Over The Top Blog Award

Look, it's another award! Too, too cool. Grace from Going to Graceland has gifted me with another award! I'm thrilled to add a new doodad to my small collection- what can I say? It makes me feel good. ;)



Aww, ain't it cute?

Here are the rules for the Over the Top Award: Copy, change the one-word answers to suit you, and pass it on. It's quite tricky to use only one word answers! Once you have filled it out be sure to pass it on to 6 of your favorite bloggers. Alert them that they have been awarded! Have fun!

1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket.
2. Your hair? Unsatisfactory.
3. Your mother? Involved.
4. Your father? Searching.
5. Your favorite food? Depends.
6. Your dream last night? Forgotten.
7. Your favorite drink? Water.
8. Your dream/goal? Improve.
9. What room are you in? Bedroom.
10. Your hobby? Many.
11. Your fear? Failure?
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Learning.
13. Where were you last night? Driving.
14. Something that you aren't? Malleable. (For better or worse. . .)
15. Muffins? Yum.
16. Wish list item? Assistance.
17. Where did you grow up? Atlanta.
18. Last thing you did? Read. (to Babyman)
19. What are you wearing? Jeans.
20. Your TV? Unplugged.
21. Your pets? Hairy.
22. Friends? Special.
23. Your life? Blessed.
24. Your mood? Cheerful.
25. Missing someone? Yes.
26. Vehicle? Clean. (Unusual!)
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes.
28. Your favorite store? Amazon?
29. Your favorite color? Purple.
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today.
31. Last time you cried? Recently.
32. Your best friend? Husband.
33. One place that I go to over and over? Laundryroom.
34. One person who emails me regularly? Anne.
35. Favorite place to eat? Sushi.

Now here are the 6 Bloggers I'm passing it on to:
(I'm going to make an effort to choose different bloggers than I awarded last time, so here goes. . .)

1) Laurie at Foolery Fun!

2) Sarah at Raising Three Thinkers Inspiring.

3) Alicia at Magic and Mayhem Learning.

4) Kitty at Into My Own Beautiful.

5) BHJ at BHJ Definitely.

I know a few of you don't do memes, so accept or ignore as you wish! Either way, your blogs are over the top!

Thank you, Grace! :)

Bella Sinclair Award

First of all, guess what brightened my evening last night? Well no, not that, though it was pretty nice. Oh yeah, and that was great too. . . but no. . . OK so a few little things brightened my evening last night! But I was especially pleased to visit Going to Graceland and discover that lovely Grace has gifted my blog with this lovely award:

Wow! What a happy surprise! Isn't it pretty?

All these blog awards come with instructions, and this one is no different: first of course I link back to the fun, inspiring and wonderful friend that bestowed this accolade upon me. Next I am to pass the love on to five deserving blogs. In the interest of not repeating ourselves, I won't include the other excellent blogs that Grace has already honored- please check them out. I don't actually read that many blogs, so I don't have a huge pool of contenders to choose from. Consequently, my regular readers may spot a couple sites here I have honored in the past- they are well worth revisiting! Without further ado, I award:

- Bird at The Birds in the Meadow. Her site includes an inspiring nature blog, plus a cool store where you can purchase her unique handcrafted jewelry and other creations. I love reading about her nature walks and other adventures- Bird's photos and descriptive style really make me feel like I am right there! I never miss a post.

- Kyddryn at Shade and Sweetwater. Her writing is sometimes funny, sometimes beautiful, poetic, enlightening, and entertaining. Plus lately, there's been plenty of gratuitous kitty cuteness to enjoy! Please consider sponsoring the adoption of Rook, a sweet (formerly feral) kitten. Click on the "tip jar" at the top right, and help pay for Rook's necessary vet visits. Every little bit helps. Thank you!

- Robin at Naked in Eden. Her posts make me think, and it's a refreshing mental exercise. ;) They encourage the sort of self-examination and wondering that is all too easy to forget in the hustle and bustle of being a Mom. I have often been surprised at the level of reflection to be found in the comments, as well- something about Robin's writing really seems to draw insightful thoughts from her readers. A wonderful mix of Nature and Philosophy.

- Alicia at A Magical Childhood. Look here for absolutely wonderful ways to have fun with your kids- that you can realistically handle in your day to day life! So many sites have inspiring crafts, games and other activities for kids, but they are often just too perfect, complicated, expensive or time-consuming to really be useful. Not at A Magical Childhood! Go find something silly and fun to do with your kids today!

- Amy and Sunshine at Rock Star Farms. Rock Star Farm is a very cool project started by a couple of friends, and I've only recently discovered, through Facebook, that they have a blog. Check out the videos on biodynamic farming- very interesting!

So I hope that this will provide you with some enjoyable blogsploring! Begone, and reap the fruits of these wonderful blogs.

(Thanks again, Grace!) :)

99 Things to do in a Meme, 99 Things to do. . .

Spotted this meme at Shade and Sweetwater, and thought I'd join in. I don't do memes very often, but I've been a tad uninspired here lately, so here you have it.

Items I have done before are in bold. I left the ones I haven't tried (yet) in plain text.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (not unless middle school orchestra counts!)
4. Visited Hawaii (though I sure would like to hike one of the volcanoes there.)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld/Disneyland (Disney World, a few times.)
8. Climbed a mountain (snort- a few times, yes. . .)
9. Held a praying mantis (I vaguely recall doing so when I was a kid)
10. Sung a solo (not unless you count singing by myself in the car)
11. Bungee jumped (no, thank you.)
12. Visited Paris (I loved it!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (I wasn't at sea, but the lightning was. Beautiful.)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (a few)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (never been to New York, actually. . .)
18. Grown your own vegetables (yes, and I have some tomatoes and eggplants ripening right now!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Innsbruck, Austria to Paris, France)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (no, thank you)
23. Taken a sick day when you were not ill
24. Built a snow fort (growing up in GA leaves little opportunity for snow forts.)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (OH, YES.)
27. Run a marathon (no, thank you)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (Definitely.)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (HAHAHAHAHAwheezeHAHAHAHAchokeHAheeheehee Um, no.)
32. Been on a cruise (Would like to try an Alaskan cruise, though.)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (depends on how far back you mean)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (I know a smattering of ASL, and learned a bit of Italian on my own)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (the money isn't what provides the satisfaction)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (damn impressive, that.)
41. Sung karaoke (no, thank you!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (I should do this.)
44. Visited Africa (THAT would be cool.)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (of course)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (unfortunately)
47. Had your portrait painted (by myself, but I'd say that counts.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (wow.)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (didn't bother. Kinda wish I had.)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (snorkeling.)
52. Kissed in the rain (mmmm.)
53. Played in the mud (of course.)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (once, long ago. They were an anachronism even then.)
55. Been in a movie (at least, I don't think so. . .)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (damn, I'd like to though.)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (Aikido. Would like to start again.)
59. Visited Russia (No, but my brother-in-law lived there for several years. My niece was born there.)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason (Aww.)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Definitely.)
65. Gone sky diving (no, but I'd love to! My Dad's done it.)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (oops.)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (and now my own kids have them. It's nice.)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (yuck.)
72. Pieced a quilt (my friend did the piecing. I'm doing the hand quilting.)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades (no, but we have canoed the Okeefenokee.) (is it just me, or does the spelling "canoed" look all wrong?)
75. Been laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (didn't stay in London long- we probably missed out, but wanted to see the countryside.)
77. Broken a bone (a horse stepped on my toe.)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (hell, YES.)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (definitely want to do this.)
80. Published a book (not yet. . . ?)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (I don't think so, but I was on the TV news.)
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (not that I recall. . .)
90. Sat on a jury (been called just twice, but couldn't serve.)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Thank you!! (Dardos Award)

Wow. . . My blog has received an award!

They are not unusual in the blogosphere, but it's my first, so I'm. . . well. . . tickled pink! :) The ever-lovely Kyddryn of Shade and Sweetwater has bestowed this blessing upon me, for which I am quite grateful. It's a Dardos Award.

From Kitmama's Pensieve

"The Dardos Award is in appreciation of the merits - cultural, literary and individual- of every blogger who expresses him/herself on his/her blog.

The conditions are to:
Be tickled pink,
Copy and paste the award picture to your blog,
Write down the regulations,
Link the blog who bestowed you the award,and finally
Nominate 15 blogs for the award."

(Aside: "dardos" means "darts" in Spanish. Is it that the nominating process is like throwing darts at blogopolis?? Hmm.)

Anyway, thank you, Kyddryn!

Now for the nominating. . . I'm afraid I will have to gift fewer than 15 blogs, as I simply don't read enough blogs to choose that many winners, and some of the blogs I do read would be unlikely to "play" the award game. So, consider these 5 blogs to be the cream of the cream of the crop! :)

1) I begin with Bird of The Birds in the Meadow. Beautiful photography, inspired musings and a great shop, to boot!

2) Next, I award Robin of Naked in Eden. Simply because she is a true ray of sunshine in my digital universe.

3) I honor Black Hockey Jesus of The Wind in Your Vagina. For some of the best writing I've found in blogopolis.

4) And Laurie over at Foolery. Because she's FUNNY, and I enjoy her perspective.

5) And finally, to Kyddryn at Mainstream Green. Helpful musings and information on "Going Green". Right back atcha, darlin'!

I hereby give permission to my nominees to nominate as many or as few blogs as they please. ;) Thanks again, and thank you to all my honored blogs- you enrich my life! :)

Belated Memes

I have a couple memes that I was tagged with, that I have taken waaay too long to get to. Finally, here they are:

First, Kyddryn tagged me with a meme which charges the author to describe his or herself in 6 words. I've had a notebook near where I nurse, and wrote down a fair number of possibilities in the month or so since she completed her descriptions. Here are several of mine:

- Too busy to complete tagged memes. (ha)

- Mom to three rambunctious preschool boys. (sums it up, that)

- Usually appears calm in all weathers.

- Wishes she had a full-time housekeeper.

- Yes, she really uses cloth diapers.

- Is grateful for her mommy friends.

- Seriously good at tickling her boys.

- Art major, once upon a time.

- Misses sleep and frequent hot showers.

- Loves long, sun-drenched lazy afternoons.

- Loves teaching, whatever form it takes.

- Is not herself without time outside.

- Thinks her little boys are breathtaking.

* * *

Then there is the "Name Game", brought to me by Olga. (Here's her post.) Here's how it goes:

Leave your name below in the blog comments section. Then my part comes in..

1. I’ll respond with something random about you.
2. I’ll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I’ll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle you in.
4. I’ll say something that only makes sense to you and me. (if possible!)
5. I’ll tell you my first memory of you.
6. I’ll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I’ll ask you something I’ve always wondered about you.
8. If you do this you MUST post this on yours. You MUST. It is written.

(Kit's note: you may try leaving your name in a comment here, though I can't promise I will get around to doing any more of these! I'll try).

OK, Olga!
1) You sculpt a mean play doh baby! He was cute.
2) Hmm. Well, now I will always think of you when I hear Yanni. LOL!
3) Chocolate pudding, baby. (That's still jello!)
4) Yeah, that's tough. Perhaps "The center of the universe is actually found in one gummy, drooly smile." Though other parents understand, too.
5) Lordy gal, you were tall!
6) an Ocelot
7) Um. . . what art medium do you most enjoy, and why don't you pursue it more?
8) If you do this you MUST post this on yours. You MUST. It is written. Sort of. I mean, eventually. Sometime. Maybe.

* * *

Today's thumbs-up goes to this online book of alley cat portraits. Lovely.