A-Z Blogging Challenge Reflection


 Thank you Elizabeth for the lovely award and bestowing it on all of us that crossed the finish line! (I know some are still crossing; you can do it).

I was amazed and stunned at the turn out; I'm guilty of hitting the surprise button.  At first I chose a number at random and thought I would get through the list; I did not. I found some of the links were ads and then I started to skip around. I was so pleased with the variety of post, some silly, some new talented writers, wonderful poems, recipes, informative writing tips, stunning photography, amazing art work, such a wonderful variety.

Over all I felt overwhelmed; I started the challenge with high hopes,  the middle was fine, but the end was sad for me. I couldn't keep up, between early bird husband pecking at me "Let' Go, that can wait", to trying to stay up late with my daughter on spring break(when she wanted me to watch a movie, with her). I let her have her space.  College bound son also had a different schedule gearing up for final exams.  Husband surprised me last Tuesday, with taking the rest of the week off; tornado warnings twice in 10 days, losing the power;  it was frustrating. We are fine, but I just can't do my blog posts with my family gathered around. I thought I could stay up later than everybody and post or at least start a post. Didn't happen, that way...when I tried, someone also wanted to talk or wanted me to come see this. I struggled to finish, but I'm glad I did.  I am happy I made some new friends, followers and found a way to finish what I started.


Thank you Lee and your posse for guiding us through; they say things come in threes... Remember we have almost a whole year to consider this notion. ;-D  Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by and share your thoughts!  I am happy I met you and I'm still trying to stop by. Life might almost be normal today....Nope, no such thing; son is home today~

Comments

mooderino said…
Tough challenge but i think well worth it. I enjoyed your posts, will try to keep up now it isn't so full on.
cheers,
mood
Moody Writing
Bossy Betty said…
Yeah! Congrats to you and all the others who completed this challenge!
unnamed lad said…
holy mackeral, Ellie!

your follower numbers jumped dramatically!:) congratulations on your finish!
Beaautiful photo of the Rose - very interesting blog - nice work.
signed...bkm said…
I love your honest Ella, I did the challenge at NoPoWrit.net...it was overwhelming to write daily and I found I did not have time to relax and read others...one does not have time to really enjoy the poetry and writing of others when they are consumed with the next days writing subject...but I did as you did and happy for that..bkm
Southpaw said…
It really was a tough challenge, but we did it! The best part was finding new blogs, even though like you wrote sometimes the links were challenging themselves. ;)
Anonymous said…
I wish life could be normal today. But its moving in that direction. By the end of the week things should be back to normal.
Ella said…
Stephen-I meant my son is home; his college exams are Tuesday n' Wednesday, lol. I didn't mean the reflection~

Holly-Yeah, we did do it!!! Yes, you are so right~

bkm-We pressed onward; I like you had good intentions, but it doesn't take much to throw one off track. My family is good for derailing me. I don't mean that is bad, but they just don't understand my blogging life. I am happy you did do your best!

Richard-Thank you; I love to garden, I'd plant more if time n' money would allow~

Bud-Thank you; yes I was stunned! I tried to post on your blog???

Bossy Betty-Yes, we did it! Congrats to you and all who wove they way through! It was worth it~

Mood-I will come visit you, too. I did recently, but see you were still zzzz sleeping; I will try again soon! :D
M Pax said…
Glad you and you're family are all right. Those tornadoes looked awful.

It was a worthwhile challenge. I didn't get through all the blogs either. I doubt many did.
Kolleen said…
sending you big hugs and love!!!

so happy you are doing well and a big congrats on completing this challenge!! whoo hooooooo!!

oxoxoxoxox
happy monday
k
LTM said…
you did an awesome job with the challenge! Way to go, and I love your new flower up there~ :o) <3
Colene Murphy said…
Sounds like you were a hit! Congrats!! That flower is so pretty! Must be new. Love it!
DEZMOND said…
congrats to all the survivors and us who had to read all of your posts he he :)
Love the new flowery design at Ella's casa :)
Tiger85 said…
Congrats on the award. Wonderful picture for the award. =)

Poetry, Quotes and Book Reviews.
Jules said…
Hey, we made it! Crazy life or not, we made it. And you still have old friends too! :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Lolamouse said…
Congrats on completing the challenge! Doesn't it seem that as soon as you sit down to blog, someone REALLY NEEDS YOU!!!?
Thanks for coming over to my blog Ella. It;s a good achievement considering how busy your life has been! Well done!

Duncan In Kuantan
Mercy said…
Congrats on finishing the challenge. Its so greta to be discovering "new" blogs even after the challenge. Thanks for stopping by Mercys World.
Marjorie said…
Discovering new blogs was the best part of the challenge.
Arlee Bird said…
Thank you, Ellen, for a fine job despite the circumstances. You made it and that's the main thing and you did well. Maybe next time we can figure out a way to filter out the ad blogs and the ones who are not really there for the Challenge. But the "Surprise Me" button was too much fun sometimes and yes the variety of blogs was incredible. I loved it, but now we all need a nice rest.

A blog series about numbers? Sounds fun, but maybe I'll leave to you or someone else to do. It's a great idea though.

Be seeing you!


Don't forget to pick up your Winner's Badge at my site.
Lee
Tossing It Out
K.C. Woolf said…
You made it! :-) Congratulations.

You're so right about the wonderful variety of blogs. The 'Surprise Me' button was a lot more fun than zapping TV channels. :-)
Unknown said…
what a great following you have now.. lucky... and I hope tornado's are at bay now... I am glad you finished... with all that behind you.
Ellie Garratt said…
Congratulations on making it to the end of the challenge. I'm so glad I met you through A to Z and I am looking forward to following your blogging journey.

Ellie Garratt
Susan Kane said…
I will have to follow your blogs! I have met some marvelous people during this month.
Carol Kilgore said…
Congratulations on surviving the A-Z and for having fun with it. You're a better woman than I am - LOL.
Britt Bravo said…
Hi Ella!

Just wanted to let you know that one my readers recommended you as a "Juicy Blog." You can see the full list of 22 juicy bloggers here: http://bit.ly/22juicyblogs2winners

~Britt
septembermom said…
Congrats for all your wonderful posts in this challenge! I'm very happy to have met you :) It's been a great experience!
Graywolfie said…
Hi...Congrats on completing this challenge...
Sounds like you had fun...
I didn't get to visit your blog but will be catching up with the reading of your 26 posts...
Anonymous said…
I enjoyed seeing what you did during the challenge, even though I didn't get much of it done myself.
Shaista said…
Well, I think mothers who are artists are completely brilliant. Both skills require incredible amounts of concentration and creativity :) I'm glad you did the challenge, so I can flip back through the alphabet and learn plenty! Thank-you for your lovely words about the General x
Hi Ella .. well done on finishing - but being a mother comes first!! and you can't turn the kids down, or your hubby!

Just enjoy the summer ahead .. blogging is here to stay .. I think! Cheers and see you around .. Hilary
This past month was a crazy one. it really surprised me how far off course I blew due to all these surprises to my schedule! At times, life just wouldn't cooperate with what I wanted. It can be frustrating. Anyhow, I thought I'd share such an observation with you, as it seemed to be going around, the craziness. What's a blogger to do?
;)
Rose
J.L. Campbell said…
Congrats on finishing.I'm still making my way through the final posts. Not in any particular order though. :(
Catch My Words said…
Congrats on finishing. There is no way you could get through that many blogs and function in a day to day job or whatever one does. I too hit the surprise button (and that's how I found you). I have no guilt at visiting blogs in that way. It works.

Joyce
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Hi friend,great post you have here.It's really nice to be back once more to your lovely blog.
Hope you good.It has been a while we since connected so I decided to pass by and say hello and also let you know that, I have just posted the "5" steps to mind liberation so come check it up and comment. Will be following you and expecting to share and learn from you respectively.Have a wonderful and fruitful day hoping to hear from your lovely self again. A million thanks in advance.

EBENEZER ADOKWEI
(EBENDY)
Ella said…
I will be back to comment; I have to run an errand. I like to comment before I post, but I am having a backwards kind of day! Thank you and I will return~