It's Cassandra's birthday today: nine happy years of blogging! Thanks for being here with me. I'd be delighted to hear from you and know how long you've been reading here. I've loved writing this blog, but it's the readers who've kept me going -- thanks to each and every one of you.
And since it's a glorious warm day here in Montreal, I feel like everyone is celebrating. J. says, "as soon as you see girls riding on the handlebars of their boyfriend's bikes, you know it's spring!" I watched a big puffy male pigeon courting a female who was trying her best to ignore him, and as I walked through the park this morning the redwing blackbirds were singing like crazy in trees full of buds, so those special spring behaviors seemto be bursting forth and spreading across all the kingdoms: green, furred, and feathered. In the country there are probably froggy choruses already too, but that seems as amazing for this time of year as it is for me to be without a coat and hat. I hope it's nice where you are, too.
There is, indeed, a froggy chorus in this part of rural Quebec. I heard them "peeping" for the first time as I stood in the darkness last night. A special moment.
Posted by: Robert | March 20, 2012 at 06:01 PM
Congratulations on your blogiversary! When you asked how long we've been here reading, I had to go back and check and I put you in my RSS feed over 184 entries ago. I know I probably was reading periodically before then, but that's when I became a regular reader. I've certainly enjoyed the journey. May you have many more years ahead.
Posted by: Elaine Corwin | March 20, 2012 at 06:12 PM
Your voice is one of the warmest voices on the Internet. I read you since over two years and I've found inspiration and insight in your pages, and a human I respect very much in you.
Happy anniversary, dearest Beth.
Με αγάπη,
Μαρία
Posted by: Notborninenglish.wordpress.com | March 20, 2012 at 06:15 PM
Happy 9th blog birthday! I think I've happily known Cassandra for almost eight of those years. Best wishes for many more.
I'm glad you are enjoying this wonderful weather I've been hearing about - the warm and early spring and summer-like weather in eastern Canada! Such an unusual reversal with our so-called balmy west coast! We even had snow yesterday, brr.
Posted by: Marja-Leena | March 20, 2012 at 06:18 PM
Heard first frogs today, first peepers tonight. Only been reading your blog for a couple months. Two kudos to you, one for quality and one for dedication!
Posted by: mike | March 20, 2012 at 08:10 PM
Holy wow! Nine years.
I am so grateful to know you.
Posted by: Rachel Barenblat | March 20, 2012 at 09:02 PM
I have no idea how long I've been reading, but it's surely been awhile—at least since before you published your book. And glad for it, too!
Posted by: NT | March 20, 2012 at 10:08 PM
Whoa. Congratulations!
Posted by: Dave | March 20, 2012 at 10:50 PM
so many beutiful flowers. they are very brave to live there.
Posted by: Chicago Jordan 10 | March 20, 2012 at 11:36 PM
Wow, congratulations. I started reading you sometime during the lead-up to the (second) Iraq war, when you were more political in tone. That's a long time! Many happy returns of the day.
Posted by: Nancy | March 21, 2012 at 12:36 AM
Here in south west Turkey our frogs started about ten days ago after the hardest winter for 30 years. Congratulations on 9 years, I have been reading for 5 - 6 of those and you are amazing to keep up such a high standard of writing, photography and illustration for so long. I write a community information website in partnership with one other person (we post daily updates); translate written Turkish to English, mainly academic articles; work as a wedding planner for destination weddings May - October and vaguely run a house and garden so, like you, have a diverse life and frankly I can't imagine slotting in a thoughtful, and thought provoking, blog. You manage it and shlould give yourself a huge pat on the back for doing it so well over such a long period. Let's raise a glass to many more years of Cassandra.
Posted by: Pat Temiz | March 21, 2012 at 03:50 AM
Nine. Unbelievable how time passes. Congratulations and thanks!
Posted by: rr | March 21, 2012 at 06:08 AM
Congratulations, Beth! Hurray for longevity! :-)
Posted by: Ivy | March 21, 2012 at 06:48 AM
Bravo ma chère amie de neuf ans! We are two little nine year-olds together and long may the blogs and the friendship continue. Your verbal and visual sensitivity, skill and dedication come across with every post, without fail. Cassandra is a wonder and a joy (that's you too).
Posted by: Natalie | March 21, 2012 at 08:14 AM
I think it has been about 4 years since I found Cassandra. I start the day with you.
Posted by: Naris A. Montes | March 21, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Nine years is impressive!
I've been reading for maybe 3 years. Thanks for the thought provoking writing and illustrations.
Here in se BC it looks like the first sunny day in weeks, but we still have 30 cm of hard cold snow on the ground.
Posted by: et | March 21, 2012 at 11:50 AM
I have learned from this site.In my world there few higher compliments.
Posted by: john | March 22, 2012 at 12:05 AM
Nine! May there be many more.
Posted by: marly youmans | March 22, 2012 at 12:07 AM
Congratulations. I guess I started reading here sometime in 2009 or so.
Posted by: James | March 22, 2012 at 02:47 PM
Happy 9th!
Posted by: Lilian Nattel | March 22, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Beth,
Congratulations. I don't remember how long I have been reading your blog, but I know it has been a while and everytime I come here, I feel I'm home because of your lovely and insightful writing. Thank you Beth for being here and I'm grateful I 'met' you. Happy Belated Birthday Cassandra:))
Posted by: sitiaishah aka anasalwa | March 23, 2012 at 02:54 AM
Happy belated blog-birthday, Beth. Yours was one of the first blogs I started reading however-long-ago I started reading blogs. What a wild and wonderful time it's been.
Posted by: Lorianne | March 25, 2012 at 09:31 AM