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:

Forgetmenots Blue

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 from Three Stories High

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