The Garden is Tidy: Can I tell you how powerful I felt running the leaf blower this weekend? Two hours, no wind. (it’s been blustery here) A little out of control at times. Mr. Greenjeans came in behind me and mulched and removed every stray leaf from the yard and pronounced his hatred of trees. I think his tractor is sexy.

In an effort to restore our mental health this holiday season, we’ve resumed yoga practice. Friday’s session was so good, evidently the lady who belched, farted and snored the entire hour needed it too. During the resting phase, the teacher read a haiku that touched me.

As I was packing up, I mentioned to the teacher how perfect the poem was for today. She agreed and several years ago had the Japanese symbols for this message tattooed on her back to carry with her forever.

Today’s Tip: Admit that it’s hard. Try Again.

The Great Google Experiment:

The results are in from a year long experiment with the Google Adwords. Fact: Google Adwords delivers traffic, but is it a good return on my investment? I’d have to say no. We’ve been measuring the results and trying to find a happy medium with an effective return. That has not happened yet and I’m not sold on adwords for the product that no one wants to buy.

We attempted a small campaign when we first started urngarden v1, but the real problem was organic listings. We hired a professional to create an ad campaign and optimize the site. Reports reveal: SEO good. Article submission, very good. Google Adwords, hmmmmmm.

A heavy schedule for the first few months (too long) of the campaign, delivered the visitors and even surpassed traffic on the busiest venue I sell on. That was one of the goals. However, the sales from the CPC did not justify the dollars spent on adwords. Ah, but the information has been priceless.

Informal surveys from clients on how they land in the garden: Most have answered that they don’t click on the ads on the right side of the page, nor do they click on the top two listings. Or, if they click, they don’t buy. At least not enough to justify the ad spend. The hard numbers support this. Personally, when I’m google-ing my eye doesn’t even travel to the right side of the page.

Some marketers say “adwords lend an air of credibility”, I look at it as an expensive image and brand building campaign. So, I guess I need to repost my call for a service monkey personal assistant who will work for food.

Thank you for your patronage. Have a great week!

Thanks to Copyranter for the tip!

James Rogers
December 27, 1957-November 9, 2007

James N. Rogers passed away peacefully at St. John’s Hospital after an illness with his family and friends by his side November 9, 2007. He was born in Springfield, Missouri.

James graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1976 and worked for Paul Mueller’s and Watson Brothers Drywall. He was united in marriage to Debbie Watson December 21, 1982, and to this union one child was born, Sarah Marie, on July 4, 1983.

James loved spending his time playing softball, watching his favorite NASCAR driver, Jeff Gordon, or just soaking up the sun at the lake, but most of all he loved to spend time with his two granddaughters, Amirah and Angel, and his two grandsons, Joseph and Dominic.

Survivors include his wife, Debbie; daughter Sarah and Joe; granddaughters, Amirah and Angel; grandsons, Joseph and Dominic; brothers, John and his wife, Jean, and Tim and his wife, Gerri; sisters, Judy O’Bannon and husband, Bill, and Becky Hilmes and husband, Scott; father and mother-in-law, Ernie and Dixie Watson; brother-in-law Mike Watson; grandmothers, Opal Watson and Fern Neer; nephews, Mike and Chris O’Bannon, Travis and Shad Rogers; nieces, Kathy O’Bannon-Kincannon, Lori Rogers-Wheelis and Whitney Rogers; great-nephews, Sean and Kyle O’Bannon and L.T. Kincannon; great-nieces, Erin O’Bannon and Kasey Kincannon and a multitude of friends and co-workers.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. John’s for the care and support of James, especially Dr. Evans, Cris, Jessica and Amanda. We appreciate your kindness during James’ last stay.

Visitation will be Monday, November 12, 2007, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 13, 2007, at 10 a.m. in Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Midtown. Interment will be private.

Thank You!

In Memory of GG Aulick and Ray Dean Neil.

Grim garden report:

“She WAS everything you’d want in a little girl…” David Spears , step-father, pedophile, and murderer of 9 year old Rowan Ford. 11/7/07

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the mother of Rowan Ford.

It’s true! We’re ready to cull the bookmarked list, keep a few faves and dump the rest. I’m addicted and wasting too much time. Is it enriching my life? No? Delete.

In an effort to balance the light with the dark, we’ve accepted the mission to blend health and wellness on a professional level with death and dying. No easy task I tell you.

All the experiments we’re conducting, the mind is busy. Throw in a new project on top of the above and add day to day living. We’re bogged, and time is flying out the window. Next week we’re into mid-November!

MUST GET CONTROL.

At least we know where our kids are. I can’t get little Rowan Ford out of my mind. Our thoughts and prayers are with her mother. The whole thing smells fishy. It’s easy to make snap judgments, and I was impressed with Deathsweeper’s perspective on a recent delicate situation that he’d handled. Very Zen-like.

Family Business can be pretty sticky at times and as we head into the holiday season, we’re gearing up for the ride. Everybody stay calm.

Crispy and clear, I ran out the door barefoot this morning around 5 to try to spot the space shuttle reentering the earth’s atmosphere, but couldn’t locate. I was blinded by that northern star. That rock is hot!

It’s supposed to pass directly over the Ozarks again at 11:15-ish AM, hopefully I’ll hear the “double sonic boom”.

In the news: Surgery performed on the Indian baby born with four arms and legs was successful. Villagers consider her a modern day Hindu Goddess.

The girl, Lakshmi, is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth, “Everybody considers her a goddess at our village,” said her father.

Others sought to make money from Lakshmi. Her parents kept her in hiding after a circus apparently tried to buy the girl, they said.

In the Ozarks, we’re gearing up for Deer Season.

It’s time to thin the herd. A deer crashed through the front door of a local business here. Imagine starting the day with the sound of breaking glass and a wild animal in the lobby. Really don’t want to start my day trying to shoo a bloody crazed doe out dee doe.

Changing of the Seasons: On location at undercover assignment I noticed a little tension regarding lobby decorations. Image is everything. Manager was resisting the urge to tear down the beautiful fall vignettes created and bring in Christmas. I watched the dynamics unfold until Manager was persuaded to ditch the withered mums, relax and enjoy the fall color.

I’m preparing a memo to suggest incorporating taxidermied deer into the decor, so we can dress them up at Christmas! Maybe Bass Pro will donate a deer family. We’ll let you know how that great idea turns out.

Today’s tip: Make sure it’s a deer you’re shooting at.

Greeting from the garden! When we’re not chained to the chair, and before darkness falls, we’re hitting the streets to catch a little fall color and sniff around. It’s a beautiful time of year but I fear the time change. After this weekend: dark at 5:00 PM.

If you get the winter blues (SAD), I’d like to recommend a happy lamp. Combined with a little exercise, it does help take the edge off.

It’s becoming more common to hear of the family that decides to keep the ashes in the home. Often they have plans to inter the urn or scatter the ashes later. The cremation urn is not going to be hid away in the closet. These families want something beautiful that blends with their decor. The living area or bedroom is usually where the urn will be located.

One of our families has both her parents in a cloisonne style vase up high on a shelf. Tragically, she lost her son a couple of weeks ago and selected an exotic copper funeral urn that will be displayed on the mantle, with a piece of art from her son’s collection.

The son’s parents are Vietnam Vets who plan to be cremated and interred at Arlington. Due to the transitional nature of the rest of the family, it’s been difficult to determine a final resting place.

Cloisonne and blown glass urns are popular selections for families that want a discreet way to keep the urn close. The strength and beauty of cloisonne is an excellent choice.