My Favorite Bloggers

How cool is this blogging thing? I love it!! While it can border on being addictive, and in my world that can be a little risky, it's mostly just fun. And I'm all for fun, and diversity, and learning, and beauty, and food, and good writing, and interesting people.

One of the most enjoyable things about blogging is finding other bloggers that, through their writing, link to my own heart. I like blogs that tell you something about the blogger but also serve a larger purpose. Usually that purpose is sharing what the blogger feels is important or has helped them in life, or sharing their writing, photography, cooking, expertise, family, etc.

I keep changing up my blogroll. At first I just put up blogs of friends I knew. Then I thought maybe I should only link to other recovery blogs, but I figured out pretty quickly how limiting that would be. Each blog that I currently link to upholds the principles I think are important for a good blog and a good life: they're creative, serve a larger purpose, and they're written by people who care about other people and the world in which we live. And oh yeah, they're fun and beautiful and usually link to lots of great food!

So let me tell you a little about my favorite bloggers out there and why I like them so much.

Women at Rest - An Oasis for the Frazzled and Overwhelmed is written by Carla Blazek. Carla has a website called Zena Moon where she sells the most beautiful candles - each one with a crystal inside and a lovely quote describing its specific purpose. I've been a practitioner of candle magic for awhile now and Carla definitely has it down to a fine art. Carla is also an eloquent teacher of how to be calm and centered in life. I love the aesthetic beauty of her blog and the practicality and simplicity of her ideas. Thanks, Carla.

The Practical Vampire Slayer is written by a good personal friend of mine, Claudia Cunningham. Claudia is working on her book by the same title. Practical Vampire Slaying is all about the importance of owning our power, being clear in our actions and words, and making sure we don't get blood-sucked by invasive people, institutions, ideas, or our own minds. Claudia's voice, like Claudia herself, is funny, friendly and smart. Her advice is dead-on. (pun absolutely intended) Thank you, Claude, for everything.

Sherri Blossoms is a blog written by another soon-to-be-published writer. Sherri's fantasy novel, Ea's Gift, should be hitting bookstores near you in the not too distant future. Sherri is a great blog-buddy and was one of the three readers of the now defunct Dancing in a Sparsely Populated Forest. Thanks, Sherri!

Political Waves by Judith Gayle is published at my favorite astrology site, Planet Waves. These people are deep thinkers, creative visionaries and excellent writers. Judith is doing her best to wake folks up to what's going on in the insane world of politics. Like me, she thinks the blending of church and state is a grievous error and that our leaders are steadily marching us toward the Fourth Reich. Jude, you're an inspiration.

I love Maya's Granny! Her blog description says it all: "This is where I share the wisdom that a granny, as an elder of the tribe, accumulates in her journey through life. The reach of my mind is wide, and sometimes even a little deep. Sometimes, like Whitman, I contradict myself. Sometimes I wax eloquent. Sometimes I fall on my face. Why not do it in public?" Oh man, you gotta love that.

Jennifer Graf Groneberg is another personal friend of mine. Jennifer is a homeschooling mother of three, an organic farmer, and a beautiful writer and person. Her book, " Roadmap to Holland: How I Found My Way Through My Son's First Two Years with Down Syndrome (NAL/Pengiun, 2008)." is about her family's experience of having a child with Down's Syndrome. You will love Avery and the entire Graf Groneberg clan. "Roadmap to Holland" is being published by NAL/Penguin in 2008. It can be pre-ordered now at her website. Thank you, Jennifer.

Country Don't Mean Dumb is written by John Eaton (Little Bear), a photographer, musician, food lover, keeper of the fire and poet. John's site is gorgeous, smart and fun. It makes me long for the south in a way I haven't since I left five years ago. It's nice to remember the things I love about it. Thanks for the kudzu poem and the magnolia drop, John.

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman is written by Ree, a city sophisticate turned country girl. Ree channels Scarlett O'Hara, Ethel Merman and Sylvia Plath. And if that isn't enough to keep you coming back, oh my god, check out her food site! Good job, Ree.

Clarity of Night is by Jason Evans and seems to be one of the most generous writing blogs I've seen. Jason is an imaginative writer who enjoys encouraging other writers. He's collected quite the flock of up and coming wannabe's and it's a pleasure to read all of them. I love the generosity of this site and Jason.


Now, I've got to go make pesto. Visit later this week for the recipe and the Full Moon in Pisces.