I keep learning. I am learning the dos and don’ts, the ins and outs, the pluses and  minuses of blogging. Of keeping some kind of record or diary if you will, learning the technicalities of blogging and reminding myself of the niceties of living in a blogging world, of responding to other bloggers. Realising my mistakes and omissions. There are times when I’m a pretty lousy blogger, I don’t say my pleases and thank yous in timely fashion. Tut tut! Tch Tch!

I know the world doesn’t come to a standstill and I know the world isn’t centered around me when I don’t promptly acknowledge, but it’s tardy of me, and I hate the thought of offending. I could at least attempt to say my thank yous.

Kathryn over at kiwsparks gave me a pair of red shoes. Not the first thing that springs to mind when blogging or wanting to say thank you or hey look over here. But look again, isn’t that a generous thing to do? Mind you it’s so long ago now that she’s probably forgotten about her red shoes

Oh the glamour of red shoes. Not just any red shoes mind,  ones with heels. And there’s a touch of sparkle to them. I’m thinking of following the Yellow Brick Road. Click click.  Toto! Toto!

I’ve had red shoes before, but they were loafers, or flat comfy Italian sandals. My life so far hasn’t called for red shoes with heels, or maybe it’s because I haven’t looked for them before. But think of those heels. You walk differently in heels. You have to.

There was me eying up some lovely shiny red winter boots the other week, they caught me eye, winked at me through the window. Look all snuggly with fake fur trim. And RED. And practical, as they are snow boots all lovely and warm with a good grip. But they didn’t fit properly when I tried them on. Not to be.

But maybe I could get a pair of those oh so expensive Wellies made by Hunter. They are top end. Right smart. And you can get them in red. How good would that be? A pair of red wellies for walks along the beach, or working on the allotment, I could wear thick socks and be nice and toasty. And just that little bit smart (er).

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Red. Such a strong colour. It means or is associated with different things – from love to danger to good luck, or heat, think of red chillies, or smoked paprika. Always strong in colour and often in taste. Red is striking. Vivid. It grabs your attention. It hits your eyes and says LOOK ! When we think of red we think of the Vermillion red, Chanel nail varnish or lipstick red. But red comes in many shades (pun intended) in the world from red bricks, to red cabbage, to red skies and onto red hot pokers. So may hues and forms, and meanings – think of a red sky at night shepherds delight. Or red wine, the ruby juice. Red comes in many forms. Some drinkable and delectable :)

Thank you

So this is my thank you letter. Monstrously late. But still a thank you. The Red Shoe Award is about being an educator. I don’t feel like an educator. I do like blogging, and I enjoy sharing what is happening in my life, my garden and in my kitchen. I try and write about what I see, what gives me pleasure, what is happening in my life. I write for me. That others may find it enjoyable, even educational is at times astounding. I know the writing and the photography needs to come naturally, not forced, but from the heart. The encouragement I have received sometimes overwhelms me. It touches me. It warms me. It  entertains me. It informs me. And around I go again, it encourages me.

Now I’m going to contradict myself, I also write for you, whoever you are that reads this, you see I’m aware that my words are read and my photos are seen. So I’m not writing in a bubble. I’m writing in the world.  I think of you when I write.

So if by chance a post or some words come together that are informative or educational then that is a BONUS. And maybe that’s how I should view the word educational, not one with me sitting at a wooden desk, the sun streaming in, a teacher at the board trying to educate me; but as a word that means informative. I like information. Information comes in many guises. It could be from holiday photos, a great recipe, a literal view of the world, or a few seeds in a packet waiting to be opened and sown. Informative can be funny, crude and rude. Informative can be pictorial or poetic. It can take on many guises. It can swirl around us and I can pluck at it and hold it in my mind’s eye, or in my hand or I can even taste it. I can absorb it or reject it. Take it with me, forming and shaping me.

Educational. Information. Informative.

For me, it comes back round to a single word – sharing. Sharing my life with others. Sharing thoughts. Sharing views. Sharing the positives, the un-planned and the negatives, sharing in the delights of living.

I think blogging captures the sharing, the informative and the educational. And here I am, a year old in blogging terms. Exploring my world and blogging land. Still relatively new to the world. And I’m still learning and wondering. But not still. Small and new I get to share my world with others. I get to peer over back garden fences, and into kitchens, workrooms, and creations. Lives. It’s a rich and fascinating world out there, and I feel like a part of it. Small yes, but I’m joining in on the sharing. I imagine us all wearing our various red shoes be they wellies, high heels, or basketball boots. And we are all sharing, being educators in our own particular ways, informing and exploring our lives and that of others.

Writing this post has made me realise that there is another word to add to the title. Carer. I care. As I’ve come to know other bloggers I’ve come to know a bit about their worlds and their lives, their loves and concerns, their quirks, their health and happiness. And I care how things work out, what happens next.

And every time I log into WordPress I have no real idea of where I will go to, where I will end up, what I will see, what will inspire me, of what I will write. In WordPress and blogging I get to travel. I travel the world daily. I get to explore again. It’s an amazing journey. Through lives, loves and celebrations. acknowledgements, disasters and recognition. It is all travel of the mind. I keep learning. And it’s cause for celebration.

I think these red shoes came from the heart. They are a celebration. Thank you Kathryn. If you haven’t “met” Kathryn yet, please pop over to Kiwsparks, she’s a creator, an artist, a ponderer and wonderer.

So I’m off to follow the Yellow Brick Road, I don’t know if there is an Emerald City at the end of it or if I will meet Professor Marvel along the way. I love that name, I love the word – Marvel. I know I marvel at the world. So here I am marvelling and celebrating wearing my figurative red shoes and I feel at home here. So lets all close our eyes, tap our heels together three times and repeat “there’s no place like home”