Passing on the bloggy love

Rather belatedly, but better late than never!

A few weeks back the very lovely Chally of Zero at the Bone gave me this:


I am most flattered :-) Thank you Chally!

It comes with an instruction to list 7 things about myself, so here goes:

1. My left ear sticks out further than my right ear. When I was in my teens a doctor once helpfully told me that I could have it "fixed" with surgery but as I have never felt it was broken, and I regard the idea of unnecessary cutting of any part of my body with anathema, I wasn't particularly interested.

2. When I sit in on Caitlin's singing lessons I wish I was the one learning. Maybe one day. You know, when I have the money and time to spare.

3. I still have a pet rock that I "adopted" in primary school (for "adopted" read "stuck googly eyes on"), its name is Nargun and it sits in pride of place on display in the lounge room. Patricia Wrightson, author of "The Nargun and the Stars" died this week at the age of 88, I was sad.

4. I can't remember the last time I mopped the kitchen floor. It's been spot cleaned, in many places many times over, with water and paper towels when things have been spilled, but mopped all over - not so much. I really should do that.

5. I never did know what I wanted to be when I grew up, still don't. My life has kind of happened to me without me planning any of it. Fortunately it seems to have turned out rather well so far.

6. When I was little I used to keep snails as pets. I'd let them crawl all over my arms. I still like snails.

7. I broke my arm when I was in 1st grade. I fell over on the oval while being chased by Mark. Mark was chasing me because I'd kissed him in class before recess. I don't remember kissing Mark but I vividly remember the sight of my own forearm with an extra bend in it. My arm was out of plaster for some very short space of time (less than a month, maybe a week or two?) when I had a play date with a friend and her mum took us for a walk with their dog. I asked to hold the leash, the (very small) dog started running, I tripped...and broke my arm again. My friend's mum asked if I was sure it was broken and I remember thinking "Are you stupid?! It's not supposed to bend THERE!" But I didn't say it because I was a) in PAIN and b) too polite.

I'm going to pass the award on to a couple of very beautiful bloggers, go visit them and say hi from me!

Helen at Feeding Five For Fifty
cat at Juggling Act of Life

Lemonade

Liz at Eternal Lizdom has given me this adorable little lemonade stand award, thank you so very much Liz! It is of course, a reference to the motto "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" and is given for having a great attitude/showing gratitude.

I'm supposed to pass it on to at least 10 bloggers. I think I might take a page from Alix's book for this one and dole the award out a few at a time, here's the first batch:

Chally, for deciding to challenge people's assumptions about young writers.
Alix, because if there's one thing this woman has it's an abundance of great attitude.
Jay at Two Women Blogging whose generous spirit and love for people shines through in her writing.

*tucks the other 7 away for handing out at a later date*

One Lovely Blog award

Way back in August Trish was kind enough to give me the "One Lovely Blog Award." Thank you so much Trish, it's always wonderful to hear people enjoy visiting my little corner of the net!

Apparently I get to share this one with 15 of my favourite blogs, so here goes:

Liz
Alix
Emma
Ariane
Chally

Louise

MPJ
Megan
Penthe
Penny
Cathy
Deborah
Heather
Marjorie
Sophie

Love my friends award

I received an award from Libertine at The untamed thoughts on ... Autism

The Love My Friends Award is given to those bloggers who aspire, inspire and share the most beautiful of human attributes: art, wisdom and friendship. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more.

Art, wisdom and friendship...wow, thank you so much!

As I said in my comment over at Libertine's blog - what a lovely award - and now I get the fun of passing it on (easily the best thing about blog awards).

Ariane at Ariane's Little World- for many years of friendship, many 3:00am deep & meaningfuls, and the cutest of first knitting projects
Liz of Eternal Lizdom - Beautiful bloggy friend, wise parent and creator of culinary art.
Sophie of Sophie in the Moonlight - Haiku writer and blog friend, Sophie shares her stories of being bipolar with great generosity. My father and possibly my sister are bipolar and I have learned much that helps me understand them from Sophie's writing.
Lisa and Ligia of The Mom Files - I've been blog friends with Lisa for some years now and I'm very much enjoying meeting her friend Ligia through this new project full of parenting wisdom and great writing.
Penny at Walking Upside Down - if only I lived on the same landmass I might be able to take advantage of Penny's wonderful eco-hints. Scrapbooker, reader, librarian, parent and a great blog friend.
Natalie at Educating Archie - good mate, inspiring parent and fabulous writer.
Alix at Casa Hice - wonderful blog friend and storyteller extraordinaire.

(I'll do come fetch your award comments around the place tomorrow - too sleepy just now!)

Sisterhood Award

Liz over at Eternal Lizdom has bestowed upon me another award. This one is titled the Sisterhood Award.

First, share memories or thoughts of childhood or adulthood sister-friends. Funny, sad, whatever.

1. Attending Physics Society parties at Sydney Uni with Ariane. The dry ice in a sealed bottle trick never stops being funny.

2. In 5th grade, rolling around my best friend Rowena's bedroom laughing ourselves silly while quoting the Goon Show back and forth at each other.

3. A couple of years ago, feeling comfortable enough with my friend Sue to go swimming in her backyard pool wearing a borrowed rashie and my undies. The last time I was at Sue's place (for a candle party - like tupperware only with candles) we ended up sitting around talking about life the universe and everything for a couple of hours after everyone else had gone home.

4. Mothers group. Cathy, Malyn, Romaine and I spent many hours sitting around sharing all while our kids played. These were the people who kept me sane when Tom was a baby and toddler.

5. My mum. With whom I can talk about anything, who never judges and is unfailingly supportive.

Second, pass the award on to however many bloggers you'd like to share this with- but make sure you share this award specifically with bloggers that you feel a kinship with. Bloggers you learn from or feel that you teach, bloggers you've connected with in a really familiar and friendly way.

1. Shrinking Yoda

2. Shrinking Tardie

3. Indian Ink aka Lisa66

4. Ariane's Little World

5. MPJ

Flutterby

I'm fluttered...no wait...flattered, that's the word. Lou (aka Bogsider) has very kindly given me the Butterfly award. I discovered this when I was sitting in the car on our hide-from-the-heat trip down the coast from Merry Beach on the verge of tears because of the pain from my back and grabbing a quick dose of net therapy on my mobile while I actually had a signal. Made my day it did. Thank you Lou!

Meme rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Award up to ten other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.

I'm passing this one on to these cool blogs all of whom are worthy of many grammatically dubious accolades.*

Ariane's little world
Eternal Lizdom
Casa Hice
ZB's Vegan Recipes
Kittens Gone Lentil
even the smallest
Shrinking Yoda
No Regrets (Nap Mom)

*Yes, I'm a pedant, I can't help it.

Absolutely Fabulous

Break out the Bolly folks, I have it on good authority that this blog is just fabulous darling. (Sorry, can't read the word "fabulous" without hearing it in my mind à la Ab Fab) Anyhoo, thank you so much Liz, I'm very flattered :-)

There are rules associated with this blog award: Name 5 other fabulous blogs and share 5 things that you find fabulous.

So, first up, 5 Fabulous Blogs.
(This having to choose thing? It is hard!)

1. Hoyden About Town - Down to earth Down Under feminism from Tigtog and Lauredhel, and a fabulous commenting community.
2. In a Strange Land - Deborah is a Kiwi transplanted to South Australia blogging about feminism, parenting and politics.
3. Sophie in the Moonlight - Heart wrenching, courageous and full of hope, Sophie shares her experiences of being bipolar.
4. A Room of Mama's Own - MPJ's writing is full of her fierce love for her family as she blogs about autism, addiction and self-discovery.
5. Grab Your Fork - Whenever I read one of Helen's delectable posts I end up ravenous, quite apart form anything else there's all these gorgeous photos of food.

And now, 5 things I find fabulous.

1. Misty mornings, or any time of the day really. Especially when camping. When we went to Beorg-wic back in October there was one afternoon when the clouds rolled down into the valley, settled over the campsite and turned the whole forest into a magical misty realm.


2. Hot chocolate milk with butterscotch schnapps.


3. Ocean waves breaking against the rocks. I could spend ages just sitting and looking down from the cliff tops on North Head.


4. Hugs from my kids. Every afternoon when I pick the kids up from school each of them comes straight up to me in the playground for a big hug and kiss, even my gorgeous 11 year old boy. I reckon that's pretty special. Every night at bed-time they all still want mummy hugs in bed. I hope we will always have hugs for each other. (I still get and give hugs with my mum and dad.)


5. Stanton and Killeen Grand Muscat. OMG so good. The first time Adam and I tried this, a few years ago, we'd just bought a mixed case of their wines at the cellar door and were offered a free tasting (usually you'd pay to taste this one). We looked at the price and regretfully chose to be sensible, leaving without buying a bottle. Half an hour later we were driving along the Hume Highway still savouring the aftertaste and saying to each other "we SO should have bought some!" So I got him a bottle for Christmas a few weeks later.