Garden Product Review: Ahhh ... Pots

"Ahhh ... Pots"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

Looking for a Christmas present for the gardener in your family? Read on-

Being an avid flower gardener, I love finding unique items to use as planters or pots for annuals and perennials each season. I am picky and hard to please as the items need to have an artistic touch and not tacky. A lean toward a natural garden design, maybe even a formal touch is good, but not too formal.

When I met with Renee Clinger of Ahhh ... Pots through LinkedIn.com, I thought I'd found a product that would meet my interests and something unique to add to my yard. Not only was I right, these are fun and practical to use!

"Ahhh ... Pots"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

Renee Clinger asked which design I thought would work best with where I plan to use them.  I chose the black and white pots, one is slightly smaller than the other. These would create a great touch to the front entrance to my home.

For one planter, I used Mexican Heather and Red Vinca, for the other, I used a colorful variety of Violas. I bought some planting mix too, to do this up right!

My first thought when I prepared to plant in these pots was how great it is to have something unique, NOT available in stores and not something all the neighbors have.

One of my favorite features of "Ahhh ... Pots" are the handles which allow easy carrying from wherever you pot your plants to the location where you will use them for the season. The larger pots, than the ones I use, have two handles so two people can move the pots.

Ahhh ... Pots are made of very high quality UV protected landscape fabric which is porous allowing air to circulate through the pot creating an oxygen rich environment for healthier plants. These fabric pots are much better than the typical plastic or ceramic ones I've used over the years. No worry about dropping and breaking them or the sunshine eventually causing damage. 

Another important feature is the quality creation of "Ahhh ... Pots."  All of the pots have pieces added to the top, handles and the bottom to make them sturdy and strong.   The seams are re-enforced for stability with the contrasting fabric made for outdoor use.  

I have received many compliments on "Ahhh ... Pots" and am very happy having them on my porch.

"Ahhh ... Pots"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

One word of advice when using these pots, and it's not a fault or flaw of "Ahhh ... Pots," it is a goof I made that I want to share with you.  When you fill the pots with dirt to plant your plants, lift up the pots, and shake them to make the dirt settle further before planting. I didn't do this so when I was ready to move the pot to its location, I found that I needed to add more potting soil.  A goof ball error I know, but I am used to the plastic, resin, or clay pots.

A suggestion to the artist, an excellent option to add to the product would be a clients last name or their initials.

Have a gardener on your Christmas list?  "Ahhh ... Pots" would be a perfect present! Something not everyone will get!  Visit Ahhh ... Pots for a great selection!

Disclaimer: 
I was not paid, compensated, given a Hershey Chocolate Bar, or any other way compensated for this product review. I saw the product, on my own, and inquired. 

Sunday's Thought

Hope... peace.... joy.... happiness... contentment... there doesn't seem to be much of that around these days. Why is that and where is it?

It's certainly not found in the barrage of Black Friday Sales or Cyber Monday deals- those are things that will last as long as they do- which usually isn't that long.

I remember as a young guy buying a product from a commercial on TV. It was one of the $ 9.99 deals where I got several CD's of music for a very low price. The price as a steal, even with the postage and handling.  The CD's  had many of my favorite songs by my favorite groups.

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When the CD's finally came, I was elated and went to play them on my CD player.  Well, the quality was no where near what was advertised and the songs were somehow, not as long as I expected.  The ad was misleading yet it wasn't wrong.

Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Something hit me that day, probably unbeknownst to me at the time, that true fulfillment in life isn't in things or material gain.

Over the years of growing up, compared to today's standards, we didn't really have much.  It was a big deal for a grandparent to give us $5.  A huge deal to get an allowance- especially if you forgot to do a chore that week.  My family taught us that things were things and that's all they were.

Finding true hope... peace.... joy.... happiness... contentment..is found in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Accepting Him as your personal Savior, following Him and Serving Him, finding and following His Will for your life, will lead to true hope... peace... joy.... happiness ... contentment... and so much more than I could ever write about in one post without becoming a really long one.

To know God, please visit, Peace With God.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving begins the time of year when I miss my family.  Not that I don't think of them during the rest of the year, because I do.  Thanksgiving is a time for remembering your blessings, family, food, fun and the memories.

For you who don't know, my family, starting with my mother in 2011, followed by my brother and ending with my father in 2014, after illnesses and an accident, went home to be with Jesus.

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I have to say, how thankful I am that God placed the right people in my life to "fill the void" in many ways.  Though no one can fill my families shoes or replace them or be them, others can become that close to you- that it's like family or very close friends. From a young man with a family, to an older guy and his wife who are now empty nesters- they have made life quite a bit of fun.

I am thankful for my church family which is full of loving people who God sent my way a little more than 3 years ago.  Of course, this family added to the many friends from various churches I added throughout my life that I call "church family."

Most important, I am thankful to God for saving my soul, for loving me, for caring for me, for getting me through the difficult times of life, for giving me life and making it so exciting to live. God has blessed my life over and over with His Presence and Hand on my life.

May God Bless you during this Thanksgiving season.

If you do not know God, and would like to have a personal relationship with Him, please visit Peace With God.

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Wednesday's Words

"Reflections of Fall at Walney Pond"
(C) Allen Pearson, All Rights Reserved

"Unto thee, O my strength,

will I sing; for God is my 

defense, and the God of

my mercy."

- Psalm 59:17

Sunday's Thought

"Eiffel Tower, Paris France"
(C) Flickr Creative Commons, Rodrigo Paredes

Many prayers for the families of the victims in terrorist attacks which happened in Paris, France a little more than a week ago now. A really sad tragedy, actually sad beyond explanation. I pray the families will find peace through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Paris terrorist attacks reminded me of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. I was working near Washington D.C. and my wife was working there. I could not go into town to get her, so she had to take a subway out to where I was. In doing so, she had to pass the Pentagon. I was not sure, this more of a reality than ever before, if I would ever see her again.

Many issues and problems came up while she was trying to get to my office. I prayed and prayed and prayed like never before that I would see her again. So, did our family.

After we caught up with each other, got home safely, spent some time together, I realized I missed an important part of what God was doing for me that day- giving me a peace in my being, in my heart. Though I was frantic about whether I saw my wife again, I had peace. A peace that only God can give.

A few weeks after the attacks, I began noticing how strange my co-workers and some friends were acting. Everything was now scary to them. I'm guessing many in Paris, France, are going through this now. One coworker was terrified at the least bit of possibility of something going on.

Not long after 9/11, in 2002, the Washington DC "Beltway Sniper Attacks" which added fear to the community. I noticed once again that people were afraid. Coworkers again were terrified and fearful. So much so, I began to wonder why I didn't have that fear.

I searched, prayed, and thought about this, and discovered these Scriptures-

“Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.”

- Isaiah 12:2 [ESV]

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. 

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

- John 14:27 [ESV]

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?"

- Psalm 118:6 [ESV]

These Scriptures remind me of God's Peace given to me as a Christian.

Want to learn about God's Peace, Salvation and His Love for You? Please visit, Peace With God.

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Sunday's Thought

This week, I want to do something different.  While I've shared music, videos, poems, and the like from many different sources or artists and musicians, I've not shared someone's blog. After reading several posts, I want to share it with you- encourage you to read through several posts.

First, an introduction to Joey + Rory.  My first time to hear them sing was with the Gaither Homecoming Friends. I don't remember whether it was in concert on on TV.  The duo sings country music and do a beautiful work.  I haven't followed them very much as I'm not into country music but have had great respect for the work they do.

Now, a sadness has come over the family.  I recently learned that Joey has been fighting a battle of cancer and it's a become a huge challenge.

Please follow this link to read about their story- This Life I Live, scenes from one man's extraordinary, ordinary life.

My heart and prayers go out for the family.  I remember loosing my parents due to illness and an accident and my mother-in-law's battle with cancer.  During the time, I often felt God's Presence with me. It was a calming, loving, and comforting Presence.

As I read through Rory's blog, I am constantly amazed and thrilled at his attitude and love for God and his wife.  He has the "peace that passes ALL understanding" that only Christ can give and does in these situations to Believers.

Rory is honoring his wife and taking care of her every need while Joey's sister is there helping.  I admire him for honoring her in that way.  It shows his love for God and her.

Following Christ doesn't mean your life will be without problems, trials, and troubles.  Good grief, how I wish it did so the past 8 years of my life losing my family in a few short years would have been less painful.  But, it doesn't.

Following Christ doesn't mean you will live a beautiful perfect life with everything in order and God to give you what you think you need next in this life.  It doesn't mean you will be materialistically rich, driving a fancy car or living in a nice home- though these things can happen, it just doesn't mean they will.

What does it mean?  It means, when you pass away, leave this earth, you will spent eternity in heaven with God. It means, peace in your heart sometimes way beyond your understanding.  It means, God will be with you through those problems, trials, and troubles- you will never face them a
lone.  It means, a God who loves you more than your understanding. It means a life beyond what you can imagine.

Interested in learning following Christ, please visit, Peace with God.

 

Veterans Day!

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Sunday's Thought

The Newsboys have touched my life over the years, please click the title to view video.

Election Day!

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Don't forget to vote today!  While it may not be a major Presidential election, it is still an important election- an important chance for you to let your choices and opinions known by voting.   Don't let the media or pollsters convince you the election is a done deal - as it's not a done deal until all the votes are counted.

Get out and vote!

Sunday's Thought

Used by Permission, ChristianQuotes

Placing your trust in Him, is a simple as 1 - 2 - 3- 4.  To learn more, please visit Peace with God.