Because I have roots in Grates Cove, a little beluga whale has been all over my Facebook feed lately. That is where I recently discovered Jaredthrough his Beluga At My Doorstep post.
His blog, Bird⋅the⋅Rock, specializes in bird & nature tours in Newfoundland.
From the blog’s About page:
Jared Clarke is a native Newfoundlander who grew up on the northeast coast of the island and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age – mostly by his grandfathers…Despite his “official” training as a health researcher (PhD Medicine), his love of nature and sharing it with others has consistently led him astray. Jared has led tours big and small across Newfoundland; from historic St. John’s to the ancient Viking settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island and many points in between.
Check out the beautiful photos Jared captured in the link below. There’s even a short video of the whale:
What comes to your mind when you hear the word connected? For some, the word may conjure a mental image of all the gadgets we have, like our smart phones, computers, etc. that allow us to stay accessible and up-to-date in the digital world. Or it may make you think of being well-connected, in that you have successfully networked with the right people who can further your career or your mission in life.
The most meaningful connections for me, as they are for most, are the ones I make with people in person, especially one-on-one. These attachments are unique and irreplaceable. You know who you are<3. But as much as I treasure the relationships in my personal life, there is a lot to be said for the virtual connections I have made with other bloggers over the past three to four years.
Living in a remote or rural area can make it difficult to find like-minded souls, especially in the writing arena. The blogosphere has been instrumental in solving that dilemma for me. The advice and the inspiration I have received from other bloggers has been nothing short of extraordinary since I started Jennifer’s Journal. A huge thanks to every one of you that I follow. Whether your blog shares writing, art, or photography, I am grateful to have met you through the internet.
Kath Unsworth of Minuscule Moments of Inspirationis one such blogger. Not only does Kath pursue the craft of writing, she is also a gifted artist. Her creativity and dedication to her artistic endeavors have influenced my own aspirations much more than she probably realizes. And because of the internet, it is no matter that she lives on a farm in Australia. Well, actually it does matter; her location adds even more intrigue for me. 🙂
I was lucky enough to win a contest Kath held last year, where my name was drawn to receive a free pet portrait. Here is the result:
Vivian by Kath Unsworth
This summer, I was moved to acquire one of Kath’s original, highly affordable works of art from her newly opened Etsy shop, ScratchyBirdDesigns. Her love of birds speaks to me, so much so I had to have one of them adorning my wall. (Vivian is in my living-room, Willy Wagtail is in my kitchen-dining room.) Isn’t he beautiful?
Willy Wagtailx 2
I also purchased her delightful fridge magnet (its slogan fits me to a tee):
Like me, Kath understands the value of virtual connection. You can read about it in her blog post here:
In the middle of the afternoon yesterday, I received a welcome and gratifying email. My editor sent me – minus a few finishing touches – the cover art for my upcoming YA novel, Calmer Girls.
I. LOVE. IT. Since then, to say I am getting more excited about my book’s upcoming release is an understatement. As one of the teenagers in my book might say: “this sh*t just got real!”
In keeping with what is now on my mind 24/7, I’m sharing one of the writer blogs I follow. Jane Friedman is a writing coach with a wealth of useful tips and advice on building an author platform and getting published. In the post below, she interviews Hannah Goodman, a proud advocate and author of the Young Adult genre.
Happy Friday, all! Before I introduce this week’s recipient of Friday Bouquet:
Vivian and Maisie would like to extend a sincere and purry “thank you” for all the beautiful comments and well wishes on their 8th Birthday post, from all of their lovely followers both here and on Facebook, as well as the retweet on Twitter. Their mom and dad read, enjoyed, and treasured each and every one. 🙂
Now, on to the bouquet:
Brenda Knowles says her Space2Liveblog is a place“where we intentionally reflect on core passions: art, nature,writing, reading, relationships,family, traveling, self-realization and spirituality.”
From her About Me page:
… I am an open listener, introspective, dreamy, expressive and a mom. When I say highly sensitive I don’t mean I cry at the drop of a hat or tremble like a Chihuahua. I’m not even shy. What I mean is, I will sense the moods of the people in a room and be affected. I am an introvert. …Over-stimulate me (with noise, technology, hurrying, overscheduling, interruptions) and I am going to get overwhelmed and crabby and wish I could handle more. Writing is the perfect outlet.”
As much as I hate labels applied to people, the following post resonated with me. While reading it, I found myself wishing everyone could read it for a better understanding of why introverts and/or highly sensitive people have a need to withdraw at certain times. Maybe then we wouldn’t be described by certain others as “difficult” or “unsociable.” Maybe then we would be accepted for who we actually are, in spite of our differences.
Amy at Shirley’s Heaven is a mental health advocate who blogs to share her thoughts, to raise awareness, and to fight the stigma associated with mental illness. She writes with honesty, speaking out bravely about her own experiences.
From her About Page:
I dedicate this blog to my mom, Shirley, even though I had a very tumultuous relationship with her because of her mental illness, I know she did the best she could. I hope that the near future holds better treatment options for people with mental illness.”
I chose Amy’s post below because of the way she compares the pen pals she wished for as a child with her blogger friends and followers today.
SherryLachelle over at Fabulous 50’s is a superbly talented photographer and travel writer who I have followed ever since I’ve been blogging.
From her About page:
Looking back, my decision to resign from a traditional 8 to 5 job and take care of my mother, was the beginning of a wonderful chapter in my life! Working in the corporate world for 30 years and raising a son left little time to discover my likes and dislikes…Starting my own meetup, entitled “Travel Spirit Meetup”, enabled me to take 13 people through 9 countries in Europe for a month in the summer of 2014. I’ve had time to take some photography classes and am now a Photographer and Travel Writer for Cincinnati Refined…I am a Life Hugger and hope to inspire others with my positive enthusiasm and set an example of what someone can accomplish at any age!”
I selected her recent post below because I ADORE the photography. Check it out, you won’t be sorry!
Me – Who Am I?reflects on her personal journey and shares her observations and inspiring thoughts on daily life.
From her About page:
Life is a road full of experiences that mold you into the person you are today and the person you will be tomorrow. But, what if one day you find yourself lost in the middle of the road, asking yourself “Who am I?” Discovering the answer may be quite a journey and you have to be ready, as you don’t know what you’ll find in the process. The inner you can be brilliant and sometimes haunting. This blog is a journey of discovery.”
In the post highlighted below, she talks about the priceless gift a blog can be to others, after that blogger is no longer with us.
Val Boyko of Find Your Middle Ground is a professional life/career coach and a yoga teacher whose posts I’ve enjoyed for some time now.
In her own words:
I believe that we can all contribute to world peace. It starts with being kind to ourselves and finding peace within ourselves. Helping others is a good place to start, but the real work is ours to do for ourselves. We must find that peaceful, nourishing and inspiring place…
One morning I woke up with these words in my mind:
“Life is a series of highs and lows
Be grateful for the highs
Be graceful in the lows
And find contentment in your middle ground.”
I am highlighting the following post because I love the idea of receiving a lesson from dogs on how to overcome the ego.
Carrie Rubin is a pediatrician who also happens to be the author of an award-winning medical thriller I recently enjoyed. Besides that, she is a blogger with a fine sense of humour. I follow her blog, The Write Transition, and she keeps me smiling over on Twitter as well.
From her About Page:
“Physician, public health advocate, writer. I believe every experience is worthwhile, even if our paths deviate from where we started.
I am the author of The Seneca Scourge, a medical thriller. This blog chronicles my transition into the writing world, all with a dose of humor, because to me laughter is one of life’s necessities.”
Have a look at this recent post of Carrie’s, especially if you are guilty of using, ahem, big words:
I only found A Novel Journey recently and am just beginning to explore this beautiful blog. Rhonda is a writer, a published author, and an avid reader who “live(s) in Colorado, but was born in northern Minnesota. My husband likes to say you can take the girl out of the woods but you can’t take the woods out of the girl. Though Colorado is now my home and it surrounds me with majestic beauty, my heart will always belong to the lakes and forests of Minnesota.”
More from her About Page:
“A Novel Journey was born by my desire to live a life of grace, through the grace given to me daily, by reaching out to others through words and story. A Novel Journey. Novel–“new” and “books.” Each “new” day is a “novel” one. One in which to live with abundant gratitude and grace, for there is so much to be grateful for in this life.”
I have highlighted the following post for my readers because of its wisdom.
Check it out for an insightful lesson for succeeding in life.
Jennifer's Journal 