Monday 26 August 2013

Liebster Blog Award

A few days ago I was very pleasantly surprised when gorgeous Chrissie from Chrissiecrafts nominated me for a Leibster Blog Award. I have drawn so much inspiration and encouragement from Chrissie and her lovely blog so feel quite thrilled and honoured to be receiving this! Thank you so much Chrissie!





Now if you are like I was, you may have seen this award mentioned in various places but didn't really understand what it was about? Well, it seems that it's awarded to up-and-coming bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, and recipients are asked to list some random facts about themselves, as well as answer some questions posed by the person giving the award. I understand that the numbers of questions and facts, as well as the number of bloggers who are nominated, have varied over the time this award has been available, but I will continue in the same vein that it was presented to me, and not confuse the matter! 

I have had to really think long and hard about the 'random facts' about myself - but I'll give it a go!

1   I am a quiet person and enjoy, in fact thrive on, alone time.

2  Therefore, I don't enjoy large gatherings and can become quite 'ungrounded' in such situations.

3  I trained in natural healing therapies such as reiki, reflexology, flower essences, as well as in         counselling.

4  I owned and ran (along with my husband) a dog grooming business, for several years before   
retirement.

5  I have four grown children (two girls, two boys) and six grandsons.

6  I would have loved at least one grand-daughter but absolutely dote on my boys.

7  I am of Scottish descent and would love to go back and spend six months or so visiting all the places I didn't have opportunity to appreciate before leaving the old country.

8  I am, or was, five feet one inch tall but I believe we can shrink a bit as we get older and I'm not about to measure myself cause then I may find I'm too heavy for my height!!! 

9  I think I may be one of the oldest (Craft) bloggers around, but actually feel twenty years younger than my birth certificate says I am! Now are you guessing?

10 This is a strange fact: browsing in bookshops always makes me need to 'pay a call' - it must be   
 excitement! My daughters think it a huge joke!

11 I am rather sensitive - often too much so, for my own good - both emotionally and psychically.


So now to answer the questions posed by Chrissie:

1  When baking or cooking, do you clean the kitchen as you go, or wait till it's all done then tackle the mess after?
Joy: I so dislike working in any sort of mess so I clean as I go - love to be organised!

2  If money, time and family schedules were not an issue, what would be your dream job?
Joy: That's a difficult one for I have so many interests! I care a lot about people so it would have to be something in the 'help' line. I would love to be in a position where I could encourage young ones to find their way in life, and to help them bring out the best in themselves.

3 Name three things that are always in your fridge.
Joy: Cheese, eggs and milk, and I must add olives.

4  Sweet or savoury?
Joy: I always need to balance those things, isn't it funny - if I have sweet I then need savoury, and vice versa. Having said that, apart from chocolate I really don't seem to need much in the sweet line these days apart from the occasional binge!

5 What is your favourite book?
Joy: Wow! I love the challenge of my Thesaurus and I own a load of self-help and healing books. Apart from those 'The Mists of Avalon' series by Marion Zimmer Bradley have always been faves, as well as Mary Summer Rain's books. Another beautiful title I have read a couple of times already and am about to re-visit is 'Fourth Uncle in the Mountain' by Quang Van Nguyen and Marjorie Pivar. 

6 You have a room all to yourself. How do you decorate it? No one to impress, no one to judge. Your secret hiding place.
Joy: Well, I suppose I am a bit spoiled but - I do already have a room that's all mine and the walls are a linen colour. One of my own paintings, from which hang two angels gifted by a friend, decorates part of one wall alongside my Native American drum, and, apart from the window, most of the other walls are hidden by bookshelves and cupboards filled with my books and special momentos, as well as pics of special family members. My NA Flutes are housed in this room, and I also have my meditation chair  and it's a very peaceful place.

7 Do you have a signature dish? Tell us about it!
Joy: Well, the family always loved my 'Mexicali Chicken' which, as its name suggests, is a Mexican dish with chicken, olives, capsicum, sultanas, chilli, in a tomato base sauce served on a bed of rice. More recently I am really appreciated for my dessert cakes, of which there are many - none of which I can claim as being my own as they are all from favourite recipe books.


Now it's time to name two lovely bloggers whom I choose for the Liebster Award:

I'm sure most of you know FB - she is such a faithful follower, always leaving her sweet messages of appreciation and encouragement, and her blog posts are so lovely with her variety of crafty subjects and garden pics - a pleasure to visit!

Jo just never stops - I'm sure if you gave her nothing she would manage to make something from it! Such imaginative and creative talent deserves to be rewarded!

So FB and Jo, would you please tell us some more about yourselves? A few random facts as well as answers to the following questions:

1  Who has influenced you most in your life?

2  If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

3  If you went back to school what would you choose to study?

4 Are you impulsive when making decisions or do you ponder things first!

5  What is your food preference when you eat out?

6  Looking at your average day, what do you enjoy best?

7  What gives you the least pleasure in your daily routine?

8  Is there a famous person that you would love to meet, and why?

9  Tell us about a favourite place in your locality that you like to visit.

10 If you were marooned on an island what would you choose to have with you?

11 What is your favourite type of film?

 
I hope I haven't been too hard on you girls - this is quite time consuming but I found it very worthwhile!

Normal post resuming soon! I have brain drain now!

Have a happy week one and all!

Joy xo









28 comments:

  1. Congratulations. I read the Mists of Avalon a long time ago. It's one of those books you never forget.
    S xx

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    1. Thank you for popping in and leaving me a wee message. Ah yes, books like that leave a strong impression on us!
      Have a lovely week!
      Joy x

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  2. congrats on the award Joy! you deserve it muchly! loved reading all those facts about you... I think its wonderful to find out a little more about the person whose blog one enjoys ( I love yours!) and youre only 1 inch shorter than me!

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    1. Hello again - we've just been talking elsewhere haven't we - all this electronic stuff is keeping us busy.
      Thank you so much for your lovely message - I'm so glad you enjoy my blog and that you now have a better picture of me and my ways!
      Enjoy your week and keep crafting!
      Joy x

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  3. Congrats on your Award Joy!!! it is well deserved. I just love learning new and interesting things about you, we have a lot in common!
    Congrats Again!!!
    Shari xo

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    1. Thank you so much Shari for your lovely words, they really do mean a lot to me. I hope everything is going well for you and yours!
      Joy xo

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  4. Ah Joy, what lovely answers and random facts. You are obviously a lovely person! I am far too sensitive for my own good too... but you always show so much love when you leave encouraging comments on peoples blogs and I think that is from your sensitive side, so don't ever be different (I'm sure you have no intention of being) Good to get to know you a little bit more, Sam xx

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    1. Thank you so much Sam - what a beautiful message! You'll know too that that sensitive side can be a bit rough on us at times, but that's part of our make-up so on we go!
      Joy xo

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  5. How nice to learn more about you, lovely Joy, and I am not surprised to find out that you have a background and interest in nurturing, healing and peaceful living! Your comments on all our blogs radiate that caring and creative spirit, and we all feel a bit more connected now that we've learned some random fun things about each other! :-) Chrissie x

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    1. Chrissie, you are a sweetheart! Many thanks again for the nomination and for these sweet and lovely words! The feeling of love and acceptance among you all is really confirmed by these wonderful messages waiting for me this morning; the sun is not shining outside but its certainly shining in my heart! Thank you, I'm so happy to be part of such a warm and caring blogging group.
      Joy xo

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  6. Thank you so much for nominating me Joy, I am really thrilled. I also felt like Chrissie that your comments are so caring that I really wanted to know more about where that supportiveness comes from - and all is revealed! I will have a little sit in the garden and a think about those questions now that all my hard gardening work is done for the day. Thanks again for your encouragement Jo x

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    1. Oh you deserve the nomination Jo - all the best with the questions and answers - and it's nice to hear you are actually going to stop and sit in your lovely garden for I sometimes wonder if you ever slow down at all! I'm really looking forward to knowing more about you and what makes you tick!
      Go Jo Go!
      Joy xo

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  7. Joy, you sweet thing, I loved hearing more about you and getting to know you a bit better. You are always so postiive and caring in every comment you leave. Congrats on the award.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Ah Meredith, it's always so lovely to have your sweet and kind messages, thank you so much! I always love to read your honest straight-from-the-heart posts and find them so easy to respond to! A huge thank you and hugs to you too!
      Joy xo

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  8. I really enjoyed reading this post. I feel like I know you better and now I know we have some things in common. You have always been so sweet and supportive and we love you! Congratulations on the award. :)

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    1. Sweet Jennifer, thank you so much, and I believe its because of those things we have in common (apart from craft interests) that we can understand and care for each other. The blogging community that we are part of is quite wonderful and warms the 'cockles of my heart', and I'm so glad you are part of it!
      Joy x

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  9. Well done with the award - most deserved!

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    1. Many thanks to you lovely Hawthorn and I'll be looking forward to more of your lovely and very interesting posts!
      Joy x

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  10. Well done Joy, you deserve the award x

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    1. Thank you so much Joy - I'm always so happy to hear from you and see your lovely makes!
      Joy x

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  11. Sweet Joy, Congrats on your lovely award! You so deserve it...you're always so sweet and kind, and such a delight! I so enjoyed getting to know you better. We're a lot alike! xo

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    1. Always so nice to see you've dropped by lovely Paulette, and thank you so much for your delightful message! I'm sure we are alike in a lot of ways and thank you for that - I admire you and your beautiful work so much!
      Joy xo

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  12. Well done on your award Joy, yours is a blog I really love to visit and always appreciate the lovely, thoughtful comments you leave on mine. I really enjoyed finding out a bit more about you and we have some things in common... I am petite too although a tiny bit taller than you and also probably a bit too sensitive as well!
    Marianne x

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    1. Thank you so much Marianne - what lovely things you say! I've always been told that good things come in little parcels and I'm certain you fit the bill Marianne - the sensitivity thing can be a bit difficult to live with at times though, I'm sure you agree, but I guess we're this way for good reason! There seem to be quite a few of us blogging friends around the same height so we're in good company for sure!
      Joy xo

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  13. Hello Joy.
    I loved your answers to the questions you had really honest and I think I like you even more now! You sound a lot like me in some ways, although I am a lot taller hehe.
    I will get round to answering your questions ASAP.
    You so deserve your award Joy your such a lovely lady, and thank you so much for nominating me. I'm very touched xx

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    1. I always enjoy hearing from you FB - thank you so much for being so sweet - you always give me a lift!
      I can hardly wait to find out more about your lovely self so am looking forward to your post. And you certainly deserve your nomination for your posts are always so lovely and bright and, not only have you been such a faithful follower of mine, I see you popping up all over the place supporting so many with your lovely messages.
      Have you got THE ring yet? Actually, having said that, my daughter-in-law chose to not have an engagement ring but instead has a combined wedding /engagement ring encircled with diamonds. It's very pretty.
      Joy xo

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  14. I have so enjoyed reading this post. I really wanted to nominate you too, so it is very well deserved, I LOVE YOUR BLOG! It has been lovely to learn more about this wonderful woman behind this blog and I feel strangely more connected. There are so many things that I feel I can relate to, such as needing my own time and space, the need and urge to work with people in a spiritual way, the love for healing books and also meditation. I also clean as I go in the kitchen and find big groups very overwhelming. I am sure you must have wanted at least one grand daughter, but at least you had two daughters of your own. Your room sounds so inviting, I just want to come in and sit down for some quiet time, pure bliss. Congrats on a lovely blog. Much love xoxo

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    1. Hello Hannapat and thank you so much for such a beautiful message - I feel all gooey now! Gosh we are so alike in so many ways - I hadn't realised just how much! How wonderful it is to find kindred spirits and I'd so love to have you here so that we could spend special time together on a regular basis! Like you, I also have had health problems but thankfully I now can live a fairly normal life so long as I don't get over tired and stressed, so I do have an understanding of your present predicament!
      If I ever get to make that trip back to the UK I'll be looking you up so don't go anywhere!
      Sending you much love and healing light,
      Joy xoxo

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