Friday Night Meanderings

This has been a particularly fun filled, eventful week. I've had some very sweet blessings bestowed upon me, like a sparkly tiara placed upon my head.

My friend Radine Trees Nehring, author of the "Something to Die For" mystery series which I adore, left the following at DorothyL:

"WOMEN ONLY: Just finished CLOTHES LINES, edited by Celia H. Miles and Nancy Dillingham. WOW, every woman here on DL should read this, though it is not a mystery. It's a collection of essays, little stories (true) and poetry by 75 women from western North Carolina. Kaye Barley is one of the authors, with her "Needing a Little Something Red in My Life." I loved Kaye's thoughtful opinion piece and tell-all about wearing red (and indeed, it seems wearing red, especially red shoes, cheers many women here and in the general population). I think all female readers will find many things that cause them (sure caused me) to click their tongues, smile, and say "Yesssss!" A couple other favorites of mine were "Let's Talk Bras" by Nancy Purcell, and "Sixty-Something," a poem by Nancy Townley Moore. And...oh shoot, I loved it all. Poignant, funny, REAL. Enjoy!"

'Course, now I've already squealed about winning the MWA Hot Ticket Event at Bouchercon for Lee Child, and - well, I guess I'm still squealing about it a little bit. But in case you missed it, please see the post below (big grin).

While I was squealing about that a few days ago (please see the post below), I came across a lovely little surprise that had been left in the comment section (which you can see in the post below).

Bloggers ponder about who some of their anonymous visitors might be. Who are they? What brought them here? What did they think?

It's always nice when those visitors finally feel comfortable enough to leave a comment and let you know they have actually dropped in more than once or twice and have found your little spot to be to their liking. That's a very rewarding feeling.

Patricia Stoltey, author of THE DESERT HEDGE MURDERS and THE PRAIRIE GRASS MURDERS not only dropped by and left a comment, she left us an award. And it's a very meaningful one. (I could say please see the post below, but I won't this time).

The Honest Scrap Award. Doesn't really sound all that meaningful by the title does it?! And it made me chuckle. Scrap, huh?! harumph. (Bloggers are rarely accused of being humorless.) But. The meaning of the award - as Patricia remarks at her blog - is sweet and kind and worthy of sending on to the right folks.

It's an acknowledgment of bloggers who post from the heart.

I'm honored to have been included, and very much appreciate Patricia's generosity of spirit.

The award rules are simple - pass the award to seven worthy bloggers who post from the heart, and list ten honest things about yourself. Along with the rules, this statement was added: "You don’t have to pass it along, unless you want to, but you do have to list 10 honest things about yourself."

I do want to pass it along.

It's fairly easy for me to choose blogs I think are posted from the heart. It's hard to narrow it down to seven.

I'm known for breaking the rules when it comes to keeping a list to the number requested, so in an effort to appear grown-up about it all, I'm going to play by the rules tonight. Here are my seven picks for the Honest Scrap Award.

These are folks who blog with a huge amount of heart. Heart which shines through their writing as clear as crystal. I think I could read anything written by any of these people and know right away who it was written by. If you're not already familiar with their blogs, I encourage you to stop by and check them out.

Jen's Book Thoughts

Blackwater Tales

Coffee With A Canine

Exile's Return

Swetzel's Weblog

Will Read for Food

Vicki Lane Mysteries

I remind each of these folks that it really is not necessary for them to pass it along. I happen to know that some of them are exceptionally busy right now, so it's understandable that they not have the time. A couple of them are getting ready to go to Indianapolis for Bouchercon, one is working on a manuscript in hopes of having their first published novel (and it is WONDERFUL!), another is working on their next book, one is traveling . . . life does keep us hopping.

Moving on to Rule #2. A list of ten honest things about myself. There wasn't anything included about these things having to be things some of you may not know about me, so this is pretty easy. I'll just list ten things I love (in no particular order, but just as they pop into my mind) - how's that? And notice I said "things," so I won't include the people (or pets) I love.

books, pizza, Meanderings and Muses, positive people, chocolate, my cowgirl boots, jewelry, sunrises, my digital camera, good coffee. It's fun to list things you love!

I'd have to say this has been a very good week.

Y'all. Life is good.