Gosh, so much yarn and garden love! What a joy it's been reading your replies to my last post.
I was asked recently to contribute one word to a 'What is blogging?' word cloud, and because comments really are the best bit I chose 'conversation'! If only I had the hours in the day to respond to each of you personally every time you visit. Instead I endeavour to reciprocate by commenting on your blogs as often as I can, and emailing those without a blog where possible. But when comment numbers here start to hit the 50s it can become a wee bit difficult to keep up with you all. Like trying to follow exactly what everyone's saying at a knit and natter for half a hundred people!
Thankfully there were only twelve at yesterday morning's knit and natter at Stash, and an adorable seven month old who came along with his mum. What a poppet he was, all smiles and cuddles. It was all rather jolly ... chatty knitters drinking coffee and nibbling home baked cookies to the sound of needles clicking and ... torrential rain falling outside. Well you didn't expect me to say the sun was shining did you ?!
At least all this precipitation is keeping things green and growing, but with the unseasonably chilly temperatures the year seems to be moving inordinately slowly toward high summer. Did I tell you I eventually heard our cuckoo? He's only been singing at first light so no wonder I was missing him. I doubt we'll be hearing tomorrow's dawn chorus though ... it's blowing a gale here and today's rain is as heavy as yesterday's and forecast to fall all night. The lanes hereabouts will be under water by morning! Anyone know how to build an ark?
So, what's the weather like where you are? And which word describing the essence and the art of blogging would you add to that word cloud?
Annie today has been very sunny...but chilly with it. Not really June temperatures at all. Now then, a word to add to the 'blogging cloud'. Hmmm. I really like your 'conversation', which is what I enjoy when the comments roll in with good responses. Perhaps , if I dare to use that much maligned word, I can add 'community'. I've said else where that no one pretends their followers have become their next new-best-friend, but there is definitely a feeling of friendship and support which permeates the words of regular commenters. Interesting post, nice one!
ReplyDeleteIt's very, very hot here today, as it has been for the last few days.
ReplyDeleteFor me, blogging these days = connecting.
Hope you'll get some summery sun soon!
The forecast called for a week of rain, but the forecasters were wrong! We've been having absolutely beautiful weather all week long. As for the word cloud... I would have to say inspiration. Although community is such a big part of it too, it's really difficult to narrow it down :)
ReplyDeleteHope things dry out for you!
Wet, cold and expecting snow round here - about normal for this time of year. I finally finished my winter cardigan but I will have to do something with the neck - it just isn't right. I'm thinking of adding a collar. At least that would be warmer :)
ReplyDeleteI read most sites for the conversation and the content but there are a few I read just for the content - mostly those that tend to be full of trolls so not worth the effort.
viv in nz
Hello Annie:
ReplyDeleteWith the temperature expected to reach around 35C this weekend, we rather think that the wonderfully cool greens which you show here will soon be absent for us for the rest of the summer. Why is it that people who demand colour in their gardens, totally ignore all thoughts of green which, when paired with white is, in our view, perfection.
And what superb plant cloches!
Aren't they gorgeous! Sadly they're not mine. They belong, if you'll excuse the name dropping, to our near neighbour here, The Duke of Westminster. His garden is just a wee bit bigger than ours ;D
DeleteIt's a joy to visit the garden's at Eaton Hall when we locals are allowed and I always take my camera.
The one good thing about the weather is that my garden, which is usually looking pretty tired and worn out by now, is still looking reasonably good. Not great because I'm not really on top of the weeding. I actually got a touch of sunburn yesterday, not good but my mind hasn't exactly been on sun cream lately and it did even rain later that same day.
ReplyDeleteI think my word would be... sharing? So many people are so kind in sharing their yarny patterns and knowledge in tutorials and all sorts of wonderful things like that. I guess that's what drew me in. I came looking for information but stayed because there was so much more.
S x
PS - I learn what colloquy means today, I'd never heard of it so I looked it up. It's one of the things I love about your blog Annie, I do often learn something too!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you :D I blame my mother, it was she who encouraged me to adopt the Compact edition of the OED as my childhood bedtime reading. I have been enchanted by words ever since!
DeleteFabulous photos - I love green it's so restful and natural. I think my word might be "contact".
ReplyDeleteHm - yes, colloquy is a good word... I think one of the things I really appreciate is the global reach, too - that's fascinating. We're not alone, and even if some of our friends think we're bonkers there are enough like-minded people out there to affirm our complete normality. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI must try and get to Stash for a knit and natter sometime - do you accept stray visitors? Visitors who have had their hands tied behind them so they can't reach their purse / any of the yarns...
Well I'm quite new there myself, but yes we do, we do :D 10.30 to 12.30 Wednesday mornings with free coffee and no onus on you to buy a thing.
DeleteLovely photos Annie. It's a bit chilly here but we have has sun and blue skies for the last couple of days. It's very grey today though.
ReplyDeleteVictoria xx
No Annie, I didn't expect you to say the sun was shining, I would have been amazed if you had!!!
ReplyDeleteThe weather around these parts? Well let's just say one of my beautiful delphiniums is lying flat this morning ~ I think that says it all.
There was a very dark patch over Wales on the weather forecast last night, perhaps you should Google 'How to Build an Ark', there's bound to be instructions on the 'net somewhere!!
My word ~ 'friendship', I've made so many. :)
Have a good weekend Annie, I've given up wishing everyone a sunny one!
Vivienne x
Not that I'm the betting type, but I reckon we're getting more rain than you ;-). South Wales, never a dull moment....well....that's not strictly true as it's been dull this morning, and rainy and windy and cold.....
ReplyDeleteThe bible actually gives the requirements to build an ark, but I'm guessing that you, yours and the whippets may need to downsize them a little to make it more knitso-sized.....although to fit your stash on too.....
Word cloud....hhhmmmm.....encouraged
Haha ... I love the idea re. the ark! But do B&Q sell gopher wood ;D
DeleteThe sun is out eventually. I planted a lavender bush today just for the feel of summer and sun.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is ... well ... practicing English. ;-)
Do you know, I think a knitsofacto readers' word cloud may be in order here!
DeleteWet and windy here in Mid-Wales, Annie and set to continue. Sigh... The words I would have chosen for your blogging word-cloud have already used the word, so I'll add enjoyment. I get so much sheer pleasure from reading, writing and commenting.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful, hot and sunny here in souther Ontario. My word would be "friends". j
ReplyDeleteword-embroidery (I know it's 2 words so I've linked them together!)
ReplyDeleteI love your 'cow parsley & ferns' photo...
Hmmmmm..... It's hard to choose one word to sum up the blogging experience. But, I think my word would be 'friends'.
ReplyDeleteOur weather is April-showery!!! Sunny one minute, raining the next, hot, cold..... I'm waiting for proper summer!!!
Happy weekend!
Carly
x
I guess I would go for friendship too. Weather? Well we have had lots of sun but sheesh the wind is cold.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought-provoking nature of your posts Annie! And this one is no exception. I think I would choose "connectivity" as my contribution to the word cloud which echoes many of the other great suggestions here. Your green photos are so evocative. Have a lovely weekend! E x
ReplyDeleteWet and soggy with the promise of hail here. As for that essence of blogging word cloud, I'd probably add 'Diversity'.
ReplyDeleteYup, it's raining here too!
ReplyDeleteI'd add 'community' to the blog cloud - thanks for stopping by today - I had missed you :)
I was still stopping by Claire, I was just horribly behind with my comments and am finally catching up!
DeleteAnnie, we finally have some sunshine again around Portland, OR, but it is still a bit chilly. The blogs that I read are encouraging even if the subject matter is not always beautiful, I usually feel inspired after visiting. So my choice of words for the cloud is *encouraging*
ReplyDeleteJoy to you and yours,
Gracie <3
Well now. Let me think. The essence and art of blogging. So many possible words. I think I'm going to go for generosity - the sharing of knowledge, experience, discovery, humour; and the generosity of taking time to comment constructively and thoughtfully.
ReplyDeleteThe weather in Leeds is overcast and grey and utterly depressing. I don't think we've had as much rain as other parts but the lack of sun and blue sky is getting everyone down. :-(
ReplyDeleteMy blog word would be inspiration, that increase of heart rate and a thought that goes racing off when I see something beautiful somewhere and think...I could have a go at something like that. But yes, conversation, community, friendship, all of those too. xx
That sounds like the best possible weather for a knit-and-natter. Too much sun outside would be a distraction (and make one feel that one ought to be gardening instead of knitting).
ReplyDeleteRe building an ark: I believe that gopher wood and pitch are involved; dimensions may be found in Genesis 6. (But that's an awful lot of board feet to come up with.)
Blogging word cloud word? Connecting.
P.S. "Colloquy" is such a lovely, little-used word these days. "She held a short colloquy with herself, debating whether she should ask if that were coriander in the top photo, or make an end to her already-too-long comment."
:)
Annie, a few years ago I gave Alice her first OED and said "make this your best friend" because when I was her age I struggled with spellings and words didn't really interest me. Only in my final 2 years of school and when I got to University and beyond, did I start loving words. It all began with a great English Teacher and my love of poetry. I was rubbish at grammar but literature really floated my boat ~ oh, and still does.
ReplyDeleteI, like you, LOVE the comments on my blog and get a ?cheap thrill when I see that someone else has commented. Ok, maybe that's me being a wee bit too honest there, please don't use "cheap thrill" in your blog cloud ;o) I think my word would have to be (all of the above) and belonging. Meeting like minded people has really mattered to me, I always feel like I have company despite it being "virtual". I guess it all boils down to a senseof being valued and just belonging.
Right, enough prattling, I need to get on with my 101 weekend plans (and yes I think I won't manage to squeeze in many of them!) Rainy days ahead, ho hum xox Penelope x
Hazy and humid giving way to a fairly warm day I'd say here in our neck of the woods. Those cloche are amazing!
ReplyDeleteA word eh? Community is a good one. Let me get on to my coffee and I may come up with something else.
Have a grand weekend!
oooh community is a good one. It's always hard to limit to just one word...but for me it would be 'inspiration'.
ReplyDeleteAnd the weather - same as you (we're relatively close though aren't we!) RAIIIIIIN. And MORE rain. Our garden is as green as green can be. I'm trying hard not to moan....(maybe a little grrrr here and there!)
sending love
fee x
I think my word would be BEAUTY.....I'm drawn to the blogs with the beautiful photography, which so often also connects to beautiful words. And the weather here.....picture perfect. Our one vacation day today that had a chance of rain....and it's cloudless....beautiful.
ReplyDeletethe weather is amazing and warm here. It is like the middle of july weather wise and garden wise but yet I keep having to check the calendar to convince myself it really is only the middle of june and the solstice has not even yet come.
ReplyDeleteMy word today for blogging would be imbue. Blogs like yours really do inspire pervasively like dyeing or wet water-colour. Besides it is one of my very favourite words in the english language:)
Thank you for that Annie, glad you found my blog, yours is lovely, will add it to my rapidly growing lists of fab blogs!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cloches Annie. My word would be camaraderie - it sums up for me the best bit of blogging.
ReplyDeleteYour last photo is gorgeous. All that green!
ReplyDeleteChangeable would be the best description of the weather here today. And chilly.
My blog word is connection. The amazing people who inspire me and welcome me into this world.
I think blogging is like having a pen pal without the stamp.
ReplyDeleteThe weather here is pants! My blog word would have to be 'fun' jx
ReplyDelete