My weekend... and an award!

Amy kindly passed this award along to me, and I accept it gratefully. Check out her blog HERE. As I always do, I'm telling you to help yourself to this award if you like it. Because I'm lazy.

I have no idea how I stumbled across Amy's blog, back in the old AOL Journals days. I know I used to use search words looking for journals that might be written by people with whom I might have common interests, but Amy and I don't have that much in common. Who knows. Maybe I just found her link on somebody else's journal and followed it. Anyway, I've been reading her for at least five years.

Amy's in Texas; but an uncommon proportion of my AOL buddies are residents of Georgia; that's because I thought I'd know more about what was happening in my son's state with weather and such if I read these journals; now I just read them because I enjoy them.

On the AOL Journals, I also searched out Kansas City residents. I found two, but the only one I really stuck with was Toon Guy, whom I eventually met in person. And who hates the Blogger format so much he seldom writes any more.

I didn't realize then that there was a larger world called Blogspot, or Blogger, and that most Kansas Citians used that medium. I had no clue what a tiny and temporary world was AOL's J-Land. Now I have access to so many KC blogs I could go on overload if I didn't pick and choose the ones that most interest me.

Now, about our weekend: Cliff and I got a two-hour motorcycle ride in Saturday afternoon, then ate supper with his sister and her guests. I woke up Sunday saying I wasn't going to do Easter dinner, but somewhere around mid-morning, I decided to cook a ham and bake some lemon pies, and anyone interested was welcome. I didn't do it up like I used to, mind you. But it was fine. We ate around 5 P.M.

I know it's far too early, but those tomatoes and peppers I started from seed in the house were getting (literally) too big for their britches, and I've had them outside quite a bit lately. Well, during a break in yesterday's meal planning and laundry-folding, I went out and stuck them all in the ground. Poor little things, it's so COLD. If we get another frost or hard freeze (and we probably will) I'll be going out there and covering them, because I've gotten rather attached to them.

I'm enjoying my tulips, and learning some of their tricks: I didn't know they'd close up their blooms at night, and on really cloudy days. Yesterday was so gloomy they stayed in hiding all day long.

That's enough for this morning's ramble.

Hurry up, spring weather!

Fast Friends: Fast, but not Loose

original artwork by Kathy. Please ignore the spelling. That's what makes it so charming. LOL

"The Friends Award isn't about being the most popular blogger or having the most read blog. It is just because you consider the author a friend. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I received this award from Kathy, one of my long-time AOL journal friends. There's no way I can pick out eight people to receive it, though. I consider so many of my faithful readers to be my friends.

When Cliff went into the hospital unexpectedly for open heart surgery, I came home and did a journal entry about it. The next time I peeked in, that entry had 85 comments from caring people. I don't know why it helps in times of crisis to see people saying, "I care" in one form or another. But it does.

Then there was the time that Mandy, my dog, got hit on the highway and died. Sixty-six people expressed their concern.

So if you've ever reached out to me in any small way, whether in times of joy or sorrow, consider yourself a recipient of the above award.

I am so grateful that our AOL journals were able to be transferred to Blogger, even though most of the pictures didn't transfer; there are so many memories in my old journal.

An award

Grams, over at Talk To Grams, has bestowed this award upon me.

I discovered this nearby lady in one of those "it's a small-world" moments that led me on sort of a wild goose chase: I typed into Google the names of a former pastor and his wife, and that led me to a comment made by Grams on someone's blog. Upon reading the comment, I realized she lived not far away, in a town where I frequently attend Church. So I looked at her profile, went to her blog, and have been reading it ever since.

Thanks, Grams! I'll bet you and I will meet in person one of these days.

I have many awesome blogger friends, so if you have been a friend to me in any way, consider yourself awarded.