I'm Humbly Honored...Twice Actually

Laxsupermom let me know she'd given me the Stylish Blogger Award on her blog,  Sugar & Spice in the land of Balls & Sticks, previously, but although flattered, wasn't sure what it meant or what to do about it.  
Now Cotehele has repeated this honor for me on her blog post,  The Old Kitchen: How Nice!  She included the 'rules' about receiving this distinction, which I had missed before.                                                                                                                                    
Upon receipt of the award, I am supposed to tell 7 things you don't know about me, and also pass on the award to recently discovered favorite blogs.                                                                                                  
Here are the 7 things at least most of you probably don't know about me yet:                                                                                        
1)  I am the 4th of 5 children in my family.  My first memory is playing with my baby sister (15 months younger) in her crib in the mornings before the rest of the family got up.  There was a local radio personality who used to ask guests what their first memory was, and said it was significant about who they were and what is important to them throughout their lives.  Babies and family....Big ones for me, for sure.                                                                                                               
2)  Although fairly traditional, I am not a girly-girl.  Most of my friends growing up were boys, which is lonely as an adult, because a lot of wives don't appreciate their husbands' old female friends.  If I wear makeup, it takes me less than 5 minutes to put on.  I like my clothes wash and wear, and I also like my hair that way.  No fussing.                                                                                                                                                                                  
3)  I love to watch football now (I really, really miss "Wide World of Sports"), but used to play softball and racquetball.  I miss racquetball and if I money was no object, I'd have my own racquetball court in my house.  :-)                                                                                                                                   

from
Delucaviolins.com

4)  I used to play cornet and baritone horn. I wasn't overly skilled at it, so don't play except to help my kids play on my cornet.  I love to listen to cello and might have liked to learn to play it. (A favorite CD is The Essential Yo-Yo Ma...Cello and J.S. Bach is a wonderful combo).                                                                                                                     
5)  When I was growing up, I read the Louisa May Alcott books over and over. (Little Women, Little Men, Jo's Boys).  I must admit that in my adult life I developed a thing for British Chick Lit, like the Shopaholic books (way better than the lame movie).  I particularly liked books by Katie Fforde, who often combined my interests in gardening, cooking, interior design, and art with humor and romance.  Now I like books that are more biographical, but still amusing, like the architecture-focused books, Home and The Most Beautiful House in the World by Witold Rybczynski, and Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

from TripAdvisor.com

6)  We don't get to vacation much.  My dream vacation isn't very grandiose.  I would love to go to a small, picturesque New England town and enjoy the sea air and/or gorgeous fall colors.  Mostly, I would go anywhere I could relax in quiet, eat good food, take nice walks, listen to the breeze or ocean waves, and look at a view, whether it be mountains, sea, or farmland.                                                                                      
7)  I yell at the TV...Answers for Jeopardy or getting overly excited about football.  The kids find it pretty amusing.  Princess Sassy identified an interception and resulting touchdown during the Superbowl from the other room by the particular sounds of my hollaring.                                                              
So much for 7 simple things...                                                                                                                                                                                               
Now....Ta-Dah!...the due recognition for blogs I am enjoying (that I haven't seen awarded the Stylish Blogger Award on Cohetele's The Old Kitchen or Laxsupermom's  Sugar & Spice in the land of Balls & Sticks):


 Cottage and Creek

 .: His frugal Servant :.

 ValSoCal

 What it's all about...

 You Made That?

 {SK Studios}