Thanks Thankful Me…

Last month (wow… I am embarrassed, heavy snow and power outage aside…) Kristi of Thankful Me honored me with a Leibster.

First, the fine print:

Here are the rules for accepting the Liebster award:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then
create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs.

Now…  Given that it’s taken me roughly ten days to even be polite and thank Kristi for the honor and to answer her questions, I’m not going to try to narrow it down to 11 of you, so if you wanna’ snag the purdy PANK award, it’s yours.  I will endeavor to create 11 questions for you, just in case…

First, 11 random facts about me.  (If you really are curious about me, search the “about me” category.  Most such blog posts are tagged accordingly, although I’m rather an open book, so I’m positive I repeat myself so there’s not so much randomness for those who have been around for a while.)

1. I was 29+ years of age before I realized I don’t hate coffee…  I’m merely a coffee snob.  Given that I’m a tea snob, a cheese snob, a bread snob, addicted to Lilly P and pearls, maybe I’m just a snob…
2. … and I’m okay with that.  I was preppy before it had a name.  Izods/golf shirts/polos by any name have always been a wardrobe staple.
3. I lettered in tennis, track and cross country in high school.
4. I have claimed I hate to run, but gosh how it clears the mind …
5. … and allows me to eat dessert early, often and a lot.
6. I love DARK chocolate, but am not much on chocolate milk, milk chocolate, hot cocoa, or garden-variety chocolate cake.
7. Cilantro really makes me happy.
8. If I have to have a new career, I want to be a weather girl.  Zero accountability with a wardrobe budget?  Sign me up!
9. I’m fickle, indecisive and otherwise reserve the right to change my mind… except when I don’t have that option.
10. I believe fire trucks should be red.  Sure, white, yellow, green, black, etc. can be pretty, but cabs should be yellow, fire trucks should be red, and hearses should be black.
11. I’m not a big breakfast eater.

Now, for Kristi’s questions.  My answers are in red.

With help from my oldest daughter, here are 11 questions for my nominees:

1.  Which would you rather have, 20 chickens or 1 goat?

One goat.  While I love roosters and fresh eggs, terriers and small animals are a BAD idea.  

2. Would you rather travel back in time or forward in time?

Tough question.  Will my iPhone work in 1776?

3. If you had unlimited resources, where would you like to vacation, and what would you do?

Unlimited resources?  The dogs can come too?  Time isn’t an issue?  I’d want to tour the USA and hang out with all the people I haven’t had time to visit in the past decade or so.  Then, I’d like to spend a week or more in Greece, Ireland, Scotland and…

4.  Would you rather sleep in or stay up late?

I’d rather stay up late.  I’m not good at sleeping in, nor is Gretchen.

5.  Which major would you choose if you were to attend college now?

Despite my snarky comment above, I think I’d still go with philosophy again.

6. If you could visit (or live in) any make-believe land from literature, which would you choose?

Just one?!  Gretchen votes for a visit to Hogwarts, and that works as well as anything else.

7.  It’s nearly dinnertime, and you forgot to plan.  What do you have for dinner?

We eat out a LOT.  In a pinch, the Knight makes his pasta stuff or I make a pizza.

8.  What makes you laugh?

My dogs, the Knight…

9.  What is one character trait you admire?

Candor

10. What are the biggest influences in your life?

My family, all the “pioneer” women who braved equality first… most without knowing they were blazing trails.

11.  Do you still live in your hometown?  If not, how far away do you live?

I live in the same general area where I was born and lived the first 11 years of my life.  The other town I consider tied for hometown status is all of 90 minutes away.

Last but not least, 11 questions for anyone who self-nominates:

1. What color are your eyes?
2. What is the must-see place in your town?
3. Would you rather watch a movie in the theater or at home?
4. What do you want on your pizza?
5. Do you have a favorite pair of shoes?
6. Are  you City Mouse or her country cousin?
7. Do you have a favorite charity/non-profit?
8. What song is the theme song to the soundtrack of your life?
9. Quick!  What comes to mind when I say “plaid?”
10. Why did you start blogging?
11. Why do you blog now?

 

I don’t speak German…

… but I am grateful that Terrie of Starspry included a translation with her explanation of the Liebster award. 

Liebster is a German word meaning favorite, dearest or beloved. The Liebster Blog Award is awarded by bloggers to other bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to help spread the word about their blogs and to help them gain wider recognition.

Here are the rules for the Liebster blog award:

1.  Link back to the person who awarded it to you.  (See above.  Thank you, Terrie!)
2.  Post the award to your blog.

3.  Give the award to 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers.

• gMarie
• Kathy of Irish Eyes Knitters
• Katherine of Comfort Zone
• Nancy of Wyoming Breezes
• Jessi of Bubblesknits

 

4.  Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.
5.  List 5 random facts that people don’t know about you.

Well.  I’m an open book, so what on earth can I share that you don’t know… and might possibly find entertaining?!

1. These lists are HARD for me.  While I can write/speak at length on any subject going, ask me about myself and I go mute.
2. It’s not humility.  I can go on and on about my strengths and weaknesses; I just don’t think I’m remarkably interesting.
3. I obviously have unreasonable standards for customer service, and yet when it comes up in conversation, my opinions seem mainstream.
4. I don’t know what color my eyes are.  I think I’ve shared that before, but really…  I don’t.  Sometimes they’re hazel, sometimes they’re green, sometimes they’re blue…
5. I really don’t speak any other language fluently.  I can read Latin, French and some Spanish, but SPEAKING?!  Mrs. Dent (Junior High) would dispute how well I even manage to speak my native tongue…
   

   Old Navy

That customer service comment?  That’s for you, local Old Navy.  I really wanted these shoes, but no one was working the cash register, so it would seem.  I carried TWO PAIRS around the store, because the only pair my size didn’t have a tag, and because I almost never go in said store, I wanted to see what I could see.  Then, there was no one at the registers.  Only one light was on, so I stood near there, and paced.  And looked like I wanted to check out.  And paced…  and got cranky and slammed the shoes on the counter, walked almost the width of the store to the door, and no one noticed.

Hrmph.  Still trying to decide whether to order then online or not….

What’s on your weekend agenda?

Happy Holidays!

Happy Dogs on Thursday, little friday and Thankful Thursday. The girls have their own slightly Easter related post today…

Yesterday was Thomas Jefferson’s birthday.  I wonder how he would feel about us celebrating more than two centuries after his birth?  The world, especially the USA, is definitely a better place because he lived, but I’m not at all sure he’d like everyone honoring his birthday.  What do the other amateur Jefferon scholars think?

Photo courtesy of Our Best Bites

I also couldn’t resist making sure you’ve seen this Peeps wreath.  I am no fan of the sugary creations that now are formed into shapes and dyed different colors to mark virtually every holiday or season known in marketing, but I am still pondering making a wreath out of them.  Would the birds that hang out on our front porch attack it?

Well!  WordPress and/or Comcast just ate a significant chunk of my post.  Crazy, that…    I guess here ends the Peeps babble.  There’s a tutorial in the link above or you can click on the photo.

We’re also still celebrating Christmas.  I was able to upload the photos from my phone while driving into work this morning.  Luckily, there are a few stoplights and stopsigns in podunk!  Hem. 

Here are the goodies from Ann!   There’s some yummy Gnomespun fiber , snarkly little cocktail napkins, because Ann knows I carry off-season, silly cocktail napkins in my League bag.  Don’t judge; you never know when you’re going to need a little napkin!  The little cream-colored sack on the right is Beekman soap.  More yum. 

Last, but hardly least is the book Knit Your Own Dog!   I’ve wanted this book since the first time I heard about it from a friend abroad.  There’s the Jack Russell on the cover, and there’s a basset in there too.  There are 25 different breeds represented in the table of contents.   They include a PWD and a Scottie, since we know a couple of our best blog readers will want to know. 

Thank you for another spectacular package, Ann.  That’s actually my Thankful Thursday moment; I’m blessed to have friends who truly know me well and whose gifts NEVER fail to delight me.

Last but hardly least, I have to thank Dawn for the Stylish Blogger Award love.   I received the award earlier this year, so I’m not going to pass it along again to anyone specifically, but we’re all stylish bloggers, so if you want to share 7 things about yourself, consider yourself tagged.

Are there seven more things I could share about myself?  Gosh, I don’t know.  Ask Ann…  She knows me so well…

1. I ALWAYS get the same thing when I eat at/from Sticks.  Ann and I kinda’ founded our “in person” friendship there, and that’s where Tuesday’s lunch came from.  Lambie sammie with the cilantro-lime sauce and an order of fries, please!
2. My new TV passion is Charmed.  I feel I might have mentioned that before, but…
3. It seems I gravitate to tealish-bluish handbags.
4. I want these sandals just because they’re called Sissy. 
5. I don’t like necklaces much, but I love a scarf around my neck.
6. I don’t have a favorite color.  It changes from day to day, season to season.
7. On that note, I’m finding myself drawn to the corals that are so hot right now.  Yes, I know coral is nearly orange…

How ’bout sharing something I don’t know about you in your comment?

Stylin’ and Profilin’

It’s been a while since I’ve had a mega-post, but I’ll be making up for lost time today.  Stop now and grab some refreshments, settle into a comfortable chair, and read on about my exciting weekend!

To kick our gala weekend off, Nichole awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award.  Gretchen made me clarify that Nichole did indeed mean for it to go to this blog, not theirs…  Hem.  Thank you, Nichole!

Now, to share seven things you may not know about me.    Really?!  I don’t know that I have seven left.  I’ve been blogging long enough that I seriously feel I’m an open book.

1. Since it’s Presidents Day here in the USA, while George Washington is the first of many “Virginian” presidents, my favorite is the very local Thomas Jefferson.
2. Along those same lines, there’s more than a fair chance that James Monroe once owned the land that is now our Haddon Wood.
3. I need help thinking of a new name/address for this blog.  Chan doesn’t knit so much, and honestly, I’d rather not have my name in the blog addy.
4. As much as I love the beach, I don’t swim in the ocean.  Too hard on my tender back.
5. Surprisingly, high heels don’t bother my back.  I don’t wear them daily, but when I do wear them, they hurt my instep first, and usually enough that they come off before my back can start to hurt.
6. Don’t tell my chiropractor, but I’m doing yoga again.  This time, I’m going to stick with the gentle stuff on the Wii Fit Plus – I figure if it’s safe enough for them to share with the public… – and the back routine that served me well for the first ten years after my surgery.
7. I’ve lost a bit of weight and my sweet tooth.  Saturday night, I honestly couldn’t find a single food item that appealed to me.

Not these earrings... they were the ones I wore, but they hurt my ears on the way home and ended up in the chip bucket...

…. so I had two glasses of Prosecco, won some earrings from the bubbly bar, and that pretty well sums up how awesome my evening was!

What do you mean it's not mine?!

#46 is my new lucky number.  I’ve never won anything at our silent auctions… except for the year I used a friend’s number accidentally.  Hem.  For those of you who are a little superstitious or into numerology, I always wore jersey numbers with a 4 in them when I was playing sports.   I scored a Lilly P Monopoly game for the Knight’s collection, although you might note that SOMEONE saw PANK and thought it was for her…

I also brought home a “basic training” gift certificate.  While the DIVA’s feet are present (maybe she saw the purple and just assumed…??), I need to confirm the terms of the certificate, but I think the wee one is going to go to basic obedience class.  

Do y’all think the DIVA would enjoy an intermediate class, even though I know she’s not likely to ever obey “down” or hold an out-of-sight stay?

Photo from the camera of the doll on the far left...

Okay, okay…  I know you want to see the dress.  Sadly, due to the raging brush fires in our area, the Knight wasn’t able to join me Saturday night, but I had a fab time with my girlfriends.  gMarie turned me onto Already Pretty a couple of weeks ago, and she has a great article about female friendships today – perfect timing.  That meant I was responsible for all of my own keys, lipstick, etc., so I didn’t manage a regular camera.  A friend’s hubby snapped a few photos with my Blackberry, but they weren’t stellar… so I borrowed this one from a friend…

From the photo booth... a photo of the photos

 There are tons more, but they’re all rather similar… a bunch of girlfriends, laughing, being silly, having a great time!  If I had to be dateless, I couldn’t have had a better group to hang with.  Thanks also to their sweet hubbies and a fiance for snapping photos, holding my bag and bucket and escorting me in from the rather remote parking area!

I still have a very special package to share with you tomorrow, but really… isn’t this enough for one post?!

How was YOUR weekend?  Can I put your name on the invitation list for next year’s Vintage Vegas?  I think I already have my dress…

OH – and the seven I’m passing the award on to:

1. gMarie, my bloggy style buddy
2. Barbara, who has both style and class and a great blog!
3. Those BonBon Rose Girls, because they keep my style fresh
4. Grace, whose blog changes its look to match the seasons and holidays
5. Marjie, who really is a modern day Harriet
6. The Blond Duck, who has style, wit, and a love of pie and hippos
7. Mango and Dexter, because frankly, Sissy and Gretchen would never forgive me if I didn’t give a nod to them for their style and friendship!

America, the Beautiful

I do love America, the Beautiful.  It’s a lovely, patriotic song.    Since I don’t have sound on my computer at work, I’m humming loudly.  Luckily, Uncle is patriotic and used to my strange habits.

I’m late blogging today because I was slow doing invoicing because Best Thing (refresher:  Neighbor Guy’s fiancee) sent me the coolest link this morning. 

Know Your States  

I’m proud to announce I got 90% on the first try, and my highest score is a 96%.  Let me know how you do, or as Best Thing did, she informed me that she played once, got what we’d call a passing grade if we were still in elementary school, but she doesn’t REALLY adore trying to place the outlines of states into the outline of the continent.

I do.  You see, while Best Thing and I agree that books are the best toys for girls and boys of all ages, I had a beloved, wooden puzzle map that was a shared podunk toy from one of the farms in the area where the kiddos were significantly older. 

Anyhoo, that’s all great fodder that allows a punny segue to a special award Bridget bestowed upon me, whether I am worthy or not. 

The next step is to share ten interesting things about me.  Gee, I am rather certain I’ve already shared everything that is REMOTELY interesting, but I’ll share away…

1. My hair has a mind of its own.  It was rather straight until my late teens, and has been getting progressively wavier ever since. 
2. Sushi and I are not friends.  I feel this is a big gap in my culinary experience, but I’ve not been able to bridge it.
3. I am newly addicted to Walk It Out, a silly little walking game for the Wii.  It doesn’t scare Gretchen the way Wii Fit Plus does.  (Go figure?!)
4. The interesting well is dry.  That is noteworthy because I’m rarely at a loss for words.
5. I’ve never eaten at Chipotle.   Dear Ann had to explain that it is basically fast food to me yesterday…
6. I’ve never watched a full episode of any reality show.  I just don’t find them entertaining.
7. Another lull.  Hmmm…  I don’t care for brazil nuts.  I do believe they’re the only nut I don’t adore, while the Knight and his mother rank them as a favorite.
8. I don’t like spanish rice.
9. I’m a glass half full kind of gal, so it irks me that the theme of this list seems to be “I never” and “I don’t”.
10. Any of you who’ve read one of my swap questionnaires know I ADORE dark chocolate, so imagine my surprise when I discovered that the new white chocolate wine from Horton Vineyards is better than the original! 

(Hold that thought.  We’ll talk more about the wine, I promise.)

Next, I need to pass the award along.  While so many of you bring so much beauty to my life, I’m going to share this with some new to me bloggers that I need to be sure you know about too!

• Barbara at Moveable Feasts has become a cherished friend, but it was her recipes and photos that pulled me in.
• The Blond Duck at A Duck in her Pond is always mixing it up with her whimsical stories, poems, recipes, cute pups…
• Dog-Lover’s Yarn has beautiful dogs, spinning advice, fabulous photos.
• Those darling fashionistas, the BonBon Rose Girls are always mixing it up with fashion, friendship, fun, family…

(Why yes, I do seem to like blogs that mix it up, the way I do, only better!)

Now, back to that wine.   I couldn’t find it on Horton’s website, but it’s the most pleasing dessert wine.   This one (the bottle is actually a lovely green) is white, while they’re still offering their original chocolate (red) wine too.  We were told it had already won an award, and I’m pretty sure Saturday was its public debut.   It is very sweet and very much tastes like chocolate.  (But not white chocolate, not to my tastebuds anyway.)

You also needed to see the text on the back side of the glass.  Every year, the Hortons include a new glass, with a fun saying on one side.  This year’s was spot-on; I just wish I’d been able to get a better photo for you!

In case you can’t read it too easily, it says:

12-Step Chocoholics Program

Never be more than

12 steps

away from chocolate

I think I need that on a coffee mug, a tea cup, a tee shirt, a night shirt…  How ’bout you?

It’s a beautiful day…

Thank you, Dawn!   Can’t you just see the March winds blowing spring my way?

To accept this award, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.

2. Paste the award on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you.

4. Tell 7 interesting things about yourself.

5. Nominate 7 blogs and post links

6. Leave a comment on your nominated blogs to let them know.

 

Well, are there seven interesting things about me?  I think I’ve already told you the few things that are interesting to me…

1. I worked for a dentist on Saturdays in my teens.
2. I wanted to be an attorney for several years, growing up.
3. I also seriously considered becoming a nun for a very short while.
4. I wanted to go to the Naval Academy and fly jets, but back in the day, girls didn’t fly jets.
5. I love public speaking, but hate the telephone.
6. I don’t text.  I have a Blackberry, so just email me!
7. I don’t like lemon-flavored baked goods.

I’m not going to tag seven new people, but I hope seven of you will play along!

THAT is how we spent our weekend.  All that’s left is the roll-up door, the roof, and all of the interior shelves and such.  We had a lot of help from a bunch of the firefighters, and we truly appreciate it!   More trees also came down, which is so hard on me.  I realize the trees need to go, so they don’t fall on the house or mess up our septic field, but still…

How was your weekend?

Over the Top

Bridget of The Ravell’d Sleave presented my blog with an award:

It comes with a laundry list of questions, and I have time to kill, so…

1.  Where is your cell phone? In my handbag

2,  Your hair?    Needs a trim 

3.  Your mother?  Will be 70 this year.  Somehow, that surprises me.

4.  Your father?   Miss him every day. 

5.  Your favourite food?   Changes from moment to moment 

6.  Your dream last night?   I actually remember it… 

7.  Your favourite drink?  Tea

8.  Your dream/goal?    To work from home and write with the fur-girls gathered ’round 

9.  What room are you in?    The main office at work 

10. Your hobby?  Knitting, reading, scrap booking…

11. Your fear?    Cancer 

12.  Where do you want to be in six years?  At home, writing with the dogs, with the Knight close by too

13.  Where were you last night?  Home 

14.  Something that you aren’t?   Graceful

15.  Muffins?   No thanks, unless they’re pumpkin

16.  Wish list item?   New laptop 

17.  Where did you grow up?    Right here 

18.  Last thing you did?   Laughed at an old friend who stopped by the office

19.  What are you wearing? A bright turquoise blue shirt and the stole Anita made me

20.  Your TV? I don’t feel possessive of any TV

21.  Your pets?   Sissy and Gretchen, the canine princesses

22.  Friends?  Make life worth living 

23.  Your life?  Blessed 

24.  Your mood?  Blissful 

25.  Missing someone?  Yes

26,  Vehicle?  Lexus… but I don’t think we’ll replace it with another Toyota product after all

27.  Something you’re not wearing?  Necklace

28.  Your favourite store?  For what? 

29.  Your favourite colour? Today?  Turquoise

30. When was the last time you laughed?  See #18

31.  Last time you cried?  Don’t recall…

32.  Your best friend?   The Knight

33. One place that I go to over and over?  The firehouse

34. One person who emails me regularly?   comment-reply@wordpress…. 

35. Favourite place to eat?   It’s About Thyme

Thanks, Bridget!  That was fun.  I’m supposed to pass this along to six other worthy bloggers, who may or may not want to play along.  As most of you know, I usually wig out about here, and just invite anyone who needs blog fodder or feels so inclined to participate to play along. 

Mish-mosh Friday

The subtitle to today’s post could be, “In which we play catch-up.”

Firstly, Lady Gretchen Greer wishes to thank Norwood for the Razzy.  Norwood, a fellow terrier, graciously bestowed awards on his fellow groupies  contestants in the terrier class.  Gretchen is delighted that our friends Misty and Sasha were also awarded the same Razzy.  (In fact, all three are clustered together – they’re to the left of her on Norwood’s site.)

Diva is a little dejected.   She didn’t get an award from anyone.  I’ve suggested that maybe we’ll do some sort of awards on her blog once she gets herself straight.  She can be rather pouty…

So, the Knight is really all over this Valentine thing.  (No, those are markers Anita sent me last year; he’d NEVER give me fibery goodies.)  Last night, the poor UPS man hiked down our driveway and worst of all, up our unshovelled front walk, to drop off my new Cinnamon Keurig. 

Why yes, I *DO* have another Keurig, which was a Christmas present.  As a matter of fact, it is working just fine.  However, since I decided at the very moment the Knight announced he was going shopping on Christmas Eve day that I wanted a Keurig, we did no research at all, and he bought the only one he saw.  We’re research-shoppers, so once the Knight figured out I really liked the thing and was using the daylights out of it, he began looking around and realized that there was a model that addressed all of my wishes, and QVC had it in a color HE liked…  This one does four brewing sizes and has a brewing temperature control. 

Then, just a few minutes ago, a Best Buy bag dropped on my desk, and it held a Mario Kart game.  Because it might snow buckets again on Monday, and a girl needs her entertainment…  (We won’t mention that they’re now talking about flurries later tonight…) 

So, what Valentines plans do you have?  I still think it’s a wretched holiday.  I remember filling out cards in school, when I was five or six.  I remember informing the adult helping me with them that I wasn’t going to send a certain boy one, because I didn’t even like him, much less love him.  Of course, a letter had come home with a class list, and we HAD to give EVERY student a valentine, so whomever the adult was sat there patiently and found me the most benign card in the pack…

Happy 101

Grace has bestowed a sweet little award on me.  I’m always honored when people just read my blog, but awards really ice the (cup)cake!  Thank you, Grace!

The details:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog (or hyperlink).
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know!

I bet you could guess what I’ll list as my happy things, but…

The Knight.  He doesn’t get as much press as he should.  I realized last week, one day when he was out sick, that he really does brighten my day, just like the fur-girls do.  Neighbor Guy drives to our house and picks up the Knight’s work truck when the Knight is off, and last week, I happily said, “Oh, here comes my husband!” when I saw the truck pull in the lot, only to realize the Knight was at home sleeping…

The fur-girls, of course.   I babble about their special abilities to make me happy regularly, but for a totally different spin, visit Sissy’s blog today…  

My girlfriends.   They don’t get enough press either.  Local or not, my friends keep me balanced.  They know when I need to laugh, listen when I need to cry, inspire me, challenge me and just make me a better woman.  It is truly an honor to call each of you my friend!

Family.  If there’s a group I neglect here on my blog, family would get the blue ribbon.  That’s not to say they aren’t important to me…  It’s more a matter of privacy.  They make me crazy and mad, but there’s a lot of joy there too.

The Outer Banks.  I’ve also written tons about how that place soothes my soul, and there are so many different facets to happy.  I like sheer joy, but I also treasure pure bliss and simple contentment.   There’s a lot to be said for just being at peace.

Snow!!   (Another BIG SNOW this weekend?  Maybe?)  I intentionally picked a photo that shows it SNOWING.   I think I am happiest watching it snow, when the blanket of white is still undisturbed.

Tea.  There’s just something about wrapping my hands around a warm cuppa’ that warms me from within, even before I take that first sip.  (This special cup was a gift from Anita, but it also reminds me of a special weekend with friends and of the beach…)

Flowers, especially roses.  The Knight just doesn’t get how happy cut flowers make me.  They brighten the room and my mood!   (These beauties also serve as reminders of a fun evening with friends.  They were sent home with me after a fundraiser as a thank-you from the fundraising chair… )

I like silly fun too.  I think one of the keys to  happiness is never take yourself too seriously.  (I should also note that I was a bit shocked at how many photos I have with tongues stuck out…)

I know Anita hates this photo, so I do apologize for using it again, but I love the laughter so evident here.

Memories.  My memories make me happy.  Bittersweet is still happy for me, most of the time.  Tennyson was right; it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.   Something tells me (bottom right corner) that it’s probably a good thing that my grandmother and Sissy didn’t get a chance to meet.  Although for the record, Gretchen is also crazy for peppermints now too!

And now, to pass it on…  I hate to choose, so please feel free to share your Happy 101 list with me!  You certainly don’t have to do photos as I did, but do let me know if you post your own list.

I’d like to thank…

… the older neighborhood girls who all wanted to be teachers and used the toddler me as their pupil, none of us knowing “babies” aren’t supposed to read and write.  A love affair was born.

I received this awesome award from Dawn…  Thank you!  After reading the original post that started the award, I am humbled and honored.

The requirements:

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

My nominees:

• Louise – Always insightful, and the recipes are delightful.  What more could you want in a blog?
• Sue – Her pack is adorable, but she writes about so much more than life with a lot of dear dogs.
• Miranda – Two cute dogs, a mix of entertaining stories and characters, with recipes sprinkled in there too…
• Monica – British boyfriend, handsome cat, and my personal reading list consultant…  Oh!  And she loves tea, knits, takes pictures everywhere she goes…
• Bridget –  Another knitter/reader.  How do they do it?!  I must be an all or nothing girl… but this is about why I love Bridget’s blog.  She writes from the heart, and I always feel as though I’ve had a cuppa’ with a friend when I’m done.

There are *SO* many other blogs I read regularly, daily, but those five are the first five women who came to mind based on the original spirit of the award.

Now, I’m being rushed for dinner.   Do tell me how you read blogs.  From a reader?  A favorites list?  Do you ALWAYS leave a comment?  Do always ANSWER each of your comments?

I have more questions, but since I can’t dine in my yoga pants, I need to hit send.