I have been given a peer-award for my blog. Linda, over at The task at hand found me a deserving recipient for the Arte Y Pico award. I am of course honoured. That someone reads what I write is flabbergasting; an award is mystifying. At the risk of blowing my own horn, here is what she says about my raves and rants:

“If you’re looking for a daily dose of anything, boblet’s wonderful blog isn’t for you.  This woman gives warning at the very top of her homepage: “If I have nothing to say, I won’t say it.”  And sometimes she doesn’t say anything, for weeks at a time.  But I check regularly to see if there might be something new, because the new invariably is quirky, fun, dense with meaning, and absolutely guaranteed to keep me thinking, until the next post.  She has written my single favorite blog entry of the last year, and when I get around to writing my response to her post, you’ll know which one it is.  In the meantime, where else can you find the adventures of Zapf Dingbats?”

Ah, Linda, the adventures of Zapf Dingbats and Comic Sans have been widely distributed – among the probably narrow bunch of font-freaks…

But she is right, I don’t write for the sake of hits, I write for… well. Myself, some people I wish read my stuff (maybe they do), and the few that I know do. This blog is a little like firing pottery: the end result will last for longer than I care to think about, and to publish should not be a race (nothing should be a race, come to think of it). There is no winning on the net. I like to think of the award as an award for silence. The rubbish I have not posted hopefully places the few things I have written in a better light.

Linda herself writes some of the best stuff I have come across; she writes beautiful prose, intelligently on anything you care to think of, and then some. Part of the award is to nominate another five blogs of outstanding quality, and I can only say it is a shame it would be bad form to give the award back to her. The world if full of so much rubbish, it is balm to find coherence, intelligence, sense and acute observation.

And that brings me over to the reason why it has taken me so long to publish this piece. I am not really a blogger, I am not a blog-reader, so to find five recipients was not such a simple task, yet one that deserved careful consideration. I have not been able to come up with five, so the magic number is three, and I shall count on being forgiven. Rather three excellent ones, than five not so. I shall maybe go a little outside the Arte Y Picos scope, but I will argue that writing is art, observation is true talent. To Linda, and to you three: thank you. Don’t stop.

Here you go – my three thinkers. In no particular order. I leave it to you to explore.

Drink design

Stonehead

Illusive joy

I have to admit I’ve been neglectful of my incoming links from my fellow bloggers.  Case in point back in July I was so nicely awarded the Arte y Pico award from Aritified that named me as a creative lady she admires.  Now let me tell you as I have over the past few years as I discover more talented ladies out in blogland that I totally look up to.  This is a very humbling gesture becuase I feel there is still so much I have to learn and perfect in my crafts.  To Artified, I just wanted to say thank you so much for the award and I look forward to reaching higher skills in the year 2009.

Now to follow in the spirit of this award I have 5 ladies who blog I would love to give this award to and hope they accept in the spirit in which it’s given.  So with a creative drumroll here’s my inspiring picks:

1. Wonderful Knitwear designer Robyn
2. Quilt Artist and knitter Pat
3. She inspired me to sew for myself Carolyn
4. Shares her talent of knitting KnittyCent
5. Crochets the most beautiful items  Judy
   

Now I want to share a project that has brought back a love for DPN’s.  If you’ve been a regular reader of my blog I was first introduced to knitting in the round with 2 cirs and then I moved on to the Magic Loop method and haven’t had DPN’s in my hands for a while now.  Well, since I’m in the medical field and have my Stethescope on my neck most of the day I thought it would be good if I figured out to make a cozy for it.  So here’s the pic of my progress so far

Stethescope cozy

I look forward to having more to offer later this week.  And before I end this post I have to give a Big Shout Out to all of you who knew America was in need of a change.   CONGRATS to President Elect Barak Obama may God keep you and your family as you steer the US into a new direction that has the potential the change our world.

Kiitän ja kumarran syvään Kaiken teoria -blogin pitäjää, kirjailija Tiina Raevaaraa, saamastani palkinnosta. Blogistanissa kiertää Uruguaysta liikkeelle lähtenyt Arte y Pico -tunnustus, siivekkäällä naisella koristeltu pokaali, jonka siirrän eteenpäin Taidettako?-blogin pitäjälle Merja Metsäselle, sillä hän kirjoittaa kulttuurista monipuolisesti, raikkaasti, asiantuntevasti, intohimoisesti ja suurella sydämellä.

Teen samalla poikkeuksen. Olen tähän asti pidättäytynyt kuvien käytöstä Viides rooli -blogissa, koska ammatikseni kirjoittavana olen halunnut uskoa, että tekstini kantaa ilman visuaalisia virikkeitä. Mutta Arte y Pico -pysti liittyy paitsi viimeaikaisiin merkintöihini myös unelmaani: haluuni lentää. Siksi siivekäs neito saakoon sijansa blogissani.

Arte y Pico -tunnustuksen säännöt ovat seuraavat:

1) Valitse viisi blogia, joita arvostat luovuuden, kuvituksen, mielenkiintoisen sisällön ja/tai blogosfääriin tehdyn panostuksen johdosta millä tahansa maailman kielellä.
2) Jokainen annettu palkinto on henkilökohtainen ja sitä annettaessa mainitaan blogin kirjoittajan nimi sekä linkitetään palkittavaan blogiin.
3) Palkinnonsaaja panee palkinnon logon blogiinsa.
4) Logo tulisi linkittää alkuperäispalkinnon osoitteeseen.
5) Palkinnonsaaja julkaisee säännöt omassa blogissaan.

Kuten Tiina Raevaara, myös minä annan itselleni luvan olla laiska bloggaaja. Siksi olen nimennyt vain yhden tunnustuksen saajan.

When I began posting on WordPress in April, friends from another site held a blog-warming.  There were virtual covered dishes, cyber-cinnamon rolls and coffee, a bottle of wine.  It was charming – an adaptation of an old tradition for a new time.

I’d never thought of transferring the concept of housewarming to a blog, but I liked it.   After all the solitary hours I’d spent at my computer designing a site, revising entries and trying to create something pleasing, it was wonderful to have someone stop by to visit and offer good wishes.

Shortly after I’d begun posting, my mother, who doesn’t care one bit for computers but who tries to be polite, asked, ”What’s happening with whatever it is you’re doing with that machine of yours?”   And that’s where the fun began.  “Oh!” I said.  “We had a blog-warming.”  She gave me the look she reserves for certain children and people she suspects of being not quite compos mentis.  “A what?  A blog-warming?  What’s that?”  “Well,” I said, “it’s like a housewarming, only it’s for my blog.”

The silence was deafening.  “You mean people came?”   Knowing I was headed for trouble, I tried to make it sound reasonable.  ”Well, sort of.  They stopped by and read what I wrote.”  It was good, just not good enough.  Peering at me over her knitting, Mom reminded me, “But you said it was like a housewarming.  People at least bring food to a housewarming.  Did they bring food?”  “Sure they did,” I replied, throwing caution to the winds.  “They brought cinnamon rolls and coffee, a covered dish, some wine…”

At that point, my mother gave me her other look, the one that says she thinks I’ve been holding out on her. “Are there any cinnamon rolls left? ” 

Now, there was no escaping.  “There aren’t any real cinnamon rolls.  They were just pictures on the computer.”  “Then why,” demanded the most tenacious parent in the world, “are you talking about them? Are they real, or not?  And what good is a pretend cinnamon roll?”

She had me there.  As I laughed and promised her cinnamon rolls from the bakery, I couldn’t help but think how completely my view of real and not-real had been transformed.  Coming from a world where spiders spin webs the old-fashioned way, one strand of silk at a time, I hadn’t known quite what to think of the world-wide web when I began to explore its possibilities.  It was equally amazing, possibly more complex and obviously as “real” as the webs I walked into every day on my boats.  This photograph by Mark Chappell for Science and the wonderful fractal image below produced by Karmen for her blog, Chaotic Utopia  make the relationship clear – but other questions aren’t so easily resolved.   What about internet friends, cyber-parties, virtual greeting cards.   Are they “real”, or not?

Sometimes, we think our way to answers for questions that perplex us.  More often, time and living bring the answers to us.  As time passes, as I walk more comfortably across this world-wide web, I’ve learned a few things.   I’ve experienced the strange anxiety that rises when an internet acquaintance “disappears” without explanation.  I’ve begun to notice small things in “real life” – a Michigan license plate, a chipmunk, a new recipe – that remind me of online friends.  I turn on the computer before  television in the morning, looking forward to photographs and postings from people whose work I find stimulating, and I’m enjoying new relationships and new friendships with quite “real” readers from around the world.

It was one of those friends, Jacqueline Smith of Jamaica, who surprised me recently with the Arte Y Pico Award.  A peer award given by bloggers to bloggers, the Arte Y Pico helps to highlight the work of writers, poets, graphic artists, thinkers and social critics of every sort who otherwise might not find the audience they deserve.  According to the originator of the award, the term itself translates into another phrase in Mexico, “lo maximo”.  Difficult to render in English, it denotes both high quality and an ability to compel attention.  Poorly versed in Spanish idioms, I imagine arte y pico as my muse, tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “Psst!  Better get over here and look at this.  It’s good!” 
                       

The rules for those receiving the Award are simple.

1. Each recipient must, in turn, choose 5 blogs considered deserving of the Award for their creativity, design, content and contribution to the blogging community, regardless of  language.

2. Each Award is to include the name of the author as well as a link to his or her blog.

3. Each Award winner is to show the Award, providing both name and blog URL for the person who has given the Award.

Being granted the award by Jacquie was especially pleasing.  Steeped in a story-telling tradition and skilled in the use of words, her Jack Mandora site is a wonderful mixture of social commentary, poetry, linguistic analysis and down-home tales.  Perhaps because of my time in West Africa, I feel at home at Jacquie’s, ready to spend time and enjoy her offerings.

Just as enjoyable, but far more difficult, was the process of selecting other blogs to receive recognition.  I’ve dallied a bit, combing through the list of those I read regularly, and finally have chosen five which delight me and may interest you.  While there are hundreds (if not hundreds of thousands) of quality blogs, these have been especially stimulating for me.  Each is a mix of good design and solid content, and all are written by people who like to think.  Since I’m a great advocate of more thinking and fewer words for bloggers of all sorts – what’s not to like about these?  Listed alphabetically, my choices for Arte y Pico are:

Aqui Esto Yo ~ Spain  I’ve said for years that I need to learn Spanish, and now I have a pressing reason.  eMi’s blog is an elegant and eclectic mixture of writing, photography, music and social commentary.  Primarily in Spanish, with occasional English entries, it is accessible with the help of online translation services, and entries such as Barcas and Barcas II are beautiful and arresting.  Even now, I do know enough to say, “Muchas gracias por tu hermosa blog”.

Bits and Boblets ~ Norway  If you’re looking for a daily dose of anything, boblet’s wonderful blog isn’t for you.  This woman gives warning at the very top of her homepage: “If I have nothing to say, I won’t say it.”  And sometimes she doesn’t say anything, for weeks at a time.  But I check regularly to see if there might be something new, because the new invariably is quirky, fun, dense with meaning, and absolutely guaranteed to keep me thinking, until the next post.  She has written my single favorite blog entry of the last year, and when I get around to writing my response to her post, you’ll know which one it is.  In the meantime, where else can you find the adventures of Zapf Dingbats?

Chaotic Utopia ~  USA Newly discovered, this offering is a tantalizing look into a world where borders isn’t a bookstore, Buffalo roam, and the theme song is “Don’t (Fractal) Fence Me In”.  There’s nothing I love more than someone writing so beautifully about things I know nothing about that I’m enticed into their world, and Karmen has done that, over and over.  For years, nothing apart from my blog has kept me up until 2 a.m. Now, thanks to this scientist-philosopher-Mother who offers essays on the complexity of time and such tidbits as Vector Park , I’m at serious risk for sleep deprivation.  If you’re curious about the world and love watching creative minds at work, this is a blog worth pursuing.

Ripple Effects – Canada  Arti was one of the first WordPress bloggers to visit The Task at Hand and leave a comment here.  Consequently, I’ve been reading her blog for nearly a year, and never fail to enjoy the mix of literary and film criticism, art theory, photography and general musings on life.  She’s managed to do what none of my English teachers could – make Jane Austen seem interesting – and has introduced me to books I never would have encountered on my own.  Winter’s coming, with its short days and long, bookworthy nights, and I’m ready to begin reading through the little stack I’ve collected with Arti’s help, even as I continue to enjoy her blog. 

Routing by Rumor – USA  If there’s an outlier in the group, I suppose Routing by Rumor would be it.  RBR offers his own mix of analysis and observation, but his subject matter is what you might find if Einstein and Leonard Bernstein were in charge of CNBC – beautifully conceived, orchestrated and performed pieces on the economy, digital realities, and the shrinking of the ice-cream “half-gallon”.  Kind enough to provide information on the genesis of his title (it has to do with distance-vector protocols – you can find the information on his “about” page) and able to discuss quite complex realities clearly enough for the neophyte to understand and appreciate his points, he’s one of the first pages I turn to in the morning.  Besides, the doggie is cute!   Even we literary sorts have to deal with WalMart, valve stems, Digital TV and sneaky marketers.  You’ll like the dog, and you’ll like RBR.

Eventually, I’ll tell Mom about Arte y Pico, and I fully expect to get that compos mentis?  look, along with her usual question: “Is it real?”   Those who are part of this new world, folks who’ve seen old traditions revived in new and creative ways and helped to sustain the rituals themselves, know just how real it is.  They know human beings are meant to connect, that laughter and good wishes are an appropriate response to new adventures, and that gratitude for what has been walks hand in hand with joy in new possibilties.  That’s what these awards and commendations are about – they’re signs of a new world-wide web weaving itself together, one acknowledgement and one bit of recognition at a time. 

It’s a reality worth celebrating.  Coffee and cinnamon rolls, anyone…?

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Käesolevaga kustutan lõplikult oma võla Lapsuliblika ees: kätte on jõudnud viienda ja viimase Arte y Pico -auhinna andmise aeg, mis mul anda on. Meeldetuletuseks veel auhinna statuut eestikeelses redaktsioonis:

Auhinna reeglid on sellised:
1) Vali viis blogi, mida hindad loomingulisuse, kujunduse, huvitava materjali ja panuse eest blogiilma mistahes keeles.
2) Iga auhind on nimeline ja sisaldab blogi kirjutaja nime ja linki tema blogisse.
3) Iga auhinnasaaja paneb auhinna logo omale blogisse.
4) Logo peaks linkima originaalauhinna lehele.
5) Auhinnasaaja paneb ka reeglid oma blogisse.
Selle rahvusvaheliseks kujunenud, Uruguaist alguse saanud blogidepreemia reeglid inglise ja hispaania keeles on siin.

Järjekordne Arte Y Pico -auhinna laureaat on Kukupai. Ükskõik millisest otsast reeglites kehtestatud auhinna saamise tingimusi ka ei vaatlegi, vastab Kukupai blogi Elumere lainetel nendele täielikult. Blogi sisu on huvitav ja mõtlemapanev, samas aga pole huumorit sugugi unustatud. Erinevates blogikogukonna ühistes ettevõtmistes on Kukupai usin ja oodatud osaleja. Vääriks isegi kahe auhinna saamist, ent seda pole paraku Arte Y Pico statuudis ette nähtud.

Tegelikult oleks auhinna väärilisi olnud palju rohkem kui viis, ent minu käsutuses oli vaid viis auhinda. Ehk ringleb edasi veel kellelegi, keda ma oleksin tahtnud premeerida. Mõttelise auhinna saajaks võib ennast arvestada igaüks, kelle ajaveeb mu dünaamilisest blogirullist värske postituse ilmumisel läbi käib.

Arte y Pico, osa 1

Arte y Pico, osa 2

Arte y Pico, part 3

Arter y Pico, osa 4

Lapsuliblikas yllätti minut Arte y Pico -nimisellä blogipalkinnolla. Otin itselleni miettimisaikaa ja sen sijaan, että olisin paiskannut edellytettävät viisi palkintoa kerralla eteenpäin, olen jaellut niitä yksitellen. Tänään annan neljännen Arte y Pico -palkinnon.

Palkinnon statuutti määrää seuraavaa:

Tällaiset ovat palkinnon säännöt:
1) Valitse viisi blogia, joita arvostat luovuuden, kuvituksen, mielenkiintoisen sisällön ja/tai blogosfääriin tehdyn panostuksen johdosta millä tahansa maailman kielellä.
2) Jokainen annettu palkinto on henkilökohtainen ja sitä annettaessa mainitaan blogin kirjoittajan nimi sekä linkitetään palkittavaan blogiin.
3) Palkinnonsaaja panee palkinnon logon blogiinsa.
4) Logo tulisi linkittää alkuperäispalkinnon osoitteeseen.
5) Palkinnonsaaja julkaisee säännöt omassa blogissaan. Kansainvälisen, Uruguaysta alkunsa saaneen palkinnon alkuperäiset säännöt ovat tässä.

Seuraava Arte y Pico -palkinnon saaja on Sun äitis. Olen onnistunut olemaan hänen kanssaan samaa mieltä useimmissa kysymyksissä, toki vivahde-eroin, jotka kuuluvat asiaan ja virkistävät. SÄ kirjoittaa blogiaan luovuudella ja ennakkoluulottomasti. Sieltä olen saanut monia hyviä vihjeitä web 2.0-vitinöistä, joita tuskin muuten olisin tullut kokeilleeksi. Suomenkielisessä bloogosfäärissä ei ole montakaan yhtä hyvin verkostoitunutta kirjoittajaa, joten uskon palkinnon kiertävän eteenpäin viidelle vastaanottajalle, jotka sen todella ansaitsevat.

Muistutukseksi itselle: Tehtävänä palkita viisi blogia. TEHTY 4, seuraa 1.

Arte y Pico, osa 1

Arte y Pico, osa 2

Arte y Pico, part 3

I was unexpectedly honored by Lapsuliblikas who awarded me with Arte y Pico. I am now forwarding the award to the third of five blogs I am supposed to present the award. The original statute of the Arte y Pico award stipulates the following:

Rules:

1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you copnsider deserve this award, creativity, design, interesting material, and also contrubuites to the blogger community, no matter of language.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award-winning, has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog thathas given her or him the ward itself.

4) Award-winning and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y pico“blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) To show these rules.

The next winner of Arte y deco is StoiBär. I appriciate his observations of everyday life in Bavaria and elsewhere. Much of his daily activities circle around computers but he has a variety of other interests as well. All of it is presented in a compact format and spiced with Bavarian humor.

Reminder to self: Supposed to present five awards. 3 down, 2 to go.

Arte y Pico, osa 1

Arte y Pico, osa 2

Kustutan järjekordse viiendiku Arte y pico -auhinnaga kaasnevast võlast, mis mul tänu Lapsuliblikale on tasuda jäänud. Meeldetuletuseks taasavaldan siinkohal auhinna statuudi eestikeelse redaktsiooni:

Auhinna reeglid on sellised:
1) Vali viis blogi, mida hindad loomingulisuse, kujunduse, huvitava materjali ja panuse eest blogiilma mistahes keeles.
2) Iga auhind on nimeline ja sisaldab blogi kirjutaja nime ja linki tema blogisse.
3) Iga auhinnasaaja paneb auhinna logo omale blogisse.
4) Logo peaks linkima originaalauhinna lehele.
5) Auhinnasaaja paneb ka reeglid oma blogisse.
Selle rahvusvaheliseks kujunenud, Uruguaist alguse saanud blogidepreemia reeglid inglise ja hispaania keeles on siin.

Pärast pikka ja pingelist kaalumist on järgmiseks auhinna laureaadiks sõelale jäänud Birxu ja Daki videoblog. Eesti blogosfääris on videoblogi veel esialgu haruldane nähtus, näiteks viimasel Ajaveebi konkursil videoblogi kategooriat ei olnud, sest sinna sobivaid ajaveebe on lihtsalt liiga vähe. Nii siis ongi Brixu ja Daki läinud Eesti ajaveebinduse maastikul pioneeritööd tegema ja seda silmnähtavalt suure mõnuga.

Alguses sai konstruktiivse kriitika korras ülearu pikade postituste üle noritud, kuid viimasel ajal juba hakavad klipid pikemat vaatamist kannatama. Ju siis on substantsi juurde tulnud. Vaadake kas või kaht viimast postitust, kus koos külalisesineja Volbergiga päris sisukat juttu aetakse.

Meeldetuletuseks enesele: Üleasandeks viiele blogile auhind edastada. TEHTUD 2, järgneb 3.

Arte y pico, osa 1

Toimituksellinen huomautus: tavallisesti en julkaise eri blogieni postituksia suorina käännöksinä toisissa blogeissani. Tällä kertaa teen kuitenkin lukijan pyynnöstä poikkeuksen, joka vahvistaa pääsääntöä.

Lapsuliblikas ojentaa minulle Arte y pico -nimisen palkinnon. Apua! Mitä nyt tapahtuu? Siis sen lisäksi, että tietenkin kiitän odottamattomasta kunniasta.

Menettelytapavihjeitä löytyy palkinnon säännöstöstä:

Tällaiset ovat palkinnon säännöt:
1) Valitse viisi blogia, joita arvostat luovuuden, kuvituksen, mielenkiintoisen sisällön ja/tai blogosfääriin tehdyn panostuksen johdosta millä tahansa maailman kielellä.
2) Jokainen annettu palkinto on henkilökohtainen ja sitä annettaessa mainitaan blogin kirjoittajan nimi sekä linkitetään palkittavaan blogiin.
3) Palkinnonsaaja panee palkinnon logon blogiinsa.
4) Logo tulisi linkittää alkuperäispalkinnon osoitteeseen.
5) Palkinnonsaaja julkaisee säännöt omassa blogissaan. Kansainvälisen, Uruguaysta alkunsa saaneen palkinnon alkuperäiset säännöt ovat tässä.

Tämä aiheuttaa minulle lievää päänsärkyä, sillä Google Readerissäni on tällä hetkellä 181 blogia, joista siis minun pitäisi valita viisi ja jättää 176 ilman palkintoa. Siitä tulee äärimmäisen vaikea tehtävä, koska palkinnon toki ansaitsisi jokainen tilaamani blogi. Eiväthän ne suinkaan suotta ole lukijassani!

Säännöt ovat kuitenkin sääntöja ja niitä on noudatettava, vaikka se ei olekaan oikeudenmukaista 176 hyvää blogia kohtaan. Otan kuitenkin tehtävän suorittamisesta aikalisän. Tänään nimeän vain yhden palkinnonsaajan ja neljä muuta jäävät myöhempiin postituksiin.

Arte y pico blogipalkinnon seuraava voittaja on Yrsa Tiuski. Haluan palkita häntä minimalistisesta arkipäivähuumorista. Yrsan postitukset vahvistavat erinomaisesti sen seikan, että ikävimissäkin jokapäiväisissä tilanteissa, olkoon töissä tai vapaa-ajalla, löytyy aihetta vähintään hymyyn jollei suorastaan nauruunkin. Ja sitä Yrsa tekee yhtä hyvin itseensä kuin  muihinkin kohdistaen.

Muistutukseksi itselle: Tehtävänä palkita viisi blogia. TEHTY 1, seuraa 4.

Lapsuliblikas ulatab mulle Arte y pico nimelise auhinna. Appi! Mis nüüd saab? Peale selle, muidugi, et ütlen aitäh selle ootamatu au eest.

Juhiseid edasiseks tegutsemiseks annab auhinna statuut:

Auhinna reeglid on sellised:
1) Vali viis blogi, mida hindad loomingulisuse, kujunduse, huvitava materjali ja panuse eest blogiilma mistahes keeles.
2) Iga auhind on nimeline ja sisaldab blogi kirjutaja nime ja linki tema blogisse.
3) Iga auhinnasaaja paneb auhinna logo omale blogisse.
4) Logo peaks linkima originaalauhinna lehele.
5) Auhinnasaaja paneb ka reeglid oma blogisse.
Selle rahvusvaheliseks kujunenud, Uruguaist alguse saanud blogidepreemia reeglid inglise ja hispaania keeles on siin.

See põhjustab mulle küll veidi peavalu, sest Google Readeris käib mul praeguse seisuga 181 blogi, millest ma siis peaksin viis välja valima ja 176 auhinnast ilma jätma. See saab juberaske ülesanne olema, sest õigupoolest vääriks auhinda iga blogi, mille RSS-voogu ma tellin. Ega need blogid mul asjata lugejas ei käi!

Reeglid on siiski reeglid ja neid peab austama, isegi sel juhul, et pean 176 heale ajaveebile liiga tegema. Aja võtan küll selleks maha et need viis välja valida. Täna nimetan auhinnasaajaks vaid ühe blogi ja neli järgmist tulevates sissekannetes.

Nii siis on Arte y pico blogiauhinna järgmiseks laureaadiks Yrsa Tiuski. Teda tahan premeerida minimalistliku igapäevahuumori eest. Yrsa sissekanded kinnitavad suurepäraselt, et kõige igavamateski argipäeva olukordades, olgu siis tööl või vabal ajal, on põhjust vähemalt naeratamiseks, kui mitte isegi naermiseks. Ta teeb seda vabalt nii ise enese kui teistegi aadressil.

Meeldetuletuseks enesele: Üleasandeks viiele blogile auhind edastada. TEHTUD 1, järgneb 4.

Mimi, over at The Things We Do, gave me this award for my blog:

Pretty cool, eh?  The award originated on the Arte y Pico blog which is in Spanish so I can only understand every 8th word or so.  Literally translated it means ‘art and peak’ and is awarded to creative and interesting blogs.  Me?  Creative?  I’m having an “aw shucks” moment here.  Mimi cited my knitting…which is awesome considering she is a knitter herself.  It’s always nice to be acknowledged by your own kind.    Anyway, as with most things, there are some rules…one of them being to post the rules.  So here they are:

1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material & overall contribution to the blogger community.
2) Post the name of the author & a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.
3) Each award winner has to show the award & put the name & link to the blog that has given him or her the award.
4) The award winner & presenter should post the link of the “Arte y Pico” blog so everyone will know the origin of the award.
5) Post these rules.

The first four awardees will probably be familiar to you…they’re some of my other friends and make up the majority of my blog reading (or lurking these days) but for purposes of this award, I’m giving it to my fellow photo challengers:

1) Kristin writes about her life raising her toddler in Minneapolis.  She managed to talk me into going on the Oprah Cleanse diet and in return, she’s committed to doing Project 365 with me (taking a picture a day).  You can find her photoblog dedicated specifically to this project here.

2) Alicia not only writes about her life, but she is a profilic reader as well and it really shines through in her writing.  She does photo challenges, writing exercises, participates in memes, surveys, lists…you name it and she’s there.

3) Jess is another one of my fellow photo challenge buddies.  She is somewhat new to the whole blogging business, having just started up her blog this June, but she takes some great pictures and I always look forward to new entries from here (now if only she’d write more often.  hint hint!)

4) Jae takes some amazing photos.  Not only is she one of my photo challenge buddies, but lately she is something of a travel buddy of mine too.  She’s a photographer, she cooks, she bakes, she knows a zillion euphemisms for words you probably don’t ever want to teach your children…creativity at its finest.

5) Finally, I’m nominating my sister-in-law, Lien.  She literally just started blogging…like last week.  And she’s only got one post up so far, but she is probably one of the most creative people I know.  She is the go-to baker in the family and turns out not only delicious cakes, cookies and cupcakes, but also some of the most beautiful, insane, awesome cakes I’ve ever seen.  To get an idea of her creativity, check out her amazing cake gallery on her new website: http://www.crazycakecompany.com.

Many thanks to Mrs Slocombe Regrets for awarding me this prize – I am not worthy! Had Peter not already got two statuettes in the bag I would have nominated this blog which not only chooses the same wordpress theme but whose tastes seem to uncannily mirror my own – it’s good to have a virtual soul mate.

Under the terms of the award I have to:
1. link the person who tagged you (see above) and publicise the Arte Y Pico blog to show the origin of this honor. (done)
2. tag 5 other bloggers by linking them(done)

Some winners have also added a list 5 unspectacular things about themselves which I have complied with.

The selection of other blogs are supposed to be based on creativity, design and/or interesting material – things which contribute to the blogger community, no matter what language.

Personally speaking content always counts more than flashy visuals although I concede that if a blog looks messy it can be off-putting. Here’s my list:

Here are five unspectacular things about me:

1. I eat half a grapefruit for breakfast every day and claim that this is the reason I never catch cold (touch wood!)

2. The first single I ever bought was the theme tune to Thunderbirds. I found it again three years ago in my elder brother’s record box – a took a Donovan EP by way of compensation for the lost years.

3. The first woman I had a crush on was Alexandra Bastedo whom played Sharron Macready of Nemesis in The Champions. . Check out those cheekbones. She was an action woman but never let this interfere with her immaculate hairstyle. I even sent away for an autographed photo such was my devotion. Maybe Morrissey was similarly smitten because the Smiths singles compilation ‘Rank’ has her as the cover star.

So, now its my turn to pass on this award, which if I was to be cynical, sounds like someones brilliant idea for generating links! But what the heck, its also nice to be noticed, eh what?

Okay, so here goes:

Award nomination #1: Living Tantra
This blog is run by a fellow yogi initiate – Shambhavi – albeit someone I’ve never met. But she is part of the Sarasvati lineage as I am. And she’s also friends of fellow yogis in my school. Plus, she runs a kick ass blog where she takes apart Tantrik philosophy and serves it up in a palatable format for those who don’t study Tantra. This is admirable because after studying Tantra for around six years now, I’m still not very good at explaining it to others. And as a fellow female aspirant, she is inspirational to me.

Award nomination #2: Yoga For Cynics
I was checking my emails at the end of my recent trip to Thailand and discovered some interesting comments on my blog from a Dr. Jay. So I wandered over to his blog and discovered an interesting writer with the heart of both a poet and a cynic. Add to this, his interest in yoga. This is fantastic, because as Dr. Jay so rightly points out, much of the yoga scene is all “love and light” – but yoga is for everyone, even cynical poets. A single post from Dr. Jay can cover a mind-boggling array of topics. Sometimes light and entertaining, other times very insightful and always fascinating. Dr. Jay is one of my new ‘virtual friends’.

Award nomination #3: Shiv’s Brain
Shiv is an Englishman dealing bravely with bipolar disorder. He’s also a talented and gifted poet and writer. When I first started blogging, his was one of the blogs I came across in my early days. I find his dark sense of humor in dealing with his ’stuff’ to be refreshing, and I also enjoy his book reviews and other wacky postings.

Award nomination #4: Clinically Clueless
CC is another lovely and warm human being, who, although suffering through her own almost inhumanly traumatic life story, has the capacity to care for others and show support. She also works through her story on her blog with utter poignancy and heartbreaking honesty. She has so much compassion for others that I am humbled and honored to read her blog.

Award nomination #5: Pretty Dumb Things
Writing under the pseudonym of Chelsea Summers, this blog has now been put on hiatus. Maybe permanently or maybe ‘just for now’. Chelsea is an incredibly bright and sexy lady. Both a professor of literature and an ex-stripper. Her blog covers her history of stripping whilst studying, her loves and lost loves, sex, and the ultimate break down of her relationship with Donny – the love of her life. She says her muse is gone and perhaps it is, but I do hope she keeps writing. In the meantime, she has a considerable backlog of work that is worth working your way through.

********************************************************

And award winners – let me reiterate the “rules” that go with this award should you wish to partake in this virtual game:

1. You have to pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award in terms of creativity, design, interesting material, and general contributions to the blogger community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog.
3. Each winner has to show the award and give the name and link to the blog that has given him or her the award itself.
4. Each winner and each giver of the prize has to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

P.S. I should point out that had Miss Sensuality not nominated me first, I would have included her in the above, as I enjoy her wonderfully indulgent writing style. Props to you and congrats on your first book!

~Svasti

So, dear friends, this humble and mightily chuffed blogger has been honoured with the Arte y Pico blog award by none other than the incomparable Amy a.k.a Miss Sensuality!

Apparently the “Arte y Pico” award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and their talents, whether it be writing or artwork in all medias. When you receive this award it is considered a “Special Honor”.

Amy actually nominated me in July, but since I was incommunicado at that time, I wasn’t on top of such things. And for some reason, I’ve only just discovered the link back to my site now. Doh! But thank you Amy, for noticing this newbie to the blogging world and thinking my writing was worthy of said award!!

Anyway, moving right along… these are the lovely and kind words Amy had to say:

My 2nd pick for the Arte y Pico award is a blog entitled – Svasti: A journey from assault to wholeness…
This blogger is blatantly honest about her journey, her struggles with the residual fear and pain associated with an assault. Her writing is a raw look into the trauma and also the beautiful healing that is occurring on her journey back to wholeness. She is brave and a generous human being.

Aww, shucks… I’ve actually wondered whether my writing style is more of a turn off than anything coz it aint all sunshine and roses here on my blog, I know. But its absolutely LOVELY that some folks do like what I’m doing. Mucho appreciation from my corner!!

And now it’s my turn to give this award to five other blogs. The rules of this award are as follows:

1. You have to pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award in terms of creativity, design, interesting material, and general contributions to the blogger community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog.
3. Each winner has to show the award and give the name and link to the blog that has given him or her the award itself.
4. Each winner and each giver of the prize has to show the link of “Arte y pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

Okay. So stay tuned. I’ll be posting my list of nominations for the Arte y Pico very soon.

~ Svasti xx

I’ve been Awarded…

1. Recipients must pick 5 blogs they consider deserving of this award for creativity, design, interesting material, and for contributing to the blogging community in whatever language.
2. Each of the 5 selected blogs must include the name of the author and a link to his/her site to be visited by readers.
3. The recipient must show the award and indicate the name and link to the blog of the one that handed it to him/her.
4. All Award recipients must include a link to the Arte y Pico site to inform all readers about the origin of this award.

My 5 pick: Jhoanna for her most amazing softies, Concha for bloggin bi-lingually and making fantastic bags, Tina, for knitting and positive-ness, Julie for adorable cuteness, and Yasmine for magic on paper.

Now that the family love crisis is over, I wanted to acknowledge a very special award I received last week from Jeff Deutsch over at Building Common Ground . It’s called the Arte y Pico Award, and I received it because “Together with her husband, she’s raising two kids with autism and a third with ADD. She writes about her children’s progress with love, patience and strength.”

The award looks like this:(Isn’t it lovely?!)

and it comes with a set of rules, as most of these do, so here goes:

1. You have to pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award in terms of creativity, design, interesting material, and general contributions to the blogger community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each winner has to show the award and give the name and link to the blog that has given him or her the award itself.

4. Each winner and each giver of the prize has to show the link of “Arte y pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. To show these rules.

I visit so many blogs in the course of a week, I find it difficult to select only five who deserve such special recognition. (On the other hand, I suppose if each person picks five, who picks five more, who picks five more, soon we’ll all be selected anyway, and my quandary will be solved!

First, I’ll salute Dee who doubles her blogging fun at CEOmum-Parenting Is a Full-Time Job and Power of Attorney, a blog on attorneys who’ve found the practice of law less than thrilling. This week she’s a little Olympic-crazy (Go, Jamaica!) but it will get back to parenting soon!

I always learn something new from Melanie at Bean Sprouts. She is honored multiply in her native England as being one of the best “green” blogs, but her words on natural living and ways to help save the Earth always make me feel like jumping in with both feet.

Next, I’d like to tap the author at Understanding My Son who is walking the path so many of us have after a diagnosis of autism in the family, and confronting all her feelings, and sharing them in a thought-provoking way.

V over at Odd One Out has been so supportive of our struggles on a personal level ever since we “met,” at the same time she struggles with her own issues. Instead of brooding about herself (if that was necessary), she has turned her blog into a wealth of information for those of us seeking guidance on the Aspie life, and I’m very grateful.

And finally, I want to salute the “gentil folke” who rescued Geoffrey Chaucer’s blog, where it languished to near-neglect, and is now undoubtedly the most unusual “Extreme” blog around, claiming to be
“YWRITTEN BY A GLOBAL TEAME OF CREATIFS AND TRENDSETTIRS ASSEMBLID IN FELAWESHEP WYTH MUCH COFFEE.” I agree with the new authors: IT YS RAD! Check it out for your share of Olde English, and a good bit of round laughing. For example, their rendering of one popular television show, as it might have played in Chaucer’s time:

SO YE THINKE YE KAN DAUNCEN?: Thys episode openeth wyth all of the contestants in front of special guest judge Henry Bolingbroke. Oon by oon, he asketh each if he or she kan daunce. Yf he or she kan nat, ther ys a hanging. Ye who heare the recap of thys epsiode, think on whether ye kan dauncen, and what ye wolde saye yn front of nat only an earthli judge, but eek the high Judge himself upon hys throne at the final daunce. KAN YE DAUNCE? KAN YE? ANSWIR WEL OR THOU SHALT DAUNCE IN FLAYMES. Thus endeth the episode.

So thank you, Jeff, for your kind words and warm thoughts. I write this blog for myself, somewhat, but also to see if there’s anything I’m going through that either can help someone else, or I can learn from others. It’s the greatest gift of the Internet, in my opinion*; this ability to reach out across the great distances that separate us to share moments of contact. We should certainly take advantage of it.

*You didn’t think I’d say porn, did you?

Sweet Jesus! I’m starting to asterisk, like Daisyfae...help!

Hélène a quelque peu dérogé à la règle (mais je ne m’en plaindrai pas pour décerner un prix Arte y Pico à Pastagalaine. Merci beaucoup, Hélène, j’en suis très flattée.
Je vous épargnerai les traditionnels remerciements de remise de prix, pour passer directement au rituel de rigueur :

Le prix “Arte y Pico” a été créé par Eseya pour récompenser les blogs qu’elle visite régulièrement et qui enrichissent son esprit et sa créativité, en demandant aux lauréats de faire de même à leur tour.

Les règles :
1. Vous devez choisir 5 blogs que vous estimez mériter ce prix, pour leur créativité, leur conception, le matériel intéressant qu’ils proposent, et qui contribuent à la communauté des blogueurs. Ceci quelle que soit la langue.
2. Vous devez remettre les prix en citant le nom des blogs primés et de leurs auteurs (si vous le connaissez), et placer un lien direct vers ces blogs, afin que tout le monde puisse aller les visiter.
3. Chaque lauréat doit montrer son prix et indiquer le nom du blog qui le lui a décerné, et placer un lien direct vers ce blog.
4. Chaque lauréat doit placer le lien vers le blog de la créatrice du prix, ‘Arte y Pico‘.
5. Chaque lauréat doit afficher ces règles.

A mon tour, je décerne ce prix à 5 blogs de tricot (bien sûr) parmi mes préférés du moment, étant plus une picoreuse qu’une réelle lectrice assidue :
• à Biscotte, parce que j’adore ces laines teintes à la main, son esprit d’initiative et sa gentillesse,
• à DarkCandellera pour l’encourager dans son projet de Knit Spirit TV,
• à Dominique parce que je goûte avec délice chacun de ses trop peu nombreux posts. Dominique, à mon goût, a des talents de conteuse et, d’après ce que j’ai pu constater en personne, est quelqu’un d’adorable, “so sweet”,
• à Julie pour son courage, sa créativité et son talent tous trois exemplaires
• et à Jared pour son sens de l’esthétisme qui ressort dans la mise en page de son blog, ses photos et ses modèles.

Certains d’entre eux ont peut-être déjà reçu ce prix. Peu importe, c’est mon choix du moment.

Les trois derniers blogs étant en anglais, voici les règles traduites : Rules
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award, creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award-winning has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4. Award-winning and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.

Un dernier mot pour vous dire que, des vacances se profilant à l’horizon, l’épisode 006 aura certainement un peu de retard. A bientôt !

HELLO HUMAN SERVANTS, THIS IS TROUBLE THE CAT.  RUSTY THE DOG WHO CHASES SQUIRRELS AND IS TOO SMALL TO STEP ON ME HAS GIVEN ME THE TRIBUTE I DESERVE AS AN ELDERLY KITTY:

BECAUSE OF RUSTY’S REFINEMENT AND GOOD TASTE I WILL BE CANCELING ANY EVIL PLANS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN PROGRESS VIS-A-VIS ACCIDENTALLY MAILING HIM VIA PARCEL POST TO A BANANA PLANTATION IN BRAZIL.

ONCE AGAIN THIS AWARD COMES WITH WHAT I WILL CALL “GUIDELINES”, BECAUSE AS EARLIER NOTED I AM A CAT AND RULES DO NOT APPLY TO ME. THE GUIDELINES ARE:

1. PICK FIVE BLOGS THAT YOU CONSIDER DESERVE THIS AWARD FOR CREATIVITY, DESIGN, AND INTERESTING MATERIAL AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BLOGGER COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE.
2. EACH AWARD HAS TO HAVE THE NAME OF THE AUTHOR AND A LINK TO HIS/HER BLOG TO BE VISITED.
3. EACH AWARD WINNER HAS TO SHOW THE AWARD AND PUT THE NAME AND LINK TO THE BLOG THAT HAS GIVEN HIM/HER THE AWARD ITSELF.
4. AWARD WINNERS AND THE ONE WHO HAS GIVEN THE PRIZE HAVE TO SHOW THE LINK OF THE ARTE-Y-PICO BLOG (HTTP://ARTEYPICO.BLOGSPOT.COM) SO EVERYONE WILL KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THE AWARD.
5. IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID RULES GUIDELINES, THE AWARD WINNER MUST SHOW THESE RULES GUIDELINES.

ONCE AGAIN I FIND THAT MOST OF THE LINKS HERE GO TO BLOGS ABOUT BIG CLUMSY DOGS THAT WOULD STEP ON ME IF THEY GOT A CHANCE, BUT I HAVE STILL FOUND A FEW TO GIVE THIS AWARD TO. THEY ARE:

• MY LOYAL MINIONS, THE EVIL FRED AND GEORGE BOFUR
• FRANKLIN AND CHLOE THE FARM KITTIES
• REX THE TASTY … UMM, FRIENDLY-LOOKING BUNNY
• THE RIGHT BLUE AND ALL THOSE YUMMY FISH
• PET LUXURIA WHO GIVES MY HUMAN SERVANTS IDEAS ABOUT MORE TRIBUTE THEY CAN BUY FOR ME

NOW I HAVE TO GO TAKE A NAP FOR 27 HOURS OR SO.  BACK LATER.  PURR PURR PURR.

The trouble with blogging and generally writing and producing artwork on the internet (or anywhere else for that matter) it that time runs away with itself and 5, 6, or more hours can disappear in an eyeblink…

Last Thursday night was to be a ‘reading’ night, where I would catch up on what my blogging friends were up to.  So off I started at around 11pm…

… Rainforest Robin was in the middle of a hot valley, with lizards under her partners trainers (go there) and Angie had managed to get another episode of “Laura” posted up (It’s like Desperate Housewives without the censorship)…Angie has four blogs in total, another one of which “Time and Oft” is a really interesting missive about vintage postcards – tonights postcard was about a world war one soldier on a short leave in a country house, before he returned to the front line…

A rumble from my stomach heralded the start of the midnight hunger pangs, so in the middle of Janet’s blog,  I thought I’d get something from the fridge. I remembered that I had bought a beef roll the previous night and hadn’t got around to eating it, so I picked up the still-wrapped roll,  made a cup of coffee and pottered back to my laptop and went back to Janet and her natural mix of spirituality and humour.

I was just finishing Janet’s post, when I thought that the taste of my spicy roll tasted a bit sweet/pungent…but I dismissed the thought and when onto Tamera’s latest post. Tammy (bet she hate’s that handle) was in an usually humorous mode. Tamera was the first blogger to read any of my posts and is a mine of good sense and strong opinions.

(This beef roll tastes great. Really pungent musty spices)

Munching away, I went onto Brainteaser who mixes spirituality with meaningful poetry. Sherma’s writing is beautiful….and then onto Ravenscawl who I have neglected lately, amongst other great writers, due to my theatre-work going into overdrive. (between us we’ve produced a great translator for “wordpress.com, complete with little country flags – see the sidebar.

By now it was around 1.30am and my eyelids were drooping a little, so I  left my darkened middle-room and headed for the brightness of the kitchen (and yet another caffeen shot)…I like to work in the dark. It runs in the family; Christina used to spend all her evenings in the dark – the light of the street-lamps was enough for her and gave a bit of a romantic glow to her front room. It’s gentle in the dark, or half-light.

Returning to the fray, I next looked at timethief, who writes a very authoratitive technical blog – and who is also very spiritual….and…on… to…Sue (sdk 1988) great rock star drawings, good sense and great videos…soul-to-soul.com is really worth having a look.

I have always been partial to rolls and pasties and this particular culinary delight was really unusual. It was marketed as a ‘beef’ roll, but it could have been any sort of meat, as the taste was quite unique.

I was begining to feel rather ‘coffeed-out’, so I entered the kitchen once again and made a mug of ‘Rosy-Lee’.

I returned with my hot tea and to Lilly of Lilly’s life that most formidable (but not forbidding!) writer, who always makes me feel that I could never write with the fluidity she possesses…and she’s so..well ‘Charismatic’ (so go there)….a good read…and then onto another cup of coffee (2.30am).

It’s partly my fault and also partly because of the erratic schedule of ‘touring’ that I suffer from diverticulitus – anyone else who spends a week or so feeling grotty every few months will understand. It’s mostly my fault though – I’m a ‘none-reconstructed-male’ or in other words a ‘lazy old git’ who has never learnt to cook and who really needs a diet of boiled vegetables and steamed fish (and boredom).  My normal intake of Burger King, Tandoori Night(mares), Oriental fillings, Mexican Tacho’s and all,  has stupidly left me with a strong exterior, but with an interior with the paint flaking-off a bit.

It was around 3am when I reached ChrissyMarie (to whom I have dedicated a widget on the sidebar – go and have a look for Card Craft.) and finished the beef roll – well almost – around 11 twelfths of the way through the foot-long torpedo, I decided that I’d had enough and that to further taunt divertic….

….”AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!”

You see, I had switched on the light and in my hand, festered the remaining 12th of the rotten, rancid, one month old, green and black nightmare I had been intermittently munching on for the past  hour – I had picked the wrong roll from the ‘fridge.

AAAARRRGH!

AAAARRRRGH!!!

(do not read on if you are of a sensitive disposition – I hold no responsibility for your fate, if you continue further)

It took a timeless moment for me to rationalise the situation:

I knew I had to be sick. I didn’t want to vomit – and I hate that word…’vomit’. I have played at two theatres in England which perform ‘in the round’ and the entrance their stage or arena area, is via two entrance chutes or ‘Vometories’ -  I have never made an entrance at either of the two venues, when I didn’t feel a little queasy.

I could feel the saliva rushing to my mouth (I told you not to read on!) but I decided, as I stumbled to the loo, that it was for the best.

Only that I wasn’t sick.

No matter what I tried, the rotten roll stayed down.

I returned to the kitchen, seriously worried. I tried to work out the best time to phone Tim, our company manager. Would I be too ill to phone at around 9am – should I phone earlier? It was already 3.30am and I had to be up by nine.

Somewhere out of the distant recesses of my mind,  the memory regurgitated, of the time I choreographed and performed in a show in Margate. I had rented a flat for the season and had decided to domesticate myself (I’ve grown up now and accepted reality) and cook myself an omelette. It looked very appetising when it was ready, but I had added far, far too much salt and I was subsequently violently ill.       

So I took a half-pint tumbler and stirred as much salt into it as it would take. When the mixture had reached well beyond saturation-point, like a small silver sand-storm-twister at the bottom of the glass, I downed it in one gulp.

Nothing.

not even a burp

“No…No….No!”

I remembered Liz telling me that people sometimes died from food  poisoning. But to snuff it from a rancid roll? 

What an utterly stupid way to depart this life

“Please God, don’t let me be remembered with a snigger!”

I remembered my mother’s words, in case of an unexpected hospital visit: so I showered and changed my clothes, tidied up the front room so that the paramedics wouldn’t be shocked at the state of the house and then, as the early grey light of dawn slowly illuminated my garden (for the last time?) I laid down on the bed fully clothed to wait for the inevitable onset of terminal stomach-pains…

The last chapter of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” finds
Scrooge in a state of delight upon waking and finding that he is still alive…

…I awoke suddenly at 9am. I was lying in exactly the same position, on top of the bedclothes, with my cellphone by my side. I got up slowly and made my way to the kichen.  There on the table lay the remainder of the beef roll. It was disgusting. I made a cup of tea and sipped it carefully – would the hot tea activate the poisonous snack? Half an hour later, it became apparent that I had escaped unharmed – I had not the slightest symptom of digestive upset and although it was to be several hours before I could bring myself to eat, I felt completely well.

Had I survived because of an iron constitution? Had the salt-water cocktail saved me from digestive demise?  Or had God indeed listened to my prayer and with celestial good humour, decided to spare me the epitaph of being “done in by a spicy beef roll”.

Upon finding that he is still alive, Scrooge changes his ways and uses his hoarded money to help all he meets, especially Tiny Tim.

So was I hoarding something – something that I could share with others, to give thanks for being spared food poisoning – or worse?

Then it came to me – I very seldom respond to all the kind comments on my posts, unlike Robin, Lilly or Tamera (and all) and furthermore. I had been given two awards, which I had not passed on or shared in any way…

                  Scrooge makes amends…

The “Arte y Pico” Given to me by Lilly of Lilly’s Life – Thank you so much Lilly, I really couldn’t believe it when you gave me this award. 

I had been blogging away (it seemed) to no-one (noone) and suddenly there I had a recognition that made me very happy and also tad shy…

Upon winning this award you are tasked with the following rules…

1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.  http://arteypico.blogspot.com

So my “Arte y Pico” people are: (Scrooge smiles and doffs his stovepipe hat)

Janet of   http://janetgardner.blogspot.com/

Chrissy of http://chrissymaries.blogspot.com

Tamera of  http://pentads.blogspot.com

Angie of Time and Oft (Okay Angie ~ Laura can have some of the glory as well)

…and Scott Sheperd of Don’t Manage Your Stress – Rekindle Your Spirit, who has a couple of blogs which are really, really excellent and who is also a great guy.

So guys…You’d better not be lazy like me, but get to work with your own awards (or watch what you eat!)

Then Janet of Dolly’s Daily Diary gave me the “Brillante” Award, which I have also been hoarding and which has been gathering dust on my cyber sideboard…

I now bestow the award to the following nine bloggers…

…”Ahem”… (clears old parched throat)…  My “Brillante” Awards are to: (Scrooge smiles, his features cracking into an unaccustomed grin)…

Robin Easton of “Rainforest Robin” ~she got her Arte y Pico from Lilly at the same time as old Scrooge here…so dry off my dear and collect your award -  you wonderful writer:   http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/ 

Sherma of BrainTeaser – A great writer and poet… (and truly, truly scrumptious)

Lilly of Lilly’s Life ~ Just the best (she already has the Arte y Pico on her mantlepiece)

Truebird of The Birds in the Meadow ~ A real nature person, a self-confessed biophiliac  and an excellent photographer – so go and see her work – her writing and photography and eat your heart out…

Eric S of Ruminations of a Small Town Mountain Boy ~ I’ve only just “met” Eric. He has a really classy blog and I’m looking forward to reading him each week. (He’s also very caring)

Ravenscawl – http://ravenscawl.wordpress.com/  As he says “Mental Cannon-Fodder. Kem Shahol cares a lot and probably hurts a lot. He makes me realise how easy it is to go through life, blindfolded to the injustice all around.

Sue Kleiner of Pencil Sketches and Art  http://soul-to-soul.com – great vid’s and rock stars, artwork  and humanity.

Liara Covert (Liara5) of Dreambuilders Australia – A daily blog on what I could term spiritual human behavior. Liara has great insight and experience ~ she is another great writer I have neglected recently.

timethief of …This Time This Space – timethief is a strange mixture of spirituality and technical expertise. Again…another great blogger I have neglected recently.

So “Brillante” guys…put your award on your blogs and smile.

“Brillante” rules are…

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. Nominate at least seven other blogs.

4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.

5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog. Picks I have made are under no obligation to do a post in this award. But enjoy it…

...Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely 

more;and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. 

He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man 

as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town, 

or borough in the good old world. Some people laughed to see 

the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded

 them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened 

on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their 

fill of laughter in the outset; and, knowing that such as these 

would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they

should wrinkle up their eyes in grins as have the malady in less

attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite 

enough for him.

  (Charles Dickens ~ A Christmas Carol)

Finally, we are now in Lugnasadh and it is probably nearer the real birthday of Jesus, as opposed to his official one ~ well even Queen Elizabeth has two birthdays…

And so, as
Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One! 

soulMerlin  ‘h’

As for me…I am so chuffed at receiving the awards, I’m going to put them on the sidebar of Flowers and Scorpions for a good long while, even though they both relate to this blog. It’s just that I can’t put them on a wordpress sidebar (I’m stupid) but I will put a link back to this blog.

Stop Press! Ravenscawl has just emailed me the code to put the awards on the sidebar (he’s just “Brill” – Thanks Kem)

I’m so happy about them….THANKS.

PS: Anyone fancy a Spicy Beef Roll?

  (‘hic’)