warming" effect for an almost sepia, vintage look:

The Belties!!

This is the "Grunge 2" frame:

"

My front garden with pansies:

And here I used the "Instant" frame and "Grunge 1" effect.

This is what you see when using the "Instant" frame choices:

look over there on the left and you can see many different frames

And here is the screenshot for the coloring I used. See the slider there which is great: you can really adjust your levels of color or effect.

Choices...choices.

Try BeFunky and let me know what you think!

FRIDAY FLOWERS: CAMELLIAS AND THOUGHTS ON GOOGLE+

Camellias

Picnik

Google+

Calling all bloggers out there who use Picnik!!!!

You DO know, DON'T YOU, that Picnik, that wonderful image editing program, is ENDING on March 15th? There has been a lot of noise and traffic in blogland, Twitter-land, and Facebook-land about the demise of this great program. I actually use Photoshop for a lot/most of my photo editing work, but there are times when Picnik has been invaluable. And, for those of you who don't use or own Photoshop, I certainly understand your pain.

The one thing I always used in Picnik is the "Polaroid" frame. When I discovered it a year ago, after taking the BYW course, I had so much fun with it for so many posts.

Here's a screenshot of my image in Picnik. I'm about to choose the "Polaroid" frame, which is actually down below that bottom "Mirrored" frame.

After adding my text you see the result. I love how you can choose the angle for the image within the Polaroid frame.

And here is a screenshot of the image in Google+:

screens look very similar, no?

And the final result using the Polaroid Plus choice:

I like the drop shadow effect here... but there is no choice as to an angle for the image. Straight up is all you get... Google+: please add this choice? maybe? 

There are NO frame options in Google+: no rounded corners etc. Let's hope the program evolves and adds some of the effects we all want.

So... the programs are similar,  and certainly we will all be able to work in Google+, but yes, I will always miss Picnik. 

Oh, and I also tried BeFunky. Hmmm: it has crashed/frozen my computer many times today whenever I start working in the program. So I have given up. Now, on my iPad it works just fine but that's not where I work on blog posts. But, do take a look at ALL their great filters: they outdo Instagram by a long shot! So, you can always use the filters in the App form on your phone or iPad and then transfer to the computer for further editing... wow, this is getting complicated no? 

Comments? Thoughts?

My apologies to all non-blogger followers and readers out there for this techie talk. Well, you can at least enjoy my camellias...

VALENTINES DAY

I dropped HUGE hints that these were available to buy!

We will see.

In any case, here is what I'm making for dinner tonight: 

French Pan-Fried Trout!

Take a look at Chez Bonne Femme and while you're there do browse and see all that Wini Moranville has to offer both on the blog and her cookbook:

The Bonne Femme Cookbook.

And then for dessert:

We will have these yummies, served on a "Libby Wilkie" original-designed plate!

WALL POPS! BY JONATHAN ADLER

There's a new kid in town!

Wall Pop's by Jonathan Adler and they're really cool. The news appeared in my inbox just as I was starting my search for wall decals... serendipity indeed. 

This is the one I just might buy: 

And this is where I want them to go. I was thinking of decals, or possibly a stencil. Considered wallpaper, but I'm not a fan. 

At first I thought of a decal that would sort of "grow" up from the baseboard: either tall grasses, or maybe a tree of some kind? hmmm

But then the "Wall Pops" arrived in my inbox and I think..... that's it!

Using that pattern above, here is a possibility. Pretty elaborate?

or a simpler, stripe version:

Back to Wall Pops.

They also make decal wall i.e. dry erase calenders; clever no?

and dry-erase dots:

and "Privacy Window Film":

Take a look at the all new Wall Pops! and let me know what you think.

FRIDAY FLOWERS: HELLEBORES

The Hellebores are here! With their pale pink and pale, creamy white flowers they are making a statement in my winter garden.

Very spring-like here mixed with daffodils, all in a yellow pitcher

And here is THE book to buy for the best information on Hellebores:

"Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide" by Burrell & Tyler.

The authors just happen to own Pine Knot Farms in Clarkesville, Virginia where every February they host the "Hellebore Festival". Hundreds of plants for sale, lots of information, and a beautiful day out in the countryside.