Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Friends

I have to give credit where credit is due. And come clean, at the same time. Way back in the winter one of my first blogging friends, Kim, gave me a special friendship award: and at the time, though honored, I didn't write a post about it. I was trying to keep my blog 'personal' and fill it with posts of personal photos and writings, only. Well then, I received a lovely gift from Karrita, as part of a pay-it-forward activity I chose to participate in:

I didn't post about that, either. I felt that it was a nice gesture to give and receive, and I didn't need to discuss it in public. Then, you guessed it, Jenny gave me an award!

How honored I was, and still am. But did I write a post about it, nope. It wasn't that I didn't feel appreciative. I certainly did...but I was feeling funny about the whole thing and didn't want to make a big deal of it on a post. Instead, I put the awards in my sidebar. Can you guess where I'm going with this? You guessed it! I just received another award. This time it's from Janet :

I decided it was about time to just come clean and tell you all about how special these people are and how thankful I am for the actual friends I've made through blogging. This has become not just a 'garden journal', it has become a 'journal of my friends'. Anyone who visits and comes back again is a friend already-but those who stick with me and still haven't removed themselves from my followers list is indeed a friend!

Many people choose not to participate in nor accept awards. It's become very obvious to me that blogging is more than just 'journaling', it's sharing-and that includes making friends. I've enjoyed making friends! At the same time, I've had a horribly difficult time deciding who I would give these awards to. I have chosen to accept them but I truly believe all of my blogging friends deserve these awards and I'm not here to pick favorites. I hope no one is offended by this, I just can't do it. I hope you'll all remain my blogging friends and followers, as I will yours! So with that thought in mind, I want all of you to look at these and pick up whichever award suits your fancy. I've decided to devote a separate page for these, that can be accessed from my profile page on Blogger. You are my friends and I look forward to reading your blogs and viewing your wonderful garden photos.

Thank you all;-)

--Today I am thankful for garden blogging friends.

27 comments:

  1. This is a lovely heartfelt post, as always, Jan.It IS awesome--and humbling--to realize just how many friendships are forged and blossom as a result of blogging and commenting. I'm glad to see you posting again.

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  2. Those are lovely acknowledgements, Jan! Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  3. You know Jan, I've been thinking the same thing. After receiving the Renee Award from Raingardener, (wow, me?) I first of all, didn't know HOW to do all this copy/paste thing. And second, how do I pick out 5 favorites? Yet, how do I adequately show my appreciation? I'm still working on it. I appreciate your post because it gives me a boost towards figuring it out. I love all of my new blogging friends and I certainly don't want to come off as snubbing and self righteous.

    Blogging is such a new thing that the rules for etiquette are still a bit undefined.

    Your love, appreciation and sensitivity come through clearly in your words.

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  4. Jan, thank you for this post. I've been having a tough time since I got my reward several days ago. I just can't name five bloggers, I like them all, each one differently. It was a torture for me to name 5! So, I never did. Your post makes me feel better. Thank you!

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  5. Jan you have a beautiful blog here.

    Also I am sorry to hear about all the things you have had to go through with cancer and on the other hand I am very happy to hear that you are doing well.

    Jan you asked if I made the Renee Award, and no I did not. I actually knew nothing about the award until it came out.

    It was made by two very talented artists Bella and Ces. They are both bloggers as well.

    If you go to Bella's site you will see what she has written about the award and also from her site you can click onto Ces.

    They are both brilliant and I am sure that you will love them as much as I do.

    http://bellasinclair.blogspot.com/search?q=Renee+Award

    I guess if you put that on the top row it will get you there Jan.

    Hope this helps.

    Renee xoxox

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  6. Well looks like you did a nice post to acknowledge all the wonderful & nice people in the garden blogging community. :)

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  7. Such a nice post addressing awards Jan. I think they are such a wonderful way to honor bloggers.

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  8. I always appreciate the awards too, but like you, I just can't pick and choose who to pass them on to either. I always try to thank the person that sends them, but I don't usually acknowledge them on my blog. I guess that is probably improper blogging etiquette.

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  9. Jan -- Yes, there are so many blogging friends and we're grateful for them.

    Cameron

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  10. Well said, thanks for sharing!

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  11. Well said. I'm one who decided not to accept anymore awards ... mainly because the first several times, those that I passed them on to never acknowledged that I had given them. So I guess I gave up. I probably should not of given up so easily. Somewhere on my computer I have the awards, and I should display them with honour. Thanks for making me re-think awards again.

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  12. Hi Jan- I feel very fortunate to have 'met' you through blogging and can't imagine not having you or your blog around. Thanks for sharing and I think you said it perfectly!

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  13. Jan, well said. And your awards are well deserved. Blogging has been a wonderful opportunity for me to meet and make great friends and it is hard to pick and chose-so I don't anymore. But I do acknowledge when someome gives me something. I just feel privledged to be a part of such a wonderful group. :)

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  14. Jan, I have enjoyed getting to know you from your blog. I always feel like I have had a nice visit from a good friend. It is hard to know how to respond to so many awards. I like and enjoy ever blog I visit and it made me feel uncomfortable to pick and choose, so I decided not to! I think you did a marvelous job of acknowledging some very thoughtful people.

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  15. Jan You dark horse. I am so pleased that you have received these awards especially the Renee award. You were on my short list so things worked out well.

    I had to spend some time figuring out how to cut and paste in photo uri but hi now I have improved my skills even further

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  16. Jan, a great way to handle it I don't do awards much anymore because I feel guilty forwarding them on. Here's hoping you have a beautiful garden day.~~Dee

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  17. Very nicely said Jan~~bloggers are just the kindest folks! gail

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  18. I have the same problem too. I can't just pick 5 favs etc. SO I just don't do anything. I guess that is wrong too. It made me feel very uncomfy to get an award in the first place. I felt like I didn't deserve it. I guess a separate page with just awards would be nice and if someone wanted to go and view your awards they could(-: My blog sidebar is filled up with the blogs I follow. I feel that is more important then getting an award. I love to follow all the blogs and keep up to date with all the gardening tips/flowers/art etc. of my fellow bloggers(-:
    CiNdEeS' GaRdEn

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  19. You also got an award from Bek but it's only on her website (not emailed): http://barbarasgarten.blogspot.com/2009/04/sommerwetter-summer-weather.html -- at least I'm assuming you're the Jan she means.

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  20. Congratulations on the awards. I know how you feel I put mine on the side bar also but I hated to choose certain ones also when I appreciated so much all of the ones I have met through my blog. I enjoy hearing from all of them and learning from them.

    I am glad you found my second blog Nature's Scenic View.I was taking so many nature photos that I didn't want then clogging up Blotanical for gardening so I started the other one just for nature and landscapes. I also live in a scenic area and I wanted to share it. Thanks for dropping by it and the compliments. You should do one if you can because you always have the most beautiful bird ad nature pictures to share.

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  21. There you go, Jan. I feel the same way. It's a huge compliment to receive awards, but I am hard-pressed to decide who (and WHO DOESN'T??) get them, if I'm to pass them on. I posted similarly not long ago.

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  22. Awards are touchy....everyone deserves an award...everyone has something unique to offer. Well put, Jan! Hope this comment makes it through, as my first didn't!

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  23. Hi, Jan, I loved your post. One of the things that blogging has shown me (and I'm ashamed that it has taken me so long to think hard about this) is that if you put more into things, you get more in return. It's difficult always to find time to answer comments and follow other people's blogs, but I know how much it means to me, so I feel the least I can do is to return the compliment. So on that basis, I won't take an award, but I have signed up to follow your blog. I know you've been a loyal follower of mine and I really appreciate that.
    Best wishes, Victoria

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  24. Jan, this is a lovely post. What I have loved about blogging is that one really does become friends with other bloggers and appreciative of each individual personality and garden.

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  25. What a wonderful post. Congratulations. We sure do meet a lot of great people out there in blog land, don't we? I've missed getting out and visiting my bloggy buddies lately, but I sure have been busy!

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  26. Congratulations on your awards, Jan! And what a lovely gift from Karrita! I agree with you, that making so many new friends through blogging has been an unexpected benefit. I thought I would learn some new information about gardening through blogging, but I didn't realize how many wonderful people are out there, and not all are gardeners.

    It is pouring rain here today, with no let-up in sight. Sigh, I'm not sure when I'll get back in the garden again:)

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Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

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