Kreativ Blogger Award

I was flattered this week to receive a Kreativ Blogger Award from one of my favorite bloggers, Caroline Pointer. Thank you, Caroline! Now, before you read on, head over to Caroline's blog, Family Stories. She blogs there about genealogy and shares heartwarming stories guaranteed to inspire you. It's a friendly place where you'll feel right at home.

When a blog receives a Kreativ Blogger Award, the blogger, in turn, recommends seven other blogs. It's a great way to spread the word about blogs that you otherwise might miss So, here are my seven recommendations. Some are about writing and others reflect my hobbies and interests. There are so many more blogs that I could recommend, but these should keep you busy for a while. Enjoy!

1. Robin at All Things Heart and Home has lots of tips for home decorating and mouth-watering recipes. Stop by daily to see what's new. She's getting ready for the holidays, and she has some great ideas to share.

2. At the Christian Writer/Reader Connection, Susan J. Reinhardt blogs about writing and the books she is reading. Her posts are always interesting and insightful. She posts there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I love it that she always responds to her readers' comments.

3. If you're a shy writer, like me, check out Shrinking Violet Promotions, a blog about…well….introverted writers!

4. At 19th Century Historical Tidbits, Lynn Coleman offers fascinating bits of information about life in the 19th century. This is a must-read blog for historical fiction writers.

5. Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day, is the place to read about the best educational websites. This is a good reference stop for kids' writers and one that I visit often.

6. Renae Brumbaugh blogs Christian devotions with a humorous twist on her blog, Funny Coffee Girl. Her posts are always thought-provoking and fun.

7. Carolyn, from Prince Edward Island, offers a feast for the eyes at her Aiken House and Gardens blog. Log on to see the amazing things she's done with her home and garden. Her photos are spectacular.

Now, according to the Kreativ Blogger Award rules, I am also supposed to share with you seven interesting facts about me:

1. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I'll begin with the fact that I am a descendant of Edward Doty who was a passenger on the Mayflower. Does that make me a pilgrim?

2. I once built a miniature replica (1 inch = 1 foot) of my great-grandparents' 19th-century parlor. I've also built a mini general store and several other miniature rooms.

3. I'm a nature nut, passionate about flower gardening, bird watching and animals. My love of animals led to a stint as a volunteer veterinary assistant at the local animal shelter's spay/neuter clinic.

4. My idea of heaven is writing in a quiet woodland cabin on the shore of an inland lake. I love being near the water and live within walking distance of Lake Michigan.

5. I played the flute and piccolo in my high school marching band and won the John Philip Sousa Band Award in my senior year. I aspired to be a band director but then got sidetracked by kid lit.

6. I sometimes wish I could step into a time capsule and see what 's happened in this very spot from now all the way back to the beginning of time.

7. I am owned by (and I mean that literally) two independent and cantankerous cats, Pepper and Ben, and an ancient ring-necked turtle dove named Lucky.

So there you have it, seven little-known facts about me.

I hope that you enjoy visiting the blogs that I've mentioned, and while you're there, please leave a comment or two. Bloggers always love to hear from their readers.

Thanks again, Caroline! I appreciate the award.