Great Writing: A Few Blogs For You to Check Out

 

 {afternoon reflection of a single zinnia bloom in the kitchen window}

Lee of A Guide To Northeastern Gardening has graciously awarded me the One Lovely Blog award.  Thank you, Lee for the honor of such sweet recognition.  Gardening in Long Island, New York, Lee shares her knowledge and love of design and horticulture with her readers.

The rules for the One Lovely Blog Award are:

Thank the person who nominated you for the award and link back to their blog.
List seven things about yourself.
Nominate up to ten blogs for the award.

• fritos and bean dip are not safe in my presence
• i can type nearly 100 words per minute
• reading the dictionary fascinates me
• it's all about the hunt:  flea markets, estate sales, and consignment shops rock 
• i marvel daily at God's unwavering grace
• my best friend tells me my nose crinkles when I laugh
• there can never be too much football...high school, college, pro - it's all good

Honestly, all who take the time and make the effort to create quality posts are worthy of recognition for this award.  I'm constantly in awe of the quality information and images I find in the blogosphere.

Lately I've been really inspired by a few bloggers whose writing has captured my imagination and I'd like to nominate them for this award.  I hope you'll visit their blogs.

Austin Agrodolce
Deb is a fellow Austinite whose writing is quirky, authentic and intelligent.  She weaves stories that transport and entertain.

Foxglove Lane
Catherine writes from Ireland and has a keen sense of observation.  She captures life's moments both with her eloquent words and her beautiful photography.

Mulish & Co.
Roberta also hails from right here in Central Texas.  She says "This blog is not my first rodeo, as they are wont to say in Texas. It may be, however, my first true blog, the first blog I've kept that resonates with me. I keep it to track my path to a writing life. A life in which, creativity, and writing in particular, come first."

Two Sharp Pencils and a Broken Crayon
My friend Julie writes on creativity with razor sharp wit and deep insight.  She will have you thinking about creativity in a whole new way and will inspire you to pursue your creative dreams.

Happy reading,
Cat

A Week's Worth of Treasure

 

For all these treasures, I'm grateful.

10 Things I Love - Unranked*

A gracious invitation was extended from Toni at Diggin' in the Dirt http://signaturegardens.blogspot.com to participate in this 10 Things You Love to Do game.  I've seen several bloggers playing recently and really enjoyed their posts.  We rarely get the opportunity to see a multi-faceted view of our blogging friends and this game provides that view.

The rules are:  1.  Inform who invited you.  2.  List 10 things you like to do.  3.  Invite 10 others.

As the title implies - these are in no particular order!  *A little Blotanical humor!

1.  I love spending time in the garden - any garden really, it doesn't have to be mine; day dreaming, praying, working, reading, photographing, playing with my kids or dog, watching wildlife, decorating, sipping hot tea, listening to the wind, entertaining friends and family.  It is my most treasured spot and I'm extremely grateful to be able to spend as much time there as I do.

2.  I love watching the Dallas Cowboys!  Although I grew up in the D.C. area, I come from a couple generations of Texans and so have been a Cowboy fan since I can remember.  My mom is an avid fan and would surprise you with her passion and knowledge of the game!  Her passion rubbed off.   It's a guilty pleasure to sit with my boys and watch the Cowboys! 


Dallas Cowboy Training Camp

 3.  I love watching sunsets on Lake Travis.  There is a nice little cove that we sometimes anchor in, unpack a picnic dinner and settle in for the sunset.  It is one of the most peaceful places I know.

4.  I love feeling small.  Let me explain...I'm constantly amazed at how small, as humans, we really are.  I'm humbled by the vastness of the world and all the intricacies of how it works and that makes me feel very small.

5.  I love my family.  I love serving them and spending time with them.  And as hard as it is sometimes, I love being the mom of teenagers.  It's very cool to get those glimpses into who they are going to be as adults and those moments give me great joy.



Stealing a kiss - because when they're teenagers, that's what you do!



6.  I love cooking and entertaining friends and family.  Most of my friends think I'm coo-coo because I actually like going to the grocery store.  Mostly, I just like the limitless possibilities to be found there!  I mean, really, your imagination can go crazy there - all the ingredients you might need are right there at your finger tips!

7.  I love creative expression.   In others, I'm inspired and through my own, I'm fulfilled.



Photo taken by Martha Moring Photography



8.  I love making mosaics.   I started in traditional stained glass but saw an artist working in glass on glass mosaics and was hooked - the richness of color is fabulous.  Again, the possibilities are limitless and that makes my spirit soar!

9.  I love spending time with my girlfriends.  God has blessed me with the most amazing circle of women friends and my heart is filled with gratitude for them.  They are passionate about life, funny, fiercely loving, intelligent, prodding at times, and loyal.  I would be lost without them. 

This is my best friend and photography mentor, Martha.  We're both UT alumni and in this pic we have our horns up although it looks as if we're making the #1 sign!



 10.  I love being married to my husband.  We've been married 20 years and I can't imagine my life without him.  He texted me yesterday - I love you - no reason for saying that - just do.  Ok, my heart melted and I thought, man, he is good.  He is the most genuinely kind person I know and I treasure him.



Photo by Martha Moring Photography

 So part of the game is for me to extend the invitation to 10 bloggers.  I'm new to the blogosphere so don't have 10 off the top of my head but if you're inspired through this post to play along please leave a link in my comments section and I'll post it on my blog. 

As always, thanks for visiting.  Leave your comments if you'd like - I love hearing from you!