Good Morning and Happy December, Everyone!
You’re probably all surprised I’m posting today, given that my Monday posts have been practically nonexistent extremely sporadic somewhat occasional since the summer.
I’m surprised too!
I had no idea I’d be here!
I thought I’d be taking Princess Blue Kitty to get her oil changed, but no! Here I am!
Because you know what I realized over the weekend (being the extremely Aware and Observant person I am)?
Today is December 1st!
And that makes today . . .
. . . my 4th Blogiversary!
I couldn’t very well let that go by without even a little whispered yippee! 🙂
It’s hard to believe that a mere four years ago this blog was nothing but a newborn whippersnapper, whose little cries for attention went pretty much universally unheard and unacknowledged. And look at it now! 4 years old… and still pretty much a voice in the wilderness 🙂 but lucky enough to have made some loyal and beloved friends! 🙂
Since I spent most of last week driving Princess Blue Kitty through the Berkshires to Beantown, and entertaining a houseful of family, and barely online at all (due in large part to having no internet for days because of the snow), and hence missed most of the Thanksgiving posts that were up around the web from all you guys, I mostly wanted to take the opportunity of my blogiversary day to say how much I enjoy getting to spend time with everyone who visits my blog, what wonderful, amazing people I think you all are, how grateful I am for the fact that you come to visit so dependably, so ready to take part in whatever is going on, so generous with your time, your wisdom, and your good humor, and how very, very glad I am to know you all! Thank you all, because really it’s you who make this blog what it is!
Here’s a little present for you. Open it up, and inside is the thing you would most like to have today. It can be anything from 10 minutes of peace and quiet to a book contract – you get to choose 🙂
Whatever it is, ENJOY! 🙂
(And feel free to tell us in the comments what was in your gift box! Health and well-being of your loved ones and yourself is automatically assumed :))
ALSO! Here is a special gift for you and the little ones in your life! Teresa Schaefer has designed a fun activity for the days leading up to Christmas!
What she has prepared is 24 coloring pages: one to be revealed each day of advent. Other than Christmas images for children, there is no religious content. The idea is to give children something to be busy with as they wait and count each day until Christmas. She calls it her Christmas Advent Coloring Countdown. All parents need to do is go to her website: www.teresamischaefer.com Once there they click on the tab labelled DOODLING. A welcome and directions will be there as to how to click on the image to print. They can print as many as they wish and come back each day for the next coloring page. Day one is a set up for a letter to Santa, address included. Use as much or as little of the above as you wish.
Doesn’t that sound like tons of fun?! I think I would enjoy some coloring myself… 🙂
And now, as long as we’re all here exchanging gifts and not getting our oil changed, what better time to give you a little update on the Holiday Contest prizes?
It is indeed true that there will be two other picture book manuscript critiques available:
– a picture book manuscript critique from Katy Duffield, author of more than 20 books for children including Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows (Cooper Square Publishing 2003) and upcoming titles Loud Lula (Two Lions) illustrated by Mike Boldt and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too (Candlewick) illustrated by K.G. Campbell.
– a picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
In addition, we have a pretty unique and special prize on the table for one lucky person! The opportunity to have an author/illustrator website or blog built (if you don’t have one yet) or redesigned (if you have one but would like to redecorate and/or improve function) by Arturo Alviar, a very talented computer science and web design major. Full details on this to come, as well as links so you can see examples of his excellent work!
Pretty exciting, don’t you think???!!!
I hope you all have your Holiday Contest entries well underway, unlike Yours Truly who has yet to give even a moment’s thought to her sample. You know, it occurs to me that I may have to have a little talk with Yours Truly. She has very bad work habits. This leaving-things-to-the-last-minute has really got to stop. It is very un-Zen. I’m going to sit her down and point out the error of her ways. Yessirree bob! I feel certain I can make her see reason. I’m going to add that to my to-do list.
Right after “eat left-over pie” 🙂
Have a magical Monday, everyone! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Congrats on your blogiversary, Susanna! *throws confetti*
And with it being December 1st, Chipmunk has already partaken her first piece of chocolate from her Advent calendar. Today's picture was an owl. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?
Susanna, Happy Blog Anniversary! I hope your wishes come true today.
Happy 4th Bloggeburtstag! Doesn't THAT word sound fun! It totally represents what happens over here! And I am a dedicated follower despite early morning offerings of chocolate, fully aware of being the only one here must delay gratification. In my box there is an extra day, one I can insert whenever things get hairy. The directions say: slip it in at midnight and relax! Thank you, Susanna!
Happy, happy blogoversary and may it be filled with chocolate and cheers! And Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit!
Happy Blogiversary, Susanna! Wow, 4 yrs. Enjoy your date. May it include chocolate 🙂
Congrats Susanna, on 4 years of goodness and this great blog! In that beautifully wrapped present for us all is literacy for all children and books in which they can recognize and see themselves in all their goodness. Have a more relaxing week, too,
Happy, happy, HAPPY Blogiversary to you, Susanna! I am so grateful for you, your friendship, and for the incredible community you have created around your blog. What a wonderful reason to celebrate (I'm sure Princess Blue Kitty will understand). *throws confetti* *looks for something chocolate — it has to be around somewhere*
I'm keeping what's inside my gift box a secret, but I'll let you know if it materializes for real. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Happy 4th Blogiversary! Stop being so modest – your blog is 1/2 as old as mine and yet has at least twice as many followers. I'd say you're doing something right and something special. 🙂
Having my website redesigned would be pretty sweet! I might have to think a bit more about the holiday contest (or just think about it at all…it's among the many things on my to-do list that has been forgotten in the crazy month that was November).
Congratulations, Susanna! You are a resource for writers AND a wonderful person. Hope we bump into each other at an other conference soon.
Happy, Happy Blogiversary, Susanna! So VERY thrilled I've found this wonderful place. Hope you have LOTS of chocolate to celebrate! Working on my holiday contest story – would I EVER like that blog design prize!!!
Merry Blogiversary, Susanna! This is such a splendidly friendly and helpful world you have created. Many blessings! If I were to get that present, I'd love more time with my Daddy.
Happy Blogiversary, Susanna. That is a great accomplishment. I hadn't really started thinking about the contest, but after seeing the prizes you are offering, I will simply have to get to work!
Congratulations on your blogiversary Susanna! I will have to open a little chocolate in your honour! 😊
Congratulations Susanna on the blogiversary! According to Hallmark, traditional gifts would include fruit or flowers, while a more modern gift might be an appliance. Appliance just doesn't sound like a present. When I opened your gift, I found time — time to put my BIC and find an ending to my Christmas story. We'll see if it happens. Thanks for posting the info re my Christmas Coloring Countdown. I hope many families will take advantage of it and enjoy. Again, Happy Blogiversary.
Happy 4th Blogiversary!! You run a beautiful, open, friendly, welcoming (I could go on and on) website, it's no wonder you are so successful. I'm pretty blessed in my life, so I will share my present with someone who may need it more than me!! Looking forward to the holiday writing contest!!
Happy 4th! What awesome prizes!!!
Thank you, Erik! And so glad you approve 🙂
Happy anniversary, Susanna! Your blog was the portal for my entry into the world of kid lit…that is pretty incredible and one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive. Of course, now I've just realized that I missed your holiday contest post and only have ONE WEEK to write an entry…I'll have some of that chocolate, please. 🙂 🙂 350 words? WOW, Susanna…you will need lots of chocolate also. 😉
Happy anniversary! And, in case you're wondering, I found a PIZZA inside my gift box. Thanks for that!
Thank you, Nancy! And i hope your pizza was hot and delicious 🙂
I am honored to have been your portal, Vivian! And I KNOW you can get an entry together in a week! I will likely be forced to do it in an hour since my time-management skills are lacking and my procrastination skills are above average 🙂 And yes… I certainly will need a lot of chocolate 🙂 Don't feel compelled to go all the way to 350… that's just the max! 🙂
Thank you so much, Jean! You are too too kind, and I so appreciate all your lovely words! I'm sure someone will benefit from your generously shared gift, and I'm glad you're looking forward to the Holiday Contest – I hope you'll do an entry! 🙂
Thank you, Teresa! I agree – appliance doesn't sound very gift-y does it?! I'm glad you got time to finish your Christmas story 🙂 I guess I need to find time to think about starting mine… 🙂 Hope lots of people will come enjoy your Advent Coloring Pages!
Thank you, Julie! And I am always glad to be the excuse for someone opening chocolate 🙂
Thank you, Rosi! And oh yes! I hope you do enter! We've been very lucky to be offered so many fabulous prizes!
Thank you, Linda 🙂 I hope you do get more time with your Daddy!
Thank you, Joanne! I'm so glad you found this place too! I will enjoy your chocolate wishes 🙂 Good luck with your contest story – that is a pretty awesome prize, isn't it???!!!
Thank you, Wendy – you're so sweet! I hope we bump into each other again soon too! 🙂
Thank you, Teresa! I love your blog! I just assumed you had millions of followers! November certainly was crazy, but I hope things calm down a bit (before the holidays? yeah, right! :)) and you'll find time for a Holiday Contest entry… mostly because I want to read it… but also so you have a chance at winning the prize of your dreams 🙂
Thank you, dear Beth! I am grateful for you too! And of course there is chocolate around here 🙂 I hope you get whatever your secret gift is 🙂
Thank you, Kathy! And what a lovely gift! Hope you have a lovely more relaxing week and I'll look forward to your contest entry 🙂
Thank you, Tina! I know! 4! So OLD! 🙂 And of course it must include chocolate which I will happily share with you 🙂
Thank you, Joanna! And I'm so glad to know I'm not the only 40-something year old who still says rabbit, rabbit, rabbit! 🙂
Ooh! Points for the best word ever! Bloggeburtstag! I LOVE it! Thank you for your loyal followership, everything you contribute to this blog, all the lovely things you do for me, and that gorgeous drawing you did!!! MWAH! 🙂 Enjoy your extra day! 🙂
Thank you, Robin – I hope yours do too! 🙂
Thank you, Angela! I hope Chipmunk enjoys all her Advent chocolate! Definitely something to look forward to each day. Hmm…. owl today… I'll put in a guess for a reindeer tomorrow 🙂
Thank you, Tracy! And hi! So nice to see you! I feel like I haven't talked to you in ages!
Happy blogiversary, Susannah! Wishing you and your 4 yr old lots of happy-happy and a ton of joy-joy!
Thank you thank you, Michelle 🙂
Wow, Happy 4th, Susannadanna! 😀 And I'm SURE that gorgeously wrapped box is filled with chocolate, thank you very much 😀
Congratulations and happy blogiversary!! I can't believe it's been just four short years and my how you've grown. You're respected and admired by so many. I mean just look how many people you've inspired and groomed. I've met some great folks from the events you've started. Thank you for all the fun. And Thank you for my gift. When I opened it, it was a voice message from Pixar BEGGING me for two of my stories. Boy howdy what a gift.
Congratulations on reaching this milestone!
It WAS a reindeer! How did you know? 🙂
Thanks for all that you do on your blog to keep us energized and engaged. The chocolate is pretty awesome too. You have created a great community. I am grateful for it.
Happy 4th! And thanks for your presence.
Happy blogiversary, Susanna! I'm SO glad you're here!
wow a whole year since I found your pages. Congratulations Susanna and I am so very glad I found you. Merry blogiversary plus two days. 🙂
Ooh! A Whatsit! You shouldn't have! I have one already — but this one is better!
And a happy blogaversary to you, my friend!
And, dang, I need to write a Christmas story, don't I? Um… BYE!
Thank you so much, Cecilia! I'm so glad I got to meet you ! 🙂
Thank you, Mike 🙂 And dang! I need to write a Christmas story sample… running out of time!!!!