Saturday, January 29, 2011

Sharing in the Fun of Blog Awards

It's been just over a year since I started blogging. What a trip it's been, like heading out for parts unknown without a map but finding, after driving awhile, that you've embarked on a rich experience you wouldn't trade for the world. It's been stretch at times, but so far a lot of fun. Along with exploring writing ideas and trying to hone the craft of writing, the road has led to a wide-open vista of new sites, insights, ideas, helps and encouragement. Especially encouragement!

Such encouragement came in the form of this recent award, The Stylish Blogger Award, passed on to me by Elizabeth Varadan aka Mrs. Seraphina at Elizabeth Varadan's Fourth Wish. Thanks a bunch, Elizabeth!

And, so, in the spirit of the idea--which is to highlight and share information about other blogs--I'd like to pass along the fun. The tradition is to tell 7 things about yourself AND pass the award on to an additional 10 blogs (although there are far more than ten out there that could be mentioned, for sure). Here we go!

1. My favorite ice cream flavor is Graeter's Mocha Chocolate Chip.
2. I was the assistant editor of my high school newspaper, and church newsletter editor for nine years.
3. I was once a bridesmaid in each of three weddings in one week--a Saturday in Ohio, Sunday in NYC, the following Saturday back in Ohio.
4. Once for an aniversary, hubby gave me a book titled Historic Homes in America. Now whenever we travel we try to visit one of the featured homes if in the area. To date we have toured 17 houses out of 67, including Paul Revere's house in Boston, Charles Lindbergh's childhood home in Little Falls MN, Laura Ingalls Wilder's home in DeSmet, SD, and Jefferson Davis' Beauvoir in Biloxi MS (later destroyed by Hurricane Katrina). Only 50 more to go!
5. I taught school for a year before becoming a stay-at-home mom, tutor, house fixer-upper (mainly by painting/wallpapering/refinishing woodwork), and WRITER.
6. I've been published in two Cup of Comfort and the My Dad is My Hero anthologies, along with a number of various magazines.
7. I'll drop everything to answer a phone call from 2 1/2 year old Angelica, or get a chance to skype with 8-month old Nicholas out in CA!

Blogs I often visit, enjoy, and glean valuable tips and info' from include:
 1. Tina at Excuse Editor   
 2. R.L.LaFevers and Mary Hershey at Shrinking Violet Promotions
 3. Writing Nut at Writing in a Nutshell
 5. Cathie at Words World and Wings
 6. Jess at Falling Leaflets
 7. M.B. at M.B. Writes
 8. Diane at Diane Estrella
 9. Kathryn at Kathryn Jankowski
10. Rachna at Rachna’s Scriptorium--who also recently passed this fun award, The Wholesome Blogger Award, over my way, too. Thanks again, Rachna :-)


Drop in and pay these great bloggers a visit, if you haven't already. Each offer their own kind of style and specialness to the blogging/writing community.

Enjoy--and happy weekend!

14 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Kenda! You made my day!

    ~Debbie

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  2. What a delightful surprise, Kenda! Thanks so much!
    And now I have a few new blogs to investigate. :)

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  3. Thanks Kenda! It means a lot to me that you shared my blog with your audience:) Happy Writing!

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  4. Thanks for thinking of me! Three weddings in one week sounds exhausting enough, but to travel too. Wow! I just started homeschooling my son two weeks ago, so things are definitely busy here. :O)

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  5. Thanks so much for the mention! My husband and I adore historic homes (it's on our dream list to own a stone farmhouse). In his spare time, he sketches floor plans for an imaginary house he'll build based on Valley Forge (though the low ceilings inherent to historic homes are a no-no with me). I'm jealous of your visit to the Laura Ingalls Wilder house! I also used to be a teacher and am now a stay-at-home-mom, so we've got that in common too :)

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  6. Congrats, Kenda! You are indeed a stylish blogger! :) And congrats to the new winners!
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  7. Debbie, Kathryn, Tina, Diane, Jess--glad to be able to give shout outs to your blogs :-)

    Diane--wishing you and your son the best as you home-school. A challenge I'm sure, but your love for him will keep you strong!

    And Jess, if you'd like to own a stone farmhouse, you should see the stone barn across the road from us. Built during the Civil War, it stands three stories high and has the numbers 1861 shaped out of wagon-wheel rims and mounted on the front. That's my next story!

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  8. Thank you so much for thinking of me Kenda! :)

    Wow, three weddings in one week?? I'm thoroughly exhausted from just one!

    I love that you visit the historic houses - that's a very neat thing to do!

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  9. Kenda,

    You live across from a stone barn??? With 1861 in wagon-wheel rims??? I'm drooling to see a picture! If I had to describe myself in a few words, one of them would definitely be "nostalgic," both for my own past and the past in general. I just love the feeling of history that surrounds old buildings...the work that went into them, the people who called a place home...*sigh* Based on our budget, the stone farmhouse will likely remain a dream, but I'm so glad that you live across from such a unique structure. It certainly sounds story-worthy :)

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  10. Thank you, Kenda! I love your blog, and now I have some new blogs to explore. I'll be posting my list some time next week--Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks again.

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  11. Congrats on your award. I love the idea of getting a book on historic homes and then visiting them. That is so very cool.

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  12. Hi, Kenda, I enjoyed your seven shares. I'm envious of your seeing 17 historic homes. I love old houses. BTW, I almost passed the Stylish Blogger Award to Rachna Chhabria myself, only I thought she had already received it; she's received and deserved so many! When I told her later, she said that was one she hadn't received, so I'm glad you passed it along to her. She's one of my favorite bloggers.

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  13. Congratulations!! I love learning about my blogger friends:) You sound like I do about our grandma role:))

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  14. Thanks, Kenda! And 3 weddings, wow! :)

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