This past summer, I did a post called The “There Should Be An Award for That” Awards. Having spent the greater part of the day trolling unsuccessfully for something else to write about, I bring you a Winter Edition of the Awards:
1. The “Most Freshly Pressed” Award. Winner: My friend, Todd Pack at Todd Pack’s Messy Desk. On Tuesday, Todd was Freshly Pressed for the 4th time in the mere 8 months he’s been blogging! He’s an excellent writer, great dad, and an all-around nice guy. Check out his blog!
2. The “Giggling at Inappropriate Moments” Award. Winner: Hope. During my dad’s Christmas concert on Tuesday night, the audience was invited to sing along to three Christmas carols. Hope found the word “ass” in the lyrics of What Child is This? highly amusing.
3. The “Last Minute” Award. Winner: Anna. We leave at 7 a.m. for town every morning. This morning, she decided at 6:56 a.m. that it would be a good time to look for her bodysuit for cheerleading (they have two basketball games this evening). We didn’t find it…we did, however, find her French language dictionary that’s been AWOL since school started in September. Her friend, Celia, will be very happy not to have to share hers any more!
4. The “Worst Stocking Stuffer Ever” Award. Winner: Vicks VapoRub. Today, my new blogging acquaintance, Vickie at Jumping in Mud Puddles, talked about things she got in her stocking as a child. Sure…we all got socks, but how many kids were lucky enough to be the recipients of Vicks and tweezers? Vickie was also recently Freshly Pressed.
5. The “Angry Street Musician” Award. Winner: The kid I saw sitting on the sidewalk in front of the City Market today playing a xylophone as if he were doing a drum solo. Newsflash: You are not Phil Collins, and xylophones should not be struck hard enough to bend the keys. Producing harsh tones is not conducive to filling up your hat with change (unless people pay you to STOP).
6. The “Clever Pun” Award. Winner: A customer at my favourite Chinese food place. Once a week, I buy my lunch…it’s my treat to myself. I usually go to House of Chan in Brunswick Square and get one of their combo plates. When I arrived there today, the Lo Mein noodle warmer was empty…there were three more people in front of me who were also waiting for noodles! I got a kick out of the guy who went around the lineup, ordered fried rice with his chicken balls and dry garlic meatballs, and then proceeded to call his noodle-loving buddy in front of me a “Ricist.” Eventually, fresh noodles were ready…I enjoyed them with my cashew guy ding and sweet and sour chicken.
What a Difference a Year Makes!
One year ago today, I sat down at my computer and began an odyssey into a strange and wondrous place that I knew virtually nothing about: the blogosphere. Armed with a desire to get back to writing regularly after a three-year hiatus, I sent my thoughts hurtling into cyberspace. What a positive and enlightening journey it’s been!
The Readers
If people didn’t read my blog, it wouldn’t have a reason to exist…I am so thankful that each of you takes the time from your busy day to come for tea in Hammond River! I would like to make special mention of my first blogging buddy, Jane at PlaneJaner’s Journey. Jane’s been with me since the very first day, encouraging me and telling others about me! I will always be grateful that we found each other, Jane, and am proud to call you my friend! When I first started, hits on my blog averaged about 35 or 40 hits a day…now I’m getting 125 to 150 a day! I’m closing in on 25,600 hits, and 4100 comments for the year! If you’re a “lurker”, don’t be shy…please leave me a comment…I promise to answer it!
The Community
I really had no idea that there were so many crazy talented writers out there when I started this project…smart, thoughtful, funny people who have taught me so much about good writing! I have blogging buddies on five continents! I’m sending all you guys a virtual brownie (I hope nobody’s allergic to cyber-sweetness!)…thanks for “getting me”! In honour of my “blogiversary”, I have added several new people to my blogroll today (see “He Said”, “She Said”, and “They Said”). Please take the time to check out their blogs: there’s nothing that makes me happier than hooking people up with great writers! Many of these folks have been Freshly Pressed, and most are the recipients of multiple awards…Mama don’t allow no junk on her blogroll!
Take two...they're small...I made them just for you!
The Posts
If someone were being really nice, they would probably classify my blog as a “cornucopia” of topics. Truthfully, I write what I feel like writing…several of my readers have commented that they never know what I’m going to write about next! I like not being “predictable”…that equals “boring” for me! Some days, I’m a “mommy blogger”, others I’m a “foodie”. I write about gardening sometimes, and tell stories about the wild animals that share our land. Other times, I’m an amateur historian, or relate stories of my own childhood. I rant…a lot! I talk about music, and books, and our bookstore. I’ve dabbled in fiction. I even took an action figure on a tour of our city! Changing things up is how I like to roll!
Recognition
Herding Cats in Hammond River has been Freshly Pressed twice by the powers that be at WordPress. Thanks to the folks there for maintaining a quality blog site…there were a few technical issues last night, but they seem to have been resolved! My fellow bloggers have been very generous about awards: They think my blog is “Bloody Brilliant”, “Versatile”, “Stylish” and “Memetastic”! Thanks for the love, you guys!
The Family
I couldn’t do my blog without the love and support of my family…thanks for waiting patiently for dinner while I finish a post (or photograph what I cooked), and letting me make fun of you in public! With you guys around, I’m sure I’ll never run out of things to write about!
Here’s to another year of Herding Cats in Hammond River! Thank you, everybody!
Hugs,
Wendy
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Filed under blogging, friends, self-discovery
Tagged as anniversary, bloggers, blogging, Bloody Brilliant Blogger's Award, comments, Freshly Pressed, friends, learning, readers, self-discovery, Stylish Blogger's Award, The Memetastic Award, Versatile Blogger Award, WordPress