Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Three Years and a Leap and a Giveaway!

"With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?"  ~Oscar Wilde

The Magpie's Fancy turned three years old on February 26th, but I decided to wait until today to mention it.  What better way to celebrate than with a leap?

While anniversaries usually make me pause and reflect, this year I simply want to move forward.  Blogging helped me muddle through one of the most painful periods of my life (there I go reflecting anyway), and now I feel it guiding me during a time of renewal.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the amazing friends I have made here in the blogging world, and to my dear friends from the face-to-face world who have long supported The Magpie's Fancy.  You inspire me every single day.  I have no idea what the future holds for this blog, but I'm so happy that you have shared the journey with me this far.

To celebrate, I am hosting a GIVEAWAY.  Those who have won my giveaways before know that they are very much in keeping with my magpie tendencies.  I select a winner at random, and then collect various magpie treasures especially for the individual who wins.  I gather them up in a unique package, and ship them off to her or him.  

This giveaway is an extra special one, because I will be gathering the giveaway treasures during my trip to London!  That's right.  All the goodies will come from my favorite markets in and around that glorious city.

If you would like to enter to win a parcel of magpie treasures from me, simply leave a comment on this post between now and March 6th, 2012.  I will draw a winner on March 7th.  

While only one person can win the big prize, I will also be drawing five more names to receive a postcard printed with one of my flower photographs.  

Thank you, dear ones, for giving me riches beyond compare.  x Gigi







34 comments:

  1. What a wonderful give away! Congratulations and enjoy the celebration of 3 years. Blogging is the best and I love visiting here. The girl that lives in the other Portland. Enjoy your travels too.

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  2. WOW Gigi,
    Three years old .... that's a long time in the blogging world. Many congratulations. I certainly know what it's like to win one of your giveaways and, I think that it might be nearly three years ago that I won it !! Apart from all of the other things that youn sent me, the sea glass and shells are still on my mantlepiece in opur study and they get dusted on a regular basis !! XXXX

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  3. herzlichen glückwunsch!!! ich bin zufällig hier gelandet!!! und nehme gern am gewinnspiel teil!
    bei mir ist auch ein gewinnspiel und sie können dort teilnehmen, wenn sie möchten! liebe grüße

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  4. Pick me, pick me, pick me. Please, please, pleeeeeese!!!!!!!!

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  5. When Robin suggests a site to visit I know it will be worth the click. So happy to peruse your beautiful photography and posts! And I couldn't agree more, sometimes moving forward is simply the best choice :)

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  6. Congratulations on this anniversary, dear Gigi. I know how important it is to have a place to heal and move on. But your little corner of the blog world is so much more: it is a gift to the rest of the world of your beautiful and inspired perspective. I love you, friend.

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  7. Blogging also helped me thru some horrible times and I am truly grateful for all the wonderful people that I have met thru this blogworld - especially you!

    As London is one of my fave towns too - definitely COUNT ME IN, for this fabulous giveaway!

    Hugs and sunshine, sweet friend! xxoo

    P.S. Happy Anniversary!

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  8. Happy Bloggaversary:)! Yours has always been one of my favorites:) I am so happy for you that you are going to a place I know you love so much...can't wait to see the pictures!

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  9. Congratulations! I am always excited to find and follow new special places. I have no doubt I will enjoy engaging and supporting this wonderful space you have created. I am so glad to meet you. I hope you will find some time to come visit me soon. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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  10. Congrats, Gigi! I'm been so happy knowing you here and can't wait to hear about your London adventures, you lucky girl.

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  11. Congrats on your Anniversary. I have been reading you for at least 2 or maybe more of those 3 years ! I've never commented before I don't think. For Magpie fancies from a place of my dreams, London, I just had to post! I have been following you for a long while on Flickr as well. You are talented as well as inspirational!

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  12. Gigi, while I haven't been a part of your blog for nearly as long as some of your other followers, it is such an inspiration for me as I'm trying to find my own place in the blogging and writing world. I feel like I've known you for much longer than I have; you're so easy to talk to and your beautiful writing and photographs never fail to put me in a good mood! You truly do leave your readers with a gift with every post. Thank you so much for everything, and have a safe and lovely trip to London! :)

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  13. Congratulations Gigi... Thank you for your beautiful blog and enjoy your trip to London... xv

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  14. HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY, Gigi! We've known each other a while now, thanks to blogging, and I treasure your friendship. You inspire me all the time! Many thanks for your lovely and very generous giveaway to celebrate turning 3. London treats...my toes tingle. Have a WONDERFUL time, my friend! Kiss Big Ben for me! ;o) ((LOVE & HUGS)) P.S. thank you for the poetry love, I'm learning to grow more comfortable putting my paintings & poems "out there".

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  15. happy blog anniversary, gigi! i can't believe it's been three years. thank you for sharing your words and thoughts, photos, and dreams.

    i hope you guys have a rockin time in london/cambridge/markets/travels!

    caj

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  16. Happy blog anniversary! Wow! What a great giveaway!

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  17. Congratulations on your Magpie birthday! You bring such beauty into our worlds; I am very grateful!!
    Have a glorious trip to London!!

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  18. How wonderful! Happy blog-anniversary! Your giveaway sounds delightful-- a little bit of wanderlust fulfillment in a box!

    I have told you before, and I don't mind saying it again: your blog has been a little sweet spot in my life these past few months since I found it. I wish you many, many more days of happy blogging!

    Keri

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  19. Oh my - a give away from England... how wonderful that would be...
    I do love your blog.
    Your posts are always thought provoking and many have taken me back to memories of my own. It's peculiar how experiences can be so similar, yet there's comfort there too. I love the idea that what we think and what we feel are unique to us but not completely singular.
    I'm very much looking forward to hearing of your trip!

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  20. I would love to win something from you AND from London! Even the postcard would be a thrill. Congratulations on your Third Anniversary! I love reading your posts--you always share such beauty; you give us food for thought--and you are just fun to read! Keep it up!

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  21. Congratulations! Many thanks for your beautiful pictures, words and thoughts. Have fun across the pond! Cheers!

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  22. Have a great time in London. Wish I could stowaway in your suitcase....mcr

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  23. I love your blog!!! I hope that your trip to London is everything that you hope it to be with a few beautiful surprises. I'd love to win something that you've chosen for me from there. Thank you for the giveaway!
    Annia

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  24. happy anniversary. i hope your trip is wonderful. and what a nice giveaway idea. i'd love to put my name in the hat!

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  25. Gigi,
    Congratulations on reaching such a wonderful milestone!!!
    I read quite a lot of blogs every day.....some for the beauty of the images, some for inspiration, some just to follow their daily lives. The Magpie's Fancy has always been the blog I go to for inspiration in writing and to find joy in a simple image of nature....you have an incredible knack of touching "the soul" of the simplest of objects or notions.
    Keep up your good work!!!

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  26. Best wishes on your trip to London, sounds like a dream and will look forward to all of your beautiful photos and words to capture it.

    Enjoy the sunshine today here in Maine! Our witch hazel bloomed in our yard yesterday!

    What a wonderful giveaway you have in store!

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  27. Gigi, I have so enjoyed getting to know you through your blog. It was so wonderful to find out that your husband is a Bloomsbury scholar and that you both share a passion for this fascinating group of writers and artists who lived in England in the first half of the twentieth-century. And I have discovered that you live in Portland which is one of my favorite cities. I went to Bates College and so did my daughter. I still visit Bates every year and frequently spend time in Portland. You had some pictures recently of the Portland Head Light which made me very happy! Your blog is inspiring and beautiful and I get the feeling that your passion for the written word and beautiful images in photography have made it as lovely as it is. I hope you have a wonderful time in London and visit a few of the Bloomsbury haunts there.
    All the best,
    Sunday

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  28. This sounds wonderful. I will formally enter the drawing on behalf of my daughter.

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  29. oh gosh my girl ... i know that you know that the day i started reading your words and getting to know you was the best gift of all! just being you ~ inspiring, uplifting, nudging, thought provoking, caring and kind, witty and wise ... a true treasure!
    so you see, dear gigi, you have constantly given me and everyone who has had the pleasure of peeking into the pages of the magpie's fancy these past few years, rich gifts with every visit.
    wishing you many more wonderful years of sharing.
    ok, ok ... and if by chance i do happen to be the lucky one, i have a hankering for a pint with fish n chips ... *grin*.
    have a jolly good time in london town ... and remember! 'mind the gap'
    xxxo
    always,
    pg

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  30. this is a wonderful and generous giveaway. it's as though you are taking us with you, on your lovely trip.

    congrats on your blog anniversary. i do SO love it here.
    xo

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  31. Congrats, Gigi!!!

    Have a great time in England, as you know, it's such a wonderful place. I don't know if it's possible, but don't get too Bloomsburied out.

    Also, I know you're going to do this anyways, but take plenty of pictures!

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  32. Oh, Gigi - it is such a blessing to have you, and your unique view of the world, back in my life. (and what a wonderful treat, to think of you picking special items with the winner in mind!) Be well, old friend...

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  33. You're my hero. Seriously.

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  34. How can I not comment. I have to! Gigi you have been there supporting others too, during your three years online and I'm one of them. Often it was you who offered support with encouraging words and meaningful, thoughtful comments. I'm happy to have "met" you here. Enjoy London to the fullest and happy blog anniversary!!! Xoxo
    Gillian

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