December Reflections - 2019 - Thank you

The prompt for today is "Thank you for..." and I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and commenting on my posts this year.  Between my Blogger site and the WordPress edition I've had over 3000 comments, likes and views and about 200 followers.  Not that the numbers really matter, it just surprises me that so many people not related to me actually take an interest in what I have to say.  In fact, the people who ARE related to me don't even take that much interest - LOL.  

I'd also like to thank:

Linda G. Hill for her fun challenges:  Just Jot It January, The Escapist Coloring Club, One Liner Wednesday and Stream of Consciousness Saturday.  I know that it takes a lot to keep these going strong year after year and I appreciate the opportunity to play along.  

Jim Adams for continuing the Song Lyric Sunday musical roundup.  It is such fun to hear everyone's different picks each week.  

   

Arlee Bird, John Holton and the rest of the A to Z Challenge team.  I'm starting to worry if I'll be able to come up with something fun this year.  I have no clue yet.  

James J. Cudney, IV for his continued support of my blog AND my Etsy Shop.

Susannah Conway for her wonderful prompts in April (April Love - which I actually haven't been doing since I started the A to Z), August Break and December Reflections.  

Mary at Jingle, Jangle, Jungle for the Rocktober Music Fest.  I participated this year for the first time and it was fun. 

I know that it is easier for me to write when I have the prompts and inspiration from these great folks and I know I get more views when I link up with them.  

Thanks again to all of you for visiting me!  Looking forward to more fun next year.  2020 is so much easier to type than 2019 don't you think?  

December Ditties - 2018 - My Guest Blog Post - The A to Z of the A to Z -

Shortly (because you know time flies when you're having fun) it will be time again for the A to Z Challenge.  This will be it's 10th year and I have been participating since 2016.

At the end of this year's challenge there was a poll about the different things we liked and perhaps didn't like about the organizational aspects of the challenge and the benefits or drawbacks to participation in the group and there was a contest to win a guest spot on the main A to Z Challenge blog.  I know there are hundreds of participants in the A to Z and I don't know how many entered the contest but I did and I was among the winners!

The A to Z of the A to Z according to me:

I was ABSOLUTELY thrilled when I found out I had won a spot as a guest blogger in the A to Z poll contest.  Then I had a moment of panic.  What would I write about?  I hope that my insights will be BENEFICIAL to those who may not be sure about joining for the 10th year of the A to Z.

There is a feeling of CAMARADERIE among the participants, even though the focus of our blogs can be very DIFFERENT.  We are not all writers or crafters or music lovers and yet we can find some common ground.  The EXPERIENCE of blogging almost every day for a month brings about a feeling of FELLOWSHIP among the participants and I GLADLY open my emails during the month of April to see what new posts there are.

Some people write HISTORICAL blog posts that are very INFORMATIVE and that helps to JUSTIFY the time I spend reading them!  KEEPING up with them all is a LABOR of love.   Some folks write about words and their MEANINGS, some write NOSTALGIC posts about their family history.

I love that the A to Z Challenge is OPEN to anyone who wants to join the PARTY and there are always the helpful co-hosts to answer any QUESTIONS that may come up.

I am excited and READY to start planning for the 2019 version and hope that I can bring a SMILE to your face as you read my posts.  I have my THEME and hope that I can share something UNIQUE to keep you coming back.

Our founding father, Arlee Bird, was truly a VISIONARY ten years ago when he started this WONDERFUL project.

I have only been doing the A to Z for the past three years so I am not sure if there have been any XYLOGRAPHERS who have shared their experiences, but the word itself may have been used by someone looking for that hard to find X-word.

This YEARLY gathering of bloggers is certainly something that I look forward to because there are some ZANY folks out there who put a lot of effort into coming up with new ways to entertain us.

Thanks again for allowing me to participate as a guest writer on the A to Z Blog.  Can't wait to see what Arlee and the gang have in store for the 10th anniversary!