08 April 2010

Oh WOW! I'm the BON!

Cead Mile Fa Failte!  100,000 Welcomes.  If I could just catch your attention for a second here, this picture ought to do it.  Is this not one of the most beautiful full moons you've ever seen?  I took this picture from the beach here by my cottage during our last full moon and I wanted to share it with you, just so you know that's one of the things I do over here at "Cottage By The Sea".  I post lots and lots of my own photography, and I especially try to throw in a beautiful sunset over the Pacific now and again.  My name is Tia and I live with my family in a little cottage, in a small beach town within the sprawling and varied metropolis which is San Diego, California.
Today my family, my friends, both real life and bloggy, is my special day.  On my sidebar (I know, I know.  I'm very computer savvy and technologically mature) NOT.  You will see the cute little icon of a typewriter.  That's a spiffy little button you can grab (by clicking on it) to direct you to a site where there are lots of blogs featured that are a little different from the rest.  The blogs featured here are blogs minus a lot of the promotions and advertisements and blinky lights and sound.  It's more about the down home, straight out content of the blog instead of all the advertising.  If you click on the typewriter icon (button)  or even easier, right HERE you can find WORDS OF WISDOM = WOW, and what they're all about.

Today, the WOW ladies, Pam and Sandy, have honored me by choosing me to be their Blogger of Note = BON !  When they emailed me about this and gave me an actual date they were going to feature my blog I went completely brain dead.  My body went into overdrive, meaning I got a migraine and couldn't eat for 2 days.  I was a nervous wreck thinking that this could mean somebody besides my mom or my sister might be reading my blog.  I could be JUDGED, tried and hung by a jury of my peers for boring them to death with this little blog of mine.  I'm insecure.  I've only been blogging for a few months.  I'm inexperienced. I'm just a babyblogger.  I can't even figure out how to make my own BUTTON for y'all to grab for gosh sakes!  I also could or couldn't be considered a bit dramatic, depending on who you ask.   All I know is Sandy and Pam reassured me I would live through this be fine.  They told me not to be nervous.  They said, just introduce yourself, link to a few of your favorite posts, link back to us and then sit back and enjoy the comment love when WOW members visit you!  So that's just what I'm gonna do.  If you likey I hope you'll follow along on this journey of mine and if you don't you probably won't have read this far anyway.  So, besides reading about how we started out this journey building  Castles In The Sand, you can read about all our other SHENANIGANS around the cottage as well.  I'm so happy to have you here.  My only request is that you take your shoes off because, I want you nice and comfy when you spend your time here at my "Cottage By The Sea".
The best way I can think of to introduce myself is to let you read the letter my son gave me on my birthday in February. He makes me sound way better than I am in real life, but that's why I loved this gift more than any I've ever received.  Can you believe a busy college kid took the time to think of and write down 55 reasons why he loves me so much!  The best part of me is my kids.


This is a photo of our cottage before we began the remodel



The best way I can think of to introduce myself is to let you read the letter my son gave me on my birthday in February. He makes me sound way better than I am in real life, but that's why I loved this gift more than any I've ever received.  Can you believe a busy college kid took the time to think of and write down 55 reasons why he loves me so much!  The best part of me is my kids.


The main thing I do with this here blog is, I write.  I love to write.  I have written in diary's and journals and letters and well, anything that would hold still long enough for me to write on it, for as long as I've known how to write.  I have written my thoughts and the history of my day to day life and family and their lives for over 35 years now.  When my husband gave me this crunchy little Apple of a  computer for my birthday a couple years ago, I was awed and astonished and terrified by it.  I had absolutely no idea how to work it.  I couldn't even figure out how to turn it on.  Really, you have to hold the key down for longer than it took for my insecurities to check in and overtake my ability to move forward.  Pa the tic.  I hear ya.

Being the optimistic guy he is, my hubs said, "Darling, they told me this computer is a great one for people just like you who love to write and do art.  They say it makes it so easy any dummy can do it." Mmmm K.

Okay, so I obviously write about the things I'm passionate about, like remodeling our cottage.  For instance on my post Serendipitous I wrote about my amazing and delightful discovery that this old beach cottage had hidden underneath newer vinyl flooring,  Real, red oak wood flooring, original to the house 56 years ago when it was first built!  If remodeling an old beach cottage interests you, we are still on that journey and you can go read about that adventure and all it has entailed so far by looking in my archives. Plus, from the looks of it we have a ways to go, including decorating, so if you put your shoes back on and leave, be ready to take 'em off again because, you may need to come back later.  Remodel posts  are scattered about, in, and amongst another of my passions which is first and foremost in my heart and that is my children.  My husband, my kids, my furry kids, my family.  I'm a SAHM (bloggy talk for, Stay At Home Mom), and I've never been prouder of that.  We always wanted a big family and we have a huge heart for kids.  We have been parents and advocates of some sort, (foster, bio, adoptive, grand, god, parents that is, for 34 years).  Yes, people, that means I am very o l d.  Older than dirt but, still kickin' and taking care of kids.

 Our youngest daughter Maggie is 15 and she's a sweet, quirky, kinda shy, teenager.  She is always up to something interesting down here at the beach such as wearing shiny black heels while she skateboards!

 Our oldest daughter Tara is now a mommy herself making me a Granny.  I'll be letting you in on a little secret about her in a future post.  Tara and her husband Jason have given us 5 grandchildren.  Did you know that they have a day just for grandparents?  Well, I'm here to tell you they do,  and you can see it  right here on my post about Why I Had Kids In The First Place.  And now, although I've obviously been more prolific than I thought I was in the writing department, (Shut up. No, No, you shut up.  Noooo, you shut up.) Before I shut up and leave you sweet people in peace,  I'm going to stick in two more posts for you to read if you are so inclined, you want to or you are a really irresponsible reader like I am.  I just, since I'm having my first and probably last moment here in the spotlight, wanted to point out that Some People Think That Families Happen By Chance.

Now my new friends, I want to thank you for visiting my blog today, by sharing with you a photo I took over at the cove.  God gives us one of these every single day at sunset.  They're all a bit different but nonetheless, SPECTACULAR.  I promise I'll post lots of these so do pop into my blog any time for a cuppa.  I love company!
Sunset at Fletcher's Cove
Peace in your heart dears.

You can put your shoes on and leave now if you want to.  Or you could stay and check out more stuff I blab about over on my side bar there to the right.  I'd love you forever if you would follow or subscribe in a reader.  Either way, I sure hope you'll come back because I loved having you.  When the cottage is all done getting remodeled we are going to have a big Ceili (that's an Irish party) to bless our new home and rock it for the first time!  You're all invited!


 Sandy and Pam, thanks so much for hosting me, it has truly been a privilege.  And if nobody scorns me or leaves derogatory comments, and if I don't look back at this and end up in a fetal position, eyes swollen shut from crying, I will love you forever.  I'm just kiddin'.  I love you more than all the sand at the beach.  Your site is awesome and I hope Bloggers of Blogs and Reader of Blogs come visit often and find there happily ever afters.

Blessings,

Tia

27 comments:

Tolentreasures said...

Love your stories and your "views" the physical and mental ones. Can't wait to see the decorating!

Congrats on being the BON!

Cathy

Nolie said...

Great job on doing up your post hun. See you linked and everything like a pro. Enjoy your day.

Jenny said...

Wow. You are cool! And I love your comment about followers. Made me first think of a parking garage and then laugh.

I am always intriqued with remodeling and five Grandchildren is so lovely!

I'm off to read more!

Congratulations on being featured!

Emma @DivorcedBefore30 said...

Enjoy your BON day! I want to hear the "you kissed James Taylor" story. :-)

Crone and Bear It said...

Hello lovely Tia - Congrats on being a BON and welcome to the tribe! You are a wonderful writer, full of spirit and I love your blog. I only wish I could be there with my feet in the sand but alas I sit here in cold Ohio just daydreaming of your little cottage by the sea. Sigh...Looking forward to reading more of your posts! Hugs!

Lori said...

Congrats on being chosen for BON. I love your blog and that you write from your heart! I am off to check out your feature!! Big hugs to you!

PaigesPages said...

Great job Tia! by the way Sean and I were out and about last night and drove by to check on the progress at the cottage coming along nicely!

Margaret (Peggy or Peg too) said...

You did it! Well done my dera.
I knew you could even if you didn't.

As always the last photo is spectacular. I think i want a coffee table book of all your ocean photo's.

Jo said...

Hi, Tia -- I'm Jo stopping by from W.O.W. to congratulate you on being today's 'BON'.

I'm a Riverside, CA. gal born and bred in southern California and am very excited to come and visit a fellow southern Californian.

I wish you much continued happiness in your cottage by the sea -- in which the "A B...Seas" are really quite natural, wonderous and a no- brainer. I'm so happy you get to live the kind of life you've dreamed of.

Dream a little dream for us, too, while we blissfully think of you.

Peace and serenity,
~Jo
'The End Of The Rainbow: Life After Bankruptcy'

Jen said...

Congrats on your BON day! Great photos and glad I'm getting to know you! off to read a few more posts!

Karen M. Peterson said...

Congrats on being a Blogger of Note!

San Diego is beautiful. I'm just up the 5 a bit in Orange County. I've had the chance to travel some, but the West Coast is my favorite place.

~Kristen~ said...

Happy BON Day to a most well-deserving blogger!!!!!! Congratulations!!! I love reading your blog and seeing your photos...which are all gorgeous!!! I am a follower so I will be back often!!! :-)

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

You gals are all so wonderful and supportive. Thanks so much for all the sweet comments. I'm going to visit each and every one of your blogs and also I'll be sending everybody a personal email of thanks. I love you all more than what a great day this has been for me.
Blessings,
Tia

BONNIE K said...

Congrats on your special day. Wonderful photos and words. I am enjoying just being transported to different worlds right here in this blog of yours.

WhiteSockGirl aka The Fabulous Bitch said...

Congrats on being BON! Absolutely amazing pictures!

Kate Pantier @ Mommy Monologues said...

Congratulations! I loved this post! And the full moon pic is AMAZING!

Rachel Cotterill said...

Congrats on being Blogger of Note :D I hope you enjoy your day in the spotlight. And lovely photos, as usual ;)

Pam said...

Tia, you did WOW proud! Your intro. post is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed all the posts that you linked. You are an amazing woman with an amazing family and life story. I hope your BON day was a good one and you are relaxed now. Go enjoy those gorgeous sunsets at the beach.

(And PLEASE, link up some of your posts with photos on tomorrow's Photo Gallery at WOW. If you need help, just send us an email and we'll walk your through it. You simply must get more viewers for your awesome photos).

Katie said...

Congrats on being a Blogger of Note. The ladies at WOW are doing a great job - and so are you. I fantasize about living by the ocean - but I live in Denver, CO -- so my views of the sea are far and few between. I enjoyed reading your post and will be back to read more.
=)
Katie

Melissa B. said...

Pam and Sandy ARE wonderful, aren't they? And so is your lil' ol' blog, with such Superior Snaps! I look forward to many more forays into your bloggy universe. Thanks so much for sharing...

Kat said...

Congrats on being chosen as a BON! I'm so happy that I found your blog, I love it. Great choices for your links, they give a great overview until I can come back and browse some more. The letter from your son brought tears to my eyes, so sweet. But I have to ask - you kissed James Taylor?? Spill it! And I love the post about your heel wearing, skateboarding daughter. She's precious and seems like she has a fun spirit! So glad to meet you. Kathy

Nicolasa said...

Happy BON day! I love finding new blogs to read!

Lori said...

What a beautiful picture and I love your little ramblings. I'm a follower!

Elle said...

Sorry I'm so late! Congrats on being BON! Your pictures are gorgeous, and your cottage seems like my dream home. What a great life you have!

Survivormama said...

Beautiful pictures thanks so much and congratulations on you BON day! Following you now!

Helene said...

Congratulations on being featured!!! I must have been reading your blog for awhile now because I remember a few of those posts when you originally wrote them!!!

I'm glad others have taken note of your wonderful blog!!!

Hill Country Hippie said...

Too funny! That's the exact same thing my hubby said to me when he presented me with my Mac! He also called me over to the computer one day and said "Here, you have a blog now. Start writing." Guess he thought I was killing too many trees, filling all those notebooks with my scribblings.