Thank You Laini!

I feel very honored to receive this award from Laini Taylor at Grow Wings! There is no one in the blogsphere for whom I have more respect and admiration. I have even contemplated pink hair dye on my white mop of hair. For her many accomplishments, go to her website and check out her art (fabulous, funny, or beautiful creatures) and her writing, and - well, everything else!

Thanks again, Laini!

Thank you!

Readerwil has honored me with the following award:

which I will be delighted to pass on to seven deserving blogs per instructions. The rules for the award are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog;
2. Add a link to the person who has awarded you;
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs;
4. Add links to those blogs on yours and.....
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

My nominees, in no particular order are:
1. Peacock Blue for its consistently beautiful and moving photos, poems and stories.
2. Jonster's Days where Josie maintains an endearing mommy blog about son Jon.
3. Columbo's Site for gorgeous photography and warm family spirit.
4. Linda's Stuff for the most imaginatively decorative diary entries I've ever seen.
5. Nuts in May where Maggie May tells of family, reminisces, and posts lovely photos.
6. Lulu's Petals where Lucy writes with warmth, humor, and saucy spirit.
7. Keith's Ramblings for entertaining stories in a variety of styles.

Of course no one needs to participate who feels uncomfortable doing so. But I do enjoy your blogs. Thank you again Readerwil, not just for the kind honor, but also for the chance to pass it on.

Best Blogging Buddies Award

Jen at My Humble Opinion gave me this Best Blogging Buddies award. Thank you, Jen for the nice things you said about me.

Jen didn't say how many awards I could pass along. I'm going to limit my list to a special few, my reason being that if I went beyond that I'd have to choose among all my other dear blogging friends by playing eeny-miney-mo!
1. Mary Ann, at Peacock Blue, my first-found blogging friend, very dear to me and a joy to turn to daily.
2. Marianne, whose constant comments, humorous, quirky or flattering, brighten my day.
3. Tumblewords, poet and artist.
4. Inland Empire Girl at Gathering Around the Table, whose gracious invitation always draws me in.

Spring has been with us for several weeks, and is a joy for me to get out in it even though I still have to be very careful with my back. The pink-flowering plum along the streets has already dropped its petals and has tender new burgundy-clored leaves. Many yards are lush right now with Japanese Magnolia blossoms, and I had Otto stop the car a couple of times so that I could snap these photos (we were on our way to the grocery store - one of my first shopping trips in a long time!).