Daily Prompt: Take Two – In and Out

I am late getting to the Daily Prompt at WordPress.com because I slept late.  Now the why of sleeping late is rather embarrassing but it goes something like this:

Yesterday I ached

And knowing it must be

From the warm front

Moving in.

So as I finished

The last of my three

Library books,

I laid

All day

Reading.

By the time

I should have

Been sailing off

To the Land of Nod

I was wide,

Wide Awake.

Anyway now for the prompt: Run outside.  Take a picture of the first thing you see.  Run inside,  Take a picture of the second thing you see.  Write about the connection between these two random objects, people, or scenes.

Grabbing my camera I ran outside.  Literally ran since that was the instruction and I am basically a rule follower.

Snow going!

The first thing?  Yup.  I mentioned warm winds the other day and the thirsty force of nature gobbled up my snow.

My winter

It’s a far cry from the photo I posted the other day (as above).

Next I ran again. (instructions and rules you know)

 

Windows open

 

And this is what came up on the second look: Open windows, every where in the house beckoning in this false spring.

Birds are singing.  Residual snow in the first photo is even less this few minutes later.  The darned old Magnolia tree is again in bud as are so many other trees.  False springs are such a danger for crops due later as a freeze is certain to follow and the rhythm of nature will be off and in the long run it will mean more failed crops, less food and higher priced food in the future.

BUT on such a day (it is 12 cenlsius which in real language is 53.6 F) it is impossible not to let ones heart soar in the glorious warmth.  Yup for Canucks this is almost shorts and Tee weather!  Because after all we Canadians are a hardy lot!

Hopelessly Devoted to You..

This song came to mind as I started my day, considered all the could do and should do things and decided nope..today I am hopelessly devoted to you.  You being my bloggers and some wordpress organizational things to do.  So in order of priority 1) complete this daily post 2) read and respond to my comments (something I have been lax about in the past) 3) Enjoy the Reader aspect to read my ‘I follow list’ and comment 4) do some maintenance on my site especially blog roll as some there have now gone and many treasures are not listed at all.  All in all a perfect day planned I say.

FITFS – following in the footsteps – First, before any of that I must pay homage to my practice of recognizing one of my fave bloggers who also works around themes (have I mentioned this is something I am seeking for moi?)  Emily Cannell  This amazing woman and her family moved to Japan sometime ago.  I first got to know her at the beginning of my blogging career when her ‘Hey from Japan – We are being shaken and stirred here’ was Freshly Pressed.  The woman knows how to report and without invoking whining and sniveling was able to give us a birds eye view – or an Emily ey’s view of what is going in her adopted home.  She has been FP’d a number of times since – and for good reason.  She is inspiring, hilarious, and talented.

**By the by – big news!  Yesterday’s post was about Judith Baxter and her book review by author Zoe Sharp and how wonderful it was that Zoe had commented on Judith’s post.  Well guess what!!  Zoe commented on my post about Judith’s post about her!!!  So now it would seem I have two – that’s 2 published authors as my new besties -Zoe Sharp and my bestie bestie Joss Burnell (whom you will hear more about…should it be whom?)!

***Now in looking back at my first two posts on Following in the footsteps… I just checked the links I put in to Judith and Jaime’s sites and it does not seemed to have worked. So I just tried it again and it worked….go figure.

Oh my am I going to ever get to the rest of today’s post?  The air is cooler and less humid to day and I hope the weather conditions every where else lets up a bit.  Some places too cold, some too hot, some too dry some too wet.  I hope it all settles a bit for everyone.

We were lucky yesterday to have a pool here at the house and when DIL wanted to take G2 in he whined and cried until his foot hit the water and he bobbed along in this floatie vest thing and called. ‘Grandma, Grandma, look I decided to come in and I can swim!!’  Uh huh – just like a man!

Hope y’all have a good Saturday or Sunday – which ever day it is for you my friends.

 

Genuine or Versatile Many of Us are Both

When it comes to awards I have been blessed many times.  When it comes to blogging awards I have also been blessed.

Linda Cassidy Lewis at lindacassidylewis.com has awarded me the Liebster Award..meaning loved or beloved

And how can I not love that?  Regardless of stats there are always a favorite few who are loyal in comments and sharing their own kind of wisdom.  When I get an award I always graciously pass it on to those loyal few who comment regularly.  There are so many more I regularly read and love and Lord knows there will be more..insatiable appetite I have..and I would like to share all of them with you..but then you could not possibly read them all without abandoning your own loyal following.

In addition there are a couple of new blogs I have been following with great pleasure written by twins Autumn and Gabrielle who passed on another award to me.  They can be found at http://autumnsunshineandgabrielleangel.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/genuine-blogger-award/ These gals are the coolest twins ever so please visit and enjoy.

I have to apologize to others who have passed awards on to me.  I went through a period of totally being overwhelmed so know I missed someone.  (today I cleared out almost 4,000 emails from posts and bloggers that came in in the last month or so).  Do let me know so I can credit you.

I can’t possibly give you a list of things you don’t know about me…damn my transparency but I can give you a list of folk to follow in addition to the addys above:  (Many have already received awards and may want to pass. For the others I send you blessings and thank you for making my day that much brighter!)

Both awards are passed to:

Judith Baxter at growingyoungereachday.wordpress.com who has won award on award..but I am sorry darlin you just keep deserving.

Barb who is sweet and writes a heck of a blog that will warm the cockles of your heart..passionateaboutpets.wordpress.com

Kathy who really knows and who I look forward to hearing from and reading every  day.. reinventingtheeventhorizon.wordpress.com

Colleen Brown at http://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/ who has been a buddy since the beginning and who does enough exercise for the two of us..so I can take it easy.

Lois who is also a fairly new friend and who makes me wish I looked that good and who you will enjoy visiting at lroelofs.wordpress.com

Cecilia who if you haven’t met yet must do so Right Now! at thekitchensgarden.wordpress.com

Tori who you also MUST visit..I swear!! at torinelson.wordpress.com

My Bulgarian Buddy Patrecia who will make you laugh and cry probably all at the same time with her honesty at misswhiplash.wordpress.com

Also Words from Australia wordsfallfrommyeyes.wordpress.com who is a new friend I am looking forward to learning more about.

Jackie Paulson who has been near and dear to my heart for a long time now… postadaychallenge2011.wordpress.com

Darlene who is a new friend also at darlenefoster.wordpress.com

Winsome who delights me every time winsomebella.wordpress.com

Okay now the exit music is playing at the Oscars.  Meryl Streep and I are trying to get in a few last words…

This dear dear soul must be here also..souldipper.wordpress.com/

OH OH dear Georgette.. georgettesullins.wordpress.com  good grief I cannot forget Georgette!

Oh yes and Joss…if you read me you know all about Joss… my hero..or heroine… at crowingcrone.wordpress.com

Okay I know time to stop…. if I could I would send blogger love to so many…Mark are you listening..even though I don’t think you do the Award thing..how can you with millions of us…

THANK YOU!

I WISH I HAD SAID THAT!!

 

I WISH I HAD SAID THAT!

Everyone I read, I love.  Of course.  That’s why I read them.  I had a thought that I should write down their brilliance, and might get a post out of it, but once I started I realized I would have to go on and on and on and would never get done.  I love so many of you who are not here but time, space and rapidly advancing age prevented me from completion.  And yes I truly wish I had the wit, the capability, the originality for uttering such gems.

 LINDA

http://lindacassidylewis.com

Lover of words, drinker of wine, liar by necessity. I write life as fiction … and blog about the experience. Author of The Brevity of Roses.

MARK

http://redriverpak.wordpress.com/

A Blog about Sex, Murder, Movies, Music, Idiots, and other silly subjects that appeal to Common Simpletons

JACKIE

http://thejackieblog.com/about/

Once upon a time, there was a little, oddly-shaped hermit girl who lived in a small, hippie-inspired apartment in a big city far, far away from home.  She had opinions on lots of things and felt like dedicating her life to a cause greater than herself.  Without being able to go outside for fear of the stupidity of society,  and with nothing to contribute to the world but her loudmouthed mockery, she made a pact with herself to reignite her blog and to post every single day in 2011.   And in a true display of creativity and wit, she named it The Jackie Blog.

Check out the introduction of its rebirth here.

JAMIE

http://thelifeofjamie.wordpress.com/about/

Wife of 1.  Mom of 2.  Going crazy by 3!

Loving wife, happy homemaker, skilled craftsman, expert marksman, big game hunter, roller derby enthusiast, synchronized swimmer, accomplished singer, award-winning bodybuilder, left-wing political activist, humanitarian, thespian, best-selling author, Miss May 2003, lover of polka music, former exotic dancer, and loving and caring Mother to my two kids.

SUSAN

http://susanthecoach.wordpress.com/

Susanthecoach’s Blog

Susan Castle empowers people to live rich and wonderful lives with unconventional wisdom, and inspires them to realise their dreams

PAUL

http://thegoodgreatsby.com/2011/12/08/is-a-photoshopped-picture-still-worth-a-thousands-words/

The Good Greatsby

With your host Paul Johnson, a man whose mother raved about his comedic writing talents, describing his work as, ‘I don’t get it,’ and ‘Is the page with the funny part missing?’

CECILIA

http://thekitchensgarden.wordpress.com/about/

A NZ girl married to an American fella, living on the prairies. Growing, cooking and eating using sustainable and organic methods. We tell a lot of stories at our table. Sometimes I even get to write a few for you. Welcome. I am here most days. celi

COLLEEN

http://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/about/

I’M NOT VERY WITTY*

Uhm.  That pretty much says it.  I am not very witty.  Though I love humor.  I can’t write funny.  But I can read funny.  I’ll write because I have something to say.  I’ll write because I need to physically write.  Love that process.  Sorry for anything dull.  Sorry for anything crappy.  But if you hit upon a gem…. YAY me!

PATRECIA

http://misswhiplash.wordpress.com/about/

Hi… My name is Patrecia, also known on here as  Misswhiplash. I am 72 years of age . I am English but I live in Bulgaria with my husband Neville , five dogs, one cat and  two donkey.

JOSS

http://crowingcrone.wordpress.com/home/

A number of people have commented about the negative image that the word “crone” brings to mind.

First I want to say that I love being a Crone.  Second, I chose the name  intuitively and very deliberately.

Long ago, when women held a place of honour in society, women of a certain age were referred to as crones.  Back then, Crone meant “wise woman” and it was known that women who had lived a number of decades had seen and lived through enough turmoil, joy, pain and grace, that they had words of wisdom and insight to offer the community.

Stylish, Irresistible and Versatile, Changing it UP

As you know I have 3 awards to pass on to 15 people and am doing it one blogger per day.

Yesterday’s Awardee was Colleen Brown at bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com

 

I thought I would change it up a bit as one of the conditions is that the recipient list 7 things about themselves, and decided I would list 7 things about the winner. Keep in mind I have never met any of these folk so it should be fun to project a bit.

 Today’s recipient is one of the first bloggers I encountered and since then she is a daily part of my nutrition requirement.

She is:  Tricia The Domestic Fringe found at http://thedomesticfringe.com/

Now 7 Fringe Facts: (mostly taken from her site) 

1)     She has one electrifying husband and two spazzy kids. (her words) all appropriately named, Fringeman, Fringekid, and Fringeboy. 

2)   She moonlights as a freelance writer and monthly contributor to An Army of Ermas and Adding Zest to Your Nest

 3)     She is currently writing a book and is 26.37% into completion.

 4)     She has over 208,464 hits since October 2008!

 5)     I am subscribed to her site. Oh wait..that’s about me not her!  

 6)     She lives her beliefs.

 7)     Her goal this year is to Live Abundantly which she does, from counting exercise as running from vicious dogs to arachnid adventures.

 OH OH she also Always supports and encourages others attempting to do what she does so well. (there that makes up for number 5!)

Congrats Tricia and enjoy!

 

 

Friday! Freshly Pressed and Ailing Bloggers

Friday! Fresh Pressed and Ailing Bloggers!
 
Yes folks it’s Friday. Make of that what you will. Me when I was working I hated Fridays, having started my week with lofty goals, making Mondays wonderful, and having to face not reaching them 100% made Fridays my least fav day.
 
Freshly Pressed
But this is a day of joy for two of my fav bloggers made FP again! I have only been blogging with sincere dedication since March and both of these heroes in print have done it twice since then. I know, I know, there are some of you who have won more than that, as your humble brags pointed out. Well, if I were ever chosen I would do the humble brag too!
 
HEY FROM JAPAN – NOTES ON MOVING EMILY CANNELL
 
http://amblerangel.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/can-the-tokyo-tower-entertain-two-teenagers-a-driver-a-mom-and-a-senior-citizen/
 
Get used to the name because you are going to hear more of it. Emily shakes us up regularly with her optimistic and very humorous yet often not working out just right approach to life in Japan. Probably a side effect to the widespread damaging earthquakes she experienced and blogged on so successfully getting her first FP. I was pretty new then and could not figure out what her congratulatory comments about FP were.
The link to her most recent victory is above and is spectacular!!
And her first win?

 http://amblerangel.wordpress.com/category/were-being-shaken-and-stirred-in-japan/
 
THE GOOD GREATSBY PAUL JOHNSON is another up and coming name.
With your host Paul Johnson, a man whose mother raved about his comedic writing talents, describing his work as, ‘I don’t get it,’ and ‘Is the page with the funny part missing?’ I suspect that Paul has been a multiple winner but suffers from a severe case of humility so does not brag on the fact – much.
 
His first (that I saw) is:
Things I Carry in My Pocket for the Sole Purpose of Confusing the Police in the Event of My Untimely Death which was a killer post hahaha
http://thegoodgreatsby.com/2011/04/07/things-i-carry-in-my-pocket-for-the-sole-purpose-of-confusing-the-police-in-the-event-of-my-untimely-death/
 
His most recent is…http://thegoodgreatsby.com/2011/06/21/your-summer-swimsuit-strategy/
If you are not in reasonably good health I am not sure this material is for you as you are in danger of splitting a gut, rolling on the floor or performing a bladder voiding act due to laughter. Not ordinary laughter here folks and his site should come labeled with a warning – have your bladder checked or wear Depends, cause you are going to need it!
PS just a hint..his last pic in the swimsuit is not him..I can verify this as I happen to know he is addicted to a certain smoking jacket and would never wear anything else swimming!
 
I am so excited for these two mostly because I am in awe and learn from both and secondly I feel like I have a symbiotic relationship with them. Take that how you will but it means I get to bask in their glory by virtue of association!

And they get to use this button:

For the FP

 
Home For Ailing Bloggers
My dear friend and cohort in trying to navigate the waters of blogging, which will eventually end up on FP, Colleen Brown, and I have been under the weather. Sick you might say – me much worse of course as she has youth on her side so is stronger. She lives somewhere in a state not far from me and I think, as a nurse that I should offer to come down and care for her. Colleen all I require is a first class ticket to Paris, then Rome then to whatever your airport is locally. I just have to come up with a reason why I need this flight when she is probably only five or six hours away from me by car.
So please look her up and comment and help her get to FP at
http://bikecolleenbrown.wordpress.com/
 
Oh I’m calling the Home for Ailing Bloggers THE LAST CHAPTER! Get it? Anyone? Anyone?

Bridgesburning is Comment Weary

Bridgesburning is Comment Weary

 

I love to read blogs and when someone takes the time to write their thoughts I love to comment. It’s an affirmation of your work. 

 The comment sections are driving me crazy with having to fill in so much information that has cut my commenting time way down.  Way down.  Actually the time is the same but the comments are fewer.

 Jumping hoops to comment?  I know much of it is to cut down on spam but holy cow!  There are some I try to comment on and then for some reason it won’t go so I just give up.  By the time I fill in my name, email and site I have forgotten what my brilliant comment was.

 Next I suppose we will have to provide photo ID to comment, or a blood test to prove we are human, or DNA at a cost of course.

 I am enjoying your posts but time is of the essence.  The ideal?  Comment, hit the button and move on.

 So to all of you I may not get to:

Great post! 

I’m with you on that!

Wow! That’s incredible!

Really? I didn’t know that.

Great pics I love what you did with light!

You made my day!

What a lovely tribute!

 Well back to commenting.  Today it was Mama Kats Prompts and I want to hit everyone but alas I won’t.  Nuts.  But y’all keep writing and I will find a way to comment!