Pinewood Castle

Marie Antoinette Award

Our Christmas letter this year shamelessly invited all recipients to stop by our "award winning" blog. I was kind of embarrassed about tooting my own horn, but thought that the description might entice some friends and relatives to be in touch. Not that I've won that many awards (and only the chain ones at that), but I must say that every time I run across a post with my name on an award list my jaw drops as I feel honored and humbled and encouraged all at the same time.

It just happened again today when I went over to catch up on Jessica's last fifteen posts over at Shower of Roses (she's so prolific!). I am just in denial that she put my name on the same list as the likes of Waltzing Matilda and Elizabeth, Colleen, Alice, Jennifer and Meredith. I'm simply flabbergasted.

The rules for this award are to display the icon and send it on to 7 other bloggers I feel are real in who they are. (and that I would LOVE to meet someday!)

My list really would look a lot like Jessica's but I figure I had better come up with some other names. Try out these:

Laurathecrazymama. She is really real in who she is! She takes some getting used to - I do know her IRL and have to admit she is growing on the mild-mannered person that I am. Did I ever tell you that, Laura? Well now you now!!!

Of course, everyone's beloved Minnesota Mom is so very real she hits nerves with her readers all the time with the reality of mothers' ups and downs. No sugar coating here. She's lets us all know when she's sick, lonely, estatic, when her children fall asleep in the linen closet and when her recipes don't turn out. She even showed us her kitchen on one of those kinds of days!

I am in total awe with the disciplined and scientific approach that Erin has taken with her weight loss. So much that I haven't read the tiny print of her blog in forever because it was all to much for me-who-dreams-of-liposuction, but am going to revisit some of her posts about gluttony portion control and avoiding unneeded calories.

Rebecca at A Gypsy Caravan is upfront and endearing to me. I enjoyed her recent post On Friendship.

I enjoy the posts over at Catholic Family Vignettes. Kimberly, I don't think I've ever commented on your blog, but am a regular reader!

Wow, I am finding it difficult to come up with two more. I've been trying to trim down my google reader with the hope of making it to the treadmill in the evening rather than clicking the night away . . . 

Ok, I recently found a link to Conversion Diary and would love to sit and read her posts more leisurely. Very real!

And last but certainly not least I think I have to name Jamie at Lord Make Me a Saint for being very real in who she is. She's as upfront as they come.

There - I did it! Now I notice that I have met IRL four out of the seven bloggers to whom I have passed this award! Much easier to know if they are being real when you know them for real!

How Kind of You!

A few days ago now I was given the "I Love Your Blog Award" from Jessica at Shower of Roses. I have to say I feel pretty honored because Jessica's really on top of things with her domestic church and somehow finds the time to graciously share her ideas through her blog and her contributions to Catholic Cuisine. She's a true inspiration!

I also feel honored to be on the same list as the others Jessica passed this award to - also some of my favorites. (BTY, these blog award lists are a great way to discover new favorites - that's how I found many of my "must reads")

I am suppose to pass this award on to 7 more blogs. The last few weeks I have had to shorten my list on google reader, just from lack of time, not lack of interest. Here are my staples - some are longtime favorites and some are new loves. On some I leave an occasional comment and on others I am a perpetual lurker.

1. By Sun and Candlelight
   
2. Minnesota Mom
   
3. House Art Journal
   
4. A Gypsy Caravan
5. Small Treasures
6. Over and Around Us
   
7. Handbook of Nature Study

For the honorees:
* Display your award.
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.
* Enjoy your award!

Excellence Award

Well, there's always a first time for everything.  Erin at  seven little australians has nominated me for an Excellence Award!  Even at a time when my blogging is light.  Thank you Erin - I am enriched by your blog as well.

The Rules to the Excellence Award are simple I must choose ten blogs that I believe to Excellent. In turn if you are one of my ten you choose ten blogs that you feel share an excellent quality. You can give the award to as many people as you like-even those that have received it already, but please award at least 10 people.

Oh, it is quite difficult to narrow down my list of 10 excellent blogs.  I have a few that I check daily and some that I have in a "once a week" folder.  Most of my favorites are on my sidebar, so I will introduce you some relatively new virtual acquaintances:

I have found a kindred spirit in Jessica at Shower of Roses.  We share an affinity for Jane Austen, saint movies, Josh Groban, Marie Bellet, Dressing with Dignity, Catholic Mosaic and clearing out clutter.  She is the oldest of twelve and her husband has three brothers with the FSSP - two as priests an one seminarian.  Wow.  Our children are almost the same ages, though opposite gender.  Check out her loaded sidebars with the Saint of the Day widget (I just added one to mine) and triple cute children.

I just discovered Andrea at Grey Family Circus.  With children ages 8, 5, 3 and 1 she has tons of cute ideas up her sleeve.  I have been taking notes!

I do not know her real name, but "Red Cardigan" at And Sometimes Tea really hits the spot when I am up for some meatier reading.  She is an effective wordsmith whom I suspect must be a published author, though her blog gives me no clues as to the accuracy of my suspicion.  I usually love vegging out on blogs with lots of photos, but this one's the exception!

Here's one I plan to spend more time with: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.  This mother of eight offers the Calgon bath of blogsphere with Pachelbel's Canon in D, Victorian clip-art and inspirational posts on the topic of the great blessing of motherhood.  Here's a quote:

Some days I prance about my home and tell my daughters 'I have the best job in the world." I say this because I do. When I was a little girl I dreamed of many things that I could become, but in the deepest recesses of my heart there was always the desire to marry. Imagine my delight if only I had known I would marry and have eight little blessings! Some days I sit on my couch and gaze out my window and sit in wonder of how God sovereignly placed me in my home---what a wonderful life God has given me. At times I feel like pinching myself just to make sure this is all real.

Someday I will have to take the time to explore her sidebars!

This one's a little weightier than what I usually read on a daily basis, but I am intrigued by the posts on  Knight of the White Cross.  This blog is the work of a fellow Latin Mass attendee and is "Dedicated to renewing the ideal of authentic Christian chivalry, defending the Catholic faith, and serving the sick and the poor."  A very excellent blog indeed and this chivalrous blogger is a firefighter to boot!  (I also really enjoy the fellowship of his lovely wife after Mass)

I enjoy peeking in at Mama Ilse from time to time.  I must have found her link at  In These Hills.  From what I gather, she is a Waldorf enthusiast in Belgium.  The google translator is a little rough, but the photos are priceless.

Another recent discovery is Pondered in My Heart.  Kimberlee is a homeschooling mother of seven.  I am particularly amazed by the post about her 15 year old wonder boy.

How many do I have now?  Seven?  This is taking longer than I thought and I haven't even posted about our "F" week.  I will have to punt and bestow the last three on blogs you already know are my favorite daily stops:

The richness and beauty in Uncommon Grace's posts are a continual inspiration to me.

You all know that we have recently incorporated the Alphabet Path and Gnomes & Gnumbers at Serendipity.  I do declare this creative endeavor to be most excellent.

And while I am wielding the authority to bestow Excellence Awards, the last one goes to my dear sweet witty inspiring friend Minnesota Mom who gives us posts on a smattering of topics such as "cute kid stories", "lunacy", "obnoxious rodents", "really bad poetry" and the especially appreciated (and needed) "spiritual growth".

There it is - happy blog surfing!