Tuesday 14 June 2011

Extraordinary Women



On the Agenda this morning:

Notice of an up and coming Giveaway.
Announcement of Awards Received



Luckily a short agenda, but might go on a bit so do make yourselves comfortable!!!







Firstly, Official Notice of A Giveaway coming to This Blog very soon!!

A few posts back I mentioned that a giveaway was on the cards for when (and if) I reached that amazing milestone of 100 Followers.

When I first set out on my blog journey at the end of January, I had no idea really of what to expect, other than it would make me feel  a part of the creative blogging community that I had been quietly following for a few months, and wanted to be a part of.

I had no idea of the fun and fellowship, the sharing of all good things, the inspiration and ideas and above all the kindness and sincerity that I would find as a norm. It has been mindblowing in that respect, completely unexpected.



And when I first set out on this blogging adventure, I had no real anticipation of having many "followers" as I could not see really why anyone would want to read about my rather ordinary everyday life, where nothing very much on a large scale ever happens.




But that was before I realised that there are in fact many "ordinary" people out there in blog world that I visit, whose lives on the surface may appear fairly ordinary, but when you get involved and experience with them their everyday happenings at a micro level, you realise that their lives are anything but ordinary.

These people are quietly just getting on with being incredibly creative, productive and industrious, inspiring others, sharing and giving, whilst at the same time often working in other jobs, raising families, the exhausting but rewarding looking after young children, looking after pets, as well as their houses and gardens (not to mention husbands and partners!).

And still finding time to blog about it.





So these amazingly busy and productive "micro lives" are out there happening, often taken for granted and in many cases not really understood or appreciated by husbands and partners I suspect (mine for one!), who's busy lives in the "macro" world of business, industry, education, government and finance make this ordinary everyday "stuff" seem very humble and small fry indeed.

But its very real.
And very important.

Crafting and creating, sewing and quilting, baking, cooking and preserving, gardening and vegetable growing, crocheting and knitting, magically transforming all manner of cleverly thrifted items, seeking out the best of vintage and previously loved items at charity shops and boot fairs - I find the talent, energy and inspirational ideas of you other bloggers out there is phenomenal, and the caring, sharing, friendship and support for each other is humbling, and I am so very proud and excited to be a part of it.

So, I am thrilled to have achieved a following of 100, and shortly will be announcing my Giveaway as a "Thankyou" to you all for having enriched my ordinary, but to me rich and rewarding, life.





The second item on the agenda (Oh I do not miss meetings one little bit!) is the subject of Awards.

I feel very humbled and very HAPPY to have been awarded another two awards.



Annette at "My Rose Valley" has a wonderful Blog, full of the very elements I have just been rambling on about, and her quilts are amazing.

She has very kindly passed on to me the Kreativ Blogger Award, which I am very pleased to accept.
Thankyou Annette!



The second Award has very kindly been awarded to me by Bluebell of "At Home in the Country".
She has a wonderful blog here full of the most incredible nature and wildlife photos - closeups of flowers, birds and insects, her posts are always full of interesting things.


She has very kindly awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award.
Thank you Bluebell!





I believe that award recipients are required to list a few facts about themselves - as it will take me a while to come up with anything remotely interesting other than what I like to eat for breakfast, I shall save this excitement for you for another post.

If you can bear the suspense ;)





I shall also be compiling a little list of blogs to pass on these awards to, always difficult as there are so many amazing blogs out there,and narrowing it down to just a few is never easy.




Well, I don't think there's anything else on the agenda for now, so are there any questions????

No?

Good - I hope you managed to stay awake!





28 comments:

  1. I second that motion madam chair person! It's amazing how much blogging has enriched my life. It makes my focus on the positives I have because it's hard to be negative when writing a blog and I am always in awe of others achievments no matter how big or small (or un-noticed by those closest).
    Well said Gill and MANY congratulations in reaching 100 followers!
    Love
    Tickety-boo x

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  2. Congrats on reaching your 100 followers, not surprising really though as you have a lovely blog! Congrats too for your well deserved awards.
    I think you have summed up blogging beautifully and how great it is to be living the 'ordinary' life! :)
    Love your new blog banner too!
    Happy Tuesday,
    Vivienne x

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  3. Hello Gill:
    There is a great deal of truth, we feel, in the words 'They also serve who only stand and wait'. Not, for one moment, do we think of you as standing around, quite the contrary, but we think you will understand what is meant.

    Congratulations on 100 Followers and on your 'awards'; they are very tangible evidence of the high regard with which both you and your blog are held. You always write in an entertaining and informative manner, your subjects are interesting and varied, and you are constantly generous with your comments. We, and we are by no means alone, are delighted to have discovered you, and we wish you every success in the years ahead.

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  4. Lovely jubbly Gill! Awards are cool and you deserve them - your blog is a delight - and so is your garden, by the way.

    And 100 followers is grand. Excellent stuff. :)

    Yes we're pretty much all normal ordinary people but we all also have something special and unique too.

    I love the glimpse into other's lives that blogging gives.

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  5. What a lovely post, filled with lovely pictures, and sentiments! I agree that the crafting blog world is full of such kind and genuine people - it is so great to be a part of it.

    Congratulations on reaching your 100 followers - very impressive! I can't wait to reach 50, so I can do my giveaway!! :o)

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  6. Congratulations on 100 followers Gill!
    I love your chatty style of blogging and your gorgeous photos

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  7. I think congratulations are in order! well done on reaching 100 followers, the rest are easy from here :) well done also on your awards :)

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

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  8. Your amazingly sweet I can't believe you don't have a 1,000 yet you will!
    congrats on your wonderful awards, also!
    the flowers are so beautiful.

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  9. What a lovely post, Gill, and so eloquently written. I've found just the same, so much creativity and kindness. Well done on getting 100 followers - well-deserved awards too for your lovely blog. The photos of your garden are beautiful too :)
    Jane x

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  10. Lovely garden you have there!

    Sandie xx

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  11. AOB - !
    I agree with everything you have said, Gill. I so enjoy participating in the blogging community and have 'met' some kind and sensitive people. Congratulations on your awards and having 100 people who enjoy sharing your day-to day observations and creativity. I will look forward to your giveaway with great anticipation, but to win twice would be a little greedy, wouldnt it!?
    Becky x
    PS Your garden is looking beautiful.

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  12. PPS Lovely new banner. What are they?
    Becky x

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  13. Congrtas on your awards, very well deserved.
    Love the lavender photos.
    Lisa x

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  14. I love the pictures of your garden - and well done in your success at blogging!

    Pomona x

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  15. Hi Gill, I am glad you worked out which award it was, I don't know what went wrong there.

    I am pretty sure you would love the book. Hope you can track it down, if not I'll post more photos.

    Congratulations on your 100 followers, it's definately a measure of how much your blog is appreciated. I think you wrote about the world of blogging beautifully, you have a lovely way of writing which along with the fantastic photos, both your own and the ones you put together are what makes your blog very special.x

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  16. Hi Gill, what a wonderful post. Your words are so true, I couldn't agree more with you. Blogging has certainly enriched my life. Congratulations on your 2 new awards,they are truly deserved. Congratulations on reaching 100 followers, a true testament to the quality of your blog and to your lovely generous nature. Thankyou for visiting and for your encouraging words. I made grape jelly once, but it wouldn't set, and then I boiled it too much! C'est la vie! Have a wonderful week, love Linda x p.s. I love,love, love your new header!

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  17. Thanks for your comment on mine, Gill - your garden looks fab too! The blue flowers are Polemonium or Jacob's ladder. The pink roses don't have a scent, but it's very prolific and flowetrs all summer! Well done on your awards! Abby x

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  18. Congratulations on the 100 followers and such beautiful words to go with it. I agree with all you said. And well done on your lovely awards to. Have a lovely week, dee x

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  19. Congratulations on your two well deserved awards and your 100 followers, Gill! Your post is a wonderful description of the joy and enrichment of our blog world - so much more than it seems before joining it, and so enriching and life enhancing. How wonderful to relish the ordinary and enjoy simple every day pleasures - it really is what life is about and appreciating that makes everyone much happier I'm sure! Your blog is always a delight to visit. Your garden is looking very beautiful in these pictures. Hope you're having a lovely week.
    Helen x

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  20. Oh thanks for visiting Gill. Yes you must make crabapple jelly this year, in my opinion it is the best! I will e-mail the cake recipe to you later. I have saved it from a magazine and I don't know where it originally came from. Have a lovely day, love Linda x

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  21. What a lovely post, and congratulations on 100 Followers. I know I felt EXACTLY they way you do when I started out last July. Like you, I've met so many kind, nice and interesting people that I would not have met otherwise. Congrats on the awards too!

    Oh, thanks for including my favorite you know who in your photos! Have a great day!

    Mary

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  22. My oh my I don't blog for a few days and look what happens! Lovely blog post many congrats on your 100 friends and your awards well deserved.

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  23. Good evening Gill,
    Wasdale is the answer to your question, it was voted the Nation's favourite view on the telly a year or two back but really all the contenders were beautiful.
    My other half is the serious photographer so it was his idea, I just went along for the ride and took a couple of snaps and made the bacon butties! We weren't the only ones there either.

    I got the book sent from the US on amazon, the only time I have bought one from abroad. It came no prob. x

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  24. Hi Gill,
    Well done on awards and great blog today! you are amazing and have done so well!
    I am still away from reaching a 100 followers. but am nearly on facebook, so should think about a give-away.
    Just pressed wrong button so this is my second message! aaaaaah.
    better get some sleep!
    Take care for now and well done!
    Becca

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  25. Thank you for the walk through your garden...which is lovely.

    Bloggers are the best...hugs

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  26. Your garden is so beautiful and I always enjoy seeing pictures of it. And congratulations on reaching100 followers!!

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  27. Great Photos! Especially the little dog :-)

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Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to leave a comment - I love to read them!
Gill x