A little square picture.
Usually it measures about 125 X 125…pixels if we are going to be technical.
So small that it really couldn’t be important…right?
Before I tell you about this tiny picture, let me explore an important topic…
The more official definition of “friendship” is a co-operative and supportive relationship between two or more people which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, affection and respect. “Friends” exhibit loyalty towards each other and also engage in a reciprocating helpful attitude and behavior, such as exchange of advice and sharing of hardship. It just sounds grand, huh? People who share because we want to and we like each other!
During the month of July, I took Harriet’s Comment Challenge which was to make 1,000 comments during the month. Having an OCD type behavior and because I believe if you are going to do something wholeheartedly, you leap in with both feet, I took the challenge. While posting 2,274 comments (yes, you can read that again…2,274) I have learned so many interesting things and I have been able to enjoy your families and friendship. It is hard for some people to understand that writing emails and posting comments to one another constitutes a “friendship,” however, read the definition of friendship again. A “blogging” friendship does meet the criteria and I’ve had some very open, honest and candid email exchanges with many people, albeit I think my most candid was with Teresha who happens to live in the same place I did most of my life (too bad I didn’t know that then!) and is about to have her first child…AWESOME!
For EVERYONE (that is a lot of peeps) that has written me to ask if I sleep (sleep is over rated!) because they have seen me as #1 on SITS and then find my comments a few hours later on another blog, the answer is “yes.” I do sleep, but I have been going to bed around 3:00 a.m. every night for about two months and I still get up at 5:30ish. I have a new found burst of energy since I’ve started my blog and started writing again! I’m enjoying it!
I also have a secret. In third grade, a long time ago during the dinosaur era (that was for Alyssa’s benefit), my elementary school started a pilot program for speed reading. Try to remember that this was before “computers” entered our homes. I could not imagine the priceless gift I was being given and I don’t think anyone else did back at that time either. It truly has changed my life. I am able to consume a large amount of information in a short time because I can read and comprehend very quickly. On top of that, I type quite fast (if you didn’t take typing in high school with a mean teacher like I did, you might want to check out Mavis Beacon®), so the combination of the reading and typing has allowed me to visit an extaordinary amount of blogs and leave quite a few comments behind in the 828 blogs I follow. No, that wasn’t a typo. I really keep track of 828 blogs. Remember that everyone doesn’t make a posting each day, so I don’t actually have to visit every blog, every day. Yes, you are right…I still visit quite a bunch. But between my blogroll, my Google followers list, the RSS feeds and my favorites folder on my toolbar, I’ve got it covered.
A few of my friends have honored me with 125 X 125 pictures in the form of blog awards. It was such a lovely surprise to read your comments and discover that you wanted to give me this little square of happiness! It would be almost impossible for me to choose the thirty blogs I am suppose to pass this award onto because I have fallen in love with your children, home decorations, dogs, Etsy shops, and one kitty (I’m so allergic to kitties) named Papillion Le Mew who just won my heart over. I’m creating my own button to pass along soon (something different that reflects friendship and your awesomeness), but I wanted to give you all a poem today…
when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone we treasure,
for our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives,
with beauty, joy and grace
And make the world we live in,
a better and happier place.
~Anonymous~
Without further adieu, please visit my friends who left these awards for me. Oh, and since Darcel and Cindy devoted an entire blog posting to just me (I was just totally blown away and so touched), I have added them to my left side bar under my profile (Do you like my little wave?).
Cindy at Chalk It Up!
Yonca at Yonca Is Cooking
Darcel at The Mahogany Way
I’m going to sign into the blog roll at SITS and see if I can leave a cute little message. I think I will start another blog to answer all your email and comment questions about navigation bars, little hearts ? and sunshines ?. That will also give me a chance to teach you some Excel formulas! You did want to know how to do some formulas didn’t you? Okay, that was my nerdy joke. I’m sure my mother is just rolling her eyes. No one wants me to teach them to do Excel formulas!
a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
~Anais Nin~
Thank you for being my friends.
Boo! Guess who? Me! Still seeing you everywhere, and now I know why! So you were above me in SITS today and I came over to say Happy Sat Sharefest.
Oh and, for some reason I can speed read too! It drives me insane that my husband reads so. ooo. oo…ooo. slow. So I end up reading everything to him! I mean they are just words that you should already know,how hard is it to put them together?!
Have a great weekend girlfriend!
awwww that is truly the sweetest thing ??? – tho, can't believe you follow 828 blogs!!!!!! you're obviously extremely efficient!!!!
have a lovely weekend! xx
What a lovely post. I certainly admire you being able to keep up with so many blogs; I find it so hard! I think you're completely right about blogging, or 'virtual', friendships – I've made so many friends through my blog and I've never even met most of them.
Thanks for making my blog one of the ones you stop by x
You're welcome! And thank YOU for visiting me so often and becoming one of my new bloggy friends ?
I don't always have the time I wish I had to visit (three kids 5 and under will do that to a person, LoL) I'm always happy to see your comment in my mod box!
You are a great friend! Thank you for always stopping by my blog and all your helpful tips for us!
Those numbers are amazing! What a gift to be able to read and comprehend that fast.
828 blogs???!!! WOW! This was a really sweet post. Congrats on the awards! I've only been doing this for a month now, and I'm so hooked! I know what you mean about staying up and late and waking up early to write. If it's something you enjoy (which you totally do) it's worth it! Nice to see you again bloggy freind! 😉
Holy cow! You do a lot of reding (and writing)! Congrats on all your awards!! I LOVE the poem you posted! Have a fabulous day!
Speed reading!! So that's your secret! I am such a slow reader, seriously slow reader! I spent about an hour on your blog yesterday researching for my FFF and was only able to read about 7 posts. (Well that included going back and forth putting together the post) I hope you like your feature. It was fun spending more quality time with your blog yesterday getting to know you better. Congrats on all the awards!
Thank you so much for putting my link under your profile!
Have a great day
Cindy
Lovely post! I love reading your blog. I dont know how you get by on such little sleep! Sorry that I've been a bad commentor, but I do read daily. I have truly met some amazing women courtesy of blogger and love the window on the world that it provides me with.
Love it! I couldn't agree more with what you say about friends! I love this blogging community and the encouragement I have received from other women has been tremendous. As a Christian I have learnt so much from others. My blog demands I open my Bible and read it! Before blogging I would just watch TV.
Fab post.
Your friend,
Collette xxxx
I definitely value my bloggy friends. They are some of the most amazing people I've ever "met".
I am the same way-OCD and speed reader. That's how I keep up with all the blogs. however, you are following an insane amount, be careful or you'll get burned out, k?
Thanks!! Another wonderful post! What a great way to wake up on a Saturday!!
That's a whole crap load of comments my friend! Thanks for including me in that. And, I do always wonder about those little hearts and sunshines you leave all over the place. I'm always sitting there thinking, "How did she do that?".
Hi! Waving frantically. Thanks for popping by today. Have a super Saturday.
All that reading AND you manage to write such beautiful and diverse posts regularly, too! You're more than a bloggy friend, you're more like a bloggy super-hero!
You are one gifted lady, my friend! I appreciate you always stopping by; I enjoy your blog so much!! Have a great weekend.
Diana
thanks for the early morning post and for leaving a comment on my fat a$$ post…lol….have a fabulous saturday!
Wonderful post.
Thanks for the mention!!!!! 🙂
828 blogs?! You are amazing!
Well done on completing the challenge by such a huge margin!
And thank you for visiting mine 🙂
Thank you so much for all the wonderful words on friendship. I treasure your visits to my site and I hope you continue to make me a part of all the places you frequent! God bless you . . .
Wow! Thats a lot of blogs! Welcome to mine.
You are great. Thank you for your frequent visits to my blog and for commenting. You are superwoman!!! I only wish I could keep up with you. And if I was computer literate, I would give you an award too. Just haven't figured that kinda stuff out yet.
This is such a sweet post and so true. I visit you regularly and am always uplifted by your posts. At the same time it always puts a smile on my face when you leave a comment on my blog.
Have a wonderful Saturday!
Girl, I sure hope you're making some moo-la from all your work!!! Your blog is looking great!
Wow! You are an extraordinary person…I can't believe you have made all those comments and follow so many…You've made my day and I'm sure many others…Thanks!
Congrats redhead! Very well deserved 🙂
I still can't believe you can manage all that. Impressive!
You truly have extended the hand of friendship, not just to myself and my blog, but apparently to hundreds of others! Kudos to you. That is a feat and accomplishment in the busy days of life.
Thanks for visiting and leaving comments on my blog and on behalf of those who are too absorbed in themselves to care <—- Thanks from them too! ?
Wow!!! That's astonishing. Funnily enough I was just thinking before I read your post, about how blogging has taken over my life and keeps me so busy!! I can't imagine following over 800 blogs!! Phew!
Have a great weekend.
B x
What a fabulous post! And although I may be one in a thousand, you always make me feel special. Thank you for that~
Thanks for the mention. I have gained so much from reading your blog and talking to you offline (probably way more than I have given).
You deserve every award for being such a good steward of your blog and friendships!
Teresha
what a nice post! I can't believe you follow that many blogs (and actually keep up with them all!!)
What a sweet and "so true" post. I feel blessed to have bloggy friends and IRL friends. I hope to make some of those bloggy friends, IRL friends soon. BlogHer '10, here I come!
So that's your secret…speed reading!
Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog & leaving a comment!
What a lovely post & thanks for the friendship banner!
I can speedread too & get about as musch sleep as you do – but a former supervisor also taught me a talent that's useful –
Learn to read upside down and backwards!
You're not above me on SITS today, but I'm stopping by to say:
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest
You can function and seem to do so well with that little sleep??? You are my hero!=) Thanks for being my bloggy friend and for stopping by! Have a great weekend. Happy Sat. Sharefest
Wow! that's a lot of commenting! I don't know how you do it! I've had to limit my time I spend reading blogs because it was totally taking over my life! I felt other areas of my life were suffering because of it. I'm sure I'm not considered a good blogging friend by many because I don't have time to visit everyone as often as I would like but between working, being a single mom and maintaining my home I just can't keep up with it all! I don't know how you do it!
It's wonderful to have you as a friend here in the blogosphere! Thanks for the lovely post and for your diligence in keeping up with all of us out here! You deserve every blog award- and then some (or 828!!).
Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog 🙂 828 blogs??? You are one busy mama!
You rock with keeping up with all those blogs. I can barely keep up with probably half that!!!
Have a GREAT weekend!!!
Hello! I've really enjoyed having you visit my blog and commenting. I'm honored to be among your many blogs followed.
BTW, I'm a redhead as well. I hope you'll continue to visit.
Thanks and take care!
I could never function on that little sleep! People who can amaze me! 🙂
Isn't it amazing, the feeling of writing again?
I promised myself I will never stop again!
Adorable blog!
Whew weee, you are one Bloggy busy lady, tee hee 😉 I'm a night owl too that gets up at 6:30ish, ugh! How do we do it…I have no clue! But sometimes it catches up to me, you? It's true though about the 'friendships,' I feel like some of my bloggy pals know me better than 'real' friends and I really consider them true friends. I think most people who don't understand the blogging community don't get it…but that's not our problem right, tee hee? HOpe you have a great weekend and just love your blog!
Jamie 🙂
Well with that much work you sure earned a boatload of awards! You are a very nice regular commenter on my board and I appreciate it. I just can't put that much time together to read more than about 10 blogs a day myself. But I'll work my way up to it. I seem to have picked blogs who do write every day so perhaps I need to pick more carefully! Have fun enjoying your recognition!
Thank you very much for being my friend! You are the true sweetheart of blogland and I appreciate "you". Congrats on your well deserved award.
Have a wonderful weekend.
~Warmly, Melissa 🙂
I loved this post….because I learned we have a little more in common…. I have OCD type behavior, I am a speed reader, and I LOVE excel formulas 😉 Have a great day!
Ashley
I see you leave very thoughtful comments. It is amazing that you can do this so widely. I know I appreciate your friendship.
I don't know what I would do without my bloggy friends…thanks for being there!
Congratulations on your awards! Seems like you have made quite a few friends here in the blogging world. I think it is just awesome that you are able to keep up with so many blogs!
Thank you for passing the award on to me. I really appreciate it! 🙂
RR~this was just Beautiful…I honestly do not know how I have managed the past year and half without your blog-
It's like a breath of fresh air-you are the defination of a Friend-no really I looked it up and there was your cute lil avatar staring back at me…
Congrats on your award and I feel so honored to call YOU my friend
?
Georgie
You are my hero. I try to visit and comment, but there just aren't enough hours in the day!
I want to take the comment challenge! How did you keep track? Is there some kind of tool or widget or something, or did you have to keep your own tally?
you are amazing. i love speed reading. i've never been taught but i think i do it somehow:) please get a little more sleep!!
You are truly a terrific blogger and deserve oh, so MANY awards—-as you are an inspiration to all us bloggers out here! Thanks for gracing my site—-love having you over there—makes me feel special!
Sorry I haven't been so good at coming back and supporting you! I go back and forth with getting into blogging, but have NOT had the time to devote to it, as I would like to—the summers are heck for me! BUT thanks for inspiring us with your wit, wisdom and words! (I love alliteration, as well—heh, heh)
And by the by—-I took speed reading in junior high school, so I must be a dinosaur—-probably older than you…. 🙂
Wow, I agree with the comment above – how do you do it??? You are amazing! Thanks for visiting me. 😀
I agree with Tammy! You are a bloggy super-hero! Congrats on your much deserved awards. I also want to let you know I appreciate EVERY comment you make at my site! Thank you!
Wow so many blogs you visit! How lovely and lucky you are to be a speed reader. It is truly fun to find new blogs but never could I read that many. Thank you for stopping off at my blog and giving me your link to a lovely poem. Congratulation on all your awards you truly deserve them.
Thanks so much for inviting for over for a Word of Affirmation Hug. I'm going to be moving in about a week, leaving behind some great GIft-from-God friends.
It's been a great comfort knowing that I can pack up my friends I've made through Blue Cotton Memory. My friends in the blogohood are so encouraging, sweetly supportive, and so funny. I kept telling my husband, "How am I going to find friends who love me the way I am. Do I have to have another baby (a great way to make friends in a new community?" LOL
You guys love me just the way I am.
Thanks for your encouragement and friendship
828 blogs wow!!! Impressed. I am so glad to have made your aquaintance through my blog and now through yours as well Long may it last xxx
Thank you! What a wonderful post! 828 posts… !!!
I love your blog and thanks for commenting on mine… they make my day!
Sharon
What a wonderful part of Saturday you are! I just used your new share bar and it worked beautifully. I was able to very quickly share your post on twitter. How cool is that. Now I'll add it to Facebook.
I remember working with my nephew when he used Mavis. I had a typing teacher for three years named Miss Spence. Yes, thank God for typing class.
Ok, if you get two of these… I am sorry. I don't think the first one went through.
Thank you! This is a wonderful post and I agree with you on friendship and this bloggy world. I love your blog and want to thank you for all the comments on mine… you rock on so little sleep. Lol
Sharon
That is some SERIOUS comment lovin' you are giving! Thank you so much for supporting SITS- bloggers like you are what it's all about!
Tiffany
What a great post and you deserve all the awards that are passed to you. I had no idea you follow over 800 blogs, wow I am impressed. You are an awsome blogging buddy and I am so glad to have the chance know you.
MMMMMMMmmmawwwwwwwwww! My 3am Friend…too bad there isn't a virtual coffee room I too love to comment and us I'm up til a little after 3am or 4am depending on what I'm doing. Pssst. I'm stealing or snatching up your button for my blog
Thank u much
dang it it won't work I can't copy and paste for some reason I click and click and it won't light up the copy for me
🙁
If I thought you were amazing before…Now I have proof!
Have a great day! You are Colorful!
And that's what it's all about!
Steph
Stopping by from SITS. What a lovely blog you have! I have noticed your blog name EVERYWHERE since I joined SITS just a short time ago, and now I know why. It is truly amazing how much you are able to read and how many blogs you are able to keep up with.
I look forward to reading more of your posts soon.
HAPPY SATURDAY SHAREFEST!
Blessings,
Teresa <><
http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/2009/07/document.html
How sweet of you!. Thank you so much.
Wow 828 blogs. That's amazing.
I am also a fast reader. I love to read and I've always read fast, not sure why or how.
Have a great weekend!
Wow!!! That is a lot of blogs to keep up with!!
Congrats on so many comments and on the awards.
You Rock!!!
That's so sweet of you! Thanks! Please come collect my Friendship Award for your blog!
http://moomettesmagnificents.com/blog/advertise/press/awards-won/
BTW: I'd love to see you do a blog to teach us bloggy stuff.
I searched google high and low for how to add a navigation bar and every one of them didn't work.
Then, I just happened to glance over at your left sidebar and guess what I saw??? Yep, I now have navigation bar on one of my blogs.
Thanks to YOU!!!
Wow…you are a busy person following all those blogs! But, I think you are loved just as much!
Have a great day!
sandy toe
You're a ray of sunshine, you know that? xx
That is a lot of reading! Thank you so much for including my blog in that total 🙂
Neat blog post. Thanks.
I'm amazed that you can keep up with 828 blogs! I wish I could speed read that fast!
You amaze me! You are my bloggy role model 🙂 Seriously, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and comment. I love your poem on friendship, too.
wow!!! isall i can say,,i just fel so hored and blessed to have you as a blog friend. you are AMAzinG!!!!!
I have been commenting on a lot of blogs, but not as many as you! You are an awesome bloggy friend!
Big hugs from STL!!!
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It's lovely to seem you and thank you for posting on my blog. It really is an addictive process and I am loving the connection with follow bloggers like me from all walks of life. You are a treasure. x Suzi
Whew, 828 blogs…you must be like a super-dee-duper speed reader! I feel like a bad blog friend because I'm too scatter-brained to keep up with even the few blogs I follow now. I think I need to make following with a reader a priority. Perhaps then I can set a few hours aside each week to go comment at least once on the blogs I follow each week.
Hugs to You Sweet Lady ~ Sandy
Oh, and CONGRATS on your awards! 🙂
Thanks so much for coming by and following.
Now I know why I see your name EVERYWHERE! Keep it up girl!
What a nice post! Have a great rest of your weekend, and congratulations on your awards!
ppl don't understand how i can have "friends" online that i've never met yet know so much about. maybe that's what's wrong with this world. most of these ppl go to my church and barely talk to each other on sunday mornings and r amazed at the stuff i've learned about their fellow pew sitters in just the few short years i've been there. yes, i know it takes a certain kind of personality to "put urself out there" and make new friends — but isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?? keep writing — ur amazing!!
What a sweet post! Keep it up because you are an inspiration to EVERY blogger!!
How sweet…thank you for the poem. I love reading your blog and your comments on my blog…wow you are a busy girl!
Thanks for the friendship, too!
GoodLuck!
wow 800 and something blogs! busy lady! i struggle to reply to 80. im always behind (hidin face!)
Love reading your blog, and it seems others do as well 🙂 congrats on the awards mate x
Thanks for always stopping by! lol. hey i left you an award at my blog too
Thanks for following my blog — and for leaving comments! Always glad to have them. 🙂
You deserve every award! Thanks for visiting/following me, even though I'm still so new, you make me smile, 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog and sending me the link to this post. what a great accomplishment to meet so many people and make them feel special.
Thank you! What a very sweet and thoughtful post!!
How sweet and thoughtful! Hope your having a great summer. And, thanks for always stopping by my blog and commenting, the <3 is greatly appreciated!
thank you for including me and for the poem! I'm on the road so I'm not posting much- have a great week!
Love the comments on friendship. I'm amazed that you can follow so many blogs so well. I try to follow quite a few but just can't seem to squeeze it in as often as I'd like to 🙁
828 blogs?? You follow 828 blogs?? Oh my goodness!
Thanks for the wonderful words on friendship. I am so glad to have "met" you via my blog. Your comments always brighten my days! Thanks so much!
Thanks for passing this along and for keeping up with my humble little blog 😉
Amazing….I am totally speechless by you! Seriously….I am never lost for words….and I am after reading this! You are phenomenal!
HUGS!!
Karie
I heart you! Thanks for being such a great blogger pallie. I'm a bad friend for not getting back to you sooner. My girlies have been sickly and mommy has lost sleep. (may I say, I have no idea how you function on 3 hours of sleep every night!)
Thanks for passing these awards on to me…you are so sweet!
Dawn
Wow! I'm honored to be one of the 800+ blogs you follow. Thanks for the support, plan on returning it myself! 🙂
Thank you very much, I am honored!!! Great blog 🙂
Great blog post. I wish I ha invested in a speed reading course.
(sorry it took me so long to visit, but I have had the hardest time longing onto your site. Something about Internet Explorer had to abort. IDK, I'm using my daughter's laptop with no problem.)
I'm late but thank you! It means alot! Good luck in the contest!
To sleep around three and up at 5'sh. WOWZA!
Imagine how much word count you can get in with so little sleep!