Sweet Robin in the snow, January 2013
(c) Sherri Matthews
My Sweet Robin came by to say hello today, just as he did on the same day exactly two years ago when I wrote my first blog post.
My little, red-breasted, puffed-up muse.
I have learnt so much since that day. About blogging, about writing and about myself. I have also discovered a WordPress world filled with the most incredible kindness and compassion: I found all of you, dear friends!
Recently I read on another blog (and huge apologies for not remembering whose blog), that a fair size chunk of bloggers burn out after two years. It is also common knowledge that most people who say they are going to write a book never actually do.
I do not want to become one of those statistics.
But I admit that during 2014, I had more than a few moments when I wondered how I was going to meet my goals: not because of any lack of motivation or even, at times, my crippling self-doubt.
No. It was because of the times when I walked through the fog and stumbled time after time, when nothing I tried seemed to go right.
But I tried, I really did. I set plans for a new writing regime, determined each time to make a fresh start, to set my focus on what it was I needed to do to meet my goals and get a proper schedule going.
Planning is good, and necessary, right?
At times like these, I can’t help but hear the words of Eldest Son’s old Scoutmaster telling his troop over and over:
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!’ Cliche I know, but it’s true.
Just ask a group of Boy Scouts who thought they had done a good job of packing all they needed for a weekend away, camping in the middle of a huge forest in California.
Until they sat down to light the fire and realised they had forgotten to bring any matches.
I found it hard to keep blogging and write my book at the same time. I tried to set a writing schedule, doing my level best to keep disciplined enough to stick to it. I became more determined than ever.
But ‘stuff’ happens
Things break-down (appliances, laptops, cars), people let us down, illness strikes, financial worries hit us hard and in my case, my increasing concerns for my Aspie daughter bear down, at times, too heavily.
Yet 2015 starts afresh for us all. We hope to put the past behind us and face the new year ahead with renewed verve and vigour, with a positive outlook, and instead of looking at the bad of last year, remembering all the good, thankful for our many blessings.
So as the fog lifts, I can at last see my way clear.
I look back at my two years of blogging and get a surprise when I read the results of my WordPress Annual Stat Report for 2014.
Although my busiest day was March 4th with 205 views for WPC: Abaondoned Minoan Ruins of Crete, (and I have really enjoyed the Weekly Photo Challenges), the top three posts with the most consistent views are ones in which I’ve shared about my Aspie daughter:
- The Love of Animals and Asperger’s Syndrome
- The Dark Side of Asperger’s Syndrome
- The Taste of Words: Asperger’s Syndrome and Synaesthesia
I haven’t been paying much notice to my stats lately I admit, but I had noticed that The ‘Love of Animals‘ post, written in August, 2013, is viewed several times every day. Sometimes a reader leaves a comment. Somebody must have posted it on their Facebook page which has generated, to date, 107 hits.
Back in May, 2013, four months into blogging, I wrote ‘No Longer Invisible Darling Girl‘ in response to the sometimes overwhelming sadness that I carry in my heart for my daughter’s struggles. A blogger named seventhvoice left me a beautiful comment and re-blogged it. In reading my report now, it amazes me to see that seventhvoice is my top referring site.
Knowing that something I’ve written along the way which has encouraged and helped others living with and affected by Asperger’s Syndrome makes my heart soar. I know we are not alone in the struggle and I can tell my story from a mother’s heart.
My blog had visitors from 116 countries with 31,000 views. That would be the same as 11 sold-out performances at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, apparently. I find that hard to visualise to be honest. Most visits come from right here in the UK, but America and Australia follow close behind. Love you guys!
Thank you so, so much to you all, dear ones!
So I begin the year as always with optimism, putting all troubles behind and with a new writing regime (in the Summerhouse every morning, no social media, no phones, switched off, just writing), and a heart overflowing with the deepest of gratitude for you all.
Shared with me by a dear friend on Facebook
I couldn’t have done it without you and that’s the truth.
When I jumped into my little homemade boat two year’s ago and rowed out to sea, searching for my new life as a writer, I had two choices: keep rowing or sink.
Well, I’ve come close to sinking a few times but you, my lovely people, have thrown me a life-line every single time. And so I keep rowing across that shining sea and I won’t stop until I reach my destination.
So here’s to a great year ahead. And to kick-start things off, I would like to share some good news with publication of my article, ‘Memories of Hintlesham Hall’ in the January edition of Suffolk Norfolk Life magazine. You can view the digital copy here, my article is on pages 88-89. I sincerely hope you enjoy the read.
We are in this together. We are sharing our stories. And I couldn’t be more thankful.
A View From My Summerhouse 
Lovely. Very encouraging
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Thanks so much Beth, I really appreciate your readership 🙂
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Here’s to a fantabulous year my lovely Sherri! Congratulations on the article – that’s brilliant and you must be chuffed as anything. ❤ XXXXXXXXX 🙂
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Thanks so much lovely Jo…I am chuffed, I admit… 🙂 ❤ 🙂 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Congratulations and glad you have kept going through the two year mark – always enjoy reading your posts.
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Thanks so much Denise…means a lot that… 🙂
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Congrats. I couldn’t view your story because when I clicked on the link, I got a black screen. I tried to be patient, and waited a little while, but the black screen remained. Did I do something wrong?
Love,
E
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Thanks so much Elizabeth. Hmmm…not sure why that would be. I read Sarah’s suggestion, do you need to update to the latest Adobe Flash install? Let me know if you are still having problems, I would love you to be able to read the article….
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Congragulations! I go by the moniker sherylyangster and just like you I’m a blogger as well. I write about my opinions regarding social issues and life experiences i have had to go through. I would really love for you to check out my blog and share your opinions with me! have a great day:) sherylyangster.wordpress.com
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Hi Sheryl! Many thanks for coming by and leaving your kind congrats. I will be over to you as soon as I can…catching up after a weekend away from the laptop. Looking forward to it and great to meet you 🙂
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Here’s to a great blogging year ahead, and I hope 2015 is good to you generally 🙂
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Thanks so much Sue, you are very kind, and I would hope the very same for you too 🙂 Looking forward to more photo challenges 🙂
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Thanks, Sherri 🙂
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🙂
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Congratulations on your published article, Sherri. I’m sorry that I couldn’t access it, as I would love to read it. Wishing you and your dear family all the very best for the year ahead. Hugs and love to you. 🙂
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Thank you so much Sylvia, really means so much. I’m sorry about the article. As a suggestion, do you need to update to the latest Adobe Flash install? I’m not sure why some can access it but not others. Let me know if that works…I would love for you to be able to read it too, maybe I can email you a scanned copy. Hugs and love right back to you too 🙂
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Congratulations again on the publication of your article, Sherri. DFD and I loved it! I predict 2015 will be a wonderful year, full of blessings for you, your writing and your family.
Going into the Summerhouse without all of those distractions is a great way to get the words on the page. That’s the only way I can reach my writing goals. Good luck!
I love the photo of the Robin. As we’ve chatted about before, your Robin’s are so tiny compared to ours. Of course, ours are beautiful, but yours is such a cute little chunky nugget. 🙂
Have a great time this weekend! xoxo
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You are so kind and encouraging Jill, thank you so much and I’m thrilled you and DFD enjoyed the article 🙂 Yes, got to eliminate those endless distractions…and focus, right? And get a healthy dose of discipline 🙄
Haha… ‘chunky nugget’…love that! I used to read a beautiful little book to Aspie D called ‘My Spring Robin’ and noticed that the robin in the illustrations looked quite different to our English robins. That was the first time I realised the differences 🙂 But you are quite right, they are all so beautiful 🙂 Had a wonderful weekend, thanks Jill, and hope you did too. Have a great week and will email you soon… 🙂 xoxo
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Congratulations on two years of blogging. I found your post very motivating! I need to plan my blogging!!
I loved your article on Hintlesham Hall. What lovely memories for you!
Best wishes for 2015!
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Thank you so much, your comment has brought a huge smile to my day. Thrilled that you enjoyed the article also 🙂 May I wish you the very same best wishes for the year ahead…I have just been over to your lovely blog and look forward to reading more. Great to meet you.. 🙂
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Hello dear Sherri P, good to see you again! 🙂 I hope you’ve had a peaceful transition into the New Year, and may this hope and determination and light ever stay with you! You can do it, I believe in you. As do we all, it would seem 🙂 Pop round for tea sometime, yes? 😉
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Why hello dear Jenny Jen Jen, how lovely to see you too 🙂 Your faith in me means so much…and keeps me going, believe me. I certainly will be popping over for tea, very shortly…get that kettle on and there I’ll be! Love Sherri P 🙂
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Congratulations on two years going strong Sherri! What an interesting statistic about most bloggers stopping after the two year mark. Here’s to many more years of enjoyable blogging and writing 🙂
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Thank you so much Heather, your visits and comments always bring joy to my day 🙂 Yes, that is an interesting statistic isn’t it? But here we are…let’s blog, write, and in your case, bake away 🙂
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Congratulations on your blogging and writing milestone, Sherri.
I’m may be way behind you on how long I’ve been here on WordPress but your post has certainly given much encouragement to carry on rowing and not sinking. There is indeed a wonderful blogging community out there and I’m so lucky to have been accepted as part of it. Too many times I read rants from bloggers who don’t understand why their blog only gets little, if any, views and it’s usually down to that fact that they never become part of the blogging community we have on here by paying other blogs a visit and reading, liking and commenting themselves.
Keep up the excellent good work you are doing, Sherri, and I wish you much more writing success in the year ahead and beyond.
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Thank you so much Hugh, your kind wishes mean a great deal, it really is great to have met you here 🙂
I know that my blog isn’t as big as many out there, certainly not in terms of ‘followers’ (I don’t like using that word, preferring readers and friends), but I am constantly amazed and deeply humbled by the level of support and encouragement I’ve found here from such a beautiful blogging community, and the wonderful friends I’ve made, ‘old’ and ‘new’, such as yourself 🙄
But you are so right, we do need to reach out to other bloggers. Then of course there are those who read our blogs ‘silently’. It is an amazing thing isn’t it, knowing that something we write reaches others, many of whom we will never know or hear from. But we know they are reading…
I am so glad to have given some encouragement to you in return…and now back to the rowing 🙂
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Well – congratulations are due x three I think. Two years blogging, being published and persevering through thick and thin! I too have heard about the burn-out danger at two years. I am approaching my second anniversary too and right now life is so busy I am not fully participating in the blogging world – I did wonder ‘Is this the beginning of the end?’ I guess everything has it’s time – but I’m not ready to give up on blogging just yet!
As mothers we always carry concern for the well being of our children, as mother to a child with Asperger’s it must be on-going with waves of concern and sadness intermingled. I am bound to note however that your daughter is most fortunate to have such a loving and intelligent mother at her side – it cannot be easy for her either. I send you both warm and loving wishes for finding some peace and comfort as this new year moves along. xoxo
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Thank you so much Pauline for such a caring, thoughtful and insightful message. Interesting that you too have heard that about the two-year blog burn-out, but I am heartened to know that you are not quitting any time soon…we can only do what we can do after all.
I started off mine to document my venture as a late-bloomer writer seeking my publishing dream (while writing my book) and never expected to find such a beautiful community here. I knew nothing of that, nor of the things I would eventually blog about. It has been a revelation putting it mildly.
Many congratulations too on your up coming two year anniversary! That’s so great to know!
And again, thank you so much, I do so appreciate your kind words of support of encouragement for both my daughter and me. What a lovely thing to say…I am most blessed by your kindness and thoughtfulness, my heart is filled with warmth. Bless you Pauline 🙂 xoxo
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Well, I’m pleased to say that I got to read your article, Sherri, as the black screen gave way to the magazine cover in a moment. It was beautifully written and so interesting all about Hintlesham Hall. That ‘poison’ sounded delicious. Can’t say I’ve ever had that in orange juice (won’t tell the others what it was, in case they get to read your article later and I give the game away!).
For those who haven’t been able to access this article, which is a pdf file, it might be because they haven’t got their adobe reader software up-to-date or that their PCs are running slow and they haven’t exercised enough patience waiting for the file’s content to load.
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Hi Sarah, catching up last and soooo behind. Thrilled you were able to access the article and thank you so much, delighted you enjoyed it 🙂 Thanks too for your advice for those who couldn’t access it. Yes, I wonder if it is to do with an Adobe Flash update install? Hope you had a lovely weekend…will be over to you shortly to see what you have been up to 🙂
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So well said, Sherri! I as well as most of us can relate to the crippling self doubt and “stuff” getting in our way of our plans and goals. I know I have had my moments but as you say, new beginnings are there to lift us up and create hope and motivation to continue “rowing”.
You have such a wonderful gift, in writing and selfishly, I am glad that you are staying “with” us to continue to inspire us with your words! No pressure though! LOL! 🙂
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Aww Maria, you are so kind and sweet, thank you so much 🙂 You always encourage me greatly…and yes, as much as all this ‘stuff’ gets in the way, it is indeed good to know that we can start fresh, every morning, rowing out to sea…and absolutely no pressure, haha 😀
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Sherri its going to be your year for writing, I can see it. I really enjoyed reading that story, Congratulations, the magazine looks wonderful. Such a well written and fascinating window into a piece of your young life. Thanks for sharing and yes just keep writing and it will be 2016 before you know it.
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Thank you so much Kath, you are very kind. I am very looking forward to reading more of your blog too and following your journey in both your writing and beautiful art 🙂
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I read the article and thought, as you do, lucky sods. You and your bro being allowed to explore such a magnificent place. Great fun to be had. We had a derelict ruin near us which my brother and I rerated as our den, with no adult back in the 60s caring much about safety. And your stats tell you how much people enjoy your writing. Keep going Sherri, keep going.
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Haha…lucky sods we were indeed Geoff 🙂 Of course, as a teenager I didn’t think so living so far out from town and the last bus home so darn early. I couldn’t wait to pass my driving test…but as a kid? Well, it was wonderful…as was your den…and oh that delicious freedom, so very different today…
Thanks so much for your wonderful encouragement Geoff. And the cheque is in the post 😀
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Well what a clever girl you are then! Congrats on the article – a great piece, though you look half frozen in that photo 🙂 I am sure you will have a perfect year ahead Sherri – without life’s little problems you’d have nothing to write about and your blog would be soooo boring… good luck with the book, you’ll get there one day and what a fantastic read it will be.
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Haha…thanks Jude, so glad you enjoyed it! Yes you are right, I was cold! Hubby snapped these shots, never thinking one day I would be writing an article for a magazine about it. I sent in a few to the editor but had no idea which ones he would use until I got hold of the magazine! It’s really lovely having you ‘by my side’ and sharing this bumpy ride and all our adventures together. Can’t have boring!! As with Jenny, I say three cheers to Spamgate 🙂
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Congratulations on the article Sherri! What a marvellous treat! I absolutely love reading about English manor houses – poison! floor to ceiling bookcases in the library and secret doors!!! wonderful stuff 🙂 AND congrats on the two years! well done! Boy oh boy can I relate to your feelings. With all my commitments I too worry how I am ever going to realize my creative goals and have come close to calling it a day especially with my WIP (novel) but reading wonderful blogs like yours keeps me going.
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Oh I’m thrilled you enjoyed it Yolanda, thank you so much 🙂 Yes, those old English manor houses do have so many wonderful secrets and stories just waiting to be told.. 😉 It is so frustrating isn’t it wanting so much to pursue our writing yet feeling that we are not getting anywhere. But then when I read YOUR lovely comment, I am so encouraged and yes, inspired by what you say…we are in this together Yolanda, and hopefully we can both find the way forward while balancing one heck of a juggling act. Keep going with your WIP and I will too…deal? 🙂
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Deal. ❤
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❤
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Two years – wonderful! I’m so glad to have discovered your wonderful blog and that we will continue to connect into this new year. It’s always interesting to see which posts are revisited. I wrote a post on reading in the bathtub a long time ago and it still gets views and comments from time to time. Must be a lot of fellow bath readers out there 🙂 Wishing you a wonderful year and continued success with all of your writing!
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Thank you so much Letizia, what a lovely comment! I am delighted to share my blogging journey with you, I adore your blog 🙂 Love that about your bathtub post…you just never know! I will have to read it now! May this year bring you every success too…here’s to happy writing and blogging…and bathing 🙄
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Reading your post reminds me just how much I enjoy your writing! Your article is fabulous and the layout is engaging and polished. Many more opportunities will open up to you because of that one article. And I can’t help but think that you have other opportunities waiting for you to explore in regards to your compassionate outlook on parenting an Aspie. Keep writing! I love the idea of you tucked away in your Summerhouse, unplugged and tapping keys. This is going to be a good year! Congratulations for getting this far and taking time to realize the distance you’ve come. Enjoy the journey!
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Hi Charli! Thank you so much…your support and encouragement is wonderful and I’m thrilled you enjoyed the article so much 🙂 It is always good to look back and concentrate on the good in place of the bad…yet we need to remember the bad so that we can indeed see how far we’ve come. Yes, this year is going to be a good year…there, I said it out loud! Great advice to remember to ‘enjoy the journey’. Looking forward to galloping over to the Ranch and seeing what’s new for this week…Happy Trails Charli 🙂
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The publication is a portent for great things to come Sherri. If nothing else your stats should give you the realisation that people come back time and time again to read more of your writing. They’ll do the same for a full length book I’m sure. Like Charli I love the idea of you in the summerhouse tapping away. Hope the sun gives you enough warmth or you have heating at this time of year. It sounds like a really good plan and lets hope that 2015 gives you the space to make it happen and too much life doesn’t come in the way of it. ❤ 🙂
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You are so very kind Irene, thank you so much. You encourage me greatly and urge me to keep going 🙂 I have a little fan heater in the summerhouse for these cold days so I’m nice and cosy while ‘tapping away’ but the sun will do the trick as it warms up into spring 🙂 Yes…let’s hope that things calm down a little so that there is more time to actually write about those things that do happen. Let’s hope the plan sticks for us all as we tap away into 2015….and beyond 🙂 ❤
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Glad to hear you are cosy in the summerhouse. I just have a feeling 2015 is going to be good for you in spite of anything life might throw at you along the way. Yes I’m going to be tapping away also. I have too have decided on a routine.. 🙂
❤
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That’s so great to hear Irene, on both counts…here’s to our new routines, and a good year for us both my friend 🙂 ❤
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I’ll drink to that. Lets see how long we stick at it. I am on day 5 and so far so good. 🙂
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Well you are already doing better than me Irene! I have done one day…got a chair issue…and in process of replacing my laptop…so already scuppered but am not going to give up!!!!
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Just think – with a new chair and a modern laptop everything will get done in half the time so you will catch up and perhaps be ahead of yourself in no time at all.
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That’s the plan 🙂
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Not, just standing, Sherri, thriving! What a great way to begin your year. Sometimes we never can tell how far we’ve come until we take a moment to look back…
Peace and Productivity to you in the New Year 🙂
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I love that, thank you so much Lilka! Triving…yes, that is what we are doing isn’t it? Like your beautiful garden, no matter the seasons 🙂 And the very same Peace and Productivity right back to you…here’s to it 🙂
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This is a poignant appraisal, Sherri, a balanced awareness of the good, the bad, the ugly…and the beautiful, too. Of course you will always choose to swim, to paddle harder, to throw yourself into every stroke of the oar, rather than sink. And you will do that whether you continue to blog or set it aside for awhile. For our sakes, I hope you continue to blog. You have a loyal, supportive community of writers around you, and we wish you well!
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Thank you so much Marylin, always for your kindness and wonderfully encouraging words. I do plan to keep blogging for as long as I can…I am utterly overwhelmed by the response of the amazing community of writers here and I couldn’t bare to be away from you! I know I wouldn’t have had the confidence to keep rowing without it. I really am truly humbled…again…thank you with a grateful heart 🙂
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“most people who say they are going to write a book never actually do” What a terrible thought but sometimes, it’s inevitably as you say, things get in the way. But I so admire you Sherri for being so persistent with your book and sharing the journey and snippets of it with all of us here. Power to you for going after your passion 🙂
Congratulations on the articles. Wonderful news and I am sure you will get published again soon. And when you do I am sure the ‘lil bird will come visit you again 🙂
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Yes, it is terribly sad, but with all the will in the world, it just doesn’t happen sometimes. Writing a book is an incredible achievement and I am totally inspired by those who have done so. I have nothing for the deepest respect for them. Persistence is definitely the key world 🙂 You are so kind Mabel, thank you so much…and yes, when that ‘lil bird comes to visit again, I shall think of you and your beautiful wishes and I shall smile from ear to ear 🙂 As I send the very same of the best kind of wishes to you for your writing and for every day life, in all that you do 🙂
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What a journey and what an incredible blessing to be able to travel it with you through your writing. Always they touch a very real part of me. They bring me such pleasure and moments of reflection in a busy day. Sail on my friend into fair weather and calm seas! xoxo ❤
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Ahh…I shall sail on indeed, and here’s to some of that glorious fair weather and those calm seas…and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for you, my all-weather friend 🙂 I would say that it is you who blesses me…every single day. And so we press on, together… 🙂 ❤ xoxoxo
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Congratulations Sherri! You deserve it. You are a hard worker, that’s for sure! Here’s to many more years to come! CHEERS!! 🙂
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Thank you greatly Patsy, means so much to me 🙂 Cheers right back to you too 🙂
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You’re a blogging rock star, my dear! I think the stats are true. There are so many blogs I have enjoyed that are now inactive!
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Haha…well, I’m not so sure about that Luanne, but that’s very kind of you 🙂 Now I’m going to get my electric air guitar out and rock it 😀 ⭐ 😛 xoxo
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Here’s to a third blogging year for both of us, Sherri. My output is no where as much as yours – how do you do it? – but i intend to keep going for the long haul. Meeting so many intersting, funny and thoughtful folk through our blogs has been wonderful – thank you for being one of my friends and for all your support and encouragement. Here’s to spamgate!
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Oh Jenny, blogging wouldn’t be the same without you here, I’m so glad we met 🙂 You are such a lovely friend and I would say – thank YOU so much for all encouragement and support, you really have helped me through some very difficult times, and also I love that you were the inspiration for my post about synesthesia, which is one of my most viewed posts!! I always remember reading your post about it in my early days of blogging. Wow, where has the time gone? Oh dear, I’m going to get all sentimental again…
It’s great to know that you are going to keep going (and congratulations on your third year too!) We really do have a wonderful community here don’t we? And to think it all started for us with spamgate! Hip Hip Hooray for Spamgate! xx
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Hello mon amie ❤ – well first of all – congrats on the stats – and as I read the one part about bloggers quitting after 2 yrs – I was almost wondering if you were going to say you were passing to get your book work done – but you did "not" say it and so I sighed…. and smiled. But I have a feeling that you have many books that will come to fruition – there are many years ahead and I also believe that certain delays and pauses can be very helpful "God appointments" – but it seems you REALLY know this -(w/ the "stuff" happens note)
and the bird visiting is super cool – nice photo of it too – 🙂 ❤
have a nice weekend…
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oh one more thing – That planning quote is awesome – simple – yet so true. when I taught – the planning part was the key to everything- good planning made lessons really work better.
However, I kinda needed to hear that this week cos here we are many days into the new year and I have only stretched once… once – that’s it. and my only goal is to get “better ongoing posture” this year – which comes from stretching/strengthening the muscles and aligning the spine – and so I see that my “lack of planning” is why I am not getting it done yet – and it is 10 days into the year. I have done the treadmill and so that’s cool – but after I get offline I am going to plan for my posture stretches – and make some actionable goals for it – so huge thanks for this timely reminder….
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Planning is vital, absolutely. And I know, how fast we get in to the new year, with the best will in the world, to get those exercises started, get that writing done, get all those clearing out chores done, and start all those great new habits…and then, well, we fall at the first hurdle. At least, I do. Oh why is it so hard when we are motivated, want so much to make things better and do better generally? I wish I knew…but all we can do is try our very best…and on that note, I’m so glad that reading something here helped you and I really do hope nothing but the very best for you mon amie as you work towards your ‘better posture’ goal. Boy, I should be doing just the same. One thing I don’t like about writing…and the only thing…is all the sitting down. I am not naturally inclined to do this and HAVE to make time to get up and walk and keep active. But it is a constant challenge….
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Oh I know – and on mark’s daily apple, they sometimes talk about the standing work station – where some use a counter or another high place to set up and stand and work – and well, not sure how they balance the standing in one place – cos that seems like it has challenges too.
and then one lady shared a photo of how she does “forward folds” while using the computer, which she sets up on the coffee table -and the picture seemed silly and I am not sure if I can ever do that! hmmm
but I do know that what worked for me a few years ago was not worrying so much about posture and just strengthening my core – and adrienne reed yoga was on cable in 2012/2013 and a few of her shows made me like yoga – cos I do not like some of the quirky moves – but she had “airplanes” and a few others that real y aligned and just helped. But she went off the air and I ordered one cd -and did it – but then stopped (around march) because the cd was not like the shows – and then I still did some stretches = but losing access to her tv shows displaced me. – oh and have you ever heard of “gilad” – he is always who I go to when I need to just get some tension out – cos just his opening – warm-ups can be enough to change things.
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Not heard of ‘gilad’ I have to say. But I did do Pilates for two years to try and strengthen my core (and help recover from two back-to-back whiplash injuries sustained at the end of 2011) and while it did help to a point, I kept getting bouts of sciatica. The teacher left and I didn’t continue with her replacement. I kept up my walks though and guess what..I haven’t had sciatica for ages!! Have done some yoga in the past but not lately. I do really need to get back to doing some regular exercises though…As you way. Even just doing those warm-ups can help tremendously. Keep it up mon amie and watch this space, ha 🙂 ❤
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I will – 🙂 and funny how one change can mess up our rhythm – like the teacher change for u or the discontinued show for me – and how cool the sciatica has gone away – never had it but I know many who have (and during pregnancy for a few) and well – whew – adios – have a good day mon amid ❤
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❤
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I love that dear mon amie… “God Appointments”…and so very true. I shall hold onto that 🙂 Yes, love the little robin, he is a cheeky little fellow that’s for sure…and I hope you had a lovely weekend too. Thank you so much always for your wonderful comments and friendship, I love our ‘chats’… and keeping the kettle on for tea, coolies and flies 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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stop teasing me with that kettle being on – well okay – you can keep saying it – but it is a tease – especially on this chilly winter nights.
❤ ❤ ❤
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Okay…no more teasing. But you know I mean it…and wish it could be for real ❤ ❤ ❤
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maybe someday – and we will have to meet in Cali or something (cues song *** going back to Cali, cali…***) ha!
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Now that would be amazing… 😀
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we can dream a little (while the kettle brews – 🙂 )
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It’s a privilege to be allowed into your world, Sherri, and I hope that it will continue for a very long time. 🙂 I’m experiencing a few of life’s frustrations and harassments right now, but I know that they are insignificant compared to your daughter’s struggles. i’ll come back and read your article later. Hugs my friend! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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Ahh Jo, you are such a sweet, lovely lady, thank you so much 🙂 Had a lovely weekend, hope you did too, but I’m so sorry you are having a difficult time, I hope that things get better soon. They are not insignificant! ‘Stuff’ happens to us all…and so often it is the drip, drip, drip of life’s problems that while not seeming to be that ‘big’, yet cause us so much stress that can really wear us down 😦 Big hugs right back to you too my friend…and hope your week is a better one ❤
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It’s started well 🙂
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Great…over to you… 🙂
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Happy New Year Sherri and congratulations for beginning 2015 with passion and optimism in your heart. Reading your thoughts is like reading a part of my life and its many memories. Friendship, goals, the past and the present, of future hopes, of the many things that brings joy in my life. If you don’t mind, I will be sharing the quote about treasuring, leaving and holding on to. It mirrors my 2014 and wish for 2015. I wish you all the best of blessings, of overflowing love, happiness, peace, good health and success. I wish for you lots of bursting inspiration to write, to blog and to days of simply savoring life. God bless you and your family always.
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Happy New Year to you my friend and thank you so much! Oh I hope that I started the year with optimism and passion…I am determined if nothing else 😉 Yes, of course, please share, I am honoured that you would wish to do so. You and I share so many of the same struggles of the past and present and of all that today’s challenges bring. Yet we hope and pray for blessings and God’s mercies to see us through. Your wonderfully kind wishes bless me and encourage me so much…I shall take them all to heart and ponder them, think of them and be lifted up by them. And I pray the very same for you dear friend…may you and your family know all that you wish for me and mine for this year and beyond, today and every day 🙂
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First of all, congratulations on the publication of the article – it’s everything I expect from reading your blog – an interesting story told with great warmth and humour (and I noticed there’s a lovely photo of your muse a couple of pages before it!) Congratulations too on your two years – our ‘blogdays’ are almost in tandem, with mine just over a week away, so I feel we’ve come a long way together 🙂 I’m so glad your feathered muse is still with you and look forward to seeing where your writing takes you this year. We have our plans and sometimes they don’t work out exactly as we’d seen them, but I have to say I don’t know how you manage to fit in what you do!
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Thank you so much Andrea, I am thrilled you enjoyed the article so much. And yes, I noticed my little feathered muse too, thought it was a nice coincidence 🙂 Congratulations to you too for your two years blogging! We really have come a long way together, what a journey! I look forward to reading of more of your writing successes – and sure there will be many – and you are so right about things not working out as we at first hoped but we find a way and somehow keep going 🙄 I wonder the same about you and others who work, how you manage it. I write from home yet still seem to be so short of time and so pressured. But either way, it is such a blessing that we can support and encourage one another along the way…and for that I am ever grateful 🙂
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It has been a great journey so far and many adventures to come! Well, I do have work to contend with and I’d be so much happier if I could create full time, but then I don’t have children, so when I’m not at work I don’t have the same commitments 🙂
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Yes, I can see that. It is definitely hard trying to balance everything. Nevertheless, here’s to the next stage of the journey 🙂
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Congrats on the 2 year mark. I remember it well. We all go through the should I give it up or not phase…often. I’m afraid you don’t have the luxury of that thought. You are a good writer and this is where you have to be. You are stuck with us. I’ll pop over to see your article in a moment but when I look at all your awards, I think I see your destiny written quite visibly.
You have been handed a lot to deal with but someone seems to think you are up to the job. Press on my dear. Your awesomeness is evident. Your daughter chose you to be her advocate. She knew you could do the job. We are all behind you watching your back and waiting to cheer you through your successes.
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Oh Marlene, your beautiful message has encouraged me so very much. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you say, and actually am humbled and don’t know quite what to say! Knowing you ‘have my back’ means so very much…bless you my friend 🙂
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Congratulations, Sherri, on the publication of your article! What a beautiful magazine. I enjoyed reading about your childhood memories of Hintlesham Hall and also about the place you grew up in – sounds like a paradise for children.
I love your little Robin … not as spectacular as that magnificent Macaw in your previous post, but just as sweet. 😀
Looking forward to your future posts during 2015 – Power to your pen … erm, keyboard!
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Thanks so much Lee, so glad you enjoyed the article 🙂 Yes, it was a great place to grow up. Sadly we moved there when my parents split up (we moved from Surrey) so I really missed my dad, but it was great to be able to have so much to explore and help take my mind off things, to a point). Sweet Robin is adorable but yes, I think that macaw would have him as a snack 😮 Great to have you back…here’s to a great blogging and writing year for us both 🙂
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It’s because of your honest and kind voice that we keep returning to you and your posts, Sherri. We are all full of great hope for the New Year, and we won’t do as well as we wish but as long as we try and stand up, we’ll be fine. I think that we all love that you don’t pretent to have answers, that everything is pink and smooth, that we aren’t messed up, that our kids and parents don’t worry us, but despite all that you are still in awe of what life brings to us. So thank you and to 2015 with all its imperfections.
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Thank YOU dear Evelyne for such a lovely comment and all your support and encouragement during my blogging time. It is a pleasure to have met you here and I look forward to sharing many more adventures and, I shall be optimistic here, writing successes with you 🙂
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C.o.n.g.r.a.t.u.l.a.t.i.o.n.s. Sherri. A wonderful, heartwarming article. Nothing like starting the year off with a splash! ❤ ❤
Stunning two years you've under your belt. Here's to 100 more. Stats are always surprising,and they do a heart good. Onward and upward in 2015. 😀
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Thank you so much Tess! So glad you enjoyed the article 🙂 The timing was pretty good wasn’t it, thanks to the editor of the magazine! Stats can tell a very interesting story, no doubt about it. It’s great to have met you here, and yes, absolutely, onward and upward and here’s to many more adventures (although I might be getting a little tired when I get close to a hundred) 🙂 ❤ 🙄
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We’ll worry about one hundred when we get a lot closer. 😀
Let’s have fun while we’re here. Nice to have met you as well. ❤
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Yes…good advice…and let’s have fun, I like the sound of that very much 😀 ❤
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Sounds delicious to me too.
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🙄 😀 😛
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I’m crying. Everything. Everything here is… I could have written most of this. The struggles, the fog, the wanting to give up, the self-doubt. I’m happy you’re still here, writing away. Look forward to reading all the posts you’ve listed.
I love hearing about your fluffy feathered muse. Congrats on two years. I’m so glad I met you, Sherri. Congrats on the article, as well. Great start to a new year! ❤
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Thank you so much dear Sarah for your kind and heartfelt wishes…but I’m sorry you’re crying 😦 Yet, I know, when you read of the same struggles and the same fog and all the same difficult ‘stuff’…it will do that to you. You know you are not alone! I am so glad I met you too, and I will continue to encourage you not to give up and keep going. Writing is a hard gig that’s for darn sure and doing it while blogging is even harder. But here we are…and we are not quitters! Although…if we need the time out sometimes, well, then so be it, and that is a different thing altogether. Meanwhile, we keep going and keep writing and keep encouraging and supporting one another…one day at a time ❤
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Two years of blogging is a great accomplishment, Sherri! Thank you for your genuine words here and congratulations on the article too!
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Thank you so much Christy, you are so kind and so lovely 🙂
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Happy blog birthday. Sometimes it tough to keep writing but I’m glad you do.
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Thanks so much Marie, you are very kind 🙂 Hope you are having a better week and feeling better.
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Great to see the article; it’s just like being at the summerhouse but the prospect of how many other people are going to see it – and an exciting thought for the start of the year! Very enjoyable, and obviously, proud that it’s appeared in an East Anglian magazine 😉
Happy belated second birthday too to the Summerhouse! This is becoming quite the beast of a blog (friendly one, though, of course!) with a tremendous following, and I’m sure that’s only going to grow as more people find their way under that brolly.
Keep on rockin’!
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I was hoping you would be proud JG 🙂 Thank you so much…and how timely that I should be able to share this exciting news knowing that you are back to blogging, and some! Actually, my summerhouse isn’t much smaller than Hintlesham Hall…I just didn’t want to brag about it 😉 After all, I need plenty of space in which to open my magical brolly, when occasion calls for it…as in a special VIP visit requiring the red carpet treatment for a certain special someone ⭐ Haha..let’s hope this friendly beast can keep on rockin’…that’s the plan anyway 🙂
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Congratulations, Sherri. I love your blog and I appreciate your sharing with us your life. You enrich us with your life. I am truly glad I met you through the blogs. I wish you well and all the best to you and your family. 🙂
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Thank you so much Imelda, what a lovely message. You have blessed me greatly with all your visits here and on Facebook, I always smile when I see you have visited. Likewise, I too am so glad to have met you (and btw, I adore your family photo, it is priceless!) and reading your beautiful poetry and also your gorgeous photos. You inspire me…and I look forward to sharing our blogging and writing journeys for another year and beyond 🙂
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Way to go, Sherri. I think you’re going to have fun beating the statistic. I love the WordPress family. Now I need to go back and read some of those posts you mentioned.
Blessings for 2015 ~ Wendy ❀
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Thank you so much Wendy for your lovely message! What a wonderful encouragement…bless you and may 2015 be filled with joy, love and laughter all the year through 🙂
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Cheers Sherri! Congratulations on reaching the two year mark. Its not easy. I’ve found it hard to blog and write as well- but it does get done- just slowly. Right now my book is on hold as i look for a new job. Never knew it would take so long. Just keep rowing and eventually you will reach the shore. 😃
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Cheers Tieshka and thanks so much! I met you very early on in my blogging journey…and here we both are! I do hope you find a new job soon and wish you the very best in your search. But as you say, we get our writing and blogging done, just maybe not as quickly as we would like. But at least we are doing it! Keep in touch and I look forward to reading more of your blog during the coming year 🙂
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Congratulations Sherri! Well deserved and well done – You have done remarkable work and sharing such wonderful presentation – Keep up with your hard work!!
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Thank you so much Mihran, how very kind of you, your comment has greatly encouraged me, bless you 🙂
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Congrats on two years and the article. That’s wonderful. I for one hope you keep blogging. I know it’s hard to juggle, and I’m failing a bit with my own blog, but I love popping in and saying hello and seeing what’s going on. And I totally understand how life interferes with writing. My advice, write when you can. You can’t do more than that. I try to stick with a schedule, but it’s not always possible. So I write when I can.
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Thanks so much TB, that is so kind of you . I feel like you and I have been blogging together for a while now 🙂 It’s great keeping tabs and popping in here and there, even if we can’t always keep up as we would like. You have some great advice. I am hoping that a more defined schedule will be better…but I also need to remember that sometimes I won’t be able to stick to it and so not beat myself up when I can’t. Life happens! Thanks for that reminder…and also I am in your corner as you keep writing and pressing on towards your goals for 2015 🙂
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Happy New Year, Sherri! A new year of blogging, that is! And the normal new year as well… obviously!
I’ve been blogging since 2010 so I’m out of scope for part of the stats you quote. I am writing a book as well… although very slowly. Hopefully, I’ll be out of scope on both counts soon. Time will tell!
Anyway… here’s to more from the Summerhouse!
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Hi Tom, and a very Happy Blogging & Normal New Year to you too! Goodness, you are indeed a seasoned blogger, many congratulations on your longevity and also I do wish you every success with your book. I tell myself that so long as I’m writing as often as I can, then I shouldn’t beat myself up with my endless reminders of all my failures 😮 None of those statistics for you…I certainly look forward to reading more about your book publication! And I plan to follow in your footsteps! Always look forward to your visits, thank you so much for your kind wishes 🙂
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Congratulations, Sherri! 🙂 2 years blogging and the article. Great going. Happy for you!
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Thank you so much Mahesh, always so encouraging to receiving your lovely kind wishes. Will be over to you as soon as I can to discuss… 😀
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Congratulations on two years of blogging and on the article, Sherri!
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Thanks so much Bill!
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