I'd like to thank the Academy....Part 1

Yesterday when I came in I found that two of my blogging friends had honored me with awards. Now when I say an award makes my heart sing, I am not kidding you. To have your peers think enough of you to pass on these awards means that you are doing something right. It's the pat on the back the "attaboy" that most of us relish in our lives. How wonderfully happy it made me to read about the origins of these awards and to find how hard some had worked on the award to make it special. I think that the joy we feel when someone gives you a blogging award is the acknowledgement that what you do or say is special, makes you stand out in the crowd...boosts the ego and hugs the soul. It's difficult to not say "I love you all, so anyone who reads this, this is your award..." It diminishes it somewhat, makes it not so special. So I am not saying that I don't admire each and every blogger in my faves site, it's just that sometimes, some need to be held up to public view...and I am lucky enough to be able to do that while mentioning the fact that someone thought that much of me, at the same time...So the two awards that I was so honored with are as follows:



This lovely statute is called the "Arte y Pico" award which was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and talents no matter whether it be in the form of writing, artwork, design, interesting material, or contributions to the blogger community. When a blogger receives this award it is considered a "special honor" and, once presented to you, it is to be passed on to at least 5 other bloggers who meet the criteria.

My dear friend Jeni at Down River Drivel (http://oldavonladysorders.blogspot.com/ ) presented me with this beautiful award. I've been a fan of hers for some time...I told her once that I came in for the intrigue of her name and stayed for the tales of Kurtis and Maya, her two delightful grandchildren who just happen to be autistic. She helps countless other parents and grandparents with all the knowledge she has collected on this disorder, and for that I have only the deepest admiration and pride in the joy of knowing her. Please go see her, you won't regret it, I promise. And the five that I wish to honor with the award are David McMahon (http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/ at Authorblog...this published Australian Author does so much for those of us who work on our blogs diligently, striving for perfection (or at least readability) by his encouragement that I am not sure how he finds time to spend with his family and take all those wonderful photo's he posts on his site. He is an intelligent thoughtful artist that should be honored everyday, in my opinion. If you don't go visit him, it's definitely your loss...

My second recipient of the above award is Jamie Dawn at http://jamiesmindlessblather.blogspot.com/. Jamie is so insightful into the world of blogging and holds her faith up as a candle to light the way. Her Pulpit is the internet, her messages (delivered with liberal shots of humor and levity) so point on without hammering you in the head, that reading her is akin to reading "the Gospel according to Peanuts"....I'm telling you, the girl has got it!

The third recipient of this award is going to Kathy Davenport at http://justabeachkat.blogspot.com/ for her ability to meet up with bleak possibilities and spit right in their eye! This cancer survivor has beauty, wit and a healthy spirit who shares her life and encourages all of us to face things head on...go over and click on her pink ribbon to pay for breast exams for women otherwise unable to afford the procedure, stay and visit with her...you'll be glad you did.

The fourth of the blogsters I read and admire for their ability to brighten an otherwise dreary world is my wonderful friend (who goes by the name Merisi in blogland) who is so sharing with her lovely photography that you feel as if you had been there in Vienna, seen these wonderful spots, walked in these gardens and petted that dog, stroked that cat laughed at that bicyclist...My Merisi is a joy to visit, so go to http://merisi.blogspot.com/ and her site (which is entitled) "Merisi's Vienna for Beginners.

And the fifth recipient is actually two...sisters that is, at Ask Kari and Kijsa (http://kariandkijsa.blogspot.com/ These multi talented young ladies are professional designers who share of their work and ideas so generously that all of us can look at a room and say "I can do that!" I am constantly amazed at the ease with which the girls come up with these splendidly simple ideas that look so beautifully complicated that it makes your jaw drop.

So, that is the award list, and I am so honored to be able to present it that I again must thank our Jeni for bestowing it upon me, in the first place. Later this evening I will be back to tell you all about the second award I received from Sandy at http://spiritifelici.blogspot.com/ which goes by I Beati: A Meeting Place where we can share our blessings and laugh a little bit