Happy New Year and welcome to the first Weekend Coffee Share (WCS) blog link-up in 2024! This is also the 148th WCS link-up since I started hosting in January 2021.
During the holidays, I did a blog checkup and backup. I updated the pages at the top of the blog and the widgets on the sidebar. I keep the same blog theme (Plane). Since this is my first post in 2024, I’d like to share what’s coming up on Natalie the Explorer blog in 2024.
Blog Topics
I hope to continue writing about my exploration at home and abroad and monthly wrap-up posts. If all goes well, this year my blog readers can expect to see posts from my travel adventures to the United States and overseas.
I love sharing my home city so you will see posts on places and events in Toronto as well. In each post I hope to continue sharing images of public art since I enjoy discovering public art and playing with digital photography.
Weekly Post and Link-Up
I hope to continue writing and hosting the Weekend Coffee Share (WCS) link-up weekly. Details on how to join the weekly WCS link-up is on the Linkups page at the top of my blog and in each Inlinkz dashboard. Feel free to grab the WCS badge from my blog sidebar and spread the word to promote the link-up.
Engagement
I’ll reinforce my ‘rule of engagement’ by deleting links from ‘link and run’ bloggers without notice. I read all participating blogs in each WCS link-up and leave comments. I hope to receive sincere comments on my blog. Of course, no one has to feel they must leave a comment on my posts. Just don’t link and run.
I’ll continue participating in photography challenges and blog link-ups when I have something to share and when the timing works out. I’ll do link back and always leave a comment for the host.
Blogging Breaks
I’ll take blogging breaks in 2024 and will keep you informed of my upcoming break. The first break is at the end of January. This means No WCS link-up on January 26.
What’s On in January
My January calendar is full with two family events and an adventure abroad. I’m excited about these trips and look forward to savouring them all. I’ll share more after each trip is completed.
The following untitled mural created by Billal Khan seems to sum up what I look forward to in January: Recreational activities (biking, trail walking in lower left corner of mural), traveling and coming home (airplane and CN Tower on right side of mural). I took the photo last winter.
Speaking of winter, I’d like to share a ‘cool’ interactive sculpture titled Frost. The two Ys create a snowflake design.
Visitors to Brookfield Place are encouraged to touch Frost. Run your hand along the sculpture and you’ll see that you cast a shadow in the field of light, the same way you leave a trail when drawing on a frosted window.
Frost information board
Link-Up
I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or photos of public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #148 below.
Copyright © 2024 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Happy New Year, Natalie,
Sounds like you have a lot to share in upcoming posts. We’ll be here to enjoy every one of them. Wishing you safe travels, and much fun on your adventures. Joe
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Happy New Year, Joe. Thank you for your good wishes. I look forward to sharing my adventures with you and learn about yours.
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Love the Toronto mural, it’s so quirky and cool. Glad you have some adventures to look forward to this month. I’ve just booked another ballet and art exhibition.
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Gail, Ballet and art exhibition sound wonderful. I look forward to learning more about them on your blog.
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Natalie, wishing you a good health and happy travels this year. I always enjoy your posts and your photos. Enjoy your blogging breaks!
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Beth, Thank you for your good wishes. I look forward to sharing my travels with you this year and learn about yours.
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Hi Natalie, I am looking forward to following along as your plans for 2024 unfold. You are one of the most organized bloggers I read, and I thoroughly enjoy the way you present the places you visit, even when it’s just a walk through your own city. You bring out the magic of a place and your personal joy and contentment shines through. Thank you.
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Oh wow, Suzanne, thank you very much for your kind comment. It made me smile big time 🙂 I hope to do a mix of revisiting some of my favourite places and exploring new-to-me places this year. I look forward to sharing them with you and learning about yours.
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Have an amazing New Year, full of travels, adventures, activities, and precious time with friends and family, Natalie. Sounds like this is all in the making. I love that colorful “travel” mural!
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Liesbet, Thank you for your warm wishes. Wishing the same for you. I look forward to exchanging travel stories with you via our blogs.
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January is sounding quite fun! I can’t wait to see what travels and photos you share with us this year.
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Thank you, Joanne. I look forward to sharing my exploration and photos with you.
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Our first virtual coffee in 2024, how exciting. Happy New Year, Natalie. I look forward to hearing about your 2024 adventures. I have a 2024 trip planned as well. Cheers to a great year.
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Cheers to a wonderful 2024, Shari. I look forward to hearing about your trip.
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Hi Natalie, happy 2024! Sounds like you have some wonderful travel plans set for the year!
We’re already in Scottsdale, Arizona enjoying warmer weather. While I’m here I’m planning a visit to Antelope Canyon in Northern AZ, and we did a day trip to Sedona last week. We’re looking forward to a year of new travels and sights.
As a challenge host, I respect your rules for engagement on your blog. I have a handful of bloggers who never comment on my posts, and literally link and run. Sadly the likes and comments on their posts are lacking.
Enjoy the start of the new year. Keep up the good work!
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Hi Terri, Your stay in AZ already sounds fantastic. I look forward to reading your AZ posts and photos. It would be so fun to get together with Marsha and other AZ bloggers while you’re there.
Re: Link and run bloggers – I used to read and comment on their blogs as I do with all other linked up bloggers. After 3 years of hosting the weekly WCS link-up, I decided to give those bloggers 2 chances and if they don’t engage, I delete their links without reading their blogs. I value my time and would rather use it to read and comment on blogs written by bloggers who are interested in dialogues and engagement.
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Happy new year Natalie! I have no public art to share this week but I’ll continue to follow your blog and share when I have something 🙂 And of course I’ll comment too, as I too dislike ‘link and run’ responses.
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Happy New Year, Sarah. Thank you for continuing to follow my blog. I look forward to seeing your photos, whether there is public art or not 🙂 I greatly appreciate your sincere comments.
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As usual you’re very organised Natalie. I aspire to be so organised. Sounds like you have an eventful year coming. I love the mural of the recreational activities.
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Jennifer, Thank you for your compliment. I think I am ‘selectively organized’, LOL. When it comes to going somewhere new to explore, I am organized to increase my chance of having a good trip. Have a great week!
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You do find cool (in every sense) public art to share! And although I have (so far) contributed infrequently, I love your busy blog and the interesting things you show us. Happy New Year, and happy blogging!
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Thank you Margaret for your comment. There is something about public art that gets my attention. Fortunately they are free to enjoy 🙂 Happy New Year and happy blogging!
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Seems like you have your “ducks in a row” for blogging. I am much more likely to slide in there every once in a while when I can manage the time frame but I sure do appreciate your hosting. Bernie
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Bernie, I understand the time frame barrier. There are a few wonderful blog link-ups that I like to join and will miss them as the timing doesn’t work out.
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I often blog Sunday evenings, and I often forget about the time zones!
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We do what we can 🙂
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Hi Natalie, As a regular participant, I love your Coffee Shares. I thought long and hard. as I do each year, about the future of WQ. I debated about making it short and sweet and not double dipping. However, I love the challenges I participate in and the people I meet through them. Yours is one of my favorites. I enjoy reading about your adventures, seeing your beautiful pictures, and meeting your friends. All is not right with the weekend without Weekend Coffee Share. Thanks for continuing to host. 🙂
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Hi Marsha, Thank you for your uplifting comment. I’m happy that my WCS link-up is one of your favourites and you’re a regular participant. I greatly appreciate you take the time to read my blog and type comments. Blogging friends like you make me feel encouraged to continue hosting 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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I’m glad. We all need to find encouragement for continuing! 🙂
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Happy New Year Natalie! Thanks for continuing to host the weekend coffee share.
Sounds like you have some fun plans for the forthcoming year – wishing you all the best.
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Thank you Barbara for your good wishes and linking up with me. Happy New Year and all the best to you and Karl!
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Happy New Year, Natalie! I love the Billal Khan mural which certainly seems to sum up what you would like to do in 2024. What an achievement with hosting so many #WeekendCoffeeShare link ups. Thank you for your efforts keeping the blogging community together. Have a wonderful 2024. x
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Happy New Year, Sue. Thank you for your encouragement and blogging connections through the years. I look forward to linking up with you this year when I have something to share and I’m able to join during the link-up time frame. Have a fantastic 2024!
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Happy 2024 Natalie. You always find amazing public art wherever you are.
It is my first time linking my post in InLinkz and I am not sure if I did it correctly.
Regards, Teresa
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Happy New Year, Teresa. You did the Inlinkz right as your link shows up in the dashboard and you can also see other participants’ links there. Your comment for some unknown reason went to spam but I retrieved it. Thank you for your PPAC contribution.
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Thanks Natalie. Happy New Year. Hopefully it won’t go to spam the next time.
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Happy New Year, Natalie! Sounds like you have lots of upcoming adventures planned, I’m looking forward to reading about your adventures and seeing your travel photos. 🙂
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Thank you Yinglan. A happy New Year to you, too.
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Happy New Year Natalie! Thank you for being a fabulous host to the Weekend Coffee share. I like how organized you are! I also like to plan ahead, and prepare for the year ahead. Including planning for lazy weekends to recharge 🙂 Cheers to a fantastic 2024!
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Happy New Year, Maria. Thank you for your compliment. I think all blog hosts have to be organized as we have to publish the blog post and link-up first before other bloggers join. There are many unknowns so I have a general idea in my head and act on it closer to the ‘deadline’. Cheers!
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I’m looking forward to everyone’s Weekend Coffee Share adventures in 2024 & seeing the pictures from all over the world.
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Me too. I love that the WCS blogging community is diverse and global.
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Sounds like good plans for the year. I really enjoy travel and wish I could be as much of an explorer as you, but not to be at this time. I like the mural, but really like the sculpture – perfect for the location.
Have a wonderful week!
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I try to prioritize travel while I still can. Some destinations that I like to explore are easier to do when I am younger. Have a wonderful week!
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Happy New Year! I always love going through Brookfield Place. Did you see the Dali exhibit?
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Happy New Year! Brookfield Place is a beautiful space. I haven’t seen the Dali exhibit yet. Thank you for letting me know.
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Nice to have plans, Natalie. Wishing you a great January!
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Thank you, Jo. January is off to a very good start for me. Hapy January to you!
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Hi Natalie!
Just stopping by to wish you a very happy new year and to thank you for continuing to host of the coffee share. I appreciate it and you. I’m looking forward to hearing about your travels abroad…
May 2024 continue to be kind to all of us.!
💜🙏💜
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Thank you Dinah for your good wish and lovely comment. Happy New Year to you!
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A great start to the year, Natalie! Wishing you good health and bonding time with your loved ones. Looking forward to sharing this space with you in the year ahead. Thank you for hosting us for PPAC & Weekend Coffee Share!
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Thank you Ju-Lyn for your good wishes. I look forward to continuing our blogging friendship. Happy New Year and all the best for 2024 to you and your family!
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I love your blogging plans for the year and can’t wait to see your adventures. I always try to comment on yours right after I link. I usually get around to almost everyone else,(For sure those who take time to comment on mine) but sometimes not til almost a week later..yikes. I need to work on that because I like to comment sooner. Looking forward to 2024. Blessings for the New Year and new adventures.
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Happy New Year, Kirstin. I greatly appreciate your blog reading and commenting in spite of your busy schedule. In my 4th year of hosting WCS, I hope the WCS link-up continues to thrive with a big group of diverse and caring bloggers. I look forward to continuing our blogging connections in 2024. Have a wonderful week!
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Happy new year Natalie, 148th….that is some feat. Thank you for hosting, posting and being there. I so enjoy seeing the art world through your eyes. Love the mural at Ontario Place.
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Happy New Year, Alex! Getting to 148th has been a nice surprise 🙂 I did think about stopping hosting last year. I look forward to continuing our blogging connections and reading about your awesome adventures outdoors and in the kitchen in 2024.
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Happy New Year and it looks like that you will be busy. That mural at Ontario Place is amazing. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Happy New Year, Patrick. January is good busy for me. February will be more relaxing I think. I’m glad you like the mural at Ontario Place. Have a wonderful week!
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Happy New Year! I love the mural 🙂
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Happy New Year, Nikki. I’m glad you like the mural. I’ll share more nice public art next week 🙂
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I am sorry to have missed this weekend’s coffee share, Natalie. New Year’s Eve, I became quite ill with a respiratory infection, and am just last night starting to add solid foods in some amount to my diet. I am hoping for a quick recovery, since the laundry’s been piling up. LOL! My husband is dealing diligently with all else. :-O
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Lizl, I hope you’re feeling better. Take it easy until you’re back 100%. I’m glad to hear your husband is helping out. Happy New Year!
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Link ups are hard to run but when people use them with not reading the rules and disrespect you, the host, then I am so with you! I think I learned a bit from you too about ‘toughness’. I look forward to linking up fro time to time now I have changed my writing mode. Best wishes for 2024 Natalie
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Happy New Year, Denyse. I was lenient with some ‘link and run bloggers’ in the past. Now that I’m into my 4th year of hosting WCS, I’d rather spend my time reading and commenting on blogs whose owners are interested in a dialogue with me. Thank you for your good wishes. Best wishes to you and B for 2024.
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Happy New Year! I love the mural of the cityscape.
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I have a silly question: is there a deadline for commenting/engaging on posts? I usually like to comment on a weekday.
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Happy New Year, Julie! As you know, the WCS link-up is a weekly link-up, from Friday to Sunday. Most linked up participants leave comments on my post and other blogs when they link up during the Fri-Sun window. Although I welcome comments on my blog throughout the week, you may get less visits and comments on your blog when your engagement is on a weekday. I hope this helps.
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