When I first started this blog I began to notice comments from a Honie Briggs. On my second post I was Freshly Pressed and she was among the very first commenters. Sadly, I was not well versed in blogging etiquette at this early stage, so I failed to reply. What an insensitive oaf I was…
Today I remedied my oversight. Whew! I feel so much better now.
I had no idea who or what a Honie was, but the avatar was always smiling nicely. Even after I failed to respond Honie kept showing up, she was always encouraging and thoughtful. Sometimes she was wicked funny, sometimes our comment threads had more words than my blog posts. As soon as I came to understand the Reader, hers was one of the first blogs I followed and we continued the conversation back and forth.
From Steph’s (Honie’s) blog I have learned so much about writing – about voice, and pacing and rhythm. Whether it’s a rant, a poem, flash fiction, or just an observation Steph’s work is engaging and fun to read. You see, I’m no wordsmith, I’m a photog who fakes it and makes the best of a run-on sentence. As the kid who grew up being able to draw anything, it used to puzzle me when people would say that they didn’t understand how I could make something look so real. Reading blogs written by writers with actual talent has given me that same sense of wonder about syntax. The simplicity and complexity amaze me. I have no idea how to do it, but I know that I like it. Steph does it better than most and she makes me laugh out loud sometimes.
Last year, my company sent me to Dallas to attend the Gift Mart. I had driven down from Arkansas and was reading blogs in my hotel after my drive. Steph posted a blog that had a rant about freeway on ramps and off ramps. I commented and mentioned I had just driven over a couple of them – soon we were emailing and texting back and forth with plans to get together after my work was done.
Here’s Steph (Honie) – shooting me shooting her at the Italian Deli about 15 freeways away from the Gift Mart
Standing on a corner in a strange city waiting to meet someone you have only met online is an odd thing. You wonder if this is a smart idea, will they show up or think better of it, will you have anything to talk about in real life. So I waited beside a stoplight outside the mart scanning the oncoming cars for one that fit the description she gave me – soon I heard a woman’s voice with a soft drawl call out “Arkansas!” – Steph and her Loyal Follower pulled up beside me and I hopped into their car. I had nothing to worry about – she was warm and we talked like we had known each other our whole lives.
Wait, this photo has nothing to do with Honiebriggs.com …
When I started blogging I knew exactly one blogger IRL (in real life) – my brother Max. He writes The Fruity Chicken and I thought blogging would be a good way to share photos with family. Jumping at the chance to meet someone like Steph was a real treat (they bought me dinner!) – but it was more than that, I have heard the voice behind the keyboard and I was right about her – she’s the real deal. Since then I have had a chance to meet Paula from Stuff I Tell My Sister, she’s even sweeter in person.
You are correct, this isn’t about Honiebriggs.com …
The bottom line is that I have found that meeting someone IRL has made my interactions with those I follow and who follow me more real – there is a real person responding on the other side, someone who may be profound, kind, struggling, challenging. I hope it’s made my interactions more authentic, because now I know that they mean something.
Steph is celebrating her blogging anniversary this week and this post is a part of that celebration. She kicked things off Friday with this post. This year she got the chance to meet a few of her followers and is looking forward to meeting more this year. She is going to select from those who write about why they follow her blog to schedule a meet up for next year. Tomorrow Allan from Ohm Sweet Ohm will be posting about his experience meeting Steph. His blog is a wonderful mix of photography, poetry, and history centered around his life and the Golden Gate Bridge – one of my favorite follows as well. I highly recommend this sparky.
But I can’t write a post with no bird photos – can I?
Kudo’s to you Steph – your work is wonderful – keep making me smile, and think, and grow. Next time you need to bring your Alabama self to the Ozarks!
Shutterbug notes:
I shot these birds through my 100 year old wavy glass windows. Ordinarily I don’t shoot through windows but there was really no other way to capture this scene as the icicles were hanging like curtains over my view. Shooting through windows, no matter how clean leaves you with an under exposed look, so I adjusted the exposure compensation a bit. Since flash would only bounce off the glass, I chose aperture mode and shot with the aperture wide open. I was about 3-4 feet from the birds.
the eff stop 
Hello!
I’m a newbie here and you have definitely enticed me to check out Honie’s blog! I found your blog through WordPress and am happy I did. I love love love the birds on the icicles; I bet you were pretty tickled upon getting those shots, really nice job.
It does seem like an awfully cool thing to be able to meet your fellow blogger IRL, I’d imagine pretty surreal at that. No doubt you’ve made Honie proud and quite happy, I’m sure she’ll have a lot of new followers now because of you. I wish you a Happy New Year full of amazing images & happy encounters.
Take care,
eLPy
Thanks for visiting and commenting. I apologize for the late reply – I have been away for a while and am just getting back to my blog. Honie is great – she has such talent and is a really fun and engaging person – it was great to meet her. The icicles were a treat – we had a lot of snow and the birds were amazing – I had hope to catch one getting a drink from one – but shooting out a window made it really tough – even so I love these.
No worries on the late reply, I know how it goes!
You know I’ve been thinking about those pictures now and again since I saw them as I look out my windows at this Polar Vortex Pt 2 and think, “Man that would be awesome to catch such a shot right now!”
I did have to take some window shots myself and while they didn’t turn out real bad they definitely aren’t quite as clear. But there was no other way, when I did go outside Mr. Cardinal took off. 😦
You know, I haven’t seen any recent posts from Honie, you just reminded me. I’ll have to see if something went wrong as I’ve made some internal changes to my website and it screwed some things up.
Take care,
eLPy
I find that cardinals come to me if I just stay still and wait for them. They are flighty if you move suddenly. I just chatted with Honie today, she’s posted about once or twice a week since the first of the year.
That sounds like a real treat. I have noticed they can be flighty.
Thanks for the update on Honie. I’ll make sure I’m still getting notices.
Take care,
eLPy
Hi Lorrie. I also am a follower of Honie’s blog but just a little late in joining the congo. I brought wine. I enjoy your writing style and just love your pictures. Nice to ‘meet’ you through Honie’s blog.
I love it when someone shows up with a bottle of wine! Nice to meet you too. Honie’s one of the best, and if you’re her friend, you must be ok! Thanks for the kind words. I’m off to check out your blog….
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Just stunning! I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and are enjoying peace in your woods. xoxo
Thanks Mrs Fringe, I actually spent the holidays in the city and am headed home to the Ozarks today. It was a great time where I woke up when I felt like it and only did things I wanted to do with people I love. It doesn’t get much better than that:) I hope your holidays were wonderful!
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Great post Lorie… I think I don’t have much of a chance to meet those that I follow and those that follow me as I’m a little far away from everyone, but it must be a great opportunity to put an actual face to a many times non-de-plume… love this post of yours as I do your blog…
Thanks Bulldog, you know I thought living in a tiny town in Arkansas meant I was never likely to come face to face with someone who reads my blog – so you never know. You live in something akin to the Garden of Eden! I’d definitely look you up if I were ever on the continent 🙂 Your blog is one of my favorite follows – it’s so rich and you have an amazing gift!
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Where do you find birds sitting on icicles? Great pics. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Al, I shot these fellows through my dining room window after our recent snowstorm – they were getting their water from the icicles.
How lovely to meet a fellow blogger IRL.
Just love the images in this post too. They’re almost like contemporary works of art.
Thanks for sharing, Lorrie.
Hi Vicky
It was great to meet Steph. I wonder if I will ever run into you in Austrailia 🙂 These photos were from the morning after our snow storm. I shot through the antique glass windows – thats what the grayish cast is. These birds were getting water from the icicles and there was no other vantage point you could capture them from. Birds amaze me at every turn.
Awesome, just awesome!
Thanks Dianne – I can’t believe you didn’t already know about Honie, she is an amazing writer and she rants better than just about anyone.
I did visit her blog when I read your post but now, based on your enthusiasm, I just went back and clicked follow!
Sweet!
And I was just wordnnieg about that too!
I follow Honie too, and it comes as quite a shock to my system that Honie is not her real name! Steph, eh? I don’t know…she seems more Honie-like than Steph-ish. This is going to take some getting used to!
You were FP on your second post?! That’s quite an accomplishment. Personally, I’m shooting for that honor on my 450th post. We’ll just see how that goes.
Hi Mark – I think it’s something like StepHONIE or something like that. I know there is a story behind the moniker. She’s a great read no matter what the topic!
I was FP’d on my second post, I had no idea what was going on or why my email inbox was filling up with compliments. It was a post that didn’t follow any of the rules and it was not very well written. It’s hard to know what captures the attention of the moderators. It happened again about a year later and I’m sure it was the title that got that post the read. I’m rooting for you to get there long before you hit the 450 mark!
Heh. Thanks for the feedback! I’m at # 408, so I don’t have that far to go! 🙂
LOL – we should start a campaign!
Thanks for sharing y’alls story!
Thanks for stopping by Andrew!
Reblogged this on HonieBriggs and commented:
Artsifrtsy is the hostess with the mostest. The party starts here!
Reblogged this on Ohm Sweet Ohm and commented:
Lorrie and I met through Stephanie’s blog, HonieBriggs.com, and we have enjoyed an online relationship ever since. I love the photos of her neck of the woods in Arkansas and enjoy the memoirs of her childhood.
Stephanie has invited both of us to share posts on her blog this week and Lorrie is kicking it off with this gem. I extend my thanks to both of these remarkable ladies for the inspiration and encouragement that they have provided to me.
That’s what friends are for, Allan. It seems we all have something to celebrate!
Allan – you have one of my favorite blogs out there. Wit, imagery, thoughtfulness – having been raised in a house full of Electricians I was pleasantly surprised 🙂
Yes, we do.
Wonderful!
Thank you!
Great post, Lorrie. You have set a high bar for this party.
Thanks Allan – I know you will do Honie proud!