Jocelyn at Knitting Linguist gave me an award a while ago. I think it might have been a long while ago, like maybe a long long time ago. It's not that I wasn't amazed, flattered and really really happy about it that I didn't post right away. I plead busy- busy working, knitting, reading, but mostly just living my busy life as a teacher, tutor, wife, mother, grandma. Anyway. Now I am thrilled to publicly acknowledge the award and pass it on to others.

This is the award: Jocelyn said so very nicely that she liked my photographs, especially photos of one of our common interests, Southern California, where we both live and knit.

I asked her what photos she particularly liked and she listed several. Sweet lady, she went back through old posts and told me what days I'd posted the pictures.

I scrolled back and looked at all the pictures she mentioned, and I am truly pleased and delighted that she likes so many of them. I love taking photos, sometimes cropping them to get 'just the right composition', and then sharing them here on my blog. This is just the kind of encouragement I love and need to keep me carrying my camera with me everywhere at all times and snapping those serendipitous shots and then posting my favorites. I decided I'd repost her faves, the ones I have identified as being Southern Californian in origin. Not surprisingly, the majority of them are beach themed.

Oak tree photo posted on January 26th, shot in my neighborhood's nature walk trail.

Sunset photo on January 15th, taken earlier that week in Ventura, California.

The umbrella picture on November 18th, photographed on a beach in El Segundo, California.

Rocks and ocean on October 24th, Thornhill-Broome Beach, near Pt. Mugu, between Camarillo and Malibu.
The door photo September 3rd and on September 2nd, Gardens of the World, Thousand Oaks, CA. This is California Mission architecture-stucco and wrought iron.

The carrots on August 10th, from the local Farmers Market.

The palms on July 17th. Palm trees-so very Southern Californian.

And to celebrate our love of yarn-

the yarn on spools on October 28th, Ventura County Weavers and Spinners Guild Open House.

OK. Back to the award--

The official rules are as follows:

1. Copy the award to your site.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

4. Link to those on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.

The other bloggers I choose (and this is the hardest part, isn't it? choosing seven from amongst so many really great bloggers) are-- Here is where I get completely, totally unable to choose. How can I choose just seven? How can I not say, I love all the blogs I visit? Every blog where I'm a regular reader attracts me for one of two (and sometimes both) reasons: great writing and great photography.

I have tried to nominate 7 bloggers, I've written names down, I've realized I just can't do it! Consider yourselves ALL tagged. If you have a blog, if you can write any words on a computer screen and make meaningful sentences from those words, well, I think that's creative and just simply amazing!

An Award

I have been a poor blogger lately. I've been sporadic at best at reading and commenting and even less consistent with posting. I have been traveling a lot and of course been absolutedly engrossed in entertaining the New Boy. At least that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.


Anyway. In the past two weeks, I have received three awards from Red Yarn, Violet Lady and Flower. I am truly honored and I get so completely thrilled when I am awarded recognition like this. This is the award...Brillante Weblog Premio~ 2008!

The award Beth gave me said I had to write an acceptance speech. So, here it is!

"I want to thank Beth for nominating me for this award! She certainly deserves this award as much as anyone. Her artwork is joyous and I love visiting her blog to see what new pictures and recipes she has shared. I would also like to thank Violet Lady. She makes me smile, especially when she writes about how much she loves cabins. I would also like to thank my blog buddies for their support, comments and encouragement. I really do think about what I am planning to write (all the time) and who will read my words and look at my photos. My children deserve the credit for encouraging me to start this blog, develop my talents as a knitter and writer and open a website and sell my handspun yarn and various original creations (coming soon, I hope!). The Professor is my constant companion and biggest supporter and fan, and he aids and abets my photography habit/addiction by stopping or turning around as we're driving somewhere so I can get a better shot, tries to hold me accountable to not buy more yarn for my stash this year, and makes me a latte every morning. I love the fact that the blogging world has brought me much joy through meeting other bloggers virtually and in person, reading and learning about their lives."

Flower gave me this award, too. Her version of the acceptance speech says I am to write six random things that are true about me today. My six random things are:

1. I am enchanted with my grandson. When he is visiting Willow's Cottage with his mama, I spend my day trying to make him laugh. We've discovered that Arnold impersonations and peekaboo make him chortle and laugh his adorable little belly laugh.

2. My blog name is Willow because when I worked at a summer camp I had to choose a bird name for myself and I chose a willow finch because I have blonde hair. The name got shortened to Willow and I've been Willow ever since to an ever increasing group of people.

3. I love reading about history. Right now I'm reading The Bounty by Caroline Alexander, which is the true story of the mutiny by Fletcher Christian against Captain Bligh near Tahiti.

4. I like Pepsi but I don't drink it anymore. I quit drinking it several years ago to save the calcium in my bones.

5. I do not like the color orange. Just don't like it.

6. I am knitting a bunny for my grandson (see #1). I put grey and white yarn out and he grabbed the white yarn, so he's getting a white bunny. I also laid out several colors of yarn and twice he chose the navy, so Edward Bunny Rabbit is getting a knitted navy shirt. Edward looks like Eleanor Elizabeth Rabbit whose photo is on my side bar, except he's made of acrylic yarn instead of handspun and hand dyed wool.

Here are the rules for accepting and passing on the award.

1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. You must nominate 7 fellow bloggers for this award.
4. Add links to the recipients.
5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award. 6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking everybody's mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant! OR write 6 random facts about yourself.

Now, I want to give this award to the following seven people:
Knitting Linguist-- I love reading this blog. Great and witty writing and I even understand when she writes about linguistics.

Ramblings from an English Garden-- A dear and generous friend! And beautiful photography!

Sanna's Bag-- Roxie's writing is rich and expressive and makes me laugh. My knitting mentor.

Happy Wonderer-- My walking buddy. Neighbor. Brilliant photographer. It was a good day when we agreed to meet at the local coffee bar.

Two Frog Home-- I admire Kathie's commitment to living the not normal life. She inspires me with every post.

Nikkipolani-- Anne takes incredible photographs of flowers and cats!

Pink Purl-- Tracy combines wonderful, brilliant, creative writing and crafting with a delightful and gentle spirit.

And another blog, just because: Much Ado About Something-- Sara is a real life friend as well as blogger friend. I enjoy seeing her photos of her hometown because I love that town too!

Actually, I have so many other blogs I'd love to nominate I should just say, this is for everyone who comes to my blog to read and comment and for every blog I read!

Blogger Of Integrity Award

I was given a Blogger of Integrity Award by Mary at Mary's Writing Nook. (link on my fav blogs, Writing Nook)

This award was originally created by Aussic Cynic, who posted:
"After looking, reading and watching many many Blogs and bloggers I decided to issue some recognition to those fellow bloggers I feel maintain integrity in their Blogs. All these bloggers incorporate within their wonderful sites, an integrity not always seen. They share terrific stories, topics, discussions and images."

Mary gave it to me--

For Creativity:
Willow at Willow's Cottage. Willow is always busy knitting up some beautiful creation. Currently she's working on a lovely sweater.

Thank you so much, Mary. Your choice truly surprised me. I knit because my fingers just don't want to stop. So much yarn, so little time! The results are much less interesting to me than the process, so I rarely keep anything for myself. I sometimes don't recognize my work as being creative. It just happens and I don't really think about it.

Do you want to see the sweaters I am working on?

Child's Aran Sweater

designed and knitted by Willow

for the final project of the Master Hand Knitting Certification

It has been knitted and blocked. All I have left to do on it is sewing the seams, photographing it being worn by a model, and writing up the pattern in correct format.

Details

The back and front of an Aran sweater should be the same. This is the back. The sleeves echo two of the body designs.

When I am not working on the Aran sweater, I have been knitting a sweater for Kiti. The pattern is from Interweave Knit, Summer 2006.

Details

The whole sweater is worked in knit 2, purl 2 ribbing, except for the twisted stitch cables on the sweater and sleeve bottom edges.

I still have to finish the front neckline and work up the sleeves. I would like to give it to her at Thanksgiving, so I'm knitting on it every spare moment I have.