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Friday, January 23, 2009

Cultivating Friendships

I recently received a message from Sunita of The Urban Gardener telling me she had awarded the Friendship Award to me. It was so sweetly presented there was no way I could refuse; her post was beautifully and lovingly written. I need to list eight bloggers who have been outstanding through their friendship to me... though I can never write this up as beautifully as Sunita did her lovely, outstanding post, "Making a difference"

I had to think about this for a long while, because I didn't want to name ones I had selected for previous awards, and don't know if it is OK to name those who have been presented the same award earlier. (Though so many names from both groups came quickly to mind for this award, such as: Kerri, Philip, et al.)

I traced the award back as far as Anne and her blog Peek-A-Boo Street. The following was written by Anne in her post: "I Received An Award!", and I blatantly copy from her post the following information about the award.

"This award focuses on the friendships that blossom here in blog land. Blogs who receive this award are; exceedingly charming' say it's authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kink bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or 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 award."

If you in my list do not want to continue the award, that is perfectly OK with me. Still, I wanted all of you to know how much I appreciate your friendliness. (I couldn't list only eight... I sneaked and listed nine.)

The bloggers in this list were either supportive of my early work in my blog; or frequently left encouraging comments to my earliest posts; or helped me learn my way around Blotanical when I was new there; or.... all of the above! You helped keep me going. Thank You!

A LIST OF FRIENDLY BLOGGERS
Frances Fairegarden
Tina In the Garden
Anna FLOWERGARDENGIRL
Joey The Village Voice
Carol May Dreams Gardens
Cinj Cinj's Chat Room
Melanie Old Country Gardens
Amy Blossom
Steve Steve Snedeker's Landscaping and Gardening Blog

Thank you, everyone!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Barbee, that is so sweet of you, thank you so much. This is a special award, for friendliness and I appreciate your thinking of me in that way. It will be put on my awards page if I can figure out how to get it there. :-)
Frances

tina said...

Well I think you did a very grand job of writing this up Barbee. I am HONORED! Very, very honored. Thank you SO much! Bringing tears to my eyes now.

Amy said...

I'm really honoured that you would think of me Barbee, thank you! I'm relieved I can leave a comment. For weeks now I've been having trouble with comments on Blogger sites and I don't know why. It's been very frustrating!

Amy

joey said...

Dear Barbee ~ I'm honored by your thoughtfulness to include me in this wonderful list of many mentors that also brighten my day and enrich my life. Thank you :) (I'm away from home but will include this gift when I return and have access to my own computer.)

Jan said...

I read Sunita's post that day and she did say some wonderfully kind things about you, Barbee. I got the same kind of welcome from many of the people you listed (Frances, Tina. Anna, Joey, & Cinj)...I feel like I've known them for years;)

That award is special. Kim gave it to me when she gave it to Sunita. It's so nice when people think of us;)

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks, Barbee. You've delighted me from the very first time I visited, wanting to see another native Kentuckian and a bit more of my native geography. But you also had that other local characteristic of friendliness which made me look more often, too. I value any compliment, but coming from you, it is especially dear. Your modesty and your obvious sincerity humble me. Oh - and 'you still da gal'.

I have redone my computer entirely and it has affected how often I post. I'm back now and expect to get back up to date. You better come by, or else.

Sunita Mohan said...

Ohhh, Barbee! That was so beautifully said !If you're not careful, you'll find me turned into a big puddle of mush on the keyboard.
It isn't in the least bit surprising that I've had so many people who read my post, chiming in to say how much you deserve this award and just what a difference your encouragement has made to them and their blogs. Thank you, Barbee. For the encouragement as well as for accepting this award and carrying it forward. I know that you are not very keen on memes and awards usually, which makes this post doubly special!

Daphne Gould said...

I haven't seen that award going around before. I always wonder who starts them and why they do it. I like the sentiment behind this one and wonder if someone made it just to give to someone special.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Hi Barbee, congratulations on your friendship award. Thank you so much for your visit and comment.
Are you seeing little signs of spring in your garden or is it still in deep snow? Well, I guess wintertime is good for a rest for everybody incl. the plants. Have a nice week.

Robin Ripley said...

I'm always impressed at the community of bloggers out there. I sometimes will drop out of things for a bit due to work and life and there is always someone to tap me on the shoulder and say "You're missed." I'm always touched by that kind of warmth. Clearly, you've embraced it and people have noticed.

BTW, you've introduced me to some new bloggers here. Thank you!

Robin Wedewer

Unknown said...

I've never heard of this award. You are so sweet. I must say I would pick most of the same bloggers to give this award to!

Marta McDowell said...

Oooh, new blogs to read. Thank you for the suggestions, Barbee. Cheers!

Gunilla said...

Congratulations on your award is nice to be appreciated. Thanks for youe comment.

Have a nicee day

Gunilla

Kerri said...

Thanks for the mention, dear Barbee. You most certainly deserve this award for your warmth and friendliness...always making each of us feel like special friends.
It's such a pleasure to 'know' you through blogging :)
Sunita wrote such a wonderful post, didn't she? She's a blogger with heart! - one of many in this wonderful world of blogging :)

Barbee' said...

Frances, Tina, Blossom/Amy, Joey, Steve, Cinj, Kerri: You all deserved the awards and mentions. I highly appreciate your support and friendliness. I had trouble narrowing it down to even 9! The following names are examples of why.

Jan, Sunita, Daphne, Titania, Robin W., Marta, Gunilla: Thank you for visiting, commenting, and being more examples of the friendliness of bloggers.

To everyone: thank you all for your kind comments.

Maria Berg said...

It is always lovely to get an award. I wish it was easier to write in English for me - I love to speak English but to write - difficult.
I am so happy that you want to come around and visit my blogg from time to time.

About blotanican - I can not get hold of peopele, do you think it has to do with the fact that I signed up in May but did not get started until a month ago.
Do I need to sign up again do you think?

Maria Berg

Barbee' said...

Mariaberg,
I hope it is easier for you to read English than to write it. I am leaving this reply to your comment here on my blog in hopes other Bloggers will read it, then visit your blog, and maybe have more suggestions for you. I may even write a post about it.

Also, I will put a copy on your blog so you may use your translator to translate it from my English into your language. I find the translators seem to translate with dictionary meanings which may not be exactly the meaning intended, but I can usually figure it out and hope you will be able to, also. I have even learned a few words of Swedish, but I do not spell well. (skicka, kommentar, and kommentarer) Many times there are enough similarities to English, that I can understand some of the Swedish.

About blotanical:
I do not think you should sign up again. If you did not get started using it until a month ago, that is probably the problem for it takes time to build up a circle of friends.

Writing in English is not easy for you, but I love the little mistakes people make when writing English, I think they are charming! And, pushing yourself to get in and do it on the blogs shows that you are an interesting, determined to be friendly, spunky (brave and fun) person. People will like that.

I noticed you had left a message in my plot telling me I can now translate your blog. That message encouraged me to go visit your blog and I have enjoyed using the translator. It is a good thing.

I went to your plot in Blotanical to see if I could recognize problems for you there. I see there that you have been a member since 29 April 2008. (That information is below your photograph.)

I noticed he still has you in the category "Blotanist", but you have a garden blog now, so I think you should be in "Blogger" category. However, I do not think that is important for contacting and making new friends. I think the following suggestions are more helpful for that.

I also noticed that you have faved a few bloggers. I think if you fave more, you will be noticed more.

If you have no more points to use to fave people, you need to do things to get more points: send and receive messages in Blotanical; leave messages in the Forums; and do Picks. Those are 3 things that come quickly to my mind. If you need help with any of that I might be able to help. With clicking Picks, you do not have to be able to write English. If you are the first person to pick someone's post, your name will be revealed and that might be a benefit to you.

There are other members who are in Sweden. Writing messages to them would be much easier. Have you found them? If not, here is what to do:
Go to your plot;
Find the tab 'Blog Directory' (I think it is above your name near the top of the page.);
Click 'Blog Directory';
Click 'Europe'; that takes you to a map. If you need more help from there, just let me know, I'm glad to help. Other people helped me when I was new to Blotanical.

When you leave comments on the posts in other people's blogs, you will gradually build up name recognition and people might click on your name then go to your blog. Not all English speakers and writers are as adventurous as you are; they may not go further when they see you post in Swedish. That is their loss!
Best Wishes,
Barbee'

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Hurray for all the friendly bloggers!

Lucy

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Hi Barbee and congratulations to your lovely award. Very nice post and it is so nice to read all the comments to it.

Take care xoxo Tyra

Barbee' said...

Thank you, Tyra. I haven't written much lately... been a bit under the weather and we had an ice storm that took out our electrical service for a few days.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Barbee, I just read your note on Blotanical about things not being too great for you at present.

I do wish you well and hope that your health and other challenges improve soon.

I think it's easy to be pressured into blogging once one's started and has a big 'fan' base - as you have.

I hope you will take your time and only blog when the moment (s) is (are) right.

I always look forward to your posts and, however long the gaps between, will look out for them and enjoy them when they come.

Best wishes.

Feel better soon.

Lucy

Barbee' said...

Lucy, that is one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you sooooo much! I've been doing a lot of reading this winter: blogs and books. I figured out Blogger.com's 'Following' and I like it very much, better than the readers I had tried before. I think I have about 70 in my list and have more I want to add. I hope there isn't a limit to the number I can have.

Maria Berg said...

It a long time since you wrote on your blog or is it me that can not see it?

Thank you for stopping by my blog and had a look at the snowdropps - spring flowers.

MB

Barbee' said...

It is me, not you, Maria. I hope to get back to it before too long. Thank you for checking on me :)

Balisha said...

Happy Valentine's Day, Barbee

Barbee' said...

How sweet, Balisha, thank you. I think we are about finished cleaning up from all the storms, but it still needs to be hauled away.

Unknown said...

I just thought I'd drop by and see how you were doing. It's been a while since we heard from you. I bet you're as anxious for spring to come as I do.