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Too much mouse and not enough trowel

It probably hasn’t gone unnoticed that I haven’t been chatting about my plants recently. Yes, I have definitely been doing a garden watch but I now need to get out into the garden and get some seasonal jobs done! It has definitely been a case of too much mouse and not enough trowel in my own garden recently. Whatever the weather I intend getting out into the garden over this weekend!


However, tonight I would like to highlight a banner link I have in my sidebar for the Mouse & Trowel Awards. I have mentioned other awards in the past where Bloggers have personally passed on awards in a particular area. These personal awards are very much appreciated especially as you know who they came from.

The Mouse & Trowel Awards, also known as ‘The Mousies’, are quite different being more like a version of the ‘Oscars’ for garden blogs. I have never taken part in this before but as I now know quite a few excellent garden blogs I fully intend to vote myself this year.

How does the voting work? Well, like the ‘Oscars’, there are two stages of voting. The first stage of voting is open now. By clicking on the banner link it will take you to the 2008 Nomination Form. The deadline for nominations is midnight EST April 13th 2008. You can nominate up to three blogs per category and up to three websites per category. It is split into the following categories:

Blogs:
BEST WRITING
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
BEST DESIGN
MOST INNOVATIVE
BLOGGER YOU’D MOST WANT TO HAVE AS A NEIGHBOUR
BEST GARDEN PODCAST
BEST NORTH AMERICAN BLOG
BEST INTERNATIONAL BLOG
BEST NEW BLOG
POST OF THE YEAR
GARDEN BLOG OF THE YEAR

Websites:
BEST FORUM
GARDENING WEBSITE OF THE YEAR


On April 15th 2008, the top three nominees from each category are announced. Stage two of the voting then begins with a closing date of midnight EST on May 13th 2008. The winners are finally announced on May 15th 2008.

These awards are organised by Colleen at In the Garden Online. As I have known very little about them I mailed Colleen to ask how they all started. She told me:

“As to how the awards started, I was just annoyed that the Bloggie awards hadn’t recognized any garden blogs, yet blogs like “My Boyfriend is a Twat” won accolades. It just didn’t seem fair, especially knowing how much work can go into garden blogging—it’s not just the blogging, but the gardening as well. So, since there wasn’t anything out there to recognize great garden blogs, I decided to start an awards program. I was kind of worried it would be either ignored or made fun of, but everyone has been really enthusiastic about the Mousies, and I’m happy to see so many people having fun with it.”

Well Colleen, I fully agree with you on this and that is why I have chosen to help promote these awards to others like myself that perhaps have been unaware that they exist. I am looking forward to choosing the garden blogs that I would like to see recognised. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work that you will be putting in with this during the next couple of months – well done you!!

5 thoughts on “Too much mouse and not enough trowel

  1. This was interesting. I guess I never truly thought about it before. It’s nice to get the info out. I know there are quite a few that I would vote for!

  2. Shirl: I still have to place my votes for Mouse & Trowel but I’ve been working on my list. You kind of have to be ready when you go to the site to fill out the form.

    Speaking of awards there is one waiting for you at my blog.
    Meems @Hoe & Shovel

  3. Hi again cinji and Meems 🙂

    cinji – Yes, I had no idea there were so many categories and there were two stages. I had noticed the shields on blogs but I didn’t know much about it – hence my post. It is a great bit of fun too 😀

    Meems – Thanks for that, yes I should work on a list first too that would be much easier. Gosh thank-you very much for the ‘Excellent Award’ that was a surprise! I have already been awarded this by Jodi at bloomingwriter (sorry the image is displayed at the end of my sidebar) and I have already made my nominations. I choose a few from the UK that others wouldn’t perhaps know about. I am thrilled that you have nominated me also 😀

  4. Thanks for the info on the Mouse & Trowel awards. I’ve seen the banner but didn’t know much about them.
    I can relate to the “too much mouse and not enough trowel.” I’ve been reading blogs for just little over a month and find myself addicted to them! Now it’s time to put some of this new-found knowledge into actual use.

  5. Hi there Rose, glad I was able to share what I found out 🙂

    I agree there is a wealth of info in garden blogs and so much inspiration and ideas too. My problem is that it’s too late at night when I start reading through other blogs and I suffer the next morning!!

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