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Monday, October 13, 2008

A BLOG AWARD IS EXCITING, BUT NOT MUCH ELSE GOIN' ON HERE!

Well, how exciting is this? Gloria (Happy To Be) has already given me a blogging award!! I had thought my first attempt at blogging might be my last, but how could I possibly quit when I have already received an award? I am SO excited to get an award after only one blog posting. And Gloria is such a sweet and wonderful person. I am honored to have received this award from such a special person. You may have read about Gloria on Susan's (Between Naps On The Porch) blog. Gloria is the amazing lady, who learned to fly an airplane and flew all over the place collecting absolutely beautiful antiques. If you visit the RMS website, Gloria's spaces are posted as "Happy To Be". She is "Happy To Be", because she is a 15 year cancer survivor. Thanks so much Gloria (My Blogging Friend Forever).



Of course, since I do not know how to do any of this "fancy-smansy" blogging stuff, Chari (Happy To Design) had to guide me through the process of getting my award! Thanks for your help Chari!

I really have nothing to post today (you'd think if someone started a blog, they'd have all kinds of topics "in the ready" just waiting to be posted). I really did think my first post would also be my last, so I had not thought any further than my first posting! However, the wonderful people who have left comments on my blog have been so encouraging and have given me an incentive to keep at it (at least for awhile). A huge thanks to all of you who left such lovely comments on my blog. I am amazed at the response I have received to my simple, little blogging effort. I am overwhelmed at how kind and welcoming you have been.

Cyber friends are such a new and surprising adventure for me! One of the comments left on my blog comes from a dear friend, whom I have known since childhood. Thanks Susie. Susie is a very talented crafter and party planner and should have her own blog. Most of the other comments were left by my dear, new "cyber friends", only one of whom I have met in person (Christine [xinex]. Maybe that will be a later blog). The first encouraging comment I received on my blog was from Vanna (lvroftiques). Vanna is a hoot and should have her own blog. Does it sound like I think everyone should have a blog? Not really...only talented and fun people. I just happen to have very talented and very funny friends, and I can't figure out why I, with no talent, have started a blog and they haven't!

Since I need to fill some space on this blog, I'll tell you how I happened to "meet" all of these wonderful cyber friends. (Even if I don't have anything important to say, I always have SOMETHING to say!) But to me, this IS important. My "cyber friends" have become such a big and wonderful blessing in my life, so please indulge me while I relate my exciting (or probably not so exciting to you) journey to the land of cyber friends.

I had not progressed much in my knowledge of the internet world when I happened upon the HGTV-RMS site. About eight months ago (but whose counting-I'm not sure my memory is correct about anything lately!)...(hmmmm, now what was I talking about? Oh yeah, RMS) About eight monts ago (yeah, I remember I already said that), I was searching for a picture of some kind of an outdoor structure. I had been attempting to describe to my DH what I wanted in our backyard. I googled "outdoor structure", and my computer came up with HGTV/RMS. My DH claims that, until I watched a Lifetime Movie in the kitchen one night, he didn't think the kitchen t.v. had any channels other than HGTV.

Since I was SO familiar with HGTV, I immediately clicked on that site, and that's when I became hooked on RMS. I went through it, viewing beautiful rooms until 2:00 a.m.!! (Can you tell I have an addictive personality?) I completely forgot about the outdoor structure I went there to see (I do that more and more lately...forget things). Hmmmm, now what was I talking about? Oh yeah, the RMS site. Through RMS, I met so many very nice people and eventually formed some wonderful friendships. That was not something I expected when I went looking for a picture of an outdoor structure. Since the time I discovered (as if I were Columbus or something) RMS, the site has become very congested, and I don't enjoy it as much as I first did (the site is promising some improvements soon). However, the friendships I made on RMS have become stronger and stronger, and I am so grateful that I happened upon RMS that night, and that I met a wonderful group of ladies who became my "cyber friends".

No, I still don't have an outdoor structure or even a picture of one. The picture is still in my head and unfortunately, I am unable to translate that picture into words to tell my husband what I want. Or, maybe my husband has just quit listening to my words (after all, 39 years IS a long time to listen to someone who
has as much to say as I do!).

One of my new cyber friends has a wonderful gift shop in Richmond, Missouri. If you are in that area, you need to visit Lynne's Do-Nothin' Gifts & More. After seeing pictures of her shop, Lynne was kind enough to let me order from her. I want to share with you a picture of the darling lamp I ordered. When I saw the lamp (via an internet picture) in Lynne's shop, I thought it was a candle, but it is a lamp with a "sleeve" that fits over the light to look like a candle. Right now, it is wearing its Halloween finery, but I ordered a Christmas sleeve and another sleeve that is appropriate for non-holiday decor. You'll probably get a look at those some time too.

Isn't that the cutest thing? Now, most of you know that I do NOT like mice. Even a picture of a mouse makes me pick my feet up off the floor (my feet are off the floor now. EEEEK!). My childhood friend, Susie, sent that Halloween mouse decoration to me (no, that's not a real mouse, or even a stuffed dead mouse), so I'm letting my faux Halloween mouse check out my faux Halloween candle.

I hope (and I know you do to) that my future posts will be a lot more interesting and entertaining than this one. (I may have used up all of my interesting, entertaining ideas in the first post!) Thank you for being patient with me as I learn my way around blogland. Laurie (bargainhunr on RMS)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Laurie, Yea!!! I am the first to post! I don't care what you blog on, you are so interesting, and funny! I am so glad you went looking for the outdoor structure, and joined RMS! I am proud to count myself as one of your cyber friends! I love the faux mouse looking at the faux candle! LOL!Looking forward to more! Love You! Connie

Anonymous said...

Oh Laurie another great post girl..for someone who don't know what to talk about you are doing great...I am so glad you got your GOLD CARD girl...just knew our sweet Chari would help you is she not a doll?? I think you should do a post on how you Sleep with the boss haha!!! What attention you could get with that...you know title it "How I sleep with the Boss"" and talk about your part time job of 30 plus years....do one also on how you met your rms cyber Buddy Christine in person...I also agree have met so many great ladies from rms and to think I was just trying to find out when CARTER's new show was coming on tv and what a world of friends it opened up to me...I also don'y do much rms anymore its almost impossibel to roam around there anymore...also might want to show ladies how you did your background on your book shevles units...which is a great idea...Thank you Laurie for all you sweet remarks about little old me!!! hugs and smiles....Gloria

santamaker said...

You GO Laurie! Great post! See, all you have to do is "talk" to us and we're happy. We don't need Shakespeare...
Just pretend that you're posting a comment on a space on RMS and you're good to go!
I will email you tomorrow!
love
Santa

Anonymous said...

Oh goodie! I finally got a moment to get online and you know what I couldn't wait to see... And yes! You had a new post. Oh Laurie, all the dear sweet commenters above me agree, we just love to visit with you! Just talk and we can't wait to hear what you have to say. You have such a special gift. I, too feel so privledged to call you my dear friend. I remember so well the first time I saw your beautiful home and all of your lovely "books" just meant the world to me. I truly can't wait to see what you share next. Love you, Cindy

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Good Mornin' Laurie!

Girlfriend...you are better than reading the morning paper with my coffee! You're doing a fabulous job...loved reading you today! Congratulations on your very first blogger award...it's so very well deserved! Just wanted to say that I love the little pumpkin candle (sleeve) that you got from our dear Lynne...it's just precious and I love your little mouse too!

I just love thinking about how all of our friendships started...all due to RMS! It's just been such a wonderful, amazing journey...hasn't it? You're a blessing to me Laurie!!! Love ya, my friend!!!

Chari (Happytodesign)

Anonymous said...

Laurie Eve Jones Ritchey, I am so flattered for my mouse and me to have been mentioned on your very impressive blog..I have a mouse of some sort on every rung of my steps in the hallway..and Martha Stewart's cardboard mice on the white part of the step(Name???)
..it never dawned on me that fake mice might creep people out until my sweet DIL told me on Saturday..so, I am proud of you for getting over your fear and giving him a place of honor by Jack candle in your beautiful home.Love you, as you know! SA ..or Halloween Freak Susie

Anonymous said...

SEE HOW TALENTED YOU ARE?YOU DON'T EVEN NEED PICS.WELL DONE MY FRIEND,WELL DONE.SOOOOOOOOOOO,WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW?I'LL BE PATIENTLY WAITING...ANN

Anonymous said...

Another good post, Laurie. Congrats for that well deserved award. You really are a natural, all you have to do is talk and type and you can entertain us all. Isn't that funny how we stumble into RMS and then meet lasting friends? Meeting you and your dh in person is still one of the highlights of my life. I can never forget that night, that setting and all that excitement and I'll treasure them as long as I live. I love you girl and keep blogging!......Christine

Tomarie said...

Hey Laurie~
Congrats on you FIRST blog award! Yeaaaaa!! You are such a funny and entertaining writer! And I hear ya on the cyber friends~~who would have ever thunk we would have all become such good friends in this big ole cyberworld?!
Love ya!

lvroftiques said...

Laurie girl you could read the side of an oatmeal box and it would be more entertaining than most TV!!! Lol!! You are just naturally funny! I'm so glad our Ms Gloria gave you a much deserved award. It couldn't happen to a nicer person. And I'm waitin' for all the juicy sleeping with the boss stories! *winks* Hahahahaha!!! Vanna

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Ha...that lamp is great! And an award...you rock!!! Keep on blogging...your fans are gathering! :-) Susan

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Good Mornin' Girlfriend...

Just stopping in to say Hi...was just thinking about you!!! Hope that you're having a great day...I'm still sitting here trying to get inspired to do SOMETHING today...hehe!!!

Can't wait till you post again...no pressure girlfriend...hehe!!!

Love ya,
Chari

lvroftiques said...

Helloooooo!! I'm here for a tutorial....*winks* VB

RetiredAtLast said...

I have a paper towel holder that stands on my counter, that I can change the top wood finial on, much as you can change the sleeve on your lamp. It now has a pumpkin on top, with a turkey waiting in the wings. I love something that can be used (decoratively) for many different occasions and still serve it's intended purpose. That is a true bargain in every sense of the word.
Congrats on your award.

Anonymous said...

Well, look who has a blog.... You will be so great at this and just maybe your rms troll will finally be happy! I added you to my favorites, but know this , I have a short attention span so you must include lots of design pictures or lots of rms drama to keep me reading...lol vickster

nikkicrumpet said...

Hey Laurie...yeah I'm still scrolling through your blog...Hope you don't mind...and I did take off my shoes so I don't track anything in. I spent years on RMS...I don't go there anymore...but what name did you use? It is amazing how mean some of the people can be there. I did a post on my blog that showed the snarky things people said about my master bedroom. It still amazes me when I read it...to see how mean some people can be to total strangers. Funny how the really mean ones always commented as "anonymous" though lol. Have a great day....and I LOVE your blog!