Oil Pastels by Mary

It’s again taken much too long to acknowledge these nominations, but I wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you and continue on with following the rules.  I was recently nominated by two bloggers for this wonderful Versatile Blogger award by www.thatslilfeandthenyousigh.wordpress.com www.camenisabelgonzalez.wordpress.com.   I would like to thank all those who enjoy blogging.

Rules

• Display the Award Certificate on your website
• Announce your win with a post and link to whoever presented your award
• Present 15 awards to deserving bloggers
• Drop them a comment to tip them off after you’ve linked them in the post
• Post 7 interesting things about yourself.

7 Interesting Things About Myself:

1. I love to garden, roses are my favorite but then so too are perennials.

2. I like to make soups, tomato and split pea are my favorite.

3. I don’t own an ipad or an iphone, at least not yet.

4. I like a good read.

5. I like experience, but love learning.

6. I like listening to music when painting – all kinds depends on the mood of the canvas.

7. I’m a Gemini.

Nominees:

1. http://www.eyedancers.wordpress.com
2. http://www.shygemini.wordpress.com
3. http://www.florastable.com
4. http://www.leannecolephotography.com
5. http://www.jniggelart.wordpress.com
6. http://www.hillsofherchasity.wordpress.com
7. http://www.outsideauthority.wordpress.com
8. http://www.miartedoris.wordpress.com
9. http://www.candidpresence.wordpress.com
10. http://www.clicksandcorks.com
11. http://www.iarxiv.com
12. http://www.joellewrites.wordpress.com
13. http://www.ablanksheetofpaper.wordpress.com
14. http://www.doronart.wordpress.com
15. http://www.orofiorentino.wordpress.com

Congratulations to all and hope you stop by their blogs.  Thank you to those whom nominated me for this award!

I am really honored to say that I have received three nominations from fabulous bloggers that I’ve taken forever in a day to acknowledge the Liebster Award – for that I am truly sorry.  The bloggers who nominated me are:  Cyndi from Healthy A-Z, Kitty of http://www.dearkitty1.wordpress.com, http://www.iarxiv.com and Lisa of http://playamart.wordpress.com.  I hope you visit each blog and experience their worlds you’ll find them inspirational too!

• I’ve followed Cyndi’s blog since I started blogging back in August, 2012, she has one thirst for helping people live a healthy life through her fabulous blog.  Healthy A-Z comes highly recommended – it’s a great place to visit.
• Kitty of dearkitty1 is a writer of many subjects ranging from animals to politics to life and is excellent at her craft.  I hope you stop by her blog to enjoy and get moved by some of her writings.
• iarxiv.com is a fantastic author (if you haven’t had the pleasure check out Porcines Adventures she writes with her husband) and is a wonderful artist – I hope you spend a few minutes to join the many of us who faithfully follow the piglets adventures.
• And finally Lisa is fantastic artist who shares her passion of life through her art and photography with the world from her wonderful place in Ecuador.  She has an amazing life, as we get to share in her adventures, and what I have found fabulous about Lisa is how she invites people to participate in her artistry – if you spend some time on Lisa’s Playamart blog you’ll witness her generous spirit!

As part of this award, I am to respond to the following:

Five random facts about me – they are all about our yard visitors.  Two ponds located by us, one directly behind our backyard and one directly across the street so any time you want a show of wild animals or birds this is the place to be:

1. I love birds, any kind flycatchers, bluejays, cardinals, etc – you’ll find lots of nests around the yard.  These beautiful creatures communicate in a world all of their own – much fun to watch and learn from.
2. We have geckos, lots of geckos and Texas Slinky Lizards – wow do we ever.  They are pretty smart little guys, forever telling us through their mannerisms when there are snakes around.  They are usually scurrying up and down trees, sides of our house and fence railings, and every once in a while they’ll find their way into the house – we gently catch and release.
3. Oh my the squirrels think they rule around here.  When our temps reach 100 degrees you’ll find them taking long siestas in our large Oak tree.  Here’s the story for all time:  once I was coming around a corner in the backyard and a squirrel was coming from a different place neither knew each other was there and we nearly ran into each.  Well it scared me – I screamed.  The squirrel on the other-hand turned around and ran and I mean he ran so fast that he literally ran across the top of the water of the swimming pool – talk about walk on water.  I’ve never seen it before and likely will never see it again.  What a show!
4. Turtles, oh we have the turtles – very large!  Because of the two ponds around our property, they’ll sometimes lay their eggs in our yard.  And many times they’ll go from one pond to the other and use our property as their roadway, sometimes they’ll get stuck and can’t find their way out – we help them along!
5. Snakes are regular, but not-so-welcomed guests.  So far this year we’ve had 4, and the hot season has only just begun!
6. Did I say five?  Well here’s one more – rabbits.  Yep they find their way to our perennial gardens every year.  I get so excited at the start of Spring each year, watching the garden begin its growth spurt thinking “wow, no rabbits.”  Only in a matter of a week to find many beautiful plants (what would be beautiful plants) mowed down – argh!

Five questions to answer:

1. What 3 words best describe you?  loyal, caring, optimistic
   
2. What is your most prized possession?  integrity
3. If you had 10 minutes to evacuate your house what 5 things would you take with you (not including family members or pets)?  clothes, water, food, important papers, family photos
4. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?  Enjoy your life and those around you – life is too short.
5. What is the one food item you can’t live without?  I love pistachio’s.

My nominations for the Liebster Blog Award are:

• www.thatslifeandthenyousigh.wordpress.com
• www.cherylmoore.wordpress.com
• www.funandfabulousness.wordpress.com
• www.poppytump.wordpress.com
• http://www.marinakanavaki.com/

Each nomination came with different instructions.  So with some liberty, here is a short combination of the rules.  If you accept the nomination, please select 5 nominees, tell us five random things about yourself, answer the 5 questions above, and please place a link back to my blog in your acceptance post.

Congratulations to everyone.  And, thank you to my nominators!

Awarding the people who live in the moment,
The noble who write and capture the best in life,
The bold who reminded us what really mattered -
Savoring the experience of quality time.

I have been nominated by Kathy at http://www.helpwithyourlife.wordpress.com for the Best Moment Award. I am honored to receive this particular award.

I would like to extend a big thank you to Kathy for this wonderful acknowledgment, and for sharing her amazing advice for living life through her blog, authored articles, books and newsletters.

RULES:

• Winners re-post this completely with their acceptance speech which can be written or video recorded.

• Winners have the privilege of awarding the next awardees! The re-post should include a NEW list of people, and notification that they have been nominated.

• Display the award’s badge on your blog.

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH:

Nine months ago I began my journey through the blogging world, a new concept for me – one that I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I’m happy to say its been a wonderful experience. 

I’m humbled by the devotion that the many WordPress bloggers put toward developing their blogs and sharing their world with all of us.  We can all relate to the countless hours it takes to create content, as well as to develop followers – to receive this award from Kathy has great meaning.

I’ve learned much along the way, more about technology than I cared to know (lol and really just kidding), that I wanted to share some here.  WordPress has been a great family to be a part of and while many miles may physically separate us I found people are respectful and tolerant of others opinions, work and creative endeavors; people genuinely care for each other; whether bloggers are writers, painters, photographers, musicians, sculptors, crafters or just live life to its fullest there is a common thread of “sharing life’s experiences” and “learning” that brings us together.  

I have found a wonderful place to travel and experience the world, as seen through others eyes, all without ever leaving my home.

Every day when I read new posts I am filled with inspiration from all my blogging friends at WordPress!  Thank you all for playing an important and big role in my life!

I nominate a duo-couple whom I’ve grown to have much respect and admiration for.  Tim and Mary have separate blogs and each are creative and inspirational – please check out their blogs and say congratulations: 

1. Tim at http://www.theforesterartist.com
2. Mary at http://www.thebackdoorartist.com

Congratulations Tim and Mary!!!

When I received this award I thought “oh no, I’m so behind on my nomination.”.  But this, I promise, is  less time-consuming process of fulfilling award and impossible to say no!  A wonderful blogger, Ann-Christine at  www.lagottocattleya.wordpress.com nominated my blog for the WordPress family award.  Ann-Christine is a fabulous photographer that I know you’ll enjoy seeing.

Thank you so much! This is a very inspiring blog to visit!

The following “rules” go with the award

1. Display the award logo on your blog.

2. Link back to the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your wordpress experience and family

4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them

5. That is it.  Just please pick 10 people who have taken you as  a friend, and spread the love

I now award 10 people, (though many more would fit in here…)in alphabetical order,  for this brand new award:

1. http://www.healthyazblog.wordpress.com
2. http://www.gardensforgoldens.wordpress.com
3. http://www.playamart.wordpress.com
4. http://www.caleephotography.wordpress.com
5. http://www.bellaremyphotography.com
6. http://www.elenacaravela.wordpress.com
7. http://www.inkarasworld.com
8. http://www.prideinphotos.wordpress.com
9. http://www.awapara.wordpress.com
10. http://www.artisticimaginings.wordpress.com

Congratulations to all, love knowing you are part of the WordPress Family!

My blog has received the most wonderful nomination for the Beautiful Blogger Award from Cyndi of http://www.healthyazblog.wordpress.com.  I feel very honored and wanted to thank you so much to Cyndi.  She has a great blog for self-improvement and living a healthy life, it’s worth the trip over to see her fantastic posts.

Please join me in congratulating my 7 nominees – they each have dedicated lots of energy to great blogs I hope you check them out:

1. http://www.carolwelsh.wordpress.com
2. http://www.violetgallery.wordpress.com
3. http://www.divyaadusumilli.wordpress.com
4. http://www.gusevs.wordpress.com
5. http://www.janeluriephotography.wordpress.com
6. http://www.prewitt1970.wordpress.com
7. http://www.colouryourdream.wordpress.com

Congratulations to everyone and a big “thank you” to Cyndi of Healthy A-Z Blog!