Ya gotta have friends ...

Mary T, The Teach, at Work of the Poet, presented me with this lovely award today. I was most surprised, but happy to read she considers my blog charming and friend-oriented.

Mary hosts three memes: Ruby Tuesday, Sepia Scenes, and Window Views. I honestly don't know where she finds the time.
I've met many great people here in the blogosphere, and have even met two of them in person. It just seems like there is not enough time in the day to visit all the folks I would like to visit.

Thanks, Mary, you made my day today. ;-)

Mary wrote:
The following rules came with this "Friends" prize:
“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

I could easily come up with more than eight people, but here are the bloggie friends I'm recognizing:
Linda, Bee, Mimi, (royalty all) Bond, Roger, Lynn, Joan and Michele, great bloggers all.

Kick Ass Blogger (woops, did I just swear?)

Mary, The Teach, presented me with an award. It's for kick ass bloggers!
I know she's one, but I never thought of myself as one.
Mary said, "MammaDawg of MammaDawg is the originator of this awesome award. Here's what she has to say about this award:

Do you know any bloggers that kick ass?

Maybe they've got incredible, original content. Or they're overflowing with creativity. Is it someone that helps you become a better blogger? Or a bloggy friend you know you can count on? Or maybe it's someone who simply inspires you to be a better person... or someone else who sends you to the floor, laughing your ass off.

Whatever the reason may be, I'm sure you know at least a couple of bloggers that kick ass. Well... why not tell 'em so?

The Rules:

• Choose 5 bloggers that you feel are "Kick Ass Bloggers"
• Let 'em know in your post or via email, twitter or blog comments that they've received an award
• Share the love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to www.mammadawg.com
• Hop on back to the Kick Ass Blogger Club HQ to sign Mr. Linky then pass it on!

Now I award the Kick-Ass Blogger award to:

1. Linda, of Are We There Yet? (Her Duchess-ness, I call her)
2. Mimi, of Mimi Writes (she's the Queen, you understand)
3. Michael C, of The Wonderful World of Nothing Worthwhile (he doesn't post awards, but I love him anyway)

I'm cheating and only choosing three friends today.

I got an award ~ and it's a sweet one

Thanks to dear Lynn for sending this my way. Lynn received this award from the Rocky Mountain Retreat blogger Michele, who was honored with it by its creator, Trista at the Pumkin Patch.
I just visited Trista's blog for the first time, and she is a young mother of two adorable children. And a talented graphics person (unlike yours truly).

Quoting Trista, here's how it works:
"1. Once you've been awarded the Sweet Treat Award, make a post and award it to 3 bloggers who you deem "One Sweet Treat to Read" everyday.
2. Make sure you inform those who you awarded that they have won!
3. Grab the button and proudly display it in your sidebar for all your old/new readers to see!"

I shall pass this on to three women I always enjoy visiting: Odat,
Linda,
and Mimi.

Now to put it in my sidebar.

Honored to accept this award

I was truly honored this morning to receive this award from the delightful woman who calls Bloggingham Palace home, none other than Mimi, Queen of Memes.

We have been busy today running errands, packing the van, driving and schlepping dorm room stuff (up to the fourth floor!) and have just returned from dropping off Kid One for Year Two of college.
So now I have a chance to thank Mimi publicly, and to steal from her post the info about this award, created by Skittles.
Mimi is one of the first five recipients, and she was kind enough to select me as one of her honorees. Quoting the Queen:

"This award is for bloggers who shine their light throughout the Blogosphere. Some do it with humor, others with creativity, and others with their kind and thoughtful natures. We all know more than a few of them so why not give them some recognition?"
I do enjoy being recognized, I must admit. I also admit to pangs of guilt, because each day I read such beautifully written posts that evoke emotions ranging from tears to laughter. I am invariably brief in what I post and tend not to reveal much of myself ...

It is difficult to come up with just five bloggers. Here goes:
I'll start with my first blogosphere acquaintance, Joan, The Erstwhile Librarian. She is a retired librarian who is detail oriented and analytical, as is her sister, Lynn, A Tired Mama, to whom I am also presenting this award.
Their cousin, Ina, the buyer who can't wait to retire, is also deserving. These three great women all live in California, as does my fourth honoree, Michael C who cracks me up. I laugh out loud as I read his words, which are usually about nothing worthwhile.
Last but by no means least is Michael's best blogging buddy and my new acquaintance, Odat. She has a wonderful sense of humor and spreads peace to all whenever she leaves a comment. This week Odat even introduced us via video to her little snot dog, Spud. An interesting canine, for sure.
Stealing again from Mimi: Please display your badge - should you choose to accept it - on your blog with a link from whence it came and name five super bloggers.
You must also mention that it originated at Skittles' Place so that she can keep track of the award's progress.

P.S. I also stole the idea to use different colors and fonts from Mimi. I hope the Queen doesn't get into a snit about this.