Friday, January 9, 2015

change in the air...

Last weekend I took the beans to see the play Mary Poppins.... 

Winds from the east....Mist comin' in....Like somethin' was brewin', about to begin...Can't put me finger on what lies in store...






The change in the air is---------I'm going back to school for garden design!  

There is a Garden Design Certificate Program  at the Chicago Botanic Garden that I will be starting this spring.  I haven't taken classes since I finished my masters when I was in my twenties so to say that I'm nervous is an understatement.  But I'm also EXCITED!  One class at a time...new things to learn...a challenge with 3 beans....yes!  But I am determined to cross that finish line!  I'm not sure where the road will take me on this journey, but I'm ready to grow!    


Here is to the road of life friends!  Any changes brewing by you???? 
Happy Making, Baking, and Growing!!!!!



66 comments:

  1. Hi Nicole,
    The change is in the air! I wish you great time at your garden design school. There must be lot of fun and no wonder you are so excited. :)

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  2. Nicole: That is so exciting! I hope you will have time to share some of what you learn with us. Love, Derrith

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  3. Wow! I'm horrified for you! LOL Of course you're gonna rock it, though. LOVE the "can't stop thinking about it" quote.

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  4. That's just freakin AWESOME!! That's such fantastic news, I am so so happy for you!!! And soo interesting and creative and analytical too!! Congratulations! Can I hear a woot woot from bloggy land?!?!?

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  5. What exciting news, Nicole!!! This is perfect for you, with your love of gardening and your art background!! You are so lucky to be near enough to the Botanical Garden to take these classes. Best of luck to you, friend!! Keep us posted on what you're learning and don't forget to share some of those great tips!! Zenda

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  6. Fantastic - good for you; it sounds 'practically perfect in every way'! You'll ace it and I can't wait to hear how you get on and any handy tips. Have fun. x

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  7. I'm thrilled for you Nicole, how wonderful. This is definitely a course that I think will suit you. I love the penultimate saying, it's giving me a nudge. I'm thinking about doing a writing course. Maybe it's time to stop just thinking and actually do it. You are amazing and you're inspiring me. Wishing you much luck and enjoyment with it all. CJ xx

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  8. This will certainly be a challenge trying to fit your busy life around a garden design course but with a positive attitude and a bit of determination I am sure you will succeed. Sounds like you are in for a lot of fun, and when you have finished we can all bring our design problems to you for you to solve!!!!!!!!!

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  9. WOW! Go for it Nicole:) Wishing you all the best.

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  10. Oh that is fabulous news for you my dear! How exciting, I wish you all the luck in the world. xx

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  11. Excellent decision you will ace it!

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  12. Oh! That sounds awsome, I am happy for you and I am sure is gonna be wonderful for you.
    Good luck!

    Have a great weekend!!

    Lluisa xoxo

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  13. Nicole that is wonderful!! So exciting for you.

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  14. Hello Nicole,

    Mary Poppins seems to us to be the perfect inspiration for your New Year plans. After all she danced on rooftops!

    What an exciting adventure is unfolding before you. It seems perfect choice for us and you have so much practical experience that you can bring to a garden design course. We are sure that you will make ahuge success of it all.

    Thank you so much for your kind message which you left for us. We wish you joy, peace and success for 2015.

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  15. Wow, that's exciting! We absolutely do create our own opportunities, so go for it girl :-) xx

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  16. That is wonderful! I Wish all the best for you!

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  17. I can't think of an area of study that is more perfect for you!!!!! I am so excited you are starting this new amazing chapter in your life. Best of luck,
    Meredith

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  18. That´s really wonderful Nicole and I know because I´ve done this too in our country. I enjoyed it very much, passed the exams and even got lots of clients, so exciting. Wish you a lot of success!

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  19. Such exciting news!

    FYI,

    --I returned to school at 38 to earn my teaching credential. It had been 17 years since I graduated from college. I took my first full time teaching position at 40.
    --Steve became a full time artist at 55.
    --My sister started her career with Universal Studios at 37 and rose to senior executive - still working by choice at 68.
    --Our son left a position teaching in the School of Education at UCLA to return to school for a math degree - he will graduate this May.

    It is never too late!

    Or, we are just a bunch of late bloomers!

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  20. This is such exciting news. You're going to do great. I would enjoy seeing Mary Poppins on stage. My daughter's spring ballet recital music includes "A Spoonful of Sugar." :)

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  21. Grow, friend grow! How exciting, keep us all informed. Jo X

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  22. How exciting. Good on you Nicole, you will be fine. Do what makes you happy, and remember that housework is over rated. (that's what I tell myself after a week at work)

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  23. Good for you Nicole! I went to school and took classes about 8 years ago. I had never had the priviledge of going to college, so it was a real challenge. I work for The Ohio State University, so they paid for all my 4 years of classes. It was such a good experience and a lot of hard work. The fun part is that my daughter was in college too at Ohio State and we could commiserate together about home work. So nice that you're going back for classes in an area that you are passionate about. Makes such a difference.
    Cindy

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  24. I'm on my 3rd adventure - you go girl! It's how you know you're alive - right? xxx

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  25. Such exciting news! I am so happy for you! It is going to a ton of hard work, but I know you can pull it off. If you ever need any pictures for you assignments let me know. What plant haven't I shot!

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  26. I am cheering you on, Nicole! What an exciting time for you :) Hugs, my friend!

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  27. Fantastic, brilliant and wonderful!!!!! I am so very very pleased for you and very very excited too!! I hope that you really love it and enjoy it and get a lot out of it too. You are already a great gardener and designer and with your artistic talents combined with all of that you will be wonderful at it!!!! I know!!!! Congratulations!!!! xx

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  28. That's wonderful, Nicole. I had started the garden design certificate program at CBG but as you may know had to stop taking classes because of my work schedule. There's also a program at the Morton Arboretum, have you looked at that? A little closer to you.

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  29. I am not sure why you are nervous! You love garden design and I bet once you get started, it won't even feel like work. Because it isn't work doing what you love. You are going to be a great success!

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  30. That's really awesome Nicole! Being able to pursue your passions keeps life exciting! I'm sure you'll step up to the challenge just fine. Looking forward to hearing more about your new adventure. Hope you're having a fantastic weekend sweet lady!

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  31. Congratulations; the sky's the limit!!!!!

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  32. Oh yeah for you. I went back to school when my youngest child started grade 1. They saw me studying hard and doing my best and I'm sure it influenced them in their own efforts. In addition they remain supportive of my efforts beyond being Mom.

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  33. So exciting Nicole! Yay for you!!! You will ace it no doubt xx

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  34. Congrats and all the best in your work toward getting certified! Also, very encouraging quotes you shared!

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  35. So exciting! I hope you will reach the success , friend!

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  36. I am so excited for you and a little jealous. :-) Sounds like a wonderful road to travel and I'm looking forward to hearing about your journey.

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  37. Exciting news! Good for you and best of luck in your new adventure :)

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  38. It sounds wonderful! I am excited for you!

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  39. sounds great Nicole,
    It is always fun to learn something more.
    You are a brave Woman and mother.
    Miss

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  40. Oh this is so exciting Nicole!!! I'm sure you will make it to the finish line - you're one capable and passionate woman.

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  41. That is so exciting Nicole! What a wonderful thing for you! You have such talent and you are only going to improve it! Best of luck, and I love Mary Poppins, what a fun treat for the kids!

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  42. What an exciting opportunity! Good luck with your brave new venture !

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  43. First of all I would like to congratulate you on your new beginning!Hope everything goes as you wish!
    I liked the quotes you posted... lately (as you read on my last post), I am trying to get motivation to change some things in my life, and yr post helped me!kisses

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  44. That is amazing! Go you! Your beans will be so proud. Lots of love to you on this new journey xoxo

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  45. The quotes are inspiring! Good luck with the program!

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  46. Dear Nicole,

    I love all the inspirational quotes you have shared. How wonderful that you are going to the Garden design course - this is so exciting and best of luck. I am hoping to get an updated website design and get back to my bear making again.
    Happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  47. How exciting! I couldn't think of a better person to be enrolled in this!! Enjoy every minute of the journey!

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  48. Nicole, that is so exciting. A difficult undertaking for a busy mother, but one you will manage beautifully, I'm sure. Love your inspirational quotes!

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  49. My first visit to you and may I start by saying congratulations! That is very exciting, and no small undertaking with littlies! Good for you :-) xx

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  50. Hooray!! That's awesome! I'm so glad you're following your heart. :o)

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  51. NIC! This is absolutely awesome!!! I am so happy for you! I hope you will pop in this little space of yours every once in a while to give us all updates. Of course, time permitting. You can do it. You're amazing! xoxo Jen

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  52. Good for you Nicole. You are so talented already at gardening. Best wishes in this journey. Cheers, Beckie

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  53. Woo-Hoo! I am so happy for you Nicole! You have a natural talent for all things gardening and you add a beautiful holistic touch to projects that you do. I have learned a lot from you and how you incorporate nature within your life. :) Thank you and I am cheering for you! :D

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  54. Oh wow!! YAY for you!! I hope you have fun!!

    Have a lovely week,
    Sarah xox

    PS On a note of Mary Poppins; have you seen the movie 'Saving Mr. Banks'? It's a really, really good movie so if you haven't seen it do! We watched it recently. It makes you cry but it's a good story, and a true one (about the Author of Mary Poppins, her childhood and getting Walt Disney to make the book into a movie) :-D

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  55. This wonderful news Nicole and I wish you the best as you embark on this most exciting journey! I very nearly did the same thing years ago but went in the direction of the arts instead. I made and sold birdhouses during the '90s which I'm sure came out of my love for gardening. Many times I wonder what would have happened had I pursued the landscape design path, hence my blog serious "I'd Rather Be Gardening"! Thanks for visiting me the other day, dear friend! Its so good to know I've not been forgotten while down the rabbit hole for the past several weeks!

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  56. Hi Nicole, that's a wonderful news about you! Wish you the best, you can do it! Bx

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  57. Nicole, I am just now getting to read your post and learn of this very exciting news! As you stated, it might be hectic at times with raising the children and being a homemaker but the time will fly and you will be there before you know it. The fact that you will be following your heart will help you to get through it. I am so happy for you and there is no question but that you will do very well. You are so talented.

    I checked out the Chicago Botanic Garden link and it looks like a really beautiful and special place to study. Please, keep us posted on your progress! Wishing you many blessings as you are preparing for this new adventure in your life!

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  58. Oh gosh I'm so excited for you! I hope you have super fun and I'm sure you will! I can't wait to hear all about your adventure! Enjoy every minute Nicole! x

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  59. Congratulations, Nicole--such exciting news :) I know gardening is your great passion so I'm sure you'll soak it all up and perform above and beyond your expectations. I'm really working on building my blogging/antiquing/crafting business this year with the hopes of making some real income--we'll see...wishing you many blessings...

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  60. This new adventure will be so exciting! I know you will be a terrific garden designer, can't wait to see what you do with this, On our horizon is a new house....and new gardens down the road. We'll both have a busy year.

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  61. Good luck! I took several classes in that program and they were generally great. I had to stop, though, due to schedule conflicts with my current job. Look forward to hearing about your progress!

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  62. Hello Friend,
    I am so excited for you. Guess what? I am also going to be taking a course regarding gardening at the Eau Claire Master Gardeners Club. I am looking at starting my own Flower Farm. I am starting to dig in to more of the what I all need to do. I will be working with a women who already has a garden farm for a week this late spring. I am really excited.
    I also hear ya...I am a mom as well. And my family time is important to me. I am praying for balance.
    All the best my friend, keep me posted.
    xx oo
    Carla

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  63. This is brilliant! How exciting. I'm sure you'll make it work – we women are great at multi-tasking and taking on more and more, especially if we love what we're doing. Look forward to hearing all about it when you have the time :-) (I love Mary Poppins – it was one of my favourite childhood films!) Sam xx

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