I started my November power up day post marking the beginning of @traciyork's #hiveblopomo challenge.

Thirty days ago, I had eight monthly- and 56 weekly author badges from @hivebuzz. Earlier today, I received this notification telling me that I had, actually and successfully completed HiveBloPoMo November 2021:

Checking my board, this is what I see -

Not only do I have a serious sense of accomplishment because I met achieved my goal, but it happened when Hive was / is at an ATH. Traci picked her month well.... I said that I would probably, at some point share what I've learned from posting every day - adn not just during April and November. That's a story for another day.

In the meantime go and check out what @consciouscat has learned from her first little while on the blockchain. I hope she will join in on #hiveblopomo in April 2022.

Mini meltdown

My day usually begins around 5am. My brain wakes me at that time and after a little silent contemplation, I reach for my phone and work on, what I now think of as my diary posts. I also catch up with some of the bits on the blockchain and, on Discord, with blogpals who shall remain nameless, but who should either be in dreamland, or who, like me, are sort-of early birds.

All was going swimmingly I was flying along until I realised the WiFi had gone. As an aside (you see, @traciyork and @consciouscat, you're not the only ones who talk a lot over explain...) I prefer using local providers. The downside is that when they go down, they *really go down. Eight days ago, same, said, local ISP was down for five hours. Today, it was much longer than that. So, in the middle of HiveBloPoMo, I was concerned I might miss a daily post, and today, that I'd miss Hive Power Up D**ay, and a day when I had a shitload lot of online work to finish. It's the first of the month, so it's payments day, too...and there was another minor drama, involving an international transfer that I shan't go So. FOMO. And...

Then the service revived. Then, as I was typing, it died. Again. So.

Anyhow, where there's a will there's a way.

It's 1 December and Hive Power Up Day (and Orca Month)

For more about *why we power up on the first of each month, as well as this month's Orca month, check out this post from the awesomsauce @traciyork who pulls it all together.

Nope, that's not all I do around Hive Power Up Day each month

I have great empathy for noobs and redfish, and, that's what lies behind my small contribution to #hivepud. If you don't know what I do, here's the rundown:

After all the numbers are done and official winners announced -

I delegate 300 HP, shared equally among three accounts that meet the basic Power Up Day Criteria as well as these additional criteria. They must:

• be less than 6 months old
• have **at least two qualifying posts since the previous power up day.
  Posts that qualify must have 200 words or more and exclude posts for Power Up Day, and Actifit. As a reminder, the reason I added the second criterion is because - Hive is a social blockchain: it's for socialising, ruminating and just generally hanging out.
• have a reputation of less than 61
• have not more than 500 HP in their accounts before** they power up - both on the first of the month

What if no accounts qualify?

As I always say, I don't make decisions on my own, so if, as has happened in the past, there are "slim pickings", I will be working via Traci with the @ocd team to make selections and will keep an eye out for those accounts that fall into the Silver Bloggers' league and who have joined that community. If there are no Silver Bloggers who meet the criteria, I will look for accounts that have been identified as part of the @lovesniper curation initiative.

But that's not all

Remember that in addition to the delegations, these accounts are added to my fanbase and receive a daily 100% upvote (if my voting power is still more than 90%; if it's not, I do try to pop over, but RL sometimes gets in the way). This is also why I ask @ginabot to notify me each time they post. If I have an opportunity, I pop over, have a gander and occasionally weigh in on whatever the post may be about. If you haven't had a vote, I then give a manual vote.

In November, as I had, September's whim, I delegated 400 HP four qualifying accounts. Depending on how things roll between now and 5 December, I may rinse and repeat.

*Remember, too -

Lightening does strike twice:

If you participate in this #hivepud and you still meet the criteria, you will go into this month's pot again, and stand another chance to receive a second delegation. It's happened before. I promise.

I have you powered up today? Have you?

Here's proof:

Now, I'm off to play catch-up with all the other stuff I need to get to!

Until next time, be well Fiona The Sandbag House McGregor, South Africa

Photo: Selma

Post script If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:

• re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
• and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.

I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised appplications.

• From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.

• Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers' community by clicking on the logo.

Original artwork: @artywink

• I am participating in the twice-yearly initiative to post a blog a day for a month. Post on your blog or in the new community.

• I also share my occasional Instagram posts to the crypto blockchain, Hive, using the new, and really nifty phone app, Dapplr. On your phone, click here or on the icon, and give it a go.

• lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.