Monday, 12 October 2009

The Sisterhood Award

 

Deborah AwardTextD

Way back, when I first started blogging, I came across a woman who - apart from being the most exceptional artist I encountered for a very long time - was witty, passionate, enormously erudite, sometimes controversial, deeply knowledgeable on many diverse subjects and, above all, a warm and generous soul. I used to sneak in to look at her latest paintings, her intricate and highly detailed drawings and to read her fascinating and eloquent posts but was too awe-struck to leave a comment in case I made an ass of myself. Eventually of course, I got less blog-shy and wrote in her comments section and we became blog pals.

Last week, much to my astonished delight, Ces included me amongst some of the most inspiring and amazing women imaginable with a very special award she had created in honour of her dear sisterfriend Deborah of Midlife Poet. Here Ces explains the significance of this dazzling award in her own inimitable way:

So today I am planting another tree. The Quercus shumardii or Shumard Oak. It is a handsome large tree with straight axis and broad, rounded open crown. It withstands strong hurricane winds, extreme heat, is tall and straight and just plain beautiful. It fits it's honoree, my dearest sisterfriend Deborah, poet, friend, not just a mother but a soldier's mother too. Oh, the sleepless nights, the anxiety and worries, yet she is perpetually pleasant and cheerful, kind and gentle, diplomatic and tactful. She exudes courage, hope and faith. I have more trees to plant but rest assured those who have virtual trees and acorns planted and distributed in their honor have one common virtue, they are loyal friends regardless of race, creed, political affiliations and geography. Here, I honor womanhood and friendship and there is nothing more wondrous a blessing for anyone than for a friend who came and never left your side.”

Ces gave this award to those she considers to be good friends and asked that we pass it on as an acknowledgement of womanhood and sisterhood to those we’ve come to value most especially during our time in the Blogworld.

There are so many remarkable women whose blog company I treasure and whom I have grown to think of as true friends during our exchanges in this amazing world even though I may never have actually met them in person. Someday, somewhere, I know we will meet, but in the meantime I would love to pass this friendship award on to these very special ladies in acknowledgement of how much I value their visits to, and comments on my Armadillo world.

Linda of Vulture Peak Muse

Lakeviewer (Rosario) of sixtyfivewhatnow

Elizabeth of The World Examining Works (and About New York)

Lola of AGLIO, OLIO & PEPERONCINO

Lori of lori times five

Holly of Your Mother Knows But Won't Tell You..

Karen of Border Town Notes

Val of monkeys on the roof

Jinksy of Napple Notes

Angela of Letters from Usedom

Nicky of Absolute Vanilla... (and Atyllah)

Linda Sue of ALL I EVER WANTED

Cynthia of Oasis Writing Link

Reya of After the Gold Puppy

KJ of OPTIONS Associates: For a Better World

Irene of The Green Stone Woman

Polly of Sotto Voce

Beth of Beth Kephart Books

Deb of Artshtick's Corner

And not least, to two honorary ‘sisterfriends’  - who happen to be very much male - both of whose blog friendship I also truly value.

Mr Cuban of A Cuban In London

Maithri of The Soaring Impulse

To them all, and to that queen of the oak nymphs who is Ces, I raise my glass and declare “To Friendship!”  Do please, if you feel inclined, pass this award on to your friends so we can make this global circle even larger!

27 comments:

Stacey J. Warner said...

Congratulations to everyone...I look forward to visiting your blogs and making your acquintance...

much love

Ces Adorio said...

Oh My Gosh! You felt that? And to think that I was intimidated by you! I was so shy! I did the same thing, I visited your blog and did not leave comments. Hahahaha! Renee encouraged me so I finally did. Oh Tessa, talk about eloquence, you are most eloquent. I ramble in my acutely Gemini fashion which I now cherish because I don't care anymore. I admire you very much and you are my sisterfriend and you are an oak nymph!

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Thank you, Tessa, for bringing me into your sisterhood circle. Lately, I've been feeling a bit stress...and out of touch. Your warmth reminds me of what is important. I am also amazed that you would be in awe of another artist, you and your work are so magical. Thanks for the inspiration.<3

Saz said...

What a lovely post in honour of friendship and sisterhood...I just enjoy visitng your honorees, old faces and new...thanks for the post for hope...

Jinksy said...

"To frienship!" I raise my glass to you in return Blogpal, for all the enjoyment I've got from your many posts, since I discovered you, is priceless.
Love 'n' hugs, Tessa.

Rosaria Williams said...

Tessa, I'm honored! What a beautiful sentiment and what a charming painting. I shall visit Ces and become acquainted with her too.

Elizabeth said...

I am so touched, Tessa. It is always thrilling to get an award and I do think that we can become Blog-Sisters The Blogosphere is a really warm place. I'm glad we got two BlogBrothers too.
Have you ever visited Rauf's blog (whitesroad.blogspot.com) he is pretty cool too.
Hope all is going well in prpeparation for you big move.
Much love

Titus said...

Oh, this was just beautiful! Congratulations to everybody.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Congratulations! And thanks for all the interesting new places to visit!

L'Adelaide said...

congratulations tessa and to your lovely bloggy friends...thanks for giving me lots of new blogs to read! how wondrous is this blog world of ours?!
xox

Angela said...

Thank you Tessa, for including me! I`m still a bit too much in awe of you for words, but I`ll gladly be your sister, and to all those you included (Maithri and the Cuban are sisters-of-honour) Now have fun packing and moving to your beautiful new house!

Carol said...

Aren't blog friends just wonderful!! I think one of the best things about the internet is that it's brought like minded people together regardless of geography....it's created a whole new community!!

Congratulations on your award (it is well deserved) and when I have some time I shall go visit all the people you have mentioned :-)

C x

tam said...

Congrats dear, and I look forward to reading some of your awardees. There's a (repeat) award for you at mine too! Loved your last post wiht the kisses. I have also been a-Russhin all over the place these days. Hope you are finding time for little stillnesses in between it all.

Unknown said...

To friendship and sisterhood, dear Tessa! Thanks for including me - and I really look forward to meeting you in February! *mwah*!

Polly said...

Tessa, thank you so much for this beautiful award! I will pass it on to the worthy friends in the blogosphere.

I too hope that some day, somewhere we will meet in person!

KaLynn ("MiMi") said...

I have just found your blog and have saved it. You are a truly awesome person! I am enjoying your thoughts very much. This is an awesome award to pass around, what a absolutely wonderful idea. You inspire me.
KaLynn of Kacklin' with KaLynn

Val said...

Thanks so much Tessa! wow I feel honoured - such a beautiful award xx

Holly said...

Dear One:
Thank you for your kind words. And, while I agree with you that some day, some how, we will be in each other's company in real time,

at least for me I'm fairly certain it will be a re-meeting as I know we have hugged and loved each other in lifetimes gone by.

Much Love & Thanks,
Holly

L'Adelaide said...

♥ tessa ♥

sweets, you are a dear...

no worries please and thank you for the most appreciated award! I treasure your friendship and share the same feelings with you!
XO

now...take a nap :)

Yoli said...

So well deserved my dear Tessa!

Renee said...

To you dear sisterfriend.

Love Renee xoxo

Lori ann said...

You are so lovely Tessa dear. Such a beautiful post, I'm just in awe, like Angela.
Congratulations on this very special award, more than anyone, you deserve it most.
I am so honored to have you call me friend, to be in the circle of all these wonderful gorgeous women, a circle that keeps growing wider and wider.
Thank you for the award,
much love and hugs,
Lori

Debra Keirce said...

THANK YOU TESSA!! I'm so honored to be counted amongst your sisterhood!

And congratulations on the $2,000 mark. That is SO exciting!

xxx said...

Beautiful! :)

Irene said...

How very kind of you to think of me with this award. I feel very honored indeed. I'll have to make a place of honor for it in one of my posts. You always do know how to make a fellow blogger happy.

A Cuban In London said...

I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And to be in the company of the person who Maithri is an honour. And so is reading and following your blog.

Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Maithri said...

Wow, What a wonderful honour!!! And to be included in this list with all these wonderful ladies and my friend Mr Cuban...

Thank you dear Tessa....

The stars have once again spilled out across the canvass of the sky.... and as i sit wrapped in the warmth of their light i send you my love...

encased in tenderness, and wild unexpected peace...

gilded in the dews of little joys....

alive with the soft glow of real, unbreakable friendship...

Take it... Open it... Wrap it around the shoulders of your life...

The light dwells and abides in you so richly...

May you always shine,

Maithri