I met another Blogger Friend... WOW!!!

This past Sunday, George and I had some visitors at our house... Blogger friend, KELLY , hubby Rick, and his mom, Mary, stopped by to see our Roses and Lilies---and hopefully to see US too!!!! ha


Kelly and I have been bloggy friends for a short time ---and realized while emailing that her inlaws have just moved to Fairfield Glade, not far from where we live. SO---on their way home from vacation near Hilton Head, Kelly and Rick stopped by to see his parents. I invited all of them to come over to see us---and luckily, they DID (except for Rick's father who had taken their son fishing).


Kelly is a fairly new blogger ---and is looking for more bloggy friends, especially birders. She and Rick and their son live in Cincinnati. Here's what Kelly says about herself on her profile:

"Every Day the Bird Lover’s Way" became my mantra when I decided to take my love of birds and my desire to protect their habitat to the next level. This blog helps me unite my birdy friends and family with the wonderful world of birds…and helps me connect with other bird and nature lovers so I can learn more about the field and conservation. Thanks for stopping by!

Some of Kelly's interests besides Birding are: Yoga, Painting, Low-salt and Healthy Cooking/Eating, her hubby's and son's hockey and tennis involvement, Cornish Rex Cats, Nature, Hiking, Reading, Pottery, Conservation, Recycling, Biking, and Cello


You can see that this is one smart, well-rounded gal. I just love her to pieces!!!! The very first thing I noticed was that huge, fabulous, marvelous camera that all good birders have. Amazing!!!! (Guess my little 'point and shoot' doesn't make me a good birder, huh???? ha )


Kelly posted her visit to our house HERE if you'd like to read it. She got some great photos of our roses and lilies... She and Rick have just returned from Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge in SC. She saw some amazing birds---and said that she'll be posting them for the next few weeks. Yesterday, she posted a Painted Bunting. Wow--what a gorgeous bird. Hope you'll check out her blog.


Above is a picture of Kelly and me ---and below are a few more.







Here's Kelly and her sweetie, Rick, who also is a blogger







Above is Rick, Kelly and Rick's mom, Mary. As I said, Mary and hubby, Ron, just moved to our area. Hope they love it as much as we do.







I love this photo of Kelly and Rick with our roses and lilies in the background!!!!! (Look at her camera!!!! Wow!!!)


As I said, after meeting Leedra and Shelley this past week, it is such a JOY to meet blogger friends in person. Since Kelly and Rick have family here, I hope they will visit often. In the meantime, check out Kelly's blog.


Hugs,

Giveaway Winner

Thanks for so many comments on yesterday's blog. My all-time high was 62 comments on March 30... I was hoping you all would top that ---and you DID. I even had five new folks who visited yesterday.


This is my first Giveaway ---and I wanted choosing a winner to be as simple as possible. (You know I'm all about SIMPLE.) SO----I went through my comments and made a list of those who signed up for the book giveaway. Then I numbered all of them off ---from 1 -44. (Several who commented didn't mention the book or the giveaway, or had already read the book.) George had no idea what I was doing ---so I just asked him to pick a number between 1 and 44... He came up with Number SIX. And the person's name next to Number six is the WINNER.


Congratulations to BETH who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains in gorgeous North Carolina. Beth has been a regular viewer (and commenter) on my blog since the end of February. I really like this young woman. She is a great writer. Here's some info I found on Beth's profile:

Hi, I’m Beth, and I’m happy to say that I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Most of my early life was spent as a preacher’s daughter in Eastern North Carolina, but I always felt most at home in the Appalachians. So, four years ago, my family and I followed our hearts west. As they say, I wasn’t born here, but I got here as quick as I could.


I’m married, with two children, who, if I may say so, are simply the most extraordinary children ever. My youngest just left for college. Empty nest? Are you kidding? They might be gone, but their stuff isn’t. Books, papers, art supplies, computer parts, amps, guitars—I am still surrounded by the remnants of my children’s lives. But I don’t really mind. Truth is—I’m not quite ready to completely let go.


My abiding interests and passions—besides raising my children—are reading, hiking, porch sitting, and trying to grow a little every day in my spiritual life. I have been a secretary, library assistant, and a janitor. My husband is a carpenter and handyman. And both of us want to write.


I used to write. Poetry, essays, fiction—even got published a time or two, but the past twenty years have been hard ones. They’ve taken a toll, and I’ve lost something. Oh sure, I still write, but it comes hard. That’s why I started this blog—to see if I can find what I lost and to see if I can ever hope to become a real writer.

Beth recently wrote a blog post that just blew me away. I wrote her and told her that she needs to send it to Guidepost magazine (or some publication). Please click on her name above and read the post entitled "Signs and Wonders and Marvels and Miracles"... It's long---but very powerful. You will be glad you read it.


Congrats to Beth ---and to all of you. You are ALL winners in my book.


We are heading back to Hendersonville today /tonight ---for a family get-together --so I won't be around to check your blogs.. I will catch up SOMEDAY.


Hugs to all,