Friday, January 4, 2008

New Winter Theme...

...Lame title I know, but it's late/early and it's the best I could do after working on my blog header for 3 hours. I also made up some Winter signature tags for myself and made several Winter headers for my sister CECIL to choose from. I hope she likes at least one of them, but if not, next time she's here we'll go through my graphics and she can choose a couple for me to work on.

I finally (gasp!) got my awards page done and linked to a button in my sidebar. I want to send a special "Thank You!" to my dear friend, TAMMY@THE PINK MAGNOLIA for her help with linking my button. Tammy's blog is by invitation only, but if you'll click on the link and send her an email she might just send you an invitation view her blog. Thanks so much for your help with the code, Tammy!

For some reason the code that I used to link all my other buttons would NOT work for my awards page button. Even the html looked different for the photo sources on Blogger. I don't know what's different, but something is going on. I'm having a few other problems with my blog and I don't think it's just me, although I am perfectly capable of tearing up a steely ball with a Kleenex according to my Daddy.

Although I've made literally dozens of headers for my blog, Cecil's blog and KAREN'S BLOG, among others, the ones I've made over the last 2 weeks will not fit as they should. I've made them the same pixel width as all the others and they still hang over the border on the right side. That's why I still have a white background instead of the pale ice blue background I really wanted for my Winter theme. With the white background you really don't notice that the header is about ¼ inch further over than the left side. But I know and it's driving me nuts!

The thing that really bothers me is that I've linked those buttons and made dozens of those headers before with no problem fitting them in the past and now all at once the same codes aren't working and my headers won't fit. Wait - now it sounds like I've got engine problems. Just my luck, if a blog has an engine, mine will blow a head gasket!

Oh well, I've ranted and I've grumbled and I blew my blog up; moving on.....Jessica and Jason got me a gift card to Barnes*&*Noble for Christmas. The B&N in our mall has a Star*Bucks in it and before Christmas I had my eye on a pretty nesting teapot/cup set. If you haven't seen them, the cup is the bottom and the teapot sits on top of the cup, making the whole set look like a bigger teapot. If I wasn't so lazy I'd get my camera out and take picture of the one I bought with my B&N card. But I am lazy. And TARD tonight. I'll try to remember to take a picture and post later so y'all can see my purty teapot.

I LOVE my purty flowered-y teapot! I've always liked a cup of hot tea occasionally, especially when it's really cold outside or if I'm croupy and congested. The steam seems to help with my congestion and holding the hot cup and drinking the hot liquid is comforting to me. Even if I'm not sick it's comforting to drink a cup or 2 of tea, and my new teapot/cup holds about 2 generous cups of tea. Just right for 2 teabags and just the right amount for me if I'm craving a goodly amount of tea, or enough to share with a sister or a friend.

I like plain old tea, like Lip*ton or Nes*tea, but my favorites are Earl Grey and orange spice tea, such as Constant*Comment. I like lemon or some of the herb teas like chamomile or peppermint now and then, but Earl Grey is my all time favorite. With sugar, and lots of it. None of that unsweetened tea or milk in my tea, thank you very much!

Do you like hot tea, and if so, what flavors and kinds?For the last 3 days and nights it's been COLD here in Northeast Arkansas. It never made it above freezing in the daytime and the lows at night have been in the mid-teens. Mind you, I'm not complaining. I love Winter and cold weather. Being well insulated I suppose I'm better suited to cold weather than hot anyway, but I've always loved Winter even when I wasn't quite so....um...FAT.

I mention the cold weather because now that we've had 3 or 4 days of true cold weather we're now going to the other extreme. It's 22º Fahrenheit as I type this at 1:30 am on Friday morning. By this Sunday and Monday the highs are forecast to reach nearly 70ºF! Good grief, what a roller coaster ride! I despise the up and down temperatures. I wish it would get seasonably cold and just stay that way until Spring.

And I really do think the up and down temperatures have a lot to do with my allergies and me staying congested and sick so much for the last 3 or 4 months. I've never been sick so much in my entire life, I do believe. But praise the Lord, I am almost back to normal. All right, family, quit snickering. Normal for me, okay?I'll be back on Saturday sometime to do my first Sunday Dinner post of 2008. In the meantime, y'all have a wonderful Friday and a great first weekend of 2008, y'hear?

27 comments:

BigDadGib said...

Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Diane - I had the same problem with my header. I used the same picture I had last year and it stuck out over the right side. I fiddled with it - a lot - and finally got it to fit, but I couldn't tell you how I did it for the life of me.

I love tea! Good old Liptons is fine with sugar only. I also like some of the flavored teas - there's an apple one that's good. Also a blackberry (I think) - some kind of berry anyway. I also make Russian Tea - mix half Tang, half lemon flavored sweetened instant tea, mix in a bit of cinnamon and cloves. I make up a big jar then use about 3 tbs. per cup.

It's cold here in Atlanta too. I think I've had enough winter now!

auntpearl said...

Hello there!!
You can really get an illness when it comes to those teapots....I don't even care for tea and can't resist loving and looking at teacups and teapots. They are all such a piece of art.
Hope your tea is keeping you warm on these cold evenings.

Hugs,

Karen H. said...

Good Morning Diane,
I love your new Header. It is absolutely beautiful. You did a great job. I wouldn't have known about it being over a little if I hadn't read your post. LOL. It looks fine to me. But then what do I know. LOL. I would have asked you to do mine in a Winter theme, but I know you have been sick and then with all the Christmas hustle and bustle and all, I just decided to use a background from blogger. I did some playing around with it and got it to where I like it. You may have to email me those instructions that Tammy gave you so I can do me one like that. I have been feeling bad the last couple of days myself and haven't felt like messing with it. I had to get out yesterday morning and take the girls to school and I got chilled to the bone. I was cold all day and even last night. I'm like you, I wish it would stay one way or the other tho. I do think that is why so many people are having Sinus and Allergy problems. The way this weather is, we never know how to dress from one day to the other. I bet your Teapot is beautiful. Now your gonna have to get unlazy and take a picture of it for us. LOL. I have seen those kinds before and I think they are so neat. I don't drink alot of Tea's. Usually when we go out to eat, I order Sweet Tea with Lemon. I don't think I have ever had any Hot Tea before. Now I may have, but just don't remember it. I do remember my Parents fixing me a Hot Toddy once when I was sick with the flu years ago. I drank the Hot Toddy and was under what seemed like 100 quilts, and it sweated the fever out of me. I am thinking about fixing me a Recipe Blog. I'm not sure yet, but I am thinking about it tho. I love sharing recipes and also getting recipes from different people. I know you don't like leftover's, but I heated up our Black-Eyed Pea's and my Cabbage Casserole for me and the girls last night. I had a couple of pieces of cornbread left also and I heated that up. I just got me a bowl and crumbled the cornbread up in it and then just put some of everything on top of that. LOL. Hey, it all goes down the same pipe and goes out the same pipe is what I say. LOL. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

Love & Hugs,
Karen H.

Gran said...

Good Morning Diane!

I love your new winter theme...especially the beautiful cardinal...it looks GREAT!

I can't wait to see that AWESOME tea pot that you got as a gift from your sweet family!.

My favorite tea is Earl Grey too with just a little cream. I have tried the Green Tea...it wasn't what I expected it to taste like.

We have had the cold weather here all week too. The forcast for the weekend is for upper 60's again.
As my Grandmother said...That's pneumonia weather...child !Just remember it's still wintertime.

May your day be filled with many blessings, lots of love and laughter!
(((HUGS)))
Angela

Carole Burant said...

Dearest Diane,

Your new header is gorgeous!! I received the Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo x2 for Christmas and the header I have now I made myself, using that program...I'm really having fun learning how to use it:-) A lot of people had been complaining about their headers not fitting right anymore...apparently Blogger had tried to change something but decided to put it back the way it was. That's all I heard.

Everyone seems to have been affected by that frigid air mass, even Florida who got snow in some parts! There goes the price of oranges!!! And now it seems we're all heading into a warmer spell...even here, we're supposed to break records for high temps for this time of year. Very weird!

Can't wait to see your new tea pot. I never liked tea until I discovered Apple Cinnamon tea at our local Tim Horton's coffee shop. Yummmm! I still prefer coffee with my vanilla creamer in it though! lol

Take care my friend and here's to another wonderful year of friendship. xoxo

Our Home Schooler and Jen said...

I really like your banner

tea is ok but i prefer coffee

have a good Friday and weekend

Jen

Linda said...

You did a beautiful job Diane. I love the header. We saw a cardinal on our walk this morning. He was sitting in the uppermost branch of the tree just singing his little heart out.
I admire all the things you do with your blog. I am terrified to touch a thing on mine. I'd love to change things around once in a while - but I know I would probably make my computer explode!
I'm glad you're feeling a bit better. We're having the same kind of weather here in Texas too. Everyone's allergies are going crazy!
See you sunday!!

kansasrose said...

I love your new look. I had the same problems getting the pics to fit in the headers starting around 2 weeks ago so I gave up. Hope this comment goes through. Took a while to load, but at least I got on. Wierd weather. It's warmer here...almost springlike this weekend. I am ready for spring! I keep sneezing so what's up with that? Can't type much now because the old carpal tunnel is back. sigh. Take care hon! Love, Jen

Anonymous said...

I wonder what is up with the headers? My Christmas one went in fine but this one's got a right side limp...lol! One gal I know is trying to get rid of the Christmas pic in her profile and blogger refuses...I guess she'll be a Christmas wreath for the rest of the year unless she changes templates.

I can't wait to see your floweredy teapot. I love the English Yorkshire tea. Rosa sent me a box her Hubby picked up in England. I love it sweetened with a dab of milk. I'm kind of going easy on it because I'm getting low. I wonder how long it would take and what kind of shipping I would have to pay to get another box of 40 bags...hmmm...

Have a great evening!

Anonymous said...

OH...and nurse Tammy here has some advise.

My friend Rosie (Brenda) advised me to take Vitamin C 2000mg a day to kick my cold. I felt like that was a little extreme and only took 1000mg. I'm happy to report I'm breathing freely now.
As a side note I took it with a Centrum multi to help it to work better...all of the vitamins work better together than alone.

Now...that will be...

000 dollars...for a good friend ;)

Talk..to..Grams said...

Hi Diane, I read about your header problems on other comments at places I go and I had to come and see it!!! I just love the red birds!They are beautiful! You do a good job on your blog!! Love and Hugs Grams

Cecil said...

Hey... I already told you I like the header... and that Mom would have loved it... can't wait to see what you have for me.. I am still strangling to death and it's driving me nuts.. but I am using some Dytan..hopefully it will kick in soon... love ya more....IS THAT A LIGHT?

Sister said...

Love, love, love your new header! You are so very talented and I can't wait to see what Cecil chooses.

Enjoy your weekend...it's freezing here, too, but will be in the 60's by Monday.

xo

Andrea said...

Happy New Year, Diane! I like your new header! I'm thinking of tooling around with mine soon.

I love tea! Plain ole Lipton with sugar for me - usually decaf. Occasionally, I drink cinnamon apple. And with this cold weather, we need it! :)

Take care!

Dawn said...

Isn't it ironic that you get insurance, then start getting sick? Hmmmm.

As I said in my latest post, Kristen is my technical expert, and it's gonna be awhile - she has all our stuff on her hard drive at work and it's going to be quite awhile before she's back there - if ever! Yours looks lovely - the white background looks wintery, snowy!

I got those kinds of tea pots as gifts for the people who helped with one of our weddings - I think it was Kristen's, but not for sure.

MightyMom said...

ooo I love those 1 person nesting teapots/cups at starbucks! did you get the one with the yellow background and flowers?? I've been eyeing it for YEARS!

you musta fixed your size issue as there's no overhang here and it's a pretty blue.

I'm a Chai tea latte meself...with lots of milk and sugar like how they make it at that overpriced coffee shop :-)

Barb said...

I think your whole new design, and especially the header, are great, Diane. I never ever would have noticed that 1/4 inch that's driving you nuts.

Tea? I'm completely addicted to Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger. Actually, I like a lot of their teas but raspberry zinger is my all time favorite and I NEVER run out of it. The only thing I sweeten tea with is honey.

As a matter of fact, all this talking about it has made me realize I want a cup..right now. LOL

We just found out tonight that we're forecasted to get up to eight inches of snow, starting tomorrow evening. The bigger problem is that the winds are suppose to kick up. So any weekend running around will definitely be done first thing tomorrow.

Have a great weekend - looking forward to your first official '08 Sunday Dinner post.

david santos said...

Nice posting, thank you,

Happy New Year, Dianne! And best wishes for a healthy and successful 2008

someone else said...

Your talk about tea and pots makes me want to go fix some right now. I think I will. My favorite tea is PG Tips and it's from England. It's a really good non-flavored tea that is perfect with milk in it.

Susie said...

Hi Diane,
Your wintery theme is lovely. Just wanted to say "hi" and thanks for all your prayers for Grandpa. They mean so much...
love and ((hugs))

nancy said...

Hi Diane,
After seeing you over at Mighty Mom's place, I have finally made it to yoour blog. I love love love your header. You do really nice work. I'll be browsing through some of your posts today. Getting to know you.
Tea? English Breakfast, for sure! I think if you like Earl Grey you'll love this. I'm mainly a coffee gal!
Nancy

nancy said...

i almost forgot - The "nesting teapot thing?" A lady on kelli's Show and Tell http://www.kellishouse.blogspot.com showed a collection of those she has. Must have been almost a dozen. She called them "Tea for One" sets. I'll try to remember who it was and let yu know. You would probably enjoy seeing them. They were new to me.Nancy

Anonymous said...

As a Norwegian, you know I love winter, so your pic and the template on your blog makes me feel like home you know - thanks for sharing - its always great to read your thoughts!

We finally got snow in Oslo too this weekend so now everything is in order on our side too :-)

Wishing you a lovely end to your week !

Unknown said...

I like spiced teas with an orange tinge! :)

Brenda said...

I'm not a big fan of cold weather, but I love your new header! Most of all, I love your pics of Emmy. Could she be more adorable? I think not.

Unknown said...

I love the header. I have cardinals here all winter in the snow just like that. It is a beautiful sight to behold to see all of that red against a white background. I have read quite a few blogs lately where they are having trouble with their headers not fitting right. It has to be something that Blogger has changed that is causing it for so many to be having a hassle with it...

I really did enjoy visiting your blog and will add it to my list so I can find you again.

Thanks for the hospitality.