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Last week, my oldest daughter asked me for a Christmas list because, in her words, “You are so hard to buy for.”  I have to admit that I can see her point; there really isn’t much in the way of “stuff” that I either need or want. There is one thing however, that always tops my list  –  high quality bird seed to fill the feeders that are scattered throughout my yard.  

Each of my children has a fiercely competitive streak that seems to reach its absolute zenith  at Christmas time. They good-naturedly battle over who has the best decorated tree, the most beautifully wrapped gift, the tastiest appetizer at Christmas Eve dinner. This year they added outdoor decorations – specifically winter themed pots  –  to the competition. Since they all consider themselves to be the “winner,”  they decided they needed an impartial judge – so they chose me because, in their words, “I write about that stuff.”  While it’s true that I do periodically feature design aspects in these blogs, the truth is that I do not have one artistic bone in my body! What appears to be expertise in design is simply a recitation of what Jo Ann Prieto, Embassy’s seasonal color specialist, has taught me over the years.