Bet you thought I was through - Wrong

Believe it or not I still have some friends I haven't introduced you to yet. One of them is Alexia over at The Mommy Rambles. She is a single mom raising a couple of great boys. She is one voracious reader and gets a lot of free books in return for giving her honest review. I am reading one now that she sold me on. She also has some of the best links on the internet to helpful and fun stuff. Check her out.

Desiree down in South Africa has been a real joy since I discovered her blog Driftwood Ramblings. I never realized how absolutely gorgious South Africa was until she opened my eyes with her husbands amazing photography. Add to that their love for animals with pictures that just make you want to linger and fall in love with their beautiful rescued dogs. Do yourself a favor and get to know Des like I have.

Was concerned about my next friend Jilda at Transformation Information down in Alabama where a lot of the destruction happened recently. They lost power but that was all praise God. Jilda is a lovely lady that is multi-talented in that she is a writer, song writer, musician and teaches yoga. Give her some blog love and pop over to see her and I bet you go back.

Now this last lady for today, Skippymom, is no stranger to a lot of bloggers. Her blog, I Make Soap, is always filled with smiles and love. Her colorfully named family members and stories will delight you and make you feel right at home. Stop in for a spell and see why the rest of us do on a regular basis.

You are probably saying to yourself, self, Odie is keeping up with way too many blogs and that may well be true but to me they are family and once you get to know them it's not an option to walk away. Have a super tuesday.

Sunday - Book Review -About one of our own

Well it took me a while since I am a slow reader but I have finished reading Karen Walker's book "Following the Whispers" and I recommend it to everyone in the blog world and can be easily found on Amazon.

Karen is as the title of this post indicates, one of our own in the blog family. She is relatively new to me but now one of my friends. Her journey through life was to put it mildly, very rough. This j0urney though sad at times teaches many truths about life and how cycles seem to repeat themselves. I told Karen that while reading her book I felt at times that she needed a hug so many times and had me thinking please let this be the last hurdle she has to get over, only to find another one waiting. Karen is a trooper and a winner and this journey will impact your life if you let it.

If you haven't yet paid her a visit I hope you will today because she is not only a writer but a writer that truly loves to write. So, my friends, do yourself a favor and get to know the Karen I know even better now.

Installment 3 of Introductions

Are you getting an idea that Odie has a lot of friends now? I am having a ball and want to share the love and excitement. Let's start this session with my good friend Katherine out in Utah who operates Katherine's Corner which incorporates more than one site. She is one smart lady that can design your web site, buttons, has an Ask Katie site that you can get your questions answered, she makes beautiful jewelry and get this ladies, she is my Avon rep as well. I encourage you to get to know her soon.

OK, back in North Carolina we have a friend named Kathiey in the Raleigh area with her blog Kathiey's World. She has some of the best photography on her site and profiles area restaurants that she and her hubby have tried out. Check out her great style soon.

Colenic at A Smile A Day will surely give you a smile a day with her wit and great writing skill. She has been a friend for some time now and lots of you already know her but I do have some new folks so please pay her a visit and you will not regret it.

If you are feeling like you need a good dose of inspiration my new friend Anne over at Building His Body is the person you need to spend time with. She never fails to bless me with her messages each day so please drop in on her soon and I bet you end up following her.

Another of my new friends is also a writer with a published book. Karen's blog Author Karen Walker Following the Whispers is a very special writer that knows how to keep you interested. Following the Whispers is her book title and I purchased it recently and I am hoping it will arrive today. It won't take long to see how much she loves writing so join me in spending time with Karen.

I'll end this group with a couple in New York, Debra & Tom at their blog, As I See It Now. This is a couple that will instantly find a way into your heart with their love of God, family and their farm. Their life experiences give Debra so much material that she shares making our lives richer just for knowing them. If you don't know them already you sure need to.

Introduction of Blog Family Continues

Let me continue introducing some of the fantastic people I have met and come to call family over the last almost year. Mynx, a lovely lady living in the land down under, Australia is a friend to so many of my blog family. She is a fantastic writer and knows how to make you laugh and have such a good time. Her blog is called Dribble which is an Australian saying that she explains better than I could. Check her out and have fun.

Now lets jet set over to the other side of the world, Scotland and we will find a beautiful lady named Lynne and her two wonderful children Jack and Holly who are both teenagers. Lynne's blog The Giggle Fest should let you know right away that to go there is to have fun. She knows how to tell a story and will keep you hanging on every word. This is a wonderful family and any time spent there will be a blessing.

While we are in this neck of the woods we need to check in on Thisisme in the UK where the royal wedding took place yesterday. Her blog "Southhams Darling" is a colorful and refreshing place to be. The area she lives in Devon is such a beautiful part of the UK and to know her is to know her family that lives in Paris. She is a lovely lady that will touch your heart with her wit and wisdom.

OK, back to the USA and a little south of my location we will find Barb and her hubby who are also friends with so many of my blog family. Her blog "This and that (as I bounce thru life)" is a favorite place for all of us to be frequently to get our Barb fix and the wonderful stories she can tell. Barb & Bruce would love to have you stop by.

One of my blog friends just had a book published titled Blurred Realities. Amber over at Amber LaShell Rants is a young blogger with a true talent for writing as I found out first hand by ordering her new book which was loaded into my Kindle in less than a minute. She kept me guessing and ended the book in a way I would never have thought possible. Tell her Odie said hi.

Getting late for this old boy so I will say good night & sweet dreams hoping your sunday will be as great as this saturday has been.

Let Me Introduce You

Well folks, I have been doing this for coming up on a year now and thought it was about time I introduced you to some of my blog family. Some may and probably will already know most of the ones I mention but I do have some new followers and as of this morning the total is up to an amazing "109". Still hard to believe.

I'll start with one that may be new to all of you. Susan Carpenter is a teacher at Summers Knoll Elementary School in Ann Arbor Michigan. Her blog title is Our Classroom Blog. I have been following their blog for some time and Susan continues to amaze me with the level of learning the children in her class is receiving. They learn about statistical analysis, cell structure, the environment and many more awesome subjects. I encourage you to check them out.

Another great blog is hosted by an amazing lady named Jenna and her blog is titled Cold Antler Farm. She works a regular job like most folks but also operates Cold Antler Farm where she lives in up state NY. She just celebrated her first year on the farm and has quite an assortment of creatures there. Black faced sheep who just had 6 new lambs born, chickens raised for meat and eggs, rabbits, geese, 3 dogs and a newly acquired pony. She also has a way with words and can paint a picture in your mind allowing you to feel like you are there. She plays the banjo and is an inspiration to anyone wanting to be a small farm owner. Check her out.

One of my buddies is Shady Dell Knight over at Shady Dell Music & Memories where you will be educated and entertained about music that became part of the 'slives of teenagers in a small town in Pa. back in the late 60's and early 70's. While there you can listen to some of the all time great tunes that you may have loved but haven't heard in a long time. I highly recommend this blog to everyone.

For your enjoyment next comes Crystal over at Crystal's A Pistol. She is a beautiful lady with such a sense of humor and love for her children. If you go there, I guarantee you'll go back for more. Give her a try.

One of my long time friends is Jamie Jo over at "Lord, make me a saint". She is a beautiful lady with 5 amazing children who she homeschools. She is a Catholic and her love of God is plain to see in every post. Everyone should have a Jamie Jo in their list of friends.

In Canada I give you Belle, a beautiful lady that is so much fun to know and love. She is always encouraging and her life experiences are so interesting. Don't let her title fool you. Tales from a loser who is sometimes a winner. She will always be a winner in my book.

That's enough to start with, more to come.

Thank You and Welcome to My World

Just a note to all of you who have just started following "The Simple Life". As of today there are 102 of you and that humbles this old boy who never dreamed when I started this thing one day back in June of last year that it would ever amount to anything but a place to put my random thoughts.

I have acquired quite a large blog family and through it all I believe we have actually helped each other and enriched our daily lives along the way. I hope that will be the experience my new followers will feel so again I say thank you for stopping by and deciding to follow along my journey. It is appreciated so very much.

Odie

A Peaceful Saturday Morning in NC

Good morning blog family. We have had our share of fun with the last couple of posts and that is all good. Everyone needs to smile at funny times and I really had to stretch out on some of that craziness.

I have been reading through all the blog posts this morning and I am I happy to report that there was mostly positive posts all over the blog world that I follow and that makes me very happy. Of course there are friends out there that are still struggling but with a good attitude and hope for the better days ahead.

Rocky is so excited that the weekend is here and has Linda & I to hold him and play with him. It must be a really lonesome time during the week when he is here all by himself but I suppose he spends a lot of that time sleeping in Linda's recliner. We have to be prepared when we get home because he greets us and is so excited to see us that he pees wherever he is when we touch him. So, there is always a cleanup period after the greeting but that is OK because we love him.

Was sad to find out from a blog friend that John Dye died recently. He was a very good actor and a key role on Touched by an Angel, one of my all time favorite shows. I have spend many times watching that show and crying like a baby at the end. Must get that from my dad. I can still remember seeing him cry watching Bonanza. He was a softy and I guess it's in the genes.

Not much on the agenda here in chilly 30 degrees NC today. It seems to take something really pressing to drive us out into the cold these days but by the afternoon it should be warmed up enough to venture out and get some much needed sunlight.

Know without a doubt that each of you are special to me and have done so much to help me through what could have been a bleak holiday season. Your friendship has truly helped me and by doing so has helped my family and that is really a blessing. Thanks again & have a wonderful weekend.
Odie

Prayer Needs in the Blog Family

I follow quite a few bloggers and as I get to know them needs pop up that could use prayerful attention from the family. So here are a few for you to think about.

Lyndy over at "Giggle Fest" living in the UK has 2 children Holly & Jack. Jack has seizures and we need to lift him up in prayer as well as the family because it can get kind of crazy when emergency trips to the hospital pop up.

I am sure Skippy over at "I make soap" would want us to lift up her hubby "Pooldad" who is suffering with kidney stones and has been in a lot of pain.

Kim over at "Is this all there is" has her mom in a rest home and has had issues with her health and could use some prayers for both her and her mom.

Pamela in Australia at "Mountain Living" has had a number of health issues worst of all a fall down her stairs. So she needs our prayers for a sprained ankle, cracked rib, sore funny bone and bruses.

Keri over at "Creating my own little nirvana" is struggling with trying to get paperwork approved to adopt a little boy at an orphanage in Russia and at the same time wanting to relocate there to be near all the kids and needs our prayers as she tries to follow the Lords leading.

Please help me remember these friends in your prayers and if you get a chance and don't know them, pop over to their site for a visit. Thanks