when in doubt, look intelligent. . .

6only wishful thinking in Minnesota 6

So, right before my life got really stupid, and I went away for a week and then I lost my dear four-legged friend, I had been lovingly gifted with an award from two blogging buddies: Granny Smith and Inland Empire Girl.

Granny Smith was my first real visitor to my blog which appeared one year ago this week! She is a renaissance woman of the highest order and if we were broadcasting from Great Britain, she'd be Dame Phyllis. Hers is a life well-lived, chock full of experiences, and she continues to astound me with her eye for beauty, writing talent, kindness and élan.

Inland Empire Girl is multi-talented, kind, cooks better than Martha, gardens, takes marvelous photographs, her writing will knock your socks off, but most important of all, she's a fellow dog lover and Idahoan!

Many thanks for thinking of me when it came time to pass out the honors! Now comes the fun part--I pass this award on to:

Y Y Y Y Y

Yolanda @ perfectly imperfect. . .I don't know, there's just something pure about her spirit, her photos and blog are uplifting and rewarding to read.

Tammy @ Queen Size Funny Bone. . .funny, fellow Italian with a great outlook and wonderful stories to tell.

Blue @ Behind Kyanite's Door. . .another lover of all things blue. Enough said.

That is what friendship means.

Sharing the prejudice of experience.

Charles Bukowski

True Blue

A faithful friend is a strong defense; And he that hath found him hath found a treasure.

Louisa May Alcott

While I was in la-la-land the last weeks, my pal, the other Marianne, a generous, wonderful soul, sent me a care package to end all care packages. Even though she herself was down with the crud all the way in Oklahoma, she found time to knit me this wonderful "Thorpe Hat" in the most beautiful shade of robin's egg, blue green blue, my very favorite color. It is soft, warm mohair & wool and fits my head perfectly (that in itself is a feat). In the package were things that I especially enjoy: more sock yarn for me to knit, chocolate, a vintage Pyrex 'hot dish' for my collection, blackberry-sage tea, and a antique postcard of these guys having way too much fun in their straw hats! Did I mention the chocolate?

So, a friend in need is a friend indeed and virtual friends can be some of the nicest in the world. I'm lucky to have found mine.

Can't outgive a giver

Great gifts can catch one unawares.

I was given this award by Melanie at Tea Leaves and urged to pass it on. First let me tell you that Melanie is a fearless knitter, a librarian so she loves to read, and drinks tea with abandon but she raises the bar for me because she thinks and speaks and cares about the world around her. Visiting one or the other of her two blogs Tea Reads and Tea Leaves makes me happy and better for the visit. So I'm passing this on to some more bloggers who light up cyber space:

Cat at Shabby~Chic Cat's Gardening 44great photographer, Dallas Cowboy's fan and gardener in Virginia

JenLemon 44who shares her 'Journal' with inspiration, peace and photos to savor. . .plus she offered the Be Brave Project which has helped me turn over a new leaf

Tammy 44 who has a Queen-Size Funny Bone, a lovely fellow Italian, brave, funny and dog lover

Chris 44whose writing is deep and wonderful, and who is no idiot

Beatriz 44a talented expat living in Italy who shares her Suitcase Contents, the loves in her life, art, cooking and the immigrant experience

Happy to share this gift with you because you make my day!