quietly giddy

Don't you know, I just LOVE surprises. And yesterday I received this special surprise from a fellow blogger, Marisa at Getting Back to Basics:

Thank you Marisa! This means so very much to me. I've come to think of this blog as my little garden where I come to sow some seeds and experiment in with new plant forms. But mostly this is my place and time to dig deep within myself in an attempt to gain greater clarity and presence within my life. That others may come here and find something of value, if only a place to rest awhile, makes my heart shine.

The requirements for accepting this award are as follows:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Pass this award along to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered and whom you think are fantastic!
3. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.
4. Share seven (7) things about yourself.

Well, Marisa paved the way by being a rule breaker in that she chose to list seven bloggers. I have to confess, in all my wanderings amongst blog links, I am terrible about keeping track of where I've been! I also have a phobia about signing up for too many things and rarely become an official "follower" of a blog. In fact, I confess, I have no idea how that works or what it really means. And yet, I am fascinated and thrilled when I see new followers appearing on my blogpage! I fear I am some Pied Piper leading others astray! So, the requirement to list 15 blogs is a tad daunting, probably because I assume I am always the last one to discover a treasures others have know about for years!

So here are some "recent" discoveries that excite my senses, stimulate my brain and make me wish I had done/written/said what these bloggers have birthed into the blog o'sphere. I know I will think of more after posting, but frankly this was a daunting task!

ART YoWZa http://artyowza.wordpress.com/

Dosfishes http://dosfishes.blogspot.com/

Julie's Stamp Art http://www.juliesstampart.blogspot.com/

Cottage Garden Studios http://rowenleaf.blogspot.com/

Journey to Spirit through Art & Creativity http://deldino.blogspot.com/

Postcards from Wildwood http://postcardsfromwildwood.wordpress.com/

52 Steps http://fiftytwosteps.blogspot.com/

Moospeare's Book Around the Corner http://moospeare.blogspot.com/

Sara's Virtual Notebook http://vbook.blog.soulspackle.com/

Art Asana http://elizalynntobin.blogspot.com/

Dirty Footprints Studio http://www.dirtyfootprints-studio.com/

Julie Unplugged http://juliejordanscott.typepad.com/

Serendipity http://tofallorstumbleupon.blogspot.com/

Okay, so seven things about me - What do you want to know?

1. I share this as a warning: I have a phobia about Barbie Dolls. Cannot touch them, can barely look at them without feeling my skin crawl. Has something to do with the plastic and the nylon hair plugs. Thank goodness, Cowgirl doesn't like dolls! (Even My Little Pony creeps me out!)

2. I take my shoes off whenever I can. I live barefoot or in my slippers at home. Most of my shoes are some kind of clog or slip on shoe for quick and easy removal.

3. I do not like to put my head underwater. I have a hard time coordinating swimming with breathing (a fact my husband cannot fathom given I am a yoga teacher and teach breathing techniques!) I also cannot dance and sing at the same time (well, I can but it does not look or sound pretty!)

4. I apparently mutter a lot to myself as Cowgirl is constantly asking me "what did you say?"

5. One of my favorite smells is grass on my dog's paws. Not so much our current dog, Moose, who does not go outside unless I am with him, but our previous dog Bandit who was never more content than when he could roam his yard all day long. I would breath in deep the smell of sun, dirt, grass and dogginess on those paws and it was intoxicating. I miss that smell. (A side fact to this is I have a very acute sense of smell.)

6. I could probably eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day. I did, in fact, eat only pb&j from the age of 8 to 12. (I also used to chew steak and then spit it out ... go figure I became a vegetarian.)

7. The one thing that drives me crazy is when people start to say something to me and then go "oh, never mind." I mind and I want to know!

Now, go and have an inspired day!