Spring is starting to press its way into my part of the world. We will likely still have a storm or two as winter tries to hold on. Tonight, the time changes, springing forward by an hour to make more daylight on the end of the day.

I actually loved when the time change was further into April and the daylight would be at the start of the day. It was nice being able to enjoy daylight at 5am during the part of the day I love the most. I love the undisturbed quiet of that period between 4am and 7am when I’m guaranteed the phone wont ring and I can focus on what I want to do.

I’m getting better at ignoring the phone when I’m doing what I want to do. After so many years of having to answer due to outside responsibilities, it’s nice having the choice.

Onward to today’s rambling

Why I Started Playing the Ocarina

@surfknasen introduces us to the flute instrument, the Ocarina. In this well written post he talks about his enjoyment of the instrument and his interest in upgrading the Ocarina he currently has.

The 1111 Writing Contest - What magic can you create with only 1111 characters?! - Week 1 - 'The Lake' [TOP PRIZE 3 STEEM + Runner up Prizes!!]

@hartfloe has come up with something different for a writing contest. This contest is going to run weekly so, if you miss getting in by March 11th for the first round, you can hold off and enter for the next Sunday’s deadline. You’ve got 1111 characters to work with and only a margin of 11 characters less to work with. Are you up to the challenge?

[BuddyUP] : Applications now open!

@calumam has established an interesting community on Discord to help newbies grow and learn the platform. It emphasizes the importance of working together, getting to know others and supporting each other. Working in isolation is the hard way to try to grow on Steemit.

Allies vs Adversaries

We’ve all seen those battle royales that develop on the platform. Some are about the present and future well being of the platform and some, well they are just people butting heads. @zipporah aka @ziplomat has opened a discord called The Kindness Collective as a space for resolution, mediation and emotional support for those who would like to see some resolution on issues.

Trailer for my upcoming film - War-torn

@derangedvisions releases this trailer in advance of his release of the release of the full film on the life of Vietnam veteran, Lynn “Dobie” Gilles. IF you see this after noon on March 10th, click through to his profile and see the entire film.

Part FIFTEEN: Working For Yourself

@bluefinstudios has been sharing posts on photography and his ideas on how to start and build a photography business. If you’re interested in improving your photography, you will want to explore through all of these posts and follow him for the future ones to come. He estimates it will be about a 20 part series or so.

KillerPix📷Contest #26 - 20 SBD In Prizes!🏆- Submissions Post 🌐 (Plus Winners From Last Week👀)

If you are into photography, either viewing or shooting, you need to be following or participating in this contest sponsored by @thealliance.

Rhonda's Rascals Silver Linings

@thebugiq is offering up one of his prized coins from his private collection to help support @rhondak’s animal rescue. She does some amazing work rescuing, caring for and getting abused, neglected and abandoned dogs into loving homes away from her community where disregard for the wellbeing of animals is rampant. Support this fundraiser and get a chance of owning this coin.

Raising funds for @tarc

Speaking of raising funds for @tarc — @tinypaleokitchen has taken some of her artistic and writing talents and created real world items you can order. She’s donating a portion of the proceeds to help support @tarc. Some really nice items there, I ordered an item as a gift myself.

Freewrite is Not Writing for Publishing

This post was nominated by @bex-dx:Hello to the Steemit Community!

@writerwithin boldy states a belief that the popular freewriting challenges that people take part in on a regular basis is not writing that should be published. Writing that can and should be used for crafting a really good piece of writing but not for publishing as it falls from the writer’s thoughts. I tend to agree with the position that @writerwithin has taken.

Reminder: Fact to Fiction Writing Contest – 20 STEEM in Prizes

@anikekirsten has come up with another intriguing approach to a writing contest. The writing prompt starts with fact and flows to fiction for you to write your story. The announcement post went up nine days ago. There is four more days before you can start submitting entries and the contest closes on March 20th. So, yes, you have time but, get a move on.

Homesteaders: Please Support Each Other

@artemisnorth has recently returned to the platform after all most a year away, great to see her back. She has some plans for all those creatives in the fiber arts. More later on that.

Right now, she’s sharing some thoughts about some of the favourite homesteaders she’s been following and some of the blowback they get from purists. Not necessarily the situation here on Steemit, I hope. Great work @artemisnorth.

Hello to the Steemit Community!

This post was nominated by @katrah who says: “Guys I’m so excited to introduce my old man to Steemit! I would love for him to get a head start and see what we are about here on steemit”

Nepotism notwithstanding, I’m pleased to find this introductory post. What variety of people we are getting here on STEEM. A South African Homicide Captain by day. A craftsman and now a Steemian, welcome aboard @shadowcts.

After Deep Darkness Comes a Beautiful Dawn...

This post was nominated by @alexdory who wrote: “A nice article about motivation/depression, starting from and building upon a Harison Ford quote”

It’s not uncommon for creative people to experience depression in varying degrees. It’s like the oppressiveness of the darkness that depression brings on also brings on a yearning to be able to express and swim back toward the light. This post of @sharoonyasir reads like this is the goal.

Original Photography ~ Art Photo Manipulations #2 ~by @nikkicole

This post was nominated by @silasdavid who wrote: “Hello everyone! Id like to Nominate @nikkicole 's post because I think her work is amazing and she deserves some attention on her posts!”

After reviewing the post, I have to agree. The gorgeous sunset shot beautifully offsets the artistry of the wolf that has been overlaid onto the photo. The added commentary brings more clarity to the work of the artist.

Join the Curation Trail

If you’d like to be part of supporting the posts that I curate, you can join my curation trail. What that means is if you are part of the trail, when I vote on a quality post, your votes will automatically follow me. The trail name is PathtoSuccess which is another of my accounts and the one where I read most of the posts shared here.

You’ll need to sign up at SteemAutoand I’d recommend you use SteemConnect when asked to give voting rights. That makes sure your keys are safe.

Once registered, the link to the curation trail is right here. You can set the percentage of vote you wish to use in the settings once you join the trail.

Nominate Your Favourite Post

With all the chaff that I end up trying to sift through each time I sit down to do the Steemit Ramble, I think it is time to give you dear reader an opportunity to nominate your favourite reads.

Just visit the Steemit Ramble Discord and post the link in the Nominate-A-Post Channel.

As much as you may love your own post, I am really looking for someone else to say, “Hey, I like this post, have a look”. When I post a Steemit Ramble, that is what I’m telling my readers.

Earn A Share of the Post Payout

As your explore around the platform, you come across posts you really like and think others should see. Come to the Steemit Ramble Discord and share the link in the *nominate-someones-post channel. There are some rules:

1. The post must be introduced by you.
2. The post must be in English or have an English version.
3. The post must not have been presented during PYPT.

I’ll review the post and if I use it in a Steemit Ramble, a portion of the SBD the post earns will be sent to you on payout.

Pimp Your Post Thursday

Don’t forget, Pimp Your Post Thursday takes place every Thursday at 11am and 7:00pm EST. Come and join the fun.

Until Next Time — Just Steem on

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If you’d like to see the other days I’ve posted, just visit my profile

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