Pages


Monday, October 4, 2010

I'm A Big Blog Now, I'm One!


I got up this morning and there was a chill in the air. It seeped through to my very core and gripped my bones. Nothing would do but a hot shower. The hot water gently kneaded and warmed my skin.  A simple pleasure making early mornings slightly more tolerable, even enjoyable. The chill in the air spurred me to rummage through the storage boxes under the bed containing my winter woollies. This is the time of year when the morning air is crisp and filled with frost. So you need a jacket and a scarf and a woollen sweater as you head out the door to work. But as the day wears on the sun warms the air and you swelter in your woolly jumper. Then you feel like a twit with your jacket and woollies surrounded by people trotting around campus in tee shirts, shorts and flip-flops.

The sun was shining in a vivid blue cloudless sky as I walked to work this morning. I knew it was chilly, after all I had my woolly jumper, jacket and scarf on. I was not prepared for what I saw floating down the river. At first I thought I was seeing things. What are those lumps of white floating down the river. I had to stop and to my surprise and horror, yes they were miniature icebergs.

“No! No it is too early,” the voice in my head screamed. At least I hope it was in my head!

There is no denying it, the air is filled with the promise or threat of winter, depending on how you look at it.

 


My blog is one year old this week. I chose to ignore the mini iceberg sighting and celebrate!

I have received four wonderful presents/awards from fellow bloggers recently.  I want to take this opportunity to mention these wonderful bloggers and the wonderful prezzies they graciously bestowed on me.

Firstly, Lydia Kang of "The Word is My Oyster," was kind of enough to pull my name from her contest pool and sent me a $15 Barnes & Noble gift card. I can’t wait to use it. Thank you sooooooooooo much Lydia.

Next Nicole Zoltack of "Where Fantasy and Love Take Flight,"sent me an email to tell me I had won a chapter critique from her blog contest. Now all I have to do is write a chapter. Thank you Nicole!!!! Hopefully there is no expiration date to this chapter critique. I'm working on it......honest!

Then the very lovely Kittie Howard at The Block gave me the "Happy 101"blog award.
And Talei at Musings of an aspiring scribe   very graciously awarded Inkpots & Quills with theVersatile Blogger Award.  Thank you Talei. 

I dub all bloggers who comment on this post with the above two awards!!!  You all deserve it!

And now I would just like to congratulate my friend Barbara of "From My Kitchen Table." Barbara has much to celebrate of late.  If you haven't checked out her blog yet, well you should do it right now! 

So my little blog and I are happy out with all the above mentioned prezzies. I am so very grateful to all who follow my blog and leave wonderful supportive comments. This blog has been a journey in writing confidence for me. I was very nervous when I started it. I remember how my finger nervously hovered over the publish button of my first blog post, "Blogging, The Way To Go." What if no-one was interested enough to read my musings. Would this end my dreams of entertaining through the written word. I bit my tongue…no really I actually did bite my tongue and drew blood.  Then I hit the publish button and here I am a year later. As a telly advert from those long ago days of my childhood went, "You’ve come a long way baby to get where you’ve got to today!" I know it was a cheesy cigarette commercial, but the sentiment rings true.

Have a wonderful week! :)






39 comments:

Unknown said...

Congrats! I can't wait to be one. Your blog is looking great.

CD

A said...

Congrats on the awards and of course happy birthday to your blog :-)

Ann said...

Thank you so much Clarissa.

Ann said...

And thank you Agnes..I guess we crossed in cyber space!

Nicole Zoltack said...

There's no expiration on your prize, Ann, so don't feel the need to rush. Happy blog birthday and congrats on your awards! :)

Ann said...

Phew!!!! Thanks Nicole.

Joanna St. James said...

Happy Birthday Inkpot n' Quills, Now please tell me the ice was in wisconsin and nowhere close to me

Ann said...

You can take a deep breath now Joanna. The ice was floating down the Chippewa River, in Wisconsin!!! I think I can hear your relief.

Old Kitty said...

Oh Ann!!!!!! HAPPY ONE YEAR BLOG BIRTHDAY!!!!

What an amazing journey - I'm so glad to have been part of it even if I came halfway through - or as I'd like to say, fashionably late!! :-)

But seeing these bits of ice floating down the river at this time is a bit freaky!!! I so agree with you, not yet, not yet!!! :-)We have to have autumn first!!

Take care
x

Anonymous said...

aww mini icebergs, how cute hehe...we had a slight spring frost this morn, a reminder not to plant my seedlings out just yet, though I have a few chooks weeding the garden for me so cant plant anything anyways! Congrats on being one :o)))

Liza said...

Congratulations on your one year. It's a wonderful accomplishment and you should be proud. As for those icebergs...oh dear! We're having a cold, rainy, autumn day here...but ice? I'd have to get on a plane and fly south!

Catherine said...

Happy Blogoversary Ann! Great ground you've covered in the year, it's been a pleasure getting to know you and to meet you in Dungarvan in the summer. I read your friend Barbara's article in the Times on Sat. just posted her about it. Also she has a piece in the new Concern book that's due out in the shops mid-oct. Jan's on the Council so no doubt it'll be at his next meeting. Small world this blogosphere!
All the best, Catherine.
PS winter hasn't kicked in here yet -still mild and right now it's 11C in Dungarvan acc. to my desktop widget! Still tshirt weather and sandals by day if it's dry.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Yes, it must be a year old because I distinctly remember you posting about the woolies and the flip flops approximately a year ago! Or maybe it was in the spring not the fall? Anyway, I thought it was funny then, and I think it's funny now! Congrats to a wonderful blog!! Oh dear, did I ever thank you for sending me the book I won? The Lacuna? It's such a large, long book and I tried so hard to get into it, but have not finished it yet. Just the same, thank you for your generousity, and for your wonderful online friendship.

Natasha said...

What do you say to a trade- I give you some of our recent heat wave, and you send me a mini iceberg?

Congratulations on completing a year- you are officially a toddler now!

Anonymous said...

Happy blog birthday, Ann and congratulations on your awards. I do enjoy reading your posts.

The change from summer to winter brings a sort of fear, but also excitement, I think. A change in our daily environment can act as a stimulus even if it's no more than something in the air, a chilly breeze or a mini iceberg in the river.

fairyhedgehog said...

Happy bloggiversary!

It's not really chilly here yet but I'm hating the shorter days.

Unknown said...

Congratulations Ann on the first birthday of 'Inkpots n' Quills'...I am so proud of you!! I am happy to have been there from the embryonic stage and have enjoyed the development this far. Enjoy your wonderful acheivement, stay warm, and keep writing!!! X.

Theresa Milstein said...

I love that one of your labels is "icebergs".

I remember when I was a college student, seeing a guy wearing shorts in February. Just because they do that doesn't make it less cold. They're suffering more than us!

Happy one-year blog anniversary! Congratulations on your awards. And how cool that you won a chapter critique. You made me laugh - now you just have to write the chapter! That's excellent motivation.

Here's to happy year two.

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

We're going through the same thing here.Winter is in the air and I hate it. Yesterday I pulled out all the winter clothing. Of course it's supposed to warm up now!

Barbara Scully said...

Hi Ann and Happy Anniverary to you and your wonderful blog. I am honoured to have been with you (virtually) from the start and have watched as your confidence grew along with your followers. We love your musings and your light touch! And thank you for mentioning little old me!

Keep writing and as Siobhan says keep warm!

Jenna Wallace said...

Sorry...dissenting voice here. Finally cooled off down here in San Antonio and I'm THRILLED! I love the heat but after six months of it, a little chill is welcome. But, yeah, no icebergs, so I guess it is all relative.

Many happy returns on your 1 year special day!

Ann said...

I hope you all have picked up the awards! I will be keeping tabs!

Hi Kitty, I have enjoyed your company along the way. Won't be long until you are marking the same milestone. Autumn is beautiful...I love it. Not the icebergs though!!!

Hi KarenW, A little chill in the air is nice. The word I want to emphasis is 'little.'

Hi Nikki, I am so glad to see you back in blogland safe and sound and thank you!

Hi Liza, Thanks for stopping by. I am looking into a plane south. Those ducks and geese know what they are about! LOL!

Hi Catherine, I am jealous. Still sandal weather in Dungarvan!! But then some think it is still sandal weather here too. It seems it is a small small world. Scary but nice.

Hi KarenG, You are right; I did post about flip flops and woolies before. In case you hadn't noticed the Irish are obsessed with weather! You did thank me for "Lacuna" and I know what you mean about a slow read. I find Barbara Kingsglover's books good but slow reading.

Hi Rayna, Wouldn't it be a perfect world if we could just swap little bits of our weather. I wonder if that would be a premise for a story...hmmm.

Hi Christine, I think I am going to change my mantra when I next observe the mini icebergs from OH NO! to your philosophy.

Hi FairyHH, I know, the shorter days are really noticeable! The sun did not rise until a little after 7 this morning. Breakfasting in total darkness again.

Hi Siobhan, Thank you for all your support. I am trying to stay warm and cool and collected all in the same day. A feat I have yet to master!!

Hi Theresa, I am glad you got a bit of giggle. I so enjoy making people giggle. Thank you for all your support over my year and for your generosity.

Hi Tamara, I hate that when I put away all the summer stuff and we get a heat wave. I refuse to be caught out this year! As a result I have clothes of all seasons bulging out of my wardrobe and stacked in not so neat piles on my bedroom floor. :)

Hi Barbara, Thank you for being such a constant in the following and commenting arena. I am thrilled! And congratulations on your recent publications! Well done! I am delighted and clapping loudly for you.

Hi Jenna, Thank you for stopping and leaving a comment. A little cooling is wonderful. I love it too....the icebergs well that is another story. It heralds the months of minus temps and frostbite warnings.

Talli Roland said...

Look at you with all the awards! And Happy One!

I love reading your blog. Long May It Live!

Jackee said...

Sorry about the icebergs but congrats on the blogiversary, the wins, and the awards.

A lot of good things are happening over here, Ann! Cheers!

Padraic Murray said...

Happy Birthday Blog. Hopefully the next tweleve months will prove as happy and successful. While you watched ice bergs I spent every morning this week meandering along the River Walk in Powerscourt, Enniskerry. The best kept secret in the world - until now! Keep up the good work!
P

Ann said...

Hi Talli, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Hi Jackee, No icebergs today...but I know they are just lurking.

Hi Padraic, Lucky you, what a lovely walk. No icebergs there I bet!!!

Arlee Bird said...

So many of us celebrating our first year of blogging! Congratulations on this one and here's to many more. I'll forego the awards since I've been trying to cutback, but good for you on acquiring these.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Aubrey said...

Happy Blogiversary ;) you're a great writer!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, and celebrations!
Very enjoyable. Thanks.

All the best, Boonie

Private said...

Happy anniversary! Yes, ignoring the icebergs an dcelebrating is definitely the way to go:) I love your blog, even though I don't comment as often as I should:)

And congrats on all the awards!

Ann Best said...

Oh, congratulations on all the lovely awards you deserve! I, like Old Kitty, found you about halfway; I think I've been blogging for 7 months now. You have indeed come a long way, and it's obvious you have many friends. I'm including myself in the list!!

It's chilly here in Virginia also, mornings and evenings. But tomorrow it's going to be 81. Nuts! I just bought some lovely fall/winter clothes. While I'm not wishing for icebergs, I do want COOL!!

Have a "cool" weekend!!!
Ann

Manzanita said...

Ann, Congratulations on your one year blog. Celebrate it's success with all your awards and accomplishments. Good job!

Susannah said...

Happy birthday to your blog Ann!

I remember those shall I shant I moments hovering over the 'publish' button when I first started! (I shall have to check for my blogs birthdays.)

So, many happy returns, it is always great reading you.

Susannah x

Kristen Haskell said...

Congratulations on a very successful year of blogging. Mini-icebergs yikes I can't even ponder that without feeling a little scared. i hate to be cold and I really hate to be cold to the bone.

Olive said...

Congratulations on your blog's birthday! I look forward to what the next year of blogging will bring:)

walk2write said...

Congratulations, Ann! Presents from fellow bloggers are the best, especially when they're handmade. I got one in the mail recently, and I couldn't stop smiling for hours. They warm your heart so maybe the coming cold and all those woolies won't weigh you down.

Talei said...

Congrats on your one year anniversary and your awards dear lady!! Happy Writing! ;)

Susan Fields said...

Congrats on one year, and on your awards and prizes!

Our mornings are chilly here, too, but not iceberg chilly - yikes!

Ellie Garratt said...

Happy One Year Birthay! Yay for blogging!