Three Bloggy Awards

Over the past month or so, I’ve received three awards from very talented, creative and funny bloggers, and I thank them all for thinking of me. It’s always such a surprise to find an award waiting in the comments…

The First Award—The Creative Blogger Award
…came from Frank of The Early Birder on Saturday, June 13, 2009! (Yikes, I’m late.) Thank you, Frank!!! I love it! Check out Frank’s blog for interesting posts on the English countryside and all the birds he encounters daily while he walks his “patch” in Surrey. I’ve learned a lot following Frank’s blog about European birds. With this award, you are supposed to list seven things about yourself that people might find interesting (I think this has slowed me down, because I’m just not that interesting). You then need to pass the award on to seven bloggers.

Here are my seven things:
One - I’m an absent-minded professor/procrastinator type (which helps explain why I'm so late passing the awards on). Everyone who knows me, knows this, and they put up with it. I’m trying to change, but I’ve been this way for 47 years, so I doubt any improvements will be forthcoming any time soon!! It’s really a pain sometimes--just ask my nieces, Sarah and Alyssa, who live in Munich, Germany. I have a big box in my office with lots of presents in it. The gifts go all the way back to Valentine’s Day…and Easter…and Alyssa’s birthday (in May) and Sarah’s birthday (yet to come in August). I will mail it this week (after I wrap everything--I hope). Let’s shoot for getting the gifts there before Sarah’s birthday…

Two - I am a night owl by nature and have to work very hard to go to bed early. I have been this way my entire life. When I was in first grade, my mom used to sit me at the table at breakfast and give me coffee so I could function. I remember she told me “Don’t tell your teachers you drink coffee for breakfast, they might not like that.” (In those days, kids were supposed to drink milk, or orange juice, or maybe Tang—but coffee was not for kids). Being a birder and being a night owl don’t often mix, unless you’re looking for owls.

Three - I love to listen to waterfalls, brooks, creeks, the ocean…anything wet. Maybe because I’m a Pisces.

Four - I have green eyes, and when Matty was small he thought the song “Green-eyed Lady,” by Sugarloaf was written about me, “Mom! There’s that song about your green eyes again!” (Can you tell we listened to the oldies station back then?)

Five - I’m an introvert. I can act like an extrovert, and sometimes seem like one, but it tires me out. I assume lots of birders are introverts because we spend so much time alone…in the woods and fields…looking at birds -- or alone…in the house or bookstore…reading about them, and we like it that way!

Six - I’m an artist. Whenever I see something striking…unusual…or ordinary, I often see it painted in my mind. I’m also a potter and have been throwing pots since 2000. I love fine china and antique china. I don’t know why, but it will stop me dead in my tracks. It’s an extraordinary art form, and teacups and teapots are my downfall. (If there is a bird painted on it, watch out!)

Seven - I love animals. When Matty was a baby we had 5 cats (Theobald, Mikasa, Pumpkin, Kayla, and Puddin’). Our sixth cat, Jasmine (Jazzy), had gone to live with my parents because she was a princess and needed to be adored exclusively. She did not like others of her own kind. One day when Matty was very small and didn’t yet talk, we were in Kroger’s. Matty was sitting in the cart and started licking his “paw” and meowing. Every now and then he would rub the back of his hand across his forehead. Now he wants to be a vet and work in a zoo—go figure. (Fourteen years later, we only have one kitty…Bip, the Very Scary but Hardly Hairy Cornish Rex Cat.)

I’d like to pass this award on to:
Gabrielle of Inner Artist
Tammie Lee of Spirithelpers

Songbird at ShySongbird’s Twitterings
Roy at The Fenlandwalker – Birding and Countryside Blog
Abe at My Birds Blog
Krista of Nature as Is

Ginny at Ginny's Wildlife Photography

The Second Award—The I love this Blog Award
…came from Roy of Roy’s World. I received it on June 20, 2009. (D’oh! Late again…) You have to pop over to Roy’s blog and check it out. It’s always interesting. He’s very good at finding music videos to match his theme. He lives in Newport, Rhode Island and posts lots of lovely photos of the old homes, cemeteries, parks, and birds in his neighborhood. He also includes bits of history in his posts for interesting reading. This award doesn't require writing seven interesting things about yourself (which is good, because I ran out interesting stuff).

I’d like to pass this award on to:

Mona at Montanagirl
Jenny at Wren’s Nature Notebook
Moria at Confessions of a Nature Lover
Nick at Saskatchewan Birds, Nature and Scenery
Chris at Tails of Birding
Dave at Birds from behind
Michi at hillbillyfarmgirl

The Third Award—The Best Blogger Friends Award
…is from Dave of Birds from Behind from July 6, 2009 (I’m not quite so late on this one—comparatively!). Dave is another Ohio birder. Dave visits Magee Marsh a lot and the Black Swamp Conservancy up near Toledo. Dave’s blog is funny. He’s a funny guy, and his birds say and do funny things. Did I forget to mention his specialty is photographing birds from behind…or shortened, birds' behinds? This award doesn't require writing seven interesting things about yourself either!

I’m passing this award on to:
Heather of Heather of the Hills
Laure Ferlita of Painted Thoughts Blog
Frank of The Early Birder
Warren of Pittswood Birds
Keith of Holdingmoments

Betsy of Joyful Reflections
Ken of Disabled Birder of Halling