Friday's Fave Five, a Rewarding Week

Friday again, time to reflect on the week that has passed.
Some of the best things happened to us this week, it's been a week of accomplishment.

1. My husband got an important promotion this week, and I'm very very happy for him.
He has put huge dedication into his work since the day he started working there about four years ago. We had suffered major set backs before -not through his fault though- and I always have had a huge admiration for the way he has dealt with it. The past years have not been easy for either of us, but all the hard work seems to pay off and starting Monday he's going to be able to do the kind of job he has aspired all his life. He has earned it, and I'm proud of him.

2. This blog and the things I learn through blogging. I started this blog to educate myself in English language. I have tried to raise the bar a little higher each day.
Like the barre in the ballet class I used to attend as a young girl, pushing my own boundaries and limitations. Reaching for a higher level, and the triumph of attaining it.
Yesterday's post was all about that. Your comments and support give me wings.

3. The Kreativ Blogger award.
Paz gave me one some time ago, and it's been gathering dust in my archives for some time until Libby bestowed me with it again yesterday.
Thanks girls, receiving an award really means a lot to me. It means that somehow in my own humble way, I make a difference to some people, and that's a wonderful feeling.



I am going to pass it on to some of the people who have made a difference to me in this blogosphere.
They have made me explore and push my limits, they are role models to me.

- Quilly: Her clever way with words has made me reach for dictionaries ever since I met her.
- Lisa: Her stunning (macro) photography has inspired me to try harder each week.
- Mary The Teach who has made me explore Photoshopping skills with her Sepia Scenes.
- Secretagentmama: Where great words and amazing photography go hand in hand.
- Louceel: He has me googling interesting things all the time when I'm reading his blog. I have a deep admiration for his writing skills.
- Lilacspecs. She's the one who dragged me into English blogging in the first place.
I know some of them don't care for awards, but I'm giving them anyway, as a way to say thank you. All of these people are role models to me, in photography as well as in writing.

4. A compliment for my hairdo.
New shoes ( Yay!!! a girl and her shoes huh? )
Some more weight loss ... It made me feel like a million dollars!

5. A new recipe I tried this week. It was a papillote of seafood and it was delicious!!
You can find the recipe here if you're interested.



(Click to enlarge the collage.)

It's been a great week as you can see.
A lot of happy moments to cherish.

Find more Fave Five's at Susanne's Living to tell the Story.

Honest Scrap and other Awards ...

It looks like I'm popular these days.
I had a shower of awards being bestowed on me these last couple of weeks I could not believe!
I can never help thinking, "Who? Me?" when people give me one.
But at the same time it feels like winning an Oscar or something.
And it makes my day, I'll admit to that!

Anyway, this is the last one I got and it came from Suzanne, a new friend I met through blog 365 (after we finished!). The funny thing is we're both sorry we haven't met earlier!
She's a great writer with a great sense of humour and I like her a lot.
And apparently she likes me too! Thanks Suzanne!



But as always, accepting an award involves certain rules:
The rules for the Honest Scrap award:
The honorees are to:
A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!
B) pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

Okay. I thought it would be a good idea to show you my true colours.

1. My eyes are green with hazel spots in them.
2. When my mood changes so does the colour of my eyes.
3. Over the years, I have dyed my hair in all kinds of colours, but the colour I have now is the closest I can get to my own colour.
4. I never go out without wearing make up.
5. Colour is very important in my life. Every room in the apartment has it's own colour scheme. The kitchen is yellow and blue for instance, and the bedroom is soft green and apricot with a touch of pink.
6. It has to be just right. I could not stand using a green pepper mill in my blue kitchen.
It can be natural wood or plexi, or metal, that does not matter, but if it comes in colour it should match with the rest.
7. My husband is colour blind! Now isn't that hilarious! He's hopeless with shirts and ties and matching socks. Greens are a nightmare for him, he just does not get it that all greens do NOT match together!
8. I am really really in love with the colour purple. It shows on this blog, doesn't it?
9. No matter how much I like purple I would never use it to decorate my home .
But I adore purple clothes!
10. I love red shoes. But not with purple trousers!

So there, ten little scraps of me.
Yeah, I know. I'm crazy, right?
Right!



Now, I will pass this award on to:
Melli: because I enjoy her daily scraps of life so much, even when she talks to a pumpkin!
Quilly often makes me smile, she has such a great sense of humour, and I like how she plays with words.
Tink from My Mobile Adventures. She lives in Florida and I love to see her pictures of Disney and Sanibel Island very much.
Kim from Frogpondsrock: Because the baby still has not arrived yet! Take courage girl!
Libby: Because she has become such a sweet friend since the day she delurked on this blog.
Gail from Gooselovingmamabear: Partner in crime um ... photography and the hostess
of Thru my eyes. Because I hope she gets well soon!
Robin from Around the Island: Lives in Israel. The war her country is involved in is a daily worry for her. Just wanted to say she's in my thoughts and prayers.


And then there is the award Christine from Chris' Coop gave to me about a week ago.


It's an award created by Rodger at Idaho Photo, and you really should read the story on this award here, it's a very funny story.
I got it for my "Art in Photography". Ahem. Who? Me?
Thanks Christine, you're such a great friend!

Now, I would like to pass it on to:

Mar
Terri
Paz
Lisa
Willow
and Secretagentmama
All of them are inspiring and amazing photographers who show me daily life in their corner of the world. It's always a pleasure dropping by their blogs.


And then there's this cute and fizzy Lemonade award I got from Gail.
It speaks of sweet sparkling friendship to me, and I would like to pass it on to:

Evelyn, from the Redbellfarm, because we share the love for Provence and France, and I would love to have a lemonade ( maybe we would prefer Pastis once we get there?) with her
at the Café de la Poste in Goult one day. Well,who knows huh, Evelyn?
Dragonstar, she lives in Ireland and I love Ireland so much. She has the cutest dragons living on her blog!
To Korie (Lilacspecs) who was my first English speaking blogger friend
and Gattina. They both live in Belgium too, so who knows, maybe we will drink that lemonade together one day?
And Jacki because I love how she has always something interesting and surprising to write about! And because she has the cutest family anyone could wish for.

And then there is this one, I got it from Korie /Lilacspecs ( a long long time ago, I know)
I want to pass it on to anyone who happens to read and enjoy this blog.
It's a big hug and a special thanks to all of my friends.
There are many, I know, and I'm grateful for it.



These are only a few of the awards I got in the past weeks, there are more. (?!)
It's been a while since I passed them on. That's because I have this double feeling about them.
I love getting one, I think it's a compliment being awarded. So I really love to give compliments to the people I love too. But you can never pass them on to everyone, it just would not be the same. That's why I save them until I have more than one, that way I can reward more than just a few at a time. And I can bend the rules a little as to how many I'm supposed to give, see?

People who did not get one today will get one next time, I really don't want to exclude anyone but this post is already getting very very long!
That's why I want to do another post with other awards from my archives in say, a week or two, okay?

Thanks for being my friends!!!

Oh yes, I almost forgot!!
My picture for today!
Thru my Eyes 2009


There...
Yours truly ...

Ruby Tuesday

meets ....




This is an award I received recently from my dear blog pal Lceel.
He's a man I have been secretly admiring for a long time now.
But I thought I was no match for somebody like him, he is such a good writer.
Until one day he told me he kept loosing my link.
It was only then I realized he really liked reading my blog too!
That comment made my day, I'll tell you!
Some time ago, he gave me this official award, coming from him,
to me that's a ticket to heaven, and I mean that!
There's a lot of controversy about whether or not to give awards.
He explains how he feels about that in this post.
Although I agree with him to a certain point,
I do have my own opinion on this one too.
You see, I like getting awards.
Then why would I not make somebody happy too?
It's a virtual hug, a token of appreciation, and a wonderful way
to put some people in the spotlights every once and a while.
Now, I will never listen to " only five" or "seven" or worse "just one".
I never kept that part of the bargain in the past too,
so I'll pass them on to as many times I choose to, I'm a big girl you know?



Right, don't forget to visit Lou. He deserves it.
He's a flirt to the ladies, he always answers your comments,
so it's fun to tease him a little and go back to see what his answer is to you!
He's an excellent writer, a poet and a painter as well.
He's so gifted!

Okay, ... right! Yeah yeah, I love the guy, does it show?
Here we go, on to the awards:
I'll pass this award to:
Mary the teach: she hosts Ruby Tuesday and I would not miss it for the world!
She always comes back to visit everyone, and I love her comments!




Next up is:
Jacki at moving at the speed of light.
She likes to cook, to blog, she likes shoes


and she's a beautiful woman,
Her husband who has European roots has this wonderful photography blog.
So I guess that's a two in one for the Dyrholms!

Next is for an excellent photographer, I'm dying to get to know better as well,
she recently took the plunge to her own domain, here she is,
ladies and gentleman, Jeanette Verster, let's give her some applause please!



Okay, one more, another dear friend, Leora:
Her blog is a potpourri of ideas about Highland Park;
She likes books, she does Jewish topics. She's a very artistic lady
and she blogs about good health, parsha, web design, kids, food, gardening and …
She has always something interesting for you to read!



There, there is always one more, but there is always another award too,
and this post should not become too long to keep it a pleasant read.
Pick one, visit her or him, and tell them I sent you, okay?
Yeah right, sorry Lou, I nicked that from you, okay?



On to the Rubies, because that's what most of you came here for!
Oops, I think I already "threw them in"?
Okay okay, one more, I'm in a real generous mood today ...
One more thing, you can BIG them ALL!!!
I AM generous, am I not?


Oh and um .... all pictures were taken on my recent trip to Lissabon.
I had so much fun there!



Don't forget to visit the other Ruby Tuesday players at Mary's Work of the Poet!