Awards and More Awards! …Really!?!

One thing I’ve learned since I started blogging is that bloggers can nominate their peers for various awards! How great is that?

It’s pleasing and humbling to know that people enjoy what I write.

Knowthesphere, atranquilplace and Francine in Retirement nominated me for these awards:

The Very Inspiring Blogger …Genuine Blogger…The Sunshine Award…

Kreativ Blogger…Versatile Blogger…

(WOW!)

I admit they did this a number of weeks ago,,. life’s been hectic…but I didn’t want to wait any longer to say THANK-YOU!!!!

Please be sure to visit their wonderful blogs!  You’ll be glad you did!!!

 

Awards come with some basic rules that you list in your post when you accept the award:   

(1) thank the blogger who nominated you (2) include the links to their blogs, (3) include the award image in your post, (4) copy the award image to your site, (5) answer questions/give random facts about yourself (6) when nominating other bloggers include  the links to their sites, and (7) let those bloggers know they’ve  been nominated!

Since there are a number of awards to give out, I’ll be spreading this out into at least two posts…so stay tuned for more this week!

I’m so happy!

 

The Genuine Blogger Award doesn’t have specific requirements so every blogger I mention in today’s post is also nominated for for this award!

 

The Sunshine and Versatile Blogger Awards come with the following questions. Here they are along with my answers:

Favorite color: red, purple

Favorite animal? puppies, lizards and hummingbirds

Favorite number: 103, 316, 429 and 1025

Favorite Non-alcoholic drink: tea

Facebook or Twitter: Facebook

My Passion: family, church, crocheting, writing

Favorite pattern: crochet patterns

Favorite Day of the Week: Sunday

Do you prefer giving or getting presents? Giving

Favorite flower? The ones my husband gives me!

The awards state that I’m supposed to nominate  10 – 12 fabulous bloggers.

I’m going to bend the rules a bit by nominating just a few bloggers this time, then I’ll reserve the right to pass the awards along again! Hooray!

I’m nominating the following bloggers for the Sunshine award!

• Iñigo boy and Nelson RN.  You’ll be delighted when you visit the sights of these father and son bloggers, The Adventures of Iñigo boy and Digital Catharsis.
• Gemma – Dear Bliary – I smile every time I read a post or comment from Gemma – ‘nough said!
• Mona –  Ramblings -  Mona says she is “exploring the ordinary.”  She takes lovely pictures and captures great moments.  I was also very appreciative when I blogging about being caught in recent storms.  Mona commented on my continued travels through the day.  I was appreciative and very touched by this.  Talk about Sunshine on a rainy day!

Today I’m nominating one blogger for the Versatile Blogger Award. You’ve got to check this site – no kidding!

seekraz – Scott Brill expresses that his blog Pieces of Me and Other Sundry Things is really about that.  It’s a great blog touching on a variety of topics. I started following recently and have not been disappointed.

Tomorrow…I’ll continue with the Kreativ Blogger and Very Inspiring Blogger awards!

Thanks again to:

Knowthesphere, atranquilplace and Francine in Retirement for the nominations!

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Keeping the blogosphere a beautiful place…

I received a surprise from Dor, who writes Technicolor Day Dreams.  Dor writes about life experiences, and how experiences make us who we are. If you haven’t seen her blog be sure to visit!

What was the surprise?  Well, Dor nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award!

Thank-you, Dor.  This means a lot to me.

Let’s see…I’m supposed to tell you seven things about myself…

1.  I moved to Texas from California ten years ago as part of a company move. I love living here but still think of myself as a California girl in Texas.

2.  I have several pair of Birkenstocks.  My husband has several pair of cowboy boots.

3.  I eat pickles and my husband eats onions. I drink tea and he drinks coffee.

4.  In addition to six and twelve string guitar I’ve played hammer dulcimer, and percussion instruments including tambourine, claves, guiros, finger cymbals, afuche/cabasa, and rhythm bracelets made of goats nails.  I can also play spoons. I’ve been a music minister and have sung in a barbershop quartet…but…I actually read very little music!

5. You may not believe this based on #4, but I’m an introvert, and highly analytical.

6.  I’m a fan of crime and mystery shows, especially British mysteries.

7.  I love hot weather. I get cold in an air conditioned room.  My husband and I are convinced I’m part reptile. To those of you living in cold climates – I have great admiration for you!

Now the tough part!  The award says…the Very Inspirational Blogger is one who is keeping the blogosphere a very beautiful place…how can I nominate only seven bloggers for this award?

I decided to nominate a diverse group of bloggers, including some I’ve just discovered.  These bloggers come from a variety of cultures, beliefs and creative viewpoints.  All of them remind me that we continually learn from each other.

To those of you in the following list, please accept this award.  Also, tell us seven things about yourselves, then pass the award along to seven Very Inspiring Bloggers. Congratulations!

My list of nominees for the Very Inspiring Blogger award includes:

• A group of professional writers who promote the skill of writing.
• A punster whose imagination and creativity may make you laugh or groan.
• An individual who writes brief, beautiful and powerful expressions.
• A writer whose words are not only philosophical but represent a way of life.
• Talented photographers…their photos will speak for themselves…these were very hard to choose from all the photography blogs I follow.

Here they are!

Live to Write – Write to Live

The Daily Graff

atranquilplace

knowthesphere

A Shot a Day

 scotseyephotos

Cee’s Life Photography Blog

Be inspired!  Please be sure to visit their blogs!

…and thanks, again, Dor!

Start of 2012 – No New Year Resolutions Here

I just read a Facebook post by my sister.  Looks like she has a lot of milestones ahead and much to do in 2012.  She has a lot of energy and is very vibrant.  Good for her! Looks like her year will be filled with a lot of activities.

Funny how siblings can sometimes be so different!

I started the year quietly and slowly.  I would like to ease into the new year, but I know better.  I was away from work for the last week of the year.  It was been extremely relaxing.  I couldn’t have asked for more.

I know the moment I get back to work everything will take off very quickly.  My calendar will be full and I will be extremely busy.  I savor the moments of quiet whenever I can take them.

Years ago I decided not to make resolutions for the new year.  It turned out to be a significant decision.  I came to the realization that resolutions are not just for the new year. There is responsibility in this as decisions to improve one’s self are on-going. They can be made any day and renewed every day.

Sure, there are some things that I would like to do in the coming year.  I used to play music on a regular basis.  I stopped a couple of years ago.  I had lost the desire to play.  I had to let that part of me go for a time.

That part of me is stirring again.  It’s something that I suspect I will explore.  It doesn’t mean I’m inclined to play publicly as I had in the past; however, the fact that I’m sensing this part of me is important.  I need to listen to that.

There are also areas in my life where I could use a bit of a push.  I don’t need to make any resolutions.  These hurdles are staring me in the face so I just need to get moving! No surprises there.

I started this blog as one means of being creative.  I’m enjoying this expression.  I know I’ll continue.  I don’t expect to post every day, but weekly is do-able.  *Thank-you to all who follow my journey.*

I can’t predict what the new year will bring.  I’m okay with that.

You can call it a trust walk, or a faith walk.  It’s important for me to acknowledge this.  It’s at the center of who I am.

No matter what, when I wake up every morning I intrinsically know that I have one more day to bless and to be blest.

Have a safe and prosperous new year.  Make it a good one, no matter what you resolve to do.

End of 2011– Champagne and Chocolate Cake

I was trying to decide how to write a unique post for today.  I imagine most bloggers are taking a look back on 2011, or looking forward to 2012.  Unique? Perhaps not, but I hope you’ll enjoy.

Big events of 2011…on a personal level the event with the biggest impact was a job change.  I accepted a new position in my company, starting on January 3rd, 2011.  As a result I traveled to several states I had never visited.  I met new people, worked on a team that was dedicated, knowledgeable, and driven.

…long hours…physically demanding…mentally exhausting…intrinsically rewarding…satisfaction in knowing that I was part of a great team…everyday I continue to see the impacts of the efforts implemented by this team.

As always, Al supported me.  Mija became more accustomed to me being away.  I have been learning not to feel guilty when I am away.  I suspect that will be an on-going challenge for me.

Speaking of Mija, she made progress in her own way.  For the first time in a long while we heard her say syllables that were new.  She began to “scold” her belongings, saying “No, it’s not!”

Most people may not be impressed.  We are grateful.  She says this phrase often to express her displeasure with a number of things.

It was a huge step for her in communication.  One night we let her stay up later that usual.  It was obvious she wanted to stay up.  We let her when she said, “I want.”

On another occasion she wanted to stay up but I told her no.  It was the first time she said, “Why?” I simply said because it was bed time.  I laughed to think we had a conversation because she wanted to debate.  She may be autistic but she is also a teenager!

Globally there were natural disasters and political upheavals.  Iconic individuals passed away.

While these did affect us, I must admit that the highlights of our year were items of the heart: my daughter’s voice, my husband’s embrace when I arrived from a business trip, satisfaction of a job well done.

Looking back, I remember those we lost, my father-in-law, Pedro, and my sister’s father-in-law, Fred.  I’m grateful for family and friends. God bless them.

In September I decided to (finally) start blogging.  It was something I always wanted to do.  It’s been a positive experience, and, I’m happy to say, something I plan on continuing. Thanks for coming along!

Al and I have a tradition on New Year’s Eve.  We started it when we were watching all the millennial celebrations for the year 2000.  We relax at home and bring in the new year with champagne and chocolate cake.

The champagne is already being chilled.  This year, as a change we’re having chocolate cheesecake. Yum!

I’m looking forward to what the new year will bring.  More on that in tomorrow’s post.  That will be one good way to start 2012.

Have a safe and happy New Year!