I received a nomination for my first ever blog award. A bit of a shock considering I’ve only been blogging for a fortnight, but what a wonderful way to start 2012.
I was nominated by the writer of Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars, a blog that celebrates two things dear to my heart; the restorative act of writing, and someone finding the courage to walk a difficult path with honesty and awareness. I recommend a visit, and I want to thank them again for this nomination. It made my day!
The Rules for the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.
So here goes! Seven things about me:
1. I live on a farm that is sandwiched between a creek full of platypus and wild ducks, and a river where I like to picnic and barbeque with my neighbours. The river is filled with fish and eels, and I have found many beautiful crystals there.
2. One of my best friends is a fairy. No, really. Her name is Sokli, and she has a cheeky sense of humour, and a great love of life. Angels are well received, and widely believed in, but poor fairies are still considered mythical. I can assure you this is not the case!
3. If I could have any pet I wanted it would be a dragon, or a unicorn. For now I content myself with two dogs, and a paddock full of cows.
4. I love to cook, but more than anything I love to cook for others. I believe in real food; fresh, seasonal, organic and home-grown if possible. I often wonder when farmers and corporations will realise that if it poisons something in the food chain, it’s also going to poison us!
5. I write endless lists, thoughts and plot developments on the backs of envelopes. Writing is a not-so-secret obsession.
6. A giant carpet python lives in the roof, directly above my writing desk. I have become used to his bumps and hisses, and his daily routine of sunning, sleeping and slithery adventures which always start by him snaking his way down the frangipani tree that tucks up against the gutters.
7. I live to dance in my gumboots to radio music from my ute as I check the paddocks. Gumboot dancing is very under-rated. My cows appreciate it, I’m sure…
Recently discovered blogs:
(In no particular order. You’ll see my interests undressed here – writing, soul, writing, life, food, writing…)
- bruises you can touch – poetry from the heart. I love the raw honesty and bravery of this blog by the talented Carly-Jay Metcalfe.
- Zenquill – writing, illustrating and a big dose of heart from Lynn Priestley
- Flying Pony – Pamela Cook’s helpful blog about writing and creativity
- Gifts of Dawn – Linda Scott’s informative and supportive blog about authors and their stories
- Christine Bongers – an Australian writer with a huge generosity of spirit, and a toolkit of helpful writerly advice
- Trent Jamieson – Trent’s funny, warm and a wonderful writer – he mentored me at the 2011 QWC Hachette Manuscript Development Program
- Michael Gerard Bauer – another Australian children’s and young adult writer who engages, makes me laugh and feel and believe…
- Four Ravens – heartfelt musings on life, art, grief and writing
- Heather Blakey’s Soul Food Cafe – the beginning of my journey – I love you, Heather Blakey and your mystical midwifery of would-be writers
- Artist Jen Lester – spiritual and visionary art with a side of intelligent writing. Her pictures never fail to uplift me ♥
- Until it kills me… – Sarah the mortician’s delightful musings on death. And life.
- Hexebart’s Well – Official blog of Kim Wilkins/Kimberly Freeman, an awesome writer and an equally awesome teacher of the craft of writing
- Cody Phillips – Writer’s Life – an up and comer, with a quirky Aussie bloke-humour.
- mamaguilt – crime writing, confessions and much more from one of the my true she-roes, Meg Vann
- The Witches Kitchen – Linda Woodrow’s delicious blog on sustainable living, gardening, permaculture and REALLY good food
I saw my first real life fairy last week. She was green, tiny and powerful, she kind of glowed. Ive always felt them, but this was my first seen fairy lady. Now I leave offerings of honey out for her.
What a wonderfull life you are spending!my best wishes to you.
Hi, you’re blog is very warm and thorough, very inspiring. How do you get it to look so nice? And how can I find out more about getting a psychic session with you? Thanks for your efforts. My own blog is at jadinblog.wordpress.com. Its new, and while I love writing, I’m having a hard time with the widgets and things. Please check it out if you have time, Its a spiritual take on a personal and intense mental health struggle that has always been a purposeful, psychologically informed shamanic journey. Peace… Kelly
Yesterday we had the local monks and nuns over to chainsaw timber for their winter warming, they bought a feast to share …… I had two coloured merino fleeces to give as one of the nuns spins wool, a jam melon, a jar of our own honey, grape jelly, cumquat marmalade. A nun saw a cordaline plant and we pulled off the dried leaves for her to basket weave, they loaded 4 full trailers, and a tip truck of eucalyptus logs.They left us a hamper of homemade lemon lime cordial, preserved lemons, lemon chutney, preserved artichokes, a lemon lime marmalade, quiche, an apple pie and boiled fruit cake! I was rather over whelmed by what they gave us and deeply touched. But the boiled fruit cake bought me to your blog.
And the story of Mr Mac……..
I sit in the very warm autumn sun, I watch a gust of wind blow autumn leaves from a deep red claret ash, an orange Manchurian Pear…. A glorious day (a little to glorious!) and I think of those in Mr Mac’s shoes.
My thoughts are with them.
Thank you for the story.
Oh Nicole, so good to have you in my life again. Time to catch up and hear all the news and the journeys. Come visit soon. Robyn xxx
This a a lovely list. Your award is well deserved. I can’t believe you have a python living so close to you! That would scare me. The cows and dogs sound wonderful. You have a real fairy that talks to you? I must confess I don’t believe in angels but want to believe in fairies! Is she like the ones you find in story books? I’ve never met one before-though some people remind me of pixies and elves, etc. 🙂
Is the fairy like the one in storybooks? Oh, I think she is a little more naughty and a little more wise than that.
The Python is a wonderful housemate. I hear him slithering around in the ceiling above me while I write, or thumping out onto the narrow roof above the entry porch to catch some sun on cold mornings. As long as he’s up there and I’m down here I’m not scared at all! 😀 xoxo
LOL, I’d like to see one (a fairy) but then if I did I’d worry I was hallucinating! I’m very used to pathologizing my experiences 🙁
The slithering of the snake would totally creep me out. I think I’d be on Valium! LOL 😛
Hahaha! My best advice is to live from your heart and to cultivate a childlike sense of wonder and possibility. As adults we close ourselves off to so much, just because we can’t understand it, or get proof of it in a way that makes sense to us. ♥♥♥
Wise words of advice, thank you! You are right, as an adult I fear getting labelled further because once you’ve had a mental illness anything like seeing a fairy would get me another label with my luck 🙁
Generally I resist a lot of stuff that gets treated as make-believe or what-have-you. Too many worries of being told I’m schizophrenic! Although now that I don’t have a ‘shrink’ who would know? LOL
Think I’ll try that ‘childlike sense of wonder’ you speak of 😉
I just found you through Facebooks Theosophy Watch. What a lovely blog that lightens my heart.
Glad to have you with us. And thank you for your kind words. ♥ xx
Hi Nicole,
Your Blog is like an adventure! You write in such a musical way and I feel as if I am with you, on the farm with the cows and platypus.
x x x Christine
Thanks Christine! Friends are always welcome here. I happen to think of life as one glorious and kind of crazy adventure. Thanks for sharing the journey with me. Bless xx
You and your life are simply amazing! Glad to know another kindred spirit, especially one who loves our animal friends and others unseen. The Fey-folk…yes they do indeed exist…my life would be very lacking without them. Don’t be surprised if you find me lurking around to catch sight of a platypus or two in your beautiful world. Blessings
Oh You’d love the platypus here! They are just magical! Blessings right back to you xx
Congratulations on your award, that’s awesome! Thank you also for the lovely comment on my blog; I am now following you as well. And I understand, because I’m a Pixy. ~ Julie 🙂
Thanks Pixy Julie! Nice to be understood by a kindred spirit xxx
Congratulations! Especially two weeks in. And thank you for nominating me!
I love your blog, Linda. It was great to include you in my nominations! 🙂
Hi Nicole, Congratulations gorgeous one! You are my introduction to blogging and I am loving your variety. Am enjoying your down to earth, good common sense advice for a healthier, vibrant lifestyle. You are also prompt me to write too which is long overdue. Thankyou for that bella!
Lynette xo
What a joyful post, Lynette. So glad you’re enjoying my offerings. It all comes straight from my heart. Much love to you, and my encouragement to write, write, write! xx
Congratulations Nicole!
I’m not surprised at your award as your posts are easy to read and informative.
I found your blog a few weeks ago via FB. Yours is the the first RSS I have ever signed up to and love receiving them.
You are inspiring me to write again, thank you. X
Annette
Gee. You made me smile, Annette. Inspiring you to write? Not much better than that for me! Wishing you wonders in 2012 xx
Thanks for your kind words Nicole, I feel it’s going to be THE year for many! XO