With Profound Apologies to Shel Silverstein and Remorse for My Tardiness, I Offer A Million And One Thanks...

Sheila Cynthia Sylvia Stout

Sheila Cynthia Sylvia Stout
Would not put her ribbons out...



She hoarded ones of pink and blue...



Yellow, green, and red ones, too...



And though her conscience would scream and shout,
She simply could not put them out!



She smiled and curtsied,
Thanked with ease,
Cried because she was so pleased...



And though she felt like one big lout,
She could not/would not put them out!



Alas, the ribbons rolled through the door,
Over her chair,
Across the floor...



Onto the bed,
And so much more,
Like 'round the laptop
She adored!



And if that were not quite enough,
They ceased from covering all her stuff...



And wound their way across her toe,
'Round her leg and so much mo’...



Up to her eyeballs,
Over her head...



Around her neck,
They cried and plead...



Till Sheila Cynthia Sylvia Stout
Agreed to put the ribbons out!



But not without a word or two,
Explaining why this ribbon zoo...



See, Sheila simply could not pick
‘Twixt favorites for they numbered thick...



She pondered, fretted, feeling sick,
And put if off as time did tick!



So please excuse her flout of rules,
She always did obey in school...



But this time, rules aren’t going to fly,
Unless more time should then tick by...



And ribbons pile up to the sky,
And givers sit and question “Why???”



So now, dear friends,
In place of rules,
She wrote this poem
For your sweet jewels,
And sends with thanks
Her heartfelt wishes
That you be blessed with toys and dishes! (some very, very shiny objects, indeed!)



The End or actually The Beginning...

Drum Roll for the following bloggers for graciously gifting me with blog awards last year including:

Calin Marie at 5 Kids, 2 Labs, 1 Lizard, and A Hermit Crab! (the title of her blog says it all... a very cute mother with a large menagerie of kids and pets!)

Allison at A Little Shabby Always Chic (a very special young lady who loves, loves, LOVES shiny objects!)

Maria at Allt Kan Gronska (my very sweet friend from Sweden who creates magic with her camera!)

Andi at Andi's Everyday Adventures (a favorite fellow Floridian who has the most adorable Boston Terrier and loves all the same Florida things I do!)

Lisa at Another Day Today (a super Georgia Peach who loves to tackle house projects and amuse us as she does!)

Jane at Artfully Graced (another fellow Floridian who loves the beach and shiny objects... need I say more???)

Jeanne of Backyard Neighbor (an ex-pat Floridian and current North Carolinian who is one of my first and favorite blogging friends! Jeanne has the cutest baby poodle who is always into mischief, and Jeanne can get into some mischief, too! ;-)

Carol at Charli and Me (Carol and her little dog Charli provide many hours of reading pleasure for her followers! I love them both, and I think that Carol is every bit as sweet as Charli is cute. They are always a bright spot in my blog day!)

Amanda of Coping with Frugality (Amanda is a sharp young attorney with a family, and her blog is devoted to her love of cooking!)

Judi at Cranberry Blossom (a very sweet Canadian who is a purveyor of very shiny objects! Check it out!)

Jane at Gaston Studio (one of my favorite writers who is going to write the great American novel... I feel it! I know it!... and in the mean time, amuses the blog world with her fascinating stories!)

Kathy of Happy at Home (one of the sweetest bloggers out there! This girl loves to blog, and we love Kathy!)

Becky at Holiday in the Sun (another favorite Floridian whose blog is aptly named because visiting there is truly like a holiday in the sun! Becky is a sunshiney friend!)

Jemm at Jemm in the Flint Hills (one of my friends from the Mid West who is always up to her eyeballs in projects or snow or both and has the most amazing old house, pet chickens, and kids! Jemm is a truly a gem!)

Lynn at Lynn's Lovelies (Lynn is another Georgia Peach by way of being a sunshine girl from Florida, a real sweetie, and another purveyor of very shiny objects, indeed. Be sure to go take a peek!)

Terry of Lady Liberty Patriot (one of the sweetest Texans to ever wear a cowgirl hat. The word "encourager" personifies Terry!)

Sam at My Carolina Kitchen (Sam is one of my friends who, though originally from Arkansas, has had adventures all over from Mississippi to Florida to North Carolina to the islands! And friends, she can really, REALLY cook!)

Gina at Purdy Wallcovering (Gina is not only one of my favorite Pinkies, but she bleeds plaid, too, AND she's a Floridian who has a whole store of wallpaper, a very shiny collection, indeed! She's an interior designer, a cracker jack marksman, and the mother of two of the cutest little girls and chihuahuas and a cute husband, too! She's also a devoted daughter to her sweet father who is retired military! Did I say she bleeds red white and blue plaid??? Yep, she does, and on Saturdays, she bleeds pink!)

Barbara of Purple Goat Lady (another Texas sweetie who is married to the love of her life and has the most adorable goats you've ever seen, and can do handwork like nobody's business. Lady of many talents is our Barbara. And she loves purple!)

Chaitra at Recipes for the Life (a cute, happy newly-wed from India who takes us on amazing trips, introduces us to fun movies, and is a fun bloggy friend!)

Virginia at Sacred Ruminations, Small Reflections, and Happily Retired (Virginia's photographs and quotes are always a lovely experience. Love beach shots? She's your girl! You feel like you've been on vacation when you see them. She may be retired, but this girl can sure blog!)

Debbie at Simply Debbie and There's An Angel on My Front Porch (a sweet friend from Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain and where her many prayers and kindnesses are felt throughout the blogsphere! Debbie is anything but simple. She's a lot of folks' hero!)

April at Straight from the Heart (April truly is all heart and a sweetheart at that! She shares her family life with us, and there are moments that make you laugh out loud and moments that make you wipe a tear. But there is never a dull moment on her blog!)

Rita at Tesorofino (Rita is a blogger who is devoted to her family, particularly to her father, proud of her Italian heritage, and loves to decorate! She's a special lady!)

Ms. Tee at The Delightful Home (who is a very close friend from Georgia is on a little break, but I am hopeful we'll see her back sometime. Her blog name is apt because she and her blog are both delightful! Love her much!)

Jean Marie at Thyme for Herbs(If you love herbs, you will love Jean Marie! She is a veritable font of knowledge on that topic, and she also has some cute, cute things in her etsy shop. You might remember that I won a drawing on her blog, and Cecelia became the proud recipient of some cute vegetables! I always enjoy visiting Jean Marie at her blog, and I know you will, too! She's a super nice lady!)

Eileen of Umma's World (Umma aka Eileen is a favorite New Yorker who has one of the most thought provoking blogs, and she shares her adorable grandchildren with us on a regular basis. Eileen and her blog are both very entertaining... I laugh with her, cry with her, and think with her on a daily basis! Eileen is a dear and so, so lovely!)

Chandy at What Now? Tablescapes (Now, this friendly blogger has more dishes than all of us combined. Need I say more? Check it out!)

And while I'm at it, many thanks to the following bloggers whom I have already thanked for awards they graciously gave me, but whom I appreciate all the same:

The Muse at A Diva's Hammer Wielded by The Muse (If you haven't met The Muse, you absolutely must! She is one of the most fascinating, most accomplished people on the net! The Muse is witty, creative, intelligent, gracious, and kind, kind, KIND! She is also a patriot of the highest order, a veteran who has served her country diligently, and one of my heroes! Love her! Love her blogs! You can get to her other blogs by going to the link above!)

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer (Susan is the avowed Queen of Outdoor Wednesdays and one of my first bloggy friends! Wednesday is not complete without a visit to see Susan! She has legions of fans, me being one of them!)

Beth at Aunties with Advice (Beth is one of the absolute sweetest bloggers on the net, and I would hear a resounding, "Amen," from all who know her. Her heart is HUGE. I'm SO glad she has reserved a corner for me! And she's got a chunk of mine as well. Go visit Beth. You'll be glad you did!)

David at Authorblog (David is not only an international photographer and author, but he is the quintessential gentleman. He is on a break right now, but if you haven't seen his blog, do yourself a favor and visit. He is a very shiny friend, indeed!)

Claudie of Bubblin' Over (Bubbles in a glass of pink champagne? That would be Claudie! She loves animals, pastels, and her sweet family! A French Canadian, Claudie is elegant and fun, light and bubbly, and you'll love her blog and her! I sure do! And I'm going to get to meet her in person!!! Counting the days...)

Shelia at Notesongs (A favorite Texas blogger, Shelia is witty, fun, and is leading a parallel life to mine in terms of her love for shiny objects of the dish variety! She's my favorite Shelady of all, and she almost has me spelling my own name the way she spells hers! LOL! See what an influence Shelia is on me!!! And...shhhh, don't tell, but she has a bathroom fetish. Run over to her blog and see for yourself!)

Laura at Shorehouse Chic (One of my favorites of Mr. Magpie's "cousins" and a true sweetheart, Laura was one of my earliest blogging friends, and boy, am I glad! I am the president of her fan club! Love this New Yorker/New Jersey-ite much! Witty. Witty. Witty. And SO cute!)

Lorrie at The View From My Door (A favorite North Carolinian, sweet Lorrie was not only one of my first followers before I knew what they even were, but she also presented me with my first blog award! I love Lorrie and her blog! She's always upbeat and always a lady. Articulate and intelligent, Lorrie is what's best about blogging!)

Please be sure to pay these ladies and gentleman a visit. They are all wonderful! And if perchance you find some of them on blog breaks, believe me their past posts are well worth perusing. :-)



So on Thankful Thursday, sweet blogging friends like these and like you are what I give thanks for both today and every day! And I give thanks for Rhondi for hosting a special day of Thanksgiving as well (and Rhondi is a fabulous artist/quilter who loves color).

Let's go see what Rhondi and her friends are thankful for by clicking HERE! Thanks SO much for visiting me, and I look forward to visiting you in return! And I thank you for always making a day a special one! :-)

Warmly,

Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)

P.S. Oh, and if perchance, I missed the mark, and left you fumbling in the dark, please let me know so I can tout your kindess with a bloggy shout! :-)