The Drive to Blog & Today's Bouquets

Those of you who have been blogging for awhile will certainly understand the daily revelations of a blogger. First and foremost, the drive to blog. From the moment I placed the key in the ignition, my blog engine has been humming continuously. Even the simple act of curtailing posts during my recent Giveaway inspired me to the point of needing a notepad. I attempted to shift into neutral or park, only to find further inspiration in what I took the time to see– namely, the blogs of others. Finally, I looked over at the passenger seat and there was "inspiration" wearing a seat belt.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines "inspire" as:

1. to fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative
• create (a feeling, esp. a positive one) in a person
• (inspire someone with) animate someone with (such a feeling)
• give rise to
2. breathe in (air); inhale
The word was originally used of a divine or supernatural being, in the sense [impart a truth or idea to someone.] From the Latin inspirare meaning to 'breathe or blow into.'

My blog could be termed as a travel-blog because once I committed to the journey, I have been animated and raised up to a new level of inhaling and viewing my world. And I haven't even told you what I found in the backseat!

TODAY'S BOUQUETS:

• I started my day by having a wonderful conversation with TERI BEYER, a very special friend. I met her several years back when she and her son, Steven, approached me to begin taking Voice Lessons. Teri is the head nurse of cardiology at a local hospital and she is rarely without her pager. Yet, she always seems to find the time to be gracious, giving, loving, attentive, and caring. And, how I love to hear her laugh!
  
• Tonight I discovered that I won the Pear Street Studios Weekly Giveaway! I will be receiving some beautiful Christmas Wreath invitations! And guess what? Jennifer is having a brand new Giveaway! She is currently giving away a set of 10 Stacked Pumpkin Invitations just in time for Thanksgiving. All you have to do is post a COMMENT. She is accepting referrals, too! So, when you visit her blog, be sure to tell her KJ from EYE-DYLLIC sent you
• Pat at The Technique Trail is still hosting a "Giveaway a Day" for the entire month of October! [See the October 10th post.]
• Angie at Scrapnmoms Moments is celebrating her 50th post by giving away an assortment of goodies! It is a long, spirited post, but you will find the information throughout the post. Just leave a comment.

Families Stick Together

My Family - Courtesy of Family Stickers, Family Car Stickers

Kat from justabeachkat inspired me to create this. My budget doesn't permit the expense of investment, but it was therapeutic translating my family into "sticks." I must be candid that being a "stick' has never been my reality. I was well upholstered at birth and I remain so today. (Maybe there's an option for thicker sticks!) Otherwise, this is a pretty accurate depiction of my family.

We all find ourselves staring mindlessly at these stick vignettes while waiting for traffic signals to give us permission to accelerate. I have to laugh at some of the thoughts that enter my head as I study each family member. Kooky, oddball memories will flash before me or perhaps I'll concoct little story lines about the driver's life. It's such a brief few moments and then I'm driving again– moving on.

And the winner is...

THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU! The enthusiasm and support has been astounding! I am blessed beyond measure! I can see by the visitor log that many of you are eager to know who won, so without further ado, I will commence...

With the 83 FABULOUS COMMENTS and the 34 REFERRALS combined, the GRAND TOTAL WAS 117! So, depending on how you look at it, I did surpass my goal of 100! I assigned a number to each comment and referral.

With the help of Random.org's Random Sequence Generator, a winner was selected. You might say that I actually pulled a rabbit out the hat because...

THE WINNER IS...

DebraK at "The Bunnie's Bungalow"

I had joked in an earlier post that DebraK's referrals were multiplying like rabbits! Well, I'm sure Debrak will be thanking God for rabbits! Congratulations to you, Debrak! Send me an email with your address and I will get your package in the mail first thing next week!

Giveaway Update...

THE TIME FRAME FOR ENTERING THE "GIVEAWAY" HAS ENDED. I AM PRESENTLY TABULATING THE ENTRIES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THIS BLOG BEFORE 3:00 PM PST TODAY...

"Dive Right In" - Charming Tails by Dean Griff

Put down your rake and dive right in,

The Giveaway is about to end;

Be-leaf that you're the one to win

And don't forget to tell a friend!

THE 100TH BLOG-DAY BASH GIVEAWAY ends tonight, 

October 11th at 11:59 PM PST. 

SCROLL DOWN 3 POSTS to enter...

Ramblings & Rumblings

This almost looks like the autumn version of
Charlie Brown's Christmas tree!

We are approaching the DEADLINE for the 100TH BLOG-DAY BASH GIVEAWAY. You have until tomorrow, October 11th at 11:59 PM PST to post for the first time or to refer others. All of the details are 2 POSTS DOWN.

My goal is to reach 100 COMMENTS on the GIVEAWAY POST. At this posting, I have 73 comments, so "refer" to your heart's content! So far, DebraK from The Bunnie's Bungalow has referrals multiplying like rabbits. Also, when I started this little bash, I had logged 2771 first time visitors from 37 countries. I now have 3444 from 44 countries. That shows an increase of 673 new visitors! Oh what FUN!

As mentioned before, I have curtailed my posting to avoid confusion on the Giveaway. However, my cup runneth over with new ramblings and rumblings, so stay tuned...

Be sure to check out 2 NEW VIDEO FEATURES at the bottom of my blog which showcase Women in Film and Women in Art. These films are "morphings" that blend decades and years into one continuous strand. Enjoy!

ANOTHER DISCOVERED GIVEAWAY...
After you're done posting and wandering the aisles here, take a look at the Giveaway below. Cynderooni, of Pennsylvania fame, tipped me off...

• Pat at The Technique Trail is hosting a "Giveaway a Day" for the entire month of October! Pat is an avid papercrafter who shed her "driven career-woman" persona once she had children. Now, crafting is her serious outlet. There is something new to win everyday. So pop on by!
  

[To avoid confusion, COMMENTS on this
"Ramblings & Rumblings" Post are temporarily are disabled.]

SCROLL 2 POSTS DOWN TO ARRIVE AT THE GIVEAWAY
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Things are playful here!

THINGS ARE PLAYFUL HERE!

If you are joining me for my "100th Blog-day Bash Giveaway", you will find the festivities directly below this post! I am purposely not doing a great deal of posting right now in an effort to avoid confusion with leaving comments for the GIVEAWAY.

This brief hiatus has afforded me the luxury of taking a worldwide tour of many delightful blogs! In my excursions, I have found that there are a few other bloggers having Giveaways! Don't we just love that word? So, after you post a comment on MY GIVEAWAY, check out these other "winning" locations; and be sure to mention my name when you post...

1. Artistic Creations by Natasha Burns: 100 Goodies Giveaway - (the winner was posted on October 9th)
   
2. Gracious Hospitality: Autumn Giveaway (a lovely little cross stitch piece) - (the winner was posted on October 15th)
3. Pear Street Studios: Weekly Giveaway - Drawing ends October 12th (I ACTUALLY WON THIS ONE! YEA!)
4. Under the Red Roof: 103 Sheets of Vintage Wallpaper - The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, October 16th.
   

Again, THE GIVEAWAY POST IS DIRECTLY BELOW THIS. I have disabled "comments" on this post to avoid any possible confusion.