header

I just updated my header image, partly because Jay Dee of “I Read Encyclopedias for Fun” is doing a series where he writes about blogs of those who comment on his blog frequently. Which I do. And I’m trying to not be totally embarrassed when he has to say that my cover image is grainy and doesn’t appear to be anything recognizable.

Anyone who visits here knows that I am not good with images, despite my attempts to improve. I have trouble taking photos, enhancing, cropping, sending them to the right site, and more, but I was determined to at least get a new header image that was clearer, so I grab my iPad and went in search of a spot to take a close-up of the top of my head.  I chose an art quilt that hangs on my living room wall as a backdrop, and took several shots, not the easiest thing to do when you are purposely holding your device above eye level.

Then, the fun of customizing began. I like my theme and don’t want to change it, but the header image is recommended to be 1600×220, which is difficult for me to get to from an image that is 640×480. (I can hear all you photographers out there chuckling.) After several attempts, I did manage to get a new header image saved. It’s…okay. I wish my tagline showed up better, but at least the image itself is clearer – and perhaps even recognizable as the top of my silver-haired head.

At the very least, I know I didn’t violate anyone’s copyright by sharing their image when I shouldn’t have.

Please comment with any opinions,advice , or encouragement you want to share.

– JC with the silver hair

Update:  I managed to finally put a header image on the Top of JC’s Mind Facebook page. It is similar to the one here, but not the same shot. Check it out (and consider liking my page if you haven’t already)!

August Garden 八月的花園

I love flower photos and this blog is an extravaganza! Enjoy!

myfoodandflowers's avatarMy Food And Flowers

August Garden 八月的花園

Cheddar Pink (Dianthus 'Firewitch') 多年生石竹 Cheddar Pink (Dianthus ‘Firewitch’) 多年生石竹

Mina lobata (Ipomea lobata) 金魚花/魚花蔦蘿 Mina lobata (Ipomea lobata) 金魚花/魚花蔦蘿

Double Annual Poppy (Papaver somniferum 'Black Beauty') 黑美人重瓣虞美人 Double Annual Poppy (Papaver somniferum ‘Black Beauty’) 黑美人重瓣虞美人

Canna Lily (Canna indica )美人蕉 Canna Lily (Canna indica )美人蕉

Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) 含羞草 Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) 含羞草

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) 大波斯菊 Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) 大波斯菊

Red Double Blanket Flower (Gaillardia 'Red Plume') 大紅重瓣球型天人菊 Red Double Blanket Flower (Gaillardia ‘Red Plume’) 大紅重瓣球型天人菊

Tricolor Viola(Viola tricolor) 堇菜 Tricolor Viola(Viola tricolor) 堇菜

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia fulgens 'Elmfeuer') 紅花山梗菜 Cardinal Flower (Lobelia fulgens ‘Elmfeuer’) 紅花山梗菜

Bulbous Bergonia (Bergonia) 球根海棠 Bulbous Bergonia (Bergonia) 球根海棠

Bachelor's Button (Centaurea Montana) 多年生矢車菊 Bachelor’s Button (Centaurea Montana) 多年生矢車菊

Godetia Azalea Flowered Mixed (Clarkia amoena) 古代稀 Godetia Azalea Flowered Mixed (Clarkia amoena) 古代稀

Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis) 鳥尾花 Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis) 鳥尾花

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) 花旗蔘 American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) 花旗蔘

Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) 韭菜 Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) 韭菜

Hall's Honeysuckle(Lonicera japonica)忍冬或叫金銀花 Hall’s Honeysuckle(Lonicera japonica)忍冬或叫金銀花

Clematis (Clematis) 鐵線蓮 Clematis (Clematis) 鐵線蓮

Clematis 'Sweet Autumn' (Clematis 'Sweet Autumn') 甜秋鐵線蓮 Clematis ‘Sweet Autumn’ (Clematis ‘Sweet Autumn’) 甜秋鐵線蓮

Anise-hyssop (Agastache rugosa)藿香 Anise-hyssop (Agastache rugosa)藿香

Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) 海芋 Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) 海芋

European Bellflower(Campanula rapunculoides) 歐洲風鈴草 European Bellflower(Campanula rapunculoides) 歐洲風鈴草

Blue-eyed grasses (Sisyrinchium bermudianum)庭菖蒲 Blue-eyed grasses (Sisyrinchium bermudianum)庭菖蒲

Tree mallow (Lavatera) 錦葵 Tree mallow (Lavatera) 錦葵

Double Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus double blue selection) 重瓣桔梗 Double Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus double blue selection) 重瓣桔梗

Self-heal(Prunella grandiflora 'Freelander')大花夏枯草 Self-heal(Prunella grandiflora ‘Freelander’)大花夏枯草

Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia 'Koralle') 鞭炮吊鐘花 Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Koralle’) 鞭炮吊鐘花

Common Soapwort/Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis) 高性肥皂花/石鹼草 Common Soapwort/Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis) 高性肥皂花/石鹼草

Double Lily (Lilium) 重瓣百合 Double Lily (Lilium) 重瓣百合

Obedient Plants (Physostegia virginiana) 隨意草 Obedient Plants (Physostegia virginiana) 隨意草

Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica 'Blue Clips') 矮性叢生風鈴草 Carpathian…

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500(ish) followers!

The most popular topic among bloggers is blogging! I admit that, while I read a lot of posts on blogging, I don’t often write one, but today I will because I have reached 500 followers for Top of JC’s Mind!

Or at least, 500ish. The numbers are a bit squishy. The number following through WordPress is 389 with email, Facebook, and twitter followers pushing the number up to 500. That means that some people who follow me on more than one platform are double or triple counted, but….

Let’s just say 500! Yay!

I want to take this opportunity to thank all my followers, especially those who visit regularly. There are even a few who comment regularly; thank you for keeping me from feeling as though I am talking to myself.

I also want to thank all the blogs I follow – all 750 of them. Some I get daily or weekly digest emails and visit frequently; others I don’t get to very often. You have all helped me to learn about blogging and gifted me with beauty, humor, poetry, stories, travelogues, photos, thought, and heart.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the Top of JC’s Mind,
Joanne

July Garden 七月花園

It’s summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, so I thought I’d share this lovely post of summer flowers. For my Southern hemisphere friends, I thought you’d like a reminder that spring is only a few weeks away.
– JC
(Make sure to click on View Original to see the rest of the lovely photos!)

myfoodandflowers's avatarMy Food And Flowers

July Garden 七月花園

Bee Balm Beebalm (Monarda) 美國薄荷 Beebalm (Monarda) 美國薄荷

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)英國薰衣草 English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)英國薰衣草

False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)姬向日葵 False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)姬向日葵

高性肥皂花/石鹼草Common Soapwort/Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis) 高性肥皂花/石鹼草Common Soapwort/Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)

Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora) 大花金雞菊 Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora) 大花金雞菊

Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil 'Kikyo Snowflakes') 日本朝顏'桔梗雪花' Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil ‘Kikyo Snowflakes’) 日本朝顏’桔梗雪花’

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Peruvian Daffodil 'Sulphur Queen' in bloom with beautiful fragrance! (Hymencallis caribaea) 黃色的蜘蛛百合開花了,美美的花香! Peruvian Daffodil ‘Sulphur Queen’ in bloom with beautiful fragrance! (Hymencallis caribaea) 黃色的蜘蛛百合開花了,美美的花香!

White Peruvian Daffodil in bloom! (Hymencallis caribaea) 白色的蜘蛛百合也開了. White Peruvian Daffodil in bloom! (Hymencallis caribaea) 白色的蜘蛛百合也開了.

American ginseng flowers. (Panax quinquefolius) 花旗蔘開花了. American ginseng flowers. (Panax quinquefolius) 花旗蔘開花了.

Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia 'Koralle') 鞭炮吊鐘花 Honeysuckle Fuchsia (Fuchsia ‘Koralle’) 鞭炮吊鐘花

Pineapple Lily (Eucomis bicolor) 鳳梨百合/彩鳳蘭 Pineapple Lily (Eucomis bicolor) 鳳梨百合/彩鳳蘭

Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony flowers. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶開的花 Chinese Artichoke/Artichoke Betony flowers. (Stachys affinis) 甘露子/草石蠶開的花

Double Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) 重瓣繡球花 Double Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) 重瓣繡球花

Zinnia Bi-Color (Zinnia elegans Swizzle Scarlet & Yellow, Cherry & Ivory  ) 雙色百日草 Zinnia Bi-Color (Zinnia elegans Swizzle Scarlet & Yellow, Cherry & Ivory ) 雙色百日草

大花夏枯草 Self-heal(Prunella grandiflora 'Freelander') 大花夏枯草 Self-heal(Prunella grandiflora ‘Freelander’)

Calendula 'Neon' 重瓣金盞花 Calendula ‘Neon’ 重瓣金盞花

Silene armeria ‘Electra’ 甜威廉捕蟲草 Silene armeria ‘Electra’ 甜威廉捕蟲草

Double Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus double blue selection) 重瓣桔梗 Double Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus double blue selection) 重瓣桔梗

Tree mallow Tree mallow (Lavatera) 錦葵

Anise-hyssop (Agastache rugosa)藿香 Anise-hyssop (Agastache rugosa)藿香

Summer Phlox/Garden Phlox (Phlox) 多年生直立型福祿考 Summer Phlox/Garden Phlox (Phlox) 多年生直立型福祿考

Summer Phlox/Garden Phlox (Phlox) 多年生直立型福祿考 Summer Phlox/Garden Phlox (Phlox) 多年生直立型福祿考

Supertunia Petunia (Petunia 'Supertunia Pretty Much Picasso') 滾綠邊的深粉紅矮牽牛 Supertunia Petunia (Petunia ‘Supertunia Pretty Much Picasso’) 滾綠邊的深粉紅矮牽牛

Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica 'Blue Clips') 矮性叢生風鈴草 Carpathian Bellflower (Campanula carpatica ‘Blue Clips’) 矮性叢生風鈴草

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) 紫錐花 Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) 紫錐花

Anise-Hyssop (Agastache 'Bolero') 茴藿香 Anise-Hyssop (Agastache…

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