Christmas is here…

And I’ve been getting presents. In the last couple weeks I’ve gotten blog awards from fantasy writer and blogger N.R. Williams, and today I got another from Marian Allen (why yes, it IS the Marian Allen whose blog I visited earlier this week). Both awards carry conditions, so I’ll be taking a little break from the recipes for the next couple days and just parading around the Dog House, waving banners and scattering dog treats to the Magic Dog, who will be playing the part of the masses.

The award from N.R. Williams is the “Beautiful Blog” award (see it over there, looking fresh and springy and unseasonably cheerful?) If you haven’t visited N.R.’s blog, you should; she’s got stuff going on there every day. She’s also got a book that’s so close to being published it’s “crowning” (all you ladies out there will know what I mean). I know this because, hey, I visit her blog. So finish up here and then nip on over there for a peek.

Now, for my three favorite bloggers: This is a tough one, because there are so many, but here goes:

Michele Morgan, (not to be confused with actress Michelle Morgan), is an amazing woman, and her blog reflects that. She’s written several books (my favorites are Magical Tarot and Simple Wicca), hosts a talk show, and does psychic and Tarot card readings. This is the site I visit when I need a quick boost; she’s got recordings of her shows, a lovely blog which she doesn’t update often enough to suit me, and of course if I like there’s also contact information–which I have used successfully. She’s got a simple, practical, good-humored approach to her subject that I find absolutely delightful.

The Anonymous Liberal, who I like to imagine blogging from a bunker at some undisclosed location but who is, I believe, actually an attorney who must conceal his liberal leanings from the folks at work, offers up smart, clear commentary on issues of the day. His legal background means that often he’s able to bring details to the discussion that I don’t find elsewhere. This is where I go when I want a fresh, unique, incisive look at what’s going on in politics, government, and the legal ends of the financial industry.

My last “blog” isn’t really a blog at all; it’s a working site for CR Washburn. Full disclosure dictates that I inform you that CR Washburn is married to my cousin, and I’ve had the privilege of watching him evolve from a regular part of the regular workforce into an artist in wood. This is a guy who has taken the time and trouble to learn traditional methods of woodworking, move to Maine (with my cousin, of course), and establish a custom woodworking studio.

I love his site because he keeps something of a running gallery of his projects. Some of them are very traditional; some of them are the sorts of artistic creations that only can happen when you have the time and patience to sit and let the wood tell you what it wants to be. Go take a look; it’s worth it, even if you’re not in the market for custom furniture or art pieces.

Often when I visit artists’ and craftspeople’s sites I find myself thinking, “Hey, I could do that.” I don’t think that when I visit this site. What I think is, “Wow.”

Now, I’m supposed to come up with three favorite words. I’m assuming these are supposed to be my favorite words right now, not my favorite words as in what I want carved on my tombstone. At least that’s how I’m interpreting it. Here we are: Magic. Creative. Family. I choose “magic” because it holds within it the sense of unseen, unexpected possibilities. I choose “creative” because in my creativity lies the solutions to most of the challenges I face in life, as well as one of my greatest sources of pleasure and fulfillment. I choose “family” because my son, who is my family, is what makes the rest of what I do meaningful.

So there we are–thanks again, N.R. I appreciate the honor.

 

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The Star Bounces On…

…and the Magic Dog is hot on its trail. He grabs it, slides his back end in a one-eighty on our hardwood floor, and runs back to me, flat out, star in his mouth. When he reaches me he slows, drops the star at my feet, and then shoots off after it as it bounces away. He grabs it again and trots back, head high, tail wagging.

“Give it to me, boy,” I say, holding my hand down for the now-slobber-covered star. He sets it into my hand, shakes his head, and curves wagging and smiling around my legs, begging me to throw it again. I do, just to watch him pound after it. We could do this all day, but after the next throw I call a halt.

“Sorry, boy, it’s time to send this on.” I take the star, confine it in a box,set it on a high shelf, and throw him a rawhide treat instead.

And now, folks, it’s time. This little star has given us a lot of pleasure. Now it’s time to share the wealth. So where will it go?

That was a rhetorical question, in case you didn’t catch it. I already have four great blogs in mind. I take the star out of the box, cut it into four even pieces, put them back in the box, and sit down to write address labels.

The first star will go to Barbara Ardinger. Barbara, who blogs over at Women’s Radio, (and if you don’t know about Women’s Radio you should) gets this star for a several reasons. First, she gets it because she’s a great writer. She’s written several books, among them Finding New Goddesses, which I’ll be sampling here in the next few weeks. Just wait until you meet these new divinities.

The second reason that I’m giving Barbara this star is because I’m buttering her up. She’s also writing a series of reinterpreted fairy tales I keep beggin her to let me publish; one’s up on her blog at Women’s Radio now.

The third reason she get’s the star is because she’s my editor and, in her words, “keeps me from embarrassing myself in print.” Anyone who has read my unedited stuff knows what a hard and thankless task this can be.

The fourth reason she gets it is because she has Maine Coon cats, who I know will have as much fun with the star as the Magic Dog has.

The second recipient of the Star award is The Mighty Viking, who blogs not regularly, but well. These are the kinds of posts that you save and read again–they’re about being a dad, being a son, dying cars–no subject is too esoteric. So, one star bounces that direction, possibly to be impaled on a horned helmet, or possibly a monkey wrench.

The third star goes to the Dragon Lady who inhabits the Dragon’s Den. She’s a brand new baby blogger–so small she still can’t see over the grass in which the den is apparently located. Her blog is new, but I’ve been enjoying following her as she quits one job and begins a new one. So–a star goes here way. Let’s hope she doesn’t incinerate it by mistake.

The fourth star goes to a blog that isn’t really a blog; it’s a Facebook group page: The Voice (A Human Journey), run by Joe Brown. Sorry there’s no link, but go to Facebook and type the page name into the search bar, and Bob’s Your Uncle. I’m including this page because Joe is doing something amazing over there. He’s set out to create an international group of friends all committed to the idea that fundamentally, we are more alike than we are different. Every day he posts a reflection in the status bar, or an excerpt from his upcoming book in the “discussion” section, and his readers weigh in. Comments come from everywhere; a visit is like a visit to the United Nations, or the World’s Fair.

So that’s it–all the paperwork’s done. When the Magic Dog takes his nap I’ll slap labels onto the stars and send them bouncing down the road. Enjoy them, people! If one of them comes to your door, you really, really might want to spray it good with the garden hose before you bring it into the house. The Magic Dog has had his shots, but still…

(If you got a star, just click on the award image in this post, drag it to your desktop, and then insert it into your blog. But remember the rules–say “thank you” nicely, send it on to four people, and share ten things you do to jump start your writing. And no, I haven’t forgotten to do that–it’s the next post. Sheesh.)

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Hey! I Got A Star!

I got the “You Deserve A Star Today” award from fellow blogger and fantasy writer N.R. Williams. You really should check out her blog; she’s going great guns over there. And you should definitely buy her book when it comes out. I got to read a little bit of it when I was designing her book cover. It’s good.

But back to me, me, me, and my shiny new award. As with any gift from a realm where elves appear regularly–as they do on N.R.’s blog–this gift comes with conditions:

First, I must give it away. It’s hard, but there it is. This is not a star that sticks, like my first-grade teacher gave me for reading lots of books. This is a star that bounces. Four times. I’ll be bouncing this star, slightly grimy from fondling and sticky with kisses, out to four of my favorite bloggers .

Second, I must share ten things I do to help me with my writing.

So there you have it. This little star is going to shake all kinds of stuff loose before it bounces on to four new homes. For those of you who receive it, you might want to wash it before you handle it. The Magic Dog and I have been playing “Fetch” with it.

Thanks again, N.R.

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